Apparent electrical conductivity integrated from layered soil profiles

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) trace analysis aims at extracting the water content profile along TDR probes. This can be done by applying a TDR forward solver inversely. Thus, TDR‐trace inversion is basically an optimization problem. As in any optimization procedure, it is worthwhile to include as much a priori information as possible about the problem to be solved. In this study, we discuss the feasibility to use the apparent electrical conductivity as constraint for the TDR inversion. The resistors‐in‐parallel circuit can be used to integrate a multislice soil model to obtain the apparent electrical conductivity. We apply additionally Archie's law to link the water content of a particular slice with its electrical conductivity. We compare the results from this approach with measured TDR traces and show that the problem is solved exactly. Finally, we address the thin‐layer issue because thin layers with a high permittivity contrast result in a delay of the run time of an electromagnetic pulse. We test numerically whether a similar behavior can be observed for a thin layered electrical conductivity profile. Our results show that the thickness of the soil layer with respect to electrical conductivity has no effect on the apparent electrical conductivity. We conclude that the apparent electrical conductivity is appropriate as boundary condition in TDR inversion as long as a procedure is known to convert the water content of a slice to its electrical conductivity     

Management of strawberry anthracnose by choice of irrigation system,mulching material and host resistance

We studied, by means of field experiments, the combined effects of irrigation system, mulching material and genetic resistance on the incidence of strawberry anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. All trials involved artificial inoculation with fruits colonized by the pathogen. One experiment examined the effects of drip irrigation, overhead sprinkler irrigation, and localized low-pressure tape irrigation, and the effects of grass (Brachiaria sp.) and plastic (polyethylene) mulches, in a split plot, randomized complete block design with four replicates. Lower disease incidence, indicating lower pathogen dispersal, was verified with low-pressure tape and drip irrigation. Flower blight and fruit rot incidence in drip-irrigated plots was minimal (ca. 2% of the disease levels in the plots otherwise irrigated). Grass mulch reduced flower blight in the sprinkler system (up to 80%), but had no significant effect when disease levels were already low due to use of other irrigation systems. A second experiment compared the effects of grass mulch, pine (Pinus elliotti) mulch, and plastic mulch with overhead sprinkler irrigation on strawberry cultivars partially resistant (‘Dover’) and susceptible (‘Campinas’) to the disease in a factorial completely randomized design (CRD). Both organic mulches reduced flower blight and diseased fruit incidence by up to 76% compared to the plastic mulch treatment, especially in the early stages of the epidemics. ‘Dover’ had 70% lower incidence of flower blight than ‘Campinas’, and the effects of organic mulches were more pronounced in ‘Campinas’. A third experiment, with all three irrigation systems combined with inoculated and non-inoculated plots, estimated yield effects due to disease and irrigation system. All plots were covered with plastic mulch in a CRD with six treatments. This experiment clearly confirmed the higher flower blight and fruit rot incidences when sprinkler irrigation was used. In inoculated treatments, fruit yield was significantly reduced in tape-irrigated plots, and more so in sprinkler-irrigated plots. In drip-irrigated plots yield was reduced by only 1%. Overall, our results confirm the importance of cultural and genetic factors as valuable means of strawberry anthracnose management. Adoption of localized irrigation systems, the use of organic mulches and choice of a partially resistant cultivar significantly reduced disease levels in field plots. The importance of water splash for C. acutatum dispersal and its dependency on the soil mulch characteristics are the likely causes for the results observed.     

Molecular identification of a 16SrIII-B phytoplasma associated with cassava witches’ broom disease

Since its arrival in the British Isles in 1845 Phytophthora infestans has remained the most destructive pathogen of potato. In the ensuing period, the British and Irish P. infestans populations have undergone major displacements following the immigration of novel strains. Here we report the re-emergence of the Ib mitochondrial DNA haplotype in the British and Irish P. infestans populations associated with the 6_A1 genotype. Historically associated with the previously panglobally distributed clonal lineage US-1, the Ib haplotype has not been detected (with the exception of a single isolate in the mid 1990s) in the British or Irish P. infestans populations since the early 1980s. The 6_A1 isolates analysed possessed mtDNA Ib, but were otherwise quite unlike US-1, having the Pep allozyme genotype 96/96 and novel RG57 and SSR fingerprints. These genetic characteristics strongly suggest that the appearance of the 6_A1 genotype in these populations has resulted from migration (possibly after a recombination event elsewhere). This study highlights the advantages of utilising a range of different markers in pathogen monitoring.     

