Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing migrating and local breeding birds in Finland

Ticks are globally renowned vectors for numerous zoonoses, and birds have been identified as important hosts for several species of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens. Many European bird species overwinter in Africa and Western Asia, consequently migrating back to breeding grounds in Europe in the spring. During these spring migrations, birds may transport exotic tick species (and associated pathogens) to areas outside their typical distribution ranges. In Finland, very few studies have been conducted regarding ticks parasitizing migrating or local birds, and existing data are outdated, likely not reflecting the current situation. Consequently, in 2018, we asked volunteer bird ringers to collect ticks from migrating and local birds, to update current knowledge on ticks found parasitizing birds in Finland. In total 430 ticks were collected from 193 birds belonging to 32 species, caught for ringing between 2018 and 2020. Furthermore, four Ixodes uriae were collected from two roosting islets of sea birds in 2016 and 2020. Ticks collected on birds consisted of: Ixodes ricinus (n = 421), Ixodes arboricola (4), Ixodes lividus (2) and Hyalomma marginatum (3). Ixodes ricinus loads (nymphs and larvae) were highest on thrushes (Passeriformes: Turdidae) and European robins (Erithacus rubecula). The only clearly imported exotic tick species was H. marginatum. This study forms the second report of both I. uriae and I. arboricola from Finland, and possibly the northernmost observation of I. arboricola from Europe. The importation of exotic tick species by migrating birds seems a rare occurrence, as over 97% of all ticks collected from birds arriving in Finland during their spring migrations were I. ricinus, a species native to and abundant in Finland.

Response of soybean genotypes from Northeast China to Heterodera glycines races 4 and 5, and characterisation of rhg1 and Rhg4 genes for soybean resistance

Summary Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is a devastating plant-parasitic nematode worldwide. Two SCN races, race 4 (HG Type 1.2.3.5.6.7) and race 5 (HG Type 2.5.7), with increased virulence were previously identified in Northeast China. To obtain new resistance sources to these SCN populations, the response of 62 genotypes, including 51 local varieties and breeding lines, and 11 indicator lines for SCN race and HG Type identification, were evaluated. Four new primers in the regions of two loci of GmSHMT08 (Rhg4) and GmSNAP18 (rhg1) were designed for PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing to characterise haplotypes instead of genome resequencing. Results indicated three haplotypes among 51 local genotypes; there were 26 lines in Haplotype I carrying both the rhg1-a and Rhg4-a resistant loci as in ‘Peking’, 13 lines in Haplotype II containing only the resistant rhg1-a locus but Rhg4-b susceptible loci, and 12 lines in Haplotype III with rhg1-c and Rhg4-b susceptible loci. Interestingly, there was no ‘PI 88788’-type resistance identified in Northeast China, although it accounts for 90% of sources in the USA. Two local breeding lines in Haplotype I displayed resistance to both SCN races. The resistance lines carried higher copy number (>1) of the tandem duplication at the rhg1 locus compared with susceptible lines (⩽1). The combination of the two microsatellite markers, Sat_162 on Chr 8 and 590 on Chr 18, distinguished the three haplotypes and predicted the resistance/susceptibility for SCN race 5. The knowledge of the phenotypes and molecular characteristics of 51 local breeding lines in Northeast China will accelerate the utilisation of sources for broad-based SCN resistance and marker-assisted selection.

Sweet cherry competitive varieties for the horticulture of the Krasnodar Territory

