Strain-specific alfalfa water stress induced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylella fastidiosa</Emphasis>

Differences in the virulence of a pathogen among host species can occur because hosts differ in their resistance or tolerance to infection or because of underlying genetic variation in the pathogen. The xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is pathogenic to dozens of plant species throughout the Americas, and is structured into genetically and biologically distinct strains. In some plants X. fastidiosa causes striking leaf scorch symptoms and in others, such as alfalfa, stunting is the primary symptom. The mechanism by which these symptoms occur has been debated. We tested the hypothesis that symptoms result from X. fastidiosa-induced water stress, and that the magnitude of water stress is strain-dependent. We mechanically inoculated alfalfa plants with one of 14 isolates (5 identified genetically as “almond” and 9 as “grape” isolates), and compared stable carbon isotope ratios among isolates. Infected plants showed significant isotopic shifts (up to 2% on average) relative to healthy plants that were consistent with water stress. Moreover, there were significant differences in water stress among isolates, with a tendency for grape isolates to cause more severe water stress than almond isolates. There was also a positive relationship between plant infection level and isotopic shift (slope ± SE = 0.273 ± 0.068), which supports the hypothesis that X. fastidiosa symptoms result from bacterial multiplication and vessel occlusion. Unexpectedly, however, water stress was not correlated with measures of alfalfa stunting. These results suggest X. fastidiosa induces strain-specific levels of water stress, but factors other than water stress alone are responsible for stunting.     

Serum and intratumoural GH and IGF-I concentrations: Prognostic factors in the outcome of canine mammary cancer

The biological implication of the growth hormone/insulin like growth factor-I (GH/IGF-I) axis in canine mammary tumours (CMT) has been recently demonstrated, however its clinical and prognostic implications are unknown. Our aim was to investigate its prognostic significance.Hormonal determinations were done by enzyme immunoassays techniques validated for canine species in serum and tumour tissue from 32 bitches with CMT and in serum and normal mammary tissue from 10 controls. Serum and tissular GH and IGF-I concentrations were significantly higher in the case of malignant tumour compared with benign and controls. GH and IGF-I elevated concentrations were significantly associated with tumour relapse and/or metastases during follow-up and in dogs with reduced survival times; however these parameters were not independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. This association demonstrates a link between high serum and intratumoural GH and IGF-I concentrations and a worse prognosis and opens the possibility to new anticancer endocrine therapies in dogs.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram of sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E

The objective of this study was to evaluate neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram in sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. Twenty male Corriedale sheep were utilised and distributed into four experimental groups each with five animals infected with larvae: G1‐ supplemented with sodium selenite, 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) given intramuscularly (IM); G2‐ supplemented with sodium selenite and vitamin E, 0.2 mg/kg bw and 2000 IU per animal, respectively, both IM; G3‐ supplemented with vitamin E, 2000 IU per animal IM; G4‐ not supplemented. A haemogram and the number of parasite eggs were determined in samples of blood and faeces, respectively, on days zero (T0), 20 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays were performed on heparinized blood samples taken on days zero, 30 and 60. A lower total leucocyte count was detected in G1 in relation to G4 at T4. Lymphocytes were reduced in G1 in relation to G3 and G4 at T3. In both non‐stimulated (NBT‐NS) and stimulated (NBT‐S) dye reduction assays, there was reduced activity at 60 days, in relation to other times in the groups treated with selenium (G1 and G2). On the basis of results obtained, we conclude that supplementation with selenium provides better antioxidant protection to neutrophils.     

Effect of selenium and vitamin E on oxidative stress in lambs experimentally infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemonchus contortus</Emphasis>

The objective of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress in lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. Twenty male Corriedale lambs were divided into four experimental groups with five animals each: G1 consisted of animals infected and supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg of live weight (LW) sodium selenite by intramuscular injection (IM); G2 consisted of animals infected with larvae and supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg LW sodium selenite IM and 2000 IU per animal of Vitamin E IM; G3 consisted of animals infected with larvae and supplemented with 2000 IU per animal of Vitamin E IM; and G4 consisted of animals infected with larvae. The animals were infected orally with 500 H. contortus larvae (L3) every 48 hours for 20 days. For biochemical analyses and eggs per grams of feces (EPG) evaluation, blood and feces were both collected at zero (T0), 20 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) days. The weight of the animals was also measured at these times. Lower TBARS values were observed in the supplemented animals compared to the control group. The groups supplemented with Selenium exhibited blood GSH-Px activity higher than that of non-supplemented animals. Supplementation with selenium provided greater antioxidant protection against oxidative stress generated from experimental infection of lambs with H. contortus.     

Attractiveness and oviposition preference of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore in Eucalyptus spp.

The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) was first recorded in Brazil in 2003 and since then has caused serious damage in Eucalyptus forests. The damage is mainly due to defoliation, sooty mold and dieback, thus requiring the development of efficient management strategies. The settling and ovipositional preference of G. brimblecombei by species and clones of Eucalyptus were evaluated in free- and no-choice tests. Preliminary tests were done to determine the density of psyllid couples that produced the greatest densities of eggs, leaf position selection for oviposition, and whether oviposition was affected by preimaginal conditioning. Apical leaves were used more frequently for oviposition by the psyllid, and the number of eggs decreased from the apex to the base. The densities of 10 and 15 psyllid couples per seedling produced the highest oviposition. There was no evidence of preimaginal conditioning. In the free-choice test, E. grandis, E. urophylla, VM-1, I-144, C-219 and H-13 were less attractive to G. brimblecombei adults, with H-13, E. grandis and E. urophylla having the least oviposition. In the no-choice test, E. urophylla, GG-100 and E. grandis also demonstrated a lower oviposition, but E. camaldulensis and 3025 were highly susceptible. The low preference for the genotypes E. grandis and E. urophylla suggests the occurrence of a non-preference type resistance against the red gum lerp psyllid. Our results can be utilized for the development of management programs for G. brimblecombei in Eucalyptus forests.     

