Performance of Amblyseius herbicolus on broad mites and on castor bean and sunnhemp pollen

Amblyseius herbicolus (Banks) is found associated with broad mites Polyphagotarsonemus latus in crops such as chili pepper in Brazil. The species has a potential for controlling P. latus, but little is known about its development and reproduction on this pest as well as on other food sources. We studied biological, reproductive and life table parameters of A. herbicolus on three different diets: broad mites, castor bean pollen (Ricinus communis) and sunnhemp pollen (Crotalaria juncea). The predator was able to develop and reproduce on all diets. However, its intrinsic growth rate was higher on the diet of broad mites or on castor bean pollen than on sunnhemp pollen. Differences among pollen species may be due to their nutritional content. Feeding on alternative food such as pollen can facilitate the predator’s mass rearing and maintain its population on crops when prey is absent or scarce. Other strategies of using pollen to sustain predator population and reduce pest damage are discussed.     

Características antropométricas,funcionales y de fuerza explosiva de mujeres mayores de 50 años físicamente activas de la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia

Objective

To analyze the relationship between different test measuring explosive strength and functionality of active women participating in a leisure sport program in order to describe the caracteristics of health status and look for tools for diagnosing and monitoring degenerative process.

Methods

This study was conducted on 102 women physically active and without risk factors. Anthropometric, functional independence and explosive strength tests were applied.

Results

Mean age 60.08±5.35 years; body mass index: 26.81±3.91; percentage of fat: 52.45±4.75; percentage of muscle mass: 37.24±6.77; tests of functional independence: maximum speed (30 meters): 9.39±1.92 s; speed-agility (30 meters): 12.93±1.59 s, and dynamic balance (6 meters): 21.9±8.01 s. Explosive Strength (Bosco test): Squat Jump: 12.23±3.05 cm, Countermovement Jump: 13.18±3.04 cm and Countermovement Jump Arm swing: 14.80±4.01 cm.

Conclusion

The statistical relationships found between body composition, explosive strength and functionality tests, are important tools for diagnosing and monitoring, and could improve the intervention models on the elderly.     

Comparison of direct and indirect embryogenesis protocols, biolistic gene transfer and selection parameters for efficient genetic transformation of sugarcane

The comparison of direct and indirect somatic embryogenesis (DSE and ISE) for biolistic transformation of sugarcane by minimal expression cassettes indicated the highest transformation efficiency with ISE (2.2 independent transgenic plants per shot) and the most rapid production of transgenic plants with DSE (12?weeks from explant to plants in soil). Microprojectiles of 0.3???m diameter produced 5 times more transgenic lines than 1???m microprojectiles when used at the same weight basis per shot. A significant reduction of the number of hybridization signals in the Southern blot was also observed with 0.3???m microprojectiles when compared to 1.0???m microprojectiles. This suggests that the lower DNA carrying capacity and greater number of the smaller microprojectiles contributes to more transgenic lines with less complex transgene integration. When geneticin sulfate, was used for selection following DSE, significantly more (4.8 times) transgenic plants were produced than with paromomycin sulfate and an equal number of non-expressing plants were produced with both selection agents. In conclusion, optimization of two alternative morphogenic routes for regeneration (DSE and ISE), biolistic and selection parameters generated rooted, transgenic plants of a commercially important sugarcane cultivar with simple transgene integration and within 12 or 19?weeks of culture initiation, respectively. Reducing the complexity of the transgene integration and minimizing the time in tissue culture will likely enhance the performance of the transgenic events.     

Alkamide production from hairy root cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinacea</Emphasis>

Hairy root cultures of Echinacea, one of the most important medicinal plants in the US, represent a valuable alternative to field cultivation for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. In this study, the three most economically important species of Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia) were readily transformed with two strains of Agrobacterium that produce the hairy root phenotype. Transformed roots of all three species exhibited consistent accelerated growth and increased levels of alkamide production. Optimization of the culture of Echinacea hairy roots was implemented to enhance both growth and alkamide production concomitantly. The use of half-strength Gamborg’s B5 medium supplemented with 3.0% sucrose was twice as effective in maintaining hairy root production than any other media tested. The addition of indolebutyric acid increased the growth rate of roots by as much as 14-fold. Alkamide production increased severalfold in response to the addition of the elicitor, jasmonic acid, but did not respond to the addition of indolebutyric acid. Induced accumulation of the important bioactive compounds, alkamides 2 and 8, was observed both in transformed roots and in response to jasmonic acid treatments. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of hairy root cultures of Echinacea for the in vitro production of alkamides and establish guidelines for optimum yield.     

