Elliptical and linear relationships with rumen temperature support a homeorhetic trajectory for DMI during recovery of feedlot cattle exposed to moderate heat load

Most feedlot animals in Australia experience 2 to 3 moderate heat waves during summer. This study aimed to gain understanding of the physiological drivers in response to and during recovery from such events with a view to designing strategies to ensure rapid and safe recovery. Two hypotheses were tested during thermal challenge and recovery in climate-controlled rooms (CCR): firstly, the feedlot steer on a grain-based diet mounts appropriate physiological responses during moderate heat load and in recovery so that its performance and physiology state after recovery is not different to the feed restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) steer. Secondly, commonly used indicators of increased heat load, e.g., respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), body surface temperatures (ST), and water consumption (WC), reflect rumen temperature (RT) during thermal challenge and recovery at the level of daily means. In this study, 36 Angus steers (live weight (LW) 451.5 ± 22.6 kg) made up 3 cohorts of 12 animals that sequentially underwent the CCR phase. For this 18-d phase, the steers were allocated to either a moderate heat load treatment (thermally challenged, TC, n = 18) or a FRTN treatment (n = 18). The TC group underwent 3 periods, Pre-Challenge (4 d, temperature humidity index (THI) range of 68 to 71), Challenge (7 d, THI 73 to 84 with diurnal cycling), and Recovery (7 d, THI 68 to 71). The FRTN group were held at thermoneutral conditions in the CCR (THI 66.9 ± 0.3), and each animal was offered an amount of feed was based on the feed intake of its LW matched TC pair. Thus, as DMI fell in the TC group during Challenge, feed restriction was imposed on the FRTN group. The data were collected by trained observers were DMI, RT, RR, PS, body STs (forehead, shoulder, leg, rump), and WC. Challenge induced a heat stress response in the TC group with reduced DMI and LW, and elevated RT, RR, PS, body STs, and WC (P < 0.001). These measures were unchanged or reduced in the FRTN group (P < 0.001). At the end of Recovery, the TC and FRTN groups had converged on most measures including LW. Daily mean RT of both groups showed strong linear relationships with THI, RR, PS, head ST, and WC (P ≤ 0.0022) but opposing elliptical relationships with DMI; that is, as DMI fell with increasing RT for the TC group, DMI increased with rising RT for the FRTN group. In all, the feedlot steers in this study demonstrated sufficient homeorhetic capacity to adjust to moderate heat load and recover from it.     

Antioxidant capacity and phytochemical properties of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) genotypes in Iran

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is a naturally growing dogwood species in Arasbaran (East Azerbaijan, Iran). Antioxidant capacity, total anthocyanins, total phenols, ascorbic acid and total flavnoids of a number of selected cornelian cherry genotypes were investigated. The total phenolic and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of cornelian cherry fruits were determined according to Folin–Ciocalteu and DPPH method, respectively. The range of ascorbic acid content of genotypes was 183.25–299.5 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW). Genotype C24 had the highest total antioxidant capacity (82.37) and total phenolic (2695.75 mg galic acid per 100 g FW basis). The highest total anthocyanin was observed in C27 genotype (442.11 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents/100 g FW). This genotype also had the highest total flavonoid (669 mg catechin per 100 g FW basis). There are linear relationships between the antioxidant capacities with total phenols, total flavonoid and ascorbic acid. But, No statistically significant correlation was observed between antioxidant activity and total anthocyanins. According to Path analysis, the highest direct effect on antioxidant was observed in total flavonoid (0.38). The present study demonstrates the potential of certain cornelian cherry genotypes, notably C24 and C27, for improvement of nutritional value through germplasm enhancement programs.     

Interaction of Maximum Daily Trunk Shrinkage and Fruit Quality in European Plum

Maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) has been suggested as an appropriate indicator of plant water status because it is closely related to stem water potential. Interaction of MDS and fruit quality was studied in plum (Prunus domestica L. ‘Jojo’/Wavit and ‘Tophit plus’/Wavit) in temperate climate. According to the MDS data, trees were grouped as low MDS (LMDS) and high MDS (HMDS). Fruit quality was analysed during fruit development (95, 103, 117 DAFB for ‘Jojo’ and 99, 112, 121 DAFB for ‘Tophit plus’) before commercial harvest. Fruit picked at commercial harvest (137 DAFB and 140 DAFB for ‘Jojo’ and ‘Tophit plus’, respectively) were stored at 2 ± 0.5?°C (90 ± 2% RH) for 28 days, and 2 days shelf life at 20?°C providing 6 measuring dates postharvest. Results confirmed that MDS was positively correlated with water vapour pressure deficit also in the apparent temperate, semi-humid climate. Transpiration of fruit from high crop load and resulting HMDS trees, which can be assessed as physiologically drought, was low compared to that of fruit from LMDS trees. Furthermore, HMDS tree grown plums had enhanced soluble solids and dry matter contents with a tendency of reduced fruit size.     

