Characterization of cyanidin- and quercetin-derived flavonoids and other phenolics in mature saskatoon fruits (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.)

In order to further characterize the anthocyanins, flavonols, and other phenolics present in mature saskatoon ( Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) fruit, extracts were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-arabinoside, and cyanidin 3-O-xyloside were identified as the four major anthocyanins in the mature fruit. The quercetin-derived flavonols, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, quercetin 3-O-arabinoside, quercetin 3-O-xyloside, quercetin 3-O-arabinoglucoside, quercetin 3-O-robinobioside, and quercetin 3-O-rutinoside were also identified in mature fruit extracts. In addition, two chlorogenic acid isomers (hydroxycinnamates), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid were detected. The total content of the anthocyanin-, flavonol-, and hydroxycinnamate-type phenolics detected in mature 'Smoky' saskatoon fruit was 140, 25, and 96 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively. These data further our knowledge of the phenolic composition of mature saskatoon fruit, and as anthocyanins, flavonols, and hydroxycinnamates exhibit antioxidant activities, the presence and levels of these classes of phenolics will aid in the understanding of the potential health-beneficial effects of saskatoon fruits in the human diet.     

Assessing the drivers of land use change in the Rumpi hills forest protected area,Cameroon

Protected areas serve two objectives, biodiversity conservation and securing of ecosystem services. But the recent expansion of human activities around Cameroon’s Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve in this Era of Sustainable Development Goals is a call for concern. This study assesses land use and land cover change around the reserve and their potential impact on its sustainability. A total of 250 household surveys were conducted across 13 villages in four selected sites around the reserve in addition to 11 focus group discussions. Landsat 7 ETM (2000) and Landsat 8 OLI (2014) images and topographic maps were utilized to quantify land use and land cover change.

During the 14-year period, dense forest dropped to 90.2% while settlements increased from 744.6 to 2148.8 hectares in 2014. Also, farmlands increased by 18.25% representing a change from 9400.4 to 11117.16 hectares. Over 98% and 85% of the respondents are engaged in the cultivation of food and cash crops and are dependent on the forests for timber and non-timber forests products. Land and tree-based interventions that improve soil fertility should be promoted among smallholder farmers to ensure the sustainability of protected areas in Cameroon.     

Novel impacts of nanoparticles on soil properties: tensile strength of aggregates and compression characteristics of soil

Nanoparticles (NPs) affect most soil properties but there have been no assessments of their effects on the compression behavior of soil and the strength of aggregates. Therefore, we assessed the impact of NPs on the bulk density and the confined compression and tensile strength of aggregates of a calcareous loamy soil. Using a factorial design, we assessed the effects of two factors on the soil properties, i.e., NP type (first factor) at two levels comprising Fe nano-oxide (Fe₃O₄, N₁) and Mg nano-oxide (MgO, N₂), and treatment amount (second factor) at four levels with dry mass percentages of 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%. The soil bulk density increased with the Fe level but decreased with the Mg level in ranges of 0.02–0.04 and 0.02–0.08 g cm^–3, respectively. The compression curve characteristics were not affected by the NPs. Compared with N₁, the N₂ treatment significantly increased the soil void ratio in 86% of the applied stresses. N₁ also significantly enhanced the soil tensile strength at suctions of 30, 100, and 1500 kPa, ranging from 0.5 to 15.3 kPa. The 3% Mg and 1% Fe dosages of nano-oxides had the optimal effects, so they should be considered in future investigations.     

A sensitive biosensor based on gold nanoparticles to detect <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ralstonia solanacearum</Emphasis> in soil

Ralstonia solanacearum, the devastating causal agent of potato bacterial wilt, is a soil-borne bacterium that can survive in the soil for a long time. The development of sensitive on-field detection methods for this pathogen is highly desirable due to its widespread host range and distribution. A novel nanobiosensor was thus developed to detect unamplified genomic DNA of R. solanacearum in farm soil. Gold nanoparticles functionalized with single-stranded oligonucleotides served as a probe to detect R. solanacearum genomic DNA. The advantages of this strategy include rapidity, facile usage and being a visual colorimetric method.     

Seed health of organic peas and faba beans and its effects on the health of the harvested grains

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - A survey was conducted in Germany during 2009–2012 on seed health of organic pea and faba beans and their harvested progeny seed on up to 32 organic...     

