Repellency of insecticides and the effect of thiacloprid on bumble bee colony development in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed crops

The study intended to compare repellency of three insecticides on bumble bees and honey bees in Norwegian red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed crops, and to examine effects of thiacloprid on bumble bee colony development in the field. The repellency study was carried out in a large-scale field trial in SE Norway in 2013. On average for observations during the first week after spraying, 17 and 40% less honey bees (P?=?.03) and 26 and 20% less bumble bees (P?=?.36) were observed on plots sprayed with the pyrethroids lambda-cyhalothrin and alpha-cypermethrin, respectively, than on unsprayed control plots. No pollinator repellency was found on plots sprayed with the neonicotinoid thiacloprid. Compared with unsprayed control the seed yield increases were 22% on plots sprayed with thiacloprid vs. 12–13% on plots sprayed with pyrethroids (P?=?.10). Follow-up studies in 2014–2016 focused on the effect of thiacloprid on bumble bee colony development in commercially reared nests of Bombus terrestris placed into red clover seed crops at the start of flowering. Unsprayed control crops were compared with crops sprayed either at the bud stage or when 18–44% of flower heads were in full bloom. Chemical analyses of adult bumble bees showed that thiacloprid was taken up in bees when crops were sprayed during flowering, but not detected when crops were sprayed at the bud stage. The bumble bees in late-sprayed crops also developed weaker colonies than in unsprayed crops. Dead bees with a high internal concentration of thiacloprid were found in one crop sprayed during the night at 35% flowering. This shows that thiacloprid is not bee-safe if sprayed after anthesis and that spraying has to be conducted at the bud stage to reduce its contamination of nectar and pollen.     

Characterization and bioactivities of young rice protein hydrolysates

Immature rice was reported to contain higher quantities of bioactive compounds than mature rice. Young rice protein is easy to digest and has hypoallergenic potential, with protein content of 7.2–11.5% compared to rice bran at 9.8%. Few studies have reported on bioactivities and characterization of young rice proteins and their hydrolysates. Bioactivities of native protein and protein hydrolysates of two rice varieties (white rice and colored rice) were characterized and investigated for four development stages (flowery, milky, dough, and mature). Degree of hydrolysis of young rice protein was considerably higher than at the mature stage. Highest DPPH and iron chelating activity were found in alcalase® protein hydrolysate during the flowery-to-milky stage. Iron chelating activity was constant in all development stages because of the low polar amino acid content in rice. The ACE activity of alcalase® protein hydrolysate was higher than native protein at the same development stage, as observed in the milky and dough stages. Inhibitory activity of young rice hydrolysate HepG2 cells was concentration-dependent and not correlated with protein molecular size.     

Pollination-induced oxidative stress in floral organs of Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw. and Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. (Orchidaceae): A biochemical investigation

A perusal of literature showed that a little is known about the metabolic changes related to senescence in orchid flowers. It was observed that unpollinated flowers of Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw. remained fresh for 20 days and senesced within 8 days after pollination (DAP), while that of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. took 18 days when unpollinated but showed senescence in 7 DAP. A higher level of electrolyte leakage was recorded in all the floral organs of pollinated flowers in both the species. There was a concomitant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); indicators of oxidative damage, in all the organs for both the species. Ascorbic acid, on the other hand, decreased significantly. Higher amount of electrolyte leakage, MDA and H₂O₂ content were recorded in C. pendulum as compared of the other species while the ascorbic acid, on the other hand, was observed to be decreased and this decrease was more in C. pendulum than C. aloifolium suggesting a higher oxidative damage to the floral organs in the former species than the latter. TIBA, i.e. tri-iodobenzoic acid (an auxin inhibitor; 0.25 μM) and silver nitrate (ethylene inhibitor; 0.25 μM) application to pollinated flowers partially prevented the elevation of oxidative damage and consequently senescence suggesting the involvement of these hormones in governing these changes in orchid flowers. Comparatively, AgNO₃ was more effective than TIBA in delaying senescence.     

