Evaluation of PCR,IEF and ELISA techniques for the detection and identification of potato cyst nematodes from field soil samples in England and Wales

Effective management of potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) requires simple, rapid and accurate identification and quantification of field populations. Soil samples from a survey of 484 fields in potato rotations in England and Wales were used to compare the identification and quantification of PCNs using IEF, PCR, ELISA and bait plant tests. The cyst counts and bait plant test revealed that 64.3% of field samples contained PCNs. Bait plant tests increased the detection rate of PCNs in field samples by 4–6.4%. This means that some infestations are cryptic and would not normally be detected by standard counts. IEF, PCR and ELISA methods distinguished between Globodera rostochiensis and G pallida and were able to register mixed populations; however they were not in full agreement. All methods suggested that G pallida is the dominant species in the field samples tested. The PCR results indicated that 66% of field samples contained pure G pallida, 8% contained pure G rostochiensis and 26% contained mixtures of the two species. Estimates of the relative process times taken per sample in the PCR, IEF and ELISA techniques are given. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

旱作春小麦品种高产抗旱特性的综合评价

对引进的旱作春小麦品种（系）做小区试验，初步筛选出C160和8275两个抗旱性强产量高的品种（系）。其叶面积变化表现为峰值出现早、大小适中，后期能保持较高叶面积。通过生理指标测定，在干旱条件下，这两个品种（系）均表现为叶绿素高、叶片相对含水量多、脯胺酸积累增加、叶水势加大、细胞膜的相对透性减少等特征，是较抗旱的表现，运用模糊综合评判法将各种的产量、与产量相关的性状和生理指标结合在一起进行综合评价，对品种优劣进行排序，其顺序为：C160，8275，8139，8624，8338，定西35，C4，昌春3号，会宁17。     

中国与欧美农业科技创新体系对比研究

农业科技创新发展已成为推动现代农业发展的重要原动力。近年来,中国步入农业科技创新发展的快车道,为探寻建立健全中国农业科技创新体系的路径与方法,对美国、英国、德国与中国的农业科技创新体系进行对比。结果表明：①农业产业的特殊性决定农业科技创新体系的特殊性,农业科技创新主体、农业科技创新环境、农业科技创新成果与应用、农业科技创新国际合作相互作用,构成完整的农业科技创新体系。②产学研紧密结合是美国农业科技创新体系的突出特点,英国则是注重政府引导、信息共享与知识服务,德国是信息化生态型农业科技创新体系代表,注重信息引领与绿色、可持续发展。③与欧美农业科技创新体系相比,我国农业科技创新体系仍存在一些不足,未来可从协调统筹、规划建设、队伍与机制建设等方面入手,全面推动我国农业科技创新体系发展建设。     

Water Requirements of Safflower Entries in Middle Egypt

Two promising selected land races of safflower ( Carthamns tinctorious L.) designated as line 11 and line 13, together with the local variety Giza 1 , were examined under three levels of moisture depletions, i.e. 40, 60 and 80 % ASMD at Fayoum, Middle Egypt during 1986/87 and 1987/88 seasons. In both growing seasons, the second irrigation treatment i.e. 60 % ASMD gave the highest means for growth characters as well as seed yield and most of its components. Seed oil content per cent exhibited an increased as soil moisture depletion increased with no significant difference between entries. Safflower entries showed clear differences in some yield components which compensate each other and resulted in no significant difference in seed yield per hectar.
Consumptive use of water by safflower plants increased as the available soil moisture around the root zone increased. No significant differences were found in water consumed by safflower entries used in all experiments.
In the two experimental seasons, the best water use efficiency (WUE) for seed production was obtained also from the second treatment (60 % ASMD). The line 11 gave the best WUE.     

Localization of inhibin alpha-, betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase in ovarian follicles with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT) in 6 mares

To clarify the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics in mares with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT), the localization of inhibin subunits (alpha, betaA, betaB) and aromatase in the granulosa cell layers and theca layers in the ovarian follicles were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The follicles were obtained from the ovaries of 6 mares with GTCT and 4 normal mares as controls. Immunohistochemically, inhibin alpha-subunit was localized in the granulosa cells of all follicles showing different sizes in all GTCT cases and betaA- subunit was localized in two GTCT cases in all sized follicles. But inhibin betaB- subunit and aromatase were not localized in GTCT cases. On the other hand, inhibin alpha-, betaA-, and betaB-subunits and aromatase were localized in the large and medium sized follicles, but inhibin betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase were not stained in the small sized follicles in normal cases. These findings suggest that some mares with GTCT can secrete dimeric inhibin (inhibin A), but all GTCT cases cannot secrete inhibin B. By the results of aromatase staining it is clear that testosterone is not converted into estradiol due to the lack of aromatase in the GTCT follicles.     

