A comparative study of peste des petits ruminants and Kata in West African dwarf goats

Summary Experimental infections of West African Dwarf goats with Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Kata were indistinguishable clinically and pathologically. Goats convalescent from Kata resisted infection with rinderpest virus. Heterologous stimulation of secondary antibody response was observed.

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Sumario Las infecciones experimentales de cabras enanas de Africa Occidental con la peste de los peque?os ruminantes y con Kata fueron clinicamente y patoligicamente indistinguibles. Cabras que convalecieron de Kata resistieron a la infección con el virus de la peste bovina. Se observó una estimulación heteróloga de la respuesta inmunitaria secundaria.

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Résumé L’infection expérimentale de chèvres naines de l’Afrique de l’Ouest par le virus de la peste des petits ruminants (PPR) et par le virus du Kata a montré que les deux maladies ne présentaient pas de différences cliniques ni pathologiques. Des chèvres convalescentes de Kata ont résisté à l’infection par le virus de la peste bovine. Une stimulation hétérologue de la réponse d’anticorps secondaires a été observée.

     

Interaction ofPseudomonas fluorescens withRhizobium for their effect on the management of peanut root rot

A biocontrol agent (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and a phytostimulator (Rhizobium) have been shown to have beneficial effects on plant growth and health. The study of plants inoculated withPseudomonas andRhizobium requires special attention because of the possibility that these agents may influence each other. Our study was conducted to test the effect of these inoculants on co-inoculation in peanut to control root rot, a severe soilborne disease caused byMacrophomina phaseolina. One fluorescent pseudomonad strain, Pf 1, which effectively inhibited the mycelial growth ofM. phaseolina underin vitro conditions, was studied for its compatibility with the biofertilizer bacterial strainRhizobium TNAU 14. Dual culture and colorimetric studies indicated the existence of a positive interaction between the microbial inoculants. However, glasshouse and field studies showed seed treatment and soil application ofPseudomonas fluorescens Pf 1 to be the most effective treatment in reducing root rot incidence and improving the crop vigor index, in comparison with treatments in which both inoculants were applied. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 11, 2002.     

Molecular cloning and tissue expression of chicken AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 complementary deoxyribonucleic acids

AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 belong to a novel class of transmembrane receptors that mediate the effects of adiponectin. We have cloned the chicken AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 complementary deoxyribonucleic acids (cDNA) and determined their expression in various tissues. We also investigated the effect of feed deprivation on the expression of AdipoR1 or AdipoR2 mRNA in the chicken diencephalon, liver, anterior pituitary gland, and adipose tissue. The chicken AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 cDNA sequences were 76-83% identical to the respective mammalian sequences. A hydrophobicity analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of chicken AdipoR1/AdipoR2 revealed seven distinct hydrophobic regions representing seven transmembrane domains. By RT-PCR, we detected AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA in adipose tissue, liver, anterior pituitary gland, diencephalon, skeletal muscle, kidney, spleen, ovary, and blood. AdipoR1 or AdipoR2 mRNA expression in various tissues was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR, and AdipoR1 mRNA expression was the highest in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and diencephalon, followed by kidney, ovary, liver, anterior pituitary gland, and spleen. AdipoR2 mRNA expression was the highest in adipose tissue followed by skeletal muscle, liver, ovary, diencephalon, anterior pituitary gland, kidney, and spleen. We also found that a 48 h feed deprivation significantly decreased AdipoR1 mRNA quantity in the chicken pituitary gland, while AdipoR2 mRNA quantity was significantly increased in adipose tissue (P<0.05). We conclude that the AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 genes are ubiquitously expressed in chicken tissues and that their expression is altered by feed deprivation in the anterior pituitary gland and adipose tissue.     

