Interactions of Salinity Stress and Flower Thinning on Tomato Growth,Yield, and Water Use Efficiency

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress and flower number on growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and fruit quality of cherry tomatoes cultivated under soilless conditions. The experiment was conducted in a plastic house (5-m wide × 11-m long) located in Gifu University. The seedlings were transplanted in a randomized complete block design with six plants per treatment (NT1 and ST1 were with four plants), giving a total of 44 plants in 22 pots (two plants per pot). Two different salinity levels [no-salinity and salinity with electrical conductivity: 0.8 and 3.0 dS m^?1, respectively] and four flower number treatments (8, 13, 18, and free per truss) were investigated in the experiment. The results showed that salinity stress negatively affected tomato growth, yield, and marketable yield, but improved tomato fruit quality. The number of flowers had no effect on tomato growth variables and WUE, but the yield significantly increased with increasing flower number. However, the fruit quality was decreased with increased flower number. A reasonable control for fruit load can increase marketable yield in commercial cultivation. Under salinity stress conditions, properly increasing the number of flowers can avoid yield reduction.     

Comparison of productive and reproductive performance and hair cortisol levels between Brown Swiss cross‐bred and Holstein cows housed in the same barn

The productive and reproductive characteristics of Brown Swiss (B) cross‐bred cows were investigated by comparing with those of Holstein (H) cows housed in the same barn. Additionally, their hair cortisol levels were analyzed to evaluate the extent of stress experienced during dry and lactation periods. B cross‐bred cows had lower milk yields and higher milk fat rates than H cows. Reproductive records showed that days from parturition to first artificial insemination (AI) in B cross‐bred (n = 16) and H (n = 27) cows were not significantly different, but conception rate at first AI of B cross‐bred cows tended to be higher than that of H cows. Percentage of B cross‐bred cows that resumed ovarian cyclic activity within 45 days after parturition was higher than that of H cows (6/6 (100%) and 5/11 (45.5%), P < 0.05), and B cross‐bred cows had higher body condition scores at that time. Hair cortisol level at 60 to 90 days after parturition in H cows increased significantly compared with in the dry period, and it was higher than that of B cows during the same period. These results suggest that B cross‐bred cows experience less metabolic stress during early lactation, which may result in earlier resumption of reproductive function.     

Interactive Influences of Salinity Stress and Leaf Thinning on the Growth,Yield, Water use Efficiency,and Fruit Quality of Cherry Tomatoes

This research has experimentally investigated the interactive influences of salinity stress and leaf thinning on the growth, yield, water use efficiency, and fruit quality of cherry tomatoes cultivated under soilless conditions. The experiment was conducted in a plastic house (width of 5 m and length of 11 m) located in Gifu University. The seedlings were transplanted in a randomized complete block design with six plants per treatment, and a total of 36 plants in 18 pots (two plants per pot). The experiment received salinity treatment (no-salinity and salinity with electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.8 dS m^?1 and 3.0 dS m^?1, respectively) and leaf thinning treatment (no leaf thinning, basal leaf thinning and intersegment leaf thinning except the closest two). The experimental results showed that salinity stress negatively affected the growth, yield, marketable yield and water use efficiency of cherry tomatoes, but positively affected the fruit quality. Basal leaf removal significantly decreased the biomass, chlorophyll, and yield but significantly improved the fruit quality; that basal leaf removal coupled with salinity stress showed no influence on plant growth, but reduced the yield and greatly improved the fruit quality. Besides, tender leaves around truss removal significantly decreased the biomass, chlorophyll, yield, and water consumption, but improved the fruit quality; that tender leaves around truss removal coupled with salinity stress greatly decreased the biomass, chlorophyll, yield, and water consumption, but significantly improved the fruit quality.     

Effects of supplementary probiotics to two different diets on dry matter intake, daily gain, digestibility, ruminal pH, and fecal microbial populations and metabolites in ewes

To study the effects of supplementary probiotics on dry matter intake (DMI), daily gain (DG), digestibility, ruminal pH, and fecal microbial populations and metabolites in ruminants, two reversal trials were conducted by using four Suffolk ewes fitted with rumen cannula. The ewes were fed with oat hay and with concentrate and oat hay in the ratio of 60 : 40 in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. The ewes in the treatment groups were supplemented with 10 g/day/head probiotics for 49 days. Fresh fecal samples were collected to measure microbial populations and metabolites. On days 43–47 total feces was collected to measure digestibility, and on the days 48 and 49 ruminal pH was measured. No significant difference of DMI, DG, dry matter digestibility, and ruminal pH was observed between the control and treatment groups. The probiotics treatment tended to increase crude fiber (P = 0.11) and organic cell wall digestibility (P = 0.18). In the final week, probiotics treatment significantly increased the fecal population of Bacilli (P < 0.05) and mold (P < 0.01) in experiment 1 and 2, respectively. No significant difference of fecal VFA and ammonia concentrations between the control and treatment groups was observed. The supplementary probiotics changed population of some microbial strains in the feces and possibly the large intestine of ewes.     

Epidemiological Analysis of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage among Veterinary Staff of Companion Animals in Japan

Veterinary staff carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) can be a source of MRSA infection in animals. To identify risk factors of MRSA carriage among veterinary staff, MRSA carriage and epidemiological information (sex, career, contact with MRSA-identified animal patients and others) were analyzed from 96 veterinarians and 70 veterinary technicians working at 71 private veterinary clinics in Japan. Univariate analysis determined sex (percentage of MRSA carriage, male (29.2%) vs. female (10%); P=0.002) and career (veterinarians (22.9%) vs. veterinary technicians (10%); P=0.030) as risk factors. Multivariable analysis revealed that sex was independently associated with MRSA carriage (adjusted odds ratio, 3.717; 95% confidence interval, 1.555–8.889; P=0.003). Therefore, male veterinary staff had a higher risk of MRSA carriage than female staff.     

Investigation into the durability of washed rice straw for equine bedding and the repetitive use of washing water

The present experiment investigated durability during the repetitive use of washed rice straw, as bedding material, and washing water as a model study. Residual nitrogen levels, elasticity, and water suction rates for washed rice straw‐adhered urea were measured. In addition, outflow levels of nitrogen and mineral ions (Na⁺, NO₂^‐ + NO₃^‐, SO₄^2?, PO₄^3?, Cl^‐) for washing water were measured to determine durability. Nitrogen levels of rice straw significantly (P < 0.05) decreased after two washings. There was no significant change in elasticity of repetitively used rice straw. Suction rates of rice straw after the second and third washings increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the first time. With regard to the number of washings, the mineral ion outflow level in the washing water for nitrogen, Na⁺, NO₂^‐ + NO₃^‐ and PO₄^3? after each washing was not significant. However, nitrogen outflow level tended to decrease after the third washing. SO₄^‐ and Cl^‐ did significantly decrease (P < 0.05) with the number of washings. In this study, it was considered that rice straw and washing water could be used repetitively three times. Furthermore, in order to maintain effluent standards, washing water from the first washing needs to be processed in a septic tank.