Characteristics of Aerococcus viridans isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis and its effect on milk SCC,yield, and composition

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Aerococcus viridians (A. viridans), an environmental Gram-positive bacterium, has been documented to be associated with bovine mastitis. However, its exact...     

Evaluation of morpho-physiological traits of MRQ74 pyramided lines with drought yield QTLs

Drought regularly affects rainfed lowland and upland rice ecosystems in Malaysia. Three drought yield QTLs, viz qDTY _2.2 , qDTY _3.1 and qDTY _12.1 successfully pyramided into MRQ74 to increase its yield under reproductive stage drought stress (RS). Forty-eight genotypes comprising 39 pyramided lines (PLs) with different qDTYs combinations, four parents including MRQ74 (recipient) and five checks were evaluated for morpho-physiological traits under RS and non-stress (NS). This study aims to determine which traits influenced by individual qDTY and qDTY combinations and to gain better understanding of QTL interactions in enhancing grain yield (GY) under RS. Results showed plant height, number of panicles, root length, root weight, relative water content and 100-grain weight increased while chlorophyll content and GY decreased under RS compared to NS. No significant difference was observed in days to flowering, leaf rolling and grain length between selected PLs and MRQ74 under RS. Six PLs with yield advantage (YA) of 208.17–1751.63 kg ha^?1 compared to MRQ74 in RS but yielded similar to MRQ74 under NS were further selected. Under RS, qDTY class analysis showed qDTY _12.1 individually and combination qDTY _12.1  + ?qDTY _2.2 produced the highest yield of 1521.77 and 1092.30 kg ha^?1 respectively. qDTY _12.1 as single or combination with other qDTY is the best qDTY in stabilizing GY under RS. PL-77 with qDTY _12.1 is the best PL with YA of more than 1100 kg ha^?1 compared to MRQ74 in both RS and NS conditions can be recommended for cultivation in normal and drought-prone areas.     

Promoting Growth,Yield, and Phosphorus-Use Efficiency of Crops in Maize–Wheat Cropping System by Using Polymer-Coated Diammonium Phosphate

Field experiments were conducted at Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to check the effect of polymer-coated diammonium phosphate (DAP) on maize–wheat cropping system. Different rates of polymer-coated and uncoated phosphorus (P) were applied first to maize then followed by wheat after harvesting of maize on same field. Results showed that application of 100% of recommended P from polymer-coated DAP increased plant height (10%), chlorophyll content (4%), biological yield (17%), grain yield (36%), agronomic efficiency (43%), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of maize produces, while in case of wheat 75% recommended P from polymer-coated DAP increased plant height (6%), chlorophyll content (18%), biological yield (20%), grain yield (14%), agronomic efficiency (72%), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of grains and straw as compared with uncoated DAP. So, it can be summarized that polymer-coated DAP can effectively improve growth, yield, and phosphorus-use efficiency of maize and wheat crop.     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus application on agricultural soil food webs

Aim of the present research is to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on soil food webs (microbes, nematodes and microarthropods) trophic interactions in agriculture ecosystems. A complete randomized block design experiment of N and P fertilization was initiated in 2010 with four treatments: (1) P-addition, (2) N-addition, (3) NP-addition and (4) control. After 4 years of fertilization, compared with control, N-addition had a negative effect on microarthropods and clarify indirectly by significantly (P < 0.05) increasing soil total nitrogen (0.37 g kg^?1) and available nitrogen (20.03 mg kg^?1). The reduction in microarthropods resulted significant (P < 0.05) increase in bacterivores and fungivores feeding on bacteria and fungi, an example of top-down control. P-addition had indirect negative effects on microarthropods by means of significantly (P < 0.05) increasing soil total phosphorus (0.62 g kg^?1) and available phosphorus (24.17 mg kg^?1), aggravated fungivores feeding on fungi and strengthened top-down control. NP-addition significantly (P < 0.05) increased total microbial biomass, nematodes and microarthropods and resulted in bottom-up control. These results suggested that top-down effects were the dominant force in N- or P-addition treatments. NP-addition strengthened bottom-up control by enriching food resource. Unbalance fertilization could pose adverse on agricultural soil ecosystem and yield potential of crops.     

Preliminary study of the performance of crude illipe oil (Shorea macrophylla) as a dietary lipid source for riverine cyprinid Tor tambroides

Fisheries Science - Illipe Shorea macrophylla is a riverine fruit naturally eaten by Malaysian mahseer Tor tambroides and other riverine cyprinids. The effects of crude illipe oil on the growth...     

