Effects of different pesticides on microbial populations,nitrogen mineralisation,and thiosulphate oxidation in the rhizosphere of jute (Corchorus capsularis L. cv.)

Summary A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of three pesticides (a herbicide, Basalin, and two fungicides, Dithane M-45 and Bengard), separately or in combination, on jute rhizosphere microflora (total bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, aerobic non-symbiotic N₂-fixing bacteria, thiosulphate-oxidising bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi), N mineralisation, and thiosulphate oxidation in soil. The pesticide treatments had significantly different effects on the rhizosphere microflora and their activities, depending on the kind of pesticide, the mode of application (individually or in combination), and the stage of growth of the jute plants. Although the pesticides hindered growth in the early stages, later stages were not affected because the effects on the rhizosphere microflora subsided. In addition, the combination of the herbicide Basalin (a dinitroaniline compound) and the fungicide Bengard (a benzimidazole derivative) virtually cancelled out each other's effects.     

Extraction of rye bran by supercritical carbon dioxide: influence of temperature, CO2, and cosolvent flow rates

Process parameter optimization for the supercritical CO(2) extraction of rye bran to obtain alkylresorcinols (AR) was studied by carrying out a two-level fractional design experiment. Four parameters, temperature, CO(2) flow rate, cosolvent percentage, and extraction time, presumed to influence the extraction process, were analyzed. A tentative fractionation of the crude extract was also carried out and is discussed. The best extracts were achieved when the CO(2) flow rate and extraction time or temperature and cosolvent addition were kept high. It was found that temperature increase was not statistically significant within the range of the study performed, and the extraction time was thus the most important factor. A preliminary fractionation process in two cyclone separators yielded two fractions, one rich in AR components with higher molecular weights and the other rich in AR components with low molecular weight.     

Three-dimensional light structure of an upland Quercus stand post-tornado disturbance

Light is the most common limiting factor in forest plant communities,influencing species composition,stand structure,and stand productivity in closed canopy stands.Stand vertical light structure is relatively simple under a closed canopy because most light is captured by overstory trees.However,wind disturbance events create canopy openings from local to landscape scales that increase understory light intensity and vertical light structural complexity.We studied the effects of an EF-1 tornado on horizontal and vertical(i.e.three-dimensional)light structure within a Quercus stand to determine how light structure changed with increasing disturbance severity.We used a two-tiered method to collect photosynthetic photon flux density at 4.67 m and 1.37 m above the forest floor to construct three-dimensional light structure across a canopy disturbance severity gradient to see if light intensity varied with increasing tornado damage.Results indicate that increased canopy disturbance closer to the tornado track increased light penetration and light structure heterogeneity at lower forest strata.Increased light intensity correlated with increased sapling density that was more randomly distributed across the plot and had shifted light capture higher in the stand structure.Light penetration through the overstory was most strongly correlated with decreased stem density in the two most important tree species(based on relative dominance and relative density)in the stand,Quercus alba L.(r=-0.31)and Ostrya virginiana(Mill.)K.Koch(r=-0.27,p<.01),and indicated that understory light penetration was most affected by these two species.As managers are increasingly interested in patterning silvicultural entries on natural disturbances,they must understand residual stand and light structures that occur after natural disturbance events.By providing spatial light data that quantifies light structure post-disturbance,managers can use these results to improve planning required for long-term management.The study also provides comparisons with anthropogenic disturbances to the midstory that may offer useful comparisons to natural analogs for future silvicultural consideration.     

