First identification of porcine parvovirus 6 in Poland

Porcine parvovirus type 1 is a major causative agent of swine reproductive failure. During the past decade, several new parvoviruses have been discovered in pigs. Porcine parvovirus type 6 (PPV6), recently identified, has been reported in pigs in China and in the USA while the PPV6 status in the European pig population remains undetermined. In the present study, PPV6 DNA was identified in serum samples collected from domestic pigs in Poland. In investigated herds, the prevalence of PPV6 was 14.9 % (15/101 samples). Sequencing was conducted, and 11 nearly complete PPV6 genomes were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PPV6 sequences cluster into four distinct groups, and the Polish PPV6 strains from three individual farms were present in three of these four groups. In addition, the Polish PPV6 strain P15-1 was identified as a putative recombination of an ORF1 from US stains and an ORF2 from Chinese strains. This is the first identification of PPV6 in Europe, and this finding will encourage future epidemiological studies on parvoviruses in European pigs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11262-016-1386-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Anti-tumor effect of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of pigment epithelium-derived factor on mouse B16-F10 melanoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth, invasion, and eventually metastasis. Antiangiogenic strategies have been proven to be a promising approach for clinical therapy for a variety of tumors. As a potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has recently been studied and used as an anticancer agent in several tumor models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A recombined adenovirus carrying PEDF gene (Ad-PEDF) was prepared, and its expression by infected cells and in treated animals was confirmed with Western blotting and ELISA, respectively. Its activity for inhibiting human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation was tested using the MTT assay. C57BL/6 mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma were treated with i.v. administration of 5 × 10⁸IU/mouse Ad-PEDF, or 5 × 10⁸IU/mouse Ad-Null, or normal saline (NS), every 3 days for a total of 4 times. Tumor volume and survival time were recorded. TUNEL, CD31 and H&E stainings of tumor tissue were conducted to examine apoptosis, microvessel density and histological morphology changes. Antiangiogenesis was determined by the alginate-encapsulated tumor cell assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The recombinant PEDF adenovirus is able to transfer the PEDF gene to infected cells and successfully produce secretory PEDF protein, which exhibits potent inhibitory effects on HUVEC proliferation. Through inhibiting angiogenesis, reducing MVD and increasing apoptosis, Ad-PEDF treatment reduced tumor volume and prolonged survival times of mouse bearing B16-F10 melanoma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data indicate that Ad-PEDF may provide an effective approach to inhibit mouse B16-F10 melanoma growth.</p

Row spacing and pruning regimes on organically grown cherry tomato Espaçamento e sistema de condução de tomate cereja em cultivo orgânico

The effects of branch number and plant densities on organically grown cherry tomato yield and fruit quality were studied. Labor costs for pruning were also assessed. The essay was conducted at the experimental fields of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 2004 to January 2005. A factorial design was used combining three row spacings (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m), two cherry tomato cultivars (hybrid 'Super-Sweet' and a local self pollinated 'Perinha') and three pruning regimes (free growth, one branch per plant and two branches per plant). The row spacing treatment of 0.6 x 1.5 m resulted in lower number of fruits when compared to the 0.4 x 1.5 m treatment, however, producing fruits with higher individual average mass, which resulted in similar final yield. These yields were higher than the 0.8 m treatment. Yield increases due to the higher number of plants per area were mostly due to the increase of fruit number, which compensated for the decrease of fruit size and mass. The 'free growth' treatment yielded similarly to the two branches per plant treatment. The labor costs were lower under 'free growth' due to the absence of pruning. Both cultivars responded similarly to plant population and pruning regimes.<br>Com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito do manejo e da densidade de plantio na produtividade de frutos e no custo com mão de obra em sistema orgânico de produção de tomate cereja, foi realizado um experimento no Departamento de Fitotecnia da UFRRJ, Seropédica-RJ, de setembro de 2004 a janeiro de 2005. Foram avaliados os efeitos da combinação de três sistemas de condução (sem tutoramento e sem limitação do número de hastes por planta; tutoramento com condução de uma haste por planta e, tutoramento com condução de duas hastes por planta), três espaçamentos entre plantas (0,4; 0,6 e 0,8 m) e duas cultivares de tomate cereja (Perinha Água Branca e Super Sweet). O tratamento com espaçamento de 0,6 x 1,5 m apresentou menor número total de frutos comparado ao tratamento de 0,4 x 1,5 m, porém frutos com maior massa média, resultando ao final em produtividade equivalente à do tratamento com menor espaçamento. A produtividade destes dois espaçamentos foi significativamente maior do que a do tratamento 0,8 x 1,5 m. O aumento de produtividade com o aumento da população de plantas deveu-se, principalmente, ao aumento do número total de frutos, tendo compensado a redução do tamanho e massa média dos mesmos, sem afetar a sua qualidade no que diz respeito à sua classificação quanto ao calibre. O sistema rasteiro apresentou produtividade de frutos comerciais igual à do tratamento onde as plantas foram conduzidas sob tutoramento mantendo-se duas hastes por planta e menor custo de produção devido à não realização das desbrotas e tutoramento. As duas cultivares, em geral, responderam de forma similar às variações de espaçamento e forma de condução

