The effects of transportation stress on Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) fed corn‐based diet in comparison with wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase

Harvesting, handling and transporting quails to the slaughterhouses, other farms and laboratories might covertly reduce their welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two major sources of energy in poultry nutrition on reducing transportation stress in Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica). Male quails (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The first group was fed corn‐based diet, and the second was fed wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase. At the end of the experiment (day 35), quails were subjected to 80 km of transportation. Immediately on arrival and after 24 h, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts and H:L ratios were measured. On arrival, H counts were lower, L counts were higher, and H:L ratios were lower for corn‐fed group. After 24 h, wheat‐fed group showed lower increment of H counts, greater increment of L counts and also decrement of H:L ratios rather than corn‐fed group which showed increment of H:L ratios. However, these ratios were still lower in corn‐fed group. Results indicate that corn‐based diets can help Japanese quail to better resist transportation stress, although it seems that feeding wheat‐based diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase could have positive effects for coping better with stress after journeys.     

农户田块尺度冬小麦不同产量水平土壤细菌群落差异

为了明确土壤细菌群落对小麦产量的影响，以河南省济源市冬小麦种植户田块为研究对象，通过采集扬花期麦田土壤样品，利用Illumina高通量测序技术测定细菌16S rRNA V3+V4区序列，分析冬小麦不同产量水平土壤的细菌群落差异。结果表明，高产组土壤铵态氮含量显著高于低产组(P<0.05),土壤有机质含量、速效钾含量、有效磷含量、硝态氮含量、pH值在组间均无显著差异，土壤酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性在组间也均无显著差异。酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria)是土壤细菌群落的主导菌门。门水平上，小麦产量与芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、装甲菌门(Armatimonadetes)、纤维杆菌门(Fibrobacteres)、Latescibacteria、Dadabacteria相对丰度显著相关。属水平上，Bryobacter、黄杆菌属(Flavisolibacter)、芽单胞菌属(Gemmatimonas)、丰佑菌属(Opitutus)、黏液杆菌属(Mucilaginibacter)、Dongia、Chryseo...     

铁元素对农田人参丙二醛含量及防御酶活性的影响

[目的]研究Fe2＋对人参（Panax ginseng Meyer）叶中防御酶活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量的影响。[方法]采用叶面供Fe2＋的方法。试验共设5个处理,Fe2＋浓度分别为：0（对照）、0.005%、0.050%、0.500%、2.000%。[结果]随着供Fe2＋水平的升高,MDA含量先降低后升高,过氧化物酶（POD）活性呈持续上升趋势,过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性先升高后降低,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性呈先升高后降低再升高的趋势。[结论]从生理角度揭示了铁元素在人参生长发育中的作用机理,为人参的合理施肥提供理论参考。     

Boron Induced Oxidative Stress,Antioxidant Defence Response and Changes in Artemisinin Content in Artemisia annua L.

Boron is an essential plant micronutrient and the range between deficient and toxic levels of boron is narrow for most of the plants. Like other elements, boron becomes toxic to growth at high concentrations. High boron concentrations in soil reduce crop productivity in many areas of the world. The effect of increasing levels of boron (0, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 mm ) on oxidative stress, antioxidant defence response and changes in artemisinin content in Artemisia annua were investigated in the present study. Boron toxicity reduced the growth parameters viz. stem height, fresh weight and dry weight. Treatments induced oxidative stress resulting in lower net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO₂ and total chlorophyll content. The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes like CAT, POX and SOD were also noted in response to increasing levels of boron stress. However, H₂O₂ and artemisinin content were found to be high up to 1.00 mm concentration of boron compared to control, and on applying higher doses, further reduced contents were obtained. Thus, the results suggest that a mild stress of boron can be utilized for enhanced artemisinin production.     

