Diversity among melon (Cucumis melo L.) landraces from the Indo-Gangetic plains of India and their genetic relationship with USA melon cultivars

We report here the first broad genetic characterization of farmer-developed landraces of melon (Cucumis melo L.) from the Indo-Gangetic plains of India, an area overlooked in previous melon genetic diversity analyses of Indian melon germplasm. Eighty-eight landraces from three melon Groups in two subspecies (C. melo subsp. agrestis Momordica Group, and C. melo subsp. melo Cantalupensis Group and Reticulatus Group) were collected from the four agro-ecological regions (six sub-regions) of two northern states of the Indo-Gangetic plains of India, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Significant differences were found among the landraces and eight USA Reticulatus Group reference cultivars for 18 plant and fruit traits: no. of primary branches per plant, days to marketable maturity, sex expression, fruit shape, flesh colour, netting, no. of fruit per plant, fruit weight, shelf life, total soluble solids (°Bx), ascorbic acid (mg/100 g), titratable acidity (%), fruit length and diameter, seed cavity length and diameter, flesh thickness, and resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus. The three melon groups differed significantly for 10 of the plant and fruit traits. Cantalupensis Group and Reticulatus Group accessions were andromonoecious, and the Momordica Group was monoecious. Neighbour-joining (NJ) tree and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) of simple sequence repeat loci also revealed a high level of genetic variability in this germplasm. The 96 melon genotypes clustered into five groups in the NJ tree analysis: the 16 Indian Reticulatus Group accessions and eight USA reference cultivars formed a distinct group; and the 60 Cantalupensis Group accessions clustered in four other groups with the 12 Momordica Group accessions in a distinct subgroup of one of the Cantalupensis groups. The FCA plot largely confirmed the NJ tree with three distinct groups, one for each melon group. The close affinity of the Indian and USA Reticulatus melons was not unexpected, but it is not clear whether it was inherent in the group and maintained as Reticulatus melons moved from India through Central Asia and Europe to North America, or the result of recent intercrossing of Indian landraces with the USA-derived cultivars and selection for a broad range of Reticulatus type melons.     

Disseminated Mycobacterium genavense infection in a FIV-positive cat

An 8-year-old FIV-positive Australian cat was presented with coughing, periocular alopecia, pyrexia and inappetence. Skin scrapings demonstrated Demodex cati mites. Antibiotics were administered and it was treated successfully for periocular demodectic mange, but the cat continued to exhibit respiratory signs and lose weight. Further investigation revealed an ascarid infection and active chronic inflammation of undetected cause affecting the lower airways. Repetitive treatment with pyrantel failed to eradicate the ascarid infection. The cat became cachectic and developed moist ulcerative dermatitis of the neck, severe non-regenerative anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Necropsy and histopathology revealed mycobacteriosis affecting skin, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, liver and kidney. Attempted culture of frozen tissues at a mycobacteria reference laboratory was unsuccessful. Paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissue was retrieved and examined using PCR to amplify part of the 16S rRNA gene. A diagnosis of disseminated Mycobacterium genavense infection was made based on the presence of acid fast bacteria in many tissues and partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene. Although M genavense has been identified previously as a cause of disseminated disease in AIDS patients, this is the first report of infection in a cat. It was suspected that the demodecosis, recurrent ascarid infections and disseminated M genavense infection resulted from an immune deficiency syndrome consequent to longstanding FIV infection.     

On-farm impacts of zero tillage wheat in South Asia's rice–wheat systems

The recent slow down in productivity growth in the irrigated areas of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia has led to a quest for resource-conserving technologies that can reduce production costs, save water and improve production. Findings from farm surveys are used to evaluate the on-farm impacts of zero tillage (ZT) wheat in the rice–wheat systems of India's Haryana state and Pakistan's Punjab province. ZT-induced effects primarily apply to the establishment and production costs of the wheat crop. Both study sites confirmed significant ZT-induced resource-saving effects in farmers’ fields in terms of diesel, tractor time and cost savings for wheat cultivation. Water savings are, however, less pronounced than expected from on-farm trial data. It was only in Haryana, India that there were significant ZT-induced water savings in addition to significant yield enhancement. The higher yield and water savings in Haryana, India result in significantly higher water productivity indicators for ZT wheat. In both sites, there are limited implications for the overall wheat crop management, the subsequent rice crop and the rice–wheat system as a whole. The combination of a significant “yield effect” and “cost-saving effect” makes adoption worthwhile and provide a much needed boost to the returns to wheat cultivation in Haryana, India. In Punjab, Pakistan, ZT is primarily a cost-saving technology for wheat cultivation. The prime driver for ZT adoption is not water savings or natural resource conservation but monetary gain in both sites. Water savings are only a potential added benefit.     

