METRONIDAZOLE INDUCES SIGNIFICANT PATHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF MICE

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible effects caused by the antibiotic, metronidazole, on the histology of the testis and the morphology of the sperms of mice. To achieve this, adult male albino Swiss Mice were orally administrated with 0.1 ml (100 mg\ kg ) of the commercially used metronidazole (Flagyl) for 60 consecutive days. The results showed significant decreases (p<0.05) in the mean weight of body and testis in the treated mice as compared to the distilled water-treated control group. The treatment also caused several histopathological changes in the testis which included necrosis, congestion, hemorrhage, edema, germ cell downfall and rupture in the seminiferous tubules. The tests of the sperm morphology revealed a number of deformations as a result of the treatment, such as the appearance of headless, bend, broken-tailed, hook-tailed, and two-headed sperms, as well as sperms with cytoplasmic droplets. We conclude that from these results that orally administered Metronidazole exerts negative effects on the male reproductive system of mice .

Plant Biostimulant Effects of Baker’s Yeast Vinasse and Selenium on Tomatoes through Foliar Fertilization

The application of selenium (Se) to tomatoes enhances accumulation of bioactive compounds. The physiological window of Se is very narrow, and Se overdose reduces the yield. Glycine betaine was shown to reduce Se’s negative effects on plants and to potentiate its beneficial effects. In this study, baker’s yeast vinasse (BYV), as an affordable source of glycine betaine, was tested for its interaction with Se in an optimized foliar fertilizer. The application dose was selected after a laboratory experiment, wherein assays on plant height, leaves surfaces, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll fluorescence were done. The Se and BYV supplemented foliar fertilizers were tested for their effects on accumulation of bioactives in drip-irrigated tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse. Under laboratory conditions, assays demonstrated Se and BYV induced effects on tomatoes plants. Both the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis efficiency increased compared to a water treated control. The greenhouse experiment demonstrated that BYV and Se addition increases the number of tomato fruits in the “extra” marketable class and enhances the accumulation of ascorbic acid, carotenes, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The effects depend on the composition of the foliar fertilizer, the most significant effects being recorded for the foliar applied product with the highest BYV and nitrogen content.

Rikkunshito, a Japanese Kampo Medicine, Ameliorates Decreased Feeding Behavior via Ghrelin and Serotonin 2B Receptor Signaling in a Novelty Stress Murine Model

We investigated the effects of rikkunshito (RKT), a ghrelin signal enhancer, on the decrease in food intake after exposure to novelty stress in mice. RKT administration (500 mg/kg,per os) improved the decrease in 6 h cumulative food intake. In control mice, the plasma acylated ghrelin levels significantly increased by 24 h fasting. In contrast, the acylated ghrelin levels did not increase by fasting in mice exposed to the novelty stress. RKT administration to the novelty stress mice showed a significant increase in the acylated ghrelin levels compared with that in the distilled-water-treated control mice. Food intake after administering serotonin 2B (5-HT2B) receptor antagonists was evaluated to clarify the role of 5-HT2Breceptor activation in the decrease in feeding behavior after novelty stress. SB215505 and SB204741, 5-HT2Breceptor antagonists, significantly improved the decrease in food intake after exposure to novelty stress. A component of RKT, isoliquiritigenin, prevented the decrease in 6 h cumulative food intake. Isoliquiritigenin showed 5-HT2Breceptor antagonistic activityin vitro.In conclusion, the results suggested that RKT improves the decrease in food intake after novelty stress probably via 5-HT2Breceptor antagonism of isoliquiritigenin contained in RKT.

Feeding by Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) reduces seed set in lodgepole pine (Pinaceae)

Low seed set is a serious problem in seed orchards of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann) in the southern interior of British Columbia. We tested the hypothesis that Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann is responsible for the low seed set. Cones enclosed in insect exclusion bags as part of a pollination experiment produced significantly more filled seeds per cone than cones that were not bagged. In a separate bagging experiment, cones that were enclosed with a L. occidentalis female and her progeny produced only about one filled seed per cone, compared with about 28 seeds in bagged control cones. Changes in microclimate associated with the use of bags did not appear to be responsible for the observed increase in seed set in bagged cones. Leptoglossus occidentalis was also excluded from trees using the insecticide fenvalerate. Cones on fenvalerate-treated trees produced > 11 filled seeds per cone, whereas water-treated (control) cones produced < 1.7 filled seeds. These data suggest that L. occidentalis should be considered a serious pest in lodgepole pine seed orchards.

