Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of an apoplastic basic thaumatin-like protein from recalcitrant chestnut seeds.

Mature chestnut seeds, with one of the highest moisture contents described to date, accumulate certain defensive proteins at unusually elevated levels. In this work a major 23-kDa thaumatin-like protein, termed CsTL1, has been purified from mature chestnut (Castanea sativa) cotyledons. Amino acid sequencing and characterization of its full-length cDNA indicate that CsTL1 is synthesized as a preprotein with a signal peptide 22 amino acids in length. The mature protein contains 16 conserved cysteine residues presumably involved in disulfide bonding and has a high isoelectric point (ca. 9). Unlike most basic pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, mature CsTL1 is localized to the extracellular matrix, as revealed by immunoelectron microscopy studies of cotyledonary cells. The isolated protein has in vitro antifungal activity against Trichoderma viride and Fusarium oxysporum and shows strong synergistic effects with CsCh1, the most abundant chestnut cotyledon endochitinase. Moreover, both CsTL1 and CsCh1 appear to be regulated in the same manner during seed development and germination. These observations, along with the recent finding of endoglucanase activity for some TL proteins, support the notion that CsTL1 and CsCh1 are part of a complex seed defensive system against microbial growth. Another possibility is that these, and probably other seed PR proteins, have antifreeze activity. Both functions would be particularly relevant for chestnut seeds given their remarkable moisture content at maturity.
On the evolution and morphology of the rotiferan trophi, with a cladistic analysis of Rotifera

The phylogeny of Rotifera was examined in different computer-generated cladistic analyses, including Seisonidea, Bdelloidea, Flosculariacea, Collothecacea and all ploimids treated on family level. The analyses were based on a character matrix solely dealing with morphological characters, primarily based on the trophi morphology. Limnognathia maerski (Micrognathozoa), Rastrognathia macrostoma and Gnathostomula paradoxa (Gnathostomulida) were used as outgroups. The cladistic analysis performed by paup produced 288 most parsimonious trees. peewee analyses produced between 140 and 432 trees, depending on the concavity value. The monophyly of Eurotatoria, Monogononta and Ploima was confirmed in all obtained trees. All analyses suggested a division of Ploima into major clades. One clade corresponded to Transversiramida while the other contained all other ploimid taxa and recognized Antrorsiramida as a monophylum. Based on the obtained results a scenario for the trophi evolution is proposed. The analyses suggested that the presence of an incus is synapomorphic for Gnathifera while mallei are synapomorphic for Micrognathozoa and Rotifera. The ancestral rotifer trophi probably resembled those in Harringia (Asplanchnidae). Zusammenfassung Die Phylogenie der Rotatorien wurde mit verschiedenen kladistischen Computeranalysen, unter Einbezug der Seisonidea, Bdelloidea, Flosculariacea, Collothecacea und aller Taxa von Ploima auf Familienebene, untersucht. Die Analyse basierte auf einer Mekmalsmatrix, die nur morphologische Merkmale, vorwiegend aus der Morphologie der Kiefer, enthielt. Limnognathia maerski (Micrognathozoa), Rastrognathia macrostoma und Gnathostomula paradoxa (Gnathostomulida) wurden als Ausengruppe benutzt. Die mit paup durchgefuhrte Analyse ergab 288 ‘‘sparsamste’’ Kladogramme. PeeWee Analysen produzierten in Abhangigkeit vom Konkavitats-Wert 140 bzw. 432 Baume. Die Monophylie der Eurotatoria, Monogononta und Ploima wurde in allen Kladogrammen bestatigt. Alle Analysen schlugen auch eine Teilung von Ploima in zwei grose Kladen vor. Eine der Kladen entspricht den Transversiramida, die andere enthalt alle anderen Ploima-Taxa und weist Antrorsiramida als Monophylum aus. Gestutzt auf die gefundenen Ergebnisse wird ein Szenarium fur die Evolution der Kiefer vorgeschlagen. Die Analysen lassen vermuten, das der Besitz eines Incus eine Synapomorphie der Gnathifera ist, wahrend der eines Malleus eine Synapomorphie der Mikrognathozoa und derRotifera darstellt. Die ursprunglichen Kiefer waren vermutlich dem von Harringia (Asplanchnidae) ahnlich.
Purple blotch (Alternaria porri) of Onion In Kenya.

