Prevalence of Ocular Disorders in an Indian Population of Horses

The objective of this clinical study was to report the prevalence of ocular disorders in a large population of horses from the Indian army. Both eyes of 500 horses were examined using a direct ophthalmoscope and by a transillumination procedure. Intraocular pressures were measured in several study horses. Fluorescein dye, Schirmer tear test, and menace testing were performed when indicated. Corneal culture swabs were collected from horses affected with corneal ulcers found on ophthalmoscopic examination. A total of 100 horses were found to be affected with some form of ocular disorder. The eye problems recorded were congenital eye lid disorders (2%) and included a subcutaneous cyst in the lower eye lid and slit in upper eye lid; conjunctivitis (12%); chronic interstitial keratitis (30%); a parasite in the anterior chamber (1%), which was however not removed for genus and species identification; phthisis bulbi (1%); uveitis (24%); glaucoma (13%); cataracts (3%); unilateral retinal hemorrhage (1%); luxation of cataractous lens (3%); posterior synechia (2%); and corneal ulceration (8%). Pseudomonas spp was the most common bacteria identified in horses affected with corneal ulceration. Vision-threatening ocular disorders are high in Indian army horses; this is a cause of major concern for the rider and the horse and, therefore, it is important to include ocular examination in horses as part of a routine and complete physical examination.     

Development of Bt transgenic potatoes for effective control of potato tuber moth by using cry1Ab gene regulated by GBSS promoter

Transgenic of Indian potato cultivar Kufri Badshah expressing synthetic, modified cry1Ab gene were developed against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea opercullela Z.) a destructive pest. The cry1Ab gene was in spatial and temporal expression under the control of tuber-specific GBSSi promoter. The transformation vector pBinCG1 was developed harbouring transgene expression cassette comprising cry1Ab gene under the control of potato GBSSi promoter, castor bean catalase intron (5′UTR) and OCS termination signals. Selected kanamycin-resistant putative transformed potato lines were evaluated by positive PCR amplification of 713 bp, 1206 bp and 700 bp with npt II, GBSSi promoter and cry1Ab gene specific primers, respectively. Gene integration in transformed potato plants was elucidated through Southern hybridization and in planta transgene expression analysis. Transgene expression was highest in stolons, followed by tubers matured leaves and young leaves. Insect bioassay of stored transgenic tubers resulted in significant retardation and mortality in neonate tuber moth larvae. RT-PCR and northern hybridization confirmed stable expression in stored tubers. These transgenic lines; thus can represent an effective resistance management strategy which can significantly reduce the selection pressure on target and non-target insect pests to a threshold level.     

An improved method for determination of Holocene coastline changes around two ancient settlements in southern Anatolia: a geoarchaeological approach to historical land degradation studies

Two well‐known ancient sites in southern Anatolia were selected to investigate and quantify the impact of historical land degradation on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. These sites are the Luwian settlements of Kelenderis (modern Aydıncık) and nearby Nagidos (Bozyazı), both in Mersin Province and both occupied since around 4000 BP . Changes in local climatic conditions over this period have produced variations in the rates of fluvial transport of sediment/soil from the hinterland into the relevant deltaic regions, thus influencing rates of coastal progradation and aggradation. In addition, both eustatic and neotectonic movements have contributed to deltaic subsidence and/or hinterland uplift, with consequential impact on coastal evolution (positive or negative). The novel geoarchaeological methodology adopted in this study involves the creation of a graphical archive from detailed and standardised measurements taken from rectified mono‐ and stereoscopic aerial photographs. These archival data were then integrated with data from several types of historical map and field measurements in order to develop a geographical information system (GIS) database that could be interrogated, enabling graphical models of past coastal change to be constructed and calculations then made of the coastal configurations at successive historical periods. These calculations reveal that over the past 6000 years there has been only limited erosion/degradation in the karstic hinterland supplying the sediment to these two study sites (contrary to some previous statements concerning the high degradation risk of Mediterranean karst terrains). Furthermore, rates of progradation in each delta appear to have become diminished or even reversed in the past several decades as a result of both natural and anthropogenic factors. The precise contribution of neotectonic movements in this seismically active zone remains unquantified and is a topic requiring further interdisciplinary study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of deficit irrigation on the yield and yield components of drip irrigated cotton in a mediterranean environment

