Influence of defoliation on reproductive capacity and growth in Buddleja davidii

This study aims at quantifying the effects of defoliation on seed production and germination in Buddleja davidii , and determining the potential for reducing the invasive success of the species. The effects of defoliation on seed production and germination at the flower spike and plant levels were investigated for control plants and plants that were defoliated by 66% at monthly intervals from mid-summer (January) to mid-autumn (April). Seed samples for germination were collected in late autumn (May). Defoliation reduced flower spike number per shoot, seed number per flower spike and average seed mass by 9%, 22% and 13% and 30%, 33% and 17% on main and side shoots, respectively. In contrast, emergent leaf area per shoot in the defoliated plants exceeded that for the control plants by 89%. The ratio of total seed mass per plant/emergent leaf area per shoot was significantly lower in the defoliated compared with the control plants by 50%. Defoliation did not affect the timing or rate of seed germination. Defoliation of B. davidii resulted in a marked decrease in reproductive capacity, consistent with the priority allocation of resources to compensational leaf area growth.     

Control of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers, is a major dietary staple in tropical Africa where it is most often cultivated. The production is, however, greatly hampered by severe infestation and damage by insect pests including the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch. The damage and bionomics of the aphid are briefly introduced. Chemical, cultural, physical and biological methods, and use of plant resistance for A. craccivora control in cowpea are reviewed. Finally, prospects for integrated pest management are discussed     

Infection of ryegrass by three rust fungi (Puccinia coronata, P. graminis and P. loliina) and some effects of temperature on the establishment of the disease and sporulation

Experiments were conducted to examine the processes leading up to the infection of Lolium temulentum by crown rust ( Puccinia coronata ), stem rust ( P. graminis ) and brown rust ( P. loliina ), and the effects of temperature on these processes and sporulation. Uredia of all three rusts were produced freely if the adaxial leaf surface was inoculated, but did not form following inoculation of the abaxial surface. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal growth of germlings on the abaxial surface which had amorphous sheet-like epicuticular waxes and very few stomata. On the adaxial leaf surface germ tubes of all the rusts orientated at right angles to the long axis of the leaf. However, the directional growth of germ tubes was often disrupted when they contacted the surface of bulliform cells at the base of leaf grooves. For P. loliina the optimum temperatures for urediospore germination and sub-stomatal vesicle formation were 12–16°C, and 8–20°C for appressorium formation. The optimum temperatures, for the same stages of fungal development, for P. coronata and P. graminis were higher. Urediospore production of P. loliina was higher at 10°C than at 25°C, but was similar at both temperatures for P. coronata .     

Comparisons of some factors affecting digestibility in sheep and cows

A comparison was made of some factors affecting digestibility in sheep and cattle. In one experiment four castrated male sheep and four non-lactating cows were given diets of hay and of hay and concentrates, and in another experiment similar groups of animals were offered diets consisting mainly of hay or hay and lucerne cobs. In both experiments there was good agreement in digestibility between the sheep and cows. With diets which did not stimulate maximum rumination, sheep tended to ruminate for a longer time per day than cows. At high feed intakes rumination times were similar in sheep and cows. Times spent eating, ruminating or chewing per unit of feed DM were 6 to 19 times longer in the sheep than in the cows. Retention times of stained hay in the gut tended to be slightly shorter in sheep than cows and those of stained barley husk and of processed lucerne were similar in the sheep and cows. The median size of faecal particles was 1.4 to 1.9 times greater in cattle than sheep. The similarities and differences between sheep and cattle in the factors affecting digestibility are discussed.     

Acute onset of pulmonary necrotising arteritis in a dog with a left-to-right patent ductus arteriosus

A 12-week-old, clinically normal Chihuahua was referred for investigation for a continuous heart murmur. Cardiac evaluation revealed an anatomically and haemodynamically typical left-to-right shunting patent ductus arteriosus. The continuous wave Doppler measurement of peak ductal jet velocity of 5.6 m/s was suggestive of a normal pulmonary to systemic arterial pressure ratio. The dog returned 16 days later with right heart failure and severe pulmonary hypertension. Marked reduction in left-to-right shunting was demonstrated and the ductal jet velocity had decreased to 2.5 m/s. Immediate ductus ligation, oxygen therapy before and after the operation, and administration of hydralazine failed to reduce pulmonary hypertension, and the dog was euthanased. Histopathological examination of the lung showed pulmonary necrotising arteritis with acute and chronic arterial lesions. Chronic pulmonary vascular changes related to high flow have been associated with altered nitric oxide and endothelin responses. These changes may be responsible for the acute onset of pulmonary hypertension due to relatively minor vascular insults in some human and veterinary patients with left-to-right shunts. The potential for acute progression supports the recommendations for early ductus ligation and the prognostic importance of detecting pulmonary hypertension presurgically in patent ductus arteriosus patients.     

