Agronomic diversity of naked barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum vulgare</Emphasis> L.): a potential resource for breeding new food barley for Europe

Naked (hulless) barley was neglected by plant breeders in Europe during the period of intensive crop improvement in the 20th Century, but it is now receiving renewed interest due to the potential health benefits it can convey. Very few naked barley cultivars have been developed for modern UK or European agricultural systems, in contrast to the wide diversity of naked barley in Asia. Prior to initiating any breeding programme, phenotyping in UK field conditions is needed to assess the value of existing exotic landraces. This article reports such a programme where naked barley landrace lines were grown alongside modern cultivars and unimproved UK hulled landrace lines over 4 years at a research station in North Wales and assessed for yield and agronomic traits. Multivariate analysis of the traits suggested that accessions clustered by region of origin. Himalayan landrace lines formed Eastern and Western clusters while Japanese and Korean landrace lines were distinct from these. European naked barleys were found to be closest to European hulled barleys, suggesting that the distinctiveness of the Asian naked barley landrace lines was due to origin rather than the naked grain trait per se. The only agronomic trait that could be attributed to naked grain was poorer crop establishment, but some Himalayan landrace lines showed vigorous seedling growth. Modern lines of naked barley from Syria gave superior yields to old UK hulled barleys, indicating that there is potential for breeding modern UK cultivars of naked barley.     

Genotypic differences in shoot silicon concentration and the impact on grain arsenic concentration in rice

Silicon in rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been demonstrated to be involved in resistance to lodging, drought, and salinity, and also enhances resistance to pests and diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the range of silicon concentration in a set of rice (Oryza sativa L.) accessions, and to determine if the natural variation of shoot silicon is linked to the previously identified silicon transporters (Lsi genes). Silicon concentration was determined in 50 field‐grown accessions, representing all sub‐populations of rice, with all accessions being genotyped with 700K SNPs. SNPs within 10 kb of the Lsi genes were examined to determine if any were significantly linked with the phenotypic variation. An XRF method of silicon determination compared favourably with digestion and colorimetric analysis. There were significant genotypic differences in shoot silicon ranging from 16.5 to 42.4 mg g^?1 of plant dry weight, but there was no significant difference between the rice sub‐populations. Plants with different alleles for SNPs representing Lsi2 and Lsi3 were significantly different for shoot silicon concentration. Shoot silicon correlated negatively with grain arsenic in the tropical and temperate japonica sub‐population, suggesting that accessions with high shoot silicon have reduced grain arsenic. This study indicates that alleles for Lsi genes are excellent candidate genes for further study to explain the natural variation of shoot silicon in rice.     

Key beliefs underlying public feeding of free-roaming cats in Malaysia and management suggestions

Public feeding of free-roaming cats subsidizes their population growth, and has consequences in highly interconnected ecosystems including predation of native wildlife and alteration of their behavior and populations. Research is needed to explain, predict, and possibly curb public feeding. We conducted a theoretically informed analysis of key beliefs underlying intentions to feed free-roaming cats in Malaysia, offering new insights as well as management suggestions. Normative beliefs had the strongest associations with behavioral intentions. Management strategies should consider social influences from families and friends of those who feed free-roaming cats, especially cat owners and their significant others. Our results also suggest key behavioral beliefs regarding disadvantages of feeding free-roaming cats could be strengthened through education and other initiatives. The findings are particularly important for Malaysia, which is biodiversity-rich but has a large free-roaming cat population and a high incidence of public feeding.     

Variation in pesticide hazard from arable crop production in Great Britain from 1992 to 2008: An extended time-series analysis

Efforts to assess reductions in the hazard posed by pesticides in arable systems present complex problems to policy makers both nationally and at a European level. Attempts to monitor changes in hazard rely to a large extent on the quality of the surveillance and the indices used to collate multi-faceted data. This study is an update on previous work using the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) to evaluate changes in pesticide hazard following the introduction of the European Directive 91/414/EEC. Findings from the study suggest that pesticide hazard has decreased during the study period 1992–2008 although reduction was not even across all crop types or time periods, with limited change in the past six years. This study is proposed as baseline for further monitoring of the effectiveness of the new European regulations 1107/2009 ‘the placing of plant protection products on the market’ to further reduce the impact of pesticides on non-target organisms.     

