First report in Italy of the dusky sap beetle, Carpophilus lugubris, a new potential pest for Europe

Following a report submitted by a beekeeper to Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, in Padua province (Borgoricco, Veneto, NE Italy), the authors discovered in April 2011 several specimens of the dusky sap beetle Carpophilus lugubris Murray 1864 (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae) on the bottom board of some beehives. At a later time (May 2012), an isolated specimen was also collected within a Natural Reserve in Belluno province (Feltre, Veneto, NE Italy). These specimens represent the first known records of this species in Italy or Europe as a whole. This is also the first record of the species associated with beehives. This discovery led us to review the available bionomical and faunistic data for this widespread Nearctic and Neotropical species. C. lugubris is a recognized pest of corn, therefore is very important monitoring its possible dispersal into cornfields, beehives, and other agricultural regions of NE Italy and southern Europe over the next few years.     

Occurrence, distribution and population size of Malassezia pachydermatis on skin and mucosae of atopic dogs

Aim of the present study was to determine the distribution and quantification of Malassezia yeasts on a wide number of cutaneous sites in atopic dogs by means of a semiquantitative swab technique. A possible relationship between the presence of clinical signs and the occurrence and population size of yeasts was attempted. Forty-one privately owned atopic dogs of different age and breed were sampled. Results were expressed as colony forming units per swab. Malassezia colonies obtained from each plate were counted, scored and typed. All dogs yielded Malassezia pachydermatis from at least one skin area. Yeast population mean size by site was 6.98 (S.D.=3.47) as compared to other body areas. The frequence of isolation was higher from interdigital areas (70.7%), ears (63.4%), nail folds (35.7%), mouth (33.3%), groin (30.9%), conjunctiva and axillae (23.8%), perineum and anus (19%), perianal glands (9.5%). Ears, anus, interdigital areas, perianal glands and groin yielded the largest mycotic amount. M. pachydermatis was the sole species of yeast to colonize canine skin in examined animals. No statistical correlation between the presence of cutaneous alterations and Malassezia isolation was detected. Highest scores were not exclusively found on affected areas, but also on lesion-free sites, demonstrating that atopic animals can be heavily colonized also in apparently healthy areas.     

Effects of forest management on the amount of deadwood in Mediterranean oak ecosystems

Context

Deadwood is an important habitat for vertebrate and invertebrate species, a key factor in the nutrient cycle and a valuable carbon pool. Difference in the deadwood C stock depends on many variables such as forest type, microclimate and forest management.

Aims

We investigated the relationship between C stock in deadwood and forest management in oak stands of southern Italy.

Methods

Deadwood C stock was quantified in 74 forest stands under intensive, extensive or multifunctional management. The relationship between management and C stock in deadwood was assessed taking into account the decay class and the type of deadwood (snags, stumps and logs).

Results

Intensively managed forests are characterized by significantly lower mean levels of deadwood C than the other forms of management. Multifunctional management resulted in the highest level of C, mainly in logs and snags, while extensive management resulted in high levels of C storage concentrated in snags.

Conclusion

Results of the research highlight that forest management practices greatly influence the quantitative and qualitative presence of deadwood in forests.     

Changes in bacterial and archaeal community assemblages along an ombrotrophic peat bog profile

Biology and Fertility of Soils - Peatlands are archives of extreme importance for the assessment of past ecological, environmental and climatic changes. The importance as natural archives is even...     

A 5-micron-bright spot on Titan: evidence for surface diversity

Observations from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer show an anomalously bright spot on Titan located at 80 degrees W and 20 degrees S. This area is bright in reflected light at all observed wavelengths, but is most noticeable at 5 microns. The spot is associated with a surface albedo feature identified in images taken by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem. We discuss various hypotheses about the source of the spot, reaching the conclusion that the spot is probably due to variation in surface composition, perhaps associated with recent geophysical phenomena.     

Degradation of pyrethrin residues on stored durum wheat after postharvest treatment

In this paper, pyrethrin levels during a postharvest treatment on stored durum wheat were studied. Two experiments were carried out at single and double the dose recommended by the manufacturer. In all trials, the initial deposition of pyrethrins levels was below the fixed maximum residue level of 3 mg/kg. The fate of pyrethrins in the two experiments was similar, and the total content of pyrethrins remained unchanged for 22 days with a complete dissipation in 8 months. In the single dose experiment, half-life times of pyrethrins I and II were 46 and 72 days, while for the double dose, pyrethrins I and II were 41 and 53 days, respectively.     

Genetic characterization of an Italian Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.) clones collection: exploiting clonal selection

This study is the first report of combining ability and heterosis for important vitamins and antioxidant plant pigments in cauliflower. Five CMS lines were crossed with 8 male fertile lines in line × tester design to develop 40 hybrids. These hybrids along with parental lines were evaluated for different vitamins and anti-oxidant pigments to reveal extent of heterosis and genetic combining ability. The CMS line Ogu12A was good general combiner (gca effect) and Ogu16A was poor general combiner for most of the important traits under study. Most of the heterotic hybrid combinations were associated high specific combing ability (sca effect). However, gca effect was also important in developing quality heterotic hybrids. The proportions of $\sigma_{\text{gca}}^{ 2} /\sigma_{\text{sca}}^{2}$ were less than unity in all the cases indicating the role of non-additive gene action for most of the traits. Highest number of heterotic hybrids in positive direction was recorded for ascorbic acid content followed by anthocyanin content. The accumulated average heterosis of the 40 hybrids was in positive direction for ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and lycopene concentration whereas it was in negative direction for carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments. Very high heterosis for ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and carotenoids in cauliflower indicated the scope for development of F₁ hybrids with higher concentration of these vitamins and anti-oxidant pigments. It is possible to develop heterotic hybrids for different vitamins and anti-oxidant plant pigments through selection of parental lines based on desirable genetic combing ability.