Effects of different weaning programs on growth of Saanen kids

The aim of the study reported here was to compare the performances of kids reared according to three different weaning programs. In the first program (T1), the dams were not milked in the evening and the kids accompanied their dams from 17.00 hours until the next morning. In the second program (T2), the dams of the kids were milked at 17.00 hours and then the kids accompanied their dams until the next morning, being separated from their dams at 08.00 hours. In the third program (T3), the kids were subjected to the T1 program for the first 4 weeks of the study, and to the T2 program for the last 4 weeks of the study. The kids in all the groups were weaned at 8 weeks of age. The weaning programs had significant effects on average daily weight gains (ADG) of the kids during weeks 1–4 and weeks 1–8 of the study (P < 0.05). In the weeks 1–8 period, the kids on the T1 program had a higher ADG than those on the T2 program (P < 0.05). However, the kids on T1, T2 and T3 programs had similar ADG post‐weaning. The dry matter intake of the starter feed of the kids of the T3 program was higher than that of the kids of the T1 and T2 programs. The results of the present study indicated that the three weaning programs did not result in any significant effect on the growth of Saanen kids. Hence, the T3 program can be used if the starter feed intake is desirable.     

SNP allele frequency estimation in pooled DNA of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by next-generation sequencing

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Next-generation sequencing combined with bioinformatic analysis has become an instrumental tool for quick and reliable SNP discovery in genomes. Here, we...     

An Updated Review of Tetrodotoxin and Its Peculiarities

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a crystalline, weakly basic, colorless organic substance and is one of the most potent marine toxins known. Although TTX was first isolated from pufferfish, it has been found in numerous other marine organisms and a few terrestrial species. Moreover, tetrodotoxication is still an important health problem today, as TTX has no known antidote. TTX poisonings were most commonly reported from Japan, Thailand, and China, but today the risk of TTX poisoning is spreading around the world. Recent studies have shown that TTX-containing fish are being found in other regions of the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. This review aims to summarize pertinent information available to date on the structure, origin, distribution, mechanism of action of TTX and analytical methods used for the detection of TTX, as well as on TTX-containing organisms, symptoms of TTX poisoning, and incidence worldwide.     

Determination of the Tissue Distribution of PPO on Caramote Prawn (Melicertus kerathurus,Forskal, 1755) and Jinga Shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis,H. Milne Edwards, 1837) Caught from Izmir

Tissue distribution of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was studied in caramote prawn (Melicertus kerathurus) and jinga shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis) postmortem. Activity was analyzed in different tissues: the head (cephalothorax + carapace), carapace, exoskeleton of the abdomen, pereopods, and maxillipeds, individually. Based on the results, PPO activity of jinga shrimp was determined to be higher than caramote prawn during the research period. Partial tissue distribution showed that the highest activity was determined in carapace by using 70% ammonium sulfate fractions. Partial tissue distribution was also used to determine the spread of black spots. In addition, comparison between the PPO levels of caramote prawn and jinga shrimp was performed. The importance of these species is their economic value. However, there is no available data in the literature about caramote prawn and jinga shrimp. The determined data showed us that using antioxidant chemicals would be suitable for jinga shrimp.     

Influence of Polyethylene Mulch,Irrigation Regime,and Potassium Rates on Field Cucumber Yield and Related Traits

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was field grown from April 2001–July 2001 to determine the effects of mulch, irrigation regime, and potassium (K) rates on yield and related traits (i.e., leaf relative water content, water-use efficiency, and macronutrition). This was a factorial experiment with two irrigation levels (125% A pan daily versus 75% A pan every three days), two mulch levels (mulched versus unmulched), and three K₂O levels (20, 40, or 60 g/m²). Plants receiving reduced water application (75% A pan every 3 days) showed significant reductions in all parameters when compared with well-watered plants (125% A pan daily). The use of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) covers improved the plant dry matter, chlorophyll concentrations, fruit yield, and relative water content in leaves of well-watered plants and also improved K availability to the plants by keeping soil moisture higher than that of stressed plants without mulch. Using BPM increased plant water-use efficiency compared with that under the reduced water (RW) treatment. Reduced water application enhanced electrolyte leakage compared with that recorded under the well-watered (WW) treatment. Mulching decreased electrolyte leakage under the RW treatment. Increased K rates significantly enhanced leaf K in the mulched and WW plants. However, increased K rates did not increase leaf K in the RW plants. Reduced water application reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). However, mulching enhanced the concentrations of these elements, although their concentrations were still lower than those under the WW treatment. These results clearly indicate that field-grown number plants under mulched treatments were less stressed under semi-arid conditions and also that mulched treatments increased K availability to the plants.     

