Evidence for genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in selected intermediate hosts in Serbia

To contribute to the insight into the worldwide population structure of Toxoplasma gondii, we genetically characterized a total of eight strains isolated from intermediate hosts including humans, sheep and pigeons in Serbia. Although parasite DNA was detected in 28.2% (60/213) of the human samples from 162 patients serologically suspected of active toxoplasmosis, as well as in 5/7 seropositive pigeons and in 2/12 seropositive sheep examined, multilocus PCR-RFLP genotyping, using SAG1, 5′SAG2, 3′SAG2, GRA6, 5′GRA7 and 3′GRA7 as markers, was successful in only four human isolates (of which one was isolated from both the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples of a single patient), one sheep and three pigeons. Of the eight isolates, five were type II (62.5%), one was type III, one was atypical, and one had a type I allele at GRA6 as the single locus genotyped. Although type II, as elsewhere in Europe, predominated, these results may suggest a higher genetic diversity of T. gondii in Serbia, reflecting local environmental contamination and also the geographical position of the country in South-East Europe.     

Alien species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) found in Serbia,new to the Balkan Peninsula

New alien species of aphids (Illinoia liriodendri (Monell), Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillete), Takecallis arundicolens (Clarke) and Tinocallis takachihoensis Higuchi) have been found for the first time in Serbia. These records are new for the Balkan Peninsula. Data of Ericaphis scammelli (Mason), species recently mentioned in Serbia, are also presented in the text. The species have been found during the last five years at four sites (Belgrade, Zemun, Mladenovac and Bojnik) on five cultivated plants. Ericaphis scammelli is a pest of blueberry and a vector of Blueberry scorch virus. The other four develop colonies on decorative plants: I. liriodendri has been found on Liriodendron tulipifera, W. nervata on Rosa sp., T. arundicolens on Pseudosasa japonica and T. takachihoensis on Ulmus x hollandica. The origin of three of the species (E. scammelli, I. liriodendri and W. nervata) is North America and two (T. arundicolens and T. takachihoensis) have come from East Asia. Their morphology, biology and the damage they inflict are discussed here, as well as their potential economic and environmental threat. Only parthenogenetic viviparous females of all 5 species have been collected. Their biology has not been studied enough in Europe and needs further examination. Original drawings of all species are presented.     

Degradation and persistence of rotenone in soils and influence of temperature variations

The persistence and degradation of rotenone and its primary degradation product 12a beta-hydroxyrotenone in soils were determined under standardized laboratory conditions in the dark at 20 or 10 degrees C and at 40% of water holding capacity. Degradation experiments were carried out on two types of soil collected in southern Italy, a silt clay loam (SCL) and a loamy soil (L). A kinetic model was developed to describe degradation rates of rotenone, taking into account the production, retention, and degradation of the main metabolites. The DT50 values of rotenone and 12a beta-hydroxyrotenone, were 8 and 52 days in SCL soil, and 5 and 23 days in L soil at 20 degrees C, respectively. However, at 10 degrees C a tendency for slower degradation of rotenone and 12a beta-hydroxyrotenone was observed (25 and 118 days in SCL and 21 and 35 days in L soils, respectively). The differences were significant for most data sets. Temperature had a strong effect on degradation; a 10 degrees C increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in the DT50 value by a factor of 3.1 and 2.2 in SCL and of 4.2 and 1.4 in L soils for both rotenone and 12a beta-hydroxyrotenone, respectively. Results show that the degradation rates of both rotenone and 12a beta-hydroxyrotenone were greatly affected by temperature changes and soil physicochemical properties. The degradation reaction fits the two compartment or the multiple compartment model pathways better, which clearly indicates a rather complex rotenone degradation process in soils. Results provide further insights on the rates and the mechanisms of rotenone degradation in soils, aiming to more clearly describe the degradation pathway of chemical residues in the environment.     

Eco-geographical distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca aculeata</Emphasis> natural populations in northeastern Israel

The wild lettuce, Lactuca aculeata Boiss. et Ky., is closely related and fully interfertile with cultivated lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. Altogether, 155 accessions of this wild species, which is rare conserved within the world’s germplasm collections, were collected from 12 localities throughout northeastern Israel. Ten of these localities represent different sites across the Golan Heights, while two, high-density populations were suprisingly found at the Hula Plain (first report of this species in this region). Lactuca aculeata was recorded at various elevations (222–968 m a.s.l.) and habitats. The taxonomic status of 30 L. aculeata accessions was morphologically validated during ex situ seed regeneration of 31 random accessions representing all 12 localities. Characterization of 12 traits showed that the Israeli populations of L. aculeata do not exhibit broad morphological variability, but more great levels of variation were obtained for developmental traits. Relatively little variability was observed in the morphology of cauline leaves or in the distribution of anthocyanin pigmentation in bracteae. In two cases, L. aculeata plants lacked trichomes in the inflorescence, a typical feature in the majority of plants. These unique collections of wild lettuce may carry novel sources of genetic variation for a wide range of traits and, thus, should be of interest for careful evaluation and exploitation in lettuce breeding.     

