Quality of soybean seeds submitted to different treatments and storage conditions

Chemical seed treatment is a recommended technique to protect seeds from pathogens that can affect their quality. The objective of this work was to analyse the quality of soybean seeds with different treatments under different storage temperatures. Seeds of cultivar ‘M 8378 IPRO’ produced in Mato Grosso, Brazil were used. A completely randomised design was used in a 4 × 3 two-factorial scheme. The seeds were treated with three different combinations of chemicals (fungicides, insecticides, polymer and drying powder) in addition to the control (untreated seeds) combined with three different storage temperatures (13 °C, 19 °C and uncontrolled temperature), with three repetitions. Quality was assessed by the germination test (TG), accelerated aging (AA), field emergence (FE), tetrazolium test (TZ) and isoenzyme analysis. The uncontrolled storage temperature negatively influenced the variables germination, accelerated aging and field emergence. The vigour and viability of the tetrazolium test showed that untreated seeds had better physiological quality than seeds with chemical treatment. The expression of isoenzymes showed a difference between treatments. Even with the stress caused by the seed treatment, this tool is very important for the initial protection of the seedlings.

Spuriously raised serum amylase in a five-year-old girl: a note of caution in paediatric blood sampling

Introduction Capillary (finger prick) blood sampling is commonplace in paediatric practice but this method is prone to produce spurious laboratory results. Case presentation A five-year-old girl presented with abdominal pain, epigastric tenderness, tachycardia and reduced oxygen saturation. A venous blood sample haemolysed, and serum amylase on a finger prick sample was reported as 2831 units/L. The working diagnosis was acute pancreatitis and respiratory tract infection. A repeat amylase 9 h later was within the normal range. The patient was known to bite her fingers and the possibility of salivary contamination was considered. Serum isoenzyme analysis confirmed presence of high salivary amylase levels with no pancreatic amylase detected. A viral respiratory tract infection and buried gastrostomy bumper were eventually thought to account for the patient’s presentation. Conclusion Increased awareness of the potential for salivary contamination of serum amylase in finger prick samples may prevent misdiagnoses of pancreatitis.

Floral structure and genetical differences of sandalwood variants in Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonesia), and its effects on breeding systems and reproductive ability

Ratnaningrum YWN, Kurniawan A. 2019. Floral structure and genetical differences of sandalwood variants in Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonesia), and its effects on breeding systems and reproductive ability. Biodiversitas 20: 393-404. Our preliminary studies reported that the failure on rehabilitation program of sandalwood, an endangered endemic species in Indonesia, was caused by low viability and survival due to reproductive failure. New sandalwood landraces in Gunung Sewu Geopark, Java island consist of three variants (YBF, refers to "yellow big flower"; RBF, "red big flower"; and RSF, "red small flower") differed by floral structures. This study was made on three sandalwood variants grew in four landraces representing landscape zones in Gunung Sewu, from April to September 2017 flowering season. This advanced study was aimed to estimate the differences in floral structures and genetic diversity among variants, and their effects on breeding systems and reproductive ability. Floral organ measurements were made on each variant. Isoenzyme analysis was conducted to estimate the genetic diversity of each variant and in each site. Mating systems were estimated by Index of Incompatibility (ISI) and Cruden's Out Crossing Index (OCI) methods. Reproductive ability was measured by counting Pollination Effectiveness, Reproductive Success and seed viability. Results found that six loci were polymorphic in most of sites and variants, with exception for Petir and Bejiharjo sites and YBF variant. Observed heterozygosity varied with sites but was similar among variants. Some of diversity existed among both sites and variants. The OCI value scored more than 3 for all variants, indicating an outbreeding mating system. RSF showed higher OCI value compared to both RBF and YBF. Bleberan and Nglanggeran, the outcrossed and completely self-incompatible populations (ISI = 0), failed to produce selfed seeds. In such highly outcrossing, self-incompatible populations, the highest seed set was gained from intraspecific-crossed pollination. Contrastly, the inbreeding and self-compatible populations (ISI = 3 to ∞), Petir and Bejiharjo, tended to alter its matting system to be more inbreeding. Reproductive ability differed by sites but was similar among variants.

