Comparison of External and Internal Pelvic Measurements of Belgian Blue Cattle from Sample Herds in Belgium and the United Kingdom

Measurements describing pelvic conformation of pedigree Belgian Blue cows were obtained from a sample of nine herds in Flanders, Belgium, comprising 111 adult breeding cows, and from 11 herds in the United Kingdom comprising 108 similar cows. All herds in the Belgian sample (111 cows) managed parturition by elective caesarian section as did seven herds (56 cows) in the UK sample; the remainder of UK herds (52 cows) allowed cows the opportunity to calve naturally per vagina before resorting to caesarian section. The data described the external and internal measurements, and pelvic area characteristic of this breed, irrespective of the different selection pressures applied over a number of years to this breed through variation in farm management and market forces present in either country. From these data, generalized linear models were constructed to predict pelvic area; they correctly identified cows with either small or large pelvic areas. There were no significant differences in pelvic conformation between cattle bred either in Belgium or the UK, although those cows bred in herds where natural calving was allowed to take place had significantly larger internal pelvic height (p < 0.05) and area (p < 0.05) than other Belgian Blue cows. The correlation coefficients between internal pelvic height and width and external pelvic measurements were significant (p < 0.001). These results might facilitate the selection of breeding cows with larger pelvic area so that a higher proportion of cows can calve naturally than currently occurs. However, selection for other traits such as relatively low birth weight combined with higher weaning weight should be carried out at the same time.     

Genetic screening of FecB,FecXG and FecXI mutations and their linkage with litter size in Barki and Rahmani sheep breeds

Characterization of fecundity genes offers the opportunity to improve production efficiency, and the consequent increase in litter size in livestock industry, through utilizing them in breeding programs. The main objective of this study was to detect the BMPR‐IB, BMP15 and GDF9 gene mutations and to investigate whether these mutations are associated with litter size in Egyptian sheep breeds. To achieve this goal, 73 adult ewes representing Barki (n = 33) and Rahmani (n = 40) breeds were used. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) screening approach was used to detect the presence of FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I mutations in the two selected breeds. Results of this study showed that the three different candidate gene mutations, namely FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I are not present among these selected populations of the Egyptian breeds. Further studies regarding other mutations and/or other genes, which may influence ovulation rate, should be carried out to determine the type and mode of inheritance of such genes in Egyptian sheep breeds.     

Methods of inoculating Acer spp., Populus tremuloides, and Fagus grandifolia logs for commercial spalting applications

One of the most promising wood value-added processes currently under development is spalting, where pigment is added to wood via fungal colonization. Previous studies have shown laboratory level spalting to be achievable and highly predictable. However, large-scale spalting for potential commercial applications introduces a substantial number of additional variables which impact the spalting process. To test the potential of commercial-scale spalting, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, and Populus tremuloides logs were inoculated with multiple known spalting fungi utilizing both liquid spray cultures and live dowel pin cultures. Many of the fungi that successfully produce spalting in small, sterile cultures also produced significant amounts in large logs, with many spalting patterns identical to those found in small-scale testing. Pairings of Trametes versicolor/Scytalidium cuboideum and Xylaria polymorpha/Xylaria polymorpha (different isolates) produced significant amounts of zone lines. In addition, the method of inoculation impacted the amount of spalting: more zone lines were produced when fungi were introduced via plugs, while more stain was produced when liquid cultures were sprayed onto the logs. These results indicate that many of the standard spalting fungi are suitable for large-scale applications; however, the inoculation method appears to be a vital component for successful spalting under a restricted time schedule.     

单宁和聚乙二醇对绵羊和山羊瘤胃纤维降解菌数量的影响

本文旨在研究饲粮中添加不同水平的单宁和高单宁饲粮条件下添加聚乙二醇( PEG )对绵羊和山羊瘤胃纤维降解菌数量的影响。试验选用1.5岁、体重约45 kg、安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的绵羊和绒山羊各4只,采用自身对照试验设计,分4期进行。第1期饲喂基础饲粮(Ⅰ组),第2期在基础饲粮中添加2%的单宁(Ⅱ组),第3期在基础饲粮中添加6%的单宁(Ⅲ组),第4期在基础饲粮中添加6%单宁+12% PEG(Ⅳ组)。每期试验30 d,其中预试期12 d,正试期18 d。每个正试期第1天,采集绵羊和山羊瘤胃内容物,测定瘤胃液pH、氨态氮( NH3-N)和菌体蛋白( MCP)浓度;运用实时定量PCR技术对固相、液相及全食糜中所附着的白色瘤胃球菌、黄色瘤胃球菌、产琥珀酸拟杆菌进行定量检测。结果表明：1)与Ⅰ组相比,添加6%单宁显著降低了山羊瘤胃液NH3-N浓度和绵羊瘤胃液MCP浓度( P<0.05)。添加6%单宁+12% PEG后,这2个指标恢复至与Ⅰ组相当的水平。2)与Ⅰ组相比,添加6%单宁显著降低了绵羊和山羊瘤胃固相、绵羊瘤胃液相白色瘤胃球菌数量( P<0.05);添加2%和6%单宁显著降低了绵羊和山羊固相黄色瘤胃球菌数量( P<0.05),添加6%单宁显著降低了绵羊和山羊瘤胃液相黄色瘤胃球菌数量( P<0.05);添加6%单宁显著降低了绵羊和山羊瘤胃固相、绵羊全食糜产琥珀酸拟杆菌数量( P<0.05)。添加6%单宁+12% PEG后,绵羊和山羊瘤胃这3株纤维降解菌数量恢复至Ⅰ组水平或高于Ⅰ组。由此可见,饲粮单宁添加量达到6%时降低了瘤胃液NH3-N的浓度,影响MCP的合成,抑制瘤胃固相纤维降解菌的增殖;添加PEG可以削弱单宁对瘤胃纤维降解菌生长的负面影响,促进瘤胃发酵。     

