Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PLANT GENOTYPE AFFECTS LONG-TERM HERBIVORE POPULATION DYNAMICS AND EXTINCTION: CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Few studies have linked long-term herbivore population dynamics with plant genetics. In this study we present evidence that plant genotype and hybridization influence the population dynamics of the poplar bud gall mite, Aceria parapopuli. Using experimental transfers and a five-year data set on mite abundance on two cottonwood species (Populus fremontii and P. angustifolia) and their naturally occurring hybrids, we demonstrated that hybrid trees exhibiting an F1 morphology were, on average, extremely susceptible to A. parapopuli. The susceptibility of these hybrids ranged several orders of magnitude and affected the population dynamics of A. parapopuli across the five years of study. Populations grew exponentially on susceptible hybrids in every year, eventually reaching a mean of ∼140 galls per tree. In contrast, populations fluctuated around low densities (0.01–0.87 galls per tree) on their parental host species. Low gall densities on parental trees resulted in high annual extinction rates (mean = 62%) .
ADDRESSING THE MOLECULAR BASES OF HETEROSIS IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

The genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying heterosis are still unclear. However, recent data suggest that regulation of gene expression could play an important role in determining hybrid vigor. As a contribution to uncover genes and mechanisms possibly causing or being influenced by heterosis, here we present data on the transcription profiling in immature ears between inbred lines B73 and H99 and their corresponding F1 hybrid using cDNA microarray technology and Real Time PCR. The relative expression of 4905 ESTs represented in triplicate, corresponding to about 1700 maize genes, was investigated simultaneously on five replicates (for a total of 15 data points for each EST in each comparison). Relative variation of gene expression generally did not exceed a ±1.5fold value. However, using two different statistical approaches, we were able to identify genes expressed at a significantly different level between both inbred lines and their hybrid; 95% of the called out genes were confirmed beyond a +/-2SD threshold, assuming an overall normal distribution of the normalized ratios across replicates. Both up and down-regulated genes in the hybrid were found, B73 vs. F1 comparison showing a higher number of differentially expressed genes than the H99 vs. F1 one. A few ESTs shows the same direction of regulation in both comparisons, suggesting that they could be inbred/hybrid specifically regulated. The absolute expression levels of 3 ESTs for each category of expression for each comparison were also determined by real-time PCR, and 10 out of the 18 tested ESTs confirmed the microarray hybridization data. A putative function was also assigned to the regulated ESTs. Here we discuss the possibility that the observed changes in gene expression between parental lines and their hybrid might be correlated with the heterotic phenomenon. Microarray transcriptional profiling
Grain discoloration disease complex: a new threat for rice crop and its management.

Grain discoloration disease of rice is becoming a serious threat to rice crop in Pakistan. Rice panicles infested with grain discoloration disease were collected from rice areas of NIAB, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Samundri, PirMahal and Vehari. Eight pathogens namely Bipolaris oryzae, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria padwickii, Drechslera oryzae, Fusarium moniliforme, Curvularia oryzae, Nigrospora oryzae and Aspergillus niger were isolated from diseased samples. Four fungicides vis. Dithane M-45, Ridomil, Topsin-M and Carbendazim were checked for the control of pathogens. Dithane and Ridomil showed best control over mycelial growth of all isolated pathogens except F. moniliforme where Carbendazim was found the best followed by Topsin M, Dithane M-45 and Ridomil respectively. Diseased grains treated with both of these fungicides showed maximum germination and least seedling mortality.
Parasitofauna de paranthias colonus (valenciennes, 1846) en el sargento, Baja California sur, México

