Genetic variability in wild vs. cultivated Eruca vesicaria populations as assessed by morphological,agronomical and molecular analyses

In this study, the genetic diversity of 50 individuals of rocket, Eruca vesicaria, from five accessions, four of them wild type collected from different parts of Spain and one commercial, were evaluated using morphological, agronomical and inter simple sequence repeat DNA (ISSR) data. Molecular analysis was carried out using the ISSR technique with 20 primers. Out of these 20 primers, nine were polymorphic, producing a total of 395 DNA bands, 247 of which were polymorphic among the accessions. A dendrogram drawn on the basis of a similarity matrix using the UPGMA algorithm revealed that the 50 samples of rocket plants could be classified into three major clusters at a Nei's genetic distance of 0.36. The experiment shows that molecular markers such as ISSR are a good instrument for distinguishing and selecting rocket accessions to group different wild populations. In general, a high variation was observed for most of the 16 morphological and 6 agronomical traits showing significant differences. Some morphological traits such as leaf length, petiole length and lamina width explained 69.1% of the whole variation observed in the populations, and some agronomical traits such as leaf area, nitrate and chlorophyll contents accounted for 65.7%, but the clusters generated by means of agronomical and morphological variables were less evident than when ISSR markers used. Some accessions showed good qualities, such as small leaves, high chlorophyll content, late-flowering or low nitrate content. All these parameters, together with the high degree of genetic homogeneity found, could make the local accessions good candidates for a future breeding programme.     

Reduction of Nitrate and Ammonium Adsorption Using Microscale Iron Particles and Zeolitite

Nitrate contamination of groundwater represents a threat to human health. Many researchers have studied zerovalent iron as a mean to remediate nitrate contamination. However, the application of such method is limited by ammonium production. This work investigates the use of microscale iron particles in association with zeolitite, a natural material containing zeolite, to remove nitrate and ammonium from groundwater. The association of the two materials is shown to lower the nitrate concentration in both deionized water and groundwater under the limit suggested by the European Union and to significantly reduce the ammonium concentration. The method is potentially applicable in water filtration.     

Nitrogen and phosphorous budgets during a farming cycle of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum: An in situ experiment

In the Sacca di Goro lagoon a farming cycle of the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) was simulated seeding young molluscs in an unexploited sandy spot. The experimental area (2100 m²) consisted of three sectors: a control (C), almost devoid of clams (∼ 1600 m^− 2, ∼ 30 ind m^− 2), a low (L) density area (400 m², ∼ 300 ind m^− 2) and a high (H) density zone (∼ 110 m^− 2, ∼ 800 ind m^− 2). Water chemistry, external freshwater nutrient loads, molluscs filtration rates, biomass, elemental composition and nutrient recycling were analysed.Clam filtration rates and light and dark fluxes of nutrients were measured with intact core incubations. Three replicate cores (i.d. 20 cm) were collected from C, L and H in April, one month after the seeding, June, August and October 2003. External loads were calculated multiplying dissolved and particulate nutrients concentration by freshwater flow from the main lagoon tributaries. Direct excretion, filtration activity of clams and particulate matter deposition resulted in significantly higher ammonium (NH₄⁺) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) effluxes to the water column at L and H. For the entire farming cycle, particulate nitrogen (PN) uptake by clams from the water column was 1.7 (C), 9.1 (L) and 16.3 (H) mol m^− 2, whilst total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) fluxes were − 0.3 (C), 1.6 (L) and 6.9 (H) mol m^− 2. Particulate phosphorus (PP) uptake from the water column was 0.1 (C), 0.6 (L) and 1.0 (H) mol m^− 2, whilst total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) efflux was 0.2 (C), 0.5 (L) and 0.8 (H) mol m^− 2. At the end of the farming cycle, harvested N as mollusc flesh was negligible for C, 0.4 mol m^− 2 for L and 1.8 mol m^− 2 for H. Harvested P as mollusc flesh was negligible for C, 0.02 mol m^− 2 for L and 0.04 mol m^− 2 for H. Farmed areas seem to have a great potential for fast coupling between sedimentation (filter feeder mediated biodeposition) and benthic recycling. At the lagoon level, mollusc farming probably attenuates the export of particulate matter to the open sea. Our results show that a minor fraction of biodeposited N (∼ 6%) and P (∼ 3%) was exported as a commercial product at the end of the farming cycle, whilst a larger fraction was incorporated in the sediments or recycled as dissolved inorganic or organic forms.     

