Historical processes and landscape context influence genetic structure in peripheral populations of the collared lizard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crotaphytus collaris</Emphasis>)

Populations at the periphery of a species’ range often show reduced genetic variability within populations and increased genetic divergence among populations compared to those at the core, but the mechanisms that give rise to this core-periphery pattern in genetic structure can be multifaceted. Peripheral population characteristics may be a product of historical processes, such as founder effects or population expansion, or due to the contemporary influence of landscape context on gene flow. We sampled collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) at four locations within the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, which is at the northern periphery of their range, to determine the genetic variability and extent of genetic divergence among populations for ten microsatellite loci (n = 229). We found low genetic variability (average allelic richness = 3.37 ± 0.23 SE; average heterozygosity = 0.54 ± 0.05 SE) and moderate population divergence (average F_ST = 0.08 ± 0.01 SE) among our sample sites relative to estimates reported in the literature at the core of the species’ range in Texas. We also identified differences in dispersal rates among sampling locations. Gene flow within the Flint Hills was thus greater than for other peripheral populations of collared lizards, such as the Missouri glade system where most of the mesic grasslands have been converted to forest since the last glacial retreat, which appears to have greatly impeded gene flow among populations. Our findings signify the importance of considering landscape context when evaluating core-peripheral trends in genetic diversity and population structure.     

Ovicidal activity of seven <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pochonia chlamydosporia</Emphasis> fungal isolates on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascaris suum</Emphasis> eggs

The ovicidal effect of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia on eggs of Ascaris suum was tested under laboratory conditions. A. suum eggs were plated on 2% water–agar with seven fungal isolates (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) and control without fungus. After 5, 7, 10, 14, 15 and 21 days of incubation, approximately 100 eggs were removed from the plates and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell, type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo showing hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The isolates effectively destroyed A. suum eggs and all types of effects were observed during the experiment. There was no variation in ovicidal capacity (type 3 effect) among the isolates (p > 0.05) throughout the experiment. After 21 days, isolate 5 showed the highest percentages of type 3 effect (58.33%). The results indicated that P. chlamydosporia (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) can destroy A. suum eggs and is, therefore, a potential biological control agent of nematodes.     

Cobalt reduces nitrate inhibition of nodulation in mungbean (Vigna radiata)

 A cobalt-mediated decrease in ethylene production reduced the inhibition of nodulation by nitrate in Vigna radiata (mungbean). Nitrate increased the ethylene production in 5-day-old seedlings, while it caused a reduction in the nodulation status (nodule number and nodule weight) and nodule efficiency (acetylene reduction activity) in mungbean plants. The application of cobalt chloride inhibited nitrate-affected ethylene production and also decreased the inhibitory effect of nitrate on nodulation. The effect of cobalt was most marked on nodule number. Received: 6 August 1999     

Knowledge,attitudes and practices towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">cystic echinococcosis</Emphasis> in livestock among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda

A cross-sectional study was done from March 2013 to May 2014 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda. A structured questionnaire was administered to 381 respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to find the relationship between knowledge about CE and factors such as age, sex, and level of education across all regions. The odds ratio and confidence interval were used to determine the difference in responses across regions. It was shown that age above 36 years was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with awareness about CE in livestock. Likewise, uneducated (p < 0.0001) and agro-pastoralists (p = 0.01) were significantly less knowledgeable than the educated and pastoralists across all regions. The overall knowledge towards CE in livestock was low 17.8% (95% CI = 14.0–21.6). Dog ownership was high and they never dewormed their freely roaming dogs. Dogs shared water with livestock. In conclusion, knowledge about CE in livestock was low across all regions. Therefore, public health education and formulation of policies towards its control by the relevant stakeholders should be done. Also, the true prevalence of CE in livestock needs to be done so that the magnitude and its public health significance are elucidated.     

葡萄锰中毒症及其相关营养元素分析

以玉溪市葡萄生产上出现的锰中毒症株及正常株为研究对象,采用田间调查与室内检测分析、锰中毒株与正常株比较相结合的方法,研究了葡萄锰中毒株及正常株叶片的N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Mn、Fe等指标,以及根际土壤的pH、有效态Mn、Fe、Ca、Mg等指标,以期为玉溪市葡萄生产上锰中毒症的防控提供技术依据。结果表明:与正常株比较,葡萄发生锰中毒株的叶片锰含量平均高达1 501.3 mg·kg^-1,比正常株的552.6 mg·kg^-1提高了1.7倍之多;P、K含量也极显著提高1倍多,而Ca、Mg含量则极显著降低近40%;锰毒株的Ca/Mn、Mg/Mn很低,分别为17.7、2.1,均显著低于正常株的98.3、10.5。葡萄发生锰中毒株的根际土壤的pH为4.29~4.35(为强酸性),有效Mn含量高达159.8~178.2 mg·kg^-1;土壤的Ca/Mn、Mg/Mn也很低,分别为7.1、0.6,均显著低于正常株的180.2、13.3。在玉溪市葡萄生产上发生的以"叶片主脉、支脉及叶脉附近的叶肉组织呈褐色状"为典型症状的锰毒株,其叶片锰吸收量过高,分析其原因是由于根际土壤pH较低为强酸性,土壤有效Mn含量过高,有效态Ca、Mg含量过低,Ca/Mn、Mg/Mn也很低所致。为葡萄生产上选择适宜土壤及其pH调节、合理平衡施肥提供参考依据。     

