Characterization of Barley Leaf Tolerance to Drought Stress by Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies

Two kinds of barley genotypes with various water‐stress tolerances, tolerant Cam/B1 and sensitive Maresi, were subjected to 10‐day soil‐drought stress in seedling and flag leaf developmental phases. After this time, both genotypes regardless of the growth stage showed a decrease in quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Φ_PSII) upon stress treatment; however, this effect was stronger in the sensitive plants than in the tolerant ones. The drought stress in the flag leaf stage was associated with an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in both genotypes, whereas in seedlings, this effect was observed only for Maresi. The activity of other enzymes (catalase and peroxidase) was changed only in small degree. An increase in proline levels and activities of Δ¹‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine delta‐aminotransferase (OAT) were observed independently of genotype and the phase of plant development, whereas the activity pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) decreased in tolerant genotype. Moreover, changes in the concentration of monocarbohydrates (glucose and fructose) and dicarbohydrates (saccharose, raffinose and maltose) were found: in seedlings, the amount of all soluble sugars increased, while in flag leaves decreased. The drought treatment resulted in a drop in starch level in the tolerant genotype, but in the sensitive one, the content of this substance increased in both developmental stages. EPR studies allowed the determination of the amount and character of organic radicals present in leaves. In control conditions, the content of these radical species was higher in the sensitive genotype than in tolerant one and decreased upon water stress, with the exception of flag leaves of the sensitive plant. Simulation procedure revealed four types of signals in the EPR spectra. One of them was attributed to a chlorophyll a cation and decreased upon drought. The second, ascribed to semiquinone radicals, reflected the redox balance disturbed by water deficit. The two remaining signals were connected with carbon‐centred radicals situated in the carbohydrate matrix. Their number was correlated with starch concentration.     

Alkylresorcinols in wheat varieties in the HEALTHGRAIN Diversity Screen

The contents of alkylresorcinols (AR) were analyzed in 131 winter wheats, 20 spring wheats, 10 durum wheats, 5 spelt wheats, and 10 early cultivated forms of wheat (5 diploid einkorn and 5 tetraploid emmer), which are part of the HEALTHGRAIN diversity screen. AR were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), which provides both total contents and relative homologue compositions, as well as with a Fast Blue colorimetric method that provides only total contents but which is fast and easily screens a large number of samples. There was considerable variation in the total AR content analyzed with GC: winter wheat (220-652 microg/g of dm), spring wheat (254-537 microg/g of dm), durum wheat (194-531 microg/g of dm), spelt (490-741 microg/g of dm), einkorn (545-654 microg/g of dm), and emmer wheat (531-714 microg/g of dm). The relative AR homologue composition was different for different types of wheat, with a C17:0 to C21:0 ratio of 0.1 for winter, spring, and spelt wheats, 0.04 for einkorn and emmer wheat, and 0.01 for durum wheat. The total AR content analyzed with the Fast Blue method was lower than that analyzed with GC but there was a good correlation between the two methods (R(2) = 0.76).     

Evaluation of susceptibility of auto- and alloplasmic barley DH lines to Fusarium seedling blight

Auto- and alloplasmic doubled haploid (DH) lines of barley were examined for susceptibility to Fusarium culmorum (W.G.Sm.) Sacc. (isolate KF350) seedling blight. Inoculated kernels were incubated at 20 °C in a chamber saturated to 100% RH a with 12/12 h dark/light cycle. Germination capacity, disease score on a 5-degree scale and root length were evaluated. The data were analysed statistically using three-factor analysis of variance. It was observed that the infection score of roots of DH lines with H. bulbosum cytoplasm was higher than that of their autoplasmic analogues. Length of infected seedling roots expressed as per cent of the control root length ranged from 81 to 56% in autoplasmic DH lines and from 60 to 48% in alloplasmic lines. These differences were statistically significant (at P = 0.01). It was evident, that H. bulbosum cytoplasm increase susceptibility of barley genotypes to Fusarium seedling blight.     

The metabolic profile of growing lambs fed diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids

The effect of two diets enriched with unsaturated fatty acids – one containing the addition of dried distillers grains with solubles (DGS) and the other the addition of false flax – Camelina sativa cake (CS) – on some metabolic parameters and hormone concentration in growing lambs was determined in this experiment. A total of 21 ram lambs of the Polish Whiteheaded mutton sheep were divided into three groups (the control, receiving DGS and CS). The diets were administered to animals for 6 weeks. During the experiment, peripheral blood was collected. Glucose (GL), total cholesterol (CH), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), insulin (IN), leptin (LE), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were assayed in serum. The age‐dependent reduction in CH and TG limited by both experimental diets were observed. A significant increase in FFA concentration was observed in samples collected in the last, that is, third, time period. This was most probably caused by a 12‐h pre‐slaughter fasting period. A significantly lower dynamic of FFA increase in that experimental period was found in animals receiving the experimental feed. Insulin concentration in DGS‐receiving lambs was increased, in contrast to the CS‐receiving lambs, in which it was lower when compared to the control. LE concentration was decreased by both experimental diets, more markedly in the DGS‐receiving animals. No differences between the experimental groups and the control were observed in T3 and T4 concentrations. The effect of 12‐h pre‐slaughter fasting was statistically highly significant for the levels of examined blood markers and hormones, except for TG and IN in the group of lambs receiving the experimental diet with CS.     

