Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IN VITRO INOCULATION OF ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS TISSUE CULTURE SHOOTS WITH FUSARIUM PROLIFERA TUM

ABSTRACT Artificially inoculated asparagus tissue culture plantlets with a virulent fungus, Fusarium proliferatum showed signs of infection as early as 4 days after inoculation. Macroscopic observations revealed presence of early symptoms such as necrotic lesions at the affected area and light microscopic examinations clearly revealed the post-penetration events that took place including the destruction of surrounding cells. However, little is known of the hyphal activity or advancement on the host's surface at the initial stage after inoculation. Scanning electron microscopic examination clearly revealed the hyphal advancement on the surface and the mode of entrance into the host tissues beneath. Four days after inoculation, the fungi proceeded to spread out from the inoculation point onto the host surface which eventually developed into a sparse network of both aerial and non-aerial hyphae. Non-aerial hyphae form a network of mycelium that adheres to the surface and it's movement appeared to be oriented towards the stomata. Hyphal penetration occurs more often through the stomata, natural openings or wounds. In some cases, the hyphae crossed over the stomatal opening without entering the host tissues. At places where the cuticle layer is absent or not well developed the hyphae successfully grew in between the epidermal cells into the tissues beneath. Key words: Tissue culture/Asparagus officinalis/shoots/Artificial inoculstion/Fusarium proliferatum.
The biology of Myxosoma cerebralis: the causative organism of whirling disease of salmonids.

The literature describing the biology and control of Myxosoma cerebralis (whirling disease) is reviewed. New data on the world distribution of the parasite are presented. It is concluded that the presence of M. cerebralis is not an important limiting factor in salmonid fanning per se but only limits methods of production.
Morphological and molecular diversity of the wild carrot Daucus pusillus: implications for classification and ex situ conservation

Daucus pusillus Michx. and Daucus montevidensis Link ex Spreng. are wild carrots from the Americas with unresolved taxonomic status. An investigation was carried out with accessions of D. pusillus and (or) D. montevidensis from Argentina for (i) morphological and molecular (amplified fragments length polymorphism (AFLP) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR)) characterization, (ii) analysis of congruence of morphological and molecular variation, and (iii) comparison of diversity for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with that reported for a North American accession of D. pusillus. Twelve accessions of D. pusillus and (or) D. montevidensis — representing their geographical distribution in Argentina — and one accession each of wild Daucus carota L. and Daucus montanus Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult. — as outgroups — were included. In the multivariate analysis of morphological diversity, two accessions were clearly differentiated; this result is not sustained by multivariate analysis of molecular diver.
The Influence of Temperature on Seed Germination Rate in Grain Legumes I. A COMPARISON OF CHICKPEA, LENTIL, SOYABEAN AND COWPEA AT CONSTANT TEMPERATURES

Co veil, S. , Ellis, R. H. , Roberts, E. H. and Summerfield, R. J. 1986. The influence of temperature on seed germination rate in grain legumes. I. A comparison of chickpea, lentil, soyabean and cowpea at constant temperatures. —J. exp. Bot. 37: 705-715. For a single seed population of each of four species of grain legume positive linear relationships were shown between temperature and rate of germination for different fractions (G) of each population, from a base temperature, Tb(G), at which germination rate is zero, to an optimum temperature, T0(G), at which germination rate is maximal. At constant temperatures warmer than 7i(G) there were negative relations (probably linear) between temperature and rate of germination to the maximum temperature for germination, Tm(G). Within each population Tb(G) did not differ, but it did vary between species, viz. 0 0 °C, 2-5 °C, 4 0 °C and 8-5 °C for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.), soyabean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.), respectively. In contrast, T0(G) varied both within each population and also between the four species: 80% of seeds in each population had T„(G) values within the range 31-8 °C to 33 0 °C, 24 0 °C to 24-4 °C, 34 0 °C to 34-5 °C and 33-2 °C to > 40 °C, respectively. Values of Tm(G) were much more variable: the 80% population range was 48 0 °C to 60-8 °C for chickpea, 31 -8 °C to 34-4 °C for lentil and 46-8 °C to 55-2 "C for soyabean; reliable estimates could not be made for cowpea, but the results suggest higher and more variable values of Tm(G) than in the other three species. At sub-optimal temperatures the distribution of thermal time for the different fractions of each population was normal, except for lentil where it was log-normal. A single equation is proposed to describe the influence of sub-optimal temperatures on rates of germination for whole seed populations. At supra-optimal temperatures, variation in thermal time for the different fractions of each population was only slight. The implications of these findings for the adaptation of grain legume crops to different environments, and for the screening of germplasm, are discussed. Key words—Seed germination rate, temperature, grain legumes.
Generation glands and sexual size dimorphism in the Cape Crag Lizard, Pseudocordylus microlepidotus

