Hermetically Sealed Storage of Cereal Seeds and its Influence on Vigour and Germination

Investigations of the influence of hermetic cereal seed storage on germination were carried out in the laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek (Croatia) over 5 years (1992–96). Seeds of four species (winter wheat, winter barley, spring oat, and maize) were stored in hermetic glass containers at an air temperature of 20 °C and a relative humidity of 65 %. The moisture level in stored seeds was 13 %. After 5 years, statistically highly significant associations (P < 0.01) were found between storage longevity (five researched years) and seed germination of the four cereals. Germination of all investigated cereals was high (between 97.25 % for maize and 93 % for winter wheat) after harvest. The germination level decreased for all cereals, on average by 38 %, over the 5 years of storage. The highest germination values were found for wheat seeds (84.75 %) and the lowest germination values for maize seeds (36.0 %). The results showed that germination of all investigated cereals seeds was negatively correlated with storage longevity. The differences in germination found amongst the cereals were statistically highly significant (P < 0.01).     

中药渣及添加剂对幼兔增重效果的研究

本试验利用药厂生产“增长乐”取汁后的中药渣，配合于家兔日粮中并对其生长效果进行观察研究。在小白鼠预试的基础上，添加３％的中药渣并配合２００ｐｐｍ铜、７５ｐｐｍ喹乙醇，２００ｐｐｍ铜＋０．３克四环素于幼兔日粮中。结果表明；添加３％中药渣较对照组提高日增重９．６％，节料７％；配合使用２００ｐｐｍ铜，则效果更佳。总的结果表明：中药渣及添加剂作为一种促生长剂增加到家兔日粮中是可行的     

优质早籼不育系早红突A的选育

早红突Ａ是浙江省台州市农科所新育成的一个优质早籼不育系，具有熟期早、配合力好、米质优、异文结实率高等特点，在高产、优质杂文早稻的选育中具有较好的应用前景。     

A serological survey for anaplasmosis in cattle in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon,Tamaulipas and Coahuila using the card test

Blood samples from 2156 cattle from 40 herds in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Coahuila were tested for antibody activity to Anaplasma marginale using the card test. Herd prevalence rates ranged from 0 to 86% with a mean of 22%. Analysis of joint positivity to A. marginale and Babesia bovis and to A. marginale and B. bigemina in individual animals resulted in the rejection of the null hypothesis of no association in 7 and 8 of 37 herds, respectively.     

Udder health implications of premature bovine mammary regression. II. Collateral intramammary reactions in quarters milked normally during 168-hour milk stasis in opposite quarters

This investigation has shown that collateral intramammary reactions (CIR's) occur when secretory disturbances in one quarter lead to corresponding changes in one or more of the other, unperturbed, quarters of the same udder. Compared with normal baseline values, the mean values and variations of bovine serum albumin (BSA), beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), mannose (MAN), galactose (GAL) and glucose (GLU) showed slight increases under CIR conditions. Fluctuations of the carbohydrates preceded changes of somatic cell counts (SCC), BSA and NAG in milk. SCC and NAG showed significant negative correlations with MAN, GAL and GLU, the latter being the only parameter significantly correlated with each of the other parameters. The data suggest that the cow's stress control system responded to the milk stasis in the unmilked quarters, by initiating a form of general stress that affected the whole udder. This aggravated regressive conditions in the unmilked quarters and provoked CIR's in the normally-milked quarters. The CIR's amounted to a transient, regressive, compensatory re-adjustment of lactational homeostasis under conditions of acute general stress. CIR's similar to those investigated could also occur in close association with other local and general stressful conditions, disturb the natural defence of the udder and account for fluctuating mammary resistance to bacterial infection.     

The effect of column purification on cDNA indirect labelling for microarrays

Background

The success of the microarray reproducibility is dependent upon the performance of standardized procedures. Since the introduction of microarray technology for the analysis of global gene expression, reproducibility of results among different laboratories has been a major problem. Two of the main contributors to this variability are the use of different microarray platforms and different laboratory practices. In this paper, we address the latter question in terms of how variation in one of the steps of a labelling procedure affects the cDNA product prior to microarray hybridization.

