Effect of s-triazine and phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in rat liver microsomes

Twelve herbicides, representatives of two chemical groups, substituted phenoxyalkanoic acids and s-triazines, were tested for their inhibitory effect on the glucuronidation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), phenolphthalein (PPh) and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) by rat liver microsomes. One millimole MCPA, ametryn and cyanazine significantly decreased PPh UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity, while propazine was found to be a most potent inhibitor of 4-NP glucuronidation. Concentrations of 0.1 mM dichlorprop and cyanazine were still inhibitory against PPh-UGT. The inhibition of 4-MU glucuronidation by the herbicides was low and not specific. As a whole, s-triazine derivatives were more inhibitory than the substituted phenoxyalkanoic acids. Kinetic studies with propazine revealed a non-competitive type of inhibition towards the acceptor substrate 4-NP, with an apparent K_i value of 0.540 mM . With ametryn, an uncompetitive type of inhibition against PPh and a mixed type of inhibition towards UDPGA were found, with apparent K_i values of 0.330 mM and 0.380 mM , respectively. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hide and seek – Infection rates and alkaloid concentrations of Epichloë festucae var. lolii in Lolium perenne along a land‐use gradient in Germany

The common forage grass Lolium perenne has evolved with the systemic fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii. The endophyte provides herbivore resistance to the grass due to defensive alkaloids, some of which are toxic to grazing livestock. In this field study, we determine whether distribution of the endophyte‐grass association changes along a land‐use intensity gradient on 87 managed grasslands in three German regions. Endophyte infections were detected in 66% of the studied sites and infection rates within infected sites ranged from 1% to 95%. Alkaloid concentrations of lolitrem B (vertebrate toxin) exceeded the toxicity thresholds in 50 (14%) of 351 infected plants and of peramine (invertebrate deterrent/toxin) in 12 (3%) of 351 plants. Infection rates and alkaloid concentrations were not significantly affected by land‐use intensity and region, but alkaloid concentrations were higher in summer compared to spring. We conclude that risks for livestock intoxication are currently low, as (i) average alkaloid concentrations per grassland were always below toxicity thresholds and as (ii) none of the grasslands was dominated by L. perenne. We suggest avoidance of grass monocultures in Europe to keep intoxication risks for livestock low; we also recommend regular examination of seeds and grasslands, as seed producers might accidentally distribute infected seeds, and as climate warming might further enhance the distribution of Epichloë endophytes in European grasslands.     

Analysis of the immunoproteome of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type reveals immunogenic homologues to other known virulence traits in related Mycoplasma species

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (MmmSC) has been eradicated in the developed world, but it is still present in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa. After initially successful control measures in the 1960s it has been spreading due to a lack of money, fragmentation of veterinary services, uncontrolled cattle movement, insufficient vaccine efficacy and sensitivity of current diagnostic tests.In this study we used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot with sera from MmmSC-infected animals and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry to identify novel immunogenic proteins as candidate molecules for improved diagnostics and vaccines. We identified 24 immunogens recognized by pooled sera from experimentally infected cattle. Furthermore, a serum from an animal with acute clinical disease as well as severe pathomorphological lesions recognized 13 additional immunogens indicating variation in the antibody responses to CBPP amongst cattle. Most immunogens showed compelling similarity to protein/gene sequences in the two ruminant pathogens M. capricolum subsp. capricolum and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony type both belonging to the mycoides cluster. Three of these proteins, namely glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase, adenylosuccinate synthase, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, had no compelling homologue in the other distantly related bovine pathogen M. agalactiae. In addition, translation elongation factor Tu, heat shock protein 70, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and FKBP-type peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, which have been found to mediate adhesion to host tissue in other mycoplasmas were shown to be expressed and recognized by sera. These proteins have potential for the development of improved diagnostic tests and possibly vaccines.     

