The effects of environmental enrichment and transport stress on the weights of lymphoid organs,cell‐mediated immune response,heterophil functions and antibody production in laying hens

The effects of environmental enrichment and transport stress on the immune system were investigated in laying hens. A total of 48 1‐day‐old chickens were used, half of the chickens were reared in conventional cages (RCC) and the rest in enriched cages (REC). Transport stress was applied in the 17th week. Liver weight decreased, spleen and bursa of Fabricius weights, white blood cell count, CD4+ and CD8+ cell proportions increased due to the transport. Environmental enrichment significantly increased antibody production and tended to increase monocyte percentage and CD8+ cell proportion. The effect of transport on, heterophil (H) and lymphocyte (L) percentages was not significant in RCC chickens. While heterophil percentage and H:L ratio increased, lymphocyte percentage decreased in REC chickens subjected to transport. Transport stress increased heterophil functions both in REC and RCC chickens, but the increase was higher in REC hens than in RCC hens. In conclusion, although environmental enrichment did not neutralize the effect of transport on lymphoid organs, it activated the non‐specific immune system, cellular and the humoral branches of the specific immune system by increasing heterophil functions, CD8+ cells and antibody production, respectively. Therefore, environmental enrichment suggested for improving animal welfare may also be beneficial to improve the immune system of birds exposed to stress.     

Clinicopathological findings of an episode of mycotoxicosis in horses

This report of mycotoxicosis in horses describes the clinical signs, post-mortem findings, histopathological findings and prognosis following the accidental feeding of mycotoxin contaminated fodder to the horses at a farm over a 3-year period. Variable clinical signs viz. weight loss, height retardation in foals, episodes of sudden weakness and staggering gait, ulceration in the oral cavity and at mucocutaneous junctions, yawning, decreased appetite to complete anorexia, rectal prolapse, and failure of blood clotting were observed in many horses at an organised equine farm over a period of 2–3 years. Post-mortem examination of these cases revealed liver cirrhosis and pathological changes in other organs too. On examination of the fodder, it was observed that pearl millet fodder fed to the animals had ergot infestation. On laboratory investigation of the fodder, aflatoxins levels ranged from 24 ppb to 70 ppb in pearl millet fodder. The analysis eventually led to discontinuation of the pearl millet fodder. On follow-up for 2 years, no new cases of hepatic cirrhosis were seen. Most of the horses at the farm including those that had shown high levels of serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and weight loss, recovered completely. The present episode demonstrates that there is a need for regular monitoring of cereal fodders of horses in subtropical and tropical areas to avoid mycotoxicosis. In the present episode, monitoring serum/plasma GGT levels was found to be a sensitive biochemical indicator to identify liver damage caused by mycotoxins.     

Correction to: Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea spp.) genetic resources in the United States

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The correct article title is provided here, Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea spp.) genetic resources in the United States.     

Intra-increment circumferential variation in tracheid length as a basis for sampling genetically superior trees of deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.)

Summary Intra-increment circumferential variation in tracheid length at breast-height in deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. vern. diar) has been studied with the main objective of evolving an efficient sampling procedure for the purpose of comparing tracheid length amongst individual trees of forest stands. It has been studied in five sampling strata namely: whole-annual ring, whole-earlywood, whole-latewood, first-firmed earlywood and last-formed latewood. Tracheid length shows significant circumferential variation in whole-annual ring, whole-earlywood, whole-latewood and last-formed latewood. However, when the mean tracheid length of two opposite directions is compared with the mean tracheid length of eight cardinal directions in these sampling strata, then no significant difference is observed. First-formed stratum of an annual ring exhibits statistically consistent values around the circumference and thus sampling from any random radial direction can serve the purpose for the comparison of inherent values of tracheid length amongst the deodar trees.The financial assistance given by Himachal Pradesh University as H.P.U. Junior Research Fellowship to second author is highly acknowledged     

Essential role of BDNF in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in social defeat stress

Mice experiencing repeated aggression develop a long-lasting aversion to social contact, which can be normalized by chronic, but not acute, administration of antidepressant. Using viral-mediated, mesolimbic dopamine pathway-specific knockdown of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we showed that BDNF is required for the development of this experience-dependent social aversion. Gene profiling in the nucleus accumbens indicates that local knockdown of BDNF obliterates most of the effects of repeated aggression on gene expression within this circuit, with similar effects being produced by chronic treatment with antidepressant. These results establish an essential role for BDNF in mediating long-term neural and behavioral plasticity in response to aversive social experiences.     

