减少肉种鸡场窝外蛋的方法

窝外蛋是许多肉种鸡场都可见到的问题,仅靠集蛋是无法得到解决的,其解决需要在饲养管理方式上作出改变。在理想生产条件下,窝外蛋有可能降低至1%以内。     

Genetic analysis of an attenuated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaya ringspot virus</Emphasis> strain applied for cross-protection

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) HA 5-1, a nitrous acid-induced mild mutant of severe strain HA, widely applied for control of PRSV by cross-protection, was used to study the genetic basis of attenuation. Using infectious clones, a series of recombinants was generated between HA 5-1 and HA and their infectivity was analyzed on the systemic host papaya and the local lesion host Chenopodium quinoa. The recombinants that contained mutations in P1 and HC-Pro genes caused attenuated infection on papaya without conspicuous symptoms, similar to HA 5-1. The recombination and sequence analyses strongly implicated two amino acid changes in the C-terminal region of P1 and two in HC-Pro of HA 5-1 involved in the attenuated infection on papaya. The recombinants that infected C. quinoa plants without local lesions contained the same mutations in the C-terminal region of HC-Pro for attenuated infection on papaya. We conclude that both P1 and HC-Pro bear important pathogenicity determinants for the infection on the systemic host papaya and that the mutations in HC-Pro affecting pathogenicity on papaya are also responsible for the inability to induce hypersensitive reaction on C. quinoa.     

Equine foetal gender determination in mid‐ to late gestational mares: A practical inquiry

In recent years, the interest in equine foetal gender determination (FGD) during gestation increased remarkably. Ultrasonographic FGD can be performed in two different periods during gestation. The earliest examination can take place at a gestational age of 60–70 days, whereby the genital tubercle is used to differentiate between male and female foeti. The time window of the second approach is wider (120–210 days), and there are more characteristics to take into consideration. In this article, the feasibility and accuracy of ultrasonographic FGD in mid‐ to late gestation are evaluated. One hundred twenty‐one mares from different breeds with a pregnancy stage between 120 and 270 days were examined once, using B‐scale ultrasonography (Esaote MyLab™ClassC). None of the mares were sedated nor shaved, and the procedure was completed within 15 min. Diagnosis was firstly based on the gonads. The final judgement was made based on all visible foetal reproductive organs. In three cases with a pregnancy stage beyond 257 days, FGD was not possible. All of the examined mares in which a FGD could be performed gave birth to a healthy foal. In 98% of the examinations (116/118), the diagnosis was correctly made. In both cases of misdiagnosis, only one characteristic was seen during the procedure and wrongly interpreted. Beyond 210 days of pregnancy, the extremities can preclude a good visualization of the inguinal region. In conclusion, equine FGD in mid‐ to late gestation is an accessible and accurate technique, although a good ultrasound device is a prerequisite and experience and expertise is necessary.     

Specific characters of 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences of Xylella fastidiosa pear leaf scorch strains

Pear leaf scorch, the only Xylella fastidiosa-induced disease reported from Taiwan, was found in area where the variety Hengshan (Pyrus pyrifolia) was grown. Strains of pear leaf scorch Xyl. fastidiosa (XF-PLS) shared similarities to strains of other host origins in the requirement of complex medium and the exhibition of rippled cell walls, however, recent serological and molecular biology studies showed difference among them. Five strains of XF-PLS were compared with 20 other strains originally isolated from almond, oleander, pecan, plum, peach, mulberry, grapes, citrus, coffee, and sycamore by sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS). When sequences of 16S rRNA gene based on fragment size of 1,537–1,540 bp were compared, the similarity index among 5 XF-PLS strains was 99.3–99.8%, whereas it was 97.8–98.6% between XF-PLS strains and strains from other hosts. When sequences of 16S–23S rRNA ITS based on fragment size of 510–540 bp were compared, the similarity index among 5 XF-PLS strains was 99.0–100%, whereas it was 80.7–82% between XF-PLS strains and strains from other hosts. Multiple sequence alignments led to the identification of 5 polymorphic nucleotides in the 16S rRNA gene among the 25 Xyl. fastidiosa strains, and there were considerable variations in the nucleotide sequences of 16S–23S rRNA ITS between XF-PLS and the other 20 Xyl. fastidiosa strains. The phylogenetic trees revealed that XF-PLS strains were separated from strains of other hosts. Strains of other hosts were divided into four subgroups: strains from (1) oleander, (2) grape, almond M23 and mulberry, (3) citrus and coffee, and (4) pecan, peach, plum, sycamore and almond M12. Results indicate that XF-PLS strains were not closely related to the above-mentioned strains from other hosts and could possibly belong to a new subspecies of Xyl. fastidiosa.     

