Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Effect of soil texture and CaCO3 content on water infiltration in crusted soil as related to water salinity

Summary The effect of soil texture and CaCO₃ content on water infiltration rate in crusted soil was studied with the use of a rain simulator. Two types of soils with low exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP < 3.0%) were studied: (i) calcareous soils (5.1–16.3% CaCO₃) with a high silt-to-clay ratio (0.82–1.47) from a region with < 400 mm winter rain; and (ii) non-calcareous soils with a low silt-to-clay ratio (0.13–0.35) from a region with > 400 mm winter rain. Soil samples with clay percentages between 3 and 60 were collected in each region. Distilled water (simulating rainfall) and saline water (simulating irrigation water) were sprinkled on the soil. The soils were exposed to rain until steady state infiltration and corresponding crust formation were obtained. For both types of soils and for both types of applied water, soils with 20% clay were found to be the most sensitive to crust formation and have the lowest infiltration rate. With increasing percentage of clay, the soil structure was more stable and the formation of crust was diminished. In soils with lower clay content (< 20%), there was a limited amount of clay to disperse and, as a result, undeveloped crust was formed. Silt and CaCO₃ had no effect on the final infiltration rate for either type of applied water, whereas with saline water, increasing the silt content increased the rate of crust formation.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1130-E, 1984 series     

No effect of exogenous melatonin on development of cryopreserved metaphase II oocytes in mouse

Background

This study was conducted to investigate effect of exogenous melatonin on the development of mouse mature oocytes after cryopreservation.

Results

First, mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes were vitrified in the open-pulled straws (OPS). After warming, they were cultured for 1 h in M₂ medium containing melatonin at different concentrations (0, 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁷, 10⁻⁵, 10⁻³ mol/L). Then the oocytes were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels (fluorescence microscopy), and the developmental potential after parthenogenetic activation. The experimental results showed that the ROS level and cleavage rate in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin group was significantly lower than that in melatonin-free group (control). The GSH levels and blastocyst rates in all melatonin-treated groups were similar to that in control. Based on the above results, we detected the expression of gene Hsp90aa1, Hsf1, Hspa1b, Nrf2 and Bcl-x1 with qRT-PCR in oocytes treated with 10⁻⁷, or 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin and untreated control. After warming and culture for 1 h, the oocytes showed higher Hsp90aa1 expression in 10⁻⁷ mol/L melatonin-treated group than in the control (P < 0.05); the Hsf1, Hsp90aa1 and Bcl-x1 expression were significantly decreased in 10⁻³ mol/L melatonin-treated group when compared to the control. Based on the above results and previous research, we detected the development of vitrified-warmed oocytes treated with either 10⁻⁷ or 0 mol/L melatonin by in vitro fertilization. No difference was observed between them.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the supplementation of melatonin (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻³ mol/L) in culture medium and incubation for 1 h did not improve the subsequent developmental potential of vitrified-warmed mouse MII oocytes, even if there were alteration in gene expression.     

Floating platforms increase reproductive success of common loons

Many southern populations of the common loon (Gavia immer) face threats from lead and methylmercury contamination, lake acidification, shoreline development and human recreation. It is now clear that the task of conserving loon populations will depend upon mitigating these varied threats. In a controlled experiment, we examined the efficacy of using floating nest platforms to increase reproductive success of loons and thus help sustain local populations. Platforms were attractive nesting sites both on lakes that had consistently hatched chicks from natural sites and on lakes where chick production had been sporadic. When compared to natural nest sites, platforms increased hatching success by 69% and fledging success by 32%, apparently through reduction in mammalian egg predation. A well-managed effort to introduce nesting platforms might be a viable strategy to help sustain threatened populations.     

Reduction of intestinal carcinogen absorption by carcinogen-specific secretory immunity

A secretory immune response to the carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) was elicited in rabbits by directly immunizing the small intestine with an AAF-cholera toxin conjugate. High-titer, high-affinity secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to AAF was secreted into the intestinal lumen in response to this immunogen. Immune secretions reduced the transepithelial absorption of a 125I-labeled derivative of AAF by more than half. This reduction of absorption by hapten-specific IgA suggests that oral vaccines against carcinogens and toxicants could be developed for humans.     

