The effect of depopulation and restocking on reproductive and growth performances on Japanese commercial swine farms

This study compared the reproductive and growth performances of pigs before and after depopulation and restocking after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Japan. Data for the time period before and after depopulation and restocking were obtained from three farrow-to-finish farms. As a result of depopulation and restocking, hygiene levels were improved, and common infectious diseases, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and Aujeszky’s disease, remained undetected on the farms. Compared with before depopulation, reproductive and growth performances improved after depopulation; the number of total pigs born was higher, the postweaning mortality rate was lower, and the age at slaughter was lower (P<0.05). In summary, depopulation and restocking improved the reproductive and growth performances of pigs.     

Comparative Study on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Different Month Old of Xinjiang Brown Cattle Steers

In this research,12 heads of 28 to 30 months (low months age group) and 8 heads of 32 to 34 months (high months age group) Xinjiang Brown cattle steers which fed in the same mode of nutrition were chose for the slaughter test,in which the carcass traits,nutrient composition and some edible quality index were measured and comparative analyzed,a research which through comparative analysis the carcass traits and meat quality of nutritional components of different months of Xinjiang Brown cattle steers was carried out.The results indicated that the marbling,carcass grade,fat,meat color of high months age group were better than that of low months age group,the traits of the low months age group on fat color,moisture,protein,cooking loss and shear force value were better than that of high months age group,and there were significant difference on the traits of fat and meat color L^* between the two groups (P<0.05),while the differences of other traits between them were not significant (P>0.05);As high-grade beef,in addition to the traits of meat color and pH value of the chunk roll,tenderloin and striploin,each site of the meat traits on the fat,protein,moisture,cooking loss,shear force value indicators were all better than other parts,and showed the best of nutritional value and edible quality.28 to 34 months of Xinjiang Brown cattle steers could produce high-grade beef,the meat could be used as the raw materials of steak and boiled beef.     

The mechanical roles of the clasping leaf sheath in cereals: Two case studies from oat and wheat plants

Stem lodging is a common problem in cereal crop production and a main constraint for grain yield improvement. The leaf sheath that surrounds and protects the hollow internodes of stem could provide the plants with a great physical support. However, this biomechanical function has been ignored for several decades in cereal crops. This study aimed to examine the biomechanical properties of basal stem internodes and lodging susceptibility of the whole plants with or without the clasping leaf sheath in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) among different genotypes and agronomic practices (including planting densities and nitrogen application rates). The main objective was to quantify the mechanical role of the leaf sheath in oat and wheat crops by a “safety factor” method. On average, the leaf sheath contributed 40%, 68% and 38% of the overall stem bending strength, flexural rigidity and safety factor, in oat, while it accounted for 11%, 24% and 10%, respectively, in wheat plants. The significant contribution of the leaf sheath is due to its vital role in enlarging the peripheral position (i.e., second moment of area) and stiffness (i.e., Young's modulus). The contribution ratios (%) were found to be higher in oat than in wheat plants, due to the greater mass density of leaf sheath and more proficient/prevailing stay-green capability in oat genotypes. This study emphasizes the important mechanical role of clasping leaf sheath on stem internodes of cereals and indicates that the stay-green trait of the leaf sheath can be exploited to design appropriate varieties with improved lodging resistance and great yield potential.     

A computer vision system for oocyte counting using images captured by smartphone

This work proposes a computer vision procedure for counting Twospot astyanax (Astyanax bimaculatus) oocytes in Petri dishes using images captured by smartphone. First, the proposed procedure uses simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) to divide the images into groups of pixels (superpixels). Then, based on their color and space characteristics, the images are classified into light background, dark background, dirt, or oocyte by a machine learning algorithm. Five different types of machine learning algorithms were tested: support vector machines (SVM), decision trees using the algorithm J48 and random forest, k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and Naive Bayes. To train the algorithms, 8.578 superpixels were classified by an expert into oocyte (n = 354), dirtiness (n = 651), dark background (n = 3.622), and light background (n = 3.951). Of the five learning algorithms, SVM obtained the best result with 97% correct oocyte recognition. Given the wide availability of smartphones, we therefore conclude that the presented procedure can be a valuable tool in future experiments and studies on fertilization and hatching success in Twospot astyanax.     

Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

玉米赤霉烯酮对动物繁殖性能的毒性作用及其机制

玉米赤霉烯酮（ZEA）一种由镰刀菌属产生的次级代谢物，化学结构与内源性雌激素相似，因此，ZEA可通过与雌激素竞争性结合雌激素受体，导致动物机体生殖激素代谢紊乱，诱发生殖器官形变及功能障碍，严重危害动物繁殖系统，解决ZEA污染问题己经成为当务之急。本文对ZEA的理化特性、毒性作用等进行综述，以期为有效缓解ZEA毒性及提高动物繁殖性能、促进畜牧业健康发展提供理论依据。     

黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因多态性与腹脂性状的相关性研究

长链酯酰辅酶A合成酶(ACSLs)是长链脂肪酸通过硫代酯化进而合成酰基辅酶A衍生物所必需的酶,也是脂肪酸代谢的第一步。哺乳动物ACSL家族由ACSL1、ACSL3、ACSL4、ACSL5和ACSL65个不同的成员组成,ACSL1是主要的异构体之一。为探讨黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因作为腹脂性状分子标记的可行性,本实验采用PCR-直接测序技术对黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因进行遗传多态性分析。结果显示:黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因第17到第18外显子区域(1295 bp)SNPs位点较丰富,T32126C、C32013T、A31958G这3个位点的等位基因频率符合哈代-温伯格平衡,且A31958G突变位点、T32126C突变位点与腹脂重、腹脂率不相关,C32013T突变位点对鸡的腹脂重与腹脂率有显著影响,提示能够利用C32013T突变位点对黄羽肉鸡腹脂重进行分子标记辅助选择。     

Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

施肥量对泰兴香荷芋生长及产量效益的影响

通过对泰兴香荷芋施肥量研究,考查了各处理主要生育期的苗情与长势、成熟期子孙芋产量及商品芋产值效益。结果显示:基施腐熟脱水猪粪15t·hm-2,苗期追施(3.1叶)脱水猪粪15t·hm-2+13-10-18高钾复合肥675kg·hm-2的处理子孙芋产量最高为23 421.90kg·hm-2,商品芋效益为88 506.60元·hm-2;基施有机肥7 500kg·hm-2+苗期追施(3.1叶)有机肥7 500kg·hm-2+13-10-18高钾复合肥450kg·hm-2+膨大肥(8.1叶)13-10-18高钾复合肥900kg·hm-2的处理产量相对较高。