Isolation and identification of bovine Brucella isolates from Pakistan by biochemical tests and PCR

Brucellosis is endemic in bovines in Pakistan. The Brucella species and biovars involved, however, are unknown. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and characterize brucellae from seropositive milk samples, aborted fetuses, and vaginal swabs of cattle and buffaloes which had recently aborted. The seropositive milk samples, aborted fetuses, and vaginal swabs of cattle and buffaloes were collected from the Potohar Plateau, Pakistan. Isolation of brucellae was done on modified Farrell’s serum dextrose agar. Isolates were characterized by conventional biotyping methods, while molecular typing was done by genus (B4/B5) and species-specific (Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella suis) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 30 isolates were recovered from milk (n?=?5), aborted fetuses (n?=?13), and vaginal swabs (n?=?12). Most isolates were from cattle (56.7 %). All of them were identified as B. abortus biovar 1 based on conventional biotyping methods and genus and species-specific PCR. This preliminary study provides the first report on the prevalence of B. abortus biovar 1 in cattle and buffaloes in Pakistan.     

番茄产后灰霉病的病原鉴定及生物防治

为探索生物防治番茄产后灰霉病,采用柯赫氏法则从罹病的番茄果实上分离得到菌株FQ-2,基于形态学和rDNA-ITS序列,对该菌株进行病原鉴定,采用小麦内生菌解淀粉芽孢杆菌 B9601-Y2(Y2)和球花石斛内生菌贝莱斯芽孢杆菌DJB5(DJB5)对番茄灰霉病进行生物防治。FQ-2被鉴定为灰葡萄孢菌(Botrytis cinerea),且Y2和DJB5对番茄产后果实灰霉病均有较好的预防和治疗效果,Y2 1×10⁷ cfu/mL和DJB5 1×10⁸ cfu/mL悬浮剂在处理当天接种FQ-2,10天后的防效分别达88.10%和73.47%。在接种灰霉病菌当天再接种1×10⁸cfu/mL的Y2和1×10⁷ cfu/mL的DJB5,10天后灰霉病的防治效果分别达68.56%和78.74%。研究结果对番茄产后灰霉病的生物防治具有参考作用。     

Biomass partitioning and genetic analyses of salinity tolerance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Biomass partitioning was studied in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) inbred lines and their hybrids differing in salinity resistance. Differential biomass partitioning was observed among resistant and susceptible lines as well as within resistant lines, which were grown in large pots. Traits such as number of dead leaves and total number of nodes may be used as dominant markers for understanding the mechanism of resistance to salinity. Multi-location trials differing for salinity levels showed low and non-significant heritabilities across the environment for biochemical traits showing their sensitivity to the environment and a significant G X E interaction. Thus selection could only possible within the salinity level for these traits. Contrastingly, morphological traits such as number of nodes showed significant heritabilities (narrow or broad sense) across the environment. These traits may be exploited by the selection of inbred lines across or with salinity levels. Among various salinity levels, 12 dSm^?1 was found to be feasible for screening and selection as it promoted the additive type of gene action.     

Evaluation of state and community/private forests in Punjab,Pakistan using geospatial data and related techniques

Background: Forests are fundamental in maintaining water supplies, providing economic goods, mitigating climate change, and maintaining biodiversity, thus providing many of the world’s poorest with income, food and medicine.Too often, forested lands are treated as "wastelands" or "free" and are easily cleared for agricultural and infrastructure expansion.Methods: In this paper, the sustainability of two forest ecosystems(state and community/private owned) was evaluated using SPOT-5 satellite images of 2005 and 2011. This study was conducted in a sub-watershed area covering 468 km2, of which 201 km2 is managed by the state and 267 km2 by community/private ownership in the Murree Galliat region of Punjab Province of Pakistan. A participatory approach was adopted for the delineation and demarcation of forest boundaries. The Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis(GEOBIA) technique was used for identification and mapping of ten Land Cover(LC) features.Results: The results show that between the years 2005 to 2011, a total of 55 km2(24 km2 in state-owned forest and 31km2 in community/private forest) was converted from forest to non-forest. The conclusion is that conservation is more effective in state-owned forests than in the community/private forests.Conclusions: These findings may help to mobilize community awareness and identify effective initiatives for improved management of community/private forest land for other regions of Pakistan.     