应用PAPD方法对鸡败血霉形体DNA多态性的研究

用随机扩增多态性ＤＮＡ（ＲＡＰＤ）方法,通过筛选的５个随机引物（ＯＰＨ－０２,ＯＰＨ－０５,ＯＰＨ－０７,ＯＰＨ－１３,ＯＰＧ－１６）,对１４株鸡败血霉形体（ＭＧ）国际标准株和国内分离株进行了ＤＮＡ多态性研究。结果表明,５个引物共产生２１种条带,其中有３个条带分别为２个菌株所特有,扩增产物片段的长度在１５０～４５００ｂｐ之间,所有菌株均有１条共同条带,以ＯＰＨ－０５扩增产物的多态性最丰富。根据样品ＤＮＡ所获得的菌株间相似性指数表明,Ｄ９６０３与Ｄ９６０７相似指数最高,Ｓ６,Ｋ３９１３和Ｄ９６０４三者相互间相似性指数最低。提示ＲＡＰＤ方法可用于霉形体遗传标记的分析。     

新城疫病毒ClassⅠ强毒株磷蛋白在细胞中的表达与定位

根据Class Ⅰ新城疫病毒分离株9a5b编码序列设计特异性引物扩增P蛋白基因,原核表达后利用纯化的蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠制备单克隆抗体,经二次亚克隆后筛选到4株针对P蛋白的单克隆抗体,利用所得单抗进行P蛋白在细胞内定位分析,NDV 9a5b株按5 M.O.I感染量接种DF1单层细胞,当PI=4 h时,P蛋白呈点状弥散分布于细胞浆内;PI=6~8 h时,P蛋白聚集于细胞核周围;PI=12 h时,P蛋白呈单极化聚集于细胞核一侧;而PI=16 h后开始形成合胞体,P蛋白在单个细胞中仍呈现单极分布;当PI=48 h时,细胞核已发生碎裂,荧光强度有所减弱。本研究为深入开展P蛋白在病毒增殖以及细胞周期中的作用机制研究奠定了基础。     

Cryptic occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella marina</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">marina</Emphasis> in mangrove sediments in Probolinggo,East Java Province,Indonesia

Mangrove forests and adjacent creeks are known to be highly productive estuaries, which are partly supported by benthic microalgae that grow on the sediments. During surveys investigating the microalgal floras of mangrove swamps in the eastern part of Java Island, a mud sample unexpectedly included large numbers of a notorious fish killer, Chattonella-like motile cells, and its resting cysts. These motile cells were established as clonal cultures for further identification and physiological tests. The cysts were examined through palynological and molecular biological means. Identification based on light microscopy and ribosomal RNA gene sequences confirmed that these cells and cysts were Chattonella marina var. marina. While the strains were genetically identical to the temperate strains isolated from Japan and China, temperature experiments showed that the Indonesian strains possessed a high maximum quantum yield of photosystem II even after exposure to 34 °C, a temperature at which the Japanese strain could not survive. Salinity experiments showed adaptation of the strains to a salinity of 15. These findings, together with the discovery of populations of cysts in the mangrove sediment, highlight the tough and unique nature of the Indonesian strains, which are likely adapted to wide fluctuations of temperature and salinity in mangrove swamps, and pose a potential risk to fisheries in Indonesia.     

Determining the Internal Connection Ratios by MRI and Their Effects on Grafted Rooted Vine Growing Features of cvs. Merlot and Syrah

This experiment was carried out to determine the percentage of internal connection between rootstock and scion in graft union with nondestructive and noninvasive MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) method and to follow performance status according to internal connection ratios of the grafted rooted vines after planting to vineyard field. Research was established in a factorial randomized block design and carried out with cvs. Merlot and Syrah grafted onto 110?R rootstock and 4 different internal (MRI) connection levels in 3 replications. The percentages of grafted rooted vine internal determination by MRI by four sides (13.75%) in graft union were found to be very low than others at the pre-planting stage. An increase in the internal connection ratio in the majority of the grafted rooted vines was determined after the vegetative growth phase. Therefore, the internal connection ratios of the graft union of rooted vines of cvs. Merlot and Syrah varieties showed a tendency to increase during the second year of development. Again in both cultivars, loss rate of grafted rooted vines showed a decreasing tendency depending on increase of internal connection ratio of graft union. As a result, in case of decrease of MRI costs, it is thought that grafted rooted vine producers may have the opportunity to supply better quality seedlings to vine growers using MRI techniques.