Variation within improved cultivars and landraces of lucerne in Central Italy

Summary A variety must be distinguishable, uniform, stable and of sufficient productivity to be officially registered. In Italy landraces of lucerne are still widely used because they are characterized by a good persistence and productivity in their area of origin and adaptation.The landrace from Casalina (20 km south of Perugia, Central Italy) has higher dry matter production than many other commercial cultivars. The objective of this paper was to measure the variation of the landrace Casalina and compare it with that of the commonest cultivars available on the market and with some lines selected from the landrace Casalina.The experiment consisted of 11 entries: Casalina, two selections from Casalina (one for high seed yield and one for frequent cuttings), the registered landrace Italia Centrale and 7 registered cultivars. Each entry was represented by 80 genotypes transplanted in the field 60×40 cm apart in a randomized block design with 4 replications. In 1991 the following characters were recorded on a single plant basis: time of first flowering, height, number of shoots and dry matter yield at the first harvest, time of second flowering, leafiness, height, number of shoots and dry matter yield at the second harvest, height, number of shoots and dry matter yield at the third and fourth harvest. Height, number of shoots and dry matter yield at the first harvest, dry matter at the second and third harvest were recorded during the 1992 season.Casalina was as variable as the other entries in 77% of the comparisons; it was more variable in 8% of the comparisons and less variable in 15% of the comparisons. In conclusion, the variation of landrace Casalina is equal to or less than that of registered varieties so that it could be directly registered at the National Registry of Varieties.     

Influence of combined hydro-thermal treatments on selected properties of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) wood

A combined effect of steaming and heat treatment was imposed on green Turkey oak wood, both for sapwood and heartwood. Steaming was carried out in an autoclave at 100–120–130°C whereas heating was carried out in an oven for 2?h at 120–180°C. Equilibrium moisture content at dry, intermediate and moist state both in desorption and adsorption, swelling, cup, twist, color change, and spectral reflectance measures were registered. Swelling and water absorption decreased due to the hydro-thermal treatment. During adsorption, heartwood showed a higher hygroscopic inertia compared to sapwood and this difference increased with temperature. Cup increased with temperature in the steaming process. Twist seemed to be affected more by quality of original trunks than treatments. The wood color was more sensitive at a steaming temperature of 130°C combined with heat treatment at 180°C. Transitional treatments assured more reliable results on homogenization of hue between sapwood and heartwood.     

Wood properties of young Douglas-fir in Southern Italy: results over a 12-year post-thinning period

This paper describes the study of a 31-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand located in Southern Italy, which was thinned 19 years after planting. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of three thinning treatments (unthinned, selective, and geometrical) performed twelve years later on wood density (WD), moisture content, shrinkage, ring width (RW), latewood proportion (LW%), modulus of elasticity, compression (CS), and bending strength (BS). The WD was higher in the unthinned stand. LW% and BS were lowest in the selective thinning and in the geometrical thinning, respectively. No significant differences were found in other variables. In addition, the thinning processes mostly affected the medium tree class more than the dominant and suppressed ones. Regression analysis established a correlation between mechanical characteristics and WD, RW and LW%. Mechanical strength is strongly correlated with WD than other variables. The stepwise model showed that WD and RW are most closely related to the behavior of CS, whereas only WD explained variation in BS. Stand density reduction may improve the development of stands without greatly affecting wood quality.     

Effect of moisture on physical parameters of timber from Turkey oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus cerris</Emphasis> L.) coppice in Central Italy

This study aims to investigate wood density at different levels of moisture, basic density and shrinkage of timber from Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) coppice forests growing in Central Italy. We also studied the variability in density in the trees within and among sites. Density shows no significant statistical differences in the tested population. A higher variability in the shrinkage than in the density was found. Wood moisture is referred to as dry mass and fresh mass, which is related to many performance characteristics of wood, i.e., energy production. Trends in moisture and water content were studied because these physical parameters play an important role in the specific area of firewood which requires an accurate estimation of mass, volume and energy content. This work is a contribution to improve xylo-energy estimates of small and medium forestry issues.     

