Shedding light on the migratory patterns of the Amazonian goliath catfish,Brachyplatystoma platynemum,using otolith 87Sr/86Sr analyses

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Drought as a modulator of plant–virus–vector interactions: Effects on symptom expression,plant immunity and vector behaviour

Plant–virus interactions are affected by environmental conditions that determine plant vulnerability to pathogens and the population dynamics of insect vectors. We hypothesize that drought enhances horizontal transmission by dampening the basal immunity of plants, which triggers symptom expression and vector manipulation. The potato yellow vein virus (PYVV) causes potato yellow vein disease (PYVD), a re-emerging epidemic of potato crops in South America, and is transmitted horizontally by the greenhouse whitefly (GWF), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), or vertically through infected seed tubers. We investigated the role of drought and temperature as modulators of PYVD symptom expression, plant immune response, and vector survival, development and host preference. We found that drought induced symptom expression, suppressed the salicylic acid pathway and increased PYVV replication. GWF survival was reduced on PYVV-infected hosts and development was slowest when they fed on plants with PYVD symptoms, which also triggered adults’ attraction to PYVV-infected plants. However, adults previously fed on infected plants showed the opposite effect, being more attracted to PYVV-free plants. We propose a theoretical model that explains the role of drought in modulating potato–PYVV–GWF interactions and provides new insights into plant–virus–vector coevolution.     

底砂粒径对方斑东风螺生长、消化、抗氧化及底质的影响

为探究不同粒径养殖底砂对方斑东风螺(Babylonia areolata)稚螺养成效果的影响,在微流水养殖系统中采用3种不同粒径养殖底砂(细砂1 mm、中砂2 mm和粗砂3 mm)进行了养殖对比试验,比较其对稚螺生长、消化、抗氧化的影响以及对底质氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮含量的影响。试验稚螺的初始体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.263 3±0.0033)g、(10.67±0.11)mm、(7.06±0.15)mm,试验周期为30 d。结果显示：试验结束时,细砂组稚螺的体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.560 3±0.026 3)g、(12.72±0.06)mm、(8.50±0.16)mm,存活率为(92.67±0.94)%,均显著高于中砂组和粗砂组(P<0.05);随着养殖时间的推移,中砂组和粗砂组稚螺的存活率逐步降低,试验结束时分别降至(58.22±4.57)%、(48.44±1.13)%;中砂组稚螺最终的体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.452 0±0.024 6)g、(12.13±0.17)mm、(7.91±0.13)mm,粗砂组分别为(0.427 5±0.019 6)g、(12.26±0.0...     

Extenders modify the seminal plasma ability to minimize freeze‐thaw damage on ram sperm

Seminal plasma (SP) proteins interact with sperm plasma membrane (PM) modulating its functionality. It has been shown that SP proteins can reverse the damage caused by freeze‐thaw; however in these studies, SP has been added to washed sperm (i.e., cells depleted from homologous SP and extender). The aim of the current study was to assess whether the egg yolk‐based extender (EY) modifies SP ability to ameliorate sperm parameters in frozen‐thawed ram spermatozoa. Ejaculates were diluted in EY or soybean lecithin‐based extender (SL) and evaluated before and after freezing to measure the cell damage according to the extender. Even when all classical parameters decreased after freezing, as expected (p < .05), there was no effect of the extender. SP treatment was applied after freeze‐thaw. Sperm were incubated with SP (20% v/v) in the presence of either EY or SL, and sperm parameters were assessed after thawing compared with the same treatments after Percoll sperm selection (washed). Treatments with 20% SP improved sperm total and progressive motility compared with controls regardless of washing and extender (p < .05); however, washed sperm showed higher percentage of total sperm motility compared with those unwashed (p < .05). Moreover, treatment with 20% SP showed significantly higher percentages of PM integrity, sperm with intact acrosomes, integrity of chromatin and non‐capacitated sperm in samples diluted with EY when washed before treatment compared with the other conditions (p < .05). It was concluded that the presence of the extenders and particularly egg yolk alters the SP capacity to reduce the cryodamage.     

Extension plant pathology: strengthening resources to continue serving the public interest

Extension plant pathologists deliver science-based information that protects the economic value of agricultural and horticultural crops in the United States by educating growers and the general public about plant diseases. Extension plant pathologists diagnose plant diseases and disorders, provide advice, and conduct applied research on local and regional plant disease problems. During the last century, extension plant pathology programs have adjusted to demographic shifts in the U.S. population and to changes in program funding. Extension programs are now more collaborative and more specialized in response to a highly educated clientele. Changes in federal and state budgets and policies have also reduced funding and shifted the source of funding of extension plant pathologists from formula funds towards specialized competitive grants. These competitive grants often favor national over local and regional plant disease issues and typically require a long lead time to secure funding. These changes coupled with a reduction in personnel pose a threat to extension plant pathology programs. Increasing demand for high-quality, unbiased information and the continued reduction in local, state, and federal funds is unsustainable and, if not abated, will lead to a delay in response to emerging diseases, reduce crop yields, increase economic losses, and place U.S. agriculture at a global competitive disadvantage. In this letter, we outline four recommendations to strengthen the role and resources of extension plant pathologists as they guide our nation's food, feed, fuel, fiber, and ornamental producers into an era of increasing technological complexity and global competitiveness.     

