Relevance of the variability of kidding day in Creole goats in Guadeloupe

The results of 5732 records of kids born between 1985 and 1996 at Gardel Agricultural Experiment Station (INRA) in Guadeloupe, were used in order to estimate the effect of kidding day (KD) on individual preweaning growth performances, total productivity of Creole goats and litter size. The flock was subjected to a restricted mating season for a long time, by using male effect. The results of the fixed linear model showed a highly significant (P<0.001) effect of KD on growth rate and total productivity of does. Live weights of kids born around the 21st day of the kidding period (KP) was 4% to 7% higher than those of kids born the first day of the KP. For total productivity of does, this ratio did not reached more than 4%. The optimum at 70 days of age occurred around 14th day of the KD with 3% of improvement of total productivity. No effect was observed upon litter size. The genetic (co)variance components were estimated by six different Individual Animal Models. The heritability (h²) estimated from the best model, was h_D²=0.25±0.05 for genetic direct effect; h_M²=0.09±0.04 for genetic maternal effect and the genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects was −0.86±0.12. The use of KD could be highly recommended in a breeding program in this population of Creole meat goats, since it is quite easy to record under commercial conditions as a character related to reproductive performance.     

Pregnancy Rates in Repeat-breeder Heifers Following Multiple Artificial Inseminations during Spontaneous Oestrus

Hormonal asynchronies during oestrus, related to the presence of suprabasal plasma-progesterone (P4) concentrations and a delayed ovulation, interfere with the fertility of repeat-breeder heifers (RBH). Since tubal dysfunction can occur in connection with hormonal asynchronies and constrained availability of fertile spermatozoa at the time of ovulation, the present study tested the hypothesis that frequent sperm deposition from onset of oestrus to ovulation may improve pregnancy rates in RBH. Five RBH and five virgin heifers (VH; controls) were repeatedly artificially inseminated (AI) at 6 h intervals from onset of oestrus to spontaneous ovulation. Hormone analyses revealed suprabasal P₄ concentrations and a delay in the occurrence of the luteinising hormone (LH) surge, but a normal cortisol profile in RBH. Compared with controls, RBH presented longer interval from onset of oestrus to ovulation, and therefore, received more AIs. Pregnancy rates in RBH reached control levels (60%; NS), indicating that the hypothesis might be correct. Pregnancy rates in VH were below the expected range, presumably attributed to a deleterious influence of the frequent handling. The study suggests that pregnancy rates can be improved in RBH by frequent AI in relation to spontaneous ovulation. However, this practice of repeated manipulations, while seeming not to show adverse effects, lacks practicality for routine use.     

不同生态型大白菜抽薹时内源激素含量比较

大白菜〔Brassicacampestrissubspeciespekinesis(Lour. )Olsson〕先期抽薹一直困扰着春大白菜和高纬度、高海拔地区的大白菜生产。为育成冬性较强不易抽薹的品种,大白菜晚抽薹特性及利用的研究逐渐成为新的热点。不同生态型的大白菜品种,在相同的环境条件下冬性越强越不易抽薹。国外对控制或减轻未熟抽薹的环境条件有较多报道〔1~3〕,本研究主要探讨了低温处理后不同生态型的大白菜品种抽薹时内源生长素类 (IAA、IPA)、赤霉素类(GA3、GA4 )、细胞分裂素类 (ZR、DHZR)和脱落酸(ABA)含量差异,以期为选育具有较强冬性的大白菜品…     

国宝--金梅枣

金梅枣为河南省南时大枣研究所培育的特晚熟鲜食极品。金梅枣果实特别大,近圆形,成熟期为金红色,形似李梅。平均单果重30克左右,最大过重65克,色泽光洁美丽,皮薄肉脆,细嫩多汁,甜似蜂蜜,枣味香浓郁,品质顶级。可食率93.8%,含水率65.4%,含糖量32.2%,维生素C含量352mg,蛋白质1.65%,含人体所需的氨基酸19种。金梅枣药用价值也特别高,每百克果肉中含环磷酸腺苷50mg,这种物质对人体癌细胞具有极强的破坏和抑制作     

山区农业面源污染的防治途径及对策

结合重庆市地形地貌特点和山区农业面源污染发生的因子，提出山区农业面源污染的防治对策。一方面必需结合当地的自然环境条件和经济发展水平提出农业面源污染的防治规划；另一方面必需结合生态农业建设这一主线，使物质、能量在生态系统内良性循环。紧紧抓住产生农业面源污染源的因子——化肥、农药、农田秸杆、畜禽粪便、农村生活废物等，提出科学的防治和减少途径。     

Comparison of morphology, viability, and function between blood and milk neutrophils from peak lactating goats

