The Mitochondrial Genome of Toxocara canis

Toxocara canis (Ascaridida: Nematoda), which parasitizes (at the adult stage) the small intestine of canids, can be transmitted to a range of other mammals, including humans, and can cause the disease toxocariasis. Despite its significance as a pathogen, the genetics, epidemiology and biology of this parasite remain poorly understood. In addition, the zoonotic potential of related species of Toxocara, such as T. cati and T. malaysiensis, is not well known. Mitochondrial DNA is known to provide genetic markers for investigations in these areas, but complete mitochondrial genomic data have been lacking for T. canis and its congeners. In the present study, the mitochondrial genome of T. canis was amplified by long-range polymerase chain reaction (long PCR) and sequenced using a primer-walking strategy. This circular mitochondrial genome was 14162 bp and contained 12 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes consistent for secernentean nematodes, including Ascaris suum and Anisakis simplex (Ascaridida). The mitochondrial genome of T. canis provides genetic markers for studies into the systematics, population genetics and epidemiology of this zoonotic parasite and its congeners. Such markers can now be used in prospecting for cryptic species and for exploring host specificity and zoonotic potential, thus underpinning the prevention and control of toxocariasis in humans and other hosts

Inoculant rhizobia suppressed root-knot disease, and enhanced plant productivity and nutrient uptake of some field-grown food legumes

The potential effect of rhizobial inoculation on root knot nematodes in chickpea, mungbean and pigeonpea were studied under field condition. The seed treatment with respective rhizobium strains increased the nodulation, leghemoglobin content, bacteriod population, plant growth, yield and nitrogen uptake of three three food legumes compared to the plants without the rhizobium treatment. The nematode (1500 juveniles/kg soil) incited oval galls on the roots of the three legumes, and suppressed plant growth and yield. The galling, egg mass production and soil population of the nematode was greater on the plants without the rhizobium treatment. The pure culture and culture filtrate of the rhizobium strains suppressed the egg hatching and induced mortality to the juveniles of M. incognita over control. The nematode infection reduced the nodulation, bacteroid population and leghemoglobin contents of the nodules and NPK uptake by the plants. Hence, the rhizobia treatment shall be integrated to common agronomic practice of food legume cultivation so as to enhance crop productivity and to protect roots from nematode attack

Seleção para resistência de genótipos de cenoura aos nematóides-das-galhas Selection for carrot genotypes resistance to root-knot nematodes in field and greenhouse

Foi verificada a relação entre caracteres avaliados em campo e casa-de-vegetação, relativos à avaliação de genótipos de cenoura quanto à resistência ao nematóide-das-galhas (Meloidogyne spp.), visando identificar quais caracteres possibilitam a diferenciação entre os genótipos e verificar a possibilidade de avaliação apenas em um ambiente ou a eliminação de caracteres que apresentem correlação alta. Avaliaram-se 38 progênies da população '0812518' e 31 progênies da população '0812519', além das cultivares Brasília e Kuronan como testemunhas tolerante e suscetível, respectivamente. Em campo naturalmente infestado por uma mistura de Meloidogyne incognita raça 1 e Meloidoigyne javanica, a seleção para resistência ao nematóide-das-galhas foi realizada com base na menor porcentagem de infecção na raiz principal dos genótipos de cenoura, rendimento de raiz e o fator de reprodução, enquanto que em casa-de-vegetação, para cada uma das mesmas espécies de nematóides e também para a mistura de ambas, foi medido o índice de galhas e índice de massa de ovos. Verificou-se que não houve possibilidade de seleção em apenas um dos ambientes testados ou a eliminação de caracteres, indicando que para a obtenção de cultivares mais produtivas e mais tolerantes é necessária a seleção combinada nos diferentes caracteres e ambientes. Para o experimento realizado em campo foi possível diferenciar os genótipos apenas para o rendimento de raiz. No experimento em casa-de-vegetação, para todos os caracteres foi possível identificar genótipos superiores. Porém, as médias das populações não foram melhores que a testemunha 'Brasília' da qual estas se originaram, confirmando a necessidade da busca por métodos mais eficientes de seleção.<br>We verified the relation among the evaluated characters in field and greenhouse, concerning to the evaluation to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) for the carrot crop, to identify for which ones it is possible to differentiate among genotypes and to verify the possibility of evaluation only in one environment or the elimination of characters with high correlation. Thirty eight and thirty one families from the carrot populations '0812518' and '0812519', and the cultivars Brasília and Kuronan as tolerant and susceptible standards, respectively, were evaluated. In a field whose soil was naturally infected by a mix of Meloidogyne incognita race 1 and Meloidogyne javanica, the selection to resistance to root-knot nematode was based on lower percentage of infection in the root, of the major genotypes of carrot production in t/ha and reproduction factor; and in greenhouse, to each one of the same nematode species and too for a mix of both, was evaluated the index of gall and index of egg mass. There is no possibility of selection in only one condition or the elimination of some characters, indicating that, to obtain more yielding and more tolerant cultivars, the combined selection in the various characters and environments are necessary. In the field experiment, it was only possible to differentiate the genotypes for root yield. In the greenhouse, it was possible to identify superior genotypes for all characters tested. However, the average population was not better than the 'Brasilia' standard that originated these populations. This result confirms the necessity to search for more efficient methods of selection