Paranthias colonus (Valenciennes, 1846) es un pez comunmente usado como carnada que ha sustituido a los peces de primera clase que se han sobreexplotado en el Golfo de California. Se distribuye desde el sur de California hasta Peru, incluyendo las islas Revillagigedo, Galapagos y Clipperton. Debido a su reciente importancia comercial en este trabajo se caracterizo la parasitofauna de P. colonus en la localidad de El Sargento, B.C.S. para definir el papel que tiene en el ciclo biologico de sus parasitos. Se adquirieron 30 peces por donacion de PRONATURA NorOeste A.C. Se fijaron en formaldehido al 4% para su posterior revision y obtencion de la parasitofauna. Los helmintos (n= 651) y copepodos (n= 744) se trataron con las tecnicas convencionales propias de cada clase de parasito. Se tuvo el 100% de prevalencia y 46.5 de intensidad media de parasitismo generales. Pseudorhabdosynochus n. sp. (n= 577), Prodistomum orientalis (n= 42), Brachyphallus sp. (n= 1), Lecithochirium sp. (n= 8), Spinitectus sp. (n= 1), Caligus sp. (n= 1), Pandaridae (n= 1) y Hatschekia sp. (n= 742) son adultos y Lecanicephalidae (n= 1), Scolex pleuronectis (n= 2) y Anisakis sp. (n= 18) son formas larvarias. Los peces son hospederos definitivos de las primeras formas encontradas; se evidencia la especificidad hospedatoria de Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. y Hatschekia sp. por peces de la familia Serranidae y el primero se propone como una especie nueva. P. orientalis parasita principalmente peces de las familias Scombridae (57%), en menor proporcion a Carangidae, Clupeidae y Girellidae entre otros; en lo que respecta al genero Paranthias, el presente trabajo representa el segundo registro. Los hemiuridos son generalistas por lo que Paranthias se agrega a este rango de hospederos. La presencia de metacestodos de Lecanicephalidae y Scolex pleuronectis en Paranthias indica su papel como hospedero intermediario o paratenico, ya que en etapa adulta se encuentran en elasmobranquios. Anisakis sp. y Caligus sp. son de amplia distribucion geografica y rango de hospederos. Anisakis sp. es el unico helminto registrado que representa un peligro potencial para la salud publica por ser causante de Anisakidosis. Los miembros de la familia Pandaridae son parasitos casi exclusivos de elasmobranquios y Paranthias diversifica su rango hospedatorio. Finalmente, la parasitofauna del hospedero y localidad de este trabajo representan el primer registro en Mexico.
Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus Inhabiting Eastern Black Sea

In this study, length-weight relationships of two seahorse species were determined inhabiting Eastern Black Sea. Hippocampus hippocampus (38) and Hippocampus guttulatus (139) individuals were obtained by commercial fishermen in the Eastern Black Sea. Length-weight relationships of H. hippocampus were found as W=0.012TL 2.41 (R²=0.90) and length-weight relationships of H. guttulatus were found as W=0.005TL 2.84 (R²=0.91) for all individuals. The type of growth for both sexes was negative allometric growth (b<3) for these species. Average condition factors of H. hippocampus and H. guttulatus have shown 0.38 and 0.41, respectively.
Effect of ammonium: nitrate nutrient ratio on nitrate and glucosinolate contents of hydroponically-grown rocket salad (Eruca sativa Mill.)

Abstract The effect of the ammonium-nitrogen (NH+ 4-N) to nitrate-nitrogen (NO− 3-N) ratio on NO− 3 and glucosinolate (GSL) contents in rocket salad (Eruca sativa Mill.) was investigated. Rocket salad plants were provided with five nutrient solutions with the same total nitrogen (N) level (10 mmol L−1), but with different (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100) percent mole ratios of NH+ 4 to NO− 3-nitrogen (PMR-N). Rocket growth (height and dry weight [DW] of the leaves and roots) was severely inhibited at a PMR-N of 100. The leaves were withered and showed chlorotic and necrotic phenomena from NH+ 4 toxicity. Leaf NO− 3 and sulfate (SO2− 4) contents sharply decreased with increasing PMR-N. Six GSLs including glucoraphanin, 4-(β-D-glucopyranosyldisulfanyl) butyl GSL, glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, dimeric 4-mercaptobutyl GSL and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin were identified from rocket salad by their retention times using high-pressure liquid chromatography and confirmed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). An unknown compound (m/z 414 as desulfo-GSL) only appeared at a PMR-N of 100. This compound together with the other GSLs appears to be involved in detoxification of NH+ 4 toxicity. Total GSL content in the leaves ranged from 9 to 13 µmol kg−1 DW, with the highest content occurring at a PMR-N of 50 and the lowest value at a PMR-N of 100. In contrast, total GSL content in the roots ranged from 31 to 48 µmol kg−1 DW, with the lowest value occurring at PMR-Ns of 50 and 100. The four GSLs glucoraphanin, 4-(β-D-glucopyranosyldisulfanyl)butyl GSL, glucoerucin and dimeric 4-mercaptobutyl GSL were the major compounds in the leaves, whereas glucoerucin was found in great quantities in the roots.
A checklist of desmids of Lekki lagoon, Nigeria

