Effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide on inflammatory responses,milk production and milk quality in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory responses and milk production and quality in lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in a cross‐over experimental design. Cows were infused intravenously either with saline solution or with saline solution containing LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 at a dose of 0.01 μg LPS/kg body weight for approximately 6 hr each day during a seven‐day trial. The clinical symptoms and milk production performance were observed. Milk samples were analysed for conventional components, fatty acids and amino acids. And jugular vein and mammary vein plasma samples were analysed for concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins. LPS infusion decreased feed intake and milk yield. An increase in body temperature was observed after LPS infusion. LPS infusion also increased plasma concentrations of interleukin‐1β, serum amyloid A, LPS‐binding protein, C‐reactive protein and haptoglobin. LPS infusion decreased the contents of some fatty acids, such as C17:1, C18:0, C18:1n9 (trans) and C18:2n6 (trans), and most amino acids except for methionine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, tyrosine and proline in the milk. The results indicated that a continued low dose infusion of LPS can induce an inflammatory response, decrease milk production and reduce milk quality.     

Effect of water restriction on milk yield and quality in Lacaune breed ewes

The effect of water restriction on body weight, body condition score, milk yield, and milk composition and rheological characteristics in intensively reared Lacaune ewes was evaluated. After 7 days of adaptation, the trial lasted 28 days. Thirty lactating ewes (48 ± 5 months of age; mean value ± standard deviation) at the beginning of third lactation month were divided into three groups (n = 10), corresponding to the following water restriction treatment: a group control received no drinking water restriction (W100), and two groups received water to the extent of 80% and 60% of W100 daily consumption (W80 and W60 group respectively). The effects of water restriction were assessed at the beginning of experiment (D0), at D14 and D28. The W60 group resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, body condition score, milk yield and feed consumption of hay due to the experimental treatment; whereas a marked increase in both W60 and W80 groups of milk lactose, urea, sodium, sodium chloride content and titratable acidity was observed. Rheological parameters of milk, rennet coagulation time and curd‐firming time were positively affected by water restriction treatments, with a decrease in both experimental groups of the time required for the formation of a stable and firm curd. Results highlight the importance of water consumption in dairy sheep. The scarce availability of water, significantly affecting ewes milk production, is worthy of particular attention in arid area where water stress‐resistant breeds should be considered. This study underlines that milk yield, being closely linked to the availability of water of the breeding habitat due to its high water content (about 81%), could be reached in area where water is not a limiting factor without reducing the genetic expression of the animals. Less severe water restrictions, such as 20% of daily voluntary water intake, produce no detrimental effect on milk yield.     

Yield Performance of Wheat Isolines with Different Dosages of the Short Arm of Rye Chromosome 1

Translocations of the short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1 (1RS) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Pavon 76) are known to increase root biomass. Such an increase enhances water and nutrient uptake and may improve grain yield. Two greenhouse experiments and a field experiment were carried out at the University of California, Riverside, in 2012 and 2013 under well‐watered and terminal drought treatments to evaluate phenotypic characters associated with varying dosages of 1RS, including grain yield. The genotypes used were cultivar Pavon 76 (R₀), Pavon 76/Pavon1RS.1AL (F₁ hybrid) with a single dosage of 1RS (R₁A), Pavon 1RS.1AL with two dosages of 1RS (R₂A), Pavon 1RS.1DL (R₂D) also with two dosages of 1RS and Pavon 1RS.1AL‐1RS.1DL (R₄AD) with four dosages of 1RS. There was a significant positive correlation between number of dosages of 1RS and root biomass. However, no correlation was found between root biomass and grain yield per plant. Drought in the field experiment reduced grain yield significantly. Under well‐watered field conditions, grain yield of R₂A (215.9 g plant^?1) was significantly greater than those of R₂D (191.8 g plant^?1) and R₄AD (161.7 g plant^?1). Also, grain yield of R₄AD was significantly less than those of F₁, Pavon 76 and R₂D under well‐watered conditions. Under drought field conditions, no significant differences were found among the genotypes for grain yield was found between F₁ (14.7 g plant^?1) and R₄AD (12.4 g plant^?1). Harvest index was significantly greater in well‐watered (44.2 %) than in drought (34.6 %) field conditions. On average, genotypes F₁ (42.3 %) and R₂A (40.6 %) had higher harvest index than R₂D (38.3 %) and R₄AD (35.5 %) in the field. Also, Pavon 76 (40.2) and R₂D (38.3) had higher harvest index than R₄AD. Drought tolerance was lowest for R₄AD due to its relatively lower grain yield potential. In general, Pavon 1RS.1AL carrying two dosages of 1RS showed higher grain yield under wet treatments. Pavon 1RS.1AL‐1RS.1DL carrying four dosages of 1RS produced the largest shoot and root biomasses, but the least grain yield.     

