Linking herbivore monitoring with interpolation to map regional risk of pest species

Journal of Pest Science - Long-term monitoring networks that generate data on pest abundance are the foundation of integrated pest management. Monitoring can estimate local risk from pests and...     

Cytotoxic Effects of Loperamide Hydrochloride on Canine Cancer Cells

Loperamide is a peripheral opiate agonist that can cause apoptosis and G2/M arrest in human cancer cell lines and may sensitize cells to chemotherapy. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of loperamide on viability, apoptosis and cell cycle kinetics in canine cancer cells and to establish whether the drug sensitizes cells to doxorubicin. Cell viability was assessed using Alamar Blue. Cell death and cell cycle were studied using flow cytometry with 7-Aminoactinomycin-D (7-AAD) and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. Loperamide decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent fashion and was most effective against canine osteosarcoma cells. In all cell lines, it induced a dose and time dependent apoptosis and resulted in accumulation in G0/G1. When co-incubated with doxorubicin, loperamide induced a synergistic cell kill in canine carcinoma cells. Investigation is warranted into the role of loperamide in the treatment of canine cancer.     

Photostabilization of biocontrol agents by berberine

We studied the photostabilizing effect of the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine on the following three model photounstable biocontrol agents: the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ), the baculovirus Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrosis virus ( SlNPV ), and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana . The photoprotection provided by berberine was evaluated following various periods of simulated sunlight-UV irradiation. Insecticidal activity of Bt and SlNPV , as well as the rate of B. bassiana spore germination served as parameters for the photostabilizing effects. Only a berberine- Bt complex is effective, as practically no photostabilization was evident by just mixing the two components. The UV-sensitive SlNPV and B. bassiana spores were considerably photostabilzed by berberine. The role of the cationic nature of the berberine molecule and the importance of its absorbance spectrum in photostabilization of biocontrol agents are discussed.     

Ocular metastasis of a vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma in a cat

A 6‐year‐old, neutered male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for a recurrent vaccine‐associated fibrosarcoma. The cat had three excisions of the tumour prior to presentation and was referred for radiation therapy. Ten months following treatment with radiation therapy, the cat was presented again for a cloudy appearance to the eye. An exenteration was performed, and biopsy revealed fibrosarcoma. At the same time, two discrete pulmonary nodules were identified on thoracic radiographs. Two doses of doxorubicin (20 mg/m²) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/m²) were administered intravenously 3 weeks apart. Despite treatment, the pulmonary nodule doubled in size. This case represents the first antemortem report of ocular metastasis of a vaccine‐associated sarcoma and supports the highly aggressive nature of these tumours.     

EMPHYSEMATOUS PYOMETRA IN A DOG

An 8-year-old intact female West Highland White Terrier was examined for anorexia, vomiting, abdominal distension, and mild purulent vulvar discharge. The results of physical examination, laboratory testing, and radiography are presented. Emphysematous pyometra was suspected and confirmed at surgery. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the uterine lumen. A brief discussion of emphysematous pyometra is presented.     

Shading of plants facilitates selection for powdery mildew resistance in Squash

Summary Powdery mildew development was assessed on squash (Cucurbita pepo) plants of a susceptible cultivar, a resistant accession, their F₁, and their F₂ in an early summer planting in the field, covered or not covered with a shading net. Three reaction types were observed: susceptible, powdery mildew on stems and on both, the upper and lower leaf surfaces, as in the susceptible parent; resistant, no powdery mildew on leaves or stems, as in the resistant parent; and partially resistant, powdery mildew on upper leaf surfaces only, as in the F₁. Disease presence on the stem was associated with susceptibility. Shading hastened the appearance of powdery mildew and increased the severity of infection on partially resistant and susceptible plants, facilitating identification of resistant individuals in the F₂ population.Contribution No. 1613-E from the Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel     

Inheritance of resistance against Phytophthora infestans in Lycopersicon pimpenellifolium L3707

Summary Lycopersicon pimpenellifolium L3707, resistant to the late blight oomycete Phytophthora infestans was crossed with the susceptible Lycopersicon pimpenellifolium 14377 or the susceptible Lycopersicon esculentum ZH. Progeny F1 and F2 generations were scored at the 5-leaf stage for resistance against 175 field and recombinant isolates of the pathogen. F1 plants exhibited various levels of moderate resistance and F2 plants segregated 3:6:7 resistant/moderately resistant/susceptible. The data support the hypothesis that race-non-specific resistance in L3707 is controlled by two independent genes: a partially-dominant gene and a dominant epistatic gene.     

Intra-varietal variation for in vitro plant regeneration in the genus Trifolium

Summary Seedlings of Trifolium repens showed considerable variation with regard to the morphology and growth of their calli, and their ability for in vitro differentiation of shoots. One of the lines selected for regeneration in primary callus cultures also showed shoot formation from protoplasts. Somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures of T. pratense and T. arvense occurred only in selected seedling lines. This paper highlights the importance of screening a large number of plants within a cultivar of outbreeding species to achieve reproducible plant regeneration from tissue culture.