Ultrastructural and ultracytochemical cyclic changes in the bovine uterine tube (oviduct) epithelium.

Ultrastructural and ultracytochemical features of the uterine tube (oviduct) infundibulum were studied in 8 Hereford cows, which were slaughtered in pairs on days 1 (estrus), 3, 9 or 10, and 18 of the estrous cycle. Fibrous granules (60 to 80 nm), which are supposedly related to basal body replication, were observed in the apical cytoplasm of ciliated cells. Close association between basal bodies and fibrous granules was apparent, especially during the follicular phase. Cilia were observed throughout of estrous cycle, although degeneration of cilia was not observed at any phase of the cycle. Prominent, striated rootlets were observed during both the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle. Maximum secretory cell differentiation was apparent during the follicular phase, at which time these cells were characterized by having a well-developed, rough endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisternae, numerous ribosomes, and secretory granules of varied size and density. A prominent feature of the secretory granules was their membranous structure, consisting of concentric lamellae of equal dimensions. During the luteal phase, cytoplasmic protrusions were prominent, and extruded nuclei along with other cytoplasmic organelles were present in the tubal lumen. The presence of a well-developed, rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous secretory granules during the follicular phase indicates that secretory activity of the uterine tube infundibulum may be stimulated by estrogen. During estrus, the cytoplasm of the stromal cells displayed abundant, rough endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisternae. The increased and extensively dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum at the time of estrus probably indicates increased protein synthesis by the stromal cells. The presence of adenosine triphosphatase activity on the membrane of cilia suggests that this enzyme is involved in energy-forming reactions related to the vigorous action of cilia. The presence of acid phosphatase activity on the cell membrane of the epithelium, microvilli, and secretory granules may indicate involvement in the secretory mechanism of the cell.     

Effect of phosphorus on bacterial leaf spot disease incidence,and chemical composition and storage quality ofPiper betle leaves

Biochemical analysis of betel leaves infected by leaf spot and blight caused byXanthomonas campestris pv.betlicola showed a decrease in moisture, chlorophyll, protein, phenol and total carbohydrate contents as compared with healthy leaves. The decrease in these five parameters was 31-42%, 29-70%, 20-79%, 30-53% and 53-87%, respectively. Application of 100 kg P₂O₅/ha gave maximum height of vine, number of leaves per vine and fresh weight of 100 leaves, as compared with treatments of 25, 50, 75 and 125 kg P₂O₅/ha. Except for 25 kg P₂O₅/ha, all treatments enhanced the keeping quality compared with the control (no P₂O₅). Incidence of bacterial leaf spot decreased significantly as phosphorus level increased.     

The spectrum of canine cutaneous perivascular wall tumors: morphologic, phenotypic and clinical characterization

Perivascular wall tumors (PWTs) are defined as neoplasms deriving from mural cells of blood vessels, excluding the endothelial lining. The spectrum of human cutaneous PWT includes glomus tumor, hemangiopericytoma (HEP), myopericytoma, angioleiomyoma/sarcoma, angiomyofibroblastoma, and angiofibroma. The purpose of this study was to revise clinical presentation, cytology, histopathology, and immunohistology of canine cutaneous PWT with cytology typical of canine HEP. Diagnosis was established on the basis of vascular growth patterns (staghorn, placentoid, perivascular whorling, bundles from media) and immunohistology, including 7 smooth muscle markers and the cell membrane ganglioside of unknown origin recognized by the antibody 3G5 (CMG-3G5). Twenty cases were included. Ages ranged from 6 to 13 years; 12 dogs were males and 8 were females, and there was a prevalence of crossbreeds. Tumors arose from a single site with preferential acral location (10/20). Cytology revealed moderate to high cellularity in all cases, cohesive groups of cells (19/20), capillaries (18/20), and bi- to multinucleated cells (18/20). Six myopericytomas, 5 angioleiomyomas, 2 angioleiomyosarcomas, 2 HEP, 1 angiofibroma, and 1 adventitial tumor were identified. A definitive diagnosis was not possible in 3 cases. Smoothelin, heavy caldesmon, desmin, myosin, calponin, and CMG-3G5 were the most valuable markers to differentially diagnose canine PWT. Similar to reports in humans, canine HEP embodied a spectrum of neoplastic entities arising from different vascular mural cells. Before canine PWTs are assimilated into one prognostic category, a consistent classification and characterization of their biology is necessary. As proposed in humans, HEP should also be considered a diagnosis of exclusion in dogs.     

