Metabolism of amitrole in apple: III. Model systems

Excised shoots from apple trees and cell suspension cultures were used as model systems to study the metabolism of [3,5-¹⁴C]amitrole in Malus domestica Borkh. Significant differences in the metabolism of the compound applied were observed with excised shoots, cultured cells and whole apple trees. The major metabolite in excised shoots was aminotriazolylalanine which occurred both in the free form and as conjugates. The major metabolite from whole plants. triazolylalanine, was detected in shoots in minor amounts only. In cell suspension cultures, the type of metabolism strongly depended on the concentration of amitrole when initially applied. At 10 ^?3 m or lower, mainly aminotriazolylalanine was formed. Depending on the concentration of the active ingredient, this metabolite predominantly occurred in free form or as glycosides. At concentrations above 5 × 10^?4 M a new metabolite, 3,5-dihydroxytriazole, was detected which was the only metabolite found at 5 × 10^?3M. Significant amounts of nonmetabolized amitrole remained in the medium.     

Prevalence and significant geospatial clusters of bovine tuberculosis infection at livestock–wildlife interface ecosystem in Eastern Tanzania

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is an important neglected zoonosis that affects livestock, wildlife and human. A study to determine prevalence and geospatial clusters for BTB was conducted from June 2010 to March 2012 at livestock–wildlife interface areas (LWIA). A total of 1,288 cattle located in vicinity of Mikumi-Selous ecosystem Tanzania were tested. Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test and spatial scan statistic analysis were applied to establish the status of the disease and identify significant spatial BTB clusters. Overall individual prevalence was 3.7 % (n?=?1,288) (95 % CI?=?2.8–4.9) and 7.8 % (95 % CI?=?6.4–9.4) with cut-off of >4 and >2 mm, respectively. Villages with at least one reactor were 55.8 % (n?=?43). Reactivity was significantly higher in Mvomero and Kilosa districts compared with Kilombero and Ulanga districts (χ ²?=?15.9; P?<?0.001). Significant spatial BTB clusters were revealed at 11 villages. BTB clustering was significant in Kilosa and Mvomero districts compared with Kilombero and Ulanga districts. There was overlap and aggregation of BTB clusters covering south and south-east of Kilosa district bordering Mikumi National Park (MNP) and Mvomero. Generally, clustering occurred around major rivers. The current study provides useful information on the dynamics and epidemiological status of BTB around the wildlife–livestock–human interface, it reveals that the wildlife are at risk of BTB from infected livestock. The study revealed hotspots for BTB that can be applied to guide implementation of participatory intervention at LWIA and control strategies in marginalised pastoralist communities. This study calls for similar studies in other Tanzania’s LWIA for efficient intervention of BTB countrywide.     

Natural FCoV infection: cats with FIP exhibit significantly higher viral loads than healthy infected cats

Natural feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection has been shown to not only induce intestinal infection with viral shedding, but also systemic infection which either remains without clinical signs or leads to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). As systemic infection is not the key event in the development of FIP, the question arises as to whether a potential difference in viral load might be of importance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess feline coronavirus (FCoV) RNA loads in haemolymphatic tissues of healthy, long-term FCoV-infected cats and cats with FIP. In cats that died from FIP, viral loads were significantly higher, indicating a higher rate of viral replication or a reduced capacity for viral clearance in cats developing and/or suffering from FIP.     

Simultaneous estimation of variances and covariances using REML and Henderson 3 in a selected population of white leghorns

1. Genetic and residual variances and covariances were estimated on performance data from 5943 laying hens from a 7 generation selection experiment for the traits: egg number up to day 270 (EN270), egg weight (EW), body weight at day 215 (BW), egg mass 100 g of food (EMFC), and residual food consumption (RFC) by a Henderson 3 and REML procedure.

2. Simultaneous REML estimates of all 30 components were obtained by a software package is based on numerical optimisation of the log likelihood using a multivariate animal model. Henderson 3 estimates were computed on the basis of a hierarchical sire‐dam model. Estimates were generated beginning with a data set comprising only the first generation, and then successively adding one generation after the other.

3. REML estimates for heritabilities h ² on the basis of all performance records were 0.40, 0.75, 0.62, 0.21 and 0.22 for traits EN270, EW, BW, EMFC, and RFC, respectively. The corresponding Henderson 3 estimates were: 0.30, 0.57, 0.43, 0.21, and 0.20.

4. The results indicate that some REML h ² estimates are substantially different from those obtained by Henderson 3 once the data set included three generations as opposed to those based on Henderson 3.     

Metabolism of amitrole in apple: II. Bound residues from mature fruits

Significant radioactivity detected in mature fruits, harvested from apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh., cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Gloster’) that were soiltreated with [3,5-¹⁴C]amitrole, remained in the insoluble plant material after exhaustive extraction. These bound residues were solubilized with a mixture of pectinases and cellulases. Thus, separation and characterization of carbohydrates and xenobiotic moieties released during this procedure became possible. A part of the radiolabel was incorporated into natural products, indicating degradation of the applied amitrole and reassimilation of [¹⁴C] carbon dioxide.     