Variability and Relationships Among Mixolab,Mixograph, and Baking Parameters Based on Multienvironment Spring Wheat Trials

Because of the large number of cultivars that require examination in the development of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, breeding programs use predictive methods to test end use quality. The Mixograph is a widely used predictive test with which end use quality of many genotypes can be assessed in a short time. By comparison, the Mixolab is a relatively new device with additional capability that might be used for the same purpose. Our objective was to document variability of, and relationships among, 20 parameters obtained from Mixolab, Mixograph, and bake tests. Tests were performed on flour from 18 genotypes grown in 20 environments. Both genotype and environment had significant effects on quality parameter values. Several Mixograph and Mixolab parameters were highly significantly correlated, particularly when genotype mean values over environments were considered. Correlations between loaf volume and Mixolab parameters within environments were inconsistent and suggest that average genotype values over environments will be most useful. For example, the correlation between Mixolab stability and loaf volume (r = 0.25, P < 0.001) was much higher when genotype averages (r = 0.70, P < 0.001) were considered. Our results show that selection for Mixolab stability and water absorption should help delineate and improve the selection of genotypes with greater loaf volume.     

Distribution and extent of diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis</Emphasis> species in the Aravalli ranges of India

Among the 52 species reported in Cucumis, cucumber and muskmelon are the most important species, extensively cultivated by the human for consumption. Diversity has been reported in the wild species of Cucumis from India. Considering the status of genetic erosion of the variability in the various species of Cucumis, a total of 121 germplasm accessions of five different Cucumis species were collected through three explorations in the parts of Aravalli ranges of northwestern India. The paper presents the distribution, collection, extent of variability, associated indigenous traditional knowledge, conservation status of these Cucumis species and prospects of their utilization in crop improvement.     

Accumulation of genistein and daidzein, soybean isoflavones implicated in promoting human health, is significantly elevated by irrigation

To circumvent drought conditions persisting during seed fill in the mid-south U.S. soybean production region, researchers have developed the early soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) production system (ESPS), which entails early planting of short-season varieties. Because soybean supplies a preponderance of the world's protein and oil and consumption of soy-based foods has been associated with multiple health benefits, the effects of this agronomic practice on seed quality traits such as protein, oil, and isoflavones should be investigated. Four cultivars of soybean, two from maturity group IV and two from maturity group V, were planted in April (ESPS) and May (traditional) in a two-year study at Stoneville, MS. Near-infrared analysis of soybean seed was utilized to determine the percentages of protein and oil. Dependent upon variety, the oil content of the early-planted crop was increased by 3-8%, whereas protein was not significantly changed. Visualization of protein extracts fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis revealed that early planting did not affect the relative accumulation of the major seed-storage proteins; thus, protein composition was equal to that of traditionally cultivated soybeans. Maturity group IV cultivars contained a higher percentage of oil and a lower percentage of protein than did the maturity group V cultivars, regardless of planting date. Gas chromatographic separation of fatty acids revealed that the percentages of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were not significantly altered by planting date. Methanol extracts of seed harvested from different planting dates when analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography showed striking differences in isoflavone content. Dependent upon the variety, total isoflavone content was increased as much as 1.3-fold in early-planted soybeans. Irrigation enhanced the isoflavone content of both early- and late-planted soybeans as much as 2.5-fold. Accumulation of individual isoflavones, daidzein and genistein, was also elevated by irrigation. Because this cultural practice improves the quality traits of seeds, ESPS provides an opportunity for enhancing the quality of soybean.