Zucchini growth,yield, and fruit quality in response to sodium chloride stress

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Moschata) plants were grown in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions at Almería (Southeastern Spain) in 1994 and 1995. Sodium chloride (NaCl) added to the irrigation water at 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 g L^‐1 and complemented with a fertilizer solution. Yield was determined on number and weight (kg) of fruit per plant. The hidric content (%W) per fruit was calculated using fruit fresh and dry weights. Fruit diameter, fruit length, and fruit firmness were also measured. Electrical conductivity, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, and pH as well as non‐structural carbohydrates concentration were determined. Zucchini yield, quality, and quantity increased as NaCl concentration was increased to 1 g L^‐1. This cultivar appears to suitable to be grown in coastal locations where soil and irrigation water contain salt concentration that limit the growth of other crops less tolerant to salinity.     

Acetochlor Persistence in Surface and Subsurface Soil Samples

Two cadmium-resistant bacteria, Ralstonia sp. TAK1 and Arthrobacter sp. TM6, produced exopolymers that promoted cadmium solubilization in contaminated soil. The enhancement of cadmium uptake and accumulation in a monocot (Vetiveria nemoralis, vetiver grass) and a dicot (Ocimum gratissimum, African basil) was investigated in a greenhouse study. Compared with the uninoculated control, Ralstonia sp. TAK1 and Arthrobacter sp. TM6 increased cadmium accumulation in the roots and shoots of V. nemoralis. These cadmium-resistant bacteria increased the cadmium content of whole V. nemoralis plants similarly to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment alone. In contrast, only Arthrobacter sp. TM6 enhanced cadmium accumulation in the roots and shoots of O. gratissimum. The highest cadmium content of whole O. gratissimum plants was observed when the plant was treated with EDTA following treatment with Arthrobacter sp. TM6. The phytoextraction coefficient and translocation factor (TF) of bacteria-inoculated V. nemoralis were higher than those of O. gratissimum. Arthrobacter sp. TM6 increased the phytoextraction coefficients and TFs in V. nemoralis and O. gratissimum. These results indicate that Arthrobacter sp. TM6 and both tested plant species promote cadmium phytoextraction in contaminated soil.     

Porcine circovirus type 2 detection in in vitro produced porcine blastocysts after virus sperm exposure

This study was aimed at assessing the capability of semen experimentally infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) to produce porcine blastocysts PCR positive for PCV2. Embryos were obtained from in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes or by parthenogenesis. Sperm suspension was exposed to PCV2b and utilized for IVF. PCV2 spiked semen did not reveal any reduction in sperm viability or motility but its ability to produce infected blastocysts was irrelevant as only one out of 15 blastocysts obtained by IVF were PCV2b; however two blastocysts were PCV2a positive. Furthermore, the presence of PCV2 was demonstrated also in embryos obtained by parthenogenesis (one out of 17 was PCV2b and one PCV2a positive). Even if PCV2 firmly attaches to the surface of spermatozoa, experimentally spiked sperm were not effective in infecting oocytes during IVF and in producing PCR positive embryos. The infected blastocysts we obtained derived most probably from infected oocytes recovered at the abattoir.     

Cooked Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Protect Against β-cell Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is a disease characterized by a hyperglycemic stage that leads to a chronic inflammatory state. We evaluated the in vivo effect of a diet supplemented with 25 % cooked black bean cultivar Negro 8025 (N8025) flour in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The effect was assessed before (preventive-treatment) and after (treatment) the onset of diabetes. There is a significant decrease of total phenolic, tannins and anthocyanins content after cooking, and the concentration of most of the single phenols analyzed are only slightly decreased. The treatment group showed a significant reduction of glucose (22.8 %), triglycerides (21.9 %), total cholesterol (29.9 %) and LDL (56.1 %) that correlates with a protection of pancreatic ß-cells. The diet with N8025 flour before the induction of diabetes did not exert a protective effect (glucose levels are similar to the diabetic control) but they have low levels of total cholesterol (47.5 %) and LDL (56.1 %). The preventive-treatment group did not inhibit the increase of TNF-α and IL-1β, whereas the treatment group did, compared to the diabetic control. Therefore, N8025 bean supplementation can be recommended to control diabetes.     

Predictive value of prepartum serum metabolites for incidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in grazing primiparous Holstein cows

The aim of this study was to measure changes in biochemical markers in the peripartum period of primiparous Holstein cows diagnosed with subclinical and clinical mastitis. In this study, 37 dairy cows were monitored daily during milking until 60 days postpartum and were categorized according to the occurrence of clinical mastitis (group mastitis (GM), n?=?9) or subclinical mastitis (group subclinical mastitis (GSUB), n?=?10) or absence of symptoms (control group (CG), n?=?18). Blood samples were collected weekly from ?30 to 60 days from calving. Samples were grouped for prepartum (?30 to 0 days from calving), early postpartum (0 to 30 days from calving), and late postpartum (30 to 60 days from calving) periods. Prepartum serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in GM than in CG (P?<?0.01). In addition, CG had higher prepartum serum glucose concentration than GM (P?=?0.03). In the early postpartum period, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was lower in CG than in GSUB (P?<?0.05), and in the late postpartum period, AST activity was lower in CG than GSUB and GM (P?=?0.01). Somatic cell count was higher during the early and late postpartum periods for GM and GSUB when compared to CG (P?<?0.01). In this study, primiparous cows with low glucose and higher NEFA in the prepartum were more susceptible for mastitis in the early postpartum, probably due to low immune function associated to a more negative energy balance. In sum, increased prepartum serum NEFA concentration and decreased glucose in primiparous cows were associated with clinical mastitis incidence in the postpartum period.     

