Different Regions Of Italy Research Articles

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MYRTUS COMMUNIS L. WILD GENOTYPES USING AFLP MARKERS

Myrtus communis L., is a wild shrub widespread throughout the Mediterranean region and the Middle East, grown for its ornamental value and aromatic properties. Evaluation of genetic diversity existing within wild myrtle populations represents a starting point for the development of breeding programs or selection of genotypes with useful traits for cultivar improvement. AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms) markers were used to determine the genetic relationships among myrtle wild genotypes collected from six different regions in Italy. Fifty-one individuals were analysed with three selected combination of primers. Polymorphic bands were scored and used for the analysis of genetic distances in order to evaluate the genetic variability in the collected germplasm. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that variability within populations represented the greatest source of variation. This result was confirmed by UPGMA cluster analysis, which did not resolve a clear grouping of most genotypes by their region of origin or specific population. Nevertheless, genotypes coming from Apulia and part of Sicily were resolved clearly in a specific sub-cluster. Such individuals are characterized by a particular branch and leaf morphology.

Spectral nephelometry for the geographic classification of Italian extra virgin olive oils

Extra virgin olive oils from different regions of Italy, both made in artisan manner and industrially produced, were analyzed by means of multi-angle and multi-wavelength absorption spectroscopy in the visible spectral range, and were then compared with other edible oils. A multivariate processing of the spectral data produced maps of oils clustered according to oil type and geographic origin.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Hypertension

To evaluate the clinical consequences of recommendations from Italian herbalists of products that can help control high blood pressure. A questionnaire was distributed to 720 Italian herbalists to obtain information about the main herbal remedies and dietary supplements that they recommend to patients who require a ‘natural’ treatment to control their high blood pressure. The questionnaire was distributed during 12 current practice update seminars given by teachers of the Italian Society for the Study of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology to herbalists working in different regions of Italy in 2003. We then compiled a short review on the efficacy and safety of the products that the herbalists recommended. The more frequently suggested herbal remedies were olive leaf, hawthorn, garlic, evening primrose oil, borage, psyllium, stevia, mistletoe and eleuthero, and the frequently suggested dietary supplements were magnesium, calcium, fish oil, γ-linolenic acid, coenzyme Q10, potassium, vitamin B6, arginine and taurine. Most of the products recommended by the herbalists could be efficacious in reducing blood pressure. If a patient with hypertension is already using natural products that reduce their blood pressure even slightly, this may lead their doctor to underestimate their level of hypertension. If the patient then stops the complementary treatment after beginning drug therapy, this could cause their doctor to underestimate the effect of the drug therapy. If doctors are to have a role in advising patients about complementary and alternative medicine, they need some familiarity with this type of medicine. If they choose not to advise patients about this, then it is likely that the provision of complementary and alternative medicine will continue to be largely outside the conventional care framework. Perhaps provision may be through a growing network of parallel care providers involving a large number of non-medically qualified practitioners, which patients will continue to access directly.

Genetic structure of the Pleurotus eryngii species-complex

Assessment of genetic and phenotypic diversity is necessary to confidently distinguish genotypes of Pleurotus eryngii when seeking traits of interest and to identify strains with high yield potential. We studied 154 strains from Italy for quantitative (shape, size and yield), qualitative (colour, malformations and growing behaviour), and molecular (RAPD and minisatellite) traits. This population consisted of isolates mostly belonging to P. eryngii var. eryngii, var. ferulae or var. nebrodensis, from different regions of Italy. A replicated cultivation trial, with three blocks and three replicates for each strain within the block, was used as an experimental design to calculate trait estimates. Significant differences were observed between strains for basidiome number and weight, while no significant differentiation for quantitative morphological traits was observed between geographical origins and taxonomic groups. Qualitative morphological traits were efficient in differentiating isolates of P. eryngii var. nebrodensis. On average, yield per strain (basidiome weight) was correlated more with basidiome number than with size. The most stable yield traits were basidiome number and weight per strain. An average heritability of 0.31 was estimated for yield related traits. A significant difference between var. ferulae and var. eryngii populations was detected for basidiome production measured as 'average harvest time'. Molecular markers showed a high level of heterogeneity within populations and a low, but significant, degree of differentiation among populations defined a priori. No population-specific marker was detected and the differential pattern of variation between vars. ferulae and eryngii was due to frequency-dependent alleles. The nebrodensis type was more differentiated from var. eryngii than from var. ferulae using either molecular or qualitative morphological traits.

