Effect of chestnut tannins on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica

Among the natural products extracted from plants, tanninshave been reported to possess antihelmintic propertiesespecially for gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants.Also, they are toxic to a wide range of fungi, bacteria andyeasts. Therefore, an in vitro and a glasshouse pot experimentswere undertaken to evaluate the effect of chestnuttannins on the control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogynejavanica. In the in vitro experiment, different tanninconcentrations in a geometric scale (from 0.32 to 20.48g/l), were tested for their effect on hatching of the nematode,whereas in the pot experiment, 100, 250 and 450g/m2 of tannins in aqueous solutions, were used in pots attransplant or at transplant and two weeks later for theireffect on nematode control. In both experiments treatmentswere compared to untreated and fenamiphos-treated controls.In vitro a nematostatic effect of tannins was observed,whereas in the pot experiment a significant reductionof eggs and juveniles/g root, total population densityand reproduction rates of the nematode were recorded. Theanatomical changes induced by M. javanica in tomatoroots treated with tannins did not differ from those producedby this and other Meloidogyne species on varioushosts reported earlier

Nematicidal effect of chestnut tannin solutions on the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis (Woll.) Barhens

Recently, tannins have been reported for their nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica both in vitro and in pot experiments in addition to a biocidal effect on a wide range of fungi, bacteria and yeasts. However, no information is available on the effect of these polyphenols on plant parasitic cyst nematodes. Therefore, an in vitro and a pot experiments on potato were undertaken to investigate the nematicidal activity of tannin aqueous solutions at different concentrations on the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. In the in vitro experiment different tannin concentrations in a geometric scale (from 0.32 to 20.48 g/l) were tested for their effect on the egg hatch of the nematode. All tested tannin concentrations were effective to reduce egg viability from 56 to 87%, in comparison to the untreated control. In the pot experiment, tannins, as aqueous solutions at rates of 100, 250 and 450 g/m2, were applied to soil at two different application times (at sowing and at sowing and two weeks later). All tested doses were effective to reduce the number of cyst/100 g soil, eggs and juveniles/g soil and reproduction rate in comparison to untreated control. The number of eggs and juveniles/cyst was not influenced by the different applied rates of tannins

Comparison of Standard Protocols for the Treatment of Canine Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Area with and Without Zinc Oral Supplementation

Successful treatment of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) depends on an effective cellular immune response. Zinc is an essential trace element for the immune system and in dogs with clinical leishmaniasis low serum zinc levels have been reported. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of zinc oral administration during treatment of CanL. Eighteen dogs from an endemic area were enrolled showing clinical signs of leishmaniasis and diagnosed by positive parasitological and serological tests. Dogs were subdivided in three treatment groups: MA, meglumineantimoniate 50 mg/kg SC for 30 days with allopurinol 10 mg/kg PO BID for 7 months; MZ, meglumineantimoniate 50 mg/kg SC BID for 30 days with zinc 2.2 mg/kg/die PO for 12 months; MAZ, same as MA group plus supplemented with zinc 2.2 mg/kg/die PO for 12 months. Each dog was monitored for 12 months using clinical and skin scores and some blood biochemical markers. Dogs in MZ and MAZ group showed a better and earlier improvement of clinical and skin scores in comparison to control dogs (MA group). Among few blood markers studied (hemoglobin, albumin, γ globulins and A/G ratio) dogs in MAZ group did improve and earlier than other groups suggesting that zinc improves the condition where allopurinol is also present. The supplementation of zinc in the treatment protocol for CanL increased the serum zinc concentrations. In addition, preliminary data showed in group MZ and MAZ dogs a faster response to therapy and the elongation of the disease-free interval time

Implicit early school leaving and inclusive curriculum: towards an exploratory survey

