Frequency and occurrence of the carrot pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ haplotype C in Finland

Occurrence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (CLso) was studied in field‐grown carrots (Daucus carota) in different regions of Finland. In addition, the frequency of CLso in carrots and in field populations of its vector, the carrot psyllid (Trioza apicalis), was studied in southwestern Finland. CLso was detected in six of the seven regions where the main carrot cultivation areas are located. The highest disease incidence was found in southwestern Finland, in the area where this carrot pathogen was originally found. In the Tavastia Proper and Southwest Finland regions, CLso was detected in 26 out of 30 randomly chosen fields inspected in 2013 and 2014, and in a third of those fields more than 10% of plants showed symptoms. Of those carrots showing both psyllid feeding‐associated leaf curling and CLso infection‐associated leaf discolouration symptoms, 77% were CLso positive in the PCR test. Some symptomless carrots from the affected fields also tested positive. Of the carrot psyllid individuals collected from the same area, 60% were CLso positive. Elsewhere, disease incidence was variable in South Ostrobothnia in western Finland and low but established in South Savonia in eastern Finland. CLso was not detected in the North Ostrobothnia region. Sequencing of the amplified DNA fragments confirmed that the bacteria in the carrot samples from different areas within Finland all represented CLso haplotype C. The frequent occurrence and wide distribution of this pathogen, transmitted by a psyllid that does not migrate over long distances, suggest that it is persistent in Finland.     

Adverse reactions of α2-adrenoceptor agonists in cats reported in 2003–2013 in Finland

Objective

To describe suspected adverse drug reactions in cats associated with use of α₂-adrenoceptor agonists.

Binding of phenolic compounds and their derivatives to bovine and reindeer beta-lactoglobulin

In plant-based food, phenolic compounds usually do not exist in their native form, but as esters, glycosides, or polymers. The native forms, however, require deglycosylation for their intestinal absorption, and aglycone has been considered to be the potential health-protecting/promoting form. The binding of the aglycones of phenolic compounds to bovine and reindeer beta-lactoglobulins (betaLG) using fluorescence quenching was studied. The effects of pH and storage were also studied. Of the compounds investigated, the majority of flavones, flavonols, flavanones, and isoflavones were bound to betaLG. In the pH studies, no significant effects were found. The fact that the phenolic compounds were not released at pH 2 might indicate that they bind to an external part rather than to the central cavity. Studies implicated that betaLG could act as a binder or carrier for phenolic compounds in acidic, basic, or neutral conditions and that the ligand/betaLG complex can remain stable during storage.     

Effect of acid addition to pig liquid feed on its microbial and nutritional characteristics

An in vitro study was performed to describe the effect of addition of acid products to liquid feed on the course of fermentation. A standard grower diet with added extra lysine, methionine, and threonine was formulated. Three experimental treatments were prepared: the grower diet, ‘Control’; the grower diet + 4.8 g solid acidifier Boliflor® FA 2300S/kg liquid feed, ‘FA2300S’; and the grower diet + 2.0 g formic acid/kg liquid feed, ‘Formic’. Feed and water (1 to 2.75) were incubated in bioreactors with a volume of 1 l at 20 °C. A sample was taken after 0, 6, 24, and 48 h of incubation. After 48, 55, 72, 79, and 96 h of incubation, 90% of the mixture was removed and replaced with fresh feed and water. A sample was taken at 96, 102, and 108 h of incubation. Enterobacteriaceae counts were highest in the ‘Control’ diet and lowest in the ‘Formic’ diet at all sampling times. From 96 to 108 h of incubation,  5–19% total lysine, threonine, and methionine, and  26–42% free lysine, threonine, and methionine disappeared. Addition of 2.0 g formic acid or 4.8 g Boliflor® FA 2300S per kg pig liquid feed impeded a blooming of Enterobacteriaceae during the first hours of fermentation but had no effect on amino acid degradation. A disappearance of, mainly, free amino acids occurred during fermentation of liquid feed as prepared in the present study.     

