Inheritance of tolerance to leaf iron deficiency chlorosis in tomato

By using two tomato genotypes, 227/1 (Fe chlorosis susceptible) and Roza (Fe chlorosis tolerant), and their reciprocal F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations, the inheritance of tolerance to leaf Fe deficiency chlorosis of Roza was studied. Plants were grown in a nutrient solution and subjected to 2.0 × 10^–6 M Fe EDDHA and 10 mM NaHCO₃ to induce Fe deficiency stress by stabilization of pH to 7.8–8.2. A rating scale of 1–3 for chlorophyll was used and both monogenic and polygenic inheritance hypotheses were tested. Better responses to Fe deficiency, as measured by SPAD meter values, were obtained from the cross Roza × 227/1 than from the reciprocal cross. Data from F₂ and BC₁ suggest Fe chlorosis tolerance of Roza is to be controlled by polygenic loci with a relatively high additive effect.     

Pyogenic bacterial infections in humans with MyD88 deficiency

MyD88 is a key downstream adapter for most Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Rs). MyD88 deficiency in mice leads to susceptibility to a broad range of pathogens in experimental settings of infection. We describe a distinct situation in a natural setting of human infection. Nine children with autosomal recessive MyD88 deficiency suffered from life-threatening, often recurrent pyogenic bacterial infections, including invasive pneumococcal disease. However, these patients were otherwise healthy, with normal resistance to other microbes. Their clinical status improved with age, but not due to any cellular leakiness in MyD88 deficiency. The MyD88-dependent TLRs and IL-1Rs are therefore essential for protective immunity to a small number of pyogenic bacteria, but redundant for host defense to most natural infections.     

Use of different plastics for soil solarization in strawberry growth and time–temperature relationships for the control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrophomina phaseolina</Emphasis> and weeds

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil solarization on soilborne diseases, weeds and plant yields by using polyethylene film (30-μm-thick) containing different additives [ultraviolet (UV), ultraviolet + infrared (UV + IR), ultraviolet + infrared + anti-fog + anti-dust (UV + IR + AF + AD)], and used polyethylene film (260-μm-thick). Trials were conducted in commercial strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. ‘Camarosa’) fields in the town of Sultanhisar in Aydin province, Turkey, between 2007 and 2009. The highest soil temperatures at the depth of 10 cm under a polyethylene sheet containing UV + IR + AF + AD were 54°C in 2007 and 50.7°C in 2008. During the 2007 growing season, collapse and death of strawberry plants were not detected. At the end of the 2008 season (May–June), collapsed and dying strawberry plants were observed. Pure cultures of Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from affected roots and crowns of plants. Viability studies of M. phaseolina were conducted under various field conditions and temperatures and M. phaseolina sclerotia survived more than 18 days at 45°C. There was a sharp decline in M. phaseolina at 50°C, where it survived for 19 h but was completely killed at 20 h. It first lost viability after 17 h at 50°C and after 60 min at 55°C. In the field, solarization did not reduce the viability of M. phaseolina at a soil depth of 10 or 20 cm; however, a significant reduction (66%) in survival was determined at a soil depth of 5 cm. All treatments controlled Portulaca oleracea, Amaranthus spp., Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa crus-galli, Veronica hederifolia, Raphanus raphanistrum, Setaria verticillata and Mercurialis annua at a rate of 100%, but no treatment was effective on Cyperus rotundus. The marketable fruit yield was 38,004 kg.ha⁻¹ for UV + IR, 35,834 kg.ha⁻¹ for UV-added polyethylene film and 35,368 kg.ha⁻¹ for used polyethylene sheet-covered plots, whereas it was 27,365 kg.ha⁻¹ for untreated control plots.     

