Host status effect of cowpea and sunflower on the populations ofMeloidogyne javanica andRotylenchulus reniformis

A highly susceptible cowpea,Vigna sinensis cv. Baladi plants were tested as trap plants for eitherMeloidogyne javanica orRotylenchulus reniformis under greenhouse conditions. The plants were gathered by cutting them above the surface of the soil or by uprooting them, 1/2, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 days after nematode inoculation. Both of the mentioned nematodes began to mature and lay eggs after the 12th day from their inoculation. Hence, it is advised to pull up cowpea plants from 3–12 days after nematode inoculation. After planting sunflower,Helianthus annus cv. Miak replacing cowpea, the nematode populations were higher, in most cases, on sunflower plants replacing cutting cowpea than those on sunflower replacing uprooted cowpea. The highest percentages of nematode reduction were 98.55 and 99.57 forM. javanica and 95.09 and 92.90% forR. reniformis on sunflower plants replacing cutting and uprooted cowpea plants after 12 days from nematode inoculation, respectively.M. javanica andR. reniformis decreased the length and weight of sunflower plants as affected by planting time and method of cowpea harvest. This method of nematode control is cheaper, easy and pollution free.     

Biological and molecular characterization of Tomato spotted wilt Virus in Israel

Received April 24, 1997; received in final form June 29, 1997. Symptoms resembling tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections were documented among ornamental and vegetable crops in commercial greenhouses and open fields in Israel. Plants exhibiting these symptoms were collected from January 1992 to December 1996. Among cultivated plants analyzed for TSWV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 19 species representing five families were found to be infected; natural infection was also recorded in six plant species of weeds. Virus identity was characterized by host range, serology and electron microscopy. Serological reaction with the isolates, found in Israel, using antisera from different sources as well as the sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid gene, demonstrated that the Israeli isolates of TSWV are a member of tospovirus serogroup I, type I (BR-01 strain). No virus transmission was found in seeds collected from virus-infected vegetable and ornamental crops. A non-radioactive molecular probe derived from the cloned nucleocapsid isolate enables specific detection of the virus in crude sap from infected plants. The detection of TSWV in Israel constitutes a severe potential threat to the ornamental and vegetable industry.     

胞质雄性不育性在叶用芥菜上的利用

以从美国威斯康星大学引进的叶用芥菜胞质雄性不育系叶用4-4为母本,以泰国清迈大学选育出的8个优良叶用芥菜品种为转育父本,杂交后连续回交4代(BC4),再将BC4与优良叶用芥菜品种40R2-3-4配制8个杂交组合,其中2个组合(4-4 × 19-H-12)×40R2-3-4和(4-4 × 2R2)×40R2-3-4结球率为100％,产量比商用品种分别高34％和13％,比其亲本分别高25％和5％。     

Pocono mesic till barrens in retreat: topography,fire and forest contagion effects

The Pocono mesic till barrens (PMTB) are a unique assemblage of fire-maintained shrub communities that support numerous rare species. Historically these barrens covered a large area in the vicinity of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA. However, due largely to regional fire suppression instituted in the early 1960s, over 70% of the area covered by barrens succeeded to fire-intolerant forest that does not support the rare species. We investigated the influence of forest proximity on barrens succession across three geomorphic types during periods of high fire frequency and fire suppression, testing the hypothesis that forest processes such as seed rain, shading, and detrital enrichment of soils enhances barrens succession through a contagion effect. Evidence of a forest contagion effect should be shown by increased rates of barrens succession with increasing proximity to the nearest forest edge. In order to detect a forest contagion effect, barrens persistence and barrens succession were modeled in proximity zones of 0-50 m, 50-100 m, 100-200 m, and greater than 200 m from the nearest forest edge. We used existing GIS data layers for fire, geomorphology, and vegetation distribution in 1938, 1963, and 1992. The layers were modified and overlain using ArcView software to determine persistence and succession rates for each unique combination of layers in each proximity zone from 1938 to 1963 (pre-fire suppression) and 1963 to 1992 (post-fire suppression). ANCOVA results indicate that proximity to the nearest forest edge significantly affected barrens persistence rates in both time periods, but succession rates were significantly affected in 1938 to 1963 only. Twenty-eight percent of the 1938 barrens succeeded to forest by 1963; 56% of the 1963 barrens became forest by 1992. Results support previous findings that barrens persistence is enhanced by increased fire frequency, and that barrens persist longer where they overlie flat glacial till than on other geomorphology types.     

