bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood sulfur-amino acid concentration reflects an impairment of liver transsulfuration pathway in patients with acute abdominal inflammatory processes
Authors: Viñ Juan R. , Giménez Angel , Corbacho Adelina , Puertes Inmaculada R. , Borrás Elisa , García Concha , Barber Teresa
Published: May 2008

Whole-blood free amino acids were measured in a control group made up of eight healthy women fasted for 12 h and also in eight patients with acute pancreatitis, five patients with acute cholecystitis and seven patients with acute appendicitis. Blood was withdrawn immediately on admission to hospital and again 3 d later following a controlled peripheral parenteral nutrition diet; this is with the exception of the appendicitis group. L-CYSTATHIONINE AND l-methionine concentrations were significantly higher in pancreatitis and appendicitis patients when compared with controls. In the pancreatitis and cholecystitis patients, l-serine concentration was also significantly higher when compared with controls. The l-homocysteine concentration was significantly higher only in the appendicitis group when compared with the control group. l-Cystine concentration was unchanged in all the patients studied when compared with control subjects. The l-methionine : l-cystine ratio was significantly higher and the l-glutamine : l-cystine ratio was significantly lower in all the patients when compared with controls. The blood S-amino acid pattern reflects an impairment in liver transsulfuration pathway during acute abdominal processes. This work supports the idea that the l-methionine : l-cystine and l-glutamine : l-cystine ratios can be taken as good markers to evaluate the S-amino acid metabolism and suggests the importance of usingN-acetylcysteine as a required nutrient in these situations.
Low-digestible carbohydrates: the regulatory framework
Authors: Howlett J. F.
Published: May 2008

Legislation is described that impacts on the use of low-digestible carbohydrates in foods. This includes controls on the use of these carbohydrates, mandatory labelling concerned with gastrointestinal effects, nutrition labelling, and nutrition and other claims. Regional differences in approach to legislation have led to inconsistencies in the information that must be provided to consumers, even for the same food products. Also, within regions, different regulations apply to food carbohydrates that may be classified similarly from the physiological perspective. Consistency of food labelling globally and in application to similar carbohydrates would benefit from greater attention to the underpinning science.
Influence of folic acid-fortified foods on folate status in a folate depletion–repletion rat model
Authors: O'Leary K. , Sheehy P. J. A.
Published: May 2008

An increasing number of foods fortified with varying levels of folic acid are appearing in the market place, targeted either at the general population or at specific consumer groups. Although it is assumed that the folate in these products should be highly bioavailable, there is a need to carry out studies to ascertain that this is, in fact, the case. The present study investigated the ability of selected folic acid-fortified foods (targeted at different types of consumer) to increase the folate status of folate-deficient rats. Forty-two weanling male rats (Wistar strain) were fed a folate-deficient diet containing 1 % succinyl sulfathiazole (w/w) for 28 d. Following depletion, seven rats were randomly assigned to each of five repletion diets containing folic acid, Complan®, Slim Fast®, Opti-Fuel2®or Cola Coa®calculated to provide 200 μg folate/kg of each diet. Calculations were based on folate information from the product labels. After a further 28 d, plasma, liver and kidney folate concentrations were determined by microbiological assay. Plasma homocysteine was measured by HPLC as a functional indicator of folate status. The folate content of the foods was measured by tri-enzyme extraction followed by microbiological assay. Our analyses suggest that there may be considerable inaccuracies on the part of the manufacturers in relation to the folate declarations on the product labels. Despite this, the four foods evaluated were highly effective in elevating plasma, liver and kidney folate and lowering plasma homocysteine concentrations in rats. These results lend support to the policy of food fortification with folic acid as a means of raising the folate status of the population, and in particular to the fortification of specific foods which may target areas of the population where increased folate status is most needed.
Magnesium deficiency improves glucose homeostasis in the rat: studiesin vivoand in isolated isletsin vitro
Authors: Reis Marise A. B. , Latorraca Márcia Q. , Carneiro Everardo M. , Boschero Antonio C. , Saad Mário J. A. , Velloso Lício A. , Reyes Felix G. R.
Published: May 2008

The serum mineral levels, glucose disappearance rate (kg), total area under the glucose (ΔG) and insulin (ΔI) curves, and static insulin secretion were compared among rats fed a Mg-deficient diet for 6 (DF-6) or 11 (DF-11) weeks, and rats fed a control diet for the same periods (CO-6 and CO-11 groups). No change in glucose homeostasis was observed among DF-6, CO-6 and CO-11 rats. DF-11 rats showed an elevatedkgand a reduced ΔG and ΔI. For evaluating the effect of supplementation, rats fed a control or Mg-deficient diet for 6 weeks were then fed a Mg- supplemented diet for 5 weeks (SCO and SDF groups respectively). The serum Mg levels in SDF rats were similar to those in CO-11 and SCO rats, but higher than in the DF-11 group. SDF rats showed similarkg, ΔG and ΔI compared with the CO-11 and SCO groups. However, a significantly lowerkgand higher ΔG and ΔI were observed in SDF compared with DF-11 rats. Basal and 8.3 mmol glucose/l-stimulated insulin secretion by islets from DF-11 rats were higher than by islets from CO-11 rats. These results indicate that moderate Mg depletion for a long period may increase the secretion and sensitivity to insulin, while Mg supplementation in formerly Mg-deficient rats may prevent the increase in sensitivity and secretion of insulin.
The differential hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants of different fatty acid composition is not mediated by hepatic lipase
Authors: Lambert Marc S. , Avell Michael A. , Berhane Yoel , Shervill Elaine , Botham Kathleen M.
Published: May 2008