Invalidity of three Palaearctic species of Triaenophorus tapeworms (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea): evidence from morphometric analysis of scolex hooks

A comparative study of the scolex hook morphology of five species of tapeworms of the genus Triaenophorus Rudolphi, 1793 (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea), parasites of pikes (Esox lucius L. and E. reichertii Dybowski) in the Palaearctic Region, was carried out. Measurements of scolex hooks of 81 plerocercoids and 492 adults from different hosts and regions were compared using basic statistics and forward stepwise linear discriminant analysis. The shape of the scolex and that of tridental hooks were found to be suitable only for differentiation of the taxa with a similar shape of hooks, i.e. Triaenophorus nodulosus (Pallas, 1781) from T. amurensis Kuperman, 1968, and T. crassus Forel, 1868 from T. meridionalis Kuperman, 1968 and T. orientalis Kuperman, 1968, respectively. In contrast, discriminant analysis did not enable reliable separation of specimens of individual taxa of these two morphological groups due to high intraspecific variability and overlaps between species. This was reflected in low classification efficiencies (average 83%) of all species of the T. crassus group, whereas all T. amurensis specimens were misidentified as T. nodulosus. The new data also considerably enlarge (up to twofold) the size range of the species described by Kuperman in 1968, which invalidates suitability of the most important discriminant characteristic, the width of the basal plate, for delimitation of Triaenophorus species. Based on the present data, all Kuperman's taxa are considered to represent only distinct geographical populations of T. nodulosus and T. crassus. As a result, T. anmurensis is synonymized with T. nodulosus, whereas T. orientalis is considered to be a synonym of T. crassus. Previous synonymisation of T. ineridionalis with T. crassus, first proposed by Dubinina (1987), is also accepted.     

The influence of selected techniques of bovine leukocyte isolation on their viability and metabolism

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of selected isolation methods on the viability and metabolism of bovine leukocytes. The cells were isolated using a Ficoll 1077, Histopaque 1083 gradient and osmotic shock method, and Ficoll or Histopaque with osmotic shock. Evaluation were made of the total number of cells, viability after isolation and in 24h culture on RPMI 1640 medium and metabolism with NBT reduction assay. Microscopic and cytometric evaluation of the leukocytes revealed that the isolation methods applied had an influence on their number and viability. Based on the results it can be concluded that isolation methods of cells in a Histopaque or Ficoll yield highly pure cell fractions with high viability.     

Expression of aquaporin 4 in the chicken ovary in relation to follicle development

In the mammalian ovary, aquaporins (AQPs) are thought to be involved in the regulation of fluid transport within the follicular wall and antrum formation. Data concerning the AQPs in the avian ovary is very limited. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine whether the AQP4 is present in the chicken ovary, and if so, what is its distribution in the ovarian compartment of the laying hen. Localization of AQP4 in the ovarian follicles at different stage of development was also investigated. After decapitation of hens the stroma with primordial follicles and white (1–4 mm), yellowish (4–8 mm), small yellow and the three largest yellow pre‐ovulatory follicles F3‐F1 (F3 < F2 < F1; 20–36 mm) were isolated from the ovary. The granulosa and theca layers were separated from the pre‐ovulatory follicles. The AQP4 mRNA and protein were detected in all examined ovarian compartments by the real‐time PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. The relative expression of AQP4 was depended on follicular size and the layer of follicular wall. It was the lowest in the granulosa layer of pre‐ovulatory follicles and the highest in the ovarian stroma as well as white and yellowish follicles. Along with approaching of the largest follicle to ovulation the gradual decrease in AQP4 protein level in the granulosa layer was observed. Immunoreactivity for AQP4 was present in the granulosa and theca cells (theca interna ≥ theca externa > granulosa). The obtained results suggest that AQP4 may take part in the regulation of water transport required for follicle development in the chicken ovary.     

Effect of chicory products with different inulin content on rat caecum physiology

A 4-week experiment carried out on rats addressed the analysis of physiological properties of model casein diets supplemented with 5% cellulose or different preparations of chicory roots: flour, pulp, high- and low-molecular inulin (IN(HM) and IN(LM) respectively). Of all preparations, only pulp did not induce the hypertrophy of caecum walls or an increase in the bulk of caecal digesta. Chicory preparations lowered caecal pH and ammonia concentration (except IN(LM) preparation), evoked increased hydration of caecal digesta and protein content. The highest concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was observed in rats fed a diet containing chicory pulp and IN(HM), whereas the lowest VFA concentration was reported after the administration of an IN(LM)-containing diet. The VFA pool was the highest in rats receiving a diet supplemented with chicory flour. All preparations examined diminished the coefficient of protein digestibility but not decrease nitrogen retention. The lowest levels of glucose and total cholesterol, at concurrently the highest level of HDL fraction, were recorded in serum of rats fed IN(LM). A distinct increase in intestinal wall and intestinal digesta, as well as the highest production of VFA and the lowest pH of caecal digesta indicate that chicory flour ingested to a semi-synthetic diet had the most profitable effect on the functioning of rat caecum, compared with other chicory products. Compared with the IN(HM), the preparation of IN(LM) increased caecal wall hypertrophy without increasing VFA production, still simultaneously increasing ammonia content and pH of caecal digesta, decreasing the total cholesterol concentration and increasing HDL content in serum.     

Haematological parameters of the Polish Primitive Horses

Average values of chosen haematological parameters have been described in a population of 90 clinically normal Polish Primitive Horses. The comparison of the results with values given in literature for horses as a whole and for other breeds enabled us to state that Polish Primitive Horses' blood is characterized by relatively low values of RBC, PCV, segmented neutrophils and monocytes, and high percentage of lymphocytes. It was demonstrated that values of some blood parameters of examined animals are similar to typical results obtained for primitive and cold-blooded horses. Moreover, it was proved that age, sex, and season have influence upon many blood parameters' values of the Polish Primitive Horses. More precise evaluation of results received with that breed will be possible when that influence is taken into consideration.