Use of herbicide-resistant genic male sterility in hybrid rice seed production

One of the difficult problems in hybrid rice seed production is the low outcrossing frequency and requirement for much labor to produce hybrid seeds. In order to simplify the process of hybrid rice seed production, herbicide-resistant photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile (HRPGMS) rice was utilized in this study. The herbicide resistance gene bar was transferred into the photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile (PGMS) rice 920S by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and the HRPGMS line YA3530ms with good agronomic characteristics was bred by applying conventional pedigree breeding technique. The seeds of HRPGMS and pollen parent were mixed with the ratio of 4:1 in weight, and were sowed in seedling box. The mixed seedlings of HRPGMS and pollen parent grown for 30 days were transplanted by the small transplanting machine in the field. The herbicide glufosinate ammonium was sprayed at 7 days after flowering to kill all the plants of pollen parent, whereas hybrid seeds were harvested from the survived HRPGMS parent at maturity. The outcrossing frequency of HRPGMS line from two combinations in 2002 and from five combinations in 2004 were compared with a control cultivated by the conventional 2-line system. As the result, the mean outcrossing frequency in HRPGMS of the treatments were 10.6–24.5% compared with 5.5% in PGMS of the control in 2002, and that were 24.7–32.0% compared with 7.5% in the control in 2004. Consequently, using HRPGMS in two-line system was proved to be a new method that would simplify the process of hybrid rice seed production and to increase outcrossing frequency without any artificial supplementary pollination processes.     

Community forestry for poverty alleviation in China with reference to Huoshan County,Anhui Province

Increasing attention has been paid to the question of whether and how community forestry links with poverty reduction in the mountainous regions in developing countries. Household-based community forestry was first implemented in Yunnan and spread over other parts of China in the 1980s. In this forestry management system, rural households are the main actors. Household forestry is a form of small-scale community forestry and suits the rural areas of China, where social overhead capital and skilled human resources are lacking. Community forestry has played a remarkable role in guiding and facilitating rural poverty alleviation in Huoshan County, Anhui Province. This paper describes how the community forestry project in Huoshan County has helped the farmers improve their livelihoods through the creation of a forestry model involving science and technology demonstration households and independent farmers’ organisations. The sustainable poverty alleviation model developed in Huoshan has proved to be effective in poverty alleviation and environmental protection, featuring the participatory forestry components of the project, namely household forestry, science and technology demonstration households, and independent farmers’ organisations. With technological and financial aid from government, the local farmers were able and willing to establish this small-scale forestry management system, planting fast-growing multiple-use tree species with substantial economic benefits.     

Visitors�� Attitudes Towards and Willingness-to-Pay for Hypothetical Hoop Pine Plantations on the Pastoral Southern Atherton Tablelands, Australia

The southern Atherton Tablelands comprises diverse green spaces??meadows, croplands, woodlots and rainforest??which are integrated into a large-scale tablelands landscape. This paper examines visitors?? perceptions of the landscape of the southern Atherton Tablelands as a form of public good and their reaction to a hypothetical alteration to the landscape of the tablelands region by establishing small-scale hoop pine plantations on degraded lands. A survey conducted in 2005 indicated that the hoop pine plantations would not reduce the public enjoyment of the tablelands landscape. From the pairwise comparisons of vegetation types, it was found that the sample of tourists statistically equally preferred the ??grazing land?? and the ??hoop pine plantation??. In contrast, the local residents were found to prefer the ??grazing land?? to the ??hoop pine plantation??, at the 5% significance level. From a double-bounded contingent valuation study, it was found that the tourists were willing to pay A$13.82 per room per visit on average to support the establishment of hoop pine plantations on the southern Atherton Tablelands whereas local residents were willing to pay A$7.86 per year for the next 5?years for the same project.     

