Testate amoebae as predators of nematodes

Testacea were observed ingesting nematodes in the litter horizons of native forests in New Zealand. Nematodes were most commonly attacked from the tail end but some specimens were attacked at mid-body. Nematodes with damaged tails were recovered in greatest numbers from the highest, wettest site sampled. Nebela (Apodera) vas (Certes, 1989) and Difflugia sp. (possibly lanceolata Penard, 1890) were the predators; both species were redescribed using light and scanning electron microscopy and morphometry. Most damaged nematodes were Ironus sp. but Clarkus, Tobrilus, Iotonchus, Cobbonchus, Dorylaimus and Plectus were also attacked. Literature on testacean feeding strategies was reviewed briefly.     

Vernachlässigte Phosphor‐ und Kaliumdüngung im ökologischen Landbau senkt die biologische Stickstofffixierung bei Rotklee und den Kornertrag bei nachfolgendem Hafer

Neglected P and K fertilization in organic farming reduces N₂ fixation and grain yield in a red clover‐oat rotation N₂ fixation is the most important N source in organic farming. An insufficient P, K, and S supply to legumes may reduce their N₂ fixation capacity. Consequently, the total yield of plant production may also be reduced. This problem was studied in a pot experiment with red clover followed by oat. Soil was taken from a field where organic farming had been practiced for more than 30 years without applying any mineral fertilizers or buying additional fodder. The soil (luvisol from loess) was characterized by: pH (CaCl₂) 5.4; lactate‐soluble (CAL) P 5 mg kg^–1 and K 110 mg kg^–1. 6 kg dry soil were mixed with 400 mg P applied as (i) triplesuperphosphate (TSP), (ii) rock phosphate (RP) or (iii) compost from organic household residues (BAK). An additional treatment (iv) with TSP received 1000 mg K as K₂SO₄ (TSP+K) and an additional treatment with RP (v) received only 200 mg P (RP/2). A control treatment received no fertilizer. P application significantly improved the P nutritional status of the plants (P content) and increased the N amount in the shoots of red clover (with 400 mg P per pot by 64 % to 139 % as compared to the control) and the dry matter (DM) yield by 60 % to 130 %. No significant differences between TSP and RP were found. The application of BAK resulted in a significantly higher N yield than the application of RP and TSP. The treatment TSP+K resulted in the highest DM yield (230 %), removal of P was 343 %, of K 228 %, and of N 239 % as compared to the control plants. This indicates a synergistic effect of P, K, and S on N₂ fixation, which was also found with BAK. Oat grown after red clover increased its grain yield by 132 % (200 mg P as RP) to 165 % (400 mg P treatments). This was mainly due to a higher P uptake (up to 172 %) and a higher N uptake (up to 172 %) as compared to the control.     

Restoring the capacity of spent mushroom compost to treat coal mine drainage by reducing the inflow rate: A microcosm experiment

Four volumes of spent mushroom compost were exposed to synthetic coal mine drainage (pH 3.5, 48 mg L^?1 Fe, 22 mg L^?1 Mn) under oxidizing conditions (Eh 300 to 400 mV) at a relatively high rate of flow. After 15 days, the compost lost its ability to elevate pH, to lower the redox potential, to lower outlet iron concentrations, and to lower manganese concentrations, with larger volumes retaining more Fe and H⁺, but less Mn. Estimated retention maxima per liter of spent mushroom compost were 281 μeq H⁺, 5.56 g Fe, and 0.15 g Mn. These values are similar to those reported elsewhere for peat. The ‘saturated’ compost was then mixed and exposed to mine water in order to eliminate ‘dead zones’ in the compost. Subsequently, the compost was re-exposed to synthetic mine water (pH 4.0, 60 mg L^?1 Fe, O mg L^?1 Mn) under a much lower flow rate and less oxidizing regime for a period of 114 days. Under the low flow regime, iron was first exported from the compost as reducing conditions were established, and then retained on a stable basis. In addition, Eh was lowered and pH was elevated by the compost. On a net basis, the capacity of the compost to retain iron was increased and apparently stable under the decreased flow conditions.     

