Safe use of pesticide in rice-fish culture

Results of the study on the relative safety of nine different pesticides: Diazinon 40% EC, Diazinon 10 G, Elsan 50% EC, Sumithion 50% EC, Furadan 3 G, Padan 50% SP, Kitazin 48% EC, Kitasin 17% G and EPN 45% EC for various fish species: Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis mossambicus, Channa punctata, Clarias batrachus and Anabas testudineus used in rice-fish culture are presented and discussed.

稻属Oryza officinalis复合体基因组研究－兼论基因组原位杂交的原理和方法

稻属（Oryza L.）属于禾本科稻族（Oryzeae Dumortier）。本属包括AA，BB，BBCC，CC，CCDD，EE，FF，GG，HHJJ和HHKK十个基因组，二十余种。其中Oryza officinalis复合体包括BB，BBCC，CC，CCDD和EE五个基因组，九个种。众多的学者对该复合体进行了广泛深入的研究，为后续研究奠定了坚实的基础。然而，迄今为止，多倍体物种形成问题许多没有解决，基因组间的关系尚未完全阐明，甚至有些多倍体物种的基因组组成仍未确认。 本文评述了Oryza officinalis复合体中基因组研究的历史和现状，用基因组原位杂位（GISH）的方法，对该复合体四倍体物种的基因组组成作了验证;对B，C，D和E四个基因组间的关系进行了研究。同时对基因组原位杂交的方法，原位杂交鉴定多倍体基因组的组成以及研究基因组间关系的方法作了一些探讨。其主要研究结果如下： 一. 原杂交方法的研究：1）染色体制片：比较研究了不同的制片方法，发现压片法适用于大染色体的材料;将酶解/空气干燥法（Fukui et al., 1992）加以改进后，特别适宜于小染色体植物材料的制片。2）根尖储存时间和条件对原位杂交的影响：发现在-20 ℃的酒精（70%）中储存8个月以内的根尖材料，可用于原位杂交;而在-20 ℃的固定液中储藏18个月的根尖，DNA降解严重，不能用于GISH。3）探针标记：比较了随机引物法、缺口平移法和两步标记法（先用随机引物标记后，再用缺口平移法进行标记的方法）的优缺点。结果显示两步标记法是最佳标记方法。 二. GISH鉴定异源多倍体的方法：用两个异源四倍体Oryza minuta和Scilla sinensis (2n = 34)做染色体制片，进行原位杂交实验，结果表明：1）用二倍体亲本基因组之一做探针而不用封阻DNA， 可以鉴别Oryza minuta而不能鉴别Scilla sinensis中的基因组。2）用一个二倍体亲本做探针而用另一个做封阻，能够区分Scilla sinensis的两个基因组;但过量的封阻DNA将可以造成一些实验假象。3）同时用两个亲本的DNA做探针，不仅能够有效分辨不同的基因组，还能够根据交叉杂交程度推测基因组间的分化程度，是鉴别异源多倍体最有效的方法。 三. GISH鉴定稻属四倍体的基因组组成：1）Oryza minuta, O. punctata和O. malampuzhaensis的基因组的组成都为BBCC。2）Oryza minuta中B基因组和二倍体O. punctata中的B基因组之间存在着明显的基因组内分化。3）O. alta是一个异源多倍体，其基因组组成为CCDD。但C和D之间的分化不彻底，可以认为它不是一个严格意义上的异源多倍体。 四. GISH研究B，C，D和E基因组间的关系：1）B基因组和C基因组之间的关系最远;E和C之间的分化同E和B之间的分化程度接近，但E和C之间的分化比E和D之间的分化要小一些;C和D之间的分化不彻底，关系最近。

