The detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus using modified culture media

Studies have been completed for the detection of Vibrio(V.) parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus in Baltic Sea fish. The author had prepared for that purpose a liquid culturing medium and a solid substrate. The percentage of positive findings is remarkable. The results so far recorded should be a good reason for further studies.     

Effect of mineral nitrogen fertilizer forms on N2O emissions from arable soils in winter wheat production

Nitrogen fertilizers are supposed to be a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from arable soils. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of N forms on N₂O emissions from arable fields cropped with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In three field trials in North‐West Germany (two trials in 2011/2012, one trial in 2012/2013), direct N₂O emissions during a one‐year measurement period, starting after application of either urea, ammonium sulfate (AS) or calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), were compared at an application rate of 220 kg N ha^?1. During the growth season (March to August) of winter wheat, N₂O emission rates were significantly higher in all three field experiments and in all treatments receiving N fertilizer than from the non‐fertilized treatments (control). At two of the three sites, cumulative N₂O emissions from N fertilizer decreased in the order of urea > AS > CAN, with emissions ranging from 522–617 g N ha^?1 (0.24–0.28% of applied fertilizer) for urea, 368–554 g N ha^?1 (0.17–0.25%) for AS, and 242–264 g N ha^?1 (0.11–0.12%) for CAN during March to August. These results suggest that mineral nitrogen forms can differ in N₂O emissions during the growth period of winter wheat. Strong variations in the seasonal dynamics of N₂O emissions between sites were observed which could partly be related to weather events (e.g., precipitation). Between harvest and the following spring (post‐harvest period) no significant differences in N₂O emissions between fertilized and non‐fertilized treatments were detected on two of three fields. Only on one site post‐harvest emissions from the AS treatment were significantly higher than all other fertilizer forms as well as compared to the control treatment. The cumulative one‐year emissions varied depending on fertilizer form across the three field sites from 0.05% to 0.51% with one exception at one field site (AS: 0.94%). The calculated overall fertilizer induced emission averaged for the three fields was 0.38% which was only about 1/3 of the IPCC default value of 1.0%.     

Experimental prevention of bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata) poisoning of sheep

To examine the effects on bitterweed toxicity of dietary factors known to increase thiol concentrations in the body, 36 lambs were fed one of the following diets (12 lambs/diet) for a minimum of 9 days prior to bitterweed administration: diet 1, 10% crude protein; diet 2, 20% crude protein, 0.5% methionine, 0.5% sodium sulfate, and 1,102 IU of vitamin E/kg; and diet 3, diet 2 with 0.5% ethoxyquin hydrochloride added. Four lambs fed each diet were euthanatized prior to bitterweed administration (initial euthanasia group). Four lambs fed each diet were administered bitterweed (0.68% hymenoxon, air-dried basis) at a rate of 0.25% of live weight for 5 consecutive days. The remaining four lambs on each diet served as unchallenged controls. In the initial euthanasia group, diet 2 increased extracellular blood thiol concentrations (1.12 vs 0.94 mg of SH/d1, P less than 0.10), rumen fluid thiol concentrations (4.46 vs 1.88 mg of SH/d1, P less than 0.05), and liver thiol concentrations (263.6 vs 109.3 micrograms SH/g of wet wt, P less than 0.05), compared with diet 1. Ethoxyquin hydrochloride (diet 3) reduced blood thiol concentrations (0.94 vs 1.12 mg of SH/dl, P less than 0.10) and liver thiol concentrations (151.6 vs 263.6 micrograms of SH/g of wet wt, P less than 0.05), compared with diet 2. Kidney thiols were unaffected by treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Laser ablation-combustion-GC-IRMS--a new method for online analysis of intra-annual variation of delta13C in tree rings

We present a new, rapid method for high-resolution online determination of delta13C in tree rings, combining laser ablation (LA), combustion (C), gas chromatography (GC) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) (LA-C-GC-IRMS). Sample material was extracted every 6 min with a UV-laser from a tree core, leaving 40-microm-wide holes. Ablated wood dust was combusted to CO2 at 700 degrees C, separated from other gases on a GC column and injected into an isotope ratio mass spectrometer after removal of water vapor. The measurements were calibrated against an internal and an external standard. The tree core remained intact and could be used for subsequent dendrochronological and dendrochemical analyses. Cores from two Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris spp. sibirica Lebed.) from central Siberia were sampled. Inter- and intra-annual patterns of delta13C in whole-wood and lignin-extracted cores were indistinguishable apart from a constant offset, suggesting that lignin extraction is unnecessary for our method. Comparison with the conventional method (microtome slicing, elemental analysis and IRMS) indicated high accuracy of the LA-C-GC-IRMS measurements. Patterns of delta13C along three parallel ablation lines on the same core showed high congruence. A conservative estimate of the precision was +/- 0.24 per thousand. Isotopic patterns of the two Scots pine trees were broadly similar, indicating a signal related to the forest stand's climate history. The maximum variation in delta13C over 22 years was about 5 per thousand, ranging from -27 to -22.3 per thousand. The most obvious pattern was a sharp decline in delta13C during latewood formation and a rapid increase with spring early growth. We conclude that the LA-C-GC-IRMS method will be useful in elucidating short-term climate effects on the delta13C signal in tree rings.     

