Differential host utilisation by different life history stages of the fish ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus (Crustacea: Branchiura)

In this study we examine differences in the occurrence of life history stages of the destructive fish ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus (L., 1758) on eight fish species (stickleback, rudd, roach, gudgeon, bream, tench, crucian carp and common carp) sampled from a mixed-species recreational fishing lake on nine occasions during late spring and summer. Total numbers ofA. foliaceus, as well as the number of larval, juvenile and adult parasite stages, from each fish were recorded along with the fish species. Lice generally exhibited an aggregated distribution approximating a negative binomial distribution. Significant differences in the prevalence, intensity and intensity frequency distribution were observed between life history stages and between host species. In general, all life history stages of A. foliaceus exhibited an over-dispersed distribution. However, larval lice did show some degree of aggregation particularly within the stickleback samples. Infection data for parasite larval stages suggested that sticklebacks are more likely to be infected than other host species. For adult lice, however, carp appeared to be the main host. We propose that A. foliaceus infection characteristics are predominantly determined by the level of host exposure to the parasite and its life history stages (larval, juvenile and adult) rather than by an innate difference in host susceptibility related to individual host factors such as immune responses. We conclude that host exposure is determined by the parasite-host behavioural interplay related to species-specific ecology and behavioural traits such as microhabitat preference and normal swimming speed.     

Growth, photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic activity during seedling stage of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in response to UV-B and dimethoate

UV-B (0.4 W m⁻²) irradiation and dimethoate (100 and 200 ppm) treatments, singly and in combination, declined the growth, photosynthetic pigment contents and photosynthesis (O₂ evolution and CO₂-fixation) of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Contrary to this, low concentration of dimethoate (50 ppm) caused stimulation on these parameters, while together with UV-B it showed inhibitory effects. Carotenoids (Car) showed varied responses. It was found that carbon-fixation (¹⁴CO₂) was more sensitive to both the stresses than photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Photosynthetic electron transport activity was reduced by both the stresses, however, 50 ppm dimethoate besides inhibiting photosystem II (PSII) and whole chain activity, showed slight stimulation in photosystem I (PSI) activity. The individual effect of two stresses on PSII activity was probably due to interruption of electron flow at oxidation side of PSII which extended to its reaction center following simultaneous exposure. A similar trend was also noticed in case of CO₂ liberation (measured as ¹⁴CO₂ release) in light and dark. Results suggest that dimethoate (100 and 200 ppm) and UV-B alone caused heavy damage on pigments and photosynthetic activity of cowpea, leading to the significant inhibition in growth. Further, the interactive effects of both the stresses got intensified. However, low concentration (50 ppm) of dimethoate showed stimulation, but in combination, it slightly recovered from the damaging effect, caused by UV-B.     

A preliminary in vivo study on the potential application of a novel method of e-tracking in the poultry food chain and its potential impact on animal welfare

The feasibility of using DataMatrix (DM) barcodes laser printed onto the beaks of poultry as a possible method of identification and therefore traceability of the individual was examined in this study, including a preliminary live trial on broiler chicks in a commercial environment. In vitro trials were initially conducted to select the optimal laser type and the optimal laser settings for this particular application. Frozen mature chicken head samples were sourced from commercial partners and DM barcodes were printed on the beaks of these samples and read using a high specification camera based 1-Dimensional/2-Dimensional DataMan 7500 barcode reader. A number of laser types and settings were assessed through a detailed Predetermined Readability Screening Procedure principally designed to examine the ability of the printed DM barcode to withstand physical abrasion such as that which may occur in a commercial environment. Following this selection process a preliminary live trial of this technology was instigated in a commercial broiler house to examine not only the effects of the growth of the broilers on the clarity and readability of the DM barcode, but also the ability of the printed DM barcodes to resist the physical and chemical environment of a commercial setting. The results show a four day window during which the barcode readability remains at a high level. Thereafter the readability deteriorates rapidly, due to the rapid growth and healing of the beak of broiler chicks. However, with high readability rates, even for such a short timeframe, this technology could well be used as a technique for movement control for live poultry, for example, from the producer to the processor, thereby preventing any fraud at these vulnerable points in the poultry food chain, where there is a transfer of ownership. The effects of such a treatment on the behaviour and weight gain of the broiler chicks was also observed, because in an industry where numbers are large and margins very small, it is important that any additional input to the system would not have any detrimental effect on final carcase weight and quality.     