Neuropharmacology of the essential oil of bergamot

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia, Risso) is a fruit most knowledgeable for its essential oil (BEO) used in aromatherapy to minimize symptoms of stress-induced anxiety and mild mood disorders and cancer pain though the rational basis for such applications awaits to be discovered. The behavioural and EEG spectrum power effects of BEO correlate well with its exocytotic and carrier-mediated release of discrete amino acids endowed with neurotransmitter function in the mammalian hippocampus supporting the deduction that BEO is able to interfere with normal and pathological synaptic plasticity. The observed neuroprotection in the course of experimental brain ischemia and pain does support this view. In conclusion, the data yielded so far contribute to our understanding of the mode of action of this phytocomplex on nerve tissue under normal and pathological experimental conditions and provide a rational basis for the practical use of BEO in complementary medicine. The opening of a wide venue for future research and translation into clinical settings is also envisaged.     

Infection of sandflies by a cat naturally infected with Leishmania infantum

Despite the recent reports of feline leishmaniosis from Southern Europe, cats are still regarded as unusual Leishmania hosts. A cat found chronically infected with Leishmania was submitted to xenodiagnosis. After being sedated, the animal was exposed to the bite of 100 laboratory-reared Phlebotomus perniciosus in a fine net cage for 90 min. Four out of 19 blood-fed sandflies (21%) showed motile promastigotes at the dissection. Parasites cultured from cat's lymph node and an infected fly were identical at PCR-RFLP genotyping and identified as Leishmania infantum MON-1, the main zymodeme responsible for human and canine leishmaniosis in Southern Europe. This is the first evidence of transmissibility of feline parasites to a proven vector, suggesting that cats may represent an additional domestic reservoir for L. infantum.     

Effect of oxidation–reduction potential on performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in recirculating aquaculture systems

The direct impact of oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) on fish welfare and water quality in marine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is poorly documented. In this study, the effects of the fish size (S₁, S₂, S₃) and ORP level (normal, four successive levels) on the performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were investigated. Three size fish were distributed into two RAS (RAS and RAS O₃). Ozone was injected into RAS O₃ to increase the ORP level. The ORP was stabilized to four successive levels: 260–300, 300–320, 320–350, and 300–320 mV in fish tanks during four periods (P_1–4). At the last day of each period, the hematological parameters, plasma protein and mortality of sea bass were analyzed. Two-way ANOVA revealed that several hematological parameters, including pH, hematocrit, concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose (Glu), ionized calcium, kalium, and hemoglobin, were significantly influenced by the increased ORP levels over the experimental period. The alteration in blood Glu and plasma protein concentration showed that ORP around 300–320 mV started to stress sea bass. Once the ORP exceeded 320 mV in the tanks during the P₃ period, mortality occurred even when total residual oxidants/ozone-produced oxidants was only 0.03–0.05 mg L^?1 in the fish tanks. At the same time, plasma protein decreased notably due to appetite depression. After the decrease in ORP during the P₄ period, mortality continued. In conclusion, the results strongly suggest that for European sea bass in RAS, the ORP should not exceed 320 mV in the tanks. Once ozonation damaged fish, the effect seemed to be irreversible. However, how ORP affected related hematological parameters still need the further investigations.     

Extranodal γδ-T-cell lymphoma in a dog with leishmaniasis

Abstract: An 8-year-old intact male mongrel dog with alopecia and weight loss was referred to the Veterinary Faculty of Naples. The dog had pale mucous membranes, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes, and splenomegaly. Laboratory abnormalities included anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglobulinemia. Bone marrow aspirate smears contained numerous Leishmania amastigotes and an immunofluorescent antibody titer was strongly positive (1:1280) for leishmaniasis. The dog was treated with a combination of meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol for 60 days and showed clinical improvement. Two months after the end of treatment the dog was again referred because of relapse of leishmaniasis and the presence of a firm subcutaneous mass on the medial right thigh. Based on cytologic examination of fine needle aspirates of the mass, a diagnosis of large-cell lymphoma was made. Flow cytometry of tumor cells revealed γδ-T-cell lymphoma with a CD5+, CD3+, TCRγδ+, CD4−, CD8−, CD45RA+ immunophenotype. Using nested PCR, amastigotes were not detected in the neoplastic tissue. An association between leishmaniasis and hematopoietic tumors has been described rarely. γδ-T cells may be involved in the host response to this parasite, and prolonged antigenic stimulation and chronic immunosuppression (typical of leishmaniasis) play a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of T-cell lymphoma.