Products containing microorganisms as a tool in integrated pest management and the rules of their market placement in the European Union

Products containing microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) can be used in plant production as an intervention as well as a prevention method for pest control. Their utilisation is strictly in line with the principles of integrated pest management, provided that they are effective and safe. The rules of registration of microorganisms for crop production in the European Union differ, depending on whether they are placed on the market as plant protection products or not. For over 20 years, uniform rules for registration of plant protection products have been in force. Currently, 36 microorganisms marked up to the strain are approved for use in pest control in the Community. The decision concerning market placement of plant protection products containing approved microorganisms is issued for each member state separately. The approaches to market placement of other products with microorganisms differ within the EU, ranging from a complete lack of requirements to long and costly registration procedures. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polymorphism analysis of housekeeping genes for identification and differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clavibacter michiganensis</Emphasis> subspecies

The utility of polymorphism analysis was determined for differentiation of the following subspecies of the Gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium, Clavibacter michiganensis: C. m. subsp. michiganensis, C. m. subsp. sepedonicus, C. m. subsp. insidiosus C. m. subsp. nebraskensis, and C. m. subsp. tessellarius. Specific primers designed for amplification of the housekeeping genes recA, rpoB, and rpoD generated 827-, 1037-, and 862-bp DNA fragments, respectively. PCR products obtained from 40 C. michiganensis strains were analysed using RFLP with four restriction endonucleases, and those PCR products with specific RFLP patterns were sequenced. The genotypes discriminated after PCR–RFLP were specific for each subspecies and also allowed for differentiation of C. m. subsp. michiganensis strains. Sequence analysis of the recA, rpoB, and rpoD gene fragments also distinguished C. michiganensis subspecies and was useful for phylogenetic analysis of all subspecies. For rapid, inexpensive, and effective differentiation of the five subspecies in this research, we recommend the amplification of recA and/or rpoD gene fragments and digestion of the PCR products with the restriction endonuclease FnuDII.     

Conjugated linoleic acid regulates phosphorylation of PPARγ by modulation of ERK 1/2 and p38 signaling in human macrophages/fatty acid-laden macrophages

Stimulation of macrophages by a variety fatty acids causes activation of MAP kinases (MAPKs). The consequences arising from down-regulation of MAPKs may be a limitation in the activity of PPARγ, which is modulated by a modification catalyzed by these kinases. Phosphorylation of MAP kinases-ERK1/2 and p38 as well as PPARγ was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting in human macrophages cultured with conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). We demonstrated that CLA isomers alter MAP kinase phosphorylation and PPARγ activation. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was diminished in cells cultivated with cis-9,trans-11 CLA, whereas phosphorylation of p38 was reduced by trans-10,cis-12 CLA. PPARγ was phosphorylated mainly by ERK1/2, and consequently, PPARγ phosphorylation was suppressed mainly by cis-9,trans-11 isomer. In human adipocytes, cis-9,trans-11 C 18:2 raised the activation of PPAR and several of its downstream target genes. We suggest that a similar process may also occur in human macrophages.     

Deposition of Copper in the Eutrophic,Submontane Dobczyce Dam Reservoir (Southern Poland) – Role of Speciation

In order to better understand Cu behaviour in the submontane, eutrophic Dobczyce dam Reservoir (southern Poland), speciationmeasurements of Cu in the water and the sediment were conducted. To investigate the partitioning of Cu in the main components ofthe sediment, a scheme of VI-step sequential extraction was used.In addition, other physical and chemical parameters of the water,such as temperature, pH, dissolved O₂, nutrients, and suspended particulate matter were determined. Copper content in the water and the sediment was low (1.1–7.4 μg L^-1 and 5.5–45.4 μg g^-1, respectively). In the water Cu was usually present in the dissolved state (with the exception ofthe near-bottom water). This was probably the main reason of itssmall accumulation (cumulation coefficient K = 10687.5) in the sediment of the Dobczyce Reservoir. The seasonal variations inCu contents in the dissolved and particulate phases as well as observed correlations with the physico-chemical parameters of thewater are discussed. In the sediment Cu occurred mainly in astrongly bound form. Most Cu found there was in the moderatelyreducible phase and residual. Therefore, copper (re-)mobilization from the sediment to the water was probably not of importance.     