Transfer of PCDDs and PCDFs into the edible parts of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), via feed

This study was carried out to quantify the transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with high‐energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of the fish increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching a size of up to 51‐cm length (Tl). Considerable amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs were transferred from the fish feed into the tissue of the trout. Dioxin concentrations increased during the time of feeding from 0.054 up to 0.914 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 wet weight and from 4.991 to 15.815 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 fat. A correlation was found between the dioxin concentration of the feed and the resulting concentration in the fat of the muscle tissue. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates from a high‐energy diet to farmed rainbow trout.     

A feasible method for humane slaughter of eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): electrical stunning in fresh water prior to gutting

It was observed that farmed eels could be rendered unconscious and insensible instantaneously by passing an electrical current through fresh water. The general epileptiform insult on the EEG was characterized by a tonic/clonic and an exhaustion phase. After stunning, the ECG (electro‐cardiogram) revealed fibrillation. The electrical stunning parameters were on average 194 ± 4 V and 0.636 ± 0.040 A/dm² for 1.6 ± 0.4 s. Within a confidence level of 95%%, taking into account the number of animals with a reliable EEG (n = 29), at least 93% of all eels are effectively stunned in fresh water by an average current of 0.636 ± 0.040 A/dm². The behaviour of groups of five eels, which were able to move freely in the water was observed before and after stunning with 50 V and 0.17 A/dm². After 3‐s stunning, two eels were turned upside down. They changed to a normal position after 10 and 13 s respectively. Subsequently, all eels were very active in swimming behaviour and stopped swimming after 75 s. When stunned for a longer duration, all eels were turned upside down and stopped breathing for a limited period of time. In the last experiment the eels were stunned in fresh water (500 μS) with a voltage of 200 V for approximately 1 s, which was followed by 50 V for 5 min. As soon as the stunning started the water was de‐oxygenated by flushing nitrogen to kill the eels by suffocation during the period of unconsciousness and insensitivity. The oxygen saturation decreased from 74 ± 10 to 23 ± 11% at 22 °C. After stunning no brain activity and no responses to pain stimuli were observed on the EEG. The heart rate increased (P < 0.05) after stunning, which was followed by a significant decrease. Only 1 out of 18 eels returned partially from upside down to a normal position 2 h after stunning; however, the eel did not respond to pain stimuli in behaviour. The developed stunning procedure can be recommended for humane slaughter of 50‐kg batches of eels.     

Transfer of toxaphene and chlordane into farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) via feed

The study was carried out to quantitate the transfer of toxaphene and chlordane compounds from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with unspiked high energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of trout increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching sizes of 51 cm length. Considerable amounts of toxaphene and chlordane residues were transferred from fish feed into trout muscle. Toxaphene concentrations increased up to 8.6 µg (Σ toxaphene indicator compounds 1–3) kg^?1 wet weight (w.w.) and chlordane reached 5.3 µg Σoxy‐, trans‐, cis‐chlordane + t‐nonachlor kg^?1 w.w. Results are also discussed on the contaminant levels based on the fat content and the effect of sexual maturation is considered in this study. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates for toxaphene and chlordane congeners from high energy diet into the edible part of farmed rainbow trout.     

Comparison between the seminal and nodal root systems of winter wheat in their activity for N and K uptake

The activity of seminal and nodal root systems of winter wheat (cv. Avalon) in taking up NO₃^? and K⁺ has been measured in solution culture using a split root technique. Plants in the tillering phase of growth (36 days old) were used for the experiment which lasted 20 days. During this time plant dry weights increased by a factor of 20, whilst root: shoot ratios and nutrient compositions remained constant. Inflows (uptake rate per unit root length) were 2–6 times higher for the nodal roots than for the seminal roots, with values varying between 1 and 9 pmol cm^?1 s^?1 for N and between 0.5 and 4 pmol cm^?1 s^?1 for K. When uptake was expressed on the basis of unit fresh weight of roots, values ranged from 1 to 2.3 pmol mg^?1 s^?1 for N and from 0.4 to 1.0 pmol mg^?1 s^?1 for K, and there were only very small differences in uptake efficiency between the nodal and seminal roots. Uptake rate per unit root decreased with plant age. This was caused by a decline in shoot demand due to the reduction of the relative growth rate. When either the nodal or seminal root system alone was supplied with nutrients, uptake rate per unit root increased and nutrient uptake per plant reached 72–92% of the control.     

Communication,information sharing,and advisory services to raise awareness for fall armyworm detection and area-wide management by farmers

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - This is an opinion paper to the perspective paper “The spread of the Fall Army Worm Spodoptera frugiperda in Africa—what should be done...