Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in Beetal goats

Seroprevalence, clinical findings, and lesions of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Beetal goats were recorded during an outbreak. The overall seroprevalence of CCPP was 32.50%. Confirmation of Mycoplasma mycoides in serum was carried out using counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) technique. The highest CIE-positive cases were recorded in the older goats (51.72%) as compared to young ones. Nasal swabs collected from 39 goats showing respiratory signs were found positive for M. mycoides. The most consistent clinical findings were mild to severe cough, purulent nasal secretion, emaciation, dyspnea, increased respiration rate, and pyrexia. Mortality due to CCPP was 9.17%. Consolidation of lungs exhibited the highest frequency (100%), followed by alveolar exudation (90.90%) and pleural adhesion (72.72%). Among the microscopic lesions, septal peribronchiolar fibrosis exhibited the highest frequency (81.81%), followed by fibrinous pleuritis (63.63%) and peribronchiolar cuffing of mononuclear cells (54.54%) in lungs. From these results, it was concluded that CCPP under subtropical conditions has high prevalence in Beetal goats and leads to significant mortality.     

富士和嘎啦苹果叶片面积估算模型构建

【目的】建立准确、无损的适宜于苹果不同品种和枝梢类型的叶面积估算模型。【方法】以富士及嘎啦不同长度的营养枝梢和果台枝梢叶片为试材,采用数字扫描仪获取叶片长度(LL)、宽度(LW)和叶面积(LA)等叶片形态参数,并采用决定系数(R²)、均方根误差(RMSE)、赤池信息准则(AIC)对建立的17个有常数项和无常数项叶面积模型精度进行筛选和适宜性评价。【结果】共获得5 207枚叶片形态参数,其中叶面积变异系数最大,达51.59%。叶片形态受品种及枝梢类型的显著影响,其中长枝梢叶片长、宽和叶面积显著大于同类型短枝梢叶片,而营养枝梢叶片长、宽和叶面积显著大于同长度果台枝梢,嘎啦叶片相比富士更为细长。以LL和LW复合变量为自变量的模型5:LA=a(LL×LW)、模型6:LA=a(LL+LW)²、模型9:LA=aLL²+bLW²、模型16:LA=a(LL×LW)^b、模型17:LA=(LL×LW)^b的精度可满足富士和嘎啦各类枝梢叶面积的估算,但需针对各品种和枝梢类型单独建...     

Increasing Farm Productivity and Soil Fertility on Sustainable Basis Through “Summer Gap” Utilization with Biochar and Legumes

To reduce reliance on scientific fertilizer due to rapid increase of fertilizer prices and environmental constraint, it necessary to improve crop productivity and soil fertility on sustainable basses. Utilization of “summer gap” through biochar and legumes have pleasant effects on improving crop productivity and soil fertility on long term basses. Two years’ field experiments were conducted on wheat and maize crops with “summer gap” utilization with legumes and biochar at research farm of agronomy, the University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2011–2013. Wheat-maize-wheat cropping system was followed with the adjustment of legumes in “summer gap” (land available after wheat harvest till maize sowing). Legumes i.?e. mung bean, cowpea and Sesbania with a fallow were adjusted in the “summer gap” with and without biochar application. Biochar was included at the rate of 0 and 50?t?ha^-1 with four N levels of 0, 90, 120, 150 and 0, 60, 90, 120?kg?ha^-1 to subsequent maize and wheat crops, respectively. In legumes’ experiment, biochar increased fresh and dry fodder yield in cowpea and Sesbania, grain and biological yields in mung bean. In maize experiments, biochar improved grain yield. Nitrogen application increased grain and biological yields. In wheat experiments with increasing nitrogen level enhanced biological and grain yields. It is concluded that use of biochar and legumes in “summer gap” improve overall farm productivity and soil fertility on sustainable basses.     

Impact of tillage and intra-row spacing on cotton yield and quality in wheat–cotton system

Farmers normally practice conventional tillage ((CT), disk plowing, cultivator, rotavator, and leveling) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with 15 cm intra-row spacing to avoid risks of poor plant stand and obtain higher yield. However, CT is costly besides it has adverse effects on soil and crop when sown after wheat. Conservation tillage [zero tillage (ZT) or reduced tillage (RT)] with suitable spacing can reduce production cost, increase cotton yield and quality, and it has favorable effects on soil properties. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate cotton response to tillage (ZT, RT, and CT) and intra-row spacing (15.0, 22.5, 30.0, 37.5 cm). Results revealed that RT produced higher bolls plant^?1, boll weight, seed cotton yield, ginning out turn, fiber length and strength than ZT and CT. Mean boll weight, seed cotton yield, earliness, and fiber qualities were optimum at 22.5 cm spacing. Tillage × spacing interaction showed optimum boll weight, earliness, and fiber strength with 15.0–22.5 cm spacing under RT. CT with 22.5 cm spacing also performed better in terms of boll weight and fiber strength; however, 15.0 cm spacing resulted in earlier maturity. RT with 22.5 cm spacing is an alternative to CT for higher yield, earliness, and quality of cotton besides environmental safety.     

