银鲳形态特征与DNA条形码研究

鲳属鱼类广泛分布于中国沿海,为重要经济鱼种,鲳属鱼类因外部形态存在较大的相似性,分类一直存在分歧。本研究于2010年10月—2012年9月采集科威特(科威特北部海域)、巴基斯坦(松米亚尼湾、奥尔马拉和伯斯尼)、北部湾和台湾近海的银鲳样品,对其形态特征进行重新描述,并对其DNA条形码开展了研究。银鲳的主要形态特征为背鳍Ⅶ-Ⅷ-39～43;胸鳍21～29;臀鳍Ⅴ-Ⅵ-35～41;尾鳍26～28。鳃耙细弱、稀疏,2～3 8～9=10～12。头部后上方侧线管的横枕管丛和背分支丛后缘呈浅弧形,腹分支丛较背分支丛略长,向后延伸未达背鳍起点,呈峨眉状。脊椎骨数37～38。结合GenBank中所有拉丁学名为Pampus argenteus的COⅠ基因进行同源序列比较发现,所有个体单倍型明显分为4个组群,而从氨基酸遗传差异和组群间遗传距离可以看出,4个组群应为不同的有效种;GenBank中只有FJ384702与本研究序列结果相近。本研究描述了银鲳形态特征,并给出其正确的COⅠ基因DNA条形码序列,为深入开展鲳属鱼类的分类研究奠定了基础。     

Range extension of four highland agamid lizards in Shimshal Pamir, Pakistan

As part of the Sino-Pak trans-boundary cooperation for conservation and sustainable development in Pamir border region,World Wild Fund (WWF)-Pakistan conducted a preliminary social,economic and ecological survey in the Shimshal-Pamir Lakes area in July 2009.The purpose of the study was to explore potentials and opportunities for future collaborative conservation of some species,habitats and high altitude ecosystems in the border region between China and Pakistan.The two-week herpetological study in the Shimshal Pamir area of Khunjerab National Park (KNP) along Pakistan-China border was an integral part of the survey,conducted exclu-sively to document reptilian fauna with a special emphasis on investigating their occurrence,distribution and status in the study area.Field investigations were performed during daytime when it was hot enough and reptiles were active,basking or feeding.A total of 15 specimens belonging to four species of the Agamidae family were captured by striking stones and beating bushes with sticks.Collected specimens were preserved using 10% formalin solution,tagged with field information and stored in Zoological Survey Department,Karachi for future reference.Laboratory investigations were carried out for pholidosic counts and morphometric measurements.A detailed review of relevant literature,habitat characteristics and laboratory investigations revealed the occurrence of Laudakia himalayana,L.pakistanica,L.tuberculata and L.badakhshana at 4,082 m,4,172 m,4,005 m and 4,240 m asl,respectively,which are much higher altitudes as compared to the previously reported heights of 3,353 m,3,200 m,2,500 m and 2,400 m asl.The terrain offers a variety of ecological barriers,in the form of fast and freezing running waters and massive glaciers with peculiar harsh climatic conditions prevailing for nine months of the year,which restricts species migration and thus increases endemism.Although one of the four species recorded from the study area,i.e.L.pakistanica is endemic to Pakistan,L.tuberculata and L.badakhshana are new records from Shimshal,Pakistan,so a detailed investigation is suggested for further herpetological records from the study area.     

Factors limiting traditional household duck production in Bangladesh

A cross sectional survey of duck production was carried out in 2002 on 771 traditional, semiscavenging household duck farms on the coastal Island of Hatia. We determined the socioeconomic characteristics of duck farmers and their management systems, identified the factors associated with egg production, and measured the level of selected duck diseases and current preventive strategies. Household family size varied from 1 to 14 individuals and women were the main caretakers of ducks. Around 34% of keepers were illiterate. Most duck products (eggs and meat; 85%) were sold at the local market. Duck houses were poorly ventilated and a variety of bedding materials were used. Feed was available in nearby scavenging areas; however, additional feed was frequently supplied by farmers. Almost all farmers (96%) ranked the rainy season as the best time for rearing ducks due to greater feed availability. The annual egg production was 79 eggs per layer with a weight of 48 g and a hatchability rate of 87%. Egg production varied by zone (p < 0.05). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 0.5 times lower in educated farmers (p = 0.001). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 2.5 times more likely in ducks that attained sexual maturity at >22 weeks (p<0.001). Most farmers ranked duck plague as the most important disease, followed by duck cholera, botulism, and duck viral hepatitis. Preventive vaccination was sporadic and used by few farmers (28%). There are significant opportunities for improved duck production on the Island of Hatia and in Bangladesh generally.     