Reduction and stabilization of hip luxation by the transposition of the ligamentum sacrotuberale in dogs: an in vivo study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of transposition of the sacrotuberous ligament (LST) for the treatment of coxofemoral luxation in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Ten mixed-breed dogs (weighing 12 to 26 kg). METHODS: After general anesthesia, the LST was exposed and released from the sacrum with a sacral bone fragment. Coxofemoral luxation was created by capsulotomy and transection of the ligament of the head of the femur. Suture was passed through 2 small holes in the bone fragment to guide transposition of the LST through a tunnel drilled through the acetabulum and femoral head and neck. The suture material was pulled tight and an interference screw was placed into the femoral tunnel to lock the sacral bone fragment and LST securely in the tunnel. Butorphanol was administered for pain relief and dogs were allowed unrestricted activity. Coxofemoral radiographs were obtained at 15-day intervals. Two dogs were euthanatized for macroscopic and histopathologic examinations at 3 months. RESULTS: Release of the sacral bone was moderately difficult. The transposed ligament and bone fragment were of an appropriate length and were easily and securely fixed by a interference screw method. Visible severe lameness, during the first 7 to 10 days improved to mild lameness within 10 to 21 days. Gait was subjectively normal after 5 weeks. No radiographic abnormalities were observed at any time point. Grossly, the LST was intact and apparently viable and functional. On histopathology, the space in the bone tunnel was filled with new tissue and a hyaline-like layer surrounded the LST. The sacral bone fragment attached to the LST was united with the femoral bone. CONCLUSIONS: Transposition of the LST reduced and stabilized experimentally induced coxofemoral luxation in 10 dogs. Survival of the LST up to 3 months and its adaptation to transposition suggest that this surgical technique could be considered as a permanent treatment option for hip luxations. Transposition and fixation of the LST was easy, but releasing the sacral edge of the LST was difficult because of its deep location and division of the origin into 2 branches in some dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this experimental study suggest that the technique may be satisfactorily used in dogs with coxofemoral luxation.     

The detection of the meq gene in chicken infected with Marek's disease virus serotype 1

In the genome of strains of very virulent Marek's disease virus serotype 1(vvMDV1), such as Md5 and RB1B, the meq open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 339-amino-acid bZIP protein, is present, while a slightly longer meq ORF, termed as L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the meq ORF is found in other strains of MDV1, such as CV1988/R6 and attenuated JM. When chickens were infected with vvMDV1 strains and the meq gene was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the meq gene was detected throughout the experimental period for 7 weeks post inoculation (pi). However, the L-meq gene was also detected at 3 to 5 weeks and 3 to 4 weeks pi. in Md5-infected and RB1B-infected chickens, respectively. In the case of chickens infected with an attenuated MDV1, the JM strain, the L-meq gene was detected at 2 to 7 weeks pi., and the meq gene was also detected at 2 to 6 weeks pi. Both L-meq and meq genes were detected in chickens infected with an attenuated nononcogenic vaccine strain of MDV1 (CVI988/R6), throughout the experimental period. Though quantitative PCR was not performed, a larger amount of the PCR products corresponding to the L-meq than the meq gene was amplified from chickens infected with JM or CVI988/R6. These results suggest that a dynamic population shift between the MDV subpopulations displaying meq and L-meq genes occurs in chickens during the course of MDV infection. Since the MDV subpopulation that displays the L-meq gene only displays it during the latent phase, the L-meq and its gene product, if any, might contribute to the maintenance of the MDV latency.     

Ameliorative effects of sodium bentonite on phagocytosis and Newcastle disease antibody formation in broiler chickens during aflatoxicosis

The ameliorative effect of graded levels of dietary sodium bentonite (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 per cent wt/wt of feed) on in vitro-impaired phagocytosis and suppressed immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine during aflatoxicosis (AF) in broiler chicks was investigated. Both percentage and mean of phagocytic activities were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in chicks fed 2.5 mg aflatoxin per kg feed. The addition of sodium bentonite was significantly effective in ameliorating the negative effect of AF on the percentage and mean of phagocytosis. The presence of AF alone in the diet depressed the immune response of chicks as measured by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Sodium bentonite was also effective in ameliorating the suppressive effect of AF on the HI -titre in chicks vaccinated against Newcastle disease. The best results obtained when sodium bentonite was added at the rate of 0.4 per cent wt/wt of feed to the AF-containing diets.     

Effect of temperature and photoperiod on development and fecundity of an acarophagous ladybird beetle,Stethorus gilvifrons

The development, fecundity and survival ofStethorus gilvifrons Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed onTetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval (Acari: Tetranychidae) were recorded at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30±1°C) and 50±10% relative humidity, under two photoperiods (16:8 L:D and 8:16 L:D) produced using artificial light (4000 lux). The development rate for the egg stage (r_[Te]) increased linearly with increasing temperature (r_[Te]=0.0132*T ? 0.0955; R²=0.95). The theoretical egg-development threshold was estimated to be 7.24°C; 75.75 degree-days (DD) were required for hatching. The total development time (r_[Tt]) also decreased linearly with increasing temperature (r_[Tt]=0.0039*T ? 0.0325; R²=0.98). The development threshold was estimated to be 8.33°C and full development from egg to adult required 256.41 DD. Higher temperatures resulted in a shorter generation time (T ₀) and decreased net reproductive rate (R ₀). The length of the previposition and postoviposition period, as well as longevity, decreased significantly with increasing temperature under both photoperiods. The oviposition and postoviposition periods, longevity, and total fecundity were not significantly affected by photoperiod. The values of both the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) andR ₀ were highest under the long-day photoperiod at 25°C. The mortality rate was lowest at 20°C under the short-day photoperiod. Of the conditions tested, the optimum temperature for rearingS. gilvifrons was 25°C and the optimum photoperiod was 16:8 L:D.