Ewa Ropelewska

Coexistence of Placobdella costata (Fr. Müller, 1846) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) and mud turtle Emys orbicularis

Emys orbicularis is receding from Europe, mainly due to anthropogenic habitat changes. Its parasite, Placobdella costata, is widely distributed within both the former and the present distribution range of the host. Though closely associated with the mud turtle, it may have other hosts (birds, amphibians, reptiles). Its reproductive period coincides with that of its host’s migration to the breeding grounds, thus facilitating dispersal of the parasite. Based on literature data we have analyzed the geographic spread of P. costata and mud turtle to observe the possible overlap of their habitats. Observations on the population of mud turtle and the associated leech species (P. costata) were carried out in eastern Poland — Podlasie Lowland. The studies were conducted in spring and summer in 1986–1993. The leeches were collected from the turtles caught in the water and on land. Observations showed that most leeches were found on turtles inhabiting the lake or moving to a breeding area. The greatest intensity of invasion was observed in June and July and that most leeches were observed in female E. orbicularis characterized by greater length of the carapace and weight, compared with males and juvenile individuals.

Application of Hyperspectral Imaging for Cultivar Discrimination of Malting Barley Grains

Abstract The aim of this study was to perform and evaluate the accuracy of classification of grains of different cultivars of malting barley. The grains of eight cultivars: Blask, Bor do, Con chita, Kormoran, Mercada, Serwal, Signora, Victoriana, with three moisture content: 12, 14, 16% were examined. The selected parameters of the surface texture of grain mass obtained from images taken using the techniques of hyperspectral imaging were determined. The accuracy of grains discrimination carried out using different methods of selection and classification of data was compared. The pairwise comparison and comparison of three, four and eight cultivars of malting barley were carried out. The most accurate discrimination was determined in the case of the pairwise comparison. Victoriana cultivar was the most different from the others. The most similar texture of grain mass was found in the comparison of cultivars: Blask and Mercada. In the case of eight examined cultivars of malting barley, the most accurate discrimination (classification error – 55%) was obtained for images taken at the moisture content of 14% and at a wavelength of 750 nm, for the attributes selection performed with the use of probability of error and average correlation coefficient (POE+ACC) method and the discrimination carried out using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA).

Species Composition and Trichothecene Genotype Profiling of Fusarium Field Isolates Recovered from Wheat in Poland

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of cereals is the major head disease negatively affecting grain production worldwide. In 2016 and 2017, serious outbreaks of FHB occurred in wheat crops in Poland. In this study, we characterized the diversity of Fusaria responsible for these epidemics using TaqMan assays. From a panel of 463 field isolates collected from wheat, four Fusarium species were identified. The predominant species were F. graminearum s.s. (81%) and, to a lesser extent, F. avenaceum (15%). The emergence of the 15ADON genotype was found ranging from 83% to 87% of the total trichothecene genotypes isolated in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Our results indicate two dramatic shifts within fungal field populations in Poland. The first shift is associated with the displacement of F. culmorum by F. graminearum s.s. The second shift resulted from a loss of nivalenol genotypes. We suggest that an emerging prevalence of F. graminearum s.s. may be linked to boosted maize production, which has increased substantially over the last decade in Poland. To detect variation within Tri core clusters, we compared sequence data from randomly selected field isolates with a panel of strains from geographically diverse origins. We found that the newly emerged 15ADON genotypes do not exhibit a specific pattern of polymorphism enabling their clear differentiation from the other European strains.

Classification of Fusarium-infected and healthy wheat kernels based on features from hyperspectral images and flatbed scanner images: a comparative analysis

Wheat infections caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium decrease yields and have serious economic consequences. The produced mycotoxins have harmful effects on human and animal health. The aim of this study was to develop classification models based on selected textural parameters to distinguish between infected and healthy wheat kernels. The classification accuracy of kernels positioned on the ventral side was determined at 78–100% in the model based on textural parameters from hyperspectral images, and at 95–100% based on images generated by a flatbed scanner. Kernels positioned on the dorsal side were correctly classified in 78–98% based on hyperspectral images, and in 92–100% based on colour images. In the models combining textural parameters from the ventral and dorsal sides of wheat kernels, classification accuracy reached 76–98% in hyperspectral images, and 94–100% in images generated by a flatbed scanner. The imaging technique—flatbed scanner and the ventral side of the kernels provided higher classification accuracy results. The results will contribute to further research aiming to develop models for the determination of fungal chemotypes and/or fungal species based on selected textural features of wheat kernels.

Batracobdelloides moogi Nesemann et Csányi, 1995 (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae): Morphometry and structure of the alimentary tract and reproductive system

Batracobdelloides moogi, the species representing the afroasiatic genus, is very poorly known for its biology and anatomy. This species was described on the basis of a small group of samples from south-western Europe. This study presents a morphological analysis and description of the structure of the alimentary tract and reproductive system. Biometry and external morphology were analyzed on 96 individuals and the anatomic structure on 40 individuals. The average length of the examinated specimens was 9.81 mm and the average weight was 0.056 g. The length of proboscis ranged from 2.5 to 4 neurosomites. Lengths of each ovary ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 neurosomites. Lengths of left and right sperm ducts ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 neurosomites. Correlation between the length of sperm ducts and their coiling was recorded.