Measurement of genetic and environmental variation in barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain hardness

In this study, we assessed a broad range of barley breeding lines and commercial varieties by three hardness methods (two particle size methods and one crush resistance method (SKCS—Single-Kernel Characterization System), grown at multiple sites to see if there was variation in barley hardness and if that variation was genetic or environmentally controlled. We also developed near-infrared reflectance (NIR) calibrations for these three hardness methods to ascertain if NIR technology was suitable for rapid screening of breeding lines or specific populations. In addition, we used this data to identify genetic regions that may be associated with hardness. There were significant (p<0.05) genetic effects for the three hardness methods. There were also environmental effects, possibly linked to the effect of protein on hardness, i.e. increasing protein resulted in harder grain. Heritability values were calculated at >85% for all methods. The NIR calibrations, with R² values of >90%, had Standard Error of Prediction values of 0.90, 72 and 4.0, respectively, for the three hardness methods. These equations were used to predict hardness values of a mapping population which resulted in genetic markers being identified on all chromosomes but chromosomes 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H and 7H had markers with significant LOD scores. The two regions on 5H were on the distal end of both the long and short arms. The region that showed significant LOD score was on the long arm. However, the region on the short arm associated with the hardness (hordoindoline) genes did not have significant LOD scores. The results indicate that barley hardness is influenced by both genotype and environment and that the trait is heritable, which would allow breeders to develop very hard or soft varieties if required. In addition, NIR was shown to be a reliable tool for screening for hardness. While the data set used in this study has a relatively low variation in hardness, the tools developed could be applied to breeding populations that have large variation in barley grain hardness.     

Multicenter case-control study of risk factors associated with development of vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether particular vaccine brands, other injectable medications, customary vaccination practices, or various host factors were associated with the formation of vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats. DESIGN: Prospective multicenter case-control study. ANIMALS: Cats in the United States and Canada with soft tissue sarcomas or basal cell tumors. PROCEDURE: Veterinarians submitting biopsy specimens from cats with a confirmed diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma or basal cell tumor were contacted for patient medical history. Time window statistical analyses were used in conjunction with various assumptions about case definitions. RESULTS: No single vaccine brand or manufacturer within antigen class was found to be associated with sarcoma formation. Factors related to vaccine administration were also not associated with sarcoma development, with the possible exception of vaccine temperature prior to injection. Two injectable medications (long-acting penicillin and methyl prednisolone acetate) were administered to case cats more frequently than to control cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings do not support the hypotheses that specific brands or types of vaccine within antigen class, vaccine practices such as reuse of syringes, concomitant viral infection, history of trauma, or residence either increase or decrease the risk of vaccine-associated sarcoma formation in cats. There was evidence to suggest that certain long-acting injectable medications may also be associated with sarcoma formation.     

接种茄病镰刀菌(Fusarium solani f.sp.glycines)对不同基因型大豆植株和须根的影响

摘要：茄病镰刀菌（Fusarium solani f．sp．glydne）是一种土生细菌,通过侵染大豆根系引发猝死综合症。利用温室盆栽试验和须根培养试验研究了接种茄孢镰刀菌对13个不同基因型大豆的影响。结果表明：接种后所有盆栽大豆主根都有明显深褐色的侵染病斑;移植后21d测定了盆栽植株叶部发病程度,Peking表现最为严重,然后依次为Spencer,Ripley,P3981,Williams82,Essex,Forrest,Iroquois,PI520733,Hartwig,PI567650B,Jack,和PI567374。叶部发病程度与冠高（r=-0．422,P=0．0018）、冠重（r=-0．857,P〈0．0001）和根重（r=-0．732,P〈0．0001）呈显著负相关。主根病斑长度与叶部发病程度没有相关性,表明大豆对病原菌的抗性不能仅通过根系得到充分控制。对培养的大豆须根接种茄病镰刀菌菌丝体10d后,不同基因型大豆的菌落直径的变化范围为17—40mm,差异显著（P=0．05）,其中Spencer和Peking须根上的菌落直径显著（P=0．05）大于PI567374和PI520733。对Spencer和PI567374的须根接种10灿茄病镰刀菌常量成分悬浮液,10d后菌落直径分别为50和38mm,差异显著（P=0．05）。通常,不同基因型大豆间茄病镰刀菌在培养须根上的生长与整株的症状间有一定的相关性,但不总是这样,这是因为即使根系对毒素产生抗性来减少叶部病害症状,但并不是所有的大豆都表现出明显的根系抗性。     

Modelling the impacts of agriculture in mixed-use landscapes: a review and case study involving two species of dabbling ducks

Context

This study synthesizes evidence from three separate surveys of American Black Duck and Mallard breeding habitat usage to quantify the effects of agriculture at the landscape scale.

Objectives

To assess duck breeding activity in agricultural landscapes within the Canadian maritimes in order to measure the overall impact of agricultural land use, the response to particular agricultural activities, and the influence of landscape configuration.

