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Natural uranium and thorium distributions in podzolized soils and native blueberry.

Plant uptake of radionuclides is one of many vectors for introduction of contaminants into the human food chain. Thus, it is critical to understand soil-plant relationships that control nuclide bioavailability. Our objectives in this study were to (i) determine the extent of U and Th uptake and cycling by blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum Aiton) in native habitat and (ii) identify the soil properties and processes that contribute most to U and Th bioavailability in this system. We collected composite samples of plant leaves and stems, and samples from surface (AE) horizons and from the upper part of the Bs horizon at two sites. Concentration ratios (CRs) for U and Th were calculated for all plant tissues, using both the AE and Bs horizons as the base. Soil concentrations of U ranged from 16 to 25 microg g(-1), with a mean of 21.1 microg g(-1). Soil concentrations of Th ranged from 14 to 97 microg g(-1), with a mean of 41.8 microg g(-1). Mean U concentrations were 8.65 x 10(-3) microg g(-1) in leaf tissue, and 7.95 x 10(-3) microg g(-1) in stem tissue. Mean Th concentrations were 1.59 x 10(-1) microg g(-1) in leaf tissue, and 9.10 x 10(-2) microg g(-1) in stem tissue. Blueberry plants are cycling both U and Th in this system, with Th cycling occurring to a greater extent than U. In addition, Th was translocated preferentially to plant leaves while U concentrations showed little preferential translocation. Uranium uptake, however, seemed more sensitive than Th uptake to soil properties.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed1979

Vitamin C deficiency in growing willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus).

Willow ptarmigan chicks raised on a diet containing 265 mg ascorbic acid/kg develop scury-like symptoms and die by 4 weeks of age. If blueberry plants are given as an ad libitum supplement to this diet, the malady is prevented. We have described the clinical, pathological and histological changes which accompany this malnutrition and conclude that they are in accord with the description of scurvy in guinea pig and man. Biochemical determination of ascorbic acid synthesis in the kidney of ptarmigan chicks indicated a rate of synthesis five times that found in livers of growing white rats. Blueberry plants and many other plants found in the natural diet of ptarmigan chicks contain 2,000 to 5,000 mg ascorbic acid/kg dry weight. Feeding experiments showed that the pathological signs were avoided and that already afflicted chicks recovered if the vitamin C content of the diet was raised to 750 mg/kg dry weight of food. Since the food intake of the chicks was 5 to 8 g/day the daily requirement of external vitamin C is about 150 mg/kg body weight. To our knowledge this is the first example of an animal which, while producing vitamin C itself, requires substantial amounts of external vitamin C to survive.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Techniques for monitoring cranberry tipworm (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries.

Several monitoring techniques were evaluated for their effectiveness, based on the highest mean captures of cranberry tipworm, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson), in detecting D. oxycoccana in rabbiteye, Vaccinium ashei Reade, and southern highbush, V. corymbosum L. x V. darrowi Camp, blueberry plantings. There were no significant differences in captures of D. oxycoccana adults on unbaited sticky board traps, regardless of color (yellow, white, green, or blue). In a separate experiment, three monitoring techniques, yellow unbaited sticky boards, larval/adult emergence from infested buds, and bud dissection, were evaluated for detecting D. oxycoccana, eggs, larvae, and adults. In total, four bud types were examined, including rabbiteye floral, rabbiteye leaf, southern highbush floral, and southern highbush leaf. The emergence monitoring technique detected significantly more D. oxycoccana adults than the other techniques evaluated. Emergence and dissection techniques performed equally well for detecting D. oxycoccana larvae. Dissection was the only technique capable of detecting D. oxycoccana eggs. Overall, the highest numbers of D. oxycoccana eggs were detected in southern highbush leaf buds. However, larval infestation was lower for southern highbush leaf buds compared with other bud types sampled. Hypotheses to explain this phenomenon are discussed. The fewest number of eggs was recorded for southern highbush flower buds, potentially because these buds develop before peak emergence of D. oxycoccana. Managing D. oxycoccana in infested plantings can be improved by incorporating monitoring techniques, specifically bud dissection to search for eggs, that will aid growers in making timely insecticide applications.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of the element composition in several plant species and their substrate from a 1500000-km2 area in Northern Europe.