鸡miR-1749生物信息学分析及真核表达载体构建

为研究鸡miR-1749功能及其前体rs15860000(C>T)不同基因型对成熟miRNA生成的影响,采用Mfold软件预测C>T突变对miR-1749前体二级结构能值的影响;选用pcDNA3.1-EG-FP质粒,构建miR-1749前体不同等位基因的真核表达载体并转染DF1细胞,检测成熟miR-1749的表达;利用 TargetScan 和 miRDB 软件预测 miR -1749的靶基因,并将靶基因的并集在DAVID数据库进行GO功能富集和KEGG信号转导通路分析。 Mfold预测结果显示,miR-1749前体C>T突变影响其前体二级结构自由能值;成功构建pcDNA3.1-EGFP-pre-miR-1749-C和pcDNA3.1-EGFP-pre-miR-1749-T真核表达载体,转染DF1细胞后,不同基因型重组质粒miR-1749的表达量均显著高于空质粒组( P<0.01), T等位基因成熟miR-1749的表达量显著高于C等位基因(P<0.05)。2个软件预测结果显示,miR-1749靶基因的并集有250个基因,这些基因显著富集于Ras蛋白信号转导调控、GTPase介导信号转导调控、细胞稳态及胚后发育的生物学过程和GnRH、MAPK及细胞黏附分子的信号转导通路。     

Potency and effect ofBacillus thuringiensis preparations against larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis andBoarmia (Ascotis) selenaria

The potency of two newBacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) preparations (coded ABG 6104 and ABG 6105) and of Dipel (B. thuringiensis var.kurstaki) was determined againstSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) 5th-instar larvae on a calcium-alginate diet. With this bioassay, the newB.t. products were more than twice as potent as Dipel. They were also 2–3 times more active than Dipel on alfalfa and cotton leaves in the laboratory. When applied in an alfalfa field at the rate of 312 mg/m², ABG 6104 and ABG 6105 caused 40% mortality of 5th-instar larvae and reduced the weight of the survivors to 30–40% of the control; only half of this activity was obtained with Dipel. On cotton, the activity of all theB. t. products was low. NeonateS. littoralis larvae were effectively controlled on avocado seedlings; however, there was high mortality also in the untreated controls. All threeB. t. preparations had a similar effect onBoarmia (Ascotis) selenaria Schiff. on avocado leaves in the laboratory. Addition of a chitinase enzyme did not increase the pathogenicity of the microbial preparations in the latter tests.     

Development of an artificial diet for mass rearing of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana

An artificial diet for rearing the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), was developed in experiments with three successive generations. The present recommended diet is based on kidney beans, alfalfa meal, whole powdered milk and yeast; methyl-P-hydroxy benzoate, chloramphenicol and formaldehyde were included as preservatives. The effect of the diets on the insect quality is discussed.     

The hypoattenuating ocular lens on CT is not always due to cataract formation

Hypoattenuating ocular lenses on CT have been described with cataract formation in humans, however published studies are currently lacking regarding this finding in veterinary patients. The purpose of this retrospective and prospective study was to describe the varying CT appearances of the ocular lens in vivo, and investigate the causes for CT density variations in a population of cats and dogs. A total of 102 canine and feline patients with CT of the head acquired at the authors’ hospital between May 2011 and March 2019 were included. A bilateral hypoattenuating halo surrounding an isoattenuating to mildly hypoattenuating core was described in the ocular lens center of every cat in which a Philips brand proprietary image construction filter was used. A similar but more varied hypoattenuating region was noted in the lenses of 45.8% of dogs where the same filter was applied, as well as 43.8% of dogs with a second, similar filter. Ophthalmic examination of three live cats and one dog with hypoattenuating lenses demonstrated normal lens translucency, excluding the presence of cataract. The effect of different proprietary filters on lens appearance was also described in three fresh cadavers with normal lenses identified on ophthalmic, macroscopic, and microscopic examination. Etiology of the hypoattenuating areas within the ocular lens was not conclusively determined. Recognition that such a variant may be seen in the absence of cataract is important, in order to prevent misdiagnosis.