Comparison of Salt and Drought‐Stress Effects on Maize Growth and Yield Formation with Regard to Acid Invertase Activity in the Kernels

The long‐term effects of salt stress (11 dS m^?1) and drought stress (35 % WHC) were investigated for two maize genotypes, focusing on the relation between metabolic changes around the time of pollination and the impact on yield determinants at maturity. The relatively salt‐resistant hybrid Pioneer 3906 and the relatively drought‐resistant hybrid Fabregas were compared. The experiments were conducted in large plastic containers in a vegetation hall in two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). Plant height and leaf area were significantly reduced under both stress conditions. The transpiration rate was only slightly reduced under drought stress; but under salt stress, a significant reduction occurred 40–53 days after sowing. As a significant increase in sucrose concentrations was observed in the salt‐treated maize kernels 2 days after pollination, the availability of assimilates was not limiting and the plants could afford to save water by reduced stomatal opening. Although under both stress conditions the soluble acid invertase activity was reduced 2 days after pollination, concomitantly, an increase in hexose concentrations was observed. Thus, in these experiments, the delivery of hexoses by acid invertase activity did not limit kernel development. Differences in grain yield at maturity between salt and drought stress were most likely caused by salt‐specific effects (Na⁺ toxicity), Fabregas being more affected than Pioneer 3906.     

A DNA Probe for Rapid Screening of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Carrying Extra Chromosomes from Wild Beets of the Procumbentes Section

Genes from wild species of the Procumbentes section can be transferred to sugar beet chromosomes via translocations. Since large translocations, including for example a gene for nematode resistance, generally result in meiotic disturbances, there is a need to select new diploid resistant beets from progenies of monosomic wild beet addition lines. A dispersed repetitive DNA probe, which is closely correlated with the resistance gene and hybridizes exclusively with wild beet DNA, appears to be highly superior to selection based on isozyme markers. Characteristic ‘fingerprints’ on the available monosomic addition lines reveal the existence of at last 5 different chromosomes in the wild species each housing a gene for nematode resistance. This probe can be used advantageously to identify individuals carrying the intact or fragmented wild beet chromosomes, or even various amounts of translocated chromatin. Strategies are discussed for the identification of new translocation types using straightforward squash dot or Southern hybridization techniques in combination with the wild beet DNA probe.     

Pathogenicity of fungi associated with ash dieback symptoms of one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior in Montenegro

In addition to Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, two fungi identified as Diaporthe eres aff. and Fusarium sambucinum aff. were also isolated from necrotic bark lesions on declining one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior in a forest stand in Montenegro. To examine their involvement in ash decline, a pathogenicity test was performed using under bark inoculations on one‐year‐old Fraxinus excelsior. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was included as comparison. All three fungal species proved highly pathogenic towards one‐year‐old seedlings although lesion sizes differed significantly between the different species. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was most aggressive, followed by F. sambucinum aff., while D. eres aff. caused the smallest lesions. This study demonstrates for the first time the ability of isolates in the D. eres and F. sambucinum species complexes to cause decline on one‐year‐old common ash seedlings.     

Soundscapes reveal disturbance impacts: biophonic response to wildfire in the Sonoran Desert Sky Islands

Context

While remote sensing imagery is effective for quantifying land cover changes across large areas, its utility for directly assessing the response of animals to disturbance is limited. Soundscapes approaches—the recording and analysis of sounds in a landscape—could address this shortcoming.

Objectives

In 2011, a massive wildfire named “the Horseshoe 2 Burn” occurred in the Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona, USA. We evaluated the impact of this wildfire on acoustic activity of animal communities.

Methods

In 2013, soundscape recordings were collected over 9 months in 12 burned and 12 non-burned sites in four ecological systems. The seasonal and diel biological acoustic activity were described using the “Bioacoustic Index”, a detailed aural analysis of sound sources, and a new tool called “Sonic Timelapse Builder” (STLB).

Results

Seasonal biophony phenology showed a diurnal peak in June and a nocturnal peak in October in all ecological systems. On June mornings, acoustic activity was lower at burned than at non-burned sites in three of four ecological systems, due to a decreased abundance of cicadas directly impacted by the death of trees. Aural analyses revealed that 55% of recordings from non-burned sites contained insect sounds compared to 18% from burned sites. On October nights, orthopteran activity was more prevalent at some burned sites, possibly due to post-fire emergence of herbaceous.

Conclusions

Soundscape approaches can help address long-term conservation issues involving the responses of animal communities to wildfire. Acoustic methods can serve as a valuable complement to remote sensing for disturbance-based landscape management.