Comparison of Antioxidant Components and Activity of Buckwheat and Wheat Flours

Plant phenolics and tocopherols content were determined in light and wholegrain buckwheat and wheat flour. Antioxidant activity of flours were comparatively assessed by scavenging activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•), hydroxyl (^•OH), and superoxide anion (O₂^•–) radicals, reducing activity, and chelating activity on Fe²⁺. Rutin, quercetin, and ferulic acid were quantified in both buckwheat flours, while ferulic acid was quantified in wholegrain wheat flour. Significantly higher content of phenolics and tocopherols was found in buckwheat than in wheat flours. Tocopherols in buckwheat flours were present in the order: γ‐ > α‐>> δ‐tocopherol, and in wheat flours: α‐ > γ‐ >> δ‐tocopherol. Buckwheat flours possessed better scavenging abilities on DPPH^•, ^•OH and O₂^•– radicals, as well as better reducing activity, while wheat flours showed better chelating activity on Fe²⁺, according to IC₅₀ values. Results suggest the possibility of improving the antioxidant properties of wheat‐based food products through addition of buckwheat flour.     

Assessment of the retardation of selected herbicides onto Danube sediment based on small column tests

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study utilizes column tests to investigate the retardation of certain herbicides with different hydrophobicities (atrazine, alachlor and trifluralin) during...     

Backbone cyclised peptides from plants show molluscicidal activity against the rice pest Pomacea canaliculata (golden apple snail)

Golden apple snails ( Pomacea canaliculata) are serious pests of rice in South East Asia. Cyclotides are backbone cyclized peptides produced by plants from Rubiaceae and Violaceae. In this study, we investigated the molluscicidal activity of cyclotides against golden apple snails. Crude cyclotide extracts from both Oldenlandia affinis and Viola odorata plants showed molluscicidal activity comparable to the synthetic molluscicide metaldehyde. Individual cyclotides from each extract demonstrated a range of molluscicidal activities. The cyclotides cycloviolacin O1, kalata B1, and kalata B2 were more toxic to golden apple snails than metaldehyde, while kalata B7 and kalata B8 did not cause significant mortality. The toxicity of the cyclotide kalata B2 on a nontarget species, the Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus), was three times lower than the common piscicide rotenone. Our findings suggest that the existing diversity of cyclotides in plants could be used to develop natural molluscicides.     

Determination of Plant-Available Nutrients in Two Wood Ashes: The Influence of Combustion Conditions

Wood ashes were traditionally used as a fertilizing agent from the very beginning of working land but the fertilizing quality varies according to the combusted biomass and also the industrial burning equipment. The differences between wood ash originated from fluid and classic boiler were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Mehlich 3 and deionized water extraction procedures in relation to extraction time. The results, especially of the SEM and chemical extractions, have demonstrated that the type of burning boiler determines the portions of the leachable nutrient elements. The silica and alumina ash content conducted by the elevated temperature transforms the main proportion of calcium and potassium into the insoluble feldspars. Due to this effect only a small amount of nutrients could be released and served as a fertilizing matter.     

Kiwellin, a modular protein from green and gold kiwi fruits: evidence of in vivo and in vitro processing and IgE binding

Kiwellin, an allergenic protein formerly isolated from green kiwi fruit, has been identified as the most abundant component of the gold kiwi species. A protein named KiTH, showing a 20 kDa band on reducing SDS-PAGE and 100% identity with the C-terminal region of kiwellin, has been identified in the extract of the ripe green species. In vitro treatment of purified kiwellin with the protease actinidin from green kiwi fruit originated KiTH and kissper, a recently described pore-forming peptide. Primary structure analysis and experimental evidence suggest that kiwellin is a modular protein with two domains. It may undergo in vivo proteolytic processing by actinidin, thus producing KiTH and kissper. When probed with sera recognizing kiwellin from green kiwi fruit, KiTH showed IgE binding, with reactivity levels sometimes different from those of kiwellin. The IgE-binding capacity of kiwellin from gold kiwi fruit appears to be similar to that of the green species.     

Titanium dioxide photoinduced degradation of some pesticide/fungicide precursors

Five-membered nitrogen heterocycles (pyrrole, imidazole and 1,2,4-triazole) have been degraded using titanium dioxide and simulated solar radiation at pH = 8. The degradations followed a simple Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. Accordingly, the adsorption equilibrium constants K of the heterocycles on the titanium dioxide surface and the rate constants k of degradation of the heterocycle-catalyst adduct have been obtained experimentally. While the K values decrease with heterocycle pKa, the k values increase with increasing pKa. Therefore, apparently, the rate constant depends on the availability of the electron pair on nitrogen, but at the same time the electron pair repulsion induced by the negatively charged titanium dioxide surface at pH = 8 causes a reverse effect in the adsorption equilibrium constant. Only in the case of imidazole, where the adsorption equilibrium constant is low enough (K = 0.013 M(-1)), can the rate constant be approximated to a pseudo-first-order rate expression: k(obs) = Kk. In all other cases, k(obs) = Kk/(1 + K(heterocycle)).