Screening for new sources of resistance to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) in tomato

Bacterial canker of tomato, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), is considered the most serious bacterial threat, resulting in high damages in production areas. Worldwide, Cmm is subjected to quarantine regulations.There is no cultivar in market containing Cmm resistance genes. This project aimed to screen tomatoes or wild relatives of tomato for resistance to Cmm, to be used for starting breeding programs. We have screened 24 different wild accessions of tomato and found several new tolerant sources: Solanum pimpinellifolium GI.1554, S. parviflorum LA735 and S. parviflorum LA2072. We also confirmed the tolerance which was reported previously in S. peruvianum LA2157, S. peruvianum PI127829, S. peruvianum LA385, S. habrochaites LA407 and S. lycopersicum cv. IRAT L3. No immunity was found. Also accessions showing a low disease score still contained high titers of bacteria as determined by a dilution plating method, using tow selective media. These results were confirmed with a TaqMan real time PCR assay, which was developed to determine and quantify Cmm in planta.     

The effect of seaweed extracts,as a supplement or alternative culture medium,on the growth rate and biochemical composition of the microalga,Isochrysis galbana (Park 1949)

Aqueous extracts of green [Ulva lactuca Linnaeus and Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus) Nees] and red [Gracilaria corticata (J. Agardh) J. Agardh] seaweeds from the Persian Gulf of Iran were examined for their potential usefulness as components of microalga Isochrysis galbana culture medium against conventional f/2 medium. Isochrysis galbana was successfully cultured using the tested seaweed extracts (SWE) and exhibited higher or similar cell density and biomass when SWE were used as a supplement or an alternative medium respectively. When the SWE were used as an alternative medium, microalgal protein, lipid and ash content were similar but carbohydrate increased compared with control. Total saturated fatty acids decreased with a corresponding increase in total mono‐ and polyunsaturated fatty acids following supplementation of f/2 medium with SWE. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was not affected by SWE treatments but docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) tended to decrease, except for I. galbana cultured with U. lactuca extract. With the exception of potassium, SWE did not significantly impact the mineral content of cultured I. galbana. The study points to the potential usefulness of specific SWE in the production of microalgae as a food source in aquaculture.     

Maize-rice cropping systems in Bangladesh： Status and research needs

Maize-rice cropping systems are expanding in Bangladesh. Hybrid maize has increasing demand and value, particularly for poultry feed, while rice remains the traditional dominant starch staple food. Bangladesh maize yields （with average farm yields around 5.7 t·ha^-1） are among the highest found in Asia. Cool winter （Rabi） season maize followed by T. Aman （monsoon） rice is the major cropping system; however it is now becoming diversified with many other crops including potato. Financially, hybrid maize is far more profitable than boro （irrigated） rice, wheat, or most other competing winter season Rabi crops. Although maize is relatively problem-free in Bangladesh, some constraints are intensifying with increased concern over input supply and soil-related environmental sustainability. An array of new technologies for sustainable intensive maize production systems is emerging in Bangladesh and some are being promoted and adopted. Continued sustainability of hybrid maize production in Bangladesh depends on optimization of planting time, quality seed of appropriate hybrids, balanced use of nutrient inputs along with soil fertility conservation and other management, for which further research would be high priority.     

The oak gallwasp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphelonyx persica:</Emphasis> a new record from Turkey,with some new host records

A new record is reported of the oak gallwasp Aphelonyx persica on oaks (Quercus cerris, Q. ithaburensis, Q. trojana) in the Inland Aegean Region of Turkey. This species is recorded for the first time on Q. cerris and Q. trojana. Details are given of the geographical distribution, hosts and phenology.     

棉花连作对渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲土壤理化性质的影响

以渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲连作5、10、15、20 a和25 a的棉田土壤为研究对象,对棉田土壤的理化性质和酶活性进行分析。结果表明： 随着棉花连作年限的增长棉田土壤容重增大、孔隙度下降,粗砂和细沙含量增加,粘粒含 量下降,其变化连作15 a极为明显; 随着连作年限的增长盐分含量和pH值逐渐降低,有机质和碱解氮含量大幅度升高,速效磷比较稳定或略有减小,而钾的含量显著下降,致使氮、磷、钾比例失调,其增减变化连作15 a极为显著; 随着连作年限的增长脲酶、过氧化氢酶和转化酶的活性呈现先升后降的趋势,连作15 a都达到最高值,蛋白酶和磷酸酶活性也呈现先升后降的趋势,但其活性连作20 a达到最高值。 由研究结果可以得出研究区棉花连作年限不宜超过15 a,棉花连作年限超过15 a时,会导致土壤容重增大、孔隙度下降,土体紧实板结,结构性差,土壤养分含量失衡,酶活性降低,土壤质量下降等连作障碍,使得棉花产出和效益受到影响。     

