Trichoderma Biocontrol of Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea and Survival in Strawberry

Trichoderma isolates are known for their ability to control plant pathogens. It has been shown that various isolates of Trichoderma, including T. harzianum isolate T-39 from the commercial biological control product TRICHODEX, were effective in controlling anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum) and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry, under controlled and greenhouse conditions. Three selected Trichoderma strains, namely T-39, T-161 and T-166, were evaluated in large-scale experiments using different timing application and dosage rates for reduction of strawberry anthracnose and grey mould. All possible combinations of single, double or triple mixtures of Trichoderma strains, applied at 0.4% and 0.8% concentrations, and at 7 or 10 day intervals, resulted in reduction of anthracnose severity; the higher concentration (0.8%) was superior in control whether used with single isolates or as a result of combined application of two isolates, each at 0.4%. Only a few treatments resulted in significant control of grey mould. Isolates T-39 applied at 0.4% at 2 day intervals, T-166 at 0.4%, or T-161 combined with T-39 at 0.4% were as effective as the chemical fungicide fenhexamide. The survival dynamics of populations of the Trichoderma isolates (T-39, T-105, T-161 and T-166) applied separately was determined by dilution plating and isolates in the mixtures calculated according to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using repeat motif primers. The biocontrol isolates were identified to the respective species T. harzianum (T-39), T. hamatum (T-105), T. atroviride (T-161) and T. longibrachiatum (T-166), according to internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis.     

Chromosome localisation of genes for resistance to Heterodera schachtii, Cercospora beticola and Polymyxa betae using sets of Beta procumbens and B. patellaris derived monosomic additions in B. vulgaris

Beet cyst nematodes (BCN, Heterodera schachtii), Cercospora beticola, and rhizomania, caused by the beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and vectored by the soil-borne fungus Polymyxa betae, are the most serious diseases of sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris). The wild Beta species of section Procumbentes are known to be completely resistant to H. schachtii, C. beticola and P. betae. Alien monosomic additions (2n=19), plants of cultivated beet (2n=18) carrying different individual chromosomes of B. procumbens (2n=18) or B. patellaris (2n=36), were tested in greenhouse experiments for resistance to these pathogens. Gene(s) conferring full resistance to the beet cyst nematode in B. patellaris are located on chromosome 1.1, and the other tested chromosomes of B. patellaris are not involved in the expression of resistance. Artificial inoculation under greenhouse conditions, with in vitro produced inoculum of C. beticola and spot-percentage rating of the disease intensity, showed that the high level of resistance that was observed in the wild species B. procumbens and B. patellaris was not found in any of the monosomic additions tested. It was suggested that genes on various chromosomes of the wild species are needed to express full resistance, and that the chromosomes of group 7 of B. patellaris and chromosome 7 of B. procumbens have the largest effect. The greenhouse tests for resistance to P. betae in B. patellaris derived monosomic additions showed that the addition families of group 4.1 have a strong partial resistance, while the addition families of group 8.1 appeared to be completely resistant to the pathogen. Resistance to P. betae in the two wild species as well as in the two resistant addition types did not exclude infection with BNYVV, but resulted in a considerable reduction of the virus concentration. It was concluded that resistance to the vector would complement virus resistance, and may provide a more effective and durable control of rhizomania. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

TOTAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS CONNECTION IN A FOAL

An 8-day-old Arabian-Morgan cross colt underwent cardiac evaluation. The foal was tachycardic, tachypneic, exercise intolerant and had a loud right-sided heart murmur and cyanotic mucous membranes. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was diagnosed with echocardiography and confirmed at postmortem examination. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality that has not been reported before in the horse.     

Insights into the Toxicological Properties of a Low Molecular Weight Fraction from Zoanthus sociatus (Cnidaria)

The phylum Cnidaria is an ancient group of venomous animals, specialized in the production and delivery of toxins. Many species belonging to the class Anthozoa have been studied and their venoms often contain a group of peptides, less than 10 kDa, that act upon ion channels. These peptides and their targets interact with high affinity producing neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects, and even death, depending on the dose and the administration pathway. Zoanthiniaria is an order of the Subclass Hexacorallia, class Anthozoa, and unlike sea anemone (order Actiniaria), neither its diversity of toxins nor the in vivo effects of the venoms has been exhaustively explored. In this study we assessed some toxicological tests on mice with a low molecular weight fraction obtained by gel filtration in Sephadex G-50 from Zoanthus sociatus crude extract. The gel filtration chromatogram at 280 nm revealed two major peaks, the highest absorbance corresponding to the low molecular weight fraction. The toxicological effects seem to be mostly autonomic and cardiotoxic, causing death in a dose dependent manner with a LD₅₀ of 792 μg/kg. Moreover, at a dose of 600 μg/kg the active fraction accelerated the KCl-induced lethality in mice.     

