Characterization of the cDNA encoding a BPI/LBP homologue in venom gland of the hundred-pace snake Deinagkistrodon acutus

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein （BPI） and LPS-binding protein （LBP） play an important role in host defence. Current evidence shows that BPI/LBP may be widely existed in different cells and tissue types of animals. A full-length cDNA clone encoding a BPI/LBP homologue （dBPI）, 1757 bp in size, was characterized in venom gland of the hundred-pace snake Deinagkistrodon acutus. Its deduced amino acid sequence of 417 residues had 13.8% - 21.5% identity to BPI like 1 （BPIL1） and BPI like 3 （BPIL3） of other animals. Conserved cysteine residues which are involved in disulfide bond formation between the final strand of the N-terminal beta sheet and the long alpha helix of BPI are identified as Cys146-Cys183 of dBPI. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the BPI/LBP homologues formed five large clusters and dBPI was in a large cluster including BPIL1 and BPIL3. dBPI mRNA shows a tissue specific expression in venom gland. This is the first study to identify the cDNA encoding BPI/LBP homologues from reptiles [ Current Zoology 55 （5） ： 376 - 382, 2009].

Antimicrobial Activities of Some Plants from Ivorian Flora on Southern Blight in Cote d＇ivoire

This study aims at determining and comparing the in vitro antifungal activity of six EOs （essential oils） extracted from Monodora myristica, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Eucalyptus torelliana, Chenopodium ambrosioides, fresh Zingiber officinalis and dehydrated Zingiber officinalis with those of three synthetic fungicides （Callicuivre, Banko plus and Mancozeb） on Sclerotium rolfsii a pathogenic fungus of tomato in Cote d＇Ivoire. The products were added to PDA （potato dextrose agar） medium at various concentrations. The results showed different aspects of the mycelium, different activities on mycelium growth and sclerotia production depending on the explants （mycelium or sclerotia）. Depending on their IC and MGI （mycelium growth inhibition）, the oils stemming from Chenopodium ambrosioides and fresh Zingiber officinalis showed more inhibitory activities on mycelial growth （reduction rate of 100%） and sclerotia production at 250 ppm. These activities were close to or even greater than those of fungicides. The mancozeb fungicide showed stronger activity than the others by inhibiting mycelium growth and sclerotia production of mycelium explants at 250 ppm. This study offers the possibility of using EOs in the control strategies of Sclerotium rolfsii.

Kinetic Modelling of Pesticidal Degradation and Micro-bial Growth in Soil

This paper discusses such models for the degradation kinetics of pesticides in soil as the model expressingthe degradation rate as a function of two variables: the pesticide concentration and the number of pesticide-degrading microorganisms, the model expressing the pesticide concentration as an explicit or implicit functionof time, and the model expressing the pesticide loss rate constants as functions of temperature. These modelsmay interpret the degradation curves with an inflection point . A kinetic model describing the growth processesof microbial populations in a closed system is reported as well.

Effect of Phosphonate Fertilizers on the Growth of Soil Fungi

The phosphonate fertilizers, Calphos （calcium phosphonate）, Magphos （magnesium phosphouate） and Phosphoros （potassium phosphonate） were used in Jordan and showed a nematicidal effect. This study aimed to investigate the fungicidal effect of these fertilizers against the growth of the fungi, Fusarium proliferatum, Altrenaria solani, Pythium debaryanum and Penicillium digitatum. Results showed that the phosphonate fertilizer Calphos at the concentration of 1% mixed with potato dextrose agar （PDA） totally inhibited the growth of all studied fungi. Magphos （1%） delayed the growth of the fungus F. proliferatum and inhibited the growth of other tested fungi. While Phosphoros （1%） mixed with PDA inhibited the growth ofA. solani and P. digitatum even after 12 d of incubation and delayed the growth ofF. proliferatum and P. debaryanum compared with the growth of the fungi on the PDA only.

