Nematode community structure as indicator of soil functioning in European grassland soils

This investigation analyses whether soil nematode diversity is correlated with soil functional parameters to serve as bioindicator of soil functioning. The analysis focuses on the interrelations of nematofauna, microflora, and soil nitrogen pools. The sites studied represent six major European grassland types: Northern tundra, atlantic heath, wet grassland, seminatural temperate grassland, East European steppe, and mediterranean garigue. Continental and local climate gradients were combined to a wide and continuous range of microclimate conditions. Nematode richness, as indicated by the number of genera, was highest under temperate conditions and declined towards the climatic extremes. Differences in richness affected all nematode feeding types proportionally. Nematode richness was the only parameter among a range of 15 alternatives tested that exhibited consistent correlations with mass and activity parameters of both nematofauna and microflora in the mineral grassland soils (garigue, wet grassland, seminatural grassland, steppe). In the same soils, the nematode Maturity Index was the best indicator of nitrogen status. We conclude that a high nematode richness can generally be seen as a good indicator of an active nematofauna and microflora in mineral grassland soils, and hence as an indicator of the decomposition function. The prospects of exploiting nematode diversity as an indicator of soil functioning are critically discussed.     

Model study on the effect of 15 phenolic olive mill wastewater constituents on seed germination and Vibrio fischeri metabolism

Olive mill wastewaters (OMW) can be a severe problem when disposed of as untreated because of their high organic load, elevated concentration of polyphenols, and moderately low biodegradability. In the present study, the acute toxicity of 15 compounds with low molecular weight (<350 Da), catechol, four benzoic acids, three phenylacetic acids, three phenylethanols, and four cinnamic acids, already isolated from the reverse osmosis in the fractionation of OMW, was assessed on the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and on the seeds of two dicotyledonous species Cucumis sativus and Lepidium sativum, and on one monocotyledon Sorghum bicolor. Results of phytotoxicity showed that the most toxic compounds were catechol (EC50s ranging from 0.40 mmol/L for S. bicolor to 1.09 for C. sativus) and hydroxytyrosol, (EC50s ranging from 0.47 mmol/L for S. bicolor to 1.55 for C. sativus) while the toxic potential on bacteria was particularly elevated with EC50 values 1 or 2 orders less than phytotoxicity. These results suggested that the risk of OMW disposal may be more elevated for the water compartment than for the soil.     

Modulation of antioxidant compounds in organic vs conventional fruit (peach,Prunus persica L., and pear,Pyrus communis L.)

Despite the increasing interest in organic products, knowledge about how different levels of fertilization affect nutritionally relevant components is still limited. The concentration of polyphenols and the activity of polyphenoloxidase (PPO), together with the content in ascorbic acid, citric acid, and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, were assayed in conventional and organic peach (Prunus persica L., cv. Regina bianca) and pear (Pyrus communis L., cv. Williams). 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the tocopherolquinone/alpha-tocopherol ratio were used as markers of oxidative damage in fruits. A parallel increase in polyphenol content and PPO activity of organic peach and pear as compared with the corresponding conventional samples was found. Ascorbic and citric acids were higher in organic than conventional peaches, whereas alpha-tocopherol was increased in organic pear. The concentration of oxidation products in organic samples of both fruits was comparable to that of the corresponding conventional ones. These data provide evidence that an improvement in the antioxidant defense system of the plant occurred as a consequence of the organic cultivation practice. This is likely to exert protection against damage of fruit when grown in the absence of pesticides.     

Evaluation of leaf rust resistance genes Lr1 , Lr9 , Lr24 , Lr47 and their introgression into common wheat cultivars by marker-assisted selection

Epidemiological field controls in different Italian locations and seedling evaluations of the ‘Thatcher’ near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying the leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr9, Lr24 and Lr47 were conducted during 5 years of testing. These genes confirmed their effectiveness in both field and greenhouse conditions. Moreover a backcross program was carried out by using as recurrent parents the susceptible high-quality common wheat cvs ‘Bolero’, ‘Colfiorito’, ‘Serio’ and ‘Spada’ and the ‘Thatcher’ NILs carrying the above mentioned genes as donor parents. The progenies of different cross combinations were selected by both resistance tests and marker assisted selection using molecular markers (STS, SCAR, CAPS) closely linked to Lr genes: a complete cosegregation was observed between the resistance genes used and the corresponding molecular markers.     

Clinical application of 2.16% hypertonic saline solution to correct the blood sodium concentration in diarrheic calves with hyponatremia

The aim of this study was to examine whether 2.16% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) is useful for the treatment of diarrheic calves with hyponatremia. Eleven of 13 female Holstein calves exhibiting moderate diarrhea and hyponatremia received 1,250 ml of 2.16% HSS over 15 min regardless of body weight. The remaining two calves that were unable to stand and had severe hyponatremia received 2,500 ml of 2.16% HSS intravenously over 30 min. As a result, hyponatremia in all diarrheic calves was significantly improved by the administration of 2.16% HSS from 122.2 ± 7.0 mEq/l at pre to 134.8 ± 3.7 mEq/l at post, which was above the threshold of 132 mEq/l for hyponatremia. Therefore, 2.16% HSS may be useful for hyponatremia in calves with diarrhea.     

