Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. insidiosus in lucerne seeds

Bacterial wilt is a serious disease of Iucerne. Although there are several ways to transmit the pathogen, seed transmission is practically the only way to introduce the bacteria to previously free areas. In this work, naturally infected seed material and commercial seed lots have been screened by a combination of immunofluorescence (IF) staining and dilution plating. Isolates were confirmed by biochemical characterization and finally by artificial infection of lucerne seedlings. For seed lots free from the pathogen, a diagnosis can mostly be achieved within 2 days. The culture step is necessary only if IF staining is not unequivocally negative, and the full procedure has to be run only for a small portion of the samples. The proposed seed assay provides a reliable alternative to the visual inspection of lucerne fields to fulfil the phytosanitary requirements for Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. insidiosus.     

动物疫苗及其合理使用（一）

疫苗接种是预防动物传染病发生的重要举措。依据免疫学理论,疫苗作为抗原,通过激发动物机体免疫系统,产生特异的体液免疫和细胞免疫,从而获得针对某种疾病的特异性免疫。疫苗一般分为细菌疫苗、病毒疫苗和类毒素疫苗等。用于防病治病的各种疫苗、菌苗又是特殊的生物药品,与普通化学药品具有完全不同的成分、功能和特性,疫苗中含有多种蛋白质（除细菌或病毒外,有的还含有保护剂、鸡胚尿囊液或细胞培养液）,它们均适合许多病原体的生长,有些制品还是活的微生物,一旦污染后果不堪设想。疫苗在保存、运输和使用时有其特别要求。如果方法不当,不但会使活性物质失活,起不到免疫防病作用;而且还可能适得其反,引发动物新的疾病,造成重大损失。     

Reactions of organ crystals with gases

Although reactions of molecular crystals are much more widespread than has been generally appreciated (53), the great sensitivity of their rates to seemingly trivial changes in molecular structure clearly provides a major stumbling block to the general utilization of such processes. A key to understanding the effects of structural changes has been provided by the demonstration of anisotropy of such reactions discussed in this article. It is recognized, however, that many factors in addition to those aspects of the crystal structure utilized in the discussion above may play a part in determining reactivity of crystalline solids with gases. The recent ready availability of crystal structure data for molecular crystals should lead to a more rapid development of the principles governing the packing of such crystals and their reactivity. The resulting control of such reactions should not only provide the means of causing them when they are desired, as, for example, for synthesis, but also the means of preventing them when they are to be avoided, as in the stabilization of pharmaceuticals. Finally, it appears that we have only just begun to exploit the potential reaction specificity and the exciting possibilities resulting from the unique symmetry properties of the crystalline state.     

Phylogenetic relationships and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum acutatum isolates from grape in subtropical Australia

The identity of Colletotrichum acutatum as the causal pathogen of grape ripe-rot, which causes yield loss and a bitter taint that lowers wine quality in Australian subtropical wine-grape regions, was confirmed using species-specific primers. Cultural, morphological and molecular methods (RAPD-PCR and sequencing of parts of the 5·8S-ITS regions and the β-tubulin-2 gene) were used to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Australian C. acutatum isolates from wine grapes and other horticultural crops. A combination of RAPD-PCR and β-tubulin-2 gene data showed that all wine-grape ripe-rot isolates from northern regions of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland belong to a proposed new C. acutatum group (A9), together with isolates from Australian strawberry, mango, blueberry and olive. The 5·8S-ITS sequences for these grape pathogens were identical to published sequences for an isolate from Cyclamen (the Netherlands) and differed by 1 bp from isolates from Capsicum (Taiwan) and orange (Costa Rica). The grape ripe-rot isolates from the Shoalhaven Valley (southern NSW) were clustered within two other C. acutatum groups: A2 and A5. In vitro infection studies showed that Australian C. acutatum isolates from almond, blueberry, chilli, grape, mango, olive, strawberry and tomato were able to infect grape and could also infect blueberry and strawberry, indicating a lack of host specificity. This lack of host specificity, the genetic similarity with non-grape isolates, and the fact that many of the non-grape hosts were isolated from wine-growing regions, suggest the potential for cross-infection between grape and other horticultural crops.     

