Mortality in single‐pair mating families of QX disease‐resistant and wild‐type Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)

QX disease causes mass mortalities among Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata). To overcome commercial production losses, Industry & Investment NSW has been developing mass selected QX disease‐resistant breeding lines since 1997. This breeding programme has significantly reduced QX‐associated mortality in the Lime Kiln Bar (LKB) breeding line relative to non‐selected, wild‐type (WT) oysters. The current study assessed mortality in families produced by single‐pair mating between LKB and WT oysters. When these families were grown in a QX disease‐prone area, the progeny of LKB × LKB crosses had significantly lower mortality compared with LKB × WT or WT × WT families. Mortality in the different crosses was associated with infection by sporulating Marteilia sydneyi, the parasite responsible for QX disease. Overall, the study identified a strong association between parentage and mortality resulting from QX disease.     

Soil carbon stock in relation to plant diversity of homegardens in Kerala,India

Conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of global warming are two major environmental challenges today. In this context, the relationship between biodiversity (especially plant diversity) and soil carbon (C) sequestration (as a means of mitigating global warming) has become a subject of considerable scientific interest. This relationship was tested for homegardens (HG), a popular and sustainable agroforestry system in the tropics, in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. The major objectives were to examine how tree density and plant-stand characteristics of homegardens affect soil C sequestration. Soil samples were collected at four depths (0–20, 20–50, 50–80, 80–100 cm) from HG of varying sizes and age classes, and their total C content determined. Tree density and plant-stand characteristics such as species richness (Margalef Index) and diversity (Shannon Index) of the HG were also determined. Results indicated that the soil C stock was directly related to plant diversity of HG. Homegardens with higher, compared to those with lower, number of plant species, as well as higher species richness and tree density had higher soil carbon, especially in the top 50 cm of soil. Overall, within 1 m profile, soil C content ranged from 101.5 to 127.4 Mg ha⁻¹. Smaller-sized HG (<0.4 ha) that had higher tree density and plant-species density had more soil C per unit area (119.3 Mg ha⁻¹) of land than larger-sized ones (>0.4 ha) (108.2 Mg ha⁻¹). Soil C content, especially below 50 cm, was higher in older gardens. The enhanced soil-C storage in species-rich homegardens could have relevance and applications in broader ecological contexts.

苦参杀虫抑菌活性成分研究

苦参(SophoraflavescensAit)为豆科槐属灌木,分布广泛,是我国历史悠久的传统药物之一,主要功效清热、杀虫、利尿、祛湿[1]。苦参在农业上的应用,近几年引起人们的重视,有1.1%苦参碱醇溶液等几个产品获得登记。但多数研究只是停留在苦参的粗提物直接用于病虫害防治上,对苦参的生物活性与其成分的联系研究甚少。本文以生物活性追踪试验为指导,从苦参提取物中分离到2个主要杀虫抑菌活性化合物,参考文献报道的波谱数据,确定其结构分别为苦参酮(Kurarinone)(I)和槐属二氢黄酮G(SophoraflavanoneG)(II)。I　R=OCH3　　II　R=H1　结果与讨…     

Antioxidant polyphenols from tart cherries (Prunus cerasus).

Montmorency and Balaton tart cherries were lyophilized and sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Methanolic extracts of dried Balaton and Montmorency tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+) at 25 ppm concentrations. Further partitioning of this methanol extract with EtOAc yielded a fraction that inhibited lipid peroxidation by 76% at 25 ppm. Purification of this EtOAc fraction afforded eight polyphenolic compounds, 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone (1), 5,7, 4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (2), chlorogenic acid (3), 5,7,3', 4'-tetrahydroxyflavonol-3-rhamnoside (4), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavonol 3-rutinoside (5), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'methoxyflavonol-3-rutinoside (6), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone-7-glucoside (7), and 6, 7-dimethoxy-5,8,4'-trihydroxyflavone (8), as characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR experiments. The antioxidant assays revealed that 7-dimethoxy-5,8,4'-trihydroxyflavone (8) is the most active, followed by quercetin 3-rhamnoside, genistein, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and genistin, at 10 microM concentrations.     

