Diallel analysis for morphoagronomic descriptors in Physalis angulata L. hybrids

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Physalis angulata L. is an American species with edible fruits that stands out for having high nutritional and pharmaceutical value. The species is found in...     

Solvent and pH effects on the antioxidant activity of caffeic and other phenolic acids

The antioxidant activity of several phenolic acids and esters has been investigated both in organic solutions and in large unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles. In solution these compounds behaved as good antioxidants, with the exception of protocatechuic acid, due to the presence of the catechol moiety. Because their antioxidant activity followed an inverse dependence on the magnitude of their O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE), the key mechanism of the chain-breaking action was attributed to hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the phenolic OH to peroxyl radicals. In unilamellar vesicles the antioxidant activity was strongly dependent on the pH of the buffer solution. In acid media (pH 4) all of the examined phenolic acids or esters behaved as weak inhibitors of peroxidation, whereas, with increasing pH, their antioxidant activity increased substantially, becoming comparable to or even better than that of Trolox. At pH 8 they also gave rise to lag phases 2-3 times longer than that of Trolox. The increased activity being observed in proximity of the pK(a) value corresponding to the ionization of one of the catecholic hydroxyl groups, this effect has been attributed to the high antioxidant activity of the phenolate anion.     

Venetian olive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Olea europaea</Emphasis>) germplasm: disclosing the genetic identity of locally grown cultivars suited for typical extra virgin oil productions

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most important tree crops of the Mediterranean regions. In spite of the increasing appreciation of typical extra virgin olive oils at world level, based on the use of local traditional varieties, very few studies have focused on the genetic characterisation of olive cultivars of regional interest, such as those grown in Veneto, a North-Eastern Italy region. A deep knowledge of the varieties cultivated in this territory is a key step to address the product quality, to increase market demand and to certify the origin of local olive oils. Here we have analyzed olive cultivars and cultivar groups within the olive cultivation area in Veneto, from the Garda Lake to the Euganean and Trevisan hills, by using discriminant SSR markers, in order to obtain a systematic genetic survey of the Veneto regional olive germplasm patrimony. A total of 203 previously uncharacterized olive samples were collected from ancient trees still grown by local farmers. The analyzed samples included also 36 olive reference cultivars from Veneto and neighbour Regions. We found 57 unique molecular profiles out of this set of olive accessions that were split into 15 cultivar groups corresponding to genetically distinct STRUCTURE clusters. Based on a common SSR database, our 239 Venetian accessions were compared with 280 olive reference genotypes representative of the Mediterranean cultivation area. From the genetic structure analysis, it has been observed that 80% of Venetian cultivars clustered in the central Mediterranean group, about 9% and 2% with the eastern and western varieties, respectively, and all the others resulted intermixed among two or three populations. We found that regionally the most common variety was “Casaliva”, corresponding to the widely diffused cultivar “Frantoio”, while others showed identity with known varieties grown in close regions, such as “Leccino”, “Miniol”, “Capolga” and “Bianchera”. Besides these genotypes, others were not matching any known reference and therefore they could be classified as true local varieties of indigenous origin, possibly deriving from the hybridization and selection made by farmers and from their adaptation to the local soil and climate conditions.     

Geotrichum candidum as etiological agent of horse dermatomycosis

Fungi of the genus Geotrichum are commonly found in the environment and, in some circumstances, they may cause diseases in humans and animals. Although these fungi have been isolated from skin lesions of some animal species, their pathogenic role in horses remains uncertain. With the aim to investigate the role of Geotrichum candidum as etiological agent of dermatomycoses, a retrospective study of 64 horses presenting skin lesions and suspected to have fungal infections was carried out. For each animal, anamnestic data were recorded and fungal culture were performed using hair. Out of 64 cases, 18 (28.1%) were positive for G. candidum and only two (3.1%) for dermatophytes (i.e., one for Microsporum equinum and the other for Microsporum canis). Alopecia, desquamation, and pruritus localized mainly on head and neck were frequently observed in G. candidum infected animals. Most of G. candidum infections were recorded during spring (44.4%). Out of the 18 animals presenting G. candidum infections, eight were treated using a disinfectant with antifungal properties. After one month of treatment, the clinical lesions were healed and fungal cultures resulted negative. The high prevalence of G. candidum in skin lesions of horses and the clinical recover following antifungal treatment indicated that these yeast-like fungi might play a role as etiological agents of horse cutaneous mycoses.     