Retrospective evaluation of a local protocol used to enhance laboratory savings through minimizing the performance of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis

Background Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis is an expensive and time-consuming laboratory test. We evaluated the effect of a locally derived screening algorithm for alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme requests on the number of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analyses performed, laboratory cost and patient care. Method A total of 110 alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis requests from the year 2015 were reviewed and subsequent alkaline phosphatase concentrations were monitored over a two-year period, to determine if the decision of performing/not performing alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis, based on the algorithm, had an impact on patient care and laboratory cost. All alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis requests with two consecutive elevated alkaline phosphatase concentrations (>upper limit of reference interval) were screened and, subject to the gamma glutamyl transferase being within the reference interval, either Bone alkaline phosphatase or 25 hydroxyvitamin D was measured depending on the age of the patient. Results Compliance with this algorithm led to the normalization of subsequent serum alkaline phosphatase in 97% of patients without requiring alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis. The cost of performing Bone alkaline phosphatase and 25 hydroxyvitamin D in-house was £778.50, while the cost of performing alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis would have been £3040. This resulted in a laboratory saving of £2261.50. Conclusions Implementation of this algorithm led to a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme analysis, without compromising patient care. Total savings could be increased if 25 hydroxyvitamin D was used as a first-line test, for all patients with an elevated alkaline phosphatase and a normal gamma glutamyl transferase regardless of age. This algorithm is cost-effective and can be implemented in laboratories with 25 hydroxyvitamin D assay.

Gene flow and selection evidence of sandalwood (Santalum album) under various population structures in Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonesia), and its effects on genetic differentiation

Ratnaningrum YWN, Indrioko S, Faridah E, Syahbudin A. 2017. Gene flow and selection evidence of sandalwood (Santalum album) under various population structures in Gunung Sewu (Java, Indonesia), and its effects on genetic differentiation. Biodiversitas 18: 1493-1505. Field observations on population structures and isoenzyme analysis were conducted to determine gene flow and selection evidence of sandalwood under various population structures in Gunung Sewu, and its effects on genetic differentiation. Sandalwood (Santalum album Linn., Santalaceae) is origin to the south-eastern islands but recently emerged as new landraces in Java Island, Indonesia. Results suggested that (i) natural barriers contributed to habitat fragmentation and disrupted gene flow among populations; (ii) gene flow affected selection processes regarding bottleneck effects and genetic drifts, which determined allelic richness and population diversity; and (iii) variation on gene flow and selection processes affected genetic differentiation among populations. Gene flow restriction and genetic drift occurred when population had lower genetic base, highly clonalized, fragmented, and/or more inbreeding in mating. Genetic differentiation was highest between populations within Timor island, and between Gunung Sewu (Java Island) and Sumba-Timor islands. Populations were not clustered based on geographical sites, but more by the similarity of genetic structures. Genetic differentiations were the combined effect of the differences on genetical processes regarding gene flow and selection events. Both differences existed due to differences on (i) population structures including landscape, clonality and parental genetic composition, and (ii) the disturbance histories of population, which affected the equilibrium between gene flow and drift. These findings emphasized the importance of larger gene flow and genetic base to naturally maintain genetical processes of sandalwood population under various landscapes structures.

The effects of population size on genetic parameters and mating system of sandalwood in Gunung Sewu, Indonesia

We combined feld observations with isoenzyme analysis to compare population demographic and its effects on genetic diversity and mating systems, among six populations of sandalwood in Gunung Sewu, Indonesia, during March to August 2015. This endangered economic-important species was originated from the southeastern parts of Indonesia, but is recently occured as new landraces in Gunung Sewu, Java island. The observed heterozygosity varied from Ho 0.184 to 0.385 in parents, and from Ho 0.083 to 0.348 in offspring levels, based on the degree of clonality and genetic base. Most of genetic variation is distributed within populations, and only 2.7% were presented among populations, that was indicated by the low DST and FST value (HT 0.30; HS 0.276; DST 2.4%; FST 7.98%). A dendrogram indicated a grouping of populations into three clusters. However, there were seemed to be no association between geographical and genetic distance. Genetic depletion occured due to (i) clonality events as result of heavy-exploitation and/or natural disturbance which induced root suckering, (ii) genetic drifts and bottleneck effects, (iii) the founder effects due to parental low diversity, and (iv) the alteration on mating systems to be more inbreeders. Some of the results confrmed a “reproductive assurance prediction” while some others were contradicting this. It seemed that genetic diversity and mating systems are not much affected by population size, but more by the parental heterozygosity and the degree of clonality. Our results emphasized the importance of populations’ genetic base or parental genetic diversity to naturally maintain the genetic and evolutionary processes under equilibrium conditions.