Urban crematoria pollution related to the management of the deceased

The paper gives an overview of data emission from crematoria sited in different regions of Italy that use the same type of machine and examines the requirements that currently used coffins and coffins made of alternative materials must meet under the Decree No. 285/90 (Articles 30–31, 75–77, concerning the mechanical resistance of coffins; Article 8 concerning the observation period before burying the deceased), under the laws No. 644/1975 and No. 578/93 and the Decree No. 582/94 concerning the observation period aimed at confirming the occurred death. As a matter of fact, every step of the management of a corpse brings about all sorts of emissions (liquid, gaseous, wastes) and entails the use of materials and devices that are not always compatible with the current environmental needs. For instance, some materials for the construction of coffins that are suitable for their intrinsic aim may not be so for environmental purposes (biodegradation, recycling, recovery, etc), i.e., they are not easy to treat or they release certain substances upon cremation. Adverse circumstances may lead to the flowing back of gases or liquids generated by the onset of the decomposition process, thus whatever the type of final disposal of the deceased, coffins need to be strong enough to face the various kinds of impacts they meet upon handling, temporary storage, etc. On the basis of mechanical tests on prototypes of coffins made of different materials, the design and construction of a coffin need to be made on the basis of the impact may derive from the onset decomposition process after a minimum period of 24 h after the confirmed death. The results obtained on emissions from crematoria, representing an example of the machines currently in use in Italy, show a wide variation in the content of the pollutants investigated: metals, total particulate matter, organic micropollutants such as dioxin (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs).

In vitro fluconazole susceptibility of 1565 clinical isolates of candida species evaluated by the disk diffusion method performed using NCCLS M44-A guidelines

We determined the in vitro activity of fluconazole against 1565 clinical Candida spp. isolates collected from different specimens of non-AIDS outpatients and inpatients in 3 different regions of Italy. Susceptibility testing was performed by agar disk diffusion using the NCCLS document M44-A guidelines. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated yeast (68%) followed by C. glabrata (15%), C. tropicalis (5%), C. parapsilosis (5%), and C. krusei (5%). Other yeasts represented 4% of all isolates. Of the 1565 isolates tested, 1449 (92.6%) were susceptible (S) to fluconazole, 43 (2.7%) were susceptible dose-dependent (S-DD) and 73 (4.7%) were resistant (R). Almost all (98.2%) of the C. albicans isolates were classified as S or S-DD. Despite its widespread use, fluconazole displayed good activity against the isolates we tested, and the disk diffusion method was confirmed as a reliable approach to the evaluation of in vitro susceptibility of yeasts to this antimycotic agent.

Plasma levels of six carotenoids in nine European countries: report from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

In addition to their possible direct biological effects, plasma carotenoids can be used as biochemical markers of fruit and vegetable consumption for identifying diet-disease associations in epidemiological studies. Few studies have compared levels of these carotenoids between countries in Europe. Our aim was to assess the variability of plasma carotenoid levels within the cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Plasma levels of six carotenoids--alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin--were measured cross-sectionally in 3043 study subjects from 16 regions in nine European countries. We investigated the relative influence of gender, season, age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake and smoking status on plasma levels of the carotenoids. Mean plasma level of the sum of the six carotenoids varied twofold between regions (1.35 micromol l(-1) for men in Malmö, Sweden vs. 2.79 micromol l(-1) for men in Ragusa/Naples, Italy; 1.61 micromol l(-1) for women in The Netherlands vs. 3.52 micromol l(-1) in Ragusa/Naples, Italy). Mean levels of individual carotenoids varied up to fourfold (alpha-carotene: 0.06 micromol l(-1) for men in Murcia, Spain vs. 0.25 micromol l(-1) for vegetarian men living in the UK). In multivariate regression analyses, region was the most important predictor of total plasma carotenoid level (partial R(2)=27.3%), followed by BMI (partial R(2)=5.2%), gender (partial R(2)=2.7%) and smoking status (partial R(2)=2.8%). Females had higher total carotenoid levels than males across Europe. Plasma levels of carotenoids vary substantially between 16 different regions in Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands. Compared with region of residence, the other demographic and lifestyle factors and laboratory measurements have limited predictive value for plasma carotenoid levels in Europe.

