Platelet abnormalities and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in canine immunosuppressant-responsive and non-responsive enteropathy: A retrospective study in 41 dogs

Few studies have examined platelet alterations in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Our aim was to investigate platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in dogs diagnosed with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE). In this retrospective study of 41 dogs, data regarding signalment, canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI), endoscopic and histopathological scores, PLT, MPV, PLR, total serum protein concentrations, albumin, and iron were collected. Clinical response and relapse were assessed with the evaluation of CCECAI over time. One month after starting therapy, dogs with >25% CCECAI reduction were considered responders. During a three-month CCECAI evaluation as part of a twelve-month follow-up, a CCECAI >3 together with a ≥2 unit increase in responder dogs was considered a relapse. PLT and PLR displayed significant negative correlation with MPV. MPV was positively correlated with total protein and albumin levels and negatively correlated with CCECAI. Three dogs were classified as non-responders, and 14 relapsed within 12 months. No differences were observed in PLT, MPV, or PLR between responding/non-responding and relapsing/non-relapsing groups. PLT, MPV, and PLR correlated with total protein, albumin, and CCECAI, confirming PLT as a potential marker, and suggesting MPV as a new marker of clinical efficacy against canine IRE.     

Effects of shade on reproduction and some morphological characteristics oi Abutilon theophrasti Medicos, Datura stramonium L. and Sorghum halepense L. Pers.

Relations between availability of light and reproductive activity in several of the most damaging summer weeds (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus, Datura stramonium L., Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) were studied, in order to investigate seed production capacity of these weed species in the unfavourable conditions occurring under a crop canopy simulated by shade cloths. Decrease in seed production under shading appeared to be due to a decrease in the number of fruits per plant, while the quantity of seed per fruit proved to be fairly stable. Biomass partitioning within the plant reduced the percentage of dry matter accumulated in reproductive organs, leading to a marked decrease in the harvest index. Further-more, shading caused a species-dependent delay in onset of the flowering and ripening stages. In Datura stramonium shading led to a greater de-crease in seed production and, consequently, in the harvest index than in the other species examined. Finally, laboratory tests demonstrated that the percentage of dormant seeds remained unmodified in all species examined. Effet de l'ombragesur la reproduction et quelques caracteristiques morphologiques de Abutilon theophrasti Medicus, Datura stramonium E. et Sorghum halepense L. Pers. Les relations entre la fourniture de lumière et l'activité reproductrice de quelques unes des mauvaises herbes les plus importantes (Abutilon tiieophrasti Medicus, Datura stramonium L., Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) ont étéétudiées en vue de déterminer leur capacitéà produire des graines dans les conditions défavorables qui prévalent sous les couverts végétaux. La diminution de la production de graines était due à une diminution du nombre de fruit par plante, alors que la quantité de graines par fruits restait à peu près stable. La distribution de la biomasse dans la plante conduisait à une diminution du pour-centage de matière seche accumulée dans les organes reproducteurs, ce qui se traduisait par une diminution de l'indice de récolte. De plus, l'ombrage causait un retard (variable selon l'espece) du début de la floraison et de la maturation. Chez Datura stramonium, l'ombrage conduisait à la réduction la plus importante de la production de graines (et par conséquent de l'indice de récolte). Enfin, des tests en laboratoire ont montré que le pourcentage de graines dormantes n'était modifie chez aucune des espèces testées. Einfluß von Beschattung auf Vermehrung und morphologische Eigenschaften von Abutilon theophrasti Medicus, Datura stramonium E. und Sorghum halepense (E.) Pers. An einigen sommerannuellen Unkräutem (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus, Datura stramonium L. und Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) wurde die Beziehung zwischen der Lichtverfügbarkeit und der Samenproduktion dieser Arten unter den ungünstigen Bedingungen der Beschattung in einem Kulturpflanzenbestand, die durch Beschattungsgewebe simuliert wurde, untersucht. Die Abnahme der Samenproduktion bei Beschattung ist durch die geringere Fruchtzahl pro Pflanze bedingt; die Samenzahl pro Frucht erwies sich als ziemlich stabil. Die Biomasseverteilung in den Pflanzen führte zu einer Abnahme der Trockenmasse der Reproduktionsorgane und damit zu einem deutlich kleineren Ertragsindex. Außerdem wurden durch die Beschattung der Blühbeginn und das Reifestadium verzögert. Bei Datura stramonitim war die Abnahme der Samenbildung und somit des Ertragsindex stärker als bei den anderen Arten. Der Anteil dormanter Samen blieb bei alien Arten durch die Beschattung einbeeinflußt.     

