The optimal nutrition of maize in the hungarian national long‐term field experimental network

In Hungary, maize is grown on 1 million ha and occupies more than 20% of the arable land. The rich assortment of maize cultivars of different vegetation periods and different responses to nutritional effects, water supply etc. gives the growers the possibility to choose the cultivars suiting best the site characteristics (Jolânkai et al. 1999). Among the cereals maize has the highest genetical potential. To utilize its yield and quality potential, soil types of high nutrient content and regular nutrient supply are required (Gyõrffy, 1979). Both over‐ and under‐fertilization have an unfavourable effect on the yield and quality of maize (Debreczeni, 1985). Crops can be supplied with the appropriate nutrient amounts only with the knowledge of soil characteristics in the different agro‐ecological regions (nutrient content, water supply, soil compactness, pH, nutrient supplying capacity etc.). In Hungary, a network of long‐term field fertilization trials with uniform fertilizer treatments has been maintained at nine experimental sites representing different agro‐ecological regions of the country. This experimental network gives a basis to test the nutrient responses of our main crops and calibrate their optimal nutrient supply (Kismányoky, 1991).     

Comparison of mussels and crustacean plankton to monitor heavy metal pollution

The ability of freshwater organisms (mussels — Unio pictorum L. and crustacean plankton —Cladocera and Copepoda species) to monitor heavy metal pollution was compared under field conditions, near the effluent discharge of a sewage water treatment plant at Lake Balaton (Hungary). The mussels were transferred from their less polluted habitat to the study area. The crustacean plankton was collected at this site The concentrations of Hg Cd Cr Cut Pb, Zn, and Fe were measured m the gills of the transplanted mussels as well as the natural zooplankton in the summer period, using the AAS method. Both mussel gills and the zooplankton showed periodically high Fe-, Zn-, and Cu-concentrations. An elevated level of Hg was only observed in mussels, while high Pb- and Cr-concentrations were found only in crustacean plankton. Accordingly the zooplankton seems a more suitable model for monitoring heavy metal pollution under these field conditions.     

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.     

Diätetische Bewertung verschiedener in Ungarn angebauter Zucker- und Wassermelonensorten

Zusammenfassung Bei 7 der Sortenprüfung unterzogenen Zuckermelonen- und 6 Wassermelonensorten untersuchten Verfasser die Verteilung im Zucker- und Säuregehalt sowie den Gehalt an Vitamin C und Carotin.Beim gesamten Untersuchungsmaterial wurde die quantitative und qualitative Verteilung der Kohlenhydrate und Säuren bestimmt.Den Untersuchungsergebnissen gemäß erhöht sich bei Zuckermelonen der Saccharosegehalt, bei Wassermelonen der Fructosegehalt in Richtung des Fruchtinneren, wo auch sowohl bei Zucker-, wie bei Wassermelonen die meiste Säure nachweisbar ist.Auf Grund des Gehaltes an Kohlenhydraten, Säure, Vitamin C und Carotin wurden die verschiedenen Melonensorten auch diätetisch bewertet.

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Summary Seven types of sugar melon and 6 types of water melon applied in selection experiments in Hungary were examined by the authors as regards sugar content, nature and quantity of acids, further the contents of ascorbic acid and carotene.The nature and quantity of sugars and acids were determined in the flesh and in the peels of all types examined.According to the analytical results, the content of sucrose of sugar melons increases when nearing the centre whilst in the case of water melons, the content of fructose becomes higher in the central portion.The content of acid showed maximum values in the centre with both sugar and water melons.The examined types of melons were also evaluated from a biological aspect, considering the contents of sugar, acid, ascorbic acid and carotene.

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mit 2 Fig.     

Spatial risk assessment of herd sero-status of Aujeszky's disease in a county in Hungary

A Geographic Information System (VetEpiGIS) was used to analyze the ADV (Aujeszky's disease virus) sero-status in large-scale pig units regarding certain geographical features in a county of southern Hungary. The ADV sero-statuses were collected from all swine units in Csongrád county in 1998-2000. The units' coordinates were combined with a vector graphical digital map of the county, with a resolution of 1:100,000. Logistic regression tested the associations between sero-status of large-scale units and presence of topographical features, other units and villages in the neighborhood. "Neighborhood" was defined by circular zones with radius 1-10km around the unit (in 1km increments; one logistic regression for each radius). The following topographical features showed significant positive association with the ADV seropositivity: lake (3km OR: 5.7; 5km OR: 7.5; 6km OR: 6.1; 10km OR: 5.4) and highway (5km OR: 4.2; 6km OR: 5.3). Other features had negative association with ADV seropositivity: forest (3km OR: 0.13; 4km OR: 0.15; 5km OR: 0.15; 6km OR: 0.10; 7km OR: 0.10; 8km OR: 0.23) and uninfected large-scale unit (4km OR: 0.07; 5km OR: 0.27; 6km OR: 0.32; 7km OR: 0.31).     

