Changes in the chemical composition of water percolating through the soil profile in a moderately polluted catchment

Throughfall (TF), stemflow (SF), soil solution below the organic layer (SS_org) and at 50 cm depth (SS₅₀), and output with stream water (SW) were measured and analyzed for four years in a moderately polluted forest catchment in southern Poland. The input of water with stemflow was ca. 6% of input with TF. However, due to higher concentrations of most ions in SF, the input of most elements with SF was from 8% to 9%. Sulphate (SO₄ ^2–), chloride (Cl^–) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) were the only ions steadily increasing in concentrations in water percolating through the soil profile. Nitrogen reached the forest floor mainly as ammonium (NH₄ ⁺). In the soil organic layer the NH₄ ⁺ concentration decreased, while concentrations of nitrate (NO₃ ^–) and hydrogen (H⁺) increased, probably due to nitrification. For NO₃ ^–, sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺), the highest concentrations were found in SS_org and SW. This indicates both efficient cycling in the biotic pool of the ecosystem and intensive weathering processes in the mineral soil below the plant rooting zone. The latter was especially pronounced for Mg and Ca. Concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were the highest in SS_org and SS₅₀. As this was accompanied by a low pH and constant input of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and heavy metal ions to the catchment area, it may pose a serious threat to forest health.     

ADP ribosylation factor regulates metabolism and antioxidant capacity of transgenic potato tubers

In our recent studies we have evidenced that repression of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) in potato plants results in 14-3-3 gene activation. The significant alteration in plant phenotype and in carbohydrate content clearly indicates that there may also be changes in other metabolite syntheses. In this paper we present the data on contents of compounds, occurring in transgenic potato tubers from field trial, known to be important for the human diet. We also determine which of the ARF-antisense plant features resulted from ARF repression. This determination was accomplished by the analysis of ARF-antisense plants transformed with cDNA encoding 14-3-3 protein in reverse orientation. The sucrose accumulation and the decrease in glycoalkaloids level were found to be characteristic features of all transgenic plants. The increase in antioxidant capacity of transgenic potato tubers should also be pointed out. The analysis of fat from modified potato tubers revealed a nutritionally valuable composition of fatty acids, including the significant increase of linoleic acid level.     

Differentiation of interglycosidic linkages in permethylated flavonoid glycosides from linked-scan mass spectra (B/E)

A series of per-O-methylated flavonoid di- and tri-glycosides, linked with 1-2 and/or 1-6 glycosidic bonds between sugar rings that were isolated from different plant materials were analyzed. It was demonstrated that the fragmentation behavior of permethylated flavonoid glycosides is dependent on the glycosidic bond placement between sugars. Y(n) type fragment ions, created after glycosidic bond cleavage with oxygen retention on sugar at the reducing end for permethylated compounds, were observed in the normal and linked-scan mass spectra recorded for alpha(1-2) bonded conjugates of flavonoid di- and tri-glycosides. Moreover, for alpha (1-6) linked glycosides, Y fragments created after rearrangement and elimination of internal sugar residues were observed in addition to Y(n) type ions, but these fragment ions were not registered in normal desorption ionization spectra. This second type of fragmentation was also reported previously in collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID MS/MS) spectra of some oligosaccharides and flavonoid glycosides, but their presence was independent of the glycosidic bonds placement between sugar rings.     

Affinity of microorganisms of the genus Ureaplasma to the reproductive organs of cattle

The purpose of this work was to define more precisely the role of Ureaplasma organisms in the aetiology of granular vulvovaginitis and balanoposthitis (GVVBP) of cattle. To contribute to this question the frequency and degree of infection with Ureaplasmas in two main groups of cattle was taken into account: (a) in cattle with symptoms of the mentioned disease, (b) in cattle without clinical symptoms. The samples of semen from 301 sires with symptoms of GVVBP and from 43 healthy sires as also vaginal mucus swabs from 96 cows with GVVBP and from 40 cows mated by the sire infected with Ureaplasma organisms and from 50 cows inseminated with semen which contained Ureaplasma organisms were taken for bacteriological examinations. The control group in relation to the above mentioned cows constituted of 22 heifers free from symptoms of GVVBP and neither inseminated nor mated naturally. It has been shown that on an average 78.1% of sires with pathological changes in the mucosa of the penis or prepuce and only 25.6% of healthy sires were infected with Ureaplasma organisms. The concentration of Ureaplasma organisms was also significantly higher in material obtained from sires with symptoms of the disease than in that from healthy animals. Ureaplasma organisms were demonstrated more frequently (72.7%) in cows with GVVBP than in cows without these symptoms (13.3%). Similarly, as in the material obtained from sires, in the material taken from cows with symptoms of the disease the concentration of Ureaplasma organisms was significantly higher than that in the material originating from the healthy cows. The obtained findings may indicate that Ureaplasma organisms play a role in the aetiology of GVVBP.     

