Assessment of phenotypic variation of Malus orientalis in the North Caucasus region

Malus orientalis Uglitzk. is the predominant Malus species of the Caucasian forests distributed in the north of Anatolia, Armenia, Russia as well as in Iran. It is considered as one of the probable minor ancestors of domestic apples. Although M. orientalis has a lower diversity of fruit quality, other valuable traits such as later blooming, adaptation to a wider array of habitats, and capacity for longer storage of the apples should be taken into account for improving the genetic makeup of the domestic apple. A joint expedition of scientists of the Julius Kühn-Institute from Germany and the Nikolaj I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry from Russia was performed into the North Caucasus region during August/September 2011. Altogether 101 M. orientalis accessions were collected from eight sites at the North Caucasus. Twenty-six traits such as size, color, shape, flavor and firmness of fruit and tree habit were used for phenotypic evaluation of the accessions. A high phenotypic diversity within the collected material of M. orientalis was indicated. Accessions characterized by suitable fruit traits like bigger size, larger cover color, less bitterness and better firmness as well as more sweetness and better flavor were found. However, small-sized flavorless fruits were also detected. Tree habit varied widely from upright to weeping. Subsequently, a comprehensive phenotypic and genetic evaluation of M. orientalis increases the knowledge of diversity, may provide new resources of agronomically important traits for breeding purposes, and gives support to determine accessions for a core collection.     

Improvement of phytoremediation effects with help of different fertilizer

Abstract

Phytoremediation is increasingly used to remediate metal contaminated soils. However, in order to provide technically efficient phytoremediation of contaminated sites the plant yield and metal uptake have to be enhanced dramatically. The aim of the study was to find appropriate combination of plant species and fertilizers capable of improving yields of the plants and stimulate a transfer of metals to more available to the plants forms. Wheat Triticum vulgare was used for the phytoremediation research. To increase yield of crops and enhance mobility of metals in the rhizosphere the soils were amended with three fertilizers (urea, horse manure, and “ispolin”). Short-term (36 d) vegetation test showed that concentrations of heavy metals in the plants grown in contaminated soil (from site 2) were significantly higher than those in the plants grown in clean soil (from site 1). Growth of wheat resulted in a decrease of Cd content in the soil. Amendment of the contaminated soil with urea enhanced the effect and the decrease of Cd concentration in the soil was more significant. The best effect was demonstrated after application of ispolin: concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the rhizosphere decreased 1.2–1.4 times as compared with those in the initial contaminated soil (the decrease was statistically significant).     

Reduction of Salt in Haddock Mince: Effect of Different Salts on the Solubility of Proteins

ABSTRACT

Due to negative health effects of high sodium intake, it is recommended to reduce the daily salt intake by around 50%. To reduce the sodium content, sodium salts can be exchanged with potassium or magnesium salts. The effect of sodium, potassium, and magnesium chlorides on extractability of proteins from fresh and frozen haddock muscle and minces was studied. Salting with KCl and MgCl₂ instead of NaCl changed protein extractability. The highest solubility of the proteins was achieved using Na⁺. However, at low concentrations, extractability in K⁺ and Mg²⁺ is on the same level as Na⁺, showing that partial substitution of NaCl with KCl or MgCl₂ is possible. Freezing affected the structure of tissue and protein properties, resulting in decreased amount of salt soluble proteins.     

��-Conotoxin GVIA Mimetics that Bind and Inhibit Neuronal Cav2.2 Ion Channels

The neuronal voltage-gated N-type calcium channel (Ca_v2.2) is a validated target for the treatment of neuropathic pain. A small library of anthranilamide-derived ω-Conotoxin GVIA mimetics bearing the diphenylmethylpiperazine moiety were prepared and tested using three experimental measures of calcium channel blockade. These consisted of a ¹²⁵I-ω-conotoxin GVIA displacement assay, a fluorescence-based calcium response assay with SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and a whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology assay with HEK293 cells stably expressing human Ca_v2.2 channels. A subset of compounds were active in all three assays. This is the first time that compounds designed to be mimics of ω-conotoxin GVIA and found to be active in the ¹²⁵I-ω-conotoxin GVIA displacement assay have also been shown to block functional ion channels in a dose-dependent manner.     

