Involvement of antifungal compounds from rockmelon fruit rind (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.) in resistance against the fruit rot pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">melonis</Emphasis>.

Fusarium rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, causes significant postharvest losses in rockmelon crops. Although latent infection is often present in the field, symptoms of the disease may not appear until fruit maturity. The susceptibility of different-aged rockmelon fruit cv. “Colorado” was determined by inoculating fruit at different stages of development with a spore suspension of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Disease symptoms appeared first and were more severe in older fruit compared to younger fruit. Disease symptoms on fruit 35 DAA (Days After Anthesis) and 42 DAA appeared within 3 days of inoculation and rapidly covered the fruit within 5 days. In contrast, disease symptoms on fruit 7 DAA appeared 6 days after inoculation and grew slowly. Extraction of antifungal compounds without involving acid hydrolysis from 7 DAA fruit rind did not show antifungal activity on TLC plates. However, hydrolysis of the ethyl acetate fraction resulted in a strong fungal inhibitory zone on agar plates against colonies of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Separation of the hydrolysed crude extracts on TLC plates indicated the presence of two distinct antifungal zones with R_f 0.36 and 0.13 in young fruit 7, 14 and 21 DAA. The area of fungal inhibition of compound R_f 0.36 was greater than that of R_f 0.13 on the TLC plate. Extracts from mature fruit of 35 and 42 DAA did not have detectable levels of antifungal compounds. The decrease in the susceptibility of rockmelon fruit during maturity may be correlated to a decrease in the antifungal compounds in the fruit with maturity.     

家蚕来源肠球菌DNA多态性的RAPD分析

运用随机扩增多态性DNA(randomamplifiedpolymorphicDNA,RAPD)技术,对从家蚕消化道中分离的表现为生理生化特性多样性的14个肠球菌分离菌株和3个标准菌株进行了DNA多态性研究。应用筛选的8条随机引物,共扩增出625个位点,其中997%为多态性位点,表明供试菌株具有丰富的DNA多态性。对扩增结果进行聚类分析,供试菌株分为Entfaecalis、Entfaecium、Entcasseliflavus、Entavium等4个类群,与其数值鉴定结果呈相同趋势。     

Single and Combined Effects of Cadmium and Zinc on Carrots: Uptake and Bioaccumulation

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), singly and in combination, on uptake and bioaccumulation of Cd and Zn in Daucus carota L. (carrot) grown under natural field conditions. Carrot plants were treated with two Cd concentrations (10 and 100 μg mL^?1), two Zn concentrations (100 and 300 μg mL^?1), and two combined concentrations of Cd and Zn (10 + 100 and 100 + 300 μg mL^?1) 15 d after seed germination. Treatments were repeated at 10 d intervals up to 90 d of plant age. A control was also kept without a Cd or Zn treatment. Uptake, total accumulation rate (TAR), bioconcentration factor (BCF), primary transport index (PTI), secondary transport index (STI), and accumulation of Cd and Zn in root, stem, and leaf were quantified. The results show that uptake, TAR, and accumulation of Cd and Zn are concentration-dependent phenomena. Highest accumulation of Cd and Zn was found in the root, followed by the stem and then leaves. The results also showed that bioaccumulation of Cd in root, stem, and leaf was greater at the low metal-application rates of Cd and Zn in combination than at the higher rate. This study further showed that interactions of Zn and Cd are dependent on the concentrations of those metals in the soil.     

Assessing the immobilization efficiency of organic and inorganic amendments for cadmium phytoavailability to wheat

Purpose

Rapid industrialization in China accelerated environmental pollution by xenophores and trace metals particularly cadmium. Numerous studies have been conducted to address soil contamination using organic and inorganic amendments under pot or incubation conditions, but few were performed under field conditions, particularly in the wheat-growing areas. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of pre-applied soil amendments for Cd immobilization, changes in soil pH, and metal uptake by wheat.

