Mechanisms of resistance to fungicides in field strains of Botrytis cinerea

Field strains of Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr, the causal agent of grey mould diseases, were collected from French vineyards between 1993 and 2000. Several phenotypes have been characterized according to the inhibitory effects of fungicides towards germ-tube elongation and mycelial growth. Two types of benzimidazole-resistant strains (Ben R1 and Ben R2) could be detected; negative cross-resistance to phenylcarbamates (e.g. diethofencarb) was only found in Ben R1. Benzimidazole resistance was related to point mutations at codon 198 (Ben R1) or 200 (Ben R2) of the beta-tubulin gene. Most dicarboximide-resistant strains were also weakly resistant to aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides (e.g. dicloran) but remained sensitive to phenylpyrroles (e.g. fludioxonil). These resistant field strains (Imi R1) contained a single base pair mutation at position 365 in a two-component histidine kinase gene, probably involved in the fungal osmoregulation. Three anilinopyrimidine-resistant phenotypes have been identified. In the most resistant one (Ani R1), resistance was restricted to anilinopyrimidines, but no differences were observed in the amino-acid sequences of cystathionine beta-lyase (the potential target site of these fungicides) from Ani R1 or wild-type strains. In the two other phenotypes (Ani R2 and Ani R3), resistance extended to various other groups of fungicide, including dicarboximides, phenylpyrroles and sterol biosynthesis inhibitors. This multi-drug resistance was probably determined by over-production of ATP-binding cassette transporters. The hydroxyanilide fenhexamid is a novel botryticide whose primary target site is the 3-keto reductase involved in sterol C-4 demethylations. Apart from the multi-drug-resistant strain Ani R3, three other fenhexamid-resistant phenotypes have been recognized. For two of them (Hyd R1 and Hyd R2) fenhexamid-resistance seemed to result from P450-mediated detoxification. Reduced sensitivity of the target site could be the putative resistance mechanism operating in the third resistant phenotype (Hyd R3). Increased sensitivity to inhibitors of sterol 14 alpha-demethylase recorded in Hyd R1 strains was related to two amino-acid changes at positions 15 and 105 of this enzyme.     

Effects of type of added salt and ionic strength on physicochemical and functional properties of casein isolates produced by electroacidification

A procedure developed for soybean protein precipitation which was based on electrodialysis was tested for the production of acid casein from reconstituted skim milk. In a previous paper, the performance of bipolar membrane electroacidification (BMEA) was evaluated under different conditions of ionic strength (micro(added) = 0, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 M) and added salt (CaCl(2), NaCl, or KCl) (1). The aim of this study, which is the complement of the work on evaluation of BMEA performance, was to evaluate the functionality of the protein isolates produced by BMEA and to compare the BMEA isolates to commercial isolates and an isolate produced by chemical acidification. It was not possible to show differences between the functional properties of isolates produced by BMEA, except at 1 M CaCl(2) micro(added), due to the variability of the isolates. However, the results showed that it is possible to obtain isolates similar to commercial isolates and that the addition of salt during the process does not induce variations in functional properties. From results on mineral concentrations, it appeared that the addition of monovalent cations did not influence the retention of monovalent or divalent cations in the BMEA isolates, while addition of divalent cations (CaCl(2)) influenced the retention of magnesium. According to previous results on evaluation of BMEA performances under different conditions of ionic strength and added salt, the difference observed for the BMEA isolate produced at 1.0 M CaCl(2) was confirmed.     

桃果皮毛、果肉颜色对果实糖与酸含量的影响及相关性研究

 对山桃和栽培桃品种杂交后代 10 7个个体 (分成 2 2个毛桃和 85个油桃 ,或 75个白肉桃和 3 2个黄肉桃 )的果实糖酸含量遗传规律进行了研究。结果表明 ,桃果实中的可溶性糖和酸主要是蔗糖和苹果酸 ,分别占总可溶性糖的 65%左右和总酸含量的 50 %。油桃各基因型的蔗糖、果糖、山梨糖醇、总糖、可溶性固形物及奎宁酸平均含量均显著高于毛桃 ,而毛桃和油桃基因型之间的苹果酸、柠檬酸、总酸平均含量及糖酸比没有显著差异。所有毛桃和油桃基因型的莽草酸含量都很低 ,为 0 .0 11～ 0 .0 46meq·10 0g- 1FW。果实内葡萄糖和果糖含量呈正相关 (r =0 .63 ) ,蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖分别与山梨糖醇呈显著或极显著直线正相关 ,且苹果酸与蔗糖、山梨糖醇、总糖和可溶性固形物呈显著正相关。毛桃的平均单果重显著大于油桃 ,且可溶性固形物和总酸含量与果实的大小呈显著直线负相关。此外 ,盛花后果实发育天数影响果实内糖酸含量     

Analysis of two bentonites of enological interest before and after commercial activation by solid Na(2)CO(3)

Two natural calcium-rich bentonites used for the removal of wine proteins, originating from Greece and Turkey, were studied by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and solid state NMR, before and after activation by solid Na(2)CO(3). Exchange of Ca(2+) by Na(+) mainly occurs for cations located at the edge of layers and only weakly for interlayer cations. This Na(2)CO(3) activation process leads to an increased efficiency in the adsorption process of bovine serum albumin (BSA) used as a model protein for both bentonites. A direct correlation is observed between the extent of Ca(2+)/Na(+) exchange, the strength of adsorption of BSA, and the extent of unfolding of BSA backbone.     

Determining the bioavailability of contaminants and assessing the quality of sediments

Background, Aims and Scope  

Our study determined if and when an avoidance or attraction behavioural response would be displayed by Ilyanassa obsoleta when presented with a choice between harbour and reference sediments. Our goal was to develop a non-lethal approach that could be used in future assessments of the environmental quality of field sediments.     

N-acyl-homoserine lactones from Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) and their degradation by Bacillus cereus enzymes

A chemical study of acyl-homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) produced by Enterobacter sakazakii resulted in the identification of three molecules: (S)-N-heptanoyl-HSL, (S)-N-dodecanoyl-HSL and (S)-N-tetradecanoyl-HSL. Mixed cultures of E. sakazakii and Bacillus cereus depleted E. sakazakii acyl-HSLs, suggesting acyl-HSL degradation by B. cereus hydrolases (hydrolysis of the lactone or amide moiety). The expression of B. cereus acyl-HSL lactonase and acyl-homoserine acylase was confirmed by monitoring the biotransformation of (S)-N-dodecanoyl-HSL into (S)-N-dodecanoyl-homoserine, dodecanoic acid and homoserine in the presence of B. cereus whole cells, using electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).     

Improvement of rapeseed protein nutritional value

Although the efficiency ratio (PER) of vegetable proteins can be improved by supplementation with the limiting free amino acids, the digestibility of these proteins remains lower than that of animal proteins. The digestibility of a rapeseed protein concentrate measured in rats was improved from a value of 81 to 87% by water solubilization and ammonium sulfate precipitation. 2S and 12S fractions were also prepared from a rapeseed protein concentrate by a method based on differences of solubility in ammonium sulfate solutions. Protein digestibility of the rapeseed protein concentrate was found to be 82%, as compared to 87% and 89% for 2S and 12S fractions. A reduction of protein efficiency ratio was also recorded and was found to result from losses in amino acids.