The effects of two different light intensities on the production and behavioural traits of Italian heavy pigs

Eighty Italian heavy pigs having an initial body weight of about 75 kg were allotted to two experimental groups: a low light intensity group (LL), in which pigs received the lowest level of illumination mandatory in piggeries (40 lux) and a high light intensity group (HL), in which pigs were exposed to a higher level of illumination (80 lux). For both groups the light phase lasted 12 hours per day. Pigs were slaughtered at about 160 kg body weight. Light intensity showed to have no effects on the growth traits, carcass parameters or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of heavy. With the exception of drinking (more frequently observed among LL pigs; P < 0.01) and sternal recumbency (more frequently observed among pigs belonging to HL group; P < 0.01), the behavioural observations, carried out on 20 pigs per group, indicated that light intensity did not affect the main behavioural traits of pigs. Agonistic interactions were significantly higher (P < 0.05) among pigs receiving a lower level of illumination (40 lux; LL group) and pigs exposed to the higher level of illumination (80 lux; HL group) showed a tendency (P < 0.1) towards a higher proportion of tactile social interactions. Our results confirm that a proper illumination level can be included among environmental conditions having a positive effect in order to preserve swine welfare.     

Biomass allocation and foliage heteroblasty in hard pine species respond differentially to reduction in rooting volume

Rooting space is considered as a resource in plants, but comparative studies on the biomass allocation plasticity in response to rooting volume (RV) are rare. We compared responses in growth, biomass allocation and ontogenetic heteroblasty in nine hard pine species of contrasted ecology. Seedlings were cultivated in containers of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.8 and 7 L for two growing seasons (425 days). Reduction in RV caused a reduction in plant absolute and relative growth rate and biomass allocated to stems but it increased biomass allocated to roots. RV affected to a lesser extent and in a less consistent direction allocation to leaves. Species that grew faster (higher relative growth rate) had a steeper decrease in growth with the reduction in RV. Ontogenetic heteroblasty, evaluated as the proportion of secondary needles in the needle biomass, showed highly different plasticity patterns in response to RV. Decrease in RV caused negligible or no change either in the most ontogenetically delayed Mediterranean pines or in the most ontogenetically advanced pines, the mesic Pinus sylvestris and P. uncinata. By contrast, ontogenetically intermediate species showed steep reaction norms in response to reduction in RV. While P. pinaster and P. brutia showed marked rejuvenation, P. nigra accelerated the development of adult foliage.     

On the trail of the last autochthonous Italian einkorn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum monococcum</Emphasis> L.) and emmer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum dicoccon</Emphasis> Schrank) populations: a mission impossible?

In 1970s it was thought that two species of ‘farro’, namely emmer (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) and einkorn (T. monococcum L.), were no longer present in Italy, but in 1981, some populations were discovered in a mountain area of the Appennino Sannita (central southern Italy). In 2006/2007 three monitoring missions were carried out to check the current situation of these ancient hulled wheats, specifically in the same areas where they were formerly collected. The same zones were also investigated by both paleo-ethnobotany and agrobiodiversity points of view. The results of this research have shown that nowadays einkorn is completely extinct while emmer is still cultivated in very few traditional farms, mainly as a fodder crop. A strong genetic erosion was detected also for emmer and several nowadays samples were contaminated by seeds of modern spelt (T. spelta L.) varieties. In the present study the causes of this genetic erosion and which safeguarding actions to be undertaken are discussed.     

Study on the relationship between genetic variation of DNA methylation and heterosis in soybean leaves

In order to well understand the molecular basis of heterosis in soybean, the methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) method based on capillary electrophoresis was used to estimate levels and patterns of cytosine methylation in 15-day post-emergence leaves of four parental lines [Jilin 47 (no. 19), EXP (no. 12), Jilin 38 (no. 3) and Yi 3 (no. 6)] and 12 hybrids [Jilin 38 × Yi 3(3 × ?6), Jilin 38 × ?EXP(3 × ?12), Jilin 38 × ?Jilin 47(3 × ?19), Yi 3 × ?Jilin 38(6 × ?3), Yi 3 × ?EXP(6 × ?12), Yi 3 × ?Jilin 47(6 × ?19), EXP × Jilin 38(12 ×?3), EXP × Yi 3(12 × ?6), EXP × ?Jilin 47(12 × ?19), Jilin 47 × ?Jilin 38(19 × ?3), Jilin 47 × Yi 3(19 × 6), Jilin 47 × EXP(19 × 12)]. In addition, 12 traits of the hybrids and their parents were also analyzed to understand the relationship between DNA methylation variation and heterosis. MSAP results showed that the total relative methylation level of all hybrids was lower than the corresponding middle parent value, indicating that the methylation degree was decreasing. And may express a variety of genes related to the phenotypic variation of hybridization. Moreover, the hemi-methylation levels of Jilin 38 × Jilin 47 and Yi 3 × Jilin 47 hybrids and full-methylation levels of EXP × Yi 3 and EXP × Jilin 47 hybrids was significant higher than the corresponding mid-parent values. In addition, the heredity of methylation from parents in hybrids is more than the variations, in which there were four types appeared great higher: A1, B4, B8, and D2. Furthermore, the results of relationship between genetic variation in DNA methylation and heterosis showed that the hypo-methylation had a promoting effect to increase node number, and the hype-methylation of hybrids was helpful to add to stem thick. Our results may provide new insights into well understanding the molecular mechanisms of heterosis at the epigenetic level in soybean.     