Characterizing spatial variability of soil properties in alluvial soils of India using geostatistics and geographical information system

Alluvial soils constitute significant portion of cultivated land in India and it contributes towards food grain production predominantly. The objectives of this study were to assess the spatial variability of soil pH, organic carbon (OC), available (mineralizable) nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K) and available zinc (Zn) of alluvial floodplain soils of Kadwa block, Katihar district, Bihar, India. A total of 85 soil samples, representative of the plough layer (0–25 cm depth from surface) were randomly collected from the study area. The values of soil pH, OC, N, P, K and Zn varied from4.4 to 8.4, 0.20% to 1.20%, 141 to 474, 2.2 to 68.2, 107 to 903 kg ha^–1 and 0.22 to 1.10 mg kg^–1, respectively. The coefficient of variation value was highest for available P (94.3%) and lowest for soil pH (11.3%). Spherical model was found to be the best fit for N, P and Zn contents, while exponential model was the best fit for OC, and Gaussian model was the best-fit model for pH and K. The nugget/sill ratio indicates that except pH and available K all other soil properties were moderately spatially dependent (25–57%). Soil properties exhibited different distribution pattern. It was observed that the use of geostatistical method could accurately generate the spatial variability maps of soil nutrients in alluvial soils.     

Identification of transposable element markers associated with yield and quality traits from an association panel of independent mutants in peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

To identify marker–trait associations (MTAs) for yield and quality traits in peanut, genic and nongenic Arachis hypogaea transposable element (AhTE) markers were employed in a population consisting of independent mutants from several parents. The population was field-evaluated during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015, and genotyped with 110 AhTE markers to check the polymorphisms for AhMITE1 transposition. The gene diversity index ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 with average of 0.35, indicating low to moderate genetic diversity in the population. Diversity analysis indicated the grouping of mutants derived from each parent in respective subgroups. Marker–trait association analysis for 110 markers and 40 traits resulted in 132 highly significant MTAs, represented by 58 AhTE markers for 39 traits. Nutritional traits recorded the highest number of MTAs (38), followed by agronomic traits (35), productivity traits (31), foliar disease resistance (23), and taxonomic traits (5). Seventeen MTAs with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) value above 50 % were observed for resistance to late leaf spot (LLS) and rust, plant height, and pod width. The genic and nongenic AhTE markers associated with the above traits were analyzed for their genomic location and functional annotation so that the significance of these loci can be analyzed in the future.     

Potential of piperonyl butoxide‐synergised pyrethrins against psocids (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) for stored‐grain protection

BACKGROUND: Piperonyl butoxide (PB)‐synergised natural pyrethrins (pyrethrin:PB ratio 1:4) were evaluated both as a grain protectant and a disinfestant against four Liposcelidid psocids: Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. entomophila (Enderlein), L. decolor (Pearman) and L. paeta Pearman. These are key storage pests in Australia that are difficult to control with the registered grain protectants and are increasingly being reported as pests of stored products in other countries. Firstly, mortality and reproduction of adults were determined in wheat freshly treated at 0.0, 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of pyrethrins + PB (1:4) at 30 ± 1 °C and 70 ± 2% RH. Next, wheat treated at 0.0, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of pyrethrins + PB (1:4) was stored at 30 ± 1 °C and 70 ± 2% RH and mortality and reproduction of psocids were assessed after 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 months of storage. Finally, the potential of synergised pyrethrins as a disinfestant was assessed by establishing time to endpoint mortality for adult psocids exposed to wheat treated at 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of synergised pyrethrins after 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h of exposure. RESULTS: Synergised pyrethrins at 6 mg kg^?1 provided 3 months of protection against all four Liposcelis spp., and at this rate complete adult mortality of these psocids can be achieved within 6 h of exposure. CONCLUSION: Piperonyl butoxide‐synergised pyrethrins have excellent potential both as a grain protectant and as a disinfestant against Liposcelidid psocids. Copyright © State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2010. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

Potential of imidacloprid to control four species of psocids (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) infesting stored grain

