Effect of plant roots on the germination of microsclerotia ofVerticillium dahliae

Induction of germination of microsclerotia by exudates from plant roots may be important for the control ofV. dahliae. Laboratory experiments with root observation boxes were carried out to assess the influence of root tips of seven crop species and cultivars on the germination of microsclerotia ofVerticillium dahliae in soil under controlled conditions. The root density of crops was measured in a field experiment. The results of the laboratory experiments and the field experiment were combined to estimate the total effect of crops on the population of microsclerotia in the field. Germination of microsclerotia was stimulated by all crops compared to a control without a crop. Among crops, roots of potato cvs Element and Astarte had a larger stimulation effect on microsclerotia than that of potato Ostara, pea, flax, sugar beet or onion. The number of hyphae per microsclerotium decreased with distance from the root surface regardless of the crop species or cultivar. Differences in root densities, in the affected root zones and in the stimulation effect on germination of microsclerotia caused large differences among crops in the effect on the population of microsclerotia in the soil. However, growing a rop with the special purpose to reduce the level ofV. dahliae inoculum in the soil is an inefficient control measure, because only a small part of the total soil volume is affected by roots and the number of hyphae per microscleroium affected is too low.Abbreviations MS microsclerotia, microsclerotium     

Effect of planting density of maize on the progress and spread of northern leaf blight fromExserohilum turcicum infested residue source

Effect of plant density (37,037, 44,444 and 55,555 plants/ha) on the increase of northern leaf blight in time and space on two maize cultivars planted at spacings of 90, 75 and 60 between rows and 30 cm within rows was investigated.Exserohilum turcicum infested maize residue was used as an inoculum source. Maize density did not significantly affect the disease indices, but significantly influenced the grain yield of the two cultivars. In contrast, the two cultivars differed significantly (P0.01) in disease severity, but not grain yield. Higher disease severities and grain yields were associated with higher plant densities, whereas the apparent infection rate was lower in higher plant density. Distance from the maize residue (inoculum source) significantly influenced disease severity. The percentage leaf area blighted, area under disease progress curve and disease progress curve intercept decreased with distance from the maize residue area, but the apparent infection rate on EV8429-SR appeared to increase with distance. Disease gradients (b) were higher in closely planted maize and flattened with time in one location only.     

Permeability of the endothelium and partitioning of the pulmonary blood flow resistance in isolated perfused pig lungs: Effects of breed and age

The right and left lungs of 5 healthy Minipigs and of 13 healthy Landrace piglets were isolated, perfused at constant pressure and maintained in an isogravimetric state under zone III conditions (pulmonary venous pressure>alveolar pressure). By applying the double, arterial and venous, occlusion technique, the total blood flow resistance (R _t) was partitioned into four components: arterial (R _a), pre-(R _a) and post-capillary (R _v) and venous (R _v). The capillary filtration coefficient (K _f,c) was evaluated by measuring the weight gained by the lungs when the arterial and venous pressures were suddenly increased. In the youngest Landrace piglets (5 weeks old), there was an uncontrolled vasoconstriction which sometimes prevented perfusion of the lungs and induced a large increase inR _t. These high values ofR _t were decreased by tolazoline administration. The values ofR _t recorded in older pigs (12–13 weeks old) were lower in Minipigs (33.66±3.77 cmH₂O min L^–1 per 100 g of lungs;n=5) than in Landrace piglets (55.20±6.18 cmH₂O min L^–1 per 100 g;n=5). This breed difference was due to the differences inR _a andR _v. The mean values ofK _f,c were 0.193±0.015 and 0.202±0.029 ml min (cmH₂O)^–1 per 100 g of the lungs in Minipigs and Landrace piglets respectively. All these parameters were stable for the 3 hours following the equilibrium period. It was concluded that: (1) There is an age-related maturation of the control of the vasomotor tone in porcine lungs. (2) Pulmonary microvascular haemodynamics are influenced by the breed of the pigs. (3) There was no difference in theK _f,c values between both the breeds. (4) A comparison of the values reported for dogs and rabbits with our data shows that the pre- and post-capillary resistances and, to a lesser extent, the arterial and venous resistances are relatively high in pigs.     

