Germination of Ascospores of Gibberella zeae after exposure to various levels of relative humidity and temperature

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most important cereal diseases in the world and has caused major losses to the grain industry. The principal pathogen causing FHB in North America is Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum). Information on survival and the conditions under which ascospores remain viable once released from perithecia may assist in refining disease forecasting models. This study measured germination of ascospores after exposure to different temperatures, 15, 20, and 30 degrees C, and levels of relative humidity (RH), 30, 60, and 90% for 4, 24, or 48 h periods. Viability was tested by germination on water agar. Germination rates fell with increasing temperatures at all observation times and at all humidity levels. At 15 and 20 degrees C after 48 h, germination ranged from 74 to 85%, and 52 to 72%, respectively. At 30 degrees C, germination ranged from 36 to 59% after 24 h and from 13 to 47% after 48 h. Germination was highest at 90% RH, except at 30 degrees C after 48 h, and lowest at 60% RH. Successful germination, even under extreme conditions, suggests that ascospores are sufficiently robust to constitute a source of inoculum under most environmental conditions encountered during the growing season.     

An evaluation of methods used to cull invasive cane toads in tropical Australia

To identify cost-effective ways to control invasive species, we need to evaluate alternative methods. The invasion of tropical Australia by cane toads (Rhinella marina) has killed many native predators, prompting efforts to cull adult toads. We analyzed a dataset on >?17,500 toads killed by government-employed teams from 2005 to 2008, using a range of methods (incidental captures, targeted searches, traps) as well as records of toads found as road kills. The culling occurred in the northwestern part of the Northern Territory, moving west as the toad front expanded into Western Australia. Both season and method affected rates of capture and demographic attributes (sex ratio, proportion of adults) of the culled anurans, with a strong interaction between these factors. Most methods were more effective during and after the seasonal monsoons (when moist conditions facilitated anuran activity), but that seasonal variation was greater for numbers of toads found on the roads than captured in other ways. Juvenile toads and adult female toads constituted higher proportions of total captures in the Early Dry than in other times of year, reflecting seasonal breeding. Traps caught a higher proportion of adult female toads than did other methods, but overall had low capture rates. Rates of range expansion by toads were similar before, during and after the culling effort, suggesting that removing adult toads did not affect the speed of the invasion. Nonetheless, culling adult cane toads may be effective in some situations (“island” populations, extralimital translocations), and results from this program may be valuable for future toad-control efforts.     

Improvement of Fertility in Artificially Inseminated Ewes Following Vaginal Treatment with Misoprostol Plus Terbutaline Sulphate

The effect of vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination (AI) upon the site of AI (vaginal or cervical) and fertility was studied using a total of 87 estrous synchronized Serra da Estrela ewes (control n = 42 and treated n = 45). Artificial insemination was performed using refrigerated semen at 54–55 h after sponge removal. Lambing rate (fertility) and prolificacy were compared between control and treated ewes. The effect of the site of semen deposition on fertility was also evaluated. Prolificacy rate was not different between control (1.5) and treated (1.59) ewes. The proportion of cervical AI achieved in control (45.2%) and treated (37.8%) ewes was not significantly different. Overall, fertility was significantly lower in control than in treated ewes (42.9% vs 64.4%; p < 0.04). Fertility following vaginal AI was significantly lower for control for than treated ewes (30.4% vs 60.7%; p < 0.03) but the difference was smaller and not significant for cervical AI (control 57.9% vs 70.6%). It was concluded that vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination did not affect the proportion of cervical inseminations but significantly improved the fertility of treated ewes. Although needing confirmation, it was hypothesized that drugs might have induced local secretory modifications leading to an increase of cervical ability to retain more viable spermatozoa for fertilization.     

Electron Microscopy in Biology

Abstract

Farmer surveys were conducted in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico during 1983 and 1985 to investigate the relationship between agronomic practices used by the farmers and the incidence of Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) disease of wheat. The variables investigated included soil type, land preparation, origin of seed, irrigation, nitrogen fertilizer, weed control and crop rotations. None of these variables were found to have a significant influence on the disease. This indicates that although management practices may have some effect on the incidence of the disease they are not the primary factor. The coincidence of rainfall and/or high humidity at flowering time appears to be of more importance than agronomic practices.     

