Fungistatic activity of bicyclo[4.3.0]-γ-lactones

Five optically active and sixteen racemic lactones (nine of them new) of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane structure were synthesized. IC(50) values for the following phytopathogens were determined: Aspergillus ochraceus AM 456, Fusarium culmorum AM 282, Fusarium oxysporum AM 13, Fusarium tricinctum AM 16. Effect of compound structures, especially stereogenic centers, on fungistatic activity has been discussed. The highest fungistatic activity was observed for trans-7,8-dibromo-cis-3-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-2-one (3c), IC(50) = 30.1 μg/mL (0.10 μM/mL), and cis-7,8-epoxy-cis-3-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-2-one (3b), IC(50) = 72.2 μg/mL (0.47 μM/mL), toward F. oxysporum AM 13.     

Canine spermatozoa—What do we know about their morphology and physiology? An overview

Spermatozoa are unique cells because of their morphological and physiological characteristics. They are produced during the process called spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis consists of three phases: spermatocytogenesis, spermiogenesis and spermiation, during which spermatozoa undergo several changes. Spermatogenesis takes place within the seminiferous tubules containing two types of cells—the germ cells and the Sertoli cells—that alongside the Leydig cells, which play an important role when it comes to normal fertility. Everything is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and specific hormones due to multi-hormonal feedback systems. Spermatozoa possess morphological and physiological features, which are sometimes completely different from what is observed in various somatic cells. What is more, canine spermatozoa have specific characteristics making them special compared to the spermatozoa of other mammalian species. The metabolic energy production, which is crucial for the appropriate functioning of spermatozoa, can be fuelled by different metabolic pathways utilizing different chemical substrates. Inseparable from the oxidative phosphorylation process is the production of reactive oxygen species, which are both essential and toxic to spermatozoa. Furthermore, epididymis is a very important structure, responsible for the transport and maturation of spermatozoa, which are then stored in the last segment of epididymis—the epididymal cauda. Moreover, the retrieval of spermatozoa from the epididymides is crucial for the development of assisted reproduction techniques and sperm cryopreservation methods. The information gained from the research on domestic dogs might be transferred to their wild relatives, especially those species categorized as endangered.     

Characteristics of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen analysed with flow cytometry combined with fertility results

In order to increase the reproductive indices of capercaillie kept in closed breeding facilities, it is necessary to constantly expand the methods of better understanding the characteristics of sperm and their fertilizing potency. The aim of the study was to analyse selected features of capercaillie sperm using flow cytometry and their connection with fertility results. The study included five males, three of which were kept in a family group with eight females and two were kept alone. For sperm viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial potential and DNA defragmentation were assessed. Paternity analyses were performed in order to confirm the paternity of the individual and to link the evaluated semen traits with reproductive success. Analyses carried out in the flow cytometer showed any significant differences between males in sperm characteristics. In the semen of male No. 101, the father of all chicks from the analysed family group, 91.3% of live sperm, 91.5% with intact acrosome, 83.6% with active mitochondria and 2.0% with DNA defragmentation were observed. The average fertility rate was 71.0%, and chick hatchability was 100%. Using flow cytometry in the analysis of capercaillie semen and its connection with the results of natural mating, we were able to obtain deeper knowledge about new sperm characteristics that were not examined before and which in the future may be helpful in selecting males for the reproductive flocks and developing assisted reproduction techniques.     

EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF UREA,MOLYBDENUM, BENZYLADENINE,SUCROSE AND SALICYLIC ACID ON YIELD,NITROGEN METABOLISM OF RADISH PLANTS AND QUALITY OF EDIBLE ROOTS