Effect of Mineral and Vitamin Supplementation on Performance and Haemotological Values in Broilers

A total of 120-day-old broilers were divided into four groups. In group-A, broilers were left without supplementation of minerals and vitamins (control), while the broilers in groups B, C and D were given mineral and vitamin supplementation 1-6, 1-4 and 5-6 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the feed consumption of broilers in groups A, B, C and D was 4 234.61, 4 028.38, 4 169.32 and 4 181.87 g ? b-1; water intake was 9 668.88, 9 295.55, 9 882.11 and 9 402.86 L ? b-1; live body weight was 2 068.90, 2 360.90, 2 255.30 and 2 157.40 g ? b-1, respectively. The feed conversion ratio of broilers in groups A, B, C, D was 2.05, 1.71, 1.85 and 1.94 g ? b-1, carcass weight (wt) was 1 550, 1 656, 1 552 and 1 528.8 g ? b-1, and average dressing percentage was 61.24, 63.02, 62.60 and 60.51 respectively. Weight of heart in groups A, B, C and D was 15.13, 13.16, 11.72 and 11.50 g ? b-1, weight of gizzard was 32.98, 37.48, 37.62 and 33.35 g ? b-1, weight of liver was 51.94, 48.70, 51.94 and 48.70 g ? b-1and spleen weight was 3.48, 3.28, 3.06 and 2.82 g ? b-1, respectively. Average mortality of broilers in groups A, B, C and D was 6, 2, 4 and 5 resulting 20.00%, 8.00%, 13.00% and 16.00% mortality rate, respectively. The haemoglobin level in blood of broilers in groups A, B, C and D was 9.20, 12.23, 10.87 and 7.60 g ? dL-1, white blood cell level 77.47, 89.83, 81.63 and 78.13 (×106μL); red blood cell level 1.85, 2.58, 2.45 and 1.40 (×106μL), respectively. It was concluded that broilers given mineral and vitamin supplementation (Aquavit Electrolyte) for 6 weeks were proven to be most effective regime to result the lowest feed intake, the highest live body weight, better feed conversion ratio, higher carcass weight, better dressing percentage, higher net profit, relatively improved haemoglobin level in blood, increased counts of red blood cells and white blood cells. In all the above parameters, the broilers received mineral and vitamin supplementation for the first 4 weeks and the last 2 weeks showed relatively inferior performance, it is suggested that mineral and vitamin supplementation through water for partial period was not much effective in broiler productivity. Broilers may be supplemented with commercially available minerals and vitamins in drinking water over full rearing period, for achieving higher live body weight and efficient feed conversion ratio.     

Studies on gangrenous mastitis in goats

One hundred and fifty goats were diagnosed as having proven gangrenous mastitis. The disease was categorized into early, intermediate and late stages. Gangrenous mastitis in goats is typified by a sudden onset, dark hyperemia, and edema with progressive discoloration of the distal part of the udder. The disease affected lactating goats but not the dry ones. Coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 60% of composite and half milk samples obtained from the diseased goats. The histopathological changes mainly comprised proliferation of connective tissue, thrombosis and necrosis involving a group of lobules. Treatment of the early and intermediate stages of the disease was successful through the administration of systemic and intramammary terramycin together with diuretics and topical antiseptic cream. The late stage of the disease was successfully treated only through surgery.     

Effect of different temperatures on the storage of papaya fruits and respirational activity during storage

Mature papaya fruits were stored at 10 and 15°C to study the effect of these temperatures on the storage and of respirational activity during storage. Percentage weight loss of fruits increased with prolonged storage period, and the increase was greater in fruits stored at 15 than at 10°C. The decay percentage was greater at the higher temperature than at the lower temperature. Total soluble solids showed a slight and gradual increase upto the end of the storage period. The high storage temperature accelerated colour development in the peel and total chlorophyll diminished. There was an increase in total carotenoids in both the peel and the pulp as the storage period increased, and the rate of increase was greater at the higher temperature.The respiration rate was relatively low at the beginning of ripening and tended to level off until the 11th and 12th day of storage, which were followed by a striking increase until it reached its maximum rate at the over ripe stage.     

Effect of different storage temperatures on phenolic compounds in banana and mango fruits

The general trend of changes in total phenolic compounds of pulp banana fruits harvested at the mature-green stage was a decrease during storage. The higher the storage temperature, the more rapid was the loss in total phenols. The peels lost their total phenols very rapidly and this loss was proportional to the duration of storage at 0°C. There was an inverse relationship between total phenols content and the degree of blackening during storage at injurious chilling temperatures. Concerning the change of phenolic compounds in mango fruits, the skin of ‘Pairi’ mango contained very considerably more total phenolic compounds than the flesh and this content tended to decrease with duration of storage.