Influence of Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid on Wheat Under Drought Stress

Salicylic acid and jasmonic acid play an important role in plants coping with abiotic stresses. An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid on wheat under drought. Seeds were primed with jasmonic acid (100µM) and salicylic acid (10 Mm). Water stress was applied by withholding water and each treatment was replicated three times with a factorial block design. Application of Salicylic acid and Jasmonic acid mitigated drought effects in wheat. Results revealed that 100µM Jasmonic acid was more effective than 10 mM SA. Drought decreased germination by 26%, whereas application of Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid ameliorated stress with the increase of germination by 27% and 21%, respectively. An increase in the shoot length of 23% and 20% was observed with Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid, under drought conditions. The increase in water potential was 60% and 47% with JA and SA while the increase in proline and soluble sugar was 14% and 25% respectively. The application of Jasmonic acid and Salicylic acid has a potential to enhance the growth of wheat plants under drought.     

Molecular identification of 16SrII-D subgroup phytoplasmas associated with chickpea and faba bean in Sudan

In January 2011, symptomatic chickpea and faba bean plants were observed in fields located in the Gezira state (Sudan). Faba bean plants showed yellowing and stunting, whereas chickpea plants presented yellowing, reddening and little leaves. The disease etiology was investigated using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with phytoplasma-specific primers which amplify a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses revealed that the tested phytoplasmas belonged to the group 16SrII. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene of the obtained sequences indicated that the chickpea and faba bean phytoplasmas from Sudan were more closely related to the phytoplasmas subgroup 16SrII-D. To our knowledge, this is the first report of phytoplasmas from the group 16SrII-D infecting chickpea in Sudan, and faba bean worldwide.     

Anesthetic efficacy and biochemical effects of 1,8-cineole on Caspian trout,Salmo caspius

Aquaculture International - In this study, Caspian trout, Salmo caspius (232 ± 26.9 g) were exposed to 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 µL/L of 1,8-cineole (cineole) to...     

Investigation of Nitrate–Nitrogen (NO3–N) Mass Balance Between Effluent and Soil Under the Effect of Raw Pistachio Residues and its Biochar Application

Disruption in the nitrogen (N) cycle balance has a negative impact on the overall trend of sustainable development, and using soil amendments is necessary to reduce these hazards. This study was carried out as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of three levels of amendments (0, 7.5 g/kg of pistachio residues, and 7.5 g/kg of biochar) and four levels of irrigation water salinity including 0.5 (urban water), 5.5, 8, and 10.5 dS/m and in three replications. Two pistachio seedlings were transferred to all columns and then in three steps, and in each step, 25 mg N/kg of potassium nitrate was added. The results indicated that pistachio residuals and its biochar increased nitrate outflow from effluent by 9% and 52%, respectively. The effects of amendment treatment and irrigation water salinity on all three characteristics of output nitrate, soil nitrate, and absorbed plant nitrate were significant at 1% level.     

Lack of gender effect on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone in the camel after intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexamethasone were studied in six male and six female camels after a single intravenous dose (0.05 mgkg(-1) body weight) of dexamethasone. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two-compartment pharmacokinetic model for female and male camels, respectively (mean+/-SEM) were as follows: terminal elimination half-lives were 8.02+/-1.15 and 7.33+/-0.80 h, total body clearances were 95.5+/-16.0 and 124.5+/-11.9 ml h(-1) per kg, volumes of distribution at steady state were 0.72+/-0.08 and 0.87+/-0.14 litre kg(-1), and the volumes of the central compartment were 0.12+/-0.02 and 0.17+/-0.02 litre kg(-1). There was no significant difference in any pharmacokinetic parameter between female and male camels. Pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated by measuring endogenous plasma cortisol, circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils numbers and were analysed using indirect pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models. The estimated IC50 of dexamethasone for cortisol and lymphocytes for female and male camels were 3.74+/-0.99 and 2.28+/-1.09 and 2.63+/-0.71 and 2.41+/-0.79 ng ml(-1), respectively. The EC50 for neutrophils for female and male camels were 24.5+/-5.83 and 20.2+/-3.82 ng ml(-1), respectively. There was no significant difference in any pharmacodynamic parameter between female and male camels. Dexamethasone in urine could be detected for 4-5 days by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for 3-4 days by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after an intravenous dose of 0.05 mg kg(-1) body weight.