In vitro and in vivo characterization of avian Escherichia coli. III. Immunization

Broiler breeder hens were vaccinated once at 20 weeks or twice at 20 and 25 weeks of age with a formalin-inactivated oil-emulsion Escherichia coli bacterin composed of serogroups O2, O78, and O35. Serological responses as assessed by microagglutination documented an increase in serotype-specific antibody in vaccinated birds. Challenge of progeny from vaccinates and nonvaccinates with homologous E. coli demonstrated that maternally derived antibody could protect against mortality and/or lesions for as long as 2 weeks post-hatching.     

Das antioxidative System der Fichte: Einfluß von verschiedenen Streßfaktoren

Zusammenfassung Die Auswirkungen verschiedener Stre?faktoren auf das antioxidative System wurden in sechsj?hrigen Klonfichten untersucht. überflutung und Dunkelheit hatten nur geringen Einflu?. Im Gegensatz dazu wirkten sich die Stre?faktoren Trockenheit, K?lte, Starklicht und sehr hohe Ozonkonzentrationen stark auf das antioxidative System aus. Die Effekte waren jedoch nicht einheitlich, sondern waren je nach Stre?faktor unterschiedlich. Dies wird als ein Hinweis dafür gewertet, da? die Sch?den bei diesen Stre?faktoren durch unterschiedliche toxische Sauerstoffspezies entstehen und da? sich die Sch?den unter Freilandbedingungen synergistisch verst?rken k?nnen.

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The antioxidative system of Norway spruce: Effects of different stress factors

Summary The effects of different stress factors on the antioxidative system of 6-year-old Norway spruces of the same clone were examined. Flooding and permanent darkness had only minor effects. On the other hand drought, chilling, intense light, and very high ozone concentrations showed strong but distinct consequences. This indicates that the damages by these stress factors are due to different toxic oxygen species, and that the stress factors could produce synergistic damages under natural field conditions.

     

Flock data reported from a poultry slaughter house (broilers)]

Six broiler flocks have been compared with regard to the occurrence of attributes according to an examination protocol. Approved birds were scrutinized per random sample, condemned birds altogether. Parameters of examination were body weight occurring attributes (computed single and cumulated) count of dead and condemned birds in fattening period, transport and on slaughter line as well. Each flock was conspicuous in one or another respect. The graduation of the flocks was possible using the factors losses in the fattening period count of condemnation losses in the total production line coefficient of variation of weights attributes occurring in the meat inspection cumulated count of all attributes leading to condemnation. Results demonstrate, that graduation of different flocks by means of quantitative measurements is possible.     

Effects of drought‐stressed temperate forage legumes on the degradation and the rumen microbial community in vitro

According to climate change scenarios, central Europe may expect extending drought periods during summer. Lower water availability may influence the ruminal digestion of individual forage legume species differently. To test this hypothesis, Lotus corniculatus L. (var. Bull), Medicago lupulina L. (var. Ekola), Medicago falcata L. (wild seeds) and Trifolium repens L. (var. Rivendel) were each grown in parallel lots of control and drought‐stressed monocultures. Rainout shelters (installed in May 2011 on a regrowth after first cut until harvest in mid of June) withheld rainfall of 40 mm in the drought stress treatment. Samples of dried (60°C) and milled (5 mm screen) forage legumes were incubated in a simulation experiment using Rusitec to assess drought effects on parameters for microbial metabolism. Degradability of dry matter and organic matter as well as methane production decreased in incubations with drought‐stressed compared to control variants of legume species. Degradability of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and residual organic matter including non‐fibre carbohydrates and lipids were affected by interactions between drought stress and species. Significant interactions were also found for ammonia concentrations, molar SCFA proportions and the microbial communities. It is concluded that drought stress for growing forage legumes influences their ruminal degradation and fermentation as well as the ruminal microbial communities of Bacteria and Archaea differently in a legume species‐dependent manner.     

