Herbicidal Activity of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. Essential Oil

[EN] The bioherbicidal potential ofThymbra capitata(L.) Cav. essential oil (EO) and its main compound carvacrol was investigated. In in vitro assays, the EO blocked the germination and seedling growth ofErigeron canadensisL.,Sonchus oleraceus(L.) L., andChenopodium albumL. at 0.125 mu L/mL, ofSetaria verticillata(L.) P.Beauv.,Avena fatuaL., andSolanum nigrumL. at 0.5 mu L/mL, ofAmaranthus retroflexusL. at 1 mu L/mL and ofPortulaca oleraceaL., andEchinochloa crus-galli(L.) P.Beauv. at 2 mu L/mL. Under greenhouse conditions,T. capitataEO was tested towards the emergent weeds from a soil seedbank in pre and post emergence, showing strong herbicidal potential in both assays at 4 mu L/mL. In addition,T. capitataEO, applied by spraying, was tested againstP. oleracea,A. fatuaandE. crus-galli. The species showed different sensibility to the EO, beingE. crus-gallithe most resistant. Experiments were performed againstA. fatuatestingT. capitataEO and carvacrol applied by spraying or by irrigation. It was verified that the EO was more active at the same doses in monocotyledons applied by irrigation and in dicotyledons applied by spraying. Carvacrol effects onArabidopsisroot morphology were also studied.This research was supported by the Universitat Politècnica de València [project number: SP20120543], by Generalitat Valenciana [project number GV/2014/039], and by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [project number: RTI2018¿094716¿B¿I00]. Thanks to Jovano Erris Nugroho and Muhamad Iqbal who collaborate to carry out in vivo experiment 4 during their internship in the Plant Health in Sustainable Cropping Systems Erasmus+ Programme. This research work has been developed as a result of a mobility stay funded by the Erasmus+-KA1 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees Programme of the European Commission under the PLANT HEALTH Project. 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Severe alterations caused by the indigenous pyralid Denticera divisella (Dup.) on the cultivated Euphorbia x lomi Rauh (Euphorbiaceae) in Sicily, with notes on some agronomic aspects (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

In this contribution, we report information on the severe alterations caused by the stem boring moth Denticera divisella (Duponchel, 1842) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) on the cultivated Euphorbia x lomi Rauh (Euphorbiaceae). This plant is an ornamental hybrid of recent origin, much appreciated for the attractive inflorescences, used both as an apartment plant and, especially in Sicily, as an outdoor plant. In this region, this species is an important source of income for many nursing businesses that have replaced it with some species whose market was in crisis. The pyralid is an indigenous species with an European distribution, while Euphorbia x lomi is a hybrid from Thailandia native to Madagascar, with many varieties currently cultivated in the world. The observations were conducted in Sicily in 2014 and 2015

Chemical Composition, Herbicidal and Antifungal Activity of Satureja cuneifolia Essential Oils from Spain

[EN] The chemical composition of essential oils from Satureja cuneifolia growing in east Spain was analyzed by GC, GC/MS. Forty-five compounds accounting for 99.1% of the total oil were identified. Camphor (47.6%), followed by camphene (13.6%) were the main compounds. Their herbicidal and antifungal activity was tested in vitro against three weeds (Amaranthzts hybridus, Portulaca oleracea and Conyza canadensis) and eleven common pathogenic or saprophytic fungi (Phytophthora citrophthora, P. palmivora, Pythium litorale, Verticillizan dahlia, Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium hirsutum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, Phaernoniella chlamydospora, Cylindrocarpon liriodendri and C. macrodidymum). The essential oil was very active against A. hybridus and C. canadensis significantly inhibiting their germination and seedling growth. Minor activity was shown against P. oleracea, depending on the concentration applied. P. palmivora, P. citrophthora and Pa. chlamydospora were the most sensitive fungi to the treatment with the essential oil, whereas R. solani showed no inhibition. Results showed that S. cuneifolia essential oil could be used for biocontrol of weeds and fungal plant diseases.García Rellán, D.; Verdeguer Sancho, MM.; Salamone, A.; Blazquez, M.; Boira Tortajada, H. (2016). Chemical Composition, Herbicidal and Antifungal Activity of Satureja cuneifolia Essential Oils from Spain. Natural Product Communications. 11(6):841-844. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/101860S84184411

Imaging and Management of Incidental Renal Lesions

The increased use of imaging modalities in the last years has led to a greater incidence in depicting abdominal incidental lesions. In particular, “incidentalomas” of the kidney are discovered in asymptomatic patients or patients who suffer from diseases not directly related to the kidneys. The aim of this paper is to provide the radiologist with a useful guide to recognize and classify the main incidental renal findings with the purpose of establishing the correct management. First we describe the so-called “pseudotumors” which are important to recognize in order to avoid a misdiagnosis. Afterwards we categorize true renal lesions into cystic and solid types, reporting radiological signs helpful in differentiating between benign and malignant nature

Superinfection of a Dead Hepatic Echinococcal Cyst with a Cutaneous Fistulization

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), also known as “hydatid disease” (HD), is a zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, which infects humans as intermediate hosts through the orofecal route. Carried by the intestinal venous blood, the embryos released by the eggs of the tapeworms can reach every organ, especially the liver, turning into a hydatid cyst. Usually asymptomatic, the cysts can be incidentally detected through radiological examinations performed for other reasons. We show an unusual case of superinfection of a hydatid cyst with typical radiological features of inactivity (WHO-type CE5) with an even rarer skin fistulization passing through a subcutaneous-abdominal abscess involving the right iliac muscle