Broadening the genetic base of lentil cultivars through inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses of Lens taxa

Wild Lens taxa are invaluable sources of useful traits for broadening genetic base of cultivated lentil. Nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses were made successfully between cultivated (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) and wild lentils (L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, odemensis, lamottei and ervoides). The effect of species groups, day length and temperature on crossability in lentils was evident under normal winter sowing in New Delhi and in summer Himalayan nursery at Sangla in Himachal Pradesh, India, although pollen fertility assessed in all the cross‐combinations showed no significant variation. True hybridity of nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses was confirmed through morphological and molecular (ISSR) markers, in which three of 120 primers could confirm the hybridity of all the crosses. All cross‐combinations were also studied for important quantitative traits related to yield. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were estimated in parental lines, F₁ and F₂ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated lentils through the introgression of genes from wild L. taxa. A high level of heterosis was observed in F₁ crosses for important traits studied. Substantially higher variations for seed yield and its attributing traits were exhibited in F₂ generations indicating transgressive segregation. The results of the present investigation revealed that wild L. taxa can be successfully exploited for lentil improvement programmes, and the variations generated could be easily utilized for broadening the genetic base of cultivated lentil gene pool for improving the yield as well as wider adaptation.     

Growth,Nutritional, and Yield Parameters of Wetland Rice as Influenced by Microbial Consortia Under Controlled Conditions

A pot culture experiment was undertaken under controlled conditions in the National Phytotron Facility to investigate the interactive effect of microbial inoculants—blue-green algae (BGA), Azospirillum, phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB) Pseudomonas striata, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (VAMF), and Azolla, individually and in combination with chemical fertilizers and/rock phosphate on the wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar ‘PNR 381’. The microbial inoculants—BGA, PSB, VAMF, and Azospirillum—positively interacted with one another, resulting in significant improvement in yield and nutritional parameters. Application of biofertilizers also substantially improved soil (peat) fertility status by increasing the nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and organic carbon content. The biofertilizer combination BGA + PSB + VAMF + Azospirillum was best for improved growth and yield traits, nutritional status of rice, and sustained soil (peat) fertility. Azolla, which is a highly competitive organism, suppressed the growth of the other four inoculants. The inclusion of VAMF and PSB was observed to significantly improve the zinc nutrition of the paddy and the P utilization of the applied rock phosphate. A basal dose of nitrogenous fertilizer was essential for deriving maximum benefits from applied inoculants, thereby underlying the supplementary/complementary role of biofertilizers in efficient nutrient management in agriculture.     

Parthenogenetic Induction of Canine Oocytes by Electrical Stimulation and Ca-EDTA

In this study, we investigated parthenogenetic induction of canine oocytes by electrical stimulation following Ca-EDTA treatment. Oocyte maturation, parthenogenetic development, and cleavage rate in canine after various electrical stimulations (1.5, 1.8, 2.1 kV/cm) for 50 μs with single DC pulse following 1 mM Ca-EDTA treatment were investigated. In oocyte activated electrically at the voltage of 1.5 kV/cm after 1 mM Ca-EDTA treatment, the rate of pronucleus and two-cell was 4.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Although electrical stimulation could parthenogenetically induce immature oocyte to cleavage stage, degeneration rate in all experimental groups was more than 60%. This means that electrical stimulation after Ca-EDTA treatment could cause canine oocytes to be degenerated. However, two-cell in canine oocyte by parthenogenesis was for the first time induced. Therefore, we suggested that electrical stimulation for canine oocytes could induce parthenogenetically early embryonic cleavage. This result can be used as a basic data for parthenogenesis study in canine. Also, to perform more developed embryonic development, further study to parthenogenesis in canine need to be developed.     

First Production of Larvae Using Cryopreserved Sperm: Effects of Preservation Temperature and Cryopreservation on European Eel Sperm Fertilization Capacity

Sperm cryopreservation is a useful tool in captive fish reproduction management, that is to synchronize gamete production, especially in the case of species as the European eel, where the time of female spawning readiness is unpredictable. Several protocols to cryopreserve sperm of this species have been described, but until recently fertilization trials were not feasible. This study evaluated the effect of cold storage of diluted sperm prior to fertilizations and tested whether a previously defined protocol for European eel sperm cryopreservation can be successfully applied in fertilization trials to produce viable offspring. In our experiment, the sperm motility was evaluated after the extraction and the best samples were selected and pooled. Until stripping of eggs and fertilization, diluted sperm samples were maintained at either 4 or 20°C, or cryopreserved, following existing protocols. Fertilization of two egg batches was attempted. Diluted sperm caused a similar percentage of fertilized eggs and a similar number of embryos and larvae, independently of storage temperature (4 or 20°C). The cryopreserved sperm resulted in a lower percentage of fertilized eggs, but embryos developed and a few larvae (‘cryolarvae’) were obtained 55 h after fertilization in one of the two egg batches. This result evidences that the tested cryopreservation protocol is applicable for eel reproduction management, although improvements will be required to enhance fertilization success.     

