Changes in sorghum production,soil P forms and P use efficiency following long-term application of manure,compost and straw in a Ferric Lixisol

Low phosphorus availability in cultivated soils limits sustainable crop production in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of long‐term application of different types of organic amendments on soil P forms, P use efficiency and sorghum yields. A long term experiment established in 1980 at Saria in Burkina Faso, comparing the effects of manure, compost and sorghum straw was used. Manure and compost significantly increased organic P and resin‐P by about 35% and 64%, respectively after 10 and 32 years of sorghum cultivation, and HCl‐P after 32 years of cultivation compared to the control. Manure significantly increased NaHCO₃-Pi and NaOH-Pi by 63% and 26%, respectively compared to the control. Sorghum straw had little effect on measured soil P forms. Manure and compost were the best in increasing sorghum grain yield, which effect were strongly correlated to soil pH, carbon and nitrogen. The partial factors productivities of P resulting from the application of studied organic amendments were similar and low, but significantly higher than that of the control treatment. Organic amendments with high P content, maintaining soil carbon and pH could be used to improve soil P availability, sorghum yield and reduce the demand for mineral phosphorus fertilizers.     

大豆抗菌核病的全基因组关联研究

找到大豆与抗菌核病强关联的候选位点或候选基因,为抗病基因克隆和抗病分子标记开发提供借鉴,服务大豆抗菌核病育种。对126个加拿大大豆品种的基因组DNA用ApekⅠ酶消化后Illumina Hiseq2000平台测序进行基因分型,供试的126个材料用棉垫接种核盘菌菌丝体进行表型鉴定。采用Structure 2.3.4、SPSS 20.0、TASSEL 5.0和PLINKv 1.07软件分别模拟群体遗传结构、二元主成分分析、邻接法聚类,进行SNP-phenotype和Haplotype-phenotype的关联分析(只考虑加性效应)。最小等位基因频率0.01过滤,得到30 125个SNPs。主成分及群体结构聚类结果中度一致,将126个供试材料划分为2个组群,Kappa聚类一致度检验K=0.44。邻接法(The neighbor-joining algorithm,NJ)聚为3个组群。α≤0.05时,在单个SNP-phenotype的关联研究中,最强关联在3号染色体物理位置34387780、34387823和34387841处(P值都为8.669E-7),可分别解释表型变异的17.80%,其次在20,1,4,17号染色体上。Haplotype-phenotype的关联分析中,最强关联在17号染色体物理位置5575883/5647814/5648648/5734897处(P值为1.038E-6),可解释表型变异的17.56%。200 kb范围内,3号染色体上的候选基因有Glma.03g129100、Glma.03g129200、Glma.03g129300、Glma.03g129500、Glma.03g129800、Glma.03g129900。17号染色体上为Glma.17g071300、Glma.17g072200、Glma.17g073300。     

Development and characterization of a new set of 164 polymorphic EST‐SSR markers for diversity and breeding studies in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.)

Despite its economic importance and recent genome release, the need for molecular tools for Hevea brasiliensis is high. In the frame of a disease resistance study, EST sequences were retrieved from public database or generated by sequencing SSH libraries. Sequences were trimmed and microsatellite motifs searched using an ad hoc bioinformatic pipeline, and pairs of primers for the amplification of candidate markers were generated. We found a total of 10 499 unigenes from both sources of sequences, and 673 microsatellites motifs were detected using the default parameters of the pipeline. Two hundred sixty‐four primer pairs were tested and 226 (85.6%) successfully amplified. Out of the amplified candidate markers, 164 exhibited polymorphism. Relationships based on dendrograms using simple matching index and diversity statistics based on EST‐SSRs were compared with Genomic SSRs, showing the potentialities of EST‐derived microsatellites for resistance studies but also for population genetics approaches.     

It’s what’s inside that counts: computer-aided tomography for evaluating the rate and extent of wood consumption by shipworms

Experiments were done to investigate in situ colonization of pine wood blocks by marine wood borers at the mouth of a small mountain river in the foothills of the Eastern Pyrenees. Standardized blocks were recovered after remaining underwater for increasingly long durations, until the available resource was exhausted by the shipworms assemblage that developed. Computer-aided tomography (CT) was used for visualizing and quantifying biogenic structures into the wooden blocks. The biodiversity survey of the wood pieces colonized indicated that up to three species of shipworms shared the resource at the same time. The specific wood consumption rate of Nototeredo norvagica was estimated 185 mm³ ind^?1 day^?1. The quantification of voids created by shipworm crowding indicated that total tunnelling represents, on average, 60% of the initial volume of a wood block, revising upward earlier estimates of wood destruction by 28%. CT analysis provides the quantitative measurements necessary to parameterize individual-based growth models linking wood consumption with the species diversity of shipworm assemblages.     

