Production and Environmental Implications of Equine Grazing

Horses' physical and digestive well-being is often enhanced when allowed to graze on pastures. Furthermore, a well-managed pasture can contribute to economic viability. Grazing can however have deleterious effects on the environment if not properly managed. Although equine grazing, defecating, and ground trampling behavior is unique from that of other livestock species, pasture management practices are often based on those derived from cattle grazing. This review summarizes the current knowledge of impacts of equine grazing on pasture quality and environment and identifies gaps where further information is needed to formulate and recommend sustainable grazing methods specific to equine.     

Effect of apple cultivars and storage periods on the virulence of Neofabraea spp.

Bull’s eye rot is a typical quiescent postharvest apple disease in major fruit-growing areas. The susceptibility of different apple cultivars to Neofabraea spp. (N. vagabunda and N. malicorticis) was assessed, with Granny Smith showing the most resistance and Cripps Pink the most susceptibility. To assess the factors involved in conidial germination, Neofabraea spp. were grown on crude protein extracts (CPEs) collected from apple fruits at different storage periods. Fungal germ tube growth rate and pathogenic enzyme (cellulase and xylanase) activity were assessed. Results showed that CPEs collected after 2 and 4 months of storage progressively stimulated conidial germination and germ tube elongation, while a lesser effect was observed from CPEs after 1 month of storage. Xylanase proved to be the main degrading enzyme secreted by all the isolates, while cellulase was produced only by N. vagabunda isolates. Overall, the isolate ID02 was the most virulent, based on more rapid germ tube elongation and greater activity of the lytic enzymes.     

Nuclear Remodelling in Growing Oocytes of Sheep

Veterinary Research Communications - Russo, V., Martelli, M., Mauro, A., Di Giacinto, O., Nardinocchi, D. and Berardinelli, P., 2007. Nuclear remodelling in growing oocytes of sheep. Veterinary...     

Hypertrophic gastropathy associated with gastric sarcoma in a dog

A 14-y-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was presented with an 8-mo history of chronic vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a mass protruding into the gastric lumen, with cytologic features suggestive of sarcoma. A partial gastrectomy was performed; the gastric body and antrum were thickened, with a cerebriform appearance of the mucosal surface. Histologic examination revealed a submucosal neoplastic proliferation of fusiform cells variably arranged in irregular bundles and scattered whorls. Fusiform cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, S100, and neuron-specific enolase; glial fibrillary acidic protein was moderately and multifocally expressed. Pancytokeratin, KIT, α–smooth muscle actin, and desmin were nonreactive. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of gastric sarcoma with features referable to a non-GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), non–smooth muscle NIMT (non-angiogenic, non-lymphogenic intestinal mesenchymal tumor). The overlying gastric mucosa was thickened by elongated and dilated gastric glands, predominantly lined by intensely periodic acid-Schiff–stained mucous cells. This altered mucosal architecture was suggestive of Ménétrier-like disease. Although this disease has been hypothesized to predispose to gastric adenocarcinoma in dogs, an association with gastric sarcoma has not been documented previously in the veterinary literature, to our knowledge.     

