Population number, viability, and taxonomic composition of the bacterial nanoforms in iron-manganic concretions

It is shown for the first time that a significant part of the bacteria (up to 40%) in the iron-manganic concretions of soddy-podzolic and soddy meadow soils are represented by nanoforms; their number reaches 600–700 million cells/g. Judging from the specific luminescent coloration, the fraction of viable cells among the bacterial nanoforms is very high in the concretions and amounts up to 88–99%. For the first time, the following phyla were identified among the bacterial nanoforms in the concretions with the use of the FISH method: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobateria, Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Planctomycetes. The Gammaproteobacteria phylum predominated in the concretions from the soddy-podzolic soil, and the Deltaproteobacteria phylum predominated in the concretions from the soddy meadow soil. In the alluvial meadow soil, the Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria phyla were found. The significant number and portion of bacterial nanoforms in the concretions, their high vitality, and their taxonomic diversity allow us to conclude that the bacterial nanoforms play an important role in the processes taking place in the concretions.     

Filtrating forms of soil bacteria

Filtrating (ultramicroscopic) forms (FF) of bacteria were studied in a soddy-podzolic soil and the root zone of alfalfa plants as part of populations of the most widespread physiological groups of soil bacteria. FF were obtained by filtering soil solutions through membrane filters with a pore diameter of 0.22 μm. It was established that the greater part of the bacteria in the soil and in the root zone of the plants has an ultramicroscopic size: the average diameter of the cells is 0.3 μm, and their length is 0.6 μm, which is significantly less than the cell size of banal bacteria. The number of FF varies within a wide range depending on the physicochemical conditions of the habitat. The FF number’s dynamics in the soil is of a seasonal nature; i.e., the number of bacteria found increases in the summer and fall and decreases in the winter-spring period. In the rhizosphere of the alfalfa, over the vegetation period, the number of FF and their fraction in the total mass of the bacteria increase. A reverse tendency is observed in the rhizoplane. The morphological particularities (identified by an electron microscopy) and the nature of the FF indicate their physiological activity.     

Some biogenetic conclusions from changes in the amount and composition of skin wax of apples during their growth and storage

Quantitative and qualitative changes in the chief wax components, isolated from Bulgarian apples (Tetovka variety) were followed up during the period of growth and storage (from August 1st to January 2nd, the following year). After saponification of the soluble in light petroleum wax part, the samples were separated into neutral and acid substances. By means of gas-liquid chromatography of the methyl esters of the isolated acids, the qualitative composition and quantitative content of the individual components in the mixture were established. Using preparative thin-layer chromatography, hydrocarbons, ketones, secondary and primary alcohols were isolated from the neutral part. The individual qualitative and quantitative composition of all these compounds were also estimated by gas-liquid chromatography. On the basis of the results obtained the following biogenetic conclusions were made: 1. The constituents of soluble wax and cutin originate from lipids synthesized in the interior part of the fruit. 2. Paraffin hydrocarbons are formed by fatty acid, especially the C₂₉ hydrocarbon is derived from the C₁₆ acid; 3. Olefines are obtained from respective primary and secondary alcohols, while the diols are derived from primary alcohols; 4. Paraffin hydrocarbons, secondary alcohols and ketones are biogenetically linked and may undergo mutual transformations.     

Economic and health burden of brucellosis in Kazakhstan

Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease considered as an emerging and re‐emerging disease with a resulting threat of public health and animal health. Official reports document an animal incidence in Kazakhstan of about 0.6% per year, and the country still registers high number of human cases annually . The main objective of this paper was to evaluate the distribution and economic impact of brucellosis in Kazakhstan. We analysed human disease incidence data obtained from the Government Sanitary & Epidemiological Service with the aim to estimate the burden of disease in terms of disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). We also estimated the economic impact in terms of monetary losses. Additionally, we mapped the geographical distribution of the disease throughout Kazakhstan. In total, 1,334 human cases of brucellosis were registered in 2015 in Kazakhstan that resulted in 713 DALYs. Around $21 million was spent on compensation for animals that had to be slaughtered due to brucellosis, and an additional $24 million was spent on testing animals. Animal brucellosis and human brucellosis occur throughout the whole country, some trends of which are reviewed in this paper. We estimated the burden of the disease and explored possible explanation for high human incidence rates. This paper is the first to estimate the human burden of disease and the economic costs in Kazakhstan. Both of these are substantial.     

Development of the concept of the ecological functions of the soil cover and other geospheres

The concept of the ecological functions of soils and geospheres is discussed, and soil functions in biogeocenoses and in society-nature systems are analyzed. The major ecological functions of the interrelated surface spheres of the Earth are specified. Urgent problems of the further development of the theory of ecological functions of soils and geospheres are discussed. It is argued that the study of ecological soil functions is particularly important in the context of the soil conservation policy. The system of soil conservation and preservation of pedodiversity is one of the key issues in nature management. Considerable attention has been paid to this problem in Russia. A series of Red Data soil books for the particular regions of Russia and for the entire country have been published in the recent decades.     

Culture selected somaclonal variation in five Triticum aestivum L. genotypes

Somaclones (R₃ and R₄ generations) regenerated from five winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were evaluated for variation in agronomic and morphological characters. Immature embryos were used as initial explant material. Comparisons for plant height, top internode length, spike length, number of seeds per spike and 100 seed weight were made between the somaclones and their parents. Some morphological variations of stem and spike characteristics were registered which demonstrate that plant height and spike length can be changed by using immature embryo culture. The results obtained may be considered a biotechnological contribution to wheat plant improvement. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.