     

EFFECT OF METHYLCELLULOSE ON UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL QUALITY IN DOGS

This study was performed to evaluate and optimize a small bowel contrast technique using barium and methylcellulose in dogs. Ten healthy dogs underwent both a conventional upper gastrointestinal study that used only barium and a modified study that used barium and methylcellulose. The control group received 10 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Experimental groups were divided into three subgroups given 15 mL/kg of different viscosities (low, moderate, and high viscosity) of 0.5% methylcellulose after 4 mL/kg of 40% barium suspension. Compared with the control group, dogs receiving methylcellulose had higher-quality upper gastrointestinal studies. Moderate viscosity of methylcellulose was superior to the other methylcellulose groups. In conclusion, the use of methylcellulose is a simple and effective method for improving the image quality in an upper GI examination.     

Pleiotropic effect of the dwarfing gene d18-k on cool tolerance at booting stage under the genetic background of an extremely cool-tolerant line Norin-PL8 in rice

Norin‐PL8 (‘PL8’) is an extremely cool‐tolerant line of rice in Japan that contains genes for cool tolerance originating from a javanica landrace. It was investigated to see whether the dwarfing gene d18‐k (kotaketamanishiki dwarf) exerts its pleiotropic effect on enhancing the cool tolerance at the booting stage in the genetic background of PL8. The d18‐k isogenic line of the recurrent parent PL8 (D8), PL8, and two commercial cultivars ‘Hayayuki’ and ‘Kirara 397’ were used. For each line/cultivar, the 12°C‐5‐day treatment was conducted at various times during the booting stage. In addition to spikelet fertility, the ratio (%) of the fertilized‐spikelet number of each treated panicle to the varietal mean of fertilized‐spikelet number per panicle in the control (FS‐T/C) was adopted to estimate cool temperature damage. For FS‐T/C, the lines‐cultivars ranked in the order of D8 > PL8 > ‘Hayayuki’ > ‘Kirara 397’, reflecting their cool tolerances. D8 exceeded PL8 in both pollen grain number per anther in the control and as an indicator of pollen fertility after the treatment, as a result of the effects of d18‐k. Consequently, d18‐k can be used to develop super‐highly cool‐tolerant cultivars for cool‐weather areas.     

Color characteristics of monascus pigments derived by fermentation with various amino acids

Various pigment colors were produced by Monascus fermentations with separate addition of 20 amino acids. The color characteristics and structures of the pigment derivatives were investigated. When each amino acid was added to the fermentation broth as a precursor, pigment extracts with different hue and chroma values were obtained depending on the content ratios of yellow, orange, and red colors in the fermentation broth. The yellow and orange pigments were identical regardless of amino acid addition. The red compounds varied on the basis of the type of amino acid added. LC-MS and (1)H and (13)C NMR structural analyses confirmed that the derivative pigments contained the moieties of the added amino acids. L, a, and b values of the CIELAB color system for the derivative pigments were measured. Values of hue and chroma were then calculated. The colors of the derivative pigments were in the range of orangish red to violet red. The hydrophilicities/hydrophobicities of the derivative pigments could be predicted from their log P values, which were estimated using computer programs.     

Measurement of Atmospheric Formaldehyde and Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy during Winter and Summer Intensive Periods in Seoul, Korea

Ozone effects on Mediterranean forests were studied for 10 years in southern France. The aim of these studies was to understand the impact of the pollutant on foliar damage among Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill) and Arolla pine (Pinus cembra L) populations. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, ozone concentrations were measured using UV absorption analysers (4) and passive samplers (29) at two forest monitoring sites: Site 1 in the Nice coastal area for Aleppo pine and Site 2 in the Mercantour mountains for Arolla pine, in the vicinity of tree observation sites. AOT 40 values were quite high (25–33 ppm.h), especially in the Mercantour mountains, for the 5 months of measurement. Foliar damage (defoliation and discoloration) and specific symptoms (chlorotic mottle) were observed on 8 Aleppo pine and 13 Arolla pine plots. For Arolla pines, there was a significant correlation between defoliation and chlorotic mottles. There was also a correlation between mean ozone concentrations measured by passive samplers and chlorotic mottles. These correlations were less significant for Aleppo pine.     

CX3CR1-mediated dendritic cell access to the intestinal lumen and bacterial clearance

Dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are critical to innate and adaptive immunity to the intestinal bacterial microbiota. Here, we identify a myeloid-derived mucosal DC in mice, which populates the entire lamina propria of the small intestine. Lamina propria DCs were found to depend on the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 to form transepithelial dendrites, which enable the cells to directly sample luminal antigens. CX3CR1 was also found to control the clearance of entero-invasive pathogens by DCs. Thus, CX3CR1-dependent processes, which control host interactions of specialized DCs with commensal and pathogenic bacteria, may regulate immunological tolerance and inflammation.