In vitro protein degradation of 38 sainfoin accessions and its relationship to tannin content by different assays

This study compared 38 sainfoin and 2 Lotus accessions to their respective tannin contents, N buffer solubility, and in vitro protein degradation. Tannin contents were measured by a protein precipitation method using either bovine serum albumin or Rubisco and by the colorimetric HCl/butanol method. Precipitation of bovine serum albumin and Rubisco was highly correlated (R(2) = 0.939). Correlations between the protein precipitation variants and the HCl/butanol method were relatively low (R(2) < 0.6). Protein degradation was measured at 4 h of incubation in an inhibited in vitro system and could not be explained by any of the tannin assays (R(2) < 0.03) and only partially by N buffer solubility (R(2) ≤ 0.433). Decisive factors other than the quantity of tannins or their ability to precipitate proteins must be considered. Resistance of soluble protein toward degradation can possibly be caused by tannin protein binding.     

Phylogenetic characterisation of Onobrychis species with special focus on the forage crop Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial forage legume that possesses beneficial properties in the context of sustainable agriculture. In order to initiate a pre-breeding programme, we have assembled a germplasm collection of O. viciifolia from many geographic regions, as well as a collection of Onobrychis species that might be crossed with O. viciifolia to improve its biological and agronomic properties. The objective of this study was to obtain DNA sequences from a representative sample of these accessions in order to characterise their genetic diversity and to assess the robustness of the Onobrychis taxonomy. Because of potential problems with copurification of tannins and polyphenols from Onobrychis leaf tissue, three methods for DNA extraction were assessed and the most appropriate one identified. DNA sequences were obtained for the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region and the trnH-psbA and trnT-trnL intergenic spacers of the chloroplast genome. Neighbour joining trees were constructed and accessions were assigned to operational taxonomic units. The results indicated that there is substantial genetic diversity among Onobrychis species. Redundancies in species nomenclature were identified, as well as possible overlap between some of the sections into which the Onobrychis genus has been divided. A genetic distinction was apparent between O. viciifolia accessions from western Europe and those from eastern Europe and Asia, reflecting a similar division based on agronomic properties. Recognition of these different though related germplasms will be valuable in the design of breeding programmes for the rational improvement of sainfoin as a forage crop for sustainable agriculture.     

Cytological characterisation of the underutilized forage crop Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. and other members of the Onobrychis genus

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial forage legume that possesses beneficial properties in the context of sustainable agriculture. A germplasm collection of O. viciifolia was assembled from many geographic regions, as well as a collection of Onobrychis species that might be crossed with O. viciifolia to improve its biological and agronomic properties. The objective of the present study was to obtain cytological information for a broad range of O. viciifolia varieties and related species, in order to confirm and extend previous findings. The study set was 143 accessions of O. viciifolia as well as 34 accessions of 17 other species from the Onobrychis genus. Three of the O. viciifolia accessions were diploid (2n = 2x = 14) and the remainder tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28). Chromosomes were <5 μm in length. Among the other Onobrychis species, roughly half were found to be diploid and the other half tetraploid, with two species, O. arenaria (Kit.) DC. and O. alba subsp. laconica (Orph. ex Boiss.) Hayek, including a mixture of diploid and tetraploid accessions. The basic number of chromosomes was seven, except for O. aequidentata (Sm.) d’Urv. and O. crista-galli Lam., where it was eight. The 2C value for O. viciifolia was estimated at 2.5 pg. These cytological data will be valuable as part of a pre-breeding programme aimed at the eventual production of improved O. viciifolia varieties for use in sustainable agriculture.     