SUMMARY In 1961 an epidemic attack by Alternaria porri occurred on irrigated onions at Baringo in the Rift Valley, Kenya. Two distinct lesion types appeared: (1) typical purple or brown blotches; (2) white, irregular spots or flecks. These were present in varying proportion, depending on the duration of conditions favourable to infection, and subsequent relative humidity. High R.H. favoured the development of purple blotches; low R.H. for prolonged periods after infection usually resulted in white flecking only. These flecks were often sterile, making diagnosis difficult. Germination, appressorial and lesion formation displayed a broad optimum temperature (21–30° C). Resistance to the disease shown by a number of American hybrid onions was governed by cuticle thickness; this resistance was reduced by wounding—such as is associated with sand-storm blast—or by incubation after infection for prolonged periods at high R.H. Two fungicides, mancozeb and dicloran, effectively controlled the disease in the field.
Marine cyanobacteria in tropical regions: diversity and ecology

Tropical marine ecosystems are characterized by a specific cyanobacterial flora, temperature most probably being the major factor limiting the geographic distribution of the species. When compared with the open ocean, the highest biodiversity of cyanobacteria is observed in the littoral zones where they form intertidal and infralittoral mats, live as endoliths in carbonate substrates or form symbiotic associations, especially with sponges and ascidians. Their diversity, which especially in the less accessible infralittoral is still largely unknown, is also a source of diverse bioactive compounds, some of which are important as herbivore deterrents. As photosynthetic organisms, cyanobacteria sensu lato (including Prochlorophyta) are important contributors to benthic and open ocean primary production, but their main role in the tropical marine ecosystems appears to be as nitrogen fixers. Of primary importance in the often oligotrophic tropical oceans is the nonheterocystous, planktonic bloom-forming Trichod.
Isozymic and chromosomal evidence for the allotetraploid origin of Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae)

A critical examination of isozyme, chromosomal, and morphological characters in subspecies formerly included in Gymnocarpium dryopteris demonstrated that three sexual taxa can be distinguished. We recognize these taxa as distinct species: the widespread, fertile allotetraploid G. dryopteris, with one genome derived from the western diploid G. disjunctum and the other from G. appalachianum sp. nov., a previously undetected eastern North American diploid, which is de- scribed and illustrated here and for which we report a chromosome number of 2n = 80. Population comparisons of allele frequencies between G. disjunctum and G. appalachianum yielded an average Nei's genetic identity value (I) of 0.274. A wide-ranging assemblage of putatively triploid plants with both sterile, malformed spores and large, round spores capable of germination is believed to represent the backcrosses G. disjunctum x dryopteris and G. appalachianum x dryopteris. The name G. x brittonianum comb. nov. is applied here to G. disjunctum x dryopteris. A key to fertile species,
Comparing individual tree detection and the area-based statistical approach for the retrieval of forest stand characteristics using airborne laser scanning in Scots pine stands

Airborne laser scanning based forest inventories employ two major methods: individual tree detection (ITD) and the area-based statistical approach (ABSA). ITD is based on the assumption that trees are of a certain form and can be delineated using airborne laser scanning techniques, whereas ABSA is an empirical method based on the relations between area-level forest attributes and laser echo height distributions. These two methods are compared here within the same test area in terms of their usefulness for estimating mean forest stand characteristics and tree size distributions. All evaluations were performed using leave-one-out cross validation. The average errors in volume and basal area did not differ significantly between the methods. ABSA resulted in overall better accuracies when estimating the diameter and height of the basal area median tree and the number of stems, whereas ITD produced significantly biased estimates for the number of stems and the mean tree size. Tree size distributions were estim.
Diagnostic assessment of European gross primary production