K和P对巴基斯坦西北地区向日葵籽粒质量及经济盈利的交互效应

A field experiment was conducted using a split plot randomized complete block design with three replications to study the effects of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) application on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth at the New Developmental Research Farm of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University in Peshawar,Pakistan.Six levels of K (0,25,50,75,100 and 125 kg K ha-1) were main plots while four levels of P (0,45,90 and 135 kg P ha-1) were subplots.Increase in both K and P levels enhanced grain oil concentration of sunflower.Increase in P level increased grain protein concentration,while increase in K level decreased grain protein concentration.Both oil and protein yields increased significantly with increase in K and P levels.The increase in oil and protein yields of sunflower was mainly attributed to the improvement in yield components (grains per head,grain weight and head size) and the significant increase in grain yield.The highest net returns of 297 and 368 US$ ha-1 based on grain and oil yields,respectively,were obtained from a combination of 100 kg K ha-1 + 45 kg P ha-1.     

WHEAT YIELD AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER EFFICIENCY AS INFLUENCED BY PRE-INCUBATED USE OF SINGLE SUPERPHOSPHATE AND POULTRY LITTER AND ITS TIME OF APPLICATION

In an effort to improve phosphorus (P) fertilizer efficiency on alkaline calcareous soils, the effect of period of pre-incubation of single superphosphate along with poultry litter and its time of application on phosphorous efficiency and yield of wheat was studied in a net house pot experiment. The results showed that application of 3–21 days pre-incubated single super phosphate + poultry litter resulted in higher phosphorous fertilizer efficiency and produced significantly higher dry matter yield of wheat at vegetative stage of growth. At maturity, however, maximum grain yield and highest phosphorous fertilizer efficiency was recorded for seven-days pre-incubation treatment only as compared to the recommended method of single super phosphate alone application at sowing. Application of pre-incubated single super phosphate + poultry litter at first irrigation also produced grain yield equivalent to single super phosphate applied alone at sowing. Under field conditions, top-dressing pre-incubated 22 and 44 kg phosphorous (as single super phosphate) along with 1 ton of poultry litter ha^?1 at first irrigation improved phosphorous uptake by 16.4 and 18.7%, phosphorous fertilizer efficiency by 65 and 58% and the grain yield of wheat by 13.4 and 12.5%, respectively as compared to phosphorous alone application at the same time.     

Alleviation of manganese toxicity and manganese-induced iron deficiency in barley by additional potassium supply in nutrient solution

Barley plants were grown hydroponically at two levels of K (3.0 and 30 mm) and Fe (1.0 and 10 μm) in the presence of excess Mn (25 μm) for 14 d in a phytotron. Plants grown under adequate K level (3.0 mm) were characterized by brown spots on old leaves, desiccation of old leaves, interveinal chlorosis on young leaves, browning of roots, and release of phytosiderophores (PS) from roots. These symptoms were more pronounced in the plants grown under suboptimal Fe level (1.0 p,M) than in the plants grown under adequate Fe level (10 μm). Plants grown in 10 μm Fe with additional K (30 mm) produced a larger amount of dry matter and released less PS than the plants grown under adequate K level (3.0 mm), and did not show leaf injury symptoms and root browning. On the other hand, the additional K supply in the presence of 1.0 μM Fe decreased the severity of brown spots, prevented leaf desiccation, and increased the leaf chlorophyll content, which was not sufficient for the regreening of chlorotic leaves. These results suggested that the additional K alleviated the symptoms of Mn toxicity depending on the Fe concentration in the nutrient solution. The concentration (per g dry matter) and accumulation (per plant) of Mn in shoots and roots of plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 30 mm K were much lower than those of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 3.0 mm K, indicating that additional K repressed the absorption of Mn. The concentration and accumulation of Fe in the shoots and roots of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 30 mm K were higher than those of the plants grown in 10 μm Fe and 3.0 mm K, indicating that the additional K increased the absorption of Fe under excess Mn level in the nutrient solution. The release of PS, chlorophyll content, and shoot Fe concentration were closely correlated.     