Germination ecology, emergence and host detection in Cuscuta campestris

Trials were carried out to study the germination and dormancy of Cuscuta campestris Y. (dodder) seeds and factors influencing the success of early parasitisation of sugarbeet. Primary dormancy can be removed by seed scarification. Germination was negligible at 10°C and optimal at 30°C, while it was not influenced by light. Seed burial induced a cycle of induction and breaking of secondary dormancy. Seedling emergence was inversely proportional to the depth of seed burial and only seed buried within 5 cm of the soil surface emerged. Storage of C. campestris seeds in a laboratory for 12 years resulted in the loss of primary dormancy, enabling the germination of all viable seeds. Host infection (i.e. protrusion of parasite haustoria from host tissue) was heavily influenced by host growth stage. Tropism towards a host was due to the perception of light transmitted by green parts of sugarbeet plants. Insertion of a transparent glass sheet between host leaves and parasite seedlings did not modify this response. This phototropism permitted Cuscuta to identify host plants with high chlorophyll content as a function of the lower red/far red ratio of transmitted light.     

Weed seed movement and dispersal strategies in the agricultural environment

This paper reviews the current knowledge on weed seed movement in an agricultural environment. Seed movement is analyzed both from an agronomic and ecological perspective, focusing predominantly on horizontal seed movement. Abiotic (anemochory and hydrochory), as well as biotic (autochory, myrmecochory, epizoochory, and endozoochory) weed seed dispersal typologies are examined, highlighting the mechanisms involved, the specializations displayed by weed species that have evolved by exploiting a particular dispersal mechanism, and their adaptive interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Emphasis is also placed on the crucial role of human activity (anthropochory), which can affect natural (biotic and abiotic) weed seed dispersal at several stages, partly via the worldwide commercial seed trade but, above all, by crop management operations, thereby potentially facilitating the entry and spread of alien weed species. This phenomenon, together with the invasive expansion of existing weeds that more successfully coevolve and adapt to the new environment, might exert an adverse effect on biodiversity. In-depth knowledge of weed seed dispersal, survival, and germination mechanisms is therefore essential for effective and eco-compatible management of the weed phytocoenoses present in the agroecosystem in order to promote a rational trade-off between agricultural productivity and environmental protection.     

Effect of hypoxia on buried weed seed germination

Trials were carried out in order to investigate the effect of hypoxia on seed germination of Datura stramonium L. in Petri dishes and when buried at various depths in soil. Hypoxia was found to cause a decrease in germination capacity and germination rate. This inhibition was partially alleviated by daily exchange of hypoxic gas surrounding the seeds during incubation. Similarly, seed scarification allowed maintenance of a higher germination capacity under conditions of low oxygen availability, showing that the seed coat was only partially gas permeable. Oxygen deficiency led to a decrease in respiratory capacity. However, this was probably compensated for by induction of fermentation metabolism. The possibility of removing the final products of fermentation exerts a decisive influence on seed germination, especially in an environment such as soil, where their diffusion into the surrounding environment is restricted. Thus daily nitrogen flushing partially eliminated this inhibition, even under conditions of low external oxygen availability. It was therefore postulated that the main depth–derived inhibition was not caused directly by oxygen deficiency but by the increasing difficulty in eliminating toxic fermentation products, which was found to be proportional to the degree of hypoxia. Finally, incubation for several days under completely anaerobic conditions induced secondary dormancy. This was probably due to an ecological adaptation mechanism that prevents germination under conditions that are unfavourable for survival.     

Phytochrome-mediated germination control of Datura stramonium L. seeds after seed burial

A series of experiments investigated the light sensitivity of buried weed seeds both within and outside the soil gas microenvironment. Light sensitivity of Datura stramonium L. seeds was found to be increased markedly by a period of soil burial; seeds showed a pronounced germination response even in far-red light (724 nm). Despite this elevated light sensitivity (even to less than 0.01% of incident light), soil overlying buried seeds was sufficient to neutralize the germination trigger. Furthermore, in situ irradiation of buried seeds was found to be virtually ineffective as a germination trigger, showing that the gaseous environment surrounding buried seeds may represent the main obstacle to germination. It is suggested in this study that the soil environment restricts the removal of the germination-inhibiting products of fermentation metabolism. This suggestion is supported by the finding that gas exchange within the seed:soil complex, achieved by flushing with nitrogen, partially restores seed light sensitivity. In addition, it was found that with increasing sowing depth, the germination response was attenuated and also became less dependent on seed phytochrome photoequilibrium conditions. This demonstrates that the phenomenon of germination photoinduction can be reversed by other environmental factors that reduce or eliminate phytochrome physiological activity. Finally, it was shown that seed very low fluence response (VLFR) is triggered only when gas exchange around buried seeds co-occurs with light exposure.