Strategy to identify resistance to white mould associated with high yield for irrigated common bean in Brazil

Development of common bean cultivars with partial white mould resistance through breeding techniques has been a challenge in Brazil. As yet, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes have not been investigated for resistance; therefore, this study screened 107 lines/cultivars for their reactions to white mould in 14 preliminary trials conducted under irrigation. Thirteen resistant lines/cultivars (three of Andean origin) and six Mesoamerican cultivars (three intermediately resistant and three susceptible) were selected for further investigation. These lines/cultivars and the resistant control A195 were evaluated in six advanced trials and two straw tests to assess the effectiveness of the screening procedure. In 11 preliminary trials, screenings were performed under moderate/high or higher disease pressure. These pressures occurred in two advanced trials in which, when yields were averaged across moderate/high and high pressures, 10 Mesoamerican lines/cultivars selected for resistance yielded 14%, 23%, and 38% more than intermediately resistant cultivars, A195, and susceptible cultivars, with median disease ratings (1–9 scale) of 4.5, 5.7, 5.7, and 6.7, respectively. In the straw test, three Andean lines/cultivars (A195 included) and two susceptible cultivars in the field were among those with the highest levels of physiological resistance. Thus, field rating under high disease pressure and greenhouse rating did not correlate significantly, suggesting that field trials are critical to evaluating resistance and to identifying high-yielding beans. Therefore, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes assessed in field trials may provide a low cost and fast way to identify high-yielding bean cultivars with partial resistance to white mould in the subtropical southern hemisphere.     

Horseradish peroxidase study of the location of extrinsic efferent and afferent neurons innervating the colon of dogs

The abdominal portion of the colon of 13 clinically normal dogs was divided into 5 regions (ascending, transverse, left colic flexure, proximal descending, and distal descending), and each region was injected with 30 mg of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The injected colonic region, brain stem, L7-Cd1 portion of the spinal cord, sympathetic trunk ganglia, celiacomesenteric ganglia, caudal mesenteric ganglion, pelvic plexi, distal vagal (nodose) ganglia, and L1-Cd1 spinal ganglia were obtained at post-injection hour 48, sectioned, and processed by use of the tetramethylbenzidine method. The entire length of the colon was found to be under extrinsic influence of the parasympathetic nucleus of cranial nerve X (PX), with the largest average number of labeled cells resulting from injection of the ascending colon. It was also indicated that the entire colon is under extrinsic influence of the sacral portion of the spinal cord because the pelvic ganglia (second-order neurons) of the pelvic plexi contained labeled cells for all colonic regions. The largest average number of labeled cells in pelvic ganglia was seen after injection of the distal portion of the descending colon. Only after injection of the distal portion of the descending colon were labeled cells found in the S1-S3 portion of the spinal cord. Labeled cells in the PX, spinal cord, and pelvic ganglia were found bilaterally. Although the entire abdominal portion of the colon appears to be influenced by cranial and sacral parasympathetic preganglionic (via pelvic ganglia) neurons, the relative importance of the 2 areas seems to be reversed between the ascending colon and distal portion of the descending colon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Exogenous eFSH, follicle coasting, and hCG as a novel superovulation regimen in mares

The objective of this study was to evaluate various equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment protocols and the effect of “follicle coasting” on ovulation and embryo recovery rates in mares. Cycling mares (n = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four groups 7 days after ovulation: (1) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; (2) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger; (3) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily for 3.5 days followed by 12.5 mg eFSH enriched with luteinizing hormone (LH) twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; and (4) 25 mg eFSH once daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger. Mares in groups 1 and 3 were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (2500 IU intravenously) at the end of eFSH treatment, whereas mares in groups 2 and 4 were given hCG approximately 42 and 54 hours, respectively, after the last eFSH treatment (“follicle coasting”). Nonsurgical embryo collection was performed 6.5 to 7.5 days after ovulation. Each mare experienced a nontreated estrous cycle before being reassigned to a second treatment. Ovulation rates for mares in treatment groups 1 to 4 were 3.3 ± 0.4, 4.1 ± 0.4, 3.5 ± 0.4, and 2.8 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM; P < .05), respectively. One or more embryos were recovered from more than 80% of mares in each treatment group, and embryo recovery rate per flush was similar among treatment groups (1.9 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; P > .05). The overall embryo recovery rate was 2.1 ± 1.5 embryos per flush. In summary, ovulation rate was higher for mares treated with eFSH (3.4 ± 0.4) compared with non-treated controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Ovulation rate in mares in which hCG was delayed (follicle coasting) was higher (P < .05) when treatments were given twice per day versus once per day. Administration of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) in conjunction with eFSH did not have an advantage over mares treated only with eFSH.     

Ocular disease caused by the trematode Philophthalmus lachrymosus in free-living kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) of Brazil

In this study, clinical, parasitological and histopathological findings of thirteen kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) found infected with eyeflukes in Brazil are presented. Parasites detected in the ventral conjunctival fornix were identified as Philophthalmus lachrymosus [mean intensity of infection: 16 (5–36) worms/bird]. Eleven birds (85%) presented signs of systemic disease, such as emaciation, dehydration and depressed consciousness. Conjunctival hyperemia was observed in 22 eyes (85%). Keratitis, corneal ulcers, corneal abscess and chemosis were also detected in some eyes (4–8%). Histopathologic lesions, likely due to the parasite attachment to the conjunctiva, were found in the eyes of one infected bird that died from unrelated causes. Philophthalmosis by P. lachrymosus is here reported as a clinically relevant eye disease in kelp gulls.     