Materials and methods

In this study, 12 treatments, i.e., control (CK), lime, DaSan Yuan (DASY), DiKang No. 1 (DEK1), biochar, Fe-biochar, Yirang, CaMgP, and green stabilizing agents (GSA-1, GSA-2, GSA-3, and GSA-4), were evaluated for Cd immobilization in incubation and field experiments. Changes in soil pH and available metal content with amendments were monitored from 30 to 150 days of incubation. Single extraction method and DTPA-extractable and sequential extraction procedures were employed to assess the variations in available Cd contents of field soil. The impact of soil amendments on Cd uptake and bioaccumulation in food part of wheat was measured at harvesting stage in a contaminated site.

Results and discussion

Lime treatment increased soil pH by 32% and reduced available Cd to 0.213 mg kg^?1, as compared to CK (control) in the incubation experiment (0.343 mg kg^?1). Effects of the amendments on wheat growth, soil pH, and Cd phytoavailability were reported. Wheat biomass was highest in treatment GSA-2 (13,880 kg ha^?1) and GAS-4 resulted in an increase in grain yield (5350 kg ha^?1). Soil pH of the treated field at harvesting stage increased up to 6.50, 6.50, and 6.47 by application of GSA-4, GSA-2, and lime, respectively. Cadmium contents in wheat grain were declined significantly in the treatments of GSA-2, GSA-4, and lime.

Conclusions

Results of this study revealed a significant decrease in available Cd concentration with the application of amendments. Composite amendments were more effective in terms of metal uptake and bioaccumulation in wheat. In addition, our results indicate the effectiveness of composite amendments in stabilizing Cd in contaminated soil.

     

Modulation of digestive enzymes,GH, IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in the teleost,Tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis mossambicus</Emphasis>) by dietary curcumin

Aquaculture is faced with the challenges of the use of synthetic compounds as growth enhancers and the presence of several contaminants in water. These factors severely deteriorate the quality and quantity of aquaculture products. Phytochemicals play a major role by working as antioxidant agents of which curcumin has become the gold standard. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa shows a wide spectrum of biological activities which include anticancerous, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antidiabetic, antistress, hepatoprotective and gastroprotective effects. Curcumin in 0.5 and 1 % doses were given as feed additive to Oreochromis mossambicus for 35 days. After feeding trial, activities of digestive enzymes such as α-amylase, protease and lipase were analysed. There was a significant increase in the activities of α-amylase, protease and lipase with 0.5 and 1 % curcumin supplementation in feed. Real-time quantification of GH in brain, and IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in muscle revealed that curcumin significantly increased the expression of these genes. This is the first study to report that curcumin supplementation at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 % in the feed improved the activities of digestive enzymes and also modulates the expression of GH in brain and growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2 in muscle of O. mossambicus.     

Prevalence of Multi-Drug-Resistant Salmonella in Equids Maintained by Low Income Individuals and on Designated Equine Farms in India

