The antihistaminic chlorpheniramine inhibitsin vitro growth of several fungi isolated from harvested fruits

Chlorpheniramine (CPA) is an antihistaminic that changes the conformation of DNA and inhibits polyamine biosynthesis in mammalian cells. In the present work, we tested the effect of CPA on four genera of fungi species (Altemaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides and threePenicillium spp.) grownin vitro. Similar growth inhibitions of these genera were produced by 0.5 raM iprodione, CPA and histidinol, but CPA was the most effective. The CPA sensitivities of the twoB. cinerea strains were different. Putrescine did not restore the fungal growth inhibited by CPA.     

Tissue distribution of Red Spotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (RGNNV) genome in experimentally infected juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The distribution of viral genome in the tissues of juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during the course of a Red Spotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (RGNNV) infection has not yet been described. The present study addresses this and indicates which target organs may be involved in viral replication. This information should enable more accurate detection of virus in asymptomatic carriers, and in turn help to control the spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of expression of viral genomic segments RNA1 and RNA2, using two absolute real-time PCRs (RT-qPCR), over the course of a RGNNV infection after administering the virus by intramuscular injection. In situ hybridization was also used to locate the RNA2 viral segment in different organs throughout the infection. The experimental challenge provoked an acute form of viral nervous necrosis (VNN), with a resulting cumulative mortality of 37%. The RT-qPCRs designed allowed the detection of both genomic segments in all the organs tested (nervous and non-nervous tissues) at all sampling times examined. The highest viral RNA copy number was found in eyes, although viral replication appeared to begin in the brain. Viral replication was also recorded in pooled internal organs and in caudal fin. However, the increase in the viral RNA copy number in these organs did not result in an increased viral titre, which may indicate that a productive infection does not take place in non-nervous tissues, possibly due to a failure in a viral post-replication step.     

Genetic basis and origin of resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in Amaranthus palmeri from Spain and Italy

BACKGROUND

Amaranthus palmeri is an aggressive annual weed native to the United States, which has become invasive in some European countries. Populations resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors have been recorded in Spain and Italy, but the evolutionary origin of the resistance traits remains unknown. Bioassays were conducted to identify cross-resistance to ALS inhibitors and a haplotype-based genetic approach was used to elucidate the origin and distribution of resistance in both countries.

RESULTS

Amaranthus palmeri populations were resistant to thifensulfuron-methyl and imazamox, and the 574-Leu mutant ALS allele was found to be the main cause of resistance among them. In two Spanish populations, 376-Glu and 197-Thr mutant ALS alleles were also found. The haplotype analyses revealed the presence of two and four distinct 574-Leu mutant haplotypes in the Italian and Spanish populations, respectively. None was common to both countries, but some mutant haplotypes were shared between geographically close populations or between populations more than 100 km apart. Wide genetic diversity was found in two very close Spanish populations.

CONCLUSION

ALS-resistant A. palmeri populations were introduced to Italy and Spain from outside Europe. Populations from both countries have different evolutionary histories and originate from independent introduction events. ALS resistance then spread over short and long distances by seed dispersal. The higher number and genetic diversity among mutant haplotypes from the Spanish populations indicated recurrent invasions. The implementation of control tactics to limit seed dispersal and the establishment of A. palmeri is recommended in both countries. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Irrigation scheduling of plastic greenhouse vegetable crops based on historical weather data

Irrigation scheduling based on the daily historical crop evapotranspiration (ET_h) data was theoretically and experimentally assessed for the major soil-grown greenhouse horticultural crops on the Almería coast in order to improve irrigation efficiency. Overall, the simulated seasonal ET_h values for different crop cycles from 41 greenhouses were not significantly different from the corresponding values of real-time crop evapotranspiration (ET_c). Additionally, for the main greenhouse crops on the Almería coast, the simulated values of the maximum cumulative soil water deficit in each of the 15 consecutive growth cycles (1988–2002) were determined using simple soil-water balances comparing daily ET_h and ET_c values to schedule irrigation. In most cases, no soil-water deficits affecting greenhouse crop productivity were detected, but the few cases found led us to also assess experimentally the use of ET_h for irrigation scheduling of greenhouse horticultural crops. The response of five greenhouse crops to water applications scheduled with daily estimates of ET_h and ET_c was evaluated in a typical enarenado soil. In tomato, fruit yield did not differ statistically between irrigation treatments, but the spring green bean irrigated using the ET_h data presented lower yield than that irrigated using the ET_c data. In the remaining experiments, the irrigation-management method based on ET_h data was modified to consider the standard deviation of the inter-annual greenhouse reference ET. No differences between irrigation treatments were found for productivity of pepper, zucchini and melon crops.     

