Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

Getting cosy in freshwater: Assumed to be brackish pike are not so brackish after all

Pike (Esox lucius) occupy coastal streams and rivers of the Baltic Sea, where they attain large sizes (>5 kg). These large sizes are perhaps due to the fact that they can tolerate relatively high salinities and can thus forage in the nearby more productive brackish environments. In an attempt to quantify the extent to which pike utilise brackish environments, and to provide some insight into the underlying causes for brackish water migrations, we tagged 30 pike from a western Baltic river with acoustic transmitters and were able to track 21 individuals for 1 year. Based on experienced from local anglers, this population was assumed to be brackish in nature, where individuals underwent freshwater migrations to spawn. Our findings however suggest that the smallest and most active individuals make short exits into brackish waters and do so on rare occasions. Our results further indicate that neither sex nor size is related to activity level. We suggest that these patterns reflect two distinct behaviours—active and passive—and that large pike can be supported by the food availability in the river, without the need to venture into coastal zones, thus defying the conventional view that Baltic pike are all brackish in nature.     

猪繁殖性状的遗传改良策略

猪繁殖性能的提高将为养猪业带来巨大的经济效益 ,目前多数育种者将提高猪的繁殖力作为主要育种目标 ,并用数学遗传学方法和分子育种技术对繁殖性状进行改良。     

奶牛繁殖疾病的调控

本文综述了奶牛繁殖疾病的发病原因和调控措施，分析认为奶牛的营养状况是影响奶牛繁殖力的重要因素。理想的奶牛管理应做到整个泌乳期始终监测奶牛的体况和奶牛日粮中微量元素的维生素的含量，避免营养素的不平衡而引发的奶牛繁殖障碍，同时应避免奶牛过肥或过瘦。适当补充某些维生素和矿物质十分重要。     

母猪高效预混合饲料饲养试验

本试验为考察新研制的４９２５／４９２６母猪系列预混合饲料的饲养效果，在母猪胎次、体况和饲养管理条件下似、基础饲料相同条件下，分别与金牧３８６３／３８６４、康地５７４３／５７４４两种母猪系列预混料进行饲养试验。入试头数分别为２３头、３５头。结果表明：①４９２５／４９２６组较３８６４／３９６４组，窝产活仔数、初生窝重、断奶窝重分别提高０．５头／窝、０．９ｋｇ／窝、４．２５ｋｇ／窝；哺乳期母猪头平少失重     

PGF2αeCG及hCG 3种生殖激素联用对母犬发情、卵泡发育及胚胎着床的影响

给休情期性成熟母犬肌注 PGF2α(0 .5 m g/ kg) ,2 4 h后肌注 e CG(5 0 IU/ kg) ,再经 12 0 h后肌注 h CG(2 0 U/ kg) ,诱导其发情。将诱导发情的母犬与公犬交配 ,于交配后 16 d,摘取卵巢、子宫 ,观察其卵泡发育和胚胎着床情况。结果表明 ,药物处理可明显促使母犬提前结束休情期而进入发情期 (9/ 10 ) ,促进卵巢内卵泡发育 (P<0 .0 1) ,并使更多的胚胎着床 ,每只母犬子宫胚胎着床点为 (17.4± 2 .2 )个 ,提示 3种生殖激素联合应用可提高母犬繁殖率     

东北虎雌性生殖系统解剖

对 2例 1 999年 1 0月意外死亡的东北虎雌性生殖系统进行了解剖。雌性东北虎的卵巢被覆卵巢囊 ,随着年龄增长卵巢表面凸凹不平 ,呈脑的沟回状。输卵管位于卵巢游离缘外侧 ,呈半圆形围绕着卵巢 ,输卵管壶腹部弯曲、峡部直 ;子宫与输卵管分界明显 ;子宫角长度约相当于子宫体长度的 2倍 ;阴道呈背腹压扁的管状     

怀孕后期感染PRRS病毒母猪所产新生仔猪的免疫反应

将PRRS病毒BJ－4株感染怀孕后期（约90天）的抗体阴性和阳性母猪，待自然分娩后，观察新生仔猪的免疫应答。结果显示，接种PRRS病毒BJ－4的母猪没有表现出明显的临床症状，没有出现流产死产。新生仔猪浦被子前血清中PRRS病毒核酸TR－PCR检测和ELISA抗体阴性，哺乳后特异性抗体出现，5－6周母源抗体逐渐下降；20日龄猪瘟疫苗免疫后疫苗抗体维持时间短，仔猪在40日龄后进入野毒感染的危险期。RT－nested PCR检测血清中PRRS病毒核酸和易感仔猪病毒特异性抗体监测的结果提示仔猪群内可能存在水平传播。流式细胞术检测外周血淋巴细胞亚群发现CD3^ 细胞减少，CD4^ 细胞显著下降，CD8^ ，CD4^ CD8^ 和SLA－DR^ 表达细胞升高。以上结果表明在感染后病毒能够长期持续性存在，猪场内新生仔猪母源抗体逐渐下降后，通过水平传播受到感染，感染后免疫应答受到不利影响。     

如何提高母猪的繁殖能力

分析了造成母猪繁殖能力低的因素主要表现为乏情期长和产仔数低，其次是不孕，流产，产弱仔，产木乃伊胎及死胎等。而繁殖障碍性疾病和饲养管理不当是突出的问题。提出了通过疾病控制和科学饲养来提高母猪繁殖能力的措施。