切割花柱方式对亚百系内杂交花粉管生长和结实的影响

用常规柱头授粉和切割不同长度花柱4种授粉方式对亚百系内杂交的花粉管生长和结实情况进行了研究.结果表明:同一系内各组合亲和性存在差异,亲和性较好的组合为"金色号角×多安娜"、"普瑞头×索莱尔",次之为"多安娜×普瑞头","金色号角×普瑞头","普瑞头×多安娜"为不亲和组合;同一系内组合中,采用常规柱头授粉比切割花柱授粉得到胚的比例高,所有组合花粉管均能进入子房,而且随着切割花柱长度的增加,花粉管在花柱中及进入子房的量是依次递减的,种子数目与花粉管的生长情况呈正相关;果实膨大系数不能反映果实是否结籽;所有组合中都存在胚囊不亲和现象,形成了无胚仅有胚乳的种子.     

秋冬季补光时间和强度对白羽王鸽产蛋性能、血清生理生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响

本试验旨在研究秋冬季不同补光时间和强度对白羽王鸽产蛋性能、血清生理生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响。试验将280只健康的8月龄白羽王鸽(全为母鸽)进行两两配对,共140对即140笼,并按体重相近的原则,随机分成5组,每组4个重复,每个重复7笼(14只)。各组补光时间和强度分别为:0 h、0 lx,4 h、31.2 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx,6 h、20.5 lx。试验期125 d。结果表明:1)4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx组产蛋率显著高于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05),各组平均日采食量、平均蛋重无显著差异(P0.05)。2)6 h、31.2 lx,6 h、20.5 lx组血清免疫球蛋白M含量显著低于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05)。4 h、31.2 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx和6 h、20.5 lx组血清谷草转氨酶活性均高于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05)。3)各组血清催乳素(PRL)、雌二醇(E2)、促卵泡激素、黄体生成素和孕酮含量无显著差异(P0.05),但0 h、0 lx组血清PRL含量高于其他各组,血清E2含量低于其他各组。4)与0 h、0 lx组相比,6 h、31.2 lx组血清超氧化物歧化物活性显著降低(P0.05),血清丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高(P0.05)。0 h、0 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6h、20.5 lx组肝脏MDA含量显著低于6 h、31.2 lx组(P0.05)。由此可见,补光时间和强度为4 h、20.5 lx时,白羽王鸽可获得较好的产蛋性能。补光时间过长(6 h)且强度过高(31.2 lx)可显著降低白羽王鸽抗氧化能力,补光强度应不超过20.5 lx。     

Factors influencing male mating success in bur oak,Quercus macrocarpa

Pollen donors of acorns and saplings in a stand of bur oak were identified by paternity exclusion using microsatellite genotype analysis. Here we examine the influence of several factors likely to affect reproductive success of males with wind-dispersed pollen, including distance of pollen donor from maternal tree, genetic relatedness of pollen donor to maternal tree, direction of pollen donor relative to maternal tree, and size of pollen donor (crown volume and trunk diameter). Surprisingly, none of these factors were strongly correlated with fertilization success, although weak but significant correlations with crown volume and distance were found. The slight influence of distance is actually overestimated here, because our analysis necessarily excluded a large proportion of pollinations that were effected by trees outside the stand. The pollen donors outside the stand were not identified, but were more than 150 meters away. Pollination patterns in this stand of bur oak are quite complicated. Seed parents were fertilized by multiple pollen donors within the stand from all directions and as far as 200 m away. These results caution against the use of models of pollination that are based on simple distance or directional parameters because they will not adequately predict gene flow or male reproductive success. Our results further emphasize the importance of genetically identifying successful pollen donors rather than relying on patterns of physical movement of pollen.     

