In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Straws and a Short Gamete Coincubation Time Improves the Efficiency of Porcine IVF

The present study was designed to evaluate three different in vitro fertilization (IVF) systems: a straw‐IVF system with 10 min of coincubation, a straw‐IVF system with 6‐h coincubation and the microdrop‐IVF system with 6‐h coincubation (the traditional IVF system used routinely in most of IVF laboratories) in an attempt to reduce polyspermic penetration ( Experiment 1 ). When the straw‐IVF system was tested in combination with two coincubation times, the use of 10 min of coincubation significantly increased (p < 0.001) the penetration rate and the efficiency of fertilization (67.7 ± 6.4% vs 31.9 ± 6.5% and 41.5 ± 2.5% vs 17.6 ± 2.5% for 10 min and 6 h, respectively), while there were no significant differences in the incidence of monospermy between both systems (64.3 ± 5.1% and 67.7 ± 3.4%, for 10 min and 6 h, respectively). The penetration rate in the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system was higher (93.8 ± 3.6%; p < 0.001) compared with the 10‐min straw‐IVF system (67.7 ± 6.4%), however, monospermy was severely reduced (25.0 ± 4.3% vs 67.7 ± 3.4%, for the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system and 10‐min straw‐IVF system, respectively). The efficiency of the IVF showed similar values between microdrop and 6‐h straw‐IVF systems, but efficiency was significantly improved (p < 0.05) when the 10‐min straw‐IVF system was used. Experiment 2 was designed to compare porcine in vitro embryo production in two IVF systems, the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system (1000 sperm per oocyte) and 10‐min straw‐IVF system (30 000 sperm per oocyte). The blastocyst formation rates tended (p = 0.06) to be higher when the 10‐min straw‐IVF system was used compared with the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system. In addition, the number of total cells per blastocyst increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 10‐min straw‐IVF system. These results showed that the 10‐min straw‐IVF system is an effective way to decrease polyspermic penetration, and improve the efficiency of fertilization and the quality of blastocysts in terms of cell number per embryo.     

Mini‐cutting technique application in Corymbia and Eucalyptus: effects of mini‐tunnel use across seasons of the year

New Forests - The forestry sector has been able to sustainably satisfy the increasing global demand for forest products, thereby positively impacting the economy, while mitigating climate change....     

Genetic diversity for seed storage proteins in Lebanon and Turkey populations of wild diploid wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum urartu</Emphasis> Thum. ex Gandil.)

Triticum urartu is a wild diploid wheat identified as donor of the A genome in the durum and bread wheats. This species has its natural distribution zone in the Fertile Crescent. Nine populations from this zone (five Lebanese and four Turkish) were analysed for the variation in the loci coding of endosperm storage proteins: glutenins (Glu-A ^u 1 and Glu-A ^u 3) and gliadins (Gli-A ^u 1 and Gli-A ^u 2). Up to 10 alleles for the Glu-A ^u 1 locus, 16 for the Glu-A ^u 3 locus, 15 for the Gli-A ^u 1 locus and 18 for the Gli-A ^u 2 locus were found. The Turkish populations showed greater diversity than the Lebanese populations, distributing mainly within populations, whereas the inverse process takes place for the Lebanese populations. The values of the genetic diversity indicated that, although these materials showed high level of variability, exist a real risk of genetic erosion.     

Silicon and salicylic acid promote different responses in legume plants

Abstract

The foliar application of silicon (Si) and salicylic acid (SA) can be beneficial to plants. However, there are doubts about the interaction of Si and SA in the physiology and yield of legume crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Si and SA on the photosynthetic variables and yield of soybean and bean grains. The experiments were composed by four treatments: potassium silicate and stabilized sodium at a concentration of 3.6?g?L^?1 Si in the absence and presence of SA (210?mg?L^?1), only SA, and without Si or SA. The interaction of Si with foliar SA enhanced photosynthesis only in soybean; it did not affect the physiological variables of bean and did not alter the yield of the two crops. The results indicated that foliar Si application at high concentrations, independently of SA application, increased the physiological variables of the soybean without affecting the yield; however, the combined application of Si and SA had an adverse effect on the physiology and yield of bean.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> somatic embryogenesis is affected by the physical and chemical conditions at the initial stages of the process

