Fertility variation in endemic populations of Ehrami black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> Arnold. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pallasiana</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pyramidata</Emphasis>)

Fertility variation and effective number of parents were estimated in the 100 individuals from each of three plantation populations (P1, P2 and P3) of the endangered Pinus nigra. subsp. pallasiana var. pyramidata established in the Isparta–Golcuk district in southern Turkey in 1990. Potential relations between cone yield and growth characters (height, diameter at breast height, diameter at base and crown diameter) were also investigated. Large differences were found among populations and within populations for cone production and growth characters. Mean cone production was eight (ranging from 6.5 in P2 to 9.1 in P1) for the three populations. The 10 most productive individuals for cones produced 32% of the total cones in P1, 39% in P2 and 34% in P3; 21, 16 and 6 individuals, respectively did not produce any cones in the populations. According to the correlation analyses, the relation between cone yield and growth characters changed for the populations, while height, diameter at breast height and crown diameter were positively significantly correlated (r = 0.182, 0.135 and 0.209; p ≤ 0.05) with cone production for the three populations. Fertility variation was 1.81 in total of three populations, ranging from 1.72 in P3 to 3.45 in P1). Effective number of parents was 142 (55.2 of number of parents censused; 29%, P1; 49.8%, P2; 58.3%, P3).     

Effect of Poultry Manure on Yield and Nutrient Composition of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Poultry manure is one of the best organic fertilizers available and is an extremely valuable resource, organic matter content, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity, and percent base saturation. Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) is an essential oil producing crop used in culinary and fragrance applications. The objective of this present study was to evaluate the effects of organic poultry manure and conventional fertilization on plant growth, yield and inorganic matter content of sweet basil. In this context, the different doses of chicken and turkey manure (7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 t ha^?1) with a control (no manure) and conventional fertilization were applied with sowing. The highest fresh and dry weights were obtained from the plants grown with turkey and chicken manure at a rate of 10–12.5 t ha^?1. The most of the nutrient content varied significantly with organic poultry manure applications. Overall, basil plants fertilized with turkey manure at a rate of 10–12.5 t ha^?1 and 7.5 t ha^?1 chicken manure dose accumulated greater concentrations of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). The results from this study demonstrated that organic or conventional fertilizer can alter fresh or dry weight, and the nutrient content.     

Effect of calcium based fertilization on dried fig (Ficus carica L. cv. Sarılop) yield and quality

Fig tree mainly spread in regions where Mediterranean climate prevails can be grown over a wide range of soils without any significant deficiency or toxicity symptoms of plant nutrients. Surveys revealed that, however, quality is highly affected by nutrition especially N, K and Ca in fig production for commercial drying. This research work was initiated based on few studies performed on fertilization of fig. The experiment was performed between 2000 and 2002 in three fig orchards of cv. Sar?lop (syn. Calimyrna) in Ayd?n-Turkey. Trees received seven types of fertilization as (i) untreated control; (ii) NPK (430 g N, 200 g P₂O₅ and 430 g K₂O per tree); (iii) NPK + 70 g Ca; (iv) NPK + 140 g Ca; (v) NPK + 280 g Ca; (vi) NPK + 420 g Ca and (vii) N + 420 g Ca, Ca(NO₃)₂ used as the Ca source. Tested fertilizer applications showed significant differences in respect to yield and quality of fig. Basic NPK fertilization with additional 280 g Ca treatment increased overall quality by reducing the number of fruit with ostiole-end crack and sunscald. Results showed that applied fertilizers exerted significantly in reduction of cull ratio and could alleviate the negative impact of yearly drought conditions.     

Predicting the number of nymphal instars plus new-generation adults of the Sunn Pest from overwintered adult densities and parasitism rates

The present study evaluated the effect of overwintered adult density and egg and adult parasitism rates on the new-generation population densities of the Sunn Pest (Eurygaster integriceps Put.) under field conditions. We quantified the abundance of overwintered adult densities and egg and adult parasitism rates in 20 one-ha unsprayed wheat fields in southeastern Turkey to assess their impact on nymphal instars, plus new-generation adult densities. The number of overwintered adults per square meter and the percent of egg parasitism rates were positively and negatively correlated with new-generation densities of the Sunn Pest, respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis produced the equation Y = 15.037 + 8.287 OW (overwintered adult) − 0.235 egg PR (parasitism rate). The findings suggest that the egg parasitoids may suppress nymphal instars plus new-generation adult densities of the Sunn Pest. The findings also suggest that the present formula can be used to determine the spraying areas in which densities reach economic threshold for the integrated Sunn Pest management program in wheat fields in Turkey.     