INLAND AQUACULTURE IN INDIA: PAST TREND,PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

ABSTRACT

In India, inland aquaculture has emerged as a fast-growing enterprise and a viable alternative to the declining capture fisheries. The present paper is an attempt to assess Indian inland aquaculture with respect to its resource base, output trends, systems and activities, yield gaps, adoption and impact on aquaculturists, economics, returns to inputs, investment needs, and future prospects. The paper is largely based on existing literature and observations made as part of an ICAR-WorldFish demand supply project. Indian aquaculture is primarily limited to inland sector and carp-oriented; for that reason, this activity received special attention. Freshwater aquaculture observed tremendous growth in the past 15 years, but immense scope still exists for horizontal expansion and increases in productivity (vertical expansion). This is evidenced by the fact that the average farm fish yield is only one-third of that achieved in farm trials. The difference was mainly due to much higher input use in on-farm trials. Most of the aquaculturists were practicing extensive aquaculture, but aquaculturists with semi-intensive operations benefited most from adoption of technology. The benefit:cost ratios for different systems of aquaculture varied between 1.22 to 1.86. The return to capital was much higher than the return to labor, due to the low labor input. The semi-intensive aquaculture system would receive the greatest return from projected macrolevel investments, followed by extensive and intensive systems. Dedicated efforts are needed to meet the demand for quality fish seed and feed in order to achieve the desired 45% increase in area and greater than 50% increase in productivity. Based on the observations, activities designed to foster inland aquacultural development in India are recommended.     

A spontaneous outbreak of colibacillosis in antimicrobial-fed piglets and their response to therapy

In determining the effect of prior feeding of antimicrobials on subsequent antimicrobial therapy in induced colibacillosis of piglets with Escherichia coli serotype O₆₂ (Dey et al., 1977), study groups in one trial developed spontaneous colibacillosis due to a different Escherichia coli serotype O₁₄₇. This paper reports the results and conclusion drawn from this outbreak.

Both groups, irrespective of antimicrobial feeding, developed disease, and the attack rates for the groups were not significantly different. Neither mortality nor the clinical course of illness in animals without therapy changed significantly as a function of antimicrobial feeding. The antimicrobial feeding had no effect on the therapeutic efficacies of chloramphenicol or chlortetracycline utilized for treating the disease. Chloramphenicol therapy was more effective in terminating the disease.     

First genetic data for band-winged grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae) of the Biskra region of Algeria with new records for the country

DNA barcoding represents an objective tool for fast species identification, especially for taxa for which morphological identification is difficult. One current limitation of barcoding is the lack of reference sequences for many groups. While many European and North American countries have started their own barcoding initiatives to generate complete local inventories and databases, such efforts are sparse for African, Asian and South American countries, despite their high biodiversity and comparably poorly explored faunas. Therefore, it is important to start local barcoding efforts in such countries. In this study we performed DNA barcoding for the band-winged grasshoppers of the Biskra province in Algeria, a region of high diversity for this taxon. All specimens were identified morphologically and then barcoded. We generated a total of 47 sequences of the COI gene for 22 morphologically identified species of Oedipodinae, many of which were sequenced for the first time. We present the data in a phylogenetic tree, which suggests monophyly for most genera, but rejects it for Sphingonotus and Vosseleriana. Statistical species delimitation worked well for most genera, except those within the Sphingonotini, likely because these have radiated rather recently. Together with data sourced from the literature we used our new data set to generate an updated list of band-winged grasshoppers for the region. Several species are recorded for the region and for the country for the first time. One species appears to be new to science. Furthermore, we found geographic variation within several more widespread species for which data from other countries were present. We consider the new data as an important resource for future faunistic, ecological and biodiversity studies and point out the importance of local (taxon-specific) barcoding studies.     

Deficient vasoactive intestinal peptide innervation in the sweat glands of cystic fibrosis patients

The innervation of acini and ducts of eccrine sweat glands by immunoreactive, vasoactive intestinal peptide-containing nerve fibers was sharply reduced in seven patients with cystic fibrosis compared to eight normal subjects. The decrease in innervation by this neuropeptide, which has been shown to promote blood flow and the movement of water and chloride across epithelial surfaces in other systems, may be a basic mechanism for the decreased water content and relative impermeability of the epithelium to chloride and other ions that characterize cystic fibrosis.     

Histopathological changes and tissue residue concentrations of monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus,L) fries exposed to oxytetracycline

Aquaculture International - The current study evaluated the biosafety of oxytetracycline (OTC) exposure for 30&nbsp;days in monosex Oreochromis niloticus fries. The fries were exposed to OTC...