Co‐infection by Botryosphaeriaceae and Ilyonectria spp. fungi during propagation causes decline of young grafted grapevines

Decline of newly planted, grafted grapevines is a serious viticultural problem worldwide. In the Riverina (New South Wales, Australia), characteristic symptoms include low fruit yields, very short shoots and severely stunted roots with black, sunken, necrotic lesions. To determine the cause, roots and wood tissue from affected plants in 20 vineyards (Vitis vinifera cv. Chardonnay grafted to V. champini cv. Ramsey rootstock) were assayed for microbial pathogens. Ilyonectria spp. (I. macrodidyma or I. liriodendra, producers of phytotoxin brefeldin A, BFA, and cause of black foot disease of grapevines) and Botryosphaeriaceae spp. (predominantly Diplodia seriata) were isolated from rootstocks of 100 and 95% of the plants, respectively. Togninia minima and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (cause of grapevine Petri disease) were isolated from 13 and 7% of affected plants, respectively. All Ramsey rootstock stems of grafted plants sampled from a supplier nursery were infected with Ilyonectria spp. and D. seriata. Diplodia seriata, but not Ilyonectria spp., was also isolated from 25% of canes sampled from the rootstock source block. Root inoculation of potted, disease‐free Chardonnay plants with Ilyonectria isolates from diseased vineyards caused typical disease symptoms, while co‐inoculation with Botryosphaeriaceae spp. increased disease severity. This is the first study to show that a major cause of young grapevine decline can be sequential infection by Botryosphaeriaceae from rootstock cuttings and Ilyonectria spp. from nursery soil. Although the Petri disease fungi were less common in young declining grafted grapevines in the Riverina, they are likely to contribute to the decline of surviving plants as they mature.     

昆明烟区土壤速效养分及中微量元素丰缺状况分析

【目的】探讨昆明烟区土壤速效养分和中微量营养元素的丰缺状况及区域特征,为区域平衡施肥提供参考。【方法】于2012年采集昆明市8个县(市)主产烟区有代表性的土壤样品858份,测定其土壤速效养分和有效中微量营养元素含量,对其丰缺状况及区域分布特征进行评价与分析。【结果】1)昆明部分烟区土壤速效氮含量处于低水平的县(市)占12.5%,中等或丰富水平的占87.5%,速效磷和速效钾基本处于中等或丰富水平,表明昆明市50%以上烟区进行速效养分管理时应采取"提氮、稳磷、稳钾"的施肥策略。2)昆明烟区土壤交换性钙、交换性镁含量均处于丰富水平,有效硫含量处于临界值以下及低水平的县(市)分别占12.5%和25%,处于中等水平的占62.5%,说明有效硫含量整体适宜性稍差,在施肥管理时应采取"降Ca、稳Mg、提S"的措施。3)昆明烟区有效锰、有效锌含量基本处于中等或丰富水平,有效铜和有效铁含量均处于丰富水平,有效硼含量处于低水平,对各县(市)烟区微量元素肥进行管理时,需适量补充硼肥,稳定其他微量营养元素肥。【结论】昆明烟区土壤速效养分及中微量元素含量及分布均存在差异,故在烤烟生产平衡施肥过程中,应针对不同烟区的土壤养分特征实行分类指导。     

Lentivirus-mediated calcitonin gene-related peptide transfection enhances endothelial differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To study the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) gene transfection mediated by lentivirus on the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to endothelial cells. METHODS：Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation combined with adherence method. Recombinant lentivirus vector carrying CGRP gene (Lenti-CGRP) was transfected into the MSCs. The secretion of CGRP in culture supernatants of the transfected MSCs was detected using ELISA method. The cells at passage 3 were divided into three groups: CGRP group (MSCs transfected with Lenti-CGRP), CGRP+CGRP8-37 (an antagonist of CGRP receptor) group and control group (MSCs transfected with PBS). The differentiation of the MSCs was detected by immunocytochemical staining for CD31 and factor Ⅷ-related antigen. The proliferation of the cells was measured by cell counting, and the angiogenic ability of the cells was analyzed using Matrigel assay. RESULTS：The proportion of CD31-and factor Ⅷ-related antigen-positive cells in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups was larger than that in control group (P<0.05). The numbers of the cells in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups were significantly increased compared with control group (P<0.05). Lumen-like structures were observed in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups. The above indexes in CGRP+CGRP8-37 group were reduced compared with CGRP group. CONCLUSION: Transfection with CGRP gene induces rat bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into endothelial cells and enhances their proliferation, suggesting that CGRP may play a role in the regulation of angiogenesis.     

Comparison of changes in sugars and ethylene production of cherimoya fruit grown at different seasons

Summary

Changes in fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS), sugar content and postharvest ethylene production during fruit development were compared on fruit of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill., cv. Big Sister) pollinated at different times (early, at the beginning of April, 1995 and late, at the end of May, 1994). Fruit weight increased by growth, independently of pollination times. Changes in TSS and sugar content were strongly affected by pollination time. In late pollinated fruits, both TSS and sugar content increased during the growth period, 110–160 d after pollination, while neither increased with fruit growth in early pollinated fruit. Moreover, changes in TSS and sugar content after ripening depended not only on pollination time but also on the growth period. With late pollination, fruit harvested after 140 d became edible after ripening. The TSS and total sugar contents, (the sum of fructose, glucose and sucrose contents) increased to about 20° Brix and above 16%, respectively. But early pollinated fruits were not edible after ripening, since total sugar content increased only to about 7%, even though they kept growing for 160 d on the tree. The maximum rate of ethylene production declined and the number of days to the ethylene peak from harvest is also reduced with growth in both cases. These changes were closely correlated with days after pollination (r>0.9) regardless of pollination time. Comparisons of accumulated temperature suggest that temperature at pollination time and during the resting period of growth affected fruit development. These results indicate that neither fruit weight nor number of days after pollination is a suitable index for harvesting time.     

