Functional Analysis of ABC Transporter Genes From Botrytis cinerea Identifies BcatrB as a Transporter of Eugenol

The role of multiple ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter genes from the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in protection against natural fungitoxic compounds was studied by expression analysis and phenotyping of gene-replacement mutants. The expression of 11 ABC (BcatrA–BcatrK) and three MFS genes (Bcmfs1, Bcmfs2 and Bcmfs4) was studied. All genes showed a low basal level of expression, but were differentially induced by treatment with cycloheximide and the plant defence compounds camptothecin, eugenol, psoralen, resveratrol and rishitin. The latter compounds induced expression of BcatrB at a high level. Eugenol was more toxic to BcatrB gene-replacement mutants than to the control isolates. Eugenol also caused an instantaneous increase in mycelial accumulation of the fungicide fludioxonil, a known substrate of BcatrB. However, there was no difference in virulence between the wild-type and BcatrB gene-replacement mutants on Ocimum basilicum, a plant known to contain eugenol. The results indicate that BcatrB is a transporter of lipophilic compounds, such as eugenol, but its role in virulence remains uncertain.     

Identification of Rhizoctonia solani AG 1-IB in Lettuce, AG 4 HG-I in Tomato and Melon, and AG 4 HG-III in Broccoli and Spinach, in Brazil

Fungi isolated in Brazil, from lettuce, broccoli, spinach, melon and tomato, were identified as Rhizoctonia solani. All lettuce isolates anastomosed with both AG 1-IA and IB subgroups and all isolates from broccoli, spinach, melon and tomato anastomosed with AG 4 subgroup HG-I, as well as with subgroups HG-II and HG-III. DNA sequence analyses of ribosomal internal transcribed spacers showed that isolates from lettuce were AG 1-IB, isolates from tomato and melon were AG 4 HG-I, and isolates from broccoli and spinach were AG 4 HG-III. The tomato isolates caused stem rot symptoms, the spinach, broccoli and melon isolates caused hypocotyl and root rot symptoms on the respective host plants and the lettuce isolates caused bottom rot. This is the first report on the occurrence in Brazil of R. solani AG 4 HG-I in tomato and melon, of AG 4 HG-III in broccoli and spinach and of AG 1-IB in lettuce.     

Resistance to Leveillula taurica in the genus Capsicum

One hundred and sixty-two Capsicum genotypes were evaluated for powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica) resistance, following inoculations with a suspension of 5 × 10⁴ conidia mL⁻¹ on 10-leaved to 12-leaved plants. Genotypes were graded into five resistance classes, based on the areas under the disease progress curves calculated from disease incidence (percentage infected leaves per plant) and severity (total number of colonies per plant). Results revealed a continuum from resistance to susceptibility, with the majority (70%) of C. annuum materials being classified as moderately to highly susceptible to L. taurica. Conversely, C. baccatum, C. chinense and C. frutescens were most often resistant, indicating that resistance to L. taurica among Capsicum species is found mainly outside the C. annuum taxon. Nevertheless, some resistant C. annuum material was identified that may be useful for resistance breeding. Eight genotypes were identified as immune to the pathogen: H-V-12 and 4638 (previously reported), and CNPH 36, 38, 50, 52, 279 and 288. Only H-V-12 and 4638 are C. annuum, while all others belong to the C. baccatum taxon. Latent period of disease on a set of commercial sweet pepper genotypes varied, indicating diverse levels of polygenic resistance. The latent period progressively reduced with plant maturity, from 14·3 days in plants at the mid-vegetative stage to 8·6 days in plants at the fruiting stage. Young plants of all commercial genotypes tested at the early vegetative stage were immune, irrespective of the reaction of the genotype at later stages, demonstrating widespread juvenile resistance to L. taurica in the Capsicum germplasm. Inoculation of plants of different botanical taxa with a local isolate indicated a wide host range. Some hosts, including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), artichoke (Cynara scolymus) and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), produced large amounts of secondary inoculum. Other hosts included okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), eggplant (Solanum melongena), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Solanum gilo, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Nicandra physaloides.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to Puccinia striiformis in the wheat differential cultivars Heines VII, Heines Peko and Strubes Dickkopf

One major gene for resistance to isolate WYR 85-22 of race 6E0 of Puccinia striiformis was identified by genetic analysis of the differential cultivars Heines Peko, Strubes Dickkopf and Heines VII. This gene was different from Yr2 Yr6 already identified in Heines Peko ( Yr2 Yr6 ) and Heines VII ( Yr2 ), was allelic in the three cultivars and also to a gene expressed in the other differentials Reichersberg 42 ( Yr7 ) and Clement ( Yr9 ). In Heines Peko, Strubes Dickkopf and Heines VII, a minor gene was also postulated, which, it is proposed, gave only a low level of resistance by itself but strengthened the expression of the major gene when the latter was homozygous or heterozygous. The genetics of the resistance was analysed using six resistance classes and applying multidimensional analyses. The number of resistance genes was hypothesized using data from F3 families from crosses between the three differentials and the cultivar Heines Kolben, which is susceptible to this race.     

