Determination of Residual and Cumulative Boron Requirements for Cotton and Wheat Crops Grown Under Calcareous Soil Conditions

A two-year field experiment was conducted to elucidate the residual and cumulative boron (B) requirements for cotton and wheat crops. For the first time, cotton was sown in randomized complete blocks those received 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg B ha^?1 as borax (Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂0). Later, each plot was divided into two subplots for successive wheat and cotton crops and half of the pots received B at similar rates. Our results revealed that direct application of B at the rate of 2 and 2.5 kg ha^?1 produced optimum cotton yield during 2005. The same rates of B were consistent in residual plots but not in cumulative plots for both of the crops in successive years. It was thus concluded that soil applied B at the rate of 2.0 and 2.5 kg ha^?1 had significant residual effects on cotton and wheat yields.     

Characterization of protease activity in developing discus Symphysodon aequifasciata larva

The activity of different protease classes was monitored in developing discus (Symphysodon spp.) larvae using a combination of biochemical assays and substrate SDS–PAGE techniques. Results showed the presence of alkaline proteases of serine proteases such as trypsin with a significant increase in activity levels detected beginning 3 days after hatching. Other alkaline proteases such as metallo‐proteases and chymotrypsin, a type of serine protease, were only detected in older larval stages, at around 20–30 days after hatching. Acidic protease activity was very low during the first 20–25 days of development before showing a significant (P < 0.01) rise. This is despite the formation of a stomach observed 10 days after hatching. Based on the development of the protein digestive system observed, the use of microdiets to replace Artemia should be considered 25 days after hatching.     

Potato minituber production from nodal cuttings compared to wholein vitro plantlets using low volume media in a greenhouse

Summary A greenhouse minituber production system involving low inputs of in vitro potato plantlets and propagation media is described, in vitro plantlets of six potato cultivars were sectioned into nodal cuttings and separately planted into moist peat based growing medium in shallow plastic trays. Cultivar differences were evident with respect to node viability, shoot regrowth and minituber yields. Nodal viability for shoot regrowth varied between 80–100%. Maximum shoot heights were recorded with whole in vitro plantlets (WIP) and the terminal Node-5 cluster. All cuttings produced minitubers. The terminal Node-5 cutting and WIP produced significantly larger minitubers >3.0 g as compared to single node cuttings. Greater numbers of minitubers were produced by the cvs Norchip, Red Pontiac and Conestoga as compared to cvs Eramosa. G8610-4PY and Shepody. Total numbers of minitubers were 3 to 5 times higher from each in vitro plantlet that was sectioned into nodal cuttings as compared with intact WIP: the yield ratios depended on cultivar.     

Clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic findings in 70 camels (Camelus dromedarius) with Johne��s disease

This study evaluated the use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of Johne’s disease in camels (Camelus dromedarius). Seventy camels with confirmed Johne’s disease were examined by ultrasonography and subsequent necropsy; 15 healthy camels were included as controls. The most outstanding findings were visible enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes in 52 (74%) camels. Lesions had either echogenic (26%; n = 18) or anechoic (69%; n = 48) capsule and the contents were either anechoic (21%; n = 15), echogenic (27%; n = 19), or heterogeneous (46%; n = 32). Clumps of echogenic tissue interspersed with fluid pockets were imaged between the intestinal loops in 9 (13%) camels. There was mild, moderate, or severe thickening and corrugation of the intestinal wall, excessive anechoic fluid in the abdominal cavity in 18 (26%) camels, increased hepatic brightness in 30 (43%) camels, and pericardial and pleural effusions in 22 (31%) camels. Sensitivity values for detecting intestinal lesions and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were 95% and 84%, respectively.     

