Optimizing phosphorus use in sustainable maize cropping via mycorrhizal inoculation

More details have yet to be indicated on the interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and phosphorus (P) chemical fertilization under field conditions. Accordingly, the objectives were to: (1) evaluate the combined effects of mycorrhizal fungi and chemical P fertilization on maize yield, yield components, and nutrient uptake and (2) indicate the optimum rate of P chemical fertilization (P₁, P₂, P₃) with the use of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices and G. mosseae). A factorial experiment using randomized complete blocks with three replicates, conducted at the Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz branch, Iran. Results indicated the significant effect of P, AM fungi, and their interaction on most of the measured traits. Grain yield (7909.3 kg/ha), maize nutrient content of P (0.39%), zinc (Zn) (42.1 mg/kg), iron (Fe) (68.3 mg/kg), and the colonization rate (47.5%) were all the highest by the interaction of G intraradices × P₂.     

Lower soil nitrous oxide emissions by a high lipid genetically modified perennial ryegrass line compared to its wild type

We describe an experiment where cattle urine was applied at a rate of 420 kg N ha⁻¹, equivalent to 10 L m⁻², to mesocosm swards of a high lipid genetically modified perennial ryegrass line (HME) and its wild type (WT). We measured N pools and fluxes in the plant and soil, soil microbial populations and N₂O production. HME plants produced 21% greater biomass than WT (p = .02), resulting in greater N uptake (27% higher in HME, p = .05). Urine N recovery in total plant biomass during the experiment in HME and WT swards were 54.7% and 33.9% respectively. The nitrification potential of soil was significantly lower (p = .01) in HME than WT. Partial least square-discriminant analysis using microbial gene abundance data indicated that HME and WT plant growth induced distinct microbial populations in the soil. These differences in plant soil microbial interactions between HME and WT swards resulted in significantly lower N₂O emissions from the HME sward. Total N₂O emissions over the 4 weeks after urine application was 38% lower (p < .03) in HME swards than in WT swards. The next step in this work is to identify the specific changes in HME traits that drive the reduction in N₂O.     

Computer-Assisted Real-Time Rice Variety Learning Using Deep Learning Network

Due to the inconsistency of rice variety, agricultural industry faces an important challenge of rice grading and classification by the traditional grading system. The existing grading system is manual, which introduces stress and strain to humans due to visual inspection. Automated rice grading system development has been proposed as a promising research area in computer vision. In this study, an accurate deep learning-based non-contact and cost-effective rice grading system was developed by rice appearance and characteristics. The proposed system provided real-time processing by using a NI-myRIO with a high-resolution camera and user interface. We firstly trained the network by a rice public dataset to extract rice discriminative features. Secondly, by using transfer learning, the pre-trained network was used to locate the region by extracting a feature map. The proposed deep learning model was tested using two public standard datasets and a prototype real-time scanning system. Using AlexNet architecture, we obtained an average accuracy of 98.2% with 97.6% sensitivity and 96.4% specificity. To validate the real-time performance of proposed rice grading classification system, various performance indices were calculated and compared with the existing classifier. Both simulation and real-time experiment evaluations confirmed the robustness and reliability of the proposed rice grading system.     

Genetic correlations between growth and reproductive traits in Zandi sheep

For the first time, the current study reports the genetic and phenotypic correlations between growth and reproductive traits in Zandi sheep. The data were comprised of 4,309 records of lamb growth traits from 1,378 dams and 273 sires plus 2,588 records of reproductive traits from 577 ewes. These data were extracted from available performance records at Khojir Breeding Station of Zandi sheep in Tehran, Iran, from 1993 to 2008. Correlations were estimated from two animal models in a bivariate analysis using restricted maximum likelihood procedure between lamb growth traits [birth weight (BW), weaning weight at 3 months of age (WW), as well as six-month weight (6 MW)] and ewe reproductive traits [litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB), and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW)]. The genetic correlations between BW and reproductive traits varied from low to high ranges from 0.10 for BW–LSB to 0.86 for BW–TLWB. WW was moderately (0.37) to highly (0.96) correlated with all the reproductive traits. Moreover, the genetic correlations were observed between 6 MW and reproductive traits, varied from 0.19 to 0.95. Relationships between growth and reproductive traits ranged from 0.01 for BW–LSW to 0.28 for BW–TLWB in phenotypic effects. Results indicated that selection to improve WW would have high effect on genetic response in TLWW, and also, these results could be effective for all of the reproductive traits in Zandi sheep.     

Insect pest management agents: hormonogen esters (juvenogens)

The chemical part of this investigation focused on designing structures and synthesizing a series of six new esters (juvenogens), derived from biologically active insect juvenile hormone bioanalogues (juvenoids, JHAs) and unsaturated short-chain linear and branched fatty acids for possible application as biochemically targeted insect hormonogen agents. The structures of the new compounds were assigned on the basis of a detailed NMR analysis of their (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra. The biological part of this investigation focused on introductory biological screening tests with these compounds against the red firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus), termites (Reticulitermes santonensis and Prorhinotermes simplex), and the blowfly (Neobellieria bullata). The biological activity of the juvenogens was studied in relation to the fatty acid functionality in the structures. Notable biological activity in topical tests and medium activity in peroral tests was found for the juvenogens 3 and 7 with P. apterus. The compounds 6 and 8 showed the lowest activity in both topical and oral assays with P. apterus. Considerable effect of all tested juvenogens was observed in P. simplex; however, the juvenogens 5 and 6 (derivatives of the only branched short-chain fatty acid) showed no activity against R. santonensis. The effect of the compounds 3-8 on larval hatching of N. bullata was only moderate (larval hatching 80-90%); however, the proliferation effect caused by 5, 6, and 8 is more pronounced than the effect caused by 3, 4, and 7.     