Confirmation of Anopheles (Anopheles) calderoni Wilkerson, 1991 (Diptera: Culicidae) in Colombia and Ecuador through molecular and morphological correlation with topotypic material

The morphologically similar taxa Anopheles calderoni, Anopheles punctimacula, Anopheles malefactor and Anopheles guarao are commonly misidentified. Isofamilies collected in Valle de Cauca, Colombia, showed morphological characters most similar to An. calderoni, a species which has never previously been reported in Colombia. Although discontinuity of the postsubcostal pale spots on the costa (C) and first radial (R1) wing veins is purportedly diagnostic for An. calderoni, the degree of overlap of the distal postsubcostal spot on C and R1 were variable in Colombian specimens (0.003-0.024). In addition, in 98.2% of larvae, seta 1-X was located off the saddle and seta 3-C had 4-7 branches in 86.7% of specimens examined. Correlation of DNA sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer and mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) barcodes (658 bp of the COI gene) generated from Colombian progeny material and wild-caught mosquitoes from Ecuador with those from the Peruvian type series of An. calderoni confirmed new country records. DNA barcodes generated for the closely related taxa, An. malefactor and An. punctimacula are also presented for the first time. Examination of museum specimens at the University of the Valle, Colombia, revealed the presence of An. calderoni in inland localities across Colombia and at elevations up to 1113 m.     

Egg morphology as an indirect method to identify Anopheles benarrochi, Anopheles oswaldoi and Anopheles rangeli (Diptera: Culicidae)

In the Department of Putumayo in southern Colombia, malaria transmission has continued in the absence of the 4 traditional Latin American vector species--Anopheles darlingi, Anopheles nuneztovari, Anopheles albimanus or Anopheles trinkae. Human bait collections yielded Anopheles mosquitoes and a morphological variant of Anopheles benarrochi, the adult females of which can easily be misidentified as Anopheles oswaldoi. Species identification of females of Anopheles in the subgenus Nyssorhynchus is generally difficult due to overlapping morphological characters; therefore, progeny of field collected females were link-reared to assess species identity. Herein a robust method is presented to identify the species Anopheles benarrochi, Anopheles oswaldoi and Anopheles rangeli from southern Colombia, using the morphology of the eggs induced from wild-caught females. Eggs of A. rangeli and A. benarrochi were differentiated on the basis of the anterior crown. In A. rangeli, this feature is positioned apically with high walls. In A. benarrochi, anterior crown is positioned more ventrally with comparatively shorter walls. No crown is present in A. oswaldoi. These differences are clear with the aid of a dissecting microscope and make accurate species determination possible even in field conditions. Egg morphology is shown to be an accurate, albeit indirect, method for the taxonomic determination for the three southern Colombian species and may also be useful in other regions of Latin America where the morphological variant of A. benarrochi is sympatric with A. oswaldoi.     

Presence of American cutaneous Leishmaniasis vectors surrounding the city of Medellín,Colombia

The presence of Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) hartmanni, as a vector of Leishmania colombiensis and L. columbiana (Verrucarum group), recently incriminated in the transmission of leishmaniasis, and L. pia (Verrucarum group) are reported for the first time in a periurban area of Medellín city. There is thus a risk of leishmaniasis transmission in this town.     

The Androctonus australis garzoni scorpion venom contains toxins that selectively affect voltage-dependent K+-channels in cerebellum granular cells

A purified peptide from Androctonus australis Garzoni venom (AaG) affects selectively a K⁺-current recorded from cerebellum granular cells. This current is characterized by fast activating and inactivating kinetics similar to an I_A-type current. Addition of 2 μm peptide Aa1 (from Androctonus australis, toxin 1) to the external side of the channel suppressed completely and in a selective manner the I_A-type current, with an IC50 value of 130 nm, whereas in the same conditions, the other potassium current, identified as delayed rectifier (I_d), was not affected. Additionally, we show that another partially purified peptide (III-12) from the same venom was able to block reversibly both K⁺-currents. Received: 10 February 1997 / Accepted: 7 August 1997