Renal efficiency underlies adaptive heterothermy of heat-stressed hypohydrated goats

Tropical Animal Health and Production - We investigated the thermotolerance of the F1 progeny (Black Bedouin × Damascus crossbreed) to summer conditions alongside that of two pure breeds. Male...     

Genetic divergence among a non-restorer collection of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and its relationship with heterosis

Summary A genetic diversity analysis in a collection of 171 non-restorer lines of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using D² technique and canonical variate analysis indicated that considerable variation in grain yield has been added to the collection by the addition of lines derived from random mating populations. The efficiency of D² and canonical variate techniques in distinguishing extremely diverse genotypes was confirmed. However, the two techniques showed weak correspondence in their clusters. The F₁ hybrids of 15 diverse lines exhibited no relationship between heterosis or per se performance of crosses and diversity in their parents. Therefore, traditional plant breeding methods are being advocated.Approved by ICRISAT as Journal Article no. 435.     

Influence of some chelates of aluminium on the sorption of phosphate by hydrous Al-oxides

Sorption of phosphate by hydrous oxides of aluminium was studied as a function of pH, presence of chelates of aluminium and of the specific surface areas of the oxides. Aluminon was most effective in reducing P sorption followed by oxalic acid and EDTA. Acetylacetone, 8-hydroxyquinoline, salicylic acid and fluoride affected little P sorption. The sorption was found to be higher the higher the value of the specific surface area of the oxide, but the shape of the sorption curve was the same for all the oxides studied, exhibiting a maximum at about pH 5. This maximum was found to coincide with the point of zero charge as determined in the presence of acetate ions. The sorption data are explained in terms of a ligand exchange mechanism in which phosphate chemisorbs on surface aluminium atoms displacing uncharged surface hydroxyls.     

Sorption of phosphate by bayerite

The chemisorption of phosphate on aluminium hydroxide (bayerite) and its kinetics were studied. A rate equation was derived on the basis that each phosphate molecule replaces a surface hydroxyl group and binds directly to an aluminium atom. The rate constants were evaluated and the free energy change of the sorption reaction was calculated as 20.4 KJ/mol.     

Effect of pH on the electrical potential of barley roots

Abstract

Barley roots were interposed as membranes in electrochemical concentration cells. The electric potential which developed across the calomel electrodes, known commonly as the root potential, was measured as a function of pH. The root potential increased with pH reaching a maximum at pH 5.5, beyond which the values remained constant. This is explained in terms of the dissociation of the acid and basic groups that form part of the structures of the root surface and membranes.

The point of zero charge of the roots was determined by a method based on adding increasing amounts of roots to KC1 solutions of different pH and concentration. The results were somewhat higher than those obtained earlier from root potential measurements 1 2 i.e. 4 ‐ 5, compared to about 3^1,2. This difference was attributed to secondary reactions, related to the buffer capacity of the roots.     

Über die Bevorzugung von Blatthaaren zur Eiablage bei Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

Studies on the egg laying byB. tabaci showed this pest fixing its eggs at the basis of leaf hairs of cotton plants. The rejection of none hairy-leaved cotton varieties is apparently due to the lack of suitable egg laying sites. Moreover, the preference of the whitefly for leaf hair sites for egg laying explains reasonably why the hairy-heaved, jassid—resistant cotton varieties are more attractive to whitefly. The indiscriminate behaviour of egg laying mentioned byGameel (1974) may be possible on glabrousleaved host plants.     

Incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in drinking water in Cairo

The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria was found among standard plate count (SPC) populations of chlorinated drinking water from two districts in Cairo. SPC values obtained were low, ranging between 20 and 3 800 mL^?1. Most strains appeared to be ampicillin resistant (89.7%). Those were followed by sulfaguanidine (78.1%) and streptomycin (56.9%). The majority of the tested strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics (multiple antibiotic resistant, MAR) which represent 62.4 to 98 % of the total isolates of the mean obtained in a month. Identification of 363 MAR strains revealed that gram-positive rods were dominant in chlorinated drinking water. Gram-negative fermentative-rods, gram-positive cocci and gramnegative nonfermentative rods represent the second, third and fourth group of the identified MAR phenotypes. The impact of the antibiotic resistant bacteria in drinking water as a health hazard is discussed.     

A Study on Postpartum Metritis in Iraqi Buffalo Cows: Bacterial Causes and Treatment

The objectives of the present study were to determine the relationship between bacteriological findings, clinical signs and histopathological changes in postpartum metritis. Evaluation of the treatment efficiency of using systemic or intra‐uterine infusion of antibiotics with some hormonal preparations for the treatment of postpartum metritis. Data were collected from 50 buffalo cows with history of calving of more than 1 month. All buffaloes were subjected to detailed clinical examination including external inspection, vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Swabs for bacteriology and biopsies for histopathology were collected from uterine lumen from each buffalo included in the present study. Bacteria identified using API systems following aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Vaginal mucus scored for character, odour and estimation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Treatment conducted using oxytetracycline in local intrauterine infusion or systemically with hormonal treatment including prostaglandinF2α (PGF2α) and oestradiol benzoate. Results revealed that the most predisposing factor for postpartum uterine infection was retained placenta and toxic puerperal metritis. The most prevalent bacteria in uterine lumen were Escherichia coli, Archanobacterium pyogenes, Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum the most prevalent bacteria in buffaloes with postpartum metritis. A. pyogenes and F. necrophorum were an important pathogens causing severe uterine inflammation as found in histopathological examinations. Buffaloes with postpartum metritis showed good clinical cure when oxytetracycline injected systemically with PGF2α. Intrauterine infusion of oxytetracycline had no advantage for the treatment of uterine infection in buffalo cows with postpartum metritis. PGF2α improved clinical cure of buffaloes with postpartum metritis.     

Studies on the wood-borerStromatium fulvum Vill. (Col., Cerambycidae) infestingCasuarina glauca (Casuarinaceae)

The fungal genera associated with larvae ofStromatium fulvum were isolated externally, internally and also those from larval galleries and exit holes. They belonged to six genera:Penicillium, Trichoderma, Helminthosporium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus andChaetomium. Based on the antagonistic effect,Trichoderma andChaetomium were used in the mortality studies. Isolation of fungi from inoculated dead larvae proved thatCheatomium spp. are non pathogenic. The genera ofTrichoderma spp.,Aspergillus spp. andPenicillium spp. were pathogenic and are recommended as biological control agents forStromatium fulvum larvae.