Creation of new varieties that combine a complex of valuable traits, incl. the marketability and quality of fruits for updating the assortment of sweet cherry is an urgent direction of breeding research. The paper presents the results of a long-term work on the assessment of 12 varieties of sweet cherries of domestic and foreign breeding according to the main parameters of marketability and quality of fruits. The studies were carried out in 2015–2020 on the basis of the «Tsentralnoye» experimental production farm of the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking. As a result of regional breeding and long-term variety study sweet cherry varieties of local breeding (Alaya, Volshebnitsa, Chernie glaza) and introduced varieties (Anonce, Vasilisa, Kroupnoplodnaya, Sweet Heart, Skina) with larger fruits (fruit weight of 8.5–12.0 g) were identified. These varieties correspond to world marketability standards. Varieties with high biochemical parameters have been revealed: vitamin C (10.9–13.0 mg/100 g) Volshebnitsa, Podarok leta, Anonce; vitamin P (81.6–116.0 mg/100 g) Volshebnitsa, Podarok leta, Kroupnoplodnaya; anthocyanins (213.5–390.0 mg/100 g) Madonna, Chernie glaza; sugars (14.2–15.2 %) Alaya, Volshebnitsa, Podarok leta; soluble solids (19.8–22.8 %) Alaya and Volshebnitsa. A greatest variation in parameters (Cv = 60 %) was noted in the number of anthocyanins from 87.0 in the Volshebnitsa variety to 390.0 mg/100 g in the Madonna variety. At the same time, the supposed direct correlation between the ripening period and the accumulation of sugars (R2 = 0.083) and dry matter (R2 = 0.107) was not revealed, due primarily to the varietal specifics and year conditions. For modern technologies of the production of high-quality cherry products in the south of the country, domestic varieties Krasnaya devitsa, Volshebnitsa, Alaya, introduced varieties Anonce, Kroupnoplodnaya, Sweet Heart and Skina, stably bearing fruit under stress conditions, with a yield of 20.0 t/ha with a planting scheme 5.3 m, high marketable and taste qualities were suggested. Super early ripening cherry variety Madonna was recommended to expand the regional cherry conveyor.

History and Current Status of Sugarcane Breeding in Egypt

Sugarcane has been cultivated in Egypt since 641 AD and is a source of raw material to various agro-based industries. The development of new varieties of sugarcane from controlled crosses in Egypt has developed greatly during recent decades with the majority of the present commercial varieties originating from the local breeding program. Egyptian sugarcane breeding program objectives are high cane and sugar yield, early maturing, good ratooning ability, resistance and tolerance to pests as well as diseases. This program depends on artificial flowering at Giza Research Station (latitude of 30.01° N and longitude of 31.20° E) and natural flowering at Sabahia Research Station, Alexandria (latitude of 31° 12 N and longitude of 29.57° E). There are four stations for selection trials, extending from middle to southern Egypt, namely Mallawi (Minia governorate), Shandaweel (Sohag governorate), Mattana Station (Luxor governorate), and Kom Ombo (Aswan governorate), respectively. Current sugar production in Egypt is about 2.458 million tons with 62.2% from sugar beet and 37.8% from sugarcane.

Phenology-mediated effects of phenotype on the probability of social polygyny and its fitness consequences in a migratory passerine

Why females engage in social polygyny remains an unresolved question in species where the resources provided by males maximize female fitness. In these systems, the ability of males to access several females, as well as the willingness of females to mate with an already mated male, and the benefits of this choice, may be constrained by the socio-ecological factors experienced at the local scale. Here, we used a 19-year dataset from an individual-monitored population of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) to establish local networks of breeding pairs. Then, we examined whether the probability of becoming socially polygynous and of mating with an already mated male (thus becoming a secondary female) is influenced by morphological and sexual traits as proxies of individual quality relative to the neighbours. We also evaluated whether social polygyny is adaptive for females by examining the effect of females’ mating status (polygamously-mated vs monogamously-mated) on direct (number of recruits in a given season) and indirect (lifetime number of fledglings produced by these recruits) fitness benefits. The phenotypic quality of individuals, by influencing their breeding asynchrony relative to their neighbours, mediated the probability of being involved in a polygynous event. Individuals in middle-age (2–3 years), with large wings and, in the case of males, with conspicuous sexual traits, started to breed earlier than their neighbours. By breeding locally early, males increased their chances of becoming polygynous, while females reduced their chances of mating with an already mated male. Our results suggest that secondary females may compensate the fitness costs, if any, of sharing a mate, since their number of descendants did not differ from monogamous females. We emphasize the need of accounting for local breeding settings (ecological, social, spatial, and temporal) and the phenotypic composition of neighbours to understand individual mating decisions.

Evidence of cytogenetic and histological damage in specimens of Astyanax lacustris (Pisces, Characidae) exposed to the hydrogen cyanide-based herbicide Dormex®

