Impact of controlled atmosphere storage conditions on storability and consumer acceptability of sweet cherries ‘Regina’

Summary

Sweet cherries obtained from a rain-protected orchard were subjected to various controlled atmosphere storage conditions for up to seven weeks. Quality parameters responded differentially to various CA-conditions: changes in fruit firmness, sugar content and colour were mostly not significant. However, the storage conditions exerted significant impact on other parameters such as respiration rate, RQ, ATP- and ADP-concentrations. Air-stored fruits respired at significant higher rates than CA or ultra low oxygen-stored fruits. Moreover, the impact of CA-storage conditions persisted even after a conditioning period of 36 h at room temperature. The ATP and ADP concentrations of sweet cherries behaved similarly, where a combination of reduced O₂ and very high CO₂ concentration (12% or above) resulted in highly reduced ATP-concentration in the fruit tissue. A taste panel considered fruits stored under 6% CO₂ + 2% O₂ as good, although there was a strong indication that it is better to store sweet cherries for a limited time (up to five weeks) under a low O₂ concentration combined with a high CO₂ concentration (12%) or under a high O² concentration combined with a very high CO₂ (18%).     

云南黄毛草莓的nrDNA ITS和cpDNA psbA-trnH序列分子鉴定及进化特征分析

[目的]利用核糖体DNA(nrDNA)ITS序列和叶绿体DNA(cpDNA)psbA-trnH序列对云南不同地理区域的黄毛草莓进行分子鉴定,并分析不同地理居群间的分子进化及地理分布特征,为黄毛草莓种质鉴定、保护及开发利用提供理论依据.[方法]以云南省12个不同地理区域的黄毛草莓居群样品为材料,PCR扩增其ITS和psbA-trnH序列,并进行双向测序及序列合并,分别基于ITS和psbA-trnH序列及二者合并序列构建系统发育进化树.最后利用DnaSP 5.10对ITS和psbA-trnH序列进行核苷酸多样性(π)及单倍型数目、类型和多样性(Hd)分析,并对黄毛草莓居群进行中性检验及分子进化特征分析.[结果]基于ITS和psbA-trnH序列的聚类分析结果均显示,12个不同地理区域的黄毛草莓居群样品均与GenBank数据库中下载的黄毛草莓聚在一个分支上,分支自展值均大于阈值(75%),表明这两种序列均可用于黄毛草莓种质的分子鉴定.基于二者合并序列的聚类分析结果与上述结果基本一致,但分支自展值达99%,表明该聚类分析结果更可靠.不同地理区域的黄毛草莓ITS序列间的遗传距离为0~0.014,排序为迪庆州>昆明市>文山州,psbA-trnH序列间的遗传距离为0~0.025,排序为昆明市>迪庆州>文山州,推测ITS和psbA-trnH序列均能显示黄毛草莓居群遗传分化与地理分布格局的相关性.ITS序列长度为668 bp,变异位点百分率为1.8%,共有8种单倍型,Hd和π分别为0.894±0.078和0.006,以昆明市黄毛草莓样品的单倍型最多,为4种;psbA-trnH序列有203 bp,变异位点百分率为2.5%,psbA-trnH序列共有5种单倍型,Hd和π分别为0.788±0.090和0.009,以昆明市黄毛草莓样品单倍型最多,为3种,表明两种序列的单倍型均呈现地理分布格局.黄毛草莓ITS和psbA-trnH序列的中性检验Tajima's D值分别为-0.673和0.227(P>0.1),表明云南省12个不同地理区域的黄毛草莓居群保持稳定状态,在截至目前的历史时间内不存在扩张.[结论]从云南不同地理区域采集的样品均为黄毛草莓.ITS序列和psbA-trnH序列均可作为黄毛草莓的DNA条形码,二者的合并序列更能准确鉴定黄毛草莓种,适用于黄毛草莓分子谱系地理学研究.     

