Investment Requirements in Extension to Achieve Zero Hunger and Adapt to Climate Change

The study reflects on previous World Bank and FAO reports that made the general recommendation to set both research and extension investment targets in developing countries at 1% of agricultural gross domestic product （AgGDP）. In order to define proxies for country-specific extension investment targets, authors developed an extension investment model （EIM） based on socio-economic macro-indicators （poverty, undernourishment, access to information and population density） and a method to define estimates for cost increases related to climate change. These parameters helped estimating the demand for agricultural extension and investments required for it. Results showed that about half of the 94 developing and emerging countries should spend more than 1% of their respective share of GDP derived from agriculture and about a quarter of the countries, mostly in Africa and South East Asia, need to spend more than 2% of their AgGDP. The paper reveals significant differences in average investment requirements in different regions and shows the additional extension costs related to climate change and other areas that currently lack investment.     

EalspF1, Essential Enzyme in Isoprenoid Biosynthesis from Eupatorium adenophorum,Reveals a Novel Role in Light Acclimation

Isoprenoids are a functionally and structurally diverse class of natural organic chemicals. The universal precursors of all isoprenoids, isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate are synthesized through the mevalonate and 2C-methyl- D-erythritol 4-phosphate （MEP） pathways, respectively. Many isoprenoids produced through the MEP pathway play an important role in plant acclimation to different light environments. Eupatorium adenophorum, an invasive weed in China, presents a remarkable capacity to acclimate to various light environments, which constitutes its solid foundation of being a successful invasive species. Thus we aimed at gaining a deeper insight into the regulation of MEP pathway in E. adenophorum to further understand the invasive mechanism. 2C-Methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase （IspF or MCS） is an essential enzyme in the MEP pathway. In this paper, a novel IspF gene was cloned and characterized from E. adenophorum. Tissue-specific expression assays revealed a higher expression of EalspF1 in leaves than in stems and roots. The expression of EalspF1 was responsive to different light conditions. Some up-regulation of EalspF1 expression was also found after the treatments with signal compounds and after wounding stress. Interestingly, the over-expression of EalspF1 in Arabidopsis led to increase carotenoids contents, resulting in an enhanced tolerance to high light. Taken together, these results indicate that the EalspFl-derived enzyme participates in isoprenoid metabolism and among others, the expression of this gene in E. adenophorum is involved in the regulation of plastidial isoprenoids, which play an important role in acclimation to various light environments.     

Haplll of TaSAP1-A1, a Positively Selected Haplotype in Wheat Breeding

Stress-associated protein （SAP） has functions in maintaining plant cell elongation, embryo development and response to abiotic stresses. TaSAP1-A1, one of the Triticum aestivum SAP1 （TaSAP1） members located on wheat chromosome 7A was isolated for polymorphism analysis. HaplII of TaSAP1-A1 was found significantly associated with thousand-grain weight （TGW） in multiple environments. In this study, HaplII also made a positive contribution to TGW in Population 2. The distribution of TaSAP1-A1 HapIII was tracked among varieties released in different years and geographical environments of China. The frequency of HapIII showed an increasing trend during the breeding process in two different populations. The ItapIII was gradually selected and applied from 6.36% in landraces to 13.50% in modem varieties. These results exhibited that TaSAP1-A1 HapIII was positively selected during wheat breeding, which is beneficial for grain-yield improvement. The preferred HapIIl was initially selected and applied in the higher latitude areas of China in accord with the long day season and longer grain filling stage in these areas. Moreover, the frequency of HaplII in recent modem varieties was still quite low （19.29-26.67%）. It indicated a high application potential of TaSAP1-A 1 HapIII for improving grain yield in wheat breeding.     

