Molecular characterization of European and Egyptian isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum,the incitant of onion white rot

Abstract

The tested European and Egyptian isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum were able to infect Giza 6 onion cultivar causing white rot disease with a different degrees of disease severity (ranging from sever to weak). The pattern of esterase isozymes produced by the tested isolates of the pathogen showed two main bands (arrows) which were different in density. Such differences in density of bands were present in every run and therefore appear to be indicators for differences among the tested isolates. Analysis of the protein pattern of the tested isolates of the pathogen indicated that the tested isolates had major proteins of a molecular weight of 52, 36, 23 and 16 kDa. Variation between isolates was detected by presence of bands of low molecular weight. Isolate Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 had a band at 17 kDa, whereas isolate Nos. 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 14, and 15 had a band at 20 kDa. Using RAPD analysis to evaluate the genetic diversity of the tested isolates indicated that the tested field population of the pathogen was genetically heterogeneous but shared a number of common bands with molecular weights ranging from 650 to 2500 bp. Based on the DNA banding pattern the tested isolates can be assigned to seven genetically different groups. All tested isolates produced a band at 2500 bp except isolate No. 7. No correlation was exibited between patterns esterase isozmes, protein and DNA patterns of S. cepivorum isolates and their virulence or geographical origin.     

Biocontrol agents against the leafminer,Liriomyza trifolii in faba bean fields

Effect of entomopathogenic fungi formulations, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, in controlling Liriomyza trifolii (Burg.) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), compared with botanical insecticide, Nimbecidine against L. trifolii was studied. Investigated compounds were applied twice at 15?days interval between sprays. The percentage reduction in larvae population and crop yield was estimated. Results showed that M. anisopliae was the most efficient compound among the other entomopathogenic fungi. Also, there were no significant differences between Nimbecidine and Bio-Magic (M. anisopliae). However, Nimbecidine and Bio-Magic caused 69.9 and 68.9% reduction in live larvae population after two applications. Also, Nimbecidine and Bio-Magic plots achieved 14.7 and 10.0?kg dry weight seeds/100 plants, respectively, compared to 5.7?kg dry weight seeds/100 plants in control plots. Nimbecidine and Bio-Magic were considered promising compounds in controlling L. trifolii and it could be exploitation in the integrated pest management programme of faba bean crop.     

Efficiency of Nimbecidine and certain entomopathogenic fungi formulations against bean aphids,Aphis craccivora in broad bean field

This study investigates the effect of certain entomopathogenic fungi formulations (Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) compared with a botanical insecticide, Nimbecidine against Aphis craccivora in broad bean field. Bio-Catch (Verticillium lecanii) was the most effective insecticide to achieve 73.3% reduction followed by Nimbecidine (67.7%), Bio-Magic (61.6%), Priority (50.3%) and the least effective was Bio- Power (Beauveria bassiana) which caused 45.5% reduction in individual aphid populations after two sprayings at 15 days interval between the first and the second sprayings. Bio-Catch and Nimbecidine had promise compounds in controlling Aphis craccivora in faba bean fields.     

Human C-reactive protein gene polymorphism and metabolic syndrome are associated with premature coronary artery disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphism and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). 116 patients with PCAD (58 with MetS and 58 without MetS) and 119 controls were included in the study. CRP gene + 1059 G>C polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Serum hs-CRP was measured using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Carriers of C allele of the CRP + 1059 G>C polymorphism had 3.37 fold increased risk to develop MetS in patients with PCAD. In addition CRP gene and hs-CRP levels were independent risk factors for PCAD and MetS. The present study provides new evidence that the presence of CRP + 1059 G>C polymorphism and hs-CRP levels are independent determinants of PCAD and MetS in Egyptians. The results of our study suggest a synergistic effect of CRP C allele with classical risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and MetS.     

Microbial maceration and carbonate dissolution on cold‐temperate shelves

Nummulites beaumonti d'Archiac & Haime, 1853, originally described from El Basatin, Gebel Mokattam, Greater Cairo, is redefined from a nummulitic bank at the base of the Maadi Formation from its type locality as neotype. Schaub (1981) described the species from Libya and the type example of this species is still unknown. N. discorbinus Schlotheim (1820) is described as neotype from a nummulitic bank in the Mokattam Formation, which is located in the site of the Citadel tombs, near the Salah El Din Citadel, Gebel Mokattam, Egypt. According to Schaub (1981), the type example of this species is also unknown. For this reason the establishment of the neotypes of these two widespread nummulites species: N. discorbinus (Late Lutetian) and N. beaumonti (Bartonian) is important and tackled in this paper. N. qurnensis n. sp. ( = N. sp. cf. beaumonti in Boukhary et al. 2002) is introduced as a new species from the lower Bartonian part of the Qurn Formation of Helwan. Biometrical studies are carried out on the three species to present up to date information on these Nummulites, with particular attention to their biostratigraphic correlation with the Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ) of Serra-Kiel et al. 1998. The authors would like to stress the importance of a careful designation of a neotype to avoid the introduction of complicated and unnecessary taxonomic problems.     