Abstract The Cape Crag Lizard, Pseudocordylus microlepidotus, is unique among cordylid lizards in that generation glands are not restricted to the femoral region, but also occur on the dorsum and in the inguinal region. We analysed 274 museum specimens of P. microlepidotus, collected at various localities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, and found that generation glands ontogenetically first differentiate in the femoral region, then on the back along the vertebral line, and finally, in males only, in the inguinal region. In both sexes, generation glands start to differentiate before sexual maturity is reached, but males develop significantly more glands than females. Males have larger heads than females, but the sexes do not differ significantly in overall body size. High scar frequencies were recorded for both sexes and the sex ratio for the total sample was close to 1:1. The functional significance of the additional generation glands is discussed in context of the social structure of the species as inferred from the degree and direction of sexual size dimorphism and scar frequency data. Sexual size dimorphism recorded for P. microlepidotus is of a similar nature as that recorded for other cordylids occurring at high altitudes in the winter rainfall area of South Africa.
Shoot P status regulates cluster‐root growth and citrate exudation in Lupinus albus grown with a divided root system

The present study was carried out to investigate whether the P concentration in the roots or the shoots controls the growth and citrate exudation of cluster roots in white lupin ( Lupinus albus L). Foliar P application indicated that low P concentration in the shoots enhanced cluster-root growth and citrate-exudation rate more so than low P concentration in the roots. In the split-root study, the P concentration in the shoots increased with increased P supply (1, 25 or 75 mmol m - 3 P), to the ‘privileged’ root halves. Roots ‘deprived’ of P invariably had the same low P concentrations, whereas those in the ‘privileged’ roots increased with increasing P supply (1, 25 or 75 mmol m - 3 P). Nevertheless, the proportion of the total root mass allocated to cluster roots, and the citrate-exudation rates from the root halves were always similar on both root halves, irrespective of P supply, and decreased with increasing shoot P concentrations. Peak citrate exudation rates from developing cluster roots were significantly faster from cluster roots on the ‘deprived’ root halves when the ‘privileged’ half was exposed to 1 mmol m - 3 P as compared with 25 or - 3 P. The possibility that changes in the concentrations of P fractions in the root halves influenced clusterroot growth and citrate exudation was discounted, because there were no significant differences in insoluble organic P, ester-P and inorganic P among all ‘deprived’ root halves. The results indicate that cluster-root proportions and citrate exudation rates were regulated systemically by the P status of the shoot, and that P concentrations in the roots had little influence on growth and citrate exudation of cluster roots in L. albus .
Longitudinal Expression of Antioxidant Phytochemicals in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)

Buckwheat is a source of rutin and other antioxidant phytochemicals. Rutin is highest during the flowering stage of crop growth. A longitudinal study was performed in the spring of 2007 to characterize the expression of other antioxidant phytochemicals from sprout to seed development on a large scale farming operation. Carotenoids decreased during the growth of the plant, while the rutin and anthocyanin concentrations peaked between weeks 4–5 before declining. Total phenolics increased and were maximal between weeks 4–7. There was no change in vitamin E levels. Antioxidant activity against iron induced oxidation was not different during the growing period; however, the antioxidant activity against a peroxyl radical increased over the experiment and was maximal 7 weeks after sowing. Based on summary of the data, the optimal harvest time to enhance antioxidant and phytochemical content of buckwheat plants is between 4–5 weeks after sowing.
NICHE SHIFT BY VIRGINIA OPOSSUM FOLLOWING REDUCTION OF A PUTATIVE COMPETITOR, THE RACCOON

