Characterisation of sunflower root colonisation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma macdonaldii</Emphasis>

Phoma macdonaldii, the causal agent of black stem disease of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), also attacks roots and collars of the plants, resulting in early death. Totally resistant lines do not exist for infection of the aerial parts, but tolerant lines have been characterised. This paper presents a study on colonisation of a partially resistant and a susceptible sunflower line by P. macdonaldii. The fungus was transformed with a constitutively expressed reporter gene encoding the jellyfish green fluorescent protein via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and colonisation of sunflower roots by this transformed strain was studied by various microscopy techniques including confocal and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that penetration of the fungus into the root occurred through natural fissures or through the epidermis and was similar in both lines. In contrast, the colonisation rate of the stele was reduced in the partially resistant line, and the morphology of the fungal hyphae was also affected. The effect on hyphal morphology was strongest in the stele, indicating a localised production of defence compounds in this line.     

Induction of photosynthesis and importance of limitations during the induction phase in sun and shade leaves of five ecologically contrasting tree species from the temperate zone

We examined the principal differences in photosynthetic characteristics between sun and shade foliage and determined the relative importance of biochemical and stomatal limitations during photosynthetic induction. Temperate-zone broadleaf and conifer tree species, ranging widely in shade tolerance, were investigated from one locality in the Czech Republic. The study species included strongly shade-tolerant Abies alba Mill. and Tilia cordata Mill., less shade-tolerant Fagus sylvatica L. and Acer pseudoplatanus L. and sun-demanding Picea abies (L.) Karst. In the fully activated photosynthetic state, sun foliage of all species had significantly higher maximum CO(2) assimilation rates, maximum stomatal conductance and maximum rates of carboxylation than shade foliage. Compared with shade leaves, sun leaves had significantly higher nocturnal stomatal conductances. In all species, shade foliage tended to have higher induction states 60 s after leaf illumination than sun foliage. Sun and shade foliage did not differ in the rate of disappearance of the transient biochemical limitation during the induction phase. Longer time periods were required to reach 90% photosynthetic induction and 90% stomatal induction in sun foliage than in shade foliage of the less shade-tolerant F. sylvatica and A. pseudoplatanus and in sun-demanding P. abies; however, in sun foliage of the strongly shade-tolerant species T. cordata and A. alba, the time needed for photosynthetic induction was similar to, or less than, that for shade foliage. Shade but not sun needles of P. abies and A. alba had significantly slower induction kinetics than the broadleaf tree species. Among species, the sun-demanding P. abies exhibited the shortest stomatal induction times in both sun and shade leaves. Independently of shade tolerance ranking, the transient stomatal and total limitations that characterize photosynthetic induction were relieved significantly earlier in shade foliage than in sun foliage. Sun foliage generally exhibited a hyperbolic photosynthetic induction response, whereas a sigmoidal induction response was more frequent in shade foliage. The different relative proportions of transient biochemical and stomatal limitations during photosynthetic induction in sun and shade foliage indicate an essential role of stomata in photosynthetic limitation during induction, mainly in shade foliage, with a consequent influence on the shape of the photosynthetic induction curve.     

Chronic toxicity of contaminated sediments on reproduction and histopathology of the crustacean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammarus fossarum</Emphasis> and relationship with the chemical contamination and in vitro effects

Purpose  

The aim of the present study was to investigate possible relationships between the sediment contaminants and the occurrence of intersex in situ. Two of the studied sediments were from polluted sites with increased occurrence of intersex crustaceans (Lake Pilnok, black coal mining area in the Czech Republic, inhabited by the crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus population with 18% of intersex; creek Lockwitzbach in Germany with Gammarus fossarum population with about 7% of intersex).     

Influence of land use in small karst watersheds on the chemical status of peloid sediments on the eastern Adriatic coast

Background, Aim and Scope  

Most of the cathment areas supplying water and mineral matter to the Adriatic bays with healing mud/peloids are affected by various degrees of human impact, i.e. activity that is introducing various types of contaminants to environment. The bays represent shallow marine depositional environments where organic-rich sediments accumulate. Investigations for balneological characterization of several localities along the Croatian coast have shown that these organic-rich sediments may be classified as healing mud, i.e. peloids. Healing mud due to its balneologic features is in treatment of various diseases and in improvement of the overall health conditions and general well-being. Various components of mud, particularly trace elements, could be absorbed through dermal contact. Therefore, the study of the abundance of such potentially toxic elements as As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Sb, Cu, Zn in marine sediments used as healing mud is necessary in order to know their mobility and to avoid possible intoxications.     