We examined 872 equids (445 maintained by low-income individuals and 427 maintained on nine designated equine farms) and, using previously described methods for bacteria, isolated Salmonella from fecal samples of 59 (6.77%) animals. Of the 646 horses, 183 donkeys, and 43 mules that had feces cultured for Salmonella, 42 (6.5%), 7 (3.8%), and 10 (23.3%), respectively, were excreting Salmonella strains in feces. Six horse mares were excreting Salmonella enterica of two different serovars simultaneously. A total of 65 Salmonella enterica isolates belonged to 13 serovars, namely S. paratyphi B var Java (14), S. I. 4, 5, 12, 27: r, i: 1, 5 (11), S. Drogana (8), S. Newport (7), S. Saintpaul (5), S. Lagos (4), S. Typhimurium (5), S. Kottbus (3), S. Bovismorbificans (3), S. Dumfries (2), S. Tshiongwe (1) S. Weltevreden (monophasic) (1), and S. enterica ssp salamae (1). With Salmonella-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using hisJ gene primers, 107 (12.3) fecal samples yielded a specific amplicon of 496 bp. On using PCR, prevalence of Salmonella in donkeys, horses, and mules was 4.9%, 10.8%, and 65.1%, respectively. With both methods of Salmonella detection in feces, prevalence was significantly higher in female than in male donkeys and horses. Salmonella shedding in feces was significantly higher in equids maintained by low-income people than those at designated equine farms. Almost all Salmonella isolates (63 of 65) had multiple-drug-resistance (MDR, resistance to three or more drugs). Salmonella isolates were commonly resistant to sulfamethoxazole (90.8%), tetracycline (70.8%), doxycycline (67.7%), furazolidone (66.2%), and colistin (55.4%). A few isolates had resistance to trimethoprim (3.1%), ciprofloxacin (3.1%), ceftriaxone (3.1%), ceftazidime (3.1%), cefoperazone (3.1%), chloramphenicol (4.6%), cefotaxime (6.2%), gentamicin (9.2%), ampicillin + cloxacillin (9.2%), cotrimoxazole (13.8%), kanamycin (13.8%), amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (16.9%), imipenem (16.9%), ampicillin (18.5%), amikacin (23.1%), neomycin (27.7%), nalidixic acid (33.8%), and streptomycin (36.9%). With the exception of 13 Salmonella isolates of S. Drogana (4), S. Newport (4), S. I. 4, 5, 12, 27: r, i: 1, 5 (4) and S. Kottbus (1) serovars, all had one or more than one plasmid. Molecular weight of plasmids ranged between 3 kDa and >87 kDa. One heavy plasmid (≥87 kda) was present in all the 52 plasmid-positive strains. Presence of plasmid could not be correlated with MDR in Salmonella isolates from equids.     

Diversity analysis and evaluation of wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abelmoschus</Emphasis> species for agro-morphological traits and major biotic stresses under the north western agro-climatic condition of India

The wild species in general is considered to be the reservoir of genes especially for biotic and abiotic stresses. In okra, the predominant biotic stresses are yellow vein mosaic disease (YVMD), shoot and fruit borer and leaf hopper. Sixty eight (68) accessions belonging to four wild Abelmoschus species [Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels, Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik., Abelmoschus moschatus (L.) Medik. and Abelmoschus tuberculatus Pal et Singh] and eight okra varieties were characterized and evaluated for phenological characters including biotic stresses under natural epiphytotic condition. The wild species examined consisted of 18 accessions (16 exotic and 2 indigenous) of A. caillei, 29 accessions of A. manihot, 16 accessions of A. moschatus and 5 accessions of A. tuberculatus. All the wild Abelmoschus species exhibited high diversity (as measured by Shannon Diversity Index) for 3 qualitative characters viz. intensity of stem colour, leaf shape, epicalyx shape, 13 quantitative characters and 3 biotic stress parameters. Among the wild species, A. caillei and A. tuberculatus showed maximum and minimum diversity for qualitative characters, respectively. There was significant variation for 19 out of 24 quantitative characters studied. Inter-species diversity pattern as estimated through Ward’s Minimum Variance Dendrogram and Principal Component Analysis revealed clear differentiation among the species with minimum overlapping indicating close association between geographical origins and clustering pattern. Intra-species diversity indicated role of specific adaptation in sub-clustering. Resistance to YVMD was found in accessions belonging to three wild species viz. A. caillei, A. manihot and A. moschatus while resistance to shoot and fruit borer and leaf hopper was found in accessions of all the four wild species. The resistant accessions can further be used for introgressing biotic stress resistance through pre-breeding into cultivated okra species.     

