Is it possible to forecast the grain quality and yield of different varieties of winter wheat from Minolta SPAD meter measurements?

To optimize wheat segregation for the various markets, it is necessary to add to genotype segregation, a prediction before harvest of the values of yield and grain protein concentration (GPC) for the different fields of the collecting area. Different tools allowing a prediction of crop production exist. Among them, the evaluation of nitrogen concentration by a chlorophyll meter (Soil–Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) readings), classically used to adapt the nitrogen fertilizer application, has been used in few works to foresee grain yield and grain protein concentration. But the relationships between N crop status and SPAD measurements varies among varieties and this genotypic effect has rarely been incorporated in models of forecasting grain quality.

This paper compares several models to forecast yield, nitrogen uptake in grain (NUG) and grain protein concentration from trials carried out in 2001 and 2002 at the INRA experiment station of Grignon (West of Paris). Trials crossed nine varieties by four (2002) or five (2001) nitrogen rates. Input variables of those models are mainly chlorophyll meter measurements (SPAD) on the penultimate leaf at GS65 and on the flag leaf at GS71 Zadoks growth stages and ear number per square meter (NE).

A square root model of yield based on NE × SPAD gave the best fit (RMSE = 0.6 t ha⁻¹ for both stages) if considering three different groups of genotypes. Based on the same variable, NE × SPAD, a quadratic model for NUG without significant effect of genotypes gave the best fit (RMSE, between 21 and 30 kg ha⁻¹ depending of the growth stage). And, for GPC, considering the same three groups of genotypes, the slope of the linear model with the ratio of predicted grain nitrogen concentration to predicted yield, is the same at both stages and very close to the standard value used to calculate protein concentration from nitrogen concentration (5.7), but the predictive quality of the model is more than 10% higher at GS71 (R² of 0.77) than at flowering (R² of 0.64). Finally, the sensibility of the models to delay in the stage of measurement is discussed.     

The effect of the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes with different vrn loci on growth phases and quantitative characters of wheat

The differences between effects of homoeologous group 5 chromosomes on growth phases and agronomic characters were studied by using reciprocal substitution lines between a winter wheat cultivar with a high vernalization requirement (Mironovskaya 808) and one with lowvernalization requirement (Bezostaya 1), in which the presence of different recessive vrn alleles is supposed. The two cultivars and the substitution lines Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5A), Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5B), Mironovskaya 808 (Bezostaya 1 5D), Bezostaya1 (Mironovskaya 808 5A), Bezostaya 1 (Mironovskaya 808 5B),Bezostaya 1 (Mironovskaya 808 5D) were grown at 10 different sowing dates. The results showed that differences between the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes of Mironovskaya 808 and those of Bezostaya 1influenced the growth phases in addition to the impact by the genetic background and sowing date. We inferred from the analysis and comparison of their effect on vernalization response that vrn loci on these chromosomes influence growth phases. It is probably due to pleiotropic effects of the loci. The rare occurrence of significant interactions between group 5 chromosomes × sowing dates probably indicates independence of their effect. Agronomic characters were also markedly influenced by sowing date and the difference in backgrounds between Mironovskaya 808 and Bezostaya 1. A significant impact by at least two of the chromosomes on almost all studied characters was detected. The chromosomes affected the combined characters in the order5D>5B>5A and the positive value of the differences suggests that a content of Mironovskaya 808 chromosomes is more advantageous. It was possible to find certain indices in some agronomic traits, supporting the idea that the expression of some characters can also be connected to vernalization requirement and thus to the expression of the vrn loci. This supposition is most probable in the number of tillers and number of spikes. In some traits significant interactions occurred between homoeologous group 5 chromosomes × genetic background. Sporadic and low significance between homoeologous group 5 chromosomes × sowing dates suggest that the genetic effect of these chromosomes is independent of environmental conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

宁夏永宁葡萄育苗圃根结线虫鉴定

对宁夏永宁县葡萄育苗圃中15个葡萄品种的根结线虫进行形态学和分子生物学鉴定。结果表明:宁夏永宁县葡萄育苗圃根结线虫病危害严重,不同葡萄品种的苗木感病症状表现不同。根据根结线虫雌虫和2龄幼虫的形态特征及雌虫会阴花纹,初步鉴定出该地区葡萄根结线虫的种类是南方根结线虫(Meloidogyne incognita)和花生根结线虫(M.arenaria)。利用根结线虫线粒体DNA(mtDNA)通用引物(C2F3/1108)及序列特异性扩增区(SCAR)特异性引物(MI-F/MI-R和Far F/Far R)对葡萄根结线虫的种类再次鉴定,鉴定结果与形态学鉴定结果一致。另外发现不同葡萄品种上根结线虫的种类与数量存在差异,南方根结线虫(M. incognita)占根结线虫群体的88.57%,为优势种群。     

An assessment of genetic diversity and population structures of fifteen Vietnamese indigenous pig breeds for supporting the decision making on conservation strategies

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The study aimed to characterize genetic diversity, genetic clusters, and phylogenetic relationships of 15 Vietnamese indigenous pig breeds across the country...     