What do herbalists suggest to diabetic patients in order to improve glycemic control? Evaluation of scientific evidence and potential risks

In the course of 12 continuing education seminars given in different regions of Italy in 2001, we distributed a questionnaire to all the attending herbalists asking information about the herbal remedy and dietary supplement they mainly recommended to subjects who required a "natural" treatment to control glycemia. We distributed 720 questionnaires and we received 685 completed ones. We have compiled a short review on the efficacy and safety of the 10 most frequently advised products for each category. The 10 more frequently suggested herbal remedies were gymnema, psyllium, fenugreek, bilberry, garlic, Chinese ginseng, dandelion, burdock, prickly pear cactus, and bitter melon. The 10 most frequently recommended dietary supplements were biotin, vanadium, chromium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, alpha-lipoic acid, and fructooligosaccharides. The majority of the products recommended by Italian herbalists may be efficacious in reducing glycemia. If a diabetic patient is already assuming products that even slightly reduce glycemia, we risk to underestimate the level of glucose intolerance, while if the patient stops the complementary treatment after initiating pharmaceutical therapy, in the subsequent visit we may underestimate the effect of our prescription. Therefore, if doctors are to have a role in gate-keeping or advising patients about complementary and alternative medicine, they need to be familiar with this type of medicine. If they choose otherwise, then the provision of complementary and alternative medicine will continue to be patchy and largely outside the conventional care framework, perhaps through a growing network of parallel care providers involving a large number of non-medically qualified practitioners, who patients will continue to access directly.

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) applied to honey quality control

AbstractThe assessment of the botanical origin of unifloral honeys is an important application in food control. The current official methods mainly use pollen analysis. The aim of this paper is to present an SPME analytical approach to the study of honey volatiles. Honey samples (40) obtained from hive sites in different regions of Italy were analysed. The samples had six different botanical origins: citrus (five), chestnut (10), eucalyptus (eight), lime tree (11), thyme (two) and dandelion (four). Melissopalynological analysis was also performed. Identification of volatile compounds was carried out by SPME/GC/MS analysis, and quantitative evaluation was done by SPME/GC/FID analysis for compounds with well‐resolved peaks. Using the SPME method, all samples with the same botanical origin gave remarkably similar GC profiles. Some volatile compounds were found only in specific floral source honey samples and thus could be interesting for use as markers. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL COMPONENTS OF CRATAEGUS AZAROLUS FRUITS

Azarole (Crataegus azarolus L.) is a fruit and ornamental tree cultivated for centuries in the Mediterranean area, which is presently becoming rare in Italy. Programs directed to the collection and characterisation of its genetic resources have been started, in order to contribute to the exploitation of this species. The main pomological traits and the content of sugars, acids and total polyphenols were determined in fruits at the ripening stage of five azarole accessions collected in two regions of Italy. The accessions were clearly differentiated by both biometric and chemical fruit characteristics. GHI4 and GHI7 were distinguished by bigger fruits and more tasty flesh than the other accessions. Sugar profiles of these two accessions were clearly differentiated by the high levels of sucrose, whereas this sugar was almost absent in the other accessions. Similar contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids and procyanidins were measured in all the accessions. The presence of good levels of these components with medicinal properties makes azarole fruits susceptible to exploitation in the field of food with nutraceutical interest. INTRODUCTION Azarole (Crataegus azarolus L.) is a multipurpose fruit tree cultivated or naturalised in the Mediterranean region and in Italy, with good potential as an ornamental, fruit and medicinal plant (Ker’y et al., 1989; Bignami and Kurzmann, 1998; Bignami and Kurzmann, 2000). Similarly to Crataegus monogyna, flowers and leaves are considered able to exert antioxidant activities and a positive action on the heart, due to the content of flavonoids and procyanidins (Twaij et al., 1987; Ker’y et al., 1989), but their medicinal properties are still not fully understood and not yet exploited. Furthermore, little research has been devoted to the composition and the presence and function of bioactive compounds in azarole fruits (Twaij et al., 1987; Ker’y et al., 1989; Schussler et al., 1991). In Italy azarole has become very rare. Presently a few specimens are still cultivated in domestic orchards and gardens and their fruits are sometimes sold in the market. A program of conservation and characterisation of these threatened genetic resources started in 1996 within a EU project (Resgen 29), dealing with the exploitation of minor fruit tree species. Accessions of Crataegus azarolus have been individualised and collected in different regions of Italy and preliminarily described (Bignami and Kurzmann, 2000). The presence of flavonoids in leaf and flowers has been revealed by chemical analysis directed to the chemotaxonomy of these Italian ecotypes (Bignami and Kurzmann, 1998), but the composition of their fruits is still unknown. The use of food as a medicine has gained increasing attention in the last years. The evaluation of the nutritional and medicinal value of the fruits could then support the exploitation of azarole. The pomological and analytical characterisation of the fruits of some accessions collected in Lazio and Emilia-Romagna was carried out in order to evaluate the potential for fresh consumption and for medicinal purposes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Samples of fruits were harvested at ripening time in 1998-1999. The pomological traits were described or measured on 20-30 fruits per accession. Titratable acidity and the Proc. Int. Conf. on MAP Eds. J. Bernath et al. Acta Hort. 597, ISHS 2003

