The tolerance and residue accumulation of sodium-2,2-dichloropropionate (Dalapon) administered over 90 days to dairy cows]

The influence of the pesticide Sodium-2,2-dichlorpropionate (Na-DCP; Dalapon) was investigated on dairy cows concerning of its effect on ability and health condition. The investigations were carried out in practice using several parameters (feeding, efficiency, haematological and clinicochemical parameters, tests of the slaughtered organisms including their patho-histological examination). The arising of residues was controlled in milk, organs and tissue as well. The pesticide was daily applied orally with the feedstuff in 3 different dosages (2.5, 10, 30 mg/kg b. w./d). Feedstuff consumption, results of milk production and milk quality were not influenced by Na-DCP. The presented results can not verify with safety the insignificant alterations of some clinicochemical parameters (Creatinine, Bilirubin). Direct after the deposit of Dalapon in all samples of milk, organs and tissue residues of this pesticide could be observed. The maximum tolerable residue levels for animal in the ex-GDR were exceeded under these conditions.     

Peroxidase activity in avocado fruit stored at chilling temperatures

No increase in peroxidase activity was observed in ‘Fuerte’ avocado fruits which showed chilling injury symptoms as a result of storage at 0 or 2°C. Peroxidase activity in the fruit declined along with fruit softening during the ripening process. It is suggested that peroxidase acitivity in avocado fruit mesocarp has no role in the development of the chilling injury disorder appearing as dark patches on the skin of the fruit.     

Polyphenol oxidases and phenolics in relation to resistance against cucumber scab inCucumis Sativus I. Fungal and host polyphenol oxidases

In culture filtrates ofCladosporium cucumerinum, the fungus causing cucumber scab, a constitutive, exocellular catechol oxidase was found; moreover, dihydroxy-phenylalanine and chlorogenic acid oxidases were produced. Catechol oxidase was detected in noticeable activity as soon as the pH of the culture medium had reached a value of 6.0, or if the medium was adjusted to this pH before sterilizing. The Michaelis constantK _m of the fungal catechol oxidase was 62.5×10^–3 M. In very young non-inoculated green and etiolated cucumber seedlings no catechol oxidase activity was found. In scab diseased seedlings of the susceptible variety Lange Gele Tros high polyphenol oxidase activities were recorded. In seedlings of the resistant variety Vios polyphenol oxidase was also produced upon inoculation, although in much lower activities. In both instances, the Michaelis constant proved to be 15.6×10^–3 M. This difference in Michaelis constants of catechol oxidases of fungal culture filtrates and of diseased seedlings suggests, that the polyphenol oxidase activity in the diseased plant is of plant origin; however, the presence of the fungus seems to elicit its synthesis or its activation.Samenvatting Een onderzoek werd ingesteld naar het voorkomen van polyfenoloxydasen in relatie tot resistentie tegen en vatbaarheid voor vruchtvuur in komkommers. Daartoe werden de activiteiten van dit enzymsysteem (waarbij catecholoxydase als voorbeeld werd gekozen) van een vatbaar ras, Lange Gele Tros, en een resistent ras, Vios, met elkaar vergeleken, zowel in gezonde als in metCladosporium cucumerinum geïnoculeerde zaailingen. Ook in cultuurfiltraten van de schimmel werd de polyfenoloxydase-activiteit bepaald.In cultuurfiltraten van de schimmel werd een constitutieve exocellulaire catecholoxydase gevonden; bovendien werden dihydroxy-fenylalanine en chlorogeenzuuroxydasen gevormd. Catecholoxydase werd alleen in aanzienlijke hoeveelheden geproduceerd indien de pH van het cultuurmedium tot 6.0 was gestegen, of indien de pH van te voren op 6.0 werd gebracht. De Michaelis-constanteK _m van de schimmelcatecholoxydase bleek 62.5×10^–3 M te zijn.In zeer jonge, niet-geïnoculeerde groene en geëtioleerde zaailingen werd geen catecholoxydase-activiteit gevonden. Hoge polyfenoloxydase-activiteiten werden daarentegen gemeten in geïnoculeerde zaailingen van het vatbare ras, mits deze — na het oogsten — bevroren werden. Ook in zaailingen van het resistente ras werd na inoculatie polyfenoloxydase gevormd, hoewel met een veel geringere activiteit. In beide gevallen bleek de Michaelis-constante 15.6×10^–3 M te zijn. Dit verschil in Michaelis-constanten van de schimmelcatecholoxydase en van die geproduceerd in geïnoculeerde zaailingen suggereert, dat de polyfenoloxydase in het laatste geval niet van de schimmel stamt, doch dat infectie met de schimmel de plant induceert totde novo-produktie van dit enzym, of wel tot activering van een latente polyfenoloxydase.De betekenis van deze verhoogde polyfenoloxydase-activiteit na infectie voor de gastheer-parasiet-combinatie kan pas begrepen worden na een onderzoek naar het voorkomen van polyfenoloxydase-substraten in de gastheer.     

Molecular biology of avian infectious laryngotracheitis virus

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) is an alphaherpesvirus that causes an economically important chicken disease, which results in delayed growth, reduced egg production, and also frequently in death of the animals. After acute infection of the upper respiratory tract, the virus can establish latency in the central nervous system, and subsequent reactivations can lead to infection of naive chickens. For prevention of ILT, conventionally attenuated live vaccines are available. However, these vaccine strains are genetically not characterized, and reversions to a virulent phenotype occur. Although molecular analyses of ILTV are hampered by the lack of an optimal cell culture system, the complete nucleotide sequence of the ILTV genome has recently been elucidated, and several ILTV recombinants lacking nonessential, but virulence determining genes have been constructed. Animal trials indicated that genetically engineered stable gene deletion mutants are safe alternatives to the current vaccine strains. Furthermore, since live ILTV vaccines are suitable for fast and inexpensive mass administration, they are promising as vectors for immunogenic proteins of other chicken pathogens. Thus, immunization with ILTV recombinants expressing avian influenza virus hemagglutinin was shown to protect chickens against ILT and fowl plague. Using monospecific antisera and monoclonal antibodies several virion proteins of ILTV have been identified and characterized. Since they include immunogenic envelope glycoproteins, these results can contribute to the improvement of virus diagnostics, and to the development of marker vaccines.     

Contemplations and speculations on novel approaches in the control of fungal plant diseases

Plant disease control can, in principle, be achieved by direct and indirect methods. Novel approaches in direct plant disease control are illustrated by the group of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors. Consideration of their stereochemistry leads to speculations on a more rational design of chiral fungicides, with possibly optimised activity against a wider range of fungi. Studies on the mode of action of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, and of the mechanism of resistance to them in fungi, suggest that these phenomena are not causally related. At least in laboratory mutants, resistance seems to be associated with altered membrane function, which may account for reduced fitness, and, in pathogens, for reduced virulence as well. The results of these studies strengthen the conclusion that knowledge of the modes of action and mechanisms of resistance, at the physiological, biochemical and molecular level, should provide a rationale on which to base the design of new systemic fungicides. As a matter of more immediate practical importance, the implications of the use of fungicide-synergist combinations in plant disease control are briefly discussed. With respect to indirect plant disease control, novel approaches should be directed towards the activation of host resistance. However, prospects seem to be limited for the successful application of alternative chemicals that act on host resistance mechanisms by, for instance, inducing phytoalexin synthesis. Controlled activation of host resistance by localised sensitisation of resistance mechanisms may, however, become a promising new method of plant disease control in the future.