Natural variation in fruit characteristics,seed germination and seedling growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Adansonia digitata</Emphasis> L. in Benin

Adansonia digitata (baobab tree), a multipurpose tree species, occurs throughout semi-arid and arid zones of Africa. Its survival is, however, threatened by bush fire, over-exploitation, grazing and a lack of natural regeneration. The extent of variation in fruit characteristics, seed germination and seedling traits of the baobab tree in Benin, was evaluated at climatic zone level. 1,200 fruits were sampled in each of the three climatic zones of Benin for morphological assessment and to assess germination rate and seedling growth dynamics according to the climatic zones, the used substrate and the scarification of the seed coat. There were significant differences in fruit characteristics not only between climatic zones but also between individuals from the same zone and within-trees. Using mechanical scarification on freshly-collected baobab seeds negatively affected the germination rate of baobab seeds sampled in the Guinean and Sudano-Guinean zones of Benin. The best-germination rate was recorded for non-treated seeds from the Guinean zone, up to 57% on day 25. All seeds germinated best on the sand substrate, but supplying organic matter promoted further seedling growth after 11 days of germination. Based on these observations we propose some strategies for efficient ex situ conservation of baobab in Benin.     

Comparison of serological tests for antibodies against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus using ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay, a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the hemagglutination-inhibition assay

COMBSCORES determined using the ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay were compared with hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titers specific for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and with mean enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers determined using Agritech Systems, Inc., ELISA. COMBSCORES for NDV and IBV increased proportionately in a stepwise manner as HI titers increased. The ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay was ablt to produce endpoint titers on sera with NDV-HI titers of 0 through 320 and IBV-HI titers of 0 through 1024 without reaching the maximum S-value. The ImmunoComb showed good correlation with the HI assay and the Agritech ELISA and should prove to be a useful tool for serological profiling, either alone or in conjunction with the HI test or commercial ELISA.     

Regional variability in landscape effects on forest bird communities

Landscape Ecology - Functional responses to landscape heterogeneity are context-dependent, hampering the transferability of landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Japan provides a unique...     

Seasonal Biomass Accumulation and Nutrient Uptake of Pea and Lentil on a Black Chernozem Soil in Saskatchewan

ABSTRACT

Close relationships usually exist among biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake, and seed yield during the growing season. Field experiments with pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens cultinaris L.) were conducted in 1998 and 1999 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine relationships of biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake with days after emergence (DAE) or growing degree days (GDD). For both biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake, maximum rates and amounts increased with time at early growth stages and reached a maximum value at late growth stages. The R² values for cubic polynomial regressions were highly significant, indicating their suitability to estimate the progression of biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake as a function of days after emergence (DAE). Both pulse crops followed a similar pattern in biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake, which increased in the early growth stages and reached a maximum late in the growth cycle. Pulse crops usually reached their maximum biomass accumulation rate and amount at early to late bud formation (42–56 DAE or 390–577 GDD) and at medium pod formation to early seed filling (75–82 DAE or 848–858 GDD) growth stages, respectively. Maximum biomass accumulation rate was 175–215 kg ha^{? 1}d^?1 for pea and 109–140 kg ha^{? 1}d^{? 1} for lentil. Maximum nutrient uptake rate and amount usually occurred at branching to early bud formation (28–49 DAE or 206–498 GDD) and at the flowering to seed filling (66–85 DAE or 672–986 GDD) growth stages, respectively. Maximum uptake rate of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S), respectively, was 4.6–4.9, 0.4–0.5, 5.0–5.3 and 0.3 kg ha^{? 1}d^{? 1} for pea, and 2.4–3.8, 0.2–0.3, 2.0–3.4 and 0.2 kg ha^{? 1}d^{? 1} for lentil. In general, maximum nutrient uptake rate and amount occurred earlier than maximum biomass accumulation rate and amount, respectively; and the maximum accumulation rates of both biomass and nutrients occurred earlier than maximum amounts. The findings suggest that adequate supply of nutrients from soil and fertilizers at early growth stages, and translocation of biomass and nutrients to seed at later growth stages are of great importance for high seed yield of pulse crops.     

