Changes in Nutrient-Homeostasis and Reserves Metabolism During Rice Seed Priming： Consequences for Seedling Emergence and Growth

In this study influence of different seed priming treatments on the nutrient-homeostasis and reserve metabolism during seedling emergence and growth of rice were determined. Seed priming treatments included pre-germination, hydropriming for 48 h, osmohardening with KCl and CaCl2, ascorbate priming and hardening. All treatments shortened the emergence time and enhanced the energy and index of seedling emergence. Seedlings from primed seeds had greater length, number of roots and fresh and dry mass than control. Among the treatments, CaCl2, ascorbate and KCl proved better in enhancing emergence and seedling growth. Seed priming changed the pattern of N and Ca^2＋ homeostasis both of the seeds and seedlings, which were associated to enhancing s-amylase activity and reducing sugars content. Positive correlations of seedling attributes with nutrient content suggested that as a result of seed priming, most of N and Ca^2＋ were partitioned to embryo, which enhanced seedling emergence and subsequent growth of rice seedlings.     

Dimethoate spray residues in strawberries

Strawberries were sprayed with solutions of 200, 300 and 500 mg dimethoate litre^?1 and analysed for dimethoate residues up to 21 days after the final spraying. The residues were found to be below the National Health and Medical Research Council limit of 2 mg kg^?1, 1, 2 and 4 days after spraying. Consequently, the withholding period of 7 days could be reduced to 3 days to allow uninterrupted picking of the ripe strawberry crop.     

First report on molecular surveillance based on duplex detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata in dairy cattle from Punjab,Pakistan

The study aimed to investigate if vegetable-based high-energy mash diets supplemented with NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oils were effective against tachycardia and polycythemia in the broiler chicken. A total of 256 Ross-308 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into eight dietary treatment groups in a three-way ANOVA with 2?×?2?×?2 factorial arrangement (three factors, i.e., NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oil each with two levels, e.g., 0 and 0.1% of NaHCO₃ and l-arginine?+?vitamin C; 3 and 4% of vegetable oil supplemented with basal diet) for a period of 35 days. Iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated and supplied ad libitum. The final live weight (FLW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass traits, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, total protein (TP), hemoglobin (Hb), triiodothyronine (T₃), incidence of tachycardia, and polycythemia were examined. Supplementation of NaHCO₃ increased 2.2% ADFI, 5.5% FE, and 23.2% TP. The l-arginine?+?vitamin C increased 2.4% FLW and decreased 1.9% heart rate. Vegetable oil increased 1.3% ADFI, 4.2% ADG, 8.6% FE, 23.1% Hb, and 15.5% PCV. The NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oil additively interacted to increase 31.5% T₃ at the expense of 21.1% of the weight of the right ventricle (RV). The RV:TV, carcass traits, and hemato-biochemical indices remained within normal range irrespective of the levels of the supplementations of the test ingredients. It was concluded that vegetable-based high-energy mash diets were not susceptible to tachycardia and polycythemia. The addition of NaHCO₃ and l-arginine?+?vitamin C ameliorated the propensity of tachycardia and polycythemia without deteriorating performance, carcass traits, and hemato-biochemical indices of the broiler chicken in a dose-dependent manner.

     

Investigation and modeling of air permeability of Cotton/Polyester blended double layer interlock knitted fabrics

The aim of this study was to analyze and model the effect of knitting parameters on the air permeability of Cotton/Polyester double layer interlock knitted fabrics. Fabric samples of areal densities ranging from 315–488 g/m² were knitted using yarns of three different cotton/polyester blends, each of two different linear densities by systematically varying knitting loop lengths for achieving different cover factors. It was found that by changing the polyester content in the inner and outer fabric layer from 52 to 65 % in the double layer knitted fabric did not have statistically significant effect on the fabric air permeability. Air permeability sharply increased with increase in knitting loop length owing to decrease in fabric areal density. Decrease in yarn linear density (tex) resulted in increase in air permeability due to decrease in areal density as well as the fabric thickness. It was concluded that response surface regression modeling could adequately model the effect of knitting parameters on the double layer knitted fabric air permeability. The model was validated by unseen data set and it was found that the actual and predicted values were in good agreement with each other with less than 10 % absolute error. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to find out the relative contribution of each input parameter on the air permeability of the double layer interlock knitted fabrics.     