Relationship between weaning age and antibiotic usage on pig growth performance and mortality

A total of 2,184 pigs (DNA 600 × PIC L42) were used to evaluate the effects of weaning age and antibiotic (AB) use on pig performance from weaning to marketing in a commercial production system. Experimental treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial with main effects of weaning age (18.5, 21.5, or 24.5 d of age) and with the use of ABs or an antibiotic-free (NAE) program. At birth, pigs were ear tagged, and the date of birth and sex recorded. Pigs were weaned from a 4,000-sow farm over four consecutive weeks. Four weaning batches (one per week) of 546 pigs were used. Each weaning batch had one-third of pigs of each weaning age. Pigs were placed in pens by weaning age and then randomly assigned to an AB or NAE program. There were 14 replicate pens per treatment and 26 pigs per pen (13 barrows and 13 gilts). Pigs allocated to the AB program were fed a diet containing 441 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC) from day 8 to 21 postweaning. They were also administered 22 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of CTC via drinking water for five consecutive days after a porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome outbreak during week 7 after weaning. In the first 42 d postweaning, increasing weaning age improved (linear, P < 0.001) BW at day 42, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI). From weaning to 197 d of age, increasing weaning age increased (linear, P < 0.001) ADG and ADFI. Pigs on the AB program had greater (P = 0.031) ADG and ADFI compared with NAE pigs. An interaction (linear, P = 0.005) was observed for feed efficiency (G:F). When ABs were provided, increasing weaning age did not result in any change in G:F; however, in the NAE program, increasing weaning age increased G:F. Pigs on the AB program had lower (P < 0.001) total losses (mortality and removals) than those on the NAE program. Increasing weaning age marginally (linear, P = 0.097) decreased total losses. Increasing weaning age decreased (quadratic, P < 0.001) the number of pigs treated with an injectable AB but the AB program did not (P = 0.238). The weight sold (at 197 d of age) per pig weaned was increased (linear, P = 0.050) by increasing weaning age and by using AB in feed and water (P = 0.019). In summary, increasing weaning age linearly improved most of the pig performance criteria and relatively the short-term use of ABs reduced mortality and removals with both factors contributing to increased weight sold per pig weaned.     

Experimental transmission of Pasteurella multocida 6:B in goats

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) is an acute disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by Pasteurella multocida 6:B. Outbreaks of the disease have been closely associated with carrier animals that transmit the organism to susceptible animals during stressful condition. This study was conducted to determine whether goats exposed intranasally to P. multocida 6:B can transmit the organism to contact goats. Thirty-six healthy local Katjang goats were divided into four groups and goats of groups 1 and 3 were each inoculated intranasally with a 1-ml inoculum that contained 1 x 10(9) CFU/ml of live P. multocida 6:B. Following the exposure, all goats of groups 3 and 4 were injected with dexamethasone at the rate of 1 mg/kg for three consecutive days. At the end of the dexamethasone treatment, goats of groups 1 and 2 were commingled but kept separate from goats of groups 3 and 4, which were commingled in another pen. Three surviving goats from each group were killed on days 7, 14 and 21 post-exposure for postmortem examination. Naso-pharyngeal mucus and heart blood were collected on swabs. Tissues from lungs, lymph nodes and tonsils were collected for bacteriological isolation and identification. Only one goat of group 3 died 6 days post-exposure showing clinical signs and lesions typical of HS. Other goats showed mild signs of upper respiratory tract infection. Goats of all groups developed acute mild pneumonic lesions, however, those treated with dexamethasone had significantly (P < 0.05) more extensive lesion scoring based on the lesion scoring system. P. multocida 6:B was isolated from the nasal mucosa and lung lesions of exposed and contact goats not treated with dexamethasone. Exposed and contact goats treated with dexamethasone carried the organism for 21 days. P. multocida isolation from heart blood was made only from exposed and contact goats treated with dexamethasone. P. multocida was isolated from the lymph node of the goat that died during the experiment.     