Alley cropping of maize with calliandra and leucaena in the subhumid highlands of Kenya: Part 2. Soil-fertility changes and maize yield

Although N-rich leaf biomass of multipurpose trees is known to be a good source of N to crops, integrating such trees into crop production systems is a major challenge in the development of viable agroforestry systems. An approach to integrating calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit), two promising agroforestry tree species, into maize (Zea mays L.) production system was investigated in the subhumid highlands of central Kenya during four maize-growing seasons from 1994 to 1996. The experiment consisted of maize plots to which tree prunings obtained from hedgerows grown either in situ (alley cropping) or ex situ (biomass transfer from outside) were applied. When alley-cropped with leucaena, maize produced significantly higher yields compared to maize monoculture (both non-fertilized and fertilized) treatments, but when alley-cropped with calliandra, the yield of maize was less than that of the monocropped unfertilized control. Application of ex situ grown calliandra and leucaena prunings with or without fertilizer resulted in higher maize grain yield than in the nonfertilized and fertilized treatments. Yields of calliandra alley- cropped maize were 11% to 51% lower than those of nonalley-cropped treatments receiving calliandra prunings from ex situ grown trees; the decrease was 2% to 17% with leucaena, indicating that calliandra hedges were more competitive than leucaena hedges. The alley-cropped prunings-removed treatments produced the lowest maize yields. The study showed that, in the subhumid tropical highlands of Kenya, inclusion of calliandra hedges on cropland adversely affected maize yields. On the other hand, alley cropping with leucaena was advantageous. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The induced spawning of the grey mullet, Mugil macrolepis (Aguas) Smith and the large-scale rearing of its larvae

The grey mullet, Mugil macrolepis (Aguas) Smith could be induced to spawn by the administration of pituitary alone from the same species. The threshold dose was found to be three and four glands as the first and second injections after a 6-h interval. About 40% of the experiments were successful. The hand-stripped eggs were artificially fertilized with milt by the dry method.The embryonic development of the eggs are briefly described. The majority of the fertilized eggs hatched out about 23 h after fertilization. The salinity of the water ranged from 29 to 31‰ and temperature from 26 to 29°C.A method for the large-scale rearing of mullet larvae is outlined. “Seasoned greenwater” is produced by keeping slightly manured brackish water for about a fortnight in small tanks which can be exposed to sunlight in the afternoon. Blooms of Chlorella sp. developed and the larvae fed on the microplankton. The larvae at about 1 cm in length fed exclusively on copepods. Hence copepod cultures were maintained simultaneously in manured cisterns for feeding the mullet larvae until they accepted artificial feeds.     

Economic analysis of monosex culture of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii De Man): a case study

All‐male monosex culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) has emerged as a popular practice in India, especially in the state of Andhra Pradesh. A study was conducted to compare the economics of all‐male, mixed and all‐female culture in 15 adjacent, rectangular ponds of 4000 m² each by stocking juveniles previously reared in a nursery for 60 days. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with three treatments; T₁ (all male), T₂ (mixed) and T₃ (all female), and five replicates for a period of 5 months after the nursery phase. Statistical analysis showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences among the three types of culture. The cost of production was estimated and the economic feasibility of the culture methods was evaluated by cost‐return and partial budgeting analysis. The average weight, productivity and specific growth rate were the highest for all male culture, being 80.92±2.41 g, 1532 kg ha^?1 and 1.97±0.02 respectively. All‐female culture registered significantly higher survival (89.16±0.77%) and the best apparent feed conversion ratio of 1.26±0.02. The economic analysis revealed that all‐male monosex culture of M. rosenbergii was 63.13% and 60.20% more profitable than mixed and all‐female cultures respectively.     

Detection of quantitative trait loci for mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) resistance in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) in India and Pakistan

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is one of the major diseases affecting mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). In this study, we report the mapping of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) for mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) resistance in mungbean. An F₈ recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population was generated in Thailand from a cross between NM10-12-1 (MYMIV resistance) and KPS2 (MYMIV susceptible). One hundred and twenty-two RILs and their parents were evaluated for MYMIV resistance in infested fields in India and Pakistan. A genetic linkage map was developed for the RIL population using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Composite interval mapping identified five QTLs for MYMIV resistance: three QTLs for India (qYMIV1, qYMIV2 and qYMIV3) and two QTLs for Pakistan (qYMIV4 and qYMIV5). qYMIV1, qYMIV2, qYMIV3, qYMIV4 and qYMIV5 explained 9.33%, 10.61%, 12.55%, 21.93% and 6.24% of variation in disease responses, respectively. qYMIV1 and qYMIV4 appeared to be the same locus and were common to a major QTL for MYMIV resistance in India identified previously using a different resistant mungbean.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.): I. Direct somatic embryogenesis from tissues of germinating seeds and ontogeny of somatic embryos

