Sequence of the 3′-terminal region of the RNA of a mite transmitted potyvirus fromHordeum murinum L.

The 3026 nucleotides upstream of the 3-polyadenylated tract of a mite transmitted virus fromHordeum murinum L. were cloned and sequenced, and portions of the sequence were expressed inEscherichia coli. Sequence comparisons with wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Agropyron mosaic virus (AgMV) and Hordeum mosaic cirus (HoMV), three mite transmitted potyviruses, and potato virus Y (PVY), the type member of the genusPotyvirus, revealed that the virus is probably a potyvirus, but distinct from WSMV, AgMV, HoMV, and PVY. Serological tests further demonstrated these differences and that the virus is serologically related to another potyvirus, brome streak mosaic virus (BrSMV). We conclude that the virus should be named as the Hordeum isolate of BrSMV.     

Herd and within-herd BoHV-1 prevalence among Irish beef herds submitting bulls for entry to a performance testing station

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1), may result in various clinical consequences, including severe respiratory disease and conjunctivitis, venereal disease and reduced reproductive performance and abortion. This paper presents the serosurveillance findings from an intake of bulls into a performance testing station in Ireland during November 2007. The herd and within-herd BoHV-1 prevalence in 53 Irish beef herds and the risk factors for infection in these herds were determined, among bulls entering a beef performance testing station in Ireland. BoHV-1 status was determined for 41 herds, of which 30 (73.2%) herds were infected and the mean within-herd BoHV-1 prevalence was 28 (± 20)%. Multivariate exact logistic modelling revealed increasing numbers of contiguous herds and decreasing percentage of males within the herd as significant risk factors associated with infected herds. These findings highlight the high prevalence of BoHV-1 infection in those Irish beef herds that submitted bulls to this performance testing station, and raise concerns regarding IBR control nationally.     

Frameless stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of primary intracranial tumours in dogs

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a procedure that delivers a single large radiation dose to a well‐defined target. Here, we describe a frameless SRS technique suitable for intracranial targets in canines. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with a primary intracranial tumour by imaging or histopathology that underwent SRS were retrospectively reviewed. Frameless SRS was used successfully to treat tumours in 51 dogs with a variety of head sizes and shapes. Tumours diagnosed included 38 meningiomas, 4 pituitary tumours, 4 trigeminal nerve tumours, 3 gliomas, 1 histiocytic sarcoma and 1 choroid plexus tumour. Median survival time was 399 days for all tumours and for dogs with meningiomas; cause‐specific survival was 493 days for both cohorts. Acute grade III central nervous system toxicity (altered mentation) occurred in two dogs. Frameless SRS resulted in survival times comparable to conventional radiation therapy, but with fewer acute adverse effects and only a single anaesthetic episode required for therapy.     

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。     

Determining Ovulation Frequency in Individually Penned Lactating Sows using a Faecal 'Progestin' Assay

Contents
Trials were performed to evaluate the validity of a modified faecal 'progestin' assay for monitoring ovarian activity (Trial 1) and to determine the occurrence of ovulation among individually housed lactating sows by repeated measurements of faecal 'progestins' (Trial 2). In trial 1 faecal and plasma samples were collected from six multiparous sows, from the day after weaning until oestrus occurred in the third oestrous cycle. A progesterone radioimmunoassay was applied to skimmed milk extracts of the faecal samples, and plasma progesterone concentrations were determined with a chemiluminescent assay. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed on faecal extracts and the immunoreactivity in the different fractions was determined. In Trial 2, faecal samples were collected from 88 multiparous sows at weekly intervals from the day of farrowing until 2 weeks after breeding. Samples were subjected to 'progestin' analysis. Trial 1 showed that the excretion patterns of faecal 'progestins' and plasma progesterone were significantly correlated (r = 0.79, p < 0.05) during the oestrous cycles. Parallelism was obtained in the assay, but recovery was low (11.4%). The HPLC analysis revealed one major peak of immunoreactivity in a fraction, which corresponded with progesterone. This finding suggests that intact progesterone was a source for immunoreactivity in the assay. In Trial 2, a 10-fold decrease in mean 'progestin' concentrations was noted from the day of farrowing to day 7 of lactation. The mean 'progestin' values remained low throughout lactation and started to increase 2 weeks after breeding. Large individual variations in luteal phase values were noted. Only 1.1% (one) of the sows ovulated during lactation.     

Virusnachweis in Blattläusen

Potato virus Y (PVY) causes great economic losses in potato production world-wide. Concerning important it has replaced Potato leafroll virus (PLRV). Virus is transmitted by different aphid species in a non-persistent manner. During last years the developing of new effective methods for PVY monitoring, forecasting and detection in aphids is of increasing interest. Sensitive, rapid detection of virus in its natural vectors is of a great need to investigate the relationship between aphid migration and the spread of PVY. Simple diagnostic protocol for the detection of non-persistent Plum pox virus and semipersistent Citrus tristeza virus in aphids, proposed by Olmos et al. (2005) was probed to validate and estimate the efficiency of its applying for the detection of PVY in different aphid species too.     

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。     

Is the photometric method using acetone extracts to determine chlorophyll concentrations applicable to Mg‐deficient plants?

A conventional photometric method to determine chlorophyll concentrations in maize leaves was evaluated. It was tested whether in Mg‐deficient plant tissue the addition of MgCO₃ during pigment extraction converts protoporphyrin IX into chlorophyll, falsifying concentration measurements. The non‐destructive N‐tester was used as a reference for the destructive chlorophyll determination. It is shown that both methods are valid for the determination of chlorophyll concentration in Mg‐deficient leaves.     

Grain yield,harvest index,water-use efficiency and nitrogen partitioning to grain can be improved by application of the plant growth regulator paclobutrazol to maize plants with reduced N supply

Applications of plant growth regulators such as paclobutrazol (PAC) to grain maize frequently caused depressions in grain yield. This negative impact probably originated from treatments at an early growth stage during plant ontogenesis when the determination of potential kernel number coincided with time of regulator application. However, stability of grain yield itself is of high relevance, and it is also the key determinant for harvest index (HI) and the use efficiencies of water (WUE) and nutrients (NUE). Therefore, in a container experiment, the effect of delayed PAC application at growth stage V8 was tested with the maize ( Zea mays L.) cultivars Galactus and Fabregas. Immediately after PAC treatment, differential N fertilization was introduced in order to meet the demand of the control plants (100% N), and with a supply of 75% N. With late PAC application (V8), grain yield depressions could not only successfully be avoided; moreover, in Galactus-75%N, a significant increase in grain yield was achieved combined with an extended duration of pollen shed by 28%. Straw yield decreased less strongly after late compared with early PAC application, leading to small, but significant increases in HI for the maize plants with 75% N supply. An increase in PAC dosage combined with later application will certainly lead to stronger decreases in straw yield, but it will also enhance the risk for grain yield depressions, and thus, an overall stronger improvement of HI is uncertain. For the time around silking, remarkable improvements of WUE_grain by 18% were achieved after delayed PAC application to Galactus-75%N. After PAC treatment, significant increases in nitrogen-harvest index (NHI) and thus N partitioning to grain were achieved for Fabregas and for Galactus-75%N. Although luxurious N consumption did not occur, late PAC application showed neither an effect on N-utilization efficiency (NUtE_grain) nor on N-uptake efficiency (NUpE). It can be concluded that it is a very complex task to achieve the right balance between PAC dosage, stability of grain yield and optimal N supply in order to avoid both, luxurious N consumption and N deficiency, and to achieve an improvement of NUtE_grain of maize plants.