Responses of the parthenogenetic isopod, Trichoniscus pusillus (Isopoda: Oniscidea), to changes in food quality

Long-term observations of Trichoniscus pusillus revealed that chemical composition and microbial activity of the leaf litter serving as food influenced the reproductive success of females and the mortality rates of juveniles as well. Of the food sources investigated, only alder litter, exhibiting high microbial activity, allowed the maintenance of a stable population with frequently reproducing females. This study concludes that the food type is a significant factor for population parameters of this parthenogenetic isopod. Our results on T. pusillus, belonging to the taxon Synocheta, are compared with data on terrestrial isopod species of the taxon Crinocheta.     

Flour Protein Composition and Functional Properties of Transgenic Rye Lines Expressing HMW Subunit Genes of Wheat

Flours from nonsprouted (ns) kernels and dried sprouted (s) kernels of transgenic rye expressing HMW glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) 1Dy10 (L10) or 1Dx5+1Dy10 (L5+10) from wheat were compared with flours from the corresponding wildtype rye (Lwt). The crude protein content of nonsprouted flours ranged from 9.2% (Lwt) to 10.4% (L5+10) and was lowered by ≈1% due to sprouting. Flour proteins were separated into albumins/globulins, prolamins, and glutelin subunits by a modified Osborne fractionation and into SDS‐soluble and insoluble fractions. Portions of the prolamin fractions were reduced in the same manner as glutelins. The different fractions were then characterized and quantified by RP‐HPLC on C₈ silica gel. The proportion of albumins/globulins did not significantly differ between transgenic lines and wildtype. The proportions of alcohol‐insoluble glutelins and SDS‐insoluble proteins drastically increased in transgenic rye due to a shift of HMW and γ‐75k secalins into the polymeric fractions. Significant differences in the proportion of highly polymeric proteins between nonsprouted and sprouted flours could not be detected. The quantitative data demonstrated that the expression of HMW‐GS led to a higher degree of polymerization of storage proteins in rye flour. The HMW‐GS combination 1Dx5+1Dy10 showed stronger effects than 1Dy10 alone. The analyzed flours contained two HMW secalins (R1, R2), whose amino acid compositions were closely related to those of 1Dy10 and 1Dx5, respectively. The amounts of R1 in Lwt flours determined by RP‐HPLC were 221 mg (ns) and 186 mg (s) per 100 g and those of R2 were 344 mg (ns) and 298 mg (s), respectively. These amounts increased to 240 mg (ns)/201 mg (s) (R1) and 479 mg (ns)/432 mg (s) (R2) in L10 flours. In L5+10 flours, the amount of R1 decreased to 150 mg (ns)/132 mg (s) while R2 increased to 432 mg (ns)/338 mg (s). The amount of HMW‐GS 1Dy10 was almost the same as that of R2 in L10 flours but was strongly increased in L5+10 flour (633 mg [ns]/538 mg [s]). HMW‐GS 1Dx5 was, by far, the major subunit in L5+10 flours (987 mg 7[ns]/896 mg [s]). The summarized amounts of all HMW subunits increased from ≈0.5 g (Lwt) to ≈1.1 g (L10) and ≈2.0 g (L5+10). Thus only L10 flours were similar to wheat flours in HMW subunit content. The baking performance of L10 flour determined by a microbaking test was improved compared with Lwt flour, whereas L5x10 flour showed very poor properties obviously due to the strongly increased proportion of highly cross‐linked glutelins. The breadmaking quality of flours from 1Dy10 seeds and wildtype seeds was reduced by the same degree when flours from sprouted seeds were analyzed.     

Excess supplemental choline for swine

Seven experiments were conducted with 280 crossbred pigs to investigate the effect of excess choline on rate and efficiency of gain of weanling, growing and finishing swine Choline additions were made to a conventional corn-soybean meal diet. Daily gain of weanling pigs was reduced slightly by 6,000 ppm excess choline compared with 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 ppm excess choline. Excess supplemental choline (2,000 ppm) fed throughout the weanling, growing and finishing (121 to 126 d) phases of growth reduced (P less than .08) daily gain but it did not affect (P greater than .10) feed utilization. The 2,000-ppm choline addition, however, did not affect (P less than .10) pig gain when fed only during the growing and finishing stages of growth (68 to 86 d). Excess choline should be avoided in swine diets if maximum rate of gain is to be achieved.     

The effect of long term bentonite administration on mixed element metabolism in dwarf goats

Pigmy goats were experimentally examined for the effects of subchronic oral applications of high doses of GDR-made bentonite on their mass element status (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium sodium, potassium). The argillaceous mineral caused slightly reduced incorporation of calcium in the bones. Bentonite-related reduction of alkaline phosphatase activity cannot be ruled out as a causative factor. Magnesium concentrations in blood serum and liver of bentonite-treated pigm goats were lower with significance than those recorded from controls. Phosphorus, sodium, and potassium metabolism was not substantively altered by bentonite application. A sodium substitution effect might possibly be achieved by admixture of bentonite to feed rations.     