Summary

A protocol was developed for induction, maturation and germination of somatic embryos from the tissues of germinating seeds of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Explants were cultured on growth regulator – free solid SH medium maintained in the dark. The first somatic embryos developing directly from the explant tissue were noticed after 60 d of culture. Somatic embryos originated from a ring-like tissue on the micropylar region of the seeds. Sucrose concentration of the medium was found to be crucial for the induction of somatic embryos, and 30 g l^–1 was found to be the optimum. Maturation and germination of somatic embryos were achieved on the same medium. Suspension culture enhanced the process of maturation and germination. Regenerated plants were established in soil. Histology confirmed the ontogeny and each stage of development. Growth regulators were found to inhibit the induction of somatic embryogenesis. Cytological analysis of the regenerated plants revealed the normal chromosome number of 2n=52.     

Alteration in phenylpropanoid metabolism in gamma irradiated potatoes

Summary Gamma irradiation, up to 10 krad, of potatoes had no effect on the primary defence mechanism at the site of injury in potatoes, namely, the formation of quinones from phenolic acids, but it reduced by 50% the capacity of tubers to synthesize chlorogenic and caffeic acids in the wounded tissue. Of the first two enzymes involved in chlorogenic acid synthesis, irradiation impaired the induction of the second, cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (CA-4-H), but the induction of the first, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), was unaltered. Of the three tissues examined, bud, cortex and parenchyma, the last proved to be most susceptible, an effect that was also dependent on the dose absorbed. An increase in dose from 0 to 200 krad caused a progressive decrease in the induction of CA-4-H, net accumulation of chlorogenic acid, and increased rotting of potatoes stored at room temperature. In contrast, PAL induction gradually increased up to the 50-krad dose and thereafter remained steady.

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Zusammenfassung Gammabestrahlung von Kartoffeln mit der keimhemmenden Dosis von 10 krad ergab beeintr?chtigte Wundperiderm-Bildung und beeinflusste deren Widerstandsf?higkeit gegenüber bakterieller Nassf?ule. Die biochemische Natur dieser Ver?nderung wurde durch den Vergleich des Phenols?ure- und des phenylpropanoiden Metabolismus bei gammbestrahlten Kartoffeln bei drei Gewe-betypen untersucht: Keim-(Auge), Rinden-und Parenchym-Gewebe, am Ende von drei Lagerzeiten — 24 Studen, 3 und 6 Wochen. Tabelle 1 zeigt, dass die Konzentration an Chlorogens?ure in bestrahltem Knollenge-webe immer geringer war als die in entspre-chendem unbestrahltem Gewebe, mit Ausnahme von bestrahltem Keim- und Rindengewebe nach 24 Stunden. Der Gehalt an Phenolase, Chlorogens?ure und Kaffees?ure in bis zu 8 Wochen gelagerten Kontrollen und bestrahlten Knollen zeigte, dass deren Phenolase-Aktivit?t gleichermassen abnahm. Die aktivierung von Abwehrmechanismen in Kartoffelknollen ist ein Ergebnis rapider Synthese und akkumulation von Chlorogens?ure, hervorgerufen durch die Induktion von Enzymen des phenylpropanoiden Reaktions-ablaufes im Gewebe, welches das verletzte Gewebe umgibt. Die Kapazit?t für die Induktion von Phenylalanin-Ammonium-Lyase (PAL), Cinnamons?ure-4-Hydroxylase (CA-4-H) und akkumulierter Chlorogens?ure in verschiedenen Gewebearten von bis zu 8 Wochen bei Licht gelagerten Kontrollen und bestrahlten Knollen wurde nach Aufteilung und 20-stündiger Lagerung verglichen. In allen Geweben bestrahlter Kartoffeln ergab sich immer ein 40–70%-iger Rückgang in der Nettosynthese von Chlorogens?ure (Tabelle 3, Abb. 1b), verglichen mit nicht-bestrahlten Knollen. Bestrahlung beeintr?chtigte nicht die Induktion von PAL (Tabelle 4, Abb. 1a), die CA-4-H-Induktion wurde jedoch negativ beeinflusst. Das am meisten beeintr?chtigte Gewebe war das Parenchym, bei dem der Induktionsgrad an CA-4-H weniger als 50% der Kontrolle betrug (Abb. 1b, Tabelle 5). Die maximale Reduktion bei der Chlorogens?ure-Synthese wurde ebenfalls im Parenchym beobachtet. Bei Bestrahlung mit 0, 10, 25, 50 und 100 krad stieg die Kapazit?t zur PAL-Induktion mit steigender Gammastrahlen-Dosis bis 50 krad an (Abb. 2a), die Kapazit?t zur Induktion von CA-4-H sank jedoch mit der Dosissteigerung (Abb. 2b) und beeinflusste die Synthese von Chorogens?ure entsprechend (Abb. 2c). Letztere Beeintr?chtigung war mit ansteigender Neigung zum Faulen der Kartoffeln mit genannten Dosish?hen verbunden und zeigte damit eine Beziehung zwischen dem Rückgang der CA-4-H-Aktivit?t, der Retardierung der Chlorogens?ure- Synthese und dem st?rkeren Faulen der Kartoffeln.