Produtividade de híbridos de tomate submetidos ao cultivo superadensado Yield of tomato hybrids subjected to a super density cropping

Os tomaticultores da região de Caçador-SC necessitam de resultados experimentais do cultivo superadensado, com os híbridos cultivados nas condições edafoclimáticas da região, para que possam decidir sobre a adoção deste sistema. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o cultivo superadensado de tomate com híbridos utilizados em Caçador. Dois experimentos foram realizados na Epagri em Caçador, durante as safras 2007/2008 e 2008/2009. Os tratamentos, na safra 2007/2008, consistiram na combinação de dois híbridos (Miramar e T92), dois métodos de tutoramento (vertical e em "V") e dois métodos de condução de plantas (uma haste por planta no espaçamento de 0,15 m entre plantas e duas hastes por planta no espaçamento de 0,3 m entre plantas). Na safra 2008/2009, os tratamentos consistiram na combinação de dois híbridos (Paron e Plutão) e dois métodos de condução de plantas superadensado (uma haste por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,15 m e duas hastes por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,3 m). Foi incluído ainda o método de condução e densidade de plantas tradicional (duas hastes por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,6 m). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos completos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, no esquema de parcelas sub-subdivididas, na safra 2007/2008, e de parcelas subdivididas, na safra 2008/2009. Os tratamentos possuíam 44.444 hastes/ha, com exceção dos tratamentos com condução tradicional de plantas (22.222 hastes/ha). Foram analisados a produtividade total, comercial e descarte, massa média de frutos comerciais, frutos comerciais (%) e descarte (%) em relação ao número total de frutos e severidade de doenças foliares. Os híbridos testados não interferem nas respostas agronômicas ao adensamento de plantas. O sistema superadensado de tomate proporcionou aumento, em média, de 73,2% na produtividade comercial de frutos, em relação à densidade tradicional de plantas. A produtividade comercial de frutos no tomateiro superadensado tutorado em "V" foi 19,2% maior que o tomateiro superadensado tutorado verticalmente. A condução de uma haste por planta aumentou 10,4% a produtividade comercial de frutos em relação à condução de duas hastes por planta no tomateiro superadensado. O tomateiro superadensado proporcionou aumento da severidade foliar de pinta-preta, em relação à densidade tradicional de plantas.<br>Farmers of Caçador, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, need experimental results of tomato super density cropping system, since the ecological conditions of this region permit them decide to adopt this system or not. The aim of this work was to evaluate the tomato super density cropping system with hybrids used in Caçador. Two experiments were carried out at Epagri, Experimental Station of Caçador, during the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 harvest period. The treatments in 2007/2008 were the combination of two hybrids (Miramar and T92), two methods of staking (in vertical and "V") and two methods of training plants (one stem per plant in the spacing of 0.15 m between plants and two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.3 m between plants). In 2008/2009, the treatments were the combination of two hybrids (Paron and Plutão) and two super density methods of training plants (one stem per plant in the spacing of 0.15 m between plants and two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.3 m between plants) plus the traditional density and method of training plants (two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.6 m between plants). The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with four replications in a split-split-plot, in 2007/2008, and a split-plot in the 2008/2009 season. All treatments had 44,444 stems/ha, except for the treatments with traditional methods of training plants (22,222 stems/ha). The variables analyzed were total, marketable and unmarketable yield, average mass of fruits, marketable and unmarketable percentage of fruits in relation to the total number of fruits, and severity of leaf diseases. The tomato hybrids do not interfere in agronomic responses to the super density of plants. The super density of plants increased, on average, 73.2% the marketable yield, in relation to the traditional density of plants. The marketable yield of the super density of plants in the "V" staking was 19.2% higher than the super density of plants in the vertically staking. The plant training with one stem per plant increased 10.4% the marketable yield in relation to the plant training with two stems per plant in the super density of plants. The super density of plants increased the leaf severity of early blight, in relation to the traditional density of plants