Outbreaks of egg drop syndrome due to EDS-76 virus in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Two outbreaks of the egg drop syndrome were observed in quail flocks maintained on a farm together with chickens. The decrease in egg production ranged from 10.6 per cent to 50.6 per cent, and the number of soft-shelled eggs increased with the decline in egg production. In both the outbreaks haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to EDS-76 virus were detected. Fluorescent viral antigen specific to EDS-76 virus was also detected in the lining epithelial and glandular cells of the uterus.     

Antibody directed against Marek's disease-associated tumor surface antigen can be eluted from Marek's disease tumor cells.

Antibody directed against Marek's disease-associated tumor surface antigen (MATSA) was eluted from tumor cells of lymphomas and peripheral blood lymphocytes that were isolated from Marek's disease virus-infected chickens. Feather follicular Marek's disease virus (MDV) antigen could not be demonstrated with this antibody by indirect immunofluorescent (IF) staining. Monoclonal antibody directed against MATSA could completely block the activity of eluted antibody and vice versa. By indirect IF staining using eluted antibody and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labelled antichicken globulin conjugate. MATSA-bearing cells were detected in MDV infected and herpes virus of turkey (HVT) vaccinated birds. Blocking of immunoglobulin molecules present on B-cells by anti-chicken globulin is critical in this test.     

Geostatistical and fuzzy clustering approach for delineation of site-specific management zones and yield-limiting factors in irrigated hot arid environment of India

Precision Agriculture - Delineation of management zones (MZs) are needed to manage fields in order to maximize economic return, minimize environmental impact, and improve soil and crop management....     

Clinical and hematological findings on "Degnala", a disease of buffalo in Eastern Nepal

A buffalo disease, called "Degnala", causing lameness, edema, gangrenous ulceration of hooves or tail, emaciation, recumbency and eventual death, occurs in Eastern Nepal. Clinical examinations manifested lice eggs on hairs, bradycardia, hypothermia, dehydration, exanthema and icterus. Hematologically, increase of band neutrophil, giant platelet, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia were characteristics. Microscopically, dark blue tiny particles were seen on red blood cell (RBC) after Giemsa staining. Administration of tetracycline at an early stage of the disease was effective.     

Moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha fruit

The physical properties of fruit are important in designing and fabricating equipment and structures for handling, transporting, processing and storage, and also for assessing quality. The study was conducted to investigate some physical properties of jatropha fruit at various moisture levels. The average length, width, thickness and 1000 mass were 29.31 mm, 22.18 mm, 21.36 mm and 1522.10 g, respectively, at moisture content of 7.97% d.b. The geometric mean diameter increased from 24.03 to 24.70 mm and the sphericity varied between 0.82 and 0.83 as moisture content increased from 7.97% to 23.33% d.b., respectively. In the same moisture range, the bulk and true densities decreased from 278 to 253 and 546 to 435 kg m^?3, respectively, whereas the corresponding porosity also decreased from 49.08% to 41.84%. As the moisture content increased from 7.97% to 23.33% d.b., crushing strength was decreased from 275 to 79 N, whereas the angle of repose and surface areas were found to increase from 36.41° to 41.72° and 1815.73 to 1917.59 mm², respectively. The static coefficient of friction of jatropha fruit increased linearly against the surfaces of three structural materials, namely plywood (47.81%), mild steel (62.88%) and aluminium (34.82%) as the moisture content increased from 7.97% to 23.33% d.b.     

Moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha seed (Jatropha curcas L.)

The study was conducted to investigate some moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha seed namely, seed dimension, 1000 seed mass, surface area, sphericity, bulk density, true density, angle of repose and static coefficient of friction against different materials. The physical properties of jatropha seed were evaluated as a function of moisture content in the range of 4.75–19.57% d.w. The average length, width, thickness and 1000 seed mass were 18.65 mm, 11.34 mm, 8.91 mm and 741.1 g, respectively at moisture content of 4.75% d.w. The geometric mean diameter and sphericity increased from 12.32 to 12.89 mm and 0.66 to 0.67 as moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w., respectively. In the same moisture range, densities of the rewetted jatropha seed decreased from 492 to 419 kg m⁻³, true density increased from 679 to 767 kg m⁻³, and the corresponding porosity increased from 27.54 to 45.37%. As the moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w., the angle of repose and surface area were found to increase from 28.15° to 39.95° and 476.78 to 521.99 mm², respectively. The static coefficient of friction of jatropha seed increased linearly against the surfaces of three structural materials, namely plywood (44.12%), mild steel sheet (64.15%) and aluminum (68.63%) as the moisture content increased from 4.75 to 19.57% d.w.     

Development of new sources of cytoplasmic male-sterile lines in rice

Two male-sterile lines, KalashreeA and PadminiA, with a Miz.21 cytoplasm source were developed through indica/indica hybridization followed by repeated backcrossing with their respective recurrent male parents (Kalashree and Padmini) up to the BC₆ generation. These two cytoplasmic male-sterile lines are suitable for use in the development of hybrids for lowland situations owing to their intermediate to semi-tall stature, late flowering duration, good grain quality and easy fertility restoration ability.     

Identification of the Putative Cytoplasmic Donor of a CMS System in Brassica juncea

Chloroplast (cp) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA restriction profiles of a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of Brassica juncea and its maintainer line were compared and found to be markedly different. Comparison of cpDNA restriction profiles of fifty different species of genus Brassica and some allied genera showed that the cpDNA profiles of CMS lines were similar to that of B. tournefortii for twenty different restriction endonucleases. This CMS system is thus not of spontaneous origin as reported earlier, but is alloplasmic in nature. Comparison of restriction profiles of mtDNA of B. tournefortii and CMS lines revealed some differences which might either be due to changes in DNA pattern during the transfer, or, due to the cytoplasm coming from a B. tournefortii line different from the one used in this study.     

Identification of a Stable Maintainer Line for 'Polima' Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Rapeseed (B. napus L.)

‘Polima’ cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was transferred to three different genotypes of B. napus i.e. GSL-1, ISN706 and HNS-8 by repeated backcrossing and was found to be completely stable in the nuclear background of synthetic B. napus genotype, ISN706, derived from a cross B. campestris ssp. oleifera var. brown sarson ×B. oleracea var. botrytis cv. Tusa Katki'. The BC₅ and BC₆ generation lines of ISN706, GSL-1 and HNS-8 with ‘Polima’ CMS were grown under a range of temperature and photo-period conditions to test their stability. No breakdown in sterility was observed in ‘Polima’ ISN706 and, therefore, this genotype can be used as a maintainer for hybrid seed production.     

Identification and Inheritance of Fertility Restorer Genes for 'tour' CMS in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Eighteen genotypes of Brassica napus were crossed to a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of B. napus BO 15 carrying B. tournefortii cytoplasm (‘tour’ cytoplasm). Fourteen genotypes were found to be stable maintainers of the ‘tour’ CMS. Of the remaining four genotypes, GSL-1 and ‘Asahi-natane’ were found to be heterozygous and ‘Mangun’ and ‘Yudal’ were homozygous for the restorer gene. Analysis of the F₁ and F₂ progenies of (CMS) BO 15 בMangun’ and (CMS) BO 15 בYudal’ showed that fertility restoration is controlled by a single dominant gene. The availability of a number of stable maintainer lines and the simple inheritance pattern of fertility restorer gene makes ‘tour’ CMS a useful system for hybrid seed production in rapeseed.