Ovum pick-up and in vitro maturation in spotted paca (Cuniculus paca—Linnaeus, 1766)

We tested FSHp, eCG and FSHp + eCG to establish ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro maturation method in spotted paca. Eight healthy adult females were subjected to each of four treatments to stimulate ovarian follicular growth. All females were subjected to a hormonal protocol using a single dose of 45 mg of injectable progesterone and single intramuscular injection of 0.075 mg d-cloprostenol on day 6. Ovarian stimulation was carried out as follows: in Group TFE (FSHp and eCG), animals were treated with a single dose of 80 mg of FSHp and 200 IU of eCG intramuscularly on day 6 after the application of progesterone; in Group TF (FSHp), they were treated with a single dose of 80 mg of FSHp intramuscularly on day 6 after application of progesterone; in Group treatment eCG, they were treated with 200 IU of eCG intramuscularly on day 6 after application of progesterone; and in Group TC (saline solution), 1 ml of saline solution was administered to control does. The OPU was performed between 22 and 26 hr after gonadotropin treatments. All recovered oocytes were placed into maturation media and incubated for 24 hr. There were no differences among the mean number of observed follicles, aspirated follicles and oocytes recovered per treatment. Oocyte maturation rates did not differ among groups, except, TF and treatment eCG oocytes had greater maturation rates than TC oocytes. In this study, gonadotropin administration failed to superovulate treated does and increase oocyte retrieval efficiency. Despite the feasibility of the procedure, further studies are needed to develop and refine hormonal protocols for oocyte recovery and in vitro maturation in this species.     

Use of two cloprostenol administrations 11.5 days apart efficiently synchronizes oestrus in photostimulated multiparous dairy goats in the non-breeding season

This study assessed the efficiency of synchronous oestrous induction by light programme followed by two doses of cloprostenol in acyclic Saanen goats of different parity orders. Primiparous (n = 22) and multiparous (n = 33) goats were subjected to 16 hr of light and 8 hr of darkness for 60 days (D0-D60), starting 10 days after the winter solstice. All goats received 120 µg cloprostenol doses on D130 (morning) and D141.5 (afternoon) (11.5 days apart). Oestrus behaviour, ovarian follicular dynamics and serum progesterone (P4) analyses were recorded from D0 to D174 at different intervals. Animals in oestrus after D141.5 were randomly assigned into two groups: assisted natural mating (NM) or artificial insemination (AI; 10–24 hr after oestrus onset with frozen-thawed semen). From D57 to D120, 89.0% of goats presented large follicles (5–8 mm) and P4 concentrations were subluteal from D0 to D120. More multiparous compared to primiparous goats (54.5%, 18/33 vs. 18.2%, 4/22) exhibited oestrus after both injections. More primiparous compared to multiparous goats (54.5%, 12/22 vs. 12.1%, 4/33) did not exhibit oestrus after any injection. A total of 35 goats (64%) were in oestrus after the second prostaglandin injection and were subjected to NM or AI. The conception rate was similar among primiparous (70.0%, 7/10) and multiparous (68.0%, 17/25) goats but the pregnancy rate differed, being 31.8% (7/22) and 51.5% (17/33), respectively. No interaction was found between parity order and P4 concentrations in does that became pregnant or not. Thus, the association between light programme (60 days, starting at the beginning of winter) and two cloprostenol administrations 11.5 days apart (starting 70 days after the end of the light treatment) resulted in sufficient synchronous oestrous response in multiparous acyclic Saanen goats to reach satisfactory fertility levels after both NM and AI.     

Benefits and risks of barefoot harness racing in Standardbred trotters

There is a lack of research on the benefits and risks of shoeing conditions in harness racing. Thus, our objectives were to: (a) investigate whether velocity times (VT; s/km) are affected by racing unshod (N = 76,932 records on 5,247 horses); (b) determine the potential risks of galloping, being penalized, and disqualification when competing unshod (N = 111,755 records on 6,423 horses); and (c) identify additional environmental factors that affect VT and risks. VT was found to be significantly influenced by shoeing condition (e.g., unshod, shod front, shod hind, or fully shod), but also by sex, age, season, track, track condition, start method, start position, distance, and driver‐horse performance level (p < 2e‐16). The risks of galloping and disqualification were significantly influenced by shoeing condition, sex, age, season, track, start method, start position, or driver‐horse performance level (p ≤ .05). Horses racing unshod had 0.7 s/km lower VT than fully shod horses and showed better performance when racing on neutral tracks during the late summer than horses with other shoeing conditions during the same period. However, racing unshod increased the relative risks of galloping and disqualification by 15%–35% in all seasons. Horses shod only on the hind hooves showed better performance than fully shod horses, without higher risks associated with competing unshod.