Functional heterogeneity in resources within landscapes and herbivore population dynamics

Large mammalian herbivores are notorious for their propensity towards population irruptions and crashes, yet many herbivore populations remain relatively stable. I explore how resource heterogeneity within landscapes dampens population instability, using a metaphysiological modelling approach considering patch state distributions. Resource heterogeneity is functionally stabilizing through spreading consumption away from preferred resources before these become critically depleted. Lower-quality resources act as a buffer against starvation during critical periods of the seasonal cycle. Enriching resource quality is destabilizing, even if patch diversity is maintained, because food quantity then becomes the limitation. The potential consequences of landscape fragmentation are explored using the Serengeti ecosystem, characterised by broadscale resource gradients, as a hypothetical example. Further insights provided by the model are illustrated with specific examples concerning the effects of patch scales and waterpoint distribution. A metaphysiological modelling approach enables the basic consequences of landscape heterogeneity to be distinguished from further effects that may arise from specific patch scales and configurations, without the distracting detail of spatially explicit models.     

Variability and divergence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pongamia pinnata</Emphasis> for further use in tree improvement

A total of 24 candidate plus trees (CPTs) of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre. were selected to elucidate their variation and diversity based on thirteen quantitative traits (4 pod traits, 6 seed traits of parent trees and 3 progeny traits) at Forest Research Centre, Institute of Forest Productivity — Mandar, Ranchi district during 2005–2007. The results show that, CPT-19 had maximum for seven traits viz, pod length (65.6 mm), 100-pod weight (542.4 g), seed 2D (two dimension) area (351.2 mm²), seed length (27.9 mm), seed breadth (17.4 mm), 100-seed weight (217.9 g) and plant height (164.3 cm). The traits, 100-pod weight and 100-seed weight had a high heritability (98.4%, 96.9%) accompanied with high genetic advance (46.0%, 34.9%). There is a positive significant correlation between 100-pod weight and 100-seed weight traits at both genotypic and phenotypic levels with plant height, collar diameter and volume index at 30 MAS (months after sowing). Volume index expressed a moderate heritability (47.4%) accompanied with high genetic advance (48.4%), indicating that the character is governed by additive gene effects. In divergence study, 24 accessions were grouped into 6 clusters on the basis of non-hierarchical euclidian cluster analysis. The genotypes in cluster IV (CPT-5, CPT-6, CPT-7, CPT-12, CPT-16, CPT-18, CPT-22) and cluster III (CPT-4, CPT-8, CPT-9, CPT-20, CPT-21) were most heterogeneous and can be best used within group hybridization. The wide diversity exists between the cluster V and II, followed by cluster II and I and crosses between CPTs of these clusters may result in substantial segregates. It is revealed that the existence of substantial variation and diversity can be utilized for genetic resource conservation and further tree improvement programmers of the species.     

Mottle necrosis of sweet potato caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium scleroteichum</Emphasis> in Japan and varietal difference in susceptibility to the disease

Severe mottle necrosis (Shirogusare-byo in Japanese) was found on mature tubers of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Ibaraki Prefecture in October 2004. The causal organism was identified as Pythium scleroteichum hitherto unknown in Japan. Sweet potato cultivar Purple Sweet Lord was more susceptible than cultivars Beniazuma, Benimasari, Koukei-14, and Tamayutaka to the pathogen at 25°C, while this difference in the susceptibility was not clear at 15°C.     

Morphological and molecular variability among Indian isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> causing banded leaf and sheath blight in maize