Leaves of 9 different plant species (terrestrial moss represented by: Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi; and 7 species of vascular plants: blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus; cowberry, Vaccinium titis-idaea; crowberry, Empetrum nigrum; birch, Betula pubescens; willow, Salix spp.; pine, Pinus sylvestris and spruce, Picea abies) have been collected from up to 9 catchments (size 14-50 km2) spread over a 1500000 km2 area in Northern Europe. Soil samples were taken of the O-horizon and of the C-horizon at each plant sample site. All samples were analysed for 38 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn and Zr) by ICP-MS, ICP-AES or CV-AAS (for Hg-analysis) techniques. The concentrations of some elements vary significantly between different plants (e.g. Cd, V, Co, Pb, Ba and Y). Other elements show surprisingly similar levels in all plants (e.g. Rb, S, Cu, K, Ca, P and Mg). Each group of plants (moss, shrubs, deciduous and conifers) shows a common behaviour for some elements. Each plant accumulates or excludes some selected elements. Compared to the C-horizon, a number of elements (S, K, B, Ca, P and Mn) are clearly enriched in plants. Elements showing very low plant/C-horizon ratios (e.g. Zr, Th, U, Y, Fe, Li and Al) can be used as an indicator of minerogenic dust. The plant/O-horizon and O-horizon/C-horizon ratios show that some elements are accumulated in the O-horizon (e.g. Pb, Bi, As, Ag, Sb). Airborne organic material attached to the leaves can thus, result in high values of these elements without any pollution source.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Pharmacology of delayed aging and extended lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The identification and analysis of compounds that delay aging and extend lifespan is an important aspect of gerontology research; these studies can test theories of aging, lead to the discovery of endogenous systems that influence aging, and establish the foundation for treatments that might delay normal human aging. Here we review studies using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to identify and characterize compounds that delay aging and extend lifespan. These studies are considered in four groups: (1) Studies that address the free-radical theory of aging by analyzing candidate compounds with antioxidant activities including vitamin E, tocotrienols, coenzyme Q, and Eukarion-8/134. (2) Studies that analyze plant extracts (blueberry and Ginko biloba) that contain a mixture of compounds. (3) Studies of resveratrol, which was identified in a screen for compounds that affect the activity of the Sir2 protein that influences lifespan. (4) Studies based on screening compound libraries using C. elegans aging as a bioassay, which led to the identification of the anticonvulsant medicines ethosuximide and trimethadione. There has been exciting progress in the analysis of compounds that influence C. elegans aging, and important challenges and opportunities remain in determining the mechanisms of action of these compounds and the relevance of these observations to aging of other animals.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Short-Term Flooding Effects on Gas Exchange and Quantum Yield of Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade).

Roots of 1.5-year-old ;Woodard' rabbiteye blueberry plants (Vaccinium ashei Reade) were flooded in containers or maintained at container capacity over a 5-day period. Carbon assimilation, and stomatal and residual conductances were monitored on one fully expanded shoot/plant using an open flow gas analysis system. Quantum yield was calculated from light response curves. Carbon assimilation and quantum yield of flooded plants decreased to 64 and 41% of control values, respectively, after 1 day of flooding and continued decreasing to 38 and 27% after 4 days. Stomatal and residual conductances to CO(2) also decreased after 1 day of flooding compared with those of unflooded plants with residual conductance severely limiting carbon assimilation after 4 days of flooding. Stomatal opening occurred in 75 to 90 minutes and rate of opening was unaffected by flooding.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

In vitro antileukaemic activity of extracts from berry plant leaves against sensitive and multidrug resistant HL60 cells.

