bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ Associated with Oilseed Rape Phyllody in Poland
Authors: Zwolińska A. , Krawczyk K. , Klejdysz T. , Pospieszny H. 
Published: July 2011

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is widely grown in Poland to produce vegetable oil for industrial processing of human and animal feed. In recent years, according to European Union directives on the use of biofuels (Directive 2003/30/EC), the area under oilseed rape cultivation in Poland has dramatically increased to 810,000 ha in 2009 and is still increasing. Morphological deformations of winter oilseed rape indicative of phytoplasma infection have been observed sporadically in Poland since 2000 (3). Plants exhibiting floral virescence, phyllody, as well as auxiliary bud proliferation, reduced leaves, and malformation of siliques were identified during surveys of research fields in Wielkopolska during May and June of 2009 and 2010. To confirm phytoplasma infection of these plants, inflorescence and leaf tissues were collected from nine diseased and three symptomless plants from three different field locations with 1 to 16% disease incidence. Total DNA was extracted from each plant tissue sample with a modified cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide method (2). Samples were analyzed for phytoplasma DNA with a nested PCR assay employing phytoplasma universal rRNA operon primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2, using previously described conditions (1). PCR products of 1.8 and 1.2 kb were obtained from all diseased plants only following PCRs with P1/P7 and nested primer pair R16F2n/R16R2, respectively. PCR products were not obtained from symptomless plants. Eight 1.2-kb amplicons were sequenced (GenBank Accession Nos. JN193475 to JN193482). Comparative analysis of the R16F2n/R16R2 rDNA sequences confirmed the phytoplasma origin of the rDNA sequences that shared 100 to 99% identity with Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (GenBank Accession No. HQ530152), Alfalfa stunt phytoplasma (GenBank Accession No. GU289675), Primula green yellows phytoplasma (GenBank Accession No. HM590623), and other aster yellows group phytoplasmas. A 1.8-kb amplicon of isolate designated RzW14 was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. HM561990) and had 99% identity with Aster yellow group phytoplasmas from Lithuania (GenBank Accession Nos.GU223208 and AY744071). A virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences from the R16F2n/R16R2 amplicons was performed with iPhyClassifier (4). Restriction profile comparisons identified all aster yellows group phytoplasmas as subgroup 16SrI-B strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain infecting oilseed rape in Poland. References: (1) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) A. C. Padovan et al. Aust. J. Grape Wine Res. 1:25, 1995. (3) M. Starzycki and E. Starzycka. Oilseed Crops 21:399, 2000. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.
First Report of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus Infecting Cucumber in Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Mizutani T. , Daryono B. S. , Ikegami M. , Natsuaki K. T. 
Published: July 2011

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable in Indonesia. Cucumber plants showing yellowy green mosaic symptoms on leaves were observed in Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia in August 2008. Total DNAs were extracted from symptomatic leaves, and the putative viral genomes were amplified by PCR with the Deng A and B primers (2). The PCR-amplified viral genomic DNA was sequenced. The remaining part of DNA-A was amplified with two primers sets (ToLCNDV-A1F 5′-ACCAACAGGCCGATGAACA-3′ and ToLCNDV-A1R 5′-TTCCCACTATCTTCCTGTGCA-3′; ToLCNDV-A2F 5′-TCGAGTGTGATRAAGAYTGCA-3′ and ToLCNDV-A2R 5′-ACTAACTAAGCATTGCAGCGTC-3′ [R = A and G, Y = C and T]) and sequenced. The remaining part of DNA-B was amplified with two primers sets (ToLCNDV-B1F 5′-ARGAGTTYMCRYYTGTGGA-3′ and ToLCNDV-B1R 5′-TKCWGTYGGTCATGTCGT-3′; ToLCNDV-B2F 5′-TCYGTCAATCKCATGTCGYGT-3′ and ToLCNDV-B2R 5′-CCTTACGCGTATAYTGTYTRGA-3′ [K = G and T, M = A and C, W = A and T]) and sequenced. Full-length DNA-A (2,739 nt; GenBank Accession No. AB613825) and DNA-B (2,690 nt; GenBank Accession No. AB613826) sequences of a bipartite Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) from Central Java were obtained and they were most similar to the corresponding sequences of both DNA-A and DNA-B of ToLCNDV-[cucumber:Thailand] (DNA-A, GenBank Accession No. AB330079; DNA-B, GenBank Accession No. AB330080) at 95.5 and 91.0% nucleotide identities, respectively. On the basis of high nucleotide sequence identity with ToLCNDV-[cucumber:Thailand] and the demarcation criteria in species identification (3), the virus isolate from the diseased cucumber in Central Java is considered as a variant of ToLCNDV and was accordingly named ToLCNDV-Indonesia[Indonesia:Java:Cucumber:2008] (ToLCNDV-ID[ID:Jav:Cuc:08]). Although the importance of begomovirus diseases on chili pepper (Solanaceae) is currently highly noticed in Indonesia (1), ToLCNDV was newly isolated from cucumber (Cucurbitaceae) in this study. Therefore, farmers in Indonesia should pay more attention to controlling begomovirus vectors, white flies, on Cucurbitaceae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of ToLCNDV in Indonesia. References: (1) P. J. D. Barro et al. Biol. Invas.10:411, 2008. (2) D. Deng et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 125:327, 1994. (3) C. M. Fauquet et al. Arch. Virol. 153:783, 2008.
First Report of Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum on Acer palmatum in Virginia
Authors: Dart N. L. , Weeda S. M. 
Published: July 2011