Identification and characterization of long non-coding RNAs in porcine granulosa cells exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Background: Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) may regulate gene expression in numerous biological processes including cellular response to xenobiotics.The exposure of living organisms to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD),a persistent environmental contaminant,results in reproductive defects in many species including pigs.The aims of the study were to identify and characterize lncRNAs in porcine granulosa cells as well as to examine the effects of TCDD on the lncRNA expression profile in the cells.Results: One thousand six hundred sixty-six lncRNAs were identified and characterized in porcine granulosa cells.The identified lncRNAs were found to be shorter than mRNAs.In addition,the number of exons was lower in lncRNAs than in m RNAs and their exons were longer.TCDD affected the expression of 22 lncRNAs(differentially expressed lncRNAs [DELs]; log2 fold change ≥ 1,P-adjusted 0.05) in the examined cells.Potential functions of DELs were indirectly predicted via searching their target cis-and trans-regulated protein-coding genes.The coexpression analysis revealed that DELs may influence the expression of numerous genes,including those involved in cellular response to xenobiotics,dioxin metabolism,endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell proliferation.Aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR) and cytochrome P450 1 A1(CYP1 A1) were found among the trans-regulated genes.Conclusions: These findings indicate that the identified lncRNAs may constitute a part of the regulatory mechanism of TCDD action in granulosa cells.To our knowledge,this is the first study describing lncRNAs in porcine granulosa cells as well as TCDD effects on the lncRNA expression profile.These results may trigger new research directions leading to better understanding of molecular processes induced by xenobiotics in the ovary.     

Stand biometry and leaf area distribution in an old olive grove at Andria, southern Italy

The objectives of this paper were (1) to provide general biometry data for an 80-year-old olive (Olea europea L., cv. Coratina) grove in Andria, southern Italy, and (2) to compare different methods for estimating leaf area distributions. Stand biometry was represented by a stocking density of 132 trees ha^?1, mean spacing of 8.7 m and mean social area (proportional to spacing and tree size) of about 76 m² per tree. Trunk total circumference averaged 110 cm and after subtraction of missing or dead parts of stems averaged 81 cm, projected area of crowns averaged 17.7 m² and the mean tree height was 4.9 m. Leaf distribution was evaluated using calibrated ground-based side photographs through image analysis and through using a simple canopy-layer model (considering hollow volume within tree crowns) and double-Gaussian curves. The mean leaf size was about 5 cm² (distributed in a log-normal manner over the range of 2 to 12 cm²). Considering whole tree crowns, the mean leaf density was about 2.6 m²m^?3; the maximum leaf area occurred in canopy layers between 1.5 to 3 m, tailing with a steeper slope to the crown base and a less steep slope to the tree-top. The foliated volume of olive crowns (mean 33.2 m³) contained on average 145 thousand leaves of the total area of 72.6 m². The corresponding leaf area index on the stand level (LAI _grove = 0.96), was rather low due to low stocking density. However when taking into account only the projected crown areas (and avoiding free space between trees), the mean LAI reached about 3.5 (range from 1–7). The radial pattern of leaf distribution derived from image analysis indicated peak LAI _rad values at a distance from the stem of about 60 to 70% of crown radius in trees of different size. The applicability of different approaches to the estimation of the necessary allometric parameters is discussed.     

Spatial Assessment of Land Degradation Risk for the Okavango River Catchment,Southern Africa

The Okavango catchment in southern Africa is subject to environmental as well as socio‐economic transformation processes such as population growth and climate change. The degradation of soil and vegetation by deforestation and overgrazing is one of the downsides of this development, reducing the capacity of the land to provide ecosystem functions and services. In this study, climate simulations are brought together with secondary socioeconomic, pedologic and remote‐sensing data in a GIS‐based assessment of the factors commonly associated with land degradation risk. A high resolution overview is provided for decision‐makers and stakeholders in the region by identifying priority intervention areas where a long‐term decline in ecosystem function and land productivity is most likely to occur. The approach combines 19 risk factors into seven individual ratings for topography, landcover, soil, demography, infrastructure, livestock pressure and climate. These ratings are then weighted and combined into an integrated degradation risk index (DRI). The results show that the land degradation risk is quite heterogeneously distributed in the study area and caused by different factors. Three hot‐spots are identified and compared, one of which is in the far northwestern part of the catchment, one around the local center Rundu and one on the outskirts of the Okavango Delta. We conclude that the approach is suitable to give an overview on degradation risk in the study area, although the classification process is a crucial procedure that should be standardized for further research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.