Recycling of nitrogen in the xylem of Prunus avium trees starts when spring remobilization of internal reserves declines

Nitrogen (N) storage capacity of cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees grown in sand culture was preconditioned by applying contrasting N supplies for one year. During the spring of the following year, a constant amount of 15N was supplied and the dynamics of N remobilization and root uptake were characterized as a function of internal N status of the trees. To calculate the flux of N through xylem, both xylem sap N concentration and whole-tree transpiration rates were measured. By comparing the cumulative flux of N through the xylem with the amount of N recovered in the new above ground growth, we indirectly evaluated the recycling of N in the xylem, i.e., the amount of N derived from shoot-root translocation that was subsequently reloaded into the xylem. The contrasting N storage capacities imposed during the first year affected both N remobilization and uptake from roots in the following year. Recycling of N in the xylem apparently did not occur during the remobilization of internal reserves (i.e., during the first 6-8 weeks after bud burst). However, when remobilization declined, measurement of the cumulative flux of N through the xylem overestimated the amount of N recovered in the new biomass, allowing the extent of N recycling to be evaluated. The amount of N recycling in the xylem was greater in high-N trees, which also took up less N through their roots than trees preconditioned to have a lower internal N status. This suggests that recycling of N in the xylem is a mechanism by which plants regulate N uptake by roots.     

Statistical characterization of sicilian olive oils from the Peloritana and Maghrebian zones according to the fatty acid profile

This paper deals with the characterization of 475 Sicilian virgin olive oils (VOO) produced in 10 different crop years (from 1993 to 2004), according to the cultivar and the geographical origin by means of multivariate statistical analysis applied to fatty acids. In particular, the studied VOOs came from the Peloritana and Maghrebian geological zones. The fatty acid composition was determined by using the official gas chromatographic method. The results suggest that although the effect of the cultivar is significant in the olive oil classification based on the fatty acid composition, a predominant and well-defined geographic effect is also present. This study demonstrated that it is possible to employ an official and inexpensive analytical method coupled with the statistical analysis to ascertain the geographical origin and the cultivar of an extra virgin olive oil.     

Effects of high-volume, rapid-fluid therapy on cardiovascular function and hematological values during isoflurane-induced hypotension in healthy dogs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the administration of a high volume of isotonic crystalloid at a rapid rate on cardiovascular function in normovolemic, isoflurane-anesthetized dogs during induced hypotension.Using a prospective study, 6 adult dogs were induced to general anesthesia and cardiovascular and hematological values were measured while the dogs were maintained at 3 hemodynamic states: first during light anesthesia with 1.3% end-tidal isoflurane (ETI); then during a hypotensive state induced by deep anesthesia with 3% ETI for 45 min while administered 1 mL/kg body weight (BW) per minute of isotonic fluids; and then decreased to 1.6% ETI while receiving 1 mL/kg BW per minute of fluids for 15 min. End-tidal isoflurane (ETI) at 3.0 ± 0.2% decreased arterial blood pressure (ABP), cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume index (SVI), and increased stroke volume variation (SVV) and central venous pressure (CVP). Fluid administration during 3% ETI decreased only SVV and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), while CVP increased progressively. Decreasing ETI to 1.6 ± 0.1% returned ABP and SVI to baseline (ETI 1.3 ± 0.1%), while CI and heart rate increased and SVV decreased. There was significant progressive clinical hemodilution of hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), colloid osmotic pressure (COP), arterial oxygen content (CaO₂), and central-venous oxygen content (CcvO₂).High-volume, rapid-rate administration of an isotonic crystalloid was ineffective in counteracting isoflurane-induced hypotension in normovolemic dogs at a deep plane of anesthesia. Cardiovascular function improved only when anesthetic depth was reduced. Excessive hemodilution and its adverse consequences should be considered when a high volume of crystalloid is administered at a rapid rate.     