Reclamation of Polluted Soil: Phytoremediation Potential of Crop-Related BRASSICA Species

Soils polluted by heavy metals can be reclaimed using a number of expensive tactics that either remove the contaminants or stabilize them within the soil. The value of metal accumulating plants for environmental remediation has recently been appreciated and promising results have been obtained. This paper reports a study on the behavior of Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus and Brassica carinata grown on a substrate contaminated by several heavy metals caused by the use of contaminated irrigation water. Data on carbon dioxide assimilation, biomass growth and the bioconcentration and translocation factor of each metal in each species were measured. The polluted substrate caused only a small variation in photosynthesis, however transpiration was more affected by the experimental substrate and in all three species of the genus Brassica the presence of metals in the substrate resulted in higher transpiration levels.Two bioconcentration factors were calculated respectively for the roots (BCF) and the shoots (BCF); the BCF was >1 for all the species for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn without significant differences among species. All the values of BCF were lower than 0.5; among the metals, all Brassica species demonstrated a similar performance for Cd and Zn, whereas for other elements the bioconcentration factor was very low.     

A colorimetric quantification of softened polylactic acid and polyester filament knitted fabrics to ‘Water-spotting’

Water droplets falling onto finished fabrics can create spots which can spoil the appearance of the fabric. This study compares the propensity of softened filament polylactic acid and polyester fabrics to exhibit the adverse affects of ‘water-spotting’, and to identify suitable softeners and methods for their application to minimise and eliminate the problem. The degree of water spotting was greater on softened polylactic acid fabrics than on softened polyester fabrics. Polylactic acid and polyester fabrics with hydrophobic properties did not exhibit any water spotting. Softeners applied by an exhaustion process resulted in a finished fabric which exhibited no water spotting for either dyed polylactic acid or dyed polyester fabrics. The softening active agent was not responsible for the water spotting. The other components in the softener formulation (such as emulsifier, wetting agent), which carries the unfixed dyes with water, were found to be responsible. The water spot halo disappeared after a single machine laundering process.     

Protein requirements of collared peccary (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pecari tajacu</Emphasis>)

A nitrogen (N) balance digestion trial was conducted to determine the protein requirement of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). In a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four captive adult male peccaries were fed four isoenergy diets containing four different levels of N (11.7, 16.3, 22.8, and 26.7 g N/kg of dry matter—DM). After 15 days of adaptation, a total collection of feces and urine was carried out for five consecutive days. Regression analyses between N intake and N in feces and urine allowed to calculate the metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN = 2.3 g N/kg of dry matter intake—DMI) and daily endogenous urinary N (EUN = 185 mg N/kg^0.75). Likewise, by regression analyses between consumption of nitrogen and the nitrogen balance (NB = N ingested ? N excreted, mg N/kg^0.75), a daily requirement of 514 mg N/kg^0.75 was calculated. Therefore, if food intake is unrestricted, collared peccaries require a minimum in their diet of about 5.4% crude protein on DM basis. These values are almost as low as those found for browsing and frugivorous wild ruminants, which reinforce the proposition that peccaries’ digestive physiology is nearer to that of domestic and wild ruminants than domestic pigs. This relatively low protein requirement of collared peccary and its great ability to digest protein reveal the relevance of the forestomach for the species on nitrogen/protein metabolism and allow the use of diets with lower crude protein levels than the commercial ones used for the domestic pig, which reduces feed costs.     

Extent and Pattern of Genetic Diversity for Morpho-agronomic Traits in Ethiopian Highland Pulse Landraces: I. Field Pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis> L.)

An experiment was conducted in 2001 at Holetta and Kulumsa, Ethiopia, to study the extent and pattern of genetic diversity in Ethiopian field pea (Pisum sativum L.) landraces. One hundred forty-eight germplasm accessions were grown in an alpha lattice design with 2 replications. Data on 12 traits were collected and analyzed. Differences among the accessions were significant for most of the traits (except number of seeds/ pod) at each location even though differences pooled over location were mostly non-significant. The accessions were grouped into five clusters of different sizes. Accessions from the southern part of the country (Arsi) distributed overall clusters while those from the northern half (North and South Wello, North Gonder and North Shewa) fell into clusters C₁ to C₃. Cumulative effects of a number of characters dictated differentiation of the accessions into clusters. There was no definite relationship between geographic diversity and genetic diversity as overlapping was encountered in clustering pattern among accessions from different parts of the country. Accessions from different regions might have similar genetic background and those from the same origin might also have different genetic background. Therefore, geographic diversity should not necessarily be used as an index of genetic diversity and parental selection should be based on a systematic study of genetic diversity in a specific population. Genetic distances among most of the clusters were significant that crosses between parents selected out of them are expected to generate desirable genetic recombination. Selection should also consider the special advantages of each cluster and each accession within a cluster. Future germplasm collection, conservation and breeding efforts should focus not only on inter-regional diversity but also on intra-regional diversity.     

A specialist-generalist classification of the arable flora and its response to changes in agricultural practices

Background  

Theory in ecology points out the potential link between the degree of specialisation of organisms and their responses to disturbances and suggests that this could be a key element for understanding the assembly of communities. We evaluated this question for the arable weed flora as this group has scarcely been the focus of ecological studies so far and because weeds are restricted to habitats characterised by very high degrees of disturbance. As such, weeds offer a case study to ask how specialization relates to abundance and distribution of species in relation to the varying disturbance regimes occurring in arable crops.