马铃薯SGT3基因表达及其启动子功能分析

鼠李糖转移酶(rhamnosyltransferase SGT3)是植物糖苷生物碱合成的关键酶,它主要调控α-茄碱和α-查茄碱从其β形式的转化。本文研究马铃薯栽培种SGT3基因的表达特点及其启动子的功能。实时定量PCR结果发现在红光照射24 h后,SGT3的表达量是黑暗处理的26.8倍,说明红光显著诱导了SGT3的表达;为进一步分析该基因的光调控机理,本项研究克隆到SGT3上游长度为2449 bp的启动子序列,通过分析发现该启动子的转录起始位点位于翻译起始位点上游-152 bp,同时确定了该启动子核心序列及上游增强子、抑制子序列,受病原菌、损伤、干旱、ABA 激素及一系列光调控的顺式元件。构建不同长度(349,572,979,1312和1870 bp)的该启动子驱动报告基因GUS的植物表达载体并转化烟草。结果证明,不同长度的SGT3启动子都可以启动GUS表达,但没有CMV 35S启动的GUS表达量高;其中在P572和P979的表达强度较高,这可能与该片段含有启动子的正调控元件(GATA BOX,5′UTRPY-RICH STRETCH)有关,GUS表达强度在P1312和P1870中明显减弱,预测到该区段存在抑制基因表达的负调控元件(WRKY710S);SGT3启动子的组织特异性实验表明GUS染色主要集中在烟草叶片的叶脉部分,茎中的表皮、韧皮部及木质部,但髓部几乎不表达,根中主要分布在根冠、分生区以及维管束组织中。上述结果为将来研究SGT3在糖苷生物碱合成过程中的调节功能提供了依据。     

Effects of melatonin on maturation,histone acetylation,autophagy of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development

Melatonin (MLT) is an endogenous hormone with roles in animal germ cell development. However, the effect of MLT on porcine oocyte maturation and its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous MLT on oocyte maturation, histone acetylation, autophagy and subsequent embryonic development. We found that 1 nmol/L MLT supplemented in maturation medium was the optimal concentration to promote porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent developmental competence and quality of parthenogenetic embryos. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of 1 nmol/L MLT treatment on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development were mainly attributed to the first half period of in vitro maturation. Simultaneously, MLT treatment could also improve maturation of small follicle‐derived oocytes, morphologically poor (cumulus cell layer ≤1) and even artificially denuded oocytes and their subsequent embryo development. Furthermore, MLT treatment not only could decrease the levels of H3K27ac and H4K16ac in metaphase II (MII) oocytes, but also could increase the expression abundances of genes associated with cumulus cell expansion, meiotic maturation, histone acetylation and autophagy in cumulus cells or MII oocytes. These results indicate that MLT treatment can facilitate porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development probably, through improvements in histone acetylation and autophagy in oocytes.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide on soil mineral N, pasture yield, nutrient uptake and pasture quality in a grazed pasture system

Recent lysimeter studies have demonstrated that the nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), can reduce nitrate (NO) leaching losses from cow urine patches in grazed pasture systems. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of fine particle suspension (FPS) DCD on soil mineral N components, pasture yield, nutrient uptake and pasture quality under grazed pasture conditions. A field study was conducted on the Lincoln University dairy farm, Canterbury, New Zealand, from 2002 to 2006. FPS DCD was applied to grazed pasture plots at 10 kg ha^?1 in early May in addition to applied cow urine patches at a nitrogen (N) loading rate of 1000 kg N ha^?1, with DCD reapplied in early August. Soil mineral N levels in the urine patches were monitored. Pasture yield, N and cation concentrations and uptake were measured in treatment urine patches and inter‐urine areas of the pasture. Comparisons were made with control plots which did not receive DCD. NO levels under the DCD‐treated urine patches (0–7.5 cm) were in the order of 10 kg N ha^?1 compared with 40–80 kg N ha^?1 under untreated patches, and soil ammonium (NH) levels were consistently higher under the DCD‐treated patches. The DCD significantly and consistently increased pasture yield in both the urine patches, and inter‐urine areas of the pasture in all 4 years of the trial. Mean annual dry matter (DM) yields over 4 years were inter‐urine areas, 10.3; inter‐urine + DCD, 12.4; urine, 12.4 and urine +DCD 16.0 t DM ha^?1, representing an average DM yield increase of 20 and 29% in inter‐urine and urine patch areas, respectively. On a whole paddock basis, the increase in annual DM yield resulting from DCD application was estimated to be 21%. N, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) concentrations in pasture were unaffected by treatment with DCD; however, total annual uptake of these nutrients by pasture was significantly higher in all years where DCD had been applied. Pasture DM, protein, carbohydrate, metabolizable energy and fibre levels and sward clover content were not affected by treatment with DCD. The results demonstrate the agronomic value of the DCD treatment in addition to the environmental benefits in a grazed pasture system.     

