Lamprey GnRH‐III Releases Luteinizing Hormone but not Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Pigs

The effect of exogenous administration of lamprey GnRH‐III (IGnRH‐III) on gonadotropin secretion was evaluated in pigs. Six crossbred barrows (82.4 ± 3.5 kg body weight) were assigned randomly to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to evaluate the effect of 0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 μg/kg body weight of exogenous IGnRH‐III on LH and FSH secretion. To facilitate blood collection and infusion of IGnRH‐III, barrows were catheterized in the jugular vein 1 day before initiation of experiments. Blood samples were taken at 10‐min intervals for 6 h, starting 2 h before treatments were applied. Relative concentrations of LH and FSH were calculated by obtaining the ratio of the average concentration of each hormone 2 h after infusion divided by the average concentration during the 2 h before infusion. Relative concentrations of FSH after IGnRH‐III infusion did not influence mean concentration of FSH at any of the doses; yet 10.0 μg/kg body weight had a significant effect on LH secretion (p < 0.01). Relative concentrations of LH averaged 1.2, 1.0 and 3.0 ng/ml (for doses of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 μg/kg body weight of IGnRH‐III respectively). Only a dose of 10 μg/kg body weight elicited a significant LH increase that was associated with exogenous IGnRH‐III infusion. We conclude that IGnRH‐III is a weak GnRH agonist and at high doses, IGnRH‐III has the ability to release LH but not FSH in barrows.     

Investigations into skin strength in potatoes: factors affecting skin adhesion strength

Summary A standardised test of skin set (scuff meter) has been used to demonstrate the increase in skin adhesion of six varieties following haulm destruction. Increases in skin adhesion were characteristically linear in the six varieties but increased at different rates. At 49 days after haulm destruction, skin adhesion strengths were similar in all varieties except cv. Record which had a much greater skin adhesion strength. Differences in skin adhesion strength were poorly related to skin morphological characteristics such as skin thickness, cell size and suberin content. The method of haulm destruction affected skin adhesion strength with skins adhering more rapidly and more strongly to the tuber following haulm pulling compared with either desiccation with diquat or mechanical flailing. The method of haulm destruction did not influence skin morphological characteristics.     

Biosecurity and bird movement practices in upland game bird facilities in the United States

Since 1996, the emergence of Asian-origin highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 has spurred great concern for the global poultry industry. In the United States, there is concern over the potential of a foreign avian disease incursion into the country. Noncommercial poultry operations, such as upland game bird facilities in the United States, may serve as a potential source of avian disease introduction to other bird populations including the commercial poultry industry, backyard flocks, or wildlife. In order to evaluate how to prevent disease transmission from these facilities to other populations, we examined biosecurity practices and bird movement within the upland game bird industry in the United States. Persons that held a current permit to keep, breed, or release upland game birds were surveyed for information on biosecurity practices, flock and release environments, and bird movement parameters. Biosecurity practices vary greatly among permit holders. Many facilities allow for interaction between wild birds and pen-reared birds, and there is regular long-distance movement of live adult birds among facilities. Results suggest that upland game bird facilities should be targeted for biosecurity education and disease surveillance efforts.     

Observations on the prevalence and incidence of cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) in Scotland

A survey of the incidence of cereal cyst nematode (CCN) in Scottish cereal-producing land showed that 69% of fields contained CCN cysts and of these 54% contained eggs. CCN infestations were more frequent in SE and NE areas. Populations were small despite intensive cereal cropping, 71% having less than 1 egg/g soil and only 3% having more than 6 eggs/g soil. Soil type and cropping frequency were important in influencing the infestation of fields with CCN. Infested fields occurred most frequently in freely draining loamy-drift soils and populations were larger when these infested soils were cropped more frequently with cereals. In the soils that were less well draining, fewer infestations occurred and cropping frequency was less important, although cropping with oats in these soils was associated with larger CCN populations. A survey of seed-potato-producing land showed that 55% of fields known to contain CCN had viable populations but that population densities were smaller than in the more intensively cereal-cropped fields.     

翘嘴鲌淀山湖和兴凯湖群体的胚胎发育及染色体核型比较

为了解翘嘴鲌(Culter alburnus)南、北不同地理群体在繁殖和染色体核型方面的差异性,以翘嘴鲌南方(上海淀山湖)群体和北方(黑龙江兴凯湖)群体为研究对象,在上海地区同时进行了翘嘴鲌两个群体的人工繁育、胚胎发育观察和染色体组成比较。结果显示,翘嘴鲌南方淀山湖群体的受精卵呈灰黄色,有黏性,为黏性卵,卵径为(1.11±0.05)mm;北方兴凯湖群体的受精卵呈青灰色,无黏性,为浮性卵,卵径为(1.21±0.03)mm。两个群体的相对繁殖力和受精率无明显差异。在(25±1)℃的水温条件下,两个群体的胚胎均可以在24 h内出膜,且胚胎发育特征及时序无明显差异。北方兴凯湖群体仔鱼的出膜后体长为(5.77±0.29)mm,极显著大于南方淀山湖群体[(3.40±0.14)mm](P<0.01)。两个群体的染色体数目均为2n=48,其中南方淀山湖群体的核型公式为2n=24m+20sm+4st,染色体臂数NF=88;北方兴凯湖群体的核型公式为2n=22sm+26m, NF=96。研究表明,翘嘴鲌南方淀山湖与北方兴凯湖群体在受精卵的特征及染色体核型上存在一定的差异,且北方兴凯湖水系翘嘴鲌可以在...     

中国栽培大豆资源的耐酸雨性鉴定

模拟我国出现的酸雨成分 ,设置不同的 pH值梯度 ,对大豆耐酸雨性敏感值进行了确定。为了快速、大量、准确的鉴定、筛选出强耐酸雨性的大豆品种资源 ,发现 2 .0 0为较为适宜的 pH值。并用这一方法对我国来源不同的 10 33份大豆品种资源进行了耐酸雨性鉴定 ,筛选出 1级耐酸雨性大豆品种 68份 ,其中 6份为强耐酸雨性品种     

不同基质配比对温室番茄幼苗生长及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以番茄品种"福美十号"为材料,采用随机区组试验设计,研究不同基质配比对番茄幼苗生长与叶片叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明:采用A3[V(草炭)∶V(玉米秸秆)∶V(牛粪)∶V(食用菌下脚料)∶V(蛭石)=1∶2∶0.5∶0.5∶1]的基质配比,幼苗在出苗率、株高、茎粗、叶片数和根冠比等性状上表现最优,分别为98.25%、44.60 cm、0.50 cm、9.12片与7.95;叶片光系统Ⅱ(PSIⅡ)原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)与PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)的值在幼苗生长前期、中期和末期也均为最高,Fv/Fm值分别为0.82、0.74和0.79,Fv/Fo值分别为3.92、2.97和3.23;其叶片内丙二醛(MDA)含量最低为6.02μmol/g,其根系活力最强、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)与可溶性蛋白含量等指标最高,分别为158.26μg/(g·h)、386.23 U/g、6.26 U/(g·min)和0.203 mg/g,显著高于其他处理。说明采用处理A3的基质配比更适宜于番茄幼苗的生长。