True Metabolizable Energy and Amino Acid Digestibility of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles

In recent years, policies encouraging the production of ethanol have stimulated an enormous increase in the production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The form of the ingredient that is becoming increasingly available differs from that of previous decades in that it is derived almost entirely from corn and is dried under less severe conditions. Seventeen DDGS samples were obtained from 6 different plants in the midwestern United States from 2002 to 2004. Each sample was analyzed for TME_n, and 8 representative samples were analyzed for total and digestible amino acids (AA) by the precision-fed rooster assay using conventional or cecectomized Single Comb White Leghorn roosters, respectively. Color [lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*)] of each DDGS sample was measured with a Minolta Chroma Meter CR-300. The TME_n ranged from 2,490 to 3,190 kcal/kg (86% DM basis) and had a mean of 2,820 kcal/kg. Variation was noted among samples, presumably reflecting differences in the original corn composition, fermentation, and disposition of solubles. Considerable differences were observed among the true AA digestibilities of the DDGS samples. Most samples were golden in color, and true AA digestibility values were relatively consistent among these samples. The average total concentration and digestibility coefficients of several most limiting AA for the 8 DDGS samples were as follows: Lys, 0.71% (70); Met, 0.54% (87); cystine, 0.56% (74); Thr, 0.96% (75), Val, 1.33% (80), Ile, 0.97% (83); and Arg, 1.09% (84). Correlations were found among digestible Lys, Thr, Arg, His, and Trp and the yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*) of the DDGS samples. In general, DDGS samples that were more yellow and lighter in color had higher total and digestible AA levels. The variation in TME_n and AA digestibility observed among samples strongly indicated that confirmatory analyses should be conducted prior to using samples from a new supplier.     

水杨酸与蔬菜作物抗性关系的研究进展

水杨酸在植物的抗病性方面发挥着重要的作用,近年来的研究表明,水杨酸在植物抗冷、热、盐、干旱、臭氧、重金属等环境胁迫方面有明显的作用。对近年来有关水杨酸在蔬菜抗逆境胁迫方面的研究进展进行综述,并提出一些研究思路。     

酚类物质与蝴蝶兰褐变关系初探

 利用高效液相色谱法对3个褐化程度不同的蝴蝶兰品种A1 (大白花红心) 、B3 (迷你型白花黄心) 和R4 (深红花红心) 进行了9种酚酸定性定量分析, 并研究了以叶片为外植体的初代培养过程中总酚含量的动态变化。结果表明: 绿原酸、邻苯二酚、儿茶酚、咖啡酸及没食子酸、对羟基苯甲酸、香豆酸可能与蝴蝶兰褐变相关, 苯甲酸对蝴蝶兰褐变影响很小; 在褐变过程中, 总酚含量越高, 褐变程度越严重。     

脱落酸、水杨酸和草酸诱导苹果叶片脯氨酸积累的效应

 以3年生盆栽红富士(Malus domestica Borkh. ) /湖北海棠〔Malus hupehensis (Pamp) Rehd. 〕为试材, 研究了脱落酸、水杨酸和草酸预处理对叶片脯氨酸的诱导作用, 结果表明, 预处理第2天, 自然干旱效果还不明显时, 水杨酸预处理就使叶片脯氨酸含量提高了7.87%; 自然干旱、脱落酸、水杨酸和草酸预处理至第9天, 叶片脯氨酸含量较对照分别提高了96.30%、110.67%、135.12%和115.96%; 预处理9 d后停止供水至第5天时, 叶片瞬时水分利用效率分别提高了286.77%、75.76%、79.04%和100.44% ,脯氨酸含量也明显提高; 停止供水至第10天时, 脯氨酸含量分别提高了5.33%、262.76%、92.32%和0。综合比较显示, 自然干旱、脱落酸、水杨酸和草酸预处理都可以通过提高叶片脯氨酸含量和水分利用效率而增强苹果的抗旱性, 其中脱落酸的效果最好, 其次是水杨酸, 草酸效果持续时间比较短。     

Ileal amino-acid digestibility of wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by-products for broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to determine true and apparent ileal amino‐acid digestibility of a native cultivar of wheat (Mahdavi), autoclaved wheat (120°C for 30 min) and spaghetti by‐products available in Iran. One hundred 21‐day‐old broiler chickens were fed a standard corn–soybean meal starter diet from day 0 to 28 post hatch. At 28 days 80 chicks were distributed according to possessing very nearly the same average bodyweight to 20 wire cages. The experimental units were allocated at random to five dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. The basal diet contained corn and soybean meal as the major ingredients. Three test diets were formulated containing wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by‐products as the sole source of dietary protein and each test diet was combined with a basal diet 50:50 on a weight basis to form three assay diets. The apparent and true digestibility of amino acid in the test ingredients were estimated from those in the assay diets basal/test diet mixtures, using the difference method. The apparent and true amino‐acid digestibility of the test ingredients were significantly different (P < 0.01). Autoclaving of wheat increase its amino‐acid digestibility (P < 0.01). Among the test ingredients, the average ileal amino‐acid digestibility of spaghetti by‐products was higher than wheat and autoclaved wheat but it was lower than values for the basal diet (P < 0.01).     

