The role of ear environment in postharvest susceptibility of maize to toxigenic Aspergillus flavus

A kernel screening assay (KSA) was used to assess the genetic and environmental effects on the vulnerability of maize to aflatoxin accumulation. Kernels of 26 inbred lines that had been grown in seven environments, and 190 lines of the Intermated B73xMo17 (IBM) population grown in one location in the United States, were inoculated with a toxigenic strain of A. flavus and incubated in the dark at 30°C for 6 days. Percent kernel colonization (PKC), sporulation and aflatoxin were influenced by the maize genotypes (G), the location (“ear environment” or E) and the GxE interactions. Overall, low broad‐sense heritabilities were observed for PKC, sporulation and aflatoxin. PKC was significantly correlated with sporulation in all environments. Aflatoxin was positively correlated with colonization for two and with sporulation for all ear environments. Higher grain sulphur or magnesium in IBM was associated with less colonization or aflatoxin. Postharvest susceptibility of maize to aflatoxin is thus influenced by factors that are modulated by the ear environment. In a KSA, sporulation could be a proxy test for aflatoxin accumulation.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of pesticides from a table-ready food composite of plant origin (gazpacho)

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE) has been evaluated for the extraction of 17 organohalogen and organophosphate pesticides in gazpacho (a table-ready food composite containing crude vegetables, white bread, vegetable oil, water, and other minor components) using anhydrous magnesium sulfate as drying agent. The effects of different parameters, such as fat content in gazpacho composites, magnesium sulfate/gazpacho ratio, supercritical fluid volume, pressure, temperature, and static modifier additions, on SFE recoveries from spiked gazpacho samples have been studied. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame photometric (FPD), electron capture (ECD), and mass spectrometry (MSD) detectors. In most experiments, recoveries obtained for the nonpolar organohalogen pesticides were lower than those obtained for the most polar organophosphate pesticides, but overall pesticide recoveries determined by using the optimal SFE conditions indicate that SFE could be used to determine pesticide residue levels in gazpacho.     

Comparison of traditional and environmental DNA survey methods for detecting rare and abundant freshwater fish

1. Detecting rare species is often a necessity for conservation and management, yet challenging for many field survey methods. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly promising solution that has been shown to outperform many established survey methods.
2. Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) is an endangered native species that has declined significantly in range and abundance. Detection of M. australasica was compared with an abundant alien fish species (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using eDNA and three conventional survey methods: gill nets, electrofishing and fyke nets.
3. eDNA occupancy estimates for both fish species were compared using four different models to investigate what effect these differences have on false positives and false negatives for the rare and common fish species. These models used unadjusted eDNA detections in water samples, eDNA detections that have been screened using a limit of detection method to remove potential false positives, eDNA data supplemented with a second survey method, or eDNA data augmented with sequencing of positive polymerase chain reaction replicates.
4. eDNA surveying as a single detection method was found to be more efficient and sensitive compared with each capture method separately and combined. Occupancy estimates for the common and rare species did not vary significantly between the four site occupancy-detection models, suggesting that supplementary data may not have as much effect on occupancy estimates compared with other approaches such as temporal or spatial sampling.
5. We conclude that eDNA outperforms the three established survey methods for both a rare and common freshwater fish species. Although there was no significant effect of augmenting eDNA survey methods with other survey data, additional data may improve confidence in detection, and provide confirmatory evidence for unexpected or new detections of a species.

     

Outbreak of shoot blight and dieback of Eucalyptus spp., caused by Pseudoplagiostoma eucalypti in Brazil

An outbreak of a new and severe disease was observed in Eucalyptus plantations of Bahia state, Brazil. An Ascomycota fungus has been frequently associated with the main symptoms of the disease namely leaf spot, branch cankers, shoot blight, defoliation, and dieback. Based on morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analysis (ITS and TEF-1α genes), and pathogenicity test on Eucalyptus plants, Pseudoplagiostoma eucalypti was identified as the causal agent of the disease. Although P. eucalytpi has been known from in Brazil since 1998, this is the first report of it causing severe disease and die-back on Eucalyptus spp. and we also record new symptoms associated with the pathogen.     

Effect of variable retention cutting on the relationship between growth of coarse roots and stem of Picea mariana

Silviculture heading for structural heterogeneity creates many single trees standing at stand margins, inner edges or in remnant tree groups. As they played just a minor role in the age class forest, the growth behaviour of strongly released trees is rather unexplored. Here we show how retention cutting, presently spreading in the boreal of Québec province, affects stem and coarse root growth of remained single black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton]. Increment cores from roots and stems of 125 trees show that retention cutting triggers coarse root growth of the remaining trees. Compared with reference trees retention trees accelerate root in relation to stem growth. Mean and variability of the root–stem allometry significantly rise after retention cutting. The found acceleration of root in relation to stem growth means mechanical stabilisation of the retention trees and corroborates the retention cutting method. Evaluation of silvicultural treatments can be incomplete and misleading as long as they are just based on aboveground reactions and neglect root growth.     