新疆有机肥资源的区域差异及分布特征

[目的]利用有机肥资源进行耕地质量建设,发展可持续农业,分析其区域分布特征,选择合理有效的利用模式.[方法]基于新疆有机肥资源调查统计数据,对各区域的秸秆、粪肥、绿肥、饼肥的区域优势度进行计算.采用层次聚类分析法,对各区域之间有机肥区域优势度的相似性进行分析,区分不同的区域有机肥发展类型.[结果](1)新疆有机肥资源丰富,总量为7 708.47 × 104t.区域分异较大,喀什、阿克苏、伊犁、塔城和昌吉这五个地州占新疆有机肥总资源量的50;.克拉玛依市有机肥资源量最小,仅占总资源量的0.72;.(2)根据聚类分析的结果,将全疆各地区分为秸秆、绿肥发展并重区、人畜禽粪肥发展重点区、绿肥发展重点区、秸秆和饼肥发展区.乌鲁木齐市和昌吉州,对绿肥的重视程度比较高,是发展绿肥的优势区域;畜牧业发达的伊犁、克孜勒苏州(以下简称克州)、阿勒泰等地区,人畜禽粪肥资源较为丰富,具有发展粪肥的优势;种植业发达的喀什、塔城和博尔塔拉州(以下简称博州)以及阿克苏和巴音郭楞州(以下简称巴州)则可作为秸秆发展的重点区域.[结论]新疆有机肥资源较丰富,但区域分异较大,利用率低;需要根据各地区有机肥现状和特点制定发展策略.     

Comparison of insecticide resistance in a North American field population and a laboratory colony of potato tuberworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller, has become a serious threat to potato production in the Columbia Basin region of Oregon and Washington and in 2005 was found in Idaho. Despite intensive insecticide application, severe defoliation has occurred in recent years indicating insensitivity of potato tuberworms (PTW) to insecticides. In this study, dose responses of potato tuberworms from a Columbia Basin field population (CBFP) and a laboratory colony from Colorado (COLC) to three commonly used field crop insecticides (esfenvalerate, methamidophos and fipronil) were tested. The COLC was included in this study as a standard susceptible colony but despite being reared in isolation for >30 years, it was resistant to field-labeled rates of all three insecticides used in this study. The CBFP was also resistant to esfenvalerate and fipronil at field rates but was relatively susceptible (40% mortality) to methamidophos. At 10× field rate of fipronil, COLC was very susceptible (>90% mortality) but CBFP was not significantly affected. CBFP was also more resistant to esfenvalerate than COLC. None of the COLC survived a 500× field rate of esfenvalerate; the same dose killed only 10% of the CBFP. Although further tests are required to more broadly assess the levels and types of insecticide resistance in these populations, our findings indicated that the laboratory colony was susceptible to fipronil at dosages somewhat greater than labeled field rates and that the field population was susceptible to methamidophos. Although COLC was moderately insensitive to esfenvalerate and methamidophos, this laboratory colony was still more broadly susceptible to field rates than the CBFP.     

Are cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations in mosses across Europe primarily determined by atmospheric deposition of these metals?

Purpose

This study aimed at investigating correlations between heavy metal concentrations in mosses and modelled deposition values as well as other site-specific and regional characteristics to determine which factors primarily affect cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations in mosses. The resulting relationships could potentially be used to enhance the spatial resolution of heavy metal deposition maps across Europe.

Materials and methods

Modelled heavy metal deposition data and data on the concentration of heavy metals in naturally growing mosses were integrated into a geographic information system and analysed by means of bivariate rank correlation analysis and multivariate decision trees. Modelled deposition data were validated annually with deposition measurements at up to 63 EMEP measurement stations within the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), and mosses were collected at up to 7,000 sites at 5-year intervals between 1990 and 2005.

