Dormancy of Bromus rubens L. seeds in relation to temperature, light and oxygen effects

Freshly harvested mature Bromus rubens L. seeds are dormant. This dormancy corresponds to the inability of seeds to germinate in the dark at temperatures above 15°C, but is practically not apparent at temperatures between 5 and 15°C. Continuous white light markedly inhibits germination of dormant seeds, even at low irradiances, and reinforces their sensitivity to oxygen deprivation. However, prolonged illumination with white light does not alter subsequent germination in the dark. Breaking of dormancy during dry storage at 20°C results in a widening of the temperature range within which a high rate of germination occurs, and in almost complete disappearance of sensitivity of seeds to light. The structures surrounding the embryo (glumellae, caryopsis envelopes and possibly endosperm) are mainly responsible for dormancy and photosensitivity of whole seeds, probably because they limit the oxygen supply to the embryo. However, the embryo itself appears to play a role in dormancy. The results obtained are discussed in relation to dormancy of cereal seeds, and in relation to field establishment of B. rubens as a weed. La dormance des semences de Bromus rubens L. en relation avec les effets de la température, de la lumière et de l'oxygène Les semences mûres de Bromus rubens L. fraîchement récoltées sont dormantes. Leur dormance correspond à une inaptitude à germer à l'obscuritéà des températures supérieures à 15°C, mais elle ne se manifeste pratiquement pas entre 5 et 15°C. La lumière blanche continue inhibe nettement la germination des semences dormantes, même à de faibles énergies, et renforce leur sensibilitéà la privation d'oxygène. Cependant, un éclairement prolongé n'a aucune conséquence sur la germination ultérieure à l'obscurité. L'élimination de la dormance pendant la conservation au sec, à 20°C, se traduit par un élargissement de la gamme thermique qui assure une bonne germination et par la disparition presque complète de la sensibilité des semences à la lumière. Les structures qui entourent l'embryon (glumelles, enveloppes du caryopse et peut-être albumen) sont, en grande partie, responsables de la dormance et de la photosensibilité des semences entières, sans doute parce qu'elles limitent l'apport d'oxygène à l'embryon. Toutefois, l'embryon lui-même semble participer à la dormance. Les résultats obtenus sont discutés par comparaison avec la dormance des semences des céréales et en relation avec l'implantation, dans les cultures, de B. rubens en tant que mauvaise herbe. Dormanz der Samen von Bromus rubens L. in Bezug auf Temperatur, Licht und Sauerstoffversorgung Frisch geerntete Samen von Bromus rubens L. sind im Dunkeln bei Temperaturen über 15°C dormant, während diese Dormanz bei Temperaturen zwischen 5 und 15°C praktisch nicht vorliegt. Ständiges weißes Licht hemmt die Keimung dormanter Samen deutlich, sogar bei niedriger Intensität, und verstärkt ihre Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Sauerstoffmangel. Ständige Beleuchtung mit weißem Licht verändert jedoch nicht die folgende Dunkelkeimung. Das Brechen der Dormanz während der trockenen Lagerung bei 20 °C führt zu einem vergrößerten Temperaturbereich, in dem die Samen gut keimen, und läßt ihre Lichtempfindlichkeit fast vollständig verschwinden. Die Strukturen um den Embryo (Spelzen, Schale der Caryopse und möglicherweise Endosperm) sind hauptsächlich für die Dormanz und die Lichtempfindlichkeit des ganzen Samens verantwortlich, vermutlich deshalb, weil sie die Sauerstoffversorgung des Embryos einschränken. Aber auch der Embryo selbst scheint bei der Dormanz eine Rolle zu spielen. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse werden im Vergleich zur Dormanz von Getreidesamen und hinsichtlich des Vorkommens von Bromus rubens als Unkraut diskutiert.     

The effect of N and P fertilizer application and botanical composition on the leaf/stem ratio patterns in spring in Pyrenean meadows

The effect of botanical composition and nutrient availability on the relative allocation of biomass to stems and leaves in a permanent upland pasture in the central Pyrenees was assessed. Six short-term and medium-term fertilizer treatments (nitrogen and phosphorus) were applied to a meadow to create large differences in the proportions of the different species and a wide range of herbage nutrient status. The above-ground herbage dry-matter components (green leaves, sheaths and stems for grasses and dicotyledons, and senescent material) were measured for the first growth cycle.
The leaf mass depended mainly on the herbage N status, whereas the stem mass depended both on the botanical composition and on the herbage N and P status. During spring growth, the proportion of leaves in the above-ground dry matter decreased faster in plots that had the highest nutrient status or that were composed of species characteristic of nutrient-rich ( Festuca -poor) habitats. Application of fertilizer decreased the proportion of leaves both for grasses and dicotyledons, but to a larger extent for grasses. There was a single relationship between the proportion of leaves in the above-ground dry matter and the total mass of above-ground dry matter, irrespective of the sampling date, the botanical composition or the herbage nutrient status. This statistical relationship resulted from (i) a faster increase in stem mass than leaf mass for a given botanical composition when the herbage nutritional status increased, (ii) a greater stem mass when the sward was composed of species usually found in nutrient-rich habitats.     

