Evaluation and validation of a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in agricultural samples

The performance of a commercially available microtiter plate ELISA kit for the determination of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated for sensitivity, selectivity, influence of organic solvent used for extraction procedure, matrix interference originated from agricultural sample, accuracy, and method comparison with conventional HPLC analysis. The limit of detection for the kit (0.1 or 0.5 ng/mL) was determined. The working range (1-39 ng/mL) experimentally calculated on the basis of a criterion, which is determined as the range from I(20) to I(80), was comparable to that established by the manufacturer (1-50 ng/mL). The linearity of the standard curve based on the kit-assembled standard solutions agreed with the one based on the self-made standard solutions. Specificity studies indicate that the imidacloprid monoclonal antibody can readily distinguish the target compound from other structurally related neonicotinoid analogues and some metabolites, with the exception of clothianidin, the cross-reactivity of which was approximately 12%. To extract imidacloprid from an agricultural sample (apple) as simply and rapidly as possible, some extraction methods were examined. Consequently, the extraction method with hand-shaking for 5 min was the best among the examined methods. For the analysis of imidacloprid in apple samples, it was extracted directly with methanol and the extracts were diluted 10-fold (100-fold in the well) with water prior to ELISA analysis. No significant matrix interference was observed with the dilution factor. Recoveries of imidacloprid from fortified apple samples ranged from 87.7 to 112.0%. The results obtained with the ELISA kit correlated well with those by the reference method (conventional HPLC analysis) for apple samples (r > 0.998). These findings strongly indicate that the ELISA kit may be employed routinely for an on-site imidacloprid residue analysis of apple samples.     

Development of a multiplex PCR method for simultaneous detection of diagnostic DNA markers of five disease and pest resistance genes in potato

Multiplex PCR is practically a reasonable choice for molecular marker-assisted selection in potato breeding. We had developed and were using a multiplex PCR method for selection of resistance genes to cyst nematode (H1), Potato virus X (Rx1) and late blight (R1 and R2). Since then, more reliable and tightly linked markers for H1 and R2, and a new marker for resistance to Potato virus Y (Ry _chc ) were developed. In this article, all these superior markers, including a positive marker to eliminate PCR-failed samples, were incorporated into one multiplex PCR assay. Using the newly developed multiplex PCR technique, five plants potentially harboring all five resistance genes were selected from 96 hybrid plants approximately 5 h after DNA extraction, which is a third of the operation time compared with separate PCR reactions for each marker.     

The metabolism of phosphoinositide-derived messenger molecules

The phosphoinositides are minor phospholipids present in all eukaryotic cells. They are storage forms for messenger molecules that transmit signals across the cell membrane and evoke responses to extracellular agonists. The phosphoinositides break down to liberate messenger molecules or precursors of messenger molecules. Many different compounds are formed, although the functions of only a few are understood. Recent studies elaborating the pathways for formation of products from phosphoinositides and the factors controlling their metabolism are summarized here.     

Action research on alternative land tenure arrangements in Wenchi,Ghana: learning from ambiguous social dynamics and self-organized institutional innovation

This study reports on action research efforts that were aimed at developing institutional arrangements beneficial for soil fertility improvement. Three stages of action research are described and analyzed. We initially began by bringing stakeholders together in a platform to engage in a collaborative design of new arrangements. However, this effort was stymied mainly because conditions conducive for learning and negotiation were lacking. We then proceeded to support experimentation with alternative arrangements initiated by individual landowners and migrant farmers. The implementation of these arrangements too ran into difficulties due to intra-family dynamics and ambiguities regarding land tenure. Further investigations to find out how ambiguities could be tackled revealed that the local actors themselves had taken initiatives towards developing institutional innovations to reduce ambiguities. However, there is still considerable scope for further development of these self-organized innovations. The article ends with a reflection on inter-disciplinary action research, where it is argued that making “mistakes” is an inherent and necessary characteristic in action research that aims to address complex social issues.

中国东方蜜蜂的形态学及生物地理学研究

 用形态学研究方法对中国的东方蜜蜂(Apis cerana)的形态特征进行研究。东方蜜蜂的标本从中国大陆的34个样点采集而来，这些样点代表了东方蜜蜂在中国大陆不同气候带或地理区域分布的不同类型。 34个点共采集了220群蜜蜂的样，每群蜂测定分析15只工蜂，形态的测定特征参照Ruttner 1988年提出的测定标准进行。每只蜂总共有38个测定的形态特征。测定的性状特征的数据进行因素分析，集合分析和区辨分析；形态性状与生态环境因子相关性分析；并与周边国家东方蜜蜂的相关数据进行比较，发现:生活在吉林长白山温带阔叶林的东方蜜蜂个体较大、体色较黑，与日本、韩国的东方蜜蜂较为相似；来自亚热带常绿阔叶林的东方蜜蜂（甘肃天水、湖北和湖南）与云南北部、北京、尼泊尔的东方蜜蜂聚集为一类；而居住在南方热带季雨林如：福建、广东、广西和云南部分南方的东方蜜蜂与低海拔亚热带常绿阔叶林的东方蜜蜂（越南、中国四川和安徽黄山）聚集为另一类； 云南南方如：景洪、思茅、河口、镇康、元江、屏边、蒙自草坝和开远的东方蜜蜂形成独特的一个分枝，与泰国和缅甸的东方蜜蜂非常接近，同时与亚热带常绿阔叶林的东方蜜蜂相邻；值得关注的是，来自高寒湿地的东方蜜蜂（甘肃岷县）是目前在亚洲已经发现的东方蜜蜂中，其个体最大、颜色最深。在因素分析和集合分析里，它具有独特的位置。