Influence of endogenous factors on the ash, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper and manganese contents in the bristles of pigs. 3. Influence of time of cutting on the mineral composition of the hair (boar bristles)]

The ash content and the content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na in the bristles of pigs is influenced by the age of the animal and by the season of the year. The peak concentrations of ash, Ca and Mg in the bristles of eight boars (cut every month) were found in June, shortly before the change in hair coat. (P less than 0.05-0.001). The concentrations of K and Na in the bristles deviated functionally from the change in the hair coat. In the first half of the year the bristles of the boars contained significantly more K and Na than in the second half. Values for the elements P, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn were subject to great variations through the year. These variations were found to be different with different animals. The influence of endogenic factors on the Mn content of the bristles was particularly striking, also in regard of the order of magnitude. The processes of Mn metabolism in the bristles are obviously still archaic in origin and would thus only allow to make comparison with other values of the mineral content of bristles at the very time of sampling. Differences in the P, Zn, Fe and Cu content of bristles in the different months were, in some instances, statistically significant although variations in the annual mean values were found to be relatively small.     

Excessive iron administration to sheep. 2. The effect on the iron, copper, zinc and manganese level in different organs

Lambs received 250, 1000 and 1750 mg Fe per kg concentrate dry matter. The Fe-supplementations caused the Fe-levels of spleen, liver, kidneys and ribs to rise significantly. Liver and spleen reflected most markedly the high Fe-supply. The Fe-supplementation reduced the Cu-content in the liver and the share of Zn in the kidneys. The Mn-content of all body parts analysed was not significantly influenced by Fe-supplementation.     

Soil‐moisture change caused by experimental extreme summer drought is similar to natural inter‐annual variation in a loamy sand in Central Europe

Intensification of weather extremes is currently emerging as one of the most important facets of climate change. Research frontiers are in analyzing (1) the consequences for the hydrological cycle and (2) the effects of multifactor scenarios on ecosystems. However, in all theoretical and experimental scenarios, challenges arise as to how precipitation regimes translate into variation in soil moisture. Here, we explore soil‐moisture response to experimental changes in the precipitation regime in Central Europe over a period of 5 y, particularly focusing on the effects of recurrent extreme weather events. Intraannual difference in weekly precipitation sums imposed by extreme‐drought or heavy‐rainfall manipulations clearly exceeded interannual variation in the ambient precipitation pattern during the growing season between 2005 and 2009. However, soil‐moisture variability in the experimental plots did not clearly reflect any altered patterns in response to the manipulated precipitation regime. Natural variation in soil moisture between years was similar to within‐season differences between manipulations. Strong differences in soil‐moisture dynamics during the growing season can, however, be generated by changing the temporal distribution of rainfall events while keeping the magnitude of the precipitation sum constant. Our findings confirm a common methodological dilemma in precipitation‐change experiments searching for a logical way to determine how precipitation change affects communities and ecosystems on relatively short time scales: Alteration of weather regimes according to extreme‐value statistics and future scenarios vs. systematic alteration of soil moisture. For Central Europe, our data suggest that other factors rather than the magnitude of rainfall exclusion or addition would appear to be decisive for ecosystem response to more extreme precipitation regimes. Response of soil moisture to frequency, return interval, and timing of events is a promising approach for further exploration. In addition, buffer capacity of the ecosystem under study has to be taken into account.     

Performance,carcass and technological meat quality of pigs in indoor and outdoor production systems

Abstract

This study aimed to compare different production systems, i.e., the combined effect of outdoor and indoor rearing of pigs and organic diets fed ad libitum or restrictively. Furthermore, the suitability of two breed crosses for outdoor rearing was studied. The effects on performance, carcass and technological quality traits were investigated. During two years, 240 pigs of Duroc x Large White (D*LW) and Swedish Landrace x Large White (L*LW) were allocated to three production systems: 1) Pigs kept outdoors, fed an organic diluted diet (20% alfalfa roughage) ad libitum; 2) Pigs kept outdoors, strategically fed a diluted organic diet up to a live weight of approximately 80 kg and thereafter an undiluted organic diet ad libitum; 3) Pigs kept indoors, fed an undiluted organic diet restrictively. For outdoor pigs, strategic feeding increased daily weight gain and backfat thickness, compared with feeding a diluted diet throughout (p≤0.01). L*LW pigs in both outdoor systems grew slower than in the indoor system (p≤0.001), whereas for D*LW pigs only outdoor pigs fed the diluted diet had a slower growth rate. Outdoor pigs had lower dressing percentage than indoor pigs. Glycogen content and L* values in M. longissimus dorsi were higher, whereas b* values were lower in meat from pigs in the indoor system. D*LW pigs had higher water-holding capacity (lower drip, thawing and cooking losses), lower shear force and higher intramuscular fat content compared with L*LW pigs.     

Evolution and Distribution of Saxitoxin Biosynthesis in Dinoflagellates

Numerous species of marine dinoflagellates synthesize the potent environmental neurotoxic alkaloid, saxitoxin, the agent of the human illness, paralytic shellfish poisoning. In addition, certain freshwater species of cyanobacteria also synthesize the same toxic compound, with the biosynthetic pathway and genes responsible being recently reported. Three theories have been postulated to explain the origin of saxitoxin in dinoflagellates: The production of saxitoxin by co-cultured bacteria rather than the dinoflagellates themselves, convergent evolution within both dinoflagellates and bacteria and horizontal gene transfer between dinoflagellates and bacteria. The discovery of cyanobacterial saxitoxin homologs in dinoflagellates has enabled us for the first time to evaluate these theories. Here, we review the distribution of saxitoxin within the dinoflagellates and our knowledge of its genetic basis to determine the likely evolutionary origins of this potent neurotoxin.     

农杆菌介导的VgDGAT1a基因棉花茎尖转化体系优化研究

为了将斑鸠菊(Vernonia galamensis)二酰甘油酰基转移酶基因(VgDGAT1a)导入棉花,创制转基因高油棉花种质,优化建立农杆菌介导的棉花茎尖转化体系,以‘中棉所49’茎尖为外植体,以HptⅡ基因为筛选标记,VgDGAT1a为目的基因,用农杆菌介导法,研究外植体培养时间、浸菌侵染时间、共培养时间及吸光度A600值等对棉花茎尖转化的影响。结果表明,在外植体培养3～5d、生长点纵切、菌液吸光度A600值0.6～0.9、浸菌40～60min、浸菌后暗培养1d和使用MSB+活性炭1g/L+头孢霉素400mg/L作为生根培养基的条件下能高效获得再生转化植株,从而为转基因高油棉花种质的创制提供了一种有效的方法。