Progress in grafting watermelon to manage Verticillium wilt

Vegetable grafting for disease management was first used successfully when watermelon grafted onto a Cucurbita moschata rootstock overcame Fusarium wilt. Interspecific grafting has since been used effectively to mitigate several soilborne pathogens in a variety of solanaceous and cucurbitaceous cropping systems. Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a significant disease in watermelon crops and is difficult to manage. Current management practices, including crop rotation, soil fumigation, and host resistance, are insufficient due to the ability of microsclerotia to persist in absence of a host, lack of efficacy of soil fumigants, and limited availability of resistant cultivars. Watermelon grafted onto commercial cucurbit rootstocks have increased tolerance to Verticillium wilt, although no cucurbit rootstocks are known to be completely resistant. Verticillium wilt incidence decreased on grafted plants grown in artificially and naturally infested soils, while scion health and growth as well as rootstock root mass and vigour increased. Commonly used rootstocks are Lagenaria siceraria, C. moschata, and C. maxima × C. moschata; of these, only C. maxima × C. moschata ‘Tetsukabuto’ reduced severity of Verticillium wilt across several scion cultivars, locations, years, and soil densities of V. dahliae. Although studies on Verticillium wilt resistance of grafted watermelon are few, their combined results suggest the threshold of V. dahliae soil density for watermelon may be around 5–12 cfu/g. This review summarizes available information on Verticillium wilt of watermelon and effects of different rootstock × scion combinations, assisting growers and breeding programmes in decisions to adopt watermelon grafting for management of Verticillium wilt.     

Potential of Azolla pinnata R. Br. green manure for boosting soil fertility and yield of terrestrial crops in Uganda: a case study of Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Azolla fern has traditionally been used over centuries as a source of nutrients for rice grown in paddies with minimal attention on crops grown...     

Effects of Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide, and the 21-aminosteroid, U-74389G, on microvascular permeability and morphology of the equine jejunum after low-flow ischemia and reperfusion

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 21-aminosteroid, U-74389G, on microvascular permeability and morphology of the equine jejunum after low-flow ischemia and reperfusion. ANIMALS: 20 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE: Under anesthesia, full-thickness biopsy specimens of a distal portion of the jejunum were obtained for baseline measurements. In addition to a control segment, 2 jejunal segments were identified as sham-operated or experimental segments. Experimental segments underwent 60 minutes of low-flow ischemia and 3.5 hours of reperfusion. Treatments were as follows: U-74389G (3 mg/kg, IV; 6 horses), DMSO (20 mg/kg, IV; 6) diluted in 1 L of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, local perfusion (via jejunal artery) of Carolina rinse solution (0.5 mL/kg; 4), and local perfusion of lactated Ringer's solution (0.5 mL/kg; 4). RESULTS: Jejunal microvascular permeability was significantly lower after treatment with Carolina rinse solution or DMSO, compared with U-74389G or lactated Ringer's solution treatments. After DMSO treatment, serosal- and submucosal-layer edema was significantly increased in experimental segments, compared with control or sham-operated segments; however, edema increases were significantly less than for lactated Ringer's solution or U-74389G treatments. Significant decreases in intestinal wet weight-to-dry weight ratio were found following Carolina rinse solution or DMSO treatments, compared with lactated Ringer's solution or U-74389G treatments. Edema formation and leukocyte infiltration in jejunal segments of horses treated with lactated Ringer's solution or U-74389G were increased, compared with Carolina rinse solution or DMSO treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carolina rinse solution and DMSO may be protective against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the equine jejunum.     

Effects of enteral and intravenous fluid therapy, magnesium sulfate, and sodium sulfate on colonic contents and feces in horses

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in systemic hydration, concentrations of electrolytes in plasma, hydration of colonic contents and feces, and gastrointestinal transit in horses treated with IV fluid therapy or enteral administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), sodium sulfate (NaSO4), water, or a balanced electrolyte solution. ANIMALS: 7 horses with fistulas in the right dorsal colon (RDC). PROCEDURE: In a crossover design, horses alternately received 1 of 6 treatments: no treatment (control); IV fluid therapy with lactated Ringer's solution; or enteral administration of MgSO4, Na2SO4, water, or a balanced electrolyte solution via nasogastric intubation. Physical examinations were performed and samples of blood, RDC contents, and feces were collected every 6 hours during the 48 hour-observation period. Horses were muzzled for the initial 24 hours but had access to water ad libitum. Horses had access to hay, salt, and water ad libitum for the last 24 hours. RESULTS: Enteral administration of a balanced electrolyte solution and Na2SO4 were the best treatments for promoting hydration of RDC contents, followed by water. Sodium sulfate was the best treatment for promoting fecal hydration, followed by MgSO4 and the balanced electrolyte solution. Sodium sulfate caused hypocalcemia and hypernatremia, and water caused hyponatremia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Enteral administration of a balanced electrolyte solution promoted hydration of RDC contents and may be useful in horses with large colon impactions. Enteral administration of either Na2SO4 or water may promote hydration of RDC contents but can cause severe electrolyte imbalances.