Results and discussion

Moderate to high correlations were found between cadmium and lead concentrations in mosses and modelled atmospheric deposition of these metals: Spearman rank correlation coefficients were between 0.62 and 0.67, and 0.67 and 0.73 for cadmium and lead, respectively (p?<?0.001). Multivariate decision tree analyses showed that cadmium and lead concentrations in mosses were primarily determined by the atmospheric deposition of these metals, followed by emissions of the metals. Low to very low correlations were observed between mercury concentrations in mosses and modelled atmospheric deposition of mercury. According to the multivariate analyses, spatial variations of the mercury concentration in mosses was primarily associated with the sampled moss species and not with the modelled deposition, but regional differences in the atmospheric chemistry of mercury and corresponding interactions with the moss may also be involved.

Conclusions

At least for cadmium and lead, concentrations in mosses are a valuable tool in determining and mapping the spatial variation in atmospheric deposition across Europe at a high spatial resolution. For mercury, more studies are needed to elucidate interactions of different chemical species with the moss.     

普氏野马与两种新疆地方品种马的ELA-DRA*exon2的多态性分析

为了解普氏野马、哈萨克马与焉耆马的ELA-DRA*exon2的多态性以及等位基因频率分布。本研究采用PCR-SSCP技术对普氏野马、哈萨克马与焉耆马的ELA-DRA*exon2进行分型,并对不同等位基因进行核苷酸与氨基酸分析。结果显示:127匹马中共出现7种基因型,3种纯合子分别记为AA、BB、CC;4种杂合子分别记为AB、AC、BC、AD。AA基因型为哈萨克马与焉耆马的优势基因型,普氏野马以CC基因型为主。经χ2检验后,3种类型马的等位基因频率和基因型频率均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态。PIC值与He值分析表明,3种类型马均属于中度多态,且普氏野马的PIC值与He值比哈萨克马与焉耆马低。     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefquinome and ceftriaxone in premature calves

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefquinome (CFQ) and ceftriaxone (CTX) following intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administrations in premature calves. Using a parallel design, 24 premature calves were randomly divided into the two antibiotic groups. Each of the six animals in the first group received CFQ (2 mg/kg) through IV or IM administration. The second group received CTX (20 mg/kg) via the same administration route. Plasma concentrations of the drugs were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and noncompartmental methods. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters of CFQ and CTX following IV administration were as follows: elimination half‐life (t_1/2λz) 1.85 and 3.31 hr, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC_0–∞) 15.74 and 174 hr * μg/ml, volume of distribution at steady‐state 0.37 and 0.45 L/kg, and total body clearance 0.13 and 0.12 L hr^?1 kg^?1, respectively. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters of CFQ and CTX after IM injection were as follows: peak concentration 4.56 and 25.04 μg/ml, time to reach peak concentration 1 and 1.5 hr, t_1/2λz 4.74 and 3.62 hr, and AUC_0–∞ 22.75 and 147 hr * μg/ml, respectively. The bioavailability of CFQ and CTX after IM injection was 141% and 79%, respectively. IM administration of CFQ (2 mg/kg) and CTX (20 mg/kg) can be recommended at 12‐hr interval for treating infections caused by susceptible bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of ≤0.5 and ≤4 μg/ml, respectively, in premature calves. However, further research is indicated to assess the pharmacokinetic parameters following multiple doses of the drug in premature calves.     

Determination of cardiac troponin I in the blood and heart of calves with foot-and-mouth disease

The current study was designed to determine the changes of the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) expression in blood and tissue during the myocardial degeneration in calves with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Seventeen crossbred calves presenting pathological signs for FMD confirmed by viral analysis were studied. A biochemistry panel and immunohistochemistry were performed on 17 diseased calves and 7 calves used as controls. Creatine kinase (CK), CK-myocardial band (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were analyzed for both groups. Cardiac troponin I levels were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Mean cTnI (14.8 +/- 1.9 ng/ml) concentration and CK (573 +/- 407 U/l), CK-MB (238 +/- 37 U/l), AST (84 +/- 7), and LDH (298 +/- 29 U/l) activities were higher in FMD cases compared with controls. Immunohistochemistry revealed loss or depletion of cTnI expression in myocardium of all cases. None of the 7 controls showed loss of cTnI expression. Increased serum cTnI concentration correlated with myocardial injury and loss of cTnI immunolabeling in cardiomyocytes of calves with FMD.