Effect of temperature, elevated carbon dioxide, and drought during seed development on the isoflavone content of dwarf soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] grown in controlled environments

The effects of elevated temperature, carbon dioxide, and water stress on the isoflavone content of seed from a dwarf soybean line [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] were determined, using controlled environment chambers. Increasing the temperature from 18 degrees C during seed development to 23 degrees C decreased total isoflavone content by about 65%. A further 5 degrees C increase to 28 degrees C decreased the total isoflavone content by about 90%. Combining treatments at elevated temperature with elevated CO(2) (700 ppm) and water stress to determine the possible consequences of global climate change on soybean seed isoflavone content indicated that elevated CO(2) at elevated temperatures could partially reverse the effects of temperature on soybean seed isoflavone content. The addition of drought stress to plants grown at 23 degrees C and elevated CO(2) returned the total isoflavone levels to the control values obtained at 18 degrees C and 400 ppm CO(2). The promotive effects of drought and elevated CO(2) at 23 degrees C on the 6' '-O-malonygenistin and genistin levels were additive. The individual isoflavones often had different responses to the various growth conditions during seed maturation, modifying the proportions of the principal isoflavones. Therefore, subtle changes in certain environmental factors may change the isoflavone content of commercially grown soybean, altering the nutritional values of soy products.     

Effect of thinning on anatomical adaptations of Norway spruce needles

Conifers and other trees are constantly adapting to changes in light conditions, water/nutrient supply and temperatures by physiological and morphological modifications of their foliage. However, the relationship between physiological processes and anatomical characteristics of foliage has been little explored in trees. In this study we evaluated needle structure and function in Norway spruce families exposed to different light conditions and transpiration regimes. We compared needle characteristics of sun-exposed and shaded current-year needles in a control plot and a thinned plot with 50% reduction in stand density. Whole-tree transpiration rates remained similar across plots, but increased transpiration of lower branches after thinning implies that sun-exposed needles in the thinned plot were subjected to higher water stress than sun-exposed needles in the control plot. In general, morphological and anatomical needle parameters increased with increasing tree height and light intensity. Needle width, needle cross-section area, needle stele area and needle flatness (the ratio of needle thickness to needle width) differed most between the upper and lower canopy. The parameters that were most sensitive to the altered needle water status of the upper canopy after thinning were needle thickness, needle flatness and percentage of stele area in needle area. These results show that studies comparing needle structure or function between tree species should consider not only tree height and light gradients, but also needle water status. Unaccounted for differences in needle water status may have contributed to the variable relationship between needle structure and irradiance that has been observed among conifers.     

Dipole moments of highly vibrationally excited water

The intensity of water absorption in the region of the solar spectrum plays a dominant role in atmospheric energy balance and hence strongly influences climate. Significant controversy exists over how to model this absorption accurately. We report dipole moment measurements of highly vibrationally excited water, which provide stringent tests of intensities determined by other means. Our measurements and accompanying calculations suggest that the best currently available potential and dipole surfaces do not accurately model intensities in the optical spectrum of water.     

Conjugation of bovine serum albumin and glucose under combined high pressure and heat

The effect of combined heat and pressure on the Maillard reaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glucose was investigated. The effects in the range of 60-132 °C and at 0.1-600 MPa on the lysine availability of BSA were investigated at isothermal/isobaric conditions. The kinetic results showed that the protein-sugar conjugation rate increased with increasing temperature, whereas it decreased with increasing pressure. The reaction followed 1.4th order kinetics at most conditions investigated. A mathematical model describing BSA-glucose conjugation kinetics as a function of pressure and temperature is proposed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to verify BSA-glucose conjugation and to identify the glucosylated sites. These indicated that the application of combined high pressure and high temperature resulted in significant differences in the progression of the Maillard reaction as compared to heat treatments at atmospheric pressure.     

Rhamnolipids Increase the Phytotoxicity of Diesel Oil Towards Four Common Plant Species in a Terrestrial Environment

The study focused on assessing the influence of rhamnolipids on the phytotoxicity of diesel oil-contaminated soil samples. Tests evaluating the seed germination and growth inhibition of four terrestrial plant species (alfalfa, sorghum, mustard and cuckooflower) were carried out at different rhamnolipid concentrations (ranging from 0 to 1.200?mg/kg of wet soil). The experiments were performed in soil samples with a different diesel oil content (ranging from 0 to 25?ml/kg of wet soil). It was observed that the sole presence of rhamnolipids may be phytotoxic at various levels, which is especially notable for sorghum (the germination index decreased to 41?%). The addition of rhamnolipids to diesel oil-contaminated soil samples contributed to a significant increase of their phytotoxicity. The most toxic effect was observed after a rhamnolipid-supplemented diesel oil biodegradation, carried out with the use of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria consortium. The supplemention of rhamnolipids (600?mg/kg of wet soil) resulted in a decrease of seed germination of all studied plant species and an inhibition of microbial activity, which was measured by the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride tests. These findings indicate that the presence of rhamnolipids may considerably increase the phytotoxicity of diesel oil. Therefore, their use at high concentrations, during in situ bioremediation processes, should be avoided in a terrestrial environment.     