This paper presents a pioneer investigation of the desmids of Lekki lagoon, located in Epe Local Government area of Lagos State. Samples were collected monthly for two years (June, 2003 - May, 2005) using standard plankton net of 55 µm mesh size. Seventy three taxa were observed, the genera Closterium (16), Gonatozygon (5), Penium (2), Cosmarium (8), Desmidium (3), Docidium (2), Hyalotheca (2), Pleurotaenium (2), Spondylosium (4) and Staurastrum (29). Thirty-three of these taxa have not been documented for Nigeria as compared with other relevant work while they all represented the first list for the Lekki lagoon.
Nutritional Benefits of Cannibalism for the Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) When Prey Quality is Poor

Abstract Cannibalism, a widespread phenomenon in nature, can both reduce competitors and introduce a high-quality food into the cannibal’s diet. We investigated the dietary benefits of cannibalism for larvae of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas). Cannibalism might benefit the larvae by allowing cannibals to take advantage of prey-detoxification already completed by the victim or the different, and perhaps more diverse, feeding history of the victim. In two laboratory experiments we reared H. axyridis larvae with aphid prey, and with or without conspecifics to consume, and recorded larval development and survivorship. In the first experiment, we fed groups of H. axyridis larvae an aphid species of intermediate quality, Aphis nerii (Boyer deFonscolombe), and prevented or permitted consumption of conspecifics of varied quality—conspecific victims had either fed upon the same intermediate quality food as the focal individual or had fed upon a high quality food. Cannibalism increased survivorship and shortened development time, and eating conspecifics that had fed upon higher-quality food further shortened early development. In a second experiment, we reared groups of H. axyridis larvae with one or both of two aphid species of poor ( Uroleucon spp.) or intermediate [ Aphis fabae (Scopoli)] quality, and either permitted or prevented cannibalism. Larvae could complete development when fed both conspecifics and the intermediate quality aphid, but not on any other diet. Overall, when mixed with other foods, cannibalism allowed H. axyridis larvae to develop on prey that were otherwise nutrient deficient or toxic.
Genotype-environment interaction and genetic parameters in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) landraces.

In order to determine the desirable line for chickpea rainfed sowing, seven local lines (K- 6, G- 35, D- 15, F-20, B -17,H- 45 and M- 20) were selected from Syrian chickpea landraces. These lines were grown during two seasons 2006 /2007- 2007 / 2008 at two different locations (Tal-sandal: with a mean annual precipitation of 475mm, Harran: with amean annual precipitation of only 300 mm). Genotype-environment interaction and genetic parameter were studied forseed yield per plant /g, days to maturity and protein content.The results showed that effect of location (L) and season (E) was highly significant (P 0.05). The heritability for protein content varied from (0.83) to (0.93) that indicated the presence of a considerable proportionof total variability due to genetic causes. A high genetic advance (GA) (51.5 to 62.7) % was achieved for seeds yield perplant. The environmental variance (? 2e) was very low for days to maturity and protein content. The differences betweengenotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficient of variability were very small.The results recommended to selection line M-20 that was the desirable line for both seed yield per plant (33 to 40) g andprotein content (22.17 to 24.72%) as compared to other lines.
Limiting cytosolic Na+ confers salt tolerance to rice cells in culture: a two‐photon microscopy study of SBFI‐loaded cells

