Motor disorders and impaired electrical power of pallidal EEG improved by gallic acid in animal model of Parkinson's disease

The aim of this study was evaluation the effect of Gallic acid on movement disorders and pallidal electrical power in animal model of Parkinson's Disease (PD). PD is clinically characterized by development of motor disturbances, such as bradykinesia, resting tremors, rigidity and a later loss ofpostural reflexes. Oxidative stress is a hallmark factor where the oxidation of dopamine generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and an unbalanced production ROS induces neuronal damage, therefor leading the neuronal death. Gallic Acid (GA) and its derivatives are present in the plant kingdom and acts as a potent antioxidant. Wistar male rats divided into seven groups randomly with 8 in each. Animals in all groups except control received 8 microg/2 microL 6-hydroxydopamine dissolved in normal saline contains 0.01% ascorbate or vehicle in right Medial Forbrain Bundle (MFB) and a bipolar wire electrode was implanted in the left globus pallidus nucleus of all animals under stereotaxic surgery. Two weeks later PD was approved by contralateral rotation signs induced by apomorphine and then movements and electrical power of pallidal were evaluated. Motor functions and pallidal electrical power were impaired and GA could improve motor dysfunctions and gamma wave power in parkinsonian rats' significantly with higher dose of GA (200 mg kg(-1)). Present result showed that GA may act as a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger to reverse motor disorders and pallidal gamma wave power after 6-OHDA neurotoxicity in brain.     

Temperature-dependent functional response of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), on the cotton aphid

The functional response of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), on the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), was examined. Five constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C) and six host densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64) were used during a 24-h period. At each temperature, 2–64 third-instar nymphs of A. gossypii were exposed to individual wasp mating pairs. A type II functional response model for both parasitoid wasps was fit separately for each temperature. The results showed that instantaneous attack rate (a) in A. colemani increased linearly as the temperature increases from 10 to 30°C, but in A. matricariae, (a) increased almost linearly with temperature to reach a maximum at 25°C, and then decreased at 30°C, displaying an asymmetrical dome-shaped pattern. The highest instantaneous attack rate for A. colemani and A. matricariae were calculated 0.940 ± 0.144 day⁻¹ at 30°C and 0.687 ± 0.157 day⁻¹ at 25°C, respectively. Handling time (T _h) for A. colemani was inversely proportional to temperature and ranged from 0.093 ± 0.026 day at 10°C to 0.032 ± 0.004 day at 30°C, but in A. matricariae, (T _h) was between 0.078 ± 0.015 day at 10°C and 0.036 ± 0.014 day at 20°C. A. colemani achieved higher parasitism rate than A. matricariae at higher temperatures. This observation suggests that A. colemani maybe more effective for biological control of the cotton aphid during warmer periods.     

Evaluation of resistance in 14 soybean genotypes to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The effect of 14 soybean genotypes (Sahar, Sari, Williams, Tellar, Hill, Clark, Tms, Dpx, Zane, 032, 033, L₁₇, Ks3494 and I27) on life history and fecundity of two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, was investigated. All experiments were conducted at 28 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% r.h. and a photoperiod of L16:D8 h. The highest development time was 8.41 and 8.78 days for male and female on I27, and the lowest value of this period was obtained on Sahar and Ks3494 for male and female, respectively (7.11 and 7.60 days, respectively). The TSSM fecundity varied from 33.62 to 153.82 eggs per female, which was minimum on 032 and maximum on L₁₇. The comparison of TSSM biological parameters on different soybean genotypes and cluster analysis of these parameters demonstrated that Ks3494, 032, Dpx and Sahar were the most resistant genotypes to this pest. An antibiosis process could be, at least in part, the cause of this variation. Knowledge of the extent of susceptibility or resistance of genotypes and biology of a pest on a crop are fundamental components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for any crop. Implication of these observations in the control of TSSM on soybean is discussed.     

