Loss of Viability of Dematophora necatrix in Solarized Soils

To study the relationship between temperature regimes and loss of viability of Dematophora necatrix in soil, two field experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of soil solarization on reducing the population of D. necatrix colonizing avocado root segments buried at a depth of 15–60cm. Increase of maximum hourly temperatures attributable to soil solarization reached, depending on depth, 6.7–4.6°C in unshaded areas and 3.9–1.5°C for shaded areas in the first experiment (starting in early June, 1995). The better environmental conditions in the second experiment (starting by mid-July, 1995) led to higher temperature increases (8.6–5.6°C, depending on depth) when solarization was conducted in unshaded areas. One, 4, 5 and 6 weeks of solarization were required to eliminate the viability of D. necatrix at 15, 30, 45 and 60cm depths in the first experiment, whereas only 8, 10, 15 and 22 days of solarization were needed for the loss of viability of D. necatrix at the same depths in the second experiment. In shaded areas, however, soil solarization attained significant effectiveness at 15cm depth.Regression analyses of fungal viability (ln-transformed data) over accumulated temperature–time showed best fits when the minimum threshold temperature was 30°C. Although eradication of D. necatrix in soil can be achieved down to 60cm depth in solarized plots, and at 15cm depth in unsolarized unshaded plots, the accumulation of temperature–time appeared less effective in reducing inoculum viability in the latter.     

Relationships between Weather Variables, Airborne Spore Concentrations and Severity of Leaf Blight of Garlic Caused by Stemphylium vesicarium in Spain

Ascospores and conidia released into the air were recorded around plots on which garlic debris infected by Stemphylium vesicarium were fixed onto the soil surface. Symptoms in garlic trap plots located in the vicinity of infected debris, started in March and developed during April–May to reach disease incidence close to 100%, final disease severity values being lower in 1993 and 1995 than in 1994 and 1996. Whereas daily concentrations of ascospores were rather erratic, with 30% of captures between 0 and 6 h, conidia showed a daily periodicity with highest concentrations between 12 and 18 h, with a pronounced peak between 14 and 16 h, and lowest values at night. Ascospore release occurred mainly in February and March. It coincided with rainfall periods, 14 h with vapour pressure deficit 5 mb and solar radiation <145 W m^–2 on the current day of the capture. In contrast, greatest captures of conidia started in late April and were prevalent in May, and were associated with rainfall in days previous to the capture in which rather high temperature occurred and solar radiation was 109–345 W m^–2. Among the weather variables considered, rainfall appeared directly related to the aerial concentration of ascospores and conidia. The role of relative humidity seemed essential when rainfall did not occur. There was a relationship between conidia concentration in the air and number of hours with temperature in the range 12–21 °C. Ascospore production was not essential for infections to take place, since primary infection from conidia may occur and disease can develop from them readily.     

Assessment of Selected Quality Parameters of Epididymal Cat (Felis catus s. domestica,L. 1758) Sperm Using Flow Cytometry Method and Computer Assisted Sperm Analyser

The improvement of biotechnical methods connected with fast and precise semen quality assessment and its utilization in assisted reproductive techniques is an urgent necessity in felids. The aim of this study was to evaluate some quality parameters (i.e. the viability and share of cells with intact plasma membrane) of epididymal sperm of cats using the flow cytometry method and computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) examination. The material consisted of epididymal spermatozoa flushed from 22 pairs of epididymes after routine neutering procedures obtained from domestic cats aged between 8 and 36 months. The epididymes were cut and incubated with an extender without egg yolk. The samples were assessed for sperm viability (Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit^®), percentage of subtle membrane changes (Apoptosis Detection Kit^®) and motility using FACScalibur flow cytometer and assisted sperm analyser htm ivos version 12.2. The flow cytometry method revealed 71.3% and 84.4% of live sperm using Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit and Apoptosis Detection Kit respectively. The population of early‐apoptotic and late‐apoptotic sperm were 0.8% and 1.1% respectively. The CASA examination found 51.5% of motile sperm. However, the motility examination under light microscope revealed 69.5% of motile sperm. The data revealed an indistinctive per cent of apoptotic cells and 18.9% and 15.6% of dead cells using Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit and Apoptosis Detection Kit, respectively, which indicate that the sperm obtained after flushing the epididymis possess potential properties for further assisted reproduction techniques.     

The Current State of Solar Modeling

Data from the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) project and other helioseismic experiments provide a test for models of stellar interiors and for the thermodynamic and radiative properties, on which the models depend, of matter under the extreme conditions found in the sun. Current models are in agreement with the helioseismic inferences, which suggests, for example, that the disagreement between the predicted and observed fluxes of neutrinos from the sun is not caused by errors in the models. However, the GONG data reveal subtle errors in the models, such as an excess in sound speed just beneath the convection zone. These discrepancies indicate effects that have so far not been correctly accounted for; for example, it is plausible that the sound-speed differences reflect weak mixing in stellar interiors, of potential importance to the overall evolution of stars and ultimately to estimates of the age of the galaxy based on stellar evolution calculations.     

Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz cattle dip fluid

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival time of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz-based cattle dip fluid derived from an active dip site in northern New South Wales. PROCEDURE: Following inoculation of triplicate 5 L containers with faeces (0.5 g/L) from a clinical case of bovine paratuberculosis, samples collected up to 8 weeks after inoculation were examined by conventional and radiometric culture. M a paratuberculosis colonies were enumerated on solid media. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: M a paratuberculosis survived in amitraz cattle dip fluid for up to 2 weeks, but not 3 weeks. Where 1% of solids in dip fluid is derived from a clinical case of paratuberculosis, dip fluid may contain viable M a paratuberculosis for at least 2 weeks. These findings have implications for the management of cattle dip sites.