Species of paramphistomes (trematoda) from buffaloes in peshawar region of west Pakistan

Summary Four species of amphistomes were recorded from buffaloes in Peshawar region. The incidence of different species was determined. The significance of amphistomes in causing disease is discussed.

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Sumario Se registraron cuatro especies de Paramfistomas de bufalos en la región de Peshawar. Se determinó la incidencia de las diferentes especies. Se discute el significado de los amfistomas como causantes de Enfermedates.

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Résumé 4 espèces d'amphistomes sont signalées chez les buffles de la région de Peshawar. L'incidence de ces différentes espèces est déterminée. L'importance de ces amphistomes sous l'angle de leur pouvoir pathogène est discutée.

     

Antarctic Thraustochytrids as Sources of Carotenoids and High-Value Fatty Acids

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and carotenoids are needed as human dietary supplements and are essential components in commercial feeds for the production of aquacultured seafood. Microorganisms such as thraustochytrids are potential natural sources of these compounds. This research reports on the lipid and carotenoid production capacity of thraustochytrids that were isolated from coastal waters of Antarctica. Of the 22 isolates, 21 produced lipids containing EPA+DHA, and the amount of these fatty acids exceeded 20% of the total fatty acids in 12 isolates. Ten isolates were shown to produce carotenoids (27.4–63.9 μg/g dry biomass). The isolate RT2316-16, identified as Thraustochytrium sp., was the best producer of biomass (7.2 g/L in five days) rich in carotenoids (63.9 μg/g) and, therefore, became the focus of this investigation. The main carotenoids in RT2316-16 were β-carotene and canthaxanthin. The content of EPA+DHA in the total lipids (34 ± 3% w/w in dry biomass) depended on the stage of growth of RT2316-16. Lipid and carotenoid content of the biomass and its concentration could be enhanced by modifying the composition of the culture medium. The estimated genome size of RT2316-16 was 44 Mb. Of the 5656 genes predicted from the genome, 4559 were annotated. These included genes of most of the enzymes in the elongation and desaturation pathway of synthesis of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Carotenoid precursors in RT2316-16 were synthesized through the mevalonate pathway. A β-carotene synthase gene, with a different domain organization compared to the gene in other thraustochytrids, explained the carotenoid profile of RT2316-16.     

Micropropagation of Vitex negundo L. and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis of Micropropagated Plants

A micropropagation protocol was established for a medicinal plant Vitex negundo. Genetic stability of micropropagated plants was investigated. Multiple shoots were induced from nodal explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0.53 μM naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 11.0 μM benzyl aminopurine (BAP) along with additives (ascorbic acid, 283.9 μM; citric acid, 130.1 μM; and arginine, 143.6 μM). Shoots were further multiplied by repeated transfer of the mother explant. The shoots were further multiplied on MS medium + 0.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 6.6 μM BAP. The micropropagated shoots were pulse treated with 122.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), in liquid MS medium and then transferred to autoclaved soilrite. These rooted ex vitro. Shoots were also rooted in vitro on a half-strength MS medium + 2.45 μM IBA. The survival rate of in vitro rooted plantlets was poor during hardening compared to ex vitro rooted plantlets. About 95% of the ex vitro rooted, hardened plantlets survived in the field. Genetic stability of micropropagated plants was tested by using 25 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers. The cloned plants exhibited no variation in banding pattern in comparison with the mother plant.     

Tuberculosis in dromedary camels slaughtered in Nigeria: a documentation of lesions at postmortem

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In comparison with other livestock, tuberculosis (TB) in camels has not been extensively studied in Nigeria. Camels in the hands of Nigerian pastoralists...     