We present an approach to estimate gross primary production (GPP) using a remotely sensed biophysical vegetation product (fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, FAPAR) from the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) in conjunction with GPP estimates from eddy covariance measurement towers in Europe. By analysing the relationship between the cumulative growing season FAPAR and annual GPP by vegetation type, we find that the former can be used to accurately predict the latter. The root mean square error of prediction is of the order of 250 gC m−2 yr−1. The cumulative growing season FAPAR integrates over a number of effects relevant for GPP such as the length of the growing season, the vegetation's response to environmental conditions and the amount of light harvested that is available for photosynthesis. We corroborate the proposed GPP estimate (noted FAPAR‐based productivity assessment+land cover, FPA+LC) on the continental scale with results from the MOD17+radiation‐use efficiency model, an artificial neural network up‐scaling approach (ANN) and the Lund–Potsdam–Jena managed Land biosphere model (LPJmL). The closest agreement of the mean spatial GPP pattern among the four models is between FPA+LC and ANN (R2= 0.74). At least some of the discrepancy between FPA‐LC and the other models result from biases of meteorological forcing fields for MOD17+, ANN and LPJmL. Our analysis further implies that meteorological information is to a large degree redundant for GPP estimation when using the JRC‐FAPAR. A major advantage of the FPA+LC approach presented in this paper lies in its simplicity and that it requires no additional meteorological input driver data that commonly introduce substantial uncertainty. We find that results from different data‐oriented models may be robust enough to evaluate process‐oriented models regarding the mean spatial pattern of GPP, while there is too little consensus among the diagnostic models for such purpose regarding inter‐annual variability.
Allelochemicals in Parthenium in response to biological activity and the environment

Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), a member of Asteraceae, is an obnoxious national weed of wide ecological niches including waste land and agroecosystems. The weed has phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, pseudoguaianolides and oils, many of which have been implicated in allelopathy . The phenolics include caffeic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid and p-hydroxy benzoic acid. The plant and its parts owe various properties involving allelopathy, phytotoxicity, herbicidal activity, gr owth regulation / inhibition, including on nitrification and nitrifying bacteria. Among flavonoids are quer cetagetin-3, 7-dimethyl ether, 6-hydroxy kempferol-3, 7-dimethyl ether, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside , quer cetin 3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoarabinoside, and lignan (+) syringaresinol. They confer antioxidant activities, scavenging effects on activated carcinogens and mutagens, action on cell cycle progression, altered gene expression, UV-B pr otection in plants, warding off microbial infections, and protection of plants from herbivores, etc. The alkaloids have been detected but yet to be identified. The pseudoguaianolides identified from the species include parthenin, anhydroparthenin, ambrosin, coronopillin, damsin, hymanin, 8-β-hydroxyparthenin, 2β-hydroxycoronopilin, tetraneurin-A, ambrosanolides, charminarone, 8-β-acetoxyhysterone C, deacetyltetraneurin A, hysterin, hysterone E, hysterone D, conchasin A, acetylated pseudoguaianolides, scopoletin (belongs to coumarin), and dihydroxyparthenin. They have diverse activities like cytotoxic, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic, antiprotozoan, active against human and animal parasites (including intermediate hosts), insecticidal, moluscicidal, vertebrate feeding deterrence and toxicity, allergic contact dermatitis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibition, allelopathic, anti-inflammatory, and antimalarial. The oils identified from the species include α-pinene, camphene, β- sabinene, β-cene, β-terpene, limolene, β- ocimene, p-cymene, linalool, caryophyllene, humulene, terpinene-4-ol and many
Spread of Plasmodiophora brassicae on canola in Canada, 2003–2014: Old pathogen, new home

