The sporophytic self-incompatibility mating system is conserved in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Olea europaea</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cuspidata and O. e. europaea</Emphasis>

Fruit setting after self-pollination, crosses and free-pollination appears to be erratic in the cultivated olive tree [Olea europaea subsp europaea L. (O. e. europaea L.)] because of a lack of a suitable model to enable prediction of rates. The same lack of prediction also applies to the wild taxon Olea europaea subsp cuspidata (O. e. cuspidata). Because of their close phylogenetic relationships, we hypothesize that O. e. cuspidata and cultivated olive share the same self-incompatibility system. We used data recently published in a wide study involving four O. e. cuspidata accessions and four olive cultivars. Because the olive varieties have been deciphered for their S-allele pair, that infer determinants present in the stigma and pistil, and that coat the pollen, we deciphered the S-alleles carried by three of the O. e. cuspidata accessions. Data are too scarce and the number of accessions too small to speculate on the O. e. cuspidata genetic population structure. The working hypothesis is confirmed. This study and data from the Italian team will enable us to embark on a large-scale hybridization program between the two subsp. to obtain a wide range of progenies for screening for responses to cold, diseases and pests.     

Mulching effects on soil nutrient levels and yield in coffee farming systems in Rwanda

Different combinations of organic mulch were applied in smallholder coffee farming systems to assess their effects on soil nutrient contents and coffee yield at three sites in different agro-ecological zones in Rwanda. Mulching systems consisted of Cymbopogon spp. (T1), Panicum spp. (T2), Cymbopogon spp. and Panicum spp. (T3), Eucalyptus spp. and Cymbopogon spp. (T4), mixed residues (T5) and un-mulched coffee used as control (T6). Mulch had significant and specific effects at each site (p < 0.001). T3 reduced soil pH value and exchangeable acidity at Kibirizi, while at Karongi and Ruli, these effects were observed with T4 and T5. T4 and T5 significantly increased the content of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The amount of nutrients released was regulated by the amount and type of mulch applied, the agro-ecological conditions and the soil properties at each site. The increased soil nutrient levels led to improved soil fertility conditions and increased coffee yields. The coffee yields were significantly increased with T1 at Karongi (p < 0.05) by up to 1.9 t ha⁻¹. T2 and T3 had significantly higher yields at Kibirizi. Yields at Kibirizi were 48% lower compared to yields at Karongi; at this site, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 increased yields by 57%, 26%, 31%, 20% and 28%, respectively, when compared to the no mulching treatment (T6). However, coffee yields over 1.9 t ha⁻¹ can only be obtained with additional applications of inorganic fertilizer at different rates depending on the agro-ecological zone and soil type.     

Field experiments on the effects of a new pyrethroid insecticide WL-85871 on bees foraging artificial aphid honeydew on winter wheat

Two large and two small plots of winter wheat were enclosed beneath large mesh-covered tunnels. A small beehive was placed in each tunnel and sucrose solution was sprayed on to all of the wheat in order to simulate aphid honeydew. WL-85871 (a 1:1 mixture of two stereoisomers of cypermethrin) as ‘Fastac’ at three dose rates, dimethoate, pirimicarb or water were applied to the larger plots of wheat when the bees were actively foraging the sugar deposits. No increase in bee mortality, compared with that in the pre-treatment period, was observed after the applications of WL-85871 or pirimicarb. By contrast, large numbers of dead bees were found following the applications of dimethoate. Foraging activity in the plots, treated with all dose rates of WL-85871 or with pirimicarb, declined sharply after treatment and remained at a reduced level. With dimethoate no foraging activity occurred after application in either the treated or untreated plots. Only very low concentrations of WL-85871 were detected in post-treament samples of honey, wax, and live or dead bees. It was concluded that the application of WL-85871, to wheat already treated with artificial honeydew, resulted in no adverse effects on the honey-bee colonies.     

Atrial fibrillation associated with neostigmine administration in three cows

Three cattle with gastrointestinal disease were given neostigmine as part of the treatment for postsurgical ileus. All 3 cattle developed atrial fibrillation either before or during neostigmine administration, and 2 converted to normal sinus rhythm after cessation of treatment.     

Metabolism of 2-aminobenzimidazole and benzimidazole in melon plants

Melon plants grown in a liquid nutrient solution were separately treated either with benomyl, 2-aminobenzimidazole (2-AB), or benzimidazole (BZ), and after 60 days each compound had decomposed into significant concentrations of metabolites, those from 2-AB and BZ corresponding to the metabolites from benomyl. This supported the following postulated metabolic pathway for benomyl in melon plants: benomyl → carbendazim → 2-AB→BZ Involvement of the other identified metabolites of benomyl (2-aminobenzonitrile, o-phenylenediamine, aniline, and the conjugates of carbendazim and 2-AB) cannot be proposed unequivocally. In the extracts from plants treated with 2-AB or BZ, new and unidentified metabolites have also been observed using gas-liquid chromatography (g.l.c.).     

Production of acids from inulin by a mixed culture of rumen microorganisms

The production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid from inulin (plant fructan with 2-1 bonds) in in vitro rumen fermentations was followed. The experiments were performed with inocula from wethers receiving two rations, with two pH regimes and using as inocula either whole rumen contents or the corresponding rumen fluid. The following results were obtained: The VFA production was higher when using inocula from hay and concentrate fed wethers. In contrast to this, the lactic acid production was higher when using inocula from hay fed wethers. The VFA production tends to be higher in a weakly acid medium than in a neutral medium. Acetate-to-propionate molar ratio was lower at lower pH. The amounts and composition of the VFA were not different when using both types of inocula. Thus, we believe that micro-organisms colonising plant fibres obviously do not play an important role in inulin splitting.     

Evaluation of terbinafine treatment in Leishmania chagasi-infected hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of terbinafine treatment in hamsters infected with Leishmania chagasi. Four of five groups of hamsters were infected with 3 x 10(7) L. chagasi promastigotes by the intracardiac route and submitted to different treatments of 30 days duration starting on the 30th day after inoculation. Group 1 was treated with 100mg/kg terbinafine PO, group 2 was treated with 80 mg/kg Glucantime IM, and group 3 was treated with a combination of the same dose of each drug by the same routes. Group 4 (control) received vehicle (Tween 80 [0.1%]+CMC[0.5%]+H(2)O [0.5 ml], PO). Spleen parasite burden and spleen relative weight were determined 3 days after the end of the treatment. The results were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the infected untreated and terbinafine-treated groups in spleen parasite burden (15.81+/-15.81 vs. 13.00+/-12.94, respectively). Terbinafine plus Glucantime (6.11+/-5.90) and Glucantime alone (4.83+/-4.82) significantly reduced spleen parasite burden compared to the infected untreated group (15.81+/-15.81, P<0.01). There was a difference in the relative weight of the spleen between the na?ve and the infected untreated groups (2.5+/-0.2 vs. 9.8+/-1.0, respectively) as well as between the na?ve and terbinafine groups (2.5+/-0.2 vs. 10.0+/-1.4, respectively). Glucantime alone and Glucantime plus terbinafine (2.5+/-0.2 and 4.2+/-0.6) significantly reduced the weight of the spleen in comparison with the infected untreated group. Even so, the spleen parasite burden was directly related to spleen weight. Terbinafine alone at the dose and schedule used had no effect on spleen parasite burden or relative spleen weight of L. chagasi-infected hamsters.