Abstract Increases in mesopredator populations due to habitat fragmentation may have cascading effects on prey (e.g., songbirds) and may increase competitive interactions within the guild. We compared micro- and macrohabitat selection of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) between areas with and without removal of the raccoon (Procyon lotor), a putative competitor, in a fragmented habitat in north-central Oklahoma. Live trapping conducted in 1998–2001 resulted in 482 total captures of opossums. Vegetation was sampled in summer (April–August) around trapsites associated with 235 of those captures. Ordination analyses indicated that opossums shifted microhabitat use toward eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) forest when density of raccoons was reduced. Geographic Information Systems analyses at the habitat-patch scale revealed no differences in habitat selection after raccoon reduction. Niche breadths were high for both species, but niche overlap varied by time and treatment. Overlap of habitat patches between raccoons captured preremoval and opossums captured postremoval was high, suggesting a shift in habitat selection. The niche shift by opossums and change in niche overlap between raccoons and opossums supported our competition hypothesis. We acknowledge our lack of replication, but note that our work represents the 1st report of experimental manipulation coupled with work at multiple scales to examine competitive relationships between these key mesopredators.
On-Farm Productivity of Relay-Cropped Mucuna and Lablab in Smallholder Crop-Livestock Systems in Northwestern Kenya

ABSTRACT Declining soil fertility and limited quantity and quality of livestock feeds are major constraints to agricultural production in northwestern Kenya. Legumes used as green manures may aid in overcoming soil nutrient depletion and lack of fodder. Relay-cropped mucuna (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. Utilis (Wright) Bruck) and lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet cv. Rongai) were evaluated as alternatives to dry season, natural fallow for sustaining soil productivity in a maize (Zea mays L.)-common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop on farmers' fields in northwestern Kenya. Four treatments were the factorial combinations of the two legumes and two levels of legume defoliation (none, or herbage above 10 cm removed prior to incorporation of remainder). Three controls were cattle manure (5 Mg ha−1), inorganic N (30 kg ha−1), and natural fallow. Undefoliated mucuna (UD-M) yielded more biomass (2.3 Mg ha−1, mean of two seasons) than undefoliated lab-lab (UD-L; 0.8 Mg ha−1) under the relay intercrop, contributing more nutrients to succeeding maize than lablab. Defoliation of the legume green manures removed on average 0.9 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of high quality top-canopy herbage. Nitrogen contribution ranged from 6 kg ha−1 for defoliated lablab (D-L) to 65 kg ha−1 for UD-M. Maize grain yield was greater (P = 0.003) following incorporation of mucuna vs. lablab in both seasons. Defoliation of legume residues prior to incorporation decreased subsequent maize grain yield (3.19 vs. 2.49 Mg ha−1 following mucuna; 2.28 vs. 1.92 Mg ha−1 following lablab). Relative to the natural fallow control, UD-M, defoliated mucuna (D-M), and UD-L resulted in 52, 34, and 14% increases in subsequent maize grain yield. In conclusion, relay cropping green manure legumes, particularly mucuna, has potential to increase subsequent maize grain yield even when some of the fodder is used as livestock feed.
Comportamiento de la mastitis bovina y su impacto económico en algunos hatos de la Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia

