Studies on the biology of black mould (Aspergillus niger) on temperate and tropical onions. 2. The effect of treatments on the control of seedborne A. niger

Treatment of A. niger -inoculated onion seed with benomyl dust (1 g a.i./kg), or a foliar spray of thiram (0·4% a.i./ha) applied to plants grown from inoculated seed under temperate (UK) conditions reduced the incidence of A. niger in harvested crops. Treatment of naturally contaminated Sudanese onion seed with a benomyl + thiram mixture at a rate of 2·5 + 2·5 g a.i./kg or soaking the seed in hot water (15 min at 60°C) reduced the incidence of black mould on bulbs grown in the Sudan in field soil that had not previously been used for onion production. The seed treatments were less effective in crops produced in fields regularly used for onion production. However, incubation of harvested bulbs in moist chambers showed that damage to the internal storage tissue of onion bulbs caused by A. niger was reduced by seed treatment.     

Evolution des hydrates de carbone non structuraux chez la morelle jaune (Solatium elaeagnifolium Cav.)

Les teneurs en hydrates de carbone non structuraux (TNC) des racines, collets et tiges des in-dividus de la morelle jaune (Solarium elaeagnifolium Cav.) issue des bordures, champ de cotonnier et verger d'oliviers ont été déter-minées mensuellement pendant une année. Les racines et, dans une certaine mesure, les collets ont été les organes où les réserves glucidiques étaient les plus importantes. Ces glucides ont atteint leur niveau le plus bas au moment de la formation des boutons floraux. La reconstitution des réserves en TNC a lieu entre la floraison et la maturation des fruits sur une durée de 2, 4 et 5 mois pour les individus issus du champ de cotonnier, des bordures et du verger d'oliviers, respec-tivement. L'évolution des TNC est plus influencée par le stade phénologique de l'espèce que par rhumidité et la température du sol. Les implications de ces réquitals pour définir une stratégic de lutte centre la morelle jaune sont également discutées. Seasonal changes in non-structural carbohydrates in silver-leaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) The levels of non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) in the roots, root collar and stems of S. elaeagnifolium collected from field margins, cotton fields and olive plantations were determined monthly over a period of 1 year. The roots, and to a certain extent the root collar, were the organs with the largest carbohydrate reserves. The carbohydrate level was lowest at the time of flower bud formation. There was a build-up of TNC reserves between flowering and fruit maturation over periods of 2, 4 and 5 months from plants growing in cotton fields, field margins and olive plantations respectively. Changes in TNC are influenced more by the phenological stage of the plant than by soil humidity or temperature. The implications of these findings in defining a control strategy for this weed are discussed. Saisonale Einlagerung von Kohlenwasserstoffen beim Ölweidenblättrigen Nachtschatten (Solanum eleagnifolium Cav.) Die Gehalte unstrukturierler Kohlenwasser-stoffe (TNC) des Wurzeln, des Wurzelhalses und des Sprosses von Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. von Feldrainen, Baumwollfeldern und Olivengärten wurden monatlich über l Jahr hin bestimmt. Die Wurzeln und in bestimmten Maβe der Wurzelhals waren die Pflanzenteile, in denen die Kohlenwasserstoffe die wichtigsten Re-servesubstanzen waren; sie hatten ihr nie-drigstes Niveau zur Blütenbildung. Der Wiederaufbau dieser Reservestoffe zwischen der Blüte und der Fruchtreife dauerte bei den Pflanzen auf den Baumwollfeldern, den Feldrainen und den Olivengärten 2, 4 bzw. 5 Monate. Die Kohlenhydratbildung wurde mehrnach den Entwicklungsstadienals durch Boden feuchte und-temperatur beeinflußt. Die Aspekte dieserUntersuchungsergebnisse für die Bekämpfung dieses Unkrauts werden diskutiert.     

Morphological,Physiological, and Biochemical Responses to Water Stress in Melon (Cucumis melo) Subjected to Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) and Partial Rootzone Drying (PRD)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - In this study, the impact of two water-saving techniques, Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) and Partial Rootzone Drying (PRD) was investigated by...     

