Susceptibility of grapevine viruses to thermotherapy on in vitro collection of Kober 5BB

A number of virus elimination protocols have been developed to obtain healthy plants but their success rates have been variable due to the strong virus–host relationship, treatment performances and experimental condition. An in vitro collection of plants of Vitis berlandieri × Vitis riparia Kober 5BB single-infected by Grapevine vitivirus A (GVA), Grapevine fanleaf nepovirus (GFLV), Grapevine fleck maculavirus (GFkV), Grapevine leafroll ampelovirus 1 (GLRaV-1) and Grapevine leafroll ampelovirus 3 (GLRaV-3) was established to carry out thermotherapy treatments. The experimental system allowed to control the effects of host genotype by using the same genetic background, and the environmental condition such as relative humidity, soil and temperature conditions. Trials were conducted in a growth chamber set at 37 ± 0.5 °C for 48 days using in vitro cultures for all infections. ELISA and RT-PCR were used to check sanitary conditions. Results showed complete eradication of GFLV and no effect against GFkV. Different sanitation rates were obtained for other phloematic viruses: 70.2% for GVA, 25.1% for GFLaV-1 and 24.7% for GLRaV-3. The results on phloematic viruses showed a gradient of elimination efficiency which could not be completely explained with the location of viral particles that seems to be only one of the several factors affecting virus susceptibility to heat stress. Moreover, the advantages of this experimental system provide the opportunity to obtain a greater understanding of the thermotherapeutic effects on phloematic viruses.     

Genome-wide analysis of plastome sequence variation and development of plastidial CAPS markers in common potato and related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum</Emphasis> species

The plastome sequence of the European cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum (tbr, GenBank accession no. DQ386163), was compared with that of S. bulbocastanum, a wild potato relative (blb, GenBank accession no. DQ347958), in order to characterize the degree and type of variability in different genomic regions, and develop molecular markers relevant to genetics, breeding and biotechnology of potato. One hundred forty-two and 251 PICs (Potentially Informative Characters) were found in coding and non-coding sequences (NCSs), respectively. Further, while variation in coding regions was almost exclusively due to nucleotide substitutions, 25% of PICs in NCSs of tbr and blb were due to indels, most of them mononucleotide or longer tandem repeats (micro and minisatellites). Four intergenic regions were selected for further analyses in other 16 tuber-bearing Solanum species. The rps16-trnQ ^UUG gene spacer was found to be the most variable, forty-six PICs in this region distinguishing 18 haplotypes. Analysis of haplotype relationships, based on variability in the four intergenic regions, confirmed that the most primitive species from Central America were the most distant to S. tuberosum. Finally, polymorphic sites in the same regions were used to develop a set of CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences) markers for species/cytoplasm identification in Solanum spp.     

Proximal mandibular nerve block, using electrolocation, for rostral mandibulectomy in a geriatric dog

We describe a case of proximal mandibular nerve block with ropivacaine, using electrolocation, for perioperative pain management in a geriatric dog undergoing rostral mandibulectomy. The patient did not require intraoperative analgesia or analgesic supplementation for 8 h after the end of the surgery.     

Soil organic C variability and microbial functions in a Mediterranean agro-forest ecosystem

Five soils characterised by different agro-forest managements, typical of Mediterranean environment and with increasing human impact were chosen in Sardinia (Italy): two vineyards with different management systems, a rotation hay crop-pasture and a forest (Quercus suber L.). The study aimed to investigate the relationships between C storage and microbial functionality in soil under different managements. Pools of total organic C and microbial biomass C were determined, as well as the loss of organic C due to microbial respiration (basal and cumulative) and several microbial indices (metabolic, mineralization, and microbial quotient) as indicators of the microbial efficiency in the use of energy and the degree of substrate limitation for soil microbes. Enzymes were chosen on their relevance in the C (β-cellobiohydrolase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase), N (leucine aminopeptidase), S (arylsulphatase) and P (acid phosphatase) cycling and were used as indicators of functional diversity in soil. Organic C pools and enzyme activities on average increased noticeably in soils with a lower human impact showing the highest values in forest and the lowest in the vineyards, following the trend of organic matter availability. The trend in functional diversity reflected the increase of microbial pool and organic C availability: the vineyards showed a lower Shannon’s diversity index, whilst pasture and forest sites reached the maximum levels of functional diversity. These soils showed an increase of microbial efficiency in the use of available resources and the decrease of substrate limitation for soil microbes.     