New human case reports of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi in the Amazon region, Brazil

ABSTRACT Few cases of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania naiffi were described in the medical literature. The aim of this study was to report and analyze new cases of L. naiffi in the period between the years 1992 to 2011. The strains were characterized by isoenzyme analysis. All patients assisted had small lesions; ranging from 1.0x1.0 mm and 13.5x11.5 mm. The lesions observed were widely distributed: 55.5% on the lower limb, 5.5% in the abdominal area, 16.6% on upper limb and 22.2% in upper limb and back. Seventy-two percent of patients had ulcerated lesions. Clinical course of the disease varied from 1 to 10 months. According to gender, most infected individuals were men (83.3%). The patients came from Amazonas (10), Pará (01) and Rondônia (01), north States of Brazil. Five patients were infected in experimental stations of the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). Although the results of this study were similar to other reports in the literature, some of the patients had more of one skin lesion. It is also reported the first case of CL caused by L. naiffi in the State of Rondônia and identified an area of disease transmission in the experimental station of INPA.

First Report of Meloidogyne javanica on Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) in China

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is a plant native to the rain forest of the Peruvian Amazon region. Because of its high protein and oil content as well as general nutritional quality, it is regarded as a promising new crop. Successfully introduced from South America in 2006, Sacha inchi has been cultivated in Xishuangbanna, in the southwestern region of Yunnan Province, China. During an investigation from August to October of 2012, severely stunted and withered Sacha inchi plants with rotted and galled root were observed in fields. Dissection of galled root tissue revealed mature root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp) females with body cavity filled with red color contents. The population was extracted and quantified from soil and root samples and identified to species by morphology, esterase (EST) isozyme phenotypes, and molecular characterization (3). Mean populations of 774 ± 251 Meloidogyne second stage juveniles (J2) per 100 cm3 of soil were extracted from the rhizosphere of symptomatic plants. These juveniles (n = 20) were characterized by length (410 to 480 μm) and hyaline tail terminus length (11 to 17 μm). Females (n = 20) were characterized by stylet length (14.1 to 17.3 μm) and the perineal pattern (rounded with fine striae, low to moderately high dorsal arch, and a distinct lateral field clearly demarcated from striae by parallel lines). The distinct lateral lines of the perineal pattern are diagnostic for this species (3). Gravid females were used for esterase (Est) isoenzyme analysis, and showed the J3 phenotype (relative migration rate [Rm] = 1.0, 1.25, and 1.4), typical of M. javanica, a species-specific phenotype used to differentiate this species from other members of Meloidogyne (1). Additionally, three single egg masses associated with red body females were extracted from the field-collected Sacha inchi roots and inoculated onto three potted tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Rutgers’) and maintained in the greenhouse for 8 weeks until root galls and egg masses were visible. The observation of root-knot nematodes from tomato roots showed that all females' bodies were normal white, and the nematode species was also identified as M. javanica based on the esterase phenotype and the perineal pattern. It is suggested that the red body contents associated with females on Sacha inchi is the result of an unknown chemical compound acquired from that host. Although undetermined to species, Meloidogyne has been reported on Sacha inchi in Peru (2). To our knowledge, this is the first detection of M. javanica on this plant. Since M. javanica is widely distributed throughout the tropics, this root-knot nematode could be an important threat to the commercial cultivation of Sacha inchi. References: (1) R. M. Carneiro et al. Nematol. 2:645, 2000. (2) P. D. P. de Bienes. Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.). Base de datos, 2010. (3) R. N. Perry et al. Root-Knot Nematodes. CABI. Wallingford, UK, 2009.