淡紫拟青霉菌料防治大豆胞囊线虫的后效研究

淡紫拟青霉不同菌株的培养菌料，施２２５ｋｇ／ｈｍ２，对大豆胞囊线虫不但当年有４５％～６９％的较好防效，而且第２年和第３年仍然有２２．５％～３７．７％和７．３％～２２．９％的后效，即空胞囊和被寄生的胞囊数量增加。     

桃树根癌病防治技术探讨

桃树根癌病是公认最难防治的土传细菌病害之一。在对该病进行较系统研究的基础上,采用多种抗菌药剂、多种方法进行了室内、外药敏测定与防治试验,显示出异菌氰、次氯酸钠、乙蒜素、妥布霉素、环丙沙星、庆大霉素及其混用对防治桃树根癌病菌有明显防效。     

Renal ultrasonographic evaluation in the oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus).

Ultrasonography is currently used in veterinary medicine to examine the anatomy and physiology of internal organs and to establish normal standards for exotic animal species. Specifically, the kidneys may be evaluated and measured in length, width, and height. The kidneys in 33 oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), including 20 males and 13 females, were opportunistically located, characterized, and measured by ultrasound using a 7.5-MHz linear transducer at two different zoologic facilities in S?o Paulo, Brazil. Renal volume was calculated from these linear measurements. The mean linear measurements and volume of the right and left kidneys were not significantly different.     

Results from the treatment of advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum in cats, using a combination of intralesional carboplatin and superficial radiotherapy: a pilot study

Six cats with an advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nasal planum were treated with a combination of superficial radiotherapy and intralesional carboplatin therapy. This multimodality protocol was well tolerated by the majority of cats and resulted in complete responses in all cats (100%). Median follow‐up for all cats is 268 days, and the median time‐to‐recurrence, time‐to‐progression and overall survival have not yet been reached. Our study, although limited in number of animals and with a relatively short median follow‐up compared to other studies for this disease, suggests that a combination of radiotherapy and intralesional carboplatin is a useful treatment option for an advanced stage SCC of the nasal planum in cats and warrants further application of the multimodality approach presented here.     

Monitoring response to aminobisphosphonate therapy in canine osteosarcoma using dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry (dexa)

Introduction: Palliative therapy is essential to improve the quality of life of dogs with osteosarcoma (OSA), when definitive therapy is not considered a valid option. Bisphosphonates, a novel class of antiosteoclastic drugs, are widely used in humans for several painful osteolytic conditions. Dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is recognized as a reliable tool to measure bone mineral density (BMD), and to monitor treatment response to bisphosphonates in humans. A prospective evaluation of pamidronate, an injectable aminobisphosphonate, is ongoing in dogs with appendicular OSA. The potential value of DEXA for objective evaluation of BMD variations with palliative therapies is concurrently being assessed. Materials and Methods: Dogs with naturally occurring appendicular OSA treated with pamidronate constitute the patient population. A DEXA scan (QDR‐4500 W, Hologic, Bedford, MA) is performed on day 0 (baseline) and on every treatment day with pamidronate thereafter (every 28 days). For each dog, a whole body scan is performed, followed by a scan of the tumor, and contralateral normal bone. Three regions of interest are subsequently analyzed for BMD changes in tumor and normal bone. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t‐test and paired t‐tests, with significance being set at p < 0.05. Results: Nineteen dogs have been enrolled to date. Seven responders and 6 non‐responders have suitable data for analysis. A significant difference is observed (p = 0.04) between tumor BMD variations of responders and non‐responders at day 28 (mean variations +18.0% and ?4.6% respectively). The changes at day 28 are significant only in the responders (p = 0.038 vs p = 0.05 in non‐responders). When BMD of tumor and normal bone at day 84 is compared to day 0 in six responders, only tumor had a significant increase (p = 0.017 vs p = 0.279, respectively). Conclusions: Objective measurements of response to therapy are essential in pain palliation studies. Increased tumor bone BMD, as obtained by DEXA analysis, may correlate with subjective clinical improvement in pamidronate‐treated dogs with appendicular OSA.     

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 to swine buccal epithelial cells involves fibronectin

The swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 was investigated for its ability to adhere to swine, rat, and human buccal epithelial cells (BEC). The highest number of bacteria adhered was to swine BEC. This binding ability was affected by heating, extreme pH, treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, or periodate, and proteolysis, suggesting that cell-surface glycoproteins participate in adherence and that adherence is based mostly on ionic interactions. Mannose and swine fibronectin may play a direct role in this interaction. Convalescent-phase serum from naturally infected pigs inhibited the adhesion. There was a correlation between bacterial pathogenicity as well as host specificity and the capacity for adherence to swine BEC. Adhesion to swine BEC provides a convenient method to study in vitro the adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae and other pathogens of the pig respiratory tract.