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Résumé Les radiations gamma à la dose inhibant la germination (10 krad) provoquent chez les pommes de terre une altération du péridermé de cicatrisation qui affecte leur résistance aux pourritures bactériennes. La nature biochimique de cette modification est étudiée en comparant les niveaux d'acides phénoliques et le métabolisme des phénylpr?pano?des dans trois types de tissus de tubercules non irradiés et irradiés par les rayons gamma: le bourgeon (oeil), le cortex et le tissu parenchymateux, à la fin de trois périodes de conservation: 24 heures, 3 et 8 semaines. Le tableau 1 montre que la concentration en acide chlorogénique des tissues de tubercules irradiés est toujours inférieure à celle des tissus de tubercules non irradiés, à l'exception du bourgeon et du cortex après 24 heures. Les taux de phénolase, d'acide chlorogénique et d'acide cafféique dans le témoin et dans les tubercules irradiés montrent qu'après huit semaines de conservation l'activité phénolasique diminue de manière analogue dans toutes les conditions. L'activation du mécanisme de défense des tubercules résulte d'une rapide synthèse et d'une accumulation d'acide chlorogénique causée par l'induction des enzymes du cycle des phénylpropano?des dans les tissus entourant la lésion. Les capacités d'induction de la phénylalanine-ammoniac-lyase (PAL), de l'acide cinnamique-4-hydrolase (CA-4-H) et d'accumulation de l'acide chlorogénique dans les différents tissus du témoin et des tubercules irradiés conservés pendant 8 semaines à la lumière sont comparés après excision et maintien en survie pendant 20 heures. Dans tous les tissus des tubercules irradiés, il y a toujours une diminution de 40% à 70% de la synthèse de l'acide chlorogénique (tableau 3, figure 1b) comparés au témoin. L'irradiation n'entrave pas l'induction de la PAL (tableau 4, figure la) mais celle de la CA-4-H est affectée. Le tissu le plus atteint est le parenchyme pour lequel le taux d'induction de cette dernière est inférieur de 50% au témoin (figure 1b, tableau 5) et la synthèse d'acide chlorogénique ralentie. Avec l'irradiation à 0, 10, 25, 50 et 100 krad, la capacité d'induction de la PAL augmente parallèlement à l'augmentation des doses de rayons gamma jusqu'à 50 krad (figure 2a), mais la capacité d'induction de la CA-4-H diminue (figure 2b) et affecte la synthèse de l'acide chlorogénique (figure 2c). Ce dernier phénomène se traduit par une tendance à la pourriture des tubercules qui recoivent de telles doses d'irradiation et montre la relation existant entre l'altération de l'activité de la CA-4-H, le ralentissement de la synthèse de l'acide chlorogénique et l'augmentation de la sensibilité à la pourriture des tubercules.