Early differentiation in biomass production and carbon sequestration of white poplar and its two hybrids in Central Iran

We assessed the potential of white poplar(Populus alba L.) and its inter-sectional hybridization with euphrates poplar(P. euphratica Oliv.) for carbon storage and sequestration in central Iran. Trials were established at planting density of 2,500 trees per hectare in block randomized design with three replicates. After 6 years, we measured the above-ground biomass of tree components(trunk, branch, bark, twig and leaf), and assessed soil carbon at three depths. P. alba 9 euphratica plantation stored significantly more carbon(22.3 t ha-1) than P. alba(16.7 t ha-1) and P. euphratica 9 alba(13.1 t ha-1).Most of the carbon was accumulated in the above-ground biomass(61.1 % in P. alba, 72.4 % in P. alba 9 euphratica and 56.0 % in P. euphratica 9 alba). There was no significant difference in soil carbon storage. Also, biomass allocation was different between white poplar P. alba and its inter-sectional hybridization. Therefore, there was a yield difference due to genomic imprinting, which increased the possibility that paternally and maternally inherited wood production alleles would be differentially expressed in the new crossing.     

Temperature-dependent development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diglyphus isaea</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liriomyza sativae</Emphasis> (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on cucumber

The development of Diglyphus isaea (Walker), a parasitoid of leafminers, was studied under laboratory conditions at seven constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C) on Liriomyza sativae Blanchard reared on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The total development period (oviposition to adult emergence) decreased with increasing temperature between 15 and 35°C. In 10 and 40°C no development rate was found in D. isaea, so that it may be claimed that these temperatures fall outside the temperature range for development. Linear regression was used to describe the relationship between development rate and temperature. For egg to adult development, males of D. isaea required 153.8 degree-days (DD) above the theoretical threshold of 9.2°C and females required 161.3 DD above 9.4°C. Data were fitted to four nonlinear temperature-dependent models. Evaluation of the models took place based on the following criteria: fit to data, number and biological value of the fitted coefficient, and accuracy on the estimation of the thresholds. It could be concluded that the Briere-1 and Briere-2 models are suitable for estimating the minimum, maximum and optimal temperature thresholds of D. isaea. Thermal requirements and temperature thresholds can be used to predict the occurrence, number of generations and population dynamics of D. isaea.     

The inheritance of resistance to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, accession WB42: Statistical comparisons with Holly-1-4

In this study, the inheritance of resistance to Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in accessions Holly-1-4and WB42 was investigated. Crosses between both resistant sources and susceptible parents were carried out and F₁F₂ and BC₁ populations were obtained. Virus concentrations in WB42and its F₁ populations were lower than in Holly-1-4. Observed ratios of susceptible and resistant plants in segregating populations of Holly-1-4 as well as WB42 were in agreement with hypothesis of one dominant major gene. Segregation of plants in F₂ populations obtained from crosses betweenHolly-1-4 and WB42 revealed that the resistance genes in Holly-1-4 and WB42 were nonallelic and linked loci. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identifying Areas of High Risk of Human Exposure to Coccidioidomycosis in Texas Using Serology Data from Dogs

Coccidioidomycosis or Valley Fever (VF) is an emerging soil‐borne fungal zoonosis affecting humans and animals. Most non‐human cases of VF are found in dogs, which we hypothesize may serve as sentinels for estimating the human exposure risk. The objective of this study is to use the spatial and temporal distribution and clusters of dogs seropositive for VF to define the geographic area in Texas where VF is endemic, and thus presents a higher risk of exposure to humans. The included specimens were seropositive dogs tested at a major diagnostic laboratory between 1999 and 2009. Data were aggregated by zip code and smoothed by empirical Bayesian estimation to develop an isopleth map of VF seropositive rates using kriging. Clusters of seropositive dogs were identified using the spatial scan test. Both the isopleth map and the scan test identified an area with a high rate of VF‐seropositive dogs in the western and southwestern parts of Texas (relative risk = 31). This location overlapped an area that was previously identified as a potential endemic region based on human surveys. Together, these data suggest that dogs may serve as sentinels for estimating the risk of human exposure to VF.