Combining the phosphate solubilizing microorganisms with biochar types in order to improve safflower yield and soil enzyme activity

ABSTRACT

Soil amendment with biochar could increase soil microbial activity and biomass. This study contributes to an understanding of the synergistic effects of biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on safflower yield and soil microbial activity enhancement. In the split plot experiments that repeated in two years, the main factor was biochar types included cow manure, wheat straw, wood biochar and control. The sub factors were phosphate solubilizing microorganisms included the mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum and G. mosseae), Bacillus lentus, Pseudomonas fluorescence and control. The highest levels of dehydrogenase, urease activity and microbial biomass carbon were obtained from the cow manure biochar. The maximum activity of acid phosphatase was in the plots inoculated by P. fluorescence in all treatments, whether using or not using biochar. The grain yield of plants inoculated with B. lentus and P. fluorescence was in the same statistical group. The highest grain yield equal to 1527 kg/ha was obtained when using cow manure biochar. According to the results, the application of cow manure biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, especially mycorrhiza species, can be recommended for improving soil biological traits and safflower yield traits.     

Development,and genetic and metabolic characterization of new tomato mutants with enhanced and deficient carotenoid content

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a valuable vegetable crop rich in health-protective carotenoids, but breeding improvements are limited by its narrow genetic diversity. New mutants with enhanced and deficient carotenoid content in a single genetic background of tomato cv. MicroTom were developed via chemical mutagenesis. Genetic and metabolic analyses showed that mutant DC260, which exhibited fruit color alteration from red to deep red interlaced with orange color, had significant (P < 0.05) increases of lycopene (up to 42.8%) and ß-carotene (up to 61.5%) compared with control plants. Pearson correlation analysis of M1 and M2 generations in DC260 revealed that fruit color alteration was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with lycopene (coefficient = 0.55) and ß-carotene content (coefficient = 0.63). The fruit color alteration of DC260 was controlled by a single gene at a heterozygous locus. In contrast, mutant DC107 and DC624, which exhibited fruit color alteration from red to orange-yellow, was significantly (P < 0.05) carotenoid-deficient with up to 346.3-, 10.8-, and 185.2- fold reductions of lycopene, ß-carotene, and total carotenoids, respectively, compared with the control plants. Carotenoid deficiency in DC170 and DC624 was responsible for the fruit color alteration and was controlled by a dominant gene at a homozygous locus.     

Isolation,Characterization, Kinetics,and Enzymatic and Nonenzymatic Microbicidal Activities of a Novel c-Type Lysozyme from Plasma of Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

A protein, designated as Sgl, showing a muramidase lytic activity to the cell wall of the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus was isolated for the first time from plasma of Escherichia coli-immunized fifth instar Schistocerca gregaria. The isolated Sgl was detected as a single protein band, on both native- and SDS-PAGE, has a molecular weight of ∼15.7 kDa and an isoelectric point (pI) of ca 9.3 and its antiserum has specifically recognized its isolated form. Fifty-nine percentage of Sgl lytic activity was recovered in the isolated fractions and yielded ca 126-fold increase in specific activity than that of the crude. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Sgl has 55 and 40% maximum identity with Bombyx mori and Gallus gallus c-type lysozymes, respectively. The antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive and the Gram-negative bacteria were comparatively stronger than that of the hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). The detected Sgl poration to the inner membrane that reach a maximum ability after 3 h was suggested to operate as a nonenzymatic mechanism for Gram-negative bacterial cell lysis, as tested in a permease-deficient E. coli, ML-35 strain. Sgl showed a maximal muramidase activity at pH 6.2, 30–50°C, and 0.05 M Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺; and has a K_m of 0.5 μg/ml and a V_max of 0.518 with M. lysodeikticus as a substrate. The Sgl displayed a chitinase activity against chitin with a K_m of 0.93 mg/ml and a V_max of 1.63.     

