The basis of host recognition in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Filtrates from shake-cultures of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1, concentrated to 20% of the original volume, caused cell death in tomato leaf protoplasts from near-isogenic lines corresponding to the compatible cultivar/race reactions of whole plants. Maximum activity was found in late log phase cultures on Czapek-Dox supplemented with 2% casamino acids. Selective toxicity was associated only with the protein fraction of the culture filtrate. LD₅₀ values for susceptible Ace and Moneycross to F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1 culture filtrates were 1·92 and 0·36 μg protein ml⁻¹. Corresponding values for cvs Royal Ace and MM161, each containing the I-gene conferring resistance to race 1, were >350. Culture filtrates from F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 2 gave LD₅₀ values of 2·34 and 2·08 μg protein ml⁻¹ on cvs Ace and Royal Ace, both susceptible to race 2. The LD⁵⁰ of cv. Ace to a non-pathogenic isolate of F. xysporum f. sp. lycopersici was > 350. Culture filtrates from non-host formae of F. oxysporum were 9–149-fold less toxic on cv. Ace. Protoplasts from Pisum sativum, Lactuca sativa, Zea mays, Gossypium barbadense and Solanum melongena, all non-hosts of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, were 6–175 times less sensitive to F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici filtrates than susceptible tomato. The putative toxins lycomarasmin and fusaric acid showed no differential toxicity to I⁺ and I⁻ tomato protoplasts. The results are discussed in the wider context of host-pathogen interaction in which specificity is considered as the recognition of susceptibility by a proteinaceous toxic metabolite of the pathogen. This hypothesis is further extended to include the specificity of F. oxysporum formae and races.     

Gastrointestinal ultrasonography in normal adult ponies

The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics based on ultrasonographic examination of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and peritoneal fluid in normal adult ponies. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination was performed in nine unsedated standing ponies. The duodenum was examined at three sites and the jejunum in 12 regions. Wall thickness, contractility, distention, and luminal contents were recorded. Stomach wall thickness and location, cecal wall thickness, and peritoneal fluid location and character were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed. Wall thicknesses (in cm) were 0.431 +/- 0.069 for the stomach, 0.188 +/- 0.033 for the duodenum (at all sites), 0.195 +/- 0.031 for the jejunum (at all regions), and 0.179 +/- 0.031 for the cecum. Duodenal contractions per minute were 3.78 +/- 1.10. The stomach spanned 5.14 +/- 0.9 intercostal spaces, with the 8th intercostal space being the most cranial and the 15th intercostal space being the most caudal space through which the stomach was identified. It was possible to identify the jejunum in all ponies dorsal to the left dorsal colon and from the ventral abdominal wall. Peritoneal fluid was identified in six ponies. Peritoneal fluid was usually seen transiently and most commonly in the ventral aspect of the abdominal cavity or around the duodenum. Overall, the ponie's abdominal ultrasonographic examinations revealed wall thicknesses that were less than the published normal ranges for horses. It appears that ponies may have increased duodenal contractility than horses and that the conformation of ponies may change the locations for imaging the stomach.     

The variation in hectolitre weight of wheat grain fed with or without enzyme supplementation influences nutrient digestibility and subsequently affects performance in pigs

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding a wheat‐based diet of two different hectolitre weights (66 vs. 74 kg/hl), achieved through different agronomical conditions, with or without the supplementation of a β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme mix on young pigs. The parameter categories which were assessed included growth performance, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), faecal consistency, faecal microbial populations and faecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Sixty‐four pigs (11.6 kg SD 0.97) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: (T1) low hectolitre weight wheat diet, (T2) low hectolitre weight wheat diet containing 0.1 g/kg β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme supplement, (T3) high hectolitre weight wheat diet and (T4) high hectolitre weight wheat diet containing 0.1 g/kg β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme supplement. The inclusion of wheat was 500 g/kg in the diet. The low hectolitre weight grain had a higher level of zearalenone, aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination compared to the high hectolitre weight grain. The high hectolitre weight wheat had a higher gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP) and lysine contents compared to the low hectolitre weight wheat. Pigs offered the low hectolitre weight diet had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.001), a lower gain to feed (G:F) ratio (p < 0.001) and a higher faecal score (more diarrhoea) (p < 0.001) compared to pigs offered the high hectolitre weight. The low hectolitre weight diet had a reduced CATTD (p < 0.05) of nitrogen (N) and gross energy (GE) compared with pigs offered the high hectolitre weight diet. In conclusion, the higher level of mycotoxins and lower content of GE, CP and lysine in the low‐quality wheat reduced ADG and the CATTD of nutrients in pigs offered this diet. The inclusion of a β‐glucanase and β‐xylanase enzyme mix had no effect on growth performance or nutrient digestibility.     

Physical characteristics of gastrointestinal content of llama (Lama glama)

Changes in digesta dry matter (DM) and mean digesta particle size (MPS) along the gastrointestinal tract are well known in ruminants, but not in camelids. We collected digesta from the dorsal (d) and ventral (v) first forestomach compartment (C1), the second forestomach compartment (C2), three proximal segments and the subsequent glandular part of the third compartment (C3A‐D), the caecum and the faeces twelve llamas (Lama glama). DM analysis indicates the presence of digesta stratification in the C1, the presence of fluid in the C2 to facilitate the sorting function of this compartment, the fluid‐absorbing function of the proximal parts of the C3, the secretion of enzymes and digestive acids in the C3D, and the water‐resorbing function of the lower intestinal tract. These findings illustrate the functional resemblance between the gastrointestinal tract of camelids and cattle‐like ruminants (C1 equivalent to the rumen with stratified contents, C2 to the reticulum, C3A/B/C to the omasum and C3D to the abomasum). MPS analysis revealed a progressive reduction in MPS from the C1 to the distal C3. This gradual transition is different from the clear‐cut threshold in ruminants between the reticulum and the omasum and had so far only been described in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius). These findings indicate that regardless of the convergent property of rumination and resemblance of general mechanisms involved in contents stratification and particle sorting, differences between ruminants and camelids exist that could be interpreted as a more efficient functionality of the ruminant forestomach.     