Effect of olive-derived antioxidants (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol and 3,4 dihydroxyphenylglycol) on sperm motility and fertility in liquid ram sperm stored at 15°C or 5°C

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of two olive oil-derived antioxidants, hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol, HT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), on ovine semen during liquid storage at 5°C and 15°C. Semen was collected, pooled, diluted and then divided into aliquots supplemented with different concentrations (5 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml) of HT, DHPG and a mixture (MIX) of both antioxidants. Sperm motility characteristics were assessed in the different samples at 0, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr after cooling, and a fertility trial was also conducted. The results showed that the antioxidant addition did not significantly improve total and progressive motility in ovine cooled sperm maintained at 15° or 5°C. However, in samples stored at 5°C, LIN (48, 72, 96 hr), STR (0 hr) and WOB (0, 48, 72, 96 hr) values significantly decreased in comparison with control treatment when high antioxidant concentrations were added (MIX100 or HT100). When samples were maintained at 15°C, MIX50 showed significantly higher VCL values than the control treatment after 6 hr cooling, and MIX100 showed significantly lower VCL values at 96 hr after cooling. According to the artificial insemination trial, no significant differences were observed when antioxidants were added. In conclusion, the use of HT and DHPG showed small impact in sperm motility and fertility was not affected (nor detrimentally nor positively) when insemination was carried out using antioxidant-supplemented liquid sperm.     

同源血浆及血清中蓝舌病病毒抗体ELISA检测结果比较

为简化动物血液样品中蓝舌病病毒（BTV）检测及研究方法,采用2种酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）,对采自云南省德宏州芒市一家肉牛养殖场的30对牛同源血浆及血清样品进行BTV总抗体及VP7抗体检测。BTV总抗体ELISA检测结果显示,同源血浆与血清之间的阳/阴性结果一致率为100%,ΔPI在±5%以内的样品占87%;VP7抗体ELISA检测结果显示,同源血浆与血清之间的阳/阴性结果一致率为93%,ΔOD在±0.05范围内的样品占87%。结果表明：利用ELISA检测动物血样中BTV抗体时,血浆样品可替代血清样品;血浆样品的溶血程度不影响检测结果,但粗制血浆中的非溶解性杂质可能影响检测结果,需要使用离心除杂后的血浆样品。     

Mensuration of the rabbit pituitary gland from computed tomography

The aim of this retrospective reference interval observational study was to determine the mensuration of the pituitary gland (hypophysis cerebri) by analyzing CT studies in rabbits without clinical evidence of pituitary disease or central neurologic signs. Though diseases of the rabbit pituitary gland are uncommon, the pituitary gland is essential in regulation of the rabbit's endocrine system, as in other species. Currently, there are minimal published studies that detail the rabbit head anatomy on cross‐sectional imaging, and even less specifically examining the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland was measured by one observer at a single time point from transverse and reconstructed sagittal CT images in a soft‐tissue algorithm in 62 rabbits for a total of 66 rabbit head CT studies. The rabbits ranged from 0.84 to 14 years in age (mean ± SD: 5.46 ± 3.05 years) and 0.92 to 4.95 kg in weight (2.21 ± 0.83 kg). Linear pituitary measurements were performed using electronic calipers. The mean ± SD pituitary height was 4.22 ± 0.57 mm, width was 4.48 ± 0.71 mm, and length was 6.02 ± 0.70 mm. The pituitary gland height‐to‐brain area ratio was 1.10 ± 0.16 mm^?1, which is much higher than the values reported in normal dogs and cats. The age, weight, and sex of the rabbits were not found to have a significant impact on pituitary gland mensuration. These measurements could be useful as a reference range for future rabbit head CT studies and to rule out pituitary enlargement or disease when evaluating rabbit pituitary glands.     

Distribution of the mutant allele of the DMRT3 gene associated with ambling gaits in Japanese native horse populations

There are currently eight native horse populations in Japan, namely, Hokkaido, Kiso, Noma, Taishu, Misaki, Tokara, Miyako, and Yonaguni horses. Since locomotion traits, including gaitedness, are important for riding and packing horses, the genetic properties associated with these traits could be informative for understanding the characteristics and history of these horses. In this study, we investigated the distribution of the mutant allele of DMRT3 gene (DMRT3:p.Ser301Ter) associated with ambling gaits in the Japanese native horse. We also examined haplotypes of SNPs in the 83‐kb region including DMRT3 gene by genotyping four SNPs in this region. The results revealed the presence of DMRT3:p.Ser301Ter in the Hokkaido and Yonaguni populations at allele frequencies of 0.18 and 0.02, respectively, and the observed haplotype associated with DMRT3:p.Ser301Ter was estimated as the most common haplotype in the horses in the world. Since DMRT3:p.Ser301Ter has been hypothesized to spread across Eurasian continent from Medieval England after 850 to 900 CE, our findings of the presence of DMRT3:p.Ser301Ter with the common haplotype in the Japanese native horses will provide a new insight into the history of the Japanese native horse, such as considerable level of gene flow from Eurasian continent after 850 to 900 CE.