Surveillance and characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from northern pintail (Anas acuta) in Japan during 2006-09

A total of 38 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates were obtained from 6060 fecal samples from northern pintail (Anas acuta) ducks collected in the Tohoku district in Japan during 2006-09. One isolate from each sampling location and date was selected for a total of 38 isolates, then 15 of these were characterized for their pathogenicity by mean death time of minimum lethal dose (MDT/MLD) using chicken embryos and by plaque formation on chicken embryo fibroblasts. Furthermore, nine isolates were randomly selected from these 15 isolates, and the fusion protein genes were sequenced to characterize amino acid sequences around the cleavage site. All 15 were confirmed to be nonvirulent by MDT/MLD test, and nine isolates were also confirmed as nonvirulent by the cleavage site of the fusion protein 112G/E-K/R-Q-G/E-R*L117 that was specific for nonvirulent NDVs. The characteristics of nine isolates identified by phylogenic analysis of the fusion protein gene indicated that the isolates belong to genotype I or II. In addition, we also isolated 68 avian influenza viruses and 28 other hemagglutinating viruses. Our data indicate that northern pintails are subclinically infected by, perpetuate, and distribute NDV along with different subtypes of avian influenza viruses and other hemagglutinating viruses during their migrations across vast areas over the Northern Hemisphere to Japan.     

Isolation and partial characterization of excretory/secretory antigens of Gastrothylax crumenifer

The present study was carried out to identify the excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens of the rumen infecting digenetic trematode Gastrothylax crumenifer that may be useful for the immunodiagnosis of rumen amphistomosis particularly during the pre-monsoon season during which this rumen parasite stops shedding eggs. The in vitro released E/S proteins were purified on a Sephadex G-200 column. The gel filtration profile revealed three distinct fractions F1-F3 where F1 and F3 appeared as sharp peaks while the F2 fraction was dispersed. The antibody titre against each of the purified E/S fractions was determined by ELISA using anti-whole E/S polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbit. Among the three fractions, the antibody titre against F1 was highest (1:12,800) whereas IgG titre was very low (1:50) for fraction F2 and F3 (1:100). Of the total polypeptides resolved on gradient SDS-PAGE, only a few antigenic polypeptides were detected in each fraction with hyperimmune anti-serum as revealed by Western Blot analysis. However, a 33 kDa antigen detected in each fraction appeared to be immunodominant which could be exploited for the diagnosis of the pouched amphistome.     

Co-Ion Effect on Cr3+ Sorption by Amberlyst-15(H+)

Cr³⁺ sorption on strong acid exchanger Amberlyst-15(H⁺) is studied as a function of time and temperature using CrCl₃.6H₂O and [Cr₄(SO₄)₅(OH)₂] solutions. The rate is found to be governed by a mixed diffusion for both the solutions and faster for Cl^1? solution than SO₄ ^2?. The exchange capacities are found to be higher for Cl^1? system than SO₄ ^2?. From the rate constant values, the energies of activation are calculated using the well-known Arrhenius equation. Equilibrium data is explained with the help of the Langmuir equation. The Langmuir parameters are also found to be higher for exchange from the chloride solutions. Various thermodynamic parameters (??H^o, ??S^o, and ??G^o) for Cr³⁺ exchange on the resin are calculated. The ??G^o values are found to be negative while ??H^o and ??S^o are positive for both the Cr³⁺/Cl^1? and Cr³⁺/SO₄ ^2? systems. It is suggested that in case of Cl^1? solutions, the metal is exchanged as Cr³⁺, while in case of SO₄ ^2? solutions, the metal exchanging specie is CrSO₄ ⁺.     

Production analysis of broiler farming in central Punjab,Pakistan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study examined the analysis of personal and production performance of broiler farming in 10 cities of central Punjab (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara,...     

