Root growth response of serradella species to aluminium in solution culture and soil

Serradella (Ornithopus) species are high‐quality pasture legumes that originate from the Mediterranean basin and have been increasingly used in southern Australian temperate grazing systems. They are generally regarded as tolerant of soils with low pH and, by inference, elemental toxicities such as aluminium (Al). No studies have examined the effect of high Al concentrations on the growth of French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.) or newly developed cultivars of yellow serradella (O. compressus L.). Several cultivars/accessions of each species were grown in low ionic‐strength nutrient solutions at pH_Ca 4.5 containing a range of Al concentrations. Their susceptibility to root growth inhibition by Al was benchmarked against reference species ranging from Al‐sensitive to Al‐tolerant. Most serradella cultivars had moderate‐to‐high Al tolerance in solution culture but one yellow and two French serradella cultivars ranked alongside the Al‐sensitive reference species. A subset of cultivars and reference species were then grown in an Al‐toxic soil to test the validity of the solution culture results; these cultivars spanned the apparent range in Al sensitivity/tolerance indicated by the solution culture experiment. Variation in the relative root length achieved in Al‐toxic solution culture explained ~59% of the variation in the relative root length achieved in the acidic Al‐toxic soil. This result supports the conclusion that Al tolerance varies among serradella and that some cultivars may not thrive in soils with pH_Ca < 4.5 and elevated extractable Al concentrations.     

Ovipositional periodicity of caged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles gambiae</Emphasis> individuals

Background  

Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles is a major malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies of the basic biology of this mosquito, including oviposition, provide a background for assessing which attributes might be exploited for suppressing A. gambiae populations. Here, we report on when during the diel cycle A. gambiae individuals deposit eggs as compared to the ovipositional patterns of groups.     

Estimating the abundance and diversity of butterflies

Concern about the apparent decline in butterfly populations has led to projects designed to obtain quantitative information on their abundance and diversity. Three methods of sampling communities of butterflies are suggested, and the use of a diversity index, β, is recommended. This index gives an estimate of the probability that an individual sampled at random from a community will be different from the previous individual sampled. Change and stability in diversity can be used as a guide for conservation and management programmes.     

Incorporation of grass silage,whole cereal grains,cassava and cottonseed meal into diets of rabbits kept in a simulated tropical environment

Summary The growth and feed conversion of rabbits fed either grass silage or whole grains and supplementary pelleted concentrate of cassava/cottonseed diets were investigated. Poor quality grass silage (pH 4.9) was almost completely rejected by young rabbits initially fed either 17.8 g or 35.5 g DM/day of a supplementary concentrate. Rabbits on the lower level of concentrate provision lost 0.35 g liveweight per day. Rabbits initially weighing 1.77 kg fed complete pelleted diets containing 667 g/kg maize or 667 g/kg sorghum showed improved daily liveweight gains (22.6 g) over rabbits fed whole grains and pelleted supplements (19.4 g) in an experiment lasting 40 days. In a second experiment there were no significant effects of pelleting or type of cereal on liveweight gain or feed conversion ratio. Pelleting significantly improved crude protein digestibility of diets whilst maize diets were superior in DM, organic matter and crude protein digestibilities. The inclusion of cottonseed meal containing 700 mg/kg free gossypol in diets at levels of 150 and 300 g/kg did not affect growth rate or feed conversion in rabbits weighing 0.92 kg initially. These diets contained up to 364 g/kg cassava suggesting that this ingredient can be used in rabbit diets as an energy source in replacement for whole grains.

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Incorporacion De Ensilaje De Pasto, Granos Enteros De Cereales, Yuca Y Torta De Algodon En Dietas De Conejos Mantenidos En Ambientes Tropicales Simulados