Untersuchungen zur Lagerung von Erdbeeren unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener Verpackungsmaterialien

In order to reduce the loss of quality of freshly harvested strawberries during storage, the effects of different packaging materials were examined with regard to storage time and temperature regime (20°C with relative humidity 75%, 4°C with relative humidity 88%). Strawberry containers (500?g) were used differing in form, alignment and number of ventilation openings, top and material. It was found that a drop in temperature to 4°C preserved the quality of strawberries longer in all packaging variants. Nevertheless, the used packaging material had different effects on the quality parameters. The packaging material made of polypropylene, which was closed with a lid and was equipped only with little ventilation openings, yielded the best results, e.?g. the transpiration losses were strongly reduced, thus favouring the preservation of pulp consistency and colour stability of the fruits. On the other hand, the fresh mass during storage was reduced by the materials polyethylenterephthalat, polyactid and groundwood. The quality loss was less dependent on the material, but more dependent on the number of ventilation openings. The results showed that with increasing numbers of ventilation openings the transpiration losses increased and the consistency and colour stability of the fruits decreased. In this context, a strong reduction of pathogenic infestation in relation to the ventilation openings could not be observed. As such, the loss of freshness was lowest with the packaging material of polypropylene, followed by the polyethylenterephthalat, polyactid and groundwood. Moreover, it was found that the kind of packaging material and the ventilation openings had an effect on the amount of pressure marks and the discharge of cell sap of the strawberries. The uneven ground surface of the materials made of polyethylenterephthalat and polyactid increased the punctual pressure on the strawberry fruits, which led to pressure marks and injuries of the fruit surface. Sharp-edged ventilation openings close to the ground surface of these variants favoured injuries and cell sap discharges of the packaging.     

Salicylate and biomass yield,and leaf phenolics of dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.) clones under different cultivation methods after the second cultivation cycle

Willow based herbal products containing salicin and its derivatives can be used to alleviate aches and fevers. To guarantee the high quality of the willow drugs and moderate low cultivation and transportation costs, the willows with high salicylate concentrations are recommended for herbal production. Dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.) with its high salicylate content is a promising source of herbal drugs. In the present study, seven dark-leaved willow clones were cultivated under short-rotation system with a two-year cultivation cycle. The yields of salicylates and biomass, and the concentrations of foliar phenolics were determined after the second cultivation cycle. Willow clones were treated by different cultivation methods, i.e. combinations of mulching (black polythene vs. cutter chip) and fertilisation (0, 25, 150 kg ha^?1, N), with the objective of evaluating the most productive clone and cultivation method for herbal willow production. Furthermore, we compared our results to those obtained after the first cultivation cycle. Results showed that the yields of salicylates and biomass, and the concentrations of all foliar phenolic metabolites varied significantly amongst the clones. Biomass yields and salicylate yield were increased by polythene mulching, but the level of response varied between clones. Fertilisation (only the highest rate) caused an increase in yields, but the effect of fertilisation was smaller than that of mulching. Salicylate yield of most clones was higher than that had been during the previous rotation. Phenolic analyses showed that the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, total p-OH-cinnamic acids and soluble condensed tannins were higher in the willows grown in polythene mulch plots than in willows grown on cutter chip mulched plots. Furthermore, the concentrations of diglucoside of SaOH, salicin, disalicortin 1, disalicortin 2, chlorogenic acid, total chlorogenic acids and total flavonoids were higher in fertilized than in unfertilized willows. Salicortin, which was the most abundant salicylate, and total salicylates were not affected by fertilisation and mulching. The effects of fertilisation and mulching on several phenolics were clone-dependent. In conclusion, after two cultivation cycles, the cultivation methods were not effective in increasing the foliar total salicylate concentration, but rather increased the salicylate yield by enhancing the biomass of the synthesising tissues. Since biomass production was increased by the second cultivation cycle, the cultivation of herbal willows under a two-year cycle is recommended. The highly variable responses of the clones to treatments indicate that profitable willow cultivation for herbal industry is based on the right clone selection.     

Das antioxidative System der Fichte: Einflu? von verschiedenen Stre?faktoren

Die Auswirkungen verschiedener Stre?faktoren auf das antioxidative System wurden in sechsj?hrigen Klonfichten untersucht. überflutung und Dunkelheit hatten nur geringen Einflu?. Im Gegensatz dazu wirkten sich die Stre?faktoren Trockenheit, K?lte, Starklicht und sehr hohe Ozonkonzentrationen stark auf das antioxidative System aus. Die Effekte waren jedoch nicht einheitlich, sondern waren je nach Stre?faktor unterschiedlich. Dies wird als ein Hinweis dafür gewertet, da? die Sch?den bei diesen Stre?faktoren durch unterschiedliche toxische Sauerstoffspezies entstehen und da? sich die Sch?den unter Freilandbedingungen synergistisch verst?rken k?nnen. The effects of different stress factors on the antioxidative system of 6-year-old Norway spruces of the same clone were examined. Flooding and permanent darkness had only minor effects. On the other hand drought, chilling, intense light, and very high ozone concentrations showed strong but distinct consequences. This indicates that the damages by these stress factors are due to different toxic oxygen species, and that the stress factors could produce synergistic damages under natural field conditions.