Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea spp.) genetic resources in the United States

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Coffee is one of the most important agricultural commodities worldwide, significantly contributing to the economies of many coffee-producing countries....     

Correction to: Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea spp.) genetic resources in the United States

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The correct article title is provided here, Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea spp.) genetic resources in the United States.     

Excess iodide and the accumulation of 125i by the thyroid,plasma and developing oocytes of the Japanese quail 1

1. Developing oocytes of the Japanese quail accumulated 0.lb44 μg of each 1 μg of 125I‐labelled iodide after intra‐muscular injection of doses up to 500 μg iodide as Nal but only 0.lb007 μg after injection of more than this: the abrupt change in the rate of accumulation was attributed to saturation of the iodide transport mechanism.

2. The proportion of available iodide transferred into the oocytes appeared to be more dependent on the amount of iodide injected and the total weight of growing oocytes than on a requirement for either a store of iodide for the embryo or an iodide excretory pathway for the hen.

3. The thyroid was about four times more active in accumulating iodide than the oocyte.

4. The percentage of iodide accumulated by the plasma was the same at all dose rates.     

The Effect of Temperature on Feed Consumption and Nutrient Absorption in Procambarus clarkii and Procambarus zonangulus

Feeding characteristics of acclimated red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii and white river crayfish Procambarus zonangulus were determined at 8, 14, 20, 26, and 32 C. Food consumption rates of crayfish were directly related to temperature. Feeding was minimal at 8 C. At 14 CP. zonangulus consumed significantly more feed (5.5% body weight (BW/d) than P. clarkii (1.8% BW/d). At 32 C P. clarkii consumed significantly more feed (23% BW/d) than P. zonangulus (10% BW /d), reflecting species-specific thermal optimums for feeding. Differences in food consumption rates correspond to differences in the geographical distributions of these two species. Dry matter absorption rates ranged from 55% to 75% for both species without significant temperature effect. Patterns of protein and carbohydrate absorption were similar in P. clarkii and P. zonangulus. Protein absorption efficiency decreased from 45% to 10% as temperature increased from 8 C to 32 C. The total amount of protein absorbed increased seven- to ten-fold as temperature increased. Soluble carbohydrate absorption efficiency was reduced at low temperatures. However, absorption efficiency increased approximately five-fold as temperature increased from 14 C to 20 C, but did not change substantially as temperature was increased to 32 C. The total amount of carbohydrate absorbed increased approximately 15- to 26-fold as temperature increased. The protein to carbohydrate utilization ratio was similar between species, but varied dramatically with temperature. Both species absorbed between 2.5 and four-times more protein than carbohydrate at low temperatures (8 C and 14 C). At 32 C both species utilized approximately three times more carbohydrate than protein. In spite of reduced consumption at lower temperatures, crayfish absorbed a greater protein portion. At these low temperatures it appears that crayfish maximize the efficiency of protein absorption, presumably for maintenance and growth requirements. At high temperatures it appears that crayfish maximize energy intake, presumably to sustain higher metabolic rates due to increased activity levels. These apparent temperature-dependent nutrient requirements may influence natural foraging strategies or, for species in aquaculture, the effectiveness of commercial feed preparations. At high temperatures P. clarkii was more effective in consuming nutrients than P. zonangulus and may be more successful than P. zonangulus at these temperatures.     

Quantification of Peyer's patches in Cheviot sheep for future scrapie pathogenesis studies

Peyer's patches (PPs) are the most probable sites of intestinal uptake of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent. The amount of PP tissue varies considerably between different age groups of individuals, and whether this variation is related to susceptibility to TSE infection raises an intriguing possibility. The purpose of this study was to determine the surface area of PP tissue and the number of associated lymphoid follicles in different age groups of Neuropathogenesis Unit (NPU) Cheviot sheep. Terminal ilea were obtained from 33 sheep of different ages. Samples of ileal tissue were collected for immunocytochemistry and immunolabelled for prion protein (PrP). Specimens were then fixed in acetic acid, stained with methylene blue and transilluminated. Image analysis software was used to calculate the area of intestinal and PP tissue. The number of associated lymphoid follicles was determined using a dissecting microscope. Results showed a marked fall in surface area of PP tissue and lymphoid follicle density around puberty (about 8-9 months of age in NPU Cheviot sheep) and both measures remained low throughout adulthood. Using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, r(s), these two measures were found to be closely correlated (r(s)=0.899, n=33, P<0.0001). There was also a significant (negative) correlation between age and the two respective measures (surface area of PP tissue versus age, r(s)=-0.879 (n=33, P<0.0001); lymphoid follicle density versus age r(s)=-0.943 (n=33, P<0.0001). Immunolabelling for PrP was observed primarily in the light zone of lymphoid follicles. Results obtained from this study are useful for future oral pathogenesis studies of the NPU Cheviot flock. They may also offer a possible biological explanation for the apparent age-susceptibility relationship observed in natural cases of TSEs and might help to explain the young age-distribution of cases.