A note on canopy and air temperature equality

Well-watered crops having nearly identical ratio of intercept and slope of the “non-water-stressed baseline” would attain their equivalence point temperature at roughly identical air vapor pressure deficit. However, such a behavior of these crops might not prevail as the wet soil dries out progressively. The methods for calculating the equivalence point temperature due to Linacre (1964) and Paw U (1984) gave results which sometimes differed by more than 10 K.     

Detection of goat pox antigen and antibody by the counter immunoelectrophoresis test

Summary The counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test was standardised for the detection of goat pox antigen and antibody using inactivated antigens. The chloroform inactivated and live antigens were equally sensitive for detection of goat pox precipitins. The precipitinogens of goat pox virus (GPV) were found to be soluble in nature. The CIE test was quick as well as more sensitive than the agar gel precipitation test for detection of GPV antibody/antigen. The CIE employing inactivated antigen has been used for the first time in the detection of GPV antibodies/antigens.

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Deteccion Del Antigeno Y Anticuerpos De Viruela Caprina Mediate La Prueba De Contrainmunoelectroforesis

Resumen Se estandarizó la prueba de contrainmunoelectroforesis, para la detección del antígeno y anticuerpos del virus de la viruela caprina, usando antígenos inactivados. El antígeno inactivado con cloroformo y el antígeno vivo, fueron igualmente sensitivos para la detección de precipitinas de viruela caprina. Los precipitógenos del virus de la viruela caprina se encontraron que eran solubles. La prueba de contrainmunoelectroforesis fue más rápida y más sensitiva que la precipitación agar gelatina para la detección de anticuerpos/antígenos del virus de la viruela caprina. La prueba de contrainmunoelectroforesis con antígeno inactivado ha sido utilizada por vez primera en la detección de anticuerpos/antígenos del virus de la viruela caprina.

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Detection De l'Antigene Et De l'Anticorps Variole Caprine Par Un Test De Contrimmuno-Electrophorese

Résumé Le test de contrimmuno-électrophorèse (CIE) a été standardisé pour la détection de l'antigène et de l'anticorps variole caprine avec des antigènes inactivés. Les antigènes vivants et inactivés par le chloroforme sont de sensibilité équivalente pour la détection des précipitines variole caprine. On a montré que ces précipitogènes du virus variole caprine (VVC) étaient de nature soluble. Le CIE est rapide et plus sensible que le test de précipitation en gélose pour la détection des antigènes et anticorps VVC. C'est la première fois que le CIE mettant en oeuvre un antigène inactivé a été utilisé.

     

The role of apoptosis in immunosuppression of dogs with demodicosis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of apoptosis in peripheral blood leukocytes of dogs with demodicosis. A total of 26 dogs suffering from demodicosis, and positive for Demodex canis mites by skin scraping, participated in the study, 13 with localized demodicosis (LD) and 13 with generalized demodicosis (GD). A further 13 clinically healthy dogs, all of whom were negative for mites upon skin scraping, were used as controls. The dogs with GD revealed significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) percentage of leukocytes with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) and depolarized mitochondrial membrane potentials (ΔΨm) as compared with the dogs with LD and healthy controls. These dogs also revealed significantly lower values (P ≤ 0.0001) of hematological parameters viz. hemoglobin, total erythrocytes count total leukocytes count, lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) percentages of leukocytes with externalization of PS and depolarized ΔΨm were also found in dogs with LD as compared with the healthy controls. These dogs also revealed significantly lower values of Hb (P ≤ 0.0001), TEC (P=0.025), TLC (P ≤ 0.0001), lymphocytes (P=0.008), monocytes (P ≤ 0.0001) and neutrophils (P=0.03). It is concluded that premature apoptosis of PBL may be implicated in the immunosuppression of the dogs with demodicosis.     

Polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S-23S spacer region for rapid identification of Salmonella serovars

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the spacer regions between the 16S and 23S genes of rRNA genetic loci of Salmonella serovars for their rapid identification. These genetic loci revealed a significant level of polymorphism in length across the species/serovar lines. When the 16S-23S spacer region amplification products were subjected to agarose electrophoresis, the patterns observed could be used to distinguish all the serovars of Salmonella tested. Unique elements obtained in amplification products were mostly clustered at serovar level, although certain genus-specific patterns were also observed. On the basis of the results obtained, the amplification of 16S-23S ribosomal spacer region could suitably be used in a PCR-based identification method for Salmonella serovars.     