WHEAT YIELD AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER EFFICIENCY AS INFLUENCED BY PRE-INCUBATED USE OF SINGLE SUPERPHOSPHATE AND POULTRY LITTER AND ITS TIME OF APPLICATION

In an effort to improve phosphorus (P) fertilizer efficiency on alkaline calcareous soils, the effect of period of pre-incubation of single superphosphate along with poultry litter and its time of application on phosphorous efficiency and yield of wheat was studied in a net house pot experiment. The results showed that application of 3–21 days pre-incubated single super phosphate + poultry litter resulted in higher phosphorous fertilizer efficiency and produced significantly higher dry matter yield of wheat at vegetative stage of growth. At maturity, however, maximum grain yield and highest phosphorous fertilizer efficiency was recorded for seven-days pre-incubation treatment only as compared to the recommended method of single super phosphate alone application at sowing. Application of pre-incubated single super phosphate + poultry litter at first irrigation also produced grain yield equivalent to single super phosphate applied alone at sowing. Under field conditions, top-dressing pre-incubated 22 and 44 kg phosphorous (as single super phosphate) along with 1 ton of poultry litter ha^?1 at first irrigation improved phosphorous uptake by 16.4 and 18.7%, phosphorous fertilizer efficiency by 65 and 58% and the grain yield of wheat by 13.4 and 12.5%, respectively as compared to phosphorous alone application at the same time.     

Alleviation of manganese toxicity and manganese-induced iron deficiency in barley by additional potassium supply in nutrient solution

Barley plants were grown hydroponically at two levels of K (3.0 and 30 mm) and Fe (1.0 and 10 μm) in the presence of excess Mn (25 μm) for 14 d in a phytotron. Plants grown under adequate K level (3.0 mm) were characterized by brown spots on old leaves, desiccation of old leaves, interveinal chlorosis on young leaves, browning of roots, and release of phytosiderophores (PS) from roots. These symptoms were more pronounced in the plants grown under suboptimal Fe level (1.0 p,M) than in the plants grown under adequate Fe level (10 μm). Plants grown in 10 μm Fe with additional K (30 mm) produced a larger amount of dry matter and released less PS than the plants grown under adequate K level (3.0 mm), and did not show leaf injury symptoms and root browning. On the other hand, the additional K supply in the presence of 1.0 μM Fe decreased the severity of brown spots, prevented leaf desiccation, and increased the leaf chlorophyll content, which was not sufficient for the regreening of chlorotic leaves. These results suggested that the additional K alleviated the symptoms of Mn toxicity depending on the Fe concentration in the nutrient solution. The concentration (per g dry matter) and accumulation (per plant) of Mn in shoots and roots of plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 30 mm K were much lower than those of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 3.0 mm K, indicating that additional K repressed the absorption of Mn. The concentration and accumulation of Fe in the shoots and roots of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 30 mm K were higher than those of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 3.0 mm K, indicating that the additional K increased the absorption of Fe under excess Mn level in the nutrient solution. The release of PS, chlorophyll content, and shoot Fe concentration were closely correlated.     

Diurnal variations in absorption and translocation of a ferrated phytosiderophore in barley as affected by iron deficiency

The release of phytosiderophore (PS) from roots of Fe-deficient graminaceous plants follows a distinct diurnal rhythm with maximum release rates occurring usually 3 to 4 hours after the onset of light. However, it remains to be determined whether absorption of the PS-Fe³⁺ complex shows a diurnal rhythmicity similar to that of PS release, Barley plants grown with or without 10 µM FeEDTA for 7 days were fed with ferreted PS (10 µM labelled with ⁵⁹Fe) at 4-h intervals to study the diurnal variations in the absorption and transloca tion of ⁵⁹Fe, The absorption of ⁵⁹Fe, irrespective of the Fe nutritional status of the plants, was higher during the day and lower during the night but did not show any peak throughout the day-night cycle. On the other hand, the translocation of ⁵⁹Fe into shoots of Fe-deficient plants was lower than that of Fe-sufficient plants, while the Fe nutritional status of the plants did not affect the absorption of ⁵⁹Fe by roots, The formation of root apoplastic ⁵⁹Fe was lower during the day and higher during the night, regardless of the Fe nutritional status of plants. Our results showed that the absorption of the PS-Fe³⁺ complex by roots did not follow the PS release pattern.     