Potential for simultaneous improvement of grain and biomass yield in Central European winter triticale germplasm

Winter triticale, an abundant biomass source for producing biogas in Central Europe, has been bred until now for increased grain yield but not for early biomass yield. Therefore, our objectives were to assess the feasibility of breeding triticale for simultaneous improvement of early biomass and grain yield as well as to predict the early biomass yield using an index of traits measured at maturity stage. A representative sample of 100 triticale lines was evaluated in Experiment I at four locations in Germany. Traits were measured at two growth stages (early dough and full maturity). Genetic variances were significantly different from zero for all traits. The correlated response for early biomass yield estimated from grain yield (0.53) was high, which points to the efficiency of indirect selection. A multiple regression model was developed to predict early biomass yield. The reliability of the model was confirmed in an independent Experiment II with 49 lines. The calibration model explained 55% of total variation for early biomass yield. This clearly underlines that at least during earlier stages of selection, field testing can be carried out for grain yield and related traits to select potential genotypes with high biomass yield based on the developed regression model.     

Tillage system affects fertilizer-induced nitrous oxide emissions

Since the development of effective N₂O mitigation options is a key challenge for future agricultural practice, we studied the interactive effect of tillage systems on fertilizer-derived N₂O emissions and the abundance of microbial communities involved in N₂O production and reduction. Soil samples from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth of reduced tillage and ploughed plots were incubated with dairy slurry (SL) and manure compost (MC) in comparison with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and an unfertilized control (ZERO) for 42 days. N₂O and CO₂ fluxes, ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic C, and functional gene abundances (16S rRNA gene, nirK, nirS, nosZ, bacterial and archaeal amoA) were regularly monitored. Averaged across all soil samples, N₂O emissions decreased in the order CAN and SL (CAN?=?748.8?±?206.3, SL?=?489.4?±?107.2 μg kg^?1) followed by MC (284.2?±?67.3 μg kg^?1) and ZERO (29.1?±?5.9 μg kg^?1). Highest cumulative N₂O emissions were found in 10–20 cm of the reduced tilled soil in CAN and SL. N₂O fluxes were assigned to ammonium as source in CAN and SL and correlated positively to bacterial amoA abundances. Additionally, nosZ abundances correlated negatively to N₂O fluxes in the organic fertilizer treatments. Soils showed a gradient in soil organic C, 16S rRNA, nirK, and nosZ with greater amounts in the 0–10 than 10–20 cm layer. Abundances of bacterial and archaeal amoA were higher in reduced tilled soil compared to ploughed soils. The study highlights that tillage system induced biophysicochemical stratification impacts net N₂O emissions within the soil profile according to N and C species added during fertilization.     

Erträge und N‐verbleib im internationalen organischen stickstoffdauerdüngungsversuch (IOSDV) puch

Im Internationalen Organischen Stickstoffdauerdüngungsversuch (IOSDV) Puch wurde 1998, nach 15 Versuchsjahren, die 5. Rotation abgeschlossen. Der Versuch umfaßt 10 Düngungsvarianten mit organischen Stoffen, die den Bewirtschaftungsformen mit und ohne Vieh entsprechen. Zusätzlich wurden im Mittel über die Fruchtfolge 0, 40, 80, 120 und 160 kg/ha mineralischer Stickstoff verabreicht. Angebaut wurde eine 3‐jährige Fruchtfolge mit Silomais oder Zuckerrüben, gefolgt von Winterweizen und Wintergerste. Bei der Auswertung des Versuches wurde die erste Rotation, die Anlaufphase, nicht berücksichtigt.

Von den organischen Düngern brachte Gülle, allein oder zusammen mit Stroh bzw. mit Stroh und Zwischenfrucht (Senf) die höchsten Mehrerträge (im Mittel 14%), es folgen Stallmist (6%), Rübenblatt (5%) und Leguminosen‐Zwischenfrucht (4–5%). Stroh allein führte zu Mindererträgen.

Die organischen Dünger führen auch zu Humusneubildung, in dem ein Teil des ausgebrachten Stickstoffes gespeichert wird. Dies muß in den N‐Salden berücksichtigt werden.