湖北省钟祥市南湖水生态环境评价

位于湖北省钟祥市城关郢中镇东的南湖,面积800hm^2,集观赏和水产养殖于一体。鱼产量为700t／a。该湖紧靠城市,直接纳人了未经任何处理的大量生活和工业污水,每天流量达40000t,造成水体严重富营养化,鱼类因栖息环境恶化而大量死亡,造成很大经济损失。鉴于此,笔者对南湖水生态环境进行了调查,旨在为南湖的综合治理提供科学依据。     

青海省森林林下草本层化学计量特征及其碳储量

为阐明青海省森林生态系统林下草本层化学计量特征和碳密度分布格局,基于2011年青海森林资源野外样方调查和室内分析,评估了青海省7个优势种(白桦、白杨、红桦、青杄、山杨、圆柏、云杉)林下草本层的化学计量特征(C、N、P;C∶N、C∶P、N∶P)以及碳密度的差异。同时,估算了青海省7个优势种林下草本层碳储量大小。结果表明,草本层地上碳含量圆柏林[(419.9±1.44) g·kg^-1]显著高于其他林型,但是地下碳含量[(364.6±8.33) g·kg^-1]显著低于其他林型;氮含量均表现出圆柏和云杉林显著高于其他林型;磷含量在不同林型间差异不显著。圆柏林和云杉林林下草本层C∶N、C∶P显著低于其他林型,而N∶P显著高于其他林型。此外,林下草本层地上和地下生物量、碳密度均表现出圆柏林显著高于其他林型。根据青海省7种优势树种化学计量特征与碳密度的相关性分析,发现草本层碳密度与其化学计量特征有相关性,可以根据碳含量推算碳密度。将海拔作为环境因子考虑,发现圆柏和云杉林下草本层碳密度分布于较高海拔,其他树种则分布于较低海拔。因此,理解养分元素在草本层“地上-地下部分”之间的生态化学计量特征,以及估算草本层的碳储量,对于揭示青海省森林生态系统的养分状况和生物化学循环过程极为重要。     

一株鸡源H6N1亚型禽流感病毒全基因的分子特征

2008年国家禽流感参考实验室在我国禽流感流行病学调查期间分离到1株鸡源H6N1亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)A/Chicken/ZheJiang/80/2008(H6N1)(简称为CK/ZJ/80/08),为了弄清该病毒的分子特征,我们对其8个基因片段分别进行扩增和序列测定,对每个基因进行BLAST分析,找出同源性最高的毒株。利用DNAStar中的Megalign功能进行进化分析。结果表明CK/ZJ/80/08的HA裂解位点附近的氨基酸序列为QIETR↓GLF,推测可能为一株低致病力AIV。其HA基因与日本北海道的A/duck/Hokkaido/228/2003(H6N8)和黑龙江的A/mallard/Heilongjiang/131/2006(H6N2)以及香港早期分离株A/chicken/HongKong/17/77(H6N1)等处于同一分支;NA基因在颈部没有缺失,与A/duck/Tsukuba/718/2005(H1N1)、A/goose/Guangdong/1/96(H5N1)等处于同一分支;M基因与A/duck/Hokkaido/W90/2007(H10N7)高度同源(同源性为99%);NS基因与A/duck/Denmark/65047/04(H5N2)和A/goose/Guangdong/1/96(H5N1)处于同一分支。NP、PA、PB1、PB2分别与贵州和江西分离的H5N2亚型AIV的相应基因关系密切,同源性分别为98%、97%、97%、97%。由此推测CK/ZJ/80/08可能是由H6N2、H1N1、H10N7、H5N2等多个亚型病毒重组而成。