Dynamics of dissolved and extractable organic nitrogen upon soil amendment with crop residues

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is increasingly recognized as a pivotal pool in the soil nitrogen (N) cycle. Numerous devices and sampling procedures have been used to estimate its size, varying from in situ collection of soil solution to extraction of dried soil with salt solutions. Extractable organic N (EON) not only consists of DON but contains also compounds released from soil biomass and desorbed organic matter. There is no consensus whether DON or EON primarily regulates N mineralisation in soil, and their contribution to N mineralisation has not been quantified simultaneously. We evaluated three sampling procedures on their ability to determine the dynamic of dissolved organic N pools. The three procedures were the determination of DON in 1) soil solution collected by centrifugation, and the determination of EON in 2) a 0.01 M CaCl₂ extract of field moist or 3) dried soil. We added unlabeled leek and ¹⁵N-labeled ryegrass residues to a loamy sandy soil to create a temporarily increase in DON and EON, to stimulate microbial activity, and to test whether the source and dynamics of the three pools differ. We also tested whether the flow of N through DON or EON was associated with the production of inorganic N using ¹⁵N isotope tracing. Sampling procedures significantly affected the amount, but not the dynamics and origin of the three organic N pools. DON and EON (determined on field-moist and dried soils) showed all a significant increase upon crop amendment and returned to their background concentrations within 10 to 30 days. The fraction of DON and EON originating from the crop residue slightly decreased over 138 days and was not different for DON and EON. Field moist extraction of a loamy sandy soil with 0.01 M CaCl₂ gave a reliable estimate of the concentration of in situ dissolved organic N. In contrast, extraction of dried soil significantly increased EON compared to DON. The agreement in dynamics, ¹⁵N enrichment and C-to-N ratio’s indicate that dissolved and extracted organic N have a similar role in N mineralisation. Our results also suggest that they make a minor contribution to N mineralisation; changes in the turnover rate of EON were not associated with changes in the net N mineralisation rate.     

Genetic diversity for nitrogen use efficiency in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivars using the Ingestad model on hydroponics

Spinach is a leafy vegetable that requires a high N fertilization to have a satisfactory yield and quality, in part because it has poor nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Therefore, there is a need to breed for cultivars with an excellent NUE. To this end the genetic diversity for NUE-related traits was studied in a diverse set of commercial cultivars. This set was evaluated in a hydroponic system using the Ingestad model; the system was set at a relative growth rate of 0.14 and 0.18 g g^?1 day^?1 (low and high N, respectively). Experiments were performed at low and high plant density. Traits monitored for single plants included fresh and dry weight, leaf area, specific leaf area, dry weight ratio between root and shoot, and chlorophyll content. The high density experiment showed more genotypic variation for the observed traits than the low density one. Biomass production was considerably lower at low than at high N. Path analysis revealed that leaf area had the highest direct effect on NUE, while specific leaf area was an important trait determining variation in NUE at low N. Slow and fast growing genotypes were shown to use different strategies to utilize N, and these strategies are expressed differently at high and low N availability. This indicates that improving spinach for NUE is feasible using the analysed genotypes as source material, and different strategies can be targeted for adaptation of spinach cultivars to low N conditions.     

Experimental infection with H1N1 European swine influenza virus protects pigs from an infection with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 human influenza virus

The recent pandemic caused by human influenza virus A(H1N1) 2009 contains ancestral gene segments from North American and Eurasian swine lineages as well as from avian and human influenza lineages. The emergence of this A(H1N1) 2009 poses a potential global threat for human health and the fact that it can infect other species, like pigs, favours a possible encounter with other influenza viruses circulating in swine herds. In Europe, H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 subtypes of swine influenza virus currently have a high prevalence in commercial farms. To better assess the risk posed by the A(H1N1) 2009 in the actual situation of swine farms, we sought to analyze whether a previous infection with a circulating European avian-like swine A/Swine/Spain/53207/2004 (H1N1) influenza virus (hereafter referred to as SwH1N1) generated or not cross-protective immunity against a subsequent infection with the new human pandemic A/Catalonia/63/2009 (H1N1) influenza virus (hereafter referred to as pH1N1) 21 days apart. Pigs infected only with pH1N1 had mild to moderate pathological findings, consisting on broncho-interstitial pneumonia. However, pigs inoculated with SwH1N1 virus and subsequently infected with pH1N1 had very mild lung lesions, apparently attributed to the remaining lesions caused by SwH1N1 infection. These later pigs also exhibited boosted levels of specific antibodies. Finally, animals firstly infected with SwH1N1 virus and latter infected with pH1N1 exhibited undetectable viral RNA load in nasal swabs and lungs after challenge with pH1N1, indicating a cross-protective effect between both strains.     