Removal of Arsenic from Aqueous Solutions by Sorption onto Sewage Sludge-Based Sorbent

This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the removal of arsenic from solutions by a low-cost waste-based sorbent, produced by pyrolysing sewage sludge under appropriate conditions, and by a commercially activated carbon. Batch sorption experiments were performed under isothermal conditions (20°C), in order to evaluate the effect of pH on the arsenic sorption kinetics and on the equilibrium sorption capacity of the materials under study. Kinetic data revealed that the arsenic sorption was faster onto the activated carbon than onto the pyrolysed sludge. The sorption process was well described by both the pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetics equations for both materials. Changes in the initial solution pH have distinct effects on the removal of arsenic onto pyrolysed sludge and activated carbon. While for pyrolysed sludge, pH affects essentially the equilibrium time, for activated carbon it affects the sorption capacity. Equilibrium results were well described by both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, although fittings corresponding to the Langmuir isotherm were slightly better. The Langmuir maximum sorption capacity determined for the pyrolysed sludge was 71???g?g^?1, while for activated carbon was 229???g?g^?1. Despite the relative lower capacity of the pyrolysed sludge, the considerable lower cost and the valorisation of the sludge may justify further research on its use for water decontamination.     

Mono- and Multielement Sorption of Trace Metals on Oxidic Industrial By-products

Assessing multielement adsorption of trace metals on materials having potential to be used as soil amendments is an essential stage for the remediation success, as soil contamination rarely occurs with a single element. This study evaluated mono-/multielement adsorption of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb on aluminum (AMB) and iron mining by-products (IMB, used for comparison). Prior to adsorption, these products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, isoelectric point, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and microwave furnace digestion. Sorption experiments comprised: (1) pH adjustment (5.5, 6.5, and natural suspension pH), (2) mono- and multielement adsorption, and (3) desorption. Rising pH from 5.5 to natural suspension values (9.5) increased monoelement adsorption of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb on AMB up to 3.8-, 1.4-, 6.2-, and 1.1-fold, whereas multielement adsorption was increased up to 17.3-, 2.0-, 20.3-, and 1.2-fold, respectively. Zinc and Cd were less adsorbed than Cu and Pb and more affected by competition. Multielement adsorption at 5.5 pH in AMB resulted in smaller adsorption of Zn (up to 4.6-fold), Cu (1.4-fold), Cd (3.3-fold), and Pb (1.1-fold) when compared with monoelement adsorption. The lower the pH, the smaller the adsorption and the higher the desorption. The AMB showed higher capacity to maintain the elements adsorbed than the IMB.     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol by Thermal Titanium Dioxide Thin Layer Electrodes

Electrochemical processes in industrial effluents have been studied as a means to obtain higher efficiency in wastewater treatment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis appears as a low-cost alternative through the use of lower wattage lamps and thermal TiO₂ films. Photocatalysis became a clean process for water treatment due to hydroxyl radicals generated on semiconductor surface. Such radicals are able to degrade several organic compounds. This study used different electrodes and analytical methods for degradation of phenol molecules to reduce treatment costs, improve efficiency, and identify compounds formed during the decomposition of phenolic molecules. Thermal growth of TiO₂ film was observed on the titanium electrode in rutile form. Application of an electrical potential on the Ti/TiO₂ working electrode increases efficiency in reducing concentration of phenol after photocatalytic treatment. Still, high energy radiation (UVC) showed best degradation rates in photolytic process. Different compounds formed during the degradation of phenol were also identified in the UVC?CPE treatment.     

Evaluation of the rates of soil organic matter mineralization in forest ecosystems of temperate continental,mediterranean, and tropical monsoon climates

The processes of the organic matter (OM) mineralization in forest soils developed under temperate continental (Moscow oblast, Russia), Mediterranean (the central and western parts of Spain), and tropical monsoon (southern Vietnam) climates were studied under laboratory conditions. The potential and specific rates of the OM mineralization (PR _min and PR _min/C_org, respectively), the ecophysiological parameters of the microbial communities status (C_mic, qCO₂, and C_mic/C_org), and the sensitivity of the rate of the OM mineralization to the rise in temperature were evaluated by the temperature coefficients (Q ₁₀) determined in the humus horizons (0–10 cm, without forest litter). The average values of PR _min for the climatic zones decreased in the following order: Mediterranean (57.1 ± 10.6 mg C/kg per day) > temperate continental (23.8 ± 7.1 mg C/kg per day) > tropical monsoon (10.4 ± 1.6 mg C/kg per day). The lowest resistance of the soil OM to mineralization as evaluated by the PR _min/C_org values was found in the Albeluvisol and Phaeozem of the temperate continental climate and in the Acrisol of the Mediterranean climate. The highest Q ₁₀ coefficients were attributed to the OM mineralization in the forest soils of the temperate continental climate. This allowed us to conclude that the observed and expected climate changes with an increase in the mean annual air temperature should lead to the maximum intensification of the OM mineralization processes in the forest soils of northern regions.