Prevention of vaginal SHIV transmission in rhesus macaques through inhibition of CCR5

Topical agents, such as microbicides, that can protect against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission are urgently needed. Using a chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV SF162), which is tropic for the chemokine receptor CCR5, we report that topical application of high doses of PSC-RANTES, an amino terminus-modified analog of the chemokine RANTES, provided potent protection against vaginal challenge in rhesus macaques. These experimental findings have potentially important implications for understanding vaginal transmission of HIV and the design of strategies for its prevention.     

Seed germination and seedling establishment of Neotropical dry forest species in response to temperature and light conditions

A study was conducted to examine the germination requirements of Cedrela odorata, Guaiacum sanctum and Calycophyllum candidissimum seeds, and the effect of light intensity on survival and growth of C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seedlings planted on open, partially-open and beneath the canopy of a dry forest in Nicaragua. The results show that germination of C. Candidissimum seeds was significantly higher in light than darkness at constant temperatures ranging from 20–35oC. Both C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seeds germinated in light and darkness to a varying extent, and the optimal germination temperature was around 20-25oC. Alternating temperature regimes did not improve germination. Survival of G. Sanctum seedlings was 70% beneath the canopy and 80% in the open, and its relative growth rate in collar diameter was 1.88 mm/month in the open and 1.42 mm/month in the understory. Survival was generally poor for C. Odorata, particularly in the understory. We concluded that light is an absolute requirement for the germination of C. Candidissimum seeds while germination of C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seeds are more sensitive to temperature. Owing to its high survival rate on open site, G. Sanctum could serve as a candidate species for reforestation of degraded sites.     

尼加拉瓜废弃农田次生演替后的土壤种子库

定量分析了被废弃4年、9年和14年的农田地上派生的次生林土壤中种子组成和密度,从而检测在次生林演替形成过程中,土壤种子库是否能随着植物种群的集成而集成。分别在废弃了4年、9年和14年的农田地里（15cm×15cm样方、9cm土层深）,掘取了18,37和48份土壤样品。在废弃了4,9和14年的农田地上,分别发现了3,5和9个物种。在这些不同的生命形态中,在9年和14年的迹地上,土壤种子树木占主要成分,分别为60%和33%,而4年废弃迹地主要被非木本植物所占领。三块废弃地里,4年废弃迹地植物种子的总数为327粒,相应可发育的种子密度为141粒/m2,14年废弃迹地种子的总数为46粒,相应的可发育种子的密度为26粒/m^2,指明种子数、种子密度随废弃地龄成下降趋势。在9年和14年龄废弃地上,土壤种子植物种类与立地木本植物种类的相似度较低,而4年龄地上两者比较则完全不同。我们认为：土壤种子库的物种构成是在次生演替过程中逐渐形成的,但是,所获得的总体种子密度太低,仅仅依赖于这些种子来实现树木自然再生是不可靠的。为了加快这些废弃地次生林的恢复,既要依靠自然集成的土壤种子库,还需要通过直播、所需物种的强化种植和设定人工生长环境以利于种子传播。     

Soil moisture tension and phosphate fertilization on yield components of A-7573 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrid, in Campeche, Mexico

The effect of moisture tension and doses of phosphate fertilization on yield components of sweet corn A-7573 (Zea mays L.) hybrid, in a Calcium Vertisol were evaluated. Four levels of soil moisture tension, ranging from −5 to −80 kPa, and three levels of phosphate fertilization: 60, 80, and 100 kg ha⁻¹ were studied. In order to evaluate the effect of the experimental treatments, plant growth, development, and yield were monitored. Treatments were distributed using the randomized complete block design (RCB) for divided plots of experimental units. ANOVA analysis indicated that the effects on more humid treatments (−5 and −30 kPa) were statistically equivalent, however were different from the effect of −55 kPa treatment, which in turn was statistically different from the effect of the driest treatment (p ≤ 0.01). On the other hand, 80 and 100 kg ha⁻¹ phosphate doses were statistically equal among them, but different from the lowest dose in almost all cases (p ≤ 0.01), which suggests that 80 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ application is sufficient to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the A-7573 hybrid. Both stress caused by the lack of water and the one due to deficiency of phosphorus affect all variables under study, however none of them showed interaction between irrigation and fertilization treatments. Irrigation of sweet corn crop is advisable when soil moisture tension grows to −30 kPa at 0-30 cm depth and to apply a phosphate fertilization dose of 80 kg ha⁻¹ is also recommended; using this management, sweet corn expected average length and fresh weight are 30.8 cm and 298 g, respectively, and their average yield is around 16.5 t ha⁻¹. In accordance with regression equations obtained, the maximum values in the evaluated response variables are obtained for a rank from −14.4 to −22.2 kPa in soil moisture tension. The greater efficiency in the use of irrigation water for sweet corn was of 36 kg ha⁻¹ for every millimetre laminate of watering applied, found in the −30 kPa treatment of soil moisture tension.     

