Characterization of Fusarium population associated with wilt of jojoba in Israel

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is a major disease of jojoba, causing serious economic losses. This study was aimed at characterizing the Fusarium populations associated with jojoba in Israel. Fifty Fusarium isolates used in this study included 23 isolates from the 1990s (“past”) and 27 recently isolated (“recent”). All the isolates were characterized by arbitrarily primed (ap)-PCR and 16 representatives were additionally delineated using multilocus (tef1, rpb1, rpb2) phylogeny and evaluated for their pathogenic potential. Consequently, 88% of the isolates were identified and characterized to the F. oxysporum species complex. The remaining 12% grouped within the F. fujikuroi, F. solani, and F. redolens species complexes. Variations in the infection rate (16.7%–100%), disease symptoms (0.08–1.25, on a scale of 0–3), and fungal colonization index (0.67–2.17, on a scale of 0–4) were observed within the tested isolates, with no significant differences between the past and recent isolates. The representative isolates were assigned to 11 groups based on ap-PCR. Pathogenicity tests showed that isolates from Groups II, IV, and V were the most aggressive, whereas isolates from Groups III, VIII, and IX were the least aggressive. Among the tested isolates, F. oxysporum sensu lato was the most aggressive, followed by F. proliferatum, while F. nygamai was the least aggressive. This study demonstrates the complexity and genetic diversity of Fusarium wilt on jojoba in Israel, indicating possible multiple introductions of infected germplasm into the country.     

Protein-lipid interactions during liposome oxidation with added anthocyanin and other phenolic compounds

Oxidation of bovine serum albumin, casein, and lactalbumin and the effect of different procyanidins, anthocyanins, and their aglycons (10 and 20 microM) on lactalbumin oxidation were investigated in a liposome system. Samples were incubated in the dark at 37 degrees C with copper, and the extent of oxidation was measured by determining the loss of tryptophan fluorescence and the formation of protein carbonyls, conjugated diene hydroperoxides, and hexanal. The correlation between different protein and lipid oxidation measurements was good and statistically significant. Casein was the most stable protein in the liposome model, and it was also the best inhibitor of liposome oxidation. All tested anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds inhibited both lipid and protein oxidation. There were no systematic differences with anthocyanins and their aglycons in relation to the concentrations used or glycosylation with either glucose or rutinose. Procyanidins B1 and B2 and ellagic acid were potentially better antioxidants than anthocyanins due to their several hydroxyl groups as measured by both protein and lipid oxidation. In conclusion, oxidative deterioration of liposomes due to protein-lipid interaction is inhibited by anthocyanins, procyanidins, and ellagitannin present, for example, in berries.     

Utility of two‐view vs. three‐view abdominal radiography in canines presenting with acute abdominal signs

There are clear differences in the normal radiographic appearance of the abdominal organs between a left lateral vs. a right lateral view. While a few veterinary academic institutions have transitioned to a three‐view abdominal radiographic study protocol, obtaining only two views of the canine abdomen remains the current standard in veterinary medicine. In this combined retrospective and prospective, case‐controlled study, 48 canine patients presenting with signs of acute abdomen were recruited. Four board‐certified veterinary radiologists and four general practice veterinarians with greater than 3 years of experience in small animal practice were asked to determine if 10 predetermined findings were present within the set of images and if surgery was recommended based on those findings. Image readers were unaware of the clinical history. Three‐view studies did not yield statistically significantly greater accuracy than two‐view studies when evaluating all readers together. No statistically significant associations between the availability of the third view and increased accuracy or confidence were found in evaluations of general practitioners specifically. Evaluation of three‐view radiographic examination, as compared to two‐view examination, did not have perceived or statistically significantly increased diagnostic utility. Based on our findings, there is no statistically increased utility to justify a standard three‐view abdominal radiographic examination over a two‐view study for canines presenting with signs of acute abdomen.     

The role of private conservation areas in biodiversity representation and target achievement within the Little Karoo region, South Africa

It is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and expand statutory conservation areas (i.e., parks and formally protected areas). Therefore, alternative opportunities for land conservation merit closer attention. This paper examines the extent to which privately owned conservation areas contribute to biodiversity representation. Gap analyses were performed for a large semi-arid region in South Africa with a comprehensive database of private conservation areas. The distribution of private conservation areas was compared to statutory conservation areas using several landscape characteristics: biome and vegetation variant, elevation class, ecological process area, total area, and threat status (endangerment). Conservation target achievement for the vegetation variants was also assessed, as was the degree to which private conservation areas complemented statutory conservation areas by representing different landscape characteristics. The number of targets achieved nearly tripled if private conservation areas were considered in addition to statutory conservation areas. Further, private conservation areas significantly complemented statutory conservation areas in the types of biomes, elevation classes, and threat status classes conserved. Private conservation areas were especially important in conserving lower elevation habitat, and by association, endangered vegetation. This particular relationship is expected to be common worldwide. Our results indicate that private lands conservation deserves an increased allocation of resources for both research and implementation.     