A double-blinded placebo-controlled evaluation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in treatment of canine atopic dermatitis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a new therapy for various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In this study we perform the first double-blinded, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy of adipose-derived allogenic canine MSCs for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Enrolled canine patients were randomly divided into placebo (PBS saline), low-dose (5?×?10⁵ cells/kg), and high-dose (5?×?10⁶ cells/kg) treatment groups. Each patient received three subcutaneous MSCs treatments or PBS saline at four-week intervals with injections at five sites. Patients were monitored by physical exams, pruritus visual analog scales (PVAS) signed by the primary caretaker, canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index-4 (CADESI-4) scores by two veterinarians, and complete blood count and serum chemistry analysis along with laboratory analysis for potential biomarkers. Patients were kept off any immune-modulating drugs during the study period, and oral antibiotics and topicals were used for managing pruritus and secondary infections. The PVAS scores and the serum miR-483 levels were significantly lower in the high dose group compared to the placebo group at day90 post first-treatment. The CADESI-4 scores of the high dose group also showed downward trends. No severe adverse effects were observed in any patient in this study. The high dose MSC treatment is efficacious in alleviating the clinical signs of cAD until 30 days after the last subcutaneous administration of MSCs, and miRNA-483 may be a reliable prognostic biomarker for cAD. The MSCs efficacy and potential biomarkers should be further explored by a larger scale clinical trial.

     

Prospects of raising Sahiwal cow calves for veal production under tropical environment

The objective of present study was to evaluate the growth potential of Sahiwal calves for veal production on whole milk or whole milk and milk replacer combined in a ratio of 50:50 (MMR). For this purpose, 48 Sahiwal calves (both male and female) were assigned to four dietary treatments having 12 animals/treatment. Calves in the treatments A and B were offered whole milk at 15 or 20 % of their body weight (BW), respectively, up to day 84 adjusted on weekly basis. The calves in treatments C and D received the same amount of milk as in treatments A and B until day 21, respectively, after which 50 % of the milk offered was replaced with a blend of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour and vegetable (corn) oil mixed in water (MR) until day 84. The constituted MR had 3.1, 2.8, and 14.3 %, CP, EE, and DM, respectively. The growth and intake data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis, with MIXED Procedures of SAS in a 2?×?2 factorial design. The two factors were feeding level and feeding source. Calves offered whole milk grew faster (P?<?0.05) and had greater weaning weights (P?<?0.05) than those offered MMR (606.4?±?18.1 vs 331.3?±?18.1 g/day and 70.4?±?1.5 vs 47.8?±?1.5 kg, respectively). Greatest daily BW gain (656?±?26 g/day) and weaning weight (74.6?±?2.1 kg) were observed in calves given treatment B while the lowest production cost/kg of BW gain (≈US$3.6?±?0.2) was observed in calves given treatment A. The daily BW gain of calves fed milk ad libitum was 716?±?40 and 836?±?40 g/day, during 5–8 and 9–12 weeks, respectively. The number of days calves exhibited scours was higher in calves offered MMR than those offered whole milk. Replacement of 50 % milk with a blend of chickpea flour and vegetable oil, as an alternative to milk replacer, did not support growth equivalent to whole milk and was not effective in reducing feeding cost during the weaning period. Sahiwal calves may have promise for being raised for veal production under tropical environments.     

Conyza sumatrensis: A new weed species resistant to glyphosate in the Americas

Recent reports of weed‐control failures after the use of glyphosate led to suspicion about the selection of resistant biotypes of Conyza at locations in west and north Paraná, Brazil. Plants were collected, identified as Conyza sumatrensis and subsequently evaluated for possible resistance to glyphosate in four stages of weed development. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse by combining biotypes, stages of development and a range of glyphosate doses. All the suspected biotypes were collected from locations in Cascavel, Toledo, Assis Chateaubriand, Tupãssi and Campo Mourão with a history of glyphosate use in burndown and in glyphosate‐resistant soybean for at least the four previous years and were compared to a susceptible biotype (São Jorge do Ivaí) with no previous history of herbicide use. The doses of glyphosate ranged from 0 to 5760 g ae ha^?1. The biotypes were considered as resistant if two combined criteria were present (resistance factor > 1 and the rate required to achieve 80% control is >720 g ha^?1). The results provided evidence that there is a marked difference in the level of control of older plants and also confirmed the presence of some resistant biotypes. For applications at the first stage of development, two biotypes that were resistant to glyphosate were identified (Cascavel‐1 and Tupãssi‐6). For applications in the second stage of development, beyond the biotypes that were found in the first stage, three other biotypes were considered as resistant: Toledo‐5, Assis Chateaubriand‐7 and Floresta‐10. However, for applications at the third and fourth stages, all the biotypes were considered as resistant.     