Structure of a V3-containing HIV-1 gp120 core

The third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein is immunodominant and contains features essential for coreceptor binding. We determined the structure of V3 in the context of an HIV-1 gp120 core complexed to the CD4 receptor and to the X5 antibody at 3.5 angstrom resolution. Binding of gp120 to cell-surface CD4 would position V3 so that its coreceptor-binding tip protrudes 30 angstroms from the core toward the target cell membrane. The extended nature and antibody accessibility of V3 explain its immunodominance. Together, the results provide a structural rationale for the role of V3 in HIV entry and neutralization.     

灌溉模式与种植方式对河西地区青贮玉米生长、产量和经济效益的影响

为探究灌溉模式与种植方式对青贮玉米（Zea mays L.）生长、产量和经济效益的影响,本研究在河西地区设置3个种植方式（S：青贮玉米单播;SM：青贮玉米与秣食豆（Glycine max L.Merr）混播;SL：青贮玉米与拉巴豆（Lablab purpureus L.Sweet）混播）和6种灌溉模式（W1：6叶期灌溉;W2：6叶期和12叶期灌溉;W3：6叶期和散粉期灌溉;W4：6叶期、12叶期和散粉期灌溉;W5：6叶期、散粉期和灌浆期灌溉;W6：6叶期、12叶期、散粉期和灌浆期灌溉）进行田间试验。结果表明：SM、SL和S种植下玉米的株高、茎粗和相叶绿素含量差异不显著,但SM和SL较S显著提高了叶面积指数;SM和SL的鲜干草产量和净收益显著高于S;在灌浆期和收获期,W5和W6的株高、茎粗、相对叶绿素含量和叶面积指数显著高于W1;W5、W6的鲜干草产量和净收益显著高于W1,W2和W3。所有处理中,SM-W5获得了最高的干草产量和净收益,是河西地区青贮玉米适宜的栽培模式。     

施氮和利用方式对黄土高原禾豆混播草地产量、品质和水分利用的影响

本研究设置紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.,A）、无芒雀麦（Bromus inermis L.,B）单播及两者混播（AB）3种草地类型,每种类型下设3个施氮水平（N1：0 kg·hm^-2;N2：80 kg·hm^-2;N3：160 kg·hm^-2）和2种利用方式（G：放牧;M：刈割）,以探究施氮与利用方式对栽培草地产量、品质和水分利用的影响。结果表明：AB处理的粗蛋白和鲜干草产量及水分利用效率（Water use efficiency,WUE）显著高于A和B;A和AB处理与B相比,显著提高粗蛋白、粗脂肪和粗灰分含量,显著降低中性洗涤纤维（Neutral detergent fiber,NDF）含量,进而提高相对饲用价值（Relative feeding value,RFV）;N3处理的粗蛋白含量和鲜干草产量及WUE显著高于N1和N2,且N3处理与N1相比,显著提高牧草粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗灰分含量和相对饲用价值,降低NDF和酸性洗涤纤维（Acid detergent fiber,ADF）含量;放牧下的粗蛋白和鲜干草产量及WUE显著高于刈割。因此,紫花苜蓿和无芒雀麦混播草地进行放牧且施氮160 kg·hm^-2是一种适宜黄土高原栽培草地的管理措施。     

Nutrients intake,digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance of sheep fed different silages with or without concentrate

The experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and millet (Pennisetum americannum) silages with or without concentrate on nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain in Sipli sheep. Six experimental diets were formulated having 100% maize silage (MS), maize silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MSC), 100% sorghum silage (SS), sorghum silage and concentrate as 50:50 (SSC), 100% millet silage (MiS) and millet silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MiSC), respectively. For this purpose, 24 Sipli lambs were randomly allotted to six experimental diets in a completely randomized design for 90 days, four lambs per diet. The results indicated that among various silage diets, lambs fed MS diet consumed higher dry matter (DM) than those fed SS and MiS diets. Likewise, lambs offered MSC had higher dry matter intake than those fed SSC and MiSC diets. Crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) consumed by the lambs also followed the similar trend. Higher DM, CP and NDF digestibilities were also observed in lambs fed MS and MSC diets than those fed SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. Overall digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were higher in experimental diets containing silage with concentrate. Lambs fed MS diet had 2.79 g/day and 4.45 g/day higher N retention than those fed SS and MiS, respectively. Similarly, lambs fed MSC diet had 2.24 g/day and 5.12 g/day higher N retention than those fed SSC and MiSC diets, respectively. The results showed that lambs fed MSC gained more daily weight gain had better feed conversion ratio than those fed MS, SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. The findings of the present study indicated that lambs fed MSC diet had higher nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain.     

Organic and inorganic fertilization influenced on yield and quality of sugar beet genotypes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality of sugar beet genotypes (Beta vulgaris L.). Therefore a field trial was carried out at New Developmental Farm of The University Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during winter 2012–13. The field experiment was layout in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Fertilizers treatments (control, higo organic plus (composted manure, it contains N 2%, P 3%, K 3%, organic matter 40%, organic carbon 11%, Zn 145 mg kg^–1, Cu 56 mg kg^–1, Fe 380 mg kg^–1 and Mg 228 mg kg^–1), maxicrop sea gold (extract of sea weeds i.e., Sargasssum, Laminara Polysaccharide and Ascophyllum Nodosum), farm yard manure, NP (90: 60 kg ha^–1), NP (120: 90 kg ha^–1) and NP (150: 120 kg ha^–1) were allotted to main plots while genotypes (Sandrina, Serenada and Kawe Terma) to the sub plots. Farm yard manure (10 t ha^–1) and higo organic Plus (5 t ha^–1) was incorporated in the soil before seed bed preparation. Maxicrop sea gold (5 lit ha^–1) was sprayed after the emergence of the crop. All phosphorus was applied @ of 60, 90 and 120 kg ha^–1 at the time of sowing while nitrogen @ of 90, 120 and 150 kg ha^–1 in two splits/3 of the dose was applied at the time of sowing while the remaing 1/3 of the dose was applied before earthen up. Plots treated with application of NP ratio 120: 90 kg ha^–1 produced maximum beet yield (76.4 t ha^–1), sugar yield (11.1 t ha^–1), Pol (polarizable sugar) percentage (14.67%) and more economic return (Rs.234 Thousand ha^–1) as compared to control plots. Sugar beet genotype Serenada had significantly produced maximum beet yield (55.5 t ha^–1), sugar yield (7.9 t ha^–1), pol (polarizable sugar) percentage (14.60%), brix percentage (14.60%) and more economic return (158) as compared to other genotypes. It was concluded from the above results that sugar beet genotype Serenada treated with NP ratio 120: 90 kg ha^–1 for improved sugar beet productivity and quality therefore it is recommended for general practice in agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar valley.     

Choice of nitrogen fertilizer affects grain yield and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of wheat cultivars

Abstract

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is low in cereals especially in wheat. Different wheat cultivars may vary in NUE due to inherited biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) potential. In this study, three wheat cultivars (Punjab-2011, ARRI-2011 and Millat-2011) were fertilized at the rate of 140?kg ha^?1 with three N sources [nitrophos (NP), urea and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN)]. The soil nitrate (NO₃^?)-N contents were significantly enhanced coupled with simultaneous decrease in ammonium (NH₄⁺)-N contents in the rhizosphere of cultivar Punjab-2011, fertilized with NP; however, cultivar Millat-2011 receiving urea behaved in contrast. Wheat cultivar Punjab-2011 fertilized with NP had the highest grain yield and agronomic NUE than other treatments due to significant increase in chlorophyl contents, allometric and yield parameters. The highest net benefit was recorded from the cultivar Punjab-2011 fertilized with CAN. In conclusion, use of NP in Punjab-2011 enhanced the grain yield and agronomic NUE.