Microbial population dynamics on Golden Delicious apples from bud to harvest and effect of fungicide applications

The microbial population dynamics on apples cv. Golden Delicious were analysed every 15 days between bud and harvest in a fully replicated experiment in northern Spain in 1994 and 1995. The total microbial populations varied with developmental stage, and with prevailing climatic conditions. The predominant mycroflora were the filamentous fungi Cladosporium and Alternaria spp. and white and pink yeasts. Other genera isolated included mainly species of Epicoccum, Fusarium and Acremonium. However, the most important post-harvest pathogens Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea were seldom isolated from ripening apples. Maximum total filamentous fungal populations occurred after fruit set and during early ripening [2 × 10⁴cfu (colony-forming units) g^-1 approximately] while those of bacteria were maximum at bud stage (3.5 × 10⁵and 3.0 × 10⁴ cfu g^-1 in 1994 and 1995 respectively). White yeasts were more numerous than pink yeasts. Endophytic infection of apple buds by Alternaria spp., responsible for core rot, was found in almost all bud tissue. By contrast, Cladosporium spp. were initially isolated later from 12.5–50% of tissue samples during blooming and fruit set. The impact of a four-spray fungicide regime during apple development significantly decreased the total filamentous fungal populations in both years, and that of Cladosporium spp. in 1994. However, bacterial populations were often higher on apples from fungicide-treated plots. Fungicide sprays decreased populations of Cladosporium, Alternaria and white yeasts for a maximum of up to 15–30 days after application. Fungicide application had little effect on endophytic infection of apples by Alternaria spp. between bud and harvest.     

Localization of the insulin-like growth factor system in a rat model of heart failure induced by myocardial infarction.

Although cardiac effects of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I have been reported in experimental models of heart failure and in human dilated cardiomyopathy, the IGF system has not been comprehensively assessed in the failing heart. We therefore localized the IGF system in the left ventricle during congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI) in the rat. The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats and hearts were examined after 6 months when congestive heart failure had developed. In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to localize mRNA for the components of the IGF system in the left ventricle of sham and congestive heart failure animals. We were able to detect changes in the spatial distribution of mRNA for IGF-I and IGF binding proteins 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the left ventricle during congestive heart failure after MI. IGF-I and the binding proteins were predominantly increased in the infarct/peri-infarct area of the left ventricle. Other components of the IGF system were indistinguishable from the low to undetectable levels in sham-operated rats. These results demonstrate that the IGF system is altered in the failing heart and suggest that the IGF system plays an important role in the response of the heart to MI and consequent failure.     

Connective tissue growth factor and cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction.

The temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was assessed in the left ventricle of a myocardial infarction (MI) model of injury with and without angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Coronary artery ligated rats were killed 1, 3, 7, 28, and 180 days after MI. TGF-beta(1), CTGF, and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA were localized by in situ hybridization, and TGF-beta(1) and CTGF protein levels by immunohistochemistry. Collagen protein was measured using picrosirius red staining. In a separate group, rats were treated for 6 months with an ACE inhibitor. There were temporal and regional differences in the expression of TGF-beta(1), CTGF, and collagen after MI. Procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression increased in the border zone and scar peaking 1 week after MI, whereas collagen protein increased in all areas of the heart over the 180 days. Expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein showed major increases in the border zone and scar peaking 1 week after MI. The major increases in CTGF mRNA and protein occurred in the viable myocardium at 180 days after MI. Long-term ACE inhibition reduced left ventricular mass and decreased fibrosis in the viable myocardium, but had no effect on cardiac TGF-beta(1) or CTGF. TGF-beta(1) is involved in the initial, acute phase of inflammation and repair after MI, whereas CTGF is involved in the ongoing fibrosis of the heart. The antifibrotic benefits of captopril are not mediated through a reduction in CTGF.     

Changes in the composition of British butterfly assemblages over two decades

Changes in the abundance and distribution of individual species have been widely documented in Britain and other countries in recent decades, but little has been done to determine changes in community composition over broad geographic areas. Here, we studied species turnover in 51 butterfly assemblages in Britain since 1976, examining extinction and colonisation events together with variation in the abundances of the species. We showed that the species turnover that occurred over 20 years in Britain was associated with colonisation and extinction events and also with variability in the abundance of the species. These changes in community composition differed according to the habitat requirements of the species and their previous distributions, being more evident for habitat specialists and for southerly distributed species. Colonising species often became abundant components of the communities they joined, although this was more evident for generalist than for specialist species. The abundance of species following their arrival, increased with time since colonisation. Species turnover associated with southerly species expanding northwards is consistent with being a response to climate change. The results suggest that climate- and habitat-driven changes in the identity and abundance of species within communities are widespread, and probably ubiquitous. Similar changes are likely to be occurring in other groups of organisms that are similarly undertaking major range shifts associated with climate change.     

Panmixia postponed: ancestry-related assortative mating in contemporary human populations

A study of two different populations reveals that in both the choice of a spouse is non-random not only in respect of broad ethnic group but also in regard to specific ancestries within that group. The cause of this surprising bias remains unclear.     

Sex and rank in competitive brood hierarchies influence stress levels in nestlings of a sexually dimorphic bird

Studies of sibling competition within brood hierarchies have rarely assessed simultaneously the effects of sex and rank in the brood hierarchy on traits other than offspring mortality and differential growth. We studied the expression of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) to assess the physiological stress response to different combinations of sex and position within competitive brood hierarchies in the black kite Milvus migrans (Bodd.), a sexually dimorphic raptor showing facultative siblicide. Senior males showed higher stress levels than did senior females and younger siblings of each sex as revealed by Hsp60 values. The analysis of Hsp70 levels indicated that nestlings from broods in which the senior chick was a male showed higher stress levels than did nestlings from broods in which the senior chick was a female. In addition, levels of Hsp60 were related negatively to nutritional condition expressed as levels of plasmatic albumin. This suggests that the sex of senior chicks may be key in determining their stress level and that of their siblings, which is probably associated with sibling competition by fighting within brood hierarchies. The comparatively higher stress levels of senior males (and their siblings) may be a consequence of their ability to exploit their potential advantage from being the head start while avoiding a possible competitive disadvantage from being the smaller sex, independent of environmental conditions determining the probability of brood reduction. Differential stress levels depending on sex and rank in the brood hierarchy may be a consequence of parental control of offspring behaviour through differential resource allocation (e.g. yolk androgens) or it may reflect adaptations of particular chicks (senior males) to enhance their competitive ability within brood hierarchies.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 88 , 383–390.