Phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties of Xanthosoma violaceum leaves

An extract of Xanthosoma violaceum leaves was subjected to a polyphenol profile determination, including total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity evaluation. Analysis of the extract resulted in the isolation of a new flavone C-glycoside, apigenin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-apiofuranoside (1), as well as known flavone C-glycosides, including vitexin (2), isovitexin (3), isovitexin 4'-O-rhamnopyranoside (4), apigenin 6-C-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (5), and apigenin 6,8-diC-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6). The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by means of two different in vitro tests: bleaching of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH test) and peroxidation induced by the water-soluble radical initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride, on mixed dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/linoleic acid unilamellar vesicles (LP-LUV test). In both tests used, the extract and a fraction II showed a significant antioxidant/free-radical scavenging effect (fraction II, EC(50) = 11.6 microg/mL) in comparison to alpha-tocopherol (EC(50) = 10.1 microg/mL).     

Photodecomposition of an acaricide,fenazaquin, in aqueous alcoholic solution

Fenazaquin (I) is a new acaricide of the quinazoline class. The photodecomposition of I was studied in aqueous methanolic and 2-propanolic solution under UV light (30 h) and sunlight (70 h) separately. The photolytic half-lives in aqueous methanolic solution were found to be 17.1 h (UV) and 38.1 h (sunlight), whereas these were 12.9 h (UV) and 29.2 h (sunlight) for aqueous 2-propanolic solution; all followed a first-order reaction kinetics. Six photoproducts were obtained: beta-phenyl (p-tert-butyl) ethyl alcohol (II), 4-hydroxyquinazoline (III), p-tert-butyl vinyl benzene (IV), 2,4-dihydroxyquinazoline (V), phenyl (p-tert-butyl) acetic acid (VI), and 2-methyl-2-[4'-(2' '-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]propanoic acid (VII). Compounds VI and VII could be isolated only from aqueous 2-propanolic solution under sunlight irradiation. The major degradation products are formed as a result of cleavage of the ether bridge linking the quinazoline and phenyl ring systems of the molecule, oxidation of the tert-butyl substituent, and oxidation of the heterocyclic portion of the quinazoline ring. A probable mechanism of formation of the photoproducts is also suggested.     

Effects of soil properties and humidity regimes on semi-natural meadow productivity

ABSTRACT

The research has been conducted for four years in five phytocenoses affected by the processes of naturalization. Two of them are located in non-flooded, relatively abandoned meadows and the remaining - flooded meadows in different parts of the Nemunas delta (Western Lithuania). The aim of the research was to estimate the influence of ecological conditions (humidity regimes, soil agrochemical parameters) on semi-natural meadow productivity. Humidity regimes and nitrogen amount in the soil influenced dry matter (DM) yield of meadow phytocesosis. The biggest DM yield (8.64 ± 0.77 t ha^-1) was found in flooded meadow in the central part of the Nemunas delta in Terric Histosol (HSs) soil, which had moderate acidity and was rich in nitrogen. The economic value depended on the prevailing plant species and was the highest in non-flooded meadows. Botanical composition and plant species number depended on agrochemical characteristics of the soil and management activities: the greatest plant species diversity and the best plant population stability were established in flooded meadow in the riverside part of the Nemunas delta behind a levee in soil rich in phosphorus and potassium and low acidity. A similar number of plant species and similar ecological stability parameters were found in non-flooded meadow, whose soil was low in nutrients, but there was intensified farming.     

Einsatz bakterieller Antagonisten zur Bekämpfung von Krankheiten verursacht durch Rhizoctonia solani

Rhizoctonia solani is an important soil-borne pathogen causing diseases in numerous economically important crops. The pathogen R. solani can be responsible for relevant yield losses as well as on lettuce and potato. To develop a biocontrol strategy, two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens L13–6-12 and Serratia plymuthica 3Re4–18 were evaluated against R. solani causing black scurf in potato and bottom rot in lettuce. The disease suppression effect of the two antagonists was tested as well as in a climate chamber and in the field during two vegetation periods. The results of the climate chamber experiments showed, that R. solani can significantly reduced the lettuce growth. The dry mass losses on lettuce and the disease severity on potato sprouts were significantly limited through bacterization. The antagonist L13–6-12 showed best disease suppression effect in climate chamber experiments on both crops. A significant lower disease severity was to observed in treatments with bacterial antagonists as well as on lettuce plants and harvested potato tubers during both vegetation periods. Also the dry mass losses on lettuce were clear reduced in treatments with bacterial antagonists, whereas only a partly limitation of yield losses on potato was to achieved. In summary, the results supported that the use of bacterial antagonists can be part of a control strategy against R. solani.     