Evidence of plaggen soils in European North Russia (Arkhangelsk region)

To clarify whether a particular group of soils of Archangelsk region (European N Russia) with humus‐rich topsoils exceeding the plowing zone supports an anthropogenic formation, four exemplary profiles were investigated. The investigation sites are characterized by distinct elevated surfaces, and the soils show thick toplayers of up to 60 cm with enrichment of soil organic matter and artifacts like brick, charcoal, and peat fragments, all indicating an anthropogenic origin. Increased phytolith amounts and high P contents of up to 800 mg kg^–1 citric acid–soluble P and up to 1,400 mg kg^–1 total P in the top horizons support an anthropogenic influence. These properties are very similar to the Plagganthrepts of NW Europe. The same is true regarding the main management aims: increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding materials. Having the required depths of the anthropogenic topsoil, the properties of the soils of the Archangelsk region allow a classification as Agrozems (Russian classification), Plaggenesche (German classification), and Plagganthrepts (US taxonomy). Since the high base saturation of the topsoil excludes a designation as plaggic horizon, the topsoil has to be considered as terric horizon, which leads to a classification as Terric Anthrosol according to WRB.     

接种茄病镰刀菌(Fusarium solani f.sp.glycines)对不同基因型大豆植株和须根的影响

摘要：茄病镰刀菌（Fusarium solani f．sp．glydne）是一种土生细菌,通过侵染大豆根系引发猝死综合症。利用温室盆栽试验和须根培养试验研究了接种茄孢镰刀菌对13个不同基因型大豆的影响。结果表明：接种后所有盆栽大豆主根都有明显深褐色的侵染病斑;移植后21d测定了盆栽植株叶部发病程度,Peking表现最为严重,然后依次为Spencer,Ripley,P3981,Williams82,Essex,Forrest,Iroquois,PI520733,Hartwig,PI567650B,Jack,和PI567374。叶部发病程度与冠高（r=-0．422,P=0．0018）、冠重（r=-0．857,P〈0．0001）和根重（r=-0．732,P〈0．0001）呈显著负相关。主根病斑长度与叶部发病程度没有相关性,表明大豆对病原菌的抗性不能仅通过根系得到充分控制。对培养的大豆须根接种茄病镰刀菌菌丝体10d后,不同基因型大豆的菌落直径的变化范围为17—40mm,差异显著（P=0．05）,其中Spencer和Peking须根上的菌落直径显著（P=0．05）大于PI567374和PI520733。对Spencer和PI567374的须根接种10灿茄病镰刀菌常量成分悬浮液,10d后菌落直径分别为50和38mm,差异显著（P=0．05）。通常,不同基因型大豆间茄病镰刀菌在培养须根上的生长与整株的症状间有一定的相关性,但不总是这样,这是因为即使根系对毒素产生抗性来减少叶部病害症状,但并不是所有的大豆都表现出明显的根系抗性。     

Slow nitrogen release from humic substances modified with aminoorganosilanes

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate slow-release nitrogen capabilities of soil amendments obtained by modification of humic materials from peat and lignite with alkoxyorganosilanes carrying different amine substituents.

Materials and methods

The humates from lignite and peat were modified using (3-aminopropyltriethoxy)-silane (APTES) and (1-aminohexamethylenene, 6-aminomethylene)-triethoxysilane (AHATES). The obtained derivatives were characterized using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Nitrogen release in the form of ammonia or nitrate was evaluated using dissolution tests under sterile aqueous conditions as well as long-term soil experiments. Ammonium and nitrate were determined using ion-selective electrodes. Activity index (AI) was calculated from the dissolution tests. For soil trials, arable Retisol was sampled from 0- to 5-cm layer in Yaroslavl region (Russia). The soil experiments were conducted over 78 days using (NH₄)₂SO₄ as an activator of nitrification and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole as an inhibitor of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria.

