Effects of Ram Introduction After the Second Prostaglandin F2α Injection on Day 11 on the LH Surge Characteristics in Fat-Tailed Ewes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ram introduction after the second prostaglandin F_2α (PG F_2α) injection on day 11 on the secretion characteristics of pre‐ovulatory LH surge of fat‐tailed ewes. Multiparous Morkaraman ewes (n=12) were divided into three groups by balancing the groups for liveweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). On the day of second PGF_2α injection (0 h), performance tested rams (n=2) were either introduced to the ewes at 0 h (ram 0 group, n=4) or at 18 h (ram 18 group, n=4) or were not introduced (control group, n=4). Blood samples were collected at 6, 18, 42, 48, 56, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78 and 90 h for the determination of pre‐ovulatory LH surge. BCS and BW during the experimental period were 2.2 ± 0.2 units and 50.9 ± 2.3 kg, 2.4 ± 0.4 units and 49.2 ± 6.2 kg, 2.1 ± 0.3 units and 45.9 ± 4.4 kg, respectively for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in LH surge characteristics for the experimental groups. Peak LH concentrations were also not different between groups (p > 0.05) and they were 12.2 ± 8.3, 29.1 ± 9.9 and 15.8 ± 9.5 μg/l for the ram 0, ram 18 and control groups, respectively. There was, however, a significant correlation between peak LH concentrations and BCS (p < 0.05, R²=0.373). In conclusion, it appears that, compared with ram introduction, variability in body condition of the ewe has much pronounced effect on the amount of LH secreted after the usage of two PGF_2α injections (11 days apart) as a tool for oestrus synchronization.     

Effects of glandular foliar hairs on the spread of potato virus Y

Summary Sticky glandular hairs on the foliage of the wild potatoSolanum berthaultii hindered the departure of wingedMyzus persicae andBrachycaudus helichrysi. The presence of sticky hairs also decreased multiplication ofM. persicae, lessened probing and lessened acquisition of potato virus Y during 5 min access periods. It is suggested that if the glandular hairs were bred into potato cultivars, these features would help restrict the spread of aphidborne viruses in crops.

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Zusammenfassung Wie bereits früher gezeigt wurde, schützen klebrige Drüsenhaare auf den Bl?ttern der WildkartoffelSolanum berthaultii gegen verschiedene Kartoffelsch?dlinge einschliesslich der L?use; solche Haare gibt es in britischen Kartoffelsorten nicht. Ein Haartyp produziert ein klebriges Sekret an seiner Spitze, dieses Sekret kann mit ?thanol abgewaschen werden und eine st?ndige Berieselung mit Wasser verhindert eine Phytotoxizit?t. Ein zweiter Haartyp mit einer zellul?ren viergliedrigen Spitze wird durch das Waschen nicht beeinflusst. Drei Tage nach dem Aufsetzen von geflügeltenMyzus persicae oder geflügeltenBrachycaudus helichrysi (einem Vektor des Y-Virus der Kartoffel (PVY), der aber Kartoffeln nicht bef?llt) auf Planzen vonS. berthaultii oder von King Edward, blieben mehr als 85% auf mit Wasser berieseltenS. berthaultii, 45% auf mit ?thanol und Wasser gewaschenemS. berthaultii und nur 15–20% auf King Edward, unabh?ngig von der Behandlung (Abb. 1). Viele L?use, die aufS. berthaultii blieben, wurden gefangen und einige hatten durch das klebrige Sekret der Drüsenhaare verschmierte Mundpartien (Abb. 2).M. persicae nahm PVY h?ufiger von mit Wasser und ?thanol gewaschenen infizierten Bl?ttern vonS. berthaultii auf als von allein mit Wasser gewaschenen. Damit verbunden waren auch seltenere Probeeinstiche der L?use in mit Wasser gewaschene Bl?tter, aber h?ufige in Bl?tter deren Haare von dem klebrigen Sekret durch Alkoholwaschungen befreit waren. Diese im Gew?chshaus gewonnenen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Züchtung von Kartoffelsorten mit Drüsenhaaren, die vonS. berthaultii abstammen, helfen k?nnte, die Verbreitung der durch L?use übertragbaren Viren in Kartoffelbest?nden einzuschr?nken.

