Growth,survival, and heavy metal (Cd and Ni) uptake of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata) in a biochar‐amended sewage‐irrigated contaminated soil

Irrigation of arable land with contaminated sewage waters leads to the accumulation of trace metals in soils with subsequent phyto‐/zootoxic consequences. In this study, biochar derived from cotton sticks was used to amend an agricultural silt‐loam soil that had been previously irrigated with trace metal contaminated sewage waters. Metal accumulation and toxicity to spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata) was investigated by measuring concentrations of Cd and Ni in plant tissues and various photosynthetic and biochemical activities of plants. Positive impacts of biochar on both spinach and fenugreek were observed in terms of biomass production that increased from 29% to 36% in case of spinach, while for fenugreek this increase was 32% to 36%. In the control treatment there was an increase in malondialdihyde, soluble sugar, and ascorbic acid contents, indicating heavy metal stress. Biochar applications increased soluble proteins and amino acids in plants and reduced the uptake of Cd from 5.42 mg kg^?1 at control to 3.45 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar amended soil and Ni (13.8 mg kg^?1 to 7.3 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar) by the spinach plants. In fenugreek, the Cd was reduced from 7.72 mg kg^?1 to 3.88 mg kg^?1 and reduction in Ni was from 15.45 mg kg^?1 to 9.46 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar treated soil, reducing the possibility of transfer up the food chain. This study demonstrates that the use of biochar made from cotton‐sticks, as an amendment to arable soils that have received contaminated irrigation water, could improve plant growth and decrease Cd and Ni uptake to crops, alleviating some of the negative impacts of using sewage waters on arable land.     

Factors affecting the efficacy of ivermectin against Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematospiroides dubius) in mice

The efficacy of ivermectin against Heligmosomoides polygyrus was investigated in 5 mouse strains (CFLP, NIH, C57Bl10, BALB/c and CBA) using a variety of dose levels, and subcutaneous and oral administration. Heligmosomoides polygyrus were not completely eliminated when 5 mg kg-1 of ivermectin was given 6 days after infection, but 10 mg kg-1 was totally effective. Significant mouse-strain variation in drug efficacy was detected, NIH mice requiring treatment with higher doses than CFLP mice in order to bring about a comparable level of larvicidal activity. Ivermectin was more effective when given subcutaneously than when given orally, regardless of the dose administered or the strain of mouse tested. The anthelmintic effect of the treatment was more persistent in CFLP mice given 20 mg kg-1 subcutaneously than in NIH mice or in mice treated orally, and a 20-day interval between administration and infection was insufficient to prevent inhibition of parasite survival. Ivermectin was shown to be totally effective at 20 mg kg-1 given subcutaneously in killing immune arrested larvae of H. polygyrus.     

Efficacy of a streptomycin-dependent, live Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine against challenge exposure to Pasteurella haemolytica in cattle

A streptomycin-dependent, live Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine was given in 1 or 2 doses to 2 groups of weaned calves; 2 other groups of calves were not vaccinated. All calves in the vaccinated groups and calves in 1 of the nonvaccinated groups were stressed by transport, intratracheally inoculated with bovine herpesvirus type-1 (Cooper strain), and then intratracheally inoculated with P haemolytica type A1. The 4th group of calves (nonvaccinated controls) was not stressed and were not intratracheally inoculated with virus or bacteria. Mean daily weight gains, total clinical sign scores, lung lesion scores, plasma fibrinogen concentrations, and antibody titers against P haemolytica were determined at various intervals. Calves that had been vaccinated twice had greater mean daily weight gains and lower total clinical sign scores and lung lesion scores than did nonvaccinated, challenge-exposed calves, but the difference was not significant (P greater than 0.05). Calves vaccinated once had the greatest mean daily weight gains, the lowest total clinical sign scores, and the lowest lung lesion scores when compared with the other 2 challenge-exposed groups of calves. Mean daily weight gains and total clinical sign scores of calves vaccinated once were significantly different (P less than 0.05) than those of calves vaccinated twice. Nonvaccinated, nonchallenge-exposed control calves did not develop clinical signs of disease, did not develop lung lesions, and had consistently positive daily weight gains, and had scores in these areas that were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from those of all challenge-exposed groups of calves. Increases in plasma fibrinogen concentrations corresponded to infection with P haemolytica.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fitness cost, cross resistance and realized heritability of resistance to imidacloprid in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Imidacloprid has been used as a key insecticide for controlling sucking insect pests of cotton, whereas Spodoptera litura also has been indirectly exposed to this insecticide in Pakistan. To evaluate the risk of resistance evolution and to develop a better resistance management strategy, a field collected population was selected with imidacloprid in the laboratory. Thereafter, fitness cost, realized heritability and cross resistance of imidacloprid resistance in S. litura were investigated. After 14 generations of selection with imidacloprid, S. litura developed a 137.48-fold resistance to the insecticide. Bioassay revealed that this strain showed cross-resistance to acetamiprid (RR 8.52) and a little to lamdacyhalothrin (1.92) but negative cross-resistance was found to methomyl (−0.19). The resistant strain had a relative fitness of 0.38, with substantially lower rates of larval survival, larval duration, male pupal duration, development time, emergence rate of healthy adults, fecundity, hatchability, and prolonged larval and pupal duration. Mean relative growth rate of the larvae, intrinsic rate of population increase, and biotic potential was lower for the selected populations. The estimated realized heritability (h²) of imidacloprid resistance was 0.15 in the resistant strain of S. litura. Development of the resistance may cost significant fitness for the resistant population. This study provided valuable information for further understanding the impact of imidacloprid resistance on physiological parameters of S. litura and for facilitating the development of resistance management strategies.     