Methods

Models, constructed using a long-term census (SURVEY1), were used to predict habitat selection for two other independent surveys (SURVEY2, SURVEY3). Predictions incorporated information about wetland area and diversity, as well as anthropogenic factors, allowing subsequent analyses to focus on the remaining residual error attributable to agricultural effects.

Results

SURVEY2 results demonstrated that the proportion of active agriculture is an important indicator of the severity of human disturbance, yielding threshold estimates of 39% for Mallards and 60% for Black Ducks, with an overall average of 50%. Agricultural conversion beyond these thresholds deterred breeding ducks independently of other factors. SURVEY3 land cover information demonstrated that the presence of cropland intensified this deterrence effect, even at levels as low as 10%. Woodland cover (in excess of 30%) was important for both species, but its configuration was not.

Conclusions

In addition to quantifying threshold effects, this study reaffirms that woodland is an important part of the maritime landscape matrix, and contributes positively to habitat diversity in mixed use, moderate intensity agricultural regions. Wetland restoration in agricultural landscapes should monitor and promote less crop-intensive, mixed-use practices.

     

Hematologic changes associated with half-body irradiation in dogs with lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Reports describe the technique and efficacy of half-body irradiation (HBI) of dogs with lymphoma, but few describe the distinctive toxicoses associated with the combination of HBI and chemotherapy. HYPOTHESIS: HBI would transiently affect myelocytic and erythroid variables as assessed by serial analysis of complete blood counts. ANIMALS: Twenty-nine dogs with lymphoma treated with HBI during 2002 and 2003. METHODS: A retrospective study of medical records of 29 dogs was performed. Two HBI protocols were used, resulting in delivery of either 6 Gy or 8 Gy to each half of the body, 1 month apart. Dogs received chemotherapy before, during, or after irradiation, or at multiple times. Serial hematology was available for all dogs. Data were analyzed between collection periods by analysis of variance (ANOVA) RESULTS: The mean granulocyte count significantly (P < .01) decreased from 10,017 cells/microL (data range 3,001-20,170 cells/ microL) before the first radiation treatment to 3,250 cells/microL (820-4,400 cells/microL) at week 5 (P < .01). Three weeks after this nadir, the mean increased to 10,150 cells/microL (900-26,700 cells/microL). The hematocrit did not change (36-38%). Thrombocytopenia (<100,000/microL) occurred in 10 dogs. Two dogs died because of complications associated with thrombocytopenia. No significant difference in toxicity was found between the 6 Gy and 8 Gy group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: HBI was myelosuppressive but effects were short term and resolved in 22 of 24 dogs. Further studies are needed to elucidate the safety and role of HBI in the treatment of dogs with lymphoma.     

Preparing students for careers in food-supply veterinary medicine: a review of educational programs in the United States

The real and/or perceived shortage of veterinarians serving food-supply veterinary medicine has been a topic of considerable discussion for decades. Regardless of this debate, there are issues still facing colleges of veterinary medicine (CVMs) about the best process of educating future food-supply veterinarians. Over the past several years, there have been increasing concerns by some that the needs of food-supply veterinary medicine have not adequately been met through veterinary educational institutions. The food-supply veterinary medical curriculum offered by individual CVMs varies depending on individual curricular design, available resident animal population, available food-animal caseload, faculty, and individual teaching efforts of faculty. All of the institutional members of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) were requested to share their Food Animal Veterinary Career Incentives Programs. The AAVMC asked all member institutions what incentives they used to attract and educate students interested in, or possibly considering, a career in food-supply veterinary medicine (FSVM). The problem arises as to how we continue to educate veterinary students with ever shrinking budgets and how to recruit and retain faculty with expertise to address the needs of society. Several CVMs use innovative training initiatives to help build successful FSVM programs. This article focuses on dairy, beef, and swine food-animal education and does not characterize colleges' educational efforts in poultry and aquaculture. This review highlights the individual strategies used by the CVMs in the United States.     

Population biology and epidemiology of plant virus epidemics: from tripartite to tritrophic interactions

Natural enemies have long been used in biological control programs to mitigate the damage caused by herbivory. Many herbivorous insect species also act as plant virus vectors, enabling virus transmission from plant to plant and hence disease development in a plant population. Whilst an intuitive assumption would be to expect a decrease in vector numbers to lead to subsequent reductions in virus transmission, recent evidence suggests that introduction of natural enemies (parasitoids and predators) may in some cases increase plant virus transmission while at the same time reducing vector numbers. In this paper we review the evidence for plant-virus-vector-natural enemy interactions, the signalling mechanisms involved and their implications for virus transmission, and show how a modelling approach can assist in identifying the key parameters and relationships involved in determining the disease outcome. A mathematical model linking the population dynamics of a vector-parasitoid system with virus transmission was used to investigate the effects of virus inoculation and acquisition rates, parasitoid attack rate and vector aggregation on disease dynamics across a wide range of parameter value combinations. Virus spread was found to increase with enhanced inoculation, acquisition and parasitoid attack rate but decrease with high levels of vector aggregation.