Doing what with whom? Stakeholder analysis in a large transdisciplinary research project in South-East Asia

The transdisciplinary research project LEGATO analysed the combined generation of provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services in wet rice agriculture in South-East Asia and applied ecological engineering to future-proof it against global change and environmental pollution challenges. Due to its transdisciplinary character and the sheer size, a systematic stakeholder involvement was inevitable. Starting with stakeholder identification by snowballing from a limited number of contacts, we derived a multi-level stakeholder analysis and tried to involve those identified as relevant. Applying different means and aiming at different depth of involvement, the effort can be judged successful. The paper describes the methods used to identify and classify stakeholders, and key elements of the stakeholder management, guided by the BiodivERsA Stakeholder Activation Handbook. While on the local level, farmers and extension workers turned out to be influential and interested stakeholders in both countries, as well as local (PH) or provincial authorities (VN), differences were manifest on higher levels due to the divergent institutional setting. National-level agents were hard to get interested in both countries, and influential agents along the production chain, including middle men, were not really interested in collaboration.     

Optimum number of crosses and progeny per cross in breeding self-fertilizing crops. I. General approach and first numerical results

Summary Based on maximization of selection response, Peek (1986) proposed methodology for determining the optimum number of crosses and progeny per cross in breeding self-fertilizing crops. By this method the total selection response is obtained by adding the individual responses from the two steps of selection: selection between crosses and selection within crosses. In this paper, Peek's approach has been generalized for finite or nonnormal populations. Optimum numbers of crosses are determined by testing capacity, number of selected crosses, number of selected lines from each selected cross, and heritability.In the case selection of the best line from the best cross, the optimum number of crosses increases monotonically with increasing testing capacity (for any given fixed heritability). For increasing heritabilities, however, the optimum number of crosses exhibits relatively flat maxima (for any given fixed testing capacity). These maxima are located at intermediate or sub-intermediate heritabilities.For varying numbers of selected crosses and selected lines from each selected cross the main results are: The optimum number of crosses i) increases with increasing testing capacity, ii) increases with increasing number of selected crosses and iii) decreases with increasing number of selected lines from each selected cross.     

A simplified extraction schema to for the analytical characterization of apple orchard soils

Purpose

Standardized procedures for agricultural soil analysis use different extractant solutions, to determine one or just a few elements, which needs a lot of time and manpower. Within this work, it was tried to substitute traditional methods by the use of multi-element determination techniques, like inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) applied to a few solutions.

Material and methods

ICP-OES and ICP-MS have been applied to a sequence of extracts obtained with 0.16 M acetic acid and 0.1 M oxalate buffer pH 3, which are more suitable for the plasma than traditional salt extractant solutions. Dilute acetic acid should characterize exchangeables plus carbonates, and oxalate buffer the pedogenic oxides. Aqua regia extractions in glass have been replaced by pressure digestion with KClO₃ in dilute nitric acid, which yields results equivalent to aqua regia, and additionally permits the determination of total sulfur, as well as acid-leachable boron and silicon. Total digestion was done in PTFE beakers by fuming with HNO₃/HClO₄, subsequently with HF, and final uptake in 1?+?1 HCl.

Results and discussion

The method was applied to 44 soils from apple orchards of different soil types and climatic zones. P and K obtained from standard acetate-lactate extract as well as B obtained from the Baron extract correlated with the results from the acetic acid extract better than 0.9. Just Mg from the CaCl₂ extract (Schachtschabel) was independent from all other Mg fractions. The results of the total digests could be verified by XRF analysis of the solid, Ti recovery was the most critical item. The results for Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, Sr, Pb, and Zn obtained from KClO₃ digest and from totals, were strongly correlated. Factor analysis showed that the fraction mobilized by dilute acetic acid contained Ca-Mg-carbonates as well as Al-Ba-Na in the first factor, K-P-S in a second, whereas Mn-La-Li formed a group of its own. The pedogenic oxides, obtained from Al-Fe-Mn-Ti released in oxalate, carry most of the cationic trace elements, whereas the anions P-S-B-Si and the essentials Cu-Mo form different groups. Among the main elements, the quasi-total data were much less intercorrelated than the totals. The rare earth elements formed a strongly intercorrelated group as well after total digestion as in the oxalate leach.

Conclusions

The proposed method permits to obtain information about common cations including trace elements, and the nonmetals phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, boron, and iodine simultaneously, which could be a gate to find new relations among them. The two-step procedure permits to predict availabilities in shorter and longer periods of time. Data from the extract in dilute acetic acid for K, P, and B can substitute traditional methods of soil analysis.