Comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene of Pasteurella multocida serogroup B isolates from different animal species

The phylogenetic relationships of five isolates of Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2 belonging to buffalo, cattle, pig, sheep and goat were investigated by comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene. The 1468bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that the isolates of cattle (PM75), pig (PM49) and sheep (PM82) shared 99.9% homology with the buffalo isolate (vaccine strain P52) whereas, the goat isolate (PM86) shared 99.8% homology with the vaccine strain. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of these isolates were also found monophyletic with type B reference strain NCTC 10323 of P. multocida subsp. multocida. The present study indicated the close relationships of haemorrhagic septicaemia causing P. multocida serotype B:2 isolates of buffalo and cattle with other uncommon hosts (pig, sheep and goat).     

Development of computational models for the purpose of conducting individual livestock and premises traceback investigations utilizing National Animal Identification System-compliant data

Many of the efforts surrounding the development of the National Animal Identification System have encompassed the identification of livestock production and handling premises as well as individuals or herds of animals, whereas little effort has been directed toward the ultimate goal of animal traceback within 48 h. A mock data set representative of the Colorado cattle population was created for modeling of cattle traceability. Using this data set, algorithms were developed to complete rapid and accurate traceback and traceforward of animals or premises or both. On July 19, 2005, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, conducted a test exercise pertaining to homeland security. The exercise team randomly identified animal number 926,583 (of the 2 million total animals) as a potentially infected animal of interest and requested a traceback of this animal. Traceback was accomplished in 215 s, and 540 primary coresident animals were identified. However, due to animal movements, the number of coresidents (animals exposed, directly or indirectly, to the animal of interest) expanded with coresidency level (level 1 = direct contact; level 2 = direct contact with an animal that had direct contact with the animal of interest; level 3 = direct contact with an animal that had contact with an animal that had direct contact with the animal of interest, etc.) to more than 1.2 million coresidents at level 4, and more than 90% of all animals identified as a coresident at some level. In addition to the coresidency results, the premises containing the coresidents were identified and sorted by the number of coresidents. Because of animal movement, all 19,391 premises included in the data set had coresidents at some level. This exercise demonstrated the capability of the developed algorithms to complete rapid traceback and the complexity of the resulting animal traceback output.     

Tillage Effects on Crop Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Sodic Soils

Tillage modifies soil structure and has been suggested as a practice to improve physical, hydrological and chemical properties of compacted soils. But little is known about effect of long‐term tillage on physicochemical soil properties and crop yield on sodic soils in India. Our objective was to investigate the effect of different tillage regimes on crop yield (wheat and paddy rice) and physicochemical properties of sodic soils. Two sodic sites under conventional tillage for 5 (5‐YT; 5‐year tillage) and 9 (9‐YT; 9‐year tillage) years were selected for this study. Changes in crop yield and physicochemical soil properties were compared with a control, sodic land without any till history, that is, 0‐year tillage/untilled (0‐YT). Five replicated samples at 0‐ to 10‐cm and 10‐ to 20‐cm soils depths were analysed from each site. In the top, 0‐ to 10‐cm soil depth 5‐YT and 9‐YT sites had higher particle density (Pd), porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen (N_t), available nitrogen (N_avail), phosphorus (P_avail) and exchangeable calcium (Exch. Ca⁺⁺) than 0‐YT, whereas bulk density (Bd), C : N ratio and CaCO₃ were significantly lower. Bd, pH, EC and CaCO₃ increased significantly with depth in all the lands, whereas Pd, porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, N_t, N_avail, P_avail and Exch. Ca⁺⁺ decreased. We conclude that continuous tillage and cropping can be useful for physical and chemical restoration of sodic soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analyses of cytoplasmic male sterile and male fertile Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used for the identification of two pigeonpea cytoplasmic genic male sterile (CMS) lines derived from crosses between the wild (Cajanus scarabaeoides & C. sericeus) and the cultivated species of Cajanus cajan. The male sterile (A) line and its maintainer (B) line could be easily differentiated with certain random primers. The two male sterile (288 A and 67 A)systems are based on C. scarabaeoidesand the other is based on C. sericeus could also be differentiated. Amplification product of 600bp amplified by primer OPC-11 was observed in both the cytoplasmic male sterile lines (288 A and 67A), which was absent in the maintainer lines (288 B and 67 B) and the putative R-line (TRR 5 and TRR 6). CMS lines, putative R lines, other cultivars and wild species under the study could be easily distinguished with the help of different primers. Dendrogram constructed based on the similarity index showed that considerable genetic variation exist sbetween CMS lines, two putative R line and wild species studied. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic improvement of legumes using somatic cell and molecular techniques

Summary The merits and limitations of somatic cell techniques involving Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, direct gene transfer and protoplast fusion, are discussed in relation to the genetic improvement of forage and grain legumes. Whilst progress with legumes is limited compared to that with plants of other families such as the Solanaceae, the fact that many legumes are readily amenable to tissue culture now permits somatic cell techniques to be targetted to these species. Future development of the subject will necessitate close collaboration between molecular biologists and plant breeders to enable novel plants generated by in vitro technologies to be incorporated into conventional breeding programmes.     

Morphology, Cytology and Fertility of Avena sativa L. ×A. magna Murph. et Terrell Amphiploids

The genotypes of Avena sativa were crossed to A. magna Murph. et Terrell, from the sterile pentapliod F₁ amphiploids were successfully developed after colchicine treatment. The C₁ plants were observed for their morphology, cytology and fertility. These plants were characterized by longer and broader glumes, swollen pedicel attachment, pubescent lemmas, bold seeds and persistent spikelets. Other characters, viz., final plant height, rachis length, peduncle length and spikelets per panicle were intermediate. All plants hail the chromosome number 2n = 70 or close to. 7C. Due to stickiness of chromosomes, meiosis of only two decaploid plants could be studied in detail. The average chromosome Association was 1.3 I + 28.56 II + 1.4 III + 1.77 IV + 0.07 VI and 0.13 I + 28.7 II + 0.14 III + 2.09 IV + 0.59 VI; but in some cells up to 35 bivalents were observed. Seed set as well as pollen fertility and size exhibited great variation.     

The Influence of Plant Developmental Stage on Expression of Resistance to leaf Rust (Puccinia recondita) in Two Near Isogenic Lines of Wheat

Cultivar ‘Thatcher’, and ‘Thatcher’ lines with Lr 21 and Lr 22 were studied against a number of races of Puccinia recondita for seedling and adult plant reaction. The study has established that Lr 21 and Lr 22 are genes effective against P. recondita at adult plant stage. It has also shown that these genes confer resistance against all races when plants are inoculated at boot leaf stage.     

Gene-for-gene relationship for resistance in wheat to isolates of Karnal bunt, Neovossia indica

Reactions to eight isolates of Karnal bunt, Neovossia indica, collected from seven different locations in northern India were studied on 13 host lines, including cultivars and breeding lines of Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum and Triticosecale in all possible combinations. The incidence of Karnal bunt varied from zero in PBW 34 and PBW 248 with isolates Ni8 and Ni2, respectively, to as high as 66.8% in a highly susceptible cultivar WL 711 with isolate Ni5. The differences in disease incidence among cultivars and isolates were highly significant. All the isolates could be distinguished on the basis of differential reactions on one or more of the host lines. Even the most resistant lines of durum (PDW 215), triticale (TL 1210) and wheat (HD 29) could be distinguished by the differential disease reaction with one or more of the eight isolates. The cultivar-isolate interaction for disease score was highly significant, indicating the probable existence of a gene-for-gene relationship in this host-pathogen system.