The effect of "Ferrodex", vitamin A and "Rovimix beta-carotene" on the iron and copper levels in blood plasma of calves

The effect of Ferrodex, vitamin A and synthetic beta-carotene on the content of iron and copper in the blood serum has been investigated in three groups of calves: I control group without vitamin supplements, II group received only once with the first colostrum dose 1.5 million IU of vitamin A, III group received Rovimix beta carotene containing 10 per cent of the synthetic beta carotene with Mlekomix from the 21st day to the 13th week of life. Moreover half of the calves from each group received Ferrodex intramusculary. Content of iron, total iron binding capacity by serum proteins, level of indirect and direct copper as well as the content of ceruloplasmin were determined in the blood serum of calves. Moreover hematocrit and hemoglobin content in the blood were determined. The results obtained show that a triple intramuscular injection of Ferrodex caused an increase of the level of iron, copper and ceruloplasmin in the blood serum of calves. However, a single administration of vitamin A to the calves or a continuous administration of Rovimix beta-carotene decreased significantly the level of iron and ceruloplasmin copper in blood serum as well as caused a more dynamic ceruloplasmin synthesis with a simultaneous increase in its utilization.     

The Effectiveness of Vernalization of Immature Embryos of Winter Wheat var. Grana as Related to Age and Exogenous Phytohormones

Starting from the 10th day after pollination, immature embryos of winter wheat var. Grana were isolated and then vernalized for 4 to 8 weeks on Murashige and Skoog nutrients containing BAP (0.5 or 2 mg/dm³), NAA (0.5 or 2 mg/dm³), or GA₃ (5 or 20 mg/dm³). Vernalized seedlings were cultivated in a greenhouse and the number of days to the heading of individual plants as well as the percentage of plants capable of generative development were estimated. The lower limit of size for 50 % survival of embryos strongly depended on the phytohormone used: from 0.9 mm in control, 1.1 mm in nutrient containing BAP, 1.2 mm for NAA, up to 1.7 mm in nutrient with GA₃. Exogenous GA₃ was lethal for embryos younger than 18 days but induced elongation of older embryos. Embryos isolated 2.5 to 4 weeks after pollination showed minimal requirements for the length of vernalization. BAP increased the percentage of heading plants originated from the youngest embryos. GA₃ improved partial vernalization, strongly increasing the percentage of heading plants, but did not change the time from the end of vernalization to heading. It has been postulated that GA₃ increases number of plants capable of overcoming the threshold of induction of generative development but does not accelerate the flowering process. Hormonized plants showed no deformation of generative development. As the effectiveness of vernalization increased, the heading of plants was faster but they were shorter, forming spikes with a smaller number of spikelets and producing fever lateral shoots. The very young embryos probably have in reserve sufficient amounts of auxins and gibberellins and therefore exogenous GA₃ decreases their viability or even exerts a deleterious effect. However, as the embryos' ageing, gibberellin starvation develops. This being especially pronounced during vernalization. The de novo synthesis or activation of gibberellins takes place during the second stage of vernalization. This is why exogenous hormone improves the effectiveness of partial vernalization, though it is not possible to substitute by gibberellins the vernalization requirements of immature embryos.     

The effect of energy-rich feed supplements for cows on the health of their calves]

Experiments were carried out with 24 pregnant cows and their calves. The cows were divided in 2 equal groups. One of these received a supplement of animal fat additional to the feed from 4 weeks a. p. to 6 weeks p. p. Apart from clinical examinations following laboratory investigations in the blood were performed: hematological parameters, cholesterol, lipids, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, protein, glucose, bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Cl. The addition of fat to the feed of cows influenced the energy metabolism of the cows, the body weight of the newborn ones and some hematological parameters (incl. protein) of the calves positively.