Simulation of soil freezing-thawing cycles under typical winter conditions: implications for nitrogen mineralization

Purpose

Seasonal freezing-thawing cycles (FTCs) are common phenomena in middle- and high-latitude regions that may have a strong effect on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization. As yet, little information is available about N mineralization of cultivated soils affected by FTCs, especially during non-growing seasons. It is proposed that N transformation of boreal farmland soil should be well responsive to FTCs because their microbial community and physiochemical characteristics are easily influenced by human agricultural activities. To examine this hypothesis, laboratory simulation experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of different amplitudes, frequencies, and moisture regimes of FCTs on soil N mineralization dynamics, to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing the effect of FTCs on soil N availability during the non-growing season.

Materials and methods

In a laboratory simulation study, cultivated black soil (BL) and brown soil (BR) (Haplic Phaeozems and Haplic Luvisols, respectively; World Reference Base for Soil Resources 1988) were collected from two provincial experimental stations to assess the dynamics of N mineralization under four FTC factors (five levels for freezing temperature, two levels for thawing temperature, five levels for freezing-thawing frequency, and three levels for soil moisture regime).

Results and discussion

There were marked variations in inorganic N pools, microbial biomass N (MBN), and net N mineralization rate (NNMR) for both soils during the FTCs. In both soils, ammonium N (NH₄-N) and nitrate N (NO₃-N) concentrations, as well as NNMR, significantly increased with the decrease in freezing temperature, but the opposite was observed for MBN. However, fluctuating thawing temperature had no significant influence on the available N forms measured. As FTCs’ frequency increased, the NH₄-N, NO₃-N concentrations, and NNMR substantially decreased in both soils, while the MBN concentration initially increased and then declined, reaching the peak at the sixth FTC. The available N fractions in both soils had different response patterns as soil water content rose, showing a considerable increase of NH₄-N, a distinct decrease of NO₃-N, a steady increase for NNMR, and an initial increase followed by a decreasing trend for MBN.

Conclusions

This study has demonstrated that FTCs during the non-growing season in temperate regions can accelerate N mineralization via increases in freezing-thawing amplitude and freezing-thawing duration. Therefore, there is a potential risk of N losses over the early spring thawing period.

     

Long-term effects of tillage and fallow-frequency on soil quality attributes in a clay soil in semiarid southwestern saskatchewan

Reduced tillage management is being adopted at an accelerated rate on the Canadian prairies. This may influence soil quality and productivity. A study conducted on a clay soil (Udic Haplustert) in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of fallow frequency [fallow-wheat (F-W) vs. continuous wheat (Cont W)] and tillage [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional (CT) or minimum tillage (MT)] on yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was sampled after 3, 7 and 11 years to assess changes in selected soil quality attributes. Tillage had no effect on amount of crop residues returned to the land, but the tilled systems had significantly (P<0.05) lower total organic C and N in the 0–7.5 cm soil depth, though not in the 7.5–15 cm depth. Further, these differences were observed after only 3 years and persisted for the entire 11 years of the study. For example, in the 0–7.5 cm depth, organic C in F-W (MT) after 3 years was 10 480 kg ha⁻¹ and in F-W (NT) 13 380 kg ha⁻¹, while in Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT) corresponding values were 11 310 and 13 400 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. After 11 years, values for F-W (MT) and F-W (NT) were 11 440 and 14 960 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, and for Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT), 12 970 and 16 140 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast to total organic matter, two of the more labile soil quality attributes [i.e., C mineralization (C_min) and N mineralization (N_min)] did not respond to fallow frequency until after 7 years and only in the 0–7.5 cm depth. Microbial biomass (MB) and the ratio of C_min to MB [specific respiratory activity (SRA)], two attributes also regarded as labile, were not influenced by the treatments even after 11 years. After 11 years, only C_min and N_min among the labile soil quality attributes responded to the treatments. Surprisingly, the labile attributes were no more sensitive to the treatments than was total organic C or N. More research is required to determine why responses in this soil differed from those reported elsewhere.     