Spatial variation in the somatic growth rates of European barbel Barbus barbus: a UK perspective

The European barbel Barbus barbus is threatened in areas of its range because of its sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance in riverine habitats and, in the UK, is indigenous to a relatively small number of east‐flowing rivers, with nonindigenous populations present in other rivers following introductions for angling enhancement. Fish stock assessment surveys completed between 2002 and 2010 collated age and growth data from 20 rivers across their indigenous and nonindigenous UK range. Analyses revealed that individuals present in samples are of 21 years old, with growth rates highly variable between rivers. There was no relationship between growth rates and the maximum age of fish per river, and there was no difference in growth rates between their indigenous and nonindigenous ranges. A range of abiotic data were collated and analysed against the growth data; these analyses suggested higher mean growth rates were evident in rivers of higher biological water quality (expressed as British Monitoring Working Party Score) and higher mean air temperatures (used as a surrogate of water temperature). That growth of B. barbus was significantly and positively enhanced by increased biological water quality was in contrast to cyprinid fishes such as roach Rutilus rutilus and suggests that as river water quality continues to improve through reduced nutrient inputs, further ecological changes are likely in riverine fish communities.     

Cadmium Tolerance and Accumulation in Wild Rice Species

<正>When exposed to cadmium(Cd), rice(Oryza sativa L.) suffers a loss in biomass as well as an increased concentration of Cd within the plant. When looking for genes that can reduce Cd accumulation or increase Cd tolerance, the wild relatives of rice are under-utilised resources. In this study, a rapid hydroponic screening system was established using known tolerant and sensitive O. sativa accessions,     

Determination of the Minimum Infusion Rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to a standardised noxious stimulus in goats

ObjectiveTo determine the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to noxious stimulation.Study DesignProspective, experimental.AnimalsEight healthy goats; four does and four wethers.MethodsAnaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone 3 mg kg⁻¹ intravenously (IV). A continuous IV infusion of alfaxalone, initially at 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹, was initiated. Following endotracheal intubation the goats breathed spontaneously via a circle breathing circuit delivering supplementary oxygen. The initial infusion rate was maintained for 30 minutes before testing for responses. The stimulus was clamping on the proximal (soft) part of one digit of the hoof with Vulsellum forceps for 60 seconds. In the absence or presence of purposeful movement of the extremities, the infusion rate was reduced or increased by 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ and held constant for 30 minutes before claw-clamping again. Alfaxalone MIR was calculated as the mean of the infusion rates that allowed and abolished movement. Cardio-respiratory parameters were measured. Recovery from general anaesthesia was timed and quality scored. Results are presented as median (range).ResultsThe MIR of alfaxalone was 0.16 (0.14–0.18) mg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ or 9.6 (8.4–10.8) mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹. Induction of and recovery from anaesthesia were excitement-free. Cardio-respiratory changes were minimal, although compared to baseline HR increased, and at 2 minutes post-induction, (prior to oxygen supplementation), PaO₂ decreased significantly from 84 (80–88) to 70 (51–72) mmHg [11.2 (10.7–11.7) to 9.3 (6.8–9.6) kPa]. Sporadic muscle twitches, unrelated to depth of anaesthesia, were observed during the period of general anaesthesia. Time (minutes) to sternal recumbency and standing were 4.0 (3.0–10.0) and 41.5 (25.0–57.0) respectively.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceAlfaxalone can be used for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in goats and is associated with minimal adverse effects. Oxygen supplementation is advised, especially when working at higher altitudes.