几种甘蓝型油菜幼苗抗旱性特征的比较研究

以EV1、EV2、EV3、EV4、EV5、EV66个抗旱性不同的油菜品种为试验材料,通过不同浓度PEG-6000渗透溶液模拟干旱胁迫处理,研究油菜幼苗的抗旱指数、根长、苗高和根冠比等性状变化,探索在大田环境条件下的苗期生长特征。结果表明,水分胁迫下EV2的抗旱指数最大,EV6的抗旱指数最小;不同浓度PEG胁迫下,各品种差异显著,EV1、EV2、和EV3的根长、苗高和根冠比较大,而EV5和EV6的表现较差。在大田油菜五叶期时,EV2的冠层覆盖面积最大,与其它品种之间存在极显著性差异;总生物量以EV2、EV3和EV1较大,根系干重以EV2较大,而且三者之间存在显著相关性;与抗旱指数进行通径分析,冠层覆盖面积对抗旱性的直接通径系数最大,达到0．5975。冠层覆盖面积的大小反映了早期活力的强弱,早期活力强,相应的品种抗旱指数高,抗旱性强。     

干旱条件下糜子叶片衰老与保护酶活性变化

在干旱棚栽培条件下以宁糜13号、内糜5号和晋糜4号糜子品种为材料,观测分析不同品种花后叶片叶绿素含量、保护酶活性(SOD、CAT、POD)以及丙二醛含量变化。结果表明,参试品种各功能叶片叶绿素含量及SOD、CAT、POD活性均在开花14 d后逐渐下降,MDA含量随着叶片的衰老而升高;参试品种叶片衰老的总体变化趋势一致,但衰老进程存在差异。与内糜5号和晋糜4号相比,宁糜13号叶绿素下降幅度小,各功能叶片衰老过程中SOD、CAT活性下降较慢,POD活性下降较快,MDA含量增加幅度小,叶片功能期长,衰老缓慢,有利于光合产物的积累;干旱条件下,叶绿素含量、过氧化氢酶CAT、超氧化物歧化酶SOD与单株产量呈正相关,而过氧化物酶POD、丙二醛MDA与单株产量呈负相关。     

Role of ice nucleation and antifreeze activities in pathogenesis and growth of snow molds

ABSTRACT We examined the ability of snow molds to grow at temperatures from -5 to 30 degrees C and to influence the growth of ice through assays for ice nucleation and antifreeze activities. Isolates of Coprinus psychromorbidus (low temperature basidiomycete variant), Microdochium nivale, Typhula phacorrhiza, T. ishikariensis, T. incarnata, and T. canadensis all grew at -5 degrees C, whereas Sclerotinia borealis and S. homoeocarpa did not grow at temperatures below 4 degrees C. The highest threshold ice nucleation temperature was -7 degrees C. Because snow molds are most damaging to their hosts at temperatures above this, our results imply that the pathogenesis of these fungi is not dependent on ice nucleation activity to cause freeze-wounding of host plants. All snow molds that grew at subzero temperatures also exhibited antifreeze activity in the growth medium and in the soluble and insoluble hyphal fractions, with the exception of M. nivale and one isolate of T. canadensis. The lack of high ice nucleation activity combined with the presence of antifreeze activity in all fungal fractions indicates that snow molds can moderate their environment to inhibit or modify intra- and extracellular ice formation, which helps explain their ability to grow at subzero temperatures under snow cover.     

不同啃食强度对沙拐枣影响的初步研究

在飞播区根据牧畜对沙拐枣啃食程度的不同，采用人工模拟放牧方法对牲畜啃食的绿色部分设置了10％、30％、50％、70％、90％、对照6种不同啃食强度处理，以探讨啃食强度对沙拐枣生长的影响。试验结果表明，30％啃食强度的生物量化90％的高121．37％，比对照高34．85％。沙拐枣的啃食强度在30％－50％时生物量最高，完全不利用或过度利用都会影响其正常生长。     

三维模式下培养时间对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞酪蛋白基因表达的影响

本试验旨在研究三维模式下培养时间对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMECs)酪蛋白基因表达的影响。采用3头健康的3～5岁泌乳黑白花奶牛的乳腺组织,将BMECs经1代纯化后进行三维培养,在三维模式下分别培养3、5、7、9 d,测定BMECs中αs1-酪蛋白、β-酪蛋白、κ-酪蛋白的基因表达量。结果表明,利用三维模式培养5 d的BMECsαs1-酪蛋白和κ-酪蛋白基因表达量极显著高于培养3、7、9 d(P<0.01);利用三维模式培养5 d的BMECsβ-酪蛋白的基因表达量极显著高于培养3、7 d(P<0.01),高于培养9 d,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果显示,三维模式下培养时间影响BMECs中αs1-酪蛋白、β-酪蛋白、κ-酪蛋白的基因表达量,本试验条件下最佳培养时间为5 d。