Comparative performance of recycling tunnel and conventional sprayers using standard and drift-mitigating nozzles in dwarf apple orchards

The use of tunnel sprayers should be encouraged because they can potentially reduce pesticide input and drift in orchards. They could also allow smaller plot size in multifactorial trials in which fully randomized or randomized block designs are recommended. However, the effectiveness of plant protection products applied with tunnel sprayers cannot be reliably assessed without a thorough investigation into spray distribution in tree canopies. A set of three experiments was undertaken in an apple orchard to compare a new type of recycling tunnel sprayer with a standard axial fan sprayer, both of them fitted with either conventional hydraulic hollow cone nozzles (ATR) or drift-mitigating air induction cone nozzles (TVI). Its performance was assessed in terms of 1) spray deposit and coverage in the canopy, 2) sedimentation drift (spray drift to the ground) and 3) collection and recycling rate of the liquid sprayed in the tunnel. Artificial targets composed of cellulose papers and water-sensitive papers were used to evaluate the spray deposit and coverage at similar target positions for each treatment. A fluorescent dye was used as the spray tracer.     

Role of Solanum dulcamara L. in Potato Late Blight Epidemiology

Four sites with naturally growing Solanum dulcamara were surveyed during 2006 and 2007 for the presence of late blight. Despite 2 years of observations, no late blight was detected among natural populations of bittersweet. Nevertheless, repeated infections occurred on few S. dulcamara plants from a collection growing in a botanical garden in the same years. These plants were used to investigate the possibility of survival of the inoculum between seasons. In the respective years, a set of 21 and 52 S. dulcamara accessions inoculated with Phytophthora infestans under field conditions resulted in a wide range of responses to the disease. More susceptible reactions were found among genotypes collected at greater distance from commercial potato fields indicating the possibility of genetic selection caused by P. infestans. However, both scarceness of natural infections and no overwintering, suggest that bittersweet may not play a role in late blight epidemiology.     

Changes in yield classification in a soybean-rice rotation

For yield based site-specific management to be successful in fields with crop rotations, changes in management zones between crops must be determined. The study objectives were to determine if yield classes change between crops within a rotation and whether soil properties can predict the yield classes or the year-to-year changes. A percentile classification method was used to categorize yearly soybean (Glycine max) and rice (Oryza sativa) yield in two fields with soybean-rice-soybean rotations into low, medium and high yield classes. There was little agreement in yield classifications between years. Yield class based on soil properties was predicted accurately by linear discriminant analysis in Field 1 20–67% of the time and in Field 2 13–83% of the time. Predictions in Field 1 were based on soil available Mg and P, elevation and the deep soil apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a). Predictions in Field 2 were based on soil texture, soil available P, K and Mg, and pH. The linear discriminant analysis was also able to predict year-to-year changes in yield class. Changes in class in Field 1 could be predicted by total soil C and N, silt, and soil available Mg and P depending on the year. Soil texture, soil available P, K and Mg, total soil C and pH, elevation and deep soil EC_a predicted yield changes in Field 2 depending on the year. The results of this study indicate only limited success at management zone definition in a soybean-rice rotation. Further investigation is needed with other crop rotation sequences to verify the findings of this study.     

The effect on root geotropism of certain ortho-carboxyphenylpropanones

A series of compounds related to 1-(2′-carboxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropane-1,3-dione has been synthesised and their effects on root geotropism assessed using cress and ryegrass seedlings. The more active members have been found to be highly potent, abolishing root geotropism at concentrations as low as 0.01 mg/litre. In this respect they compare favourably with TIBA and NPA. It is suggested that a 2-carboxy-phenyl radical separated by a 3 carbon unit from a second aromatic ring is essential for activity, and that a C-1 oxygen function enhances the effect.