Spatial and temporal analyses of citrus sudden death as a tool to generate hypotheses concerning its etiology

ABSTRACT Citrus sudden death (CSD), a new disease of unknown etiology that affects sweet orange grafted on Rangpur lime, was visually monitored for 14 months in 41 groves in Brazil. Ordinary runs analysis of CSD-symptomatic trees indicated a departure from randomness of symptomatic trees status among immediately adjacent trees mainly within rows. The binomial index of dispersion (D) and the intraclass correlation (k) for various quadrat sizes suggested aggregation of CSD-symptomatic trees for almost all plots within the quadrat sizes tested. Estimated parameters of the binary form of Taylor's power law provided an overall measure of aggregation of CSD-symptomatic trees for all quadrat sizes tested. Aggregation in each plot was dependent on disease incidence. Spatial autocorrelation analysis of proximity patterns suggested that aggregation often existed among quadrats of various sizes up to three lag distances; however, significant lag positions discontinuous from main proximity patterns were rare, indicating a lack of spatial association among discrete foci. Some asymmetry was also detected for some spatial autocorrelation proximity patterns, indicating that within-row versus across-row distributions are not necessarily equivalent. These results were interpreted to mean that the cause of the disease was most likely biotic and its dissemination was common within a local area of influence that extended to approximately six trees in all directions, including adjacent trees. Where asymmetry was indicated, this area of influence was somewhat elliptical. Longer-distance patterns were not detected within the confines of the plot sizes tested. Annual rates of CSD progress based on the Gompertz model ranged from 0.37 to 2.02. Numerous similarities were found between the spatial patterns of CSD and Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) described in the literature, both in the presence of the aphid vector, Toxoptera citricida. CSD differs from CTV in that symptoms occur in sweet orange grafted on Rangpur lime. Based on the symptoms of CSD and on its spatial and temporal patterns, our hypothesis is that CSD may be caused by a similar but undescribed pathogen such as a virus and probably vectored by insects such as aphids by similar spatial processes to those affecting CTV.     

Antigenicity of a whole parasite vaccine as promising candidate against canine leishmaniasis

Human visceral leishmaniasis, one of the most important zoonoses, is caused by the protozoa Leishmania chagasi (syn. L. infantum) and is present as a fatal disease common in South America and Europe where dogs and wild canids are the main reservoirs. A vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis would be an important tool in the control of this disease in dogs. Although the current strategies for vaccination against leishmaniasis are based on the use of recombinant antigens, killed vaccines are still attractive in terms of stability of their biochemical composition and antigenicity, cost, and safety. Here we evaluate the immunogenicity of a whole parasite vaccine as a promising candidate against canine leishmaniasis, demonstrated by cellular reactivity, changes in the cellular profile of the peripheral blood and by the differential production of immunoglobulins. Our results showed that immunization elicited mainly a strong cellular reactivity and increase in T-lymphocytes, particularly the subpopulation CD8(+) that would be related to the control of tissue parasitism. In addition, a higher production of anti-Leishmania total IgG, characterized by mixed isotypes profile (IgG1 and IgG2), was demonstrated.     

盱眙地皮菜的液体培养研究

以盱眙铁山寺野生地皮菜为藻种材料,对地皮菜的人工液体培养技术进行了研究。正交优化试验确定了地皮菜液体培养的最优配方为:Na2HPO40.075 g/L,Ca(NO3)20.164 g/L,维生素B 2 g/L。方差分析结果显示,钙源对试验结果影响最显著。单因素试验表明,地皮菜液体培养的最适非营养性条件为:培养温度24℃,初始pH值7.5,装液量为80 m l(500 m l瓶),培养时间为5 d。     

Adsorption and analysis of the insecticides thiamethoxam and indoxacarb in hawaiian soils

A method was developed for the simultaneous extraction and analysis of the insecticides indoxacarb and thiamethoxam from five Hawaiian soils. Using pressurized fluid extraction followed by liquid chromatography, optimized recoveries from the five soils were obtained ranging from 80% +/- 5 to 101% +/- 10 for thiamethoxam, and 83% +/- 6 to 106% +/- 7 for indoxacarb. Aging studies also showed strong binding of indoxacarb to all soils tested after 30 days, while thiamethoxam remained quite available for extraction during the length of the study (90 days). Freundlich constant (K(f)) and empirical value (n) for thiamethoxam sorption on Lihue soil were 0.007391 mmol((1-1/)(n)).L(1/)(n).g(-1) and 1.1377, respectively; K(f) and n were 0.007844 mmol((1-1/)(n)).L(1/)(n).g(-1) and 0.8473, respectively, on Wahiawa soil. The organic carbon adsorption constant (Koc) of thiamethoxam was 0.53 in Lihue soil and 0.23 in Wahiawa soil.     

