Epidemiology of Fusarium Infection and Deoxynivalenol Content in Winter Wheat in the Rhineland, Germany

Details of our long-term research programme concerning the epidemiology of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxin production are summarized. Evaluation of the occurrence of Fusarium spp., mainly on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), was carried out by investigating Fusarium infection and mycotoxin contamination. Two to 15% of grains were infested during 1995–1998 at three climatologically differing localities of the Rhineland, Germany. Disease progress was accelerated by rainfall during the flowering season. The species most frequently isolated were Fusarium avenaceum, F. poae, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. The mean deoxynivalenol (DON) content varied from 19gkg^–1 (1995) to 310gkg^–1 (1998) and was not always correlated with disease severity. Organic farming systems showed lower rates of infection with ear blight and lower mycotoxin contamination than conventional farming systems.     

New records of endoparasitoidBassus fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae) species from Turkey

SixBassus species were recorded for the first time in Turkey:B. calculator (Fabricius, 1798),B. cingulipes (Nees, 1814),B. conspicuus (Wesmael, 1837),B. graecus Achterberg, 1992,B. rugulosus (Needs, 1834) andB. zaykovi (Nixon, 1986). By adding these new records, the number ofBassus species in Turkey has been raısed from seven to 13. Distribution and known hosts are given.     

Mammary fibroadenoma in a lamb

A fibroadenoma was diagnosed in the left udder of a 3-month-old female Chios lamb. No recurrence was observed after surgery. Grossly, the tumor had a whitish-gray lobular appearance, and the lobules were interlaced with thin septa. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of proliferating fibroepithelial tissue, including differentiated ducts lined by whorls and interlacing bundles of abundant loose fibrovascular stroma. Immunohistochemistry revealed the ductal epithelium to be positive for pancytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and loose fibrovascular stroma was positive for vimentin and basal cells covering the ductal epithelium of alpha-smooth-muscle actin. Immunostaining for the estrogen and progesterone receptors was negative. A diagnosis of mammary fibroadenoma was made based on the histological and immunohistochemical findings.     

Evaluation of propolis effects on some biochemical parameters in rats treated with sodium fluoride

The present study in which 42 female rats, each weighing 200−250 g, were used covered a period of 21 days. The animals were divided into six groups. The first group served as the control group, whereas Group 2 was administered propolis at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 21 days. Group 3 was first provided with normal drinking water for a period of 14 days, and was subsequently administered propolis at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 7 days. Group 4 was first given normal drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride as a sodium fluoride in drinking water for 7 days. Group 5 was first administered propolis alone at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride in association with 200 mg/kg/bw propolis for 7 days. Finally, Group 6 was first provided with normal drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride in association 200 mg/kg/bw propolis for a period of 7 days. At the end of the 21st day, blood samples were collected from the heart of each animal into both heparinised tubes and tubes without anticoagulants. Glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, and uric acid levels, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the serum, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the plasma, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured. When compared to the control group, statistical differences were determined to exist with respect to oxidative stress parameters which involved increase in MDA levels in Groups 4−6, decrease in SOD activity in Groups 4 and 6, increase in CAT activity in Groups 5 and 6, and decrease in GSH-Px activity in Groups 4 and 6. Furthermore, in comparison to the control group, significant differences were observed with respect to certain serum biochemical parameters, including decrease in glucose levels in Groups 5 and 6, decrease in triglyceride levels in Groups 2 and 4, decrease in cholesterol levels in Groups 2 and 5, decrease in the total protein level of Groups 4−6, decrease in the ALT activity of Groups 5 and 6, increase in the AST activity of Group 4, decrease in the ALP activity of Groups 2−6 and increase in the uric acid level of Group 2. In the groups that were administered propolis in association with fluoride, improvement was observed in some oxidative stress parameters and certain other biochemical parameters. Changes determined in the oxidative stress parameters (especially MDA and SOD) were indicative of the anti-radical activity of propolis on the free radicals generated by sodium fluoride. However, the values not drawing completely close to those of the control group can be explained with propolis not being able to completely eliminate the free radicals and the other adverse effects generated by fluoride.     

Effects of varying nitrogen doses on yield,yield components and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L.

Artemisia annua L. is an aromatic-antibacterial herb that destroys malarial parasites, lowers fevers and checks bleeding, and of which the secondary compound of interest is artemisinin. The objective of the present study was to determine yield, yield components and artemisinin content of A. annua L. grown under four nitrogen applications (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha⁻¹) in the Çukurova region of Turkey in 2004 and 2005. Field trials were conducted at Çukurova University, Agricultural Faculty Field Crops Department. In the study, plant height, number of branches, fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield, fresh leaf yield, dry leaf yield, essential oil content and artemisinin content (by high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) were examined. By analysis of variance, nitrogen doses had no any statistical effect on the traits investigated except for artemisinin content. Artemisinin content of the dried leaves were significantly affected by nitrogen applications, which varied from 6.32 to 27.50 mg 100 g⁻¹. Contents were from 120 and 80 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen for the years of 2004 and 2005, respectively.     

Auftreten vonThomasiniana crataegi Barnes (Weiβdornzweiggallmücke) an Weiβdorn

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Accurate determination of the limiting viscosity number of pulps

The viscosity of copper ethylenediamine (CED) solutions of pulps exhibits a decrease with time, while the viscosity loss is insignificant when the time between dissolution and measurement is just 15–20 min. Time of 1 h or longer would lead to noticeable differences from the initial viscosity. The viscosity of the solution at the beginning can be estimated from a series of measurements performed under strict conditions. In particular, tight control of the temperature of the solution and accurate measurement of the flow time are of importance. The plot of efflux times against elapsed times to the measurements results in a almost linear correlation, which enables to determine the initial viscosity.     

Rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an von Vorratsschädlingen angegriffenen Verpackungsfolien aus synthetischen Kunststoffen und abgewandelten Naturstoffen

Packaging foils made of cellulose actetate, cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, attacked byRhizopertha dominica F.,Stegobium paniceum L.,Tribolium castaneum Hbst. and larvae ofPlodia interpunctella Hbn. were examined with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Because of the destruction marks made by the insects, it is possible to determine with the SEM the side of packaging material which has been attacked by the pests. Due to the shape and position of the mouthparts of the insects the gnawing marks are rather typical for the different species. By means of a standard of comparison it might be possible to determine the family and perhaps the genus or species of the insects involved. The influence of shape and size of the mouthparts as well as the position of the mandibles in relation to the anatomy and to the axis of the body on the gnawing ability of stored-product pests is discussed. The reasons for the insect resistance of packaging materials are discussed (smoothness of the surface, rigidity, thickness).