Incidence and characterization of canine rheumatoid factor

Rheumatoid factor (RF) was found in titers greater than 1:8 in 72.2% of cases of classical or definite canine rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 5.9% or normal sera. Serum fractionation and immunoabsorbant studies that much of the RF present was IgG, although activity was demonstrated in all 3 major immunoglobulin classes. Evidence of involvement of both IgG and IgM to form complexes of varying sizes was obtained.     

Einfluß von Form und Plazierung der N- und P-Düngung auf Wurzelentwicklung, Phosphat-Aufnahme und Wachstum von Sonnenblumen (Helianthus annuus) und Zuckerhirsen (Sorghum bicolor)

Influence of form and placement of N- and P-fertilisation on the root development, the P-uptake, and the growth of sunflower ( Helianthus annum ) and sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ).
In pot- and rhizotrone-experiments with Sorghum bicolor and Helianthus annuus , a higher P-uptake was achieved by placement of diammonphosphate (DAP) than by either placement of triplesuperphosphate (TSP) or by broadcasting DAP or TSP, respectively. Dual placement of TSP and ammonia increased the P uptake but it was less effective than placement of DAP for sunflowers, but not for sweet sorghum. Placement of nitrogen resulted in a local root accumulation, where ammonia had a greater effect than nitrate for both of the species. Single placement of TSP had no effect on either P uptake or root development.
Thus, the higher P uptake at DAP placement could be attributed to three main factors: the local root accumulation caused by the placement of nitrogen, a specific physiological ammonia-effect, and the lower binding intensity of the phosphate in the DAP-band compared with placed TSP (W erner and S trasser 1993). The improvement in spatial availability caused by the NH₄⁺ -induced root accumulation was of a greater importance for the P-uptake than was the improvement of chemical availability in the DAP-band. The better response of sunflowers in comparison with sweet sorghum was attributed to better acquisition ability in sweet sorghum.     

From Mendel to multi‐national in poultry breeding 1

1. This paper attempts to identify and evaluate the contributions of the geneticist to the continuing role in productivity that has been evident over the past 40 years or more.

2. The importance of the fowl in establishing the validity of Mendel's laws of inheritance is shown, together with the findings that made the bird the species of choice for much of the early work on animal genetics.

3. The early development of the egg production industry is outlined and the impetus given to this new commercial venture by the application of genetic principles, described. A review of the poultry meat sector is also given.

4. The role of the geneticist in increasing productivity in terms of numbers of eggs laid, meat produced and quantities of food required to produce both products is discussed and quantitative data presented.

5. The prospects for further improvements in productivity are assessed, particularly in the context of adverse environments both climatic and social. The prospective role of genetic engineering is also considered.     

Application of coupled liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in photolysis studies of the herbicide triflusulfuron‐methyl

The photochemical fate of the herbicide triflusulfuron‐methyl in aqueous solution under UV light (λ > 290 nm) was investigated. Nine photoproducts were detected and tentatively identified by LC/MS and LC/MS/MS analysis. The main routes of degradation involve the cleavage and/or contraction of the sulfonylurea bridge with the elimination of sulfur dioxide, which increases the acidity of the reaction medium. On the basis of the results obtained a photodegradation pathway is proposed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

How landscape,pollen intake and pollen quality affect colony growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus terrestris</Emphasis>

Context

Abundance and diversity of bumblebees have been declining over the past decades. To successfully conserve bumblebee populations, we need to understand how landscape characteristics affect the quantity and quality of floral resources collected by colonies and subsequently colony performance.

Objectives

We therefore investigated how amount and composition of pollen collected by buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris colonies was affected by the surrounding landscape (i.e. the proportion of forest, urban, semi-natural habitats) and how they were related to colony growth.

Methods

Thirty B. terrestris colonies were placed at grassland sites differing in surrounding landscape. Colonies were established in spring when availability of flowering plants was highest, and their weight gain was monitored for 1 month. We additionally recorded the quantity and compared plant taxonomic composition and nutritional quality (i.e. amino acid composition) of pollen stored.

Results

Bumblebee colonies varied little in the pollen spectra collected despite differences in surrounding landscape composition. They collected on average 80 % of pollen from woody plants, with 34 % belonging to the genus Acer. Early colony growth positively correlated with total amount of woody pollen and protein collected and decreased with increasing proportions of semi-natural habitats and total amino acid concentrations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that woody plant species represent highly important pollen sources for the generalist forager B. terrestris early in the season. We further show that colony growth of B. terrestris is predominantly affected by the quantity, not quality, of forage, indicating that several abundant plant species flowering throughout the bumblebees’ foraging season may cover the colonies’ nutritional needs.