In October 2010, containerized Acer palmatum Thunb. trees (‘Red Select’, ‘Viridis’, and ‘Hubb's Red Willow’) with crown cankers and root rot were observed at a central Virginia nursery. Sections of lower stem cankers and rootlets were sampled from 14 trees by surface-sterilizing tissue and plating on V8 juice agar. A species of Cylindrocarpon was isolated from 72% of sampled trees and recovered from 57% of 50 cankers and 74% of 50 sections of symptomatic rootlets. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), macroconidia were cylindrical, straight, and rounded at both ends. Chlamydospores were common and intercalary or terminal in the mycelium. To identify to species, the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA and partial sequences of the beta tubulin gene were sequenced and compared with published sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. AM419110.1 and AM419109.1), which exactly matched sequences of Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum, a recently described species (1,2). Neighbor-joining analyses using Blast Tree View placed C. macrodidymum and the unknown isolate in a closely related but distinct clade from C. pauciseptatum and C. liriodendri. Species-specific primers also confirmed the isolates to be C. macrodidymum (2). A. palmatum seedlings (generic root stock) were inoculated by placing a colonized PDA plug over 1-cm scalpel incision wounds (n = 12) and wrapping treated sections of stem with Parafilm to prevent desiccation. Twelve root systems were inoculated by mixing a colonized PDA plate with 1 liter of water and drenching the soil of each plant. Twelve wounds and root systems were inoculated with uncolonized PDA for controls. After 4 weeks, inoculated wounded seedlings developed brown lesions extending 1 to 3 cm from incision wounds. Inoculated roots developed root rot. Controls produced no visible symptoms. A Cylindrocarpon sp. was recovered from 85% of surface-sterilized sections of inoculated wounded stem and 100% inoculated symptomatic roots. No Cylindrocarpon sp. was isolated from stem or root controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathogen on A. palmatum. Other reported hosts include grapevines (Vitis spp.) and apple (Malus spp.) (3). This finding demonstrates the ability of C. macrodidymum to impact an ornamental host and the potential for this pathogen to impact the ornamental nursery industry. References: (1) S. Alaniz et al. Plant Dis. 93:821, 2009. (2) J. Auger et al. Plant Dis. 91:470, 2007. (3) Y. T. Tewoldemedhin et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 129:637, 2011.
Ovalbumin‐specific immunoglobulins A and G levels at age 2 years are associated with the occurrence of atopic disorders
Authors: Kukkonen A. K. , Savilahti E. M. , Haahtela T. , Savilahti E. , Kuitunen M. 
Published: July 2011