Chromosome Mapping,Expression and Polymorphism Analysis of CRABP1 Gene in Pigs

Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 1 （CRABP1） is a well-conserved member of cytosolic lipid-binding protein family. It is an important modulator of retinoic acid signaling. Long serial analysis of gene expression （LongSAGE） analysis suggested that CRABP1 gene was differentially expressed during prenatal skeletal muscle development in porcine. Here, we obtained the full-length coding region sequence and genomic sequence of the porcine CRABP1 gene and analyzed its genomic structures. Subsequently, we examined CRABP1 chromosome assignment using INRA-University of Minnesota 7 000 porcine radiation hybrid panel （IMpRH） and explored its tissue distribution in adult Tongcheng pigs and dynamical expression profiles in prenatal skeletal muscle （33, 65 and 90 days post coitus, dpc） from Landrace （lean-type） （described as L33, L65 and L90） and Tongcheng pigs （obese-type） （described as T33, T65 and T90）. The CRABPI gene was mapped to chromosome 7ql 1-q23 and closely linked to the microsatellite marker SWR1928. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that CRABP1 mRNA was highly expressed in lung and stomach, moderately expressed in placenta and uterus, and weakly expressed in other tissues. Moreover, CRABP1 gene was down-regulated during prenatal skeletal muscle development in both Landrace and Tongcheng pigs and it was expressed much higher in T33 than L33. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） were detected by sequencing and mass spectrometry methods, allele frequency analysis indicated that g. 281 （G〉A） and g. 2992 （G〉A）were deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the Landrace and DLY （Duroc×（Landrace×Yorkshire）） pig breeds.     

Molecular Characterization and SYBR Green I-Based Quantitative PCR for Duck Hepatitis Virus Type 1

To determine the genomic sequence of a duck hepatitis virus type 1 （DHV-1） strain, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RTQ-PCR） assay based on SYBR Green I technology was developed to target 3D gene of DHV-1, Comparative sequence analysis showed that the genome has a typical picornarivus genetic organization, and strain DHV-1 R genetic organaiztion is 5＇ untranslated region （UTR）-VP0-VP3-VPI-2A1-2A2-2B-2C-3A-3B-3C-3D-3＇ UTR, DHV-1 R has close relationship with Parechovirus, and has 95.1-99.1% nucleotide sequence identity with other DHV-1 strains. Based on the DHV-1 sequences in GenBank, three pairs of specific primers were designed to amplify DHV-1 using real-time PCR. The results showed that real-time PCR Tm value is 85.6℃ and the real-time PCR provides a broad dynamic range, detecting from 102 to 109 copies of DHV-1 cDNA per reaction. No cross-reactions were found in specimens containing DPV, AIV and NDV. It is concluded that DHV-1 belongs to a new group of the family Picornaviridae that may form a separate genus most closely related to the genus Parechovirus. All results showed that the real-time PCR has high sensitivity and specificity to detect DHV-1 using SYBR Green I dissociation curve analysis, isolates can be distinguished by their melting temperature. These methods are rapid, sensitive, and reliable, and can be readily adapted for detection of DHV-1 from other clinical samples.     

Segmentation of Somatic Cells in Goat Milk Using Color Space CIELAB

Somatic cell counts （SCCs） levels indicate the occurrence of infections in goat udders and are related to the productivity of goat milk, cheese and yoghurt. This work presents a segmentation method for counting somatic cells in goat milk images, intending to detect an infection known as mastiffs, which is the major cause of loss in dairy farming. The image segmentation procedure is devised by using the lab color space and the watershed transform. A large number of samples under variable preparation conditions are treated with the proposed method. A comparison between manual and the proposed technique is presented. Promising results indicates that video-microscopy systems may be employed to develop automated SCC for goat milk.     

