Seroepidemiological study of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in animals in Saudi Arabia

Serological prevalence of IgG antibodies against Rift Valley fever (RVFV) virus was investigated in 22 major localities in five different regions of Saudi Arabia where vaccination against RVF virus (RVFV) is not practiced. The study excludes the southwestern region where a major outbreak of RVF occurred in 2000 and where annual vaccination of ruminants is practiced. Sheep and goat IgG-sandwich ELISA were used to test serum samples from sheep and goats, and bovine IgG-sandwich ELISA was used to test cattle sera. A nonspecies-specific, nonantibody isotype-specific ELISA was used to test camel sera. A total of 3,480 sheep, goats, cattle and camels with no previous history of vaccination against RVFV were randomly tested. All tested animals were negative for IgG class antibodies against the virus except four out of 1,508 sheep and three out of 913 goats, which tested positive. All animals were clinically normal and no evidence was found of virus activity in the studied areas. It is, therefore, most likely that those rare positive cases, which constituted 0.002% of the total animals tested, were either false positives or vaccinates smuggled from the outbreak zone. The need for regular monitoring of animals both within the outbreak zone of 2000 and other parts of the kingdom is strongly emphasized.     

A genetic map of Welschriesling × Sirius for the identification of magnesium-deficiency by QTL analysis

Summary A genetic linkage map of grapevine was constructed with 92 progeny, which was derived from a cross of Welschriesling × Sirius using the pseudo-testcross strategy. Welschriesling is known for showing low magnesium uptake. The segregation pattern of this defect was compared with the segregation pattern of 251 molecular markers, 237 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 14 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker. These markers were used to construct the parental genetic maps and could be arranged into 20 linkage groups. The maternal (Welschriesling) and the paternal (Sirius) maps were aligned in one consensus map. Mapmaker 3.0 software was used for the calculations of linkage groups. The genetic map rendered it possible to identify a QTL (quantitative trait loci) in linkage group 11. This loci can be associated with visual symptoms of Mg lack and the amount of Mg concentration in the leaves of the grape zone. The SSR markers VVS2 and VMC 6g1 showed the highest linkage to the core region of the Mg-QTL.     

Stabilization of chromium(VI) by hydroxysulfate green rust in chromium(VI)-contaminated soils

Chromium (Cr)-contaminated soils pose a great environmental risk, with high solubility and persistent leaching of Cr(VI). In this study, hydroxysulfate green rust (GR_SO4), with the general formula Fe(II)₄Fe(III)₂(OH)₁₂SO₄·8H₂O, was evaluated for its efficiency in Cr(VI) stabilization via Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) in four representative Cr(VI)-spiked soils. The initial concentrations of phosphate buffer-extractable Cr(VI) (Cr(VI)_b) in soils 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 382.4, 575.9, 551.3, and 483.7 mg kg^-1, respectively. Reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by structural Fe(II) (Fe(II)_s) in GR_SO4 in all studied soils was fast, wherein the application of GR_SO4 markedly decreased the amount of Cr(VI)_b at the Cr(VI)_b/Fe(II)_s stoichiometric mole ratio of 0.33. The kinetics of Cr(VI) reduction by GR_SO4 could not be determined as this reaction coincided with the release of Cr(VI) from soil during the experiment. The concentration of Cr(VI)_b decreased, as the Cr(VI)_b/Fe(II)_s ratio decreased from 0.46 to 0.20, generally to below 10 mg kg^-1. Back-transformation of the generated Cr(III) was examined in the presence of manganese oxide birnessite at the birnessite/initial Cr(III) mole ratio of 4.5. The results of batch tests showed that only 5.2% of the initial Cr(III) was converted to Cr(VI) after two months, while under field capacity moisture conditions, less than 0.05% of the initial Cr(III) was oxidized to Cr(VI) after six months. The results illustrated that remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils would be fast, successful, and irreversible with an appropriate quantity of fresh GR_SO4.     

Impact of suppression of ethylene action or biosynthesis on flavor metabolites in apple (Malus domestica Borkh) fruits

To understand the role of ethylene in regulating the overall flavor of apple fruits, ethylene production or action was reduced using transgenic apple trees suppressed for ACC-synthase or ACC-oxidase enzyme activity or by the addition of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene action inhibitor. Flavor components were differentially regulated in response to the suppression of both ethylene biosynthesis and action. Headspace analysis of aroma production, an ethylene-associated event, showed a reduction in ester and alcohol production in the ethylene-suppressed lines and in the apples treated with 1 microL L(-1) 1-MCP for 20 h at 20 degrees C. However, no major differences were observed in the concentrations of aldehyde volatiles. Other flavor metabolites that showed an ethylene-dependent pattern were organic acids and sugars. Malic acid degradation was significantly reduced under ethylene-suppressed conditions, showing a recovery after the fruit was exposed to ethylene. Sucrose and fructose concentrations were influenced by suppression or enhancement of ethylene. Total phenolics as well as individual phenolic compounds showed an ethylene-dependent regulation only in response to the suppression of ethylene biosynthesis, but not when ethylene action was inhibited.     