A new gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bph33</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>) conferring resistance to brown planthopper (BPH), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nilaparvata lugens</Emphasis> (Stål) in rice line RP2068-18-3-5

The rice brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) is one of the major pests of rice across Asia. Host-plant resistance is the most ecologically acceptable means to manage this pest. A rice breeding line RP2068-18-3-5 (RP2068) derived from the land race Velluthacheera is reported to be resistant to BPH populations across India. We identified a new R gene [Bph33(t)] in this line using advanced generation RILs derived from TN1 × RP2068 cross through phenotyping at two locations and linkage analysis with 99 polymorphic SSR markers. QTL analysis through IciMapping identified at least two major QTL on chromosome 1 influencing seedling damage score in seed box screening, honey dew excretion by adults and nymphal survival. Since no BPH R gene has been reported on chromosome 1, we designate this locus as a new gene Bph33(t) which accounted for over 20% of phenotypic variance. Scanning the region for candidate gene suggested two likely candidates a leucine rich repeat (LRR) gene and a heat shock protein (HSP) coding gene. Expression profiling of the two genes in the two contrasting parents and RILs showed induction of the HSP gene (LOC_Os01g42190.1) at 6 h after infestation while LRR gene did not show such induction. It is likely that the HSP represented Bph33(t).     

Mapping and marker-assisted breeding of a gene allelic to the major Asian rice gall midge resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gm8</Emphasis>

Host plant resistance is the preferred management strategy for Asian rice gall midge (Orseolia oryzae), a serious pest in many rice-growing countries. Identification of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that are tightly linked to pest resistance genes can accelerate development of gene pyramids for durable/multiple resistance. Based on conventional and molecular allelism tests, we report herein that rice genotype Aganni possesses Gm8 gene, conferring hypersensitive independent (HR– type) resistance to gall midge biotypes GMB1, GMB2, GMB3, GMB4, and GMB4M. The gene Gm8 was mapped to chromosome 8 within a 400-kbp region, and the SSR markers RM22685 and RM22709 flank the gene closely. Using these closely linked flanking markers, nine other gall midge-resistant genotypes were identified as carrying the same gene Gm8. Through marker-assisted selection, Gm8 has been introgressed into an elite bacterial blight-resistant cultivar, Improved Samba-Mahsuri (IS).     

Donors for Resistance to Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens(St?l) from Wild Rice Species

Out of 1 989 wild accessions sown in seed boxes for screening, only 1 003 wild accessions with good germination were screened against brown planthopper(BPH), Nilaparvata lugens(St?l) under greenhouse conditions. The collection comprised of accessions from 11 wild species and African cultivated rice. The germplasm was screened for BPH following standard seed box screening technique in the greenhouse. As many as 159 accessions were identified as resistant during the year 2012 based on one year screening. A selected set of BPH resistant accessions were screened again during 2013. Based on the two years screening, seven accessions of O. nivara(AA), one accession of O. officinalis(CC), seven accessions of O. australiensis(EE), five accessions of O. punctata(BB and BBCC) and nine accessions of O. latifolia(CCDD) were confirmed to be resistant to BPH. So far no BPH resistance genes have been identified and designated from O. nivara and O. punctata, hence these may act as new sources of resistance.     

Assessment of Carbon Balance in Community Forests in Dolakha, Nepal

This study assessed the net above-ground carbon stock in six community forests in the Dolakha district, Nepal. A survey was conducted of above-ground timber species, using random sampling. A tree-ring chronology for Pinus roxburghii was created to construct a growth model representative of the various mainly-pine species. The allometric model combined with tree ring analysis was used to estimate carbon stock and annual growth in the above-ground tree biomass. The out-take of forest biomass for construction material and fuelwood was estimated on the basis of interviews and official records of community forest user groups. The average annual carbon increment of the community forests was 2.19 ton/ha, and the average annual carbon out-take of timber and fuelwood was 0.25 ton/ha. The net average carbon balance of 1.94 ton/ha was equivalent to 117.44 tons of carbon per community forest annually. All the community forests were actively managed leading to a sustainable forest institution, which acts as a carbon sink. It is concluded that community forests have the potential to reduce emissions by avoiding deforestation and forest degradation, enhance forest carbon sink and improve livelihoods for local communities.