The contribution aims to reflect on the recent and complex phenomenon of the implicit early school leaving in the Italian school context. This problem represents an indicator of educational inequality and lack of fairness (Benvenuto, 2016) which is rooted in the poor quality of the school system in terms of inclusion and educational success (Pandolfi, 2017). Preventing and combating it has become a necessary priority and an effective way to do so is based on the configuration of inclusive tools, able to welcome, support and guide the learning process of a plurality of students. In this regard, the potential of one of these tools, the Inclusive Curriculum (MIUR, 2018a), is illustrated, whose collegial design, anchored to the principles of the Universal Design of Learning (CAST, 2011), is a guarantee of fair and inclusive learning opportunities.l contributo vuole riflettere sul recente e complesso fenomeno della dispersione scolastica implicita nel contesto scolastico italiano. Tale problematica rappresenta un indicatore di disuguaglianza formativa e mancanza di equità (Benvenuto, 2016) che affonda le sue radici nella carenza di qualità del sistema scolastico in termini di inclusione e successo formativo (Pandolfi, 2017). Prevenirla e contrastarla è divenuta una priorità e una via efficace per farlo trova fondamento nella configurazione di strumenti di natura inclusiva, in grado di accogliere, sostenere e guidare il processo di apprendimento di una pluralità di studenti. A tal proposito vengono illustrate le potenzialità insite nel Curricolo Inclusivo (MIUR, 2018a) la cui progettazione collegiale, ancorata ai principi dell’Universal Design of learning (CAST, 2011), è espressione di garanzia di opportunità di apprendimento eque ed inclusive

Nematicidal and fertilizing effects of chicken manure, fresh and composted olive mill wastes on organic melon

Abstract The fertilizing and nematicidal effects of three organic amendments were evaluated in a pot experiment on melon plants infested by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. A soil artificially infested with 4 eggs and juveniles/ ml soil of the nematode was amended with: a) virgin olive pomace (VOP); b) composted olive pomace (COP); c) chicken manure based fertilizer (CM) and d) chicken manure based fertilizer combined with the biological control agent Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251, brand name BioAct WG (CMB). VOP was applied at doses of 11 (VOP-A), 22 (VOP-B) and 44 t/ha (VOP-C); COP at 4.5 (COP-A), 9 (COP-B) and 18 t/ha (COP-C); CM at 3 t/ha and CMB at 3 t/ha combined with 4 kg/ha of BioAct WG. Untreated soil was used as control. The treatments CM, CMB, VOP-B and COP-B were established on the basis of N requirement of melon plants (120 kg/ha) taking into account soil and amendments N availability. Two weeks later amendment application and nematode inoculation, the soil was poured in 4.8 l clay pots which were arranged in a greenhouse according to a randomized block design with ten replications for each treatment. A one-month old melon seedling (cv. Galia) was transplanted in each pot and organic farming management practices were used during the growing period. At the end of the experiment, 60 days after transplant, plants were uprooted and height, fresh and dry shoot and root weights were recorded. Root gall index, on the roots, caused by the nematode attack, was estimated according to a 0–5 scale. Final nematode population density and reproduction rate were also calculated for each pot. All data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means compared according to Least Significant Difference's Test. Nematode population and root infestation were significantly suppressed by the addition of all amendments, compared to untreated control. However, CM and CMB resulted in a total more suppressive effect and in a significantly higher plant growth in comparison to all the other treatments. A significant correlation was found between root gall index and eggs and juveniles/g root and final nematode population density. No signifycant correlations were found between nematological parameters or plant growth parameters and amendment doses

UDL and Inclusive Technologies: state of the art and models for implementation / UDL e Tecnologie Inclusive: stato dell’arte e modelli per l’implementazione

How to design and implement equitable and inclusive teaching? What pedagogical paradigm should be referred to? How do technologies contribute to enhance differences and personalize students' learning paths? With the aim of achieving the goal of designing and implementing flexible and equitable educational pathways for everyone (ONU, 2015) in which barriers to learning are reduced and levels of participation are raised (OMS, 2002), this contribution ecologically integrates the inclusive technologies in their dual function, assistive and compensatory, in the pedagogical framework of Universal Design for Learning (Rose, 2001; Rose & Meyer, 2002; CAST 2011, 2018; Savia, 2016). Starting with a general overview of the Universal Design for Learning "framework" and Inclusive Technologies, the paper outlines reflection on two implementation models, the "authoring" conceived by Cottini (2019) and the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS- Fuchs, Fuchs & Malone, 2017) widely used in US educational and academic institutions. Both models are significant because they illustrate the technological continuum from strategies to make curricula and instructional materials accessible to all, to interventions to address special education needs through specific adaptations.Come progettare ed attuare una didattica equa ed inclusiva? A quale paradigma pedagogico occorre far riferimento? In che modo le tecnologie contribuiscono a valorizzare le differenze e a personalizzare i percorsi di apprendimento degli studenti? Al fine di raggiungere l'obiettivo di progettare e realizzare percorsi educativi flessibili ed equi per tutti (ONU, 2015) in cui si riducano le barriere all'apprendimento e si innalzino i livelli di partecipazione (OMS, 2007), questo contributo integra ecologicamente le Tecnologie Inclusive nella loro doppia funzione, assistiva e compensativa, all’interno del framework pedagogico dell'Universal Design for Learning (UDL - Rose, 2001; Rose & Meyer, 2002; CAST, 2011; Savia, 2016). Partendo da una panoramica generale sul “quadro di riferimento” UDL e sulle Tecnologie Inclusive, il lavoro delinea la sua riflessione su due modelli di implementazione, quello “autoriale” concepito da Cottini (2019) e il Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS- Fuchs, Fuchs & Malone, 2017) ampiamente utilizzato nelle istituzioni scolastiche ed accademiche statunitensi. Entrambi i modelli sono significativi perché illustrano il continuum tecnologico che va dalle strategie per rendere accessibili a tutti curricoli e materiali didattici, agli interventi per rispondere ai bisogni educativi speciali mediante specifici adattamenti

