Preliminary Studies on the Concentration of Na+,K+-ATPase in Skeletal Muscle of Draught Cattle in Mozambique: Effect of Sex,Age and Training

The effect of training on the potential for work in draught cattle was assessed by measuring the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase in the muscle cell membrane and the elevation in the concentration of K⁺ in plasma during exercise. Biopsies of the semitendinosus muscle and venous blood samples were taken from the cattle used for draught work in Mozambique. No differences were found in the plasma ion or Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase concentrations in samples taken from Nguni, Africander and Angoni breeds. There were no significant differences in plasma ions (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^–) or muscle Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase concentrations between the Angoni males and females, although the males showed an increase in Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase with age, while the females showed a decrease. The increase in males might be attributed to their higher level of activity in the herds than that of females. After a training period of 15 days, a significant increase in Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase concentration in semitendinosus muscle was found in Angoni cattle. In females, this was significant after 8 days of training (about 30%); in males after 15 days of training (about 16%). On day 15, there was a reduction in the elevation of plasma K⁺ during the 2 h of draught work, indicating an increased capacity of the Na⁺,K⁺ pumps to maintain the extracellular K⁺ concentration in working muscles and a possible delay in the moment of fatigue.     

Genotypic differences of maize in grain yield response to deficit irrigation

This study was undertaken to investigate genotypic differences of five maize cultivars in grain yield response to two different modes of deficit irrigation, conventional deficit irrigation and partial root zone irrigation. Three irrigation treatments were implemented: (1) FULL irrigation, the control treatment where plant water requirement, 100% Class-A pan evaporation, was fully met and the furrows on both sides of the plant rows were irrigated; (2) partial root zone irrigation (PRI), 35% deficit irrigation, compared to FULL treatment, was applied in every other furrow thus irrigating only one side of the plant rows. The furrows irrigated were alternated every irrigation; (3) conventional deficit irrigation (CDI), the same amount of water as PRI was applied in furrows on both sides of the plant rows, similar to FULL irrigation treatment. Five maize cultivars (P.31.G.98, P.3394, Rx:9292, Tector and Tietar) showing extreme growth response to water stress were selected out of ten cultivars tested with earlier completed greenhouse-pot experiment. A split-plot experimental design, comprising three irrigation treatments and five maize cultivars with four replicates, was used during two years of work, in 2005 and 2006. Total of nine irrigations, with one-week irrigation interval, were annually applied using a drip-irrigation system. Soil water status was monitored using a neutron moisture gauge, in addition to measuring leaf water potential and above-ground biomass production throughout the growing season. Grain yield and other yield attributes were measured at harvest as well as assessing differences in plant root distributions. Decrease in grain yield and harvest index of the tested cultivars, compared to FULL treatment, was proportionally less under PRI than CDI. Whether or not a significant yield advantage can be obtained under PRI compared to CDI showed significant (P < 0.05) genotypic variability. Tector and Tietar among the tested cultivars of maize showed significantly higher grain yield (P < 0.05) under PRI than CDI. The yield advantage of the genotypes (P.3394 and Tector) under PRI compared to CDI seems related to their enhanced root biomass developed under PRI.     

水稻病原菌Burkholderia plantarii群体感应和群体淬灭研究进展

植物伯克霍尔德菌Burkholderia plantarii是引起水稻秧苗细菌性立枯病的重要病原菌之一,其侵染性、繁殖力及适应性均很强,严重威胁中国水稻生产。文章围绕B.plantarii的发生、危害及致病机理,着重论述了细菌群体感应系统(quorum sensing,QS)的生理功能及其在B.plantarii致病力调控方面的最新研究进展,并进一步从根际微生物互作角度,综述了种间信号分子对病原菌群体淬灭(quorum quenching)的作用机制,同时结合种间信号分子的独特性,展望了其在新型微生物杀菌剂研发中的重要性和应用潜力。     

Effect of age and gender in the pharmacokinetics of albendazole and albendazole sulphoxide enantiomers in goats

The kinetics of albendazole metabolites and albendazole sulphoxide enantiomers were studied in 2- and 14-month-old female and male goats, after a single oral dose administration (10 mg/kg) of an albendazole formulation. Blood samples from the jugular vein were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 and 54 h post-treatment and analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography method. In all groups the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and peak concentration (C_max) values of (+)-ABZSO were significantly higher than those of (−)-ABZSO. The AUC and C_max values obtained for (+)-ABZSO and (−)-ABZSO in adult animals were higher compared to the results in young animals, showing significant differences except for (+)-ABZSO in female animals. In young animals, independently of gender, the C_max appeared earlier compared to adult animals. The mean residence time (MRT) values were shorter in young animals compared to adult animals for all compounds analyzed. No sex-related differences were found for any of the parameters calculated except for the (+)-ABZSO from adult animals.     

A serologic investigation of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in cattle and gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa in Turkey

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is a vector-borne disease of ruminants disseminated in the tropic and subtropic zone of the world. Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa (goitered gazelle) is native species of Anatolia. Due to risk of extinction, captured gazelles have been taken under protection in a restricted area at Ceylanpinar state farm. In this study, the presence of EHDV was investigated serologically in 82 goitered gazelle and 399 cattle. Seropositivity rates in goitered gazelle and cattle were detected as 2.43% and 3.50%, respectively.     

Evaluation of soybean genotypes for resistance against the rust-causing fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi in East Africa

Soybean rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is the most important foliar disease of soybean (Glycine max) worldwide. Deployment of resistant soybean cultivars is the best option for managing this disease. Genes conferring resistance to P. pachyrhizi have been identified, but pathotypes of the rust fungus overcoming these resistance genes have also been found. To identify novel resistance genes, soybean genotypes from both local and international sources were screened at multiple locations in Tanzania and Uganda in 2016 and 2017. The results from this screening revealed that infection types, disease severities, and sporulation levels varied among the genotypes and locations. The majority of the genotypes had tan-coloured (TAN) lesions and developed moderate sporulation, implying susceptibility, while only seven of the 71 lines had reddish-brown (RB) lesions and showed low disease severities in all of the screening environments. We identified seven genotypes that were the most resistant to rust in the most locations over the two years. These genotypes will be useful for further studies and, ultimately, for rust management, as they show broad resistance to various pathotypes of the rust fungus.     

Damage by monk seals to gear of the artisanal fishery in the Foça Monk Seal Pilot Conservation Area, Turkey

The present study examines the operational interaction between critically endangered monk seals Monachus monachus and artisanal fisheries in the Foça Pilot Monk Seal Conservation Area, Turkey between 1994 and 2002. One to four permanent researchers collected the data on this interaction during the seal sighting data inquiries. Interviews with the fishermen provided 142 direct interactions with monk seals around the fishing gear. Among these encounters damage to fishing gear, including gill nets (53%), trammel nets (37%), longlines (9%) and a lure (1%) was recorded 90 times. However, no difference was found in damage between gill and trammel nets. Although, the damage inflicted by seals per occasion was found to be substantial (maximum 462.5 USD per occasion), the overall annual economic impact on the artisanal fishery was found to be modest. Limitation in soaking time of nets; long-line use instead of nets in MPAs where monk seals survive; and low interest credits to be given to those fishermen who suffer monk seal damage, are proposed as appropriate management practices.