药用野生稻复合体（稻属）的分子系统发育与进化研究

稻属（Oryza L.）隶属于禾本科（Gramineae）Ehrhartoideae亚科的稻族（Oryzeae），包括两个栽培种（亚洲栽培稻O. sativa和非洲栽培稻O. glaberrima）和大约20多个野生种，广布于热带亚洲、非洲、大洋洲、中美洲和南美洲。药用野生稻复合体（O. officinalis complex）是稻属中最大、也是最复杂的一个复合体，共包括9个种，含有5种染色体组类型（B、C、BC、CD 和E）。作为栽培稻品质改良的重要基因库，药用野生稻复合体在稻属中具有重要的地位。但是，相似的形态和重叠的地理分布使部分物种的分类和鉴定一直较为困难;种内染色体组构成和倍性的不同更增加了分类鉴定的复杂性。这种情况阻碍了对这些野生稻遗传优势的有效利用。另外，由于物种间断分布和缺乏明确的二倍体亲本等原因，药用野生稻复合体内的异源多倍体起源一直存在争议。本文通过细胞核乙醇脱氢酶基因（Adh）和nrDNA的内转录间隔区（ITS）限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）分析;叶绿体matK 基因、trnL 内含子和trnL-trnF 基因间隔区、核基因Adh和GPA1以及核糖体DNA ITS片段等序列比较的方法，对药用野生稻复合体中染色体组和物种的鉴定、种间系统发育关系，以及异源多倍体CCDD物种的起源和多倍体ITS的分子进化等进行了研究。主要研究结果如下： 1． 利用核Adh 基因限制性片段长度多态性，检测了来自国际水稻研究所基因库的64份药用野生稻复合体的样品。结果证明，所有O. rhizomatis样品都是含C染色体组的二倍体，所有O. minuta样品都是含BC 染色体组的四倍体。但是，种子库中鉴定为O. officinalis、O. punctata和O. eichingeri的样品中，同时都发现了含C染色体组的二倍体和含BC染色体组的四倍体。四倍体的O. officinalis只在印度分布，而且曾被描述为另一个种O. malampuzhaensis。 四倍体的O. punctata，也被一些学者称为O. schweinfurthiana，被发现和其二倍体一样分布广泛。值得注意的是，有两个曾被作为O. officinalis 四倍体的样品实际上是含有CD染色体组的物种O. latifolia。我们的结果增进了对国际水稻研究所种子库中部分野生稻样品染色体组构成的理解, 纠正了以往对药用野生稻复合体样品的错误鉴定，为今后进一步研究和利用这部分资源提供了种质编目的重要基础。 2． 对稻属中代表不同地理分布区的、含CD染色体组的11个样品（包括77个克隆）的ITS片段进行了测序。基于这些ITS序列的限制性片段长度多态性，提出一个快速而可靠的区分稻属CD 染色体组物种的方法。这个方法的具体步骤是：（1）利用通用引物扩增ITS 片段;（2）利用限制性内切酶FokI和/或DraⅢ消化PCR扩增产物;（3）用1%的琼脂糖胶电泳并根据消化产物的片段长度多态性来区分不同物种。 3． 利用包括两个叶绿体片段（matK和 trnL-trnF）、nrDNA内转录间隔区（ITS）和三个核基因（Adh1、Adh2和GPA1）的同源序列分析，探讨了药用野生稻复合体中二倍体物种和它们所代表的染色体组之间的系统发育关系。独立和合并的基因系统发育树都显示了一致的结果，即C染色体组和B染色体组的亲缘关系要比它们和E染色体组的近。三个含C染色体组的二倍体中，O. officinalis 和O. rhizomatis表现出较近的亲缘关系。值得注意的是，在O. eichingeri种内，尽管基于多基因的数据支持来自斯里兰卡的样品和来自非洲的样品聚成一个分支，但是较低的支持率表明, 两个地区的样品之间存在着较高的遗传分化。 4． 稻属中含CD染色体组的物种特产于拉丁美洲，包括O. alta、 O. grandiglumis 和O. latifolia。由于具有相同的染色体组类型、相似的形态特征和重叠的地理分布，这3个物种间的系统发育关系一直存在争论。另外，因为美洲大陆上没有含C和D染色体组的二倍体物种存在，对这些含CD染色体组物种的可能起源也有不同的假设被提出。使这个问题更具挑战性的是，尽管开展了世界范围的收集，至今仍没有找到含D 染色体组的二倍体物种。在本研究中，代表含C、CD和E染色体组以及含G染色体组的外类群共7个物种，共15份样品的2个叶绿体片段（matK和trnL-trnF）和3个核基因（Adh1，Adh2 和 GPA1）部分片段被测序。基于简约法、距离法和最大似然法的系统发育分析都充分支持含CD染色体组的物种起源于一次杂交事件的推论，并且显示，在物种形成时，含C染色体组的物种（O. officinalis 或O. rhizomatis 而非O. eichingeri）可能承担了母本，而含E染色体组的物种（O. australiensis）则可能承担了父本。另外，CCDD物种间非常一致的系统发育关系表明，非常大的分歧存在于 O. latifolia 和其它两个种（O. alta和O. grandiglumis）之间，这个结果倾向于将后两个种处理为同种或同种下不同分类群。 5． 基于178个克隆序列比较，探讨了ITS在稻属多倍体中的致同进化及其系统学意义。研究发现稻属异源四倍体的ITS存在不同形式的进化方式：首先，非洲BBCC四倍体O. eichingeri和O. punctata 的ITS片段同时保留了双亲拷贝，而且系统发育研究表明，二倍体的O. eichingeri和O. punctata 可能是这两个四倍体的直接祖先;其次，亚洲四倍体O. malampuzhaensis和O. minuta 的ITS仅定向保留母本ITS拷贝;另外，美洲CCDD四倍体的ITS序列发生了双向致同进化，即O. alta和O. grandiglumis的ITS位点一致化成C染色体组类型，而O. latifolia一致化成 D/E 染色体组类型。我们的研究进一步表明在利用ITS片段进行系统发育分析时，特别是涉及异源多倍体时必须慎重。 6． 利用栽培稻的微卫星引物，对含B/C染色体组的6个物种，157个体的SSR位点进行扩增。结果在这些亲缘关系稍远的野生稻中得到7个SSR位点，其中5个位点表现出多态性。比较BB、CC和BBCC物种SSR位点的每位点平均等位基因数A、多态位点百分率P和期望杂合度He ，3项指标发现，四倍体物种的遗传多样性，总体上要高于二倍体物种;二倍体物种内部，O. officnalis的遗传变异最大。另外，以遗传相关性为标准，讨论了B/C染色体组物种间的系统发育关系，同时推测了现存二倍体物种和4个BBCC四倍体物种的遗传关系。

