Development of a RAPD marker-based classification criterion for quality semen production in Holstein crossbred bulls

In cattle production systems, an intense selection pressure for production traits has resulted in the decline of fertility traits. To optimize an efficient reproduction system, the inclusion of both male and female fertility traits in the selection process is very much essential. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) was developed as a molecular biology tool and has been extensively used, to study intra- and interspecific genetic diversity. The present study was undertaken to utilize RAPD primers to investigate the association between DNA markers and semen quality traits viz. Sperm concentration, total sperm count ejaculate and initial sperm motility and thereby to identify good/poor semen producers. DNA isolated from the blood samples of healthy bulls was subjected to RAPD-PCR. The multiple regression analysis followed by independent t test was carried out to identify suitable markers. Based on the results, only 12 bands were identified as marker suitable for any of the quality trait. This includes, OPA2 ~ 760, OPA2 ~ 700, OPA6 ~ 1,200, OPA9 ~ 400, OPA9 ~ 380, OPA12 ~ 970, OPA14 ~ 715, OPA14 ~ 605, OPA16 ~ 485, OPA17 ~ 860 and OPA18 ~ 480. Multiple regression analysis selected, OPA2 ~ 760 and OPA2 ~ 1,750 for sperm concentration and OPA2 ~ 760, OPA2 ~ 700, OPA9 ~ 620, OPA4 ~ 670 and OPA18 ~ 1,015 for total sperm count/ejaculate. But the t test revealed a significant association between OPA2 ~ 760 and total sperm count. Further, discriminant function analysis also identified this marker in the first step itself. The results of the present study can be exploited as a low-cost alternative strategy for identification of good /poor semen producers in crossbred bulls at an early age.     

The restoration potential of the Mesopotamian marshes of Iraq

Uncontrolled releases of Tigris and Euphrates River waters after the 2003 war have partially restored some former marsh areas in southern Iraq, but restoration is failing in others because of high soil and water salinities. Nearly 20% of the original 15,000-square-kilometer marsh area was reflooded by March 2004, but the extent of marsh restoration is unknown. High-quality water, nonsaline soils, and the densest native vegetation were found in the only remaining natural marsh, the Al-Hawizeh, located on the Iranian border. Although substantially reduced in area and under current threat of an Iranian dike, it has the potential to be a native repopulation center for the region. Rapid reestablishment, high productivity, and reproduction of native flora and fauna in reflooded former marsh areas indicate a high probability for successful restoration, provided the restored wetlands are hydraulically designed to allow sufficient flow of noncontaminated water and flushing of salts through the ecosystem.     

Momordica charantia Extract Confers Protection Against Hypertension in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Hypertension is one of the main factors of cardiovascular disease worldwide and is strongly related to the overall mortality. High salt intake is a major risk...     

Allelopathic Potential of Soliva sessilis Ruiz & Pav. on Wheat

Soliva sessilis (Burweed) is a winter annual weed found in wheat crop of Pakistan. It is thought to have an allelopathic effect on wheat crop. In this regard, an experiment was conducted in 2019 in the department of Weed Science and Botany at the University of Agriculture Peshawar, to assess the allelopathic potential of S. sessilis on various wheat varieties grown in Peshawar, Pakistan. Physiologically matured roots and leaves of S. sessilis were dried, ground and stored. Three common wheat varieties were selected for the research including Atta Habib, Pirsabaq-15, and Shahkar-13. The treatments of the experiment comprised of the aqueous extracts of the roots and leaves of S. sessilis, hot water extracts, methanol extracts, litter, and mulches. A mass of 5?g of S. sessilis was taken for the different extracts for 24?h, however, the methanol extract was kept for 48?h. The effect of the treatments was highly significant on wheat seed germination, radicle length, plumule length, fresh biomass as well as dry biomasses of the three tested wheat varieties. The variety Atta Habib was discovered as the most susceptible variety to the treatments of aqueous extracts, hot water extracts, and leaves’ litter. In contrary, the variety Pirsabaq-15 exhibited a remarkable increase in the various data collection parameters. The leaves of S. sessilis were observed more toxic as compared to the roots. The mulch of S. sessilis indicated stimulatory effect on the wheat varieties. For the interaction effect between treatments and varieties, the leaves and roots aqueous extract and their litter showed inhibitory effect. In conclusion, the leaves and roots of S. sessilis are potentiality allelopathic to wheat crop plants and further study is needed to assess the types of these allelochemicals present in the leaves and roots of the weed.