The hypothesis that hepatic lipase mediates the differential hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants of different fatty acid composition, demonstrated in previous work from our laboratory, was tested by investigating the effect of antibodies to the enzyme on the uptake of remnants enriched with saturated orn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by the perfused rat liver. After perfusion of rat livers with polyclonal antibodies to rat hepatic lipase raised in rabbits or with rabbit non-immune serum for 15 min, [3H]oleate-labelled chylomicron remnants, derived from chylomicrons of rats given a bolus of either palm (rich in saturated fatty acids) oil or fish (rich inn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) oil, were added. The disappearance of radioactivity from the perfusate during 120 min and its recovery in the liver at the end of the experiments were then measured. Although the rabbit anti-rat hepatic lipase antiserum was shown to inhibit hepatic lipase activity by up to 90 %, and to bind extensively to hepatic sinusoidal surfaces when added to the perfusate, radioactivity from remnants of chylomicrons from rats given a bolus of fish oil as compared with palm oil disappeared from the perfusate and appeared in the liver more rapidly in the presence both the antiserum and the non-immune serum, and the differences between the uptake of the two types of remnants were similar. We conclude, therefore, that differential interaction with hepatic lipase is not responsible for the differences in the rate of removal of chylomicron remnants of different fatty acid composition from the blood.
Nutritional status in elderly female hip fracture patients: comparison with an age-matched home living group attending day centres
Authors: Lumbers M. , New S. A. , Gibson S. , Murphy M. C.
Published: May 2008

Fractured neck of femur occurs mostly in the older female population and is generally caused by falls. Malnutrition has been postulated as a factor that increases the tendency to suffer falls. Nutritional status of older female hospital patients admitted for emergency surgery for fractured neck of femur recruited (n 75), was compared with an age-matched independent-living group of females attending one of three local day centres (n 50). Dietary assessment was undertaken using three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls and, in the hip fracture group, completed menu cards were used as memory prompts. Data concerning key lifestyle characteristics were obtained using a face-to-face administered questionnaire. Blood samples were taken to determine levels of plasma albumin, transferrin, C-reactive protein (CRP), cholesterol, vitamin C, Se, Zn and total antioxidant status. Haemolysate samples were analysed for Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity. There were no significant differences in age between the two groups, but the hip fracture patients had lower mean values for body weight (59.6 v. 67.5 kg; p = 0.005), mindex (weight/demispan) (83· v. 94.4 kg/m; P < 0·0001), calculated BMI (24·1 v. 27·5 kg/m2P<0·0001), mid-upper arm circumference; 27·1 v. 31·3 cm, p = 0.001) and triceps skinfold thickness; 17·0 v. 18.9 mm, p = 0·005) than the home-living group. The hip fracture patients had lower intakes of energy (4·3 v. 5·4 MJ, p = 0·001), fat (p = 0·025), carbohydrate (p = 0·002), protein (p = 0·006), thiamine (p = 0·017), vitamin B6 (p = 0·001), calcium (p = 0·01), K (p = 0·001), Mg (p = 0·001), P (p = 0·001), Fe (p = 0·007), Se (p = 0·008) and NSP (p = 0·001). Mean intakes of both groups were below the estimated average requirement for energy and below the reference nutrient intakes for folate, Ca, vitamin D, Mg, K, Se and Zn. In a high percentage of the hip fracture group the dietary intake of particular nutrients fell below the lower reference nutrient intake for Se (73 %), Mg (54 %) and Fe (19 %). As expected, the fracture patients had reduced plasma albumin (P<0·0001) and increased CRP (P<0·001) values. They had higher plasma vitamin C levels (P<0·001) and lower cholesterol levels (p = 0.04) than the day centre attendees. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of Se, Zn, transferrin or haemolysate glutathione peroxidase activity between the two groups. However, there was evidence of under-nutrition in both groups as key anthropometric values were low, plasma nutrient and metabolite levels were below the standard reference ranges and many individuals had low dietary intakes for specified nutrients.
Accumulation and apparent oxidation ofcis,trans-18 : 2 isomers relative to linoleic acid in rats
Authors: Chen Zhen-Yu , Kwan Kwok Yiu , Huang Yu
Published: May 2008

Dietarycis,trans-18 : 2 isomers impair desaturation and elongation of linoleic acid (Δ9cis,12cis-18 : 2), but little is known of their proportional partitioning between accumulation and oxidation. The present study was therefore designed to assess the accumulation and apparent oxidation ofcis,trans-18 : 2 isomers compared with that oftrans-18 : 1 isomers and Δ9cis,12cis-18 : 2 in rats. Accumulation is defined as whole-body increase in a fatty acid during a given period (i.e. final body content-initial body content). The apparent oxidation (disappearance) is defined as whole-body utilization of a fatty acid relative to its intake for a given period (intake-excretion-accumulation-longer-chain products)/intake×100). The animals were fed on a diet containing 15 % (w/w) partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil with 1·72 % energy ascis,trans-18 : 2 isomers and varying amounts of Δ9cis,12cis-18 : 2. The apparent oxidation of totalcis,trans-18 : 2 isomers (72–76 % dietary intake) was greater than that of Δ9cis,12cis-18 : 2 (38–51 % dietary intake) but it was similar to that of totaltrans-18 : 1 isomers (78–82 % dietary intake). Among the four isomers, the apparent oxidation of Δ9trans,12trans-18 : 2 was greater than that of the other isomers including Δ9trans,12cis-18 : 2, Δ9cis,12trans-18 : 2 and Δ9cis,13trans-18 : 2. Accumulation of Δ5cis,8cis,11cis,15trans-20 : 4 and Δ5cis,8cis,11cis,14trans-20 : 4 derived from chain-elongation and desaturation of Δ9cis,13trans-18 : 2 and Δ9cis,12trans-18 : 2 was decreased when the dietary Δ9cis,12cis-18 : 2 supply was increased.
Dexamethasone induces sodium-dependant vitamin C transporter in a mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1
Authors: Fujita I. , Hirano J. , Itoh N. , Nakanishi T. , Tanaka K.
Published: May 2008

