Studies on kinetics and thermostability of a novel acid invertase from Fusarium solani

The present investigation deals with purification and thermal characterization of an acid invertase produced by Fusarium solani in submerged culture. The maximum enzyme activity (9.90 U mL(-1)) was achieved after 96 h of cultivation at pH 5.0 and 30 degrees C in a basal medium containing molasses (2%) as the carbon and energy source supplemented with 1% peptone. Invertase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme was proven to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 65 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 2.6 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The Km value for sucrose was 3.57 mM with an activation energy of 4.056 kJ mol(-1). Enthalpies of activation (DeltaH) were decreased while entropies (DeltaS) of activation increased at higher temperatures. The effects of alpha-chymotrypsin and 4 M urea were tetraphasic with periodic gain and loss of enzyme activity. A possible explanation for the thermal inactivation of invertase at higher temperatures is also discussed.     

In vitro and in vivo acaricidal activity of a herbal extract

The anti-tick efficacy of combined aqueous herbal extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves, Nicotiana tabacum leaves, Calotropis procera flowers and Trachyspermum ammi seeds was evaluated using adult immersion test, larval packet test and ear bag method. The extract exhibited lethal effects on egg laying (index of egg laying=0.371404±0.00435), hatching (22.35%) and total larval mortality at 50 mg ml(-1) and reduced tick intensity on the infested calves (18 detached out of 35 at 45% (w/w) suspension, topically applied). The herbal extract exerted dose- and time-dependent response against all the developmental stages of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus considered in this study, thus justified their use in the traditional system of Pakistan.     

中国地衣新记录属——安子纳属

通过对大别山安徽段山区所采集地衣标本的整理,利用光学生物显微镜、电子显微镜,观察其解剖结构扫描,并采用薄层层析等方法进行详细的分类学鉴定,发现一个新记录属安子纳属(Anzina Scheid.）和一个新纪录种[WTBX]〔Anzina carneonivea (Anzi.) Scheid.〕。对其分布范围、化学成分、解剖结构和鉴别特征进行了简要概括。
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Biological control of weeds: research by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: selected case studies

Research by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on biological control of weeds has been practiced for many years because of its inherent ecological and economic advantages. Today, it is further driven by ARS adherence to Presidential Executive Order 13112 (3 February 1999) on invasive species and to USDA-ARS policy toward developing technology in support of sustainable agriculture with reduced dependence on non-renewable petrochemical resources. This paper reports examples or case studies selected to demonstrate the traditional or classical approach for biological control programs using Old World arthropods against Tamarix spp, Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav) ST Blake and Galium spurium L/G aparine L, and the augmentative approach with a native plant pathogen against Pueraria lobata Ohwi = P montana. The examples illustrated various conflicts of interest with endangered species and ecological complexities of arthropods with associated microbes such as nematodes.     

Copper status in breeding and racing camels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus dromedarius</Emphasis>) and response to cupric oxide needle capsules

Copper was determined in the blood of breeding camels, camel calves and racing camels to evaluate copper status in these animals in UAE. Low blood copper concentrations were reported in newly born camel calves (100%) and calves 2–4 months old (68%), breeding camels at early (55.6%) and at mid lactation (48%) and at late pregnancy (69%). This is attributed to the low copper and high sulfate in the Rhodes grass which is the only diet offered to the breeding camels. On the other hand only 9.7% of racing camels showed low copper levels. This is because copper is routinely offered to racing camels when their blood copper is low. Cupric oxide needle capsules orally administered at the rate of 8 g per adult camel was effective in elevating blood copper from 7.083 μmol/L at day zero to 10.074 μmol/L at day 28 after dosing.     

Effect of dietary l-tryptophan on osmotic stress tolerance in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, juveniles

Common carp juveniles were fed two types of diet (control: 0.1% tryptophan and TRP: 0.6% tryptophan) over 15 days. Thereafter, both groups were directly subjected to osmotic challenge (from 0 to 10 ppt) for 168 h. Blood samples were collected at ?240, 0, 6, 24, 72 and 168 h after challenge. Survival and serum cortisol, glucose, sodium and chloride levels were measured to determine stress response and osmoregulation condition. While TRP group showed no mortality until 168 h, cumulative mortality was near 100% at 72 h after challenge in control group. Feeding tryptophan-supplemented diet led to increase in prechallenge cortisol, but not glucose, sodium and chloride values at ?240 h that stayed elevated until 0 h after challenge. After challenge, cortisol and glucose values did not significantly affected by time of sampling but type of diet and diet × time interaction. Sodium values significantly affected by diet type and time of sampling but not their interaction. Chloride values significantly affected by time of sampling but not diet type and their interaction. Control group had higher cortisol, glucose and sodium than TRP at each time of sampling. Control and TRP group showed increasing and decreasing pattern in cortisol and glucose values when experiment progressed after osmotic challenge. Both group showed increasing pattern in sodium and chloride values when experiment progressed after osmotic challenge. Results indicated that tryptophan supplementation enhanced salt water tolerance of carp that is due to increase in basal cortisol and anti-stress effect of tryptophan and possibly increase in serotonergic activity.     