Biochar Mitigates Salinity Stress in Potato

A pot experiment was conducted in a climate‐controlled greenhouse to investigate the growth, physiology and yield of potato in response to salinity stress under biochar amendment. It was hypothesized that addition of biochar may improve plant growth and yield by mitigating the negative effect of salinity through its high sorption ability. From tuber bulking to harvesting, the plants were exposed to three saline irrigations, that is 0, 25 and 50 mm NaCl solutions, respectively, and two levels of biochar (0 % and 5 % W/W) treatments. An adsorption study was also conducted to study the Na⁺ adsorption capability of biochar. Results indicated that biochar was capable to ameliorate salinity stress by adsorbing Na⁺. Increasing salinity level resulted in significant reductions of shoot biomass, root length and volume, tuber yield, photosynthetic rate (A_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), midday leaf water potential, but increased abscisic acid (ABA) concentration in both leaf and xylem sap. At each salinity level, incorporation of biochar increased shoot biomass, root length and volume, tuber yield, A_n, g_s, midday leaf water potential, and decreased ABA concentration in the leaf and xylem sap as compared with the respective non‐biochar control. Decreased Na⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and increased K⁺ content in xylem with biochar amendment also indicated its ameliorative effects on potato plants in response to salinity stress. The results suggested that incorporation of biochar might be a promising approach for enhancing crop productivity in salt‐affected soils.     

种植密度对机播条件下红玫瑰马铃薯结薯性状及产量的影响

为确定临沂市机播条件下红玫瑰彩色马铃薯的最佳播种密度,开展了机播马铃薯相同行距(90 cm)、不同株距(14、18、22、26 cm)的密度试验,分析了不同密度处理对红玫瑰马铃薯出苗期、现蕾期、开花期、成熟期、株高、茎粗、主茎数、马铃薯晚疫病发病情况、产量、商品薯率的影响。结果表明:随着播种密度的增加,红玫瑰物候期无明显变化,株高、马铃薯晚疫病株数呈升高趋势,茎粗和主茎数呈降低趋势,商品薯率和商品薯产量呈下降趋势。以行距90 cm、株距22 cm密度下商品薯667 m~2产量最高,为2 129.25 kg,并且马铃薯晚疫病未见发生。     

特优航2号在龙海的产量表现及高产栽培技术

介绍了特优航2号参加福建省区试、生产试验以及在龙海示范种植的表现。调查了特优航2号不同产量水平的产量构成,明确有效穗与产量的相关最密切,对产量直接通径系数最高,对产量贡献率最大;其次为每穗总粒数,有效穗与每穗总粒数对产量的贡献率占4个构成因素总贡献率的86.39%。据此提出特优航2号高产栽培技术。     

优化施肥对春小麦产量、氮素利用及氮平衡的影响

2009 ～ 2010年,在宁夏引黄灌区分别以宁春11号和宁春16号小麦为供试作物,利用田间试验研究了优化施肥(OPT)和习惯施肥(CON)对春小麦产量、氮素吸收利用和土壤硝态氮累积的影响,表观评估了土壤—小麦体系氮素平衡.结果表明,相对于CK处理,OPT和CON都显著提高春小麦籽粒产量地上部生物量,并促进籽粒N和地上...     

微藻水热液化有机相最佳回收工艺研究

以微拟球藻为原料,研究微藻水热液化过程中多种参数对水热液化后有机物回收率的影响,包括温度、时间、溶剂比和pH等,从而获得微藻水热液化后有机物的最佳回收工艺条件。结果显示,在室温下进行有机相回收,保证回收溶剂比为20∶1(溶剂/水相不溶物;v/wt)、停留时间为10min、回收pH7,即可达到最佳回收效果。最佳条件下水热液化有机相的回收率为34%左右,且不同的回收温度和pH值对回收的有机相组分均会产生影响。     

拔节期氮肥运筹对不同滴灌量下冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响

为探明拔节期氮肥运筹对不同滴灌量下冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响,在大田滴灌技术条件下,以‘新冬41号’为试验材料,研究4种拔节期氮肥运筹处理[N0(0 kg/hm²)、N1(90 kg/hm²)、N2(180 kg/hm²)、N3(270 kg/hm²)]对3种不同滴灌量[W1(1500 m³/hm²)、W2(3000 m³/hm²)、W3(3450 m³/hm²)]下冬小麦叶绿素含量（SPAD值）、叶面积指数(LAI)、叶片光合特性及产量的影响。结果表明,在3种滴灌量下各氮肥处理冬小麦拔节至乳熟期叶片SPAD值均呈“先增后降”的变化规律,最大值均在灌浆期;LAI呈现“先增后降”的变化规律,在孕穗期达最大。在同一施氮水平下,滴灌量增加,叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)均增加,而胞间CO₂浓度(Ci)则降低。滴灌量较低时（W1处理）,增加拔节期施氮量能有效提高滴灌冬小麦的有效穗数、穗粒数、千粒重、产量和收获系数;水分充足时（W2、W3处理）,增加拔节期施氮量反而不利于产量的提高。综合考虑各项产量指标及氮肥利用效率得出,在滴灌量3000 m³/hm²条件下,拔节期施氮量180 kg/hm²时,滴灌冬小麦籽粒产量较高,氮肥利用率最大,可供生产参考。     

覆膜滴灌玉米产量和农艺性状相关性分析

为明确在覆膜滴灌条件下玉米品系(种)主要农艺性状与产量的关系,应用DPS软件对15个玉米杂交品系(种)的主要农艺性状和产量性状进行相关性、灰色关联度等分析,结果表明:籽粒重、穗重、产量的变异系数较大;玉米产量与生育期、籽粒水分含量、穗重、籽粒重呈显著正相关关系;聚类分析可将参试的15个品系(种)划分为3类,第Ⅲ类表现良好,值得进行推广种植。灰色关联度分析表明,玉米籽粒重、穗重、生育期、籽粒水分含量等性状是影响玉米产量的主导因素,在玉米高产育种中,应以其为主攻目标,提高玉米后代的有效选择,加速高产育种进程。