Composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Seseli annuum wild-growing in Serbia

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Seseli annuum, wild-growing in Serbia, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC and GC/MS. A total of 43 components were identified representing 96.5% of S. annuum oil. The most abundant compounds were germacrene D (29.8%), sabinene (10.3%), beta-ocimene Z (9.8%) and limonene (8.6%). The essential oil showed antifungal activity against fifteen fungi with MICs between 12.5 to 50 microl/ml.     

Influence of dietary enzyme complex on the performance of broilers fed on diets with and without antibiotic supplementation

1. The aim of the experiment was to test the possible interactions of an enzyme complex and a food antibiotic on the growth and metabolism, carcase yield, whole body composition and nutrient deposition in broilers. The basal diet contained 400 g/kg barley. The four treatments were as follows: O—without supplements (control), E—enzyme complex Roxazyme® G, 200 mg/kg, A—antibiotic avoparcin, 10 mg/kg, EA—Roxazyme G, 200 mg/kg plus avoparcin, 10 mg/kg.

2. Roxazyme G positively influenced weight gain, food conversion efficiency, energy metabolisability, fat and nitrogen utilisation and the dry matter content of droppings. Fat and energy deposition in the whole body were also increased, whereas protein deposition and carcase yield were not influenced.

3. Avoparcin increased energy metabolisability and fat utilisation, but had no influence on nitrogen utilisation. No significant improvements from avoparcin were seen in growth or in nutrient deposition in the body. The fibre degradability (NDF and ADF fraction) was significantly depressed by antibiotic supplementation.

4. The inclusion of both supplements to the diet did not have a fully additive effect on growth, energy metabolisability, or fat and nitrogen utilisation. The interaction between enzyme and antibiotic for food conversion efficiency during the first experimental period (7 to 21 d) was nearly significant (P= 0.053). Except for fibre degradability (P ≤ 0.01), no other significant interactions between enzyme and antibiotic were found.     

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on citrus: Seasonal abundance, association with the species of host plant, and sampling indices

Samples were collected from southern Greece during 1996–2000 in order to investigate the presence of parasitoids onAphis gossypii Glover infesting several citrus species. The species of aphidiines found to have a significantly different preference forA. gossypii wereAphidius colemani Viereck,Aphidius matricariae Haliday,Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh),Ephedrus persicae Froggat,Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson),Binodoxys acalephae (Marshall) andBinodoxys angelicae (Haliday). In another sampling experiment, the relative abundance of aphidiine parasitoids on aphids infesting orange and tangerine trees was studied in southern Greece (Nea Kios) in 1996 and 1997.A. gossypii constituted the largest part of the aphid population and was the only species parasitized.B. angelicae andA. colemani were the most abundant parasitoid species. The parasitization rate differed among the parasitoid species.B. angelicae had the highest colonization rate in centrally located and large host (A. gossypii) groups, whereasA. colemani was found in more isolated and relatively small host groups. The percentage of parasitism byB. angelicae was high mainly in large host groups, whenB. angelicae was the only parasitoid present. However, in cases of coexistence ofB. angelicae withA. colemani with hyperparasitoids, in the same sampling unit, the percentage of parasitism was relatively low. http://www.phytoparasitica.org     

Effect on neonatal oestrogen and hCG treatment on the genital organs of adult female rats

The ovaries and the uterine as well as vaginal mucous membranes of 80-, 180- and 365-day-old intact female rats and females neonatally treated with a single dose of oestrogen and repeated doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were studied. Numerous follicles, interstitial cells and corpora lutea (CL) were present on the ovary of intact females from 80 up to 365 days of age. The number of primary and secondary follicles decreased in the intact female rats between Day 180 and Day 365 of life. On the ovaries of 180- and 365-day-old female rats neonatally treated with oestrogen, interstitial glandular cells and cystic follicles predominated. No CL were present on these ovaries. The height of epithelial cells of the uterine and vaginal mucous membranes increased in intact female rats from 80 to 365 days of age, whereas in oestrogen-treated females the height of epithelium decreased. From 80 up to 365 days of age, the height of epithelial cells of uterine and vaginal mucous membranes of rats neonatally treated with repeated doses of hCG was similar to that in the corresponding control animals.     

Several new and one invasive aphid species (Aphididae,Hemiptera) caught by yellow water traps in Serbia

Eight aphid species were determined as new records for Serbia as a result of the evaluation of the specimens caught by yellow water traps used for monitoring vector activities in seed potato crops during the 4 years 2007–2010. The invasive aphid species Macrosiphum albifrons Essig 1911; and the new species Acyrthosiphon cyparissiae (Koch 1855), Ctenocallis setosus (Kaltenbach 1846), Myzodium modestum (Hottes 1926), Myzocallis castanicola Baker 1917, Myzocallis occidentalis Remaudiè et Nieto Nafria 1974, Tinocallis platani (Kaltenbach 1843) and Wahlgreniella ossiannilssoni Hille Ris Lambers 1949. M. modestum is very difficult to detect, as it lives hidden in moss. All species are presented with characteristic morphological information of alatae and line drawings.     

Allelic polymorphism and inheritance of MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

The allelic polymorphism and inheritance of MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes were analysed in 28 apple cultivars, which were derived from reciprocal crosses of the following parental pairs: ‘Golden Delicious’ × ‘James Grieve’, ‘Golden Delicious’ × ‘Jonathan’, ‘Cox's Orange Pippin’ × ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Cox's Orange Pippin’ × ‘Jonathan’. Polymorphisms were detected by PCR and the use of two restriction enzymes (BamH1 and RsaI). In addition, new primers were designed for the further discrimination of MdACO1 alleles. Two alleles of MdACS1 gene (MdACS1‐1 and MdACS1‐2) and three alleles of MdACO1 gene (a, b and c) were detected. Cloning and sequencing of MdACO1 alleles confirmed a high conservation and some differences within the coding regions and helped to reconcile between different numbering systems. Observed segregations confirmed that alleles a, b and c belonged to the MdACO1 gene. It is apparent that polymorphisms within the MdACS1 and MdACO1 genes could aid cultivar genotyping and identification and, furthermore, that the MdACS1‐2/2 genotype is correlated with a long apple storage life.