Molecular characterization of stem gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens (= Agrobacterium biovar 1) on Citrus trees as a new host,in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Citrus (Citrus spp. L.), which has high nutritional and economic value, is one of the most commonly grown fruits in Turkey. In spring 2020, large aerial...     

The ecosystem services concept: a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?

Landscape Ecology - Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of...     

Evaluation of lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of equine neutrophils

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of equine neutrophils in blood. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples from 5 healthy adult Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURES: Neutrophil integrin (CD11/CD18) expression, size variation, degranulation, and deformability were measured with and without incubation with LPS. Time and concentration studies were done. The mechanism of endotoxin-induced neutrophil activation was investigated by inactivating complement or preincubating neutrophils with inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis, prostaglandin-leukotriene synthesis, or platelet-activating factor. RESULTS: Incubation of equine neutrophils with LPS increased cell surface expression of CD11/CD18, decreased neutrophil deformability, increased and decreased neutrophil size, and induced neutrophil degranulation. The LPS-induced neutrophil activation was attenuated by addition of inhibitors of TNF-alpha and prostaglandin-leukotriene synthesis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine neutrophils are readily activated in vitro by LPS, resulting in increased expression of integrin adhesion molecules, decreased deformability, variation in neutrophil size, and degranulation. The tests used to detect activated neutrophils in this study may be useful in detecting in vivo neutrophil activation in horses with sepsis and endotoxemia.     

Single and double inoculation with Azospirillum/Trichoderma: the effects on dry bean and wheat

A plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (Azospirillum brasilense Sp7) and a bio-control fungus, which can solubilize insoluble phosphorus (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai 1295-22), were evaluated for their single and combined effects on dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in soil. A pot experiment with bean and a field experiment with both bean and wheat were established. In contrast to single inoculation of Trichoderma, the single inoculation of Azospirillum and the double inoculation did not significantly (P >0.05) increase nodule numbers and nodule mass at 45 days after planting in pot grown beans. However, the Azospirillum inoculation with supplementary phosphorus significantly (P <0.05) increased nodule mass. There were no significant (P >0.05) differences among the inoculation treatments for plant dry weight, total plant nitrogen, and total plant phosphorus at 45 days after planting in both pot and field experiments with bean. However, the combined inoculation and rock phosphate application at 1 Mg ha^–1 significantly (P <0.05) increased bean seed yield, total seed nitrogen and phosphorus in the bean field trial. This treatment more than doubled the mentioned properties compared to the control. The microbial inoculations, with the exception of the combined inoculation, significantly (P <0.05) increased total seed nitrogen, but never affected seed yield in the wheat field trial (P >0.05). The combined inoculation improves many plant and yield parameters and, therefore, has some advantages over single inoculation provided that rock phosphate was supplied at an amount not exceeding 1 Mg ha^–1. Higher rock phosphate application rates decreased many plant and yield parameters in our study.This work was carried out at Gaziosmanpaa University, Tokat, Turkey.     

Tillage management changes size-distribution of aggregates and macro-structure of soils used for irrigated row-crops

The Tatura system for the preparation of seed-beds for irrigated annual row-crops is described, where the soil is tilled when wet and friable and so requires few passes with implements to become suitable for crops, and where seeds are sown into wet soil. In soil prepared by the Tatura system, the percentage of aggregates < 0.5 mm diameter (as measured by dry-sieving) in the seed-bed was about half that found in commercially prepared seed-beds which were tilled up to 50 times when dry. With the Tatura system, the wetter the soil (up to 22% water content) when tilled, or the more passes (up to 4) of the implement at a water content of 22%, the less dust (< 0.5 mm diameter) and/or fewer clods (> 20 mm diameter) were formed.

The macro-structure of the surface layer of soil tilled at different water contents by the Tatura system was also quantified statistically by the method of wax-impregnation. The macro-structures were compared at the 10 mm, 20 mm, 40 mm, 60 mm and 80 mm depths in beds of soil prepared for irrigated annual row-crops by a system which has been described previously. Within each treatment (21.7%; 19.0%; 11.6% water content at 0–100 mm depth at tillage), the linear porosity and mean pore-size each tended to decrease with depth to 40 mm, with no further change or slight decrease to 80 mm depth. In all treatments, the mean aggregate-size tended to increase with depth from 10 mm depth to 80 mm depth. The sizes of pores and aggregates varied across each bed and possibly depended on the position of tines within the bed at each pass at tillage. Water content at tillage led to small differences in structure of the beds of soil. Soil tilled at a water content slightly above the Casagrande Plastic Limit generally had slightly larger pores and aggregates than soil tilled at lower water contents.     

