Automated and Unbiased Image Analyses as Tools in Phenotypic Classification of Small-Spored Alternaria spp

ABSTRACT For more than 25 years, controversy has surrounded the characterization and differentiation of small-spored Alternaria spp. And, therefore, the application of names of several species that are involved in the pathology of diseases related to host-specific toxin production. The name A. alternata often has been broadly applied to various morphologically and chemically distinct groups of isolates from different hosts. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate automated and unbiased image analysis systems that will analyze different phenotypic characters and facilitate testing and application of the morphological species concept in Alternaria taxonomy. Host-specific toxin-producing Alternaria isolates assigned to five morpho-species were compared with representative isolates of morphologically distinct A. alternata. Combined results of growth rates at different temperatures, colony morphology, and metabolite profiles were found to be useful in characterization and differentiation of small-spored Alternaria spp. when standardized conditions are applied and representative isolates employed for comparison.     

The effects of body composition on the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously injected ivermectin and moxidectin in pigs

Macrocyclic lactones are characterized by their long persistence in animals because of their extensive distribution into fat. This study examined the influence of body condition on the disposition of ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MXD) in blood and fat following subcutaneous (s.c.) drug administration. 'Fat' and 'thin' lines of pigs were established using two different diets. All animals were then injected with either MXD or IVM at 300 microg/kg and blood samples were taken at regular intervals until slaughter. Two IVM-treated animals from each diet group were slaughtered at either 3 days or 3 weeks posttreatment. Two MXD-treated animals from each diet group were slaughtered at 3 days, 3, 6 or 9 weeks after treatment. Samples of backfat were taken from all animals at slaughter. Fluorescence HPLC was used to determine the concentrations of MXD or IVM in the plasma and fat samples. The plasma IVM concentration peaked more rapidly in the thin IVM treated pigs compared with the fat pigs. The concentration of IVM in backfat was significantly lower in the thin animals slaughtered 3 weeks after treatment. The MXD plasma concentration peaked within the first hour in both the thin and fat groups, but from 12 h posttreatment there was a higher MXD concentration in the plasma of the fat pigs resulting in MXD being detectable in these pigs for 28 days compared with only 17 days in the thin pigs. Despite this difference in plasma persistence no differences were seen in the MXD concentration of backfat between fat and thin animals. Body condition influenced the kinetic disposition of IVM and MXD following s.c. drug administration with both drugs being less persistent in thin compared with fat animals.     

Metal accumulation and hydraulic performance of bioretention systems after long-term operation

Purpose

Stormwater bioretention systems are widely used to treat diffuse infiltration of runoff from paved surfaces and roofs. Substantial questions remain about the hydraulic performance and the accumulation of pollutants in systems over the long term. Data of metal accumulation of systems with operational times >10 years currently is limited. This study deals with the accumulation of metals in a variety of long-term operational bioretention systems (11–22 years) to derive further operation recommendations for the water authorities.

Materials and methods

The hydraulic conductivity of the bioretention systems in field was measured using a double ring infiltrometer. Media soil samples from 22 diverse designed systems were collected across the surface and at intervals up to a depth of 65 cm to determine the spatial accumulation of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd. Leaching experiments of selected bioretention media soils were derived to assess the metal leachability by water.

Results and discussion

The hydraulic performance of most bioretention systems still met the technical guidelines of Germany even after long-term operation. Considerable metal accumulation occurred in the topsoil (0–20 cm). Median concentrations of all metals are highest at the soil surface (0–10 cm), decreasing with increasing depth. High concentrations were determined at the inflow points of the runoff waters, whereas concentrations at more than 1.5 m distance from the inflow were only slightly increased compared to the initial soil concentrations. Leachability tests have shown that most of the metals deposited in bioretention soils are only slightly water soluble. No concentrations exceeding the threshold values of the German Soil Contamination Ordinance for the pathway soil to groundwater could be determined.