Analysis of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis isolated from human and chickens by repetitive sequence-PCR fingerprinting, antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles

A total of 22 Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) strains isolated from human and chicken were subjected to DNA fingerprinting by repetitive sequence PCR using ERIC and BOX primers, antibiotic resistance and plasmid patterns. Both ERIC and BOX PCR amplification data revealed a highly genetic homogeneity between isolates from human and chicken except one isolate, which originated from chicken and showed a different DNA band pattern from others. Eleven of 22 S. Enteritidis isolates (50%) were resistant to more than one antibiotics and characterized by 5 resistance patterns. The most common pattern was penicillin resistant (63.6%). Only one isolate from chicken showed a multiple drug resistance patterns to 4 antibiotics. All 22 S. Enteritidis isolates harbored more than two plasmids with eight different plasmid profiles including two to six plasmids with approximate molecular size ranging from 1.9 to 21 kb. A band of 15 kb size was detected in all isolates tested, however, the band sizes smaller than 15 kb were found only in isolates from chicken.     

Induction of bulb maturity of Ornithogalum thyrsoides

The influence of bulb maturity at bulb harvest on growth and flowering response of Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jacq. ‘Chesapeake Starlight’ was investigated. Experiments were designed to determine if bulb maturity can be induced by bulb storage temperatures and whether bulb maturity can be evaluated by flowering responses. Bulbs with all senesced leaves at harvest were considered “mature” or with emerging young leaves and re-growing young roots were considered “immature”. Bulbs were potted after 0, 3, and 6 weeks of 30 °C or 2 weeks of 10 °C given either in the middle or at the end of 6 weeks of 30 °C. Mature bulbs, as compared to immature bulbs, took longer for leaves to emerge when control bulbs that did not receive any temperature treatment after harvest were planted upon harvest. Leaf emergence of the immature bulbs was significantly earlier than that of the mature bulbs. Mature bulbs which received 30 °C for 3 weeks (30 °C/3 week) flowered 31 days faster than immature bulbs and all bulbs flowered. Leaf emergence and flowering of mature and immature bulbs that received 30 °C/6 weeks or 2 weeks of 10 °C in the middle of 6 weeks of 30 °C (30 °C/2 weeks–10 °C/2 week–30 °C/3 weeks) did not differ from each other. Maturity can be induced by storing immature bulbs at 30 °C/6 weeks. Maturity, as evaluated by flowering percentage and days from leaf emergence to flowering, can be induced in O. thyrsoides. Immature bulbs can, therefore, be harvested for later forcing as long as bulbs are treated with 30 °C/6 weeks. It is proposed that maturity can be correlated with the speed of flowering and bulbs can be harvested at immature physiological state for forcing. Postharvest high-temperature treatment can be used to force immature bulbs that were harvested before the senescence of the leaves.     

Immunolocalization of anion exchanger 1 (Band 3) in the renal collecting duct of the common marmoset

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and distribution of band 3 in the collecting duct and connecting tubules of the kidney of the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus), and to establish whether band 3 is expressed in type A intercalated cells. The intracellular localization of band 3 in the different populations of intercalated cells was determined by double-labeling immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical microscopy demonstrated that band 3 is located in the basolateral plasma membranes of all type A intercalated cells in the connecting tubule (CNT), cortical collecting duct (CCD), and outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) of the marmoset. However, type B intercalated cells and non-A/non-B intercalated cells did not show band 3 labeling. Electron microscopy of the CNT, CCD and OMCD confirmed the light microscopic observation of the basolateral plasma membrane staining for band 3 in a subpopulation of interacted cells. Basolateral staining was seen on the plasma membrane and small coated vesicles in the perinuclear structure, some of which were located in the Golgi region. In addition, there was no labeling of band 3 in the mitochondria of the CNT, CCD and in OMCD cells. The intensity of the immunostaining of the basolateral membrane was less in the CNT than in the CCD and OMCD. In contrast, band 3 immunoreactivity was greater in the intracellular vesicles of the CNT. From these results, we suggest that the basolateral Cl^-/HCO₃^- exchanger in the monkey kidney is in a more active state in the collecting duct than in the CNT.     