The morphological features of blood and milk neutrophils from peak lactating goats were compared using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry in order to investigate the cytological changes of neutrophils after migration into the mammary gland. The kinetics of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) generation and gelatinase release of blood and milk neutrophils, with or without stimulation of phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate ester (PMA), were used to characterize their responses to inflammatory stimuli. Neutrophils isolated from goat milk were highly segmented and contained multi-lobed nuclei. Ultrastructurally, milk neutrophils were more ruffled on the surface compared to blood neutrophils. Approximately 30% of milk neutrophils were undergoing cell death, either necrosis or apoptosis, in contrast to 8% of blood neutrophils. The ROI production of activated milk neutrophils peaked earlier than blood neutrophils, but the duration and the intensity were much less. Neutrophils from both sources augmented the release of gelatinase in response to PMA (1 ng/mL). However, the amount of gelatinase released from milk neutrophils was lower (P < 0.05) than that of blood neutrophils. In summary, more neutrophils become apoptotic and necrotic in the mammary gland, presumably due to spontaneous aging, the process of diapedesis, and the interaction with milk components. Milk neutrophils have impaired functionalities in comparison with blood neutrophils. The information is relevant when studying mammary gland immunity and related diseases, such as mastitis.     

The effects of agricultural fields and human settlements on the use of rivers by wildlife in the mid-Zambezi valley,Zimbabwe

After the eradication of the Tse-Tse fly in the Mid-Zambezi valley, human settlements and fields extended mainly along the main rivers. In order to investigate the consequences of this human development on wildlife diversity we monitored three rivers of the Mid-Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe: Angwa, Manyame and Kadzi. The rivers were divided in segments of 200 m which were checked for spoors in order to assess the number of species and the number of individuals that used the segments. Human settlements were also recorded. We used a GIS to define the spatial characteristics of the fields present along the rivers, and related them to the distribution and abundance of wild species spoors in the river beds and banks. Our results show that the number of species in one segment of the river decreased with the increasing size of the field area bordering the segment. For all the major ungulate species, the numbers of individuals recorded per segment decreased with increasing field area. A similar trend was observed for small and medium-sized carnivores, though they were in lower numbers when present. Our analyses thus confirm that the extension of human agriculture in wildlife areas has an impact on most wild species, but we also define some threshold value of field size above which there seem to be an acceleration of the decrease in wildlife density and diversity: 3.2 ha for medium and small herbivores and carnivores; only the elephant seem to tolerate larger field area with a threshold value of 32 ha.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

Gene Flow Analysis of Phytophthora porri Reveals a New Species: Phytophthora brassicae Sp. Nov.

Isozyme analysis and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-1 and ITS-2) and the 5.8S subunit of the ribosomal DNA gene repeat were used to examine whether isolates of Phytophthora porri from Allium and Brassica represent a single homogeneous species. Twenty-six strains of P. porri, 16 strains isolated from the genus Allium, and 10 strains isolated from the genus Brassica, were analyzed using malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), represented altogether by four putative loci (Mdh-2, Idh-1, Idh-2, and Ldh-2). Isozyme analysis revealed that strains isolated from Allium contained five private alleles at three isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸³, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁸, Idh-1 ¹¹², and Idh-2 ⁹⁸), whereas six different alleles were observed at four isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸⁵, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁰, Ldh-2 ¹¹⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁰, Idh-2 ¹⁰⁰, and Mdh-2 ¹¹¹) in strains obtained from Brassica. The heterozygosity at the Ldh-2 locus, differing in allele composition, however, between strains from Allium and Brassica, was present in all strains, indicating that it is probably fixed. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions and the 5.8S subunit showed consistent differences between isolates from Allium and isolates from Brassica. Based on isozyme data, ITS sequence analysis and formerly published differences in restriction enzyme patterns of mitochondrial DNA, morphology and pathogenicity, it was concluded that the isolates of P. porri Foister did not represent a homogeneous species. Isolates from Brassica constitute a distinct species which is described here as P. brassicae sp. nov. It was inferred from isozyme patterns, which were in no case intermediate between the two species, that P. porri and P. brassicae do not hybridize and are reproductively isolated by barriers to gene flow.     

Prepenetration stages in infection of clematis by Phoma clematidina

A detailed study of conidial germination, germ-tube growth and the formation of infection structures in Phoma clematidina , the causal agent of clematis wilt, is described for two clematis varieties differing in disease resistance. On both the resistant and susceptible varieties, the fungus entered leaves and stems by direct penetration of the cuticle, often, but not always, following the formation of infection structures. More germ tubes per conidium were formed on the susceptible host, but these germ tubes were on average shorter than on the resistant host. Although germ tubes regularly entered the plant via trichomes, stomata were not found to be sites of entry. Following penetration of the cuticle of resistant plants, germ-tube growth was sometimes restricted to the subcuticular region, and halo formation occurred at the sites where penetration was attempted. Subcuticular growth and halo formation were not observed on susceptible plants. These observations may partly explain the resistance of small-flowered clematis varieties to P. clematidina .