The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro antileukaemic activity of extracts obtained from selected berry plant leaves (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv Elsanta, raspberry Rubus ideus L. cv Polana and blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv Bluecrop) against promyelocytic HL60 cell line and its multidrug resistant sublines exhibiting two different MDR phenotypes: HL60/VINC (overexpressing P-glycoprotein) and HL60/DOX (overexpressing MRP1 protein). It was found that the blueberry extract was the most efficient against sensitive HL60 cell line (about 2-fold more active than strawberry and raspberry extracts) but presented much lower activity towards resistant cells. In contrast, strawberry and raspberry extracts exhibited the high cytotoxic activity against sensitive leukaemia HL60 cell line as well as its MDR sublines. The values of resistance factor (RF) found for these extracts were very low lying in the range 0.32/2.0.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1994

Nucleotide sequence of the carlavirus associated with blueberry scorch and similar diseases.

We have synthesized and mapped a library of cDNA clones representing the RNA genome of a strain of blueberry scorch carlavirus (BBScV) associated with a disease known locally, in New Jersey, U.S.A., as Sheep Pen Hill disease. The nucleotide sequence of that strain was determined to be 8514 residues, excluding the poly(A) tail. In addition, cDNA clones representing the 3' terminus of another strain of the virus from the same field were synthesized, mapped and sequenced. The overall identity between sequences of these two strains was approximately 90% spanning the 1634 residue overlap, confirming their identity as distinct strains and not simply different isolates of a single strain. Finally, the coat protein gene of a distinct strain of the virus, isolated from plants with blueberry scorch disease in the Puyallup Valley in Washington State, U.S.A., was cloned from total cDNA by PCR. Sequence analysis revealed that the strain from Washington was more divergent from the two New Jersey strains than they were from each other. Comparisons of these sequences with other carlavirus sequences indicated that BBScV is more closely related to lily symptomless virus and potato virus S than to potato virus M, Helenium virus S, carnation latent virus or poplar mosaic virus. BBScV and potato virus M shared approximately 54% nucleotide sequence identity overall.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Studies on apple and blueberry fruit constituents: do the polyphenols reach the colon after ingestion?

The aim of our studies was to determine the amount of polyphenols reaching the colon after oral intake of apple juice and blueberries. After a polyphenol-free diet healthy ileostomy volunteers consumed a polyphenol-rich cloudy apple juice while others consumed anthocyanin-rich blueberries. Ileostomy effluent was collected and polyphenols were identified using HPLC-DAD as well as HPLC-ESI-MS/MS; quantification was performed with HPLC-DAD. Most of the orally administered apple polyphenols were absorbed from or metabolized in the small intestine. Between 0 and 33% of the oral dose was recovered in the ileostomy bags with a maximum of excretion after 2 h. A higher amount of the blueberry anthocyanins under study (up to 85%, depending on the sugar moiety) were determined in the ileostomy bags and therefore would reach the colon under physiological circumstances. Such structure-related availability has to be considered when polyphenols are used in model systems to study potential preventive effects in colorectal diseases.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed2004

Effects of the herbicide hexazinone on nutrient cycling in a low-pH blueberry soil.

The herbicide hexazinone was applied as the commercial formulation Velpar L at field-rate (FR) concentrations of FR (14.77 microg ai g(-1)), FRx5 (73.85 microg ai g(-1)), FRx10 (147.70 microg ai g(-1)), FRx50 (738.50 microg ai g(-1)), and FRx100 (1477.00 microg ai g(-1)) to acidic soil, pH 4.12, taken from a lowbush blueberry field. Hexazinone was tested for inhibitory effects on various transformations of the nitrogen cycle and soil respiration. Nitrogen fixation was unaffected by hexazinone levels up to FRx100 following a 4-week incubation period. Ammonification was initially inhibited by all levels of hexazinone, but after 4 weeks, ammonification in all treatment systems was equal to or greater than the control. Nitrification was more sensitive to hexazinone; however, application at a field-rate level caused no inhibition. Inhibitory effects were noted above FR after a 2-month endpoint analysis and above FRx5 after a 6-month endpoint analysis. Hexazinone concentrations up to and including FRx100 stimulated denitrification. Soil respiration was also stimulated over a 3-week period when applied at a level up to 100 times the recommended field rate. In general, it was found that when applied at the recommended field application rate, hexazinone does not adversely affect the nitrogen cycle or soil respiration in acidic lowbush blueberry soils.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2002

Cloning, sequencing, and promoter identification of Blueberry red ringspot virus, a member of the family Caulimoviridae with similarities to the "Soybean chlorotic mottle-like" genus.