Summary
Background Humoral responses to food antigens may reflect the propensity of a child's immune system to develop tolerance to innocuous antigens. Early nutrition as well as probiotics may influence these immunological responses.
Objective To study the association of humoral responses to early food antigens with the administration of prebiotics and probiotics, with the occurrence of allergy, and with the length of exclusive breastfeeding.
Methods In a randomized double‐blind allergy prevention trial in high‐risk children, 1018 mothers took probiotics or placebo from the 36th week of gestation, and their newborn infants received probiotics and prebiotics or placebo during 6 months. At 2 and 5 years, we evaluated the cumulative incidence of allergic diseases (food allergy, eczema, asthma, rhinitis) and sensitization (skin prick test ⩾3 mm or serum antigen‐specific IgE>0.7 kU/L). In 688 infants at age 2, we measured in sera‐specific IgA, IgG, IgG1, and IgG4 antibody levels to cow's milk (CM), α‐casein (CAS), β‐lactoglobulin (BLG), and ovalbumin (OVA) with ELISA, and specific IgE levels to CM and hen's egg with UniCap.
Results Probiotic treatment (n=342) compared with placebo (n=346) showed no effect on serum food‐specific IgA, IgG, IgG1, or IgG4 concentrations at age 2. Atopic children had higher OVA‐IgA (P<0.001), OVA‐IgG (P=0.001), OVA‐IgG1 (P<0.001), and egg‐IgE but lower OVA‐IgG4/egg‐IgE ratio (P<0.001) than non‐atopic children. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (⩾4 vs. <4 months) was associated with reduced CM‐ and CAS‐specific serum IgA (P<0.001) and IgG levels (P<0.001; P=0.003).
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Allergy was associated with more intense IgA and IgG responses to OVA. Breastfeeding depressed humoral responses, whereas prebiotics and probiotics supplementation showed no immunomodulatory effect. The effect of probiotics on allergies is not mediated through food‐specific antibody responses. Furthermore, OVA‐specific IgA and IgG antibodies may help in assessing the risk for atopy. [Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00298337]
Cite this as: A. K. Kukkonen, E. M. Savilahti, T. Haahtela, E. Savilahti and M. Kuitunen, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1414–1421.
The role of genetics and environment in the rise of childhood food allergy
Authors: Tan T. H.‐T. , Ellis J. A. , Saffery R. , Allen K. J. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryFood allergy is a growing clinical and public health problem world‐wide. The rising incidence is occurring more rapidly than changes to the genome sequence would allow, but it is yet to be determined whether environmental factors might act in interaction with genetic risk. That is to say, are environmental factors more likely to affect those genetically at risk? Family history is a strong risk factor for the development of food allergy as it co‐aggregates with other atopic diseases and as such genetic factors do play an important role in food allergy risk. However, significant interest has now turned to the role of epigenetic modifications of the genome as the major mediator of gene–environment interaction. The consideration of the role of epigenetics in food allergy is likely to provide an insight into aetiological and biological disease mechanisms. This paper discusses the current state of knowledge regarding genetic and environmental risk factors for food allergy, and considers the potential for furthering our understanding of food allergy aetiology by examining the role of epigenetic variation.
Cite this as: T. H.‐T. Tan, J. A. Ellis, R. Saffery and K. J. Allen, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2012 (42) 20–29.
Multispecies comparison reveals that invasive and native plants differ in their traits but not in their plasticity
Authors: Godoy Oscar , Valladares Fernando , Castro‐Díez Pilar 
Published: July 2011

Summary1. Plastic responses to spatiotemporal environmental variation strongly influence species distribution, with widespread species expected to have high phenotypic plasticity. Theoretically, high phenotypic plasticity has been linked to plant invasiveness because it facilitates colonization and rapid spreading over large and environmentally heterogeneous new areas.2. To determine the importance of phenotypic plasticity for plant invasiveness, we compare well‐known exotic invasive species with widespread native congeners. First, we characterized the phenotype of 20 invasive–native ecologically and phylogenetically related pairs from the Mediterranean region by measuring 20 different traits involved in resource acquisition, plant competition ability and stress tolerance. Second, we estimated their plasticity across nutrient and light gradients.3. On average, invasive species had greater capacity for carbon gain and enhanced performance over a range of limiting to saturating resource availabilities than natives. However, both groups responded to environmental variations with high albeit similar levels of trait plasticity. Therefore, contrary to the theory, the extent of phenotypic plasticity was not significantly higher for invasive plants.4. We argue that the combination of studying mean values of a trait with its plasticity can render insightful conclusions on functional comparisons of species such as those exploring the performance of species coexisting in heterogeneous and changing environments.
Evolution of eggshell structure during rapid range expansion in a passerine bird
Authors: Stein Laura R. , Badyaev Alexander V. 
Published: July 2011