512 Comparison of Freezing Protectant Sprays Applied to Avocado Trees

Six freezing protectant products were sprayed at label rates on 1-year-old `Hass' avocado trees. Control trees were sprayed with water. Treatments were applied three times at monthly intervals, 20 Dec., 20 Jan., and 20 Feb. The products tested were Copper Count-N, Champ, Frostguard, Frost Shield, Anti Stress 550, and Insulate. Two separate orchard areas were treated, one with additional freezing protection by a wind machine and the other with no wind machine. Freezing temperatures and subsequent leaf damage occurred on 4 Jan., which was 2 weeks after the first treatment. The wind machine protected area experienced 2 h at or below 30 °F, with a minimum temperature of 29 °F, while the area without a wind machine experienced 5.5 h at or below 30 °F with a minimum temperature of 27.9 °F. One hundred mature leaves per tree were rated as to any freezing damage, slight damage (1% to 33%), moderate damage (33% to 66%), or severe damage (66% to 100%). All six freezing protectant products consistently reduced the percentage of leaves with freezing damage below that of the water-treated control trees, except in one instance, for all four categories of leaf freezing damage evaluated in both orchard areas—that with and that without a wind machine. Damage was reduced by approximately half for some of the treatments as compared to control trees. Data for some or all freezing protectant products was statistically different (less) than the control in two freezing damage categories (slight and moderate) in the area without a wind machine, however, data was not statistically different between freezing protectant products.

Improved Control of Apple and Citrus Fruit Decay with a Combination of Candida saitoana and 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose

A combination of Candida saitoana with 0.2% 2-deoxy-D-glucose to control decay of apple, lemon, and orange fruit was evaluated. Growth of C. saitoana in vitro was reduced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose; however, in apple wounds, the yeast grew as well in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose as in its absence. When applied to fruit wounds before inoculation, the combination of C. saitoana with 0.2% 2-deoxy-D-glucose was more effective in controlling decay of apple, orange, and lemon caused by Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and P. digitatum than either C. saitoana or the application of a 0.2% solution of 2-deoxy-D-glucose alone. Increasing the concentration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose from 0.2 to 0.5% did not improve control significantly. The combination of C. saitoana with 0.2% 2-deoxy-D-glucose was also effective against infections established up to 24 h before treatment. When applied within 24 h after inoculation, the combination of C. saitoana with 0.2% 2-deoxy-D-glucose was very effective in controlling blue mold of apple and green mold of orange and lemon. The level of control of green mold was equivalent to imazalil treatment. When either C. saitoana or 0.2% 2-deoxy-D-glucose was applied within 24 h after inoculation, neither had an effect on disease development on apple, orange, or lemon, and the incidence of decay was similar to the water-treated control.

Evaluation of pyrimethanil (Scala) for the control of Botrytis cinerea on harvested Geraldton waxflower

Pyrimethanil (Scala) is a fungicide that might be used for control of Botrytis cinerea infecting Geraldton waxflower. New treatments are sought to reduce the risk of developing strains of B. cinerea that are resistant to fungicides commonly used against it, such as benomyl (Benlate) or iprodione (Rovral). Scala was applied to waxflower as a postharvest dip at 1.5 or 2 mL product/L. Disease severity on and flower and leaf drop from waxflower bunches pre-inoculated with B. cinerea were significantly (P = 0.05) reduced by treatment with Scala. Further, flower and foliage vase lives were significantly (P = 0.05) longer as a result of postharvest treatment with Scala as compared with water-treated (control) stems. Similar degrees of disease control where achieved with either Scala or Rovral. The results demonstrate that Scala has real potential as an alternative fungicide for control of B. cinerea on waxflower.

Control of the Silverleaf Whitefly (SW) on Poinsettia Under Greenhouse Conditions, Fall 1993

Poin settias obtained as rooted cuttings were potted in 15 cm pots. Plants were allowed 4 wk growth (25-30 cm tall) before use in trials. Leaves were counted from the top (leaf of &gt;2 cm2) down. Twenty SW adults were clip-caged (2.5 cm diam) on the adaxial surface of leaf no. 5 for 24 h to obtain a moderate no. of eggs/leaf. Ten days later the no. of nymphs were counted as a pre-treatment count (0 DAT). Plants were assigned to treatments to obtain an equal no. of immatures/treatment. Five plants/treatment were arranged in a randomized block design on a greenhouse bench. Ten treatments and a water treated control were applied by hand sprayer at 45 psi. Post-treatment counts were made at 7 DAT and 14 DAT.

Inhibition of Softening by Polyamine Application in `Golden Delicious' and `McIntosh' Apples

Pressure infiltration of `Golden Delicious' and `McIntosh' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) with polyamides resulted in an immediate increase in firmness. `Golden Delicious' apples were 2.7 N (0.25 mM spermidine) to 6.7 N (1.0 mM spermine) firmer, while `McIntosh' apples were 2.2 N (0.25 mM spermidine) to 5.3 N (1.0 mM spermine) firmer than the water-treated control. During 28 weeks of storage at 0C, the differences between the polyamine-treated and water-treated apples were even larger. Similar results were observed with a 3% Ca treatment, but the Ca treatment reduced the rate of softening to a greater extent than did the polyamine treatments in `Golden Delicious'. Polyamides increased the endogenous levels of the polyamides infiltrated; however, the levels declined rapidly with time in storage. Both polyamine and Ca inhibited the development of chilling injury symptoms (brown core) in `McIntosh'. The influence of polyamines on ethylene production was negligible in both cultivars. The Ca treatment, however, inhibited ethylene evolution in `Golden Delicious'. Polyamides, thus, may affect apple softening through rigidification of cell walls rather than through interactions with ethylene metabolism.