Results

We used a standard procedure to label cDNA for microarray hybridization and employed different types of column chromatography for cDNA purification. After purifying labelled cDNA, we used the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer and agarose gel electrophoresis to assess the quality of the labelled cDNA before its hybridization onto a microarray platform. There were major differences in the cDNA profile (i.e. cDNA fragment lengths and abundance) as a result of using four different columns for purification. In addition, different columns have different efficiencies to remove rRNA contamination. This study indicates that the appropriate column to use in this type of protocol has to be experimentally determined. Finally, we present new evidence establishing the importance of testing the method of purification used during an indirect labelling procedure. Our results confirm the importance of assessing the quality of the sample in the labelling procedure prior to hybridization onto a microarray platform.

Conclusion

Standardization of column purification systems to be used in labelling procedures will improve the reproducibility of microarray results among different laboratories. In addition, implementation of a quality control check point of the labelled samples prior to microarray hybridization will prevent hybridizing a poor quality sample to expensive micorarrays.     

Evaluation of a laryngoscope and a rigid endoscope for the examination of the oral cavity of small mammals

The oral cavities of 65 rabbits, 35 chinchillas, 38 guinea pigs, 19 degus and 13 prairie dogs suffering from a lack of appetite, hypersalivation, moist dermatitis, swelling of the lower jaw or mild exophthalmos were examined with a paediatric laryngoscope and rigid endoscope. The laryngoscope was safe and satisfactory for a preliminary examination, but changes in the less accessible caudal parts of the cavity could not be identified precisely. A rigid endoscope with 30 degrees optics made it possible to examine all parts of the oral cavity and oropharynx, and make detailed observations of surface lesions on the premolar and molar teeth and the mucosal surface of the gingiva, tongue and hard palate; endoscopy with 70 degrees optics provided an excellent view of the occlusal tooth surfaces, tooth crowns, and buccal mucosa. The collection of biopsy samples, the removal of foreign objects and the correction of malocclusions were greatly simplified by the use of the endoscope owing to the clear visualisation of the procedures, and the risk of injury was minimised. The examinations with a laryngoscope were made effectively on animals that were manually restrained, but a thorough examination with a rigid endoscope required the animals to be anaesthetised.     

Effect of maternal dietary restriction during pregnancy on lamb carcass characteristics and muscle fiber composition

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether the decreased proportion of fast muscle fibers seen previously in 2-wk-old lambs from ewes that were dietary restricted from d 30 to 70 of gestation are still evident in older lambs and what the consequences may be in terms of growth rates and carcass composition. Throughout both experiments, ewes were fed on an individual basis according to the recommended dietary allowance throughout pregnancy relative to metabolic BW (BW(0.73)). Control groups were fed as above, and the treatment groups had their nutrient supply reduced to 50% of this recommended allowance from d 30 to 70 (Exp. 1) or d 30 to 85 (Exp. 2) of gestation, after which they were returned to the same level of nutrition as the control group. All twin lambs were kept with their dams, and at 2 wk were given access to creep. After weaning, lambs were individually housed and fed ad libitum to 24 or 17 wk of age for Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Although not significant (P = 0.18), growth to 24 wk (Exp. 1) resulted in a small decrease in the protein content and therefore an increase in the fat:lean ratio in the carcass of lambs subjected to maternal dietary restriction. This was not apparent when animals were slaughtered at 17 wk (Exp. 2; P > 0.68). Few significant effects of maternal dietary restriction on the fiber type composition of muscles were observed. In Exp. 1 the number of fast fibers increased (P < 0.008) with no effect on slow fiber number in LM. In Exp. 2 an increase in the total number of fibers in male lambs and an increase in type II (A and B) fibers in female lambs were observed in the LM, and an increase in IIB fiber number was observed in semitendinosus (ST) muscle from male lambs. Prenatal maternal dietary restriction during the time of muscle differentiation demonstrated an increase in type IIB muscle fibers and increase in intramuscular fat; although significant, effects on subsequent carcass quality of lambs were relatively small. These data suggest that the lambs adapted to changes in muscle fiber composition previously observed at 2 wk. However, lambs in this study were well fed during postnatal growth. Whether offspring would still have been able to compensate if they had received poor nutrition postnatally and whether that failure to compensate would have influenced carcass composition remain to be determined.