Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

Effect of gut stress induced by oxidized wheat gluten on the growth performance,gut morphology and oxidative states of broilers

This study was to investigate the effect of oxidized wheat gluten (OG) on growth performance, gut morphology and its oxidative states of broilers. One hundred and eighty‐day‐old male broilers (10 chicks/pen) were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments: control diet (CON), diet with 8% wheat gluten (WG) and diet with 8% OG with six pens/treatment. Body weight (BW) (21 and 35 days) and average daily gain (ADG) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) decreased (p < .05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) increased (p < .05) in OG treatment. Feed intake (FI) decreased (p < .05) in WG and OG treatments during 22–35 days. However, FI was not influenced by dietary treatments during 1–21 days (p > .05). The OG‐fed broilers had a lower faecal pH value (p < .05) and higher faecal moisture content (p < 05) at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Villus height, crypt depth and V/C value were not different (p > .05) among treatments at 21 and 35 days. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (21 and 35 days) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (35 days) content in crop of OG treatment increased (p < .05). Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (21 days), LPO (21 and 35 days) and MDA (21 and 35 days) content in ileum of OG treatment increased (p < .05). The reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) (21 days) and (GSH) (35 days) in ileum of OG treatment decreased (p < .05). The present findings indicate that OG might be a stressor for broiler gut, which could induce oxidative stress both in crop and in ileum, and the diarrhoea as well. The growth performance of broiler was consequently depressed.     

Effect of water restriction on milk yield and quality in Lacaune breed ewes

The effect of water restriction on body weight, body condition score, milk yield, and milk composition and rheological characteristics in intensively reared Lacaune ewes was evaluated. After 7 days of adaptation, the trial lasted 28 days. Thirty lactating ewes (48 ± 5 months of age; mean value ± standard deviation) at the beginning of third lactation month were divided into three groups (n = 10), corresponding to the following water restriction treatment: a group control received no drinking water restriction (W100), and two groups received water to the extent of 80% and 60% of W100 daily consumption (W80 and W60 group respectively). The effects of water restriction were assessed at the beginning of experiment (D0), at D14 and D28. The W60 group resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, body condition score, milk yield and feed consumption of hay due to the experimental treatment; whereas a marked increase in both W60 and W80 groups of milk lactose, urea, sodium, sodium chloride content and titratable acidity was observed. Rheological parameters of milk, rennet coagulation time and curd‐firming time were positively affected by water restriction treatments, with a decrease in both experimental groups of the time required for the formation of a stable and firm curd. Results highlight the importance of water consumption in dairy sheep. The scarce availability of water, significantly affecting ewes milk production, is worthy of particular attention in arid area where water stress‐resistant breeds should be considered. This study underlines that milk yield, being closely linked to the availability of water of the breeding habitat due to its high water content (about 81%), could be reached in area where water is not a limiting factor without reducing the genetic expression of the animals. Less severe water restrictions, such as 20% of daily voluntary water intake, produce no detrimental effect on milk yield.     

干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用和D1蛋白的调控效应

为了揭示干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用的保护机制,采用溶液培养的方法,以驻玉309为试验材料,研究外源油菜素内酯(BR)预处理及20% PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫后玉米幼苗的生长参数、叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数及D1蛋白含量的变化。结果表明,与干旱胁迫处理(PEG)相比,BR+PEG处理的玉米苗株高增加45.87%,根长增加20.56%,总干物质积累增加8.01%,叶片相对含水量提高4.50%,叶绿素a含量增加26.32%,光合参数(Pn、Gs、Ci、Tr)分别提高9.57%,38.23%,30.19%,28.12%,光合系统Ⅱ(ΦPSⅡ)活性提高了20.48%,最大光化学效率提高了0.66%,光合系统Ⅱ绝对电子传递速率(ETR(Ⅱ)和相对电子传递速率r ETR(Ⅱ))分别提高20.40%和31.02%;D1蛋白含量增加37.34%(P0.05)。说明在干旱胁迫条件下叶片喷施BR可以改善玉米幼苗的生长发育,减缓光合系统的损伤,促进D1蛋白质的稳定,从而提高玉米幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应性。     

Influence of the root endophyte Piriformospora indica on the plant water relations,gas exchange and growth of Chenopodium quinoa at limited water availability

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Piriformospora indica to colonize the root of Chenopodium quinoa and to verify whether this endosymbiont can improve the growth, performance and drought resistance of this species. The study delivered, for the first time, evidence for successful colonization of P. indica in quinoa. Hence, pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse, where inoculated and non‐inoculated plants were subjected to ample (40%–50% WHC) and deficit (15%–20%WHC) irrigation treatments. Drought adversely influenced the plant growth, leading to decline the total plant biomass by 74%. This was linked to an impaired photosynthetic activity (caused by lower g_s and C_i/C_a ratio; stomatal limitation of photosynthesis) and a higher risk of ROS production (enhanced ETR/A_gross ratio). P. indica colonization improved quinoa plant growth, with total biomass increased by 8% (controls) and 76% (drought‐stressed plants), confirming the growth‐promoting activity of P. indica. Fungal colonization seems to diminish drought‐induced growth hindrance, likely, through an improved water balance, reflected by the higher leaf ψ_w and g_s. Additionally, stomatal limitation of photosynthesis was alleviated (indicated by enhanced C_i/C_a ratio and A_net), so that the threat of oxidative stress was minimized (decreased ETR/A_gross). These results infer that symbiosis with P. indica could negate some of the detrimental effects of drought on quinoa growth, a highly desired feature, in particular at low water availability.     

