Effect of herbicides with different modes of action on physiological and cellular traits of Anabaena fertilissima

Cyanobacteria are important components of the lowland rice ecosystem. Therefore, it is important to examine the effect of herbicides (commonly used against weeds of rice crop) on the performance of cyanobacteria. We studied the toxic effects of three herbicides often used in rice field, viz. propanil, pretilachlor and glyphosate, on the performance traits of Anabaena fertilissima C.B. Rao. Pretilachlor [0–40 active ingredient (ai) mg/L] and glyphosate (0–80 ai mg/L) exhibited toxicity to A. fertilissima at higher doses than propanil (0–1.5 mg/L). Propanil had severe damaging effects on cellular characteristics of A. fertilissima when compared to pretilachlor or glyphosate. Propanil treatment of A. fertilissima resulted in the leakage of protoplast from the heterocyst due to the breakage of the plasma membrane and surrounding wall. Our study shows that photosystem II herbicides such as propanil could have deleterious effects on phototrophic (cyanobacterial) communities, which are an integral part of the rice ecosystem.     

Ethnoveterinary health management practices using medicinal plants in South Asia – a review

Animal rearing is the major occupation of most population of South Asian countries. Due to lack of resources and limited approach to modern medicine, most of the livestock raisers prefer to use plant-based traditional medicine also referred to as ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM). Indeed, the use of medicinal plants in South Asia dates back to several centuries with documented evidences. However, there is currently a dearth of documentation and compilation of use of medicinal plants for animal diseases in this part of the world. This review aims to provide an up-to-date compilation of common medicinal plants used for the treatment and/or management of common animal diseases in South Asian countries. Extensive literature search was conducted online and relevant data was retrieved from well-known scientific databases. A total of 276 plants belonging to 95 families have been documented to be in common use for managing 14 different categories of animal diseases. Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Leguminosae were most common plant families in terms of their plant species used for EVM. Gastric diseases were commonly reported and accounted for 72 species of plants used for its treatment followed by the miscellaneous disorders category and skin diseases comprising of 65 and 39 plant species respectively. Herbs accounted for 46% of the total plant species, followed by trees (33%), and shrubs (18%). The EVM were applied through different routes of administration; oral administration accounted for 72% followed by topical application 27%, while burning of plant parts to create smoke around animals to repel insects was less common (1%). It is anticipated that the present review will stimulate further ethnoveterinary research among livestock disease management practices in South Asia.     

DA-6对野大麦幼苗光合作用和生长的影响

研究了不同浓度的植物生长促进剂--DA-6对野大麦Hordeum brevisubulatum幼苗光合作用和生长的影响.在二叶期喷施较低质量浓度(5 mg/L,10 mg/L)的DA-6,可显著促进幼苗生长和叶绿素含量的提高;四叶期喷施较高质量浓度(20 mg/L,30 mg/L, 40 mg/L)的DA-6,可显著提高野大麦幼苗的生物量,其中20 mg/L和30 mg/L的处理,幼苗生物量分别提高55.1%和59.6%;光合作用能力分别提高12.8%和18.1%.     

重庆雪宝山自然保护区生态安全设计

介绍了重庆雪宝山自然保护区的基本情况、保护区自然资源的主要特色及其科学价值，论述了保护区生态安全设计的指导思想和原则，略述了该设计的主要内容。     

潍坊地区奶牛隐性乳腺炎感染率调查及防治效果考核

乳腺炎作为奶牛的高发病,是危害奶牛业生产、限制效益提高的主要疾病之一。据国外报道,奶牛乳腺炎的发病率约25%-60%,国内报道则更高,阳性率为48.2%-69.7%。乳腺炎包括临床型和隐性两种。据报道,隐性乳腺炎造成牛奶产量下降19.5%-43.4%,占每头牛年生产力的10%-11%,造成的经济损失比临床型乳腺炎更为严重。乳腺炎不仅影响产奶量,而且使乳的品质降低,危害人类健康。近年来国内外为降低乳腺炎发病率,投入了大量的人、财、物力,但效果并不令人满意。近年来采用以提高乳牛机体免疫功能与遗传分析相结合的乳腺炎综合防治技术,取得良好效果。笔者于…     

贵州省生物天然气发展现状及农作物秸秆资源潜力

对贵州省现阶段生物天然气工程发展的现状进行了阐述,研究了贵州省发展生物天然气存在的问题和困难,并统计了各市州农作物秸秆资源可收集量,计算出了生物天然气的生产潜力,以期为生物天然气的制备和利用提供参考。     

Effect of FMD vaccination on semen quality parameters in Karan Fries and Murrah buffalo bulls

Effect of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccination was studied on semen quality parameters of 19 Karan Fries (KF) and eight Murrah (MU) breeding bulls during the period 2002 to 2004 at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal. A total of non-vaccinated 155 KF and 72 MU bulls' ejaculates were taken as control, while 169 KF and 51 MU bulls' ejaculates, collected after vaccination, were used to study the effect of vaccination stress. The results showed that FMD vaccination had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on ejaculate volume and total volume per day of semen in both KF and MU bulls. Volume of semen increased slightly during post-vaccination period in both the breeds. After FMD vaccination, there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in mass activity (2.27 ± 0.06 vs. 1.67 ± 0.07 and 2.49 ± 0.09. vs. 1.75 ± 0.10, for KF and MU, respectively), initial motility (56.89 ± 0.03% vs. 44.62 ± 0.02% and 62.26 ± 0.04% vs. 47.08 ± 0.05%, for KF and MU, respectively), sperm concentration (754.19 ± 23.96 vs. 554.14 ± 22.95 × 10⁶/ml and 848.61 ± 33.65 vs. 571.57 ± 39.99 × 10⁶/ml, for KF and MU, respectively), and total sperm output per ejaculate (3,685.94 ± 158.40 vs. 2,781.54 ± 151.70 × 10⁶ and 2,218.75 ± 133.14 vs. 1,582.84 ± 158.20 × 10⁶, for KF and MU, respectively). Application of FMD vaccine had significantly (P < 0.05) adverse effect on most of the seminal attributes during post-vaccination in KF and MU buffalo bulls. So, the spermiograms affected following vaccination suggest that in bovines, the semen collection and preservation should be suspended till normal fertility of sperm is restored to avoid the failure of conception from artificial insemination using such semen.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics and milk levels of ceftriaxone following single intravenous administration in healthy and endometritic cows

Pharmacokinetics and milk levels of ceftriaxone were studied in healthy and endometritic cows following single intravenous administration. The drug was detected up to 8 h of dosing in plasma of healthy and endometritic cows and the drug disposition followed three-compartment open model. The values of Vd_area, AUC, t_1/2β, Cl_B, MRT and P/C ratio were 0.50 ± 0.19 L.kg⁻¹, 62.2 ± 23.3 μg.ml⁻¹.h, 1.02 ± 0.07 h, 0.30 ± 0.09 L.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹, 1.55 ± 0.25 h and 0.52 ± 0.27, respectively, in healthy and 1.55 ± 0.52 L.kg⁻¹, 37.0 ± 17.1 μg.ml⁻¹.h, 1.56 ± 0.25 h, 0.56 ± 0.14 L.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹, 2.14 ± 0.34 h and 1.44 ± 0.60, respectively, in endometritic cows. The drug was detected in milk for 36 h after administration. For MIC₉₀ of 0.5 μg.ml⁻¹ the most appropriate dosage for ceftriaxone, would be 9.0 mg.kg⁻¹ repeated at 6 h intervals for the treatment of endometritis in cows.