Effects of Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) on nitrogen mobilization and decomposition of elevated‐CO2 Charlock mustard litter

This study was conducted to improve our understanding of how earthworms and microorganisms interact in the decomposition of litter of low quality (high C : N ratio) grown under elevated atmospheric [CO₂]. A microcosm approach was used to investigate the influence of endogeic earthworm (Aporrectodea caliginosa Savigny) activity on the decomposition of senescent Charlock mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) litter produced under ambient and elevated [CO₂]. Earthworms and microorganisms were exposed to litter which had changed in quality (C : N ratio) while growing under elevated [CO₂]. After 50 d of incubation in microcosms, C mineralization (CO₂ production) in the treatment with elevated‐[CO₂] litter was significantly lower in comparison to the ambient‐[CO₂] litter treatment. The input of Charlock mustard litter into the soil generally induced N immobilization and reduced N₂O‐emission rates from soil. Earthworm activity enhanced CO₂ production, but there was no relationship to litter quality. Although earthworm biomass was not affected by the lower quality of the elevated‐[CO₂] litter, soil microbial biomass (C_mic, N_mic) was significantly decreased. Earthworms reduced C_mic and fungal biomass, the latter only in treatments without litter. Our study clearly showed that A. caliginosa used the litter grown under different [CO₂] independent of its quality and that their effect on the litter‐decomposition process was also independent of litter quality. Soil microorganisms were shown to negatively react to small changes in Charlock mustard litter quality; therefore we expect that microbially mediated C and N cycling may change under future atmospheric [CO₂].     

Inoculation of root microorganisms for sustainable wheat-rice and wheat-black gram rotations in India

The scarcity of non-renewable resources such as soils and fertilizers and the consequences of climate change can dramatically influence the food security of future generations. Mutualistic root microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant fitness. We tested the growth response of wheat (Triticum aestivum [L.]), rice (Oriza sativa [L.]) and black gram (Vigna mungo [L.], Hepper) to an inoculation of AMF and PGPR alone or in combination over two years at seven locations in a region extending from the Himalayan foothills to the Indo-Gangetic plain. The AMF applied consisted of a consortium of different strains, the PGPR of two fluorescent Pseudomonas strains (Pseudomonas jessenii, R62; Pseudomonas synxantha, R81), derived from wheat rhizosphere from one test region. We found that dual inoculation of wheat with PGPR and AMF increased grain yield by 41% as compared to un-inoculated controls. Yield responses to the inoculants were highest at locations with previously low yields. AMF or PGPR alone augmented wheat grain yield by 29% and 31%, respectively. The bio-inoculants were effective both at Zero and at farmers’ practice fertilization level (70 kg N ha⁻¹, 11 kg P ha⁻¹ in mineral form to wheat crop). Also raw protein (nitrogen × 5.7) and mineral nutrient concentration of wheat grains (phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese) were higher after inoculation (+6% to +53%). Phosphorus use efficiency of wheat grains [kg P grain kg⁻¹ P fertilizer] was increased by 95%. AMF and PGPR application also improved soil quality as indicated by increased soil enzyme activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenase. Effects on rice and black gram yields were far less pronounced over two cropping seasons, suggesting that AMF and PGPR isolated from the target crop were more efficient. We conclude that mutualistic root microorganisms have a high potential for contributing to food security and for improving nutrition status in southern countries, while safeguarding natural resources such as P stocks.     

Ocular manifestations of a metastatic adenocarcinoma in a horse

A 10‐year‐old German Warmblood gelding was referred to the Equine Department of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland, for an iris mass OD, lethargy, intermittent fever, and coughing. Ophthalmic examination revealed a 7 × 9 mm raised, fleshy, whitish to pinkish, vascularized iris mass at the 2 o`clock position OD. Fundic examination showed multifocal round, brown to black, slightly raised lesions with indistinct margins and a surrounding hyperreflective zone OU. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39.2 °C, sinus tachycardia, preputial and ventral edema, and an enlarged right mandibular lymph node. Results of a complete blood count and plasma biochemical profile showed mild anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. Severe splenopathy, moderate splenomegaly, and severe pulmonary pathology with nodules and large areas of consolidated lung parenchyma were observed on abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiographs, respectively. Fine needle aspirates of the enlarged mandibular lymph node showed malignant epithelial neoplastic cells. The horse was euthanized because of the poor prognosis and subsequently underwent postmortem examination. Macroscopic necropsy and histopathology revealed an adenocarcinoma of suspected pulmonary origin with involvement of eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, diaphragm, skeletal muscles, mandibular, pulmonary, and internal iliac lymph nodes. Metastatic adenocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with iris masses, multifocal chorioretinal infiltrates, and clinical signs that conform to a paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Einsatz bakterieller Antagonisten zur Bekämpfung von Krankheiten verursacht durch Rhizoctonia solani