The effectiveness of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated against four psocid pests of stored grain. This research was undertaken because of the growing importance of psocids in stored grain and the need to identify methods for their control. The mortality and reproduction of adults of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. entomophila (Enderlein), L. decolor (Pearman) and L. paeta Pearman in wheat treated with imidacloprid were determined. There were five application rates (0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg AI kg(-1) grain) and an untreated control. There were significant effects of application rate on both adult mortality and reproduction for all four species, but the effect of imidacloprid was sometimes more pronounced on reproduction. Imidacloprid was most effective against L. bostrychophila, with 100% adult mortality after 7 d at 5 mg AI kg(-1), 14 d at 2 mg AI kg(-1) and 28 d at 0.5 and 1 mg AI kg(-1). No live progeny were produced at 2 mg AI kg(-1). For L. decolor, there was 100% adult mortality after 28 d at 10 mg AI kg(-1) and no live progeny were produced at 2 mg AI kg(-1). For L. entomophila, there was 100% adult mortality after 14 d at 10 mg AI kg(-1) and 28 d at 2 and 5 mg AI kg(-1). No live progeny were produced at 10 mg AI kg(-1). At 10 mg AI kg(-1) there was 100% mortality of L. paeta adults after 28 d exposure and no live progeny developed. Because reproduction at some application rates occurred only in the first 14 d of exposure, it is concluded that the application rate leading to population extinction was 1 mg AI kg(-1) for L. bostrychophila, 2 mg AI kg(-1) for L. decolor and L. entomophila and 5 mg AI kg(-1) for L. paeta. This study shows that imidacloprid has potential as a grain protectant to control all four Liposcelis species in stored grain.     

Evaluation of wound-healing potential of Catharanthus roseus leaf extract in rats

Rats treated with 100 mg /kg/day of the Catharanthus roseus ethanol extract had high rate of wound contraction significantly decreased epithelization period, significant increase in dry weight and hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue when compared with the controls. Wound contraction together with increased tensile strength and hydroxyproline content support the use of C. roseus in the management of wound healing.     

Screening of gastrointestinal bacteria of Indian major carps for a candidate probiotic species for aquaculture practices

Probotic selection could be detrimental for the success of aquaculture practices. While, in most of the cases emphasis is given to the production of antibacterial compounds, and in vitro inhibitory activities of a bacterium for choosing a probiotic strain, however, other criteria like non‐antibiotic resistant, non‐haemolytic nature and non‐pathogenic potentiality of probiotic strain are often overlooked. We have screened gastrointestinal bacteria isolated from all the three species of Indian major carps viz., Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala for a suitable probiotic. Bacteria like Aeromonas (Aeromonas species, A. hydrophila), Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Plesiomonas, Bacillus (Bacillus species, B. subtilis) and Pseudomonas (Pseudomonas species, P. aeruginosa) exhibited antibacterial activities against different pathogens. Among these, B. subtilis was found to grow at a wider range of temperatures, pH and salt concentrations and was non‐haemolytic, non‐antibiotic resistant, non‐pathogenic and inhibited all the tested primary and secondary pathogens. Dietary supplementation of the bacteria at 10⁸ CFU g^?1 feed also enhanced the growth of Indian major carp, L. rohita. Based upon these characteristics, we aimed to develop a suitable probiotic for aquaculture practices.     

Influence of concentration, temperature and humidity on the toxicity of phosphine to the strongly phosphine-resistant psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae)

BACKGROUND: The psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, is a widespread, significant pest of stored commodities, has developed strong resistance to phosphine, the major grain disinfestant. The aim was to develop effective fumigation protocols to control this resistant pest. RESULTS: Time to population extinction of all life stages (TPE) in days was evaluated at a series of phosphine concentrations and temperatures at two relative humidities. Regression analysis showed that temperature, concentration and relative humidity all contributed significantly to describing TPE (P<0.001, R(2)=0.95), with temperature being the dominant variable, accounting for 74.4% of the variation. Irrespective of phosphine concentration, TPE was longer at lower temperatures and high humidity (70% RH) and shorter at higher temperatures and low humidity (55% RH). At any concentration of phosphine, a combination of higher temperature and lower humidity provides the shortest fumigation period to control resistant L. bostrychophila. For example, 19 and 11 days of fumigation are required at 15 degrees C and 70% RH at 0.1 and 1.0 mg L(-1) of phosphine respectively, whereas only 4 and 2 days are required at 35 degrees C and 55% RH for the same respective concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The developed fumigation protocols will provide industry with flexibility in application of phosphine.