Results and discussion

Modification of lignite and peat humates leads to an increase in nitrogen content up to 2 and 4.3 %, respectively, in case of APTES, and up to 3 and 6 %, respectively, in case of AHATES. All humic derivatives gradually released N upon dissolution in water over 6 days up to 51 % of the total N. The AI values ranged from 4 to 13 %. Amendment of soil with the modified humic materials induced an increase in nitrate content resulting from nitrification of released ammonia by soil microflora. This was confirmed by aminotriasole experiments. The nitrogen release occurred slowly: over the first week of incubation, it did not exceed 36–69 % of the total N content. The higher release rate of ammonium nitrogen was observed for CHS-AHATES versus CHS-APTES derivative, whereas no difference was seen between the two peat derivatives, which showed release rate on the level of CHS-AHATES derivative. Positive effect of all modified humic materials lasted over 78 days.

Conclusions

Modification of lignite and peat humates with two aminoorganosilanes carrying one and two nitrogen atoms in the amine substituent brought about twofold to threefold enrichment of the parent humic materials with nitrogen, which was capable of slow release upon incubation in soils. It was released in the form of ammonia and transformed to nitrates by autotrophic nitrifying soil microflora. There was no clear relationship established between structure of amine substituent of organosilane and slow-release properties of the corresponding humic derivatives. The conclusion was met that principal application of aminoorganosilane derivatives of humic substances (HS) is soil structuring, whereas nitrogen-fertilizing capabilities might be considered as beneficial added-value feature of these humic products.

     

Antithrombotic Activity of Brewers’ Spent Grain Peptides and their Effects on Blood Coagulation Pathways

Antithrombotic activity of brewers’ spent grain peptides before and after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and their effects on blood coagulation pathways were evaluated. Two hydrolysates were produced using sequential enzymatic systems: alkaline protease + Flavourzyme (AF) and neutral protease + Flavourzyme (PF). Simulation of gastrointestinal digestion of AF and PF hydrolysates was made using porcine pepsin and pancreatin enzymes, obtaining the corresponding digested samples: AFD and PFD, respectively. Peptides were fractionated by ultrafiltration using a 1 kDa cut-off membrane. Hydrolysates had peptides with medium and low molecular weights (2100 and 500 Da, respectively), and Glu, Asp, Leu, Ala, and Phe were the most abundant amino acids. Gastrointestinal digested hydrolysates presented high proportion of small peptides (~500 Da), and higher amount of Val, Tyr, and Phe than hydrolysates. Mass spectrum (HDMS Q-TOF) of AFD-ultrafiltered fraction <1 kDa exhibited peptides from 500 to 1000 Da, which are not present in AF. PFD showed the generation of new peptides from 430 to 1070 Da. All samples showed thrombin inhibitory activity. However, no effect was observed on prothrombin time. Peptides <1 kDa from hydrolysates and digested samples delayed thrombin and thromboplastin time respect to the control (~63%). Also the samples showed thrombin inhibitory activity at common pathway level. Thus, brewers’ spent grain peptides exerted their antithrombotic activity by inhibiting the intrinsic and common pathways of blood coagulation. This is the first report to demonstrate that brewers’ spent grain peptides are able to delay clotting time after simulated gastrointestinal digestion.     

Assessing the Potential of Rhizobacteria to Survive under Phenanthrene Pollution

Rhizobacteria possess a wide variety of qualities governing their pollutant-catabolic and rhizospheric competences. We investigated how the abilities to degrade phenanthrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to synthesize surfactants and the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), to be motile, and to perform chemotaxis toward phenanthrene and some potential root-exudate components were manifested in rhizobacteria isolated from oil-polluted sites. We observed that most of the examined rhizobacteria had the abilities under consideration and that in some strains, these were strongly affected by the bacterial environment. Only one strain—Sinorhizobium meliloti P221—exhibited increased PAH-degrading, surfactant-producing, and IAA-synthesizing activities, as well as distinct behavioral responses. We conclude that S. meliloti P221 can be used as a model to assess the contributions of all these activities to plant-inoculation-induced reduction in the soil PAH contents. This strain also may be useful for phytoremediation applications.