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple food in Asia, is very sensitive to soil salinity. However, intraspecific variations exist, with the coastal cultivar Pokkali tolerating even brackish water. This study explores cellular mechanisms that contribute to salt tolerance in rice. It is widely accepted that limiting cytosolic Na + should improve the survival of plants subjected to saline stress. However, an understanding of the mechanisms by which Na + levels are controlled in relatively tolerant cultivars requires monitoring cytosolic Na + non-invasively and in real time, which is technically challenging. We have used two-photon excitation for the ratiometric estimation of cytosolic Na + in cultured cells using sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate. Pokkali cells maintained low cytosolic Na + (approximately 25 mM), and a viability of over 85% under high salinity, while Jaya cells were unable to maintain low cytosolic Na + and suffered decreased viability even at moderate saline stress. Here we show that the permeability of the Pokkali plasma membrane to Na + is significantly lower than that of Jaya, to the extent that it is comparable with permeabil ities reported for halophytes. Pokkali effectively sequesters Na + in intracellular compartments utilizing a Ca 2+ -regulated transport system(s). Together these cellular mechanisms allow Pokkali to maintain low cytosolic Na + up to a stress of 250 mM NaCI. The findings demonstrate that differences in survival between these contrasting varieties of rice are mainly because of differences in membrane transport mechanisms and thus have significance in crop improvement.
Tree species diversity increases fine root productivity through increased soil volume filling

Although fine roots (< 2 mm in diameter) account for a major share of the production of terrestrial ecosystems, diversity effects on fine root productivity and their mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that: (i) fine root productivity increases with tree species diversity, (ii) higher fine root productivity is a result of greater soil volume filling due to species‐specific patterns of root placement and proliferation, and (iii) differences in fine root productivity and soil volume filling associated with tree species diversity are more pronounced in summer when plants are physiologically active and demand for water and nutrients is at its greatest. We investigated the effects of tree species diversity on fine root productivity and soil volume filling of boreal forest stands that have grown naturally for 85 years on similar sites. Annual fine root production was 19–83% higher in evenly mixed‐ than single‐species‐dominated stands, and increased with tree species evenness, but not tree species richness. Fine root biomass was higher in evenly mixed‐ than single‐species‐dominated stands in summer months, but not in spring or fall. Higher fine root productivity in evenly mixed‐ than single‐species‐dominated stands was realized by filling more soil volume horizontally and vertically in the forest floor in the mixtures of deep‐ and shallow‐rooted species vs. the deeper mineral soil in the mixtures of deep‐rooted species. Synthesis. Our results provide some of the first direct evidence for below‐ground species complementarity in heterogeneous natural forests, by demonstrating that tree species evenness increases fine root productivity by filling/exploiting the soil environment more completely in space and time, driven by differences in the inherent rooting traits of the component species and variations of root growth within species.
PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF BRYDE'S WHALES IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATERS INFERRED FROM MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SEQUENCES1

To clarify phylogenetic relationships of Bryde's whales, we examined the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial control region and cytochrome b gene in 33 animals: 12 from offshore waters of the western North Pacific, five from off the Solomon Islands, and 16 from the East China Sea and coastal waters of Kochi in southwestern Japan. For reference purposes, homologous sequences from four Balaenoptera species including four Bryde's whales collected in the eastern Indian Ocean were added. We found whales from the three sampling areas to be genetically distinct. The control region sequences suggested that the whales from the three areas separate at higher than the populational level from one another. The cytochrome b data indicated that genetic differences between whales off the Solomon Islands and animals in the other two areas are equivalent to values found among recognized Balaenoptera species, although such a relationship was not observed between the other two areas. We conclude that whales in the East China Sea and coastal waters of Kochi separate from Bryde's whales in offshore waters of the western North Pacific at higher than the populational level but lower than the specific level (i. e., at the subspecific level) and that whales off the Solomon Islands do not belong genetically to the Bryde's whale as previously recognized.
Diversity and occurrence of coprophilous fungi

