Monitoring the Immune Status of Broilers Against Reoviruses Using Challenge and Serologic Data

Reoviruses are an important cause of suboptimum performance in commercial broilers worldwide. Integrators use the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against the S1133 antigen for monitoring serum of breeders for indicating pullet vaccine success. However, without correlating serology to reovirus challenge, it is difficult to determine whether titers reflect protective immunity. We developed a broiler challenge test against 2 common reovirus isolates (2408 and S1133) to evaluate the efficacy of reovirus pullet vaccine programs. Two reovirus serologic and challenge studies were undertaken using chicks from broiler integrators from the southeastern United States. Breeder flocks, from which the chicks were obtained, received at least 1 live and 2 inactivated reovirus vaccines during their pullet phase. One-day-old progeny were collected from 6 breeder flocks. At 1 d of age, 20 chicks from each broiler flock were bled, and serum was analyzed for antibodies. At 3 to 4 d of age, 20 progeny per flock were challenged with the 2408 reovirus by intratracheal route. At 10 to 14 d of age, another 20 birds per flock were challenged with the S1133 reovirus by footpad. Twenty birds per flock were used as nonchallenged controls. At 3 wk of age, all birds were killed and weighed. Percentage of protection was calculated for each flock based on the absence of gross lesions. Flocks with at least 50% protection were considered well protected. Most flocks were well protected against both viruses. The percentage of protection correlated with day-old enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. Chicks from younger hens had higher titers and the best protection against challenge. Producers, whose hen flocks were monitored herein, were doing a good job of immunizing pullets against reovirus. They are now using reovirus progeny challenge studies along with breeder antibody titers to determine vaccination success of their pullets.     

杉木耐瘠薄速生优树子代测定及早期选择

在福建省洋口国有林场,对7年生的杉木耐瘠薄速生优树半同胞子代测定林进行调查和分析测定。参试的各家系间树高、胸径和材积生长量均差异极显著,说明在家系水平上存在明显的分化;从参试的18个家系中选择出23号等5个在瘠薄立地条件下生长表现优良的家系,树高、胸径和材积平均值分别达7.67 m、10.88 cm和0.043 6 m3,与第2代种子园子代相比,其材积现实增益达21.11%,通过这种后向选择所选出的耐瘠薄速生优良家系具有明显的生长优势和耐瘠薄性,可以作为杉木第3代建园材料的补充。     

柱型苹果杂交后代不同株型枝叶及光合参数比较

为了分析柱型苹果杂交后代群体不同株型的幼树在形态及生理上的差异,本文以柱型苹果"塔斯坎"、"特珍"与普通型苹果"富士"、"嘎啦"杂交的3个群体为试材,进行了枝条、叶片以及光合参数的比较.研究结果表明:3个杂交组合不同株型的表型存在很大差异,普通型植株节间长度分别是柱型植株的1.81、1.69和1.68倍,长粗比分别是柱型的1.62、1.59和1.57倍,成枝角度分别是柱型的2.07、1.89和1.93倍.柱型苹果植株容易形成大量短枝,短枝比例分别是普通型的1.57、1.85和1.83倍,普通型植株长枝较多,长枝比例分别是柱型植株的2.35、2.49和2.52倍.柱型苹果对光能的利用效率比普通型高,其叶面积指数分别是普通型的6.41、6.43和4.92倍.日周期中,柱型苹果树的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)均高于普通型苹果树,二者均呈双峰曲线,在13:00-14:00之间有一段 "午休"现象.     

墨西哥柏实生种子园营建及其优树子代测定的研究

通过种子园与子代测定相结合的方式,在位于滇中的石林林场建立了含102个优树(家系)的墨西哥柏实生种子园,从中探讨了墨西哥柏实生种子园的营建途径。对该种子园的52个墨西哥柏自由授粉优树子代测定的结果表明,墨西哥柏速生,10年生树高、胸径、材积、冠幅的年均生长量分别为1.04 m、1.43 cm、0.009 6m3和0.22 m。生长性状和结实性状家系间的差异达显著水平。树高、胸径、材积、冠幅、结实量的家系遗传力分别为0.76、0.66、0.68、0.74和0.65,单株遗传力分别为0.27、0.16、0.18、0.23和0.16,其生长性状和结实性状呈显著的负相关。从该种子园中评选出了9个优良家系,22个优良单株,其材积遗传增益平均为13.47%和25.2%。此外,还揭示了墨西哥柏10年生期间的生长规律。     

Genetic evaluation of Prosopis alba (algarrobo) in Argentina for cloning elite trees

Algarrobo (Prosopis alba) is an important nitrogen-fixing tree adapted to the semiarid regions of northwestern Argentina. The tree provides fuelwood and dimensionally stable lumber for flooring and furniture; its pods that have a high sugar content are consumed by livestock and humans. P. alba has been one of the most heavily harvested species. This paper reports on the evaluation of a nine-year-old Prosopis alba progeny trial containing 57 half-sibling families of eight provenances in northwestern Argentina (of the 1,596 trees planted, 1,289 survived in 1999). Considering the multiple uses of P. alba, the selection criteria included: total biomass production (from basal diameter using regression equations), height, rate of pod production, and pod sensory characteristics. The family-narrow-sense-heritability was 0.487 for height. 0.548 for biomass production, and 0.244 for pod production. In 1998, 12 of the 1,289 trees were more than 4 m tall and had more than 1.75 kg pods per tree; and their pods had a sweet or very sweet non-astringent taste. Scions from these 12 trees were successfully grafted onto unselected P. alba rootstock. These are currently being used to produce rooted cuttings. The pod production, biomass, and height of the 12 clones ranged from 6.55 to 14.4, 1.57 to 13.5, and 1.29 to 1.70 times the respective population means. The genetic gains of 13.5%, 77%, and 147% for height, biomass, and pod production respectively are greater than genetic gains for other tree species and are probably due to the great genetic variability in the local population and the lack of any prior genetic improvement program.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