Conclusions

The hydraulic conductivity of the bioretention systems is given even well after long-term operation. Most of the metal accumulation is concentrated in the top 20 cm; concentrations decrease rapidly and mostly reach background/initial concentrations after depths of 30 cm. The water-soluble metals are all below the trigger values of the German Soil Act. This underlines the strong retention capacity of long-term bioretention systems after long-term operational times.

     

Genetic diversity in farmer grown spring barley material from Kyrgyzstan

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the economically important cereal crops grown in the highlands of the Kyrgyz Republic. In marginal agricultural areas of the country barley is considered as irreplaceable and very suitable fodder crop for livestock. In this study the genetic diversity of currently grown farmers’ spring barley material from Naryn and Issik-Kul provinces is described. In order to capture maximum diversity present in farmer field’s different morphological types were collected. The 22 spring barley accessions collected in 2008 were described morphologically and analysed using fourteen simple sequences repeat (SSR) markers. Most material was two-rowed barley, 78 %, whereas six-rowed barley was only 22 %. The spike colours present were light yellow, dark yellow, brown and violet. The material varied also for such characters as length of spike and number of kernels per spike. For the SSR loci 129 alleles were detected with an average of 9.3 alleles per locus and a genetic diversity with an average of h = 0.721 per locus. Based on analysis of molecular variance the 71.3 % of genetic diversity accounted for within accession variation, whereas 27.4 % for among accession variation. The variation between provinces was not significantly different. A group of two-rowed barley was identified that was more closely related to six-rowed barley than to the rest of the two-rowed barley material. Two-rowed material currently grown in Kyrgyzstan is more diverse than six-rowed barley (h = 0.65, A = 8.8 vs. h = 0.59, A = 3.1). From this study we could conclude that the materials nowadays grown by farmers are mixtures. Since there are no geographic differentiation between these mixtures suggests that materials is frequently inter-exchanged between farmers and are most probably not landrace material. The question concerning the origin of these mixtures remains unsolved and further investigation will be carried out to identify sources of variation in farmers’ field.     

Levels and distribution of allozyme and RAPD variation in populations of Elymus fibrosus (Schrenk) Tzvel. (Poaceae)

To study the magnitude and nature of genetic variation in E. fibrosus, the levels and distribution of allozyme and RAPD variations were investigated in populations collected from Finland and Russia. The results obtained from the allozyme and RAPD studies were compared to each other in 10 of the populations. The allozyme analysis showed that 6 of 12 presumed loci (50%) were polymorphic within the species, while the mean number of polymorphic loci within populations was 4.8%. The mean number of allele per locus for the species was 1.5 and 1.05 across the populations. Genetic diversity at the species level was low (H _es = 0.025), and the mean population genetic diversity was even lower (H _ep = 0.007). Both these values were much lower than the average for other Elymus and self-fertilising species. The largest proportion of the total allozyme diversity was found among, rather than within the populations (G _ST = 0.70). The allozyme genetic distances between the populations did not reflect geographic distances. Cluster and principal coordinates analyses revealed the same allozyme relationship patterns among the populations. A comparison of allozyme and RAPD variation in 10 of the populations showed differences in the amount of genetic variation. The RAPD analysis revealed higher levels of variation (A _p = 1.19, P _p = 20.3 and H _ep = 0.09) than the allozyme one) A _p = 1.06, P _p = 5.8 and H _ep = 0.008). For both markers, the largest proportion of the total gene diversity was found among the populations studied (G _st = 0.63 for RAPDs and G _st = 0.65 for allozyme). In contrast to the allozyme analysis, the RAPD based genetic distances did reflect geographic distances. The cluster and principal coordinates analyses showed different grouping of populations for each data set. There was a positive, but not significant, correlation (r = 0.41) between the genetic distance matrices resulting from these markers. Regional comparison revealed that the Finnish populations had a higher diversity than the Russian ones. Generally, this study indicates that E. fibrosus contains low genetic variation in its populations. The results are discussed in the context of conservation of the species.     

