Contributions to the leafminer fauna (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Turkey, with four new records

In a study carried out during 2002 and 2004 in Diyarbakıir and Mardin provinces, southeast Turkey, specimens were collected twice a month from cultivated and non-cultivated plants. Sixteen leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) species were identified. Among them,Agromyza abiens Zetterstedt, 1848;Napomyza elegans (Meigen, 1830);Phytoliriomyza dorsata (Siebke, 1864); andPhytomyza aquilonia Frey, 1964 are new records for the Turkish leafminer http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 24, 2005.     

Structural Effects of N-Arylcarbamoylpyrazolines on Calcium Uptake in Rat Brain Synaptosomes

N-Arylcarbamoylpyrazolines with various substituents at the para position of the carbamoyl benzene ring inhibited ATP-dependent Ca²⁺-uptake in synaptosomes prepared from the rat brain. The activity of these compounds was evaluated as log(1/I₅₀), the reciprocal logarithm of half inhibitory concentration, I₅₀ (m ), from the concentration–response curve for the inhibition of Ca²⁺-uptake. Among the compounds tested, methyl 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1-[N-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)carbamoyl]-2-pyrazoline-4-carboxylate was the most potent, the I₅₀ value of which as 9·12×10⁻⁷ m . Variations in the activity in terms of log(1/I₅₀) were quantitatively analysed using a substituent parameter, showing that the higher the electron-withdrawing effect of the substituent, the higher was the activity. The substituent effects were similar to those on insecticidal activity against the Americal cockroach. The higher the inhibitory activity against Ca²⁺ uptake, the higher seemed to be the insecticidal activity. Methyl(4S) - 3 - (4 - chlorophenyl) - 4 - methyl - 1 - [N - (4 - chlorophenyl)carbamoyl] - 2 - pyrazoline -4-carboxylate had higher inhibitory activity against Ca²⁺-uptake and higher in-secticidal activity than the R-isomer, but the difference was greater in theCa²⁺-uptake system.     

Effect of transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria from termite to rumen fluid of sheep on in vitro gas production,fermentation parameters,microbial populations and enzyme activity

The digestive tract of termite(Microcerotermes diversus) contains a variety of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria with exocellulases enzyme activity, not found in the rumen, which could potentially improve fiber degradation in the rumen. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of inoculation of rumen fluid(RF) with three species of bacteria isolated from termite digestive tract, Bacillus licheniformis, Ochrobactrum intermedium, and Microbacterium paludicola, on in vitro gas production(IVGP), fermentation parameters, nutrient disappearance, microbial populations, and hydrolytic enzyme activities with fibrous wheat straw(WS) and date leaf(DL) as incubation substrate. Inoculation of RF with either of three termite bacteria increased(P0.05) ammonia-N concentration compared with the control group(free of termite gut bacteria). Termite bacteria inoculation had no effect(P0.05) on gas production characteristics, dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance, pH, and concentration and composition of volatile fatty acids. Population of proteolytic bacteria and protozoa, but not cellulolytic bacteria, were increased(P0.05) when RF was inoculated with termite bacteria with both WS and DL substrates. Inoculation of RF with termite bacteria increased protease activity, while activities of carboxymethyl-cellulase, microcrystalline-cellulase, α-amylase and filter paper degrading activity remained unchanged(P0.05). Overall, the results of this study indicated that transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, isolated from digestive tract of termite, to rumen liquid increased protozoa and proteolytic bacteria population and consequently increased protease activity and ammonia-N concentration in vitro, however, no effect on fermentation and fiber degradation parameters were detected. These results suggest that the termite bacteria might be rapidly lysed by the rumen microbes before beneficial effects on the rumen fermentation process could occur.     