Metabolism of Mequindox in Isolated Rat Liver Cells

Mequindox （MEQ）, 3-methyl-2-quinoxalinacetyl-l,4-dioxide, is widely used in Chinese veterinary medicine as an antimicrobial agent and feed additive. Its toxicity has been reported to be closely related to its metabolism. To understand the pathways underlying MEQ＇s metabolism more clearly, we studied its metabolism in isolated rat liver cells by using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization hybrid linear trap quadrupole orbitrap （LC-LTQ-Orbitrap） mass spectrometry. The structures of MEQ metabolites and their product ions were readily and reliably characterized on the basis of accurate MS2 spectra and known structure of MEQ. Eleven metabolites were detected in isolated rat liver cells, two of which were detected for the first time in vitro. The major metabolic pathways reported previously for in vitro metabolism of MEQ in rat microsomes were confirmed in this study, including N O group reduction, carbonyl reduction, and methyl monohydroxylation. In addition, we fotmd that acetyl hydroxylation was an important pathway of MEQ metabolism. The results also demonstrate that cellular systems more closely simulate in vivo conditions than do other in vitro systems such as microsomes. Taken together, these data contribute to our understanding of the in vivo metabolism of MEQ.     

Evaluation of the Pathogenicity and Immune Response of Nervous Necrosis Virus Isolated in Vietnam

Eight strains of nervous necrosis virus （NNV） isolated in Vietnam were used to detect the pathogenicity and immune response in sea bass （SB）. All strains induced cytopathic effect in SB cell line, complete destruction of monolayer of cells appeared after seven days post infection （dpi）. Virus titer was different for each strain, TCIDso ranged from 102.7 to 1069, and LDs0 from 1015 to 1075. Five NNV strains named QN 02, QN 05, QN 07, ND 11 and KH 05 had higher virulence than the other three, the first causing 100% mortality in experimental fish 3-5 dpi. NNV KH 05 had the highest antigenic similarity, and it was inactivated completely by 0.2% formalin, 0.002 mol/L binary ethylenimine （BEI） and 0.1% beta-propiolactone. The neutralization antibody titer obtained in fish of groups immunized by BEI 0.002 M and beta-propiolactone 0.1% inactivated virus was four to eight times higher than that of the group treated with the formalin inactivated virus. The antibody titer in fish immunized with beta-propiolactone inactivated virus was more persistent. The efficacy of vaccines developed from beta-propiolactone inactivated virus and aluminium hydroxide （AH） or aluminum phosphate （AP） was observed by intramuscularly immunizing Epinephelusfuscoguttatus size 1.5 cm. Neutralizing antibodies appeared in vaccinated fish on 10th day post-immunization （dpi） at a dilution of 1：16; 1：32 and highest levels were reached on 30-45 dpi, at dilutions of 1：256 and 1：512, after treatment with AH and AP vaccine, respectively. The relative percent of survival （RPS） of vaccine at 30 dpi was highest with challenge doses 0.2-1 × 10^6.8 TCIDs0, the RPS varied from 80%-83.3% in both groups of AH and AP immunization. This result provides the basis for developing a vaccine against NNA disease.     

Effect of Biogas Digested Liquid on OH4 and N2O Flux in Paddy Ecosystem

Biogas production generates digested slurry as a byproduct. It can be used as a fertilizer especially after its conversion into digested liquid. A pot based study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of the application of digested liquid on CH4 and N2O flux, and plant biomass in paddy. Analysis revealed that digested liquid treated soils released more CH4 compared to ammonium sulphate and the control. Ammonium sulphate treated soil emitted the highest N20 whereas digested liquid application decreased its emission significantly. Further, the cumulative emission over 101 d of the experiment was found to be higher for CHa （16.9 to 29.9 g m^-2） compared to N20 （-49.3 to 18.9 mg m^-2） for all treatments. Digested liquid application had positive impact on plant variables such as panicle number and weight of panicles. This study suggests that digested liquid application significantly decrease N20 emission and increase CH4 emission possibly due to affecting the availability of organic C in the soil to microbial activity for methanogenesis. Another possibility for enhancing CH4 emission by following biogas digested liquid could be attributed to the increase in plant biomass.     