A critical role of interleukin-10 in the response of bovine macrophages to infection by Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of interleukin (IL)-10 in the inability of monocyte-derived bovine macrophages to kill Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis organisms in vitro. SAMPLE POPULATION: Monocytes were obtained from healthy adult Holstein dairy cows that had negative results when tested for infection with M avium subsp paratuberculosis. PROCEDURE: Monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with M avium subsp paratuberculosis for 2, 6, 24, 72, or 96 hours with or without addition of saturating concentrations of a goat anti-human IL-10 that has been documented to neutralize bovine IL-10 activity. Variables assessed included ingestion and killing of M avium subsp paratuberculosis; expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-12, IL-8, major histocompatability (MHC) class II, vacuolar H+ ATPase, and B cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2); production of nitric oxide; acidification of phagosomes; and apoptosis of macrophages. RESULTS: Neutralization of IL-10 enabled macrophages to kill 57% of M avium subsp paratuberculosis organisms within 96 hours. It also resulted in an increase in expression of TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-8, MHC class II, and vacuolar H+ ATPase; decrease in expression of BCL-2; increase in acidification of phagosomes; apoptosis of macrophages; and production of nitric oxide. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The capacity of M avium subsp paratuberculosis to induce IL-10 expression may be a major determinant of virulence for this organism.     

Regulation by Jun N-terminal kinase/stress activated protein kinase of cytokine expression in Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis-infected bovine monocytes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate activation of Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) pathway in bovine monocytes after incubation with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (Mptb) organisms. SAMPLE POPULATION: Bovine monocytes obtained from 4 healthy adult Holstein dairy cows. PROCEDURES: Bovine monocytes were incubated with Mptb organisms with or without a specific inhibitor of the JNK/SAPK pathway (SP600125) for 2, 6, 24, or 72 hours. Expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18; transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta); and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and the capacity of Mptb-infected monocytes to acidify phagosomes and kill Mptb organisms were evaluated. Phosphorylation status of JNK/SAPK was evaluated at 10, 30, and 60 minutes after Mptb incubation. RESULTS: Compared with uninfected control monocytes, Mptb-infected monocytes had increased expression of IL-10 at 2 and 6 hours after incubation and had increased expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-18, and TGF-beta at 2, 4, and 6 hours. Additionally, Mptb-infected monocytes had increased expression of IL-12 at 6 and 24 hours. Addition of SP600125 (specific chemical inhibitor of JNK/SAPK) resulted in a decrease in TNF-alpha expression at 2, 6, and 24 hours, compared with untreated Mptb-infected cells. Addition of SP600125 resulted in a decrease in TGF-beta expression at 24 hours and an increase in IL-18 expression at 6 hours. Addition of SP600125 failed to alter phagosome acidification but did enhance the capacity of monocytes to kill Mptb organisms. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Activation of JNK/SAPK may be an important mechanism used by Mptb to regulate cytokine expression in bovine monocytes for survival and to alter inflammatory and immune responses.     

Effects of different temperatures on the total carbohydrate, lipid and protein amounts of the bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

This study investigates the effects of different temperatures on the total carbohydrate, lipid and protein amounts of Acanthoscelides obtectus Say, which is a common cereal pest. Studies have been carried out under laboratory conditions at 20 +/- 2 degrees C, 30 +/- 2 degrees C and 60 +/- 5% relative humidity. No specific photoperiodic regimen has been used throughout the study. Total carbohydrate, protein and lipid amounts for females at 20 degrees C were 61.74, 35.77 and 83.79 microg/individual, respectively, whereas the amounts for males were 34.94, 29.53 and 57.98 microg/individual, respectively. At 30 degrees C, total carbohydrate, protein and lipid amounts for females were 92.00, 42.18 and 83.26 microg/individual, respectively. The amounts at the same temperature for males were 43.34, 34.08 and 52.19 microg/individual, respectively. In both sexes, total carbohydrate and protein amounts at 30 degrees C were higher than those at 20 degrees C whereas this was not true for total lipid amounts.