Inheritance of resistance to pea blight (Ascochyta pinodella) and induction of resistance in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Summary Pea blight caused by Assochyta pinodella does considerable damage to the pea crop every year. To ascertain the inheritance of resistance to pea blight and incorporate resistance in the commercial cultivars, crosses were made between Kinnauri resistant to pea blight and four highly susceptible commercial pea cultivars — Bonneville, Lincoln, GC 141 and Sel. 18. Studies of the F₁'s, F₂'s, back crosses and F₃'s indicated that Kinnauri carries a dominant gene imparting resistance to pea blight.     

A study on heterosis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Heterosis for yield and four yield components, viz. panicle number per plant, panicle length, spikelet per panicle and 1000-grain weight, was studied in fifteen crosses involving six varieties of rice, Oryza sativa L. Positive and significant heterosis for yield was observed in 11 and 8 crosses, over the mid-parent and the better parent, respectively. Hamsa x Hybrid 27 gave the highest heterosis both over the mid-parent (156.23%) and the better parent (136.38%) followed by Jaya x Norin 18 with respective values of 155.18 and 56.29%.As compared with the average yield of 36.54 g per plant of the high yielding commercial variety, viz. Jaya hybrids in 8 crosses gave significant higher yield and four crosses, viz. Hamsa x Hybrid 27, Hybrid 27 x Jhona 349, Jaya x Palman 579 and Jaya x Hybrid 27, gave 80.51, 66.56, 57.11 and 56.30 g per plant, recording an increase of 120.33, 82.13, 56.29 and 54.08%, respectively. The heterosis for yield was due to simultaneous heterosis for a number of yield components. The possibility of hybrid crop production as compared with the recently developed high yielding rice varieties has also been discussed.Contribution No. 73.15 from the Department of Plant Breeding, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.     

Acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus collected from selected districts of Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh and Punjab states of India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus collected from Madhya Pradesh (MP), Punjab (PJB) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) states of India were characterized using...     

Radiographic differentiation of mediastinal versus pulmonary masses in dogs and cats can be challenging

The ability to differentiate thoracic masses of mediastinal and pulmonary origins is often confounded by their complex spatial relationship. The objectives of this retrospective, observational cross‐sectional study were to assess radiographic differentiation of mediastinal versus pulmonary masses, and to determine if there are any correlations with specific radiographic findings. Thoracic radiographs of 75 dogs and cats with mediastinal and/or pulmonary masses identified on CT were reviewed. Radiographic studies were anonymized, randomized, and reviewed twice by three reviewers. Reviewers categorized the origin of each mass(es) as mediastinal, pulmonary, or both. On the second review, the presence or absence of 21 different radiographic findings was recorded for each mass. Agreement between the radiographic and CT categorization of mass origin, as well as inter‐ and intraobserver agreement, was calculated. Overall agreement between radiographs and CT was moderate for both mediastinal (68.6%) and pulmonary masses (63%). Overall, interobserver agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50‐0.74), with moderate to strong intraobserver agreement (κ = 0.58‐0.93). Masses within the mediastinum were significantly more likely to displace other mediastinal structures. Alternatively, masses lateral to midline and in the caudal thorax were found to be significantly positively correlated with a pulmonary origin. The results of this study highlight the limitations of radiography for differentiation of mediastinal and pulmonary masses, with mass location and displacement of other mediastinal structures potentially useful for radiographic findings that may help improve accuracy.     

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate isolated from a traditional anti-tuberculosis medicinal herb inhibits drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro

Many plants are used in Ayurveda for the treatment of tuberculosis. Our aim was to examine if these plants possess any specific molecule that inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One of them, Kaempferia galanga, yielded an anti-TB molecule, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC). By resazurin microtitre assay (REMA), EPMC was shown to inhibit M. tuberculosis H37Ra, H37Rv, drug susceptible and multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (MIC 0.242-0.485 mM). No cross resistance was observed to any standard anti-TB drugs in the MDR strains. The compound did not inhibit any prototype bacteria tested. EPMC seems to be a potential anti-TB lead molecule.     

