Detection of OvHV-2 from an outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever from crossbred cattle of Southern India

An outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever in crossbred cattle in a village of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, affected thirteen adult cows and two calves from a population of forty animals. All the affected animals were died between December and January 2013–14. The clinical and gross postmortem findings were typical of MCF in Indian crossbred cattle. Migrating sheep flocks were suspected source of infection for the cattle. The diagnosis was confirmed by heminested PCR in all the affected cattle and the suspected sheep flock. The PCR provided evidence of ovine herpes virus type 2.     

Differential HSP90α expression in fish hepatocytes from polluted estuary during summer

The molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α), plays an important role in protein folding, degradation of denatured proteins and steroid activation. It is essential for the maintenance of cellular integrity and survival when induced in response to environmental, physical and chemical stresses. In the present investigation the effect of environmental stress on HSP90α expression was examined in grey mullet Mugil cephalus living in either a contaminated (Ennore) or uncontaminated (Kovalam) estuary over two seasons: Hepatocytes were isolated from grey mullet of both estuaries. Oxidative stress was determined along with HSP90α in these fish. Additionally, immunohistochemical changes were studied to confirm the HSP90α expression. Comparison of the results revealed enhanced hepatocyte oxidative stress and HSP90α expressions in fish from Ennore to a significant extent than fish from Kovalam. Also, the results showed significant seasonal variations with maximum expression observed during summer compared to the monsoon season. Overexpression of HSP90α in hepatocytes exposed to chronic environmental stress by pollutants may confer differential effects on cell survival by protecting against oxidative stress induced changes. The results also indicate that seasonal variations have significant effect on the HSP90α expression.     

Morpho-physiological and phenological attributes of reproductive biology of tea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia sinensis</Emphasis> (L.) O. Kuntze) in Sri Lanka

A comprehensive knowledge on reproductive traits is a prerequisite in utilizing the existing tea germplasm effectively for crop improvement to develop superior planting material for grower acceptance and market profitability. The Sri Lankan tea germplasm was characterized based on reproductive traits viz. floral morphology, pollen biology, stigma receptivity and phenology of flowering and fruit set. The variability in floral morphology, especially the style morphological features, formed phenotypic clines rather than distinct groups. Studies on pollen biology and stigma receptivity revealed significant variability and asynchrony that could result unequal reproductive success among the genotypes. Four distinct patterns were predictable among the genotypes based on flower and fruit abundance and the time of flowering and fruit set. Three well marked flowering periods occurred in February to April, July and in November. Nonetheless, major flowering period coincided February and March in all the genotypes allowing free crossing between the different genotypes. Profuse mature fruit crop was obtained in February to May. Approximately 26% success was achieved in tea controlled hybridization programmes. Fruits carry two seeds on average and became mature in 8–9 months after pollination. Zygotic development in tea takes more than 1 month after pollination and early embryonic development continued for 4 months after pollination. The indexing of the morpho-physiological diversity and the phenological calendars of flowering and fruit set made available in the study are of significant importance in effective utilization of the tea germplasm for crop improvement.     

Effect of Pheromone Blend Components,Sex Ratio,and Population Size on the Mating of Cadra cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The almond moth Cadra cautella (Walker), a key pest of storage facilities, is difficult to manage using synthetic chemicals. Pheromone-based management methods remain a high priority due to advantages over conventional management practices, which typically use insecticides. Cadra cautella females release a blend of pheromone including (Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA) and (Z)-9-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (ZTA). The effect of these components on mating of C. cautella and how response varies with the population density and sex ratio remain unknown. In this study, the mating status of C. cautella was studied inside mating cages under different ratios of ZETA and ZTA diluted in hexane and at different population sizes either with equal or unequal sex ratio. The lowest percentage of mated females (highest mating disruption [MD] effects), corresponding to roughly 12.5%, was produced by a 5:1 and 3.3:1 ratio of ZETA:ZTA. Populations with equal sex ratio showed the lowest percentage of mated females, at 20% and 12.5% under lower and higher density, respectively. The next lowest percentage of mated females was produced when the sex ratio was set to 1: 2 and 2:1 male:female, with just 25% and 22.5% of moths mated, respectively. This study shows that mating status of C. cautella is influenced by ZETA:ZTA ratio, sex ratio, and population size. This current knowledge would have useful implications for mating disruption programs.     

Yield-height correlation and QTL localization for plant height in two lowland switchgrass populations

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), as a model herbaceous crop species for bioenergy production, is targeted to improve biomass yield and feedstock quality. Plant height is a major component contributing to biomass yield. Accordingly, the objectives of this research were to analyze phenotypic variation for biomass and plant height and the association between them and to localize associated plant height QTLs. Two lowland switchgrass mapping populations, one selfed and another hybrid population established in the field at Perkins and Stillwater, Oklahoma, were deployed in the experiment for two years post establishment. Large genetic variation existed for plant biomass and height within the two populations. Plant height was positively correlated with biomass yield in the selfed population (r = 0.39, P<0.0001) and the hybrid population (r = 0.41, P<0.0001). In the selfed population, a joint analysis across all environments revealed 10 QTLs and separate analysis for each environment, collectively revealed 39 QTLs related to plant height. In the hybrid population, the joint analysis across overall environments revealed 35 QTLs and the separate analysis for each environment revealed 38 QTLs. The findings of this research contribute new information about the genetic control for plant height and will be useful for future plant breeding and genetic improvement programs in lowland switchgrass.     