Influence of morphometric parameters on the size of collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint of equines

The physiological measurements of collateral ligaments of distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) differ in the literature. The factors that influence these differences are not well described. The aims of this study are to compare CL-DIPJ sizes in equines with different withers height, as well as to correlate body weight and hoof size to the size of these ligaments. In total, 52 horses were used in the study. They were divided into two groups according to wither height: Group 1 (G1) - 21 animals with up to 147 cm - and group 2 (G2) - 21 animals with greater than 148 cm. CL-DIPJ was ultrasonographically measured in order to find the mean of dorso-palmar (DPD) and latero-medial (LMD) diameters and the cross-sectional area (CSA). Hoof width and length were measured, and the results were used to calculate the hoof surface area. Withers height and body weight were also measured. Groups were statistically compared by Student's t test and Pearson's correlation application to each group. Groups were different in body size, HS and CL-DIPJ size when p < .05, except for the LMD of the medial collateral ligament of left thoracic limb. Withers height and body weight did not show significant correlations to CL-DIPJ size in G1, but they had little influence on the size of CL-DIPJ on G2. No correlation between the hoof size and the CL-DIPJ was noted in any of the two groups. In conclusion, the CL-DIPJ were larger in taller horses and their sizes were correlated to their height and weight, but they were not correlated to hoof size.     

芥菜型油菜（B.juncea）杂种优势利用研究：优质强优势杂交油菜的选育

从1986年开始,开展了降低芥酸含量,提高油酸和亚油酸含量,提高抗病性,以杂优利用为中心的优质强优势杂交油菜的选育。育成了自交结实指数在1以下,不育株率100％,芥酸含量0.03-2.51％,亚油酸含量28.30-33.09％的89S181等6个不育系。育成了恢复株率97.92-100％的ZKC和89S016等5个低芥酸恢复系。 在三系配套的基础上,经测交,选育出亩产110.5-185.6公斤的5个强优势组合,组合的芥酸含量0.31-0.64％,亚油酸含量31.06-35.09％。并发现亚油酸含量亦有优势表现,6个F1组合的亚油酸含量,全部高于双亲平均值,有5个组合则超过高亲值。 5个强优势组合都导入了花叶苦菜(蔬菜芥菜)的抗病毒病性状(基因),经冬夏两季自然诱发鉴定,强优组合的发病率都低于邻近对照。优质、抗病、强优组合的选育研究已初告完成,1992年以后将陆续投产使用。     

Citrus black spot intensity and yield losses on sweet orange are affected by Phyllosticta citricarpa inoculum concentration and fruit developmental stage

Citrus black spot (CBS) symptom expression on sweet oranges has been reported to be affected by the fruit developmental stage and inoculum concentration in greenhouse conditions. However, there is little information concerning the period in which the fruit is susceptible in commercial orchards. This study assessed the influence of fruit age and inoculum concentration of Phyllosticta citricarpa on CBS intensity and fruit drop in the field. Two field trials were conducted in commercial ‘Valencia’ orchards in São Paulo state, Brazil. Fruit were inoculated from October (petal fall stage) to July (c.6.5 cm diameter), with 10¹, 10³ and 10⁵ pycnidiospores/ml. CBS symptoms and fruit drop were observed in higher levels for fruit inoculated from October to February than from March to July. In both trials, when fruit were inoculated 10 times from October to July or single-inoculated in November or December, high CBS severities of 11%–22% were observed and the proportion of fruit remaining on the tree was 48%–77%; in contrast, noninoculated fruit had severity below 1.1% and 90% remained on the tree. Inoculations in November or December of green fruit with 1.5–3.0 cm diameter using 10⁵ pycnidiospores/ml were associated with higher CBS intensity and fruit drop and shorter incubation period than inoculations with lower concentrations. This work provides a better understanding of fruit stages and P. citricarpa inoculum concentrations most related to symptom expression and losses under natural conditions and may be helpful for improvement of CBS management in the São Paulo citrus belt.     

Optimization and validation of analytical conditions for cholesterol and cholesterol oxides extraction in chicken meat using response surface methodology

The analytical conditions for the extraction of cholesterol and cholesterol oxides in chicken meat were optimized by means of response surface methodology. The separation and identification were performed by normal phase HPLC using UV and refractive index (RI) detectors, and the confirmation of the 11 cholesterol oxides identities in the samples was verified by HPLC-APCI-MS. The developed methodology showed good analytical performance, presenting recovery levels from 84 to 103% and detection limits varying from 0.01 to 0.06 microg/g for UV detection and from 1.98 to 2.12 microg/g for RI detection. The present study demonstrated the presence of 22 R-hydroxycholesterol, 24 S-hydroxycholesterol, and 22 S-hydroxycholesterol for the first time in chicken meat.