Acute and sublethal toxicity of novaluron, a novel chitin synthesis inhibitor, to Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The acute and sublethal toxicities of novaluron, a novel chitin synthesis inhibitor, to a laboratory-reared insecticide-susceptible strain of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), were determined. Novaluron exhibited excellent residual (120 h LC(50) = 0.42 mg litre(-1)) and good direct contact (120 h LC(50) = 27 mg litre(-1)) activity against second-instar larvae (L2). Hatch of eggs exposed by direct contact to novaluron solutions > or =100 mg litre(-1) was significantly reduced, as was the ability of emerged first-instar larvae to moult. L2 from eggs exposed to > or =100 mg litre(-1) novaluron weighed significantly less (P < 0.0001) than those from untreated eggs. However, L2 from eggs treated with 1 mg litre(-1) novaluron weighed significantly more (P < or = 0.05) than those from untreated eggs, suggesting novaluron can have a hormetic effect on L decemlineata larval development. Leptinotarsa decemlineata mating pairs fed foliage treated with novaluron at 25 or 75 g AI ha(-1) produced approximately 25% fewer egg masses and eggs per mass. Hatch of eggs on treated foliage was almost completely suppressed, and longevity of male beetles was reduced by approximately 50% when fed foliage treated with novaluron at 75 g AI ha(-1).     

The physical and chemical properties of the herbicide cinmethylin (SD 95481)

Cinmethylin (SD 95481), is a novel herbicide developed for the selective pre-emergence control of many annual grass weeds in a wide range of temperate and tropical crops. Representing new herbicide chemistry, cinmethylin is in the cineole family. Cinmethylin is a mobile colourless liquid with a boiling point of 313°C under an inert atmosphere at atmospheric pressure. It has a density of 1015 kg m^?3 and a viscosity of 70–90 mPa s, both at 20°C. It is miscible in all proportions with most organic solvents but has a low solubility, 63 mg litre^?1, in water. It has a vapour pressure of 10.2 mPa (20°C) and the vapour pressure/temperature relationship is given by log_e P(Pa)=28.9–9816/T (K). The n-octanol/water partition coefficient is 6850 and soil organic matter/water sorption coefficient (K_om) ranges between 165 and 235 over the three types of soil used in these studies. Cinmethylin is stable in water over the pH range 3–11. Solutions of cinmethylin in water or solvents are reasonably stable to sunlight, though thin films on a quartz surface photooxidise mainly to an ester within 24 h. This rate can be reduced by the addition of photostabilisers or by sorption onto soil surfaces. In an inert atmosphere cinmethylin is stable to high temperatures, though, in air, oxidation occurs at temperatures above 100°C to give the same product as by photodecay.     

A controlled evaluation of albendazole against natural infections with Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna in cattle

Albendazole administered to cattle at doses of 45, 35, 25, and 15 mg/kg of body weight reduced the number of viable Fasciola hepatica adults by 99.8%, 97.6%, 97.6%, and 95.7%, F hepatica immatures by 100%, 98.6%, 98.6% and 91.9% and Fascioloides magna by 96.5%, 99.1%, 94.0%, and 94.0%, respectively. Statistical evaluation by one-way analysis of variance, showed significant (P less than 0.05) differences in burdens of each fluke species between treated and untreated cattle, but differences in efficacy between any two of the four drug doses were not significant. Signs of toxicosis were not observed between the time of drug administration and slaughter 7 to 10 days later.     

Contact activity of synthetic pyrethroids against adult grass grub,Costelytra zealandica (white)

The field life for contact activity of cypermethrin and permethrin, applied to pasture, was similar for all of five application rates between 0.25 and 1.5 kg ha^?1. Laboratory bioassays with grass grub beetles, Costelytra zealandica (White), showed that the insecticides lost their activity after about 4–9 days on pasture. Microencapsulation significantly increased the active field life of permethrin.     

Chloramphenicol sodium succinate in the horse: serum, synovial, peritoneal, and urine concentrations after single-dose intravenous administration

Six healthy adult mares were given a single IV dose (25 mg/kg of body weight) of chloramphenicol sodium succinate. Chloramphenicol concentrations in serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and urine were measured serially over a 48-hour period. The highest measured serum chloramphenicol concentration was 6.21 micrograms/ml at 0.5 hour. Chloramphenicol was detected in synovial and peritoneal fluids, with mean peak concentrations of 3.89 micrograms/ml and 3.50 micrograms/ml, respectively, at 0.5 hour. Serum and synovial concentrations declined rapidly and were not measurable at 3 hours. Chloramphenicol could not be detected in peritoneal fluid at 6 hours. The serum half-life was 0.43 hour and the apparent volume of distribution was 2.83 L/kg. Urine concentrations of chloramphenicol peaked at 0.5 hour at 106.72 micrograms/ml and also declined rapidly. The drug could not be detected in the urine at 36 hours.     