Tomato infectious chlorosis virus causes leaf yellowing and reddening of tomato in Italy

Since autumn 2000, severe and widespread chlorosis, sometimes associated with redness, has been observed in greenhouse tomatoes in different regions of Italy. A total of 104 samples were analyzed for tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV), by a one-step RT-PCR procedure. In some areas of central Italy and Sardinia, the symptom was consistently correlated with the presence of TICV. The RT-PCR procedure enabled rapid and reliable detection of TICV from field samples. Sequence analysis of the amplified 501-bp fragment, part of the HSP70 coding region, revealed an identity of 99% with the TICV sequence in the GenBank database. A digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe was also produced and successfully tested in dot blot assays. This is the first report of TICV causing epidemics in Europe.

MOLECULAR HYBRIDIZATION AND PCR AMPLIFICATION OF NON-RIBOSOMAL DNA TO DETECT AND DIFFERENTIATE STOLBUR PHYTOPLASMA ISOLATES FROM ITALY

Amplification of ribosomal phytoplasma DNA by direct or nested PCR and stolbur-specific primers, followed by restriction length polymorphism analysis were used to detect and identify stolbur phytoplasmas in symptomatic alfalfa, celery, field bindweed, grapevine, olive and tomato plant samples from different regions of Italy. Alfalfa appears to be a new host for this phytoplasma. All isolates showed RFLP patterns indistinguishable from one another and from the one of the Serbian reference isolate from pepper. In Southern hybridization experiments, EcoRI and HindIII restricted DNAs from stolbur-infected herbaceous hosts hybridized with two riboprobes from random-cloned chromosomal DNA fragments of a Sardinian stolbur isolate from tomato, yielding more or less complex patterns. None of the probes hybridized with DNAs from stolbur-unrelated phytoplasma infected or healthy plants or olives known to harbour stolbur phytoplasma. With one of the probes, two types of molecular hybridization profiles were detected among stolbur-infected samples. Based on the nucleotide sequence of this probe, a new non-ribosomal primer pair was designed. These primers amplified a stolbur-specific fragment of 720 bp from stolbur- infected samples, but not from symptomatic olives, healthy plants or plants infected with unrelated phytoplasmas. To verify whether absence of amplified fragments in gels was due to lack of priming or to undetectably low amplification of stolbur DNA, negative PCR products were tested in hybridization assays with the primers parental probe. Positive hybridization signals were obtained with such samples but not with products from healthy DNAs or negative PCR controls. The same probe was also used to detect stolbur DNA on membranes printed with tissues from field-infected tomato plants or from glasshouse-maintaned stolbur-infected periwinkles or young asymptomatic tomato seedlings grafted with infected field material.

A review of nonparametric attenuation functions computed for different regions of Italy

We used a set of previously published nonparametric attenuation functions to calculate average functions for the Italian region. These nonparametric functions describe the spectral amplitude decay of the S waves as a function of distance for 14 frequencies between 1 and 20 Hz for the regions of Lombardia-Piemonte, Eastern Sicily, Friuli, Marche and the Central Apennines. Since all the attenuation functions were obtained using the same methodology, we were able to make a fair comparison of the attenuation characteristics of the different regions. In general, while the Central Apennines show the strongest amplitude decay for all the frequencies analyzed, the regions of Lombardia and Eastern Sicily show the smallest attenuation. The Marche region also shows a strong amplitude decay, particularly for frequencies f > 3 Hz, and in the frequency band between 1 and 3 Hz the rate of decay of the spectral amplitudes with distance becomes similar to that of the region of Friuli. Since the attenuation functions analyzed represent different geologic and tectonic environments, we used them to calculate an average set of attenuation functions, one per frequency, for the hypocentral distance range between 10 and 120 km. The resulting functions permit a mean attenuation correction to spectral records of S waves in regions of Italy where the specific values of the attenuation parameters are unknown.