Quantitative Analysis of Influence Force of Shanghai Expo on GGDP

Quantitative study of the impact of Shanghai World Expo on green GDP （GGDP） is significant for deploying sustainable development policy in China. The formula of GGDP is： GGDP = GDP--the loss of natural resources environment relegation cost ＋ comprehensive utilized value of waste. Based on this, the study employed vector autoregressive （VAR） model to predict the value of GGDP and other economic variables on condition that there was no Shanghai World Expo. Then Influence of Expo is defined as the rate of increase of GGDP. The result demonstrated that Shanghai World Expo had accelerated the growth rate of GGDP vastly with the elimination of effect of Beijing Olympics. Additionally, the quantitative analysis between GGDP and other economic variables suggested GGDP would replace GDP to evaluate the development of economy. Finally, the paper proposed that incidents like World Expo can enhance the level of influence for a country and that post-impact of Shanghai Expo should continue to be used to promote GGDP and that GGDP should serve as one of the indicators in assessment of political achievement.     

Resistance of Hard Tick （Ixodidae） with some Acaricide in Cattle （Naturally Infestation） in Sulaimani Governorate Fields-Kurdistan Regional/Iraq

A study carried out for assessment of acaricide for control and how to show resistance of hard tick （Ixodidae） with some types of acaricide which available in Sulaimani marked froro February to April 2012, isolated 80 cattle （local breed） naturally infested with hard tick. Six hundred and fifteen ticks min7 tick/cattle including three genera species were collected and identified, the highest Boophilus spp. followed by Hyalomma spp., and Rhipicephalus spp. were less frequent species collected. Experimental cattle divided into four groups each group content 20 cattle, treatment with four types acaricide and their average of infestation in cattle with Boophilus spp. 33 （41.25%） as the commonest, followed by Hyalomma spp. 31 （75.38%）, Rhipicephalus spp. 11 （13.75%） and 5 （6.25%） found mixed infested with Boophilus spp. and Hyalomma spp. 65 （81.3%） of cattle samples had emaciation and skin lesions. According to site of infestation, it showed that inguinal region was the most common predilection site for the ticks. Observed the genera Boophilus spp., there were highly significant differences （12.52%） between different tick species when calculated by general test （LSD）. The objective of this study was to estimate and compare these acaricide to control hard tick, and there was highly significant relation between different species of hard ticks when treated by these acaricide, according to the chi-square tests. The activities of the acaricide through the time of application were different on the tick genera species. Diazinon （60%） and carbamate （saven 85%） has been a greater degree than other acaricide resistance, while shows the activity of both acaricide injectable ivermactin and cypromethrein through the early time on all species. The results of the study otherwise provide encouraging possibilities for the potential use recommended dose with both acaricide ivermactin-l% and cypromethrine-10%.     

Interactive Effects of Elevated CO2 and Temperature on Rice Planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens

It is predicted that the current atmospheric CO2 concentration will be doubled and global mean temperature will increase by 1.5-6＆#176;C by the end of this century. Although a number of studies have addressed the separate effects of CO2 and temperature on plant-insect interactions, few have concerned with their combined impacts. In the current study, a factorial experiment was carried out to examine the effect of a doubling CO2 concentration and a 3℃ temperature increase on a complete generation of the brown planthopper （Nilaparvata lugens） on rice （Oryza sativa）. Both elevated CO2 and temperature increased rice stem height and biomass of stem parts. Leaf chlorophyll content increased under elevated CO2, but only in ambient temperature treatment. Water content of stem parts was reduced under elevated temperature, but only when coupled with elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 alone increased biomass of root and elevated temperature alone enhanced leaf area and reduced ratio of root to stem parts. Brown planthopper （BPH） nymphal development was accelerated, and weight of and honeydew excretion by the F1 adults was reduced under elevated temperature only. Longevity of brachypterous females was affected by a signiifcant interaction between CO2 and temperature. At elevated temperature, CO2 had no effect on female longevity, but at ambient temperature, the females lived shorter under elevated CO2. Female fecundity was higher at elevated than at ambient temperature and higher at elevated CO2 than at ambient CO2. These results indicate that the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO2 may enhance the brown planthopper population size.     