Growth of common carp Cyprinus carpio in Anatolia (Turkey), with a comparison to native and invasive areas worldwide

Common carp Cyprinus carpio occurs in several non‐native areas worldwide, where it is generally regarded as either naturalised or invasive. Anatolia (Turkey) represents a unique region for evaluating common carp growth, due both to its location at the southernmost range of expansion of the species' wild form and to most of its water bodies having been stocked with domesticated strains. Based on a review of length‐at‐age data for common carp stocks from 45 water bodies sampled between 1953 and 2007, regional patterns in growth across climates, water body types, scalation variants and sexes, along with altitudinal gradients in growth performance and mortality, were investigated. Growth rates were lower in cold and arid relative to temperate climates, and also under hot or dry summers; this was true also of the mirror relative to the scale variant, males to females, but not of water body types (i.e., man‐made reservoirs, natural lakes, water courses). Growth performance and mortality decreased with increasing altitude and decreasing temperature, likely due to optimisation of resource allocation between growth and reproduction. Growth rate of common carp from Anatolia was consistently lower compared to its native (Eurasian) and, especially, invasive (North American) counterparts, which reflected an opportunistic life‐history strategy. Lower growth rates in Anatolia were ascribed to lower resilience of the widespread mirror variant together with limited habitat for spawning in man‐made reservoirs. Better knowledge of common carp growth in Anatolia will improve stock management and conservation efforts. Further studies will help clarify the mechanisms responsible for evolutionary genotype–phenotype inter‐relationships.     

Genetic analysis of growth rate and Kleiber ratio in Zandi sheep

Genetic parameters for average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADGa), birth to 6 months (ADGb), weaning to 6 months (ADGc), weaning to yearling age (ADGd), and corresponding Kleiber ratios (KRa, KRb, KRc, and KRd) were estimated by using records of 3,533 Zandi lambs, descendent of 163 sires and 1265 dams, born between 1991 and 2005 at the Zandi Sheep Breeding Station at Khojir National Park, Tehran, Iran. A derivative-free algorithm combined with a series of six single-trait linear animal models was used to estimate phenotypic variance and its direct, maternal, and residual components. In addition, bivariate analyses were done to estimate (co)variance components between traits. Estimates of direct heritability (h ² ) were 0.11, 0.15, 0.09, 0.10, 0.10, 0.10, 0.06, and 0.07 for ADGa, ADGb, ADGc, ADGd, KRa, KRb, KRc, and KRd, respectively, thereby indicating the presence of low additive genetic variation for growth rate and Kleiber ratio in this population of Zandi sheep. Maternal genetic component was found to be significant on ADGa and KRa and contributed 3% and 5%, respectively, in total phenotypic variance of ADGa and KRa. A widespread range of genetic correlations among traits studied was observed. Except for negative genetic correlations between ADGa and KRc, ADGa and KRd, and between KRa and KRc, in other cases, genetic correlations were positive and moderate to very high. Phenotypic correlations ranged from −0.49 (ADGa/KRd) to 0.94 (ADGc/KRc). These results indicate that selecting for improved growth rate or Kleiber ratio in Zandi sheep would generate a relatively slow genetic progress.     

Determination of soybean yield gap and potential production in Iran using modeling approach and GIS

Increasing crop production is necessary to maintain food security for the growing global population.Reducing the gap between actual and potential yield is one of the important ways to increase yield per unit area.Potential yield and the yield gap of soybean were determined for Golestan Province,Iran,using Soybean Simulation Model (SSM-i Crop2) and Geographical Information System (GIS).Information from 24 weather stations and soil data of the region were used.Yield gap and production gap were calculated at county and province levels.The average actual yield of soybean in this province was2.28 t ha~(–1) while the province’s potential yield was 4.73 t ha~(–1),so the yield gap was estimated 2.44 t ha~(–1).Thus,there is a great potential for increasing soybean yield in Golestan,which is possible through improving crop management of soybean in farmers’fields.The average water productivity of soybean was estimated to be 0.81 kg m~(–3).Spatial distribution of water productivity in soybean farms showed that the highest and the lowest water productivities (0.99 and 0.44 kg m~(–3)) were in western and eastern regions of the province,respectively,in accordance to vapour pressure deficit.It was concluded that soybean production in the province could increase by 66%(from 109 970 to 182 170 tons) if 80% of the current yield gap could be removed.