Studies on the stability of a human adenovirus-rabies recombinant vaccine.

Human adenovirus type 5 containing the rabies virus glycoprotein gene (rHAd-RG1) has potential for the oral vaccination of animals. The stability of this recombinant was tested indoors and outdoors by measuring the loss in virus infectivity. Under indoor conditions the stability of the recombinant virus was studied in an egg yolk-containing commercial stabilizer and a simple buffered salt solution (EBSS; Earle's balanced salt solution) at 4 degrees C and room temperature (24-25 degrees C). Over 16 days, there was a more rapid loss in virus titer at room temperature than at 4 degrees C in both suspending media; however, these differences were slight and may be significant when the overall stability of the vaccine is considered. When the virus was mixed with either 10% (w/v) fox or skunk feces or EBSS, placed on stainless steel disks and the disks kept under ambient conditions (air temperature 24-25 degrees C; relative humidity 45-50%), there was a more rapid decline in virus titer in the fecal suspensions (3% remained after 72 h) than in EBSS (26% remained after 72 h). When bait-coated blister packs of the vaccine were placed in an outdoor location in the fall (October) season, there was a larger drop in the virus titer for vaccines placed in the sun (54% over 32 days) than for those in the shade (40% over 32 days). Incorporating proteinaceous stabilizers in the vaccine samples for outdoor study showed virus stability was not enhanced in their presence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

QTL mapping of seedling biomass and root traits under different nitrogen conditions in bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant nitrogen assimilation and use efficiency in the seedling's root system are beneficial for adult plants in field condition for yield enhancement. Identification of the genetic basis between root traits and N uptake plays a crucial role in wheat breeding. In the present study, 198 doubled haploid lines from the cross of Yangmai 16/Zhongmai 895 were used to identify quantitative trait loci(QTLs) underpinning four seedling biomass traits and five root system architecture(RSA) related traits. The plants were grown under hydroponic conditions with control, low and high N treatments(Ca(NO_3)_2·4H_2 O at 0, 0.05 and 2.0 mmol L~(-1), respectively). Significant variations among the treatments and genotypes, and positive correlations between seedling biomass and RSA traits(r=0.20 to 0.98) were observed. Inclusive composite interval mapping based on a high-density map from the Wheat 660 K single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) array identified 51 QTLs from the three N treatments. Twelve new QTLs detected on chromosomes 1 AL(1) in the control, 1 DS(2) in high N treatment, 4 BL(5) in low and high N treatments, and 7 DS(3) and 7 DL(1) in low N treatments, are first reported in influencing the root and biomass related traits for N uptake. The most stable QTLs(RRS.caas-4 DS) on chromosome 4 DS, which were related to ratio of root to shoot dry weight trait, was in close proximity of the Rht-D1 gene, and it showed high phenotypic effects, explaining 13.1% of the phenotypic variance. Twenty-eight QTLs were clustered in 12 genetic regions. SNP markers tightly linked to two important QTLs clusters C10 and C11 on chromosomes 6 BL and 7 BL were converted to kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP) assays that underpin important traits in root development, including root dry weight, root surface area and shoot dry weight. These QTLs, clusters and KASP assays can greatly improve the efficiency of selection for root traits in wheat breeding programmes.     

枣实蝇对不同发育期骏枣和酸枣果实的生物学响应变化

【目的】研究枣实蝇在寄主植物果实不同发育期的危害程度对其最佳防治期。【方法】分析枣园对不同寄主枣树样枝套袋枣实蝇的蛀果率,调查虫口密度;室内饲养测定果实不同发育期对枣实蝇生长发育和繁殖的影响,分析和评价枣实蝇对不同发育期骏枣和酸枣果实的生物学响应变化。【结果】枣实蝇对骏枣果实的蛀果率均大于对酸枣的蛀果率,并且枣实蝇在骏枣果实成熟期蛀果率为最大;成熟期骏枣上的虫口密度也最大;骏枣上雌虫产卵痕数、幼虫数和卵的孵化率均大于酸枣上的枣实蝇。在枣果着色期和成熟期,蛹的各项生长指标均高于膨大期;果实不同发育期,骏枣上的蛹各项生长指标均显著大于(P<0.05)酸枣上的;骏枣上枣实蝇的蛹期、雌虫怀卵量、性成熟历期、交配时间以及雌雄成虫寿命均略大于酸枣,但无显著差异(P>0.05)。【结论】枣实蝇对骏枣的选择性强于酸枣,并且成熟期的骏枣果实更适宜枣实蝇生长发育。     

葡萄花翅小卷蛾对葡萄不同生长发育期的响应

【目的】葡萄花翅小卷蛾Lobesia botrana是新入侵我国吐鲁番的进境植物检疫性害虫,揭示其在新入侵地吐鲁番成灾的原因,对葡萄生产有重要意义。【方法】以葡萄花序、幼果和成熟果实饲养幼虫,测定各虫态生长指标、发育历期、成虫产卵量、存活率等,并对饲养材料中的物质变化与葡萄花翅小卷蛾生长发育及田间数量变化进行相关性分析。【结果】取食成熟果实的葡萄花翅小卷蛾的幼虫和蛹的各项生长指标均高于取食花序的个体;取食成熟果实的葡萄花翅小卷蛾的卵历期、幼虫历期和蛹历期显著短于取食花序和幼果的个体,雌虫产卵量也相对较高,而取食花序的单雌产卵量不超过15粒,存活率也最低。可溶性糖含量与葡萄花翅小卷蛾的数量变化、产卵量和存活率呈极显著正相关;蛋白质、氨基酸、单宁、黄酮等物质含量与其产卵量和存活率呈显著负相关。【结论】取食成熟果实可以缩短葡萄花翅小卷蛾的发育历期、提高成虫产卵量及存活率,成熟期果实中营养物质的变化是导致葡萄花翅小卷蛾田间种群数量变化的重要原因。     