Evaluation of a commercially available immunoassay for assessing adequacy of passive transfer in calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic utility of a commercially available immunoassay for assessing adequacy of passive transfer of immunity in neonatal calves. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 123 calves. PROCEDURE: Blood and serum samples were obtained from the calves prior to 2 weeks of age. The immunoassay was performed, along with refractometry and an 18% sodium sulfite turbidity test. Serum IgG concentration was determined with a radial immunodiffusion assay. Sensitivity and specificity of the immunoassay, refractometry, and the sodium sulfite test were calculated by comparing results with results of the radial immunodiffusion assay. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of the blood IgG immunoassay were 0.93 and 0.88, respectively, compared with 1.00 and 0.53 for the sodium sulfite test. For refractometry, sensitivity and specificity were 0.71 and 0.83, respectively, when a serum total solids concentration of 5.2 g/dl was used as the cutoff between positive and negative test results. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the immunoassay performs well in detecting calves with inadequate passive transfer of immunity.     

与生长激素相关的高等植物细胞周期生化调控

高等植物细胞周期是细胞生物学上的重要研究领域。细胞周期受遗传和发育影响因素的调控。本文综述高等植物细胞周期中涉及到细胞周期关卡GO-G1-S期和G2-M期的激素调控。最新研究成果证明玉米素、腺嘌呤、激动素、赤霉素和脱落酸等通过细胞周期蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶及细胞周期关卡的脱磷酸化控制细胞周期。植物D-型细胞周期蛋白也已被证明在细胞周期调控中起关键作用。本文有关细胞周期的研究综述对植物细胞和发育生物学研究有参考价值。图3参61。     

Differential expression of genes encoding cell wall proteins in vascular tissues from vertical and bent loblolly pine trees

Differential expression of cell wall proteins during plant development and in response to biotic or abiotic stress suggests that these proteins may contribute in different ways to plant cell wall architecture. Because the wood of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is highly specialized in the formation of secondary cell walls, it is an ideal tissue for studying these proteins. The cDNAs coding for six novel cell wall associated proteins, as well as a homologue for a phytocyanin, were identified and characterized from differentiating xylem of loblolly pine. Three of these cDNAs encoded new putative loblolly pine arabinogalactan proteins, based on their structural similarity to classical arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). In addition, one clone was related to the proline-rich protein group and the other two to the glycine-rich protein group and the mussel adhesive protein. Relative expression of these genes was examined in different tissues and organs from normal trees (needles, phloem and vertical wood), the underside of bent trees (compression wood) and the lateral sides of the bent stems (side wood). All clones, except one, were highly expressed in vascular tissues with noticeable differences among the three types of wood. Their relationships and diversity provide the first insights into concerted expression and related function for this important group of proteins in cell wall formation of wood.     

Diurnal changes in water conduction in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and Virginia pine (P. virginiana) during soil dehydration

We studied diurnal changes in water conduction during soil dehydration in 37-month-old seedlings of one Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) and two loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) sources, one from North Carolina (NC) and the other from the "Lost Pines" areas of Texas (TX), in an environmentally controlled growth chamber. For seedlings of similar biomass, the TX source had higher values of transpiration, needle conductance, and plant hydraulic conductivity under well-watered conditions than the NC source. Under dry soil conditions, the TX source had lower values of water conduction than the NC source. The Virginia pine source responded similarly to the TX source under both well-watered and dry soil conditions. For all three pine sources, gradients between soil and needle water potentials were greatest when the seedlings were moderately stressed. The TX and Virginia pine sources had higher gradients and lower daytime needle water potentials under moderate stress conditions than the NC source. Predawn needle water potentials did not differ among the pine sources. We conclude that the TX and Virginia pine sources have decreased daytime needle water potentials and increased water potential gradients during the daytime under moderate stress conditions, but with no disruption of recovery at predawn. The greater rates of transpiration and water conduction by the TX source compared with the NC source under well-watered conditions suggest a means by which growth can be maximized prior to the onset of drought, thereby enhancing survival of loblolly pines in drought-prone environments.