Bei alleiniger Strohdüngung wird mehr Stickstoff im neugebildeten Humus gespeichert als mit dem Stroh zugeführt wird, daher auch die niedrigeren Erträge dieser Variante. Bei den Düngungsvarianten Gülle + Stroh, Rübenblatt + Stroh und Leguminosen ‐Zwischenfrucht + Stroh führt Stroh zur Reduzierung von N‐Verlusten.

Die höchsten Humusmengen wurden nach Düngung mit Gülle + Stroh + Zwischenfrucht und Stroh + Zwischenfrucht + Rübenblatt gebildet.     

Growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism of potato tubers exposed to high temperatures

Summary The effect of high tuber temperature (30 °C) on the growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism of tubers was studied with 3 cultivars differing in heat tolerance. Subjecting individual tubers to 30°C for 6 days caused cessation of tuber growth. During this period, non-treated tubers (20°C) on the same plant increased in volume. At 30°C, incorporation of¹⁴C-labelled assimilates into the ethanol-insoluble fraction (mainly starch) as well as the starch content was significantly reduced. In contrast, the incorporation of¹⁴C-labelled assimilates into the sugar fraction was not affected by high tuber temperature. At 30°C the activity of some of the enzymes involved in starch metabolism was depressed. Varietal differences in responses of tuber growth rate and carbohydrate metabolism to high tuber temperature were insignificant. From these preliminary results it is concluded that high soil temperatures may decrease starch content of potato tubers directly by inhibition of the conversion of sugars into starch.     

Growth-Oriented Logging (GOL): A new concept towards sustainable forest management in Central Amazonian várzea floodplains

Against a background of increasing human populations in developing countries, and global climate change, conservation of tropical forests remains one of the most important ecological challenges of our time. One of the biggest difficulties for ecologically sustainable management of tropical forests is obtaining reliable growth data for trees, which is a prerequisite for determining harvesting volumes and cutting cycles. GOL is the first concept for sustainable management of tropical timber resources in Amazonian floodplain forests (várzea) based on species-specific management criteria, such as minimum logging diameters (MLDs) and cutting cycles. From timber species with varying wood densities of different successional stages, volume stocks have been estimated in 1-ha plots and 12 growth models have been developed based on tree rings, which are annually formed as a consequence of the regular, long-term flooding. The MLDs of timber species vary between 47 and 70 cm and the estimated cutting cycles differ the 10-fold, from 3 to 32 years. These enormous differences in the growth rates between tropical timber species are not considered in current management practices, which apply only one diameter cutting limit and one cutting cycle to harvest many tree species. This practice risks the overexploitation of slow-growing timber species, while the fast-growing timber species with low wood densities cannot be efficiently used. Based on the timber stocks and lifetime growth rates, the GOL concept has been created as an aid to improve forest management in the Central Amazonian várzea. The model is unique for tropical silviculture.     

Isolation of a poxvirus from a sparrow (Passer domesticus)

From liver, lung, and kidney of a dead sparrow with signs of conjunctivitis a cytopathic agent was isolated in chicken embryo cell culture which was identified as a poxvirus by electron microscopy. From its growth characteristics in avian and mammalian cell culture it was concluded to belong to the genus avipox virus.     

Detection of virus in connection with "European brown hare syndrome" in Hesse, F.R.G

Materials from the liver of a wild-living hare (Lepus europeus pallas) which had died from "European Brown Hare Syndrome" (EBHS) and of two hares kept in captivity which had been experimentally infected with the same material and died after two days with the classical signs of EBHS (Eskens and Volmer, 1989) were investigated for the presence of virus particles by electron microscopy using the negative contrast technique. Virus particles of 32 nm in diameter were found in all three samples investigated. The same particles were detected in the filtered inoculum used for experimental infection and in the supernatant of the first three passages of feline embryonic cell cultures. Haemagglutination or haemadsorption could not be achieved with the material investigated.