Weeding techniques in transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in Pakistan

Field studies were undertaken to explore the weed management strategies for transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in the Dera Ismail Khan district of North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of two planting techniques (transplantation and direct seeding), while weed control practises assigned to the subplots included the use of the granular herbicide Sunstar 15WG (ethoxy sulfuron), Machete 60EC (butachlor), conventional hand weeding, and the weedy check (untreated control). Data were recorded on weed dynamics and the agronomic parameters of the rice crop. Economic analyses on the data were also run. The weed density and biomass were lower in the transplantation plots than the direct-seeding plots. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor reduced the density over the weedy check, with a density comparable to hand weeding in 2002, but slightly higher in 2003. As a result of weed management by hand weeding and herbicides, the paddy yield and its components were significantly higher for the transplanted method compared to the direct-seeded method. The comparable yield of herbicides with hand weeding offers an option for the use of herbicides as an alternative management tool. In light of our findings, it is concluded that for good economic returns, rice crops may be transplanted rather than direct-seeded. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor offer a weed control cover comparable with hand weeding under the transplantation method, while butachlor is good for controlling weeds even under the direct-seeded conditions in the agroclimatic conditions of the area.     

Stress parameters and immune response of layers under different cage floor and density conditions

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of cage floor and cage density on stress parameters of laying hens. A total of 162 brown laying hens (Hyline Brown), aged 34 weeks, were used in the experiment. Compact-type battery cages, with three floors, were used. Hens were allocated as one, three or five hens in each of 18 cages to obtain three different cage density groups of 1968, 656 and 393.8 cm² floor area per hen, respectively. The same number of cages with different cage density were allocated to three different battery floors (first floor=top, second=middle, third=bottom) systematically. Values for body weight, mortality rate, egg weight, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol content, the levels of blood plasma corticosterone, serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H-L ratio), antibody titers, claw length score, foot health score, plumage score and throat skin injuries were taken as indicators of stress. The values for egg weight (P<0.01) at the first floor were greater than the other floor levels. The group with five hens per cage had significantly lower mean estimates (P<0.01) than other groups with respects to body weight (P<0.001), egg production (P<0.001), egg weight (P<0.001) and plumage score (P<0.01), while significantly higher mean estimates for egg albumen index (P<0.01), Haugh unit (P<0.01), serum glucose (P<0.001), and H-L ratio (P<0.001). Serum cholesterol was higher in cages with one hen than that with five hens, whereas plasma corticosterone was lower. Antibody titers in cages with one hen was similar to that with three or five hens; however, those with three hens had higher titers than those with five hens. Values for egg breaking strength, yolk index, egg cholesterol content, and foot health score were not affected by cage density or floor. The results suggest that the allocation of three hens per cage had no measurable effect on health and welfare.     

摄入不同能量的围产期乳牛肝低密度脂蛋白受体mRNA丰度的比较

将30头健康、经产、处于围产期的黑白花乳牛随机分为3组，每组10头。从产前28d开始，低能量组乳牛饲喂《中国奶牛饲养标准（2000）》减少20％日粮（能量摄入80％），对照组乳牛饲喂《标准》日粮（能量摄入100％），高能量组乳牛饲喂《标准》增加20％日粮（能量摄入120％），产后各组乳牛均饲喂标准日粮。至产后第56d结束试验；采用内对照RT-PCR方法检测摄入不同能量的围产期乳牛肝活体组织低密度脂蛋白受体（LDLR）mRNA丰度。结果，不同能量组乳牛肝LDLR mRNA丰度产前至产后均呈现先升高后降低的趋势。100％和120％能量组肝LDLR mRNA丰度在产后14d达最大值，且产后均高于产前（产后56d除外，P〈0．01或P〈0．05）；而80％能量组产后1d即达到最大值，产前14d至产后14d，LDLR mRNA相对表达量显著高于100％和120％能量组；产后28～56d，120％能量组显著高于80％和100％能量组（P〈0．01）。表明围产期乳牛能量摄入水平对肝LDLR mRNA丰度有显著影响。     

Gene Flow Analysis of Phytophthora porri Reveals a New Species: Phytophthora brassicae Sp. Nov.