Short-Term Effects of Duodenocecostomy on Body Weight,Glucose Absorption,Serum Components,and Intestinal Histopathology in Four Normal Horses

The objective of this study was to evaluate duodenocecostomy in horses performed through a ventral midline laparotomy and report its influence on body weight, glucose absorption, serum components, and characteristics of jejunum, cecum, and large colon histology. Four horses were submitted to the duodenocecostomy technique through a ventral midline laparotomy with animals in dorsal recumbency under inhalation anesthesia, followed by abdominal exploration. A side-to-side anastomosis was performed between the duodenojejunal flexure and the base of the cecum with two simple continuous suture lines of the serosal and muscular layers. The size of the opening created was approximately 2 cm in diameter. The mucosa layer was not sutured. After 30 days, animals were submitted to a second laparotomy to check the patency of the duodenocaecal fistula. During both laparotomy procedures, excisional biopsies of different segments of the gastrointestinal tract were performed. Information on physical examination findings, results of hematologic and histopathologic evaluations, and oral glucose absorption test were recorded. The horses did not have significant weight loss from baseline, and absorption curve of glucose did not significantly vary from baseline. Only triglycerides had significant alterations. Histologic evaluation of jejunum, cecum, and large colon did not show alterations of intestinal structure and morphology. We concluded that the proposed technique, principally in relation to the fistula size and not suturing the mucosa layer, allowed partial or total occlusion of the fistulae without the necessity of a second surgery and avoided the permanent bypass of ingesta and weight loss.     

Impact of control strategies on Thrips tabaci and its predator Aeolothrips intermedius on onion crops

Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major pest of onion worldwide. In 2011, research was conducted in a commercial onion field in northwestern Italy to: (i) assess the presence of autochthonous onion thrips predators on the crop; and (ii) evaluate the impact of the commonly used insecticides and alternative pest management strategies on onion thrips and its autochthonous predators. Toxicity of the active ingredients on local populations of onion thrips and its predatory thrips was also evaluated in laboratory bioassays. During field surveys, the highest and lowest thrips infestations were observed in plots treated with lambda-cyhalothrin and spinosad, respectively. The effectiveness of spinosad on T. tabaci was also confirmed in laboratory bioassays. The dominant zoophagous species Aeolothrips intermedius (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) was more adversely affected by treatment with lambda-cyhalothrin, confirmed by a decrease in predator/prey ratios. The use of spinosad and acibenzolar-S-methyl is suggested as an alternative to conventional insecticides for the preservation of A. intermedius, which proved to be a potential biological control agent of T. tabaci.     

Field Evaluation of Tomato Hybrids Engineered with Tomato spotted wilt virus Sequences for Virus Resistance, Agronomic Performance, and Pollen-Mediated Transgene Flow

ABSTRACT Tomato hybrids obtained from homozygous progeny of line 30-4, engineered for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistance, were tested under field conditions in two locations with their corresponding nontransgenic hybrids. No transgenic hybrid became infected, but 33 to 50% of plants of each nontransgenic hybrid became infected with a severe reduction of marketable fruit production. The transgenic hybrids conformed to the standard agronomic characteristics of the corresponding nontransgenic ones. Fruit were collected from the nontransgenic plots included in the experimental field and from border rows, and seed were used to estimate the flow of the transgene via pollen. No transgene flow was detected in the protected crops; however, in the open field experiment, 0.32% of tomato seedlings were found to contain the genetic modification. Immunity to TSWV infection in 30-4 hybrids was confirmed in laboratory conditions using mechanical inoculation and grafting. Thrips inoculation in leaf discs of line 30-4 demonstrated that TSWV replication was inhibited at the primary infection site but not in leaf discs of a commercial hybrid containing the naturally occurring resistance gene Sw-5. Due to the high economic value of tomato crops worldwide and the importance of TSWV, the engineered resistance described here is of practical value for breeding into cultivars of commercial interest, because it could be combined with naturally occurring resistance, thus greatly reducing the ability of the virus to develop resistance-breaking strains.     