Bluetongue Virus （BTV） Serological Survey and Evidence of Emergent BTV-8 Serotype in Morocco

Bluetongue （BT） is an infectious, non-contagious arthropod-borne disease that infects all ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer, goats and camelids. Bluetongue virus （BTV） belonged to Reoviridae is ARN genome of 19 Kb. Twenty-six BTV serotypes have long been recognized, to be associated with severe disease in certain breeds of sheep, whereas cattle and goats are usually sub-clinically affected. Before 2004, BT was considered an exotic disease in Morocco, however, the first outbreak was observed in 2004 in sheep. This outbreak was caused by the isolated BTV-4. Two years later a BTV-1 emerged in Morocco. Both serotype 1 and serotype 4 circulated after 2007 across the country. The aims of the present work was to perform a serological study on sheep from different regions in Morocco in order to clarify the current BTV epidemiological situation and its evolution from 2009 to 2012, to determine the co-infection rate, and to confirm the possible circulation of other BTV Serotype mainly the BTV-8. All of 436 sera were tested by serum neutralization using reference strains. Results confirm the presence of BTV-4, BTV-1 and BTV-8. However, the present study report for the first time the emerging BTV-8 circulation in Morocco. Moreover, the founding reveal as well a higher co-infection rate in cattle compared to sheep.     

Microbial Solubilization of Phosphorus from Nano Rock Phosphate

Phosphorus （P） is a major growth-limiting nutrient, and unlike the case of nitrogen （N）, there is no large atmospheric source that can be made biologically available. Moreover, P governs crucial role in plant as it stimulates root development and growth, gives plant rapid and vigorous start leading to better tillering and essential for many metabolic processes for seed formation. Soil microbes play very important role in bio-weathering and biodegradation. The microorganisms produce low molecular mass organic acids, which attack the phosphate structure and transform phosphorus from non-utilizable to the utilizable for the plants form. The test of the relative efficiency of isolated strains is carried out by selecting the microorganisms that are capable of producing a halo/clear zone on a plate owing to the production of organic acids into the surrounding medium. It is a well-known fact that as the particle size of rock phosphate decreases, the microbe mediated solubilization of rock phosphate increases in soil. In the present investigation, microbial solubilization of nano rock phosphate （〈 100 nm） particles was studied. Experimental results revealed that Pseudomonas striata solubilized 11.45% of the total P after 24 h of incubation from nano rock phosphate particles while 28.95% and 21.19% of the total P was solubilized by Aspergillus niger （black pigmented） and Aspergillus niger （green pigmented）, respectively. It was also observed that Aspergillus niger has the higher ability to dissolve Udaipur rock phosphate than Pseudomonas striata.     

Contribution of Drought to Potential Crop Yield Reduction in a Wheat-Maize Rotation Region in the North China Plain

With consecutive occurrences of drought disasters in China in recent years, it is important to estimate their potential impacts on regional crop production. In this study, we detect the impacts of drought on wheat and maize yield and their changes at a 0.5＆#176;＆#215;0.5＆#176; grid scale in the wheat-maize rotation planting area in the North China Plain under the A1B climate change scenario using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer （DSSAT） model and the outputs of the regional climate modeling system-Providing Regional Climates for Impacts Studies （PRECIS）. Self-calibrating palmer drought severity index was used as drought recognition indicator. Two time slices used for the study were the baseline （1961-1990） and 40 years of 2011-2050. The results indicate that the potential planting region for double crop system of wheat-maize would expend northward. The statistic conclusions of crop simulations varied considerably between wheat and maize. In disaster-affected seasons, wheat yield would increase in the future compared with baseline yields, whereas in opposite for maize yield. Potential crop yield reductions caused by drought would be lower for wheat and higher for maize, with a similar trend found for the ratio of potential crop yield reductions for both crops. It appears that the negative impact of drought on maize was larger than that on wheat under climate change A1B scenario.     