The regulation of intracellular ascorbic acid (AsA) levels may be under the control of an AsA-specific membrane transporter. The present study investigates AsA uptake and expression of Na-dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) mRNA in the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. Among eight compounds tested, dexamethasone (Dex) all-trans retinoic acid, transforming growth factor β, prostaglandin E2 and transferrin significantly (P<0·01, P<0·01, P<0·05 and P<0·01 respectively) stimulated the update of AsA into MC3T3-E1 cells. Among these five, Dex was the most active, inducing mSVCT2 mRNA and the uptake of AsA in a time- and concentration-dependant manner. Dex did not induce mSVCT1 mRNA. These results suggest that the Dex-induced stimulation of AsA incorporation into osteoblastic cells is mediated by the induction of mSVCT2. Since Dex reduced alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells in our culture conditions, Dex-induced stimulation of AsA incorporation might not be the result of differentiation. Hormone-regulated changes of SVCT expression may have an important role in cell functions.
Content of short-chain fatty acids in the hindgut of rats fed processed bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) flours varying in distribution and content of indigestible carbohydrates
Authors: Henningsson Åsa M. , Margareta E. , Nyman G. L. , Björck Inger M. E.
Published: May 2008

Red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) processed to differ in distribution and content of indigestible carbohydrates were used to study hindgut fermentability and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Bean flours with low or high content of resistant starch (RS), mainly raw and physically-inaccessible starch, were obtained by milling the beans before or after boiling. Flours containing retrograded starch and with a high or low content of oligosaccharides were prepared by autoclaving followed by freeze-drying with or without the boiling water. Six diets were prepared from these flours yielding a total concentration of indigestible carbohydrates of 90 or 120 g/kg (dry weight basis). The total fermentability of the indigestible carbohydrates was high with all diets (80–87 %). Raw and physically-inaccessible starch was more readily fermented than retrograded starch (97–99 %v.86–95 %; P<0·05). Non-starch glucans were fermented to a lesser extent than RS, but the fermentability was higher (P<0·05) in the case of autoclaved (50–54 %) than boiled beans (37–41 %). The distribution between acetic, propionic and butyric acid in the caecum was similar for all diets, with a comparatively high percentage of butyric acid (approximately 18). However, with diets containing the high amounts of RS, the butyric acid concentration was significantly higher in the distal colon than in the proximal colon (P=0·009 and P=0·047 for the high- and low-level diets respectively), whereas it remained constant, or decreased along the colon in the case of the other diets. Furthermore, the two diets richest in RS also promoted the highest percentages of butyric acid in the distal colon (24 and 17v.12 and 12–16 for the high- and low-level diets respectively).
Antioxidant supplementation and exercise-induced oxidative stress in the 60-year-old as measured by antipyrine hydroxylates
Authors: Meijor Erwin P. , Goris Annelies H. C. , Senden Joan , van Dongen Joost L. J. , Bast Aalt , Westerterp Klass R.
Published: May 2008

The effects of 12 weeks of antioxidant supplementation on exercise-induced oxidative stress were investigated in older adults (60 (SE 1) YEARS; BMI 26 (se 1) kg/m2). Subjects were randomly divided in two groups: supplementation (n 11) with 100 mg dl-α-tocopheryl acetate, 200 mg ascorbic acid, and 2 mg β-carotene, and placebo (n 9). Before and after the 12 week supplementation period, subjects cycled for 45 min at submaximal intensity (50 % maximal workload capacity). Antipyrine was used as marker for oxidative stress. Antipyrine reacts quickly with hydroxyl radicals to form para- and ortho-hydroxyantipyrine. The latter metabolite is not formed in man through the mono-oxygenase pathway of cytochrome P450. Daily supplementation significantly increased plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in the supplemented group (Δ 14·4 (se 3·2) and 0·4 (se 0·1) μmol/l; P<0·001 and P<0·01). No significant differences, within and between groups, were observed in the exercise-induced increase in the ratios para- and ortho-hydroxyantipyrine to antipyrine. In addition, supplementation did not affect the exercise-induced increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in plasma. In conclusion, in 60-year-old subjects antioxidant supplementation had no effect on the exercise-induced increase in oxidative stress as measured by free radical products of antipyrine.
Limitations of conventional models and a conceptual framework for a nutrient flow representation of energy utilization by animals
Authors: Birkett Stephen , Lange Kees de
Published: May 2008

