Basal stem rot of oil palm incited by Ganoderma species: A review

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana (PdPap) root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a major disease in China. Controlling this disease...     

Intracellular calcium release mediated by sphingosine derivatives generated in cells

Soluble and hydrophobic lipid breakdown products have a variety of important signaling roles in cells. Here sphingoid bases derived in cells from sphingolipid breakdown are shown to have a potent and direct effect in mediating calcium release from intracellular stores. Sphingosine must be enzymically converted within the cell to a product believed to be sphingosine-1-phosphate, which thereafter effects calcium release from a pool including the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive calcium pool. The sensitivity, molecular specificity, and reversibility of the effect on calcium movements closely parallel sphingoid base-mediated inhibition of protein kinase C. Generation of sphingoid bases in cells may activate a dual signaling pathway involving regulation of calcium and protein kinase C, comparable perhaps to the phosphatidylinositol and calcium signaling pathway.     

Host factors, occupation, and testicular cancer in Saskatchewan, Canada: 1979-2002

The incidence rates of testicular cancer are increasing in several countries, especially among younger adults. The role of agricultural exposure in the etiology of testicular cancer is contentious. We extracted information related to the host, lifestyle, and tumor characteristics from the files of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for all cases (n = 517) of testicular cancer diagnosed in Saskatchewan between 1979 and 2000. The following questions were the subject of this initial inquiry: (1) Are tumor characteristics similar or different among occupational groups dichotomized into farmer/nonfarmer? (2) Are host characteristics similar or different among occupational groups? (3) Is farming as an occupation one of the independent predictors of tumor stage at diagnosis? Statistical analyses were restricted on 486 cases. The nonfarmers (n = 349) had smaller tumors in length on average, and more of them were diagnosed at stage I compared to farmers (n = 72). Occupation was not recorded for 65 cases. Farmers were older than nonfarmers. In logistic regression analyses with adjustment for relevant variables as cited in the literature, individuals with nonseminomas [OR (95% CI) 1.99 (1.30-3.31)] and < or = 26 years old at diagnosis [2.12 (1.15-3.93)] were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a stage 2 or higher tumor. Farmers were significantly more likely than nonfarmers to be diagnosed at stage 2 or higher [1.76 (1.00-3.10)]. Based on our data, the significant predictors of being diagnosed with stage 2 and higher are: presence of nonseminoma, < or = 26 years old, and farming as an occupation.     

Comparative efficacy of bromocriptine,cabergoline and thyroxine in inducing oestrus in bitches

Forty bitches in anoestrus for more than six months from the last heat, with a serum progesterone level less than 1 ng/ml were subjected to oestrus induction trials using anti-prolactin drugs and levothyroxine, once daily orally for 20 consecutive days. The mean serum progesterone level among them was found to be 0.57 ± 0.03 ng/ml. Out of 10 animals treated in each group, five (50%) in Group I (bromocriptine @ 50 μg/kg body weight), nine (90%) in Group II (cabergoline @ 5 μg/kg body weight), eight (80%) in Group III (thyroxine @10 μg/kg body weight) and seven (70%) in Group IV (thyroxine @ 5 μg/kg body weight) responded by evincing proestrual bleeding. The mean (±SEM) time taken from initiation of treatment to onset of proestrual bleeding in Groups I, II, III and IV was 28 ± 3.39, 13.44 ± 3.12 (P < 0.05), 24.50 ± 3.18 and 33 ± 2.21 days respectively. The mean (±SEM) duration of proestrus and oestrus in the treatment groups was 9.80 ± 0.86, 10.11 ± 0.68, 11.25 ± 0.88 and 10.71 ± 0.68 days and 7.60 ± 0.24, 8 ± 0.29, 8.5 ± 0.63 and 7.85 ± 0.46 days respectively. The conception rate in relation to the number of animals responding to oestrus induction in the treatment groups was 80%, 78%, 63% and 57%, respectively. The mean (±SEM) gestation length calculated from the last breeding date and litter size in the treatment groups varied from 60.50 ± 1.55 to 64.00 ± 0.82 days and 5.14 ± 0.34 to 6.40 ± 0.40 respectively.     

Larval rearing of hilsa shad,Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton 1822)

Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha has received much attention for culture due to decline of the natural population. Lack of knowledge on larval rearing is the bottleneck for its culture. This study was aimed at developing larval rearing protocols for hilsa shad. Hilsa larvae (4 days old, 4.76 ± 0.06 mm/0.49 ± 0.01 mg) were stocked in fibreglass‐reinforced plastic tanks (1.7 m³ water volume) at 300, 600 and 1,200 nos/m³ in triplicates in three experimental systems viz., E‐I (circular, 0.567 m water depth), E‐II (circular, 0.962 m water depth) and E‐III (rectangular, 0.567 m water depth) and reared for 46 days. The larvae were supplied with Chlorella vulgaris, Brachionus calyciflorus, mixed phytoplankton and mixed zooplankton during 4–50, 6–25, 8–50 and 26–50 days of their age respectively. In each system, higher (p < 0.05) fry survival at 300 nos/m³ than in higher densities indicates density dependent stress. Circular tanks showed higher survival (13.3%–61.31%) than in rectangular tanks (6.88%–27.26%) in each stocking density, indicating the importance of tank shape for rearing. Water depth affected fry survival in circular tanks (E‐I and E‐II) at 300 nos/m³; at 0.962 m depth, survival was higher (61.31%, p < 0.05) than that of 0.567 m depth (49.93%). Good fry survival was achieved through feeding the larvae initially with Chlorella followed by co‐feeding with Brachionus, mixed phytoplankton and zooplankton and rearing in circular tanks at 300 nos/m³ densities at 1 m depth. This first‐ever larval rearing protocol is useful for mass production of fry to support hilsa aquaculture in future.