Tuberculosis in goats on a farm in Ireland: epidemiological investigation and control

This paper describes an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a dairy goat herd on a farm in Ireland, where 66.3 per cent of the herd tested positive to the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) at initial detection. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to determine the origin of the outbreak, considering issues such as animal movements and herd management practices. Infection was introduced with a consignment of goats, as determined by the variable number tandem repeat profile. Infection was eradicated using a test and cull programme involving the SICTT, the interferon-γ assay and a multiplex immunoassay (Enferplex TB).     

Geographical clines in the size of the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis)

Patterns of body size variation along geographical gradients have long been searched for and generalized into eco‐geographical rules. However, no rodent species has yet been analyzed in relation to the 3 dimensions of latitude, longitude and altitude. We analyzed geographical clines and dimorphism of body and skull size in the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) across the species range, based on field data and on data from the literature. Sexual dimorphism in adult A. uralensis was not expressed at a large scale, while local patterns were inconsistent. Age‐dependent size changes were most expressed in adult individuals: most characters of adults exceeded in size those of subadults, while subadult–juvenile size differences were only significant in body weight and length, zygomatic skull width, length of cranial diastema and breadth of braincase. Despite central morphological niches along the clines being separated, A. uralensis populations showed a high degree of size overlap in morphological space. We found the species to be characterized by high size variability, with the largest individuals inhabiting the eastern and southern edges of the distribution range. Tail, hind foot and ear lengths were largest in the southern part of the range, in agreement with Allen's rule. The main measurements that we analyzed, namely body mass, zygomatic skull width and condylobasal skull length, show the presence of 3 clines in the size of adult A. uralensis: (i) a decreasing south–north cline, opposing Bergmann's rule; (ii) an increasing west–east cline, in accordance with Murphy's rule; and (iii) an increasing altitudinal cline.     

Antimicrobials from Seaweeds for Food Applications

The exponential growth of emerging multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens affecting the shelf-life and quality of foods, has recently increased the needs of the food industry to search for novel, natural and eco-friendly antimicrobial agents. Macroalgae are a bio-diverse group distributed worldwide, known to produce multiple compounds of diverse chemical nature, different to those produced by terrestrial plants. These novel compounds have shown promising health benefits when incorporated into foods, including antimicrobial properties. This review aims to provide an overview of the general methods and novel compounds with antimicrobial properties recently isolated and characterized from macroalgae, emphasizing the molecular pathways of their antimicrobial mechanisms of action. The current scientific evidence on the use of macroalgae or macroalgal extracts to increase the shelf-life of foods and prevent the development of foodborne pathogens in real food products and their influence on the sensory attributes of multiple foods (i.e., meat, dairy, beverages, fish and bakery products) will also be discussed, together with the main challenges and future trends of the use of marine natural products as antimicrobials.     

Non-Composted Municipal Solid Waste Processing Byproduct Effect on Soil Reclamation

ABSTRACT

A new garbage processing technology has been developed that sterilizes and separates inorganic and organic components of municipal solid waste. The non-composted byproduct of this process, Fluff®, has the potential to be utilized as a soil amendment to improve soil conditions in highly degraded soils. A study was initiated to evaluate Fluff as a soil amendment for establishing native grasses on disturbed US Army training lands. The Fluff was incorporated into a sandy loam soil at Fort Benning Military Reservation, GA on two sites: a moderately degraded and a highly degraded soil. The Fluff was incorporated at rates of 0, 18, 36, 72, and 143 Mg ha^{? 1} to assess the effects on soil properties for two growing seasons. The addition of Fluff improved available plant nutrients and soil pH levels at both sites. Also, Fluff reduced the level of soil bulk density and increased soil concentration of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Because no adverse environmental effects were detected and Fluff improved soil physical and nutrient conditions as well as improving perennial grass establishment with increasing application rates, land application of Fluff to degraded US Army training grounds could be considered a viable and beneficial alternative to current waste management practices.