Conventional models of energy utilization by animals, based on partitioning metabolizable energy (ME) intake or net energy (NE), are reviewed. The limitations of these methods are discussed, including various experimental, analytical and conceptual problems. Variation in the marginal efficiency of utilizing energy can be attributed to various factors: diet nutrient composition; animal effects on diet ME content; diet and animal effects on ME for maintenance (MEm); experimental methodology; and important statistical issues. ME partitioning can account for some of the variation due to animal factors, but not that related to nutrient source. In addition to many of the problems associated with ME, problems with NE pertain to: estimation of NE for maintenance (NEm); experimental and analytical methodology; and an inability to reflect variation in the metabolic use of NE. A conceptual framework is described for a new model of energy utilization by animals, based on representing explicit flows of the main nutrients and the important biochemical and biological transformations associated with their utilization. Differences in energetic efficiency from either dietary or animal factors can be predicted with this model.
Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii
Authors: Baskin Jerry M. , Davis Barbara H. , Baskin Carol C. , Gleason Sean M. , Cordell Susan
Published: May 2008

Dormancy in seeds ofDodonaea viscosais due to a water-impermeable seed coat (physical dormancy, PY). Thus, mechanically scarified seeds imbibed water (c.95% increase in mass) and germinated to high percentages over a wide range of temperature regimes in both white light and darkness, whereas non-scarified seeds did not take up water. Dry heat at 80–160°C and dipping in boiling water for 1–60 s also broke dormancy in a high percentage of the seeds, and continuous far-red light was not inhibitory to germination. However, dry storage in the laboratory for >1 year did not overcome dormancy. Seeds made water-permeable by boiling imbibed water, and thus germinated, at a much slower rate than those made water-permeable by mechanical scarification. We suggest that boiling opened the ‘water gap’ in the seed coat (not yet described inSapindaceaebut present in other taxa with PY) and that water entered the seed only through this small opening, thereby accounting for the slow rate of imbibition and subsequent germination. Physical dormancy has now been shown to occur in seeds of this polymorphic, worldwide species from Australia, Brazil, Hawaii, Mexico and New Zealand. The low level of dormancy reported for seed lots ofD. viscosain China, India and Pakistan is probably due to collection of seeds before they dried to the critical moisture content for development of water-impermeability of the seed coat. Germination of non-dormant seeds over a wide range of temperatures and in white light, far-red (leaf-canopy shade) light and darkness are part of the germination strategy ofD. viscosaand of other taxa whose seeds have PY at maturity.
NGF Inhibits M/KCNQ Currents and Selectively Alters Neuronal Excitability in Subsets of Sympathetic Neurons Depending on their M/KCNQ Current Background
Authors: Jia Zhanfeng , Bei Junjie , Rodat-Despoix Lise , Liu Boyi , Jia Qingzhong , Delmas Patrick , Zhang Hailin
Published: May 2008

M/KCNQ currents play a critical role in the determination of neuronal excitability. Many neurotransmitters and peptides modulate M/KCNQ current and neuronal excitability through their G protein–coupled receptors. Nerve growth factor (NGF) activates its receptor, a member of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily, and crucially modulates neuronal cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we studied the effect of NGF on the neuronal (rat superior cervical ganglion, SCG) M/KCNQ currents and excitability. As reported before, subpopulation SCG neurons with distinct firing properties could be classified into tonic, phasic-1, and phasic-2 neurons. NGF inhibited M/KCNQ currents by similar proportion in all three classes of SCG neurons but increased the excitability only significantly in tonic SCG neurons. The effect of NGF on excitability correlated with a smaller M-current density in tonic neurons. The present study indicates that NGF is an M/KCNQ channel modulator and the characteristic modulation of the neuronal excitability by NGF may have important physiological implications.
A Continuum Method for Determining Membrane Protein Insertion Energies and the Problem of Charged Residues
Authors: Choe Seungho , Hecht Karen A. , Grabe Michael
Published: May 2008

Continuum electrostatic approaches have been extremely successful at describing the charged nature of soluble proteins and how they interact with binding partners. However, it is unclear whether continuum methods can be used to quantitatively understand the energetics of membrane protein insertion and stability. Recent translation experiments suggest that the energy required to insert charged peptides into membranes is much smaller than predicted by present continuum theories. Atomistic simulations have pointed to bilayer inhomogeneity and membrane deformation around buried charged groups as two critical features that are neglected in simpler models. Here, we develop a fully continuum method that circumvents both of these shortcomings by using elasticity theory to determine the shape of the deformed membrane and then subsequently uses this shape to carry out continuum electrostatics calculations. Our method does an excellent job of quantitatively matching results from detailed molecular dynamics simulations at a tiny fraction of the computational cost. We expect that this method will be ideal for studying large membrane protein complexes.
Pathogenicity of Pythium Species Associated with Pythium Root Dysfunction of Creeping Bentgrass and Their Impact on Root Growth and Survival
Authors: Kerns J. P. , Tredway L. P.
Published: May 2008

Symptoms resembling Pythium root dysfunction have been observed on golf course putting greens established with creeping bentgrass across the southeastern United States since 2002. Root isolations from 14 golf courses yielded 59 isolates of Pythium volutum and 16 isolates of Pythium torulosum. Pathogenicity of five isolates of P. volutum, two isolates of P. torulosum, and a combination of the two species was determined by inoculating mature ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass plants. Inoculated plants were incubated for 4 weeks at 24/16°C (day/night) to permit root infection, then temperatures were increased to 32/26°C to induce foliar symptoms. No isolates impacted root depth, root mass, or foliar disease severity after 4 weeks at 24/16°C. After increasing the temperature to 32/26°C, isolates of P. volutum induced foliar disease severity ranging from 60 to 84%, whereas isolates of P. torulosum induced only 14 to 35% disease. Isolates of P. volutum consistently reduced root mass and root depth after 4 weeks at 32/26°C, but P. torulosum exhibited no effect. These results demonstrate that P. volutum is a pathogen of mature creeping bentgrass plants. Infections that occur during cool weather reduce the growth and survival of creeping bentgrass roots during hot weather and give rise to foliar symptoms.
Detection of Virulence to Resistance Gene Sr24 Within Race TTKS of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici
Authors: Jin Y. , Szabo L. J. , Pretorius Z. A. , Singh R. P. , Ward R. , Fetch T.
Published: May 2008

