206 research outputs found
Impact of the invasive painted bug Bagrada hilaris on physiological traits of its host Brassica oleracea var botrytis
No full textBagrada hilaris is a herbivorous insect native of Asia and Africa, which has invaded southern Europe and North America where it causes major damage to cole crops. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess how the infestation of this invasive species damages the host Brassica oleracea var botrytis, and to evaluate the interaction between plant emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and B. hilaris adults. Plant responses to insect feeding were evaluated through changes in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, VOC emission, and visual damage on leaves. The impact of B. hilaris was compared with that of Nezara viridula, a polyphagous species distributed worldwide. Plant VOC role in host plant detection was tested with electroantennography bioassays on B. hilaris antenna. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were consistently reduced in plants infested with 40 B. hilaris adults for 24 h. The feeding activity of a single B. hilaris caused larger discolored spots on host leaves in comparison with N. viridula. VOC emitted by B. oleracea changed significantly in response to B. hilaris and N. viridula infestation. In particular, production of limonene was strongly reduced by the infestation of the two pentatomids, while an increase in the emission of acetic acid and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol was observed. EAG dose–response tests using the main plant VOC showed B. hilaris antennal responses to benzaldehyde, octanal, nonanal, and acetic acid, which indicates a role of these compounds in host location
Practical approach to obtain the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal face at 11-13 weeks' gestation by two-dimensional ultrasound
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Detection of Diplodia pinea in asymptomatic pine shoots and its relation to the normalized insolation index
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The behaviour of plasma triglycerides and cholesterol in HIV positive haemophiliacs
No full textHypertriglyceridemia has frequently been found both in subjects with AIDS and in asymptomatic HIV-positive ones. In order to evaluate the importance of hyperlipemia as an index of the clinical evolution of HIV infection, the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and CD4 lymphocytes were determined over a period of 2 years in 8 haemophiliacs with AIDS, 13 asymptomatic HIV-positive and 45 HIV-negative haemophiliacs attending the Operative Unit of Coagulation Disorders of the University of Pisa. The mean concentration of triglycerides and incidence of hypertriglyceridemia were significantly higher in haemophiliacs with AIDS, compared with HIV-negative subjects (p<0.0001), while the triglycerides values of asymptomatic HIV-positives fell between those of the other groups. Cholesterol levels were lower in HIV-positive haemophiliacs and in those with AIDS compared with HIV-negatives. No correlation was found between triglyceride levels and those of CD4 lymphocytes
Fenomeni di deperimento e moria in popolamenti artificiali misti di latifoglie e conifere
No full textSituation with ash in Italy: stand characteristics, health conditions, ongoing work and research needs
No full textDiplodia sapinea: the main fungal species involved in the colonization of pine shoots in Italy
No full textDamage to various forest tree species caused by Diplodia sapinea has been reported in Italy since the early 20th century. However, until recently, systematic characterization of this microorganism, based on DNA sequence data, has been limited with only a general description of the fungus in the majority of the reports. To address this and provide a more accurate identification of Diplodia species associated on pine in Italy, we examined a total of 88 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates obtained from symptomatic and asymptomatic material from different
hosts located in different geographical regions of Italy. Using molecular analysis, we were able to identify 67 isolates of D. sapinea and eight isolates of D. seriata. Diplodia sapinea was dominant on P. nigra shoots and was also detected on P. halepensis, P. pinea, P. pinaster, P. radiata and P. sylvestris, while D. seriata and other Botryosphaeriaceae appeared to be only occasionally present on shoots. The remaining 13 isolates represented nine different Botryosphaeriaceae species, occurring at low levels. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on DAMD-PCR profiles detected low significant differences among D. sapinea isolates from the different sampling areas throughout Ital
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