Hearing loss due to the mitochondrial A1555G mutation in Italian families

Six Italian families with familial nonsyndromic hearing loss consistent with a maternal pattern of inheritance were analyzed for mitochondrial mutations. The three known mitochondrial mutations associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss were investigated by polymerase chain reaction amplification, followed by restriction fragment length analysis or DNA sequencing. The A7445G mutation and C7472 insertion were not present in either of the families, but the A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene was identified in homoplasmic form in two of the families. In one of the families the onset of hearing loss is congenital, while in the other it starts later in life. The families are from different regions of Italy, and mitochondrial haplotype analysis showed that the mutation arose independently in these two families. This suggests that the A1555G mutation may not be an uncommon cause of hearing loss in Italians, and is clinically important because maternal hearing relatives of patients with the A1555G mutation are at risk for aminoglycoside induced deafness. We discuss potential reasons for the normal phenotype in some relatives with the mutation, and the different onset of hearing loss in the two families.

Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence in blood donors and lymphoma patients from different regions of Italy.

Independent epidemiologic studieshave shown a strong association be-tween Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and infec-tion with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8or KSHV). HHV-8 genomic sequenceshave been found in all forms (1–5)andall histologic stages (6) of KS, with viralDNA being localized to tumor endothe-lial cells and spindle cells (7,8). Detec-tion of HHV-8 DNA sequences in theperipheral blood of patients who are se-ropositive for human immunodeficiencyvirus 1 (HIV) is a strong predictor ofprogression to KS (9,10). The vast ma-jority of patients with KS have antibod-ies against HHV-8(11–14), with sero-conversion before clinical disease (15).HHV-8 infection is apparently not com-mon in the general population of theU.K. and the United States, but it iscommon in groups at high risk for KS(11–14).In addition, HHV-8 seropreva-lence is higher in HIV-positive homo-sexual men than in HIV-positive pa-tients with hemophilia (13), just asacquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)-related KS occurs far morecommonly in homosexual men than inpatients with hemophilia. HHV-8 infec-tion is common in the general popula-tion of Uganda, which has a high inci-dence of endemic KS (11,13,14).The classic form of KS affectsmainly elderly men in Mediterraneanand Eastern Europe (16). If HHV-8 isthe major etiologic agent in KS, a higherprevalence of antibodies against HHV-8would be expected in regions with anelevated incidence of KS. KS is preva-lent in Italy, especially in the South,Sardinia, and the lower Po valley(Northern Italy) (16–18). From 1976through 1984, before the era of AIDS,elevated incidence rates of KS werefound in nine Italian cancer registries;these incidence rates were twofold tothreefold higher than those in the UnitedStates and Sweden and 10-fold higherthan those in the U.K. (17–20) (Fig. 1,A, and data not shown).We investigated the prevalence of an-tibodies against the HHV-8 latentnuclear antigen (LNA-1) by use of animmunofluorescence assay (13) in 747blood donors from different regions ofItaly. Since HHV-8 is also associatedwith primary effusion lymphoma (21)and multicentric Castleman’s disease(22), we additionally investigated the se-roprevalence of this lymphotropic her-pesvirus in 163 lymphoma patientsfrom the same Italian regions; 78 ofthese patients had Hodgkin’s disease,and 85 had non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas(64 of B-cell origin and 21 of T-cell ori-gin). The immunofluorescence assay isthe most sensitive and specific assaycurrently available to detect HHV-8 in-fection (23). Sera were tested in ablinded manner at a dilution of 1:100,and 38 positive sera were also titrated to

Vegetative compatibility and pathogenicity of Diplodia mutila isolates on oak

SummaryForty isolates of Diplodia mutila, a dieback agent on oaks were characterized by their capacity to produce heterokaryons, by their vegetative compatibility, and by their pathogenicity tests on Quercus cerris. The forty isolates were collected from Quercus cerris, Quercus frainetto, Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Quercus robur and Quercus suber in different regions in Italy. Three nit mutants (nitt, nit and nitM) were identified with different nitrogen sources: sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, uric acid, ammonium tartrate and hypoxanthine. On the two nutrient media employed, a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium with chlorate (PDC), and a minimal agar medium with chlorate (MMC), isolates obtained from Q. cerris yielded the greatest number of mutants: 254 on PDC (out of a total of 583) and 190 on MMC (out of a total of 440). Nine vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were identified. There was a strong association between these VCGs and host species. All isolates tested except one from Q. cerris were pathogenic.