Various Applications of Seaweed Improves Growth and Biochemical Constituents of Zea Mays L. and Helianthus Annuus L.

In this study, the effect of seaweed on the growth of Zea mays L. and Helianthus annuus L. was investigated. Seeds of the plants have been soaked for 6 hours in 0.5% Gracilaria corticata and 1.0% Enteromorpha flexuosa aqueous extract. The presoaked seeds were sown both in soil irrigated monthly with aqueous extract and in soil mixed with powdered seaweeds. Growth parameters of plants were studied after 60 days of growth. The results revealed that both applications of G. corticata and E. flexuosa enhance shoot length, root length, shoot and root dry weights, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate and protein contents, and nutrient uptake. The maximum growth was observed with irrigation by E. flexuosa extract. The element constituent [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), iron (Fe³⁺), manganese (Mn²⁺), and zinc (Zn²⁺)] and phytohormones [Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellins, and cytokinins] of E. flexuosa extract and powder was higher that of G. corticata. Of the two seaweeds tested, E. flexuosa exhibited better responses.     

Relationship of ethylene biosynthesis to volatile production, related enzymes, and precursor availability in apple peel and flesh tissues

Regulation of ethylene biosynthesis or action has a major effect on volatiles production in apples. To understand the biochemical processes involved, we used Greensleeves apples from a transgenic line with a high suppression of ethylene biosynthesis. The study was focused at the level of the aroma volatile-related enzymes, including alcohol acyltransferase (AAT), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and lipoxygenase (LOX) and at the level of amino acids and fatty acids as aroma volatile precursors in peel and flesh tissues. In general, volatile production, enzyme activity levels, and precursor availability were higher in the peel than the flesh and were differentially affected by ethylene regulation. AAT enzyme activity showed a clear pattern concomitant with ethylene regulation. Contrarily, ADH and LOX seem to be independent of ethylene modulation. Isoleucine, an important precursor of aroma compounds including 2-methylbutanoate esters, showed a major increase in the peel during ripening and responded significantly to ethylene regulation. Other important aroma volatiles precursors, like linoleic and linolenic acid, showed an accumulation during ripening associated with increases in aldehydes. The significance of these changes in relation to aroma volatile production is discussed.     

Aging effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on phosphorus fractionation in a calcareous sandy loam soil

In most arid and semiarid soils, naturally occurring phosphorus(P) is a major yield-limiting plant nutrient. In this study, to investigate the effects of organic(OP) and inorganic P(IP) sources on P fractionation, a calcareous sandy loam alkaline soil was fertilized with OP and IP fertilizers at low(80 mg P kg~(-1) soil) and high(160 mg P kg~(-1) soil) application rates. Three combinations of OP and IP(i.e., 75% OP + 25% IP, 50% OP + 50% IP, and 25% OP + 75% IP) were applied at low and high application rates,respectively, followed by soil aging for 21 d. Soil samples were collected after 1, 2, 3, 7, and 21 d and subjected to sequential extraction to analyze soluble and exchangeable, Fe-and Al-bound, Ca-bound, and residual P fractions. The soluble and exchangeable P fraction significantly increased up to 24.3%, whereas the Ca-bound fraction decreased up to 40.7% in the soils receiving 75% OP + 25% IP and 50% OP + 50% IP, respectively, compared with the control(receiving no P fertilizer). However, the transformation of P fractions was influenced by aging time. Addition of P sources caused instant changes in different P fractions, which then tended to decline with aging time. Change in soil p H was the limiting factor in controlling P availability. At high application rate, the OP source significantly increased soil P availability compared with the IP source with soil aging. Depending on P fractionation, a proper combination of OP and IP fertilizers, as long-term slow and instant P-releasing sources for plant uptake, respectively, may be a sustainable strategy to meet crop P requirements in the arid and semiarid soils.     

Allometric models for predicting above- and belowground biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucaena</Emphasis>-KX2 in a shaded coffee agroecosystem in Hawaii

We developed site-specific allometric models for Leucaena leucocephala × pallida var. KX2 trees in a shaded coffee agroecosystem in Hawaii to predict above- and belowground biomass and the regrowth potential of pollarded trees. Models were used to compare tree growth rates in an experimental agroforestry system with different pollarding frequencies and additions of tree pruning residues as mulch. For all allometric equations, a simple power model (Y = aX^b) provided the optimal prediction of biomass or regrowth after pollarding. For aboveground biomass components (stem, branches, leaves, and seed and pods), stem diameter alone was the best predictor variable. Stump diameter provided the best prediction of coarse root biomass and aboveground regrowth after pollarding. Predictions of biomass from generalized allometric models often fell outside the 95% confidence intervals of our site-specific models, especially as biomass increased. The combination of pollarding trees once per year plus the addition of tree mulch resulted in the greatest aboveground regrowth rates as well as accumulation of biomass and C in the stump plus coarse roots. Although optimal prediction required the development of site-specific allometric relationships, a simple power model using stem or stump diameter alone can provide an accurate assessment of above- and belowground tree biomass, as well as regrowth potential under specific management scenarios.