In vitro growth and starch digestion by Entodinium exiguum as influenced by the presence or absence of live bacteria

In a preliminary study, the addition of antibiotics was shown to reduce bacterial concentrations in Entodinium exiguum cultures by more than 99% in 4 h, whereas the protozoal population was apparently unaffected. Using this procedure, the growth and amylolytic capability of Entodinium exiguum, in the presence or absence of live bacteria, was studied in vitro. Treatments for Trial 1 were protozoa plus antibiotics (PA), PA plus autoclaved bacteria (PAB), protozoa plus living bacteria (PLB), and only bacteria (BAC). Autoclaved or non-autoclaved cornstarch was used as an energy source. Treatment main effects were as follows: higher concentration of E. exiguum in PLB than in PA or PAB at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.01); PA and PAB were not different (P > 0.05); concentrations of E. exiguum higher in autoclaved cornstarch at 12 h (P < 0.05) but lower than in non-autoclaved cornstarch at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.01); and starch digestion in PLB was higher than in PA and PAB at all time periods, but only greater than BAC up to 24 h (P < 0.01). In Trial 2, only treatments PA, PLB, and BAC were tested. Rice starch and cornstarch were used as substrates. With rice starch, growth was higher in PLB than in PA at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.05). Starch digestion started earlier in PLB with rice starch (P < 0.05) but was complete for both substrates after 24 h. Up to 12 h (autoclaved cornstarch and rice starch) and 24 h (non-autoclaved cornstarch and cornstarch), the sum of digestion by bacteria and protozoa did not equal the extent of digestion in PLB, suggesting some kind of synergism. Total extent of digestion with protozoa was similar between the two sources; however, bacteria digested rice starch faster and to a greater extent than cornstarch. Approximate lag times with rice starch, autoclaved cornstarch, and non-autoclaved cornstarch were 6, 3, and 12 h for bacteria and < 6, 3, and 9 h for protozoa, respectively. Rate of digestion for non-autoclaved cornstarch was similar for bacteria and protozoa, whereas the rate of bacterial digestion was much faster with the other two substrates (autoclaved cornstarch and rice starch).     

Antioxidant activity of coffee model systems

Coffee model systems prepared from combinations of chlorogenic acid (CGA), N(alpha)-acetyl-1-arginine (A), sucrose (S), and cellulose (C) were roasted at 240 degrees C for 4 min prior to analysis by UV-visible spectrophotometry, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), and the ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. The A/CGA/S/C and A/S/C systems were also fractionated by gel filtration chromatography. Antioxidant activity of the systems showed a positive, nonlinear relationship with the amount of CGA remaining after roasting. Sucrose degradation was a major source of color in the heated systems. There was no relationship between antioxidant activity and color generation.     

Quantitative study of 'flame follicles' in skin sections of Shar-pei dogs

This study determined the frequency of occurrence and the mean number of 'flame follicles' per skin section and assessed their diagnostic significance in cutaneous biopsies of Shar-pei dogs. The number of 'flame follicles' per section was recorded in skin sections from 42 Shar-pei dogs, of which 40 had non-neoplastic skin disease and non-atrophic dermatoses and 2 had healthy skin. Forty-two skin sections from dogs of different breeds served as control specimens, 28 of which were examples of non-neoplastic and non-atrophic dermatoses and 14 were from dogs with healthy skin. Differences among groups were analysed by means of the unpaired Student's t-test. It was concluded that 'flame follicles' were more frequent and found in significantly higher numbers in the Shar-pei group when compared with the control group suggesting that 'flame follicles' in skin sections from Shar-pei dogs do not have the same diagnostic significance as in other breeds.     

Potential application of serological tests on fluids from carcasses: detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcoptes scabiei in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Background

Serological surveys for disease investigation of wild animal populations require obtaining blood samples for analysis, which has logistic, ethic and economic difficulties. Applying serological test to fluids collected from dead animals is an alternative. The aim of this study was to assess if antibodies could be detected in two types of fluids collected from 56 carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes): pleural fluid and lung extract.

Findings

In 22 (39%) foxes antibodies against Sarcoptes scabiei were detected in both fluid types by ELISA and Western blot. In 46 (82%) foxes, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were detected in pleural fluid and in 41 (73%) in lung extract applying a Toxo-screen test (DAT). Antibodies were still detectable in the same fluids kept at room temperature for 28 days, although in fewer foxes (16 and 14 foxes tested for T. gondii in lung extract and pleural fluid respectively; and 1 and 4 tested for S. scabiei in lung extract and pleural fluid respectively.

Conclusions

These results indicate the potential utility of using fluids from carcasses for antibody screening of wild animals at the population level.     

Unravelling the relationships among Verticillium wilt,irrigation, and susceptible and tolerant olive cultivars

Survival, germination, olive colonization, and water-use efficiency (WUE) impairments by Verticillium dahliae could be influenced by cultivar susceptibility or irrigation, and this could modify the irrigation–pathogen–disease relationship. In this study, the combined effects of irrigation and cultivar susceptibility on Verticillium wilt (VW) development were modelled by the temporary assessment of V. dahliae propagules (total inoculum density, density of micropropagules, and sclerotia in wet and air-dried soil; ID, MpD, S_wD, and S_dD, respectively), root (RCI) and shoot (SCI) colonization indexes, and WUE. The relationship of disease severity to the measured parameters was then explored. Under controlled conditions, plants of cultivars ‘Picual’ and ‘Frantoio’ were irrigated to a high and low rate by varying drip-irrigation frequencies: daily, twice weekly, and a combination of daily for 11 days and then twice weekly. Disease severity and colonization parameters were higher in ‘Picual’, while WUE was higher in ‘Frantoio’. However, high rate and twice weekly and combination treatments significantly increased disease incidence and reduced time-to-symptoms-onset only in ‘Picual’, while high rate reduced WUE and increased relative ID, MpD, and S_wD in both cultivars. Irrigation did not affect SCI, but a higher RCI was found at high rate during the development of symptoms in ‘Picual’. By using classification trees to examine parameters—disease severity relationships, it was possible to determine the degree to which VW was affected by irrigation and/or cultivar susceptibility. MpD was the best indicator for VW detection at any time, WUE was best before symptoms developed, and RCI, total ID, and S_dD after symptoms developed.