In vitro selection of sterol-biosynthesis-inhibitor (SBI)-resistant mutants in Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey

The inherent resistance risk forMonilinia fructicola against sterol-biosynthesis inhibitors (SBIs) was estimated inin vitro andin vivo laboratory studies. Several mutant strains were selected on media amended with the triazole fungicides penconazole, etaconazole or the morpholine fungicide fenpropimorph.The potential forM. fructicola to develop resistance to the triazoles or to the morpholines was similar.The level of resistance attained did not differ for the two classes of fungicides after a single cycle of treatment with nitrosoguanidine (NTG). Attemps to select mutants with a higher level of resistance to penconazole after successive mutagenic treatments were successful. Most of the mutants were less fit than wild-type strains. Mutants with a low level of resistance had an almost normal mycelial growth rate, whereas growth of mutants with a higher level of resistance was significantly reduced. Spore production was highest in the wild-type strains, similar to the latter in a few resistant strains and less in most others. Only one mutant with an intermediate level of resistance could successfully compete in a mixed population with a wild type strain during successive infection cycles on peaches. Resistance was not stable in highly resistant mutants. Cross resistance to the inhibitors of 14-methylsterol demethylation (DMIs) tested was confirmedin vitro andin vivo for all mutant strains. One DMI-resistant mutant was also resistant to fenpropimorph and two fenpropimorph-resistant mutants were resistant to penconazole.     

The significance of VA-Mycorrhiza to future arable farming in the Netherlands

Present conditions of high inputs and narrow rotations render the importance of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in arable farming in the Netherlands rather low. Changes expected in the near future under the influence of economic pressures and environmental problems may change this situation. This is discussed in the light of some such expected changes in Dutch arable farming.De huidige Nederlandse akkerbouw is zeer intensief. Ze heeft in het algemeen een nauwe rotatie met slechts enkele gewassen (aardappelen, granen en suikerbieten) en een ruime toepassing van kunstmest en bestrijdingsmiddelen. Het is te verwachten dat er onder invloed van toenemende problemen met het milieu, afnemende bodemproduktiviteit en lagere prijzen voor nu geteelde gewassen ten gevolge van overschotten een tendens zal zijn in de richting van een meer geïntegreerde landbouw. In de bestaande akkerbouw werken zowel hoge kunstmestgiften (met name N en P) en bestrijdingsmiddelen negatief op VAM-vorming. Naarmate het gebruik van kunstmest en bestrijdingsmiddelen in de nabije toekomst wellicht zal verminderen, kan worden verwacht dat zowel de aanwezigheid als het belang van VAM in de nederlandse landbouw zal toenemen. Het laatste zal vooral het geval zijn indien de vruchtwisseling wordt verruimd met de teelt van andere gewassen (zoals vlinderbloemigen) met een hogere VAM-afhankelijkheid dan die van het huidige gewasassortiment. Het zou zeer verstandig zijn zich reeds nu te beraden over vormen van bedrijfsvoering die VAM zoveel mogelijk stimuleren en daardoor meer profijt trekken van de door deze symbiose geboden voordelen.     

Growing plant in space

Space agencies in several countries are planning for the culture of plants in long duration space bases. The challenge of developing crop production procedures suitable for space projects will result in a new approach of problems we may meet today or in the near future in our common production systems. You may keep in mind subjects as: minimizing wastes or pollution problems, saving materials, introductions robotic helps. Discussion between scientists involved with food production for space programmes and protected horticultural cultivation may open new perspectives.     

Inflammation-related changes in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in bovine mastitis

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) cocentrations in milk and plasma samples from healthy and mastitic cows were determined by radioi-immunoassay and compared with prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 and thromboxane B2 [TXB2]), phospholipids and other relevant parameters in milk and blood. The concentrations of cAMP were about five times higher in plasma (p<0.01) than in milk, whereas the cGMP concentration in milk was three times higher (p<0.01) than that in plasma in both healthy and diseased animals. In mastitic milk, the cAMP and cGMP concentrations were 19% and 65% and in blood plasma 13% and 84% higher respectively than in healthy animals. In milk, cyclic nucleotide concentrations correlated with the markedly elevated cell count and also with the prostaglandin concentration and pH. In blood, cAMP correlated positively with phospholipids and cGMP with reduced glutathione (GSH). These changes are considered to be important in the disease process and, in particular, the increase in cGMP deserves further study.