Biological and molecular characterization of a novel carmovirus isolated from angelonia

ABSTRACT A new carmovirus was isolated from Angelonia plants (Angelonia angustifolia), with flower break and mild foliar symptoms, grown in the United States and Israel. The virus, for which the name Angelonia flower break virus (AnFBV) is proposed, has isometric particles, approximately 30 nm in diameter. The experimental host range was limited to Nicotiana species, Schizanthus pinnatus, Myosotis sylvatica, Phlox drummondii, and Digitalis purpurea. Virions were isolated from systemically infected N. benthamiana leaves, and directly from naturally infected Angelonia leaves, using typical carmovirus protocols. Koch's postulates were completed by mechanical inoculation of uninfected Angelonia seedlings with purified virions. Isometric particles were observed in leaf dips and virion preparations from both Angelonia and N. benthamiana, and in thin sections of Angelonia flower tissue by electron microscopy. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of dissociated purified virus preparations, a major protein component with a molecular mass of 38 kDa was observed. Virion preparations were used to produce virus-specific polyclonal antisera in both Israel and the United States. The antisera did not react with Pelargonium flower break virus (PFBV), Carnation mottle virus (CarMV), or Saguaro cactus virus (SgCV) by either enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunoblotting. In reciprocal tests, antisera against PFBV, CarMV, and SgCV reacted only with the homologous viruses. The complete nucleotide sequence of a Florida isolate of AnFBV and the coat protein (CP) gene sequences of Israeli and Maryland isolates were determined. The genomic RNA is 3,964 nucleotides and contains four open reading frames arranged in a manner typical of carmoviruses. The AnFBV CP is most closely related to PFBV, whereas the AnFBV replicase is most closely related to PFBV, CarMV, and SgCV. Particle morphology, serological properties, genome organization, and phylogenetic analysis are all consistent with assignment of AnFBV to the genus Carmovirus.     

Fertility,hatghability and malformations in guinea fowl embryos as affected by dietary manganese

1. The effects of feeding diets containing 54 mg, 60 mg, 65 mg or 70 mg manganese/kg to Guinea fowls on fertility, hatchability and the occurrence of malformed embryos were studied.

2. Dietary manganese affected fertility slightly, but significantly affected hatchability and the occurrence of malformed embryos.

3. Hatchability was most significantly depressed at the lowest dietary concentration of manganese, which also caused a highly significant increase in the proportion of malformed embryos.

4. Although increasing manganese to more than 54 mg/kg improved hatchability and reduced embryonic malformations, the increase did not completely eliminate the latter condition.     

Improving productive and reproductive performance of dual-purpose crossbred hens in the tropics by lecithin supplementation

In order to study the influence of lecithin and vegetable oils on improving productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, and metabolic profile of dual-purpose crossbred hens in the tropics, a total of 224 hens, 47-wk old, 112 each of Gimmizah and Silver Montazah strains were fed seven isonitrogenous diets. Experimental treatments consisted of feeding seven different diets to layers; four isocaloric diets containing either no added lipid (control), 3% vegetable oil mixture, 3% soy lecithin or 6% soy lecithin; and three high-energy level diets, containing an extra 3% vegetable oil mixture, 3% or 6% soy lecithin added to the control diet. Thus, the experimental design was factorial, consisting of seven lipid treatments by two strains of hens. Results indicate that 3% lecithin as an extra ME source, or feeding 11.72 MJ ME/kg diet containing the same level of lecithin, improved productive and reproductive performance of crossbred hens. Moreover, lecithin at 6% as an extra ME supplement significantly increased yolk percentage and improved Haugh unit score and yolk color, while increasing EE digestibility and plasma total lipids. Hen strain had a significant effect only on digestibility of OM, percentage liver and Haugh unit score, with the Gimmizah strain having higher values.