Antioxidants, low molecular weight carbohydrates, and total antioxidant capacity in strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa): effects of cultivar, ripening, and storage

Four cultivars of strawberries (Senga Sengana, BFr77111, Elsanta, and Honeoye) were studied for their content of antioxidants, total antioxidant capacity, and low molecular weight carbohydrates in relation to harvest year, ripening stage, and cold storage. For ascorbic acid, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, and total antioxidative capacity, measured in both water-soluble and water-insoluble extracts, there was a 2-5-fold variation among cultivars. Unripe berries contained lower concentrations of chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid and also quercetin and kaempferol compared with riper berries. During cold storage for up to 3 days, relatively few changes in the concentration of the different antioxidants occurred. The concentrations of several investigated parameters were interrelated, for example, for ascorbic acid and water-soluble antioxidant capacity and for ellagic acid and water-insoluble antioxidant capacity. The dominating sugars in strawberries were fructose and glucose, but considerable amounts of sucrose were also present, and their contents varied among cultivars, giving a predicted glycemic index of approximately 81. Verbascose, raffinose, and stachyose were found in only minor amounts. The study shows that the concentration of a number of bioactive compounds in strawberries varied according to cultivar, ripening stage, and storage. This information should make it possible to select strawberries with an optimal content of bioactive compounds.     

Pesticide contamination of the upper Elbe River and an adjacent floodplain area

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Pesticide contamination of river waters is a global problem, and therefore, authorities regularly monitor the water quality status. Especially, flood events might...     

In Situ Avoidance Response Of Adult Atlantic Salmon To Waste From The Wood Pulp Industry

An accidental release of non-toxic waste from decommissioned wood pulp industry in the River Numedalslågen, Southern Norway, occurred in the upper part of the accessible stretches for anadromous fish during a study of migration behaviour of radio tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, n=32, body length 51–99 cm). The fish had completed the migration phase and initiated the resident phase characterised by little movement until spawning. When the wooden fibres and pulp were released, 16 of 32 (50%) salmon showed an immediate avoidance response. Six (19%) salmon moved upstream and 10 (31%) salmon moved downstream. Of the salmon moving downstream, eight (25%) moved all the way to sea (average 14.8 km). Four re-entered the River Numedalslågen, two entered a neighbouring river and two were not recorded later. Fish moving downstream but without moving to the sea, moved on average 5.3 km during the episode, whereas those moving upstream moved on average 6.7 km. All fish recorded after the episode (n=30) survived until the spawning season. The study demonstrates that fish in nature may show an evident avoidance response, even to non-toxic contaminants. For Atlantic salmon, the size of the spawning population may be reduced by fish leaving the river (13% left the river and never came back). Moreover, the dispersal of salmon to other rivers may increase, and the distribution of the spawning population within the contaminated river may shift.     

Reduction of decomposition rates of scots pine needle litter due to heavy-metal pollution

Decomposition of unpolluted Scots pine needle litter was studied in two heavy-metal-pollution gradients in Sweden; one near a brass mill and the other around a primary smelter. In the latter area locally collected polluted Scots pine needle litter was also incubated. Decomposition rates were strongly influenced by the metal pollution and a decrease in the rate of mass-loss occurred. In the brass-mill gradient this occurred until about 1 km from the pollution source which corresponded to about 500 µg Cu and 1 000 µg Zn g^?1 soil. Data are presented to indicate that lignin decomposition was more sensitive to pollution than decomposition of whole litter and affected further away from the pollution sources. At the smelter sites, the metal-polluted needle litter decomposed more slowly than the unpolluted needle litter, and this difference was enhanced close to the smelter. The results indicate that heavy metals accumulated in needles prior to shedding have a long-term impact on the subsequent decomposition of the litter. Both litter quality and soil factors thus contribute to the reduced litter decomposition rate in metal-polluted forests. A new non-linear model with decreasing decay rate was used in the statistical evaluation. The model can be used to characterize the effects of pollution on decomposition rate.