Rhizoctonia solani is an important soil-borne pathogen causing diseases in numerous economically important crops. The pathogen R. solani can be responsible for relevant yield losses as well as on lettuce and potato. To develop a biocontrol strategy, two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens L13–6-12 and Serratia plymuthica 3Re4–18 were evaluated against R. solani causing black scurf in potato and bottom rot in lettuce. The disease suppression effect of the two antagonists was tested as well as in a climate chamber and in the field during two vegetation periods. The results of the climate chamber experiments showed, that R. solani can significantly reduced the lettuce growth. The dry mass losses on lettuce and the disease severity on potato sprouts were significantly limited through bacterization. The antagonist L13–6-12 showed best disease suppression effect in climate chamber experiments on both crops. A significant lower disease severity was to observed in treatments with bacterial antagonists as well as on lettuce plants and harvested potato tubers during both vegetation periods. Also the dry mass losses on lettuce were clear reduced in treatments with bacterial antagonists, whereas only a partly limitation of yield losses on potato was to achieved. In summary, the results supported that the use of bacterial antagonists can be part of a control strategy against R. solani.     

Characterization of products from the reaction of glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates with cysteine and lysine derivatives formed in either model systems or broccoli sprouts

Glucosinolates, present in Brassica vegetables, are thought to contribute to human health prevention because of their enzymatically induced breakdown products, primarily isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs are reactive substances that readily react with nucleophilic (food) compounds. The reactivity of allyl-ITC and 4-(methylsulfinyl)butyl-ITC (sulforaphane) toward thiol and amino groups of cysteine and lysine derivatives was studied in buffered model systems as well as broccoli sprouts. The thiol group is the preferred reaction site, and it was demonstrated that even endogenously released sulforaphane is able to react very fast with cysteine in broccoli sprouts. Amino groups reacted slower and only under basic conditions. However, great differences in the reactivity between the different amino compounds were revealed. The aliphatic allylamine reacted very fast with allyl-ITC, forming N,N'-diallylthiourea, a compound identified as a main thermal degradation product of allyl-ITC.     

Exploring the common ground of landscape ecology and landscape archaeology through a case study from eastern Anatolia,Turkey

Landscape Ecology - Landscape archaeology has a lot to offer to landscape ecology, being an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes the study of long-term human–environment dynamics. We...     

Screening for in planta protein-protein interactions combining bimolecular fluorescence complementation with flow cytometry

ABSTRACT: Understanding protein and gene function requires identifying interaction partners usingbiochemical, molecular or genetic tools. In plants, searching for novel protein-proteininteractions is limited to protein purification assays, heterologous in vivo systems such as the yeast-two-hybrid or mutant screens. Ideally one would be able to search for novel proteinpartners in living plant cells. We demonstrate that it is possible to screen for novel proteinproteininteractions from a random library in protoplasted Arabidopsis plant cells and recoversome of the interacting partners. Our screen is based on capturing the bi-molecularcomplementation of mYFP between an YN-bait fusion partner and a completely random preyYC-cDNA library with FACS. The candidate interactions were confirmed using in plantaBiFC assays and in planta FRET-FLIM assays. From this work, we show that the wellcharacterized protein Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase 3 (CPK3) interacts with APX3,HMGB5, ORP2A and a ricin B-related lectin domain containing protein At2g39050. This isone of the first random in planta screens to be successfully employed.     

Species-specific recognition of single-stranded RNA via toll-like receptor 7 and 8

Double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) serves as a danger signal associated with viral infection and leads to stimulation of innate immune cells. In contrast, the immunostimulatory potential of single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) is poorly understood and innate immune receptors for ssRNA are unknown. We report that guanosine (G)- and uridine (U)-rich ssRNA oligonucleotides derived from human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) stimulate dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages to secrete interferon-alpha and proinflammatory, as well as regulatory, cytokines. By using Toll-like receptor (TLR)-deficient mice and genetic complementation, we show that murine TLR7 and human TLR8 mediate species-specific recognition of GU-rich ssRNA. These data suggest that ssRNA represents a physiological ligand for TLR7 and TLR8.     

Detection of weed algae in open pond cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyanobacterium aponinum</Emphasis> using PAM

The potential use of non-arable land in the al-Wusta region of the Sultanate of Oman for the production of algae biomass was examined. Brackish cleaned production water from oil production supplemented with commercial fertilizer was used as growth medium. The indigenous isolate Cyanobacterium aponinum WP7(1) was grown in open ponds using batch or semi-continuous cultivation. Biomass production rates of 15–24 g/m²/day were achieved. The change of salinity due to evaporation, which was thought to be a major challenge, did not exceed 35 ppt. All cultures showed contaminations with weed algae. Contaminations with green algae or diatoms were detectable using fluorescence pattern excited by four different wavelengths using a pulse-amplitude-modulation chlorophyll fluorometer (PAM). It is possible to estimate the health level and the mayor groups of which a culture is composed using the PAM method. Therefore, the fluorescence of the photosynthetically inactive sample is compared with the fluorescence after all copies of photosystem II were closed by exposing the sample to a high-intensity light beam. A detection limit of one weed algae cell in a hundred cells was achieved.