Feed supplementation prevents post-conception decline in milk progesterone concentrations associated with production stress in dairy buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>)

The onset of pregnancy may be associated with hormonal changes and decline in milk yield of buffaloes. To investigate this, forty lactating buffaloes from 1st to 23rd weeks post-conception were selected. The animals were assigned to three treatments: PRT, PRS, NPRT and three milk yielding groups HMY, 66 to 75 l/week, n = 12; MMY, 56 to 65 l/week, n = 16; LMY, 46 to 55 l/week, n = 12). Milk samples were collected on alternate weeks and analyzed with ultrasonic milk analyzer. EIA was used for milk progesterone concentrations. Group means were compared and correlation analysis was conducted. Progesterone concentrations increased in almost similar pattern with the advancing weeks post-conception. The high and low yielder showed greater progesterone concentrations in the supplemented than the animals on traditional ration (P < 0.001). Progesterone concentrations correlated positively with fat (%), negatively with milk yield, protein (%) and lactose (%). Decline in milk yield became drastic when progesterone concentrations rose above 6.44 ng/ml. The pregnant animals on traditional ration exhibited a sharper decline in milk yield with the increasing progesterone concentrations as compared to pregnant animals with supplemented ration. It is concluded that concentrates supplementation induced a raise in progesterone levels. Progesterone concentrations and milk yield showed an inverse relationship.     

Ontogeny and development of the gastrointestinal system in Indian walking catfish (Clarias magur) during its early development

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Ontogeny of the digestive tract and its accessory organs and their further development in the Indian walking catfish (Clarias magur) were examined in larvae,...     

Multi-scale processes influencing global carbon storage and land-carbon-climate nexus: A critical review

Carbon(C) is a key constitutive element in living organisms(plants, microbes, animals, and humans). Carbon is also a basic component of agriculture because it plays a dynamic role in crop growth, development, nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and other agricultural features. The presence of C enhances soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. The C cycle supports all life on the Earth by transferring C between living organisms and the environment. The global climate is changing, and th...     

Effects of dietary Leucas aspera levels on growth performance,nutrient utilization,digestive enzymes and physio-metabolic and health status of bagrid catfish,Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822)

The study was to examine the effects of dietary L. aspera on growth performance, physio-metabolic response and health status of Rita rita fish reared in tanks for 60 days. Six experimental diets were formulated containing 0 g/kg, 3 g/kg, 6 g/kg, 9 g/kg and 12 g/kg L. aspera and designated as D0, D3, D6, D9 and D12 respectively. The inclusion of L. aspera at graded levels resulted in significantly varying effects on growth performance where the weight gain (%), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in D6 and D9 groups than others. The protease and amylase activities were elevated in L. aspera supplemented groups than the control group (p<0.05), whereas lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and serum transaminase enzyme activities were significantly reduced with the increasing level of L. aspera and comparatively higher activities of the respective enzymes were found in the control group. The activities of oxidative stress enzymes were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the D9 group and lower in control. The blood glucose level significantly decreased with the increasing level of L. aspera in the experimental diets. The L. aspera supplemented fish had significantly higher liver glycogen, serum protein, albumin and globulin than control group. Red blood cell count was significantly higher (p<0.05) in D6-D12, whereas white blood cell count and haemoglobin content were significantly higher (p<0.05) in D6 and D9 groups. Regression analysis showed that L. aspera at the level of 7.3–7.9 g/kg is optimum for better growth and feed efficiency.