The effect of plant growth regulators and natural supplements on in vitro propagation of Pogostemon cablin Benth.

The effect of plant growth regulators and natural supplements on the morphogenetic response of Pogostemon cablin Benth. was investigated. Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 0.5 mg L^?1 benzyl-6-adenine and 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin was effective in inducing multiple shoots (63.20 ± 0.15) with an average shoot length of 5.27 ± 0.15 cm and biomass of 5.20 ± 0.10 g shoot^?1. Among the natural supplements, 10% coconut water supplemented to MS media showed a better response in all the morphological parameters studied. The use of 10% tomato extract, 20% banana extract, 10% carrot extract, and 10% papaya extract in MS medium have efficiently increased multiple shoots, shoot length, and fresh weight of the shoots. The natural supplements also effectively increased the chlorophyll content, total protein, and total carbohydrate content in the plant. The frequency of rooting (93%) was highest when shoots were implanted on 1/2 strength MS media with 100 mg L^?1 activated charcoal. The in vitro rooted plants were successfully acclimatized and established in soil. Also, RAPD analysis showed no variation suggesting true-to-type nature of the micropropagated plants. Hence, this protocol can effectively reduce the cost of in vitro multiplication of plants.     

Estimates of direct and maternal (co)variance components as well as genetic parameters of growth traits in Nellore sheep

In the present study, (co)variance components and genetic parameters in Nellore sheep were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method using six different animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal genetic effects for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), 6-month weight (6MW), 9-month weight (9MW) and 12-month weight (YW). Evaluated records of 2075 lambs descended from 69 sires and 478 dams over a period of 8 years (2007–2014) were collected from the Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, India. Lambing year, sex of lamb, season of lambing and parity of dam were the fixed effects in the model, and ewe weight was used as a covariate. Best model for each trait was determined by log-likelihood ratio test. Direct heritability for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW and YW were 0.08, 0.03, 0.12, 0.16 and 0.10, respectively, and their corresponding maternal heritabilities were 0.07, 0.10, 0.09, 0.08 and 0.11. The proportions of maternal permanent environment variance to phenotypic variance (Pe²) were 0.07, 0.10, 0.07, 0.06 and 0.10 for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW and YW, respectively. The estimates of direct genetic correlations among the growth traits were positive and ranged from 0.44(BW-WW) to 0.96(YW-9MW), and the estimates of phenotypic and environmental correlations were found to be lower than those of genetic correlations. Exclusion of maternal effects in the model resulted in biased estimates of genetic parameters in Nellore sheep. Hence, to implement optimum breeding strategies for improvement of traits in Nellore sheep, maternal effects should be considered.     

外源水杨酸对盐胁迫下非洲菊抗氧化酶活性和生理特性的影响(英文)

以非洲菊(Gerbera jamesonii L.)品种Amaretto'为试材,研究外源水杨酸(SA)对缓解非洲菊生殖生长期因盐胁迫引起的过氧化伤害作用.在开花前分别用0、0.5和1.0mmol L-1SA对非洲菊植株进行预处理,3d后用100mmol L-1NaCl灌溉,持续2周;对照植株未经NaCl和SA处理.结果表明:盐胁迫处理后,叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性增加,丙二醛(MDA)含量、电解质外渗率和脯氨酸含量提高;外源SA预处理显著降低了盐胁迫植株叶片的MDA含量和电解质外渗率;在外源0.5mmol L-1SA预处理后,植株SOD和POD活性分别是对照的1.4倍和2.4倍;SA预处理后与植株耐盐性相关的生理生化指标呈显著相关,以0.5mmol L-1SA处理增强植株盐胁迫耐性的效果更好.说明外源SA处理能够诱导盐胁迫下非洲菊植株的抗氧化反应,水杨酸将是一种提高园艺作物耐盐性的有效物质.     

Studies on protein quality of green gram (Phaseolus aureus)

Raw green gram contains trypsin inhibitor (5.6 × 10^–3 units/0.1 g) while cooking destroyed the trypsin inhibitor in green gram. No destruction was observed in the case of lysine, methionine, cystine, threonine and tryptophan. Sulphur containing amino acids have been found to be the only limiting amino acids in green gram from studies on blood levels of amino acids and PER experiments. Raw green gram, when fed as a sole source of protein promoted an extremely low growth rate, (13.2 g/4 weeks) and PER (0.77) in rats. Cooking slightly improved the nutritive value of the gram, as indicated by increase in gain in body weight (24 g/4 weeks) as well as PER (1.22). The presence of inhibitors in green gram did not appear to affect some of the essential amino acids as observed from the blood amino acid levels.     

Olfactory response of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) to volatiles from leek and chive: Potential for intercropping with sweet pepper

Abstract

Odour-mediated effects of leek Allium porum and chives Allium schoenoprasum (Alliaceae) on the host searching behaviour of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were studied. In an olfactometer, odour of the host plant sweet pepper Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae) was significantly attractive, whereas odour of chives was significantly repellent. Combined odour of sweet pepper and chives was neither attractive nor repellent. When sweet pepper plants were exposed to volatiles from chives for five days, their odour subsequently became repellent to M. persicae. An extract of leek plants was significantly repellent to aphids in the olfactometer, as were sweet pepper plants sprayed with this extract. Because both leek and chives can disrupt host finding by the aphid, both plants have potential for intercropping with sweet pepper. If successful in the field, such a system could bring economic benefits for farmers in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and other parts of the world.