The double-stranded DNA genome of Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRV), a member of the family Caulimoviridae, was cloned and sequenced. The genome organization and relationships of the 8303 nt sequence revealed BRRV to be a tentative member of the genus that has been provisionally named "Soybean chlorotic mottle-like viruses", rather than a member of the genus Caulimovirus, in which it had been placed previously. Insertion of the putative 35S promoter homolog of BRRV into promoterless constructs carrying the UidA (beta-glucuronidase) gene resulted in high-level transient expression from cranberry and stable expression from transgenic tobacco. Sequences of 5'-RACE clones derived from transcripts from transgenic tobacco were consistent with the map position of the promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Effects of age and diet on the heavy particle-induced disruption of operant responding produced by a ground-based model for exposure to cosmic rays.

On missions to other planets, astronauts will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays which are composed of heavy particles (such as 56Fe) and protons. Exposure to these particles can affect the ability of rats to perform a variety of tasks, indicating that there is the possibility that the performance capabilities of astronauts may be affected. Previous research has shown that diets containing blueberry or strawberry extract can ameliorate the deficits produced by irradiation using a ground-based analog for exposure to cosmic rays. Rats were placed on diets containing 2% blueberry or strawberry extract for 2 months prior to exposure to 1.5 Gy of 1 GeV/n 56Fe particles. There were no effects on performance of any group of animals when tested on an ascending fixed-ratio operant task 6 months following exposure. When tested 12 months after exposure, the performance of the radiated animals given blueberry extract did not differ from the radiated animals fed the control diet. Both groups performed significantly poorer than the non-irradiated controls. There were no differences between the non-irradiated animals fed control diet and the radiated animals fed the strawberry diet and their performance was significantly better than of the radiated rats fed the blueberry or control diets. The results indicate that diets containing strawberry extract may provide a significant level of radiation protection on exploratory class missions.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Differential effects of blueberry proanthocyanidins on androgen sensitive and insensitive human prostate cancer cell lines.

Blueberries are rich in health-promoting polyphenolic compounds including proanthocyanidins. The purpose of this study was to determine if proanthocyanidin-rich fractions from both wild and cultivated blueberry fruit have the same inhibitory effects on the proliferation of LNCaP, an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell line, and DU145, a more aggressive androgen insensitive prostate cancer cell line. When 20 microg/ml of a wild blueberry proanthocyanidin fraction (fraction 5) was added to LNCaP media, growth was inhibited to 11% of control with an IC50 of 13.3 microg/ml. Two similar proanthocyanidin-rich fractions from cultivated blueberries (fractions 4 and 5) at the same concentration inhibited LNCaP growth to 57 and 26% of control with an IC50 of 22.7 and 5.8 microg/ml, respectively. In DU145 cells, the only fraction that significantly reduced growth compared to control was fraction 4 from cultivated blueberries with an IC50 value of 74.4 microg/ml, indicating only minor inhibitory activity. Differences in cell growth inhibition of LNCaP and DU145 cell lines by blueberry fractions rich in proanthocyanidins indicate that blueberry proanthocyanidins have an effect primarily on androgen-dependant growth of prostate cancer cells. Possible molecular mechanisms for growth inhibition are reviewed.

Androgens↗
PubMed2006

Total antioxidant power in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries and the comparison of blood parameters associated with exercise.

Oxidative damage from free radicals plays an important role in several diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease. Research indicates that exercise contributes to oxidative stress. Fruits, such as blueberries, are good antioxidants because they contain phenolics that preferentially react with free radicals. Maintaining antioxidant levels by supplementing the diet with blueberries may prevent exercise-induced oxidative damage. The goal of our study was to compare antioxidant levels in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries on blood parameters within 48 h post-exercise. Though the exercise protocol did not cause unusual muscle damage as reflected in plasma creatine kinase and isoprostane levels, blueberry supplementation did elicit significantly elevated antioxidant status in sled dogs post exercise. This suggests that dogs fed blueberries while exercising as compared to dogs fed a control diet while exercising, may be better protected against oxidative damage.

Animals↗