Effects of sulphuric acid and heavy-metal deposition on frequency of asymptomatic infections of Gremmeniella abietina in Scots-pine seedlings

The isolation frequency of Gremmeniella abietina was measured from asymptomatic 4-year-old Scots-pine seedlings. The seedlings had been subjected to simulated sulphuric deposition (pH 3.1 or 4.1) or control treatments (irrigation with spring water (pH 6), or no irrigation) during the three previous growing seasons. The seedlings were planted in soil originating from two localities with different backround levels of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni), and the soil was further amended with Cu (63.3 mg/1 of soil) and Ni (20.5 mg/1 of soil), or a combination of the two. The seedlings were inoculated with conidia of G. abietina during their third growing season in the field. Asymptomatic infections of G. abietina were recovered frequently from seedlings that had received water irrigation. The addition of sulphuric acid to the irrigation water, and/or the lowered pH (pH 3.1 and 4.1) resulting from this addition, mitigated the effect of water application. The effect of Ni-treatment on the recovery of G. abietina depended on the irrigation treatment; with no irrigation, Ni-treatment increased isolation frequency, but, in irrigated seedlings the response was the opposite. Only 10.6% of the seedlings had symptoms caused by G. abietina; most of the seedlings had become infected before the application of the various treatments.     

Marine connectivity in spatial conservation planning: analogues from the terrestrial realm

Context

Spatial prioritization is an analytical approach that can be used to provide decision support in spatial conservation planning (SCP), and in tasks such as conservation area network design, zoning, planning for impact avoidance or targeting of habitat management or restoration.

Methods

Based on literature, we summarize the role of connectivity as one component of relevance in the broad structure of spatial prioritization in both marine and terrestrial realms.

Results

Partially diffuse, directed connectivity can be approximated in Zonation-based multi-criteria SCP by applying hydrodynamic modelling, knowledge on species traits, and information on species occurrences and quality of habitats. Sources and destinations of larvae or propagules can be identified as separate spatial layers and taken into account in full-scale spatial prioritization involving data on biota, as well as economic factors, threats, and administrative constraints. While population connectivity is an important determinant of metapopulation persistence, the importance of marine connectivity depends on species traits and the marine environment studied. At one end of the continuum are species that occupy isolated habitats and have long pelagic larval durations in deeper sea areas with strong directional currents. At the other extreme are species with short pelagic durations that occupy fragmented habitats in shallow topographically complex sea areas with weak and variable currents.

Conclusions

We conclude that the same objectives, methods, and analysis structures are applicable to both terrestrial and marine spatial prioritization. Marine spatial conservation planning, marine spatial planning, marine zoning, etc., can be implemented using methods originated in the terrestrial realm of planning.

     

A mercury model used for assessment of dredging impacts

The effects of dredging of contaminated sediments on the mercury (Hg) concentrations of prey and predatory fish were calculated for the Kokemäenjoki River and its estuary in Western Finland. The accumulation of Hg in fish is controlled by the Hg concentrations in water, zooplankton, zoobenthos and by suspended solids. Hg is accumulated into fish mainly through food web, eg. from perch (Perca fluviatilis) as prey and to pike (Esox lucius) as predator. In addition to dredging, temperature and flood situations have also increased the Hg accumulation and release from the bottom sediments. The validity of the model has been tested with data recorded from earlier dredgings. Thereafter the model has been used to predict the Hg levels caused by dredging planned upstream in the river. The predictions are supported by the concentrations of total mercury (Tot.Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) measured in water and in sediments under several flow conditions. As a result, 30 % increase of Hg in pike — from 0.8 to 1.05 mg/kg —was expected. This was too high, and therefore dredging was not included in the final plan for flood protection.     

