Local plants as potential sources of tannins in Egypt,part. IV (Aceraceae to Flacourtiaceae)

Continuing a previous study, the leaves and barks of thirty one plants collected from the botanical gardens in Cairo, were subjected to detailed studies with the aim of identifying the type of tannins present in each plant. The study included colour tests and paper chromatography of both the free sugars and phenolic aglycones. The plants recorded here are those ranging fromAceraceae toFlacourtiaceae.

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Zusammenfassung In Fortsetzung dieser Reihe wurden die Blätter- und Rindermaterialien von 31 Pflanzen, gesammelt aus den botanischen Gärten in Kairo, auf ihre Gerbstoffe untersucht. Mit Hilfe der Papierchromatographie wurden sowohl die freien Zucker als auch die phenolischen Komponenten dieser Pflanzen identifiziert.In dieser Mitteilung wurden die Untersuchungsergebnisse der Pflanzen der Familien Aceraceae bis Flacourtiaceae gegeben.

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Résumé En poursuivant nos études précédentes, les feuilles et les écorses de 31 plantes cueillies dans les jardins de Caire, ont été soumises à des études détaillées. En vue d'identifier le type des tannins présent dans chaque plante, les études contenaient des expériments par chromatographie sur papier concernant les sucres natifs et les aglycones phénoliques. Les plantes qui ont été rapportées ici sont celles des familles Aceraceae à Flacourtiaceae.

     

Growth and phosphorus uptake of maize cultivated alone,in mixed culture with other crops or after incorporation of their residues

Intercropping or rotating of P‐efficient crop species which mobilize sparingly soluble P by their root exudates can have beneficial effects on growth and P uptake of P‐inefficient species. We aimed at studying the effect of intercropping or incorporating of crop residues of P‐efficient crops on the components of maize P‐uptake, i.e. the root‐system size and P influx (P‐uptake rate per unit root length). This was studied in 3 pot experiments in a low‐P sandy soil. In the first experiment, maize was intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, and with groundnut in the second experiment. In the third experiment, maize was grown after incorporating the crop residues of white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape. Maize growth and yield was strongly inhibited when intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, probably because of competition for nutrients. But with groundnut as the accompanying species, maize yield was increased by a factor of 3, mainly because of an enhanced P influx. Crop residues of oilseed rape and sugar beet increased the yield of maize by factors 2 and 1.6, respectively, because of a 3 and 2 times higher P uptake as compared to maize grown after maize without incorporation of crop residue. The reason for the higher maize P‐uptake after oilseed rape was an 11 times higher P influx as compared to maize without crop residues, and after sugar beet residues because of an enhanced root growth and a 4 times higher P influx. Lupine residues did not improve maize growth, mainly because of a low P influx, which was even less than that of maize grown without crop residues. The soil solution P concentration and calcium acetate lactate‐extractable P (CAL P) measured in this study did not reflect the P availability as indicated by the plants (P uptake, P influx). This indicates that other mechanisms such as P mobilization in the rhizosphere by root exudates or cell‐wall components were responsible for the increased P availability. These mechanisms need further investigation.     

Effect of altering linoleic acid and linolenic acid dietary levels and ratios on the performance and tissue fatty acid profiles of Nile tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> fry

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of altering the linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA) levels and ratios in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on fry performance. Twelve diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and differed only in their main lipid source. An oil rich in n-3 fatty acids [linseed oil (L)] and two oils rich in n-6 fatty acids [soybean oil (S) and corn oil (C)] were added at 6% of the basal diet either separately or in equal combinations (L1:S1 or L1:C1 or S1:C1) or at ratio 2:1 (L2:S1 or L2:C1 or C2:L1 or C2:S1 or S2:L1 or S2:C1). The fish were fed twice daily (09 and 16 h) to apparent satiation throughout the duration of the trial (16 weeks). Survival rates increased in a linear pattern with increasing the LA level in the diets (R ² = 0.764). Final body weight was significantly higher in fish fed S, S2:L1, and L2:C1 diets, being 14.29, 14.14, and 14.09 g/fish, respectively. However, tilapia fed C, S1:C1, and C2:S1 diets exhibited low final body weight (11.41, 11.60, and 11.76 g/fish, respectively). The final body weight was negatively affected by increasing the LA/LNA ratios (R ² = 0.647). Either LA or arachidonic acid (%) in the whole body of fish increased in a linear patterns (R ² = 0.641 and 0.746, respectively) with increasing dietary LA. Besides, LNA, eicosapentaenoic, acid and docosahexaenoic acid (%) in the whole body increased in a linear pattern (R ² = 0.777, 0.501, and 0.8148, respectively) the increasing dietary LNA level. The present study indicated that LA/LNA ratio less than 13 is recommended for nutrition of tilapia fry.     

