Measuring copepod abundance in deep‐water winter habitats in the NE Norwegian Sea: intercomparison of results from laser optical plankton counter and multinet

The main purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the laser optical plankton counter (LOPC) as a Calanus finmarchicus monitoring tool in the NE Norwegian Sea in winter. To test this, a multinet and an LOPC were used simultaneously to sample overwintering copepods in the Lofoten basin in January 2007. Additional data from an LOPC laboratory experiment were also analyzed to help the interpretation of the field data. Both the laboratory data and the field data indicated that the presence of particles other than zooplankton generally contaminated the zooplankton signal in the LOPC data. However, reliable abundance estimates could be made from the LOPC data by choosing an appropriate size range in the LOPC size distribution. This size range was determined by comparing LOPC abundance estimates from systematically varying size ranges to multinet zooplankton abundance data. The average difference was smallest for a size range of about 900–1500 μm. As C. finmarchicus, stages IV and V, was by far the most abundant species in the NE Norwegian Sea, abundance estimates from the LOPC in this size range were in practice estimates of C. finmarchicus abundance, making the LOPC suitable as a tool for providing high resolution winter data in the NE Norwegian Sea.     

Development and validation of glycoprotein‐based native‐subunit vaccine for fish against Aeromonas hydrophila

Aeromonas hydrophila is known to be causative agent of an infection named as Bacterial haemorrhagic septicaemia or red pest in freshwater fish. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the glycoprotein‐based fish vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila. For this aim, after identification and characterization of A. hydrophila isolates from fish farms, one A. hydrophila isolate was selected as vaccine strain. Antigenic glycoproteins of this vaccine strain were determined by Western blotting and glycan detection kit. The connection types of these glycoproteins were examined by glycoprotein differentiation kit. Two glycoproteins, molecular weights of 19 and 38 kDa, with SNA connection type were selected for use in vaccination trials. After their purification by SNA‐specific lectin and size‐exclusion chromatography, protection studies with purified proteins were performed. For challenge trials, four experimental fish groups were designated: Group I (with montanide), Group II (with montanide and ginseng), Group III [with Al(OH)₃] and Group IV [with Al(OH)₃ and ginseng]. The survival ratings of fish were determined, and protection was calculated as 21.56%, 29.41%, 69.83% and 78.88% in groups I, II, III and IV, respectively. In conclusion, A. hydrophila glycoproteins with Al(OH)3 and ginseng could be used as a safe and effective vaccine for fish.     

Surgical management of complete diaphyseal third metacarpal and metatarsal bone fractures: Clinical outcome in 10 mature horses and 11 foals

Reasons for performing study: Osteosynthesis of third metacarpal (McIII) and third metatarsal (MtIII) bone fractures in horses is a surgical challenge and complications surrounding the repair are common. Retrospective studies evaluating surgical repair, complications and outcome are necessary to increase knowledge and improve success of long bone fracture repair in the horse. Objectives: To evaluate clinical findings, surgical repair, post operative complications and outcome of 10 mature horses and 11 foals with McIII or MtIII fractures that were treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Methods: Medical records were reviewed and follow‐up information obtained by means of radiographs and/or telephone questionnaire. Results: Survival was achieved in 62% of the horses (3 mature/10 foals). On long‐term evaluation (>6 months) 11 horses (2 mature/9 foals) were fit for their intended activity, one mature horse had a chronic low grade lameness, and one foal was lost to follow‐up because it was sold. The main fracture types were simple transverse (33.3%) or simple oblique (28.6%) and 71.4% of the fractures were open, 3 Type I (one mature/2 foals) and 12 type II (7 mature/5 foals). The preoperative assessment revealed inadequate emergency treatment in 10 horses (5 mature/5 foals; 47.6%). Survival rate of horses with open fractures was 12.5% (1/8) in mature and 85.7% (6/7) in foals. Post operative incisional infection (4 mature, 3 foals) was only managed successfully in 2 foals. Fracture instability related to inadequate fracture fixation technique occurred in 4 horses (all mature) and was always associated with unsuccessful outcome. Conclusions: Age, bodyweight and infection are strongly associated with outcome in treatment of complete McIII/MtIII fractures. Clinical relevance: Rigid fixation using plates and screws can be successful in treatment of closed or open, complete diaphyseal McIII/MtIII fractures in mature horses and foals. Instable fixation, infection and a bodyweight >320 kg are major risk factors for unsuccessful outcome.     

