Identification of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin in home mix layer poultry feed in relation to seasons in Karachi,Pakistan

Fungal toxins in feed are leading issue in poultry industry causing a detrimental effect on the performance and health of poultry. The study was carried out to determine the incidence and concentration of the aflatoxins and their major producer Aspergillus flavus in home mix layer poultry feed in respect of seasonal variation throughout the year. A total of (n?= 204) home mix poultry layer feed samples were analyzed for the isolation of fungi. The isolates were initially screened through colony morphology and microscopic examination. However, aflatoxin concentration was determined by ELISA. Revealed results indicated that, the highest percentage of A. flavus was found during the months of June to August 50/54 (92.5%) followed by September to November 43/65 (66.1%), March to May 21/40 (52.5%), and December to February 18/45 (40%). As a whole, the incidence was recorded 132/204 (64.7%). Moreover, of the 132 samples, 41 (31%) were exceeded in respect of aflatoxin contamination from the legal limit (20 μg/kg) imposed by Food Drug Association (FDA). Statistically, the growth of A. flavus and aflatoxin production was found significantly different in respect of seasonal variation. As highest total viable fungal count (9.9?×?10⁴ CFU/g) and aflatoxin level (72.27 μg/kg) were recorded during the months of June to August and lowest in December to February. Consequently, instantaneous essential control measures are demanded regarding appropriate storage and adequate drying in post-harvesting season. Along with surveillance plans and austere regulations for monitoring the aflatoxin contents for the wellbeing of consumers.

     

Comparison of immunity and resistance to diseases in male and female poultry breeders in Lebanon

Summary The immune responses following vaccination and resistance to diseases were compared in male and female meat poultry breeders of the same flock. Female poultry breeders maintained antibody titres to Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus up to the fifty-fifth day following vaccination, whereas those of the males declined significantly over the same period of time (P<0·05). In the same flock, outbreaks of Gumboro disease (60 to 62 days of age), coccidiosis (68 to 74 days of age) and aortic rupture (99 to 112 days of age) produced significantly higher losses in males. Following vaccination against fowl pox by the wing web method, 96·7% of females had a vaccine reaction (vaccine take) compared to none of the males. Immune injuries, following vaccination, were observed in 85% of the males compared to none of the females. The immune injuries included appearance of facial papules, vesicles, and reddish brown to black scabs.

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Comparacion De La Inmunidad Y Resistencia A Enfermedades En Machos Y Hembras Reproductores Aviares En El Libano

Resumen La respuesta immune después de la vacunación y la resistencia a infermidad des fue comparada en reproductores machos y hembras en un plantiel de pollos de carne. Las hembras reproductoras mantuvieron los títulos de anticuerpos contra Newcastle y bronquitis infecciosa hasta los cincuenta y cinco días después de la vacunación, mientras que los niveles de anticuerpos de los machos declinaron significativamente durante el mismo período de tiempo (P<0·05). En el mismo plantel, ocurrieron brotes de Gumboro (60 a 62 días de edad), coccidiosis (68 a 74 dias de edad) y ruptura aórtica (99 a 112 diás de edad) con pérdidas mayores en machos. Desués de la vacunación contra viruela utilizando el método escarificación en el ala membrana, el 96·7% de las hembras reaccionó inflamatoriamente, y ninguno de los machos. Las lesiones inmunes después de la vacunación, se observaron en el 85% de los machos y en ninguna de las hembras. Las lesiones inmunes consistieron en pápulas faciales, vesículas, y costras negras-rojisas.