In Vitro Comparison of a Novel External Fixator and Traditional Full‐Limb Transfixation Pin Cast in Horses

Objective: To compare the mechanical properties and failure modes of a standardized short oblique distal radial metaphyseal osteotomy stabilized using either a transfixation pin cast (TPC), a modular‐sidebar external skeletal fixator (ESF), or a solid‐sidebar ESF (modular‐ or solid‐ESF, respectively) using static or cyclic axial loading to failure. Study Design: In vitro study. Animals: Equine cadaver forelimbs. Methods: A 30° oblique distal radial osteotomy was created and stabilized using 1 of the 3 fixation methods: (1) TPC, (2) modular‐ESF, or (3) solid‐ESF. Limbs were tested using static (TPC, modular‐ESF, and solid‐ESF) or cyclic (TPC and solid‐ESF) axial loading to failure. The stiffness, yield load, yield displacement, failure load, and failure displacement for static loading and the cycles to failure for cyclic loading at 75% failure load were obtained. Data were analyzed using a Kruskal–Wallis test. Level of significance was P<.05. Results: The solid‐ESF had a greater stiffness, higher yield and failure load and a lower yield and failure displacement than the TPC (P=.01) and the modular‐ESF (P=.02). TPC had a higher yield load, failure load, and yield displacement than the modular‐ESF (P=.01). Mean cycles to failure for TPC was 2996±657 at a load of 16,000 N and for solid‐ESF 6560±90 cycles at a load of 25,000 N. Conclusions: The solid‐ESF was stiffer and stronger than the TPC and modular‐ESF and failed at a greater number of cycles in axial loading compared with the TPC. Clinical Relevance: This study is an initial step in evaluating the solid‐ESF. Further testing needs to be performed, but this fixation may offer a viable alternative to the traditional TPC for stabilization of long bone fractures in adult horses.     

Timber tree regeneration along abandoned logging roads in a tropical Bolivian forest

Sustainable management of selectively logged tropical forests requires that felled trees are replaced through increased recruitment and growth. This study compares road track and roadside regeneration with regeneration in unlogged and selectively logged humid tropical forest in north-eastern Bolivia. Some species benefited from increased light intensities on abandoned logging roads. Others benefited from low densities of competing vegetation on roads with compacted soils. This was the case for the small-seeded species Ficus boliviana C.C. Berg and Terminalia oblonga (Ruiz & Pav.) Steud. Some species, e.g. Hura crepitans L., displayed patchy regeneration coinciding with the presence of adult trees. Our results suggest that current management practices could be improved by intensifying logging in some areas to improve regeneration of light demanding species. Sufficient seed input in logged areas should be ensured by interspersing large patches of unlogged forest with logged areas. This may also assist regeneration of species that perform poorly in disturbed areas.     

The identification of a barley haze active protein that influences beer haze stability: Cloning and characterisation of the barley SE protein as a barley trypsin inhibitor of the chloroform/methanol type

Previous pilot brewing trials have demonstrated that in the absence of a molecular weight (MW) 12,000 (barley silica eluate (SE) protein), the beer brewed from the malt of these SE −ve varieties formed less haze after accelerated ageing than beers brewed using SE +ve malt varieties. The previously described SE protein was characterised using comparative two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis immunoblots of barley seed extracts from both SE +ve and SE −ve varieties. The SE protein spot identified was excised and its partial sequence determined, after in-gel cleavage using trypsin and separation of the resulting fragments by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). N-terminal sequence analysis of the tryptic peptides from SE +ve and SE −ve varieties identified the SE protein as the barley trypsin inhibitor-CMe precursor (BTI-CMe). The mature BTI-CMe protein is 13.3 kDa and its functional gene is located on chromosome 3H. Cloning of the BTI-CMe protein demonstrated that both SE −ve and SE +ve barley varieties contain a BTI-CMe protein family member that is similar but has a consistently different sequence, primarily in the last 30 amino acid residues of their C-termini.     

The identification of a barley haze active protein that influences beer haze stability: The genetic basis of a barley malt haze active protein

In bright beers, the formation of haze is a serious quality problem, which places limitations on the storage life of the product. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblot analysis using an antiserum that was raised against a silica eluate (SE) protein fraction (obtained from silica gel, used for the colloidal stabilisation of beer), detected a range of protein bands in barley, malt, beer and haze. A polymorphism was observed in which some barley varieties contained a molecular weight (MW) 12,000 band (SE +ve) while in other varieties this band was absent (SE −ve). A survey of 219 Australian and international barley varieties, including a comprehensive selection of current and past malting varieties, identified 181 varieties as SE +ve, and 38 varieties as SE −ve. Previous pilot brewing trials demonstrated that SE −ve varieties are desirable as the beer brewed from the malt of these varieties formed less haze after accelerated ageing than beers brewed using SE +ve malt varieties. The genetic basis for the absence of the SE protein was conferred by a recessive allele at a single locus. Interval mapping analysis showed that the MW 12,000 band mapped to the short arm of chromosome 3H.