Resumen Se investigó, el crecimiento y la conversión de alimentos de conejos alimentados con uno u otro de los siguientes productos: ensilaje de pasto, granos enteros de cereales, concentrado peletizado, o yuca/torta de algodón. El ensilaje de pasto de calidad baja (PH 4.9), fue rechazado casi totalmente por los conejos jovenes inicialmente, alimentados con 17.8 g. o 35.5 g. MS/día de un concentrado suplementario. Los conejos que estaban bajo una dieta más baja de concentrados, perdieron 0.35 g. de peso vivo por día. Los conejos que inicialmente pesaban 1.77 kg, los cuales fueron alimentados con dietas completamente peletizadas, que contenían 667 g/kg maíz o 667 g/de sorgo, ganaron 22.6 g. de peso vivo/día en comparación a conejos cuya alimentación consistió en gramos enteros y suplementos peletizados (19.4 g), en un experimento que duró 40 días. En un segundo experimento, no hubo efectos significativos del peletizado, o tipo de cereal, o ganancia de peso vivo, o tasa de conversión alimentaria. El peletizado en general, mejoró significativamente la digestibilidad de la proteína cruda de las dietas, mientras que las dietas de maíz fueron superiores en digestibilidad de la MS, materia orgánica y proteína cruda. La inclusión en dietas de torta de algodón con 700 mg/kg de gosipol libre, a niveles de 150 y 300 g/kg, no afectó la tasa de crecimiento o la conversión alimenticia en conejos que pesaron 0.92 kg inicialmente. Estas dietas contenían hasta 364 g/kg de yuca, sugiriendo que este ingrediente puede usarse en dietas para conejos, como fuente de energía y en reemplazo de granos enteros.

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Incorporation d'Ensilage d'Herbe, De Grains Entiers De Cereales, De Farines De Manioc Et De Graine De Coton Dans La Ration De Lapins Places Dans Un Environnement Tropical Simule

Résumé On a examiné la croissance et l'indice de consommation de lapins nourris soit d'ensilage d'herbe ou de grains complets et, en supplément d'un concentré en pellets ou de rations de manioc/graine de coton. L'ensilage d'herbe de pauvre qualité (pH 4,9) est presqu'entièrement rejeté par les jeunes lapins recevant initialement un supplément concentré à 17,8 g ou 35,5 g DM/jour. Les lapins soumis au plus faible niveau de concentré perdent 0,35 g de poids corporel par jour. Dans une expérience durant 40 jours, les lapins pesant initialement 1,77 kg recevant une ration entièrement en pellets contenant 667 g/kg de maïs ou 667 g/kg de sorgho accusent un gain de poids journalier (22,6 g) par rapport à des lapins recevant des grains entiers et un supplément en pellets (19,4 g). Dans une seconde expérience, ni la pelletisation, ni le type de céréale n'ont eu d'effet significatif sur le gain de poids journalier ou l'indice de consommation. La pelletisation améliore de manière significative la digestibilité de la protéïne brute des rations alors que les rations de maïs sont supérieures en DM, matière organique et digestibilité en protéïne brute. L'incorporation dans la ration de farine de graine de coton contenant 700 mg/kg de gossypol libre au taux de 150 et de 300 g/kg n'affecte pas la croissance ni l'indice de consommation chez des lapins pesant initialement 0,92 kg. Ces rations contiennet jusqu'à 364 g/kg de manioc, ce qui permet de suggérer l'utilisation de cet ingrédient dans la nourriture des lapins en tant que source d'énergie en remplacement des grains entiers.

     

Treatment of spontaneous malignant tumours in dogs with PTMC

The chemical analysis of the caffeine salt of a phosphomolybdic-tungstic acid compound (PTMC) is described. Twenty-seven dogs with advanced malignant tumours have been treated with PTMC by intramuscular or intravenous injection. Five dogs - one case of metastatic osteosarcoma, two cases of metastatic mammary carcinoma, one case of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and one case of primary fibrosarcoma showed objective tumour regression for periods varying from four weeks to 20 months. Only two of the 27 dogs treated showed toxic effects.     

A case of acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites in guinea fowl

Acute pulmonary edema, splenomegaly, and ascites were observed in a disease outbreak in adult white and pearl guinea fowl. The clinical history and gross and microscopic lesions resembled those described for marble spleen disease of pheasants and avian adenovirus group II splenomegaly of chickens. A small number of intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in liver, spleen, and lung sections of affected guinea fowl. Attempts to isolate virus and serological tests to detect the presence of viral antigens were unsuccessful. Adult female pearl guinea fowl experimentally exposed to pheasant and turkey isolates of type II avian adenoviruses developed gross and microscopic lesions similar to those seen in the field outbreak. The pheasant isolate was the more virulent. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in liver, spleen, and lung sections of pearl guinea fowl inoculated with either of the virus isolates, and direct immunofluorescent examination revealed viral antigen in the spleen and lung.