Maternally Inherited Sex Ratio in the Parasitoid Wasp Nasonia vitripennis

Facultative control of the sex ratio has been reported in the wasp Nasonia vitripennis. In a newly wild-eaught strain, females produced few or no male offspring and did not show the usual alterations of sex ratio in response to external conditions. The aberrant trait is inherited through females.     

Can water disinfection prevent the transmission of infectious koi herpesvirus to naïve carp? – a case report

Hygienic measures such as disinfection are important tools for the maintenance of fish health in aquaculture. While little information is available on the disinfection of water intended for fish containment, Huwa‐San^®, a disinfectant used in food and water industries, was used for daily treatment at concentrations of approximately 60 ppm over a total period of 3 months (experiment 1) with a 3‐week treatment‐free interval after 2 months (experiment 2). During this period, koi herpesvirus (KHV) was added to the water of two aquaria, one used as a normal contact control, the other one receiving daily water disinfectant treatments that prevented KHV infection of carp. In the second experiment, Huwa‐San^® treatment was interrupted and KHV infection was prevalent. However, when naïve fish were introduced to the same aquarium after re‐application of disinfectant, KHV could not be detected in those naïve fish. Whilst KHV could not be detected in samples where disinfectant had been applied, it was present in samples of naïve fish cohabiting with infection contact control animals which had undergone no disinfectant treatment over experiments 1 and 2. The results presented here show that water treatment with a disinfectant may prevent transmission of infectious KHV to naïve carp cohabited with infected carp.     

Lymphoid neoplasia in the koala

Objective Correlation of immunophenotype with history, anatomical and morphological features of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala.
Methods Routine necropsies were performed on 51 koalas with suspected lymphoid neoplasia between 1986 and 1997 in New South Wales and Queensland. Immuno-phenotyping was by an immunoperoxidase method utilising species cross-reactive antibodies raised against human lymphocytes and an antibody raised against koala IgG. Cases were classified according to organs and tissues affected and the morphological features of neoplastic cells.
Results Twenty-six (51%) of the cases were of the T cell immunophenotype, 12 (24%) were of B cell immunopheno-type and 13 (25%) did not stain. The age and sex of koalas did not correlate with immunophenotype (P = 0.686 and P = 1.000, respectively). Thirty-two cases were leukaemic and 36 had multiple organ involvement, probably reflecting presenta tion of koalas at advanced stages of disease. Abdominal tissue involvement was most common (44 cases), followed by nodal (32), atypical (21) and cervicomediastinal (14). The T cell immunophenotype was over-represented among the leukaemic cases (P = 0.013). Generally, the T cell immunophenotype predominated except for many affected atypical tissues. Neoplastic cells were mostly of medium nuclear size with round to oval nuclei. No correlations were found for cell morphology, mitotic index and immunopheno-type.
Conclusion The prognostic value of an immunopheno-typic, anatomical and morphological basis for the classifica tion of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala currently is limited by the need to detect these neoplasms at an early age, the requirement for freshly fixed tissues and the restricted range of available cross-reacting antibodies.     

The spoilage flora and shelf‐life of duck carcasses stored at 2 or ‐ 1°c in oxygen‐permeable or oxygen‐impermeable film

1. A comparison was made of” oven ready “ duck carcasses stored at 2 or — 1 °C and wrapped in either a low‐density oxygen‐permeable polyethylene film or a heat‐shrunk oxygen‐impermeable film.

2. At spoilage the main organisms at 2 and — 1 °C on the carcasses wrapped in the oxygen‐permeable film were pseudomonads, producing unacceptable “off odours” when their numbers were >10⁸/cm². This occurred in about 10 d at 2 °C but in about 19 d at ‐ 1° C.

3. The effect of wrapping in the heat‐shrunk oxygen‐impermeable film was to delay or inhibit the growth of pseudomonads and thus extend the shelf‐life by more than 50% at either temperature. The predominant organisms isolated from the spoiling carcasses were atypical lactobacilli and enterobacteria.

4. Sensory assessment of the carcasses stored at — 1 °C by a trained panel indicated that, although less obvious “ off odours “ were produced by the micro‐organisms growing on the carcasses wrapped in the impermeable film, differences were detected at 33 d when the numbers of bacteria reached about 10⁷/cm² whilst at 41 d the meat was described as rancid.