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Comparison De L'immunite Et De La Resistance Aux Maladies Chez Des Reproducteurs Males Et Femelles Dans Un Elevage De Volailles De Chair Au Liban

Résumé Les auteurs ont comparé les réponses immunitaires post-vaccinales et la résistance aux maladies chez des reproducteurs mâles et femelles appartenant au même élevage de volailles de chair. Les reproducteurs femelles ont maintenu des titres d'anticorps contre le virus de la maladie de Newcastle et celui de la bronchite infectieuse jusqu'au 55e jour suivant la vaccination alors que ceux des mâles ont connu une baisse significative tout au long de la même période (P<0,05). Dans le même élevage, des foyers de maladie de Gumboro (sur des animaux de 60 à 62 jours), de coccidiose (de 68 à 64 jours), et des ruptures de l'aorte (animaux âgés de 99 à 112 jours), ont eu pour conséquence des pertes significativement plus élevés chez les mâles. A la suite de la vaccination contre la variole aviaire dans le tissu palmaire de l'aile, 96,78% des femelles on montré une réaction vaccinale (= prise du vaccin) aucune n'etant décelée chez les mâles. Quant aux lésions post-immunitaires, elles ont été observées sur 85% des mâles contre aucune chez les femelles. Parmi elles, on a observé l'apparition de papules faciales, de vésicules et de croûtes colorées allant du brun rouge au noir.

     

Amelioration of salinity on photosynthesis and some characteristics of three rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars under increased concentrations of carbon dioxide

This study was done to evaluate the effects of increasing concentrations of CO₂ (CC) on rapeseed. Pot experiments were done with three cultivars (Okapi, Zarfam and RGS003) of rapeseed (Brassica napus) for salinity tolerance. Four levels of salinity (0, 5, 10 and 15 dS m^?1) were tested on the three cultivars at three CC (350, 700 and 1050 mmol L^?1) at the greenhouse of Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, during the crop seasons of 2010 to 2011. Three CCs were considered as three environments and the other two treatments (salinity and cultivar) were tested within these environments in a complete block design arranged as a factorial. Results indicated that photosynthetic rates declined with increasing levels of salinity. Elevated CC significantly increased rates of photosynthesis. The highest CC reduced the impact of salinity on photosynthesis. Increased CC reduced the rate of transpiration, which had the effects of increasing rates of photosynthesis and water use efficiency (WUE); these effects increased vegetative growth and reduced the adverse effects of salinity. Increased CC and salinity reduced harvest index. WUE increased with CC increment, and decreased with salinity elevation.     

Phenotypic tendency of achene yield and oil contents in sunflower hybrids

ABSTRACT

The knowledge about heterosis breeding of achene yield in sunflower is known; however, dissection of the genetic components of achene yield and seed quality traits is limited. Therefore, the prescribe study was conducted using Line × Tester design to determine combining abilities, and about the maternal-and-paternal gene actions involved in achene yield and seed quality traits in 21 single cross hybrids. Significant mean differences for achene yield and seed quality traits were observed, with total attributed variation (R^2?=^?0.89). Principal component analysis (P?<?0.05) explained 92.6% variation and using factor analysis, we found factor 1 had primary variables (AW, AL, AT, HD, PH, PC, LA and OC) contributed 35.6% variation to achene yield. Combining ability analysis showed the positive general combining ability for E%, HD, PH, 100 AW and AYP in parental inbred lines, whilst, hybrids had positive specific combining ability for E%, HD, PH, 100 AW, DTF, DTM, OA, LA, OC and AYP. Females contributed significantly higher (P?<?0.05) for AYP, E%, HD, NWPH, PH, 100 AW, LA and OA than that of males. Two-way hierarchical clustering showed the most promising hybrid H₅ (A-18?×?G-79) in Cluster V. The hybrid H₅ also showed heterosis, heterobeltosis and commercial heterosis, therefore, genetic exploitation of H₅ is highly desirable in future breeding to map QTLs/genes in arid/semi-arid zones and /or similar growing conditions to boost up yield and seed quality traits.     

Landscape features determine brown trout population structure and recruitment dynamics

Variation in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) population recruitment and structure is related to migratory patterns, which should depend on ease of access to habitats providing increased opportunity for growth. We quantified the number of young of year (YOY) as a proportion of the total number of brown trout at 24 locations on 11 streams within the Taieri catchment, New Zealand, including back calculated growth rates and emergence dates from otoliths. Locations with high absolute and relative abundance of YOY fish were related to elevation and distance from the river mainstem (habitat used by migratory fish), fish density, and the interaction between invertebrate food biomass, distance and elevation. Hatch date and growth were not related to the proportion of YOY fish, though growth was negatively correlated to total fish density. We suggest landscape features play a large role in determining recruitment and population structure. Locations at lower elevations have a high YOY density, high competition and lower growth, likely prompting out‐migration. These conditions could be created by successful return migration and spawning of large fecund fish resulting in YOY densities exceeding the habitat carrying capacity. Environmental factors, such as food availability, also played a role in determining population structure. These results provide an example of how population structure and recruitment might be controlled by local conditions and access to high growth environments in wild populations of introduced brown trout across a catchment.     