Influence of Metal Nanoparticles on the Soil Microbial Community and Germination of Lettuce Seeds

Short term influence of silica, palladium, gold and copper nanoparticles on a soil microbial community and the germination of lettuce seeds are investigated in this study at two different concentrations of nanoparticles. Results show a statistically insignificant influence of the nanoparticles in the soil on the number of colony forming units, peak areas of methyl ester of fatty acids in the FAME profile or on the total soil community metabolic fingerprint (P?>?0.05). Also, all nanoparticles tested in the study influenced the growth of lettuce seeds as measured through shoot/root ratios of the germinated plant (P?<?0.05).     

Influence of pollen feeding on body weight and body size of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (Acari,Phytoseiidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The nutritional quality of pollen was assessed measuring biomass and body size of freshly emerged, 1, 3, and 30 day old adult Amblyseius swirskii...     

Micellization of bovine beta-casein studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy

The association behavior, critical micellization concentration (CMC), and enthalpy of demicellization (DeltaHdemic) of bovine beta-casein were studied, for the first time by isothermal titration calorimetry, in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer with 0.1 ionic strength and in pure water. In the buffer solutions, the CMC decreased asymptotically from 0.15 to 0.006 mM as the temperature was raised from 16 to 45 degrees C. DeltaHdemic decreased with increasing temperature between 16 and 28 degrees C but increased from 28 to 45 degrees C. Thermodynamic analysis below 30 degrees C is consistent with the Kegeles shell model, which suggests a stepwise association process. At higher temperatures, this model exhibits limitations, and the micellization becomes much more cooperative. The CMC values in water, measured between 17 and 28 degrees C, decreased with increasing temperature and, expectedly, were higher than those found in the buffer solutions. beta-Casein micelles were visualized and characterized, for the first time in their hydrated state, using advanced digital-imaging cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The images revealed small, oblate micelles, about approximately 13 nm in diameter. The micelles shape and dimensions remained nearly constant in the temperature range of 24-35 degrees C.     

Potential contribution of organosilicon compounds to reduced leaching of biocides in wood protection

? Leaching of biocide treated wood leads to reduced effectiveness and potential threat to the environment.

? Therefore the effectiveness of organosilicons as protective systems of biocides was evaluated. Scots pine sapwood specimens were impregnated with solely organosilicons and biocides as well as with combinations of both.

? The biocides 3-iodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate, propiconazole and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride confirmed their effectiveness regardless the addition of an organosilicon. Low leachate toxicities to the crustacean Daphnia magna were found for the organosilicons, whereas significant leachate toxicities were measured for the biocides. Combining both did not considerably diminish the leachate toxicities.

? It must therefore be concluded that under the circumstances as described in this article, organosilicons do not interfere with the efficacy of the biocides, but they do not contribute to a reduced leaching of the biocides either.

     

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Lectin from the Clam Glycymeris yessoensis and Its Functional Characterization under Microbial Stimulation and Environmental Stress

Lectin from the bivalve Glycymeris yessoensis (GYL) was purified by affinity chromatography on porcine stomach mucin–Sepharose. GYL is a dimeric protein with a molecular mass of 36 kDa, as established by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF analysis, consisting of 18 kDa subunits linked by a disulfide bridge. According to circular dichroism data, GYL is a β/α-protein with the predominance of β-structure. GYL preferentially agglutinates enzyme-treated rabbit erythrocytes and recognizes glycoproteins containing O-glycosidically linked glycans, such as porcine stomach mucin (PSM), fetuin, thyroglobulin, and ovalbumin. The amino acid sequences of five segments of GYL were acquired via mass spectrometry. The sequences have no homology with other known lectins. GYL is Ca²⁺-dependent and stable over a range above a pH of 8 and temperatures up to 20 °C for 30 min. GYL is a pattern recognition receptor, as it binds common pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as peptidoglycan, LPS, β-1,3-glucan and mannan. GYL possesses a broad microbial-binding spectrum, including Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio proteolyticus), but not the fungus Candida albicans. Expression levels of GYL in the hemolymph were significantly upregulated after bacterial challenge by V. proteolyticus plus environmental stress (diesel fuel). Results indicate that GYL is probably a new member of the C-type lectin family, and may be involved in the immune response of G. yessoensis to bacterial attack.