Soil carbon and nitrogen changes after clearing mulga (Acacia aneura) vegetation in Queensland,Australia: Observations,simulations and scenario analysis

In the work reported here we examine the changes in soil (organic) carbon and nitrogen that are observed after converting a stand of nitrogen-fixing mulga trees (Acacia aneura) to buffel-grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) pasture that contained no nitrogen-fixing legumes. A range of previously reported field measurements was compared against the output of CenW 3.1, a reformulated version of the CENTURY model.The model successfully reproduced the observed patterns of soil carbon, C:N ratios and nitrogen mineralisation rates under mulga vegetation. This included relatively small changes in carbon concentration down to 1 m, C:N ratios of around 11–13 across all soil depths, substantial nitrogen mineralisation rates to a depth of 90 cm and, after clearing, an on-going decrease in soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks.Interpretation of experimental observations was made difficult by the addition of a large amount of ‘dead’ organic matter from killed mulga roots after clearance. This material may be excluded through sieving (to 2 mm) in measurements taken shortly after tree removal, but may be included in later-year sampling as the partly decomposed material might be able to pass through sieves. Past work has usually ignored consideration of dead coarse roots. For the site carbon budget, changes in live biomass and surface litter significantly outweighed the small changes in soil organic carbon, and changes in decaying coarse roots were quantitatively more important than changes in other organic carbon pools.Modelled nitrogen mineralisation rates were lower under buffel-grass than those under mulga and showed significant year-to-year variations that were in line with varying rainfall. It showed no consistent trend over the first 20 years after clearing because the effect of decreasing nitrogen stocks was balanced by an increase in organic matter quality with the change from lignin-rich mulga litter to buffel-grass litter with lower lignin concentration. Nitrogen mineralisation rates gradually decreased thereafter as nitrogen stocks continued to decrease but litter quality stabilised.A scenario analysis showed that soil carbon and nitrogen trends could be affected by changing the nitrogen budget through inclusion of legumes or cessation of nutrient removal by grazing animals. Inclusion of legumes was needed to halt the decline in soil nitrogen and to ensure the long-term maintenance, or increase, in nitrogen stocks.     

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.     

Neoplastic pleural effusion and intrathoracic metastasis of a scapular osteosarcoma in a dog: a multidisciplinary integrated diagnostic approach

A 10‐year‐old, female spayed mixed‐breed or cross‐bred dog was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the University of Liverpool due to tachypnea, dyspnea, and pleural effusion not responding to diuretics and antibiotics. The chest was drained and cytology of the pleural fluid was consistent with a modified transudate with presence of atypical cells initially attributed to mesothelial hyperplasia and dysplasia. Computed tomography detected, in addition to the bilateral pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening, multiple pleural and pulmonary nodules, and a mineralized and lytic mass in the left scapula. Imaging findings were suggestive of a primary bone tumor with intrathoracic metastasis. Cytology of the left scapular and pleural masses revealed a malignant neoplasm highly suggestive of osteosarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of a positive cytochemical reaction for alkaline phosphatase on prestained cytology slides. This finding prompted review of the initial interpretation of the pleural effusion cytology. The presence of neoplastic osteoblasts in the thoracic fluid was identified by a combination of cytochemistry, cell pellet immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy findings. In this report, a multidisciplinary integrated diagnostic approach was used to diagnose and confirm a neoplastic pleural effusion due to osteosarcoma metastasis in a dog.     

Monitoring changes in distribution of pulmonary ventilation by functional electrical impedance tomography in anaesthetized ponies

Objective

To assess changes in the distribution in pulmonary ventilation in anaesthetized ponies using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

Genetic diversity and population structure of Brachiaria brizantha (A.Rich.) Stapf accessions from Ethiopia

Brachiaria is a tropical, warm-season grass native to Africa. It is an extensively cultivated forage in the tropics with proven benefits on livestock productivity. Brachiaria is well-known for high biomass production, animal nutrition, carbon sequestration, biological nitrification inhibition, soil conservation, and adaptation to drought and low fertility soils. However, the use of Brachiaria grass for fodder production in Africa has been little explored largely due to lack of cultivars suitable to different production environments. The exploration and use of natural diversity is fundamental for an efficient Brachiaria breeding program. We analysed genetic diversity and population structure of 112 Ethiopian Brachiaria brizantha accessions using 23 microsatellite markers. A total of 459 alleles were detected with an average polymorphic information content of 0.75 suggesting high discriminating ability of these markers. The molecular variance analysis showed a high contribution (86%) of within-cluster differences to the total variation. Three allelic pools revealed by STRUCTURE analysis in 112 accessions were in agreement with the clustering patterns seen in neighbor-joining tree and principal coordinates analyses. A core collection of 39 B. brizantha accessions was constituted. This study concludes a high genetic diversity of Ethiopian B. brizantha accessions and their importance in Brachiaria breeding programs.