A Posteriori: Getting to the Bottom of Human Development

This article asserts that the most important physical feature distinguishing man from all other creatures, one which allowed for and contributed to the development of the thumb and the brain, which facilitated and encouraged the development of his imagination, his ability to think abstractly and even to doubt, and made it possible for him to master all other life forms and advance so far in containing and even conquering some forces of nature is his well-developed posterior; superior to that of all other living creatures: while sitting comfortably for long periods freed his hands and vision, it also allowed him to imagine and ponder what was over the horizon.     

The population of Odonata (dragonflies) in small tropical rivers with reference to asynchronous growth patterns

The odonate larval communities in three small rivers in Penang Island were studied. More species of dragonflies were found in the Botanical Garden and Titi Teras rivers (13 and 11 respectively) of relatively similar environmental parameters. Fewer (nine) dragonfly species were collected from the Youth Park River which has a lower dissolved oxygen (DO) and a higher biological oxygen demand (BOD), conductivity and turbidity. A mixture of sand, gravel and pebble substrate of Botanical Garden River with dense growth of submerged Hydrilla, grasses and Cladias (Araceae) provided suitable habitats for the dragonflies. The sandy substrate and relatively fast flowing water of Titi Teras River was highly preferred by gomphids. In the Youth Park River, the small community of dragonfly larvae was dominated by tolerant Pseudagrion rubriceps, P. microcephalum, Orthetrum chrysis and Crocothemis servilia. Based on the larval instar distribution of Ictinogomphus decoratus and O. chrysis, very asynchronous populations of these dragonflies occurred in each river. Young larvae were continuously introduced into the populations resulting in undulating growth rate curves. The growth rates of these two species were higher in the Titi Teras River when compared to those in other rivers. Density-dependent mortality, asynchronous cannibalism and fish predation could play important roles in regulating the larval dragonfly population in these rivers.     

Alteration of Tropomyosin-binding Properties of Tropomodulin-1 Affects Its Capping Ability and Localization in Skeletal Myocytes

Tropomodulin (Tmod) is an actin-capping protein that binds to the two tropomyosins (TM) at the pointed end of the actin filament to prevent further actin polymerization and depolymerization. Therefore, understanding the role of Tmod is very important when studying actin filament dependent processes such as muscle contraction and intracellular transport. The capping ability of Tmod is highly influenced by TM and is 1000-fold greater in the presence of TM. There are four Tmod isoforms (Tmod1–4), three of which, Tmod1, Tmod3, and Tmod4, are expressed in skeletal muscles. The affinity of Tmod1 to skeletal striated TM (stTM) is higher than that of Tmod3 and Tmod4 to stTM. In this study, we tested mutations in the TM-binding sites of Tmod1, using circular dichroism (CD) and prediction analysis (PONDR). The mutations R11K, D12N, and Q144K were chosen because they decreased the affinity of Tmod1 to stTM, making it similar to that of affinity of Tmod3 and Tmod4 to stTM. Significant reduction of inhibition of actin pointed-end polymerization in the presence of stTM was shown for Tmod1 (R11K/D12N/Q144K) as compared with WT Tmod1. When GFP-Tmod1 and mutants were expressed in primary chicken skeletal myocytes, decreased assembly of Tmod1 mutants was revealed. This indicates a direct correlation between TM-binding and the actin-capping abilities of Tmod. Our data confirmed the hypothesis that assembly of Tmod at the pointed-end of the actin filament depends on its TM-binding affinity.     

Comparative study of mycelia growth and sporophore yield of Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc on selected palm oil wastes as fruiting substrate

The potential for using agricultural and industrial by-products as substrate for the production of the edible mushroom, Auricularia polytricha, was evaluated using several formulations of selected palm oil wastes mixed with sawdust and further supplemented with selected nitrogen sources. The best substrate formulations were sawdust (SD) mixed with oil palm frond (OPF; 90:10) added with 15 % spent grain (SG) and sawdust mixed with empty fruit bunch (EFB; 50:50) added with 10 % spent grain (SG) with mycelia growth rate of 8 mm/day and 7 mm/day respectively. These two substrate formulations were then subjected to different moisture content levels (65 %, 75 % and 85 %). Highest total fresh sporophore yield at 0.43 % was obtained on SD?+?OPF (90:10)?+?15 % SG at 85 % moisture content, followed closely by SD?+?EFB (50:50)?+?10 % SG with 0.40 % total yield, also at 85 % moisture content. Each of the substrate formulations at 85 % moisture content gave the highest biological efficiency (BE) at 288.9 % and 260.7 %, respectively. Both yield and biological efficiency of A. polytricha on these two formulations were almost three times higher when compared to sawdust substrate alone, thus proving the potential of these formulations to improve yield of this mushroom.