水稻抗旱性与光合特征的资源评价及其根系抗旱生理基础的研究

为了挖掘和利用野生资源抗旱和高光效的有益基因性状，本研究针对野生种的抗旱生理性状、光合作用和抗旱关系进行了测定，同时利用野生稻和栽培稻远缘杂交获得不同光合特点的后代材料进行了胁迫反应试验，并以栽培稻（陆稻和水稻）为材料研究了抗旱反应中根系的激素信号变化。旨在明确水分胁迫条件下，水稻不同野生种对干旱反应的差异及其机理，以及进一步鉴定有效的抗旱指标，为今后育种和生产实践提供理论依据和指导。主要结果如下： 1．通过对具有不同抗旱性状的四个野生种O.Granulata、O.Alta、O,Officinalis、O.Latifolia水分胁迫处理的抗旱相关生理性状的变化特点的研究表明：(1)在胁迫早期，野生种间黎明前叶片水势没有明显的差别，随着胁迫加剧，种间差异显示明显。耐旱性弱的野生种（O.Granulata、O.Latifolia）黎明前叶片水势和中午水势下降幅度大于耐旱性强的野生种( O.Alta、O.Officinalis)。这表明在一定的干旱处理程度下，黎明前叶片水势和中午水势可以反映出不同种间植株忍受干旱胁迫的能力。(2)四个野生种的植株在轻微胁迫时，膜稳定性呈现出增强的趋势，这可能与干旱胁迫的适应性相关。随着胁迫时间的延长，胁迫程度的加重，叶片膜稳定性破坏，植株叶片渗漏率增加。(3)在胁迫条件下，不同野生种表现出茎杆中糖分增加，叶片的光合酶和光合速率下降，且抗旱性弱的品种这种变化比抗旱性强的品种更加明显。这可能是由于干旱处理降低了同化物的运转和淀粉合成，导致了糖分积累。(4)在水分胁迫条件下，植株中的ABA浓度增加而IAA浓度下降，其中ABA的浓度增加与种间的抗旱性相关。抗旱性差(O.Granulata、O.Latifolia)的野生种叶片ABA浓度增加幅度高于抗旱性强的野生种（O.Alta、O.Officinalis）。Officinalis和Alta在水分胁迫下，仍比Granulata 和Latifolia具有较高的分蘖，这可能与其在胁迫下具有较高GA3浓度有关。 2．通过对20个野生种叶片膜电解质泄漏率的比较，研究其叶片细胞膜稳定性的特点表明，46℃的温度，水浴时间24小时是较适宜的条件。在适宜的处理条件下，Longistaminata、Punctata渗漏率较低，表明其具有良好的膜稳定性：O. Officinalis、O.Glumaepatula、O.Glaberrima，O.Latifolia、Meridionalis、Rufipogon (105697)、100889、Nivara (80683)、Sativa( IR-36)电解质泄漏率居中在60-80%;O.Alta、Rampur6、Azucena、Rufipogon (105599)、Bartlic、Rufipogon(104640)、105429、Minuta (101099)、HP4的渗漏值均较高，表明其膜稳定性较差，尤其是Minuta。此外，叶片光合速率和叶片膜稳定性的关系并不完全一致，在育种时应选择光合速率较高而叶片膜稳定性好的品种，O.Longistaminata因其具有较高的光合速率和较好的膜稳定性，是一个值得关注的材料。 3．研究了栽培稻（Oryza sativa）和普通野生稻（Oryza rufipogon）的杂种后代F3，即：Azucena×Rampur6杂交得到的Fi植株(25007-10)，通过自交得到其F3代植株，在水分胁迫下不同光合速率类型植株以及相关的抗旱生理特点。