Se describe la caracterizacion de la mastitis en diez hatos representativos de la Sabana de Bogota, enfocandose al estudio del problema durante dos anos de visitas bimensuales. Se realizaron diferentes tipos de pruebas de campo y de laboratorio: manejo del hato en general, registros de produccion, California Mastitis Test (CMT), Cultivos bacteriologicos en medios Agar sangre, Agar Mac Conkey, Agar Sabouraud, recuento de celulas somaticas, en 644 vacas y 2576 cuartos con visitas bimensuales lo que arrojo un total de 7866 observaciones en vacas y 31464 observaciones en cuartos durante el estudio. Complementario al estudio se llevo a cabo un seguimiento semanal durante tres meses, en un grupo de 30 vacas en tres fincas con ordeno manual para determinar el efecto de la infeccion sobre la produccion de leche por cuarto, mediante la utilizacion de un balde ideado por el autor. Los resultados sugieren un mayor efecto de la infeccion en hatos con ordeno mecanico donde se encontro un 61,2% de infeccion en vacas y un 30% de infeccion subclinica por cuartos y un 4,7 % de cuartos con mastitis clinica. En ordeno manual la infeccion fue de 48% en vacas, 23,6% en cuartos y 3,6% de casos de cuartos con mastitis clinica. Se encontro una correlacion del 91 % entre el CMT y el recuento de celulas somaticas lo que concuerda con los resultados de otros investigadores. En relacion a los diferentes microorganismos aislados, se encontro como dominante el Streptococcus agalactiae en ordeno manual y Staphylococcus aureus en ordeno mecanico y se descarto la posibilidad de encontrar microorganismos coliformes como causales de mastitis durante el estudio. Referente al efecto de la infeccion sobre la produccion se registraron perdidas hasta de cinco litros diarios por vaca afectada tomando como indicador el CMT y el pesaje de la leche. Tambien se pudo definir una disminucion de la produccion por cuarto de: 0,42; 0,90; 1,47; y 2,40 litros cuando se referenciaban a las lecturas de Trazas, 1, 2, 3 del CMT y se utilizaba el balde disenado para este estudio. Se revisaron algunos limitantes economicos y sociales para mejorar el estatus de la enfermedad en los hatos.
Chronic Oral Toxicity of Choline Chloride in Rats.*

Summary Chronic feeding of a diet containing up to 1% of choline chloride produced no evidence of toxicity. Except for growth rate depression, no toxic effects of higher dietary levels have been observed. Rats which drank water containing 1% of choline chloride showed perceptible diminution in growth rate. Greater concentrations than 3% choline in the drinking water were poorly tolerated. No histopathological effects could be directly attributed to the ingestion of these amounts of choline.
Mode of action of glyphosate in relation to metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid

Studies were conducted with radio-labeled indole-3-acetic acid ([2-14C] IAA) and tobacco callus culture (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. White Gold) to investigate the mode of action of the herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine). The tissue was first grown with or without glyphosate for 1 to 14 days and then incubated with [2-14C] IAA for 4 h. Metabolism of [2-14C] IAA in the tissue was studies by solvent fractionation, high performance liquid chromatography and liquid scintillation counting. The tissue grown with 0.2 mM glyphosate had low level of free [2-14C] IAA and high levels of other fractions containing metabolites and conjugates of the labeled IAA. After 1 day of glyphosate treatment the free [2-14C] IAA level in the tissue was reduced by 77% compared to that of the control; after 10 days of treatment the decrease was 96%. The decrease in the free [2-14C] IAA level was not due to inhibition of IAA uptake, but due to enhanced rates of oxidation and conjugate formation of IAA. The increased oxidation of IAA in the treated tissue was not due to a direct effect of glyphosate on IAA-oxidase since glyphosate was inactive on IAA oxidation in a cell-free system in vitro. The glyphosate-induced growth inhibition was partially overcome by addition of 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid to the medium. The results lead to the conclusion that glyphosate inhibits growth by depletion of free IAA through rapid acceleration of both conjugate formation and oxidative degradation of IAA.
Genetic Control of Floral Morph and Petal Pigmentation in Linum grandiflorum Desf., a Heterostylous Flax

