Experimental evidence of ericoid mycorrhizal potential within Serendipitaceae (Sebacinales).

The Sebacinales are a monophyletic group of ubiquitous hymenomycetous mycobionts which form ericoid and orchid mycorrhizae, ecto- and ectendomycorrhizae, and nonspecific root endophytic associations with a wide spectrum of plants. However, due to the complete lack of fungal isolates derived from Ericaceae roots, the Sebacinales ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) potential has not yet been tested experimentally. Here, we report for the first time isolation of a serendipitoid (formerly Sebacinales Group B) mycobiont from Ericaceae which survived in pure culture for several years.

The pH and mobile phase composition effects ochratoxin A fluorescence at liquid chromatography.

Changes in the fluorescence behavior of fungal toxic metabolite ochratoxin were studied. The influence of ratio aqueous/organic solvent, the ionic composition of solution, and pH were investigated. The chromatographic separation under conditions yielding the highest fluorescence intensity were tested and compared with results obtained under commonly used chromatographic methods.

Determination of fumonisins in milled corn grains using HPLC-MS.

A new method for determination of fumonisins in corn samples was developed and validated. The mycotoxins were extracted by a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-water (1:1:2, v/v/v) and determined on a liquid chromatograph with mass spectrometric detection. The separation was performed on Zorbax XDB-C(18) column (150 x 4.

Fluctuation in the ergosterol and deoxynivalenol content in barley and malt during malting process.

This paper describes determination of the deoxynivalenol and ergosterol in samples from different varieties of barley and, consequently, malt produced from this barley. In total, 20 samples of barley and 20 samples of barley malt were analyzed. The alkaline hydrolysis with consequent extraction into hexane was applied to obtain the ergosterol from cereals.

First Report of Root Rot of Pedunculate Oak and Other Forest Tree Species Caused by Phytophthora plurivora in the Czech Republic.

From 2006 to 2008, several similar Phytophthora isolates were obtained from roots of mature Quercus robur and other tree species (Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior, Q. rubra, and Tilia cordata) in forests and parks in several areas in the Czech Republic. The trees were characterized by chlorotic and reduced foliage, crown dieback, and reduced root hairs.

Comparative analysis of proteomic changes in contrasting flax cultivars upon cadmium exposure.

Cadmium (Cd) is classified as a serious pollutant due to its high toxicity, high carcinogenicity, and widespread presence in the environment. Phytoremediation represents an effective low-cost approach for removing pollutants from contaminated soils, and a crop with significant phytoremediation potential is flax. However, significant differences in Cd accumulation and tolerance were previously found among commercial flax cultivars.

Evaluation of shape variability of stallion sperm heads by means of image analysis and Fourier descriptors.

This study quantified and evaluated the variability of sperm head shape for 10 different stallions. Sperm head shape characteristics including sperm head length to width ratio, position of the center of gravity, curvature, and degree of roundness were assessed and analysed from images using elliptic Fourier descriptors and inverse Fourier transformation. The first four principal components accounted for 88.

Polyelectrolyte multilayers as stationary phases for open tubular ion chromatography.

Polyelectrolyte multilayers deposited on the wall of fused silica capillaries were used as stationary phases in open tubular ion chromatography. The multilayers were formed by flushing the capillaries with solutions of polyanions and polycations such as polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride and dextran sulphate. Columns with several bi-layers were constructed and used in low pressure non-suppressed open tubular ion chromatography of common inorganic anions (F(-), Cl(-), NO(3)(-)) and cations (Li(+), Na(+), NH(4)(+), K(+), Cs(+)) with contactless conductometric detection.

Effect of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis on apoptosis of bovine mammary gland lymphocytes.

The aim of this study was to determine whether lymphocyte apoptosis is modulated by infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis. Samples of cell populations were obtained by lavage of the mammary glands at 4 intervals (24, 48, 72 and 168 h) following infection. The percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes peaked at 168 h after challenge with S.

Production and regulation of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes of Poria-like wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes.

The wood-decomposing fungal species Antrodia macra, A. pulvinascens, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, C. resinascens and Dichomitus albidofuscus were determined for production of laccase (LAC), Mn peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), endo-l,4-P-beta-glucanase, endo-l,4-beta-xylanase, cellobiohydrolase, 1,4-beta-glucosidase and 1,4-beta-xylosidase.

Changes caused by genotype and environmental conditions in beta-glucan content of spring barley for dietetically beneficial human nutrition.

Over the 5-year period (2000-2004), a significantly higher beta-glucan content was detected in the waxy varieties Washonubet, Wabet, and Wanubet (6.8-7.6%) and lines formed by crossing these varieties with malting varieties (5.

Biogenic amine-forming microbial communities in cheese.

The aim of this study was to screen two cheese starter cultures and cheese-borne microbial communities with the potential to produce biogenic amines in cheese during ripening. Bacteria of the genera Enterococcus and Lactobacillus and coliform bacteria were isolated from Dutch-type semi-hard cheese at the beginning of the ripening period. Statistically significant counts of bacterial isolates were screened for the presence of specific DNA sequences coding for tyrosine decarboxylase (tyrDC) and histidine decarboxylase (hDC) enzymes.

Analysis of amino acids by combination of carrier ampholyte-free IEF with ITP.

The use of carrier ampholyte-free IEF (CAF-IEF) with ITP mobilization and conductivity detection in ITP mode for preconcentration and analysis of amino acids is demonstrated. The analytical procedure consists of three subsequent steps. In the first step, amino acids are continuously dosed from an infinite volume reservoir by electromigration to the column, where a sharp, stationary neutralization reaction boundary (NRB) is created in between acidic and basic primary electrolyte.