Effect of Silicon on Plant Growth and Mineral Nutrition of Maize Grown Under Water-Stress Conditions

The effect of silicon (Si) on physiological attributes and nutritional status of maize (Zea mays cv. DK 647 F1) under water stress was studied in a pot experiment. Treatments were (1) well watered (WW): 100% of FC (soil field capacity), (2) WW + Si1: 100% of FC + 1 mM Si, (3) WW + Si2: 100% of FC + 2 mM Si, (4) water stress (WS): 50% of FC, (5) WS + Si1: 50% of FC + 1 mM Si and (6) WS + Si2: 50% of FC + 2 mM Si. In the control treatment, plants were irrigated to field capacity (100% FC). Water stress was imposed by maintaining a moisture level equivalent to 50% of field capacity, whereas the well-watered pots (control) were maintained at full field capacity. Water stress was found to reduce the total dry matter (DM), chlorophyll content, and relative water content (RWC), but to increase proline accumulation and electrolyte leakage in maize plants. Both Si treatments largely improved the above physiological parameters, but levels remained significantly lower than the control (WW) values except for electrolyte leakage and root:shoot ratios, which were higher. Only root DM appeared to show very little variation in any of the treatments. The concentration of Si in the plants was increased by Si addition into the nutrient solution. Water stress reduced leaf calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) of maize plants, but addition of Si increased these nutrient levels; Ca levels were similar to WW under the high-Si treatment, but K was lower. Root Ca and K were both increased by WS; root Ca was further increased by high Si (WS + Si2 treatment). Addition of Si to the WS treatments did not change root K. Results indicate that while application of Si may be one approach to improve growth of this crop and increase its production in arid or semi-arid areas where water is at a premium, this technique would not fully substitute for an adequate water supply.     

MITIGATION EFFECTS OF SILICON ON TOMATO PLANTS BEARING FRUIT GROWN AT HIGH BORON LEVELS

Interactive effects of silicon (Si) and high boron (B) on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopercison esculentum cv. ‘191 F1’) plants were studied. Treatments were: 1) control (B1), normal nutrient solution including 0.5 mg L^?1 B (boron), 2) B1 +Si treatment: 0.5 mg L^?1 boron plus 2 mM Si, 3) B2 treatment: 3.5 mg L^?1 B, 4) B2 +Si treatment: 3.5 mg L^?1 B plus 2 mM Si, 5) B3 treatment: 6.5 mg L^?1 B, and 6) B3 +Si: 6.5 mg L^?1 B plus 2 mM Si. High B reduced dry matter, fruit yield and chlorophyll (Chl) in tomato plants compared to the control treatment, but increased the proline accumulation. Supplementary Si overcame the deleterious effects of high B on plant dry matter, fruit yield and chlorophyll concentrations. High B treatments increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POD; EC. 1.11.1.7) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC 1.10.3.1). However, supplementary Si in the nutrient solution containing high B reduced SOD and PPO activities in leaves, but POD activity remained unchanged. These data suggest that excess B-induced oxidative stress and alterations in the antioxidant enzymes. Boron (B) concentrations increased in leaves and roots in the elevated B treatment as compared to the control treatment. Concentrations of calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) were significantly lower in the leaves of plants grown at high B than those in the control plants. Supplementing the nutrient solution containing high B with 2 mM Si increased both nutrients in the leaves. These results indicate that supplementary Si can mitigate the adverse effects of high B on fruit yield and whole plant biomass in tomato plants.     

Efficacy of eprinomectin pour-on against Dictyocaulus arnfieldi infection in donkeys (Equus asinus)

A trial to assess the efficacy of eprinomectin (EPM) against the lungworm Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was carried out on 15, naturally-infected donkeys. Ten animals were treated with a ‘pour-on’ EPM preparation (at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg bodyweight), and five animals acted as controls. Faecal larval counts were carried out two days before treatment, on day of treatment and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment with the anthelmintic. EPM was 100% effective in eliminating faecal larvae from day 7, until the end of study at day 28. No adverse drug-reactions or side-effects were observed in any of the treated donkeys.     

Estimation of Outcrossing Rate in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Sown in Autumn

Gene flow via outcrossing from transgenic plants to relatives will be one of the most important concerns to grow of the transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in European Union (EU). This report is therefore focused on spontaneous outcrossing rate in chickpea. A total of 39 kabuli type mutants with white flower and one desi type with pink flower were grown to estimate spontaneous outcrossing rate. Outcrossing rate ranged from 0.0 to 1.25% in mutant materials. Since labelling threshold for transgenic contamination in food and feed in European Union (EU) is 0.9%, outcrossing rate of 1.25% is higher than threshold of 0.9% in EU, and this result suggests that cultivation of transgenic chickpea will be under high risk to be contaminated chickpeas in neighbourhood fields.     

The effect of salt on the roller electrospinning of polyurethane nanofibers

In this study, we investigated the effect of tetraethylammoniumbromide (TEAB) salt on the spinnability of polyurethane nanofibers via roller electrospinning method. At first, solution properties, spinnability and fiber properties were determined and then all the results were analyzed. According to the results, TEAB salt concentration has an important effect on the conductivity, viscosity, spinning performance, fiber diameter and morphology. It was found that all these parameters increased with salt concentration. Also it was indicated that viscosity decreased with shear rate. Polyurethane including 1.82 wt % TEAB gives the best spinning performance although 0.87 wt % TEAB is the optimum value related to fiber properties such as diameter, uniformity and morphology given the ideal polyurethane nano web structure.