In vitro metabolism of EPN and EPNO in susceptible and resistant strains of house flies

EPN is twice as toxic as EPNO to house flies from both the Diazinon-resistant strain and the susceptible strain. EPN and EPNO are also eight times more toxic to the susceptible than the resistant strain. This is due to the ability of the resistant strain to metabolize these compounds to a greater extent. Metabolism by the glutathione S-transferases present in the 100,000g supernatant is more extensive than that by the NADPH-dependent microsomal mixed-function oxidases. The glutathione S-transferases are the major route of metabolism for EPN and appear to be the principal mechanism conferring resistance. EPN was metabolized by the microsomal fraction via oxidative desulfuration to the oxygen analog, EPNO, and by oxidative dearylation to p-nitrophenol. EPNO was metabolized by the same system to p-nitrophenol and desethyl EPNO as well as to an unknown metabolite. The soluble fraction metabolized EPN to p-nitrophenol, S-(p-nitrophenyl)glutathione, O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioic acid, and S-(O-ethyl phenylphosphonothionyl)glutathione. The identification of the latter conjugate demonstrates a new type of metabolite of organophosphorus compounds. EPNO was metabolized by the soluble fraction to p-nitrophenol and S-(p-nitrophenyl)glutathione.     

Cestodes of ruminants in Afghanistan.

Five cestode species parasitizing ruminants were found for the first time in Afghanistan: Moniezia benedeni, M. expansa, Avitellina centripunctata, Stilesia globipunctata, and Thysaniezia giardi.     

Host status effect of cowpea and sunflower on the populations ofMeloidogyne javanica andRotylenchulus reniformis

A highly susceptible cowpea,Vigna sinensis cv. Baladi plants were tested as trap plants for eitherMeloidogyne javanica orRotylenchulus reniformis under greenhouse conditions. The plants were gathered by cutting them above the surface of the soil or by uprooting them, 1/2, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 days after nematode inoculation. Both of the mentioned nematodes began to mature and lay eggs after the 12th day from their inoculation. Hence, it is advised to pull up cowpea plants from 3–12 days after nematode inoculation. After planting sunflower,Helianthus annus cv. Miak replacing cowpea, the nematode populations were higher, in most cases, on sunflower plants replacing cutting cowpea than those on sunflower replacing uprooted cowpea. The highest percentages of nematode reduction were 98.55 and 99.57 forM. javanica and 95.09 and 92.90% forR. reniformis on sunflower plants replacing cutting and uprooted cowpea plants after 12 days from nematode inoculation, respectively.M. javanica andR. reniformis decreased the length and weight of sunflower plants as affected by planting time and method of cowpea harvest. This method of nematode control is cheaper, easy and pollution free.     

Treatment of canine haemangiosarcoma with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor

A case report is presented by describing the treatment of a 12‐year‐old dog – diagnosed with haemangiosarcoma (HSA) – with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. The drug was administered orally, on a daily basis, approximately 2 weeks post‐splenectomy at a dose of 3 mg kg^?1. HSA is a lethal malignancy of the endothelium, which is usually disseminated by the time it is diagnosed. Median survival time, usually, is no longer than 80 days. Following treatment with SAHA, no sign of malignant growth could be discerned by means of diagnostic abdominal ultrasound, chest X‐ray or with the help of clinical symptoms, over a period of >1000 days. The precise mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors exert their anti‐cancer effects is uncertain, but evidence suggests that exposure to SAHA generates hyperacetylated chromosomal histones, which, in turn, facilitates the expression of tumour suppressor genes turned off by epigenetic mechanisms during neoplastic transformation of the endothelium.     

Minimizing ammonia volatilization from urea,improving lowland rice (cv. MR219) seed germination,plant growth variables,nutrient uptake,and nutrient recovery using clinoptilolite zeolite

The anionic nature and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clinoptilolite zeolite can be exploited to reduce ammonia (NH₃) loss from urea and to improve soil chemical properties to increase nutrient utilization efficiency in lowland rice cultivation. A closed-dynamic airflow system was used to determine NH₃ loss from treatments (20, 40, and 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite pot^?1). Seed germination study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice seed germination. A pot study was conducted to determine the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Standard procedures were used to determine NH₃ loss, rice plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, dry matter production, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Application of clinoptilolite zeolite (15%) increased shoot elongation of seedlings and significantly reduced NH₃ loss (up to 26% with 60 g zeolite pot^?1), and increased number of leaves, total dry matter, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Na⁺. Amending acid soils with clinoptilolite zeolite can significantly minimize NH₃ loss and improve rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. These findings are being validated in our ongoing field trials.     