Starch Characteristics of Modern and Heirloom Potato Cultivars

In a number of ways, modern potato breeding efforts differ from those that created heirloom cultivars. As a result of the rapid expansion of the potato processing industry in the mid twentieth century, potato breeders shifted their focus from fresh market varieties to those intended for the fry and chip markets. Selection for higher dry matter content and lower reducing sugar levels in tubers was successful. This study sought to determine whether modern processing cultivars differ from heirloom cultivars for two major characteristics of tuber starch, amylose content and starch granule morphology. Since breeding efforts for processing potatoes have focused on the maintenance of tuber quality during storage, these parameters were measured in both fresh and stored tubers. Twenty cultivars selected to span the range of cultivar release dates in the U.S. were grown at Hancock, WI in 2009 and 2010 and evaluated for tuber amylose content and measurements of starch granule surface area, length, width, length to width ratio, and smoothness. These traits were found to be stable across years and during storage. Significant differences in the amylose content and starch granule morphology exist among cultivars, but there is no clear distinction between modern and heirloom cultivars. Genetic variation for amylose content and starch granule morphology was found within the set of clones sampled for this study. However, germplasm with higher amylose content will need to be identified and utilized in breeding if the nutritional benefits associated with high fiber and low glycemic index are to be realized.     

A retrospective study of efficacy and side effects of intrathecal administration of hyperbaric bupivacaine and morphine solution in 39 dogs undergoing hind limb orthopaedic surgery

ObjectiveTo evaluate the intraoperative efficacy of intrathecal anaesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and morphine 1% solution (HIA) in dogs undergoing hind limb orthopaedic surgery, using the cardiovascular response to surgical stimulation and to report the perioperative side effects.Study designRetrospective clinical study.AnimalsForty-three dogs that underwent general anaesthesia for hind limb orthopaedic surgery between 2010 and 2011.MethodsThe anaesthesia records of dogs that received HIA were reviewed. The bupivacaine and morphine doses were calculated based on body mass (BM) and spinal cord length (SCL). Cardiovascular response (CR) to surgical stimulation, the incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, urinary retention, pruritus and offset of motor block were all reported. The intraoperative time-to-event probability of CR was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.ResultsThe median (range) bupivacaine dose related to BM was 0.57 (0.40–0.78) mg kg^?1, while that related to SCL was 0.13 (0.08–0.19) mg cm^?1. A CR was observed in 3/39 (8%) dogs within the first hour after intrathecal injection (Ii) and in 9/39 (23%) dogs over the entire duration of surgery. At 70 minutes from Ii the event-free probability of CR fell below 80%. Hypotension was observed in 12/39 (31%), bradycardia in 6/39 (15%), pruritus in 3/39 (8%), and urinary retention in 3/39 (8%) dogs respectively. Five hours after Ii, 35/39 (89%) dogs were able to walk with only residual ataxia.Conclusions and clinical relevanceIntrathecal anaesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and morphine 1% solution provided effective intraoperative antinociception up to 70 minutes in dogs undergoing hind limb surgery. The technique of HIA can provide effective analgesia during short hind limb surgeries in dogs.     

Effects of Drying Process on the Physicochemical Properties of Nopal Cladodes at Different Maturity Stages

Chemical proximate analysis was done in order to determine the changes of nutritional characteristics of nopal powders from three different maturity stages 50, 100, and 150 days and obtained by three different drying processes: freeze dried, forced air oven, and tunnel. Results indicate that nopal powder obtained by the process of freeze dried retains higher contents of protein, soluble fiber, and fat than the other two processes. Also, freeze dried process had less effect on color hue variable. No changes were observed in insoluble fiber content, chroma and lightness with the three different drying processes. Furthermore, the soluble fibers decreased with the age of nopal while insoluble fibers and ash content shows an opposite trend. In addition, the luminosity and hue values did not show differences among the maturity stages studied. The high content of dietary fibers of nopal pad powder could to be an interesting source of these important components for human diets and also could be used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry.     

A reliable assay for the detection of soft wheat adulteration in Italian pasta is based on the use of new DNA molecular markers capable of discriminating between Triticum aestivum and Triticum durum

Italian pasta must be prepared using exclusively durum wheat. According to current Italian rules, only a maximum of 3% Triticum aestivum is allowed to account for cross-contamination that may occur during the agricultural process. Efficient methods for the detection of accidental or intentional contamination of common wheat to durum wheat products are therefore required. This article describes a novel approach for the detection and quantification of soft wheat adulteration in whole grain durum flours and dried pasta. The assay relies on the presence of intron-specific DNA length polymorphisms in the plant β-tubulin gene family, which can be highlighted through the PCR-based TBP (Tubulin-Based Polymorphism) method. In wheat, the TBP method produces species-specific amplification products, which can be either directly used as new DNA molecular markers capable of discriminating between T. aestivum and Triticum durum or analyzed at the sequence level for the design of species-specific probes. The latter approach allowed the development of new sequence-specific targets that can be exploited in RT-PCR assays for a rapid and accurate quantification of soft wheat adulteration in durum wheat pasta.