Growth and competitiveness of the New Zealand tree species Podocarpus cunninghamii is reduced by ex-agricultural AMF but enhanced by forest AMF

The composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities found in agricultural systems has been found to be very different to that of forest. The implications of this, if any, for the restoration of indigenous forest on ex-agricultural land is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect that AMF communities isolated from ex-agricultural and forest soils have on the growth of an indigenous New Zealand tree species (Podocarpus cunninghamii). The forest AMF community was isolated from a remnant stand of P. cunninghamii forest and the ex-agricultural AMF from a retired grazing grassland. In addition, the study examined how the two AMF communities affected the competitiveness of P. cunninghamii when grown in competition with an invasive grass species (Agrostis capillaris), which is frequently dominant on ex-agricultural land in New Zealand. P. cunninghamii growth was significantly decreased by inoculation with ex-agricultural AMF compared to forest AMF. Furthermore, the forest AMF community was able to significantly increase P. cunninghamii root production when in competition with A. capillaris. The findings suggest that when attempting to restore indigenous forest on ex-agricultural land, inoculation of tree seedlings with appropriate forest AMF may improve their growth and survival.     

Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of intranasal tumors in 3 dogs and 1 cat

Three dogs and 1 cat with intranasal tumors were treated with pyropheophorbide-a-hexyl ether-based photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT was well tolerated by all the animals, and no adverse effects from photosensitizer injection, such as cutaneous photosensitization, were observed. Facial swelling was observed in all animals after each PDT treatment but resolved spontaneously within 72 hours after treatment. All animals had a decrease in severity of epistaxis, frequency of sneezing, and amount of nasal discharge after PDT. Clinical signs were controlled for variable time, although long-term responses were comparable with radiation therapy in 2 animals. This small case series demonstrates another application for PDT in veterinary medicine. On the basis of these findings. further studies are warranted to define the role of PDT in the management of intranasal tumors in dogs and cats.     

Disseminated histoplasmosis in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

An approximately 37-yr-old female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) died after a 4-mo illness characterized by intermittent anorexia, lethargy, mild neutrophilic leukocytosis, and mild nonregenerative anemia. At necropsy, the lungs were diffusely consolidated, and histopathology of the lungs revealed severe pneumonia with macrophages containing clusters of numerous yeast cells. Inflammatory lesions and yeast also were found in pulmonary, mediastinal, prescapular, and duodenal lymph nodes, spleen, liver, kidneys, urinary bladder, pancreas, right adrenal gland, and the pyloric stomach. Histomorphology, fungal culture, and polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the fungus was Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum. This is the first report of histoplasmosis in a cetacean.     

Circadian system controlling release of sperm in the insect testes

Release of mature sperm from the testis into seminal ducts of the gypsy moth exhibits a circadian rhythm. The rhythm of sperm release was shown to persist in vitro, in isolated complexes of testis and seminal ducts cultured in light-dark cycles or in constant darkness. The phase of the rhythm was also reset in vitro by exposure to shifted light-dark cycles. Therefore, the testis-seminal ducts complex from the gypsy moth is photosensitive and contains a circadian pacemaker, which controls the rhythm of sperm movement. This finding extends the range of structures in multicellular organisms that are known to contain circadian oscillators and provides a new model system in which circadian mechanisms may be studied.     

Genetic regulation of conidiation in Trichoderma hamatun

Achieving a balance between vegetative growth and spore production is essential for successful biocontrol by fungi. Low sporulation rates in the field can result in poor establishment and survival,whereas failure of conidia to recognise hosts can lead to persistence without efficacy. Commercial biocontrol products involve bulk preparations of conidia, however considerable variability in conidiation rates exists between biocontrol agents, which can restrict choice of strain for production. The majority of studies on Trichoderma conidiation have focused on the species T. viride and T. atroviride.These species form conidia in response to blue and near-UV light and/or nutrient deprivation and conidiation proceeds in a highly co-ordinated fashion, however relatively little is known on the genetic basis of Trichoderrma conidiation. In addition, whilst photoconidiation appears to be a general response detailed studies in other Trichoderma species are absent. In this study, conidiation in the lesser known biocontrol species T. hamatum is being investigated using a combined morphological and molecular approach. In contrast to T. atroviride, conidiation in response to blue-light was weaker and variable and suggested that additional triggers may be required for the T. hamatum photoresponse. A series of comparative photoconidiation assays are currently being undertaken investigating the effect of inoculum type and abiotic factors on timing and intensity of the response.Results will be discussed in relation to the current knowledge on conidial morphogenesis in Trichoderma. In addition to these morphological assays, a selection of genes implicated in sporulation and the blue-light responses are currently being isolated and characterised from T. hamatum. Two genes, phr1 and cmp1 , which were isolated previously from T. atroviride will be used as early and late markers of gene expression during the photoresponse in T. hamatum in order to define time points for harvesting comparable stage-specific RNA from T. hamatum and T. atroviride. Using degenerate PCR putative sporulation gene orthologues have also been identified in T. hamatum.Work is currently underway to isolate genomic clones of these genes from T. hamatum and T.atroviride. Sequence and expression analysis of orthologues, including expression in response to abiotic factors will be presented and discussed in relation to the current knowledge of the molecular basis of conidiation in Trichoderma and other filamentous fungi.……