Diurnal variations in absorption and translocation of a ferrated phytosiderophore in barley as affected by iron deficiency

The release of phytosiderophore (PS) from roots of Fe-deficient graminaceous plants follows a distinct diurnal rhythm with maximum release rates occurring usually 3 to 4 hours after the onset of light. However, it remains to be determined whether absorption of the PS-Fe³⁺ complex shows a diurnal rhythmicity similar to that of PS release, Barley plants grown with or without 10 µM FeEDTA for 7 days were fed with ferreted PS (10 µM labelled with ⁵⁹Fe) at 4-h intervals to study the diurnal variations in the absorption and transloca tion of ⁵⁹Fe, The absorption of ⁵⁹Fe, irrespective of the Fe nutritional status of the plants, was higher during the day and lower during the night but did not show any peak throughout the day-night cycle. On the other hand, the translocation of ⁵⁹Fe into shoots of Fe-deficient plants was lower than that of Fe-sufficient plants, while the Fe nutritional status of the plants did not affect the absorption of ⁵⁹Fe by roots, The formation of root apoplastic ⁵⁹Fe was lower during the day and higher during the night, regardless of the Fe nutritional status of plants. Our results showed that the absorption of the PS-Fe³⁺ complex by roots did not follow the PS release pattern.     

Effectiveness of Phytosiderophore in Absorption and Translocation of 59Iron in Barley in the Presence of Plant-Borne,Synthetic, and Microbial Chelators

The mechanisms of iron (Fe) absorption and translocation in plants have received much study because they are the key processes in the supply of Fe to plants. The objective of this research was to study the effectiveness of phytosiderophore (PS) in the absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in Fe-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ‘Minorimugi’) plants in the presence of plant-borne, synthetic, or microbial chelators. Plants grown under Fe-deficient conditions in a phytotron at pH 5.5 for 7–18 d were fed with Fe³⁺ (10 μ M labeled with ⁵⁹Fe) in the presence of 10 μ M of different chelators with or without 10 μ M PS for 4 h starting at 2 p.m. (6 h after the onset of light period). The absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in plants treated with PS and Fe^{3 +} were increased relative to plants fed solely with Fe^{3 +} (control). There was no effect found on absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in plants treated with EDTA or p-coumarate relative to the control, but a differential increase was observed in ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with EDTA or p-coumarate in the presence of PS. In comparison with the control, a decrease in ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation was observed in plants treated with HEDTA or EDDHA or FOB, but this decrease was avoided in plants treated with HEDTA or EDDHA or FOB in the presence of PS. The enhancement of ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with citrate, and the highest ⁵⁹Fe absorption and translocation in plants treated with citrate and PS, indicated that citrate had an additive effect on Fe absorption and translocation in plants. Our results showed that PS effectively played a role in Fe absorption and translocation in plants in the presence of other chelators. Plants treated with any chelators had lower extracellular ⁵⁹Fe in the roots compared with the control.     

Characterization of Drought Tolerance in Bread Wheat Genotypes Using Physiological Indices

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food in many countries and is regarded as a vital source of nutrition. Drought is one the most prevalent limitations to wheat growth and development. Herein a two year study was conducted using 25 diverse wheat genotypes obtained from the gene pool of various research institutes of Pakistan to characterize their drought tolerance using various physiological indices like relative water content (RWC), relative dry weight (RDW), water saturation deficit (WSD), relative water loss (RWL), flag leaf area (LA), chlorophyll content index (CC) and their association with the grain yield (GY). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated the presence of significant amount of differences and genetic diversity among genotypes under study. Correlation analysis exposed positive association of CC and LA with GY. However, RWC was shown to have a highly significant and negative association with WSD and RWL. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that out of the 7 PCs only 2 were significant having eigenvalues >?1; cumulatively accounting for 88.70% and 73.03% of the total variation under control and drought stress conditions, respectively. Strikingly the results of the PCA biplots and cluster heat map exposed G1 (Barani-17), G2 (Dharabi-11), G3 (Ehsan-16), G4 (Chakwal-50), G17 (Ujala-2016) and G23 (Kohistan-97) as potential drought tolerant genotypes. Selection of the positively associated indices would be fruitful and the tolerant genotypes having drought tolerance potential could be utilized in future wheat breeding programs to develop high yielding and drought tolerant genotypes.