Activities of biotransformation enzymes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and their modulation by in vivo administration of mebendazole and flubendazole

Basal activities of certain pheasant hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes and modulation of their activities by anthelmintics flubendazole (FLBZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) were investigated in subcellular fractions that were prepared from liver and small intestine of control and FLBZ or MBZ treated birds. Several oxidation, reduction and conjugation enzyme activities were assessed. In the liver, treatment of pheasants by FLBZ or MBZ caused very slight or no changes in monooxygenase activities and conjugation enzymes. More significative changes were detected in small intestine. Metyrapone and daunorubicin reductase activities were increased by both substances in the liver. This is the first evidence that certain benzimidazoles modulate reductases of carbonyl group. With respect to the relatively slight extent of the changes caused by FLBZ or MBZ we can assume that repeated administration of therapeutic doses of both FLBZ and MBZ has probably no serious influence on pheasant biotransformation enzyme system.     

The role of p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) in the mechanism regulating cyclooxygenase gene expression in equine leukocytes

The goal of this study was to define the role for p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) in the signaling mechanism regulating pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX) gene expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated equine leukocytes for the purposes of identifying novel targets for anti-inflammatory therapy in endotoxemic horses. The p38 MAPK has been shown to positively regulate inflammatory gene expression in human leukocytes and can be activated by a variety of stimuli including LPS, TNF-alpha, and IL-1. Activation-associated phosphorylated p38 MAPK has been implicated in the up-regulation of several inflammatory genes, including COX-2 which ultimately results in the production of prostanoids that are responsible for the pathophysiology associated with endotoxemia. Our hypothesis is that activation of p38 MAPK is essential for LPS-induced COX-2 expression in equine peripheral blood leukocytes. We tested our hypothesis by investigating the effects of the specific p38 MAPK inhibitors SB203580 and SB202190 on LPS-induced COX-2 protein expression and PGE(2) production in equine leukocytes. LPS stimulation activated p38 MAPK and increased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner with maximal activation observed after 30min and 4h, respectively, at a concentration of 10 ng/ml LPS. In contrast, LPS stimulation did not affect COX-1 protein expression. Pretreatment with SB203580 or SB202190 significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation-associated p38 MAPK phosphorylation, COX-2 mRNA and protein levels, and PGE(2) production in equine leukocytes. Maximal inhibition of LPS-induced COX-2 protein expression was achieved at a concentration of 10 microM SB203580. We concluded that p38 MAPK is essential for LPS-induced COX-2 expression suggesting that p38 MAPK is a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapy during equine endotoxemia.     

Nitrogen mineralization in a pecan (Carya illinoensis K. Koch)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) alley cropping system in the southern United States

Information on temporal and spatial patterns of N mineralization is critical in designing tree-crop mixed systems that could maximize N uptake while minimizing N loss. We quantified N mineralization rates in a pecan (Carya illinoensis K. Koch)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) alley cropping system in northwestern Florida with (non-barrier) and without tree-crop belowground interactions (barrier separating the root systems of pecan and cotton). Monthly rates of mineralization were estimated using buried bag incubations over a 15-month period. In addition, seasonal mineralization rates and cotton lint yield on soils supplied with two sources of N—inorganic fertilizer and organic poultry litter—were assessed. Results indicated that temporal variations in net NH₄ and NO₃ accumulation and mineralization rates were driven primarily by environmental factors and to a lesser degree by initial soil NH₄ and NO₃ levels. Mineralization varied by belowground interaction treatment during the initial growing season, when the non-barrier treatment exhibited a higher mineralization rate than the barrier treatment, likely due to reduced nutrient uptake by cotton in the non-barrier or a higher degree of immobilization in the barrier treatment. Mineralization during the second growing season was similar for both treatments. Source of N had no effects on N transformation in the soil. Lint yield reductions were observed in the non-barrier treatment during both years compared to the barrier treatment, likely due to interspecific competition for water. Yield differences between treatments in the second growing season were likely compounded by a diminishing pre-study fallow effect. Source of N was found to have a significant effect on cotton yield, with inorganic fertilizer resulting in 39% higher lint compared to poultry litter in the barrier treatment.     

Influence of aroma compounds on the mechanical properties of pectin gels

A detailed study of the rheological behavior of pectin gels, in the presence of aroma compounds in food concentration is reported. In high methoxylated pectin (HMP) gels, it has not yet been shown if aroma compounds can be responsible for modifications in rheology. Two rheological techniques were used to measure the impact of aroma substances on rheological properties of HMP-based systems. Maximum strain to fracture (sigma F) was compared between flavored and unflavored gels on stress-displacement curve, which was obtained with uniaxial compression until fracture. An oscillatory rheometer was applied to determine the gelation time (Tgel). It appeared that all the aroma compounds studied increased significantly sigma F. It is generally acknowledged that hydrophobic interactions are the main interactions leading to HMP gelation, and the more hydrophobic interactions there are, the higher the sigma F. It is assumed that esters might increase sigma F through the increase of hydrophobic interactions in HMP network. For solvents (ethanol, propylene glycol), a cosolute effect could explain the increase in firmness for HMP-based gels.