Tei index (myocardial performance index) and cardiac biomarkers in dogs with parvoviral enteritis

Tei index (myocardial performance) and cardiac biomarkers were evaluated in dogs with parvoviral enteritis (PVE). Tei index was calculated as isovolumic contraction time plus isovolumic relaxation time divided by ejection time. Myocardial and skeletal muscle damages were assessed by serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine (phospho) kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. Serum magnesium level was also determined. According to treatment response, dogs were divided into the survivor (n=20) and non-survivor groups (n=23). Seven healthy dogs served as controls. The mean value of the Tei index was higher in non-survivors, compared with survivors (p<0.02) and healthy controls (p<0.01). Serum level of cTnI in non-survivors was higher than that of survivors and controls (p<0.05). Tei index showed the highest sensitivity and specificity to predict mortality. The findings of an elevated Tei index and an increase in serum cTnI are factors associated with a poor prognosis in cases of canine parvovirosis.     

TEMPO-treated CNF Composites: Pulp and Matrix Effect

This study examined the effects of matrix (PVA and Si) on the properties of TEMPO-treated nanocomposites preparing from different pulp sources (Kraft and NaBH₄ treated Kraft). Chemical characterization and crystallization were determined via FT-IR, thermal stability via TGA and morphological alterations via SEM. UTM and DTMA were used to measure the Young’s and storage moduli. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and electric modulus were evaluated using an impedance analyzer. After interaction, prominent vibrations and alteration of crystallinity were seen. Storage and Young’s moduli decreased after Si and PVA interaction. The Si-TOCN films showed higher permittivity properties and all of the films followed a similar trend of significantly dropping ε' and ε'' values at high frequency. The PVA-TOCN films had mechanical advantages at room temperature compared to the Si-TOCN films. However, the Si-TOCN films had better thermomechanical properties at high temperatures. NaBH₄ revealed favorable effects on mechanical properties of the films.     

Naturally occurring infections of cattle with Theileria lestoquardi and sheep with Theileria annulata in the Sudan

Theileria annulata is endemic in northern Sudan, hindering all efforts at upgrading cattle for milk production. T. lestoquardi clinical cases occur throughout the year and causes annual outbreaks that result in substantial losses in sheep. In the northern Sudan both cattle and small ruminants are frequently raised together and/or share common grazing grounds at river banks. In an attempt to evaluate field cross infectivity of Theileria lestoquardi and T. annulata in cattle and sheep respectively, a PCR analysis was carried out on samples collected from closely reared sheep and cattle using both T. annulata and T. lestoquardi specific primers. A total of 19 sheep out of 51 (37.3%) were positive for T. lestoquardi while four sheep (7.8%) showed T. annulata specific amplicons. A total of 38 out of 52 (73.1%) surveyed cattle were PCR positive for T. annulata and only two (3.8%) showed T. lestoquardi specific bands. These findings indicate complex epidemiology of both infections in areas where both parasites are transmitted by the same vector and call for further investigations of this phenomenon.     

Pharmacokinetics of pentoxifylline and its 5-hydroxyhexyl metabolite following intravenous administration in cattle

This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of pentoxifylline (PTX) and its 5-hydroxyhexyl metabolite (M-I) after single-dose intravenous (IV) administration (10 mg/kg) of PTX in six healthy cattle. The safety of PTX was evaluated by clinical observation and biochemical analysis. Plasma concentrations of PTX and M-I were simultaneously determined by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using non-compartmental methods. Salivation and discomfort were observed for 2 h following the drug administration. Serum direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, and phosphorus levels at 24 h following the drug administration were significantly different from the control values (0 h) (P?<?0.05). Pharmacokinetic variables of PTX were characterized by a short terminal elimination half-life (1.05?±?0.19 h), a large volume of distribution (6.30?±?1.76 L/kg), and high total body clearance (5.31?±?1.27 L/h/kg). The mean ratio between the area under the concentration-time curves of M-I and PTX was 1.34. These results indicate that single-dose administration of PTX at 10 mg/kg IV in cattle resulted in therapeutic concentrations similar to those observed in humans and horse. However, further studies are necessary to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics following repeated administrations of PTX.

