The use of a modified bulk segregant analysis to identify a molecular marker linked to a scab resistance gene in apple

Almost two-hundred random sequence decamer-primers were used to screen a pair of bulked samples and the donor parent Malus floribunda clone 821 for markers linked to the V_f gene conferring resistance to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint.). A single primer was identified which generated a PCR fragment, OPK16/1300, from the donor parent M. floribunda clone 821 and the scab-resistant selections/cultivars bulk, but not from the scab-susceptible recurrent parent bulk. Co-segregation analysis using a segregating apple progeny and polymorphism analysis of individual scab-resistant Coop selections/cultivars confirmed that this marker was linked to the scab-resistance gene V_f with a recombination frequency of 4.3%. OPK16/1300 was then cloned and sequenced. Sequence-specific primers of 25 oligonucleotides based on the marker were synthesized, and used in turn to screen M. floribunda clone 821, scab-susceptible apple cultivars, scab-resistant apple cultivars, and scab-resistant Coop selections. A pair of sequence-specific primers of clone OPK16/1300 amplified a distinct single band of the same size as the RAPD clone. Thus, a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was developed which can be used to identify polymorphisms of OPK16/1300 based on the presence or absence of a single band. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of invasive palms on terrestrial arthropod assemblages in desert spring habitat

Invasive plants can eliminate native flora and ultimately have negative indirect effects on fauna and the functional ecology of ecosystems, but understanding of these cascading effects on arthropod assemblages is poor. Desert spring habitats are small, isolated landscape elements that are literal oases for flora and fauna and support high diversity assemblages; invasive palms can colonize desert springs and form monocultures. In an effort to understand effects of these invasive trees on higher terrestrial trophic levels at springs, we contrasted assemblage structure of terrestrial arthropods in native vegetation versus invasive palm habitat. We sampled arthropods in paired palm and native habitat at 10 springs in Death Valley National Park, California, USA, during both spring and fall growing seasons using suction sampling. The invading palms Phoenix dactylifera L. and Washingtonia filifera (Linden ex André) supported a mean of only one-sixth of the arthropod abundance, one-third of the species richness, and half the family richness of native habitat. Almost all orders were less abundant in palms, and most families and species were either absent or virtually absent in palm habitat. Both live and dead palm leaves were depauperate, and season and block effects were minimal. Impacts of these visually striking invasives clearly go beyond monopolization of ground cover, and invading palms appear capable of reshaping the functional ecology of desert springs. If control efforts are undertaken, we recommend complete removal of palms, because killed but standing “ghost palms” and associated thatch persist for many years and will continue to provide poor arthropod habitat and prevent native plant establishment.     

A New Approach to Calculate EMEA��s Predicted Environmental Concentration for Human Pharmaceuticals in Groundwater at Bank Filtration Sites

Hourly concentrations of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) recorded between June and August 2006, at two monitoring sites (Gijang and Jin) in Busan were analyzed to examine the characteristics and photochemical reactivity of NMHC sources. The two sites represent urban (Jin) and suburban (Gijang) Busan, which is a typical Korean city. Positive matrix factorization (PMF), applied to identify and apportion the sources of NMHCs, revealed nine sources for Gijang and ten sources for Jin. To explore the contribution of each NMHC source to ozone formation at the two sampling sites, the ozone formation potential was estimated for each source. The largest contributors to ozone formation were sources characterized by 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene (26.4%) at Gijang and by toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (22.5%) at Jin, which were composed mostly of heavy hydrocarbons and aromatics. Secondary sources included two coating sources (20.9%, 12.2%) and vehicle exhaust (10.3%) at Gijang and a source represented by toluene (17.4%), vehicle exhaust (15.9%), and a coating-2 source (9.6%) at Jin. Conditional probability function (CPF) and potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis methods were used to identify the directions of local sources and to locate potential source regions, respectively. The CPF and PSCF results agreed well for the majority of sources resolved by PMF and thus were very useful in identifying the major sources contributing to ozone formation at the two study sites.     

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) enables the fast and accurate prediction of essential amino acid contents. 2. Results for wheat,barley, corn,triticale, wheat bran/middlings,rice bran,and sorghum

Further NIRS calibrations were developed for the accurate and fast prediction of the total contents of methionine, cystine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, and other essential amino acids, protein, and moisture in the most important cereals and brans or middlings for animal feed production. More than 1100 samples of global origin collected over five years were analyzed for amino acids following the Official Methods of the United States and European Union. Detailed data and graphics are given to characterize the obtained calibration equations. NIRS was validated with 98 independent samples for wheat and 78 samples for corn and compared to amino acid predictions using linear crude protein regression equations. With a few exceptions, validation showed that 70-98% of the amino acid variance in the samples could be explained using NIRS. Especially for lysine and methionine, the most limiting amino acids for farm animals, NIRS can predict contents in cereals much better than crude protein regressions. Through low cost and high speed of analysis NIRS enables the amino acid analysis of many samples in order to improve the accuracy of feed formulation and obtain better quality and lower production costs.     