A phytoplasma representative of a new subgroup, 16SrXIII-E, associated with Papaya apical curl necrosis

Papaya apical curl necrosis (PACN) has frequently been observed in several Brazilian states. Affected plants exhibit foliar chlorosis, curvature of the apex, shortening of the internodes leading to bunching of the crown leaves, necrosis of the young apical parts, leaf drop, and dieback. Naturally infected plants were sampled and subjected to PCR assays, which confirmed that a phytoplasma was associated with the disease. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, conventional and computer-simulated RFLP analyses, and phylogenetic analysis allowed the determination of the PACN phytoplasma as a representative of a new subgroup, designated 16SrXIII-E. The phytoplasmas of various 16Sr groups, including 16SrI, 16SrII, 16SrX, 16SrXII, and 16SrXVII, are known to be involved in anomalies in papaya plants in several countries. However, the present study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of a 16SrXIII phytoplasma in association with a papaya disease.     

Characterization of Phytophthora infestans populations of southern Brazil in 2004 and 2005

The populations of Phytophthora infestans (Pi) in southern Brazil in 2004 and 2005 are characterized herein. The isolates were collected from potato and tomato plants in the states of Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC), and Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The mating type of 131 potato and 32 tomato isolates was determined. Forty-nine isolates from potatoes and 11 from tomatoes were analyzed for their Gpi phenotype. A subset of 35 isolates was evaluated for mitochondrial (mtDNA) polymorphisms. A sample of 146 isolates was tested for sensitivity to the fungicide metalaxyl, and most isolates (64%) were moderately sensitive. Fifty-nine isolates were classified as A1 mating type and 103 as A2. One isolate behaved as both A1 and A2 mating type. All tomato isolates were A1 mating type and presented the 86/100 pattern for the enzyme GPI and mtDNA Ib, indicating that these isolates belong to the US-1 clonal lineage. Of the 131 potato isolates, 103 were A2, 27 were A1 and one was A1/A2 mating type. Among the potato isolates 27 exhibited the Gpi phenotype 100/100, the same as BR-1, and 20 were 86/100, the same as US-1. Potato isolates presented the mitochondrial haplotypes Ia (74%) and IIa (26%). The data suggest the presence of only the BR-1 clonal lineage on potatoes in the states of PR and SC. However, in the state of RS, more than one clonal lineage was observed infecting potatoes, and there may be sexual reproduction between the lineages.     

A device for single leaf labelling with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> isotopes to study carbon allocation and partitioning in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Background

Plant biomass consists primarily of carbohydrates derived from photosynthesis. Monitoring the assimilation of carbon via the Calvin-Benson cycle and its subsequent utilisation is fundamental to understanding plant growth. The use of stable and radioactive carbon isotopes, supplied to plants as CO₂, allows the measurement of fluxes through the intermediates of primary photosynthetic metabolism, long-distance transport of sugars in the vasculature, and the synthesis of structural and storage components.

Results

Here we describe the design of a system for supplying isotopically labelled CO₂ to single leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate that the system works well using short pulses of ¹⁴CO₂ and that it can be used to produce robust qualitative and quantitative data about carbon export from source leaves to the sink tissues, such as the developing leaves and the roots. Time course experiments show the dynamics of carbon partitioning between storage as starch, local production of biomass, and export of carbon to sink tissues.

Conclusion

This isotope labelling method is relatively simple to establish and inexpensive to perform. Our use of ¹⁴CO₂ helps establish the temporal and spatial allocation of assimilated carbon during plant growth, delivering data complementary to those obtained in recent studies using ¹³CO₂ and MS-based metabolomics techniques. However, we emphasise that this labelling device could also be used effectively in combination with ¹³CO₂ and MS-based techniques.