High level of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in young dairy calves in southern Vietnam

This study investigated the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in dairy calves in southern Vietnam. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of 84 calves from 41 smallholder dairy farms, when newborn and at 14 days of age for isolation of E. coli. Escherichia coli strains were isolated from 144 of the 168 fecal samples tested. Of the 144 E. coli isolates, 40% were found to be susceptible to all 12 antimicrobial drugs tested and 53% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials. Calves were colonized with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli already on the day of birth. Resistance to tetracycline was most common, followed by resistance to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. Four isolates carried a gene encoding for extended-spectrum cephalosporinases (ESC), and these genes belonged to bla_CTX-M group 1 (2 isolates), bla_CTX-M group 9 (1 isolate), and bla_CMY-2 (1 isolate). Thirty-three isolates had a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) phenotype, and 30 of these carried the qnrS gene. These results are of importance for management routines of dairy cattle to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

     

Soil properties and not high CO2 affect CH4 production and uptake in periodically waterlogged arable soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Several studies related to CH4 cycling focus on the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 levels on soil methanogenesis and methanotrophy. However, periodically...     

Isolation and antihypertensive effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from spinach Rubisco

Four new inhibitory peptides for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), that is, MRWRD, MRW, LRIPVA, and IAYKPAG, were isolated from the pepsin-pancreatin digest of spinach Rubisco with the use of HPLC. IC(50) values of individual peptides were 2.1, 0.6, 0.38, and 4.2 microM, respectively. MRW and MRWRD had an antihypertensive effect after oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats. Maximal reduction occurred 2 h after oral administration of MRW, whereas MRWRD showed maximal decrease 4 h after oral administration at doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. IAYKPAG also exerted antihypertensive activity after oral administration at the dose of 100 mg/kg, giving a maximum decrease 4 h after oral administration. IAYKP, IAY, and KP, the fragment peptides of IAYKPAG, also exerted antihypertensive activity. LRIPVA [corrected] did not show any antihypertensive effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg despite its potent ACE-inhibitory activity.     

Occurence and transport of mercury within a small catchment area

To contribute to the understanding of Hg flow to forest lakes the storage of Hg in the soil of a catchment was quantified, the transport of Hg from the recharge area to the discharge area was studied and a mass balance for different soil horizons was calculated. The transport of Hg in soil, ground and stream water was estimated using water flows from a hydrological model and by determining Hg in water sampled with a clean procedure. The estimate for the annual Hg flux out of the till overburden in the catchment was 3.4 g km⁻². The annual flux was reduced to 1.3 g km⁻² in the stream, indicating interception in a lake. The transport was predominantly taking place in the upper 50 cm of the soil. The storage of Hg in the soil was 8.8 kg km⁻², which is large compared to the flux. A net accumulation, amounting to 80% of the Hg deposition, is almost entirely located to the nor layer.     

Enchytraeid communities in successional habitats (from meadow to forest)

The study was conducted in two successional series: natural on mesotrophic soils (a meadow, two birch woods and a mixed coniferous forest), and human-made on sandy soils (old field, birch plantation and pine forest). In both these series species richness and diversity of enchytraeid communities decreased with advancing succession. In the first two successional stages, enchytraeid communities showed a high degree of similarity (the meadow and 30-year-old birch thicket, ore the old field and 10-year-old birch plantation). Variation in soil in the same plant communities cause differences in animal communities. The abundance of enchytraeids varied from 14 to 51 × 10³ m⁻² individuals. In the majority of habitats C. sphagnetorum was the dominant species. Soil pH showed a positive correlation with species diversity and negative with number of C. sphagnetorum. The body size of this species was small at low pH (presumably as a result of frequent reproduction). It is suggested that the way of reproduction of the dominant species could confer a competitive advantage, thereby accounting for the simplification of enchytraeid communities in later stages of succession.     

Effect of light conditions on the contents of glucosinolates in germinating seeds of white mustard, red radish, white radish, and rapeseed

The study was aimed at determining the effect of light conditions on contents of glucosinolates (GLS) in germinating seeds of white mustard, red radish, white radish, and rapeseed. The seeds were germinated in light and dark, at 25 degrees C, for up to 7 days. As compared to the nongerminated seeds, in seeds exposed to light and germinated for 4, 5, 6, and 7 days the content of total GLS was observed to decrease by 30 to 70% depending on the species. Germination in conducted the dark for the respective periods of time resulted in decreases of total GLS not exceeding 25%. The changes in the concentration of total GLS were attributed to aliphatic GLS predominating in seeds, yet in the case of white mustard to sinalbin belonging to aralkyl glucosinolates. Although seeds germinated in the dark, as compared to those exposed to light, were characterized by a higher total content of indole GLS, the percentage contribution of that group of compounds in white mustard, red radish, and white radish remained at a similar level, irrespective of germination time. Only in the case of rapeseed was the percentage of the sum of indole GLS observed to increase from 17 to up to 45% once the seeds were exposed to light and to 50% once they were germinated in the dark.