Large-scale biotechnological production of the antileukemic marine natural product sorbicillactone A

In the search for novel bioactive compounds from sponge-derived microorganisms, we have recently identified two structurally and biosynthetically unprecedented fungal metabolites, the novel-type alkaloids sorbicillactone A and sorbicillactone B. Sorbicillactone A is active against leukemia cells without showing notable cytotoxicity. Therefore, we have developed an efficient process for its biotechnological production and isolation on a large scale supplying sufficient material for the ongoing preclinical investigations and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.     

Landbau und treibhauseffekt‐quellen und senken für CO2 bei unterschiedlicher landbewirtschaftung

Die Ergebnisse der Müncheberger Dauerversuche sind eine geeignete Datenbasis zur Bewertung der CO₂‐Senke im Landbau (produzierter Gesamtertrag und Akkumulation von organischer Bodensubstanz) sowie der CO₂‐Quelle (Verlust an organischer Bodensubstanz und Einsatz fossiler Energie). Durch diese Parameter sind wesentliche Größen für die Quantifizierung des C‐ bzw. CO₂‐Haushaltes gegeben. Sie sind Indikatoren für den Vergleich unterschiedlicher Bewirtschaftungsintensitäten und charakterisieren die Umweltverträglichkeit der Pflanzenproduktion.

Ein reduzierter Faktoreinsatz kann die CO₂‐Emission im Vorleistungsbereich der Landwirtschaft nur dann mindern, wenn dieser geringere Faktoreinsatz nicht mit deutlich geringerem Energiegewinn (CO₂‐Bindung im Ernteertrag) verbunden ist.

Ziel landwirtschaftlicher Bodennutzung ist es u.a., die Erhaltung standorttypischer C‐Gehalte im Boden zu gewährleisten. Langfristig kann durch kombinierte organischmineralische Düngung sowie konservierende Bodenbearbeitungsverfahren auf sandigen Böden eine Erhöhung des C‐Pools im Boden um ca. 10% erreicht werden.

Die CO₂‐Emissionen im Vorleistungsbereich der Landwirtschaft sollten auf sandigen Ackerstandorten 9 bis 10% der in der Biomasse gespeicherten CO₂‐Menge nicht übersteigen.     

Feline intestinal parasites in Finland: prevalence, risk factors and anthelmintic treatment practices

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of feline intestinal parasites in Finland and to determine the possible risk factors for infection. Altogether 411 feline fecal samples were analyzed with a flotation method to reveal helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts. Of the samples, 402 were also screened for Giardia species antigens with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The cat owners completed a questionnaire. Toxocara cati prevalence was 5.4% and Toxascaris leonina 0.2%. Taenia species eggs were found in 1.5% of the samples and Isospora felis in 0.7%, whilst 3.2% of the samples tested positive for Giardia species antigen. Risk factors for Toxocara/Toxascaris species infection included being a non-pedigree cat, having access to the outdoors, living outside of the cities and receiving home-made food. Pedigree cats were at greater risk of contracting Giardia duodenalis. The majority of the cat owners (62.4%) treated their cat with anthelmintics 2-4 times per year.     

Isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against structural proteins of infectious laryngotracheitis virus

Thirteen infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV)-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were isolated after immunization of mice with purified infectious laryngotracheitis virions. On the basis of their reactions in western blot analyses of ILTV-infected cells, the MAbs were assigned to five different virus proteins or protein groups. Two of the viral target proteins could be identified after transient expression of cloned ILTV genes in eucaryotic cells. The MAbs of group II detected a 60-kD protein that was shown to be the ILTV homologue of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein (g)C. The MAbs of group I reacted with the positional homologue of HSV-1 gJ, which is encoded by the open reading frame (ORF) 5 gene within the unique short genome region of ILTV. The ORF 5 gene product of ILTV was previously described as a 60-kD glycoprotein (gp60), whereas multiple protein bands with apparent molecular masses of 85, 115, 160, and 200 kD were identified in the present study. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that both gC and gJ of ILTV are localized in the envelope of virus particles, whereas the 15-kD protein detected by the MAbs of group III presumably represents a tegument component. Immunofluorescence analyses of infected cells demonstrated that the epitopes of the gC- and gJ-specific MAbs are conserved in all tested ILTV isolates originating from different parts of the world and that these MAbs are also suitable for in situ antigen detection in tissues of ILTV-infected chickens. The remaining ILTV-specific MAbs recognized viral proteins of 22 kD (group IV) and 38 kD (group V) that were not further characterized up to now.