USE OF 99mTc-MERCAPTOACETYLTRIGLYCINE TO EVALUATE RENAL FUNCTION IN HORSES

Ten healthy horses were injected intravenously with 99mTc-MAG3 and the disappearance of radioactivity from the blood was measured. The total body clearance (Cl(B)) and elimination half-life (t1/2(beta)) were 7.9 +/- 1.5 ml/kg/minute and 32.8 +/- 4.1 minutes, respectively. The disappearance of 99mTc-MAG3 from the blood of 2 horses with compromised renal function was also measured. The data suggest that 99mTc-MAG3 is a useful and clinically applicable radiopharmaceutical for measurement of effective renal blood flow in the horse.     

带拉杆的U形壳槽槽身横向内力计算有关问题的分析

在U形壳槽横向内力计算中,若不考虑槽底局部加厚对Φ=90°截面内力的影响,则计算所得的该截面弯矩绝对值偏小.温度变化对截面内力的影响较大,特别是温降引起多数截面的弯矩增加,而轴向力减少;温升引起Φ=90°截面弯矩与轴向拉力均增加,再考虑槽底局部加厚的影响,弯矩值还要增加.槽底局部加厚与温度变化的作用均不能忽略不计,否则,内力计算成果值会偏于不安全.用结构力学方法,推导出二者对内力影响的计算公式,并附有应用的算例.     

Improving initial survival in cultured seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis Leeson, 1827 (Teleostei: Syngnathidae)

This investigation aimed at improving early juvenile survival in cultured seahorses, Hippocampus abdominalis. Phototaxis from birth until 2 months of age was tested and juveniles were found to be positively phototactic within this age range. A comparison of the effect of culture vessel background (white vs. black vs. clear jars) on feeding efficiency at 1 week and 1 month of age using Artemia as prey revealed an age-dependent effect upon both attack rate and capture success. At 1 week, both attack rate and capture success were higher for juveniles contained in clear jars, and capture success was higher in black jars, as compared with white jars. At 1 month, there was no significant difference in attack rate between different jars, although capture success was higher in clear and white jars than in black jars. In a top-illuminated glass aquarium, juveniles with access to the water surface had lower survival (mean±1 SE=50±4.5%) than those without access to the water surface (73.3±4.2%). This was due to the ingestion of air bubbles when preying on Artemia nauplii congregating near the water surface. For side-illumination there was no such difference. Glass aquaria that were side-illuminated and blacked-off upwards from the waterline supported high juvenile survival (80.4±4.0% per brood) from birth through to 2 months of age in four broods.     

Effects of nutrition, sex of calf and breed type on response to zeranol: preweaning growth

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of breed, sex and plane of nutrition on the growth response to zeranol in Angus and crossbred calves prior to weaning. Eighty-eight heifers and 118 steers received either a high or low plane of nutrition using a first and last grazing technique. Half of the calves in each nutrition group received a zeranol implant (36 mg) at an average age of 3.4 mo. Both zeranol and the higher level of nutrition increased (P less than .001) growth rate prior to weaning (7.4 mo of age). Zeranol did not affect hip height at weaning (P greater than .1), but calves on the higher plane of nutrition were taller (P less than .01) than calves on the lower plane of nutrition. The zeranol x nutrition interaction was not significant (P greater than .1) for growth rate or hip height. Steers grew faster (P less than .01) preweaning and were taller (P less than .01) at weaning than heifers. Crossbred calves gained more rapidly (P less than .001) preweaning and were taller (P less than .001) at weaning than Angus calves were. Neither sex nor breed interacted with zeranol to influence any of the traits examined. Based on these results we conclude that preweaning growth was affected by zeranol and this effect was consistent across sexes, breeds and planes of nutrition tested.