First report of pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinea in Apulia (Southern Italy)

Since 2005, pitch canker symptoms have been observed in Apulia (southern Italy, 41°27′42.84″N, 15°33′0.36″E) on numerous trees of Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in urban parks and gardens. Trees showed crown decline as a consequence of dieback of twigs and branches and withering of needles. Bleeding cankers with abundant resin were visible on twigs and branches. The needles of affected twigs and branches wilted, faded, turned yellow, then red, and were discarded. Isolations from symptomatic needles, twigs, and branches were performed on water agar, potato dextrose agar (PDA), and pentachloronitrobenzene medium. A species of Fusarium was consistently isolated from all infected tissues, and pure cultures were obtained by single hyphal tip transfers on PDA and synthetic nutrient agar medium (2). Colonies were incubated at 22 ± 3°C for 7 to 10 days. They produced white aerial mycelia, violet pigment, typically 3-septate macroconidia with slightly curved walls, single-celled microconidia, and characteristic sterile hyphal coils. Microconidia were ovoid or allantoid and born in false heads on aerial polyphialides. The species was identified as Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell (= F. subglutinans Wollenweb & Reinking) on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (3). The identification was confirmed by PCR with specific primers CIRC1A/CIRC4A. The specific primer pair amplified a 360-bp DNA fragment of the two nuclear ribosomal IGS region (4). The pathogenicity of three Italian isolates of F. circinatum from Pinus spp. (Fc1640, Fc1642, and Fc1643 stored in the collection of Dipartimento Scienze Agroambientali, Chimica and Difesa Vegetale, University of Foggia) was evaluated by artificial inoculations on 2-year-old potted seedlings of P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. nigra, P. sylvestris, P. domestica, P. pinaster, P. excelsa, P. radiate, and Pseudotsuga menziesii (10 seedlings for each species and fungal isolate). Small PDA plugs from actively growing colonies of F. circinatum were introduced into a U-shaped cut on the stem of the seedlings and wrapped with moist sterile cottonwool. An equal number of control plants of each Pinus spp. was inoculated with sterile agar. All plants were grown in a nursery at ambient temperature (20 to 28°C). Within 30 days after inoculation, resinous cankers appeared on the stem of the seedlings of P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. domestica, P. pinaster, and P. radiata. Basal needles began to wilt, turn yellow, then red, and were discarded. F. circinatum was reisolated from stems of symptomatic seedlings. No symptoms were observed on seedlings of Pseudotsuga menziesii, P. sylvestris, P. excelsa, and P. nigra or on control seedlings. In Europe, pitch canker caused by F. circinatum previously has been reported only in Spain on P. radiata and P. pinaster (1). There was an unconfirmed report of this disease in Italy (http://www.eppo.org), but to our knowledge, this is the first definite conclusive evidence of the presence of pitch canker of pine in Italy

First report of «Cadophora malorum» on «Asparagus officinalis» in Italy

In this note Cadophora malorum infections on asparagus plants cultivated in different localities in the Foggia area (southern Italy) are reported. Pathogenicity tests demostrated that C. malorum showed the capacity to infect healthy plants of asparagus even if this capacity is less pronounced than that of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi and F. proliferatum

X-ray microtomography to study the microstructure of cream cheese-type products.

In this work, the imaging x-ray microtomography technique, new to the field of food science, was used for the analysis of fat microstructure and quantification of the fat present in cream cheese-type products. Five different types of commercially produced cheeses, chosen for their variability of texture, were used for this experiment: sample A, sample B, sample C, sample D, and sample E. Appropriate quantitative 3-dimensional parameters describing the fat structure were calculated (e.g., the geometric parameter percentage of fat volume was calculated for each image as a representation of the percentage of total fat content within the sample). The dynamic-mechanical properties of these samples were also studied using a controlled-strain rotational rheometer. Storage modulus and loss modulus were determined in a frequency range of 0.01 to 10 Hz. The strain value was obtained by preliminary strain sweep oscillatory trials to determine the linear viscoelastic region of the cream cheese-type products. Statistical correlation analysis was performed on the results to help identify any microstructural-mechanical structure relationships. The results from this study show that microtomography is a suitable technique for the microstructural analysis of fat in cream cheese-type products, as it does not only provide an accurate percentage of the volume of the fat present but can also determine its spatial distribution

The fungus Nectria aurantiicola Berk. et Br. (Fusarium larvarum Fuckel) a biocontrol agent of the armored scale Suturaspis archangelskyae (Lindinger) in Apulia (Southern Italy)