Rhizoctonia solani, a devastating soil borne fungus inciting banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) disease is a constraint in maize production and improvement program. Rhizoctonia isolates collected from seven diverse maize cropping zones of India were examined for morphological and molecular variability. All the tested isolates caused symptoms of BLSB on maize and were also cross infective on rice and sugarcane hosts, but showed significant variability in hyphal diameter, mean hyphal cell size, weight, size and distribution of scleorotia, culture pigmentation, incubation period, pathogenicity and expression of symptoms. Neighbour joining cluster analysis placed the 62 isolates of R. solani into four major groups, A, B, C and D. Group A was more diverse and included isolates of diverse agro-ecological zones. The cluster analysis corresponded well with principle component analysis. Pathogenicity testing of R. solani isolates on maize genotype (CM 501) revealed highly variable virulence pattern of the pathogen population suggesting its high evolutionary potential, and hence adaptability to diverse geographical regions. The study reveals a strong evidence of inherent potential of the R. solani isolates to survive in diverse ecological zones and its probable spread to other maize cultivars across India. Sequence comparisons of the internal transcribed sequence-ribosomal DNA region of 62 isolates did not reveal much diversity among the isolates. Majority of the isolates (n?=?61) clustered together with anastomosis group (AG) AG1-IA used as reference strain in the phylogram, distinct from AG1-IB, AG2–2IIIB and Waitea circinata used as reference strains. BLSB isolates representing distinct geographical locations shared identical sequences indicating long-distance dispersal of the pathogen. The study confirms that the genetic flexibility of the pathogen allows for its adaptation to variable ecological niches and long-distance introduction of new genotypes into the region. The study emphasizes that epidemiological studies may complement the molecular studies.     

VA菌根真菌对石灰性土壤不同形态磷酸盐有效性的影响

用32P示踪法研究了VA菌根真菌对石灰性土壤不同形态磷酸盐有效性的影响。结果表明，VA菌很真菌显著增加了玉米吸收肥料和土壤的磷量。菌根植物和非菌根植物都可不同程度地吸收利用土壤中的Ca2-P、Ca8-P、Fe-P和Al-P，VA菌根真菌增加了玉米对它们的吸收。试验结果还表明，施Ca10-P时接种VA菌很真菌对玉米生长的促进作用比施用其它磷酸盐明显，但Ca10-P不能直接被玉米植株所利用。说明VA菌根真菌能提高土壤中的有效性磷（Ca2-P和Al-P）和缓效性磷（Ca8-P和Fe-P）的有效性。     

A Tal-Ph<Superscript>I</Superscript> wheat genetic stock facilitates efficient alien introgression

The genetic stock Chinese Spring Ph^I (refer as CS-Ph^I hereafter) with the Ph ^I gene (Ph gene inhibitor, introduced from a high-pairing accession of Aegilops speltoides) was crossed as a male parent to a Tai-gu genic male-sterile wheat with the Tal gene and backcrossed once to CS-Ph^I to develop the Tal-Ph^I genetic stock. The Tal-Ph^I stock, CS-Ph^I as well as Chinese Spring (CS), were test-crossed using Aegilops peregrina (syn. Aegilops variabilis) to test the effectiveness of the Ph ^I gene inducing homoeologous chromosome pairing in the Tal-Ph^I stock. At meiotic I(MI) of pollen mother cells (PMCs), the average chromosome pairing of the TC₁ testcrosses of TalCSPh^IC_08–4/Ae. peregrina, TalCSPh^IC_11–5/Ae. peregrina and CS/Ae. peregrina was 26.81 I + 3.64 II + 0.33  + 0.07 III + 0.01 IV, 24.75 I + 4.58 II + 0.25  + 0.21 III + 0.07 IV and 32.25 I + 1.38 II, respectively. These data indicated that the Ph ^I gene could promote homoeologous chromosome pairing in the Tai-gu male sterile background. In order to verify the introgression of the chromatin from Ae. speltoides into CS in the three CS-Ph^I lines, a total of 79 SSR primers located on group-3 chromosomes were used for PCR analysis using the genomic DNA of CS, Ae. speltoides and the three CS-Ph^I lines. Two markers Xwmc505 _-110 and Xwmc674 _-160 amplified S genome-specific fragments from Ae. speltoides in lines Ph^IC_04–13 and Ph^IC_11–5, providing molecular evidence for the introgression of Ae. speltoides-specific chromatin in the two lines. Furthermore, some 3D-specifc SSR markers were missing in line Ph^IC_04–13, indicating there might be a deletion of chromosome 3D in this line. In further experiments, a BC₁ population was produced from the cross of Tal-Ph^I/Triticum durum-Dasypyrum villosum amphiploid (AABBVV)//CS-Ph^I, and the progenies were further screened for chromosome recombination by GISH analysis. A homozygous translocation line T5VS·5VL-5DL was identified from the BC₁F₂ by genomic in situ hybridization, C-banding and SSR analysis. The results of the present study demonstrate the Tal-Ph^I is a useful genetic stock for transferring alien genes into common wheat.     