Soil carbon stock in relation to plant diversity of homegardens in Kerala,India

Conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of global warming are two major environmental challenges today. In this context, the relationship between biodiversity (especially plant diversity) and soil carbon (C) sequestration (as a means of mitigating global warming) has become a subject of considerable scientific interest. This relationship was tested for homegardens (HG), a popular and sustainable agroforestry system in the tropics, in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. The major objectives were to examine how tree density and plant-stand characteristics of homegardens affect soil C sequestration. Soil samples were collected at four depths (0–20, 20–50, 50–80, 80–100 cm) from HG of varying sizes and age classes, and their total C content determined. Tree density and plant-stand characteristics such as species richness (Margalef Index) and diversity (Shannon Index) of the HG were also determined. Results indicated that the soil C stock was directly related to plant diversity of HG. Homegardens with higher, compared to those with lower, number of plant species, as well as higher species richness and tree density had higher soil carbon, especially in the top 50 cm of soil. Overall, within 1 m profile, soil C content ranged from 101.5 to 127.4 Mg ha⁻¹. Smaller-sized HG (<0.4 ha) that had higher tree density and plant-species density had more soil C per unit area (119.3 Mg ha⁻¹) of land than larger-sized ones (>0.4 ha) (108.2 Mg ha⁻¹). Soil C content, especially below 50 cm, was higher in older gardens. The enhanced soil-C storage in species-rich homegardens could have relevance and applications in broader ecological contexts.

Adsorption of Cadmium by Indian Soils

Adsorption behaviour of cadmium (Cd) in soils is an important process which exerts a major influence on its uptake by plant roots. Thirteen soils from various parts of India (tropical region), their pH ranging from 4.2 to 8.4, were subjected to Cd treatment at various concentrations (1 to 100 μg ml-1) and equilibrated at room temperature (25 ± 1 °C). The Cd adsorbed by each soil was calculated as the difference between the amount of Cd present in the solution initially and that remaining after equilibration. Results indicated that the adsorption capacity of the soils for Cd increased with an increase in the pH or alkalinity of the soils. The rate of adsorption was, however, found to decrease with increased pH. All the 13 soils used in this study followed linear and Freundlich adsorption isotherms with highly significant positive correlations (r). The neutral and alkaline soils also followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the adsorption maxima being lowest for the neutral soil and highest for the alkaline soil. The adsorption data, in general, indicated that Cd was in a fixed form at higher pH levels. The results are generally similar to those of the temperate regions; however, Cd adsorption capacity of tropical vertisols was comparatively higher than those of temperate vertisols.     

Techno-economic evaluation of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) nursery rearing in small net cages (hapas) under different coastal salinities

Nursery rearing is the critical interim phase in farming of Asian seabass fish (Lates calcarifer), which produce fish fingerlings as an input for grow-out farming. The present study evaluated the techno-economic performance of seabass nursery rearing in low and high saline coastal waters. The results indicated that seabass nursery rearing is technically efficient with a mean technical efficiency of 99.83% and 92.45%, respectively under low and high saline conditions. The mean survival of young fishes was 63.50% and 42.50% with a mean daily weight gain of 0.08 g and 0.15 g, respectively in low and high saline waters. While the benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.76 and 1.9, the internal rate of return (IRR) was calculated to be 300% and 130%, respectively, indicating the economic viability of nursery rearing under different salinity regimes. Furthermore, it was observed that nursery rearing in low saline waters was more efficient and highly remunerative. In the Indian socio-economic scenario, a mean monthly income per person spending 2 h per day was found to be 129 USD and 317 USD respectively in high and low saline nursery systems which is a considerable earning. The results explicitly stated that nursery rearing itself is an exclusively livelihood development activity for the coastal fisher families with an active participation of fisher women. Establishment of finfish hatcheries to ensure continued supply of seabass seeds is the key factor in facilitating wider adoption of nursery rearing as a sustainable farming activity.

     

Primary structure and biochemical properties of an M2 muscarinic receptor

A partial amino acid sequence obtained for porcine atrial muscarinic acetylcholine receptor was used to isolate complementary DNA clones containing the complete receptor coding region. The deduced 466-amino acid polypeptide exhibits extensive structural and sequence homology with other receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins (for example, the beta-adrenergic receptor and rhodopsins); this similarity predicts a structure of seven membrane-spanning regions distinguished by the disposition of a large cytoplasmic domain. Stable transfection of the Chinese hamster ovary cell line with the atrial receptor complementary DNA leads to the binding of muscarinic antagonists in these cells with affinities characteristic of the M2 receptor subtype. The atrial muscarinic receptor is encoded by a unique gene consisting of a single coding exon and multiple, alternatively spliced 5' noncoding regions. The atrial receptor is distinct from the cerebral muscarinic receptor gene product, sharing only 38% overall amino acid homology and possessing a completely nonhomologous large cytoplasmic domain, suggesting a role for the latter region in differential effector coupling.