结果表明， (1)光合速率高的株系黎明前叶片水势下降较大，而中午叶片水势下降却较小：光合速率低的株系黎明前叶片水势下降幅度较小，而中午叶片水势下降幅度却较大，这表明水分胁迫下，植株中午叶片水势与植株的光合速率密切相关。(2)在轻微水分胁迫下（缓慢干旱0-40天），所有株系经受抗旱锻炼的植株，其叶片渗漏率均下降，膜稳定性增强;随着胁迫时间延长（胁迫后40-80天）其叶片泄漏值上升，这可能是由于：水分胁迫下通过植株的渗透调节能力，使得叶片中累积的有机溶质增加：且干旱胁迫使得叶片的质膜破坏，电解质外渗，相对电导率提高。 (3)水分胁迫下，从不同光合速率类型的植株，其光合速率的变化看：高光合速率类型的植株，在水分胁迫下光合速率的下降幅度，要大于光合速率较低类型的植株。在水分胁迫下，SHPl-2株系后代比SHPl-1株系具有较强的抗旱性，能维持较高的光合速率。 (4)在水分胁迫下，不同光合速率的株系，其气孔阻抗均增加：低光合速率的株系，气孔阻抗上升幅度大于高光合速率类型的株系，并且其气孔阻抗上升的时间要早于高光合速率的株系。 4．研究了两个陆稻品种Azucena、IRAT104和两个水稻品种IR64、Salumpikit，在干旱胁迫下根系木质部汁液中内源激素的变化。(1)干旱复水后不同时间进程中，各品种木质部汁液内源激素的变化看，IRAT104和Salumpikit木质部汁液中ABA含量迅速降低，其下降幅度较大。说明ABA作为胁迫信号，通过木质部汁液传递干旱信息;在干旱胁迫解除后，ABA的浓度亦发生相应的变化。(2)在对根系施加不同压力后，测定其木质部汁液内源激素变化，结果表明：在不同的根系压力下，不同品种间（IR64、Salumpikit、IRAT104和Azucena） 木质部汁液中GA3含量变化较大，其中两个陆稻品种IRAT104和Azucena均较高，两个水稻品种IR64和Salumpikit均较低。这表明，在不同的压力下，陆稻品种（Azucena和IRAT104）比水稻品种（IR64和Salumpikit）具有较高的GA3含量;在胁迫条件下，维持较高的GA3含量，这有利于其维持正常的生长发育。(3)在干旱胁迫及复水过程中，根据木质部汁液中ABA和GA3含量变化的结果表明，虽然Azucena和IRAT104均属于陆稻品种，但二者的抗旱性不同。(4)水稻品种木质部汁液的pH值高于陆稻品种。木质部汁液中pH在干旱胁迫下升高，复水后又降低，其可作为干旱胁迫的一个信号，它与木质部汁液中ABA联合调节植株对干旱的生理生化反应。 上述结果表明，叶片水势与水分胁迫密切相关，可作为植株抗旱性的鉴定指标;抗旱性强的品种，叶片水势下降幅度小，有利于维持较高的水势，保证植株生长发育的需要。严重干旱使得所有品种的质膜稳定性降低，电解质外渗，相对电导率提高;抗旱性强的品种的质膜伤害程度小，电导率上升幅度小，表明其质膜稳定性好，对干旱的忍耐能力强。质膜稳定性的变化实际上反映了品种的耐旱性，所以是一种综合而又比较准确的抗旱鉴定指标。对于酶和激素的测定方法，由于操作比较烦琐，且数据分析和产量比较复杂等原因，不太适合于常规的大田选育工作中。水稻的抗旱性是多种生理生化变化综合作用的结果，因此进行水稻抗旱性鉴定时，不能使用单一的生理生化指标，而应对多个指标进行综合分析，依据综合值对水稻品种的抗旱性进行评价较为科学。