用Nested-PCR检测广西黄皮与九里香黄龙病病原

摘要：运用nested-PCR技术对广西黄皮和九里香进行柑桔黄龙病（Citrus Huanglongbing, HLB）检测,结果表明：从部分黄皮和九里香样品抽提的DNA中,可扩增出一条特异性的400 bp条带,说明广西种植的黄皮和九里香均可感染黄龙病;在柑桔黄龙病疫区,黄皮和九里香黄龙病感染率分别为35.0%和40.0%。     

Influence of biofilm on the production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Farfantepenaeus paulensis</Emphasis> in pens in the Patos Lagoon estuary

The objective of the present work was to determine the influence of artificial substrates that increase the area for biofilm development on the production performance of Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles in pens. Shrimp were stocked at a density of 20/m² in pen structures (bottom area?=?50 m²) that were installed in the Patos Lagoon estuary. Two treatments with three repetitions were analyzed, where artificial substrates (polyethylene nets—1-mm mesh size) were added to increase the area for biofilm development by 100%, and where no substrates were added. During the experimental period, the biomass and the composition of the biofilm were assessed. After 86 days of rearing, no significant differences were found in shrimp performance between the treatments (p?>?0.05). However, the examination of the chlorophyll a, dry weight, and composition of the biofilm indicated that the shrimp were actively consuming the biofilm attached to the artificial substrates. Significant decreases in the abundances of nematodes >?500 μm after the 56th day and of tintinnids and rotifers between day 28 and day 42, indicated that the shrimp were selectively predating on these organisms. Moreover, a decrease in the chlorophyll a concentration in the biofilm suggests that the shrimp were consuming the microalgae. Although the increase in the area for biofilm development did not improve shrimp performance, the shrimp presented the highest growth rates when they consumed most of the biofilm microorganisms.     

油菜田看麦娘对精喹禾灵的抗性水平及抗性机理研究

采用培养皿种子萌发法和盆栽法测定了湖南省境内长沙市、永州市、常德市、益阳市、浏阳市、岳阳市、娄底市7个市州10个地区油菜田看麦娘潜在抗药性种群对精喹禾灵的抗性水平, 测定了常德市桃源地区看麦娘潜在抗药性种群以及敏感种群谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GSTs)对精喹禾灵的敏感性, 对桃源地区看麦娘抗性品系及敏感品系ACCase基因片段进行扩增和测序, 比较了两种生物型的基因序列。培养皿种子萌发法测定结果表明：常德市桃源地区看麦娘抗药性生物型对精喹禾灵的抗性水平最高, 抗性倍数为10.50倍, 其他地区看麦娘抗性倍数在2.01~7.09 倍之间, 抗性水平不明显; 盆栽法测定结果表明：桃源地区看麦娘抗性倍数最高, 为25.30倍, 其他地区看麦娘抗性倍数在2.43~9.47倍之间, 尚未产生明显抗药性。经精喹禾灵处理后, 看麦娘抗药性生物型的GSTs活力在第5天明显高于敏感生物型, 表明GSTs的活性是引起看麦娘对精喹禾灵抗性的重要因子。通过靶标基因片段扩增与DNA测序比对发现, 抗药性生物型氨基酸序列第93位比敏感生物型多出一个丙氨酸, 抗药性的产生与靶标基因的突变是否相关需要进行进一步验证。     

Bayesian estimation of cluster-level test accuracy based on different sampling schemes

We develop Bayesian models to estimate cluster-level test characteristics, sensitivity, specificity, prevalence, and predictive values, based on four different sampling schemes: a single test case and three sequential test cases. The corresponding cluster-level characteristics are calculated and compared for different sample sizes, sampling schemes, individual-level sensitivities, specificities, and cut-off values. We compared posterior estimates of individual-level and cluster-level characteristics for these four sampling schemes with simulated data. Two illustrations, one for Johne’s disease in cattle and another for Salmonella in pig herds, are used to demonstrate application of the methods.