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Plants colonised by dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi show increased uptake of nutrients available in the environment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of DSE fungi on the activity of proton pumps, nitrogen (N) recovery from ammonium sulphate, and nutrient accumulation in rice plants. Treatments consisted of non-inoculated plants and plants inoculated with two isolates of DSE fungi, A101 and A103. To determine N recovery from the soil, ammonium sulphate enriched with 15N was added to a non-sterile substrate while parameters associated with the activity of proton pumps and with NO3−uptake were determined in a sterile environment. The A101 and A103 fungal isolates colonised the roots of rice plants, promoting 15N uptake, growth, and accumulation of nutrients as compared with the mock control. A103 induced the expression of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase (PM H+-ATPase) isoforms OsA5and OsA8, the activity of the PM H+-ATPase and H+-pyrophosphatase. Our results suggest that the inoculation of rice plants with DSE fungi represents a strategy to improve the N recovery from ammonium sulphate and rice plant growth through the induction of OsA5and OsA8isoforms and stimulation of the PM H+-ATPase and H+-pyrophosphatase.

The use of dark septate fungi (DSE) to promote plant growth can be beneficial to agriculture, and these organisms are important allies in the search for sustainable agriculture practices. This study investigates the contribution of dark septate fungi to the absorption of nutrients by rice plants and their ensuing growth. Four dark septate fungi isolates that were identified by Internal transcribed spacer phylogeny were inoculated in rice seeds (Cv. Piauí). The resulting root colonization was estimated and the kinetic parameters Vmaxand Kmwere calculated from the nitrate contents of the nutrient solution. The macronutrient levels in the shoots, and the NO3−-N, NH4+-N, free amino-N and soluble sugars in the roots, sheathes and leaves were measured. The rice roots were significantly colonized by all of the fungi, but in particular, isolate A103 increased the fresh and dry biomass of the shoots and the number of tillers per plant, amino-N, and soluble sugars as well as the N, P, K, Mg and S contents in comparison with the control treatment. When inoculated with isolates A103 and A101, the plants presented lower Kmvalues, indicating affinity increases for NO3−-N absorption. Therefore, the A103 Pleosporalesfungus presented the highest potential for the promotion of rice plant growth, increasing the tillering and nutrients uptake, especially N (due to an enhanced affinity for N uptake) and P.

The publisher regret that in the above paper, Table 1 was printed incorrectly. The table is now printed correctly below. Table 1 Allele frequencies and statistical parameter for 13 STRs [...]

Six Ecuadorian honeys defined by the first two dimensions of the consensus configuration, showing the sensory attributes used to describe them. Aroma (A) and flavor (F) attributes are indicated.

Con mayor aporte de proteínas y energía en la primera semana se ha observado hipofosfemia en prematuros extremos. Los menores niveles de fósforo se han presentado en prematuros con antecedentes de restricción de crecimiento intrauterino.

Edible insects are an integral part of the Traditional Food System of the Popoloca people of Los Reyes Metzontla in Mexico. Investigation of the knowledge associated with the gathering, preparation, consumption and classification (hot-cold) of edible insects shows that insect gathering is closely related with other activities such as subsistence agriculture, firewood collection and animal husbandry. These activities involve visits to the scrubland where, in addition, many wild foods are gathered depending upon their temporal availability. The people of Los Reyes Metzontla consume at least 17 species of insects. One of them, (Mormidea (Mormidea) notulata, Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a new record for the Edible Insects Database in Mexico and a new record for the state of Puebla.

We tested the effect natural products smoke has on the honey bee tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) and honey bees. Plant materials screened for activity included coffee beans (Coffea arabica), corncobs (Zea mays), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.), orange peel (Citrus sinensis), pecan leaves (Carya illinoiensis), dead and fresh pine needles (Pinus cembroides), mesquite leaves (Prosopis glandulosa) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Low but significant mite mortality was caused by the smoke of pine needles, mesquite, corncobs, and coffee beans. The smoke of L. tridentata killed more adult A. woodi than other materials (LT50 = 2.4 min, single exposure). It was not effective against immatures. Mite mortality was negatively correlated with parasites/trachea, suggesting that reduced air flow while breathing may have reduced efficacy. Efficacy was modest (ca. 70%) and it caused transitory bee anesthesia. We do not recommend using this material as a control.

Ovarian development was studied in workers of Bombus terrestris under four different treatments, which produced different levels of ovarian development. Psythirus females of both specific (P. vestalis) and non-specific (P. bohemicus, which is the specific parasite of B. lucorum) species were able to inhibit worker ovarian development and to reproduce in B. terrestris colonies. The effect of P. vestalis females on ovarian development of workers was statistically not different from the effect of B. terrestris queens (positive control) and significantly different from ovarian development inhibition measured in groups of workers alone (negative control). Ovarian development inhibition by P. bohemicus was not statistically different both from the positive and the negative control, indicating that this non-specific parasite is able to affect the ovarian development of workers, but not to the same extent as the queens of the same species or the females of the specific parasite.