Compatibility of crosses between gene pools and evolutionary classes in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The extent of genetic divergence between the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools and between evolutionary classes (wild, landrace and bred) in Phaseolus vulgaris was explored. The compatibility of crosses was assessed by the frequency with which pollination was successful and the number of seeds in the resulting pod. Mesoamerican genotypes were more effective as pollinators than Andean genotypes, regardless of the gene pool of the female parent. Though certain individual genotypes were more easily pollinated by genotypes of one or other of the gene pools, there was no consistent tendency for pollinations between genotypes within a gene pool to be more successful than those between gene pools. In crosses among wild and landrace genotypes, the landrace genotypes were more easily pollinated. In those among wild and bred genotypes, the bred genotypes were more effective as pollinators, and the number of seeds per pod was greater in crosses between the evolutionary classes than in those within classes. In crosses among landrace and bred genotypes, those within evolutionary classes had higher success rates than those between classes (47.2% vs. 38.9%), and produced more seeds per pod. However, these results do not represent a major barrier between the evolutionary classes. The hypothesis that dwarf-lethal incompatibility in inter-gene pool crosses is controlled by two complementary dominant genes (the DL-gene hypothesis) was tested by comparing the numbers of normal and abnormal plants in the progeny of three-way crosses, and the ratios obtained were consistent with the hypothesis. It is concluded that there is no biological barrier between the two gene pools and that they are distinct because, by accident of ancestry, they are located in geographically isolated and ecologically distinct areas, with different cultural practices and preferences. Research programmes aimed at transferring desirable traits between the gene pools should therefore be encouraged.     

不同品种授粉对长山核桃坐果及果实性状的影响

以9个授粉品种对5个长山核桃无性系进行人工授粉,探讨不同授粉品种对长山核桃坐果率及果实性状的影响。结果表明,5个无性系的父本方差贡献率均高于5 0%,同一母本下,不同父本的杂交组合之间坐果差异都达到了极显著水平。父、母本之间表现出交互作用,除核果质量的父本间差异不显著,其余性状各差异均达到极显著水平;4 5个杂交组合内7个性状指标的变异幅度很大,变异系数最大的是无性系2 1号单果质量,达到2 6.3 3%,最小的是无性系1 3号核果径,为1.5 3%;根据各杂交组合单株间坐果及果实性状的差异情况,为5个母本筛选了适合的父本作为与其配置的授粉品种,如3 5号和建林1号可为无性系1 0 4授粉,1号、3 4号和建林1号可为无性系2 8号授粉,5号和1 2 7号可为无性系2 1号授粉,3 4号和6号可为无性系1 3号授粉,以及3 5号、5 2号和建林1号可为无性系1 1号授粉。     

Effects of supplementary feeds with different protein levels on growth and economic performances of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem

This study investigated the effects of supplementary feeds with different crude protein (CP) levels on the growth and economic performances of sex-reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem for a period of 120 days. There were four treatments—namely, traditional feed (21% CP), formulated feed (26% CP), commercial feed (30% CP), and control (no feed was used)—with three replicates per treatment. Fish (30.04 g) were stocked in ditches at a rate of 0.5 fish m^?2 considering the total area and fed one of the tested feeds twice daily at the rate of 2%–5% of body weight. Water-quality parameters of the ditches were monitored fortnightly, and these parameters were found suitable for fish farming. Organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous in soil were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the feed treatments after fish cultivation. Highly significant weight gain and SGR were observed with fish fed the commercial feed as compared with other treatments. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.15) was found in the control, followed by formulated feed (1.90), but in the case of numerical net return, it was the opposite. However, commercial feed showed the lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.67) due to higher feed cost than other supplementary feeds. Therefore, this study suggests that fish fed with a formulated feed (26% CP) produced significantly higher net economic return in the rice–fish farming system.     

棉花蜜蜂传粉杂交制种效果研究

利用抗虫不育系(Btms5ms5ms6ms6)和转Bt基因抗虫棉品系(Rg3)作为杂交制种亲本,制种期间在田间放养蜜蜂作为传粉媒介,连续三年在长江流域和黄河流域进行小规模田间开放式蜜蜂传粉杂交制种试验,对蜜蜂传粉杂交制种体系中的父母本种植比例、不同的蜂种、父母本种植方式、天气等对蜜蜂传粉制种效果进行了研究。初步研究结果表明:父母本种植比例以1:4制种效果较为理想,蜜蜂是较理想的传粉媒介,父母本混合种植方式和相间种植方式传粉效果差异不明显,天气变化对蜜蜂传粉影响较大,直接影响制种产量。