Prior determination of baseline minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane does not influence the effect of ketamine on MAC in rabbits

The objective of this study was to compare the effect on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane when ketamine was administered either after or without prior determination of the baseline MAC of isoflurane in rabbits. Using a prospective randomized crossover study, 8 adult, female New Zealand rabbits were allocated to 2 treatment groups. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane. Group 1 (same-day determination) had the MAC-sparing effect of ketamine [1 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) bolus followed by a constant rate infusion (CRI) of 40 μg/kg BW per min, given by intravenous (IV)], which was determined after the baseline MAC of isoflurane was determined beforehand. A third MAC determination was started 30 min after stopping the CRI. Group 2 (separate-day determination) had the MAC-sparing effect of ketamine determined without previous determination of the baseline MAC of isoflurane. A second MAC determination was started 30 min after stopping the CRI. In group 1, the MAC of isoflurane (2.15 ± 0.09%) was significantly decreased by ketamine (1.63 ± 0.07%). After stopping the CRI, the MAC was significantly less (2.04 ± 0.11%) than the baseline MAC of isoflurane and significantly greater than the MAC during the CRI. In group 2, ketamine decreased isoflurane MAC (1.53 ± 0.22%) and the MAC increased significantly (1.94 ± 0.25%) after stopping the CRI. Minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) values did not differ significantly between the groups either during ketamine administration or after stopping ketamine. Under the study conditions, prior determination of the baseline isoflurane MAC did not alter the effect of ketamine on MAC. Both methods of determining MAC seemed to be valid for research purposes.     

Subcutaneous Liposarcoma in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 6-year-old spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) exhibiting clinical signs of weakness, anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, and frequent urination was presented for a veterinary evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the aforementioned abnormal behavior and clinical condition. Physical examination revealed a large, firm, painless, movable subcutaneous mass at the base of the tail. Radiographic and ultrasound images confirmed the presence of a soft tissue mass compressing the sacrococcygeal vertebrae, but there was no evidence of metastatic lesions. Because of the poor prognosis and progressive deterioration of the animal's clinical condition, the ferret was humanely euthanized. Gross necropsy revealed a 4 × 4 × 3.5 cm, firm, yellow-tan, ovoid, subcutaneous mass wrapped around the rectum and the anus. The mass did not appear to breach the serosa. Evaluation of the abdominal cavity revealed a pale yellow liver, possibly associated with hepatic lipidosis with no gross evidence of metastasis in the body cavity. The histopathological features of the mass were consistent with a liposarcoma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of subcutaneous liposarcoma reported in a ferret.     

Charcoal mineralisation potential of microbial inocula from burned and unburned forest soil with and without substrate addition

Effects of fire on the functioning of the soil microbial community are largely unknown. In this study, we addressed the charcoal mineralisation potential of microbial inocula extracted from burned and unburned soil. The mineralisation of charcoal was analysed during a 1 month incubation experiment under controlled conditions with and without substrate addition. The aim of the study was to elucidate (1) the indirect effect of fire on the functioning of the soil microbial community in terms of charcoal degradation and (2) the possibility to stimulate this degradation by addition of two substrates of increasing complexity. Our conceptual approach included the monitoring of CO₂ emission from microcosms containing laboratory-made charcoal and microbial inocula from burned and unburned soil with and without ¹³C labelled glucose and cellulose.Our results showed higher charcoal mineralisation without substrate addition in microcosms with the inocula from unburned soil compared to burned soil. Charcoal mineralisation was stimulated by the addition of glucose, whereas cellulose addition did not induce a priming effect. We observed a higher stimulation of charcoal mineralisation induced by glucose for the inoculum from burned soil compared to the inoculum from unburned soil. We concluded that fire did affect the functioning of the soil microbial community in terms of charcoal degradation and that the important priming effect induced by glucose may be explained by an increase of the overall microbial activity, rather than selective stimulation of charcoal degrading microbial communities.     

Use of natural pyrethrum to control the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii in a rural district of Italy

