Effects of a Cover Crop on Splash Dispersal of Colletotrichum acutatum Conidia

ABSTRACT A rain simulator, with generated rains of 11 and 30 mm/h, was used to determine the effect of a cover crop or intercrop on the splash dispersal of Colletotrichum acutatum conidia. Dispersal through sudangrass, which can be used as a 'living mulch', was tested at two planting densities (140 or 280 kg/ha) and two heights (5 and 20 cm) and compared with a control consisting of a bare soil. Dispersal of C. acutatum conidia was assessed by counting colonies formed from spore-bearing splash droplets deposited in sheltered petri plates containing a selective medium. Both a cover crop and rain intensity significantly affected splash dispersal as measured by the interpolated total number of colonies (denoted by Sigma) from 0 to 72 cm from the inoculum source and in a time span of 61 min of generated rain (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant interaction of cover crop and intensity (P > 0.90). Dispersal with a 30-mm/h rain was higher than dispersal with a 11-mm/h rain, and presence of a cover crop significantly reduced dispersal compared with bare soil (P < 0.001). Of the treatments with sudangrass, cover crop planting density did not affect dispersal overall, but there was greater spore dispersal with the taller sudangrass at the higher planting density, due in part to the higher rate of water splashing with the tall grass compared with the short grass. Spore deposition in the petri plates could be functionally related to distance and time using a diffusion-type model, and parameter estimates could be used to explain the effects of cover crop on Sigma. Although the relationship between cover crop properties and splash dispersal is complex, results show the potential beneficial effects of the cover crop on disease management.     

不同利用方式对贝加尔针茅草原土壤活性有机碳的影响

土壤活性有机碳能够准确反映土壤有效性,表征土壤质量变化,是探索可持续草地管理措施的关键指标之一。以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原为研究对象,采用围封、放牧和刈割野外控制试验,探讨不同利用方式对土壤有机碳（SOC）和活性有机碳的影响,发现不同利用方式下土壤SOC含量表现为围封>刈割>放牧,其中围封区和刈割区土壤SOC含量显著大于放牧区,围封区与刈割区土壤SOC含量差异不显著,在土壤活性有机碳中土壤可溶性有机碳（DOC）含量表现为放牧>围封>刈割。土壤微生物量碳（MBC）和土壤易氧化有机碳（ROC）含量均表现为围封>刈割>放牧,围封区与刈割区土壤MBC和土壤ROC平均含量差异不显著,且均显著大于放牧区。土壤MBC、ROC和SOC之间呈极显著相关性（P<0.01）。土壤ROC和土壤MBC与土壤全氮和土壤全磷呈极显著相关性（P<0.01）。围封与刈割有利于土壤SOC、MBC、ROC的提升,放牧对土壤DOC有一定累积作用。围封和刈割增强了土壤SOC的稳定性,活性有机碳与土壤有机碳和土壤理化性质密切相关,能够敏感地反映土壤有机碳的变化。     

Sequential sampling for incidence of phomopsis leaf blight of strawberry

ABSTRACT Sequential sampling models for estimation and classification were developed for the incidence of strawberry leaflets infected by Phomopsis obscurans. Sampling protocols were based on a binary power law analysis of the spatial heterogeneity of Phomopsis leaf blight in commercial fields in Ohio. For sequential estimation, samples were collected until mean disease incidence could be estimated with a preselected coefficient of variation of the mean (C). For sequential classification, samples were collected until there was sufficient evidence to classify mean incidence as being below or above a threshold (p(t)) based on the sequential probability ratio test. Monte-Carlo simulations were used to determine the theoretical average sample number (ASN) and probability of classifying mean incidence as less than p(t) (operating characteristic) for any true value of incidence. Estimation and classification sampling models were both tested with bootstrap simulations of randomly selected data sets and validated by data sets from another year that were not utilized in developing the models. In general, achieved (or calculated) C after sequentially sampling for estimation was close to the preselected C of 0.2, and mean incidence was estimated with little bias. Achieving a C of 0.1 with less than 75 sampling units (the nominal value for many original data sets) was more problematical, especially with true incidence less than 0.2. ASN for classification was only 9 to 18 at disease incidence values near p(t), and approximately five or less at incidence values far from p(t). Correct classification decisions were made in over 88% of the validation data sets. Results indicated that it is possible to estimate Phomopsis leaf blight with high precision and with high correct classification probabilities.     