     

Characterization and antioxidant potential of Brazilian fruits from the Myrtaceae family

The objective of this study is to evaluating the Brazilian biodiversity through physicochemical characterization and determination of antioxidant potential of three species from the Myrtaceae family, namely yellow guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg), and uvaia ( Eugenia pyriformis Cambess). Guabiroba had the greater quantity of phenolic compounds (9033 mg chlorogenic acid/100 g) and vitamin C (30.58 mg/g) and showed the best TSS/TTA (total soluble solid/total titratable acid) ratio (45.12). For the ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) method, the guabiroba (507.49 μM Trolox/g) presented the highest antioxidant potential; however, in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, uvaia (170.26 g/g DPPH) and guabiroba (161.29 g/g DPPH) were not statistically different. The uvaia outranked the other fruits with respect to its high carotenoid (909.33 μg/g) and vitamin A (37.83 μg/g) contents, and the yellow guava, although showing a lower bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity, nevertheless presented much higher values than many traditionally consumed fruits.     

Leishmania spp. in Didelphis albiventris and Micoureus paraguayanus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) of Brazil

Leishmaniasis is kept in nature by the participation of several animal species. This study evaluated the presence of Leishmania spp. in skin samples of free-ranging marsupials Micoureus paraguayanus (n=95) and Didelphis albiventris (n=191), captured in Morro do Diabo State Park and in sections of its surrounding forest, in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, S?o Paulo State, Brazil. The samples were tested for the presence of kDNA of Leishmania spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by real time PCR (qPCR). All samples from D. albiventris tested by PCR were negative for the presence of kDNA of Leishmania spp. However, when tested by qPCR, the positivity was 1.6%. A positivity of 7.4% by PCR and 11.6% by qPCR was observed for M. paraguayanus. Sixty-four per cent (9/14) of positive animals were limited to the same forest fragment. Presence of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was detected in M. paraguayanus samples. While D. albiventris is the most studied marsupial species due to its urban habits, other marsupial species such as M. paraguayanus can be potential reservoirs of Leishmania spp. and should also be studied.     

Bioremediation of Mangroves Impacted by Petroleum

The majority of oil from oceanic oil spills (e.g. the recent accident in the Gulf of Mexico) converges on coastal ecosystems such as mangroves. Microorganisms are directly involved in biogeochemical cycles as key drivers of the degradation of many carbon sources, including petroleum hydrocarbons. When properly understood and managed, microorganisms provide a wide range of ecosystem services, such as bioremediation, and are a promising alternative for the recovery of impacted environments. Previous studies have been conducted with emphasis on developing and selecting strategies for bioremediation of mangroves, mostly in vitro, with few field applications described in the literature. Many factors can affect the success of bioremediation of oil in mangroves, including the presence and activity of the oil-degrading microorganisms in the sediment, availability and concentration of oil and nutrients, salinity, temperature and oil toxicity. More studies are needed to provide efficient bioremediation strategies to be applicable in large areas of mangroves impacted with oil. A major challenge to mangrove bioremediation is defining pollution levels and measuring recuperation of a mangrove. Typically, chemical parameters of pollution levels, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are used but are extremely variable in field measurements. Therefore, meaningful mangrove monitoring strategies must be developed. This review will present the state of the art of bioremediation in oil-contaminated mangroves, new data about the use of different mangrove microcosms with and without tide simulation, the main factors that influence the success of bioremediation in mangroves and new prospects for the use of molecular tools to monitor the bioremediation process. We believe that in some environments, such as mangroves, bioremediation may be the most appropriate approach for cleanup. Because of the peculiarities and heterogeneity of these environments, which hinder the use of other physical and chemical analyses, we suggest that measuring plant recuperation should be considered with reduction in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This is a crucial discussion because these key marine environments are threatened with worldwide disappearance. We highlight the need for and suggest new ways to conserve, protect and restore these environments.