Time-related behaviour of phenotypic variation in Lotus corniculatus regenerants under field conditions

Summary Plants of Lotus corniculatus regenerated from single genotype-derived calli showed for several agronomic and morphological traits a variation similar to that present in the original population. Comparisons of the results obtained under field conditions during the 2nd and 3rd year from plant regeneration show: a) the maintenance of significant variance within callus-derived population for several traits examined; b) the total disappearance of minus variants indicating a time-related decrease of depressive in vitro effects.Research work supported by C.N.R., Italy-Special grant I.P.R.A.-Subproject 1. Paper n. 553.     

The abundance of natural nitrogen 15 in the organic matter of soils along an altitudinal gradient (chablais, haute savoie, France)

The¹⁵N content of total nitrogen from a soil sequence derived from flysch (Eutrophic brown soil, Mesotrophic brown soil, Ochreous brown soil, Ochreous podzolic soil) is shown to increase downwards from the litter (negative δ¹⁵N) to the B and C horizons (δ¹⁵N + 5‰). This evolution is negatively correlated with C and N content and the C/N ratio. This evolution is related with biodegradation and humification processes.     

CD4+CD25+ T Cells in Maedi Visna Infection: Preliminary Immunohistochemical Study in Experimentally Infected Sheep

Veterinary Research Communications - Mariotti, F., Preziuso, S., Rossi, G., Taccini, E., Braca, G. and Renzoni, G., 2007. CD4+CD25+ T cells in Maedi Visna infection: preliminary immunohistochemical...     

Genotyping and evaluation of local olive varieties of a climatically disfavoured region through molecular,morphological and oil quality parameters

The evaluation criteria applied on a 34 set of minor and main olive varieties of a restricted and climatically disfavoured region of Italy have allowed to clearly identify some local varieties with valuable agro-ecological adaptation and outstanding oil quality traits. These traits are necessary for the establishment and/or improvement of olive culture in a disadvantaged cultivation area. The molecular and morphological analyses have allowed to establish the identity of local unknown ecotypes, establishing their relationships either with other local varieties or with wide-spread cultivars, while the evaluation of oil quality parameters ranked their suitability for further exploitation.     

Clonal propagation in the genus Ulmus: Improvement of rooting ability by Agrobacterium rhizogenes T-DNA genes

Summary

Elm clones may be propagated by grafting, but graft incompatibility is a major problem. Rooting by cuttings does not always give satisfactory results. Shoots of elm clones resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (caused by Ophiostoma ulmi Buism.) and with poor rooting ability, were air layered after one of the following five treatments: application of growth regulator mixture; inoculation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes wild type 1855 (A.r. 1855) or Agrobacterium tumefaciens-ORF11 (A.t. ORF11); application of growth regulator mixture and inoculation with A.r. 1855 or A.t. ORF11. Shoots treated only with growth regulators exhibited low percentage of rooting; shoots inoculated with only Agrobacterium strains produced very low percentage of rooting; shoots treated with growth regulator and inoculated with Agrobacterium strains exhibited the best percentage of rooting. The results demonstrated the possibility of rooting of these recalcitrant clones, with clear advantage for the propagation of elm clones with growth regulator and A.t. ORF11.     

Pain-related aggression in dogs: 12 clinical cases

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the main features of pain-related aggression in dogs. Twelve dogs presented for aggressive problems at the Veterinary Hospital of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, were included, and a questionnaire was used to gather information on the context of the aggression, body posture during the attack, impulsiveness, and aggressive behavior before the onset of the pain-eliciting condition. The most common cause of pain was hip dysplasia (66.7%), but no relationship was found between the cause of pain and the characteristics of the aggressive behavior. Dogs were classified as having been aggressive before or after the onset of painful condition. Dogs that had not been aggressive before the onset of the pain-eliciting condition were more impulsive (df = 1, χ² = 5.3, P = 0.0209), showed aggression as a result of manipulation context more frequently (df = 1, χ² = 6, P = 0.0143), and adopted a defensive body posture more frequently (df = 1, χ² = 3.733, P = 0.0533) than dogs that had been aggressive before the onset of pain. These results suggest that previous expression of aggressive behavior has a major effect on the pattern of pain-related aggression in dogs.     

Enzootic ulcer in the back of the tongue in cattle after ingestion of hay containing flower clusters of yellow bristle-grass

Chronically recidivating enzootic ulcerations in the tongues of numerous milking cows in the Po river plain area in Italy. The animals were permanently kept indoors in cubicle houses and fed by hay containing high amounts of ripe yellow bristle grass (Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. [= S. pumila Poiret]). The panicled parts of the culms were found to be the cause of the massive injuries.