Evaluation of potato clones for their adaptation to medium altitude conditions in the tropics

Potato is one of the most important crops in the world, including in the tropics. Potato requires low temperatures or cool climate for optimum tuber yield, which in the tropics, can be obtained mostly in high altitude growing areas. The limitation of land availability for potato production in highland areas of some tropical countries has steered the recent development of potato production to medium altitude areas. The objective of our study is to identify potato accessions with promising levels of heat resistance in laboratory and with good adaptation to medium altitude in the field. We used in vitro assay to screen a number of potato clones with possible resistance to heat stress on the basis literature and database of the International Potato Center, supplemented with the collection of Bogor Agricultural University. We then continued with verification of selected clones using field test in high altitude (1300 m above sea level) and medium altitude (700 m above sea level) areas. Our result showed that there is considerable variation of S. tuberosum for their adaptation to medium altitude areas in the tropics that can be exploited in breeding programs. We identified one genotype PKHT 2013-06 that was superior for its ability to produce tubers under extreme conditions. Thus, it might be very suitable to be used in a breeding program to develop tolerant varieties of potato to medium altitude areas in the tropics.     

Pantoea: a newly identified causative agent for leaf blight disease in rice

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Leaf blight is one of the most serious threats to rice agroecosystems worldwide, and the yield reduction due to this disease can be as high as 70%. For...     

ELISA法测定番茄茎叶中的褪黑素含量

为了研究植物内源褪黑素与植物抗性的关系,以4叶1心的番茄幼苗为试验材料,采用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法测定正常番茄、鱼腥草提取液和灰霉菌侵染后的番茄茎叶中的褪黑素含量。结果表明:番茄叶片和茎的褪黑素含量分别为14.53、2.80 ng/g,二者之间差异极显著,叶片的褪黑素含量是茎的5.19倍;经鱼腥草提取液预处理和灰霉菌侵染后,番茄叶片的褪黑素含量显著增加,鱼腥草提取液预处理有助于减轻番茄叶片上的灰霉病发病症状,但并不依赖于叶片内源褪黑素含量的增加。可以检出的番茄茎叶中的褪黑素含量高于2.60 ng/g,就灵敏度而言,ELISA法完全可以用来检测番茄的组织器官的褪黑素含量。     

Dietary simultaneous replacement of fish meal and fish oil with blends of plant proteins and vegetable oils in yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) fry: Growth,digestive enzymes,antioxidant status and skin mucosal immunity

A 56‐day nutritional research was performed to examine the influence of alternative vegetal protein and lipid sources on performance of yellowfin seabream fry (Acanthopagrus latus) (0.5 ± 0.0 g). In this regard, five isoproteic (Ca. 500 g/kg) and isolipidic (Ca. 150 g/kg) diets were formulated in which fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) were simultaneously replaced with blends of plant proteins (PP, soybean meal and corn gluten) and vegetal oils (VO, canola and soybean oils) at 20% (SR20), 40% (SR40), 60% (SR40) and 80% (SR80) levels, respectively; meanwhile, a control diet (SR0) was formulated based on FM and FO. Growth and feed utilization were not influenced by experimental diets. The fatty acid profile of fillet drastically altered by dietary treatments. Fish fed with the SR60 and SR80 feeds had higher total protease, trypsin and α‐amylase activities than other treatments. The antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione content in liver were enhanced in fish fed with the SR40, SR60 and SR80 diets. Skin mucosal immune parameters including total protein content, alkaline phosphatase and alternative complement pathway activities in the control group were relatively lower than the vegetal treatments. According to these results, it is recommended that 410 g/kg of FM and 45 g of FO/kg can be replaced with alternative vegetal sources in diet for A. latus fry.