Response of susceptible and resistant peach-potato aphids Myzus persicae (Sulz.) to insecticides in leaf-dip bioassays

The response of susceptible (S), moderately resistant (R₁) and strongly resistant (R₂) peach-potato aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulz.) to organophosphorus, carbamate and pyrethroid insecticides was tested by a leaf-dip bioassay. The aphids were placed on potato leaves (dipped in insecticide solutions 1–2 or 24 h before infestation) and their mortality examined 48 h later. R₁ aphids were virtually susceptible to most of the carbamates, demephion and acephate, but were slightly to moderately resistant (2.1–9.4 times) to permethrin, cypermethrin and (S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1R)-cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (I), (NRDC 161), to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-methylquinolin-4-yl dimethylcarbamate (II), (Hoechst 25 682) and demeton-S-methyl. R₂ aphids resisted more strongly or very strongly (between 65 and 1280 times) the pyrethroids, demeton-S-methyl (×94), II (×83) and demephion (×9), and were slightly to moderately (2–5 times) resistant to acephate, pirimicarb, ethiofencarb and 2-(dimethylcarbamoyloxyimino)-3-methoxyimino-N,N- dimethylbutyramide (III), (DPX 3853). Both resistant strains were susceptible to nitrilacarb [4,4-dimethyl-5-(methylcarbamoyloxyimino)pentanenitrile] complex (1:1) with zinc chloride (IV), (AC 85 258). The implications of these results in terms of practical aphid control are discussed.     

Quantitative precursor studies on di- and trihydroxybenzene formation during coffee roasting using "in bean" model experiments and stable isotope dilution analysis

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of various raw bean components as precursors of pyrogallol (1), hydroxyhydroquinone (2), catechol (3), 4-ethylcatechol (4), 4-methylcatechol (5), and 3-methylcatechol (6) under quasi "natural" roasting conditions by using the recently developed "in bean" model roast experiments. Freeze-dried, fully extracted bean shells were loaded with aqueous solutions of either single coffee compounds or fractions isolated from the raw bean solubles. After freeze-drying, these reconstituted beans were roasted, aqueous coffee brews were prepared, and the target phenols were quantified by means of a stable isotope dilution assay with LC-MS/MS detection. On the basis of the quantitative data, it can be concluded that upon coffee bean roasting, catechol (3) is primarily formed by degradation of caffeoylquinic acids from both the caffeic acid and the quinic acid moiety of the molecule, as well as from Maillard-type reactions from carbohydrates and amino acids. In contrast, pyrogallol (1) and hydroxyhydroquinone (2) are efficiently generated from carbohydrates and amino acids and, in addition, from free or chlorogenic acid bound quinic acid moieties. 4-Ethylcatechol (4) is exclusively generated upon thermal breakdown of caffeic acid moieties. 3-Methylcatechol (6) is formed primarily from the Maillard reactions and, to a minor extent, also from various phenolic precursors, whereas 4-methylcatechol (5) is produced in trace amounts only from all of the different precursors investigated. On the basis of this precursor study, reaction routes explaining the formation of the target phenols are proposed.     

Functioning unilateral adrenocortical carcinoma in a dog

An 11-year-old, 24-kg, intact female Siberian husky dog in anestrus had a 2-month history of polyuria and polydipsia. The dog had signs of mineralocorticoid excess such as hypertension and hypokalemia refractory to potassium supplementation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an irregular mass in the left adrenal gland. The ACTH stimulation test for aldosterone concentration did not reveal hyperaldosteronism. Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed and histopathology identified adrenal cortical carcinoma. All clinical signs of mineralocorticoid excess ceased after surgery.     

意大利园艺种子产业

经过几十年的长足发展,意大利已经跻身于全球种子生产的领头国家行列,该国种子产业最大的优势在于拥有众多专业化分工、市场营销策略明确的种子公司.本文精选了10家盈利最高的意大利本土种子公司,对其进行调查研究,以期对该国种子产业的特点和发展趋势有所了解.     

Isolation of a novel viral agent associated with porcine reproductive and neurological syndrome and reproduction of the disease

Disease outbreaks characterized by reproductive failure and/or neurologic disorders, which are commonly referred as "Porcine Reproductive and Neurologic Syndrome (PRNS)", were observed in many swine farms in Iowa and other states. Although an infectious cause was suspected to account for the disease, no conclusive diagnosis had been reached with respect to conventional infectious agents. Extensive laboratory diagnostic investigation on suspect cases repeatedly resulted in the isolation of a cytopathic enveloped virus of 50-60nm in size from nervous and second lymphoid tissues and sera and, to reflect its unknown identity, named "Virus X". The presence of virus particle with morphological characteristics similar to Virus X in tissues from affected animals was also observed on thin-section positive-staining electron microscopy. Isolates of Virus X were not readily recognized by antibodies raised against any known viruses pathogenic to swine but by antisera collected from animals surviving clinical episode, indicating that Virus X is likely a previously unrecognized agent. Pregnant sows experimentally inoculated with Virus X (ISUYP604671) or homogenate (filtrate) of tissues from a clinically affected animal developed clinical signs and pathological changes similar to field observations including the loss of pregnancy. Furthermore, caesarian-derived, colostrum-deprived young pigs developed mild encephalomyelitis lesions in brains after experimental inoculation with the virus or the tissue homogenate although clinical neurologic signs were not observed. More importantly, Virus X was re-isolated from all inoculated animals while control pigs remained negative for the virus during the study. Collectively, Virus X is a novel viral agent responsible for PRNS and remains to be further characterized for taxonomical identity.