Single step genomic evaluation for female fertility in Nordic Red dairy cattle

Joint Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Sweden) genetic evaluation of female fertility is currently based on the multiple trait multilactation animal model (BLUP). Here, single step genomic model (ssGBLUP) was applied for the Nordic Red dairy cattle fertility evaluation. The 11 traits comprised of nonreturn rate and days from first to last insemination in heifers and first three parities, and days from calving to first insemination in the first three parities. Traits had low heritabilities (0.015–0.04), but moderately high genetic correlations between the parities (0.60–0.88). Phenotypic data included 4,226,715 animals with records and pedigree 5,445,392 animals. Unknown parents were assigned into 332 phantom parent groups (PPG). In mixed model equations animals were associated with PPG effects through the pedigree or both the pedigree and genomic information. Genotype information of 46,914 SNPs was available for 33,969 animals in the pedigree. When PPG used pedigree information only, BLUP converged after 2,420 iterations whereas the ssGBLUP evaluation needed over ten thousand iterations. When the PPG effects were solved accounting both the pedigree and the genomic information, the ssGBLUP model converged after 2,406 iterations. Also, with the latter model breeding values by ssGBLUP and BLUP became more consistent and genetic trends followed each other well. Models were validated using forward prediction of the young bulls. Reliabilities and variance inflation of predicted genomic breeding values (values for parent averages in brackets) for the 11 traits ranged 0.22–0.31 (0.10–0.27) and 0.81–0.95 (0.83–1.06), respectively. The ssGBLUP model gave always higher validation reliabilities than BLUP, but largest increases were for the cow fertility traits.     

秈粳稻杂交育种研究

作者研究了秈粳杂种的生育特性及结实性等经济性状的遗传变异,认为以出穗期为主要指标进行选择,结合其他性状的变异动态,逐步确立优良系统,有助于提高选择的效率,和建立较为合理的杂交育种程序与方法。     

Evaluation of the pattern of spray released from a moving multicopter

BACKGROUND

Multicopters are used for releasing particulates seeds, fertilizer and spray. Their low cost and high manoeuvrability make them attractive for spraying in steep terrain and areas where overspray is undesirable. This article describes a model of multicopter wake and its influence on particulate dispersion, which is computationally economical compared to many computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches, yet retains reasonable accuracy.

RESULTS

A model was successfully implemented in OpenFOAM . It features source terms for the rotor wash, Lagrangian particle tracking, an evaporation model, and a porous medium approach to model the effect of the ground vegetation. Predictions were validated against the field tests of Richardson et al. which used a DJI Agras MG-1 multicopter in three different flights with airspeeds of 3.2–4.9 m s⁻¹, ground speeds of 2.1–2.9 m s⁻¹ and cross-wind speeds of 0.04–2.2 m s⁻¹. The effective swath width (30% line separation) was predicted to within one standard deviation. Sensitivity to a rotor rotational speed, flight height, flight velocity, multicopter roll and yaw angles, surface roughness length, plant height and leaf density was checked.

CONCLUSION

In all flight trials, the modelled swath was closest to the experimentally obtained swath when the surface roughness of the fetch was equal to 0.5 m (bushes) and the rotational speed of all rotors was equal to 2475 rpm with 0.75R (0.2 m) tall plant canopy (grass) introduced to the model. The model showed acceptable validity for flight velocities of ≤2.8–5 m s⁻¹ when flight parameters can be approximately estimated. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Recessive Genes for Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei in Barley

ABSTRACT Barley genotypes Abyssinian 14, BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, PI 548708, PI 548734, PI 548747, and Stauffers Obersulzer are resistant to all races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei identified thus far in North America. Astrix, BBA 809, Bigo, Cambrinus, Emir, Heils Franken, Hiproly, I5, Mazurka, Trumpf, and Varunda have specific resistance to certain races, whereas Topper and Steptoe are susceptible to all races. Seedlings of parents and F(1), F(2), and F(3) progeny from crosses of resistant genotypes with Topper and Steptoe were tested for resistance to North American P. striiformis f. sp. hordei races PSH-1, PSH-4, PSH-10, PSH-13, and PSH-20. When tested with PSH-1, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 809, BBA 2890, Bigo, Hiproly, and Grannelose Zweizeilige; two recessive genes were detected in Emir, I5, PI 548708, PI 548734, PI 548747, Varunda, and Astrix; and one dominant gene and one recessive gene were detected in Abyssinian 14 and Stauffers Obersulzer. In tests with PSH-4, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 809, two recessive genes were detected in Trumpf, and two partially recessive genes were detected in Astrix. In tests with PSH-13, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, I5, and PI 548708 and two recessive genes were detected in Abyssinian 14, Hiproly, PI 548734, and PI 548747. In tests with PSH-20, one recessive gene was detected in Bigo and a recessive gene and a dominant gene were detected in Heils Franken. A gene in Cambrinus for resistance to PSH-10 and a gene in Mazurka for resistance to PSH-20 were dominant on the basis of the response of the first seedling leaf but recessive on the basis of the response of the second leaf. Four different types of epistasis were detected. Information on the number of genes, mode of inheritance, and nonallelic gene interactions should be useful in understanding the host-pathogen interaction and in breeding barley for resistance to stripe rust.     

Effect of prepubertal versus postpubertal castration on sexual and aggressive behavior in male horses

Males horses castrated prepubertally occasionally display stallion-like sexual and aggressive behavior as adults. A retrospective survey of 140 horse owners was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of prepubertal versus postpubertal castration on objectionable sexual and aggressive behavior. Of 94 geldings that had been castrated prepubertally (before 2 years of age), 20% to 30% displayed stallion-like sexual behavior and aggression toward horses, and 5% were aggressive toward people in a stallion-like manner. This occurrence of problem behavior was not significantly different from the occurrence of these behavioral patterns in 46 geldings that had been castrated as stallions (over 3 years of age). When castration was examined as a therapeutic measure to eliminate sexual and aggressive behavior in stallions in which the behavior had become objectionable, it was found that the operation was effective on sexual behavior and aggression toward people in 60% to 70% of horses and on aggression toward horses in 40% of horses.     