Influence of alternative liquid chromatography techniques on the chemical complexity and bioactivity of isolated proanthocyanidin mixtures

Extracts rich in proanthocyanidins, which are implicated in multiple human health benefits, were comparatively separated using alternative separation methods [vacuum or open column liquid chromatography], separation matrices [Toyopearl, Sephadex, or silica gel], and degrees of subfractionation [8 or 12 subfraction series], to evaluate the influence of separation technique on the resolution of the chemical composition and the biological activity of separated proanthocyanidin mixtures in individual subfractions. Bioactivity was assessed using a DNA human topoisomerase II bioassay and structural composition by acid thiolysis (average degree of polymerization, DP) and HPLC-ESI/MS. The amount of parent fraction needed to inhibit 50% of topoisomerase II was 3.38 ng/mL with an average DP of 25.5. A 2(3) factorial analysis revealed that the vacuum and open column strategies for separation, when individually considered, did not yield significantly different results in terms of mass recovery, DP, or bioactivity; however, interactions with other factors such as matrix or subfraction series resulted in distinctive shifts in fraction profiles and biological activity. In general, Sephadex as a matrix permitted elution and separation of discrete, polymerized subfractions with potent inhibition against human topoisomerase II. Sephadex vacuum chromatography, Toyopearl open column chromatography, and Toyopearl vacuum chromatography separation techniques eluted highly polymerized proanthocyanidin mixtures, but the inhibitory bioactivity was attenuated as compared to the parent fraction, whereas Sephadex open column chromatography eluted highly polymerized subfraction mixtures that retained bioactive potential.     

Effects of Dibenzo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Dioxins/Dibenzofurans on Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Histopathology of the Body Wall of Earthworm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia andrei</Emphasis>: a Potential Biomarker for Ecotoxicity Monitoring

The polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are persistent environmental pollutants. Recently, there have been an increasing demand to assess different biomarkers as early alarming indicators of environmental pollution. This study is the first to investigate the effects of PCDD/Fs on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and histopathology of the body wall (epidermis, circular, and longitudinal muscles) of earthworm Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) using acute filter paper toxicity test. It is also exploring the selected biomarkers as a potential tool for evaluating soil quality. Earthworms were exposed to 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ng/cm² PCDD/Fs. The treated worms expressed progressive abnormal morphological signs with incrementing doses of dioxins, such as coiling, curling, and body swelling. At the highest dose, some worms demonstrated skin discoloration, loss of body segmentation, and body part detachment. The AChE activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in all treated animals compared to control. The mixture induced circular muscle hyperplasia at 0.5 ng/cm². However, the mixture at 1.5 ng/cm² caused epidermal atrophy with cell pyknosis and necrosis in all layers of the body wall. Image analysis revealed significant reduction in the thickness of the epidermis (p < 0.001) at all doses with relative to control. Herein, we report that 48 h of acute exposure of E. andrei to dioxins/furans induced morphological changes, reduced the activity of AChE, and induced histopathological alterations. The outcomes can be utilized as endpoints that could be added to earthworm’s standardized short tests for ecotoxicity studies.     

Growth performance of indigenous sheep fed Sporobolus virginicus grass hay grown in saline desert lands and irrigated with high salt content ground water

Twenty-eight indigenous ewe lambs (6 months of age and 14.4 kg body weight (BW)) were used to evaluate the effect of feeding Sporobolus grass hay (SGH) as the only source of forage on growth, and feed and water intakes. The ewe lambs were randomly and equally allocated to two treatment groups (14 lambs/group). The ewe lambs in group 1 (treatment 1) received SGH, while lambs in group 2 (treatment 2) received Rhodes grass hay (RGH) as the only source of forage. Water was available at all times for both treatment groups. Sporobolus grass was irrigated with brackish water of high salt content (20,000 ppm) and grown in saline desert lands (sabkha) in the United Arab Emirates. The average daily dry matter intake was significantly (P < .05) higher for the animals fed SGH than those fed RGH at all stages. Both water intakes per unit body gain and water intake per unit feed intake were significant (P < .05) between the two treatments group at all stages. Average daily gain did not differ significantly (P > .05) between the two groups at all stages. From these data, we conclude that SGH can replace Rhodes hay in sheep diet without significant effect on sheep performance.