Abstract Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae has been reported at sites across North America on brassica vegetables for more than 50 years. However, it had not been reported on canola (Brassica napus) on the Canadian prairies until the initial discovery of a cluster of 12 infested fields near Edmonton AB in 2003. The purpose of this review is to consolidate and summarize the data on the spread of P. brassicae on canola in Canada since 2003, to compare this pattern of distribution with observations from an infested site in Ontario, and to draw inferences about the relative importance of short- and long-distance transmission of the pathogen on clubroot distribution in the prairie region. Over the last decade, P. brassicae has spread across central Alberta, with the leading edge of the epidemic moving at about 20 km per year, resulting in more than 1850 fields confirmed infested. DNA of the pathogen has also been detected from soil collected at sites across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and very slight clubroot symptoms have been observed at isolated sites across the prairies. Transport of resting spores in soil carried on farm equipment has been shown to be an important mechanism of short-distance dissemination in this region. Dispersal of resting spores with wind-borne soil may also have an important role in both short- and long-distance dissemination. Dispersal on seed does not appear to be an important factor in clubroot spread. In contrast to the rapid spread observed in Alberta, P. brassicae is spreading very slowly, if at all, at the site in Ontario. This likely reflects the relatively small size and strength of the inoculum source and the absence of susceptible hosts nearby at the site in Ontario, relative to the thousands of hectares of heavily infested fields that provide a large, strong inoculum source in central Alberta.
DIFFERENCES IN THE FORAGING OF JUVENILE AND ADULT BIRDS: THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL CONSTRAINTS

Juvenile birds differ from conspecific adults in their diet and methods of prey capture and prey handling. Juvenile‐adult differences in foraging result from (1) immaturity of the beak, skeleto‐muscular and neurological systems and (2) the time required to learn foraging skills. These conclusions are largely based on field observations. More experimental studies to assess the relative importance of the various constraints are needed.
Physiochemical Characteristics of the Meat from Korean Native Chicken and Broiler Reared and Slaughtered as the Same Conditions

Depeartment of Poultry, National Institute Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan 331-801, KoreaABSTRACT Broilers were raised as the same environmental conditions with Korean native chickens (KNC) and slaughtered at the same age (13 week) to observe the physiochemical differences in breast and leg meat. The crude fat content of broilers was significantly higher than that of KNC in both breast and leg meat. pH of both breast and leg meat of broiler was lower than that of KNC. Redness of breast meat surface was higher in broiler than KNC. Except for the chewiness of raw leg meat, which was higher in KNC than broiler, the results of texture showed no difference between broilers and KNC. However, the collagen content of leg meat of KNC (6.78 mg/g) was significantly higher than that of broilers (3.12 mg/g). Results showed that broilers reared and slaughtered as the same conditions with KNC had significantly higher fat content while lower collagen content. Therefore, these physicochemical differences clearly indicate that the meat characteristics of broilers cannot be similar to KNC even if the environmental conditions and slaughter age are identical. (Key words : Korean native chicken, broiler, environmental condition, meat characteristic)
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GREY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE (ICHTHYOPHAGA ICHTHYAETUS) IN THE PREK TOAL CORE AREA OF TONLE SAP LAKE, CAMBODIA

ABSTRACT The regional population of the Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) in Southeast Asia is thought to be in recent decline and its conservation status under threat. We undertook a systematic survey in a flooded swamp forest at the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and recorded 32 pairs of eagles in an area of approximately 80 km2. Three species of water snakes were identified as eagle prey items, previously unrecorded for this species. We suggest that this eagle population has significant regional importance and discuss potential anthropogenic threats to population stability, such as water snake harvesting and construction of upstream hydropower dams.
Vertical distribution and gas bladder inflation/deflation in postlarval anchoveta Engraulis ringens during upwelling events

Vertical distribution of fish larvae can be modified by a series of physical processes occurring in the water column at different time and spatial scales and also by biological processes occurring during larval development. To assess the factors affecting the vertical distribution of larval anchoveta Engraulis ringens during austral spring, meteorological and oceanographic features were measured and stratified ichthyoplankton sampling was carried out in central Chile during active upwelling events. In November 2001, during the upwelling season, southerly winds dominate, and intrusion of low dissolved oxygen occurred in nearshore waters; preflexion larvae of E. ringens were collected in the mixed layer of the water column (the Ekman layer) irrespective of day and night hours. Larvae larger than 10 mm showed an inflated gas bladder during night collections, and non-inflated gas bladder during day hours. Larvae with inflated gas bladders were located significantly at shallower depths during night than at day hours, indicating a direct relationship between gas bladder inflation, diel vertical migration of larval E. ringens and decrease of wind-induced turbulence at night. We discuss the potential implications of larval E. ringens vertical distribution and its variability on the horizontal transport off coastal waters during the upwelling season off central Chile as a biophysical coupling to enhance coastal retention.
Influence of seasonality, temperature and rainfall on the winter diet of the long-eared owl, Asio otus

