Landraces in Inland areas of the Basilicata region, Italy: monitoring and perspectives for on farm conservation

A collecting expedition has been carried out in the inland areas of the Basilicata Region, South Italy. Each of the 14 selected municipalities was subdivided in three strata based on the geographical distribution of population and orography: 1. city boundaries, 2. group of country houses, 3. isolated farm houses. Five sites were selected within each stratum/town for a total of 185 sites. In 101 sites crop species germplasm was collected and the farmer-maintainers were interviewed. Altogether 350 accessions were collected, the most common species were Capsicum annuum, Lycopersicon esculentum and Phaseolus vulgaris. A significant number of landraces are still preserved on farm, mostly in isolated farm houses (average age of farmers: 60?years) adopting traditional farming systems but a number of young farmers were also present. Perspectives for on farm conservation and management are discussed and public economic support for “farmer-maintainers” proposed.     

Optimization of a pilot-scale process for producing lupin protein isolates with valuable technological properties and minimum thermal damage

This paper describes a pilot process for obtaining protein isolates from white lupin seed with improved water solubility and technofunctional properties as well as reduced thermal damage. After a careful optimization of the process parameters, two valuable food ingredients were prepared: lupin protein isolate type E, with a useful emulsifying capacity, and lupin protein isolate type F, with a high capability of foam formation and stabilization. The spray-drying process was particularly critical for inducing some thermal damage, but a careful selection of the conditions permitted ingredients having only marginally impaired lysine bioavailability to be obtained. The reproducibility of the protein extraction process was tested on two different lupin varieties.     

MtDNA genetic diversity and population history of a dwindling raptorial bird, the red kite (Milvus milvus)

The red kite (Milvus milvus) occurs in a relatively small area in the southwestern Palearctic region, with population strongholds in Central Europe. Following strong human persecutions at the beginning of the 20th century, populations have receded, particularly in peripheral areas and islands. In order to describe and compare levels of genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns throughout its entire distribution in Europe, sequence variation of a 357 bps part of the mitochondrial DNA control region was assessed in eight populations and 105 individuals. Overall, results indicate that population declines have affected red kite mtDNA variation. We found low levels of genetic diversity (values of nucleotide diversity ranging from 0 in Majorca island to 0.0062 in Central Europe), with only 10 distinct haplotypes, separated by low levels of genetic divergence (mean sequence divergence = 0.75%). Highest haplotype and nucleotide diversities match with demographic expectations, and were found in Central European and Central Spanish samples, where present strongholds occur, and lowest values in the declining southern Spanish and insular samples. Φst estimates indicated moderate gene flow between populations. Phylogeographic patterns and mismatch distributions analyses suggest central European regions may have been colonized from southern glacial refugia (in the Italian or Iberian peninsulas). Interspecific phylogenetic comparisons and divergence date estimates indicated the genetic split between the red kite and its closely related species, the black kite (Milvus migrans), might be relatively recent. The low level of genetic variation found in the red kite mitochondrial control region, compared to the black kite, is likely the result of relatively recent divergence (associated with founder events), successive bottlenecks and small population sizes. As there are several ongoing projects aimed at reinforcing populations in countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy or Spain, our results may prove useful for the genetic management of the species.     

Development of new fungicides against Magnaporthe grisea: synthesis and biological activity of pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazine,pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]thiadiazine,and pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives

Some pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thione, pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazin-4-one/thione, and pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]thiadiazine-4-one/thione derivatives were synthesized and screened for antifungal activity against the causal agent of rice blast disease, Magnaporthe grisea. In all cases a remarkable inhibition of fungal growth was found in the range from 10 to 200 microg x mL(-1). Several compounds were able to control mycelium growth at a rate of 10 microg x mL(-1), a concentration at which the reference compound tricyclazole was completely ineffective. At least in the case of the most active substance, at the same dose the growth of seedlings or cultured cells of rice was substantially unaffected. Results allowed definition of structural requirements either to maintain or to enhance mycotoxic activity.     

The pathomorphology of endocardiosis in swine

In a total of 2653 slaughter pigs of the breeds Large White, Pi?train and Belgic Land Race the hearts were examined grossly ad histopathologically as to the occurrence of endocardiosis of the atrioventricular valves. This lesion occurred with high incidence. Endocardiosis of the V. mitralis was diagnosed in 63.2% and endocardiosis of the V. tricuspidalis in 17.7% of pigs. In 33.6% of animals the valves proved to be normal. Possible pathogenetic factors are briefly discussed.     

NECROTIZING ENCEPHALITIS IN A YORKSHIRE TERRIER: CLINICAL, IMAGING, AND PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS

A 5-year-old, male Yorkshire Terrier had chronic and progressive neurologic signs compatible with lesions in the right brain stem and right forebrain. In magnetic resonance images of the brain there were multifocal lesions at different stages of evolution, consistent with an inflammatory disease. The lesions were located in the white matter of the cerebrum, in the diencephalon and mesencephalon. These lesions were hypointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images with no mass effect and minimal enhancement with gadolinium. Necrotizing encephalitis was confirmed post mortem.     

Effects of Panax ginseng extract in practical diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on growth performance,immune response and resistance to Yersinia ruckeri

In a preliminary in vitro study, a Panax ginseng extract exhibited an evident antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae and affected the respiratory burst and proliferation of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss leukocytes. Subsequently, the effects of a dietary ginseng extract supplementation on growth, blood biochemical profile, innate immune response and resistance against Y. ruckeri infection were investigated in vivo in rainbow trout juveniles. Four experimental diets were obtained by adding 0.0%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% of ginseng ethanolic extract to a commercial feed. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (mean body weight 30.5 ± 0.15 g) at 1% of body weight day^?1 for 10 weeks. The dietary supplementation with ginseng extract did not affect growth performance, feed utilization, biometric traits and fish whole body composition (P > 0.05). No major changes due to graded levels of ginseng extract in the diet were observed in blood biochemical parameters except for increasing plasma triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids in fish fed diets including 0.01% and 0.02% of extract (P < 0.05). The innate immune response was barely modulated by the dietary addition of ginseng extract. Serum lysozyme and leukocytes respiratory burst activities were just slightly increased in fish fed all the ginseng extract‐supplemented diets compared with controls, whereas serum antiproteases and leukocyte MPO were not affected (P > 0.05). The dietary administration of ginseng extract induced a reduction in mortality of rainbow trout infected with Y. ruckeri, although no significant differences between treated and control groups were observed (P > 0.05).