Early detection of maedi-visna (ovine progressive pneumonia) virus seroconversion in field sheep samples.

The aim of this work was to investigate whether an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was useful for early detection of maedi-visna virus (MVV) infection in sheep under field conditions. An ELISA based on p25 recombinant protein and a gp46 synthetic peptide was used. Sequentially obtained serum samples (n = 1,941) were studied for 4 years. ELISA results were compared with those of the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test, and results of both tests were compared with a reference result established using consensus scores for at least 2 of 3 serologic techniques (AGID, ELISA, and western blotting, which was used to resolve result discrepancies between the other 2 techniques). A total of 247 discrepancies were observed between ELISA and AGID. Of these, 131 were due to an earlier detection of 120 sera by the ELISA and 11 sera by AGID. The remaining discrepancies (116) were due to the presence of false reactions in both tests. Fewer false-negative results were found by ELISA than with AGID (6 vs. 69 sera, respectively), whereas the number of false-positive results was virtually the same for ELISA and AGID (21 vs. 20, respectively). In relation to the reference result, ELISA sensitivity and specificity were 97.8% and 98.2%, respectively, whereas values for AGID were 76.3% and 98.3%, respectively. The agreement between ELISA and the reference result was higher than that between AGID and the reference result (K value: 0.96 and 0.77, respectively). A variation in the ELISA signal (based on optical density) was observed during the study period, suggesting different antibody levels throughout the animal's life. The ELISA was useful for detecting MVV-infected sheep in field conditions and has potential for use in control and eradication programs.     

Periparturition alterations to liver ultrasonographic echo-texture and fat mobilization parameters in clinically healthy Holstein cows

The objective of present study was to record the sequential alterations in liver echo-texture through digital analyzing of the B-mode ultrasonography in three groups of under-conditioned (UC), moderate-conditioned (MC), and over-conditioned (OC) clinically healthy Holstein cows from 30 days to calving until 30 days in milk. Furthermore, to compare their changes in association with the changes of fat mobilization parameters of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), betahydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and body condition score (BCS). Although the cows lost significant (P < 0.05) BCS from calving and the NEFA values showed an increasing trend near calving and the BHBA values significantly inclined postparturition, the mean grey scale histogram (MGSH) of liver images did not reveal significant fluctuations unless a significant decrease on calving day (P < 0.05). The MGSH drop was predicted to be the result of anatomical changes in abdominal cavity, related to delivery and liver’s blood flow. OC cows had higher NEFA on day +20 than UC and MC cows (P < 0.05). UC cows showed higher MGSH values on day −30 than MC cows and again on day −10 comparing to MC and OC cows (P < 0.05). MGSH values correlated with BCS values (r _UC = −0.186; r _MC = −0.283; r _OC = −0.158). It was concluded that the studied cows did not show significant alterations in textural changes in their liver ultrasound whilst going through fat mobilization. As quantitative ultrasonography has shown the potential to detect cases of fatty liver, it could gain the attention to become a feasible device for liver health monitoring on a herd basis.     

High frequency of virus-infected bacterial cells in a sheep grazed pasture soil in New Zealand

Viruses cause significant mortality of microbes in aquatic environments and thus play a major role in biogeochemical cycling. While viruses are known to be present in soil, the rate of infection of bacteria, and therefore the potential for mortality and lysis, are unknown. In this study we measured the frequency of viral infected of bacterial cells in soils from a New Zealand sheep grazed pasture under ambient or elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at the New Zealand Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment facility (NZ-FACE). Averaged across the CO₂ treatments, the frequency of visibly infected cells (FVIC) was 23%. This is far greater than the reported FVIC values for marine or fresh water environments. The average FVIC of soils under ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ conditions was 28% and 18% respectively. These results are discussed in relation to nutrient cycling in grazed pastures.     

高寒草甸8种植物种子内生细菌和真菌群落的多样性

种子是微生物从母本植物到子代植物的传播介质,将有益微生物代代相传。种子传播的微生物存在于植物不同部位,为寄主植物提供了一系列的益处。以往种子微生物研究主要集中于农作物,鲜有关于草地植物的研究。本研究利用Illumina-Miseq DNA测序技术,对青藏高原高山草甸8种优势植物的种子微生物群进行多样性分析。结果表明:8种草地植物的种子中有多种细菌和真菌(115个细菌属和135个真菌属),且细菌和真菌群落均存在显著差异(P<0.05)。8种草地植物的优势种细菌门和真菌门分别为Proteobacteria和Ascomycota。在8种草地植物的种子中均发现了细菌属Pseudomonas、Pantoea和Ochrobactrum及真菌属Botrytis、Bullera和Didymella。另外,在8种草地植物的种子中有其独特的细菌和真菌属。本研究表明,植物的个体特征是塑造种子微生物群落的重要因素,同时还发现了一些有利于寄主植物生长且可用于未来种子微生物组调控的微生物。