Distribution of traffic-related contaminants in urban topsoils across a highway in Moscow

Purpose

The objective of this research is to find out the spatial distribution of different traffic-related contaminants in urban topsoils across a highway (125,000 vehicles per day) in the city of Moscow, Russia.

Materials and methods

The topsoils (0–3 cm depth) were sampled 1, 6, 10, 18, and 50 m perpendicular to the roadbed in three replicates 10 m apart. We analyzed total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), heavy metals in total and phyto-available forms (HM; Cu, Zn, and Pb), and deicing salts (DS; Cl^?). The TPH were extracted with carbon tetrachloride and detected by spectrometry and PAH were extracted with methylene chloride, separated by high-performance liquid chromatography, and determined by fluorescence detector. Total HM were extracted by microwave acid digestion with aqua regia and phyto-available forms were extracted by NH₄OAc and determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The DS were analyzed using an ion liquid chromatograph with a conductometric detector.

Results and discussion

Heavy soil pollution was found within 1–6 m of the road. The TPH, B[a]P, and phyto-available HM concentrations exceeded permissible levels for Russia, while total HM and DS did not. The contaminant contents sharply decreased 10 m from the road. Within 10–50 m, they reached background levels, while PAH levels were elevated. We attribute this to the greater age of soils at 10–50 m than 1–6 m from the road. The different contaminant distribution patterns are attributed to their different transportation pathways: TPH, DS, and HM generally reach soils through road spray, splashes, melting snow moved from the road surface to roadsides, and aerosol sedimentation, whereas PAH are mainly transported as airborne particles and are thus able to reach more distant locations.

Conclusions

Traffic-related soil pollution creates ecotoxicological and human-health risks. Distribution patterns vary by type of soil contaminant. The influence of the road on soil contamination was greatest within 10 m from the roadbed for TPH, HM, and DS and within 50 m for PAH. The increased PAH concentration levels with increased distance from the road highlights the importance of PAH monitoring in roadside soils.

     

Synthesis and characterization of a potential prebiotic trisaccharide from cheese whey permeate and sucrose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides dextransucrase

The production of new bioactive oligosaccharides is currently garnering much attention for their potential use as functional ingredients. This work addresses the enzymatic synthesis and NMR structural characterization of 2-α-D-glucopyranosyl-lactose derived from sucrose:lactose and sucrose:cheese whey permeate mixtures by using a Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512F dextransucrase. The effect of synthesis conditions, including concentration of substrates, molar ratio of donor/acceptor, enzyme concentration, reaction time, and temperature, on the formation of transfer products is evaluated. Results indicated that cheese whey permeate is a suitable material for the synthesis of 2-α-D-glucopyranosyl-lactose, giving rise to yields around 50% (in weight respect to the initial amount of lactose) under the optimum reaction conditions. According to its structure, this trisaccharide is an excellent candidate for a new prebiotic ingredient, due to the reported high resistance of α-(1→2) linkages to the digestive enzymes in humans and animals, as well as to its potential selective stimulation of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine mainly attributed to the two linked glucose units located at the reducing end that reflects the disaccharide kojibiose (2-α-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose). These findings could contribute to broadening the use of important agricultural raw materials, such as sucrose or cheese whey permeates, as renewable substrates for enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides of nutritional interest.     

Recultivation of Agricultural Land Impaired by Construction of a Hydropower Plant on the Sava River,Slovenia

Hydropower plants on the lower river Sava, Slovenia, were developed without sealing the underground upstream. As a consequence, without the countermeasures of elevating and recultivating, the agricultural land on the river banks would be inundated because of the water‐table increase of the river. To remedy this, the fields were elevated and recultivated. The goal of this study was to assess soil quality and production potential after land raising and recultivation and to answer the question whether it is possible to recover soil quality and crop yield after large‐scale mass manipulation, such as land raising. After recultivation and after the second year of land reuse for the two cultures grass–clover mixture and corn on two sites, Middle Pijavsko and Lower Pijavsko, soil physical and chemical characteristics and crop yields were evaluated. Mixing of topsoil with the second horizon during removal and during backfill with filling material resulted in uneven soil fertility, plant growth and decreased yield. Driving on the refilled second layer with heavy machinery caused soil compaction in the Middle Pijavsko in spite of favourable soil texture (loam, 38·7% sand). On the areas with very high sand content (over 55%) and low clay content (10%), soil compaction was not as severe or persistent. Recultivation measures restored the agricultural land almost to the production potential prior to powerplant construction. Immediate intensive land use (corn) showed less favourable effect on soil characteristics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.