Impact on soil physical properties of using large-grain legumes for catch crop cultivation under different tillage conditions

In Central Europe, various plant species including large-grain legumes and their mixtures are grown as catch crops, particularly between grains harvested early and subsequent summer crops. This article investigates the question of how soil structure in the topsoil is influenced when catch cropping with large-grain legumes (experimental factor A: without catch crop, with catch crop) under different ploughless tillage conditions during catch crop seeding (experimental factor B: deep tillage/25–30 cm, shallow tillage/8–10 cm). Five one-year trials were performed using standard machinery at various sites in Germany. Soil core samples extracted from the topsoil in the spring after catch crop cultivation served to identify air capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and precompression stress. The above-ground and below-ground biomass yields of the catch crops were also determined at most of the sites. In addition, the soil compaction risk for the working steps in the experiments was calculated using the REPRO model.The dry matter yield of the catch crops varied considerably between the individual trial sites and years. In particular, high levels of dry matter were able to form in the case of early seeding and a sufficient supply of precipitation. The soil structure was only rarely affected positively by catch crop cultivation, and catch crops did not contribute in the short term to loosening already compacted topsoils. In contrast, mechanical soil stresses caused by driving over the ground and additional working steps used in cultivating catch crops often led to lower air capacity in these treatments. This is consistent with the soil compaction risks calculated using the REPRO model, which were higher in the treatments with catch cropping. Catch crop cultivation also only resulted in improved mechanical stability at one location. The positive effect of deep ploughless tillage on air capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, however, became more clearly evident regardless of catch crop cultivation. In order for catch crop cultivation with large-grain legumes to be able to have a favourable impact on soil structure, it is therefore important that cultivating them does not result in any new soil compaction. In the conditions evaluated, deep tillage was more effective at loosening compacted topsoil than growing catch crops.     

低氮胁迫对谷子苗期性状的影响和耐低氮品种的筛选

筛选和培育耐低氮能力强的作物品种,是提高作物氮素利用效率,减少氮肥施用量,降低环境污染的有效措施。本研究以45份谷子品种为试材,采用水培的方法,在低氮(0.1mmol·L~(-1))和正常氮(5mmol·L~(-1))条件下,测定苗高、根长和根数等22个氮效率相关指标,采用综合耐低氮系数法以及基于主成分分析的隶属函数法评价参试谷子品种的耐低氮性。结果表明,与正常氮条件相比,低氮胁迫下,谷子苗期根长、根冠比、地上部氮素生理效率、地下部氮素生理效率、单株氮素生理效率有不同程度提高,其余17个指标都有不同程度降低。两种评价方法均根据45个谷子品种的耐低氮能力将其划分为强耐低氮型、耐低氮型、中间型、较敏感型和敏感型5类。筛选出耐低氮性较强的品种5份,编号分别为11、14、17、35和39。利用GGE双标图对品种-耐低氮相关指标的分析表明,编号39和14的耐低氮品种主要耐低氮性状为地下部干重、地下部鲜重、根长;编号为11、35和17的耐低氮品种主要耐低氮性状为地上部鲜重、叶片数、叶宽、叶长、单株氮累积量、地上部氮累积量、单株干质量、地上部干重、地下部氮累积量、根数、苗高和SPAD。可见不同谷子品种的耐低氮机制存在一定差异,研究结果可为谷子耐低氮品种的选育提供材料基础。     

PEG胁迫对西伯利亚冰草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫,分析西伯利亚冰草种子发芽率、发芽势、胚根和胚芽长及三叶期幼苗相对电导率、丙二醛和游离脯氨酸含量的动态变化规律.结果表明:1)高渗透势PEG溶液(-0.2,-0.4 MPa)能够促进种子萌发,在-0.4 MPa时,发芽率和发芽势均达到峰值.2)高渗透势PEG溶液(-0.2,-0.4,-0.6 MPa)对胚根伸长具有一定的促进作用,-0.4 MPa最大,但对胚芽表现出一定的抑制作用.3)随着渗透势的降低,发芽率、发芽势、胚根长和胚芽长不断下降,胚根/胚芽的比值持续上升.4)3叶期幼苗相对电导率、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量随胁迫强度的增加,胁迫时间的延长持续增加,相对电导率、丙二醛含量除了-0.4 MPa,1d处理外,其他处理均极显著(p＜0.01)高于对照,脯氨酸含量各处理均极显著(p＜0.01)高于对照,相对电导率、丙二醛和脯氨酸这3个指标均可作为抗旱性评价指标.