Immune response of BALB/c mouse immunized with recombinant MSPs proteins of Anaplasma marginale binding to immunostimulant complex (ISCOM)

Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, results in significant economic losses of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Six major surface proteins (MSPs) were well characterized and designated as MSP1, MSP2, MSP3, MSP4, and MSP5. The objective of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice against the recombinant MSPs, incorporated into immunostimulating complex (ISCOM). The recombinant proteins purified by Ni-NTA columns were incorporated into ISCOM and ISCOMATRIX by the lipid film hydration method. BALB/c mice immunized with ISCOM/rMSPs and ISCOMATRIX/rMSPs vaccines produced whole IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a, in contrast to the negative groups (PBS and ISCOMATRIX adjuvant). All groups that received antigen responded specifically against the rMSPs by Western blotting, showing the rMSP1a (60-105kDa), rMSP1b (100kDa), rMSP4 (47kDa), and rMSP5 (29kDa). Additional studies will have to be performed in cattle to evaluate the humoral and cellular mechanisms of this subunit vaccine and their possible use as protective vaccines against homologous and heterologous strains of A. marginale.     

Carbon Sequestration in Restored Soils by Applying Organic Amendments

The study of different natural carbon sinks has become especially important because of climate change effects. The restoration of contaminated areas can be an ideal strategy for carbon sequestration. The studied area was affected by toxic Aznalcóllar mine spill in 1998. Restoration process of the contaminated area was based, mainly, on the use of two organic amendments: leonardite (LE) and biosolid compost (BC). The objective of this study was to verify whether the application of these amendments promotes the long‐term carbon sequestration in this soil. Five treatments were established: untreated control, biosolid compost (doses 4 and 2) and leonardite (doses 4 and 2). The addition of amendments implied an improvement in soil quality that was directly related to the amendment dose: decrease in bulk density, increase in pH, higher respiration rates and an improvement in the stratification ratio. Dose‐dependent changes in the molecular composition of soil organic matter were shown by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Both amendments promoted carbon retention, although because of the low mineralization rates of soil organic matter in LE treatments, the carbon storage was higher. The dosage effect on the carbon balance was more important in LE treatments, whereas in the BC treatments, the balance was similar for both doses. Our findings suggest that LE4 significantly increased the total organic carbon and it was the most suitable treatment for long‐term carbon storage, because of its molecular composition rich in relatively stable aromatic and lignin‐derived compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of spikelet position on the success frequencies of wheat haploid production using the maize cross system

Barbela is an old Portuguese landrace of wheat that is highly genetically heterogeneous. Different Barbela populations when subjected to aluminium stress show variable levels of tolerance. In order to study the inheritance of this character, doubled haploid (DH) lines were developed. These DH were obtained by intergeneric crosses of 14 different lines of Barbela with maize. During this process the efficiency of the technique was evaluated and suggestions for its improvement were obtained. Several parameters were studied in the crosses: % of crossability, % of embryos per florets pollinated and % of embryos per seed set. The different genotypes of Barbela showed significant variation for the parameters analysed. When the reciprocal crosses were analysed, no differences were found, indicating that cytoplasm differences do not influence the parameters of DH production. However, different spikelet positions (lower, middle and upper) gave highly significant differences in all parameters analysed. Highest success frequencies were obtained for pollinated spikelets in the middle of the spike. This can indicate that concentrating on the middle part of the spike can increase the frequency of DHs obtained using inter generic crosses of wheat with maize. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Of Harold and Chimbu revisited

Abstract: This paper discusses my collaboration with Harold Brookfield in the study of Chimbu land and society. We began in 1958 at the Australian National University and worked together until 1965 in joint fieldwork and writing, and then collaborated occasionally after that. It began both of our professional contributions that continued throughout our professional careers. The work could never have been done by one person, either geographer or anthropologist. Our joint paper of 1990 may be the only multigenerational land study in anthropology/geography. Our long‐term study of the Mintima area is a constant reminder of the hazards of short‐sighted development projections. Brookfield always knew what he wanted to find out, and always constructed original methods of research and analysis. The Chimbu–Mintima maps were redrawn many times with many different measuring methods, new air photography and increasing precision. He always connected any specific study and report of work to general theory and would compare a wide range of related findings in other places. His work is a model of scientific method and its place in geographical theory.     