The herbicide Dormex®, a solution of hydrogen cyanamide, is a growth regulator capable of breaking the dormancy of fruit plants, and is commonly applied in agriculture. However, the biological effects of this product on non-target organisms are unknown. The present study investigated the biological response of Astyanax lacustris (Lütken, 1875) specimens exposed to Dormex® using a chromosome aberration test, the mitotic index, and the histological analysis of the gills. Forty specimens of Astyanax lacustris were obtained from a local breeding facility and divided into 10 groups (nine experimental and one control) with four fish in each aquarium (group). The control group was maintained for 24 hours in dechlorinated water while the experimental groups were allocated to one of nine different treatments, with three concentrations of Dormex®, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 mL L-1, and exposure for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The fish exposed to Dormex® presented chromosomal aberrations of a number of types, including chromosomal breaks, acentric fragments, decondensation, and gaps at the three Dormex® concentrations, at all exposure times. The mitotic index decreased significantly in comparison with the control group. The histological preparations of the gills revealed alterations such as hyperplasia, and lamellar fusion and edema, whereas in the control group the structure of the gills was preserved. The cytogenetic analysis revealed the genotoxic potential of the herbicide Dormex® and the morphological alterations of the gills demonstrated the sensitivity of the fish, which responded rapidly to the stressor. These findings reinforce the need for special care and restrictions on the use of these herbicides in agricultural areas located near aquatic environments.

Winter wheat (triticum aestivum l.) mutation depression under gamma-rays action

The purpose of our investigation was to identify the features of the depressive effects of the aftereffect of different doses of gamma-rays on winter wheat varieties of local breeding in terms of germination, survival, morphometry, yield. The parameters of germination and survival, the passage of the main phases of ontogenesis in winter wheat plants of French varieties (Courtiot and Gallixe) at the first generation were studied. The influence of mutagenic depression on parameters of yield structure (morphometry of mature plants) was established and the level of their variability was estimated too. In 2019 - 2020, experiments were conducted in the research fields of the research center of the Dnieper State Agrarian and Economic University. The experiments used seeds of Courtiot and Gallixe varieties, irradiated with gamma rays in doses of 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 Gy. Control was dry seeds. The variety Gallixe can be classified as resistant to gamma-rays, the variety Courtiotwas corresponded to high-sensitive. Parameter of germination and survival were directly correlated with increasing dose, with a dose of 200 Gy already semi-lethal, a dose of 250 Gy for variety Courtiot was sublethal, 300 Gy doze full-lethal, for the variety Gallixe sublethal was 300 Gy dose by which almost no plant material was obtained. Such parameters as plant height, weight of grain from the main spike and weight of thousand grains, partially (except for doses of 100-150 Gy) weight of grain from the plant reliably reproduce the mutagenic depression. Depression of the variety is affected by the dose of mutagen more than the genotype of the variety; the plant height parameter clearly demonstrates mutagenic depression. According to the results of factor and discriminant analysis as indicators affected by genotype-mutagenic interaction should be used germination and survival, pollen sterility, plant height, grain weight per spike, weight of thousand grains. Doses of 100 - 200 Gy are optimal for further use to obtain mutations; it is possible to use a dose of 250 Gy for the variety Gallixe.

Variability at winter wheat varieties first generation which obtained mutagen action

The purpose of our investigation was to identify the features of the depressive effects of the aftereffect of different doses of gamma-rays on winter wheat varieties of local breeding in terms of germination, survival, morphometry, yield. The parameters of germination and survival, the passage of the main phases of ontogenesis in winter wheat plants of French varieties (Flamenko and Ghayta) at the first generation were studied. The influence of mutagenic depression on parameters of yield structure (morphometry of mature plants) was established and the level of their variability was estimated too. In 2019–2020, experiments were conducted in the research fields of the research center of the Dnieper State Agrarian and Economic University. The experiments used seeds of Flamenko and Ghayta varieties, irradiated with gamma rays in doses of 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 Gy. Control was dry seeds. The variety Ghayta can be classified as resistant to gamma-rays, the variety Flamenko corresponded to high-sensitive. Parameter of germination and survival were directly correlated with increasing dose, with a dose of 200 Gy already semi-lethal, a dose of 250 Gy for variety Flamenko was sublethal, 300 Gy doze full-lethal, for the variety Ghayta sublethal was 300 Gy dose by which almost no plant material was obtained. Such parameters as plant height, weight of grains from the main spike and weight of thousand grains, weight of grains from the plant, partially number of grain from the main spike reliably reproduce the mutagenic depression. Depression of the plants is affected by the genotype of the variety more than the dose of mutagen; the plant height parameter clearly demonstrates mutagenic depression. According to the results of factor and discriminant analysis as indicators affected by genotype-mutagenic interaction should be used germination and survival, pollen sterility, plant height, grain weight per spike, weight of thousand grains weight of grains from the plant. Doses of 100–200 Gy are optimal for further use to obtain mutations; it is possible to use a dose of 250 Gy for the variety Ghayta.