Applicability of vital staining and tissue clearing to vascular anatomy and melanocytes' evaluation of temporal bone in six laboratory species

The purpose of the present study was to define the applicability of tissue clearing to the field of otology. We combined tissue clearing with vital staining perfusion via a pumping system to examine the vascular anatomy of temporal bones in laboratory animals. We used six different types of species including Korean wild mouse, mouse, Mongolian gerbil, hamsters and Guinea pigs. A mixture of Alcian blue reagent and 4% paraformaldehyde was circulated throughout the entire circulatory system of the animal via a perfusion pump system. Transparency images were obtained from the temporal bones according to the protocol of the SunHyun 3D Imaging Kit. In examining the inner surface of the tympanic membrane, flaccid part (pars flaccida) was positioned along the entire marginal area in Guinea pig. In the Guinea pig, unlike the other species, the cortical bone of the mastoid (bullae) was easily removed using cold instruments, allowing a direct approach to the enclosed structures. The distribution and pattern of cochlea melanocytes were compared among the species. “Mobius strip”‐like accumulated melanocytes in vestibules were shown in both the Korean wild mouse and mouse. The collateral blood supply to the cochlea in six different species was checked in various pattern. Combining dye infusion with tissue‐clearing techniques, we documented the middle ear and transparent inner ear structures in six different species. The information and associated images will help other researchers to develop hypotheses and design experimental investigations.     

Reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets in healthy Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and Holstein dairy cattle

There are no accurate reference ranges for hematology parameters and lymphocyte subsets in Korean native beef cattle (Hanwoo). This study was performed to establish reliable reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets using a large number of Hanwoo cattle (n = 350) and to compare differences between Hanwoo and Holstein dairy cattle (n = 334). Additionally, age‐related changes in lymphocyte subsets were studied. Bovine leukocyte subpopulation analysis was performed using mono or dual color flow cytometry. The leukocyte subpopulations investigated in healthy cattle included: CD2⁺ cells, sIgM⁺ cells, MHC class II⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells, and WC1⁺ cells. Although Hanwoo and Holstein cattle are the same species, results showed several differences in hematology and lymphocyte subsets between Hanwoo and Holstein cattle. This study is the first report to establish reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets in adult Hanwoo cattle.     

Testing an ecological model for transmission of Salmonella enterica in swine production ecosystems using genotyping data

An ecological model for transmission of Salmonella enterica in swine production ecosystems was developed, identifying host species, environmental reservoirs, and temporal, spatial, and functional (i.e., stage of production) dimensions. It was hypothesized that transmission was most likely within spatial and functional compartments, between hosts of the same species and abiotic compartments of the same type. Eighteen swine production systems in Illinois, USA, were sampled in four collection cycles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003). There were 11,873 samples collected, including feces from swine and other mammals and birds, and samples from insects, pen floors, boots, feed, and water. The 460 Salmonella isolates obtained were genotyped using repetitive sequence PCR with three primers—REP, BOX, and ERIC. All isolates from 2000 and 2003 were serotyped, as well as a subsample from 1998 and 1998. Genetic relatedness was estimated from the similarity of fragmentation patterns after gel electrophoresis of PCR products. Cluster analysis identified genetically related isolates. Linking of isolates in tight clusters (similarity ≥85%) was viewed as evidence for transmission. Five farms had a sufficient number of tight clusters for hypothesis testing. The factors most differentiating isolates genetically were farm of origin and time of sampling. Isolates were also differentiated genetically by site, building, room, and pen. There was no consistent association of genotype with stage of production or host/environment reservoir. Serotype analysis confirmed that Salmonella lineages were differentiated by visit and site. Thus, Salmonella transmission was primarily over short distances, i.e., within the same pen or room, with some transmission between rooms and buildings on the same site, but with limited transmission between sites. Transmission was observed across a variety of ecological niches represented by different host species and environmental reservoirs. Genetic differences over time reflected multiple introductions into the ecosystem of different Salmonella genotypes, as well as evolutionary changes within lineages. Intervention strategies to reduce Salmonella prevalence within swine production ecosystems would be best targeted at maintaining spatial barriers to transmission, whereas intervention targeted at specific biological hosts or environmental reservoirs is less likely to be effective.