Significance of the Heineke-Mikulicz Pyloroplasty in the Treatment of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus A Prospective Clinical Study

Twenty-six dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) were stabilized medically, followed by tube gastrostomy and gastropexy. In 13 dogs, a Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty was also performed. Complications and recurrences were monitored during the immediate postoperative period and for 5 to 31 months thereafter. Barium gastrograms and contrast radiographs of the stomach were evaluated at week 1 and months 5 to 31. Significantly fewer dogs without pyloroplasty had complications during the immediate postoperative period. There were no differences in the long-term complication rates. Radiographic evaluations of the width of the pylorus, the size of the stomach, and the rate of gastric emptying showed no differences between dogs with and without pyloroplasty at any evaluation period. The Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty increased the immediate postoperative complication rate after surgical fixation of the stomach for the treatment of GDV. It did not appear to influence the long-term outcome of the surgical treatment of this disease. The Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty is not recommended in the treatment of GDV unless pyloric outflow obstruction can be demonstrated.     

A new design for a seed germinator with 100 independently temperature controlled cells

Design and performance of a 100-cell seed germinator capable of simultaneously generating 100 different diurnal temperature cycles with extremes lying between 0 and 45°C is discussed. Each individual cell is equipped with a separate electronic temperature controller employing a thermistor for temperature sensing. The set temperature for each cell is determined by a precision reference resistor in the controller circuit. Six different reference resistors corresponding to six different temperatures are provided for each cell. The reference resistors are mounted on plug-in modules with one module for each cell. Heating or cooling of the individual cells is provided by thermoelectric heat pumps. Temperature cycling, which approximates a sine function, is achieved by switching the six reference resistors, one at a time, into the controller circuits at appropriate times during a 24h period. Each cell is designed to accept a standard 100 mm Petri dish to contain the seeds. The cells have glass covers to allow entry of light essential for germination of some species. The benefit of using this type of germinator to assess the germination response of Alyssum alyssoides L., Artemisia absinthium L., Euphorbia esula L. and Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., is discussed. Three dimensional germination response surfaces are given for the four species.     

Primary ocular sarcomas in the cat

Primary ocular sarcomas were diagnosed following enucleation (12) or necropsy (one) in 13 cats over an eight year period. Twelve of the 13 cats were males; ages of affected animals were seven to 15 years, with a mean of 12. Five of the cats had a history of previous trauma and six others had a history of chronic uveitis. Morphologically the neoplasm was comprised of undifferentiated spindle cells and appeared to arise in the anterior uvea. The cancer was quite aggressive, with extension into adjacent tissues and/or distant metastases commonly encountered. Seven of 12 cats experienced confirmed tumour related deaths within months following enucleation and one was humanely destroyed at the time of original presentation.     

Effects of sward type and rest periods from sheep grazing on white clover presence in perennial ryegrass/white clover associations

The effects of the imposition and timing of a rest period from continuous sheep stocking, for a conservation cut, on white clover presence in forty perennial ryegrass/white clover associations were studied over two full grazing seasons. Each association consisted of one grass variety along with one white clover variety, the grasses being diploid and tetraploid ryegrasses from each of five maturity groups and the white clovers from each of four leaf size categories. The presence of white clover within each association was assessed at the beginning and end of both seasons by means of a 0–64-m² quadrat subdivided into 100 squares, each 80 mm × 80 mm, the number of squares in which any part of a white clover plant was visible being recorded. Complementary point quadrat data were also collected. Although continuous sheep stocking did not necessarily have an adverse effect on white clover presence, a July to mid-August rest period increased white clover proportions in the swards (means: unrested, 48–1; April to late May rest, 32.7; July to mid-August rest, 67.3 - s.e.d. 7.59; P < 0.05) the benefit increasing with increasing white clover leaf size. The early rest period (April to late May) reduced white clover presence and the late rest period (July to mid-August) increased white clover presence, these effects being intensified with increasing white clover leaf size (very large-leaved clover: unrested, 20.6; April to late May rest, 8.3; July to mid-August rest, 41.1 and small-leaved clover: unrested, 96.3; April to late May rest, 84.8; July to mid-August rest, 97 - s.e.d. 9.2; P <0001). Tetraploid ryegrass/white clover associations had consistently and significantly more white clover than diploid ryegrass/white clover associations of similar ryegrass maturity group (tetraploid, 53.4; diploid 44.8 - s.e.d. 2.12; P <0.001) and associations with early maturing ryegrass contained more white clover than those with late maturing ryegrasses, the effect of maturity group being greater than that of ploidy. Overall, white clover presence increased with increasing openness of grass growth habit.