Effects of AG1 and AG2 QTLs on Nonstructural Carbohydrate and Seed Management Options for Rice Seedling Growth and Establishment under Flooding Stress

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants acquired excess photosynthates in the form of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in their stems and grain. Despite keen interest in rice NSC, the dynamics of NSC accumulation, translocation and re-accumulation have not yet been well investigated. AG1 and AG2 QTLs associated with flooding tolerance through catalyzing starch into soluble sugar in germinating seeds. Here we conducted three experiments, greenhouse and field to lay the groundwork for large-scale diversity studies on grain NSC and some agronomic traits under direct-seeded rice (DSR) system, using elite lines incorporating AG1, AG2 and AG1-AG2 QTLs into the popular varieties PSB Rc82 and Ciherang-Sub1 along with the donors Kho Hlan On (AG1) and Ma-Zhan Red (AG2). In germinating seedlings, soluble sugars increased, while starch concentration decreased gradually especially in the tolerant checks and AG1-AG2 introgression lines under flooded soil. Soluble sugar accumulation in stem started to increase from the vegetative stage and peaked at the panicle initiation stage then gradually decreased towards the maturity stage. But Sub1-AG lines had higher sugar and starch concentrations at different growth stages than other genotypes in wet season 2016 and dry season 2017. Plant survival rate was positively correlated with the stem NSC at the early vegetative stage (21 days after sowing), and stem NSC was positively associated with plant height at different growth stages. Among the tested seeding rate, the most suitable seeding rate, 4 g/m² with shallow burial depth (0.5 cm), resulted in better seedling establishment, relatively higher seedling vigor index and higher leaf area index under flooding in DSR system. Introgression of AG1-AG2 QTLs had no any negative impact on nonstructural carbohydrate, germination rate, and growth and biomass production.     

Binding profiles and cytokine-inducing effects of fish rhamnose-binding lectins on Burkitt’s lymphoma Raji cells

Rhamnose-binding lectin (RBL) is one of the animal lectin categories which take part in the innate immune responses of fish. Osmerus lanceolatus lectin (OLL) from shishamo smelt eggs is an RBL composed of two tandem-repeated domains, both of which are considered to be a carbohydrate-recognition domain. SAL, catfish (Silurus asotus) egg RBL composed of three domains, binds to Burkitt’s lymphoma Raji cells through globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) carbohydrate chain and to reduce cell size and growth by altering membrane composition without causing cell death. In this experiment, we tried to compare the binding effects of these two RBLs on Raji cells. Flow cytometric and fluorescence microscopic analyses revealed that OLL also directly bound to and shrunk Raji cells with ten times less reactivity than SAL but reduced cell growth with decreasing cell viability. Anti-Gb3 antibody completely blocked the binding of SAL to Raji cells but not that of OLL. In addition, the direct bindings of OLL and SAL to Raji cells were comparably inhibited by melibiose, but lactose was more effective inhibitor for the binding of OLL than that of SAL. These results suggest that OLL has slightly different cell-binding property compared with SAL and binds not only to Gb3 but also to the other carbohydrate receptor-bearing β-galactoside chains. The quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that SAL induced the expression of TNF-α but not of IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-10. Thus, SAL-induced cytostatic effect on Raji cells might be partially caused by TNF-α-mediated signaling pathway.     

Effect of co-cultivation and crop rotation on corm rot disease of Gladiolus

Field and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of co-cultivation and crop rotation on the growth and corm rot disease of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus sect. Blandus) cv. Aarti caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli (Massey) Snyd. and Hans. In the field experiment, gladiolus was co-cultivated with 10 agricultural/horticultural crops viz. Allium cepa L., Brassica campestris L., Capsicum annuum L., Eruca sativa Mill., Helianthus annuus L., Tagetes erectus L., Zea mays L., Vinca rosea L. and Rosa indica L., in a soil infested with F. oxysporum. All the crops except V. rosea and R. indica reduced disease incidence. The effect of H. annuus and T. erectus was significant and more pronounced than other co-cultivated crops. In general, root and shoot dry biomass, corm fresh weight, number of cormlets and number of flowers per spike decreased as compared to the un-inoculated monoculture gladiolus treatment (negative control) but these parameters enhanced as compared to the F. oxysporum inoculated monoculture gladiolus treatment (positive control). In a pot experiment, all the crops of the field experiment except V. rosea and R. indica were sown in rotation with gladiolus. Pot grown plants of different species were harvested at maturity and the soil was inoculated with F. oxysporum. Gladiolus was cultivated 1 week after inoculation. Disease incidence was significantly suppressed in all the treatments ranging from 29% to 53%. The highest suppression of disease incidence was recorded in T. erectus (53%) followed by B. campestris (49%). The effect of preceding crops on various vegetative parameters was similar in the pot experiment to that of the field experiment. The present study suggests that corm rot disease of gladiolus can be managed by mixed cropping of H. annuus and T. erectus or cultivation of T. erectus and B. campestris in rotation.     

