Ranking cows’ methane emissions under commercial conditions with sniffers versus respiration chambers

This study assessed the ranking of dairy cows using individual-level correlations for methane (CH₄) emission on-farm using sniffers and in respiration chambers. In total 20 lactating dairy cows, ten Holstein and ten Jerseys were recorded using sniffers installed in milking robots for three weeks of lactation and subsequently in respiration chambers (RC) where they were each recorded on three occasions within the RC. Bivariate linear mixed models were used to determine the individual-level correlations (r_I) between sniffer and RC phenotypes as proxies for genetic correlations. Despite differences in feeding and management, the predicted CH₄ production from sniffers correlated highly with RC CH₄ production r_I?=?0.77?±?0.18 and CH₄ breath concentration correlated nearly as well with RC CH₄ production r_I?=?0.75?±?0.20. These correlations between sniffers on-farm and RC demonstrate the potential of sniffers measurements as large-scale indicator traits for CH₄ emissions in dairy cattle.     

铅胁迫对金丝草生长及生理生化的影响

采用土培方法,探究不同梯度铅胁迫(0、1000、2000和3000 mg·kg^-1)对金丝草生长形态、体内抗氧化系统和渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明:低浓度(1000 mg·kg^-1)处理会诱导金丝草叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量和根系抗超氧阴离子自由基活力(ASAFR)、可溶性糖(SS)及脯氨酸(Pro)含量增加,使得金丝草植株总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)处于较高水平,促进了金丝草株高、叶长和生物量的增加。随胁迫浓度增加,高浓度(2000~3000 mg·kg^-1)处理下,金丝草叶片和根系丙二醛(MDA)含量迅速增加,株高、叶长、叶面积和生物量下降,生长受到抑制。但金丝草通过增强叶片和根系POD、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性来抵御过氧化作用,提高可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量维持细胞正常运作,增加根系生物量占比来加强根系发育,一定程度适应了高浓度铅胁迫。综上表明,金丝草主要通过叶片和根系不同抗氧化酶差异化响应、提高渗透调节物质含量,提升金丝草植株总抗氧化能力等途径来提高Pb耐性,对Pb污染矿区植物修复有较大潜力。     

盐胁迫对菘蓝幼苗生长和抗性生理的影响

以“定蓝1号”为试验材料,采用不同浓度NaCl溶液(0,30,60,90,120和150 mmol·L^-1)对菘蓝幼苗进行处理,胁迫14 d后测定了其生长指标、生物量积累、叶片相对含水量、根系活力、根质膜透性、渗透调节物质含量以及抗氧化酶活性等指标,分析不同程度盐胁迫对菘蓝幼苗生长和抗性生理的影响。结果表明:NaCl胁迫对菘蓝幼苗株高和根长都有抑制作用,对根和叶的物质积累也有显著影响,并随浓度的递增呈降低的趋势;菘蓝幼苗叶片相对含水量和根系活力均随NaCl浓度的增加呈现下降趋势,而根质膜透性、叶片脯氨酸含量则呈升高趋势;丙二醛(MDA)含量、组织自动氧化速率(RAD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性都随NaCl浓度的增加呈先升高后降低的趋势。但当NaCl浓度低于90 mmol·L^-1时,菘蓝幼苗的生长没有受到盐胁迫的明显抑制,根系活力降低不明显,脯氨酸、丙二醛含量和保护酶活性也未显著升高,说明菘蓝幼苗对低浓度盐环境具有一定的耐受性。     

人工改造野生大豆GsDREB2基因对植物耐盐和耐渗透胁迫能力的影响

DREB (dehydration responsive element binding protein)转录因子是一个干旱应答元件的结合蛋白,它能特异结合启动子中含有DRE/CRT顺式元件,激活逆境诱导基因的表达,调控植物对干旱、低温、高盐、高温等胁迫的耐逆性。大量研究表明DREB转录因子在信号传导、作用机理及基因表达方面存在复杂性。为了野生大豆来源GsDREB2基因能更有效地发挥功能,人工突变该基因的负向调节结构域(negative regulatory domain, NRD,140~204),经改造命名为GsDREB2-mNRD。在酵母中比较全长基因(FLDREB2)和GsDREB2-mNRD转录激活和与DRE元件结合的能力,并验证GsDREB2-mNRD核定位情况。分别将FLDREB2和GsDREB2-mNRD转化拟南芥,通过拟南芥幼苗期盐胁迫和渗透胁迫试验,比较GsDREB2-mNRD和FLDREB2在提高植物耐盐和渗透胁迫方面的差异。结果表明,GsDREB2基因内部存在着负向调节结构域(NRD),抑制了GsDREB2转录激活功能和DRE元件结合的特性;经改造的GsDREB2基因依然能定位在细胞核;超量表达GsDREB2-mNRD基因的拟南芥耐盐和渗透胁迫能力明显强于非转基因对照,也高于FLDREB2基因超表达的拟南芥;野生大豆来源的GsDREB2基因NRD结构域的缺失可增强该基因在植物耐盐、渗透胁迫等逆境胁迫下的功能。     

水氮供应对地下滴灌紫花苜蓿生长特征及草地小气候的影响

为探讨不同水氮处理条件下紫花苜蓿生长状况与草地小气候特征的关系,以2年生紫花苜蓿“巨能7号”为研究对象,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了宁夏引黄灌区地下滴灌条件下不同滴灌量和施氮量处理下紫花苜蓿生长特征和草地小气候的变化。结果表明:1)滴灌量和施氮量对紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量都有显著的影响,表现为紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量均随滴灌量和施氮量的增加而增加,当施氮量增加到一定值时,继续增施氮肥,其鲜草产量增产效果在不同滴灌量处理下表现出不同的趋势。2)与不施氮处理相比,增施氮肥降低了紫花苜蓿株间空气温度、浅层土层温度和株间光照强度,而增加了群体内部空气相对湿度。3)不同滴灌量对紫花苜蓿的生长微环境的调节作用不同,随着滴灌量的增加,紫花苜蓿群体相对湿度逐渐提高,而紫花苜蓿株间气温和浅层土层温度降温效应越明显。4)紫花苜蓿生育期间株高与叶面积、草产量和群体内部相对湿度呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与群体内光照强度、株间气温、浅层土壤温度呈极显著负相关(P<0.01)。合理减少滴灌量和施氮量不仅能维持紫花苜蓿良好的生长特征,而且能提高鲜草产量和改善草地生态环境条件。本研究旨在为紫花苜蓿群体微环境生态因子的改善及高产优质栽培措施提供科学依据。     

Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

Use of two doses of cloprostenol in different intervals for estrus synchronization in hair sheep under tropical conditions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study evaluated the effect of two doses of prostaglandin at different intervals on reproductive parameters of crossbred ewes. In Experiment 1, 30 ewes...     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotype 1b in water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) from Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Serological studies have characterized the presence of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in water buffalo herds worldwide. However, the...     

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current understanding and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Equine Endocrine Group

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the current knowledge and opinions about the epidemiology, clinical findings (including sequelae), diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, particularly in the Australian context. This information and the recommendations provided will assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the diagnosis and management of this disorder.