Innovative layer genetics to handle global challenges in egg production

1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.

2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.

3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.

4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.

5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile.     

The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

Sex‐dependent responses of perch to changes in water clarity and temperature

Rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency of lakes have strong wide ranging effects on fish. Fish responses to various changes in the environment are usually species‐dependent, but responses may also vary within species. In general, large individuals are considered to be more sensitive to environmental variation due to higher energy demand, than smaller individuals. Similarly, large individuals require more food to maintain bodily functions and are thus more sensitive to resource and food scarcity. These size‐specific responses to environmental gradients are also sex‐dependent in species that exhibit sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We studied in enclosures with short‐term experiments how rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency regulate the feeding rates of female and male European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). To explore experimental results, we calculated perch SSD in nine lakes with varying environmental conditions using previously collected field data. The results of the experiments revealed that the combined effect of water transparency and temperature on the feeding rate of fish is gender‐dependent: feeding rate of females decreased more than that of males. The experimental results were also supported by field data that revealed a negative relation between water transparency and the magnitude of SSD in perch. Our results suggest that rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency may potentially decrease fish size in a sex‐dependent manner. As female size is one of the main demographic traits determining the reproductive success of a fish population, changing environments may have unexpected and far‐reaching consequences on fish population dynamics.     

穗期玉米昼夜生理状态规律的遥感综合探测研究

针对QY、PRI、NDVI、水势分别从不同的方面反映玉米的生理状况,以甜糯二号玉米作为材料,通过田间试验测量玉米昼夜4个参数值,研究了QY、PRI、NDVI、水势4个参数的昼夜变化,并且分析它们之间的相关性。结果表明,QY、水势、PRI三者具有很强的相关性,并且能建立回归模型表示它们之间的联系。     

地理探测器与Tobit模型在粤西地区粮食生产效率及影响因子分析中的比较应用

为明晰粤西地区粮食生产效率及其关键影响因子，实现优化资源配置效率和推进粮食生产转型升级，基于1999—2018年粤西地区茂名、阳江、湛江3市粮食生产数据，采用交叉效率DEA模型测算区域粮食生产效率，揭示近20年粮食生产效率的时空变化特征，并利用Tobit模型和地理探测器模型比较分析粮食生产效率的关键影响因子。结果表明：粤西地区粮食生产效率平均值为0.77，其中，茂名市粮食生产效率最高（0.88），阳江市次之（0.78），湛江市最低（0.65）。Tobit模型和地理探测器测算粤西地区粮食生产效率影响力（贡献力）最大的投入因子是农业机械总动力，分别为-1.082和0.942。Tobit模型测得的7个投入因子仅化肥施用量（0.015）与粮食生产效率呈显著正相关，有效灌溉面积、粮食播种面积、农药使用量3个因子与粮食生产效率相关性不显著，农用塑料薄膜使用量、从业人口、农业机械总动力3个因子呈显著负相关。而地理探测器测得所有因子均对粮食生产效率产生显著影响。阳江市投入因子贡献力与粤西地区大致相同，但化肥施用量贡献力高出有效灌溉面积0.008。湛江市与茂名市化肥和农药投入的贡献力仅次于农业机械总动力，有效灌溉面积贡献力均最低。但茂名市粮食播种面积的贡献力依次大于从业人口和农用塑料薄膜使用量，湛江市则相反。研究表明，20年来粤西地区粮食生产效率不高，整体呈中等效率水平，粮食生产效率先降后升的变化趋势显著；地理探测器测度结果无不显著因子存在，探测因子影响力比Tobit模型所得结果更稳定且偏误小；农业机械总动力是影响粤西3市粮食生产效率的主导因子，但不同城市粮食生产效率的因子贡献力差异较大，湛江和茂名对化肥、农药等污染较大的生产要素依赖性更强。     

An investigation into the grazing efficiency of perennial ryegrass varieties

The objective of this study was to compare the grazing efficiency of 30 perennial ryegrass varieties, differing in ploidy and heading date. Plots were grazed by lactating dairy cows and managed under a rotational grazing system with 19 grazing events occurring over two years. Pre-grazing and post-grazing compressed sward heights were measured with a rising plate meter. A mixed model was used to predict the post-grazing sward height of each variety based on year, grazing event, block and pre-grazing sward height. Residual grazed height (RGH) was derived as the difference between the actual and predicted post-grazing sward height and was used as the measure of grazing efficiency. Negative RGH values indicated that the actual herbage removed was greater than that predicted and so indicated a superior grazing efficiency. Varieties differed in their level of grazing efficiency (p < .001), with RGH values ranging from −0.38 to +0.34 cm. Tetraploid varieties exhibited significantly greater grazing efficiency performance than diploids (p < .001), with average RGH values of −0.13 and +0.13 cm respectively. A significant difference in grazing efficiency was found among recommended perennial ryegrass varieties that are not being recorded by mechanically harvested simulated grazing protocols. A variety reappraisal that included grazing efficiency could identify varieties capable of improving on-farm livestock productivity from grass.     