First genetic characterization of equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) in Turkey

Equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) is a cause of repiratory tract infection in equids. In present study for the first time in Turkey, the prevalence of EAdV-1 in nasal swab samples obtained from horses showing respiratory symptoms was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and molecular characterization of the hexon gene detected in the Turkish (TR) strain was performed. Overall, the prevalence of EAdV-1 was found low (1.4%) as indicated by a positive PCR reaction from the nasal swab extracts tested. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial sequences of the hexon gene of a TR-EAdV-1 strain with those of previously isolated AdVs from different mammals and an EAdV-1 M1 strain showed that the EAdV-1 strains were placed into a unique cluster. Although the TR-EAdV-1 strain was closely related to CAV-1, CAV-2 and bat adenovirus reference strains, larger-scale studies are necessary to better understand the molecular epidemiology and population structure of EAdV-1 in Turkey.     

Cold storage of oil rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) flowers

Oil rose flowers were stored at 0 °C in four different packaging materials [plastic box + stretch film (PB + SF), Xtend^®, Smartbag^® and polyethylene (PE)] for 60 days. During storage, weight loss, O₂ and CO₂ concentrations in the packages, petal color and sensorial attributes were investigated besides essential oil content and composition. Storage duration and packages had significant (p < 0.01) effects on weight loss. At the end of storage, the lowest weight loss was in PE package (1.696%) whereas the highest weight loss was in Xtend^® (10.081%). The essential oil content was significantly (p < 0.01) affected by storage duration and packages. In addition, the essential oil contents obtained from all packages for a storage period of 10 days and the essential oil contents obtained from unstored (control) petals were included in the same group. At the end of storage, the essential oil contents decreased by 91.3, 57.7, 80.0 and 64.3% in PB + SF, Xtend^®, Smartbag^® and PE packages, respectively as compared to control. In addition, storage duration and package types significantly (p < 0.01) affected petal color, O₂ and CO₂ concentrations in the packages and sensorial scores. The concentration of citronellol, a main component of rose oil, increased in all packages during storage of 10 days in comparison to the control group while it varied in other storage durations and package types. However, nerol and geraniol were lower than the control group during storage while concentrations of nonadecane, heneicosane and eicosane were higher. In conclusion, loss of oil yield and quality, due to various reasons and particularly due to fermentation in oil rose from the harvest of petals to their distillation, can be minimized with storage of petals in all package types for up to 10 days.     

Nutritional and functional characteristics of seven grades of black tea produced in Turkey

Seven grades of black tea [high-quality black tea (grades 1-3) and low-quality black tea (grades 4-7)], processed by ?AYKUR Tea Processing Plant (Rize, Turkey), were examined for their proximate composition, dietary fiber, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins as well as total phenolic content, various antioxidant assays, phenolics (flavanols, alkoloids, condensed phenolics, and phenolic acids), chlorophylls, and carotenoids. Some variations, albeit to different extents, were observed (p < 0.05) among these parameters in seven grades of black tea. With respect to proximate composition, dietary fiber was the predominant compound (ranging from 49.68 to 54.31 g/100 g), followed by protein, carbohydrate, and, to a lesser extent, ash, moisture, and fat. Thirteen minerals, four water-soluble vitamins, six flavanols, two alkoloids, three condensed phenolics, one phenolic acid, two chlorophylls, and two carotenoids were identified in the seven grades of black tea. Total phenol content ranged from 7.52 to 8.29 g of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g, being lowest in grade 6 and highest in grade 1. With regard to antioxidant activities, a large variation in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values was observed among all grades of black tea (ranging from 777 μmol of trolox equivalents (TE)/g in grade 7 to 1210 μmol of TE/g in grade 3). The present work suggests that high- and low-quality black teas should not be distinguished on the basis of their nutritional and functional characteristics. The combination of nutritional compounds together with functional characteristics renders combination effects that provide the characteristic quality of each grade of black tea.     

The community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of maize grown in a 50-year monoculture

We assessed the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonizing maize roots grown in a long-term monoculture experiment established at Martonvásár, Hungary, 50 years ago to understand the effect of this extremely long monoculture on the community structure of these organisms. Mycorrhizal colonization of root samples was analyzed by PCR amplification and sequencing of partial ribosomal small subunit DNA fragments of fungal origin. Of the 257 sequences recovered, 203 belonged to Glomeromycota AM fungi. Phylogenetic analysis assigned the Glomeromycota sequences into 22 operational taxonomic units belonging to three families including Archaeosporaceae, Glomeraceae, and Paraglomeraceae. In agreement with previous reports, Glomus group A fungi dominated the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community of maize, but we found a relatively high richness of phylotypes within this group even after such an extreme and durable reduction of host plant diversity. Agricultural practices, including mineral fertilization and incorporating stalk residues, significantly affected the diversity within Glomus group A.