BACKGROUND: The crayfish Procambarus clarkii inflicts severe ecological and economic damages in Europe. To develop an efficient method for its control, four experiments were carried out to assess the impact of natural pyrethrum (i.e. Pyblast) on crayfish: (1) the 24 h LC₁₀₀ and LC₅₀ were quantified on crayfish; (2) the breakdown time of the 24 h LC₁₀₀ was assessed using Daphnia magna as a bioindicator; the effects of 24 h LC₁₀₀ on crayfish were investigated by applying the biocide into burrows (3) and in a drainage channel (4). RESULTS: Pyblast concentrations of 0.05 and 0.02 mg L^?1 corresponded to 24 h LC₁₀₀ and LC₅₀ respectively. The concentration of 0.05 mg L^?1 broke down after 72 h, whereas 0.02 mg L^?1 did not cause any significant mortality in D. magna after 24 h. However, 0.05 mg L^?1 had no effect on crayfish when introduced into the burrows, but led to a mortality of 95% when applied in the water. CONCLUSION: Experimental evidence is provided for the efficacy of Pyblast to control invasive crayfish. Obviously, before its use on a large scale, further studies are needed to find a concentration that will achieve the target 100% mortality with the shortest recovery time of the environment. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Induction of systemic resistance by a hypovirulent Rhizoctonia solani isolate in tomato

A polynucleate Rhizoctonia isolate (R3) was analysed for virulence, growth characteristics, enzyme production and presence of dsRNAs. Taxonomic position was assessed morphologically and by anastomosis group (AG) testing and ITS sequence analysis. Results indicated that R3 is a hypovirulent R. solani AG 4. Mechanisms underlying biocontrol towards virulent R. solani and Botrytis cinerea were investigated and plant-mediated resistance was followed using biochemical markers of defence (PR1, laminarinase, chitinase). Control apparently relies on spatial and nutrient competition in soil, and on systemic induced resistance. This is the first report on induction of systemic resistance and of defence markers by a hypovirulent strain of R. solani.     

Development of Specific PCR Primers for Identification and Detection of Rhizopycnis vagum

Rhizopycnis vagum is a recently described coelomycete known to belong to the complex of root rot pathogens contributing to vine decline of cucurbits in several parts of the world. However, the fungus has also been reported to infect tomato, and as an endophytic associate of mycorrhizal roots of wild, asymptomatic Pinus halepensis and Rosmarinus officinalis plants in Italy. To accelerate epidemiological and ecological investigations on this fungus, a PCR primer pair was developed. Primers Rv1-F and Rv1-R were designed, based on alignment of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), which amplified a 396-bp fragment from all R. vagum isolates tested, including isolates pathogenic to melons and endophytic isolates from mycorrhizae. Specificity of the primer pair was verified both in silico (BLAST searches using each primer string as a query) and in PCR assays, where the primers failed to amplify DNA from any isolate of fungi taxonomically related to R. vagum (e.g. Massarina walkeri and Stagonospora spp.) and other vine decline and common soilborne pathogens (e.g. Monasporascus cannonballus, Acremonium cucurbitacearum, Fusarium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani). Under optimum conditions, detectable amplification of the specific sequence required 0.05 pg of target DNA. Amplification of the expected 369-bp fragment was also obtained from DNA root extracts of nearly asymptomatic Cucumis melo plants inoculated with R. vagum under greenhouse conditions.     

Effects of salinity on sexual maturity and reproduction of Poecilia velifera

Poecilia velifera is a popular fish in freshwater aquarism that naturally inhabits aquatic habitats with a wide range of salinities. Nonetheless, the effects of different salinities on the reproductive success and sex ratio of the species remain unknown. Male sex characters, sex ratio and reproductive success of P. velifera were evaluated by maintaining 160 juveniles (0.078 ± 0.011 g) in four different salinities (0; 12; 24; 36 g/L), with four replicates. The only modification observed in males was the formation of a copulatory organ from the anal fin, which was used to distinguish them from females. Timing of the formation of the male copulatory organ, and the weight and total length of males when it occurred, were recorded. Twenty‐eight fish from each treatment were euthanized after 150 day to examine the gonads and confirm sex. Eight females and four males from each treatment were then kept in their respective salinity treatments for 65 days to examine the effects of salinity on reproduction. Males were kept with females in the different treatments for 15 days, at which point they were removed. Salinity was negatively correlated with male weight and length. Salinity also affected the sex ratio, with the percentages of males and females being 32.5 and 67.5%, and 27.5 and 72.5% in the salinities of 24 and 36 g of salt/L, respectively. Fifty percent of the females kept in freshwater reproduced, while there was no reproduction in the other treatments. The maintenance of P. velifera in freshwater promoted greater reproductive success and precocity, as well as larger males.