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Leaf Powder: Novel Adsorbent for Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution

Batch sorption experiments were carried out to investigate the potentiality of papaya leaf powder (PLP) for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as adsorbent dose, initial solution concentration, contact time, and solution pH were also studied. The amount of dye adsorbed was found to increase with increase in initial dye concentrations. Papaya leaf adsorbs MB better in basic medium. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted well in the Langmuir isotherm equation with a monolayer sorption capacity of 512.55?mg?g^?1. The kinetics of MB adsorption onto papaya leaf was examined using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order and unified approach kinetic models. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model, but the rate constant was found to depend on initial dye concentration. The unified approach model described the equilibrium and kinetics well. The forward and backward rate constants were determined from the unified approach model.     

Organoclays reduce arsenic bioavailability and bioaccessibility in contaminated soils

Purpose  

Naturally occurring layer silicate clay minerals can be value added by modifying their surface properties to enhance their efficacy in the remediation of environmental contaminants. Silicate clay minerals modified by the introduction of organic molecules into the mineral structure are known as organoclays and show much promise for environmental remediation applications. The present study assesses the extent of decrease in bioavailable and bioaccessible arsenic (As) via enhanced adsorption by soil treated with organoclays.     

Evaluation of the antigen relatedness and efficacy of a single vaccination with different infectious bronchitis virus strains against a challenge with Malaysian variant and QX-like IBV strains

BackgroundThe predominant infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains detected in chickens in Malaysia are the Malaysian variant (MV) and QX-like, which are associated with respiratory distress, nephropathy, and high mortality. On the other hand, the antigenic relatedness and efficacy of IBV vaccines against these 2 field IBV strains are not well characterized.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the antigen relatedness and efficacy of different IB vaccine strains against a challenge with MV and QX-like strains.MethodsThe antigen relatedness and the ability of different IB vaccine strains in conferring protection against MV and QX-like were assessed based on the clinical signs, macroscopic lesions, and ciliary activity.ResultsThe MV strain IBS037A/2014 showed minor antigenic subtype differences with the vaccine virus Mass H120 and 4/91 strains but showed major antigenic subtype differences with the K2 strain. The Malaysian QX-like strain IBS130/2015 showed major antigenic subtype differences with the MV strain IBS037A/2014 and the vaccine strains except for K2. Chickens vaccinated once with Mass (H120) or with non-Mass (4/91 and K2) developed antibody responses with the highest antibody titer detected in the groups vaccinated with H120 and 4/91. The mean ciliary activities of the vaccinated chickens were between 56 to 59% and 48 to 52% in chickens challenged with IBS037A/2014 and IBS130/2015, respectively. The vaccinated and challenged birds showed mild to severe lesions in the lungs and kidneys.ConclusionsDespite the minor antigenic subtype differences, a single inoculation with Mass or non-Mass vaccines could not protect against the MV IBS037A/2014 and QX-like IBS130/2015.     

杜蒙杂交母羊的繁殖规律研究

旨在研究杜蒙杂交母羊的繁殖规律。对内蒙古自治区乌兰察布市四子王旗范围内养殖的杜蒙杂交母羊（n=668）的首次发情时间、妊娠期、产羔率、产双羔率等指标数据进行整理;采用公羊试情方法,观察并记录杜蒙杂交母羊（n=302）的发情周期和发情持续时间。对上述指标数据进行分析,探究该地区杜蒙杂交母羊的繁殖规律。结果表明：杜蒙杂交母羊平均首次发情时间为8.5月龄（最早7.0月龄、最晚10.7月龄）,平均发情周期为16.0 d（最短13.5 d、最长18.5 d）,平均发情持续时间为24.0 h（最短20.0 h、最长27.5 h）,平均妊娠期为146.0 d（最短143.0 d、最长149.0 d）,产羔率为119.7%,产双羔率为19.7%。研究结果为掌握杜蒙杂交母羊自然发情规律,以及准确把握最佳配种时间提供了依据。     

植物小肽替代鱼粉对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻率及肠道发育的影响

试验旨在研究植物小肽对断奶仔猪生长性能、腹泻率及肠道发育的影响。选择体重为9.56 kg左右的35日龄健康杜长大三元杂种断奶仔猪120头,按照体重相似的原则随机分为2个处理,每个处理设6个重复,每个重复10头仔猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(含2.5%鱼粉),试验组添加2%植物小肽(替代基础饲粮中2.5%鱼粉)。试验期28 d。结果表明,植物小肽组仔猪日增重和日采食量分别比对照组提高5.88%(P<0.05)和2.67%(P<0.05),料重比显著降低2.74%(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,植物小肽组仔猪十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度显著提高(P<0.05),十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05),十二指肠和空肠的绒腺比(V/C)也显著提高(P<0.05)。综合来看,断奶仔猪饲粮中2%植物小肽替代2.5%鱼粉促进了仔猪肠道发育,提高了生长性能。     

Production analysis of broiler farming in central Punjab,Pakistan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study examined the analysis of personal and production performance of broiler farming in 10 cities of central Punjab (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara,...