Diffusive coevolution and mutualism maintenance mechanisms in a fig-fig wasp system

In reciprocal mutualism systems, the exploitation events by exploiters might disrupt the reciprocal mutualism, wherein one exploiter species might even exclude other coexisting exploiter species over an evolutionary time frame. What remains unclear is how such a community is maintained. Niche partitioning, or spatial heterogeneity among the mutualists and exploiters, is generally believed to enable stability within a mutualistic system. However, our examination of a reciprocal mutualism between a fig species (Ficus racemosa) and its pollinator wasp (Ceratosolen fusciceps) shows that spatial niche partitioning does not sufficiently prevent exploiters from overexploiting the common resource (i.e., the female flowers), because of the considerable niche overlap between the mutualists and exploiters. In response to an exploiter, our experiment shows that the fig can (1) abort syconia-containing flowers that have been galled by the exploiter, Apocryptophagus testacea, which oviposits before the pollinators do; and (2) retain syconia-containing flowers galled by Apocryptophagus mayri, which oviposit later than pollinators. However, as a result of (2), there is decreased development of adult non-pollinators or pollinator species in syconia that have not been sufficiently pollinated, but not aborted. Such discriminative abortion of figs or reduction in offspring development of exploiters while rewarding cooperative individuals with higher offspring development by the fig will increase the fitness of cooperative pollinating wasps, but decrease the fitness of exploiters. The fig fig wasp interactions are diffusively coevolved, a case in which fig wasps diversify their genotype, phenotype, or behavior as a result of competition between wasps, while figs diverge their strategies to facilitate the evolution of cooperative fig waps or lessen the detrimental behavior by associated fig wasps. In habitats or syconia that suffer overexploitation, discriminative abortion of figs or reduction in the offspring development of exploiters in syconia that are not or not sufficiently pollinated will decrease exploiter fitness and perhaps even drive the population of exploiters to local extinction, enabling the evolution and maintenance of cooperative pollinators through the movement between habitats or syconia (i.e., the metapopulations).

淡水养殖鱼类暴发性传染病致病细菌的研究

于1990—1991年的5—10月间,从湖北、湖南、河南和广东4省的9种淡水养殖鱼类的发病鱼睥、肝、肾中分离的93株细菌为材料,经100多个表型特征和细菌DNA中G+Cmol％遗传型特性测定等研究结果,可归属为产气单胞菌属中的运动性嗜中温产气单胞菌和弧菌属中的河弧菌。按照国际细菌命名法规优先律应为点状产气单胞菌[Aeromonas punctata(Zimmermann)nom.rev];而河弧菌与以前所描述的生物变种Ⅰ、Ⅱ型不同:在43℃能生长;发酵水杨苷产酸;利用D-葡糖酸钙、腐胺;不能利用戊二酸,D

鳗鲡烂尾病病原菌的研究

鳗鲡烂尾病是鳗鲡养殖中的一种常见病,主要流行于夏季。在日本报道了由枉状屈桡杆菌引起的鳗鲡烂尾病。本文记述了用TYE培养基从广东潮安养鳗场病鳗中分离到的另外一种引起烂尾病的病原菌,并研究了该病原菌的致病作用,生物学和生理生化特性,鉴定为点状产气单胞杆菌(Aeromonas punctata)。该菌对青霉素、新生素、磺胺噻唑不敏感,而对呋唑唑酮、土霉素、氯霉素、合霉素和金霉素等敏感。