A field study on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv.) was carried out from 2005 to 2008 in the Çukurova Region, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Treatments were designated as I₁₀₀ full irrigation; DI₇₀, DI₅₀ and DI₀₀ which received 70, 50, and 0% of the irrigation water amount applied in the I₁₀₀ treatment. The irrigation water amount to be applied to the plots was calculated using cumulative pan evaporation that occurred during the irrigation intervals. The effect of water deficit or water stress on crop yield and some plant growth parameters such as yield response, water use efficiencies, dry matter yield (DM), leaf area index (LAI) as well as on lint quality components was evaluated. The average seasonal evapotranspiration ranged from 287 ± 15 (DI₀₀) to 584 ± 80 mm (I₁₀₀). Deficit irrigation significantly affected crop yield and all yield components considered in this study. The average seed cotton yield varied from 1369 ± 197 (DI₀₀) to 3397 ± 508 kg ha⁻¹ (I₁₀₀). The average water use efficiency (WUE_ET) ranged from 6.0 ± 1.6 (I₁₀₀) to 4.8 ± 0.9 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (DI₀₀), while average irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_I) was between 9.4 ± 3.0 (I₁₀₀) and 14.4 ± 4.8 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (DI₅₀). Deficit irrigation increased the harvest index (HI) values from 0.26 ± 0.054 (I₁₀₀) to 0.32 ± 0.052 kg kg⁻¹ (DI₅₀). Yield response factor (Ky) was determined to be 0.98 based on four-year average. Leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter yields (DM) increased with increasing water use. This study demonstrated that the full irrigated treatment (I₁₀₀) should be used for semiarid conditions with no water shortage. However, DI₇₀ treatment needs to be considered as a viable alternative for the development of reduced irrigation strategies in semiarid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited.     

Review on small ruminant conservation status and prospects in India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Small ruminants always play a major role in the agricultural economy of India. They provide livelihoods to numerous small and marginal farmers. The diversity...     

Temporal changes in soil biochemical properties with seasons under rainfed land use systems in Shiwalik foothills of northwest India

The soil biochemical properties are sensitive to change in land use systems and seasons. The variations in soil management practices and soil moisture content affect the sustainability of the systems. To study the sustainability in lower Shiwalik, a total of 144 soil samples (0–0.15 m) were undertaken to monitor the changes in the soil biochemical properties under rainfed land use systems, i.e., agri-horticulture, agroforestry, cultivated and barren system and seasons, i.e., summer, rainy and winter. Among soil biochemical properties, soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial quotient, dehydrogenase activities, basal soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate and urease activities ranged from 77 to 122 μg g^?1, 0.023 to 0.027, 18.3 to 30.6 μg TPF g ^?1 h^?1, 13.2 to 22.7 μg CO₂-C g^?1 day^?1, 1.3 to 2.2 μg g^?1 and 5.83 to 6.38 μg NH₄-Ng^?1 h^?1, respectively. Among 15 soil properties, principal component analysis specified that four major soil properties, i.e., basal soil respiration, metabolic quotient, electrical conductivity and clay content contributed 73% of the soil quality index with contribution of 44, 13, 9 and 7%, respectively. Among seasons, the values for soil biochemical properties were higher in rainy season as compared to winter and summer season. In systems, agri-horticulture followed by agroforestry was the best systems in terms of sustainability in Shiwalik foothills of northwest India.

     

Wilt disease management and enhancement of growth and yield of Cajanus cajan (L) var. Manak by bacterial combinations amended with chemical fertilizer

Root nodulating Sinorhizobium fredii KCC5 and Pseudomonas fluorescens LPK2 were isolated from nodules of Cajanus cajan and disease suppressive soil of tomato rhizosphere, respectively. Both strains produced IAA, siderophore, solubilized insoluble phosphate, showed chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, and strongly inhibited the growth of Fusarium udum. It also caused degradation and digestion of cell wall components, resulting in hyphal perforations, empty cell (halo) formation, shrinking and lysis of fungal mycelia along with significant degeneration of conidia. LPK2 produced volatile cyanogen (HCN). Combinations of S. fredii KCC5 and P. fluorescens LPK2 with half dose of chemical fertilizers showed a significant increase in seed germination (94%) while seed germination with co-inoculated strains (KCC5 + LPK2), KCC5 and LPK2 alone was 90, 84 and 82% respectively as compared to control 77%. After 120 days of sowing, per plant number of pods, nodules, shoot length, root length, shoot weight and root weight were greater for the combination with half dose of chemical fertilizers compared to the control. Combinations of S. fredii KCC5 and P. fluorescens LPK2 with half dose of chemical fertilizers resulted in an 82% increase in grain yield per hectare compared to the control. Both strains KCC5 and LPK2 led to proto-cooperation as evidenced by synergism, aggressive colonization of the roots, and enhanced growth, suggesting potential biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt in C. cajan.