Tracking the long-term decline and recovery of an isolated population

Effects of small population size and reduced genetic variation on the viability of wild animal populations remain controversial. During a 35-year study of a remnant population of greater prairie chickens, population size decreased from 2000 individuals in 1962 to fewer than 50 by 1994. Concurrently, both fitness, as measured by fertility and hatching rates of eggs, and genetic diversity declined significantly. Conservation measures initiated in 1992 with translocations of birds from large, genetically diverse populations restored egg viability. Thus, sufficient genetic resources appear to be critical for maintaining populations of greater prairie chickens.     

Evaluation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from feline vaccine site-associated sarcomas for feline foamy virus DNA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a group of vaccine site-associated sarcomas (VSS) for the presence of feline foamy virus (FeFV) DNA, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. SAMPLE POPULATION: 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks from VSS of cats. PROCEDURE: DNA was extracted from FFPE sections of each tumor, and regions of the gag and pol genes of FeFV were amplified by use of PCR methods, using 1 primer set for each region. Sensitivity of the method was compared between fresh and FFPE cells, using mouse kidney tissue that was injected with FeFV-infected cultured cells and using agarose-cell pellets. Results-Feline foamy virus DNA was not detected in VSS tissues. Sensitivity of the method was 10 times greater in fresh versus FFPE mouse tissues. Sensitivity of the method in fresh FeFV-infected cultured cells versus FFPE agarose-cell pellets was equal when fixation was 24 or 48 hours and 10 times greater when fixation was 72 hours or 1 week. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A PCR-based method can be successfully applied to FFPE tissues for FeFV DNA detection. Results suggest there is no direct FeFV involvement in the pathogenesis of VSS in cats.     

短期休牧对克氏针茅草原植物群落物种多样性及稳定性影响研究

文章采用野外植物样方采取及实验室数据分析相结合的方法,以阿巴嘎旗北部牧户常年放牧和隔年休牧的冬季草场为例,探讨短期休牧对克氏针茅草原植物物种多样性及群落稳定性的影响。结论如下:(1)两个草场植物群落内植物数量差异不大,主要差异表现在主要植物的平均重要值及两个草场仅有2对共优种。此外,短期休牧冬季草场的禾本科植物比重提升的同时,一年生藜科植物也显著提升;(2)短期休牧冬季草场的植物群落物种多样性指数略高于常年放牧冬季草场,但差异不显著;(3)两个草场植物群落处于中等相似水平,植物种间存在分异化趋势;(4)短期休牧冬季草场植物群落总体呈微弱正联结,种间联结松散,处于正向演替阶段,常年放牧冬季草场呈微弱负相关,群落较不稳定,存在一定退化风险;(5)两个草场的植物群落离稳定性都有一定差距,但短期休牧冬季草场植物群落稳定性略好于常年放牧冬季草场。可见,短期休牧有利于克氏针茅草原植物群落物种多样性和稳定性保持。     

Are the Australian poultry industries vulnerable to large outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza?

Objective   To describe the structure of the Australian poultry industry and discuss the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to spread between Australian poultry farms.
Procedure   High densities of poultry farms, frequent contacts between farms by service providers, the supply of live poultry markets (LPM) and the presence of free-range duck flocks in affected regions have been identified as risk factors for the spread of HPAI between flocks in outbreaks causing the death or destruction of over 1 million poultry overseas. Data on 1,594 commercial Australian chicken meat, chicken egg, duck and turkey farms were collected by a telephone questionnaire of farm managers to assess the risk of a HPAI outbreak in Australia.
Results and Discussion   Five regions of Australia had farm densities comparable to overseas regions that experienced widespread HPAI. Common service providers routinely contacted different classes and types of farms over wide geographic areas. However, no responding farms supplied LPM and the majority of duck farms did not produce free-range ducks.
Conclusion   Outbreaks of HPAI have the potential to cause serious impacts on the Australian poultry industry. The risk posted by LPM and free-range ducks is limited, but the movement of genetic stock and common service providers could spread infection between companies, industries or geographical regions. Biosecurity measures are therefore considered critical to limit the secondary spread of infection should an outbreak occur.