Foliar Application of Iron (Fe) Improved the Antioxidant Defense and Cd Accumulation Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ricinus communis</Emphasis> Under Hydroponic Condition

Heavy metal-polluted water has become a problem for sustainable environment, agriculture, and human health. Phyto-accumulation is an eco-friendly technique for decontamination of metal-polluted water and soil. The efficiency of phyto-accumulation and rhizo-filtration can be enhanced by the application of certain nutrients to accumulator plants. In this study, we focused on the role of iron (Fe) in rhizo-filtration and phyto-accumulation of cadmium (Cd) from polluted water/media, using Ricinus communis plant. Medium was contaminated with 10 ppm Cd while Fe (2.50, 5.00, and 7.50 ppm) was applied both as foliar spray and medium addition separately. Accumulation of Cd and concentrations of soluble proline, phenolic compounds, and chlorophylls were measured in plant tissues. Addition of Fe into media significantly increased biomass in the plants but decreased Cd absorption by roots and its accumulation in other tissues of the plants. Foliar application of Fe, especially 7.5 ppm, significantly increased biomass as well as accumulation of Cd in tissues of the plants. Contents of soluble proline (41.88?±?3.56 ppm) and phenolics (171.00?±?4.98 ppm) in leaves were highly increased by foliar spray of 7.5 ppm Fe on the plants. On the other hand, highest concentrations of free proline (67.00?±?2.00 ppm) and total phenolics (82.67?±?2.52 ppm) in plant roots were observed in 7.5 ppm Fe added to media and as foliar spray, respectively. Strong correlations were observed between phenolics content in roots and leaves with Cd accumulation after foliar application of 7.5 ppm Fe.     

The Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae type IV pilus alignment subcomplex protein PilN contributes to regulation of bacterial surface-associated behaviours and T3SS system

The gram-negative plant pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is able to infect the host rice and effectively colonize in vascular tissues. The type IV pilus (T4P) is one of the major virulence factors playing an important role in migration of Xoo through host vascular tissues. Here, we identified PilN, a T4P alignment subcomplex protein, which is involved in regulation of swimming motility, and analysed its contribution to bacterial surface-associated behaviours and virulence. We found that the pilN deletion mutant exhibited dramatically reduced twitching motility and scarcely detectable levels of T4P major pili PilA, as well as enhanced biofilm formation and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. In addition, deletion of the pilN gene in Xoo resulted in impaired virulence in host rice and attenuated type III secretion system (T3SS) genes expression, which is independent of PilA assembly. Expression of the relevant pilN gene in trans was capable of restoring twitching motility and biofilm formation to the wild-type levels in the pilN mutant but partially recovering EPS production and virulence. Moreover, the expression of trh and xrvA genes, which encode the HrpG positive regulators, was decreased in the pilN mutant. Our results suggest that PilN executes versatile functions in bacterial virulence and cell surface-associated behaviours.     

Toxico-pathological effects of cypermethrin upon male reproductive system in rabbits

The objective of this work was to identify the reproductive toxico-pathological effects of cypermethrin (CY) in mature male rabbits. Apparently healthy adult age- and weight-matched rabbits (n = 40) were procured from the local market, kept under similar management conditions and divided into four equal groups. Different doses of CY (50, 100 and 150 mg kg⁻¹ body mass) mixed in mustard oil were injected intraperitonealy at weekly intervals in male rabbits (groups B-D) prior to mating. Group A served as control and each animal in this group received equivalent volume of mustard oil. Treatment was continued for 71 days. Decreased testicular and epididymal sperm counts were recorded mostly in dose and time dependent manner in CY-treated rabbits. The serum testosterone concentrations in CY-treated rabbits were significantly lower than those of control group. Degeneration, arrested spermatogenesis and connective tissue (CT) proliferation in testes, while sperm-less seminal plasma and tailless spermatozoa in epididymis of CY-treated rabbits were observed. It was inferred that CY-induced defects in sperms and pathological alterations in testes and epididymis.     

Comparative Studies on the Use of Binary and Ternary Combinations of Various Acidifying Agents for the Reduction of Soil pH

The present study deals with the effects of addition of sulfur along with other acidifying agents for their ability to lower and maintain the pH in a given range for a longer period of time. The chemicals were subjected to batch test individually and in combinations. Treatments were applied to three soils of different textures: sandy clay loam, clay loam, and silt loam. A 1:1 soil/water paste along with the added amendment was maintained at room temperature for 2 months. Most of the chemical treatments lowered the pH significantly. Combinations containing S/Al₂(SO₄)₃/H₂SO₄, S/Al₂(SO₄)₃/H₂O₂, and S/H₂O₂/H₂SO₄ were found to be very effective in lowering the pH. The soil pH remained acidic for 2 months, indicating the suitability of chemically amended soil for the plantations requiring acidic soil pH.     

Uncover the salt tolerance potential of accessions based on photosynthetic attributes and interaction plot in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Soil salinity, being world's gravest and increasing environmental threat, limits the growth and development in nearly all crop plants. The experiment was laid out to investigate the tomato local and exotic germplasm for morpho‐physiological and photosynthetic attributes under salinity stress (0 (control), 8 and 12 dS m^?1). The phenotype data for morpho‐physiological traits were collected; meanwhile, photosynthetic pigments were analysed also at seedling stage. Analysis of variance, interaction plot, PCV and GCV revealed significantly greater diversity among all accessions for subjecting attributes. Strikingly, principle component analysis (PCA) biplot and cluster heatmap exposed potentially salt tolerant accessions (NAQEEB, BL1076, PBLA1401, 017859, TINY TIM, BL1174, BL1078, PBLA1932, TOMMY TOE, PAKIT and CLN2413) under the highest level of salinity for β‐carotene, lycopene contents, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, pheophytin (b) and total pheophytin. The overall performance of the above‐mentioned accessions was found significant and exhibits tolerant attitude under high salt levels. We suggest that these tolerant accessions might facilitate as a potential source for further breeding programme to improve the agronomically important traits by exploiting both conventional as well as molecular breeding efforts.