快大型黄羽肉种鸡VD3需要量研究

【目的】通过研究饲粮中添加不同水平维生素D₃（VD₃）对快大型黄羽肉种鸡及其子代肉鸡生产性能、胫骨指标与钙磷代谢的影响,确立黄羽肉种鸡VD₃需要量,为黄羽肉种鸡营养需要量的制定提供科学依据。【方法】试验采用单因素随机分组设计,选用720只48周龄快大型岭南黄羽肉种母鸡,根据体重和产蛋率一致原则分为6个处理组,每组6个重复,每重复20只,各处理分别饲喂添加0（对照组）、800、1 600、2 400、3 200、4 000 IU·kg^-1 VD₃的试验饲粮,试验期8周。种鸡饲养试验结束后选取种蛋孵化,子代肉鸡按照种鸡的组别进行分组分栏饲喂（基础饲粮中含1 000 IU·kg^-1VD₃）,试验期63d。【结果】（1）与对照组相比,添加800 IU·kg^-1 VD₃显著提高平均蛋重（P<0.05）;添加1 600与3 200 IU·kg^-1 VD₃显著增加种蛋的蛋壳强度（P<0.05）;添加1 600 IU·kg^-1 VD₃增加蛋壳厚度（P<0.05）;添加4 000 IU·kg^-1 VD₃显著提高种鸡脱脂胫骨比例与骨密度（P<0.05）,添加VD₃可不同程度地提高种鸡胫骨折断力（P>0.05）;添加VD₃可提高种鸡血浆中钙、磷含量,降低AKP活性（P<0.05）。（2）种鸡饲粮添加VD₃对子代肉鸡生长性能指标无显著影响（P>0.05）;但与对照组相比,添加4 000 IU·kg^-1 VD₃显著提高子代鸡胫骨折断力（P<0.05）,添加800、1 600或4 000 IU·kg^-1VD₃显著增加子代肉鸡胫骨密度（P<0.05）,添加1 600—4 000 IU·kg^-1VD₃可不同程度地提高子代鸡脱脂胫骨比例（P>0.05）;添加VD₃提高了子代肉鸡1日龄血浆中钙、磷含量,降低AKP活性（P<0.05）,但对21、63日龄子代肉鸡无显著影响（P>0.05）。【结论】饲粮中添加VD₃显著影响黄羽肉种鸡产蛋性能、种蛋蛋壳品质、肉种鸡及其子代肉鸡胫骨指标与钙磷代谢。综合试验观测与回归模型来估测黄羽肉种鸡VD₃需要量,饲粮添加800 IU·kg^-1 VD₃即可获得最优产蛋性能,1 650—1 828 IU·kg^-1 VD₃获得最优蛋品质,而获得种鸡和子代肉鸡最优胫骨性状均需要较高的种鸡饲粮VD₃水平（4 000 IU·kg^-1）。     

三种野生百合实生后代的植物学性状比较分析

[目的]研究岷江百合、卷丹百合和淡黄花百合3种野生百合实生后代的植物学性状。[方法]通过对3种野生百合的实生种子进行播种,全生育期调查实生后代的株高、茎粗、叶片数、叶面积、基干高度、鳞茎质量等植物学性状。[结果]不同品种间和同品种间均存在一定的差异,均以种间表现为差异极显著,而个体间差异不显著。[结论]该研究为野生百合今后的遗传育种、产业化快繁等方面提供支持。     

Analysis of a site x year experiment with timothy polycross progeny

Summary Results from a cooperative breeding programme with timothy for the northern areas of Scandinavia are presented. The main aim of the programme was to identify genotypes for synthetic populations that are high yielding, adapted over the whole area and stable over years. A polycross comprising 12 genotypes from each of five sites within the region was formed. The subsequent 60 half-sib families and four reference varieties were then compared under sward conditions at the same sites. The trials lasted for three years and results for total dry matter yields are presented.Significant differences in yield between lines were found. There were also significant two and three factor interactions between lines, sites and years. A new two-step procedure is presented to select the genotypes to make up a synthetic variety. Firstly, a superiority measure (Q-value) is used to select a group of genotypes that are high yielding and stable over sites and years. Secondly, the GxE part of the Q-value is split into two terms. One measures adaptation to predictable environmental conditions. The other one measures stability to unpredictable changes in the environment. A plot of these two measures provides a tool for discarding unstable or poorly adapted genotypes. The statistical properties of the selection parameters are discussed.     

Cooperative breeding for the northern marginal areas

Summary A joint breeding project for the northern areas of Scandinavia and Iceland was initiated in 1981 under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Initially, efforts concentrated on cooperative trials in which both early and more advanced breeding material was tested at a number of experimental stations in the northern regions. This was followed by a joint breeding programme for timothy with the primary aim of developing varieties that possess broad adaptation to a range of Nordic climates and managements and can be grown throughout the northernmost part of Scandinavia. Each of the five national breeding stations originally provided 12 timothy genotypes for the project giving a total of 60 genotypes. The parental genotypes were compared as spaced plants at all five stations and their polycross progeny were grown under sward conditions at the same sites. On the basis of results obtained from these field trials parent clones have been selected and intercrossed to form synthetic populations.