The stem rust resistance gene Sr24 is effective against most races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, including race TTKS (syn. Ug99), and is used widely in commercial wheat cultivars worldwide. In 2006, susceptible infection responses were observed on wheat lines and cultivars carrying Sr24 in a field stem rust screening nursery at Njoro, Kenya. We derived 28 single-pustule isolates from stem rust samples collected from the 2006 Njoro nursery. The isolates were evaluated for virulence on 16 North American stem rust differential lines; on wheat lines carrying Sr24, Sr31, Sr38, and SrMcN; and on a wheat cultivar with a combination of Sr24 and Sr31. All isolates were identified as race TTKS with additional virulence on Sr31 and Sr38. These isolates were divided into two groups: group A (seven isolates and the two control isolates), producing a low infection type, and group B (21 isolates), producing a high infection type on Sr24, respectively. Isolates of group B represented a new variant of race TTKS with virulence to Sr24. Eighteen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to examine the genetic relationship between these two groups of isolates in race TTKS and five North American races (MCCF, QCCQ, RCRS, RTHS, and TPMK) that are representative of distinct lineage groups. All isolates of race TTKS shared an identical SSR genotype and were clearly different from North American races. The virulence and SSR data indicated that the new variant of race TTKS with Sr24 virulence likely has arisen via mutation within the TTKS genetic lineage. We propose to revise the North American stem rust nomenclature system by the addition of four genes (Sr24, Sr31, Sr38, and SrMcN) as the fifth set. This revision recognizes the virulence on Sr31 and differentiates isolates within race TTKS into two separate races: TTKSK and TTKST, with avirulence and virulence on Sr24, respectively. The occurrence of race TTKST with combined virulence on Sr24 and Sr31 has substantially increased the vulnerability of wheat to stem rust worldwide.
First Report of Solanum jasminoides Infected by Citrus exocortis viroid in Germany and the Netherlands and Tomato apical stunt viroid in Belgium and Germany
Authors: Verhoeven J. Th. J. , Jansen C. C. C. , Roenhorst J. W. , Steyer S. , Schwind N. , Wassenegger M.
Published: May 2008

Recent identifications of Chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd) and Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) in Solanum jasminoides (3,4) prompted the testing of this plant species for infections with other pospiviroids. From autumn of 2006 to spring of 2007, samples from symptomless plants of S. jasminoides were collected in Belgium (3 samples ranging from 75 to 150 plants), Germany (3 samples ranging from 1 to 200 plants), and the Netherlands (3 samples ranging from 2 to 200 plants). Samples were tested for pospiviroids by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays using the Pospi1-FW/RE and Vid-FW/RE (2) and PSTV-Nb-FW (5′-ggatccccggggaaacctgga-3′)/RE (5′-ggatccctgaagcgctcctcc-3′) primer sets. Each set amplifies several but not all pospiviroids. The first and last primer sets amplified PCR products from six samples. The full-length genomes of all six isolates were amplified using primer pairs CEVd-FW1/RE1 (1) and CEVd-FW2 (5′-gtgctcacctgaccctgcagg-3′)/RE2 (5′-accacaggaacctcaagaaag-3′), which are fully complementary to both Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Tomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd). Sequence analysis of the PCR products identified CEVd from two samples each from Germany and the Netherlands and TASVd from one sample each from Germany and Belgium (plants were imported from Israel). Although the sequences of the different CEVd isolates from S. jasminoides were not identical, all exhibited more than 95% identity with a CEVd isolate from Vicia faba (GenBank Accession No. EF494687). Both TASVd sequences were identical and showed 99.2% identity to a TASVd isolate from tomato (GenBank Accession No. AY 062121). Two nucleotide sequences of CEVd were submitted to the NCBI GenBank (Accession Nos. EU094207 and EU094208). The two other CEVd sequences and the TASVd sequence were submitted to the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database as Accession Nos. AM774356, AM774357, and AM777161. In addition to identification from S. jasminoides by sequence analysis, TASVd infection in the S. jasminoides sample from Germany and CEVd in one sample from the Netherlands was confirmed by mechanical inoculation to tomato followed by RT-PCR using the two CEVd-FW/RE primer pairs and analysis of the sequenced PCR product. Infection by CEVd and TASVd was also confirmed in the German samples by Northern hybridization and TASVd was confirmed in the Belgian sample by return-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of CEVd and TASVd in S. jasminoides. The viroids do not reduce the quality of S. jasminoides plants; however, the infected plants may act as infection sources for other crops.