Fungi developing on dung samples, from a wide range of locations and incubated in moist chambers, were recorded. Highly significant differences were found among the mycobiota of different dung types, from different latitudinal ranges, and collected at different seasons. Sheep, cattle, deer, rabbit, hare and grouse provided 86% of the 425 samples. Highly significant differences in the community composition of the mycobiota of these six dung types were observed. Coprinus stercoreus was the commonest basidiomycete, and most frequent on sheep, cattle, deer and rabbit; C. miser was the only common species, of any taxonomic group, which showed no significant difference in its frequency on different dungs. Apothecial fungi comprised about a quarter of the records, with Ascobolus, Saccobolus and Thelebolus spp. , Iodophanus carneus and Lasiobolus cuniculi the commonest. A. carletonii occurred uniquely, but frequently, on grouse. Perithecial species, especially of Schizothecium, Podospora, Coniochaeta and Sporormiella , accounted for ca 50% of all records. The grouse dung mycobiota was markedly different, with a lower species richness (mean 3.2 per sample), from that of the mammalian herbivores, which had means of 9–12 spp. per sample. In temperate latitudes more species were recorded on samples in winter. Species richness was greater in samples from lower latitudes. Significant differences in the composition of different dung types are discussed in relation to their fungal communities. The usefulness of studying the fungi of the dung microcosm as a means of rapid biodiversity assessment is considered, by comparing the results with those of a similar, but smaller, study 30 years earlier, and by examining the diversity of a sample from a subjectively poor habitat in Morocco. There was no indication of any major change in the coprophilous mycobiota that might be associated e.g. with climatic change or changed farming practice over the last three decades. The Moroccan samples had a much lower diversity (80 spp./50 samples) than would be expected of samples from that latitude (146 spp./50 samples) based on the worldwide data set.
New carnivoran material (Creodonta, Carnivora and Incertae sedis) from the Early Miocene of Napak, Uganda

ABSTRACT Eight species of creodonts and carnivores have previously been reported from the Early Miocene deposits at Napak, Uganda. This paper takes into account unpublished material from old collections made by W.W. Bishop during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as new samples made by the Uganda Palaeontology Expedition between 1985 and 2005. Four carnivoran species are reported from the site for the first time, of which one is a new genus and species, and one species is removed from previous lists, making for a grand total of 12 species for Napak comprising 6 creodonts, 4 fissipeds and two incertae sedis.
Biological control of fumonisins production in maize at field level.

The control of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Niremberg colonization in maize has become an area of interest in crop safety production. In the present study, biological control of F. verticillioides with a formulation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Microbacterium oleovorans was evaluated. Maize seeds were inoculated with a freeze-dried formulation of biocontrol agents and grown in the field. The pathogen incidence and fumonisin accumulation in harvested grain was determined. The number of viable propagules of F. verticillioides obtained from the analysis of kernels of treatments with both biocontrol agents did not differ from values obtained from kernels of naturally infected plants and from plants obtained from seeds inoculated with the pathogen. Fumonisin B1 concentrations in maize were significantly reduced by biocontrol agents. Treatments with M. oleovorans produced a reduction of more than 70% and B. amyloliquefaciens a reduction of more than 50%. Therefore, the addition of these formulations could significantly improve the quality of maize and also offers the advantage of working with a biological product that does not harm the environment.
Jasonia glutinosa D.C (“Rock tea”): botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects

El te de roca (Jasonia glutinosa, Asteraceae) es una planta utilizada en la medicina popular de la Peninsula Iberica y apreciada como infusion, a la que se le atribuyen propiedades sobre el aparato digestivo. Los trabajos publicados hasta el momento describen la obtencion de un aceite esencial que contiene monoterpenos, fundamentalmente alcanfor y borneol. Mediante otros metodos de extraccion que empleaban disolventes organicos se han llegado a aislar sesquiterpenos (lucinona, glutinona, kudtriol y 5-epi-kutdtriol) y flavonoides derivados de quercetina y kaempferol. Hasta el momento, la planta y sus constituyentes han mostrado cierta actividad antiinflamatoria, antioxidante y antiprotozoaria mediante ensayos in vitro como son la disminucion de la liberacion de PGE2 en macrofagos peritoneales de raton, inhibicion del radical DPPH y actividad leishmanicida frente a Leishmania donovani, Trichomonas vaginalis o Plasmodium falciparum. A pesar del amplio uso de esta especie en determinadas regiones de la Peninsula Iberica para afecciones gastrointestinales, hay una falta de evidencia cientifica respecto a los efectos de la planta sobre el aparato digestivo