Characterizing historical and modern fire regimes in Michigan (USA): A landscape ecosystem approach

We studied the relationships of landscape ecosystems to historical and contemporary fire regimes across 4.3 million hectares in northern lower Michigan (USA). Changes in fire regimes were documented by comparing historical fire rotations in different landscape ecosystems to those occurring between 1985 and 2000. Previously published data and a synthesis of the literature were used to identify six forest-replacement fire regime categories with fire rotations ranging from very short (<100 years) to very long (>1,000 years). We derived spatially-explicit estimates of the susceptibility of landscape ecosystems to fire disturbance using Landtype Association maps as initial units of investigation. Each Landtype Association polygon was assigned to a fire regime category based on associations of ecological factors known to influence fire regimes. Spatial statistics were used to interpolate fire points recorded by the General Land Office. Historical fire rotations were determined by calculating the area burned for each category of fire regime and dividing this area by fifteen (years) to estimate area burned per annum. Modern fire rotations were estimated using data on fire location and size obtained from federal and state agencies. Landtype Associations networked into fire regime categories exhibited differences in both historical and modern fire rotations. Historical rotations varied by 23-fold across all fire rotation categories, and modern forest fire rotations by 13-fold. Modern fire rotations were an order of magnitude longer than historical rotations. The magnitude of these changes has important implications for forest health and understanding of ecological processes in most of the fire rotation categories that we identified.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Untersuchungen zur Übertragung von Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus auf gesunde Kartoffelknollen

Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1999 bis 2003 wurde in Freiland-, Klimakammer- und Lagerungsversuchen überprüft, ob ein Risiko für die Übertragung des Erregers der Bakteriellen Ringfäule der Kartoffel (Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus) besteht, wenn (a) gesunde Kartoffelknollen in Kontakt mit Maschinen und Geräten kommen, die mit dem Erreger kontaminiert sind (indirekter Kontakt) und (b) gesunde Kartoffelknollen direkt in Kontakt mit infizierten Knollen kommen (direkter Kontakt). Nach indirektem Kontakt konnte nur beim nachfolgenden Anbau der kontaminierten Knollen in der Klimakammer Befall in Kraut und Knollen festgestellt werden. Im Freiland konnte der Erreger, auch bei wiederholtem Nachbau der geernteten Knollen, nicht nachgewiesen werden. Nach direktem Kontakt und nachfolgendem Anbau der kontaminierten Knollen in der Klimakammer und im Freiland, wurde der Erreger in allen Fällen in den geerntete Knollen nachgewiesen. Befall im Kraut wurde nur in dem Klimakammerversuch und in einem Freilandversuch ermittelt. Wurden durch direkten Kontakt kontaminierte Knollen eingelagert, konnte der Erreger in allen untersuchten Knollen festgestellt werden. Insgesamt besteht ein hohes Risiko, dass gesunde Knollen infiziert werden, wenn oberflächliche Kontaminationen mit dem Erreger erfolgen. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit von Infektionen steigt mit zunehmender Kontaminationsstärke.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

Antifungals and their use in veterinary ophthalmology.

Many variables affect the outcome of keratomycosis and systemic fungal infections in animals. These include pathogenicity of the fungal organism(toxins, trophisms, and evasion of host response); previous treatment with topical or systemic corticosteroids, which can have a dramatic negative impact on host defense mechanisms: concurrent systemic illness or immunocompromise: severity/extent of infection; and degree of pain (ie,increased reflex tearing dilutes topical medication) [14]. Experimental work suggests that antibiotics may occasionally exacerbate fungal infections [142],and some researchers advocate that concurrent antibiotic therapy is contraindicated in horses with yeast infections and septate fungal infections unless bacterial infection is also suspected [14]. Nevertheless, given that normal conjunctival flora often include bacteria and fungi and because care of keratomycoses often includes mixed bacterial and fungal infections, the possible dynamics (natural influences and local competition) between ocular surface microorganisms merit further investigation. There are many unanswered questions regarding the accuracy of in vitro susceptibilities and corneal concentration capabilities for antifungal topical medications [14].Inherent host resistance or other immune interactions between the patient and fungus are perhaps the most important determinants of the outcome but are currently difficult to measure or assess except by subjective clinical observation [14].