     

Use of ISSR,SRAP, and RAPD markers to assess genetic diversity in Turkish melons

The genetic relationships among 63 melon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes collected from various regions of Turkey were determined by comparing their molecular ISSR, SRAP, and RAPD markers with those of 19 foreign melon genotypes to investigate the taxonomic relationships and genetic variation of Turkish melon germplasm. Total 162 polymorphic markers (69, 18, and 75 obtained from ISSR, SRAP, and RAPD primers, respectively) were used to define the genetic similarity among the melon genotypes by dendrogram or two and three dimensional scalings. The average similarity (SM coefficient) between any two pairs of accessions examined as estimated by molecular variation was 0.73 ± 0.48. Within-group genetic similarities ranged between 0.46 and 0.96. Related genotypes or genotypes collected from similar regions were partitioned to similar clusters. Southeastern Anatolian genotypes were distinctly apart from group inodorus and group cantalupensis (sweet) genotypes. This reinforced the position of Turkey in the secondary genetic diversity center of melon. The genetic diversity among Turkish genotypes (H = 0.28 and I = 0.42) was only a little less than that of the world accessions (H = 0.30 and I = 0.45). On the other hand, the percentage of polymorphic loci among Turkish melon genotypes (90.7%) was even higher than that of the world accessions (87.6%).     

Rumen fermentation and digestibility of nutrients studied by the addition of Ca soaps of palm oil fatty acids and their analogous fatty acids in the sheep model

The ruminally fistulated sheep was used as a model to study the effects of fat supplementation (Ca-soaps and free long chain fatty acids from palm oil) on rumen physiology and digestibility of the nutrients. The animals were fed with a typical ration of hay and concentrate supplying nutrients according to maintenance levels. The following results should be pointed out: The addition of free fatty acids and their Ca-soaps induced a retarded recovery of postprandially decreased pH-values in ruminal fluid. This retardation was more pronounced after addition of free long chain fatty acids than with their Ca-soap-analogous acids. Compared to the control, the concentration of short chain fatty acids was depressed by fat addition in the period 2 hours after feed intake. The release of ammonia in the first period after feed intake was reduced by fat addition. A lack of synchronity could be observed in this post-prandial period in ruminal fluid between concentration of short chain fatty acids and ammonia. This effect was most obvious with supplementation of unprotected fatty acids. This might be one reason for the better tolerance of Ca soaps from palm oil fatty acids. Formation of hydrides, branched chains and transforms proceeds more effectively with free fatty acids than with their analogous forms of Ca-soaps. The well-known effect of depression of digestibility of nutrients due to fat supplementation was--under present conditions--quite low. This might be different in lactating dairy cows with higher levels of feed intake. With high feed intake, passage time is reduced. This will affect digestibility and interactions with fat supplementation.     

Phytophthora species associated with dieback of sweet chestnut in Western Turkey

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) is an important tree species in the Marmara and Aegean regions of Turkey as these two regions produce the great majority of edible nuts, especially those used for marron glacé production. Chestnut forests and orchards in these regions showing severe dieback symptoms not associated with chestnut blight were investigated to determine the role of Phytophthora spp. in the decline syndrome. Soil samples were collected from around 108 symptomatic chestnut trees at 29 sites and Phytophthora spp. isolated using soil baiting technique and selective medium. Species isolated were identified by cultural characteristics and ITS sequencing. Phytophthora x cambivora was the dominant species detected in 13 sites, followed by P. cinnamomi (5 sites), P. plurivora (3 sites) and P. cryptogea (1 site). Phytophthora x cambivora was present in both regions, while P. cinnamomi was found only in the Marmara region in coastal areas around Istanbul. When inoculated at the stem bases of 3‐year‐old chestnut saplings, P. cinnamomi produced significantly longer necrotic lesions (7.8–12.0 cm) than P. x cambivora (2.6–6.3 cm) by 12 days after inoculation. Phytophthora plurivora was the least aggressive species causing only small lesions. Phytophthora cryptogea, which represents the first record on chestnut in Turkey, produced intermediate sized lesions in between P. x cambivora and P. plurivora. These results indicate that P. x cambivora and in some areas P. cinnamomi play major roles in the observed dieback of sweet chestnut in western Turkey.