Wheat Seed Presoaking for Improved Germination

Seed presoaking improves wheat germination under marginal moisture conditions. The duration of seed presoaking was studied at The University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, using 10 wheat varieties. Seed presoaking beyond 12 h does not improve germination further, and beyond 21 h, germination rate is drastically reduced.     

Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of pulps

Alkaline sulfite–anthraquinone (AS/AQ) pulping of wheat straw and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching of resulting pulps was investigated. Wheat straw was supplied by the Ferdosii University Experimental Station in Northeastern Iran, cleaned and chopped into about 3–5 cm long pieces. In the AS/AQ pulping experiments, the active alkali charge on oven dry wheat straw, heating time to maximum cooking temperature, AQ dose and liquor to straw ratio were kept constant at 16%, 60 min, 0.1% and 4/1, respectively. The alkali ratio, Na₂SO₃/NaOH, calculated as NaOH, was varied from 20/80 to 80/20. Cooking time at maximum temperature was varied from 30 to 90 min and maximum cooking temperature was adjusted between 152 and 160 °C. Reference soda and soda/AQ pulps were produced.AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps with kappa numbers below 15 were produced easily. Cooking of corresponding soda pulps under comparable conditions stopped at a kappa number of 25. The characteristics of unbleached AS/AQ, soda/AQ and soda pulps were compared. AS/AQ and soda/AQ pulps had similar tensile strength but tear was in favor to AS/AQ. The latter had much higher yield and brightness.TCF bleaching of AS/AQ pulp was performed in O Q (OP) or O Q (OP) P sequences. Oxygen delignification (O) resulted in a delignification degree of approximately one third. Followed by a chelating treatment (Q) and a subsequent (OP) stage under drastic conditions a brightness of 82.7% ISO was achieved in an O Q (OP) sequence. The sequence O Q (OP) P, with 2% H₂O₂ in the final P stage, improved brightness from 77.2% ISO after the OP stage to 83.6% ISO. Bleaching led to only small losses in tensile and burst strength but enhanced tear strength. Short beating in a Jokro mill was sufficient to attain good pulp strength. The results of this study indicate that AS/AQ pulping and TCF bleaching is a convincing alternative to produce high-quality pulp from wheat straw for writing and printing paper.     

Effects of Stocking Density and Monosex Culture of Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii on Growth and Production in Concrete Tanks in Saudi Arabia

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and monosex culture on growth, survival, yield and feed conversion ratio of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in concrete tanks. Juvenile prawns with an average weight of 1.8 g were stocked into triplicate tanks at densities of 5, 10, 15 and 20 prawns/m², grown for 168 d and fed a 34% tilapia diet. Stocking density had significant effect on prawns. Final mean body weight decreased with the increasing density, being highest at 5 prawns/m² (29.6 9). and lowest at 20 prawns/m² (17.4 g). Total yield increased from 135 g/m² (1,350 kg/ha) at a density of 5 prawns/m² to 261 g/m² (2,610 kg/ha) at density 15/m^z to 245 g/m² (2,450 kg/ha) at 20/m^z. Feed conversion ratios were high and ranged from 3.7 (5 prawns/m²) to 5.6 (20 prawns/m²).
In monosex culture of freshwater prawns stocked in triplicate tanks at a density of 5 prawns/m² for 112 d, the all-male population had the best growth performance and feed conversion ratio, followed by the mixed-sex and all-female populations. The all-male population had 99% marketable prawns (>20 g) with an average yield of 159 g/m² (1,590 kg/ha); the mixed-sex population had 90% marketable prawns and the yield was 135 g/m^z (1,350 kg/ha); and the all-female population had 75% marketable prawns with an average yield of 108 g/m² (1,080 kgha).     

Early heat acclimation during incubation improves Japanese quail performance under summer conditions

Effects of exposing quail eggs to high temperature on the heat tolerance ability and productivity of birds were investigated. Four groups of 600 fertile eggs were randomly selected; the first group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C (Control). The second group was exposed to 39.1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C. The third group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The fourth group was exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The temperature applied changed (P?<?0.01) embryo weight and incubation period. Birds exposed to high temperature during brooding had superior growth performance, dressed carcass, body temperature and health traits. Birds subjected to 39?±?1 °C during brooding exhibited decreased feed consumption and body weight gain. Finally, this work suggests that thermal acclimation during embryogenesis might offer a practical method for easing heat stress.

     

Antimicrobial,immunological and biochemical effects of florfenicol and garlic (Allium sativum) on rabbits infected with Escherichia coli serotype O55: H7

Veterinary Research Communications - Florfenicol (FFC) is a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic and garlic has a bactericidal action against coliforms. This study was carried out to compare the...     

Über das Artenspektrum Manna erzeugender Aphiden

Identification of Manna excreting Aphids Up to now the origin of Manna in northern Iraq has not been known distinctly. As producers of the sweet excretions called Manna on oak trees were identified the following species of Aphididae:Aphis fabae Scop.,A. gossypii Glov.,Chromaphis juglandicola Kalt.,Myzocallis castanicola Bak.,Tuberculatus annulata Htg.,T. moerickei Hrl. andThelaxes sp.     

Zum saisonalen Auftreten der Baumwolleule,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lep., Noctuidae) und ihrer Kernpolyedrose (NPV) in verschiedenen Distrikten Ägyptens

Infection rates of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) in the cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis larvae were assessed from 1985 through 1986 in clover fields at El-Behiera, El-Fayoum and El-Gharbia governorates. Infection rates of the pathogen were highest near the end of spring when the cotton leafworm larval populations were increasing. For the different governorates, the percentages of virus infection were almost higher in 1985-season than in 1986. El-Fayoum-larval population was the most infected by NPV followed by El-Gharbia and El-Behiera-populations, respectively. There was a positive correlation between infection rates of NPV on one hand, and density of larva and ambient temperature on the other.