Selection efficiency of high inorganic phosphorus-low stachyose lines from soybean breeding populations of different genetic backgrounds

Reducing the antinutritional components of soybean (Glycine max) seed is necessary for producing animal feed with increased metabolizable energy and nutrient availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate marker-assisted and phenotypic selection for the high inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and low stachyose traits controlled by the Lpa and MIPS1 mutations in six breeding populations. Phenotypic selection for low phytate individuals carrying Lpa mutations using Pi was reliable, but the assay should include parental genotypes to construct thresholds before performing selections, as the effect of Lpa on Pi depends on genetic background. Phenotypic selection for low phytate individuals carrying MIPS1 using Pi should be complemented with sugar data because selection based solely on Pi may be inefficient, as this trait is not environmentally stable in MIPS1 germplasm. Marker-assisted selection for simple sequence repeat (SSR) linked to Lpa2 (Satt527, Satt561) depended on the pedigree of the population suggesting that perfect markers (e.g., single nucleotide polymorphism) should become the molecular tool for screening a large number of progenies with high efficiency.     

Predicting summer fin whale distribution in the Pelagos Sanctuary (north-western Mediterranean Sea) to identify dynamic whale–vessel collision risk areas

1. Mediterranean fin whales aggregating in the Pelagos Sanctuary in summer to feed are exposed to vessel collision risk, particularly from high-speed ferries.
2. This study developed models to predict summer fin whale distribution using a generalized additive model (GAM) and MaxEnt, with the aim of providing a tool to identify potential high whale–ferry collision risk areas along ferry routes within the Pelagos Sanctuary during summertime.
3. Models were trained using sightings data collected in the summer months of 2009–2018 on board ferries crossing the central area of the Pelagos Sanctuary. Environmental predictors were bathymetry and mean sea surface chlorophyll concentration of the annual spring bloom period.
4. The predictive ability of GAM and MaxEnt was assessed using existing knowledge of summer fin whale distribution in the region. GAM (deviance explained = 20.2%) predictions matched documented distributions more closely than that of MaxEnt, with highest predicted fin whale occurrence in deep offshore waters (>2000 m) encompassing the central north-western and western regions, and in the south-eastern region, consistent with known fin whale habitats within the Pelagos Sanctuary. Inter-annual variability was evident, influencing collision risk areas.
5. Collision risk was estimated as a function of the overlap between the predicted probability of fin whale occurrence and ferry density estimated from Automated Identification System data. Ferry routes that cross the northern and eastern regions of the Pelagos Sanctuary presented relatively higher collision risk.
6. Areas with changes in risk intensity between the years were temporally and spatially dynamic: some appeared intermittently throughout the study period while others persisted over consecutive years or recurred in different years.
7. Due to the vastness of the Pelagos Sanctuary, vessel speed reduction maybe a more practical measure to manage collision risk than re-routing shipping lanes. A combination of Seasonal Management Areas and Dynamic Management Areas approaches could be adopted for high-risk areas.

     

Linked reactivity at mineral-water interfaces through bulk crystal conduction

The semiconducting properties of a wide range of minerals are often ignored in the study of their interfacial geochemical behavior. We show that surface-specific charge density accumulation reactions combined with bulk charge carrier diffusivity create conditions under which interfacial electron transfer reactions at one surface couple with those at another via current flow through the crystal bulk. Specifically, we observed that a chemically induced surface potential gradient across hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) crystals is sufficiently high and the bulk electrical resistivity sufficiently low that dissolution of edge surfaces is linked to simultaneous growth of the crystallographically distinct (001) basal plane. The apparent importance of bulk crystal conduction is likely to be generalizable to a host of naturally abundant semiconducting minerals playing varied key roles in soils, sediments, and the atmosphere.     

Application of an ELISA to the determination of benalaxyl in red wines

The applicability of an ELISA for detection and quantification of benalaxyl in red wine samples is described. The study of the influence of this matrix on the reliability of the assay indicates that red wine samples require a rapid and simple cleanup step before ELISA assay. Recovery and precision of the method were evaluated by spiking red wine samples with benalaxyl in the 0.5-24 ng/mL range. Benalaxyl can be determined with good accuracy and precision up to 0. 5 ng/mL in starting red wine samples (detection limit of 0.13 ng/mL). No false negative or positive results were obtained. Authentic red wine samples were analyzed by ELISA and by RP-HPLC. The amounts of benalaxyl found by ELISA were in good agreement with RP-HPLC analysis.     