苹小吉丁林间扩散行为的初步研究

目的 掌握苹小吉丁成虫在林间的自然扩散行为规律,以制定合理的害虫监控策略。 方法 于伊犁巩留县五乡栽培苹果园内采用标记-重捕法监测苹小吉丁雌雄试虫在不同方向、不同距离的扩散数量及影响因子进行了研究,对扩散速度进行了分析,同时对林间种群数量进行了预估。 结果 结果表明：苹小吉丁在林间的扩散对方向具有一定的选择性,主要向北面、南面及东北面进行扩散,分别回捕到标记释放总虫数的3.2%、3.2%和2.7%;东南面和西南面均未回捕到标记试虫。随着回捕点距离的增加,标记试虫回捕数量逐渐降低,扩散至5 m处的数量最多,占标记释放总虫数的6.6%,最远扩散至北面35 m,说明标记试虫由果园北面迁出的潜在性较大,扩散距离整体呈指数分布趋势（R2 = 0.9262）。苹小吉丁雄虫扩散速度高峰出现在第3 d,为1.7 m·d−1;而雌虫扩散速度高峰出现在第12 d,达到2.5 m·d−1。随着释放时间的推移苹小吉丁雌雄虫的扩散率逐渐上升。由种群数量预估方程计算得知,试验田间苹小吉丁估计种群数量为2253头,雌成虫估计值为1262头,雄成虫估计值为989头。 结论 苹小吉丁在林间具有一定的自然扩散能力,最远可达35 m,且雌虫的扩散能力要强于雄虫。林间种群数量预估结果能为苹小吉丁发生动态预测和控制策略制定提供参考依据。     

Pharmacokinetics of thymoquinone in layer chickens following oral and intravenous administration

Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major constituent of Nigella sativa and known to possess a variety of pharmacological effects. This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of TQ following oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) administration in layer chickens. The layer chickens were equally divided into two groups (six chickens in each group, total 12 chickens), and TQ was administered via PO and IV routes. For PO route, the dose was 20 mg/kg b.w. and for IV route, 5 mg/kg b.w. was administered, respectively. A sensitive and accurate High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique was validated for the quantification of TQ from plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 µg/ml and 0.05 µg/ml, respectively with >80% recovery. Maximum plasma concentration (C_max) following PO and IV administration was 8.805 and 4.497 µg/ml, respectively, while time to reach at maximum concentration (T_max) was 1 and 0.1 hr, respectively. The elimination half‐lives were recorded as 1.02 and 0.978 hr, whereas the mean residence times were 1.79 and 1.036 hr following both PO and IV administration, respectively. The 85% PO bioavailability was indicative that TQ could be used for various therapeutic purposes in layer chickens.     

Role of sponge gourd in apical leaf curl disease of potato in Northern India

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the important vegetable crops in the world and its production is seriously affected by apical leaf curl disease in northern India. This paper reveals the role of cucurbits in maintaining Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and Potato apical leaf curl (PALCD) disease in that region. The affected plants showed severe leaf curling and stunted growth. The begomovirus causing leaf curling and mosaic disease in cucurbits could be easily transmitted by the whitefly to potato crops and develop apical leaf curl disease in northern India. The movement of the virus by whiteflies from cucurbits to potato and tomato is possible because of overlapping of planting and harvesting dates of these crops. The causal virus was identified as a begomovirus on the basis of whitefly transmission, PCR, dot blot hybridization, cloning and sequencing of the coat protein gene. The comparison of full length coat protein gene sequence homology revealed that 90% identity with the coat protein gene of ToLCNDV- [Luffa] isolate and the phylogenetic tree derived from these sequences with other selected begomoviruses formed a close cluster with ToLCNDV isolates. The findings proved that the virus causing disease in cucurbits could easily move to tomato and potato and cause leaf curl disease naturally. This is the first observation on the role of sponge gourd for maintenance of ToLCNDV and serving as a host for PALCD in northern India. The findings indicate that the causal organism is a strain of ToLCNDV.     

An apparent Effect of Immunopotentiation During Late Gestation on the Postpartum Reproductive Performance of Nili-Ravi Buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis)

Thirty-two Nili-Ravi buffaloes were used to determine the effect of prepartum immunopotentiation in late gestation with levamisole hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg), vitamin E+selenium (vitE-Se) (Etosol-SE, 10 ml intramuscularly) or Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) (0.5 ml/animal, subcutaneously) on postpartum reproductive performance. The immunopotentiating treatment was given twice, with treatments one week apart, approximately 80 days prior to the expected date of parturition. Prepartum treatment with vitE-Se or BCG significantly (p<0.05) reduced the calving to first oestrus interval and the length of the postpartum service period compared to the control group. The uterine involution period was significantly shorter in buffaloes treated with vitE-Se compared to the control group. Levamisole hydrochloride apparently improved the reproductive performance, but this result was not statistically significant.     

Mechanisms and molecular approaches for heat tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under climate change scenario

Rice, a staple cereal crop in many parts of the world, has been confronted with multiple environmental stresses including high temperature, negatively impacts the booting as well as anthesis growth stages. The situation is further complicated by the changing climatic conditions, resulting in gradual escalation of temperature as well as changing the rainfall pattern and frequency, thus raising a concern of food security worldwide. The situation can be combat by developing rice varieties with excellent genetics with improved morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms, together can minimize the adverse effects of heat stress. Here, several strategies (encompassing genetic and genomic, and mechanisms involved) for mitigating the impact of high temperature on rice have been discussed. Finally, the utilization of genomic knowledge in augmenting the conventional breeding approaches have been comprehensively elaborated to develop heat tolerant germplasm.