References: (1) N. Önelge. Turk. J. Agric. For. 21:419, 1997. (2) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:823, 2004. (3) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Plant Dis. 90:1359, 2006. (4) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Plant Pathol. 57:399, 2008.
Outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2 Causing Brown Rot on Potato in the Aegean Region of Turkey
Authors: Ustun N. , Ozakman M. , Karahan A.
Published: May 2008

Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi, Kosako, Yano, Hotta, and Nishiuchi, the cause of brown rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum), was detected for the first time in Turkey in 1995 in five potato fields in the Nevsehir Province of the central Anatolia Region and was eradicated under measures mandated by the government. Occurrence of the pathogen was not reported in other parts of the country. However, in 2006, brown rot symptoms were observed in potato (cv. Marabel) fields in the Balikesir Province of the Aegean Region. Symptoms and signs included wilting, browning of stem vascular tissues, and ooze exudation from the transversely cut stem. On tubers, brown discoloration of the vascular ring was observed. Creamy bacterial ooze emerged from the vascular ring a few minutes after cutting. In advanced stages, bacterial slime oozed from the tuber heel end (stolon) and “eyes” causing soil particles to adhere. Isolation of bacteria from diseased stem and tuber tissues on mSMSA medium (1) consistently resulted in white, fluid colonies with red coloration in the center. On the basis of biochemical, immunofluorescence (IF), and real-time PCR tests, 10 representative isolates (one per affected field) were identified as Ralstonia solanacearum. They were further identified as biovar 2 according to metabolization of maltose, lactose, and D (+) cellobiose but not mannitol, sorbitol, and dulcitol. In the IF tests, fluorescent cells were observed at antibody dilutions from 200 to 12,800. The expected real-time PCR products were generated using biovar 2-specific primers (2). Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting a bacterial suspension (106 CFU/ml) into the stem of 2-week-old tomato seedlings (cv. Alta F1). Inoculated plants (five plants per isolate) were incubated for up to 2 weeks at 25°C and 70 to 80% humidity. Wilting symptoms developed within 5 to 10 days. No symptoms were observed on controls inoculated with sterile water. The bacterium was reisolated and identified as R. solanacearum biovar 2 as described above. The incidence of the disease in the affected fields varied between 20 and 40%, and surveys showed that approximately 163 ha were infested. Phytosanitary measures that were taken included a prohibition of production of host plants in the infested areas, tracing and testing programs to identify the source of the bacterium, and measures to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solanacearum biovar 2 on potato in the Aegean Region of Turkey.

References: (1) J. G. Elphinstone et al. EPPO Bull. 26:663, 1996. (2) M. Ozakman and N. W.Schaad. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 25:232, 2003.
First Report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Causing ‘Twister Disease’ of Onion (Allium cepa) in Georgia
Authors: Nischwitz C. , Langston D. , Sanders H. F. , Torrance R. , Lewis K. J. , Gitaitis R. D.
Published: May 2008

In the fall of 2007, onion seedlings with twisted and distorted leaves were observed in seedbeds in multiple fields in the Vidalia onion region of Georgia. Tests for viruses and bacteria were negative and chemical injury was deemed improbable because of disease distribution in the fields. Upon further investigation, fungal fruiting bodies were observed on the outside sheath of a few of the seedlings. Symptomatic plants were cut into 1-cm segments and surface sterilized in 70% ethanol for 3 min. After rinsing in sterile water, the segments were placed onto potato dextrose agar amended with tetracycline. The fungus isolated from symptomatic plants fit the description of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. Conidia were aseptate, cylindrical, and hyaline. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region and a BLAST search in GenBank (99% sequence similarity to C. gloeosporioides accessions) confirmed the identification. Ten onion seedlings were spray inoculated with a suspension of 1 × 107 spores/ml until runoff, and four seedlings were inoculated with water as negative controls. Plants were bagged for 12 h to maintain high relative humidity. Five plants were placed in the greenhouse and five plants placed in a growth chamber at 22°C. All plants inoculated with C. gloeosporioides developed distorted and twisted leaves 3 weeks after inoculation in the growth chamber and 5 weeks after inoculation in the greenhouse. Night time temperatures in the greenhouse (15°C) were lower than those in the growth chamber (22°C). Seedlings inoculated with water showed no symptoms. The fungus was reisolated from symptomatic plants. C. gloeosporioides has been reported to cause a disease called twister on onion in tropical regions (1). The fall of 2007 was unusually warm with maximum temperatures reaching 26°C during the day. The pathogen is present on many crops in the United States, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of C. gloeosporioides causing twister disease of onion in the United States. In Nigeria and Brazil, yield losses as much as 100% were observed in fields with infected onions (1). The impact of infection on the growth of the transplants and subsequent yield in Vidalia onions is currently unknown.

References: (1) J. P. Hill. Compendium of Onion and Garlic Diseases. 2nd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2008.
First Report of Cucumber mosaic virus on Lavandula angustifolia in Poland
Authors: Kobyłko T. , Dańda P. , Hasiów B. , Borodynko N. , Pospieszny H.
Published: May 2008

