Immune Responses to Vibrio anguillarum in Yellowtail Kingfish,Seriola lalandi,Fed Selenium Supplementation

Effects of dietary selenium (Se) on immune competence of yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, were investigated. The fish were fed one of the three experimental diets including a control diet without Se supplementation and two diets supplemented with Se from Se‐yeast (Selplex) at 2 and 4 mg/kg. After feeding for 6 wk, the fish were challenged by injecting Vibrio anguillarum and observed for 2 wk. Dietary Se had no effect on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and survival over the course of 6‐wk feeding; however, it significantly increased weight gain and Se content in muscle. Following the bacterial infection, the immune‐stimulating effects of Se were observed in antibody, lysozyme, and bactericidal responses, and there was a corresponding increase in survival and hematocrit by Se. Under infectious condition, antioxidant capacity of fish as measured in terms of resistance of red blood cells to peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity also increased by supplementation of Se. Liver necrosis and kidney melano‐macrophages were only seen in surviving fish fed the control diet after the challenge. Furthermore, there was evidence of myopathy in fish fed the diet without Se supplementation. This study suggests that Se, supplemented at 2 or 4 mg/kg, can improve growth and health of yellowtail kingfish.     

Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina.

Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods.

Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.     

Characterization,Pathogenicity and Chemical Control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces acidiscabies</Emphasis> Associated to Potato Common Scab

The pathogenicity of 10 bacterial isolates was investigated on potato, radish, carrot and beet, including sensitivity and pathogen control efficacy. The isolates were identified by morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. All isolates were pathogenic on radish, carrot, and beet, and were highly virulent on potato. Although the isolates were obtained from different locations in the El Fuerte Valley (Sinaloa, Mexico), they were similar in their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene obtained by PCR were identical for all isolates. These results indicate that the bacterial isolates from potato scabby tissue belong to S. acidiscabies. Furthermore, the effectiveness of fluazinam, both in vitro and under greenhouse and field conditions, represents a possibleoption for chemical control of potato common scab disease. While our results suggest that spraying at seeding is effective in controlling common scab, future studies to combine this treatment with seed dressing before planting will be conducted to determine if there is an increase in disease control.     

新疆中亚生态群杏品种果实与叶片形态特征相关性

【目的】研究新疆中亚生态群杏品种果实和叶片的形态特性及相关性,为新品种选育提供理论依据。【方法】以隶属于该生态群的80个新疆杏品种为研究对象,测定其在果实成熟期的叶面积、叶片长、叶片宽、叶周长、单果重、果实纵横侧径,分析这些指标的分布特性和彼此间的相关性。【结果】80个新疆中亚生态群杏品种中,77.5%的杏品种叶面积分布在19.8~30.3 cm²,最大叶面积为44.18 cm²,最小叶面积为12.82 cm²,叶面积整体偏小;86.3%杏品种叶周长分布在16.7~22.7 cm,最大叶周长为24.44 cm,最小叶周长为13.66 cm;63.8%杏品种单果重分布在16.1~32.1 g FW,最大单果重为48.07 g FW,最小单果重为12.13 g FW,果实整体偏小。叶面积与叶片宽之间相关性最高(0.910^**),叶周长与叶片长之间相关性最高(0.870^**),单果重与果实横径之间相关性最高(0.913^**)。【结论】叶面积和叶周长与果实的单果重之间极显著正相关,可作为预测果实单果重的重要指标。     

Sorghum Pasta and Noodles: Technological and Nutritional Aspects

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Sorghum is a major cereal crop with various agronomic advantages, contains health-promoting compounds and is gluten-free. There is a growing tendency to use...     