The effect of salt stress on Arabidopsis thaliana and Phelipanche ramosa interaction

Salinity and Orobanche or Phelipanche spp. infection are important crop stress factors in agricultural areas. In this study, we investigated the effect of salt stress on Phelipanche ramosa seed germination and its attachment onto Arabidopsis thaliana roots. We also evaluated the effect of both stresses on the expression of genes regulated by abiotic and biotic stresses. According to our results, high concentration of NaCl delayed P. ramosa seed germination in the presence of a strigolactone analogue (GR24). A similar pattern was observed in the presence of A. thaliana plants. Furthermore, we found that salt‐treated A. thaliana seedlings were more sensitive to P. ramosa attachment compared with the untreated plants, indicating that there was a positive correlation between salt sensitivity and the ability of P. ramosa to infect A. thaliana plants. At the molecular level, a synergystic effect of both salt and P. ramosa stresses was observed on the cold‐regulated (COR) gene expression profile of treated A. thaliana seedlings. Our data clarify the interaction between parasitic plants and their hosts under abiotic stress conditions.     

The relationship between yield and assimilate supply in lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Summary

Experiments were conducted on lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in subtropical Australia (lat. 27° –29°S) to evaluate the role of assimilates on fruit retention. All the leaves of the last flush, all the leaves of the previous flush (about eight leaves per terminal shoot), or all the old leaves were removed from trees. Medium (3–5.cm diameter) or large branches (5–10.cm diameter) were girdled and defoliated after fruit set, and fruit retention compared with ungirdled and undefoliated branches. Other branches were girdled and defoliated between anthesis and fruit harvest. Finally, 20, 50 or 80% of the flowering panicles were defruited on large trees. Defoliated trees had 35 to 45% lower yields than the controls. This was despite the treatment with all the old leaves removed having a much lower leaf area index than the other defoliation treatments (1.7 vs. 2.3 and 2.8). Leaves next to the inflorescences are more important for yield than the older leaves. Fruit retention was very low on girdled branches that had been defoliated, especially when the leaves were removed in the first 20.d after anthesis. This suggests that the yields of girdled branches were determined by the availability of assimilates soon after fruit set. In contrast, the number of fruit retained on ungirdled branches was unrelated to the number of leaves, with defoliation having no effect on yield. Fruit on these branches were supported by resources from elsewhere in the tree. Thinned trees had similar yields to those of unthinned plots (65–82.kg tree^–1). Thinning apparently increased fruit retention in the remaining clusters, under a higher leaf:fruit ratio. There were large differences in the concentrations of starch in the tree, and seasonal changes, with starch declining from flowering to fruit harvest. In contrast, there were only small responses to the treatments, suggesting that the fruit were mainly dependent on current photosynthesis. Photosynthesis in the leaves behind the fruit clusters was more important than photosynthesis in the older shaded leaves.     

Quantifying aggregate stability of a clay soil under annual forage crops

This study explored the influence of 10 annual forage legumes belonging to the Lathyrus and Vicia genera on wet aggregate stability (WAS) and dispersion ratio (DR) indices of a clay soil. Five Lathyrus and five Vicia species were sown in autumn. Seed‐to‐seed and row‐to‐row distance was maintained at 5 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The experiment was planned in a randomized block design with three replications. After 90 d following seed harvest, soil cores were collected from two depths (0–15, 15–30 cm) in each plot and WAS and DR were determined. Annual forage legumes increased WAS of the soil but decreased the DR index. The WAS and DR values were affected at level of p < 0.001 by genus, species, and soil depth. Values of WAS and DR of the control plots without plant on the average were found to be 44.5% and 9.3% for 0–15 cm, and 41.2% and 10.1% for 15–30 cm, respectively. For 0–15 cm depth, the highest WAS (77.7%) and the lowest DR (6.4%) values were found in L. sphaericus L. (wild) plots. For 15–30 cm depth, the highest WAS value (62.6%) was obtained in L. annuus L. (wild) plots and the lowest DR value (6.7%) was in L. sativus L. (Gurbuz‐2001) plots.     

自然降雨对干化土壤水分恢复有效性分析

研究自然降雨对干化土壤水分恢复的有效性,有利于合理利用降水资源,加强干化土壤水分管理,促进土壤干层得到有效恢复。在陕北米脂试验站设置野外地下大型土柱,通过2014—2019年连续定位监测降雨、土壤含水率状况,分析自然降雨对干化土壤水分恢复的有效性。结果表明:(1)从深层干化土壤水分恢复角度考虑,黄土丘陵半干旱区降雨可以分为3种类型:表层入渗快速蒸发型、浅层入渗缓慢蒸发型和深层入渗补给型。其中深层入渗补给型降雨为有效降雨,该类型雨量>26 mm,能够对深层干化土壤产生有效水分补给。2014—2019年发生深层入渗补给型降雨仅16次,累积雨量791.8 mm,降雨次数、降雨量的有效率分别为4.64%和35.19%。(2)月尺度条件下,降雨量(P月)与逐月入渗深度(Z逐月)、月累积入渗深度(Z累积)均呈二次函数关系变化,Z逐月=-0.0102P月2+3.955P月-6.7335(R^2=0.9639),Z累积=-0.0003P月2-0.1331P月+191.71(R^2=0.9208)。(3)年尺度条件下,2014—2019年雨量分别为187.6,391.6,590.8,337.6,342.4,400.0 mm,降雨逐年引发的入渗深度依次为160,220,400,260,260,120 cm,累积入渗深度依次可达180,220,400,700,1000,1400 cm。研究结果对揭示自然降水恢复干化土壤机理,加强土壤干层人工蓄水保墒技术,合理选择保墒措施,以及促进当地生态环境建设具有积极的推动作用。     