Factors Influencing the Success of Agricultural Information System （AIS）： A Factor Analysis

This study aims at investigating the AIS （Agricultural Information System） in Hamedan province, Iran, benefiting from the list of criteria for well functioning AISs that were identified in earlier researches. For this purpose, a survey method with multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select 31 agricultural researchers, and 62 extension workers in the province. The data were acquired by questionnaire and structured interviews. The instrument for data collection was subjected to pre-testing, validation and reliability tests. The results of the factor analysis revealed that the criteria could be categorized into four overarching groups based on their inter-correlation. The analysis of mentioned criteria in Hamedan province AIS showed less efficiency and effectiveness than studies conducted in other areas. But among these, two desirable criteria existed. It is recommended that the ecological knowledge system （EKS） should be integrated with AIS, and some ecological and sustainable development criteria should be added to the existing ones.     

Effects of Farm Yard Manure and Lime on Cadmium Uptake by Rice Grown in Two Contaminated Soils of Chittagong

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of farm yard manure （FYM） and lime （calcium carbonate） on reducing the uptake of Cd by rice in two Cd contaminated soils of Chittagong. The effects of farm yard manure, lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime （FYM ＋ Lime） on rice （Oryza sativa L.） growth, Cd uptake by rice and 0.1 N HC1 extractable Cd in soil were investigated. Results showed that addition of lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime significantly decreased 0.1 N HCl extractable Cd in the city sewage soil. Application of farm yard manure significantly decreased Cd concentration in rice in the city sewage soil. Lime and farm yard manure mixed with lime significantly reduced Cd concentration in rice m both the contaminated soils. Lime was more efficient than farm yard manure in reducing the uptake of Cd by rice.     

Effect of Enriched Cattle Manure on Soil Nutrient Status,Nitrogen Uptake and Yield of Tea （Camellia sinensis）

Inorganic fertilizer NPK （nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium） （S） 25：5：5：5 is generally recommended for optimum yield and quality of tea （Camellia sinensis）. Non-judicious use of this inorganic fertilizer however acidifies the soils and pollutes the environment. Integrated soil fertility management （ISFM） which involves the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizer is recommended for improved crop yield and soil health. An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of enriching cattle manure with different ratios of inorganic fertilizers （OM： NPKS at ratios 1：2 and 1：4）, and rates on soil nutrient status, nitrogen uptake and yield of tea in the east of Rift Valley, Kenya. Enriching manures and organic manure up to a rate of 150 kg N/ha increased the level of P mature leaf. A higher N and K level in the mature leaf was observed when NPKS was applied at higher rates. In the soil, fertilizer rate up to 150 kg N/ha showed higher pH and K where organic manure and enriched manures were applied while NPKS treatment showed higher P content throughout the soil depths. Enriching organic manures with inorganic fertilizers increased yield significantly.     

Carbon Sequestration in Soil Humic Substances Under Long-Term Fertilization in a Wheat-Maize System from North China

The changes in humic substances （HS） is fundamental in detecting soil carbon sequestration mechanisms in natural and cultivated environments. Based on a long-term trial, the amounts of water dissolved substances （WSS）, humic acid （HA）, fulvic acid （FA） and humin （HU） were determined to explore the impact of long-term fertilization on HS. Increases in the amounts of WSS, HA, FA and HU were significant different among the treatments with manure. A significant correlation was found between the increased soil organic carbon （SOC） and HS （R^2=0.98, P〈0.01）. The change in the E4/E6 ratio was significantly correlated with the increased SOC （R2=0.88, P〈0.01）, HA （R^2=0.91, P〈0.01）, FA （R^2=0.91, P〈0.01） and HU （R^2=0.88, P〈0.01）. The cluster was mainly divided into two parts as manure fertilization and inorganic fertilization, based on the increases in HA, FA and HU. These results suggest that long term fertilization with manure favours carbon sequestration in HS and is mainly stabilized as HU, while the HA becomes more aliphatic. We conclude that increases in SOC can be linked to changes in the molecular characteristics of HS fractions under long term fertilization.