Ecologically based height growth model and derived raster maps of Norway spruce site index in the Western Carpathians

The purpose of this study was to find the ecological factors that most affect height growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) over the Western Carpathians. The specific aim was to find climate and soil parameters which are influenced by climate change and can thus be used to make a forest growth model more sensitive to climate. From the results, a regression model was built which can predict top height growth of Norway spruce from ecological parameters. Data collected on 201 plots established within National Forest Inventory of Slovakia were used. The plots selected for the study were distributed almost over the whole Western Carpathians. Mean height of the 20 % largest spruce trees was used as dependent variable. From all investigated ecological factors, the growing season length explained as the number of days with temperature over 5 °C, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and soil acidity were shown to have the major impact on top height growth of Norway spruce. Finally, 76 % of total variability in top height was explained by the mentioned site variables. To obtain a user-friendly output, a probability matrix was developed showing the likelihood of a discrete site index to occur on different combinations of site factors. Moreover, raster maps showing the site index of spruce and its probability distribution were developed.     

Antioxidant capacity changes and phenolic profile of Echinacea purpurea, nettle (Urtica dioica L.), and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) after application of polyamine and phenolic biosynthesis regulators

The changes of the antioxidant (AOA) and antiradical activities (ARA) and the total contents of phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonols, and hydroxybenzoic acid in roots and different aerial sections of Echinacea purpurea, nettle, and dandelion, after treatment with ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, a polyamine inhibitor (O-phosphoethanolamine, KF), and a phenol biosynthesis stimulator (carboxymethyl chitin glucan, CCHG) were analyzed spectrophotometrically; hydroxycinnamic acids content was analyzed by RP-HPLC with UV detection. Both regulators increased the AOA measured as inhibition of peroxidation (IP) in all herb sections, with the exception of Echinacea stems after treatment with KF. In root tissues IP was dramatically elevated mainly after CCHG application: 8.5-fold in Echinacea, 4.14-fold in nettle, and 2.08-fold in dandelion. ARA decrease of Echinacea leaves treated with regulators was in direct relation only with cichoric acid and caftaric acid contents. Both regulators uphold the formation of cinnamic acid conjugates, the most expressive being that of cichoric acid after treatment with CCHG in Echinacea roots from 2.71 to 20.92 mg g(-1). There was a strong relationship between increase of the total phenolics in all sections of Echinacea, as well as in the studied sections of dandelion, and the anthocyanin content.     

Phyletic relationships within the genus Hordeum using PCR-based markers

Fifteen Hordeum species and subspeciesbelonging to groups with different genomes were studied usingPCR-based markers to establish phylogenetic relationshipswithin the genus. Two hundred and seventeen RAPD and STS markers wereused to calculate genetic distances and construct phylogenetic trees.The phenetic analysis clearly separated the primary gene pool,represented by H. vulgaressp. vulgare, H.vulgare ssp. vulgare convar. vulgare f. agriochriton andH. vulgare ssp.spontaneum, from the secondary gene pool,represented by H. bulbosumand the tertiary gene pool, represented by American wild barleys andH. bogdanii. Data obtainedfrom PCO analysis are in complete agreement with taxonomicclassifications proposed previously, which were comparisons ofnumerous morphological, cytological and reproductivecharacters.     

Assessment of genetic diversity in emmer (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) × durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) derived lines and their parents using mapped and unmapped molecular markers

In the last few years, the renewed interest for emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) in Italy has stimulated breeding programs for this crop releasing improved genotypes obtained not only by selection from landraces, but even by crosses with durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties. The purpose of this work has been to uncover the genetic make-up of some emmer × durum derivatives, specifically by comparing the differences from their parents. Genetic diversity of advanced breeding lines and varieties derived from a durum × emmer cross has been evaluated on the basis of AFLP and SSR markers in comparison with the corresponding emmer and durum wheat parent for addressing the seminal question of how much ‘wild’ variation remains after selection for agronomic type.     