Epidemiological analysis of strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis from foodborne outbreaks occurring in Italy, 1980-1994.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR-) ribotyping was performed on 243 strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis isolated during the years 1980-1994 from 58 foodborne outbreaks occurring in different regions of Italy. The majority (37) of the outbreaks were attributed to phage type (PT) 4, followed by PT1 (seven outbreaks); the latter was identified in 1993 in Italy in epidemic strains of Enteritidis. In eight cases more than one phage type was recognised from a single event. Nine PCR-ribotypes (PCR-RTs) were detected, with a strong prevalence of PCR-RTs f7 and e5 (23 and 21 outbreaks, respectively). In two instances two distinct PCR-RTs were identified within strains from a single outbreak. All but one of the PT1 outbreaks were caused by PCR-RT f7, whereas PT4 outbreaks could be subdivided into six subsets. Clustering of isolates was consistent with data obtained from epidemiological investigations. PCR-ribotyping proved to be an effective and reliable tool for subtyping isolates of Enteritidis belonging to the most frequent phage types. Nevertheless, in terms of laboratory expertise and lack of inter-laboratory standardisation, this typing technique is best suited for reference laboratories.

Comparison of Mycoplasma agalactiae isolates by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting

We have analyzed 81 isolates of Mycoplasma agalactiae from four different regions of Italy between 1990 and 1995 in order to identify antigenic differences through SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and chromosomal DNA restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern differences. Antigenic variability in M. agalactiae isolates was investigated analyzing hydrophobic membrane protein fractions by immunoblotting using pooled sheep antiserum from naturally infected sheep. Large restriction fragments obtained cleaving genomic DNAs with SmaI, NruI, SalI, XhoI, BssHII and KpnI were analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Genetic analysis indicates that isolates are all similar without intraspecific differences. This homogeneity was confirmed by immunoblotting: 80 and 50 kDa antigens are present in all strains analyzed.

Testing for Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens and Xanthomonas campestris pathovars on cereals in Italy

During recent years, recurrent attacks of basal glume rot/leaf blight attributed to Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens have been observed on cultivars of durum wheat grown in the Po valley (IT). The main aim of this study was to test for this pathogen and Xanthomonas campestris pathovars in commercial seed lots of cereals produced in different regions of Italy, as well as in symptomatic plants collected in the field. None of the analyses led to the detection of xanthomonads. In testing for P.s. atrofaciens, representative bacterial isolates were selected and characterized; this was done by combining conventional identification tests and computerized densitometric analysis of electrophoretic patterns of cell proteins obtained using the SDS‐PAGE technique. P.s. atrofaciens was detected in seed samples (barley, wheat and durum wheat) and symptomatic plants (durum wheat) grown in northern and central Italy. The possible pathogenic role of other unrelated fluorescent pseudomonads in this interaction was also examined. Difficulties in discriminating pvs syringae and atrofaciens of P. syringae are discussed and the uncertain taxonomic relationship between these two pathovars is emphasized.

Italian Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta). I

Abstract During the period 1989–1994, soil samples were collected at 51 localities in six different regions of Italy. Twelve genera and 61 species could be distinguished. One genus (Oconnorella gen. n.) and 12 species (Mesenchytraeus straminicolus sp. n., Cernosvitoviella omodeoi sp. n., Achaeta etrusca sp. n., Fridericia globuligera sp. n., Fridericia monochaeta sp. n., Fridericia nix sp. n., Fridericia strenua sp. n., Fridericia tuberosa sp. n., Marionina brendae sp. n., Marionina eleonorae sp. n., Marionina rubens sp. n., Oconnorella chalupskyi sp. n.) are new to science. Two old taxa (Fridericia bretscheri Southern, 1907 and Fridericia viridula Issel, 1905) are revalidated and their descriptions augmented, and another two (Fridericia ilvana Issel, 1905 and Fridericia gamotheca Issel, 1905) are redescribed from new material. Nineteen known species are new records for Italy, while 30 previous Italian records are confirmed. Four new records for Algeria (Fridericia bretscheri, F. miraflores, F. tuberosa s...