Resistance to common bacterial blight in Phaseolus vulgaris L. recombinant inbred lines under natural infection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli

Among the main causes of poor yield in common beans are fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. Common bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap), is one of the major bacterial diseases leading to significant losses in Brazil. Chemical control is ineffective, therefore, the use of resistant varieties becomes an interesting alternative. The objective of the present work was to evaluate disease resistance under natural infection of the pathogen in 109 recombinant inbred lines (F₇) of P. vulgaris originated from the cross HAB-52 (susceptible — snapbean) × BAC-6 (resistant — common bean) in two different environments, as well as to calculate genetic parameters to assist in the selection of promising materials to be used in the CBB resistance breeding program. The data of the genetic parameters were compared to those calculated for the F₃ generation originated from the same cross. The heritability results for DI (disease index) and VI (variation index) in F₃ were 26.85% and 0.26, respectively, whereas in F₇ they were 91.77% and 1.36, respectively. These results demonstrate a potential to be explored for this advanced population, that in the future, along with other pathogen variability studies and tests in other environments, may provide more information regarding a more precise evaluation of promising genotypes to be used in common bean breeding programs aiming to obtain CBB resistant varieties. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crops use-efficiency of nitrogen from manures permitted in organic farming

The current increase in the organic agriculture segment has created a new market for fertilisers permitted for use in organic farming. Off-farm N sources for organic farming are scarce, considering the restriction on the use of chemical fertilisers. Thus, when some products are permitted in organic agriculture, commercial opportunities become available. In this study we compare the performances of Vegethumus (Veg) and Phenix (Phe), two manures that are permitted in organic farming, with several other manures, ammonium nitrate (AN) and control treatments. A 3-year field trial and a pot experiment were carried out in order to estimate dry matter yield, N uptake, and N nutritional status of the crops, as well as soil N availability, the latter was assessed by using anion exchange membranes inserted into the soil. Apparent N recovery (ANR) values in the field trial were 6.3% and 58.2% in Veg and AN plots, respectively, after the application of 380 kg N/ha in the previous five growing seasons. In the pot experiment, the ANR of Veg and Phe, the organic amendments permitted in organic farming, were 5.0% and 13.6%, while Beiraadubo (Bei) and Nutrisoil (Nut) had ANR of 27.2% and 42.0%. The poor results of the amendments permitted in organic farming, in light of their high prices suggest that their use must be carefully considered by farmer in their fertilization strategies.     

Genetic-diversity assessed by microsatellites in tropical maize populations submitted to a high-intensity reciprocal recurrent selection

BR-105 and BR-106 are important tropical maize populations, which were submitted to a high-intensity reciprocal recurrent selection, generating the IG-3 and IG-4synthetics. Using 30-microsatellite loci,we measured and compared the genetic diversity of these populations and their synthetics. The populations did not differ significantly regarding the amount of genetic diversity. As a consequence of selection, genetic variability losses, in terms of mean number of alleles per locus,proportion of polymorphic loci, and gene diversity did occur and were greater in the synthetic IG-3 than IG-4. In the synthetics, the number of loci in adherence to Hardy-Weinberg proportions was superior to that observed in the populations. The Wright's mean fixation index was higher than the mean value expected for outcrossing species (5%) indicating as light excess of homozygotic individuals in both populations. The genetic distances confirmed the favourable effects of one cycle of recurrent selection, as the synthetics became more isolated in comparison to the original populations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Race specific resistance against Phytophthora infestans in potato is controlled by more genetic factors than only R-genes

Summary For RFLP mapping of R-genes, determining resistance to specific races of Phytophthora infestans in tetraploid potato, it is necessary to develop well segregating populations at the 2x level. During mapping studies, evidence was obtained that more genetic factor(s) are involved in the expression of R-genes than conventionally believed. Two experiments are described in which such an additional genetic factor was suppressing or enhancing the expression of unknown R _nand R _ifactors. R _nand R _iappeared to be present in the investigated plant material, containing R4 and R10, or in one of the susceptible crossing parents. In a third experiment, the expression and the segregation of the well known R1 gene was influenced by an additional genetic factor. In that case there were indications for a dominant suppressor. This was established by the selection of susceptible plants carrying a RFLP allele of probe GP21 closely linked to R1. In three of the four F₁ populations, resulting from crosses between such susceptible plants and susceptible tester plants, resistnat progenies were found. The resistance appeared to be R1-specific. This clearly indicates that in three of the four investigated susceptible plants, the R1 gene was still present but not expressed.