Marker‐assisted parentage analysis reveals high individual selfing rates in tetraploid red clover genotypes selected for seed yield

Seed yield is a major breeding target in tetraploid red clover. We investigated if marker‐assisted parentage analysis can identify progeny plants with two high seed‐yielding parents in tetraploid red clover and if this technique is more advantageous than traditional half‐sib selection. Parentage analysis was successfully performed on the progeny from the 10% highest seed‐yielding genotypes from a second‐cycle family selection trial: 16.0% of progeny were identified with a high seed‐yielding father. However, progeny plants with two high seed‐yielding parents did not produce more seeds than traditionally selected progeny (27.3 g vs. 30.7 g/plant, respectively). The 10% highest seed‐yielding genotypes displayed on average 2% self‐fertilization. Four genotypes were self‐fertile with individual selfing rates up to 20%. Our results discourage the use of marker‐assisted parentage analysis to improve seed yield in tetraploid red clover when the material has been preselected for seed yield. Breeders should be aware that intensive selection for seed yield in tetraploid red clover may inadvertently lead to selection for increased self‐fertility, which may increase inbreeding in the long term.     

生物炭对不同酸化水平稻田土壤性质和重金属Cu、Cd有效性影响

针对南方稻田土壤酸化严重,导致养分流失有毒重金属活化,严重影响稻米质量安全的重大现实问题。以水稻秸秆和谷壳等农业废弃物为原料制备生物炭(分别记为RSC和RHC),研究不同原料生物炭对酸化土壤改良及其对重金属有效性的影响。设置3个生物炭用量(0,20,50 g/kg,分别记为CK、C1、C2),4种土壤酸化水平(pH 4.01,4.25,4.33,4.58,分别记为L1、L2、L3、L4),生物炭与重金属污染土壤共同培养60天后测定土壤pH、全氮、有机质、有效磷、速效钾和有效态Cu、Cd含量。结果表明:RSC对酸化土壤pH的改良效果明显优于RHC,且施炭量越高提高幅度越大,RSC的C2处理使4种酸度水平的土壤pH分别提高了0.68,0.97,1.29,1.71个单位。2种生物炭均能提高土壤的全氮、有效磷、速效钾和有机质含量,其中各施炭处理有机质显著提高,尤以速效钾的增幅最为显著,RSC对4种养分的提高均优于RHC。RHC对土壤有效态Cu含量无显著影响;RSC的C2较C1处理更能降低土壤中有效态Cu含量,使4种酸度水平的土壤分别降低了13.62%,6.57%,4.36%,7.88%。RHC处理的L3、L4土壤中有效态Cd含量显著降低,最大分别降低了13.79%,19.23%。RSC使4种酸度土壤有效态Cd含量最大分别降低了20.00%,25.81%,20.69%,19.23%。相关分析表明,土壤pH与有效态重金属含量呈显著负相关关系。水稻秸秆炭用于改良酸化土壤、降低重金属Cu和Cd有效性的效果更佳,且降低污染土壤中Cd的有效性较Cu好;生物炭对酸化程度越低的土壤pH和有效磷含量的提高以及有效态Cd含量的降低效果较好,而有效态Cu含量的降低效果则在酸化程度越高的土壤中表现更佳;土壤pH是生物炭调控重金属Cu、Cd有效性的主要影响因素。     

Genes for resistance to powdery mildew in European barley cultivars registered in the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2015

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is cultivated on 49.1 million hectares worldwide with 50.2% of the area located in Europe. Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), occurs wherever barley is grown. Cultivar resistance plays an important role in global barley production, especially in parts of Europe where high concentrations of both spring and winter types are grown. The aim of this report was to postulate specific resistance genes in barleys from nine European countries registered in the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2015. Thirty‐five spring cultivars and 27 winter barleys were tested with 56 diverse Bgh isolates. Twenty‐five known resistance genes were postulated, and unknown genes were detected in Sandra, Saturn and Zeppelin. Unidentified specific resistance genes were also present in winter hybrids Hobbit and Wootan. Spring cultivars Arthur and Francin consisted of three and two genotypes, respectively. Resistance gene mlo was present in 26 spring cultivars, and the proportion of cultivars with this gene increased from 62.9% in 2006–2010 to 75.7% in 2011–2015. The gene Mlp1 was identified for the first time in German winter cultivar Saturn. Five spring cultivars registered in Slovakia were included in the tests. All the cultivars that were tested contained one or more specific resistance genes to powdery mildew. Adaptability of the pathogen and possibilities for breeding winter barleys are discussed.