斑点气单胞菌对草鱼的毒力

<正> 斑点气单胞菌(Aeromonas punctata)是危害草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus Cuv. et val.)的主要病原菌之一同时也危害鲢、鳙等多种鱼类。但作为一种病原菌对鱼类的毒力有多大,乞今还没有可靠的报道。

三角帆蚌死亡情况的调查研究

<正> 当前淡水珍珠生产大多是采用三角帆蚌育珠。作为育珠生产用的三角帆蚌,在生产过程中常大批死亡,造成重大经济损失,为广大蚌珠生产者及有关科研人员所关注。作者曾在1982年报道了三角帆蚌细菌性疾病的研究,认为点状产气单胞菌的一新亚种—帆蚌点状产气单胞菌(Aeromonas punctata

Floral surveys on Gomphonemaceae and Cymbellaceae (Bacillariophyta) from the headwaters of the Yangtze River, Qinghai, China

Gomphonemaceae and Cymbellaceae from the headwaters of the Yangtze River, Qinghai Province, China, comprised 84 taxa belonging to four genera. The dominant species were Gomphonema kaznakowi Mer., G. hedini Hust., G. olivaceum (Lyngbye) Kutz., Cymbella cistula (Ehr.) Kirchn. var. cistula and C. minuta Hilse ex Rabh. var. minuta. Some arctic and alpine forms also occurred, and the following taxa were unique to this region: C. cistula var. asiatica Mer., C. cistula var. capitata Grun., C. yabe Skvortzow var. punctata Li and Shi, G. olivaceum (Lyngbye) Kutzing var. brevistriatum Li and Shi and G. staurophorum (Pant.) Cleve-Euler var. oblongum Li and Shi. Different morphological forms of G. kaznakowi Mer. may be related to the upheaval of the plateau. Species diversity of the diatoms appears to be related not only to macro-environment (e.g., geographic zonation) but also to microhabitat and microclimate.

Studies on the immunoglobulin E responses to Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep: purification of a major high molecular weight allergen.

Studies on the immunoglobulin (Ig)E immune responses to the gastric nematode, Teladorsagia circumcincta, have demonstrated a major high molecular weight allergen (HMWTc). Cross reactive allergens of similar MW were demonstrated for Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Cooperia curticei, but not for Haemonchus contortus. Purification of HMWTc was achieved by gel-filtration chromatography, and nonreducing SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed two closely associated bands with a molecular weight of approximately 140-150?kDa. Reduction showed four IgE reactive bands of 120, 50, 45 and 30?kDa, and deglycosylation abrogated the immunoreactivity of the 120 and 30?kDa bands. Ultrastructural immunolocalization by electron microscopy revealed that the IgE reactivity was confined to the cuticular surface of the infective (L3) larvae. ELISA studies to determine the IgE anti-HMWTc responses in lambs during their first grazing season, demonstrated significantly higher IgE antibody in lambs with low accumulative faecal egg count (FEC) compared to animals with high accumulative FEC. These studies provide evidence for a protective function of IgE antibody in Teladorsagia infections in lambs.

Condensed tannins act against cattle nematodes

The use of natural plant anthelmintics was suggested as a possible alternative control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in ruminants. Direct anthelmintic effects of tannin-containing plants have already been shown in sheep and goat GIN. These anthelmintic properties are mainly associated with condensed tannins. In the present study, we evaluated possible in vitro effects of three tannin-containing plants against bovine GIN. Effects of Onobrychis viciifolia, Lotus pedunculatus and Lotus corniculatus condensed tannin (CT) extracts on Cooperia oncophora and Ostertagia ostertagi were determined by a larval feeding inhibition assay (LFIA) and a larval exsheathment assay (LEA). In the LFIA, all three plant extracts significantly inhibited larval feeding behaviour of both C. oncophora and O. ostertagi first stage larvae in a dose-dependent manner. The L. pedunculatus extract, based on EC50 (effective concentration for 50% inhibition), was the most effective against both nematodes, followed by O. viciifolia and L. corniculatus. The effect of CT extracts upon larval feeding behaviour correlates with CT content and procyanidin/prodelphidin ratio. Larval exsheathment of C. oncophora and O. ostertagi L3 larvae (third stage larvae) was also affected by CT extracts from all three plants. In both in vitro assays, extracts with added polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, an inhibitor of tannins, generated almost the same values as the negative control; this confirms the role of CT in the anthelmintic effect of these plant extracts. Our results, therefore, indicated that tannin-containing plants could act against cattle nematodes.