Finding heterosis for fiber traits in intervarietal crosses of cotton, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.

Raising yield and fiber quality of cotton through heterosis (hybrid vigor) has been an objective of plant breeders and scientists. Heterosis over mid parent for fiber-related traits was calculated in three crosses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) involving five cotton varieties, viz., CIM 506, CIM 702, CIM 443, FH 1000 and CIM 1100 being commercially grown in Pakistan. Heterosis was observed for all four characters. The cross CIM 443 × CIM 1100 showed maximum positive heterosis (8.57%) for ginning outturn (GOT) (%) followed by fineness (7.81%) and staple length (1.01%). Therefore, the cross CIM 506 × CIM 1100 appeared to be promising for providing potential breeding materials for further commercial exploitation of heterosis in Pakistan, and heterosis breeding has a great potential for increasing stagnant cotton yields around the world.     

Glyphosate affects chlorophyll, nodulation and nutrient accumulation of “second generation” glyphosate-resistant soybean (Glycine max L.)

The recently developed “second generation” of Roundup Ready® soybean (RR2) cultivars commercially available for farmers in 2008 were promoted as higher yielding relative to the “first generation” RR cultivars (RR1). Previous studies showed that glyphosate reduced such yield components as photosynthesis, water absorption, nutrient uptake and symbiotic N₂ fixation in RR soybean cultivars; however, no data are available regarding the glyphosate effects on these physiological factors in RR2 soybean. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the nutrient accumulation and nodulation of both generations of RR soybeans at different rates of glyphosate applied at various growth stages. In general, increased glyphosate rates and late applications decreased the nutrient accumulation, nodulation, and shoot and root biomass in both RR1 and RR2. All macro- and micronutrients, with exception of N and K, accumulated more in RR1 than RR2. Although this result may be an individual cultivar characteristic, it suggests that the RR2 cultivar was also inefficient in nutrient uptake and translocation or was unable to rapidly recover from potential chelating effects of glyphosate. These studies suggest that applying glyphosate at early growth stages using the lowest glyphosate rate might have less damage on growth and productivity of RR soybeans.     

Biochemical diversity in wild and cultivated pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Pakistan

The present study was conducted to screen out elite pomegranates through determination of biochemical diversity in wild and cultivated genotypes for a breeding program and for fresh/processed use in industry. The results showed high morphological diversity in accessions of wild pomegranate fruits as compared to cultivated genotypes. The first six principal components covered 80.75 and 75.49% diversity in 53 wild and 62 cultivated pomegranate genotypes, respectively. High values of the coefficient of variance (10.78–18.62%), and a high range of minimum to maximum values of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total soluble sugars, and total phenolic content (0.10–1.25, 5.88–29.96, 9.69–19.85 and 175.05–595.42), respectively, were recorded in the studied genotypes. Ascorbic acid content had a strong correlation with antioxidant activity (0.952%), super dismutase oxides (0.94%), catalase (0.921%), and titratable acidity (0.91%). Peroxides had a strong correlation (0.88%) with catalase, and 0.81% each with super dismutase oxides and antioxidant activity. Wild and cultivated pomegranates were clustered successfully in separate groups, based on biochemical traits. A variety improvement program and selection of high-quality pomegranate genotypes could help to reduce pomegranate-related malnutrition issues in the human diet.