Penicillium verrucosum occurrence and Ochratoxin A contents in organically cultivated grain with special reference to ancient wheat types and drying practice

This study addresses the relationship between the ochratoxigenic strains of Penicillium verrucosum and ochratoxin A (OTA) contents in organically cultivated grain. It included 37 combined, non-dried grain samples from farmers with no drying facilities as well as 19 non-dried and 22 dried samples from six farms with on-farm drying facilities (Case studies 1-6). The study focused on the ancient wheat type spelt but also included samples of wheat, rye, barley, oats, triticale, emmer, and einkorn. All 78 samples were analysed for moisture content (MC) and occurrence of P. verrucosum. The latter was assessed by plating non-disinfected kernels on DYSG agar and counting those contaminated by the fungus. Fiftyfive samples were analysed for OTA. Most of the combine harvested samples (82%) were contaminated with P. verrucosum prior to drying. This was ascribed to difficult harvest conditions and many samples of spelt, which was significantly more contaminated by P. verrucosum than oats, wheat and barley. Though not statistically significant, the results also indicated that spelt was more contaminated than rye, which is usually regarded the most sensitive small grain cereal. No correlation was found between number of kernels contaminated by P. verrucosum and OTA content. Despite many non-dried samples being contaminated by P. verrucosum, only two exceeded the EU maximum limit for grain (5 ng OTA g-1), both being spring spelt with 18 and 92 ng g-1, respectively. The problems were most likely correlated to a late harvest and high MC of the grain. The case studies showed exceedings of the maximum limit in a batch of dried oats and spring wheat, respectively, probably to be explained by insufficient drying of late harvested grain with high MC. Furthermore, our results clearly indicate that OTA is not produced in significant amounts in samples with MCs below 17%. All dried samples with MCs above 18% exceeded the 5 ng OTA g-1 limit in grain. However, no correlation between MC and the amount of OTA produced was found

Detection, prevalence, and transmission of avian hematozoa in waterfowl at the Arctic/sub-Arctic interface: co-infections, viral interactions, and sources of variation

Background The epidemiology of avian hematozoa at high latitudes is still not well understood, particularly in sub-Arctic and Arctic habitats, where information is limited regarding seasonality and range of transmission, co-infection dynamics with parasitic and viral agents, and possible fitness consequences of infection. Such information is important as climate warming may lead to northward expansion of hematozoa with unknown consequences to northern-breeding avian taxa, particularly populations that may be previously unexposed to blood parasites. Methods We used molecular methods to screen blood samples and cloacal/oropharyngeal swabs collected from 1347 ducks of five species during May-August 2010, in interior Alaska, for the presence of hematozoa, Influenza A Virus (IAV), and IAV antibodies. Using models to account for imperfect detection of parasites, we estimated seasonal variation in prevalence of three parasite genera (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon) and investigated how co-infection with parasites and viruses were related to the probability of infection. Results We detected parasites from each hematozoan genus in adult and juvenile ducks of all species sampled. Seasonal patterns in detection and prevalence varied by parasite genus and species, age, and sex of duck hosts. The probabilities of infection for Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites were strongly positively correlated, but hematozoa infection was not correlated with IAV infection or serostatus. The probability of Haemoproteus infection was negatively related to body condition in juvenile ducks; relationships between Leucocytozoon infection and body condition varied among host species. Conclusions We present prevalence estimates for Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium infections in waterfowl at the interface of the sub-Arctic and Arctic and provide evidence for local transmission of all three parasite genera. Variation in prevalence and molecular detection of hematozoa parasites in wild ducks is influenced by seasonal timing and a number of host traits. A positive correlation in co-infection of Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus suggests that infection probability by parasites in one or both genera is enhanced by infection with the other, or that encounter rates of hosts and genus-specific vectors are correlated. Using size-adjusted mass as an index of host condition, we did not find evidence for strong deleterious consequences of hematozoa infection in wild ducks.Geological Survey (U.S.) (Wildlife Program of the Ecosystem Mission Area)U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDelta Waterfowl FoundationInstitute for Wetland and Waterfowl ResearchIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis)Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (contracts HHSN272201400008C and HHSN266200700010C

Produção de mini-tubérculos de batata-semente em função de doses de nitrogênio aplicadas ao substrato Minituber potato seed yield as a result of nitrogen rates applied in the substrate

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses de nitrogênio aplicadas em substrato sobre a produção de mini-tubérculos de batata-semente (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivar Monalisa, a partir de plântulas advindas de cultura de tecido. O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido, no Depo. de Fitotecnia da UFV. Duas plântulas micropropagadas por cultura de tecido foram plantadas em vaso de 3 L contendo substrato. Foram avaliadas cinco doses de nitrogênio: 0; 50; 100; 200 e 400 mg kg-1 de N, na forma de NH4NO3, dispostas em blocos ao acaso e cinco repetições. O índice SPAD, medido na quarta folha (LQ), aumentou com o aumento da dose de N e diminuiu com a idade da planta. O teor de N-NO-3 na matéria seca da LQ, associado à máxima produção de mini-tubérculos, foi 0,015 dag kg-1. A massa seca dos mini-tubérculos, massa seca total da planta e produção de mini-tubérculos foram de, no máximo, 25,74; 31,93 e 138,8 g vaso-1, respectivamente, com a dose de 0 mg kg-1 de N.<br>The effects of nitrogen rates on minituber seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was evaluated on cv. Monalisa, propagated in vitro. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Two tissue culture propagated potato plantlets were planted in 3 L pots with substrate. Five N rates, 0; 50; 100; 200 and 400 mg kg-1 of N, as NH4NO3, were evaluated in randomized complete block design and five replications. The SPAD index in the fourth leaf (LQ) increased with the increase of N rates and decreased with the plant age. N-NO-3 content in the LQ dry matter, associated with the maximum minitubers yield was 0.015 dag kg-1. The maximum minituber dry matter, the maximum plant dry matter and maximum minituber yield were 25.74; 31.93 and 138.8 g pot-1, respectively, with 0 mg kg-1of N