Bronchopulmonary Disease in the Cat: Historical, Physical, Radiographic, Clinicopathologic, and Pulmonary Functional Evaluation of 24 Affected and 15 Healthy Cats

The results of clinical and pulmonary functional evaluation of 24 cats with bronchopulmonary disease and 15 healthy cats are presented. Affected cats had historical evidence of excessive reflexes (coughing, sneezing); physical evidence of airway secretions (crackles), obstruction (wheezing), and increased tracheal sensitivity; radiographic evidence of bronchial and interstitial lung disease; and cytological evidence of airway inflammation or mucous secretions. Bacterial isolates from healthy and affected cats were predominantly Gram-negative rods, indicating that bronchi of cats are not always sterile and that normal flora should be considered in interpreting cultures from cats with suspected bronchopulmonary disease. Cats were grouped according to relative disease severity based on scored historical, physical, and radiographic abnormalities. The mean (± standard deviation) baseline lung resistance measurement in healthy cats was 28.9 cm H₂O/L/s (±6.2 cm H₂O/L/s), whereas in mildly, moderately, and severely affected cats it was 38.3 cm H₂O/L/s (±21.5 cm H₂O/L/s), 44.8 cmH₂O/L/s (±7.7 cm H₂O/L/s), and 105.2 cm H₂O/L/s (±66.9 cm H₂O/L/s), respectively. In healthy cats, dynamic lung compliance was 19.8 (±7.4), whereas in mildly, moderately, and severely affected cats it was 14.7 mL/cm H₂O (±3.8 mL/cm H₂O), 17.7 mL/cm H₂O (±6.9 mL/cm H₂O), and 13.0 mL/cm H₂O (±7.9 mL/cm H₂O), respectively. Thus, airway obstruction was present in many of the affected cats. Based on acute response to the bron-chodilator, terbutaline, airway obstruction was partially reversible in many affected cats, although the degree of reversibility varied. Furthermore, based on bronchoprovocation testing, 6 (of 7) affected cats evaluated also had increased airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine.     

A strategy for the control of Andraca bipunctata Walker on tea

Larvae of Andraca bipunctata Walker (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera) rapidly defoliate mature tea plants in north-east India, necessitating the application of insecticides that will kill or knock them down quickly. In a field trial in 1978, the synthetic pyrethroids permethrin and deltamethrin both gave excellent control of this defoliator at 0·5 g/ha, although the effect was more persistent at 1·0 g/ha. These insecticides failed to reach the target sites within dense canopies, and treatments were less effective during periods of heavy rainfall. The tachinid parasite Cylindromya sp. became active, although it failed to keep the numbers of larvae below the damaging level.     

The use of spleen antigen in the tube agglutination test for diagnosis of anaplasmosis in cattle

An antigen was prepared from the spleen of an infected bovine calf and was used in the tube agglutination test. Cases having rare and very low parasitaemia as well as the carrier cases were detected by this procedure and no non-specific reaction was observed with other haemoprotozoan infections. The maximum titre obtained with the Anplasma positive sera was 1:20, about 60 per cent showed a titre of 1:10 and 90 per cent showed a titre of 1:5 or more. The test provided satisfactory results in detecting the cases even at the early phase of the infection. The test also proved useful in judging the efficacy of a drug employed to destroy the carrier status.     

Detection of bovine herpesvirus 4 in CD11b+ leukocytes of experimentally infected rabbits

The presence and numbers of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) infected CD11b+ leukocytes were investigated during experimental infections of New Zealand White rabbits by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analysis. Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were collected every second day, and the cells were stained with phycoerythrin-labelled CD11b-specific mouse monoclonal antibody and fluorescein-conjugated bovine herpesvirus 4-specific mouse monoclonal antibody. The numbers of double-stained cells from PBLs of the control and inoculated groups were measured and compared in FACSTREK analyser. Double-stained cells were detected in the virus-inoculated group on postinoculation days (PID) 2-5 and 9-12. The results indicated that CD11b+ PBLs were permissive for BoHV-4 infection, and are probably the main reservoir of the virus during the latent period. The data did not indicate production of infectious viral particles, but virus-specific proteins were expressed on the surface of CD11b+ cells. The two waves of double-stained cells gave similar results to the PCR assays from serum samples, which showed the presence of viral DNA in the serum on the same days when virus-infected CD11b cells were also present. Productive BoHV-4 infection of mast cells or undifferentiated leukocytes in the bone marrow and the antiviral immune response might be responsible for this periodic appearance of the virus in CD11b+ PBLs and in the serum. The paper provides evidence that CD11b+ PBLs are the main target cell populations in the blood for BoHV-4.