Antibacterial Effect of Lavender （Lavandula） Flavor （Volatile）

The objective of this study was to test the essential oil-emitted flavor （volatile） of lavender by bacteria killing potency using Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA）, enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157：H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Antibacterial activity was assessed by creating of the bacterial growth curve in the liquid medium cultivation and the growth inhibition on the agar plate cultivation. Citronellal, one of compounds in Rosa rugose oil, was used as a positive control for comparison in activity. The results showed that lavender and citronellal flavor （volatile） or oil respectively demonstrated bacteria killing effect in both analytical manners. However, P. aeruginosa resisted bacteria killing potency of lavender （citronellal） oil or oil-emitted flavor. It could be concluded that both lavender oil-emitted flavor and oil showed bacteria killing potency. Lavender oil （or oil-emitted flavor） will be expected to apply for the patient waiting room to disinfect in air along with the mental relaxation of the patient.

Pre-seed Treatment Effects on Avocado （Persea americana L.） Seedlings Health and Growth before Side-Grafting in Ghana

Studies were conducted to detennine the effects of hot water （50 ℃） and fungicide （contizeb ‘5＇） treatments on avocado seeds in terms of seed health, germination and seedling growth before side-grafting. The leathery coverings or seed coat were removed and either 1 cm or 1.5 cm of the narrow top of the seeds was removed before sowing. There were six treatments arranged in a randomized complete block and rephcated three times. In a six week period after germination when side grafting could be done, it was found out that the earliest germination came from the ＇no hot water or fungicide-treated＂ seeds cut at 1 cm but most seeds germinated from the fungicide-treated seeds at 1 cm cut. Most fungi including Fusarium andAspergillus spp found to either delay germination or reduce seedling vigour were minimized in number through the fungicide treatment compared to the hot water-treated seeds. Seedlings performance in terms of shoot extension and canopy development was significantly better in the fungicide-treated seeds than from either the hot water or the non-treated seeds. The study concluded that avocado seed treatment prior to sowing enhanced germination.

Evaluation of the Insecticidal Activity of the Aerial Part of Pseudocytisus integrifofius （Salisb） Rehder on Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha dominica Fab, （Bostrychidae） and Wheat Weevil, Sitophilus granarius Linn, （Curculionidae）

This study aims to evaluate the potentialities of Pseudocytisus integrifolius （Salisb） Rehder （Brassicaceae） as a botanical insecticide for the protection of stored wheat against two pests of stored grain. The essential oil of Pseudoeytisus integrifolius was tested at different doses on adults of Rhyzopertha dominica Fab. （Bostrychidae） and Sitophilus granarius Linn. （Curculionidae）, at a temperature of 28 ~C and a relative humidity of 75%. This oil has insecticidal activity and gives, for the studied adults, a very significant reduction. The essential oil extracted from Pseudocytisus integrifolius is toxic on Rhyzopertha dominica with LDs0 = 2.61 ~tL/30g grain and LDs0 = 3.99 ~L/30g grain for Sitophilus granarius, the chemical composition analysis shows the richness of the essential oil compounds known for their insecticidal properties as dimethyl disulfide （DMDS） and dimethyl trisulfide explains the results.

Contribution of leaf growth on the disappearance of fungicides used on tea under south Indian agroclimatic conditions

The sprayed chemicals on tea leaves disappear over a period of time by the influence of rainfall elution, evaporation, growth dilution, and photodegradation. Influence of plant growth on the four fungicides (hexaconazole, propiconazole, tridemorph, and c) was studied to know the constructive loss of fungicides. The study shows that residues of fungicides sprayed on tea shoots got diluted by the growing process. The expansion of a leaf took 8 to 11 d and more than 50% of the fungicide residues were cleaned out during this leaf expansion period. Under south Indian agroclimatic condition, the fungicides are sprayed at an interval of 10 d, so it is safe that the tea is harvested on the 10th day of the application of fungicides.