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (synonym Lavandula officinalis Chaix), belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a plant that is widespread in Mediterranean countries. The species is widely grown as an ornamental crop in Poland. Currently, only Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) is known to infect L. latifolia × L. officinalis in Italy (3). In the spring of 2005, we observed yellow mottling, leaf deformation, and growth reduction of L. angustifolia plants from the Agricultural Academy of Kraków collection of medicinal herbs and spices. Mechanical inoculation of a range of indicator plant species, Chenopodium quinoa, Cucumis sativus, Datura strammonium, Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum cv. Xanthi, Lycopersicon esculentum, and Spinacia oleracea, with sap from symptomatic L. angustifolia plants resulted in symptoms typical of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Chlorotic local lesions and systemic mosaic were observed after a few days on the tested plant species. However, local lesions did not develop on inoculated C. sativus cotyledons. A lack of systemic infection on Chenopodium quinoa excluded infection by AMV. The sap from symptomatic N. tabacum cv. Xanthi leaves contained spherical virus particles of 29 nm in diameter when examined with electron microscopy. Symptomatic N. tabacum cv. Xanthi leaves were positive for CMV in a double-antibody-ELISA using commercial CMV antiserum (Loewe Biochemica GmbH, Sauerlach, Germany). Total RNA was extracted from infected N. tabacum cv. Xanthi plants by the phenolchloroform method. Reverse transcription-PCR was carried out using specific primers CMVF 5′-CCCACAGGTAGAATCAAAT-3′ and CMVR 5′-ATGGACAAATCTGAATCAAC-3′ (1). The 367-bp amplicon representing a portion of the coat protein gene located in RNA3 was cloned into pGEM-T Easy Vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and two clones were sequenced. The fragment sequence (Accession No. EU303304) was compared with homologous sequences of CMV isolates from the GenBank database. Multiple sequence alignment was performed by using Mega 4 (Center for Evolutionary Functional Genomics, Tempe, AZ) (4) and revealed 99% nucleotide and amino acid identity between the Polish isolate of CMV-PL and the RT67 (subgroup II) isolate from the Netherlands (2) To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of CMV on Lavandula angustifolia Mill. in Poland or worldwide.

References: (1) N. Borodynko et al. Prog. Plant Protect. 44:604, 2004. (2) Z. Deyong et al. J Virol. Methods 123:101, 2005. (3) L. Giunchedi et al. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 11:74, 1972. (4) K. Tamura et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 24:1596, 2007.
First Report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-Related Strains Infecting Lily in Mexico
Authors: Cortés-Martínez N. E. , Valadez-Moctezuma E. , Zelaya-Molina L. X. , Marbán-Mendoza N.
Published: May 2008

In recent years, lily (Lilium spp.) has become an important ornamental crop in diverse regions of Mexico. Since 2005, unusual symptoms have been observed on lily plants grown from imported bulbs in both greenhouse and production plots at San Pablo Ixayo, Boyeros, and Tequexquinauac, Mexico State. Symptoms included a zigzag line pattern on leaves, dwarfism, enlargement of stems, shortened internodes, leaves without petioles growing directly from bulbs, air bulbils, death of young roots, atrophy of flower buttons, and flower abortion. Symptoms were experimentally reproduced on healthy lily plants by graft inoculation. Total DNA was extracted from 50 diseased, 10 symptomless, and 10 graft-inoculated plants by the method of Dellaporta et al. (2). DNA samples were analyzed for phytoplasma presence by two different nested PCR assays. One assay employed ribosomal RNA gene primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 (1), whereas ribosomal protein (rp) gene primer pairs rpF1/rpR1 and rp(I)F1A/rp(I)R1A (4) were used in a second assay. A DNA fragment approximately 1.2 kb long was consistently amplified from all symptomatic plant samples only by both assays. A comparative analysis of 16S rDNA sequences (Genbank Accession Nos. EF421158–EF421160 and EU124518–EU124520) and rp gene sequences (EU277012–EU277014), derived from PCR products, revealed that phytoplasma infecting lily were most similar (99.9% to 16S rDNA and 99.7% to rp) to carrot phytoplasma sp. ca2006/5 and also were similar (99.8% to 16SrDNA and 99.2% to rp) to broccoli phytoplasma sp. br273. Both carrot and broccoli phytoplasmas were classified as members of aster yellow 16S rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism subgroup 16SrI-B (3). Although infection of lilies by aster yellows (‘Ca. phytoplasma asteris’) subgroup 16SrI-B and 16SrI-C was reported from the Czech Republic and Poland, to our knowledge, this is the first report of ‘Ca. phytoplasma asteris’-related strains associated with lily plants in Mexico.

References: (1) R. F. Davis et al. Microbiol. Res. 158:229, 2003. (2) S. L. Dellaporta et al. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 1:19, 1983. (3) B. Duduk et al. Bull. Insectol. 60 2:341, 2007. (4) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:337, 2004.
First Report of Black Rot on Arugula Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in Argentina
Authors: Romero A. M. , Zapata R. , Montecchia M. S.
Published: May 2008

During the fall of 2005, arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) plants grown in experimental field plots in Buenos Aires, Argentina presented V-shaped necrotic lesions on leaf margins and blackened veins with broad yellow halos, followed by leaf necrosis. At flowering, 96% of the plants were affected with 27% of the leaves with symptoms. Yellow, round, mucoid, convex, bacterial colonies were isolated from several leaves on yeast dextrose chalk agar. Two strains were further studied. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Xcc8004 was used as a control. Strains were gram negative, rod shaped, strictly aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase and urease-negative, hydrolyzed starch, gelatine and aesculin, and did not reduce nitrate (2). Pathogenicity was tested by spraying 10 3-week-old arugula plants with either a bacterial suspension (107 CFU/ml) or sterile water. Plants were placed in plastic bags for 72 h after inoculation. All inoculated plants showed necrotic lesions enlarging from the margin of the leaves 7 days after inoculation. No lesions were observed on control plants. On the basis of biochemical characterization (2) and genomic fingerprints generated by BOX-PCR (1), the pathogen was identified as X. campestris pv. campestris. To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. campestris pv. campestris causing black rot on arugula in Argentina.