Cilia and cilia-related disorders

Abstract

Extract

Among the puzzling aspects of the recently described autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) of sheep (Johnstone et al 2005 Johnstone, AC, Davidson, BI, Roe, AR, Eccles, MR and Jolly, RD. 2005. Congenital polycystic kidney disease in lambs. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 53: 307–314. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) is the multiplicity of organ systems affected and the phenotypic variations that occur between the various animal species. It has been shown in studies of other inherited polycystic kidney disease syndromes that the normal gene products of a mutant are likely to be involved in ciliary structure and function. The studies that have led to this recognition can be expected to eventually provide the basis for a better understanding of the functioning of this organelle, and the pathogenesis of lesions in the related diseases.

It is well known that cilia are important in the perception of light, olfactory stimuli and sound and that motile cilia provide cell motility (e.g. sperm) and transport of mucus and other fluids. Recent research has indicated that the involvement of the primary cili-um/basal body complex is of central importance in the detection and cellular response to extracellular movement of fluid, critical phases of embryonic development, cell cycle regulation and maintenance of cell polarity.

Confocal microscopic studies of renal cyst epithelium in ovine ARPKD have shown that only 30% of cells have a cilium and that these are often truncated (McGlashan et al 2005 McGlashan, SR, Poole, CA, Stayner, C, Johnstone, AC, Eccles, MR and Jensen, CG. 2005. “Primary cilia in fibrosis associated with two models of polycystic kidney disease”. In Proceedings of the 45th Annual Conference of the American Society for Cell Biology December 10–14 [Google Scholar]). The observation, although preliminary, strongly supports the argument that the mutant gene in this disease of sheep normally encodes for a protein essential for primary ciliary function.     

The studies on nutrient balances in crossbred cattle bulls fed chopped green sugarcane tops supplemented with some agro industrial by- products

Fifteen adult crossbred cattle bulls, 18-22 months old (mean body weight 286.33 + 9.43) were divided into 3 groups following RBD design and were fed sugarcane tops (SCT) supplemented with some agro-industrial byproducts and concentrate feeds to determine nitrogen, Ca and P in crossbred cattle bull. For this purpose, crossbred cattle bulls were fed for 30 days ad lib SCT supplemented with Wheat bran (WB), Lentil chuni (LC) and WB + LC (50:50) in Group I, II, and III respectively. The balance values were 15.28 + 2.70, 26.85 + 4.35 and 18.00 + 3.17 for nitrogen, 11.77 + 1.34, 12.94 + 2.96 and 15.38 + 1.15 for calcium, 11.74 + 0.64, 11.26 + 1.58 and 11.69 + 0.79 for phosphorus in group I, II and III, respectively. There were no significant differences among the experimental groups in Ca and P balance values but balance of nitrogen was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group II as compared to group I and III. It may indicated that the rumen fermentation was more appropriate in group III where animals were fed 50% lentil chuni and 50% wheat bran (supplementation of both protein and energy).     

Comparison of the efficacy of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics,either singly or in combination with other anthelmintic(s), in nine beef herds in southern NSW

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a well-recognized challenge in farmed ruminants. The use of anthelmintics in combination is one of the strategies recommended to slow the rate of AR development. Two studies were undertaken in 2017 and 2019 to assess the efficacy of single-dose macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintic and ML combination drenches. In total, 11 Faecal Egg Count Reduction Trials (FECRTs) were set up in 10 different beef herds, with results available from 10 of those FECRTs (9 herds). AR to a single ML anthelmintic was detected in all 9 herds, with resistance to Cooperia and Haemonchus spp on 9 farms, and resistance to Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp on 2 farms. In contrast, for the ML combination anthelmintics, all FECRTs resulted in efficacies of 99%–100%. The results suggest that cattle producers should strongly consider using combination drenches in their herds in preference to single actives.