Mineralization of Triadimefon Fungicide in Water by Electro-Fenton and Photo Electro-Fenton

The complete mineralization of the conazole fungicide triadimefon in water at pH 3 using electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, electro-Fenton and photo electro-Fenton, was achieved. The electrochemical system consisted of a one-compartment electrochemical cell of 100?mL provided with a glassy carbon mesh electrode (cathode) and a concentric outer steel mesh as anode. The electrolysis was realized at constant current. The most remarkable features are as follows: (1) photo electro-Fenton process reaches a complete mineralization of triadimefon after 2?h of electrolysis with respect to electro-Fenton method; and (2) 4-chlorophenol, hydroquinone, carboxylic acids, and inorganic ions were detected as intermediates of degradation processes, which end with the complete mineralization of triadimefon to CO₂?+?H₂O. (3) A reaction pathway for the oxidation of triadimefon fungicide by hydroxyl radicals that accounts for almost all detected intermediates is proposed.     

Location and stability of a recombinant ovine prion protein in synthetic humic-like mineral complexes

Location and stability of a recombinant prion protein (recPrP) and its interaction with humic-like complexes were investigated by low-temperature ashing (LTA), thermal gravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Humic-like complexes were obtained by abiotic polymerization of catechol, one of the possible precursors of soil humic matter, through the catalysis of birnessite, a manganese oxide common in soil environment. The recPrP was immobilized in organomineral complexes via sorption or entrapment. Complexes were treated by LTA, allowing the controlled removal of organic matter layer by layer, from the external to the internal side, with minimal disturbance of mineral constituents. Thermal gravimetric and SEM analyses were performed on specimens before and after LTA treatment. Entrapped recPrP, compared with sorbed, resulted less easily accessible to LTA treatment and showed a higher thermal stability by TGA analyses. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that the processes leading to newly formed organic complexes can enhance prion stability in soil and thus influence the environmental diffusion of infectivity.     

Anthocyanin composition of wild Colombian fruits and antioxidant capacity measurement by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

The qualitative and quantitative anthocyanin composition of four wild tropical fruits from Colombia was studied. Compounds of "mora peque?a" ( Rubus megalococcus Focke.), "uva de árbol" ( Myrciaria aff. cauliflora O. Berg), coral, and motilón ( Hyeronima macrocarpa Mull. Arg.) fruits were separately extracted with methanol-acetic acid (95:5, v/v). The anthocyanin-rich extracts (AREs) were obtained by selective adsorption on Amberlite XAD-7. Each extract was analyzed by HPLC-PDA and HPLC-HRESI-MS(n) with LCMS-IT-TOF equipment in order to characterize the anthocyanin pigments and the coinjection in HPLC using standards allowed identifying the major constituents in each extract. The antioxidant activity was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-vis spectroscopy, using ABTS and DPPH free radicals. The ARE of motilón ( H. macrocarpa Müll. Arg) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity in comparison to the other extracts. A second-order kinetic model was followed in all of the cases. These results suggested that the studied fruits are promising not only as source of natural pigments but also as antioxidant materials for food industry.     

Cassava common mosaic virus infection affects growth and yield components of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) in Argentina

Cassava is an important crop with great economic and social significance in many countries. Most of its biomass is usable: storage roots can be destined for industry or fresh consumption, leaves are a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and stems can be used as propagation material. Due to its vegetative propagation, cassava yield is greatly constrained by viral diseases. Cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV), one of the most widely spread viruses in Latin America, is the only cassava-infecting potexvirus able to cause disease in a single infection: cassava common mosaic disease (CCMD). Here, we evaluated the effect of an Argentinian strain of CsCMV on several agronomic traits. Field trials were established in north-eastern Argentina for three successive cropping seasons, 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19. CsCMV presence was confirmed by PCR or ELISA tests in mechanically inoculated cassava plants. The evaluated traits were plant height (PH), total fresh weight (TFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), diameter and FW of tuberous root per plant (TRD and FWTR), FW of each individual tuberous root (FWiTR), length and number of tuberous roots (TRL and TRN), harvest index (HI), and estimated yield of tuberous root (EY) in both infected and noninfected plants. Significant yield losses were recorded in infected plants. The most affected traits were EY and FWTR (both showing 44.3% of losses), followed by TFW, SFW, TRN, and FWiTR (37.8%, 33.5%, 29.9%, and 24.8% of losses, respectively). These losses are extremely high for Argentina, where this crop provides food security and demand for the raw material is unsatisfied.     

Correction to: Propolis extract combined with oregano essential oil applied to lima bean seeds against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) play a role in suppression of plant pathogens during anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), but it is unclear how VFAs in anaerobic...     