Assessment of Transmission Ability of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus-PAV Isolates by Different Populations of Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae

Populations of two aphid species from different geographic regions of Morocco were tested for their ability to transmit five barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV) type isolates using Clintland 64 oat as the test plant. Transmission efficiencies were determined for 10 sub-populations of Rhopalosiphum padi and 12 sub-populations of Sitobion avenae. After a short acquisition access period (AAP) of 4h, all populations transmitted the virus but with different efficiencies. R. padi (Rp-S) and S. avenae (Sa-S) collected in the Settat region were the most efficient vectors, with transmission rates of 38% and 27%, respectively. R. padi (Rp-C) collected at Chaouen and S. avenae (Sa-B) at Berkane, were poor transmitters with respective vectoring abilities of 20% and 16%. These four sub-populations were chosen to study the acquisition of BYDV-PAV and the retention of virus within aphids in more detail. The transmission after two AAPs of 4h and 48h were compared. Starved aphids given a 4h AAP had significantly higher transmission efficiencies than non-starved aphids. However, after a 48h AAP, no difference was observed in the transmission between starved and non-starved aphids. Intraspecific variability was also detected by means of serial transfers of individual aphids after the given AAP. Following the first day of serial transfers, no differences were observed in transmission efficiency and virus titers for sub-populations within each species acquiring the virus during 48h, but there was significant variation when the virus was acquired in 4h. The levels of PAV antigen retained by aphids fed on healthy plants declined rapidly during the first day after acquisition, but remained fairly constant during the next 5–7 days depending on the length of the AAP. Virus antigen could be detected by ELISA in Rp-S and Sa-S for up to 11 days of serial transfer, but it was shown that aphids could retain and transmit BYDV-PAV for at least 3 weeks.     

Impact of some alternative methods to chemical control in controlling aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) and their side effects on natural enemies on young Moroccan citrus groves

Aphid control in Moroccan citrus orchards is based mainly on carbamate and neonicotinoid sprays, especially methomyl and imidacloprid. The extensive use of these insecticides may have side effects on natural enemies and environment quality and raises human health concerns. This research aimed to assess the control of aphids with insecticidal soap, kaolin and augmentative biological control using the indigenous predator Adalia decempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The insecticides were applied and the predators were released in April 2009 and 2010. Under field experimentation, the methomyl and imidacloprid foliar pulverization were very effective against aphids. In contrast, the insecticidal soap and kaolin application were less efficient while A. decempunctata adults were effective only in the first week after release. The side effects on beneficial insects were also assessed and discussed. The possibility of employing A. decempunctata in an integrated pest management package in citrus groves is discussed in relation to effectiveness and side effects on beneficial arthropods.     

Subereamolline A as a Potent Breast Cancer Migration, Invasion and Proliferation Inhibitor and Bioactive Dibrominated Alkaloids from the Red Sea Sponge Pseudoceratina arabica

A new collection of several Red Sea sponges was investigated for the discovery of potential breast cancer migration inhibitors. Extracts of the Verongid sponges Pseudoceratina arabica and Suberea mollis were selected. Bioassay-directed fractionation of both sponges, using the wound-healing assay, resulted into the isolation of several new and known brominated alkaloids. Active fractions of the sponge Pseudoceratina arabica afforded five new alkaloids, ceratinines A–E (2–6), together with the known alkaloids moloka’iamine (1), hydroxymoloka’iamine (7) and moloka’iakitamide (8). The active fraction of the sponge Suberea mollis afforded the three known alkaloids subereamolline A (9), aerothionin (10) and homoaerothionin (11). Ceratinine B (3) possesses an unprecedented 5,7-dibrominated dihydroindole moiety with an epoxy ring on the side chain of a fully substituted aromatic moiety. Ceratinines D (5) and E (6) possess a terminal formamide moiety at the ethylamine side chain. Subereamolline A (9) potently inhibited the migration and invasion of the highly metastatic human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 at the nanomolar doses. Subereamolline A and related brominated alkaloids are novel scaffolds appropriate for further future use for the control of metastatic breast cancer.     

Design and implementation of an electronic mobile poultry production documentation system

Documentation is a major component of any traceability system where traceability is defined in the ISO Regulation 8402:1994 as the ability to trace the history, application and location of what is under consideration. Traceability systems are record keeping systems designed to track the flow of product or product attributes through the production process or supply chain. All international supply chains are forced to comply with traceability requirements. In this paper, we develop and implement an end-to-end mobile application prototype that traces the poultry production. This application consists of front-end and back-end systems. At the front-end, the worker uses a GPRS enabled handheld device (cell phone, PDA, etc.) to capture information on poultry operations collected at a remote chicken farm and transmit it to a back-end server in the main office. Through customized application the back-end server analyses all information received from the front-end and based on a built-in business process and business rules, intelligently updates various stakeholders of any breach of bio-security measures that requires immediate attention. The proposed system administrators can also access this application via Internet for management decision making. The back-end system consists of web server, defined business application logic and database server.