Summary1. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and partial oxygen pressure can affect avian eggshell structure because gas exchange across the shell must allow sufficient water loss while preventing dehydration of the embryo. Studies of species with known chronology of colonization of novel environments provide a powerful insight into the relative importance of ecological factors shaping the evolution of eggshell structure.2. Here, we examined changes in eggshell structure that accompanied rapid range expansion of house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) across North America. We analysed thickness and pore density in eggshells from three ecologically distinct populations: the native desert population in southwestern Arizona and two 30‐year‐old populations in the northwestern (north‐west Montana) and southeastern (south‐east Alabama) parts of the species’ range. We also conducted cross‐foster exchanges of freshly laid eggs within and between the northwestern and southeastern populations to examine consequences of population differences in eggshell structure on embryo development.3. Eggshell structure was most distinct in a recently established population inhabiting higher humidity environment (southeastern Alabama), where eggs were the largest, eggshells the thickest and pore density the lowest. Populations that experienced highly distinct ambient temperatures (southwestern Arizona and northwestern Montana) nevertheless had similar eggshell structure. These results were corroborated by experiments where humidity differences between cross‐fostered nests had twice the effect on embryo survival compared to the effect of change in ambient temperature. Correspondingly, experimental egg exchanges between southeastern. Alabama and northwestern Montana populations were associated with fourfold increase in embryo mortality compared to within‐population egg exchanges.4. We document rapid evolution of eggshell structure in response to colonization of novel environments and establish the relative importance of environmental factors on avian eggshells. We discuss these results in relation to population variation in incubation behaviour and its ability to shield eggshell structure from the selection exerted by novel environments.
Contribution of irrigation and cultivars to volatile profile and sensory attributes of selected virgin olive oils produced in Tunisia
Authors: Dabbou Samia , Brahmi Faten , Selvaggini Roberto , Chehab Hechmi , Dabbou Sihem , Taticchi Agnese , Servili Maurizio , Hammami Mohamed 
Published: July 2011

SummaryNowadays, a significant increase in intensively and irrigated managed olive orchards has occurred in Tunisia in the hope to increase the olive production. Aromatic profile with sensory analysis were considered in virgin olive oils from Arbequina, Coratina and Koroneiki cultivars grown intensively under three irrigation treatments (T1, T2 and T3 equivalent to 50%, 75% and 100% ETc.). Results showed that the aromatic quality depends first on the irrigation level applied and second on the cultivar. From sensory analysis, hay‐like and greasy were the principal off‐flavour detected. As the amount of supplied water increased, volatiles showed different behaviours depending on cultivar and the most important changes occurred in the release of the three alcohols ((E)‐2‐penten‐1‐ol, 1‐hexanol, (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol and phenylethyl alcohol) and hexanal. The most effective by irrigation regimes in separating cultivars were (E)‐2‐hexenal, (Z)‐2‐penten‐1‐ol, (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol, fruity, bitter and pungent sensory descriptors. In conclusion, the data obtained herein proved the heavy influence of the cultivar in comparison with irrigation regimes.
Caries increment over 2 years in preschool children: a life course approach
Authors: WONG M.C.M. , LU H.X. , LO E.C.M. 
Published: July 2011

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 77–84Background.  Longitudinal study to investigate how the dental caries in primary teeth progress with increasing age is still lacking.Aims.  To describe the development of new caries over 2 years and to identify risk factors that can predict new caries development.Design.  A random sample of preschool children aged 3–4 years was surveyed and followed up when they reached 5–6 years of age in Hong Kong. Dental caries status was assessed using the dmft index. Negative binomial regression was performed to investigate the factors collected at baseline that could predict the caries increment over 2 years.Results.  Totally 358 children attended both examinations. The mean caries increment over 2 years was 0.9. Results of the negative binomial regression showed that children who used nursing bottles during sleep when they were young (P = 0.013), whose toothbrushing began after 12 months (P = 0.005), who took snack once or more daily (P < 0.001), and whose parents had 9 or fewer years of education attainment (P = 0.002) had significantly higher caries increment.Conclusions.  New caries development of Hong Kong preschool children was low. Children’s feeding, snaking and brushing habits, and parents’ education attainment were the significant predictors for new caries development of preschool children.
Small‐scale fisheries of Peru: a major sink for marine turtles in the Pacific
Authors: Alfaro‐Shigueto Joanna , Mangel Jeffrey C. , Bernedo Francisco , Dutton Peter H. , Seminoff Jeffrey A. , Godley Brendan J. 
Published: July 2011