Efficacy of various concentrations of synthetic hormones on the induced breeding of Channa marulius (Sole)

A study was conducted to determine the artificial breeding response, embryonic and larval development of giant snakehead, Channa marulius, with the application of various dosages of stimulatory hormones: Suprefact® (LHRH) agonist and Ovaprim® (GnRH + dopamine inhibitor). First and second hormonal dosages of Suprefact® (diluted) and Ovaprim® (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 ml for male and 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 ml for females per kilogram body weight) were used. There were three treatments T₁, T₂, and T₃ and each treatment had three replicates. Male fish were treated with T₁ (0.3), T₂ (0.4), T₃ (0.5) ml kg⁻¹ of body weight while female fish with T₁ (0.8), T₂ (0.9), T₃ (1.0) ml kg⁻¹ of body weight. The results showed that fish stimulated with T₃ (1.0) obtained better fecundity rate (2951.7) followed by T₂ (0.4) (2678.3), while the lowest fecundity (466.7) was recorded in T₁. The numerically higher values of gonado-somatic index (males and females) and fertilization rate appeared in T₂. The highest survival rate (97.1%) was found in T₃ followed by T₂ (97.0%), while the lowest (32.2%) in T₁. In conclusion, the application of Suprefact® and Ovaprim® at 0.4 and 0.5 ml kg⁻¹ body weight for male and 0.9 and 1.0 ml kg⁻¹ for female fish successfully stimulated snakehead fish induced breeding.     

Probiotics-induced Changes in Intestinal Structure and Gut Microbiota Are Associated with Reduced Rate of Pimpled Eggs in the Late Laying Period of Hens

Production of pimpled or sandpaper-shelled eggs (SE) is a major problem in aged hens. Probiotics can improve eggshell quality; however, the relationship between SE production and gut bacteria remains unclear. Here, 1200 450-d-old Hy-line hens were assigned to four groups (300 hens each), with the control group fed basal diet and treatment groups fed basal diet plus 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. After 4 weeks, probiotics significantly decreased the SE rate from 42.51% to 28.02%. To address why probiotics reduced SE rate, the hens that only produced normal eggs (NE) or SE based on a 2-week assessment were assigned to three groups (NE, SE, and SEP groups; 10 hens each), with the NE and SE groups fed a basal diet and SEP group fed a basal diet plus 1000 mg/kg probiotics. After 4 weeks, ileal tissues from eight birds/group were collected for histomorphological and gene expression analyses, and the ileal content was collected from five birds/group for 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. The data showed that probiotics significantly increased the villus length and ratio of villus length to crypt depth. Quantitative PCR analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in the expression of genes related to tight junctions, nutrient transport, and calcium absorption among the groups (except TRPV6, P<0.001). The 16S rDNA sequencing analysis indicated that the alpha-diversity of gut bacteria in the SEP group was the highest among the groups. The Firmicutes phylum was dominant in the NE and SEP groups, whereas the Proteobacteria phylum was dominant in the SE group. Together, these results suggest that probiotics can significantly influence the intestinal structure and composition of the intestinal microbiota, which may lead to a reduction in the SE rate in aged hens.     

Serum triglyceride concentration in dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum triglyceride concentrations obtained after food had been withheld (i.e., fasting concentrations) in dogs with epilepsy that had been treated long term (> or = 3 months) with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and potassium bromide with concentrations in healthy control dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 57 epileptic dogs that had been treated with phenobarbital (n=28) or with phenobarbital and bromide (29) and 57 healthy, untreated control dogs matched on the basis of age, breed, sex, neuter status, and body condition score. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected after food had been withheld for at least 12 hours, and serum biochemical and lipid concentrations were determined. Oral fat tolerance tests were performed in 15 control dogs and 9 dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital alone. RESULTS: 19 of the 57 (33%) epileptic dogs had fasting serum triglyceride concentrations greater than the upper reference limit. Nine (16%) dogs had a history of pancreatitis, and 5 of the 9 had high fasting serum triglyceride concentrations at the time of the study. A significant relationship was found between body condition score and fasting serum triglyceride concentration in all dogs, but serum triglyceride concentration was not significantly associated with phenobarbital dosage or serum phenobarbital concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that dogs treated long term with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide may develop hypertriglyceridemia. Fasting serum triglyceride concentration should be periodically monitored in dogs treated with phenobarbital because hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for pancreatitis.     

Soil Moisture Simulation under Cropped Condition Using a Moisture Dependent Root Sink Function

Moisture dependent root sink function developed by F eddes et al. (1976) which incorporates linearly varying moisture availability proposal between field capacity and wilting point was embedded in the continuity equation for transient moisture flow in conjunction with Darcy's law and moisture contents in a homogeneous soil profile under wheat cropped condition were simulated numerically using implicit finite difference scheme. Simulated moisture contents were observed to be reasonably in good agreement with the observed moisture contents as the variations between the simulated and observed values varied from 2.97 to 21.76 percent.