In 2006–2007 small radish was cultivated in a pot experiment. Foliar applications were applied twice with solutions of the following compounds: 1) control (water); 2) urea; 3) urea+molybdenum (Mo), 4) urea+Mo+benzyladenine (BA); 5) urea+Mo+BA+sucrose; 6) urea+Mo+BA+sucrose+salicylic acid (SA), 7) BA; 8) SA; and 9) sucrose. The above solutions contained following concentrations of compounds: urea 20 g dm^?3, sucrose 10 g dm^?3, Mo 1 mg dm^?3, BA 5 mg dm^?3 and SA 10 mg dm^?3. In comparison with the control, spraying plants with the solution of urea+Mo+BA+sucrose and SA only caused an increase in leaf mass of one plant. Foliar applications did not have any effect on the yield of edible roots. When compared with the control, the use of sucrose resulted in a decreased content of nitrate (V) in leaves, while the application of urea+Mo+BA+sucrose led to elevated content of nitrate (V) in roots. In case of spraying plants with solutions containing urea (combinations no. 2–6) there was a tendency to increase ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and nitrogen (N)-total content in leaves and roots, and increase in N uptake by leaves and by the whole plant but not by the radish roots. In combinations 7–9 we noted a decline in the level of ascorbic acid, and in combinations 2–6 there was a decrease in the content of soluble sugars in roots. In comparison with the control, an increase was observed in combinations 2 and 3, while in combinations 7–9 a decrease in the content of free amino acids in roots was observed. None of the combinations with foliar application caused any significant changes in the content of assimilative pigments in radish leaves and concentration of nitrate (III), dry matter in leaves and roots, the content of phenolic compounds, content of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) extracted with 2% acetic acid in roots as well as free radical activity of radish roots.     

Prognosis of the nutritional status of apple trees based on prebloom leaves and flowers

Abstract

The utilization of prebloom tissues to predict nutrition of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the possible use of mineral analyses of the prebloom spur leaves and flowers to forecast the nutrition of ‘Idared’ apple trees in the mid-summer (based on the leaves from current-season shoots). The prebloom leaf concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, boron and manganese were positively correlated with those in the summer leaves. The significant relationships between nitrogen, calcium, boron, and manganese in the flowers and those in the mid-summer leaves were also found. However, only the relationship between boron in the prebloom spur leaves and in the summer leaves was sufficiently strong. The calculated optimal range of boron in the prebloom spur leaves was 20–25?mg kg^?1.     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. II. Diurnal changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Short-term changes in tuber volume and in specific leaf weight were measured non-destructively. Tubers from control plants increased rapidly in volume during the night and did not grow, or even shrivelled during the day. Tubers of stressed plants did not show a uniform response; some tubers markedly declined in volume during the day. The patterns of volume increase of stressed plants became erratic after the stress, mainly because some plants never fully recovered. Patterns of diurnal fluctuation in tuber volume were similar to diurnal changes in specific leaf weight; tubers within the same stressed plant sometimes reacted differently. In these cases the effects on the diurnal fluctuation partly reflected the long-term effects, reported in an earlier paper.     

Vitamin C and quercetin modulate DNA-damaging effect of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)

The effects of natural compounds, vitamin C and quercetin, present in fruitsand vegetables, on the DNA damaging activity of a food carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were examinedusing the comet assay. Vitamin C, at a concentration of 50 M,inhibited MNNG-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Quercetin,up to a concentration of 10 M, increased the extent of DNA damage,but at concentrations above 10 M decreased damage below controlvalues. Furthermore, quercetin had a strong antioxidant activity againstoxidative damage evoked by H₂O₂ at 10 M. The resultsobtained suggest that vitamin C and quercetin may have anti- orpro-oxidative properties depending on the state of the cell.     

Changes of the lipid catabolism in potato tubers from cultivars differing in susceptibility to autolysis during the storage

Summary The activities of lipolytic acyl-hydrolases (LAH) and lipoxygenases (LOX) were compared in stored tubers of potato cultivars resistant (Acresta, Eba, Pentland Envoy) and susceptible (Kastor, Pana, Tasso) to post-wounding autolysis. In most cultivars, LAH activities had reached a maximum by the end of December but in cv. Kastor activity continued to increase throughout the storage period. LOX activities increased during most of the storage period except in cv. Tasso. The level of the fatty acid hydroperoxides, assumed from determinations of the malonaldehyde level, also increased during storage. This work was supported by Project CPBP 05.02.2.10 financed by the Polish Academy of Science.