Protein heterogeneity in European wheat landraces and obsolete cultivars: Additional information

The objective of this study was to determine the composition of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of landraces and obsolete cultivars. Altogether glutenin profiles of 67 European wheats were analyzed by sodiumdodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Nineteen of them were observed to be homogeneous, whereas 48 (71%) were heterogeneous in glutenin profiles. Heterogeneous accessions possessed from 2 to 9 different glutenin phenotypes. Seventeen high molecular weight (HMW)-glutenin subunits have been found, three belonged to Glu-1A, 11 to Glu-1B, and three to Glu-1D locus. The most frequented HMW-GS at the Glu-A1, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 complex loci were 0, 7+9, and 2+12, respectively. However, allele low frequented in wheat such as 13+16, 20, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were observed also. Furthermore, other new alleles encoding HMW-GS at the locus Glu-1B with relative molecular weight 120 and 104 kDa have been found in one of the line of the Swedish cultivar Kotte. TheGlu-1 quality score in the examined accessions varied broadly with some lines reaching the maximum value of 10.     

Determination of proteins in refined and nonrefined oils

Five methods using aqueous/organic solvents for the separation of proteins from oils were compared. The extraction with acetone-hexane followed by amino acid analysis was found to be the most suitable method for isolation and quantification of proteins from oils. The detection limit of the method was 0.18 mg protein/kg oil, and the quantification limit was 0.6 mg protein/kg. The relative repeatability limit for samples containing 1-5 mg protein/kg sample was 27%. The protein recovery ranged between 68 and 133%. Using this method, the protein content of 14 refined and nonrefined oils was determined. In none of the refined oils were proteins detected, whereas the protein content of the unrefined oils ranged between undetectable in extra virgin olive oil to 11 mg/kg in rapeseed oil. With sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in combination with silver staining, many protein bands were visible in the unrefined soy, olive, peanut, and rapeseed oil samples. Proteins bands were not obtained from the refined fish oil. In the other refined oil samples, a few proteins bands could be visualized. Two protein bands with apparent molecular molecular masses of 58 and 64 kDa were always observed in these oils.     

The effect of soil-climate conditions on yielding parameters,chemical composition and baking quality of ancient wheat species Triticum monococcum L., Triticum dicoccum Schrank and Triticum spelt L. in comparison with modern Triticum aestivum L.

Triticum monococcum L., Triticum dicoccum Schrank and Triticum spelt L. nowadays offer an alternative to Triticum aestivum L. We analyzed grain and straw yield, yielding parameters, chemical composition and bakery quality of these species and compared them with modern T. aestivum at three sites with different soil-climate conditions. The average grain yield varied from 0.41 t ha^?1 (T. monococcum) to 5.17 t ha^?1 (T. aestivum), straw yield varied from 1.50 t ha^?1 (T. dicoccum) to 5.83 t ha^?1 (T. aestivum). The yielding parameters and chemical composition of the grain were significantly influenced by soil-climate conditions and wheat species. The highest average crude protein content was recorded in T. spelta (20.55%), while the lowest in T. aestivum (11.20%). The Zeleny’s sedimentation test ranged from 9.0 ml (T. monococcum) to 34.5 ml (T. aestivum) and the value of the Gluten index varied from 7.45 (T. dicoccum) to 89.75 (T. aestivum). According to the results, ancient wheat species provides lower grain and straw yields, higher protein content and mineral concentrations. Concentration of proteins and grain’s baking quality strongly depends on wheat species and soil-climate conditions.     

Infectivity and pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium andersoni to a novel host, southern multimammate mouse (Mastomys coucha)

The infectivity and pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium andersoni (bovine isolate) for neonatal and adult southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha) was studied using transmission experiments. C. andersoni isolate used in this study was not infective for BALB/c mice, but experimental infection proved susceptibility of neonatal and adult M. coucha to the infection. The prepatent period was 20-24 days, the patent period varied between 46 and 59 days. No signs of clinical illness or macroscopic findings were detected in infected animals. Cryptosporidium developmental stages were detected only in the glandular part of the stomach of M. coucha in histological sections stained with Wolbach's modification of Giemsa and using immunofluorecence. Histopathological changes were characterized by dilatation and epithelial metaplasia of infected gastric glands without inflammatory response in the lamina propria. Neonatal M. coucha were more susceptible to C. andersoni infection than adults. M. coucha seems to be a useful laboratory model for study of C. andersoni infection.