黄土丘陵区退耕坡面草地恢复与土壤物理性质空间分异特征

为了解地形对草地恢复与土壤物理性质的影响以及草地恢复与土壤物理性质之间的影响机制,因地制宜为当地生态恢复提供科学依据。选择吴起县枣庄沟小流域为研究区,对退耕坡面不同坡位草地恢复与土壤物理性质分异特征进行研究。从峁顶到沟底设置8个采样位置,在4面坡共布设128个采样点进行植被调查和土样采集,将0—40 cm土壤分0—10,10—20,20—40 cm 3层进行土壤物理性质测定,并分析其与植被分布的相关关系。结果表明:不同坡位植被分布与土壤物理性质均表现出沟缘线以上的下坡位较优,沟缘线以下的陡沟坡较差的趋势;植被恢复对土壤团聚体有明显改善作用,但对其与土壤物理性质的改善主要集中在0—20 cm表层土壤,对20—40 cm土壤影响较弱;坡度对植被盖度与土壤容重、孔隙度和饱和持水量影响显著且具有极显著相关性,但对团聚体与颗粒组成无显著影响;植被恢复对土壤颗粒组成改善效果缓慢,若土壤颗粒组成被破坏,短期内很难恢复。     

不同密度下大麦灌浆期可溶性糖与淀粉含量的动态变化及相关分析

为探明春大麦可溶性糖含量与籽粒淀粉组分含量的关系,以蒙啤3号和蒙啤5号为试材,设375,450,525,600万株/hm²共4个密度处理,于2018—2019年研究不同种植密度下大麦灌浆期叶片、茎秆和籽粒可溶性糖与淀粉组分含量的动态变化,分析了其对籽粒淀粉组分形成的影响。结果表明,2 a 2个品种各处理叶片、茎秆和籽粒可溶性糖含量随着灌浆进程均呈单峰曲线变化,峰值在花后21 d出现;随着种植密度增加先升高后降低,最大值在525万株/hm²密度处理出现。2 a 2个品种各处理籽粒总淀粉、直链淀粉和支链淀粉含量随着灌浆进程呈逐渐上升趋势,随着种植密度增加先升高后降低,峰值均为525万株/hm²处理。相关分析显示,各灌浆阶段叶片、茎秆和籽粒可溶性糖含量与成熟期籽粒淀粉组分含量均呈极显著正相关关系;通径分析显示,对成熟期籽粒总淀粉含量影响最大的是花后21 d叶片、花后7 d茎秆和籽粒可溶性糖含量,通径系数分别达到1.002 3,0.580 4和0.745 5;对直链淀粉含量影响最大的是花后35 d叶片、花后7 d茎秆和籽粒可溶性...     

农杆菌介导遗传转化获得转CP4基因籼稻的研究

  目的  建立籼稻‘中恢161’Oryza sativa subsp. indica ‘Zhonghui 161’农杆菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens介导的转化体系。  方法  以籼稻‘中恢161’的成熟胚为材料,设置了5个草甘膦质量浓度(100、200、300、400和500 mg·L?1)进行胚性愈伤组织的草甘膦敏感性试验。利用农杆菌介导法,将草甘膦抗性基因CP4-EPSPS导入‘中恢161’的胚性愈伤组织中,转化后的胚性愈伤组织分别在含有300、350和400 mg·L?1草甘膦的选择培养基上进行抗性筛选。抗性愈伤组织进一步分化、成苗。  结果  草甘膦质量浓度为300~400 mg·L?1时,愈伤组织褐化率约50%,具有很好的选择效果。经统计,300、350和400 mg·L?1草甘膦抗性筛选后,愈伤组织阳性率分别为40.16%、61.72%和84.04%,抗性愈伤组织的分化率为46.43%,成苗率为32.84%。共获得67株再生小苗,经PCR检测,43株成功转入CP4基因,再生植株阳性率为64.18%。  结论  建立了‘中恢161’农杆菌介导的转化体系。图5参20