干热河谷印楝树干液流密度动态变化特征研究

采用TDP技术对金沙江干热河谷元谋段主要造林树种印楝的树干液流密度动态变化进行了观测,得到3点主要结论:①无论干热季节或湿润季节,印楝树干液流密度昼夜变化的规律性较强,呈明显的单峰曲线;②由干热季节转向湿润季节时,印楝树干液流密度呈下降趋势,5年生印楝在5月、7月及10月的典型晴天里的树干液流密度日变化平均值分别为12.11、7.48及6.90cm3·cm-2·h-1;③在干热季节里印楝蒸腾耗水具有相当的被动性,而在湿润季节时其蒸腾耗水则表现出主动性和平氨性,反映了印楝在不同季节里的耗水机制差异.     

自然资源视角下的林地界定标准探究 ——以上海市某区为例

系统梳理国内外关于林地界定的标准,重点分析我国目前已发布的林地界定标准《林地分类》(LY/T1812-2009)和《土地利用现状分类》(GB/T21010-2017)的差异。以上海市某区为例,具体分析林地界定差异引起的数据统计及相关管理、审批等方面的问题,结合自然资源统一管控趋势,提出增加复合用地分类,统一具体认定口径,建立分类对照表,明确林地界定的状态等林地界定标准修订及相关管理完善建议。     

细菌性根腐病对三七光合特性的影响

根腐病是严重威胁三七生产的重要因素之一,常年发病率在5%～20%。其中,由假单胞杆菌(Pseudomon adaceae)引起的细菌性根腐病,因叶片出现缺水萎蔫症状时才能发现,目前尚无有效的预防措施。为探究细菌性根腐病对三七光合生理特性的影响,从而为三七病害生理学研究提供理论基础,本文以2年生三七为材料,设置2个处理[发病植株和健康对照植株(CK)],研究细菌性根腐病对三七形态结构、光合特性和光系统功能的影响。结果表明:1)根腐病导致三七的主根褐变腐烂,须根断损,茎基部腐烂中空,叶片萎蔫,各器官含水量比CK显著降低(P≤0.05);而株高、叶面积和叶片解剖结构(上表皮厚度、下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度和海绵组织厚度)在两处理间均无显著差异。2)发病植株叶片叶绿素含量、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、水分利用效率(WUE)和表观叶肉导度(AMC)显著低于CK(P≤0.05),且CK叶片胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)与P_n呈反比。3)发病植株叶片的光系统Ⅰ(PSⅠ)反应中心P700最大荧光信号(P_m)根腐病初期暂不受影响,而叶片暗适应下最大量子效率(F_v/F_m)、光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)电子传递速率[ETR(Ⅱ)]、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、PSⅠ电子传递速率[ETR(Ⅰ)]、PSⅠ周围的环式电子流(CEF)和PSⅠ实际光化学量子产量[Y(Ⅰ)]均显著低于CK(P≤0.05);参与调节性能量耗散的量子产量[Y(NO)]则显著高于CK(P≤0.05);发病植株的快速叶绿素荧光动力学曲线上出现K相,且显著高于CK(P≤0.05)。总的来看,细菌性根腐病对三七发病植株各器官的损伤严重程度为根茎叶,且根腐病导致发病植株叶片叶绿素降解, PSⅡ受到不可逆损伤, PSⅠ的电子传递被抑制,且叶肉细胞CO_2的同化能力降低,根腐病限制三七正常进行光合作用的条件。     

Response of confection sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in a semi‐arid environment to planting date and early termination of irrigation

Adjustments on planting date and on the time to terminate irrigation may reduce agricultural water use. However, such management practices in regions with extreme weather conditions have the potential to negatively affect yield. A 3‐year (2012–2014) study was conducted on a clay‐loam soil in a cool, semi‐arid environment to (i) determine the response of confection sunflower to planting date and irrigation termination timing and (ii) identify the relative importance of yield components in irrigated confection sunflower across planting dates. Early May planting had considerable negative effects on all studied variables, except on the percentage of large seeds. The highest yield of total and large seeds was obtained from the late May plantings, averaging 3,777 and 3,379 kg/ha, respectively. None of the irrigation strategies affected the measured variables. However, the interaction between planting date and termination of irrigation significantly affected the 1,000‐seed weight. Our study revealed the last week of May as suitable planting period for confection sunflower in the semi‐arid north‐western region of Wyoming, USA, and that irrigation on heavy soils may be terminated as early as at R5.5 stage without a significant yield reduction. The path‐coefficient analysis indicated head diameter and the number of seeds per head as important traits that significantly influence the yield of confection sunflower across planting dates.