Aggregation pheromone traps, a major component of IPM strategy for the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in date palms (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The population fluctuation of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus was studied, using the aggregation pheromone traps, during 2000 and 2001 in the United Arab Emirates. The insect population increased gradually from January to reach its peak in March, April, or May. The populations in three date palm plantations were much less in 2001 compared to 2000 with reductions of 29.7–51.7%. An evaluation of the performance of the pheromone traps showed that they could capture 4.4 to 20.7% of the resident populations of R. ferrugineus in the three different date palm plantations. No significant differences could be found in rates of capture between males and females. Individuals of marked weevils released in date palm plantations migrated 1–7 km from the plantations in which they were released. The released marked weevils were recaptured, mostly, within 3–5 days post release.     

Studies on kinetics and thermostability of a novel acid invertase from Fusarium solani

The present investigation deals with purification and thermal characterization of an acid invertase produced by Fusarium solani in submerged culture. The maximum enzyme activity (9.90 U mL(-1)) was achieved after 96 h of cultivation at pH 5.0 and 30 degrees C in a basal medium containing molasses (2%) as the carbon and energy source supplemented with 1% peptone. Invertase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme was proven to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 65 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 2.6 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The Km value for sucrose was 3.57 mM with an activation energy of 4.056 kJ mol(-1). Enthalpies of activation (DeltaH) were decreased while entropies (DeltaS) of activation increased at higher temperatures. The effects of alpha-chymotrypsin and 4 M urea were tetraphasic with periodic gain and loss of enzyme activity. A possible explanation for the thermal inactivation of invertase at higher temperatures is also discussed.     

In vitro and in vivo acaricidal activity of a herbal extract

The anti-tick efficacy of combined aqueous herbal extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves, Nicotiana tabacum leaves, Calotropis procera flowers and Trachyspermum ammi seeds was evaluated using adult immersion test, larval packet test and ear bag method. The extract exhibited lethal effects on egg laying (index of egg laying=0.371404±0.00435), hatching (22.35%) and total larval mortality at 50 mg ml(-1) and reduced tick intensity on the infested calves (18 detached out of 35 at 45% (w/w) suspension, topically applied). The herbal extract exerted dose- and time-dependent response against all the developmental stages of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus considered in this study, thus justified their use in the traditional system of Pakistan.     

中国地衣新记录属——安子纳属

通过对大别山安徽段山区所采集地衣标本的整理,利用光学生物显微镜、电子显微镜,观察其解剖结构扫描,并采用薄层层析等方法进行详细的分类学鉴定,发现一个新记录属安子纳属(Anzina Scheid.）和一个新纪录种[WTBX]〔Anzina carneonivea (Anzi.) Scheid.〕。对其分布范围、化学成分、解剖结构和鉴别特征进行了简要概括。
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Biological control of weeds: research by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: selected case studies

Research by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on biological control of weeds has been practiced for many years because of its inherent ecological and economic advantages. Today, it is further driven by ARS adherence to Presidential Executive Order 13112 (3 February 1999) on invasive species and to USDA-ARS policy toward developing technology in support of sustainable agriculture with reduced dependence on non-renewable petrochemical resources. This paper reports examples or case studies selected to demonstrate the traditional or classical approach for biological control programs using Old World arthropods against Tamarix spp, Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav) ST Blake and Galium spurium L/G aparine L, and the augmentative approach with a native plant pathogen against Pueraria lobata Ohwi = P montana. The examples illustrated various conflicts of interest with endangered species and ecological complexities of arthropods with associated microbes such as nematodes.