Impact of RYR1 genotype of Piétrain boars on litter traits of Czech Large White x Czech Landrace crossbred sows.

Piétrain boars of different ryanodine receptor (RYR1) genotypes (NN, Nn and nn, three boars each) were mated with approximately 10 Czech Large White x Czech Landrace sows (genotype NN) each to produce one litter per sow. The progeny of nn boars had a significantly higher individual weaning weight (7.31 kg versus 6.

SNaPshot minisequencing and a panel of candidate genes for complex routine testing of meat performance traits in pigs.

The aim of the study was to introduce a convenient method for identification of differences among individual animals in genes supposed to influence meat performance in pigs. The set of seven candidate genes (IGF2, FOS, MC4R, DGAT1, MYF4, MYF, and MC3R) was used. To determine the genotypes, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and minisequencing using SNaPshot system (Applied Biosystems; Forster City, CA, USA) were applied.

The effect of dietary calcium source, concentration and particle size on calcium retention, eggshell quality and overall calcium requirement in laying hens.

1. Four different sources of calcium in isonitrogenous and isoenergeric diets were fed to laying hens for 2 weeks when they were 56 and 57 weeks old. The calcium source blends were as follows: 29% fine limestone (LF)+71% large limestone (LG), 32% LF+68% eggshell, 32% LF+68% oyster shell, 50% LF+50% LG.

Paenibacillus sepulcri sp. nov., isolated from biodeteriorated mural paintings in the Servilia tomb.

In 2001, a Gram-variable, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from biodeteriorated mural paintings in the Servilia tomb of the Roman necropolis of Carmona was deposited as Paenibacillus strain LMG 19508. Subsequently, the strain was characterized in detail using phenotypic and molecular methods. The 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Paenibacillus and indicated its relationship to Paenibacillus mendelii CCM 4839(T) (96.

Paenibacillus mendelii sp. nov., from surface-sterilized seeds of Pisum sativum L.

A Gram-variable, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium was isolated from surface-sterilized seeds of the garden pea and characterized with phenotypic and molecular methods. A PCR with the Paenibacillus-specific primer PAEN515F and the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain C/2T belongs to the genus Paenibacillus and is closely related to Paenibacillus phyllosphaerae (94.0 % sequence similarity).

Bio-available amino acids extraction from soil by demineralized water and 0.5 M ammonium acetate.

The extraction and comparison of soil bio-available amino acids using either demineralised water (DEMI H(2)O) or 0.5 M ammonium acetate (0.5 M AAc) solution is reported.

Reduction of radiocaesium transfer to broiler chicken meat by the hexacyanoferrate-cellulose binder "Bifezh".

The influence of Bifezh (a hexacyanoferrate compound as veterinary feed additive) on the transfer of (137)Cs to meat was investigated in broiler chickens after application of an artificially contaminated feed mixture. The reduction factors reached 2.23 and 8.

Assessing the use of delta(13)C natural abundance in separation of root and microbial respiration in a Danish beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest.

Our understanding of forest biosphere-atmosphere interactions is fundamental for predicting forest ecosystem responses to climatic changes. Currently, however, our knowledge is incomplete partly due to inability to separate the major components of soil CO(2) effluxes, viz. root respiration, microbial decomposition of soil organic matter and microbial decomposition of litter material.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME): a microscale sampling technique for determination of monoterpene hydrocarbons in coniferous needles by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique has been applied for the microscale sampling (single needle for Picea omorica, two needles of Picea abies) of volatile monoterpene hydrocarbons (MTHs) from conifer needles. A simple device consisting of a closed headspace vial equipped with an integral cutting device was used for the collection, homogenisation, and HS-SPME sampling. The highly sensitive gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analyses (LODs in tenths of ng g(-1) FW were obtained for 3xS/N criteria) of individual needles confirmed the space distribution of MTHs in different parts of a single sprout (base, centre, apex) and among the left, central and right sprout of a whorl.

Comparison of aqua regia and HNO3-H(2)O(2) procedures for extraction of Tl and some other elements from soils.

The relationship between aqua regia (ISO 11466) and HNO(3)-H(2)O(2) (ISO/CD 20279) extraction procedures for atomic emission spectrometric (ICP/OES and ICP/MS) determinations of Tl, P, Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, K, As, Bi, Zn, Pb, Co, Cd, Ni, V, Be, Cu and Cr was investigated. Soil samples (155) representing areas with different contents of the elements were selected for the comparison. Tl was the element of the highest interest and therefore the sampling sites were chosen to achieve as wide range of Tl contents as possible.

Age and space distributions of monoterpenes in fresh needles of Picea abies (L) Karst. Determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Monoterpenes (alpha- and beta-pinene, delta-3-carene, camphene, alpha-phellandrene and limonene) were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in fresh needles of Picea abies (L) Karst. situated in three ecologically different regions of Moravia. Through the use of cryogenic grinding for critical sample homogenisation, solvent extraction with cold n-hexane, followed by GC analysis with mass detection, very low quantities of sample (0.

Analytical aspects of carrier ampholyte-free isoelectric focusing.

The applicability of carrier ampholyte-free isoelectric focusing (CAF-IEF) for analyses of ampholytes is demonstrated. The suggested method is based on the principle of both side regulated ionic matrix in CAF-IEF. A sharp step of pH is created in the column filled with a sample dissolved in a background electrolyte by influence of current and solvolytic fluxes.