Novel technique for definite blastomere inhibition and distribution of maternal RNA in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus embryo

Fisheries Science - The cleavage pattern of a vertebrate’s embryo is either holoblastic (complete) or meroblastic (partial). Sturgeon and other basal bony fishes represent a transition of the...     

Effects of two different anesthetic protocols on 64‐MDCT coronary angiography in dogs

Heart rate is a major factor influencing diagnostic image quality in computed tomographic coronary artery angiography (MDCT‐CA), with an ideal heart rate of 60–65 beats/min in humans. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare effects of two different clinically applicable anesthetic protocols on cardiovascular parameters and 64‐MDCT‐CA quality in 10 healthy dogs. Scan protocols and bolus volumes were standardized. Image evaluations were performed in random order by a board‐certified veterinary radiologist who was unaware of anesthetic protocols used. Heart rate during image acquisition did not differ between protocols (P = 1), with 80.6 ± 7.5 bpm for protocol A and 79.2 ± 14.2 bpm for protocol B. Mean blood pressure was significantly higher (P > 0.05) using protocol B (protocol A 62.9 ± 9.1 vs. protocol B 72.4 ± 15.9 mmHg). The R‐R intervals allowing for best depiction of individual coronary artery segments were found in the end diastolic period and varied between the 70% and 95% interval. Diagnostic quality was rated excellent, good, and moderate in the majority of the segments evaluated, with higher scores given for more proximal segments and lower for more distal segments, respectively. Blur was the most commonly observed artifact and mainly affected the distal segments. No significant differences were identified between the two protocols for optimal reconstruction interval, diagnostic quality and measured length individual segments, or proximal diameter of the coronary arteries (P = 1). Findings indicated that, when used with a standardized bolus volume, both of these anesthetic protocols yielded diagnostic quality coronary 64‐MDCT‐CA exams in healthy dogs.     

Global parasite and Rattus rodent invasions: The consequences for rodent‐borne diseases

We summarize the current knowledge on parasitism‐related invasion processes of the globally invasive Rattus lineages, originating from Asia, and how these invasions have impacted the local epidemiology of rodent‐borne diseases. Parasites play an important role in the invasion processes and successes of their hosts through multiple biological mechanisms such as “parasite release,” “immunocompetence advantage,” “biotic resistance” and “novel weapon.” Parasites may also greatly increase the impact of invasions by spillover of parasites and other pathogens, introduced with invasive hosts, into new hosts, potentially leading to novel emerging diseases. Another potential impact is the ability of the invader to amplify local parasites by spillback. In both cases, local fauna and humans may be exposed to new health risks, which may decrease biodiversity and potentially cause increases in human morbidity and mortality. Here we review the current knowledge on these processes and propose some research priorities.     

Littoral spawning habitats of three southern Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) populations

Abstract Arctic charr populations in southern latitudes are nonmigratory, with all life‐stages limited to freshwater lakes and in‐ or out‐flowing tributaries. Although many of these populations are reported to also spawn in lake littorals, little is known about the physical characteristics of putative spawning grounds. A total of 23 discrete spawning sites within three Irish lakes were located by fyke netting of spawning adults and snorkelling in littoral habitats. Spawning sites were found to be long, narrow strips running parallel to the shore at a maximum depth of 124 cm. Spawning sites were limited to areas of coarse mineral substrate with an adequate (c. 8 cm) depth of clean interstitial spaces. In individual lakes, combined areas of spawning sites made up 0.4–0.7% of available littoral. Egg densities varied considerably between sites (33–900·eggs m^?2) and were significantly correlated with gradient and width of spawning sites. No evidence of redd digging was found. The shallow, localised and restricted nature of spawning grounds makes such populations vulnerable to anthropogenically induced postoviposition changes in surface water level, eutrophication processes such as increased lake sedimentation and elevated nutrient status.