Phylogenetic analysis of recent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) isolates from Assam, India

Classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious viral disease of pigs, is endemic in India. As there is no information concerning the accurate genetic typing of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) isolates in India, 16 CSF viruses isolated during 2005-2007 from domestic pigs in different districts of Assam were typed in 5′ UTR (150 nucleotides). To confirm the genetic typing results and to study the genetic variability, selected viruses were also analyzed in E2 (190 nt) and NS5B gene (409 nt) regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the 16 CSFV isolates analyzed belonged to group 1 and subgroup 1.1 in contrast to the situation in other Asian countries. Additionally, analysis in E2 and NS5B region placed the Indian isolates in a clearly separated clade within subgroup 1.1. The results suggest that subgroup 1.1 CSF viruses are currently circulating in India, which is important for epidemiology and control of CSF.     

Effect of inland water salinity on growth,feed conversion efficiency and intestinal enzyme activity in growing grey mullet, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mugil cephalus</Emphasis> (Linn.): Field and laboratory studies

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of inland water salinity on growth performance, feed conversion efficiency and intestinal enzyme activity in grey mullet. In experiment I, a 90 day monoculture of grey mullet at different salinity levels (0, 10, 15, 20 and 25%) was carried out. The fingerlings were stocked at 5000 per hectare and fed on a supplementary diet at 5% BW d^–1. This Study revealed that fish growth mean body weight (90.5 ± 4.5 g) and mean length (21.6 ± 0.4 cm), SGR (4.70%) and growth per day (0.99 g d^–1) were significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in fish maintained at 10% salinity in comparison with other treatments. Nutrient levels, phytoplankton population, NPP and chlorophyll a all decreased with an increase in salinity (>10%). In addition, zooplankton populations increased with an increase in the salinity level. Most of the other hydrochemical characteristics remained at optimal levels in all other treatments. Fish weight gain showed a significant positive correlation with productivity indicating parameters viz. alkalinity (r = 0.53), turbidity (r = 0.62), NPP (r = 0.75) and chlorophyll a (r = 0.46), clearly revealing that fish growth is also related to the trophic status of the ponds. In the second experiment (Experiment II), mullet fry were exposed to five different salinity levels (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%) and maintained for 70 days in the laboratory. Significantly (p < 0.05) high growth, (SGR and per cent increase in body weight), feed conversion efficiency and intestinal enzyme activity were observed in the group maintained at 10 salinity in comparison with other groups maintained at similar salinity levels. Carcass composition, musc1e and liver glycogen levels were also significantly (p < 0.05) affected by salinity changes.     

Virome identification in wheat in the Czech Republic using small RNA deep sequencing

High-throughput deep-sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis of the small RNA(sRNA) population isolated from plants allows universal virus detection and complete virome reconstruction for a given sample. In the present sRNA deep-sequencing analysis of virus-infected wheat samples in the Czech Republic, samples were firstly tested for barley yellow dwarf viruses(BYDVs), wheat streak mosaic virus(WSMV) and wheat dwarf virus(WDV) using ELISA, RT-PCR and PCR. Subsequent sRNA sequencing of these samples yielded more than ～60 million single-end 50-bp reads with high confidence for nine field samples of wheat. Overall, 16.5% of reads were virus-specific and 83.5% were mapped to the host. More 21-nt reads(～7.7 E+06 reads) were found than 24-nt(～6.20 E+06 reads) or 22-nt(～4.30 E+06 reads) reads. De novo assembly of the high-quality contigs revealed the presence of three earlier reported viruses in the Czech Republic: BYDVs(31.48%), WSMV(24.23%) and WDV(26.66%). We also showed the presence of cereal yellow dwarf virus(14.33%; two species CYDV-RPS and CYDV-RPV(family Luteoviridae/Polerovirus) and wheat yellow dwarf virus(WYDV, 3.30%; Luteoviridae). Phylogenetic analysis showed CYDV and WYDV grouped separately from BYDVs. Furthermore, several recombination breakpoints were found among the groups of yellow dwarf viruses(BYDVs, CYDV, and WYDV). Using RNA deep sequencing, we confirmed the presence of the three known viruses(BYDVs, WSMV, and WDV) and the first record of two species of CYDV and WYDV in wheat in the Czech Republic.