New monoterpene glycosides from Paeonia lactiflora

Three new monoterpene glycosides named 4-O-methyl-paeoniflorin (1), isopaeoniflorin (2), and isobenzoylpaeoniflorin (3), together with two known monoterpene glycosides, paeoniflorin (4) and benzoylpaeoniflorin (5), were isolated from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.     

Effects of water content and N addition on potential greenhouse gas production from two differently textured soils under laboratory conditions

GHGs production and emission may vary depending on soil physical properties, water management and fertilization. Two paddy soils characterized by different texture were incubated to evaluate the impact of flooding (permanent or intermittent) and N addition on potential N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ production and release into atmosphere and soil solution. Relationships with volumetric water content (VWC) and water filled pore space (WFPS) were evaluated. Overall, the finer clayey soil (CL) produced 58% more CH₄ than the coarser sandy soil (SA) and showed an earlier sink to source transition; the difference was lower with N addition. Permanent flooding favoured the amount of dissolved CH₄. SA produced more N₂O emissions than CL under permanent flooding (31.0 vs. 3.7%); an opposite pattern was observed for dissolved N₂O (16.4 vs. 52.7%). Fertilization increased N₂O emissions under dry conditions in CL and under flooding in SA.

Our findings showed that i) VWC had a larger influence on N₂O and CH₄ emissions than WFPS, ii) soil type influenced the gas release into atmosphere or soil solution and the timing of sink to source transition in CH₄ emissions. Further investigation on timing of fertilization and drainage are needed to improve climate change mitigation strategies.     

Chemical composition and glycemic index of Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) seeds

The seeds of Parana pine (Araucaria brasiliensis syn. Araucaria angustifolia), named pinh?o, are consumed after cooking and posterior dehulling, or they are used to prepare a flour employed in regional dishes. Native people that live in the South of Brazil usually consume baked pinh?o. As a result of cooking, the white seeds become brown on the surface due to the migration of some tinted compounds present in the seed coat. In this work, the proximate composition, minerals, flavonoids, and glycemic index (GI) of cooked and raw pinh?o seeds were compared. No differences in moisture, lipids, soluble fiber, and total starch after boiling were found. However, the soluble sugars and P, Cu, and Mg contents decreased, probably as a consequence of leaching in the cooking water. Also, the boiling process modified the profile of the phenolic compounds in the seeds. No flavonols were detected in raw pinh?o seeds. The internal seed coat had a quercetin content five times higher than that of the external seed coat; also, quercetin migrated into the seed during cooking. The internal seed coat had a high content of total phenolics, and seeds cooked in normal conditions (with the seed coat) showed a total phenolics content five times higher than that of seeds cooked without the seed coat. Cooking was then extremely favorable to pinh?o seeds bioactive compounds content. The carbohydrate availability was evaluated in a short-term assay in humans by the GI. The GI of pinh?o seeds cooked with the coat (67%) was similar to that of the seeds cooked without a coat (62%) and lower than bread, showing that cooking does not interfere with starch availability. The low glycemic response can be partly due to its high content of resistant starch (9% of the total starch).     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Momordica charantia seed essential oil

The essential oil obtained from the seeds of Momordica charantia was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-five components, representing 90.9% of the oil, were identified. The main constituents were trans-nerolidol, apiole, cis-dihydrocarveol and germacrene D. Furthermore, the oil was tested for its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most sensitive microorganism with MIC values <500 microg/ml.     

Co-infection with Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three cats from Brazil

The two most common haemotropic Mycoplasma of cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' have been identified using molecular techniques in all continents, except Antarctica. We report the first molecular characterization in South America of a dual infection with M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three domestic cats. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified in three anaemic cats in which haemoplasma organisms were seen attached to the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood smear. Bands of the expected size for M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' were observed in all three cats. The 393 bp segment of one of the amplicons had a similarity value of 100% to M haemofelis, whereas the other amplicon, a 192 bp segment, was 100% similar to 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. After diagnosis, two cats received blood transfusion and they were all treated with doxycycline. All three cats recovered uneventfully.