A h s t r a c t . In this study we analysed whether the diet composition of a wintering population (40-70 individuals) of long-eared owls (Asio otus) in northern Italy showed within-season variation, and whether it was influenced by ambient temperature and rainfall. Diet composition was determined by pellet content, and over 5500 prey items were analysed; pellets were collected at 2-wk intervals over two consecutive winters (October to April), 1996-1998. Three out of five main prey categories showed a marked within-season variability in relative frequency in diet, both considering the number of prey items and prey biomass, whereas between-year variability was shown only by a single prey category (Savi's pine vole). Although rainfall had no influence on diet composition. temperature affected negatively the prevalence of harvest mouse, a relatively unimportant prey category. Thus, the considered weather variables seem to have little influence on the winter diet composition (at the level of individual prey categories) of these owls. However, diet breadth (estimated by the Levins' index of niche breadth) increased with increasing rainfall and decreasing temperature, when calculated on the proportion of prey items: hence it seems that the owls become more generalists under untavourable weather conditions.
Positive plant and bird diversity response to experimental deer population reduction after decades of uncontrolled browsing

During the 20th century, deer (family Cervidae), both native and introduced populations, dramatically increased in abundance in many parts of the world and became seen as major threats to biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the consequences that restoring top‐down herbivore population control has on plants and birds.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF CARUM COPTICUM FROM IRAN

Objectives: Evaluation of therapeutic effects of Carum copticum (C. copticum) has been the subject of several studies in recent years. Thymol the major component of C. copticum is a widely known anti-microbial agent. In this study, the antibacterial and anti viral activities of essential oil of C. copticum fruit were determined. Materials and Methods: Essential oil of C. copticum was analyzed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against six Gram (+/-) bacteria and fungi, using the micro broth dilution technique. Antiviral activity of the essential oil was evaluated using a Bacillus phage CP51. Results: From the ten identified constituents, representing 98.7% of the oil, thymol (72.3%), terpinolene (13.12%) and o-cymene (11.97%) were the major components. It was found that the oil exhibited strong antimicrobial activity againstStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) andBacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) (MIC, 0.00025% v/v). Furthermore, the antiviral activity of the oil was evaluated by plaque reduction assay. Conclusion: The essential oil showed an antiviral activity against phage when phage was pre-incubated with the essential oil prior to its exposure to B. cereus and without any pre-incubation with the phage, suggesting that the oil directly inactivated virus particles.
The impact of light pollution on diel changes in the photophysiology of Microcystis aeruginosa

Assessing the effect of light pollution, Microcystis aeruginosa was grown with and without low levels of night lighting. Significant differences were observed between the treatments in the maximum quantum yield of charge separation, the intracellular chlorophyll a concentration, the functional absorption cross-section of photosystem II, the number of Rubisco per cell and per chlorophyll a, the number of photosystem I per chlorophyll a, and the chlorophyll a fraction not bound to the photosystems and IsiA.
Screening of maize inbred lines under artificial epiphytotic conditions for Turcicum leaf blight (Excerohilum turcicum)

A study on reaction of ten inbred lines of maize to northern leaf blight mainly caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass) Leonard and Suggs, was conducted under artificial epiphytotics conditions in green house. Among 10 inbred lines evaluated, three were found moderately resistant viz, NAI-113, NAI-152 and NAI-137, five lines moderately susceptible viz, NAI-123, NAI-142, NAI-143, NAI-147 and NAI-116, and the rest two, W3 and W5 inbreds were severely affected by TLB and rated as susceptible. The lines identified to possess low disease severity score against Turcicum leaf blight in the present study could be used successfully in developing genotypes having desirable level of resistance in disease endemic areas to aim for sustainable productivity. Key words: Maize (Zea mays L.), northern leaf blight, inbred lines, screening.