Characterization of the LH peak after short and long fixed‐time artificial insemination protocols in sheep raised in the tropics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the peak in luteinizing hormone (LH) and the pregnancy rate of sheep (Texel × Santa Inês) in the tropics using short‐ (6 days) and long‐term (12 days) progesterone protocols followed by artificial insemination (AI) both in and out of the breeding season. Experiment 1 was conducted within (IN) the breeding season (autumn, n = 36), and experiment 2 was conducted outside (OUT) of the breeding season (spring, n = 43). In each experiment, the sheep were divided into two groups (6 or 12 days) according to the duration of treatment with a single‐use progesterone release vaginal device (CIDR^®, Pfizer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil), and blood samples were collected from 10 animals per group every 4 hr to measure the LH and progesterone concentrations. In the spring, the characteristics of the LH peak did not differ between groups; but in the autumn, there were differences between groups at the beginning (G‐6 IN: 36.44 ± 5.46 hr; G‐12 IN: 26.57 ± 4.99 hr) and end of the LH peak (G‐6 IN: 46.22 ± 7.51 hr; G‐12 IN: 34.86 ± 8.86 hr). The results showed alterations in the LH peak during the breeding season only in the sheep undergoing the short‐term protocol.     

PP333对中晚熟水蜜桃品种生长结果影响的研究

对3个中晚熟品种进行不同浓度PP333处理,每品种设每株叶面喷施PP3338000mg/L、10000 mg/L、12000 mg/L和喷清水对照4个处理,单株为一小区,重复3次,随机区组设计,处理1分 2次喷,第一次在5月9日,第二次在6月9日,其余在5月9日喷1次。研究表明,PP333能极显著地抑制枝梢生长。从控制枝梢生长、产量提高、果实形状及圆整度、花芽形成等综合性状分析,4年生大团蜜露以每株喷PP33312000 mg/L、5年生湖景蜜露和6年生西浦1号以每株PP3338000 mg/L喷2次的处理效果最好。     

组合机构在插秧机分插机构设计中的应用

传统的插秧机分插机构的设计选用单一的机构，由于其性能的限制，在设计时只能根据秧爪运动轨迹，取秧与插秧角度来设计插秧机分插机构，但分插机构的设计还应该考虑在各关键位置及各工作段时秧爪尖的运动速度，只有同时考虑这两方面的需要，才能设计出性能良好的分插机构，文章采用空间RSSR机构与平面连杆机的组合机构来实现这一目的。     

Map- vs. homology-based cloning for the recessive gene ol-2 conferring resistance to tomato powdery mildew

The recessive gene ol-2 confers papilla-associated and race-non-specific resistance to tomato powdery mildew caused by Oidium neolycopersici. In order to facilitate marker assisted selection (MAS) in practical breeding programmes, we identified two simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and one cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker which are linked to the resistance locus and co-dominantly inherited. Aiming to provide a base for ol-2 positional cloning, we used a large segregating F₂ population to merge these markers with all the ol-2 linked amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP^®) markers previously identified in an integrated genetic map. By screening a tomato bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, we detected two BAC clones containing two expressed sequence tags (ESTs) homologous to the gene mlo, responsible for powdery mildew resistance in barley, as well as an ol-2-linked marker. Chromosomal mapping by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) revealed major signals of the two BAC DNAs in the pericentromeric heterochromatin of the short arm of chromosome 4, in the same region where the ol-2 gene was previously mapped. The genetic and cytogenetic co-localisation between ol-2 and tomato mlo-homologue(s), in addition to the similarity of ol-2 and mlo resistances for both genetic and phytopathological characteristics, suggests that ol-2 is likely a mlo-homologue. Thus, a homology-based cloning approach could be more suitable than positional cloning for ol-2 isolation.     

Determination and persistence of imazalil in post-harvest-treated apples during cold storage

A method to determine imazalil (allyl 1 -(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-2-imidazol- 1-ylethyl ether) on apples using high performance liquid chromatography is described. After harvest, fruits were immersed in an aqueous suspension (1 g litre-1) and cold stored (0-2°C) at 85-90% r.h. Samples were taken monthly and imazalil was determined in the peel, outer pulp, inner pulp and on whole fruit. Residues were 3.8-4.9 mg imazalil kg-1 and decreased during storage. Most imazalil was found on the peel and amounts in the pulp decreased toward the core.     

多价伊氏锥虫灭活疫苗制备及免疫保护试验

用湖北株、广西株和江苏株伊氏锥虫经体外培养增殖，再等量混合，制备多价伊氏锥虫灭活苗。疫苗免疫接种小鼠后，再分别用强毒湖北株、广西株和江苏株伊氏锥虫攻击，结果3组小鼠均获12／12保护。免疫保护鼠于免疫后105d时，再作第二次攻虫，结果湖北、广西和江苏组分别获得1／5，3／5，4／5保护，对照组小鼠均100％发病死亡。结果表明多价伊氏锥虫灭活苗对多种虫株均产生了良好免疫保护作用，免疫期达3个月，从而为大面积推广伊氏锥虫病苗提供了有效途径。     

Comanagement for aquaculture: Suggestions from a comparative study between two major production areas of milkfish in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

This study examined if, and how, comanagement is effective in controlling aquaculture industry in the municipalities of Anda and Bolinao in the province of Pangasinan, in the Philippines, the locations of two major production areas of milkfish (Chanos chanos) in the country. Institutional and community analyses conducted in these study sites revealed a unique hierarchy of resource users, as well as unique social and economic problems in aquaculture, distinct from those of capture fishery. It was also indicated that comanagement is seen as a solution for essential practices to be enforced practically and sustainably for the management of this industry. To improve aquaculture governance, it is desired that the comanagement scheme shall include not only the governments and fishers but also business operators who often have large capital and a high degree of power.     

Influence of inorganic and organic fertilization on soil microbial biomass, metabolic quotient and heavy metal bioavailability

 We studied the long-term effects (12 years) of municipal refuse compost addition on the total organic carbon (TOC), the amount and activity of the microbial biomass (soil microbial biomass C, B_C and metabolic quotient qCO₂) and heavy metal bioavaiability in soils as compared to manuring with mineral fertilizers (NPK) and farmyard manure (FYM). In addition, we studied the relationships between among the available fraction [Diethylenetriaminopentacetic acid (DTPA) extractable] of heavy metals and their total content, TOC and B_C. After 12 years of repeated treatments, the TOC and B_C of control and mineral fertilized plots did not differ. Soils treated with FYM and composts showed a significant increase in TOC and B_C in response to the increasing amounts of organic C added. Values of the B_C/TOC ratio ranged from 1.4 to 2, without any significative differences among soil treatments. The qCO₂ increased in the organic-amended soil and may have indicated microbial stress. The total amounts of metals in treated soils were lower than the levels permitted by the European Union in agricultural soils. DTPA-extractable metals increased in amended soils in response to organic C. A multiple regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables was carried out in order to discriminate between the influence exerted on DTPA-extractable metals by their total content, TOC and B_C. Results showed that each metal behaved quite differently, suggesting that different mechanisms might be involved in metal bioavailability Received: 31 October 1997