An empirical model to simulate sodium absorption in roses growing in a hydroponic system

Modelling nutrient absorption can contribute to the management of hi-tech cultivation systems in greenhouse horticultural production. Nevertheless, previous studies to understand the kinetics of nutrient absorption, rarely take into consideration the accumulation of salt ions in the nutrient solution. In this project we develop and validate an empirical model for sodium uptake concentration in hydroponic rose (Rosa spp. cv. Kardinal) production. Model development and validation was conducted using a series of experiments in both greenhouse and growth chamber conditions. The model framework takes into account plant developmental stage and external sodium concentration. While model calibration data were collected at levels of sodium up to 40 mol m³ NaCl as root environment salt concentration, model validation was carried out at lower ranges.The proposed model not only shows a high predictive capability, but also provides useful output parameters such as electrical conductivity, which is the main parameter currently monitored for managing nutrient solution in greenhouse cultivation. Incorporated as part of a larger DSS, our model can be used to improve nutrient solution management in production regions that do not have economically valid alternatives other than the use of poor quality (saline) irrigation water.     

Colostrum and milk can transmit jaagsiekte retrovirus to lambs

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a contagious disease caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). In the three studies performed, we have obtained data of the importance of colostrum/milk (C/M) in the transmission of JSRV. In the first study, a group of sheep from a flock with a long history of OPA, samples from colostrum and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) were collected. Two specific PCRs (U3-LTR and env of the JSRV) were carried out. Using U3PCR 8/34 sheep were positive in colostrum whereas with envPCR 7/34 were positive. From these animals only one was positive with U3PCR in the PBLs. Evidence of the transmission of JSRV infection by C/M was obtained in two more separate studies. In the second study, PBLs from five lambs from JSRV+ ewes and two from JSRV-ewes were tested by the U3PCR. They were fed C/M by their mothers during 3 months and slaughtered 7 months after birth. Three out of five lambs from the JSRV+ sheep become PBL positive at 3-4 months old and the other two were also positive at 4-6 months of age. One lamb of the JSRV-sheep became also PBL positive at an age of 3 months. In the third study, a group of lambs from JSRV negative mothers were fed with C/M from JSRV+ sheep and housed in separate unit. For comparison, another group of the same origin and maintained in another different unit, were fed with C/M containing a JSRV virus preparation. All lambs were blood sampled monthly and JSRV infection was detected as early as 15 days and several times onwards in both groups. Control groups fed with C/M from JSRV free flock and JSRV blood test negative sheep were always negative. Together these results indicate that suckling is an important natural transmission route for JSRV.     

An outbreak of poisoning by Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in cattle in northeastern Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In the world, Kalanchoe species are primarily ornamentals and houseplants, but some have escaped cultivation and can be found in the field. In Latin America,...     

Clinical approach to prostatic diseases in the dog

In small animal practice, prostatic diseases are increasingly encountered. All dogs may experience prostatic disease, but particular care should be addressed to breeding dogs, in which prostatic affection may lead to decrease in semen quality and fertility. The most common prostatic disease is the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) followed by prostatitis, prostatic neoplasia and prostate squamous metaplasia. These diseases do not have pathognomonic symptoms, therefore, making a correct diagnosis may not be easy. An accurate clinical examination and a correct diagnostic protocol are essential in order to begin the most appropriate treatment, and also to do a good prophylaxis where it is possible. BPH therapy is usually recommended when mild‐severe signs are present or if symptoms disturb the patient. New therapeutic approaches, both medical and surgical, allow to maintain fertility in most animals with prostatic disorders. Prostate cancer is relatively infrequent. Elective therapy is the surgical one, but it is considered palliative and can result in important post‐operative complications. The aim of this paper is to lay down the most appropriate diagnostic process describing the aetiologies of prostatic disease, their symptoms, the right investigative tools and therapy.     

Glutathione S-transferases of italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum): activity toward some chemicals, safener modulation and persistence of atrazine and fluorodifen in the shoots

Many varieties of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) show resistance to herbicides; while this ability was frequently attributed to alterations in the target sites of the herbicide's action of the plant or to an efficient oxidative metabolism, little attention has been paid to glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), which are a family of detoxifying enzymes involved in the inactivation of many toxic compounds. To investigate the role of GSTs, seedlings of Italian ryegrass were treated with four herbicides (atrazine, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fluorodifen, metolachlor) and a safener (fenchlorazol-ethyl). All the treatments were well tolerated by the plant, with very low decreases in terms of fresh weight and length of shoots. Regarding GST activity, the chemicals generally determined significant increases in the above enzyme activity toward the model-substrate CDNB. Therefore, the herbicides most GST inducing and the safener were tested themselves as enzyme substrates: constitutive GST activities toward atrazine, fluorodifen and fenchlorazol-ethyl were found, and, in addition, these activities were significantly induced by the safener. Following these results, a HPLC procedure was standardized in order to investigate the persistence of atrazine and fluorodifen in the seedlings of Italian ryegrass and the effect on this of the safener. It was found that the residual amounts of the two herbicides in the shoots were significantly reduced following the safener treatments.