A novel phosphorus biofertilization strategy using cattle manure treated with phytase–nanoclay complexes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the treatment of cattle manure with phytases stabilized in allophanic nanoclays as a potential novel phosphorus (P) biofertilization technology for crops grown in volcanic soils (Andisol). Furthermore, because the optimal pH for commercial phytase catalysis does not match the natural pH of manure, a complementary experiment was set up to evaluate the effect of manure inoculation with an alkaline phytase-producing bacterium. Finally, phytase-treated soil, manure, and soil–manure mixtures were evaluated for their P-supplying capacity to wheat plants grown under greenhouse conditions. Treating cattle manure with phytases stabilized in nanoclays resulted in a significant (P?≤?0.05) increase of inorganic P in soil extracts (NaOH-EDTA and Olsen). The use of phytase-treated cattle manure increased dry weights by 10 % and the P concentration by 39 % in wheat plants grown under greenhouse conditions, which is equivalent to a P fertilizer rate of about 150 kg of P per hectare. The inoculation of cattle manure with β-propeller phytase-producing bacteria led to an ～10 % increase in inorganic P in the manure extracts. However, applying inoculated manure to soil did not significantly increase wheat yield or P acquisition responses. Our results suggest that the novel approach of incubating cattle manure with phytases stabilized in nanoclay enhances the organic P cycling and P nutrition of plants grown in P-deficient soils.     

In-vitro assessment for the control of Fusarium species using a lactic acid bacterium isolated from yellow pitahaya(Selenicereus megalanthus(K. Schum. Ex Vaupel Moran))

The fungistatic activity of a lactic acid bacterium, which had been isolated from yellow pitahaya cultures, against fungi associated with basal rot(Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium fujikuroi) was measured in the present study. Its activity was assessed in three fractions: fermented(S1), metabolic products(S2), and biomass(S3), using two fermentation substrates: Man Rogosa Sharpe agar(MRS) and potato dextrose agar(PDA). The bacterium was molecularly identified as Lactobacillus plantarum. S3 reduced F. fujikuroi growth by 100% over 48 h of fermentation, which occurred during the stationary phase of bacterial growth. The three fractions' fungistatic activity against F. fujikuroi depended on the substrate employed. The fermentation kinetic parameters for L. plantarum indicated that its specific growth rate was 0.46 h~(–1), with 93.63% substrate consumption, 0.045 kg kg~(–1) cell yield, and 0.54 kg kg~(–1) product yield. The kinetic parameters calculated will allow for bacteria production scaling. These in-vitro trials reveal L. plantarum's possible application as a biocontrol agent for diseases associated with Fusarium. However, further ex-vivo and in-vivo researches are required to demonstrate its behavior in crops.     

Results of the follow-up of the former trichinosis patients from Brasov County – Romania

The objective of the study was to monitor for a period of 2 years (at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months) a group of former trichinellosis patients (n = 699) registered in Bra?ov county before the initiation of the National Supervision and Control Programme for trichinellosis in humans. During the study, immediate complications up to 6 months from hospital release, and related complications occurring up to 24 months from hospital release were identified. Immediate complications were cardiovascular (31%), muscular (19%), neurological (18%), ophthalmic (17%), allergic (9%), respiratory (1%), and other (5%). Complications were more frequent in children from the studied group, even if the trichinellosis disease manifestation was mild or moderate. Complications were also more frequent in female as compared to male patients, and in urban areas as compared to rural environments. Paraclinical data showed eosinophilia in 8–22% of patients, GPT and GOT within normal limits, and hypoproteinemia in the case of 178 former patients (31%). Hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia persisted in the case of 401 former patients (71%). Two months following illness, 53 (9.4%) of the former patients remained ill, and 26 of them had retired on medical grounds. Nine months following illness, 212 (37.8%) of the former patients reported fatigue, myalgia (especially in the inferior limbs), cardiovascular disorders, neurological, psychiatric, and allergic illnesses. After one year, 102 (18%) of the former patients reported improvements in asthenia, muscular pains, allergic reactions, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and angina pectoris crises. Trichinosis in humans cannot be considered only an acute disease that, once properly treated, etiologically, pathogenically, and symptomatically improves, but it can also become a chronic illness.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and curcumin on growth performance and oxidative stress enzymes in juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) feed with aflatoxins

Aflatoxicosis is a growing problem in aquaculture. A 42‐day study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and curcumin (CUR) to protect juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from aflatoxins. Growth parameters along with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activities were measured. Shrimps (36) with an average weight of 76 ± 0.9 mg were randomly allocated in eight experimental groups. Non‐contaminated diet (NCD) and aflatoxin‐contaminated diet (ACD) at 200 μg/kg were prepared. ACD was used to prepare six diets supplemented with CLA (4, 5 or 6 g/kg) and CUR (0.15, 0.2 and 0.3 g/kg). ACD reduced feed intake, growth rate and nitrogen retention efficiency, and increased ALP and GST activity. Improved nitrogen retention was observed for all groups feed with CLA. CUR supplementation at 0.2 g/kg increased feed intake and growth rate while at 0.15 g/kg increased nitrogen retention. ALP activity was reduced in all CUR groups and in 5 and 6 g/kg CLA groups. Reduction in GST activity was observed in 0.15 and 0.2 g/kg CUR groups and 4 g/kg CLA group. CLA supplementation and CUR supplementation can be beneficial to protect juvenile shrimp against aflatoxins.