References: (1) J. L. Rademaker et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 50:665, 2000. (2) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001.
First Report of Maize streak virus Field Infection of Sugarcane in South Africa
Authors: van Antwerpen T. , McFarlane S. A. , Buchanan G. F. , Shepherd D. N. , Martin D. P. , Rybicki E. P. , Varsani A.
Published: May 2008

Prior to the introduction of highly resistant sugarcane varieties, Sugarcane streak virus (SSV) caused serious sugar yield losses in southern Africa. Recently, sugarcane plants with streak symptoms have been identified across South Africa. Unlike the characteristic fine stippling and streaking of SSV, the symptoms resembled the broader, elongated chlorotic lesions commonly observed in wild grasses infected with the related Maize streak virus (MSV). Importantly, these symptoms have been reported on a newly released South African sugarcane cultivar, N44 (resistant to SSV). Following a first report from southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in February 2006, a survey in May 2007 identified numerous plants with identical symptoms in fields of cvs. N44, N27, and N36 across the entire South African sugarcane-growing region. Between 0.04 and 1.6% of the plants in infected fields had streak symptoms. Wild grass species with similar streaking symptoms were observed adjacent to one of these fields. Potted stalks collected from infected N44 plants germinated in a glasshouse exhibited streak symptoms within 10 days. Virus genomes were isolated and sequenced from a symptomatic N44 and Urochloa plantaginea plants collected from one of the surveyed fields (1). Phylogenetic analysis determined that while viruses from both plants closely resembled the South African maize-adapted MSV strain, MSV-A4 (>98.5% genome-wide sequence identity), they were only very distantly related to SSV (~65% identity; MSV-Sasri_S: EU152254; MSV-Sasri_G: EU152255). To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of maize-adapted MSV variants in sugarcane. In the 1980s, “MSV strains” were serologically identified in sugarcane plants exhibiting streak symptoms in Reunion and Mauritius, but these were not genetically characterized (2,3). There have been no subsequent reports on the impact of such MSV infections on sugarcane cultivation on these islands. Also, at least five MSV strains have now been described, only one of which, MSV-A, causes significant disease in maize and it is unknown which strain was responsible for sugarcane diseases on these islands in the 1980s (2,3). MSV-A infections could have serious implications for the South African sugar industry. Besides yield losses in infected plants due to stunting and reduced photosynthesis, the virus could be considerably more difficult to control than it is in maize because sugarcane is vegetatively propagated and individual plants remain within fields for years rather than months. Moreover, there is a large MSV-A reservoir in maize and other grasses everywhere sugarcane is grown in southern Africa.

References: (1) B. E. Owor et al. J Virol. Methods 140:100, 2007. (2) M. S. Pinner and P. G. Markham. J. Gen. Virol. 71:1635, 1990. (3) M. S. Pinner et al. Plant Pathol. 37:74, 1998.
First Report of Phytophthora nicotianae Causing Asparagus Spear and Root Rot in Peru
Authors: Aragon-Caballero L. M. , Hurtado-Gonzales O. P. , Flores-Torres J. G. , Apaza-Tapia W. , Lamour K. H.
Published: May 2008

During 2006, spears, roots, and crowns of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) exhibiting brown necrotic lesions with water soaking were collected from several sites across Peru (Ica, Lima, and Trujillo). Small infected tissue sections were washed thoroughly with tap and sterile distilled water and transferred to corn meal agar plates (CMA) amended with PARP (100 ppm of pimaricin, 100 ppm of ampicillin, 30 ppm of rifampicin, and 100 ppm of pentachloronitrobenzene) and incubated for five days at 25°C. Hyphal tips were subcultured from actively expanding mycelium. Sporangia produced on CMA were papillate and averaged 38 μm long × 29 μm wide. Chlamydospores were terminal or intercalary and averaged 35 μm in diameter. Isolates incubated in the dark for more than 3 weeks did not produce oospores in single culture. Mating with Phytophthora capsici tester isolates CBS 121656 = A1 and CBS 121657 = A2 indicate that all five isolates were A2. For pathogenicity tests, inoculum was generated by incubating 300 g of autoclaved wheat seeds with four agar plugs (7 mm) of expanding mycelium in polyethylene bags for 1 month at 25°C. Nine-week-old asparagus plants (UC151 F1) were transferred into pots containing autoclaved substrate (1 part sand, 1 part potting soil, and 1 part peat). Inoculum was added as 1 g of inoculum per kilogram of substrate. Plants were maintained in the greenhouse at 23°C and watered daily. Decline symptoms as well as root and spear rot were observed after 7 days and a Phytophthora sp. was reisolated from infected tissue. No symptoms were observed on asparagus plants inoculated with sterile inoculum. DNA was isolated from two representative isolates, and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified with ITS4 and ITS6 primers and sequenced. ITS sequence was submitted for a BLAST search in the NCBI database, showing Phytophthora nicotianae strain UQ848 Accession No AF266776 as the closest match with 99% sequence similarity (1). The consensus ITS sequence was deposited in NCBI (Accession No. EU433396). These results, together with the morphological characteristics, indicate that the Phytophthora sp. isolated from asparagus in Peru is P. nicotianae (Breda de Haan) (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. nicotianae infecting asparagus and represents a new threat for asparagus growers in Peru. Control methods such as moderate watering and metalaxyl application are being applied to reduce Phytophthora outbreaks.

References: (1) D. E. Cooke et al. Fungal Genet. Biol. 30:17, 2000. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society. St Paul, MN, 1996.