Expression of the μ Opioid Receptor and Effects of the Opioid Antagonist Naloxone on In Vitro Maturation of Oocytes Recovered from Anoestrous Bitches

The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is expressed in bovine, human, equine and canine oocytes, and in seasonal breeders, it is expressed with higher intensity during the anoestrous phase. Supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium with opioid agents, agonists or antagonists, was shown to affect oocyte maturation in several species such as rat, bovine and equine. This study reports the effects of supplementing IVM medium with naloxone (Nx), an opioid antagonist, on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation rate of oocytes recovered from anoestrous bitches. Cytoplasmic maturation was examined in terms of mitochondrial (mt) distribution. In order to confirm the receptor-mediated action of Nx, in oocytes of anoestrous bitches, MOR expression was analyzed by Western blot. Cumulus–oocyte complexes, recovered from the ovaries of bitches in anoestrous, were cultured in vitro and Nx was added at the concentrations of 1 × 10⁻⁶, 1 × 10⁻⁸ and 1 × 10⁻¹⁰  m . The rate of oocytes resuming meiosis after culture in presence of 1 × 10⁻⁶  m Nx (29%) was significantly higher than that of oocytes of control group (12%; p < 0.05). However, treatment with Nx did not affect mt distribution pattern. In denuded oocytes and in corresponding cumulus cells, a doublet of 65 and 50 kDa was observed. We conclude that, in oocytes of anoestrous bitches, MOR is expressed and Nx significantly improves nuclear maturation rate. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the expression of other opioid receptors, such as δ and κ, and possible interactive effects of their antagonists on canine oocyte maturation.     

Blood type A and B frequencies in Turkish Van and Angora cats in Turkey

Blood typing of domestic cats has been performed in domestic and purebred cats in various parts of the world and is important in clinical practice in order to prevent neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) and acute haemolytic transfusion reactions. Prevalence of blood types vary greatly between breeds of cats. Turkish Van and Angora cats are different breeds that originated in geographically distinct regions of Turkey. The present survey determined the frequency of blood types in these Turkish pedigreed cats in Turkey. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid anti-coagulated blood of a total of 113 Turkish Van and Angora cats were examined for blood typing using a slide and tube agglutination assay. Of the 85 Van cats surveyed, 40% had type A, and 60% had type B blood. Of the 28 Turkish Angora cats, 53.6% had type A, and 46.4% had type B blood. No type AB cats were found between both breeds. There was no significant association between blood types and gender of both Angora and Van cats or eye colours of Van cats (P > 0.05). Although these are limited surveys, the overall prevalence of type B cats in these two breeds was very high compared with the results of previous studies worldwide. It appears likely that blood type incompatibilities responsible for feline NI and transfusion reactions are occurring in these breeds. The risk of transfusion incompatibility in Turkish Angora and Van cats was 46.4 and 60%, respectively. It is therefore strongly recommended to breeders and clinicians that blood typing be performed prior to breeding and transfusing cats.     

Second Oestrus Synchronization and Precocious Embryo Viability after Puberty Induction in Gilts by the Use of Gonadotrophin Treatment

The use of exogenous gonadotrophins in puberty inducement and ovulation synchronization is a technique that has a positive influence on the management of swine. The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a second gonadotrophin treatment [equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH), intramuscularly (i.m.)] upon the second oestrus synchronization and fertility in gilts. Seventy-one NAIMA (Pen Ar Lan) gilts had their first oestrus (puberty inducement) induced by a hormonal treatment (eCG and LH). Then, they were randomly distributed into two treatments, with (T1) and without (C) gonadotrophin treatment at the second oestrus. The animals were fed with a single ration (16% of crude protein and 3286.73 kcal ME/kg), and timed artificial insemination performed at the second oestrus. Gilts were slaughtered for embryo recovery and ovary examination about 5 days after insemination. There was no evidence of a difference in the percentage of the second oestrus expression (T1 - 90.90% and C - 86.84%), the duration of the oestrus cycle (T1 - 19.62 +/- 0.82 days and C - 19.67 +/- 4.14 days), the percentage of follicular cysts (T1 - 15.15% and C - 18.42%) and number of ovulations (T1 - 14.60 +/- 5.7 and C - 13.23 +/- 4.8) between treatments (p > 0.05). However, the hormonal treatment (T1) showed minor oestrus dispersion and embryo viability (T1 - 8.4 +/- 5.6 and C - 11.2 +/- 4.6) (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the better synchronization and expression of the second oestrus when using gonadotrophins (eCG and LH) is followed by a lower embryo viability, which is probably the consequence of the heterogeneous follicle recruitment during the injection of eCG.     