Socially Assistive Robotics ed educazione inclusiva: prospettive teoriche e applicazioni pratiche nella disabilità intellettiva

This contribution, examining the Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR), an emerging form of Assistive Technology that incorporates all robotic systems capable of providing assistance through social interaction (Feil-Seifer & Mataric, 2005), aims to initiate an organic reflection on the potential inherent in it, for the promotion of social skills of people with Intellectual Disabilities.Il presente contributo, prendendo in esame la Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR- in italiano Robotica Sociale Assistiva), una forma emergente di Tecnologia Assistita che ingloba tutti i sistemi robotici in grado di fornire assistenza attraverso l’interazione sociale (Feil-Seifer & Mataric, 2005), ha la finalità di avviare una riflessione organica sulle potenzialità in essa insite, per la promozione e lo sviluppo delle abilità sociali delle persone con Disabilità Intellettiva

Aphanocladium album by via sub-irrigation in the control of Pyrenochaeta lycopersici and Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in a plastic-house

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out to assess the efficacy of different chemicals (azoxystrobin, fosthiazate, metham-sodium) and of the chitinolytic fungus Aphanocladium album (isolate MX-95), that could be alternatives to methyl bromide, against the soil borne pathogen Pyrenochaeta lycopersici and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in a plastic house in southern Italy. In the first trial, the treatments were azoxystrobin (1.25 l a.i. /ha), fosthiazate (1.5 l a.i. /ha) and biological control agent Aphanocladium album isolate MX-95 (2.5 l/plot at 2×107 CFU/ml; plot surface 96 m2). In the second experiment, treatments were metham-sodium (1000 l c.p./ha) and A. album (5 l/plot at 1×107 CFU/ml). In both trials, chemicals and the fungus were applied by via sub-irrigation. Satisfactory control of the corky root and the root-knot nematode attack and a significant yield increase were obtained by application of azoxystrobin, fosthiazate and metham-sodium. A significant reduction of M. incognita soil population density occurred in plots treated with A. album. Also, high positive correlations were found between the symptoms caused on tomato roots by M. incognita and P. lycopersici

Plant Health and Rhizosphere Microbiome: Effects of the Bionematicide Aphanocladium album in Tomato Plants Infested by Meloidogyne javanica

The artificial introduction in the soil of antagonistic microorganisms can be a successful strategy, alternative to agrochemicals, for the control of the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and for preserving plant health. On the other hand, plant roots and the associated rhizosphere constitute a complex system in which the contribution of microbial community is fundamental to plant health and development, since microbes may convert organic and inorganic substances into available plant nutrients. In the present study, the potential nematicidal activity of the biopesticide Aphanocladium album (A. album strain MX-95) against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in infected tomato plants was investigated. Specifically, the effect of the A. album treatment on plant fitness was evaluated observing the plant morphological traits and also considering the nematode propagation parameters, the A. album MX-95 vitality and population density. In addition, the treatment effects on the rhizosphere microbiome were analysed by a metabarcoding procedure. Treatments with A. album isolate MX-95 significantly decreased root gall severity index and soil nematode population. The treatment also resulted in increased rhizosphere microbial populations. A. album MX-95 can be favourably considered as a new bionematicide to control M. javanica infestation