     

Effect of saline irrigation on the biomass yield,and the protein,nitrogen, phosphorus,and potassium composition of alfalfa in a pot experiment

During 1994–1995, field experiments were conducted in six apple orchards located in the southwest of Finland (the mainland and the Åland Islands). The cultivars were ‘Melba’, ‘Raike’, ‘Red Atlas’, ‘Lobo’, ‘Aroma’, and ‘Åkero’. Fruit samples were picked at about one week before commercial maturity and stored for three to six months at 2 to 4°C and 85–95% relative humidity. During storage the percentage of physiological disorders was visually recorded. Fruit nitrogen (N) and calcium (Ca), firmness, diameter, juice titratable acidity (TA), and soluble solids concentrations (SSC) were determined at harvest. Nitrogen and Ca in the soil and leaves collected during fruit development were determined. The ranges in fruit N were 296–624 and Ca 27–68 mg kg^‐1 fresh weight, and in the leaves N 15–23 and Ca 9–19 g kg^‐1 dry matter. The N/Ca ratio was 5 and 16 and 0.9 and 2.3 in fruit and leaves, respectively. There was more variation between years in N and Ca contents of leaves than that of fruit. Other fruit quality characteristics varied between seasons and cultivars. Leaf N correlated positively with fruit diameter and negatively with fruit dry matter. The incidence of physiological disorders on apples after three month storage was 2 to 13% and after six months 10 to 95%. Fruit with Ca content below 45 mg kg^‐1 fresh weight were susceptible to bitter pit ('Aroma’ and ‘Åkero') and Jonathan spot ('Red Atlas'). The cultivar ‘Melba’ was susceptible to bruising damages and ‘Raike’ and ‘Red Atlas’ were affected more with internal breakdown and core browning.     

Molecular basis of Iron Biofortification in crop plants; A step towards sustainability

Iron is one of the most important micronutrients for crop plants due to its use in important physiological processes such as photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, metal homeostasis, and chlorophyll synthesis. Crop plants have adapted different strategies for uptake, transport, accumulation, and storage of iron in tissues and organs which later can be consumed by humans. Estimates indicate that about 2 billion people (33% of human population) are at risk of iron deficiency in which infants, children, and pregnant women are potentially compromised. Biofortification refers to the increase in concentration of micronutrients in edible parts of plants and understanding the pathways for iron accumulation in plants is necessary for breeding iron‐enriched crops. Iron‐biofortified crops are also one of the key factors in achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development goals. This review article covers different strategies of iron acquisition and transport in plants, its bioavailability, coping with the iron deficiency as a global perspective, the current status of iron biofortification, and how breeding future biofortified crops could be helpful in combating the said issue in a sustainable manner.     

A Study on Seasonal Variability of Trace Elemental Status of Forages for Grazing Ruminants

An investigation was conducted to determine the trace- mineral concentrations of forages in relation to requirements of ruminants grazing in natural pastures in the province of Punjab, Pakistan during two different seasons. Animals were closely followed during grazing and forages corresponding to those consumed by the animals were taken and analyzed for copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and cobalt (Co) concentrations. The data on the trace- mineral concentrations showed that most of these minerals varied greatly as a function of seasons and sampling periods. The forage Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations were affected by seasonal changes but no influence of season was observed on the concentrations of forage Mn and Co concentration. Forage Zn and Co, during both seasons and at some sampling intervals, and forage Mn during summer were at marginal deficient levels, and in contrast, all other forage trace-minerals were within the required range for ruminants during both seasons. Based on these results, the supplementation of Zn, Co, and Mn would seem most important to support optimum livestock productivity.     

Monochromatic electron photoemission from diamondoid monolayers

We found monochromatic electron photoemission from large-area self-assembled monolayers of a functionalized diamondoid, [121]tetramantane-6-thiol. Photoelectron spectra of the diamondoid monolayers exhibited a peak at the low-kinetic energy threshold; up to 68% of all emitted electrons were emitted within this single energy peak. The intensity of the emission peak is indicative of diamondoids being negative electron affinity materials. With an energy distribution width of less than 0.5 electron volts, this source of monochromatic electrons may find application in technologies such as electron microscopy, electron beam lithography, and field-emission flat-panel displays.     

Monoclonal antibody specific to HA2 glycopeptide protects mice from H3N2 influenza virus infection

Canine influenza virus (CIV) subtype H3N2 is a newly identified, highly contagious respiratory pathogen that causes cough, pneumonia and other respiratory symptoms in dogs. Data indicate that the virus is responsible for recent clinical cases of dog disease in China. However, therapeutic options for this disease are very limited. In this study, seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CIV JS/10 (an H3N2 subtype virus) were produced and characterized. Among them, mAb D7, which is specific for the HA2 glycopeptide (gp), induced the highest neutralization titers. The protection provided by mAb D7 was evaluated in BALB/c mice challenged with homologous or heterologous strains of H3N2 influenza virus, including two strains of CIV and one strain of swine influenza virus (SIV). The data show that mAb D7 protected the mice from infection with the three viral strains, especially the homologous strain, which was indicated by the recovery of body weight, reduction of viral load, and reduction of tissue damage. Moreover, the levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the lungs, as detected by ELISA, were reduced in the infected mice treated with the mAb D7 compared with those without mAb D7 treatment. Thus, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that a mAb could reduce the release of IFN-γ and TNF-α associated with tissue damage by CIV infection and that the mAb might be of great therapeutic value for CIV infection.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-015-0146-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.