Milk Progesterone Profile at and after Artificial Insemination in Repeat-Breeding Cows: Effects on Conception Rate and Embryonic Death

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the skim milk progesterone concentrations at artificial insemination (AI) and day of rise of post-ovulatory progesterone concentration thereafter affect the conception and embryonic death rates in repeat-breeding cows. Milk samples were obtained from 96 repeat-breeding cows that failed to conceive to three or more AIs. The samples were taken from the cows at the day of AI and three times/week until day 45 post-AI. Skim milk was obtained after centrifugation and used for progesterone assay. The cows with a progesterone concentration more than 0.5 ng/ml at AI showed a significantly higher incidence of late embryonic death than those having a progesterone concentration<0.5 ng/ml at AI (p<0.01). As the progesterone level at insemination rose, conception rate declined. A negative correlation was shown between conception rate and skim milk progesterone level at AI. Of 56 cows showing a rise of progesterone to 1 ng/ml or more within 6 days after AI, 28 cows (50%) conceived. On the contrary, only eight of 39 cows (20.5%) conceived when the progesterone rose up to 1 ng/ml after day 6 post-AI. We concluded that increased progesterone concentration at the time of AI and delayed rise of progesterone post-AI might lead to decrease in fertility in repeat-breeding cows.     

Pathological Conditions of the Reproductive Organs of Male Stray Dogs in the Tropics: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Morphological Findings and Testosterone Concentrations

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for pathological conditions of the reproductive organs in stray dogs under tropical conditions. Three hundred and eighteen dogs were examined post-mortem in the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. Before killing, a blood sample (from the cephalic vein) for testosterone assay was taken. Pathological conditions of the reproductive organs were found in 135 of the dogs (42.5%) and in 175 of the testes (64.8%). The most frequent pathologies found were testicular degeneration, cryptorchidism, testicular hypoplasia and testicular tumours (in 15.1%, 6.6%, 6.6% and 5.4% of the dogs and 15.1, 4.6, 6.0 and 3.5 of the testes, respectively). Transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) was seen in 5.4% of the dogs. Testicular degeneration was more common in old dogs and underweight dogs (p < 0.05). Testicular tumours were 14.3 times more common in cryptorchid dogs. Age was another important factor for the development of testicular tumours (p < 0.05). Lower levels of testosterone concentration (p < 0.05) were observed in dogs with advanced testicular degeneration (0.7 +/- 0.8 nM), dogs with hypoplastic testicles (0.8 +/- 0.9 nM) and dogs with one degenerated and one retained testis or with bilateral cryptorchidism (1.2 +/- 0.9 nM) compared to dogs with one or two normal testes (7.0 +/- 5.5 nM). Testicular volume and weight were significantly lower in degenerated, hypoplastic and retained testes compared with the contralateral normal testis. Some spermatogenic activity was found in three of the retained testes, producing oligozoospermic smears with a high percentage of sperm abnormalities. No comparable epidemiological data about male pathological conditions of the reproductive organs in the dog is available. The prevalence found in this study, yet, appears high.     

Induction of oxidants in tomato leaves treated with <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">DL</Emphasis>-β-Amino butyric acid (BABA) and infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clavibacter michiganensis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">michiganensis</Emphasis>

Bacterial canker is an economically important disease of tomato. Resistance induced by DL-β-Amino butyric acid against bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis in tomato plants was investigated. Different doses of DL-β-Amino butyric acid (250–1000 μg ml⁻¹ doses) were tested on 3-week old plants inoculated with a 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ bacterial suspension, and disease development was evaluated after inoculation and treatment. Although in vitro growth of the bacteria was not affected by DL-β-Amino butyric acid treatment, foliage sprays of 500 μg ml⁻¹ DL-β-Amino butyric acid significantly suppressed disease development up to 54% by day 14 after inoculation at the four different doses tested. Bacterial populations were reduced by 84% in BABA-treated plants compared to water-treated plants by day 4 after inoculation. Inoculated BABA-treated plants showed significantly higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, peroxidase activity, and H₂O₂ concentration than inoculated water-treated plants during day 1 after treatment. These findings suggest that the DL-β-Amino butyric acid treatment resulted in an increase of these enzymes and in H₂O₂ concentration in planta, and was associated with induction of resistance to bacterial canker.     

聚丙烯酰胺防治坡地水土流失田间试验研究

坡地篱用聚丙烯酰胺可以减少地表径流,提高土壤含水量,促进土壤沉降,增强土壤结构性和水稳性,因而提高了土壤的持水性和抗蚀性,减少了土壤侵蚀量和肥力流失量,有利于作物增产。施用聚丙烯酰胺可使产量增加１８．７％～３２．４％。施用聚丙烯酰胺对环境无不良影响,而且投入费用较低,是一条值得探索的防治坡地水土流失的新途径。     

Standing Laparoscopic Peritoneal Flap Hernioplasty of the Vaginal Rings does not Modify the Sperm Production and Motility Characteristics in Intact Male Horses

Laparoscopic hernioplasty techniques have been developed in the recent years to avoid the recurrence of inguinal hernias and to spare the testicles for breeding purposes in stallions. However, there have been no previous comprehensive and systematic studies of the reproductive outcomes and prognoses for stallions after inguinal hernioplasty. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of one of these techniques (standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty) on the sperm production and motility characteristics of six healthy stallions that received this procedure based on 1‐year follow‐ups. There were no significant differences in the measured sperm variables (assessments based on the DSO, MOT, PMOT, VSL, VCL and VAP) during 1‐year follow‐ups.