Summary1. Over the last few decades, evidence of marine vertebrate bycatch has been collected for a range of industrial fisheries. It has recently been acknowledged that large impacts may also result from similar interactions with small‐scale fisheries (SSF) due largely to their diffuse effort and large number of vessels in operation. Marine mammals, seabirds, turtles as well as some shark species have been reported as being impacted by SSF worldwide.2. From 2000 to 2007, we used both shore‐based and onboard observer programmes from three SSF ports in Peru to assess the impact on marine turtles of small‐scale longline, bottom set nets and driftnet fisheries.3. We reported a total of 807 sea turtles captured, 91·8% of which were released alive. For these three sites alone, we estimated c. 5900 turtles captured annually (3200 loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, 2400 green turtles Chelonia mydas, 240 olive ridleys Lepidochelys olivacea and 70 leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea).4. SSF in Peru are widespread and numerous (>100 ports, >9500 vessels, >37 000 fishers), and our observed effort constituted c. 1% of longline and net deployments. We suggest that the number of turtles captured per year is likely to be in the tens of thousands. Thus, the impacts of Peruvian SSF have the potential to severely impact sea turtles in the Pacific especially green, loggerhead and leatherback turtles.5. Implications of the human use of turtle products as ‘marine bushmeat’ are also raised as an important issue. Although such utilization is illegal, it is difficult to foresee how it can be managed without addressing the constraints to the livelihoods of those depending almost entirely on coastal resources.6. Syntheses and applications. Our analysis demonstrates that, despite logistical challenges, it is feasible to estimate the bycatch per unit of effort in SSF by combining methods that account for fishing effort and bycatch, such as using onboard and shore‐based observers. We highlight sea turtle bycatch in SSF in the southeast Pacific as a major conservation concern but also suggest possible paths for mitigation.
Long‐term trends in carnivore abundance using distance sampling in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Authors: Durant Sarah M. , Craft Meggan E. , Hilborn Ray , Bashir Sultana , Hando Justin , Thomas Len 
Published: July 2011

Summary1. Carnivores can have critical impacts on ecosystems, provide economic value through tourism and are often important flagships. However, their biological traits (e.g. low density, cryptic colouration and behaviour) make them difficult to monitor and hence wildlife managers rarely have access to reliable information on population trends, and long‐term information at the community level is almost completely lacking.2. We use data from transect counts in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania to examine trends in abundance for seven co‐existing carnivore species. Distance‐based transect counts between 2002 and 2005 are compared with adjusted data from fixed‐width transect counts across the same area in 1977 and 1986.3. Distance‐based methods provided density indices for the seven most commonly seen carnivores: lionPanthera leo,spotted hyaenaCrocuta crocuta,golden jackalCanis aureus,black‐backed jackalCanis mesomelas,cheetahAcinonyx jubatus,side‐striped jackalCanis audustisand bat‐eared foxOtocyon megalotis. Detection curves were used to correct estimates from earlier fixed‐width transect counts.4. Trend analyses detected significant declines in densities of golden and black‐backed jackal and bat‐eared fox, but found no significant changes in spotted hyaena, lion, cheetah and side‐striped jackal.5. Overall, despite wide confidence intervals, we show that distance‐based data can be used effectively to detect long‐term trends and provide critical information for conservation managers. Power analysis demonstrated that for the most frequently seen species, spotted hyaena, golden jackal and lion, abrupt declines of up to 20% may be detectable through long‐term monitoring; however, for the remaining species, declines of 50% may only be detected half the time.6. Synthesis and applications.Distance methods provide a tool for rapid counts and monitoring of several species of carnivores simultaneously in suitable habitats and can be combined with historical fixed‐width transect counts to test for changes in density. The method can provide key information to managers on long‐term population trends and sudden abrupt changes in population size across a carnivore community.