Studying crossover genotype × environment interaction using linear-bilinear models and mixed models

In agriculture and plant breeding the most important genotype × environment interaction pattern is crossover genotype × environment interaction. Procedures using linearbilinear models are used to find disjoint subsets of sites or genotypes with negligible crossover genotype × environment interaction. In terms of correlations, these subsets of sites or genotypes should be such that pairs of sites have nearly perfect positive genetic correlations. Perfect positive genetic correlation between sites is a sufficient, but not a necessary, condition for a non-COI pattern. The main objective of this study was to use the mixed model theory to confirm that the subsets of sites and genotypes formed by using the linear-bilinear models have negligible crossover genotype × environment interaction. If there is no significant crossover interaction in a subset of sites or genotypes, then the mixed model should be able to confirm this by nonrejection of the hypothesis that the covariance structure has perfect genetic correlation. Mixed model analysis of results from two multisite cultivar trials confirmed the validity of the procedures using linear-bilinear model methods for clustering sites and genotypes into noncrossover genotype × environment interaction subsets.     

Kiefernstarkholzzucht

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Die Gliederung der forstwirtschaftlichen Produktionslehre

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Establishment of diagnostic criteria for feline nonflea-induced hypersensitivity dermatitis

Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are commonly seen in cats, and they are usually caused by environmental, food and/or flea allergens. Affected cats normally present with one of the following clinical reaction patterns: head and neck excoriations, usually symmetrical self-induced alopecia, eosinophilic skin lesions or miliary dermatitis. Importantly, none of these clinical presentations is considered to be pathognomonic for HD skin diseases, and the diagnosis of HD is usually based on the exclusion of other pruritic diseases and on a positive response to therapy. The objectives of this study were to propose sets of criteria for the diagnosis of nonflea-induced HD (NFHD). We recruited 501 cats with pruritus and skin lesions and compared clinical parameters between cats with NFHD (encompassing those with nonflea, nonfood HD and those with food HD), flea HD and other pruritic conditions. Using simulated annealing techniques, we established two sets of proposed criteria for the following two different clinical situations: (i) the diagnosis of NFHD in a population of pruritic cats; and (ii) the diagnosis of NFHD after exclusion of cats with flea HD. These criteria sets were associated with good sensitivity and specificity and may be useful for homogeneity of enrolment in clinical trials and to evaluate the probability of diagnosis of NFHD in clinical practice. Finally, these criteria were not useful to differentiate cats with NFHD from those with food HD.     

Analyses of genes encoding Theileria parva p104 and polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) reveal evidence of the presence of cattle-type alleles in the South African T. parva population

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing of the variable region of the p104 and PIM genes was performed on samples obtained from South African T. parva parasites originating from cattle on farms with suspected theileriosis and from buffalo. p104 and PIM PCR-RFLP profiles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock, an isolate that causes ECF in Kenya, were obtained from three of seven cattle samples collected on a farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Amino acid sequences of the p104 and PIM genes from two of these samples were almost identical to the T. parva Muguga p104 and PIM sequences. This result supports findings from a recent p67 study in which p67 alleles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock were identified from the same samples. While these results suggest the presence of a cattle-derived T. parva parasite, reports of cattle-to-cattle transmission could not be substantiated and ECF was not diagnosed on this farm. Although extensive diversity of p104 and PIM gene sequences from South African T. parva isolates was demonstrated, no sequences identical to known cattle-type p104 and PIM alleles were identified from any of the buffalo T. parva samples analyzed. 'Mixed' PIM alleles containing both cattle- and buffalo-type amino acid motifs were identified for the first time, and there appeared to be selection of cattle-type and 'mixed'-type PIM sequences in the cattle samples examined.     

Prevalence and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis from beef calves in Alberta,Canada

Giardia infections in domestic cattle has come under increasing scrutiny owing to the potential contamination of surface and ground waters through manure distribution on fields and pasture runoff. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in beef calves in major beef cow calf farms in Alberta, Canada. Fecal samples were collected from beef calves aged 2-10 weeks at nine farms in Alberta. Samples were examined for the presence of G. duodenalis cysts by immunofluorescent staining. Giardia cysts were found in 168 of the 495 fecal samples examined, with prevalence ranging from 7 to 60% among farms. Genotypic analysis of positive isolates utilizing PCR and sequencing of a 292 bp fragment of the 16S-rRNA locus, revealed the hoofed livestock genotype in 41 of the 42 isolates. One isolate was identical to the Assemblage A genotype. The results of this study demonstrate that beef calves in this area are primarily infected with the livestock genotype which is thought to be specific to artiodactyl hosts and non-infective to humans. This suggests that the Giardia carried by beef cattle may be a minimal zoonotic threat.