Pinus halepensis has been described as a drought-tolerant species with high plasticity to growth in different environments. Its eco-physiological characteristics could facilitate the use of this species in large afforestations in the future scenery of climate change. Somatic embryogenesis is a biotechnological tool with potential for large-scale clonal propagation. In order to establish an improved regeneration protocol for Pinus halepensis, the effects of different temperatures (18, 23, and 28 °C) and water availability conditions (2, 3, and 4 g L^?1 Gelrite^®), during initiation of embryonal masses on the rate of initiation, proliferation, maturation, and the number of embryos developed, were evaluated. It was found that environmental conditions during the initiation stage of Pinus halepensis somatic embryogenesis influence the success of initiation and proliferation. In contrast, there was no effect of these conditions on the maturation rates and the number of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were obtained in all treatments tested, indicating that plants can be produced from extreme conditions of induction, such as high temperatures (28 °C) and low water availability conditions (4 g L^?1).     

普通野生稻稻瘟病广谱抗性基因Pi-gx（t）的遗传分析和定位

【目的】探明来源于广西普通野生稻的稻瘟病抗源RB221与部分已知抗病基因水稻品种抗谱的异同,其抗性基因的遗传模式及在染色体上所处的位点,确定其抗病基因是否为新的抗病基因。【方法】采用从广西不同稻作区收集的8个稻瘟病菌系对抗源RB221和11个已知抗病基因的水稻品种进行抗谱测定,并对RB221抗病基因进行等位性分析、经典遗传分析及分子标记定位。【结果】抗源RB221的抗谱与11个已知抗病基因的水稻品种有差异,其对8个菌系均表现出抗病反应,在所有参试品种中抗谱最广。等位性测定结果表明,抗源RB221所携抗病基因与已知抗病基因品种所携带的Pi-3、Pi-7（t）、Pi-ta、Pi-K、Pi-b是不等位。经典遗传分析结果显示,抗源RB221对03-35E菌系的抗性受1对显性基因控制。SSR标记定位结果表明,RB221抗病基因定位于第2染色体的SSR标记RM240与RM1092之间,与RM240的遗传距离为1.3 cM,与RM1092的遗传距离为2.2 cM。【结论】抗源RB221的抗性基因Pi-gx（t）为新发现的抗病基因,位于第2染色体上,与第2染色体上已定位的抗性基因处于不同基因位点上。     

Testing of the protective effect of cell-free lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease in field trials]

The protective effect of a lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease ("Keramvac"--Pfizer), prepared from a cell-free turkey's herpesvirus (strain FC 126), was compared in field trials with losses in the group of non-vaccinated chickens. Under the indicated conditions, the vaccine had only a 50.86% effectiveness. The possible causes of the reduced vaccination effect are discussed with regard to the pathomorphological and virological findings suggesting, among others, an increased incidence of the symptoms of the classical form of Marek's disease in the population investigated.     

岚皋魔芋软腐病病原细菌生物多样性研究

【目的】研究岚皋魔芋软腐病病原细菌生物多样性。【方法】采用组织分离法分离纯化魔芋软腐病球茎及叶柄中的致病菌,通过魔芋球茎、胡萝卜及马铃薯块的侵染试验初步确定其致病性,再利用魔芋球茎侵染致病及盆栽致病性试验确认其致病性;经菌落与细胞形态、生理生化特性及16SrRNA序列测定确定病原菌的类型。【结果】从魔芋软腐病球茎及叶柄中共分离获得16株细菌,侵染试验表明,其中CDS1-B1、CDS1-B2、CDS2-B1、CDS2-B2、CZS-B4和CZS-B6共6株细菌可使魔芋球茎表现软腐症状,并导致盆栽魔芋发病;6株细菌的菌落与细胞形态均存在差异;在魔芋、胡萝卜及马铃薯块上的侵染能力不同;16SrRNA序列分析表明,菌株CDS1-B1、CDS1-B2、CDS2-B1及CDS2-B2均与菊欧氏杆菌(Erwinia chrysanthemi)亲缘关系最近,菌株CZS-B4与菊欧文氏菌(Dickeya dadantii)亲缘关系最近,相似度为98.8%,菌株CZS-B6与菊果胶杆菌(Pectobacterium chrysanthemi)的相似度达99.9%。【结论】导致岚皋县魔芋软腐病的致病细菌存在生物多样性,其致病性也存在差异,其中新发现的魔芋软腐病原菌菊果胶杆菌(Pecto-bacterium chrysanthemi)致病性最强,菊欧氏杆菌(Erwinia chrysanthemi)和菊欧文氏菌(Dickeya dadantii)致病性较弱。