Mycoherbicides: Opportunities for genetic manipulation

Possibilities of using genetic manipulation to improve the effectiveness of mycoherbicides are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to fungal genes involved in the production of specialised structures essential for colonisation and reproduction in pathogenesis and in regulating pathogen specificity. Example are given of relevant genetic transformations in fungi which have already been achieved. In the short term, manipulation of genes encoding for specific enzymes or toxins is considered to be the most promising approach for improving mycoherbicide performance.     

Ambient temperature and relative humidity influenced packed cell volume, total plasma protein and other variables in horses during an incremental submaximal field exercise test.

Thermoregulation may limit exercise performance under hot and humid conditions. This study compared heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (Tr), packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein concentration (TPP) during a submaximal incremental field exercise test under high vs. low ambient temperature and relative humidity. Ten horses were tested 3 times in summer (July) and 3 times in autumn (September). Heart rate was measured continuously, the other variables at rest and immediately after 4 min at 3.5, 4.5 and 7.0 m/s, separated by 3 min rest intervals, and after 5 and 10 min recovery. Data for all variables were significantly greater during exercise and recovery in the hot vs. cool conditions, respectively: after 4 min at 7.0 m/s, HR was 135+/-1 and 123+/-1/min (P<0.0001), Tr was 39.0+/-0.06 and 38.0+/-0.05 degrees C (P<0.0001), RR was 99+/-3 and 50+/-3/min (P<0.0001), PCV was 48.8+/-0.06 and 42.1+/-0.3% (P<0.0001) and TPP was 7.7+/-0.14 and 7.6+/-0.12 g/l (P = 0.026). These data reflect the thermal burden during submaximal exercise under hot conditions in the field. The greater relative PCV increase in the heat probably conferred a thermoregulatory advantage and reflected a greater circulating red cell volume increase rather than a decrease of plasma volume. This study illustrates how differences in environmental conditions can affect assessment of exercise responses and how these factors must be considered in monitoring progress during fitness and acclimatisation regimes in the field.     

Thiabendazole as an anthelmintic against Hyostrongylus rubidus and Oesophagostomum dentatum in pigs

Extract

These, of course, are the well-known opening lines from the play Under Milk Wood, by the celebrated poet and author Dylan Thomas. These magic words of that illustrious Celt open the prelude of a play for voices that reveals attitudes to living, shades of so-called morality, and sides of human nature unknown to the casual observer: important sides for those who wish to face life in its genuine perspective.     

Metabolic epidermal necrosis in a dog associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, hyperglucagonaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hypoaminoacidaemia

A case of metabolic epidermal necrosis associated with a pancreatic carcinoma is described. Normoglycaemia, reduced serum fructosamine, and hypoaminoacidaemia were identified. Hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglucagonaemia were documented. Immunohistochemistry documented strong tumour expression of both insulin and glucagon supporting combined paraneoplastic production of both hormones by the tumour. Enteral protein and fatty acid supplementation and parenteral amino acid supplementation proved ineffective. Metastasis to regional lymph nodes was identified and the patient was euthanased.     

Improving grass silage production with controlled traffic farming (CTF): agronomics,system design and economics

Grassland silage management is generally semi-organised with no conscious attempt to re-use wheel ways as with arable fields. The total number of machine passes can be 15 or more with normal traffic (NT) systems resulting in potentially large areas of a field suffering from direct damage to the crop and soil. Literature suggests there can be grass dry matter yield reductions of 5 to 74% under NT through compaction and sward damage, with a mean of 13% in the UK. Commercially available grass forage equipment with widths of 3 to 12 m set up for controlled traffic farming (CTF) could reduce trafficked areas (which is typically 90% to 80% for NT) to 40% to 13% for CTF. This study compared grass dry matter yield between CTF and NT for a three-cut silage system based on a 9 m working width in a permanent silage field in the southwest of Scotland, UK in 2015. Results showed a 13.5% (0.80 t ha^?1) increase in yield for CTF for the 2nd and 3rd cuts combined. The CTF trafficked area covered was 57% less than the NT system (30.4% compared to 87.4%) over the three silage cuts. An economic analysis based on a 13% increase in dry matter yield (for 2- and 3-cut systems) and a reduction in trafficked area from 80% (for NT) to between 45% and 15% (for CTF), increased the yield by between 0.53 t ha^?1 and 1.36 t ha^?1 for 2- and 3-cut systems, respectively with an equivalent grass value of between £38 ha^?1 and £98 ha^?1. Introducing CTF for a multi-cut grass silage system is cost-effective by increasing yields due to a reduction in compaction and sward damage.