Interaction of Crop Load and Irrigation on Yield,Fruit Size,Color and Stem-end Splitting Ratio of Apple c.v. ‘Gala,Galaxy’

In this study, the interaction between crop load and irrigation level on yield, fruit size, skin color and stem-end splitting fruit ratio in the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ grafted on rootstock M9 were investigated. Six irrigation programs were applied during the whole growth season: deficit irrigation (rates of 0.25 kc, 0.50 kc, 0.75 kc), full irrigation (rate of 1.00 kc), excess irrigation (rate of 1.25 kc) and non-irrigation (rates of 0.00 kc of “Class A” pan evaporation coefficient). Four crop loads in each irrigation application were performed by hand thinning after the June drop as a- a low crop load (3 fruits cm^?2 TCA), b- a medium crop load (5 fruits cm^?2 TCA), c- a heavy crop load (7 fruits cm^?2 TCA), and d- an un-thinned crop load (>?7 fruits cm^?2 TCA). The total tree yield increased with crop load and irrigation levels. Fruit size was significantly increased by the low crop load. Irrigation increased the fruit size compared to non-irrigation treatment. Further 0.75 kc, 1.00 kc and 1.25 kc irrigation treatments significantly increased the fruit length. Irrigation reduced the fruit flesh firmness. While the low crop load increased the skin red color, it decreased the fruit skin brightness. The yellowness of skin decreased with increasing in the irrigation amount. Irrigation reduced the skin brightness and yellowness, but it increased red color. Crop load and irrigation significantly affected the stem-end splitting fruit ratio. While the splitting fruit ratio increased with a decrease in the crop load, it decreased with an increase in irrigation amount, relatively. Consequently, the low and medium crop load treatments would be beneficial to increase the ratio of marketable fruits without any significant losses in yield for ‘Gala’ apple, especially under 0.75 kc deficit irrigation treatment.     

Effects of Irrigation Frequency on Yield and Quality Parameters in Apple c.v. ‘Gala,Galaxy’

This study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in order to determine the effects of irrigation frequency on the yield and quality parameters of dwarf trees of the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ in the first and second year of cultivation. Irrigation water was applied at 3?, 5?, 7?, and 10-day intervals as much as the amount of water consumed from the field capacity. Statistical analysis revealed that the effects of irrigation frequency on yield were significant. Since the trees used in the experiment showed mainly vegetative growth, the effects of irrigation frequency on the fruit quality characteristics varied. Irrigation water amount was applied as 355.7–446.5 mm and 359.2–538.9 mm to the experimental treatments in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The evapotranspiration measured was in the range 400.7–491.5 mm in 2007 but in the range 440.2–600.5 mm in 2008, while the yields in the same years ranged from 1.54 to 2.84 t ha^?1 and from 2.61 to 6.06 t ha^?1. Water use efficiency varied between 2.40 and 4.80 t ha^?1mm^?1 in the first year of the experiment but between 3.45 and 7.08 t ha^?1mm^?1 in the second year. The I₂ treatment, in which the highest yield and water use efficiency were recorded in both years of the experiment under the experimental conditions, was determined as the irrigation scheduling.     

Co-infection of two criniviruses and a begomovirus enhances the disease severity in cucumber

European Journal of Plant Pathology - In the past two decades, viruses in the genera Crinivirus and Begomovirus, transmitted by whiteflies, have emerged as threatening diseases to cucurbit...     

渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲棉花种植面积时空变化特征分析

利用研究区棉花种植面积和产量相关统计数据,探究研究区棉花种植面积和产量的时空变化特征及单产和面积作用对棉花产量的影响。研究结果表明：(1) 近62年来,研究区的棉花种植面积、棉花产量和单产均呈上升趋势,而且表现出明显的阶段性和波动性,1949—1985年间增长缓慢,1986—2011年增长迅速。(2) 就棉花总产波动来看, 单产的作用占42.04%,面积作用占50.96%,在1949—1985年间单产增加对棉花总产量提高的贡献较大,在1986—2011年间棉花种植面积扩大对棉花总产量提高的贡献较大。(3) 1985年前棉花种植面积较稳定,波动不大,主要靠挤占粮食作物面积来扩大,1986年之后棉花种植面积扩大迅速,主要途径为开荒造地。(4) 棉花市场价格的波动、生产成本的上升、产量的徘徊、生产环境的恶化和品种等直接影响着研究区棉花生产的竞争力和棉农增收。     

Effects of biochar on microbial community in bioflocs and gut of Oreochromis niloticus reared in a biofloc system

Aquaculture International - This study investigated the effects of biochar application on the bacterial community structure in bioflocs and intestines of Oreochromis niloticus cultured in a biofloc...