Suturaspis archangelskyae [(Lindinger) 1929] (Homoptera, Diaspididae), an armored scale insect collected in Apulia (Italy) on Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb (=almond) and Prunus webbii (Spach) Vierh., is reported to be infected by Fusarium larvarum Fuckel. The cycle of the fungus, as studied on female lineage of S. archangelskyae, shows mycelium in August and September, orange sporodochia from November to March, while mature red perithe- cia of the teleomorph Nectria aurantiicola Berk. et Br. are observed since middle January up to the first half of February. The fungus survives during the hot dry season as mycelium in the dead body of the host. The fungus is able to kill about 50% of the scales and spreads among demes by conidia carried on crawlers. Both varieties, the creamy var. larvarum Fuckel and the carmine-red var. rubrum Gerlach, are found on natural infected scales. The male progeny of S. archangelskyae seems not to be affected by the fungus. Ascospores are observed as well, but their role in pathogenesis remains unknown. Fusarium larvarum seems to be the main “natural” biocontrol agent (sensu Rosen et DeBach, 1990) of S. archangelskyae in Apulia. Key words: semi-arid (mediterranean) habitat, entomopathogens, pathogenic symbiosis, armo- red scale, coccids, Cheyletidae (Acari preying crawlers), biology, Puglia. NECTRIA AURANTIICOLA BERK. ET BR. (FUSARIUM LARVARUM FUCKEL) ANTAGONISTA DI SUTURASPIS ARCHANGEL- SKYAE (LINDINGER) IN PUGLIA (ITALIA MERIDIONALE) Gli autori descrivono la simbiosi fra un fungo entomopatogeno, Fusarium larvarum Fuckel (teleomorfo Nectria aurantiicola Berk. et Br.), ed il diaspino Suturaspis archangelskyae (Lindinger, 1929) su Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb e P. webbii (Spach) Vierh. presso “Castel del Monte” (Andria, BA) ed in numerose località della Puglia. Sono state osservate le modalità di disseminazione del fungo ed il procedere dell’infezione, che culmina con l’uccisione delle cocciniglie prima che queste possano riprodursi. Durante i mesi invernali il fungo produce sporodochi reniformi di colore arancio, ricchi di conidi falciformi, e periteci globoso-piriformi di colore rosso arancio, contenenti le ascospore. Il fungo risulta essere il principale fattore biotico limitante del diaspino del quale uccide le femmine adulte. Esso sembra suscettibile di utilizzo come agente di controllo biologico per inoculazione od incremento, sempre che vengano assicurati a fondo i fattori, ecologici che regolano l’infezione. Aspetto favorevole all’uso di F. larvarum nelle regioni temperate è la sua predilezione per le temperature moderate. Non è stato possibile chiarire il ruolo delle ascospore nella diffusione del fungo. Parole chiave: mandorlo, habitat semi-aridi (mediterranei), coccoidei, Cheyletidae (Acari predatori di neanidi)

Pro Deo et Patria: forward Sons of Italy! "Congedo Giuseppe di Galatina, sacerdote in New York" tra emigrazione e fascismo

EnThe experience of Giuseppe Maria Congedo (1883-1954), a priest from Galatina who arrived in New York in 1905, fits into the context of the massive Italian emigration to the United States in the years 1880-1915. Italians, stigmatized as genetically inferior, are not only despised but also considered dangerous because they are mafia or 'subversive' of the democratic order, as anarchists and socialists. The "red scare" rages against them, the fear of a possible Bolshevik revolution leading to numerous arrests in a climate of strong tension, which also affects the parish of the "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary" of father Congedo, where a bomb. To mistrust and prejudice, Don Congedo opposes his educational mission of Italian children in the parish school to facilitate their insertion into American society. The Fascist regime does not escape the propaganda value of the work of Congedo, which is invited several times to take his students to Italy on a reward trip. Congedo was awarded a gold medal for his merits in the "dissemination of Italian culture". Efficient and pragmatic, he has an attitude towards Mussolini not unlike that of the many Italian-Americans who sympathize with the dictatorship, simply because fascism was able to make patriotic pride a response to national humiliations.ItL'esperienza di Giuseppe Maria Congedo (1883-1954), sacerdote di Galatina approdato a New York nel 1905, si inserisce nel contesto della imponente emigrazione italiana negli Stati Uniti degli anni 1880-1915. Gli Italiani, stigmatizzati come geneticamente inferiori, vengono non solo disprezzati ma considerati anche pericolosi perché mafiosi o 'sovversivi' dell'ordine democratico, in quanto anarchici e socialisti. Contro di loro infuria la "red scare", la paura di una possibile rivoluzione bolscevica conducendo a numerosi arresti in un clima di forte tensione, che tocca anche la parrocchia dei "Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria" di don Giuseppe, dove viene trovata una bomba. Alla diffidenza e al pregiudizio, don Congedo oppone la sua missione educativa dei ragazzi italiani nella scuola parrocchiale per facilitarne l'inserimento nella società americana. Al regime fascista non sfugge il valore propagandistico dell'opera di Congedo che viene invitato più volte a condurre, in viaggio premio, i suoi studenti in Italia. Congedo è insignito di medaglia d'oro per i suoi meriti nella "diffusione della cultura italiana". Efficiente e pragmatico, egli ha verso Mussolini un atteggiamento non dissimile da quello dei tanti italo-americani simpatizzanti della dittatura, semplicemente perché il fascismo seppe fare dell'orgoglio patriottico una risposta alle umiliazioni nazionali