Isozyme analysis and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-1 and ITS-2) and the 5.8S subunit of the ribosomal DNA gene repeat were used to examine whether isolates of Phytophthora porri from Allium and Brassica represent a single homogeneous species. Twenty-six strains of P. porri, 16 strains isolated from the genus Allium, and 10 strains isolated from the genus Brassica, were analyzed using malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), represented altogether by four putative loci (Mdh-2, Idh-1, Idh-2, and Ldh-2). Isozyme analysis revealed that strains isolated from Allium contained five private alleles at three isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸³, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁸, Idh-1 ¹¹², and Idh-2 ⁹⁸), whereas six different alleles were observed at four isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸⁵, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁰, Ldh-2 ¹¹⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁰, Idh-2 ¹⁰⁰, and Mdh-2 ¹¹¹) in strains obtained from Brassica. The heterozygosity at the Ldh-2 locus, differing in allele composition, however, between strains from Allium and Brassica, was present in all strains, indicating that it is probably fixed. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions and the 5.8S subunit showed consistent differences between isolates from Allium and isolates from Brassica. Based on isozyme data, ITS sequence analysis and formerly published differences in restriction enzyme patterns of mitochondrial DNA, morphology and pathogenicity, it was concluded that the isolates of P. porri Foister did not represent a homogeneous species. Isolates from Brassica constitute a distinct species which is described here as P. brassicae sp. nov. It was inferred from isozyme patterns, which were in no case intermediate between the two species, that P. porri and P. brassicae do not hybridize and are reproductively isolated by barriers to gene flow.     

种植方式与种植密度对大力士高粱的影响

本试验用裂区设计,研究了大力士高粱在16种不同种植密度、3种种植方式下,产草量、生产速度、茎叶比、茎粗的变化情况。结果表明,在撒播密度为18 kg/hm2、条播为22.5 kg/hm2、穴播为28.5 kg/hm2时达到最高产量;生长速度在第53-55 d时最高,达5.7 cm/d;茎叶比随着产量的增加逐渐减少;茎粗随着种植密度的增大而有减小的趋势。     

皮孔组织结构及密度与苹果枝干粗皮病发生的关系

通过对轮纹病菌(Botryosphaeria berengriana f.piricola)引起的枝干粗皮病不同感病程度的3个苹果品种富士、国光、鸡冠的树皮皮孔组织结构和密度的研究,发现高感品种富土、中感品种国光和免疫品种鸡冠在皮孔组织结构及密度上存在显著的差异。富士和国光的皮孔结构基本相似,均是先期开口,皮孔下无木栓组织,中后期开口加大,其下形成木栓组织。而鸡冠则是先期不开口,其下有木栓组织,中后期逐渐开口。鸡冠皮孔组织结构的这种特异性是其对枝干粗皮病免疫的主要原因。富士皮孔密度最大,国光次之,鸡冠最低。相关分析表明树皮皮孔密度与枝干粗皮病的病情指数间存在明显的正相关关系。     

Using traffic flow theory to model traffic mortality in mammals

Traffic has a considerable effect on population and community dynamics through the disruption and fragmentation of habitat and traffic mortality. This paper deals with a systematic way to acquire knowledge about the probabilities of successful road crossing by mammals and what characteristics affect this traversability. We derive a model from traffic flow theory to estimate traffic mortality in mammals related to relevant road, traffic and species characteristics. The probability of successful road crossing is determined by the pavement width of the road, traffic volume, traversing speed of the mammals and their body length. We include the traversability model in a simple two-patch population model to explore the effects of these road, traffic and species characteristics on population dynamics. Analysis of the models show that, for our parameter ranges, traffic volume and traversing speed have the largest effect on traffic mortality. The population size is especially negatively affected when roads have to be crossed during the daily movements. These predictions could be useful to determine the expected effectiveness of mitigating measures relative to the current situation. Mitigating measures might alter the road and traffic characteristics. The effects of these changes on traffic mortality and population dynamics could be analysed by calculating the number of traffic victims before and after the mitigating measures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.