不同形态硼对油菜幼苗铝毒的缓解效应及其FTIR特征分析

采用水培法,以油菜品种Cao 221167为试验材料,设置无机态硼酸(BA)和有机态山梨醇硼(SB)及不同Al~(3+)(0、100、200和500μmol L~(–1))处理,研究不同形态硼(B)对油菜幼苗铝(Al)毒的缓解作用及不同形态B之间的缓解效应差异,以及利用FTIR(傅里叶红外光谱)技术分析叶片各物质含量的变化。结果表明,Al毒胁迫下,不同形态B(BA和SB)处理,显著提高植株生物量和根系长度(0、100、200和500μmol L~(–1) Al毒胁迫下BA处理根长分别增加了52.15%、101.45%、366.70%和18.73%;SB处理分别增加了46.80%、133.98%、261.36%和10.77%),提高色素含量和SOD活性,而降低了Al含量、MDA含量和POD活性。不同形态B处理下,油菜幼苗在200μmol L~(–1) Al~(3+)处理下长势、生物量及色素含量最高。在500μmol L~(–1) Al~(3+)处理下,油菜幼苗株高、根长、总干鲜重及色素含量显著低于无Al处理;FTIR分析表明,Al毒胁迫下油菜叶片中蛋白质和低聚糖等含量明显上升,加硼明显降低了蛋白质和低聚糖的含量,且BA处理降低幅度明显高于SB处理。说明不同形态B(BA和SB)的添加均明显缓解Al毒,且BA对Al毒缓解效果优于SB,这为农业生产中施用何种硼肥来缓解Al毒起到一定的指导作用。     

Effects of storage time and temperature on pH,specific gravity,and crystal formation in urine samples from dogs and cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of storage temperature and time on pH and specific gravity of and number and size of crystals in urine samples from dogs and cats. DESIGN: Randomized complete block design. ANIMALS: 31 dogs and 8 cats. PROCEDURE: Aliquots of each urine sample were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection or after storage at room or refrigeration temperatures (20 vs 6 degrees C [68 vs 43 degrees F]) for 6 or 24 hours. RESULTS: Crystals formed in samples from 11 of 39 (28%) animals. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 1 cat and 8 dogs. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 2 dogs. Compared with aliquots stored at room temperature, refrigeration increased the number and size of crystals that formed in vitro; however, the increase in number and size of MAP crystals in stored urine samples was not significant. Increased storage time and decreased storage temperature were associated with a significant increase in number of CaOx crystals formed. Greater numbers of crystals formed in urine aliquots stored for 24 hours than in aliquots stored for 6 hours. Storage time and temperature did not have a significant effect on pH or specific gravity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Urine samples should be analyzed within 60 minutes of collection to minimize temperature- and time-dependent effects on in vitro crystal formation. Presence of crystals observed in stored samples should be validated by reevaluation of fresh urine.     

Infection of bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus in water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan

A survey of antibodies to bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) known as bovine lentivirus and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was conducted with samples from water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan. A total of 370 water buffaloes and 76 cattle were tested, and 10.3% and 15.8%, respectively, were found positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies determined by Western blotting, while 0.8% of water buffaloes and no cattle were positive for anti-BLV antibodies determined by immunodiffusion test. BIV-seropositive water buffaloes and cattle were found to have BIV proviral DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells determined by nested polymerase chain reaction. This is the first report of BIV infections in water buffaloes.