Diversity of Phytophthora species in natural ecosystems of Taiwan and association with disease symptoms

In 2013 a survey of Phytophthora diversity was performed in 25 natural and seminatural forest stands and 25 rivers in temperate montane and subtropical lowland regions of Taiwan. Using baiting assays, 10 described species and 17 previously unknown taxa of Phytophthora were isolated from 71.5% of the 144 rhizosphere soil samples from 33 of 40 tree species sampled in 24 forest stands, and from 19 rivers: P. capensis, P. citrophthora, P. plurivora, P. tropicalis, P. citricola VII, P. sp. × botryosa‐like, P. sp. × meadii‐like and P. sp. occultans‐like from Clade 2; P. palmivora from Clade 4; P. castaneae and P. heveae from Clade 5; P. chlamydospora and P. sp. forestsoil‐like from Clade 6; P. cinnamomi (Pc), P. parvispora, P. attenuata nom. prov., P. flexuosa nom. prov., P. formosa nom. prov., P. intricata nom. prov., P. × incrassata nom. prov. and P. × heterohybrida nom. prov. from Clade 7; P. sp. palustris and five new hybrid species from Clade 9. The A1 mating type of Pc was widespread in both montane and lowland forests and rarely associated with disease, whereas the A2 mating type was limited to lowland forests and in some cases causing severe dieback. Most other Phytophthora species were not associated with obvious disease symptoms. It is concluded that (i) Taiwan is within the centre of origin of most Phytophthora taxa found, (ii) Pc A2 is an introduced invasive pathogen, and (iii) interspecific hybridizations play a major role in speciation and species radiations in diverse natural ecosystems.     

Dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio in low‐lipid diets for Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis,Kaup 1858) juveniles. Influence on growth performance,nutrient utilization and flesh quality

Four isoenergetic (21 kJ/g dry matter, DM) and isolipidic (65 g/kg DM) diets containing different crude protein/total carbohydrate (CHO) ratios: 60/26, 56/30, 52/34 and 48/38, were tested in 22 g Senegalese sole for 104 days. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were not affected by the treatments, and all groups presented extremely low starch ADC values (22.8%–36.5%). Replacement of dietary protein by CHO did not affect daily growth index (0.9–1.0), but significantly increased voluntary feed intake of fish. Regression analyses demonstrated that digestible protein content, rather than digestible energy, was the main dietary factor influencing such feeding activity (R² = .952). A significantly increased feed conversion ratio was observed in sole fed increasing CHO contents. The dietary protein/CHO ratio did not influence whole‐body composition. Sole fed the 48/38 diet showed the lowest efficiency in terms of N and energy utilization. PUFA were the most represented fatty acid fraction in fillet, regardless of the dietary protein/CHO ratio, mainly due to the high content of DHA. Senegalese sole increase feed intake under low dietary protein/CHO ratios to ensure an adequate N intake. Such compensatory mechanism seems to be triggered to satisfy a specific protein metabolic requirement for energy purposes as tissue accretion remained unchanged.     

Sun protection factor, content and composition of lipid fraction of green coffee beans

Coffee is a much enjoyed beverage because of its unique flavor and taste characteristics. The lipid fraction of coffee beans, composed of wax, oil and unsaponifiable matter, prevents volatilization and loss of flavor during the roasting process. The lipid fraction extracted from green beans is high in linoleic acid and has an ultraviolet absorption. These properties that can be very useful and suitable for cosmetic products such as skin moisturizers and sunscreens. The aim of this study was to characterize the lipid fraction and to determine the sun protection factor of 10 species of Coffea. Significant variability was found for all the parameters investigated: the wax content varying between 0.0 and 2.8%, the oil content ranging from 6.9% to 32.4%, unsaponifiable matter from 0.3% to 13.5% and the sun protection factor from 0.0 to 4.1. Fatty acids widely used in the cosmetics industry, such as linoleic and oleic acid were found to be present in excellent proportion.     

Evaluation of a wettable powder formulation for the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lep.: Noctuidae)

The influence of different carriers on the physical and biological stability of Baculovirus anticarsia wettable powder formulations was studied. The formulations were obtained by mixing the purified polyhedra of B. anticarsia with a carrier and drying the suspension in a bench spray dryer. Bioassays with Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner showed that activity was maintained with the amorphous silica, attapulgite and kaolinite after a year of storage. In the presence of bentonite, activity declined 50% in the same period. All formulations, except kaolinite, maintained the physical parameters required of a good wettable powder. Kaolinite formulation showed reduction in wettability and particle agglomeration in storage. © 1997 SCI     

Characterization of Open-Pollinated Maize Varieties from Rio Grande do Sul State

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - The morphological characterization allows one to estimate and evaluate the genetic distance among different varieties, identifying heterotrophic groups...     

Induced responses to herbivory and increased plant performance

Plant resistance to herbivores was induced in a field experiment to evaluate the consequences of induced responses for subsequent herbivory and plant fitness. Induction early in the season resulted in halving of herbivory by chewing herbivores and a reduction in the abundance of phloem-feeding aphids when compared with controls. A correlate of lifetime plant fitness, seed mass, was enhanced by over 60 percent for individuals that were induced.     

Comparison of worm control strategies in grazing sheep in Denmark.

Control of nematode parasites with reduced reliance on the use of anthelmintics was studied in 16 ewes with suckling twin lambs on contaminated pasture in Denmark. Ewes and lambs were treated with albendazole at turn-out 3 May. Ewes were removed from the groups on 26 July, and lambs were slaughtered on 11 October. The animals were allocated to 4 groups of 8 lambs and their 4 ewes. Group TS was treated with albendazole at weeks 3, 6 and 8 after turnout and set-stocked; group TM was similarly treated but moved to clean pasture in conjunction with the last drenching; group US was untreated and set-stocked, and group UM was left untreated but moved to clean pasture week 8 after turn-out. Supplementary feed was offered in June and August due to scarcity of pasture. Strategic treatments of ewes and lambs weeks 3, 6 and 8 after turn-out, with or without a move to clean pasture, were highly effective in controlling nematode infections for most of the season. This was reflected in better weight gains and carcass characteristics in the treated compared to untreated lambs, resulting in an average increase in the value of the product by 36%. The effect of moving without treatment (UM) on faecal egg counts was limited but peak pasture infectivity was reduced to less than 10% compared to the set-stocked group and weight gains of lambs were significantly better despite poor feed availability in late season. The study showed that under set-stocked conditions repeated anthelmintic treatments of both ewes and lambs in early season may ensure sufficient nematode control whereas moving animals to clean pasture without dosing was less efficient. The latter may, however, still be a viable option in organic and other production systems where routine use of anthelmintics is banned, particularly if weaning and moving are combined or a second move is performed.