不同耕作方式下旱作玉米田土壤呼吸及其影响因素

为揭示不同耕作方式对旱作玉米田土壤呼吸的影响,对比研究深松耕、免耕、旋耕和翻耕4种耕作方式下土壤呼吸速率的动态变化及其与土壤水分、温度、有机质、全氮、pH值等的关系。结果表明,夏玉米生长季,4种耕作方式下土壤呼吸速率随生育时期均呈先增加后降低的趋势,平均土壤呼吸速率为深松耕>翻耕>旋耕>免耕;播种前至拔节期土壤温度为翻耕>深松耕>旋耕>免耕,抽雄期至成熟收获期为免耕>旋耕>深松耕>翻耕;各耕作方式下0～20cm层土壤有机质、全氮均逐渐增加,与免耕比较,翻耕有机质和全氮均降低;生育前期土壤pH值波动明显,抽雄期后趋于平缓,土壤pH值平均值为翻耕>旋耕>免耕>深松耕。各影响因素与土壤呼吸速率相关分析表明,深松耕和翻耕土壤水分、温度与土壤呼吸速率呈显著或极显著正相关;有机质与土壤呼吸速率呈负相关,且与深松耕措施下土壤呼吸速率呈显著负相关;除免耕外,其他耕作方式下土壤全氮、pH值与土壤呼吸呈负相关。该研究可为补充完善土壤呼吸排放机理、评估区域碳收支平衡及制定科学有效的土壤碳调控管理措施提供依据。     

巴基斯坦波特瓦尔高原土壤侵蚀调查报告

[目的]开展巴基斯坦的土壤侵蚀调查与典型单元的定量评价研究,旨在为巴基斯坦土壤侵蚀防治和了解泛第三极生态环境现状提供科学依据。[方法]在巴基斯坦北部的波特瓦尔高原,沿着穆里—伊斯兰堡—拉瓦尔品第—古杰尔汗—杰格瓦尔—保恩路线,选择了15个调查单元(12个小流域,3个矩形区),于2019年4月16—20日,对调查单元内的土壤侵蚀类型与特征、土地利用类型和水土保持措施等进行了调查。[结果]波特瓦尔高原的林地、草地整体土壤侵蚀较轻,以片蚀为主;土壤侵蚀主要发生在建设用地,开挖边坡、排土边坡、土路边坡和砖厂平台等人为形成的边坡和裸露平台在降雨和径流的作用下产生沟蚀;部分自然山坡因过度放牧,发生重力侵蚀和沟蚀。15个调查单元的平均土壤侵蚀速率平均值介于51.40～1 338.91 t/(km~2·a)之间。[结论]波特瓦尔高原的土壤侵蚀主要发生在建设用地,应对生产建设项目引起的土壤侵蚀进行监督治理,同时通过试验开发匹配的土壤侵蚀防治措施;北部穆里地区是巴基斯坦重要的水源涵养地,需要对该地区大量的建设项目进行合理的规划与审批,防止土壤侵蚀加剧,引起水质和生态环境恶化;应加强沟壑区溯源侵蚀的研究与防控,以保护农田,确保粮食安全;需加强对该区土壤侵蚀基础数据的采集,并对不同尺度的土壤侵蚀发生机理与过程进行研究,切实保障巴基斯坦土地资源。     

地衣对重金属的累积效应用于乌鲁木齐市大气监测的研究

[目的]评价地衣重金属富集能力及其在城市空气环境质量评价中的应用前景.[方法]利用地衣移植法把丽石黄衣移植到乌鲁木齐市区15个监测点,用原子吸收光谱仪测量地衣体内6种重金属含量,根据重金属含量计算单项污染量指数和Nemerow综合污染指数.[结果]随着移植时间的延长地衣体内的重金属含量出现上升趋势,丽石黄衣体内重金属含量具有显著的时空变化特征.同时把单向污染量指数作为变量进行聚类分析和主成分分析,显示15个监测点分为轻污染区、中度污染区、重污染区,严重污染区等三个等级.[结论]地衣具有较高的重金属富集能力,对大气污染较敏感,可以作为大气环境质量评价指示地衣种类.