The Epipalaeolithic (Iberomaurusian) at Grotte des Pigeons (Taforalt), Morocco: a preliminary study of the land Mollusca

Land snail middens occur widely throughout the circum-Mediterranean, particularly in the Maghreb and Libya, but are relatively understudied when compared with the better known coastal marine middens. The site of Taforalt (Grotte des Pigeons) in north east Morocco contains thick ashy deposits with considerable numbers of land snails, dating between 13,000 and 11,000 BP. The site has been excavated periodically since its discovery in 1908, but little attention has been paid to the land snail component. Recent excavations at the site as part of the Cemeteries and Sedentism Project has facilitated reinvestigation of the Iberomaurusian layers, including the upper ashy midden unit. This investigation addresses questions surrounding chronological variation in the lithic assemblage, subsistence strategies, population health and mortuary practices. Preliminary work on the land snails has identified a low species diversity in the grey series midden layers, characterised by the large edible species Alabastrina alabastrites, Helix cf aspersa, Dupotetia dupotetiana, Otala punctata and Cernuella sp, which appear to represent an abrupt intensification in the use of land snails as a food source. Significant quantities of associated plant material and animal bone suggest that land snails are part of a broader based diet which is adopted from around 13,000 BP.

In vitro effects of extracts and purified tannins of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) against two cattle nematodes

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a condensed tannin (CT)-containing legume and has anthelmintic potential against gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants. This study investigated in vitro effects of acetone/water extracts and derived CT fractions from different types of sainfoin (i.e. accessions) against larvae of Cooperia oncophora and Ostertagia ostertagi by applying the larval feeding inhibition assay (LFIA). Seven sainfoin accessions were extracted and tested with L1 larvae at 10 and 40 μg extract/ml. In addition, CT in extracts from 4 accessions were fractionated according to polymer size and tested by LFIA at two concentrations (2 and 10 μg CT fraction/ml). All sainfoin extracts caused significant inhibition of L1-feeding of both C. oncophora and O. ostertagi with varying intensity compared to the control (phosphate buffered saline). For both nematode species the in vitro effect was positively correlated with CT content in the extracts, but not with any of the structural CT parameters. In contrast, the 16 CT fractions revealed significant correlations between in vitro effect and CT content, polymer size (mean degree of polymerisation, mDP) and monomeric composition (prodelphinidin percentage, % PD). These differences between crude extracts and purified fractions may stem from the fact that extracts contain complex CT mixtures, which may mask and thus suppress CT structural effects. This study provides the first indication that, apart from CT and % PD content, polymer size also contributes to anthelmintic activity of CTs. The results, therefore, suggest that the inter-accession variability in CT content and composition needs to be taken into account in future plant breeding programmes which seek to enhance the anthelmintic properties of sainfoin

Impact of chemical structure of flavanol monomers and condensed tannins on in vitro anthelmintic activity against bovine nematodes

Plants containing condensed tannins (CT) may have potential to control gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of cattle. The aim was to investigate the anthelmintic activities of four flavan-3-ols, two galloyl derivatives and 14 purified CT fractions, and to define which structural features of CT determine the anti-parasitic effects against the main cattle nematodes. We used in vitro tests targeting L1 larvae (feeding inhibition assay) and adults (motility assay) of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora. In the larval feeding inhibition assay, O. ostertagi L1 were significantly more susceptible to all CT fractions than C. oncophora L1. The mean degree of polymerization of CT (i.e. average size) was the most important structural parameter: large CT reduced larval feeding more than small CT. The flavan-3-ols of prodelphinidin (PD)-type tannins had a stronger negative influence on parasite activity than the stereochemistry, i.e. cis- vs trans-configurations, or the presence of a gallate group. In contrast, for C. oncophora high reductions in the motility of larvae and adult worms were strongly related with a higher percentage of PDs within the CT fractions while there was no effect of size. Overall, the size and the percentage of PDs within CT seemed to be the most important parameters that influence anti-parasitic activity.