电子束辐照不同虫态玉米象保护酶系活力变化研究

研究了玉米象Sitophilus zeamais(Motschulsky)不同虫态(2~3龄幼虫、1~2龄蛹和羽化1天成虫)体内三种保护酶过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧歧化酶(SOD)活力在电子束5个辐照剂量下酶活性的变化。试验结果表明,不同虫态玉米象CAT活力为:羽化1d成虫1~2龄蛹2~3龄幼虫;POD活力为:1~2龄蛹羽化1d成虫2~3龄幼虫;SOD活力为:1~2龄蛹2~3龄幼虫羽化1d成虫。辐照处理后,保护酶活力随辐照剂量的增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势,本实验结果有助于阐明电子束辐照加强对储粮害虫生理生化效应研究。     

Enzymatic Maceration of Witloof Chicory by the Soft Rot Bacteria Erwinia carotovora Subsp. carotovora: The Effect of Nitrogen and Calcium Treatments of the Plant on Pectic Enzyme Production and Disease Development

Disease incidence of bacterial soft rot caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora and activities of bacterial pectolytic enzymes were studied in witloof chicory. Disease incidence after forcing of the chicory heads was enhanced by the nitrogen treatment and reduced by the calcium treatment of the chicory plants prior to forcing. Significant differences in susceptibility to bacterial soft rot were found for the tested chicory cultivars. Disease severity after 96h ranged from 6% in Clause R2 to 100% in Bea and Tabor. Chicory cultivars Rumba and Salsa showed a final average severity of 65–70%. Activity of the pectolytic enzymes, polygalacturonase and pectate lyase increased in artificially inoculated chicory heads of cultivar Rumba and was not affected by calcium and nitrogen treatments of the plants. Polygalacturonase showed highest activity 48h after inoculation while pectate lyase activity increased throughout 72h of incubation. Maceration of the chicory tissue and bacterial growth increased continuously until 96h after inoculation, when more than 60% of the chicory heads was macerated by pectolytic enzymes of the bacteria. Enzyme activity of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora grown on chicory cell wall extracts was influenced by nitrogen and calcium treatments of the chicory plants. The activity of polygalacturonase reached its highest level at 48h after incubation and pectate lyase activity peaked at 24h followed by a continuous decrease until 72h after inoculation.     

Productive,Physiological and Biochemical Changes in Imported and Locally Born Friesian and Holstein Lactating Cows under Hot Summer Conditions of Egypt

Twenty each of healthy lactating Friesian and Holstein cows were studied. They were of similar age and body weight, nonpregnant in their third lactation and 80–100 days post partum. The investigation was carried out for 8 weeks on two farms at the same time during the hot summer season in Egypt. The first farm was in Demietta (North east of the Nile Delta, 31° 40 N) on 20 Friesian cows and the second was in Fakous (East of the Nile Delta, 30° 40 N) on 20 Holstein cows. On each of the two farms, 10 cows were newly imported and 10 were born in Egypt.The average daily milk yield and total milk production in the third lactation of the newly imported cows were significantly higher than those of the locally born cows for both Friesians and Holsteins. At the same time, the T₄, T₃, urea-N, haematological values and AST enzyme activity in the newly imported cows were significantly lower than those in the locally born ones in both breeds, while the locally born cows showed significantly lower values for rectal temperature and respiration rate, as well as for AST and Alk-P enzyme activities, than the newly imported cows of either breed.Holstein cows surpassed the Friesians in milk production, as well as thyroid hormone secretion and cholesterol, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte count values. The opposite was found for serum total protein, urea-N and creatinine concentrations, leukocyte count and AST, ALT and Alk-P enzyme activities.     

Identification and quantification of amines in the equine caecum

Acute laminitis has been associated with the release of compounds, as yet unidentified, produced by hindgut fermentation which affect blood flow to the digit. The objectives of this study were to identify amine compounds in equine caecal and colonic contents, some of which are known to have vasoactive properties. In addition, the concentrations of amines in caecal contents of horses fed either grass or hay diets were compared. Fifteen amines were identified in equine hindgut contents in concentrations greater than 1 microM. The caecal concentrations of phenylethylamine, isoamylamine, cadaverine, diaminoheptane and spermidine were significantly higher in horses on spring/summer grass compared with those on winter grass or hay. These data show that many amines are present in the equine hindgut, some of which may have the potential to cause peripheral vasoconstriction if released into the circulation from the gastrointestinal tract.