Impacts of seasonal air and soil temperatures on photosynthesis in Scots pine trees

Seasonal courses of light-saturated rate of net photosynthesis (A360) and stomatal conductance (gs) were examined in detached 1-year-old needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from early April to mid-November. To evaluate the effects of soil frost and low soil temperatures on gas exchange, the extent and duration of soil frost, as well as the onset of soil warming, were manipulated in the field. During spring, early summer and autumn, the patterns of A360 and gs in needles from the control and warm-soil plots were generally strongly related to daily mean air temperatures and the frequency of severe frost. The warm-soil treatment had little effect on gas exchange, although mean soil temperature in the warm-soil plot was 3.8 degrees C higher than in the control plot during spring and summer, indicating that A360 and gs in needles from control trees were not limited by low soil temperature alone. In contrast, prolonged exposure to soil temperatures slightly above 0 degrees C severely restricted recovery of A360 and especially gs in needles from the cold-soil treatment during spring and early summer; however, full recovery of both A360 and gs occurred in late summer. We conclude that inhibition of A360 by low soil temperatures is related to both stomatal closure and effects on the biochemistry of photosynthesis, the relative importance of which appeared to vary during spring and early summer. During the autumn, soil temperatures as low as 8 degrees C did not affect either A360 or gs.     

Effects of low night temperature and light on chlorophyll fluorescence of field-grown seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

In vivo chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics was observed in naturally regenerated and planted Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings growing at two adjacent sites in northern Sweden. Some seedlings were shaded from direct solar radiation and some were protected from frost at night. Air temperature and solar radiation were monitored. In vivo chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics of current-year needles was measured at both room temperature and 77 K. On clear days during August, variable fluorescence of photosystem II of needles from exposed, naturally regenerated seedlings was reduced by night frosts, whereas frost caused little change in fluorescence of needles from shaded seedlings. Overnight frost-protection reduced the inhibition of photosystem II by direct sunlight. Recovery from photoinhibitory damage occurred on cloudy days. In September, the decline of variable fluorescence of photosystem II was more pronounced in unshaded than in shaded seedlings, and coincided with frosts at night. In addition, the reduction in variable fluorescence was larger for planted seedlings than for naturally regenerated seedlings. It is suggested that the inhibition of photosystem II activity was caused by an interaction between low temperatures and light. Natural night frosts are proposed to increase the susceptibility to photoinhibition in the following day(s).     

Ash and biochar amendment of coarse sandy soil for growing crops under drought conditions

Appropriate soil amendments may increase plant available water and crop yields on coarse sandy soils under drought conditions. In this study, we applied straw ash or straw biochar from gasification to a Danish coarse sandy subsoil to assess the effects on soil water retention, evapotranspiration and crop yields. Spring barley (2016, 2017) and winter wheat (2018) were grown over three years in columns containing 25cm of organic matter-rich topsoil, 80 cm of amended coarse sandy soil (1.5%, 3%, 6% wt. ash or 1% wt. biochar or control soil) and 45 cm of un-amended subsoil. Precipitation, evaporative demands and soil moisture were recorded across the growth seasons, with 2018 having severe drought conditions. This year evapotranspiration levels increased with increasing ash and biochar content (by 54% and 33% for the 6% ash- and 1% biochar-amended soils, respectively), and plant dry matter increased by 18% in both the 1% biochar- and 6% ash-treated soils compared to the untreated control. A linear relationship was established between in situ field capacity and ash dosage (R² = .96), showing an increase of 2.2% per percentage (wt.) of ash added, while the 1% biochar treatment increased the capacity by 3.5%, indicating a higher efficiency than for ash. However, we did not find significant positive effects on grain yields. The results show that ash and biochar have the potential to significantly increase soil water retention, evapotranspiration and total dry matter yield in drought conditions, but that this may not correspond to an increase in grain yield.     

How much more global warming and sea level rise?

Two global coupled climate models show that even if the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere had been stabilized in the year 2000, we are already committed to further global warming of about another half degree and an additional 320% sea level rise caused by thermal expansion by the end of the 21st century. Projected weakening of the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean does not lead to a net cooling in Europe. At any given point in time, even if concentrations are stabilized, there is a commitment to future climate changes that will be greater than those we have already observed.     

A Rapid Method for the Determination of Radioactive Caesium in Live Animals and Carcasses,and its Practical Application in Norway after the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Accident

A technique was developed for the measurement of levels of caesium radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs+¹³⁴Cs) in live reindeer, cattle, and sheep and in carcasses from these species. The instrument used was a sodium iodide scintillation detector coupled to a portable multi-channel analyser.Based on a combination of background measurements and measurements of impulses from animals with the detector in different anatomical positions we recommmend the following procedures: Lamb: The detector placed on os sacrum (standing animal). Reindeer: The detector placed between the hind legs (animal lying on its side). Cattle: The detector placed on the back of the standing animal, midway between os sacrum and trochanter major.Average geometrical factors for live animals were estimated. It was a linear correlation between measured activity levels in meat samples and counted impulses per sec in live animals. Geometrical factors were estimated at 95% confidence level with uncertainty between 6–14%. The detection limits varied between 50–200 Bq (becquerel)/kg in areas with ground depositions between 5–200 kBq/m². Since the winter 1986/87 the technique has been the standard procedure for monitoring slaughter animals and carcasses for radiocaesium activity concentrations.