1/25 translocations in Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle in New Zealand

A Robertsonian centric fusion between chromosomes 1 and 25 in Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle in New Zealand is reported. This fused chromosome is the same as the widely reported 1/29 translocation chromosome with the difference in the numbering arising from inconsistencies in the G and R-banded cattle karyotypes of the International System for Cytogenetic Nomenclature of Domestic Animals, 1989.     

Ridge to reef modelling for use within land–sea planning under data‐limited conditions

相似文献   

Molecular detection of Treponema species organisms in foremilk and udder cleft skin of dairy cows with digital dermatitis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Identification of reservoirs and transmission routes of digital dermatitis (DD)-associated Treponema spp. is considered an effective means for controlling DD...     

Spring wheat response to timing of water deficit through sink and grain filling capacity

Water and nitrogen (N) availability are the main factors influencing crop growth globally. Poorly distributed or insufficient water for crop growth requirements decreases yields in drought-prone areas such as those with a Mediterranean type environment. Cereal grain yield is a complex trait of interrelated components: plants per unit land area, spikes per plant, spikelets per spike, grains per spikelet, and single grain weight (SGW). The effect of water limitation and timing on development of yield components was studied in detail at the spike level in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Amaretto. An experiment with three watering treatments (control watering, CONT; drought prior to pollination, DR1 and terminal drought, DR2) was arranged in a large greenhouse (20 m × 30 m), with the use of standard field-trial machinery. Automated blackout curtains were used to control day length, which was set to correspond to that at 40°N. With watering treatments, two N application rates (60 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹) were used to investigate the N effect and potential watering × N interaction on yield formation and realisation. The water deficit effect exceeded the effect of N on fertile floret and grain number and SGW. DR1 strongly reduced the number of fertile florets and grains, whereas terminal drought reduced the number of grains per spike. Resuming the watering at pollination markedly enhanced photosynthesis, and hence grain filling capacity, resulting in the highest SGW in DR1. Enhancement in availability of key resources was associated with reduced rate of fertile floret and grain abortion, which resulted in higher grain to fertile floret ratio in DR1. Spikelets in the mid-section of the spike dominated yield formation in all treatments. In DR1 this was especially emphasised as 53% of the grain yield was produced in spikelets 4–6, whereas in DR2 and CONT this was 45 and 41%, respectively. Grains in proximal position in the spikelets produced about 80% of the spike grain yield, the proportion being slightly higher in stressed plants and plants receiving 60 kg N. No marked N × water deficit treatment interaction occurred for any of the measured parameters.     

Analysis of the ozone effect on soybean in the Mediterranean region: II. The consequences on growth, yield and water use efficiency

Soybean plants were subjected, during their growing seasons, to well-watered and water-stressed conditions, and three levels of ozone concentration (zero, low and high) in open top chambers (OTCs). At the end of the soybean growing season accumulated AOT40 values were zero, 3400 and 9000 ppb h for the filtered (control), low and high levels of ozone concentration, respectively.

In well-watered conditions, an increase in ozone concentration led to a reduction in leaf area, dry matter and reproductive organs. Whereas, an increase in ozone had no effect on plants in water-stressed conditions. At a high level of ozone concentration, there was a 47% reduction in yield and a 25% reduction in WUE in comparison with the control treatment. The reduction in yield was due to a lower number of pods per plant and 1000-grain weight. Despite changes in the grain yield, the yield quality was not altered by ozone.

During the 3-year study, AOT40 was significantly correlated with the leaf area and the final above-ground dry matter. The latter was less sensitive to ozone than leaf area. These results were reliable and would be useful in soybean yield-prediction models.

Finally, the conclusion highlights the reliability of the approach adopted, which was to make observations on various time scales (hourly, daily and entire crop cycle).     

Laser scribing of high-performance and flexible graphene-based electrochemical capacitors

Although electrochemical capacitors (ECs), also known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, charge and discharge faster than batteries, they are still limited by low energy densities and slow rate capabilities. We used a standard LightScribe DVD optical drive to do the direct laser reduction of graphite oxide films to graphene. The produced films are mechanically robust, show high electrical conductivity (1738 siemens per meter) and specific surface area (1520 square meters per gram), and can thus be used directly as EC electrodes without the need for binders or current collectors, as is the case for conventional ECs. Devices made with these electrodes exhibit ultrahigh energy density values in different electrolytes while maintaining the high power density and excellent cycle stability of ECs. Moreover, these ECs maintain excellent electrochemical attributes under high mechanical stress and thus hold promise for high-power, flexible electronics.     