Optimal design of single and multiple stage activated sludge processes

The present paper describes a rational approach to minimum cost design of an integrated activated sludge process which includes activated sludge reactor, secondary clarifier and sludge recycle. The cost of anaerobic digestion of excess sludge produced is also considered. Procedures for optimal design of both single and multiple stage activated sludge processes, considering construction and operational costs are developed. Biomass concentration in aeration tank and return sludge are utilized as the primary independent design variables to which system performance is related for single stage process. In the multiple stage process, additional design variables (flow and volume fractions for each stage) are included in design vector. Liquid-biomass separation is based on the batch solids flux theory. The optimization problem is framed as minimization of capital and operating cost subject to the constraints determined by effluent quality criteria and process variables affecting the performance. The interior penalty function method is used. Results definitely favor the application of multiple stage process over single stage. The major factor which appears to be contributing to reduction in cost is the biological solids retention time and hence the aeration tank volume.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to leaf-rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) pathotypes in the durum wheats 'PBW 34' and 'DWL 5023'

Genetic analysis of leaf-rust resistance was conducted on two durum wheats. Triticum durum cvs. ‘PBW 34’ and ‘DWL 5023’ were crossed with the leaf-rust-susceptible durum wheat ‘Malvi Local’. The F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations were tested against leaf-rust pathotypes 1, 77A and 108. In ‘PBW 34’, a single dominant gene was effective against each of the pathotypes 1 and 108, whereas two independently inherited dominant genes were effective against pathotype 77A. In ‘DWL 5023’, two independently inherited dominant genes were operative against pathotypes 1 and 77A, whereas a single dominant gene was identified as being operative against pathotype 108. Allelic tests on F₂ generation and joint segregation analysis on F₃ generation seedlings, suggested that two different genes in each cultivar are effective against these three leaf-rust pathotypes. Cultivar ‘PBW 34’ has Lrd1 and Lrd2 genes whereas Lrd1 and Lrd3 genes are present in ‘DWL 5023’.     

Immune response of chicks to oral vaccination with combined extra- and intracellular fowl pox viruses

Summary The immune response of chicks to oral vaccination with HP₁-strain of fowl pox virus was studied using intracellular virus alone or a combination of intra and extracellular viruses. The first and second vaccinations were done at four days and 25 days of age, respectively. In both groups the birds showed 50% protection against challenge virus at 32 days of age while no immunity was recorded at 95 days of age. The serum IgG concentration in both the vaccinated groups was comparable and it was significantly higher (P < 0·05) than the control birds one week after revaccination. The serum haemolytic complement activity in both the vaccinated groups was significantly lower (P < 0·05) than the control birds.

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Respuesta Inmune De Pollos A La Vacunacion Oral Con Virus De Viruela Aviar Combinado Extra E Intracelular

Resumen Se estudió la respuesta inmune de pollos a la vacunación oral con la cepa HP₁ de virus de viruela aviar, utilizando virus intracelular únicamente o una combinación de virus intra y extracelular. La primera y segunda vacunación fueron hechas a los 4 y 25 días de edad, respectivamente. En ambos grupos las avec mostraron 50% de protección contra la descarga viral a los 32 días de edad, mientras que no se detectó inmunidad a los 95 días de edad. La concentración sérica de I g G en ambos grupos vacunados fue comparable y fue significativemente más alta (P < 0·05) que en el grupo de aves control, una semana después de la revacunación. La actividad sérica hemolitica del complemento en ambos grupos vacunados, fue significativamente más bajo (P < 0·05) que en el grupo de aves control.

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Reponse Immunitaire Du Poulet A La Vaccination Orale Avec Des Virus Combines Extra Et Intracellulaires De La Variole Aviaire

Résumé Les auteurs ont étudié la réponse immunitaire du poulet à la vaccination orale avec la souche HP1 du virus de la variole aviare, en utilisant soit le virus intracellulaire seul, soit une combinaison de virus intra et extracellulaires. La première et la deuxième vaccination ont été effectuées sur des sujects agés respectivement de 4 jours et 25 jours. Dans les deux groupes, les volailles ont montré une protection à 50 p. 100 contre le virus d'épreuve à l'âge de 32 jours, alors qu'aucune immunité n'était signalée à 95 jours. La concentration en immunoglobuline G dans les deux groupes vaccinés était comparable et significativement supérieure (P < 0,05) à celles des animaux témoins une semaine après la revaccination. L'activité du complément sérique hémolytique dans les deux lots vaccinés était significativement plus basse (P < 0,05) que celle du lot témoin.

     

Characterisation of peacock (Pavo cristatus) mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequence and its use in differentiation from closely related poultry species

1. Poaching of peacocks, the national bird of India, is illegal. People kill this beautiful pheasant bird for tail feathers and mix the meat with chicken or turkey. Differentiation of the meat of these species is essential in order to address the ambiguity about the origin of the sample. 2. The present study was carried out to investigate the use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene for identification of these species. 3. Peacock mitochondrial 12S rRNA partial gene was amplified using universal primers, cloned and characterised. It was found to be 446 nucleotides long. 4. Sequence analysis revealed 86.8 and 84.1% similarity with reported turkey and chicken sequences, respectively. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that the peacock is much closer to the turkey than the chicken. 5. PCR-RFLP of 446 bp amplicon using commonly available restriction enzymes AluI and Sau3AI produced a differential pattern for identifying these poultry species unambiguously.