Amanita muscaria toxicosis in two dogs

Objective: To report the manifestations, history, and pathophysiologic basis of disease in 2 dogs with Amanita muscaria toxicosis. Case summaries: Two dogs were evaluated for an acute onset of gastroenteritis and seizures. A. muscaria toxicosis was suspected in each dog after confirmation of environmental exposure and visualization of ingested mushrooms in vomitus. The diagnosis was confirmed following identification of toxic Amanita metabolites in the urine and serum of each dog. Administration of supportive and symptomatic therapies resulted in the complete recovery of each animal. Unique information provided: Ingestion of the mushroom, A. muscaria, by dogs can result in acute gastrointestinal distress that precedes a potentially life‐threatening central neurologic syndrome characterized by seizures, tremors, and somnolence. Central nervous system dysfunction results primarily from the actions of ibotenic acid and its decarboxylation product, muscimol, which are analogues of the neurotransmitters glutamate and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. Identification of these toxins in the urine and serum of affected dogs using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provides a definitive diagnosis.     

Phenotypic characterisation of Phaeoacremonium and Phaeomoniella strains isolated from grapevines: enzyme production and virulence of extra-cellular filtrate on grapevine calluses

Extra-cellular enzyme production of different Phaeoacremonium spp. and Phaemoniella chlamydospora isolates were used to assay the possibility of inter-specific characterisation. Isolates of Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, Phaeoacremonium angustius, P. viticola and Ph. chlamydospora were grown on solid media and the activities of extra-cellular amylases, lipases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, laccase, polygalacturonase, pectate lyase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, urease and chitinase were assayed. Phaeoacremonium species showed activities of a larger number of enzymes and also enzyme activity was frequently higher suggesting that Phaeoacremonium can be more virulent. To assay if the produced extra-cellular enzymes could reflect the virulence capacity of the two genera, calluses of Vitis vinifera L. (cvs. Baga and Maria Gomes) and of a rootstock (R3309) were inoculated with filtrated culture liquid medium of three isolates of Ph. chlamydospora and one of P. angustius. Filtrates from all strains decreased callus growth and membrane integrity, while soluble protein content of calluses decreased with the strains CAP 054 and 1AS. P. angustius (CAP 054) induced the more severe symptoms in all genotypes. Water content decreased together with an increase of osmolality in both cultivars but not in rootstock suggesting that osmorregulatory capacity is more affected in cultivars. Data show that: (1) Phaeoacremonium and Phaeomoniella genera have different patterns of extra- cellular enzymatic production; (2) these fungi produce extra-cellular compound(s) that induce(s) senescence symptoms in plant cells inhibiting callus proliferation; (3) among the strains tested in plant calluses the most virulent isolate (CAP 054) also produced higher amounts of some extra-cellular enzymes; (5) rootstock calluses were less sensitive to inoculation than grapevine calluses.     

Hybridization and in vitro culture of an orchid hybrid Ascocenda ‘Kangla’

The present study focuses on hybridization program involving two species belonging to two different vandaceous genera, viz., Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Roxb.) Schltr. var. auranticum, a narrow endemic orchid of Manipur and Vanda coerulea Griff., an endangered orchid of Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), to synthesize the primary hybrid genus with intermediate and improved characters in the F₁ generation. Observations on the crossability in the present bigeneric cross between V. coerulea and A. auranticum had been achieved with 60% success when V. coerulea was taken as female parent. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium at half-strength was effective for the development of the hybrid seedlings of V. coerulea × A. auranticum followed by Vacin and Went (VW) and Knudson C (KC) media. The best response of seedling growth was observed on MS medium at half-strength supplemented with 2.3 μM kinetin + 0.5 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid with maximum shoot height (2.7 cm), leaf number (4.6) and root number (4.1) after 150 days of inoculation. The survival percentage and growth performance of the seedlings were found to be higher (80% survival) in potting substrate consisting of brick:charcoal in the ratio 2:1 mulched with moss (Sphagnum sp.) than in potting substrate consisting of brick:charcoal:tree fern in the ratio 2:1:1. The first flowering was observed in the hybrid seedlings of V. coerulea × A. auranticum after 2 years of transfer to the ex vitro environment. Morphologically, the flowers differed from that of the parents clearly showing the success of the hybridization experiment. Registration of the hybrid has been made with the Royal Horticultural Society with the nomenclature Ascocenda ‘Kangla’ (No. T128725).     

Rhizogenesis of GF677, Early Crest,May Crest and Arm King stem cuttings during the year in relation to carbohydrate and natural hormone content

The rhizogenesis of GF677, Early Crest, May Crest and Arm King stem cuttings during the year was investigated. The results showed significant differences in the rooting percentage between different dates of cutting collection and also between the four cultivars. Among these, GF677 generally had the highest rooting percentage. Rooting of cuttings was high in October, November and February and relatively low in the periods March–September and December–January. Interactions among cultivars were also found.     

四种杀菌剂对金银花白粉病的防治效果及对金银花品质的影响

采用随机区组试验比较四种杀菌剂对金银花白粉病的防治效果，用高效液相色谱法测定各处理样品的绿原酸含量，以筛选出符合金银花规范化种植需要的药剂。结果表明，施药后14天以15％三唑酮600倍液防治效果最好，达77．8％，其次是15％三唑酮1200倍、50％多菌灵500倍液处理，防治效果分别为75．7％和70．8％，极显著地高于3％中生菌素500和1000倍及2％农抗1201000倍液处理的防效。2％农抗120500倍液的防治效果达60．3％，与前三种处理差异不显著，显著好于后三种处理，但未达极显著水平。15％三唑酮1200倍防治处理的绿原酸含量最高，达1．683％，其次是50％多菌灵500倍处理，绿原酸含量达1．539％，符合《中华人民共和国药典》要求，可作为金银花规范化管理中白粉病防治优先采用的药剂。