Demonstration of salmon farming as a net producer of fish protein and oil

To date aquaculture’s reliance on dietary marine sources has been calculated on a fish weight‐to‐weight basis without considering the absolute amounts of nutrients but this approach neglects the often considerable differences in the nutritional value of fish. We propose simple nutrient‐to‐nutrient‐based dependency measures that take into account these nutritional differences. In the first study reported here, individually tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were reared in seawater supplied tanks with feed collection facilities. In the second, commercial net pens were used to grow over 200 000 fish. For both studies, a low marine ingredient feed containing approximately 165 g kg^?1 fishmeal was compared to a control feed (approx 300 g kg^?1 fishmeal) whilst fish oil inclusion was less markedly reduced. The low marine feeds supported similar growth and feed efficiency compared to the control feeds. With the low marine ingredient feeds, the weight of salmon protein and lipid produced through growth exceeded the weight of marine protein and lipid consumed by the fish meaning that salmon farming can be a net producer of fish protein and oil. The amount of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids deposited was sufficient to meet current recommendations from human health organizations.     

Accuracy of a continuous glucose monitoring system in dogs and cats with diabetic ketoacidosis

Objective – (1) To determine the ability of a continuous interstitial glucose monitoring system (CGMS) to accurately estimate blood glucose (BG) in dogs and cats with diabetic ketoacidosis. (2) To determine the effect of perfusion, hydration, body condition score, severity of ketosis, and frequency of calibration on the accuracy of the CGMS. Design – Prospective study. Setting – University Teaching Hospital. Animals – Thirteen dogs and 11 cats diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis were enrolled in the study within 24 hours of presentation. Interventions – Once BG dropped below 22.2 mmol/L (400 mg/dL), a sterile flexible glucose sensor was placed aseptically in the interstitial space and attached to the continuous glucose monitoring device for estimation of the interstitial glucose every 5 minutes. Measurements and Main Results – BG measurements were taken with a portable BG meter every 2–4 hours at the discretion of the primary clinician and compared with CGMS glucose measurements. The CGMS estimates of BG and BG measured on the glucometer were strongly associated regardless of calibration frequency (calibration every 8 h: r=0.86, P<0.001; calibration every 12 h: r=0.85, P<0.001). Evaluation of this data using both the Clarke and Consensus error grids showed that 96.7% and 99% of the CGMS readings, respectively, were deemed clinically acceptable (Zones A and B errors). Interpatient variability in the accuracy of the CGMS glucose measurements was found but was not associated with body condition, perfusion, or degree of ketosis. A weak association between hydration status of the patient as assessed with the visual analog scale and absolute percent error (Spearman's rank correlation, ρ=?0.079, 95% CI=?0.15 to ?0.01, P=0.03) was found, with the device being more accurate in the more hydrated patients. Conclusions – The CGMS provides clinically accurate estimates of BG in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.     

Endophytic Beauveria bassiana activates expression of defence genes in grapevine and prevents infections by grapevine downy mildew Plasmopara viticola

Fungal entomopathogens like Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are known as antagonists of insects with multiple functional and ecological roles, and have attracted increased attention as biocontrol agents in integrated pest management programmes. For some crop plants, it has been proven that endophytic B. bassiana, besides its entomopathogenic habit, can provide protection against plant pathogens or limit their damaging effects. However, for grapevine, limited knowledge is available on the influence of endophytic B. bassiana on fungal pathogens and about the mechanisms underlying putative protection effects. This study assessed the protective potential of endophytic B. bassiana against grapevine downy mildew Plasmopara viticola in greenhouse experiments. Three and seven days after a B. bassiana treatment, potted grapevine plants were inoculated with P. viticola and the evolving disease severity was assessed. Disease severity was significantly reduced in B. bassiana-treated plants compared to control plants, depending on the age of leaves. Furthermore, a microarray and an RT-qPCR analysis were performed to work out fundamental aspects of genes involved in the interaction between grapevine and B. bassiana. The results indicate an up-regulation of diverse defence-related genes in grapevine as a response to endophytic establishment of B. bassiana. Thus, endophytic establishment of an entomopathogenic fungus such as B. bassiana in grapevine plants would represent an alternative and sustainable plant protection strategy, with the potential for reducing pesticide applications in viticulture.     

Aggregation,abundance and dispersal capabilities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus</Emphasis> Goeze and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus raucus</Emphasis> Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in plantations of ornamental plants

The black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a well-known insect pest causing damages and economic losses on various horticultural plants. In recent times, numerous other weevils like O. rugosostriatus, O. raucus, O. ovatus or O. salicicola are becoming increasingly important in horticulture. We applied mark-release-recapture studies to estimate population size, survival rates, aggregation patterns and dispersal capabilities of adult O. raucus and O. rugosostriatus in a commercial plantation of perennial ornamental plants. Knowledge of these characteristics is important for the correct timing and design of efficient control strategies. Of 191 individually coded O. raucus and 340 O. rugosostriatus, 30 and 24%, respectively, were recaptured at least once over a period of 96 days. The majority of weevils were recaptured within 2–3 m away from their release point and thus both species can be regarded as being quite sedentary. In accordance, patchiness of weevil distribution was clearly evident in the study area. Population sizes reached maximum values after the peak of adult emergence from pupae in spring (for O. raucus) and late summer (for O. rugosostriatus), with high survival rates being evident in particular for O. raucus. This study provides for the first time data on population ecology of two weevil species, whose abundance and importance as putative insect pests in horticulture has increased over the last years.     