An immunocytochemical procedure for protein localization in various nematode life stages combined with plant tissues using methylacrylate-embedded specimens

Plant-parasitic nematodes possess a large number of proteins that are secreted in planta, allowing them to be successful parasites of plants. The majority of these proteins are synthesized mainly in the nematode subventral and dorsal glands as well as in other organs. To improve the immunovisualization of these proteins, we adapted a methacrylate embedding method for the localization of proteins inside nematode tissues, and extracellularly when secreted in planta or within plant cells. An important advantage is that the method is applicable for all nematode stages: preparasitic as well as parasitic stages, including large mature females. Herein, the method has been successfully applied for the localization of four nematode secreted proteins, such as Mi-MAP-1, Mi-CBM2-bearing proteins, Mi-PEL3, and Mi-6D4. In addition, we could also localize 14-3-3 proteins, as well as two cytoskeletal proteins, by double-immunolabeling on preparasitic juveniles. Superior preservation of nematode and plant morphology, allowed more accurate protein localization as compared with other methods. Besides excellent epitope preservation, dissolution of methacrylate from tissue sections unmasks target proteins and thereby drastically increases antibody access.     

Taking the "waste" out of "wastewater" for human water security and ecosystem sustainability

Humans create vast quantities of wastewater through inefficiencies and poor management of water systems. The wasting of water poses sustainability challenges, depletes energy reserves, and undermines human water security and ecosystem health. Here we review emerging approaches for reusing wastewater and minimizing its generation. These complementary options make the most of scarce freshwater resources, serve the varying water needs of both developed and developing countries, and confer a variety of environmental benefits. Their widespread adoption will require changing how freshwater is sourced, used, managed, and priced.     

Electron small polarons and their mobility in iron (oxyhydr)oxide nanoparticles

Electron mobility within iron (oxyhydr)oxides enables charge transfer between widely separated surface sites. There is increasing evidence that this internal conduction influences the rates of interfacial reactions and the outcomes of redox-driven phase transformations of environmental interest. To determine the links between crystal structure and charge-transport efficiency, we used pump-probe spectroscopy to study the dynamics of electrons introduced into iron(III) (oxyhydr)oxide nanoparticles via ultrafast interfacial electron transfer. Using time-resolved x-ray spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, we observed the formation of reduced and structurally distorted metal sites consistent with small polarons. Comparisons between different phases (hematite, maghemite, and ferrihydrite) revealed that short-range structural topology, not long-range order, dominates the electron-hopping rate.     

Degradation of the herbicides clomazone, paraquat, and glyphosate by thermally activated peroxydisulfate

Activated sodium peroxydisulfate has the potential to in situ destruct many organic contaminants because of the generation of the stronger oxidant sulfate radical. From photochemical activation of peroxydisulfate in flash-photolysis experiments, the bimolecular rate constants for the reaction of sulfate radical with glyphosate (1.6 × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) and paraquat (1.2 × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) at 25 °C were obtained. Thermal activation of peroxydisulfate was shown to degrade the herbicides clomazone, paraquat, and glyphosate. Although the herbicide degradation was observed to take place in less than 1 h, the mineralization of the organic carbon required longer reaction times, because of the formation of stable organic intermediates. For similar initial total organic carbon (TOC) values, TOC profiles were similar for experiments with different substrates (the herbicides, humic acids, and a mixture of glyphosate and humic acids), which indicates that the mineralization of all of the samples is limited by the production of SO(4)(?)?(-) radicals. A linear correlation between the initial amount of SO(4)(?)?(-) needed per mole of C and the average oxidation state was found.     

Predicting swiss needle cast disease distribution and severity in young douglas-fir plantations in coastal Oregon

ABSTRACT Swiss needle cast (SNC), caused by the fungus Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, is producing extensive defoliation and growth reduction in Douglas-fir forest plantations along the Pacific Northwest coast. An SNC disease prediction model for the coastal area of Oregon was built by establishing the relationship between the distribution of disease and the environment. A ground-based disease survey (220 plots) was used to study this relationship. Two types of regression approaches, multiple linear regression and regression tree, were used to study the relationship between disease severity and climate, topography, soil, and forest stand characteristics. Fog occurrence, precipitation, temperature, elevation, and slope aspect were the variables that contributed to explain most of the variability in disease severity, as indicated by both the multiple regression (r (2) = 0.57) and regression tree (RMD = 0.27) analyses. The resulting regression model was used to construct a disease prediction map. Findings agree with and formalize our previous understanding of the ecology of SNC: warmer and wetter conditions, provided that summer temperatures are relatively low, appear to increase disease severity. Both regression approaches have characteristics that can be useful in helping to improve our understanding of the ecology of SNC. The prediction model is able to produce a continuous prediction surface, suitable for hypothesis testing and assisting in disease management and research.