Two types of floral morph, called thrum and pin, occur in heterostylous species. The thrum and pin flowers have shorter and longer styles, respectively. Heterostyly in Linum has been studied since Darwin’s era. The floral morph, self-incompatibility, and related phenotypes have been well characterized using a natural population, but genetic analysis using a segregated population has not been reported, and the mode of inheritance of heterostyly in Linum remains to be investigated. We prepared a segregated population by crossing thrum and pin flowers of Linum grandiflorum Desf. and investigated style and stamen lengths. On the basis of the style to stamen length ratio, the population could be divided into thrum and pin clearly at a ratio of 1:1. Style length of pins was 1.6 times longer than that of thrums. To investigate the factor regulating the difference in style length, we further measured the style cell length of thrums and pins. The style cell length of pins was longer than that of thrums, whose rate was comparable to the rate of the style length ratio between thrum and pin flowers. These findings indicate that the floral morph of heterostyly in Linum is controlled by a single diallelic locus, and that a difference in the cell expansion rate caused thrum and pin morphs in the style, such as in a typical heterostylous species. PCR genotyping showed that TSS1, an S candidate gene reported previously, cosegregated completely with the thrum phenotype, indicating strong linkage between the S locus and TSS1. Furthermore, three flower colors (red, pink, and white) were observed at a 1:2:1 ratio, and no white thrum flowers or red pin flowers were found in this population. These flower color phenotypes could also be controlled by a diallelic locus, whose two alleles (R and r) would be incompletely dominant, and therefore, may be linked to the S locus.
Inventaire des petits mammifères de milieux anthropisés et naturels du Maroc septentrional

In order to better characterize small terrestrial mammals biodiversity in anthropized habitats of central and coastal Morocco versus natural habitats, we performed a fieldwork inventory from April 2010 to May 2011 in 19 localities for 8336 night traps. In total, we collected 897 specimens belonging to 15 terrestrial small mammals, including 833 Rodentia, 56 Soricomorpha, 6 Erinaceomorpha, 2 Macroscelididea and one Carnivora. The trapping success was highly variable (from 1.6 to 80%) and in an average of 10.7%. Among the rodents, Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus were the two most abundant species (64%), followed by Meriones shawii (16%), Mus musculus (5%), Rattus rattus (4%), Gerbillus campestris (4%) and at the occasion Lemniscomys barbarus (2%) and Eliomys munbyanus (1%). Crocidura russula was the single shrew collected while Atelerix algirus, Elephantulus rozeti and Mustela nivalis were trapped only accidentally. The highest diversity was recorded in cultivated areas (up to 7 species) while natural forests and lagoons yielded between 2 and 4 species. Inside houses, the diversity varied between 2 to 5 species. A correspondence analysis, performed on the whole data set, highlighted the correlation between abundance of A. sylvaticus and protected forest environments and between Mus spretus and cultivated areas and degraded forests. These results are in agreement with previous data from the southern Mediterranean basin.
Morphology, Diet and Flower‐visiting by Phyllostomid Bats in Cuba

Pollinator morphology can play an important role in structuring plant–pollinator relationships and a pollinator's morphology may be associated with aspects of its diet. We examined the relationship between morphology and the partitioning of flower‐based food resources for five species of flower‐visiting Cuban bats: Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla nana, Erophylla sezekorni, Monophyllus redmani and Phyllonycteris poeyi. We analyzed cranial traits and body size to assess differences among species with respect to morphological specializations. We also collected dietary data from guano and used acoustic monitoring to assess bat activity at flowers. We found evidence that bats partition floral resources, but we found no direct evidence that plants were limiting resources for the bats. Morphological similarity among bat species did not predict dietary overlap. Rather it was associated with phylogenic relationships among some species. Species with different morphological specialization for flower‐visiting consumed resources and visited food plants at different frequencies.
AGE ESTIMATION OF PTEROPODID BATS (MEGACHIROPTERA) FROM HARD-TISSUE PARAMETERS

This investigation employed undecalcified thin (10 mu m) and thick (100 mu m) mid-root sections of surgically removed canine teeth, and thick sections of diaphyseal fore- and hind-limb bones from 14 fruit bats (Aeropus alecto and P. poliocephalus) of known age, to attempt to establish a relationship between the chronological age of these animals and changes in the cross-sectional morphology of the hard tissues. Growth layers in bone, dentine and cementum were clearly visible in cross sections when viewed by Nomarski interference microscopy. The number of growth layers in the periosteal region of long bones and in dentine varied widely within a given section, making it impossible to estimate age from these tissues. Dental cementum most reliably reflected the a e of fruit bats, with both growth layers and the radial thickness of cementum showing significant correlations with age (P < 0.05). Linear regression was used to formulate equations for estimating age. The simplicity of this technique may provide investigators with a useful method for estimating the age of pteropodid fruit bats.