光温条件对新热带干旱树种种子萌发和苗木建成的影响

测定了香红椿（Cedrela odorata）、神圣愈疮木（Guaiacum sanctum）和柠檬树（Calycophyllum candidissimum）种子萌发所需要的条件、并对光强对在尼加拉瓜开阔地、半开阔地和干旱森林林冠下所营造的香红椿和神圣愈疮木的苗存活率和生长的影响进行了研究。结果表明,在20-35℃常温条件下,柠檬树在有光照条件下种子萌发率显著高于黑暗条件的种子萌发率;香红椿和神圣愈疮木的种子在光照和黑暗条件下都有一定程度的萌发,最适萌发温度均为20-25℃。研究还表明,变温条件培养并没有提高3个树种的种子萌发率。在林冠层下和开阔地上神圣愈疮木苗木的存活率分别为70％和80％,两种条件下的周径相对生长速率分别为1．42mm／月和1．88mm／月。总的来说,在3个树种中,香红椿幼苗存活率较低,特别是在冠层内生长的幼苗。以上结果说明：柠檬树种子萌发需要光照;而香红椿和神圣愈疮木种子萌发对温度条件较为敏感。神圣愈疮木幼苗在裸地条件下存活率较高,可以作为退化土地造林备选树种。图2表2参43。     

Pollen transfer from invasive Carpobrotus spp. to natives - A study of pollinator behaviour and reproduction success

The influence of invasive plant species on native community composition is well-documented, but less is known about underlying mechanisms. Especially scarce is knowledge about effects on biotic interactions such as relationships between native plants and their pollinators. In this study we investigate if pollen transfer from the invasive and highly pollen productive Carpobrotus spp. affects seed production and/or seed quality in three native species. We monitored pollinator movements and pollen loads on pollinators and native stigmas, and in a field pollination experiment we investigated the effect of invasive pollen on reproduction. Invasive pollen adhered to pollinators, pollinators switched from Carpobrotus spp. to natives, invasive pollen was transferred to native stigmas, and it affected seed production in one species. Although all possible steps for interference with seed production were found to be qualitatively taken, invasive pollen has probably little impact on the native community because the frequency of invasive pollen transfer to natives was low. However, pollination interactions may change with plant abundance and our study provides evidence that pollen transfer from Carpobrotus spp. to natives does occur and have the potential to affect seed production. We found the species identity of shared pollinators to be of importance, higher flower constancy and lower capacity of pollen adherence are likely to result in less invasive pollen transfer.     

Growth,PAR use efficiency,and yield components of field-grown Vicia faba L. under different temperature and photoperiod regimes

N-fixing legume crops may be a good component of a general plan to improve cropping system efficiency. For this purpose, crop suitability to specific environments must be established. To estimate the yield potential we examined the growth and yield response of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crops to different thermal and photoperiod regimes. Irrigated field experiments were conducted in northwest Spain for 3 years (2004–2007) with cv. ‘Alameda’ sown on five different dates in each year from mid-autumn to mid-spring. Environmental conditions experienced by plants across sowing dates were largely different. Sowing date had a great influence on biomass, grain yield and its components. This effect was associated with changes in PAR captured, PAR use efficiency (PUE) and biomass allocation to the different organs. Critical leaf area index (LAI_cr) tended to increase and the extinction coefficient, k, to decrease as the sowing date was delayed. Earlier sowing dates intercepted more radiation over the whole season than the spring sowing dates. Greatest crop growth treatments (2nd and 3rd sowing dates) had the highest values of PAR use efficiency probably due to more adequate temperatures for photosynthesis and a large number of reproductive sinks. The highest grain yield (7733 kg ha⁻¹) was obtained with the mid-February sowing date, which produced the most pods and seeds per m², the largest harvest index (62.0%), and large maximum leaf area index (5.41). Low yields of mid-autumn (1st) and mid-spring (5th) sowing dates were associated with reduced pods and seeds per m². Temperature and photoperiod had a large impact on faba bean growth, development, and yield. Best yields were obtained when abundant assimilate supply and moderate temperatures were available during pod set.     

Determinants of large-scale spatial distribution and seasonal microhabitat selection patterns of the endangered freshwater blenny Salaria fluviatilis in the Ebro River basin,Spain

1. The freshwater blenny Salaria fluviatilis is an endangered fish species with populations that are in rapid decline, largely owing to habitat degradation caused by human activity. This situation highlights the urgent need to develop measures for the conservation and recovery of the species based on a deep understanding of its specific habitat requirements.
2. In this study, spatial distribution and habitat selection patterns were investigated to determine the limiting factors for the species at different times of the year and at different spatial scales, from macro to microhabitats.
3. The presence of the freshwater blenny was assessed at 127 sites in the Ebro River basin, Spain, between 2002 and 2012. It was only detected at 25 sites, corresponding to the intermediate and lower reaches of medium-sized tributaries and in the main river, in accordance with the ecology of the species. Whether the species was present depended on the physicochemical, habitat and biological conditions of the study sites. Freshwater blenny was very sensitive to organic pollution and eutrophication, the deterioration of substrate composition and channel structure, and the degradation of aquatic and riparian vegetation.
4. Freshwater blenny showed a selective use of microhabitat locations with high current velocity, linked to gravel or cobble substrate. It was also observed that the species is capable of adapting its selection behaviour to the flow-mediated seasonal changes in its physical environment.
5. Although the results presented indicate that the species is not a microhabitat specialist, individual survival is likely to be dependent on the availability of key microhabitats, which must be protected against detrimental human activity.

     

Effect of ruminally protected methionine on body weight gain and growth of antlers in red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus</Emphasis>) in the humid tropics

Sixteen male red deer (Cervus elaphus), with an initial weight of 93.83 ± 4.38 kg were used to study the effect of the dietary level of ruminally protected methionine (RPM) on growth, antler morphometry and serum metabolites. The deer were allowed to graze and were individually supplemented with concentrate to provide 0, 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 g/day of RPM for 65 days. There was a quadratic effect on daily weight gain (0.163, 0.098, 0.147 and 0.172 kg/day; P < 0.005) and antler beam length (59.7, 63.6, 63.0 and 57.2 cm; P < 0.02) for RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively. The brow tine length and the number of points were similar across all treatments. Serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) was reduced (quadratic effect; P < 0.02; 22.0, 29.6, 18.0 and 17.8 IU/l) to RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively, whereas other metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) were unchanged. Increasing the RPM dose did not affect weight gain or antler growth. Methionine supplementation reduced the activity of SGPT.