Influence of processing cassava peels on the hydrogen cyanide concentration, nutritive value and performance of growing rabbits

Forty-eight rabbits used to investigate the response of growing rabbits to diets containing differently processed cassava peel meals were divided into four groups balanced for sex and weight. These groups were then assigned at random to the experimental treatments. Four diets were formulated such that the diets contained 200 g/kg of the experimental feedstuffs, sun-dried cassava peel meal (S), ensiled cassava peel meal (E) and retted cassava peel meal (R), and the control did not contain any cassava peels. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentration in the processed cassava peel meal was lower relative to the unprocessed meal. It was, however, lowest in R and highest in E. With the exception of S, fibre fractions were lower in the processed meal compared to the unprocessed meal. The E depressed (p < 0.05) feed and digestible nutrient intakes, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, digestible protein (DP), digestible energy (DE) and DP/DE ratio but increased protein intake to gain and feed to gain ratios compared to other diets. Intake of HCN decreased (p < 0.05) successively in this order: R, S and E. The results indicate that retting and sun-drying are more effective in cassava peel detoxification than ensiling, and dietary HCN concentration and intake of 56 and 4 mg/kg BW, respectively, were not toxic under the conditions of the experiment.     

《中国学术期刊影响因子年报》系列数据库首发式的北京召开沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性分析

[目的]了解新疆沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性.[方法]沙雅县胡杨林采集土壤样品,采用两种不同的培养基(LB,TSA)分离纯化细菌,并对它们进行16S rDNA测定和系统进化分析.[结果]分离纯化不同表型的57株细菌.对它们16S rDNA序列分析表明,57株菌分别属于3个大类群厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria),13个属,33个种;芽孢杆菌属是优势细菌种群,它占已测种群的67.2;.其中6株菌M28,M13,CT3,YS30-1,CM5,CL19初步被认为是潜在的新种(16S rDNA相似率为96.780;～97.961;).[结论]沙雅县胡杨林可培养细菌不仅具有比较高的多样性,并存在一些潜在的新的细菌菌种资源,极具进一步发掘的潜力.     

Prevalence and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in livestock and companion animal in high-risk areas in Malaysia

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is vector-borne zoonotic disease which causes encephalitis in humans and horses. Clinical signs for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection are not clearly evident in the majority of affected animals. In Malaysia, information on the prevalence of JEV infection has not been established. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods, December 2015 to January 2016 and March to August in 2016, to determine the prevalence and risk factors in JEV infections among animals and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples were harvested from the 416 samples which were collected from the dogs, cats, water birds, village chicken, jungle fowls, long-tailed macaques, domestic pigs, and cattle in the states of Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. The serum samples were screened for JEV antibodies by commercial IgG ELISA kits. A questionnaire was also distributed to obtain information on the animals, birds, and the environmental factors of sampling areas. The results showed that dogs had the highest seropositive rate of 80% (95% CI: ±?11.69) followed by pigs at 44.4% (95% CI: ±?1.715), cattle at 32.2% (95% CI: ±?1.058), birds at 28.9% (95% CI: ±?5.757), cats at 15.6% (95% CI: ±?7.38), and monkeys at 14.3% (95% CI: ±?1.882). The study also showed that JEV seropositivity was high in young animals and in areas where mosquito vectors and migrating birds were prevalent.     

Effect of dietary supplementation with a synbiotic (Lacto Forte) on growth performance,haematological and histological profiles,the innate immune response and resistance to bacterial disease in Oreochromis niloticus

This study investigated the effects of a synbiotic Lacto Forte on growth performance, haemato‐immunological responses, plasma bactericidal capacity, histological profiles and resistance of Oreochromis niloticus to Pseudomonas fluorescens. The experimental fish were divided into three groups; two of them (T1 and T2) were given Lacto Forte incorporated diets at increasing level (0.7 and 1.5 g/kg, respectively) and an additive‐free basal diet served as the control (T0) for 30 and 45 days. At the end of the feeding trial, a challenge was performed using a virulent strain of P. fluorescens and mortalities were recorded over an additional 14‐days period. The results showed that Lacto Forte has a pronounced effect on haematological and growth performance parameters at 1.5 g/kg rather than 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). Plasma lysozyme, proteases, antiproteases and bactericidal capacity were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in Lacto Forte‐treated groups, particularly after 45 days of supplementation. Long‐term supplementation with Lacto Forte (1.5 g/kg) induced degenerative changes in the liver, spleen and intestine. Additionally, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in survival rates were found in Lacto Forte‐treated groups compared to the control one 14 days post‐challenge. As a result, Lacto Forte fortifies tilapia immune response and can be used as a surrogate for antibiotics to control P. fluorescens.