Mineral bioavailability in grains of Pakistani bread wheat declines from old to current cultivars

Estimating variation in grain mineral concentration and bioavailability in relation to grain yield and the year of cultivar release is important for breeding wheat with increased content of bioavailable minerals. The grain yield and yield components, grain phytate concentration, and concentration and bioavailability of minerals (zinc Zn, iron Fe and calcium Ca) in wheat grains were estimated in 40 wheat cultivars released in Punjab (Pakistan) during the last five decades. Mean grain Zn and Ca concentrations in current-cultivars were significantly lower (≥14%) than in obsolete cultivars released during the Green Revolution (1965–1976). Much of this variation was related to increased grain weight in current-cultivars. There was a positive correlation among minerals (r = 0.39 or higher, n = 40) and minerals with phytate in wheat grains (r = 0.38 or higher, n = 40). The tested cultivars varied widely in grain yield and grain phytate-to-mineral molar ratios (phytate:mineral). Compared to obsolete cultivars, the current-cultivars had a higher phytate:mineral ratio in grains, indicating poor bioavailability of minerals to humans. The study revealed a non-significant relationship between grain yield and phytate:mineral ratios in grains. Therefore, breeding for lower phytate:mineral ratios in wheat grains can ensure increased mineral bioavailability without significant reduction in the yield potential. Future breeding should be focused on developing new genotypes suitable for mineral biofortification and with increased mineral bioavailability in grains.     

Baseline toxicity and stage specificity of recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller,Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

BACKGROUND: Studies were designed to assess baseline toxicity of the two recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and to determine stage‐specific effects of these products on OBLR, so that these new chemicals could be judiciously incorporated into IPM programs by targeting only the most susceptible stages of OBLR. RESULTS: Both chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram were highly effective against neonate OBLR larvae at much lower doses than conventional standard azinphosmethyl. Most of the mortality caused by spinetoram occurred during the 4 day exposure period, while significant delayed mortality was observed as a result of chlorantraniliprole treatment during the 7 day recovery period, indicating that chlorantraniliprole is a slower‐acting compound compared with spinetoram. Unlike broad‐spectrum predecessors, the toxicity of chlorantraniliprole significantly increased with larval age. Similarly, the toxicity of spinetoram increased as larvae grew from neonates to third instars. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram are highly effective against OBLR larvae, regardless of larval age. Incorporation of these reduced‐risk chemistries into IPM programs for OBLR would lead to effective management of this pest in tree fruit systems. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Responses to graded replacement of urea by maize steep liquor in diets for intensively fed lambs for meat production

Urea is a common ingredient of the diets of intensively fed lambs, but is increasingly required for industrial processes. Maize steep liquor (MSL) is a by-product of maize grain degradation to produce starch that may be a suitable replacement. Fifty growing lambs were fed on equinitrogenous diets in which between 0% and 80% of the urea was replaced by MSL; their growth and metabolism were recorded over 70 days. Increasing replacement of urea by MSL increased feed intake and nutrient digestibilities, leading to increased growth rates, more efficient feed conversion, and increased nitrogen retention. Concentrations of triiodothyroxin, thyroxin, glucose, and methionine were increased by replacement of urea by liquor, and plasma urea was reduced. This study suggests that MSL is a suitable replacement for up to 80% of urea in the diet of rapidly growing lambs.     

Seasonal prevalence of coccidiosis in industrial broiler chickens in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

The present paper reports the prevalence of coccidiosis in industrial broiler chickens in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan to determine the occurrence of different species of Eimeria in the area and to assess their correlation with the environmental conditions including temperature, humidity and rainfall. The study was conducted from January 2009 to December 2010. Examination of chicken guts revealed 43.89% (n = 3,283/7,480) prevalence of coccidiosis. The highest prevalence (27.04%) was recorded of Eimeria tenella followed by Eimeria maxima (22.42%), Eimeria acervulina (19.89%) and Eimeria necatrix (4.02%). The prevalence of disease was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in autumn (60.02 ± 4.38) followed by summer (47.42 ± 2.92), spring (36.92 ± 2.27) and winter (29.89 ± 3.43). Likewise, prevalence of different species of Eimeria also varied (P < 0.05) in different seasons of the year except that of E. necatrix. A strong correlation (P < 0.05) of environmental conditions with the overall and species-wise prevalence of coccidiosis was recorded except E. necatrix.