Elimination of common scab sensitive progeny from a potato breeding population using thaxtomin A as a selective agent

Common scab is one of the most important soil‐borne diseases of potato and is difficult to control. Selection of potato breeding lines for resistance to common scab is also cumbersome due to environmental factors influencing symptom development and an erratic spatial distribution of the scab pathogens (Streptomyces spp.) in the field. The bacterial phytotoxin thaxtomin A, which causes scab symptoms, can be used to screen large numbers of potato seedlings for tolerance in vitro, but few studies have investigated whether the results correspond to resistance to common scab observed in the field. In this study, 120 F1 potato progeny from a single cross were screened in vitro by exposing the seedlings to thaxtomin A added to the culture medium. Eighteen genotypes were selected based on high sensitivity or tolerance using shoot growth as the criterion, multiplied in vitro, and tested for resistance to common scab caused by S. turgidiscabies and S. scabies in a glasshouse and in three different fields. Evaluation of ca. 6500 tubers showed that the 18 potato genotypes differed in scab indices and disease severity (P < 0·0001). The relative shoot height in vitro (thaxtomin A used at 0·5 μg mL^?1) and the scab index in the field showed significant correlation (r_s = ?0·463, P = 0·0528, n = 18), also consistent with the results obtained under controlled conditions in the glasshouse. Hence, the in vitro bioassay may be used to discard scab‐susceptible genotypes and elevate the overall levels of common scab resistance in the potato breeding populations.     

Quantity of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, INF‐γ, TNF‐α and KC‐Like Cytokines in Serum of Bitches With Pyometra in Different Stages of Oestrous Cycle and Pregnancy

The occurrence of the pyometra is most common in the first half of the dioestrus when there is decreased cellular immunity associated with increased serum concentration of progesterone in females. The aim of this study was to determine the immunological profile of bitches with pyometra, studying serum levels of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IFN‐γ, KC‐like and TNF‐α and comparing them with those of healthy bitches in anoestrus, dioestrus and pregnant. Forty females were divided into four experimental groups: group 1 (G1): with pyometra (n = 10); group 2 (G2): bitches in the second week of gestation (n = 10); group 3 (G3): in anoestrus (n = 10); and group 4 (G4): in dioestrus (n = 10). The serum levels for IL‐2, KC‐like, INF‐γ and TNF‐α were similar for all experimental groups. The values obtained for IL‐10 were found increased (p < 0.001) in animals in dioestrus and pyometra compared with females in anoestrus and pregnant, and the levels of IL‐4 observed were significantly greater (p < 0.001) in bitches with pyometra when compared with others. The cytokine profile in animals with pyometra is similar to bitches in dioestrus for IL‐10 and had increase in IL‐4 for bitches with pyometra, which represents an anti‐inflammatory these cases. This suggests the presence of an immunosuppressive state in both cases, which may explain the propensity of bitches in dioestrus to be affected by pyometra and the severity of the disease on these animals.     

Can small-scale fisheries survive market-based management? Nordic evidence

Market-based fisheries management systems give incentives to reduce the fleet size and employment, which increases earnings and contributes to resolve the tragedy of the commons. However, the often-stated expectation that economies of scale cause the disappearance of small-scale fishery is not observed in many cases. In this study, we investigate the effects on fleet structure in the period after introducing individual fishing quotas or individual fishing days with various degrees of transferability in selected fisheries in the seven Nordic countries. Despite observing economies of scale in most cases, it is found that the market-based fisheries management often does not reduce the small-scale fleet more than the fleet of large vessels. This is explained partly by small vessels targeting demersal species and large vessels pelagic species, and partly by the larger need of larger than small vessels to continuously utilize their capital stocks through fast adaptation to ensure return. A more important explanation is the regulation design, with limitations in sale of fishing rights and lease between vessel groups and regions and in the share of the total quota holdings of fishing rights by individuals and vessels. This is important for countries considering the introduction of market-based fisheries management, since the Nordic experiences show that with proper regulation design, economic gains can be achieved with small-scale fishing surviving even under economies of scale.