Mass production of competent larvae of the sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lytechinus variegatus</Emphasis> (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

We evaluated the mass production of competent larvae of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus cultured at three initial densities (0.25, 0.5, and 1 larvae per ml) and fed Chaetoceros muelleri. Survival, length, dry weight of larvae, and larval stage index (LSI) were estimated in each treatment as a function of the density. Density decreased during the experiment due to mortality, but the percentage was similar in all three treatments (68.5, 66.7, and 76.0%). The experiment was stopped at 13 days after fertilization, when most of the larvae were competent and had settled. There were no significant differences in survival (exceeded 65% in all treatments), length and larval stage index among treatments. However, larvae weight in the two low density treatments (1.1 ± 0.11 mg and 1.2 ± 0.05 mg, respectively) was greater than the high density treatment (0.59±0.376 mg). This study demonstrates that competent larvae of Lytechinus variegatus can be produced with less than 25% mortality in 13 days when cultures are started at densities of 0.25–1 larvae/ml. Culturing at higher densities (0.5–1 larvae/ml) had no apparent disadvantages and would reduce the cost of production.     

Soil and glass surface photodegradation of etofenprox under simulated california rice growing conditions

Photolysis is an important degradation process to consider when evaluating a pesticide's persistence in a rice field environment. To simulate both nonflooded and flooded California rice field conditions, the photolytic degradation of etofenprox, an ether pyrethroid, was characterized on an air-dried rice soil and a flooded rice soil surface by determination of its half-life (t(1/2)), dissipation rate constant (k) and identification and quantitation of degradation products using LC/MS/MS. Photodegradation was also characterized on a glass surface alone to rule out confounding soil factors. Measured photolytic dissipation rates were used as input parameters into a multimedia environmental fate model to predict etofenprox persistence in a rice field environment. Photolytic degradation proceeded at a faster rate (0.23/day, t(1/2) = 3.0 days) on the flooded soil surface compared to the air-dried surface (0.039/day, t(1/2) = 18 days). Etofenprox degradation occurred relatively quickly on the glass surface (3.1/day, t(1/2) = 0.23 days or 5.5 h) compared to both flooded and air-dried soil layers. Oxidation of the ether moiety to the ester was the major product on all surfaces (max % yield range = 0.2 ± 0.1% to 9.3 ± 2.3%). The hydroxylation product at the 4' position of the phenoxy phenyl ring was detected on all surfaces (max % yield range = 0.2 ± 0.1% to 4.1 ± 1.0%). The air-dried soil surface did not contain detectable residues of the ester cleavage product, whereas it was quantitated on the flooded soil (max % yield = 0.6 ± 0.3%) and glass surface (max % yield = 3.6 ± 0.6%). Dissipation of the insecticide in dark controls was significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the light-exposed surfaces indicating that degradation was by photolysis. Laboratory studies and fate model predictions suggest photolysis will be an important process in the overall degradation of etofenprox in a rice field environment.     

Effects of salt stress on nitrogen fixation,oxygen diffusion,and ion distribution in soybean,common bean,and alfalfa

The exposure of legume nodulated‐roots to 100 mM NaCl resulted in a rapid decrease in plant growth associated with a short‐term inhibition of both nodule growth and nitrogenase activity (C₂H₂ reduction=ARA). However, these NaCl effects varied among species, common bean being more sensitive than soybean and alfalfa. The higher sensitivity of common bean was associated with a higher accumulation of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) in the nodules and only a small difference between salt‐treated and control plants of common bean in their responses of ARA to raising rhizosphere pO₂. By contrast, soybean and alfalfa plants showed a higher stimulation of ARA by pO₂ for the salt‐treatment than for the control. It is concluded that the intraspecific variation in short‐term inhibition of ARA by salt may involve the regulation of O₂ diffusion and the distribution of ions in nodules.     

Compressive myelopathy associated with ectasia of the vertebral and spinal arteries in a dog

A 4-year-old dog was presented for acute, progressive tetraparesis and cervical hyperesthesia. Symmetrical tubular structures coursing along the lateroventral aspects of the spinal cord at the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae were identified in magnetic resonance images. At necropsy, vertebral arteries and their spinal branches were severely ectatic bilaterally, and the cervical spinal cord was compressed. Histologically, the ectatic branches of the vertebral and ventral spinal arteries were surrounded by fibrosis with scant mononuclear cell infiltrates and hemorrhage. Spinal branches of the vertebral arteries had focally severe reduction in the tunica media. A thrombus was in an arterial branch. Smaller vessels in adjacent tissue had fibrinoid degeneration. Axonal degeneration was detected in the affected spinal cord and nerve roots. The segmental degenerative radiculomyelopathy in this dog was attributed to anomalous ectasia of the vertebral and ventral spinal arteries.