Pro Deo et Patria: forward Sons of Italy! "Congedo Giuseppe di Galatina, sacerdote in New York" tra emigrazione e fascismo

EnThe experience of Giuseppe Maria Congedo (1883-1954), a priest from Galatina who arrived in New York in 1905, fits into the context of the massive Italian emigration to the United States in the years 1880-1915. Italians, stigmatized as genetically inferior, are not only despised but also considered dangerous because they are mafia or 'subversive' of the democratic order, as anarchists and socialists. The "red scare" rages against them, the fear of a possible Bolshevik revolution leading to numerous arrests in a climate of strong tension, which also affects the parish of the "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary" of father Congedo, where a bomb. To mistrust and prejudice, Don Congedo opposes his educational mission of Italian children in the parish school to facilitate their insertion into American society. The Fascist regime does not escape the propaganda value of the work of Congedo, which is invited several times to take his students to Italy on a reward trip. Congedo was awarded a gold medal for his merits in the "dissemination of Italian culture". Efficient and pragmatic, he has an attitude towards Mussolini not unlike that of the many Italian-Americans who sympathize with the dictatorship, simply because fascism was able to make patriotic pride a response to national humiliations.ItL'esperienza di Giuseppe Maria Congedo (1883-1954), sacerdote di Galatina approdato a New York nel 1905, si inserisce nel contesto della imponente emigrazione italiana negli Stati Uniti degli anni 1880-1915. Gli Italiani, stigmatizzati come geneticamente inferiori, vengono non solo disprezzati ma considerati anche pericolosi perché mafiosi o 'sovversivi' dell'ordine democratico, in quanto anarchici e socialisti. Contro di loro infuria la "red scare", la paura di una possibile rivoluzione bolscevica conducendo a numerosi arresti in un clima di forte tensione, che tocca anche la parrocchia dei "Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria" di don Giuseppe, dove viene trovata una bomba. Alla diffidenza e al pregiudizio, don Congedo oppone la sua missione educativa dei ragazzi italiani nella scuola parrocchiale per facilitarne l'inserimento nella società americana. Al regime fascista non sfugge il valore propagandistico dell'opera di Congedo che viene invitato più volte a condurre, in viaggio premio, i suoi studenti in Italia. Congedo è insignito di medaglia d'oro per i suoi meriti nella "diffusione della cultura italiana". Efficiente e pragmatico, egli ha verso Mussolini un atteggiamento non dissimile da quello dei tanti italo-americani simpatizzanti della dittatura, semplicemente perché il fascismo seppe fare dell'orgoglio patriottico una risposta alle umiliazioni nazionali

Expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines after coronary artery bypass grafting during normothermic and hypothermic cardiac arrest

Objective: Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) results in vascular injury and tissue damage which involves leukocyte-endothelial interactions mediated by cytokines and adhesion molecules. This study was designed to demonstrate the effect of normothermic and hypothermic CPB to cytokine and soluble adhesion molecule levels in adults and to determine whether these levels correlate to the patients postoperative course. Design and patients: In 25 patients after normothermic and in 25 patients after hypothermic coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), blood samples for cytokine and soluble adhesion molecule analysis were taken preoperatively, 24, 36, 48 h, and 6 days postoperatively. Soluble adhesion molecules (sE-selectin, sICAM-1) were measured by ELISA and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8) by chemilumenscent-immunoassay. Clinical data were collected prospectively. Results: Postoperatively, adhesion molecule and cytokine levels were significantly elevated after CPB. Mean plasma levels of sICAM-1 was 2.4-fold higher after 6 days. Mean plasma concentration of sE-selectin peaked after 48 h with a 2-fold increase compared to normothermic conditions. In the hypothermia group sICAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6, and IL-8 showed significantly higher levels (P≪0.0057, P≪0.0012, P≪0.0419, P≪0.0145) after 24 h compared to the normothermia group. No clinical differences were seen. Conclusion: Adhesion molecules and cytokines are elevated after CPB. Patients after hypothermic CPB show significant higher sICAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6, and IL-8 levels after 24 h compared to normothermic conditions. These results are mainly due to longer CPB and crossclamp times but do not alter the patient's postoperative cours