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Résumé Des poils foliaires glandulaires de la pomme de terre sauvageSolanum berthaultii ont déjà été observés comme protégeant de nombreaux ennemis de la pomme de terre, y compris les aphides. De tels poils ne sont pas connus sur les variétés britanniques. Un type de poil produit un exudat gluant à son extrémité. Ces exudats peuvent être lessivés par l'éthanol, dont on prévient la phytotoxicité par un rin?age immédiat à l'eau. Un second type de poil à extrémité cellulaire tétralobée n'est pas affecté par un tel lessivage. Trois jours après l'installation d'ailés deMyzus persicae on d'ailés deBrachycaudus helichrysi (un vecteur du virus Y de la pomme de terre (PVY) mais qui ne colonise pas la pomme de terre) sur les plants deS. berthaultii ou King Edward, 85% environ demeurent surS. berthaultii rincée avec de l'eau, 45% restent surS. berthaultii la vée à l'éthanol et à l'eau, et seulement 15–20% se maintiennent sur King Edward, quel que soit le traitement (fig. 1). La plupart des aphides restant surS. berthaultii sont piégés, et certains ont leurs pièces buccales engluées par l'exudat des poils glandulaires (fig. 2).M. persicae se multiplie plus lentement surS. berthaultii lavé à l'eau que surS. berthaultii lavé à l'éthanol.M. persicae acquiert le PVY plus fréquemment à partir des feuilles infectées deS. berthaultii lavées à l'éthanol et à l'eau que sur des feuilles seulement lavées à l'eau. Conjointement, les aphides explorent rarement les feuilles lavées à l'eau, mais visitent volontiers les feuilles dont les poils sont dépourvus de l'exudat gluant par lavage à l'éthanol. Ces résultats en serre suggèrent que les variétés de pomme de terre avec des poils glandulaires provenant de croisements deS. berthaultii pourraient aider à réduire l'extension de virus transmis par les pucerons dans les cultures de pomme de terre.

     

Progesterone profiles of fat-tailed tuj ewes following tactile and visual separation of rams at the beginning of the breeding season

The aim of this study was to determine the level and duration of progesterone secretion during the sequential oestrous cycles in fat-tailed Tuj ewes following tactile and visual separation of rams during the breeding season. For these purposes, rams were separated from the main flock for 50 days starting from the beginning of the breeding season and 21 ewes were randomly selected for the current experiment. In order to assess luteal activity and the length of oestrous cycles, the ewes were blood-sampled thrice or twice weekly for the measurement of progesterone in plasma. The data showed that 3 +/- 0.2 oestrous cycles were observed in this time window, and the first oestrous cycle observed was shorter (P < 0.05) than the following cycles (mean +/- SEM, 14.6 +/- 0.82, 16.5 +/- 0.48 and 17.0 +/- 0.54 days, respectively, for cycles 1, 2 and 3). Progesterone production was significantly lower in the first oestrous cycle compared with the second and third cycles on days 9, 12 and 14 of the cycles. The follicular periods of ewes showed four accumulations (maximum values using a 3-day moving average technique) throughout the study and the percentages of ewes at each accumulation (peak day +/- 1 day) were 50, 35, 65 and 80% for the first, second, third and fourth accumulations, respectively (P < 0.05). It was concluded that progesterone production was lower and the oestrous cycles were shorter during the first oestrous cycle and that tactile and visual separation of rams at the beginning of the breeding season might enhance the synchronizing effect towards the end of the breeding season in the fat-tailed Tuj ewes.     

Using Artificial Neural Network and Multiple Linear Regression for Predicting the Chlorophyll Concentration Index of Saint John’s Wort Leaves

This research investigates and compares artificial neural network and multiple linear regression for predicting the chlorophyll concentration index of Saint John’s wort leaves (Hypericum perforatum L.). Plants were fertilized with 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha^?1 nitrogen [34% nitrogen ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃)]. Chlorophyll concentration index of each leaf was measured using SPAD meter. Afterwards, rgb (red, green, and blue color) values of all leaf images were determined by image processing. Values obtained were modeled using both multiple regression analysis and artificial neural networks. Using multiple regression analysis R² values were between 0.61 and 0.97. Coefficient of determination values (R²) using artificial neutral network values were found to be 0.99. Artificial neutral network modeling successfully described the relationship between actual chlorophyll concentration index values and predicted chlorophyll concentration index values.