Fertility of young mares after long-term anabolic steroid treatment

The effect of prior treatment with anabolic steroids was studied in 46 three-year-old mares. In the preceding year, these mares had been assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups and had received the manufacturer's recommended dosage of 1.1 mg of boldenone undecylenate (BU)/kg of body weight, 4.4 mg of boldenone undecylenate (4 BU)/kg, 1.1 mg of nandrolone decanoate (ND)/kg, or 0.04 ml of sesame oil/kg (control, C). Mares had received an injection every 3 weeks for 54 weeks for a total of 19 injections, with the final injection in December. In the following breeding season, fewer (P less than 0.05) mares in all groups previously administered anabolic steroids displayed estrous behavior than did mares in the control group. Duration of estrus was shortened (P less than 0.05) in mares that had received steroids. Abnormal sexual behavior that was observed during steroid treatment continued (P less than 0.05) for up to 6 months after treatment ceased. However, observations of abnormal behavior declined with time (P less than 0.05). All mares in each treatment group ovulated by the end of the trial, and the interval to first ovulation was similar (P greater than 0.05). Ovarian size, follicular development, and conditions of the tubular genitalia was adversely (P less than 0.05) affected in mares in all steroid-treatment groups until approximately the middle of March. After that time, no difference was noted among groups. First-cycle pregnancy rates were 83%, 67%, 50%, and 42% for mares in the untreated, BU, 4 BU, and ND groups, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Tunisian durum wheat cultivars and related wild species by SSR and AFLP markers

Thirty-four durum wheat cultivars representing the Tunisian durum (Triticum durum Desf.) wheat collection and seven wild species of wheat relatives (Triticum turgidum L., T. dicoccon Schrank., T. dicoccoides (Körn) Schweinf., T. araraticum Jakubz., T. monococcum L., Aegilops geniculata Roth, and Aegilops ventricosa Tausch) were analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (SSR) markers. Both marker systems used were able to differentiate durum wheat cultivars from the wild relatives and to specifically fingerprint each of the genotypes studied. However, the two marker systems differed in the amount of detected polymorphisms. The 15 SSR markers were highly polymorphic across all the genotypes. The total number of amplified fragments was 156 and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 24 with an average of 10.4. Two SSR markers alone, Xwms47 and Xwms268, were sufficient to distinguish all 34 durum wheat genotypes. The five AFLP primer pair combinations analysed yielded a total of 293 bands, of which 31% were polymorphic. The highest polymorphic information content (PIC) value was observed for SSRs (0.68) while the highest marker index (MI) value was for AFLPs (7.16) reflecting the hypervariability of the first and the distinctive nature of the second system. For durum wheat cultivars, the genetic similarity values varied between 31.3 and 81% for AFLPs (with an average of 54.2%), and between 3.6 and 72.7% for SSRs (with an average of 19.9%). The rank correlation between the two marker systems was moderate, with r = 0.57, but highly significant. Based on SSR markers, highest genetic similarity (GS) values were observed within the modern cultivars (37.3%), while the old cultivars showed a low level of GS (19.9%). Moreover, the modern cultivars showed low PIC and MI values. UPGMA Cluster analysis based on the combined AFLP and SSR data separated the wild wheat species from the durum wheat cultivars. The modern cultivars were separated from the old cultivars and form a distinct group.     

Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> in situ</Emphasis> conservation of plant genetic resources

Several botanical studies have been conducted in different parts of Oman, but knowledge about agro-biodiversity in the rapidly decaying ancient mountain oases of this country remains scarce. To fill this gap we assessed the genetic resources of three mountain oases in the al-Hajar range using a GIS-based field survey and farmer interviews. While arid conditions prevail throughout the mountain range, the different elevations of Balad Seet (950–1020 m a.s.l.), Maqta (930–1180 m a.s.l.) and Al Jabal al Akhdar (1750–1930 m a.s.l.) provide markedly differing agro-climatic conditions. Overall, 107 different crop species were identified belonging to 39 families. Species number was highest among fruits (33 spp.), followed by vegetables (24 spp.). Intensive irrigation allows cultivation of a broad range of species at all oases. However, the number of species varied significantly between sites. Fruit species diversity and homogeneity of distribution of individual fruit species was highest at Balad Seet and lowest at Maqta as indicated by respective Shannon indices of 1.00 and 0.39 and evenness values of 32% and 16%. Century plant (Agave americana L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor Peterm. em. Harz) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were identified as relict crops, supporting oral reports of past cultivation and providing evidence of genetic erosion. Some species, such as the temperate fruits of Al Jabal al Akhdar, were exclusively found at the coolest site, while others only occurred at the hotter locations. Overall greatest species similarity was found between Balad Seet and Al Jabal al Akhdar as indicated by a Sørensen coefficient of similarity of 67%. At all oases a multilayered vegetation structure dominated with a canopy, an understory and a ground layer. Greatest species richness was recorded in the lowest stratum. Overall the study shows a location-specific but surprisingly diverse mosaic of crops in Omani mountain oases which merits further studies and conservation efforts.