Calf and colostrum management practices on New Zealand dairy farms and their associations with concentrations of total protein in calf serum

AIMS: To gather information on management practices and farmer attitudes to management of cows and calves during the immediate post-partum period on dairy farms in New Zealand, and to assess these practices for associations with concentrations of total protein (TP) in serum of calves 1–8 days-old.

METHOD: Between July and September 2015 blood samples were collected from calves aged between 24 hours and 7 days, from dairy farms (n=105) in nine areas in New Zealand, on three occasions throughout the calving period. Concentrations of TP were determined in all serum samples. At each visit technicians collected 1?L of the pooled colostrum that was intended for feeding to newborn calves that day. These samples were assessed for Brix, coliform and total bacterial counts. After the last sampling visit, the calf rearer or farm manager were asked to complete a questionnaire describing calf and colostrum management practices on the farm. Potential farm-level variables associated with concentrations of TP in serum of sampled calves were identified using univariable and multivariable linear mixed models.

RESULTS: Mean concentration of TP in serum of calves across all farms was 59.8 (95% CI=59.4–60.2) g/L, and was associated with region and herd size in the final multivariable model. Concentrations of TP were lower in calves from farms in Otago (56.2 (95% CI=53.4–58.9) g/L) and Southland (56.9 (95% CI=54.1–59.7) g/L) compared to calves on farms in the Far North (62.6 (95% CI=59.8–65.3) g/L), and were lower in calves from farms with a herd size >600 (58.3 (95% CI=56.7–59.8) g/L) than ≤600 (61.3 (95% CI=60.1–62.5) g/L) cows. After accounting for fixed effects, farm accounted for only 8.4% of the unexplained variation. There was no association between any of the measures of colostrum quality and concentrations of TP in serum (p>0.2).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Very few herd-level variables were associated with concentrations of TP in serum. Risk factors that have been shown to be of importance in previous studies outside New Zealand were not identified as important in the current study. It is possible that, in the situation where calves are kept at pasture with their dams for prolonged periods, variables which influence how well a cow can feed its calf in the first 12–24 hours have a larger influence on concentrations of TP in serum than the collection and management of calves once they reach the rearing shed.     

Accelerated vaccination schedule provides protective levels of antibody and complete herd immunity to equine influenza

Reasons for performing study: During the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak, an accelerated primary course 14 day intervaccination schedule was proposed, but not widely implemented. Expert opinion was divided as to the efficacy of such a schedule given the lack of published data. This study determined the level and duration of humoral immunity following administration of a recombinant canarypox‐vectored vaccine (ALVAC‐EIV) with a primary intervaccination interval of 14 days and booster at 105 days. Objectives: To examine whether protective levels of immunity of adequate duration were achieved following a primary course reduced from a minimum interval of 28 to 14 days. Antibody responses to 2 H3N8 American lineage virus strains (including A/equine/Sydney/6085/2007) were assessed and compared to previous challenge studies using ALVAC‐EIV at conventional intervaccination intervals. Methods: Fourteen Thoroughbred horses and 2 ponies from a rural racehorse training property in Victoria, Australia, were vaccinated with ALVAC‐EIV on Days 0, 14 and 105. Serial blood samples were collected over the next 32 weeks and tested with haemagglutination inhibition and single radial haemolysis (SRH) in full assays to evaluate the serological response. Results: All horses and ponies responded to the accelerated ALVAC‐EIV vaccination schedule. Mean SRH antibodies remained above those consistent with clinical protection for the duration of the study period. All vaccinates demonstrated high SRH antibodies 14 days following V2, thereby achieving 100% herd immunity to homologous viral challenge. Conclusions: An accelerated vaccination schedule conferred long‐lasting protective antibody levels despite a >50% reduction in the recommended V1–V2 interval. Potential relevance: High levels of rapidly acquired herd immunity are critical in containing an outbreak of such a highly contagious pathogen as EIV. In a strategic vaccination programme, it is important that horses remain protected for sufficient time to allow control programmes to succeed. An accelerated 14 day primary course intervaccination interval and booster at 105 days achieves both of these objectives.