Fertility and sperm quality of broiler breeder males infected with subgroup J avian leukosis virus

In order to assess the effects of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) on semen quality, broiler breeder males were separated by ALV-J status (ALV-J positive = POS, ALV-J negative = NEG) at 44 wk of age. Of the 249 males originally placed at 1 day of age, 101 (40.6%) died by 43 wk of age. Observations of tumor expression and high mortality suggest that many of the males that died prior to 44 wk of age were infected with ALV-J. From 47 to 56 wk of age, hens were inseminated every third week with 7.5 x 10(7) sperm. Fertility and hatch data were collected by incubating eggs laid during the 2 wk postinsemination (WPI). The number of sperm that penetrated the perivitelline membrane of the ovum was determined from eggs laid on the eighth day postinsemination. Sperm mobility index (SMI) was determined at 58 and 60 wk of age from all males producing semen. Whereas SMI and sperm hole penetration measurements indicated that the sperm quality from treatments POS and NEG were similar, fertility was significantly greater in the POS treatment during the first (89.0% vs. 79.0%) and second WPI (59.3% vs. 45.0%). However, because of numerically higher hatch of fertile from the NEG group, the percentage of hatch of eggs set was similar between groups. These data suggest that ALV-J status of caged males has no influence on sperm quality or hatchability of eggs.     

Yeast Rtt109 promotes genome stability by acetylating histone H3 on lysine 56

Posttranslational modifications of the histone octamer play important roles in regulating responses to DNA damage. Here, we reveal that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rtt109p promotes genome stability and resistance to DNA-damaging agents, and that it does this by functionally cooperating with the histone chaperone Asf1p to maintain normal chromatin structure. Furthermore, we show that, as for Asf1p, Rtt109p is required for histone H3 acetylation on lysine 56 (K56) in vivo. Moreover, we show that Rtt109p directly catalyzes this modification in vitro in a manner that is stimulated by Asf1p. These data establish Rtt109p as a member of a new class of histone acetyltransferases and show that its actions are critical for cell survival in the presence of DNA damage during S phase.     

Effects of soil pH and soil water content on prosulfuron dissipation

The sulfonylurea herbicide prosulfuron, 1-(4-methoxy-6-methyltriazin-2-yl)-3-[2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)phenylsulfonyl]urea, is used for the selective control of broadleaf weeds in corn, sorghum, and cereal grains. To investigate its fate in soils, this study examined the effects of soil pH and water content on the rates of dissipation processes and the products formed under aerobic conditions. Radiometry and chromatography analyses were used to quantify the degradation products and bound residues formed in incubations of 10 different soils. The pH-dependent hydrolysis of the sulfonylurea bridge to form phenyl sulfonamide was the primary transformation process. Significant microbial degradation of prosulfuron occurred in 2 of the 10 soils, yielding (14)CO(2) and desmethyl prosulfuron among the major products. The time required for 50% dissipation of the herbicide (DT(50)) was determined for each soil and water content treatment. At equivalent water contents, prosulfuron DT(50) values were positively correlated with soil pH (P < 0.0001), varying from 6.5 days at pH 5.4 to 122.9 days at pH 7.9. Soil pH and water content strongly influence the fate of sulfonylurea herbicides in agricultural fields. Differences in the effect of soil water content on dissipation kinetics in a comparison of two soils were attributed to differences in soil pH, texture, and the ability of indigenous microorganisms to transform the herbicide.     

Coccygeal muscle injury in English Pointers (limber tail)

A condition colloquially referred to as "limber tail" and "cold tail" is familiar to people working with hunting dogs, primarily Pointers and Labrador Retrievers. The typical case consists of an adult dog that suddenly develops a flaccid tail. The tail either hangs down from the tail base or is held out horizontally for several inches from the tail base and then hangs straight down or at some degree below horizontal. Initially, the hair on the dorsal aspect of the proximal tail may be raised and dogs may resent palpation of the area 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) from the tail base. Most dogs recover spontaneously within a few days to weeks. Anecdotal reports suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs administered within 24 hours after onset hasten recovery. Less than one half of affected dogs experience a recurrence. Affected Pointers almost always have a history of prolonged cage transport, a hard workout the previous day, or exposure to cold or wet weather Most owners and trainers familiar with the condition do not seek veterinary assistance. In cases where people are not familiar with this disease, other conditions such as a fracture, spinal cord disease, impacted anal glands, or prostatic disease have been incorrectly diagnosed. We examined 4 affected Pointers and found evidence of coccygeal muscle damage, which included mild elevation of creatine kinase early after onset of clinical signs, needle electromyographic examination showing abnormal spontaneous discharges restricted to the coccygeal muscles several days after onset, and histopathologic evidence of muscle fiber damage. Specific muscle groups, namely the laterally positioned intertransversarius ventralis caudalis muscles, were affected most severely. Abnormal findings on thermography and scintigraphy further supported the diagnosis.