Effectiveness of Phytosiderophore in Absorption and Translocation of 59Iron in Barley in the Presence of Plant-Borne,Synthetic, and Microbial Chelators

The mechanisms of iron (Fe) absorption and translocation in plants have received much study because they are the key processes in the supply of Fe to plants. The objective of this research was to study the effectiveness of phytosiderophore (PS) in the absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in Fe-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ‘Minorimugi’) plants in the presence of plant-borne, synthetic, or microbial chelators. Plants grown under Fe-deficient conditions in a phytotron at pH 5.5 for 7–18 d were fed with Fe³⁺ (10 μ M labeled with ⁵⁹Fe) in the presence of 10 μ M of different chelators with or without 10 μ M PS for 4 h starting at 2 p.m. (6 h after the onset of light period). The absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in plants treated with PS and Fe^{3 +} were increased relative to plants fed solely with Fe^{3 +} (control). There was no effect found on absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in plants treated with EDTA or p-coumarate relative to the control, but a differential increase was observed in ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with EDTA or p-coumarate in the presence of PS. In comparison with the control, a decrease in ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation was observed in plants treated with HEDTA or EDDHA or FOB, but this decrease was avoided in plants treated with HEDTA or EDDHA or FOB in the presence of PS. The enhancement of ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with citrate, and the highest ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with citrate and PS, indicated that citrate had an additive effect on Fe absorption and translocation in plants. Our results showed that PS effectively played a role in Fe absorption and translocation in plants in the presence of other chelators. Plants treated with any chelators had lower extracellular ⁵⁹Fe in the roots compared with the control.     

ALLEVIATING THE INFERTILITY OF AN ACID SULPHATE SOIL BY USING GROUND BASALT WITH OR WITHOUT LIME AND ORGANIC FERTILIZER UNDER SUBMERGED CONDITIONS

A study was conducted into the alleviation of the infertility of an acid sulphate by using ground basalt with or without ground magnesium limestone (GML) and organic fertilizer. Fresh soils were treated with the amendments and subjected to two cycles of submergence and drying. The soil was dominated by kaolinite, mica and smectite. The untreated soil pH was <3·5 and solution Al was high. GML application at 4 t ha⁻¹ was able to increase pH and subsequently reduced Al toxicity sufficiently to allow for rice growth. After 4 months of submergence, the pH of the sample treated with 4 t ground basalt ha⁻¹ had increased from 3·61 to 3·94, with concomitant decrease of Al. In the same cycle, the soil pH increase was much higher (reaching 5·22). Ground basalt is thus comparable with GML as an acid soil ameliorant. Within the experimental period, the ground basalt had mostly disintegrated and dissolved. The solution pH had further increased (to 5·94) in the second cycle because of dissolution of more ground basalt. This means that it takes time for ground basalt to completely dissolve and consequently supply Ca, Mg, K and P to the growing crop in the field. Applying 0·25 t organic fertilizer ha⁻¹ into the soil had no significant effect on either pH or Al. This form of organic matter (compost) contains essential nutrients. It is recommended that 4 t ground basalt should be applied in combination with 0·25 t organic fertilizer ha⁻¹ a few months ahead of the growing season for maximal benefit. This study showed that ground basalt can be effectively used to ameliorate highly acidic soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Greenhouse production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée) seed tubers using in vitro plantlets and rooted cuttings in large propagation beds

Summary Seed tuber production fromin vitro potato plantlets and cuttings was conducted in large propagation beds in a greenhouse. Propagules of wholein vitro plantlets (WIP), plantlets with apical (ACR) and lateral (LCR) cuttings removed, the rooted apical cuttings (RAC) and rooted lateral cuttings (RLC) were planted at three densities of 25, 49 and 100 plants per m². The plantlets from which cuttings were removed (ACR and LCR) produced more tubers than the rooted cuttings (RAC and RLC); however, the most tubers were produced by WIP. RAC produced highest tuber yields followed by WIP and RLC. Intact WIP and plantlets with cuttings removed (ACR and LCR) produced twice as many tubers <40 g as those from rooted cuttings (RAC and RLC). The yield (kg/m²) as well as the number of tubers per m² increased with the increasing planting density within the densities tested.