Cell proliferation and expression of connexins differ in melanotic and amelanotic canine oral melanomas

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm occurring in several animal species, and is the most frequently found tumor in the oral cavity in dogs. Melanomas are classified into two types: melanotic and amelanotic. Prior research suggests that human amelanotic melanomas are more aggressive than their melanotic counterparts. This study evaluates the behavior of canine melanotic and amelanotic oral cavity melanomas and quantifies cell proliferation and the expression of connexins. Twenty-five melanomas (16 melanotic and 9 amelanotic) were collected from dogs during clinical procedures at the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. After diagnosis, dogs were followed until death or euthanasia. Histopathology confirmed the gross melanotic or amelanotic characteristics and tumors were classified according to the WHO. HMB45 or Melan A immunostainings were performed to confirm the diagnosis of amelanotic melanomas. Cell proliferation was quantified both by counting mitotic figures and PCNA positive nuclei. Expressions of connexins 26 and 43 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot. Dogs bearing amelanotic melanomas presented a shorter lifespan in comparison to those with melanotic melanomas. Cell proliferation was significantly higher in amelanotic melanomas. Expressions of Connexins 26 and 43 were significantly reduced in amelanotic melanomas. The results presented here suggest that oral cavity melanotic and amelanotic melanomas differ regarding their behavior, cell proliferation and connexin expression in dogs, indicating a higher aggressiveness of amelanotic variants.     

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to screen plant extracts and compounds as natural anthelmintics for veterinary use

The most challenging obstacles to testing products for their anthelmintic activity are: (1) establishing a suitable nematode in vitro assay that can evaluate potential product use against a parasitic nematode of interest and (2) preparation of extracts that can be redissolved in solvents that are miscible in the test medium and are at concentrations well tolerated by the nematode system used for screening. The use of parasitic nematodes as a screening system is hindered by the difficulty of keeping them alive for long periods outside their host and by the need to keep infected animals as sources of eggs or adults when needed. This method uses the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a system to screen products for their potential anthelmintic effect against small ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes, including Haemonchus contortus. This modified method uses only liquid axenic medium, instead of agar plates inoculated with Escherichia coli, and two selective sieves to obtain adult nematodes. During screening, the use of either balanced salt solution (M-9) or distilled water resulted in averages of 99.7 (± 0.73)% and 96.36 (± 2.37)% motile adults, respectively. Adult worms tolerated DMSO, ethanol, methanol, and Tween 80 at 1% and 2%, while Labrasol (a bioenhancer with low toxicity to mammals) and Tween 20 were toxic to C. elegans at 1% and were avoided as solvents. The high availability, ease of culture, and rapid proliferation of C. elegans make it a useful screening system to test plant extracts and other phytochemical compounds to investigate their potential anthelmintic activity against parasitic nematodes.     

Epidemiological,pathological and immunohistochemical aspects of 125 cases of feline lymphoma in Southern Brazil

A retrospective study compiling cases of feline lymphoma diagnosed during 12 years (2004‐2016) in Southern Brazil was performed. A total of 125 cases of lymphoma diagnosed in cats were reviewed, and information including age, breed, sex and tumour topography were collected. FeLV and FIV immunohistochemical tests were performed, as well as immunophenotyping of lymphomas. The alimentary form represented the most common presentation (42/125), followed by mediastinal lymphoma (35/125). Out of 125 cases, 79 presented positive retroviral immunostaining in tumour tissue (52 FeLV alone, 14 FIV alone and 13 presented FIV and FeLV co‐infections), 66/125 of the cases were of T‐cell origin and 59/125 of the cases were of B‐cell origin. The median age of cats with T‐cell lymphoma was 120 months (10‐240 months), and 60 months (6‐204 months) for cats with B‐cell lymphoma. The most frequent alimentary tumour presentation was the enteropathy‐associated T‐cell lymphoma (type 1), and the major type of mediastinal tumour observed was diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. Considering only mediastinal and alimentary lymphomas (n = 77), the prevalence of mediastinal lymphoma in FeLV‐positive cats was 2.21 times higher than the prevalence of this type of tumour in FeLV‐negative cats (P = .036). Mediastinal lymphoma was more frequently observed in younger cats, and the prevalence of mediastinal tumours in these animals was 3.06 times higher than the prevalence of this tumour form in old cats (P = .0125). The present study indicates that retroviral infections still play an important role in the development of feline lymphomas in southern Brazil.