Boron-Calcium Synergically Alleviates Aluminum Toxicity in Wheat Plants (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effects of B and Ca treatments on root growth, nutrient localization and cell wall properties in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) plants with and without Al stress were investigated. Seedlings were grown hydroponically in a complete nutrient solution for 7 d and then treated with B (0, 40 μM), Ca (0, 2,500 μM), and Al (0, 100 μM) in a 500 μM CaCl₂ solution for 8 d. The cell wall materials (CWM) were extracted with a phenol: acetic acid: water (2:1:1 w/v/v) solution and used for subsequent pectin extraction with trans -1,2-diami-nocyclohexane- N,N,N,N -tetraacetic acid (CDTA) and Na₂CO₃ solutions. Boron, Ca, and B + Ca treatments enhanced root growth by 19.5, 15.2, and 27.2%, respectively, compared to the control (pH 4.5). Calcium and B+Ca treatments enhanced root growth with Al stress by 43 and 54%, respectively, while B did not exert any effect. The amounts of CWM and pectin per unit of root fresh weight increased by Al treatment, whereas the Ca and B+Ca treatments slightly reduced the contents of these components. Seventy-four percent of total B, 69% of total Ca, and 85% of total Al were located in the cell wall in the B, Ca, and Al treatments, respectively and 32% of total B, 33% of total Ca, and 33% of total Al were located in the CDTA-soluble and Na₂CO₃-soluble pectin fractions. A more conspicuous localization of B was observed in the presence of Al. Aluminum treatment markedly decreased the Ca content in the cell wall as well as pectin fractions, mainly in the case of the CDTA-soluble pectin fraction. Boron + Ca treatment decreased the Al content in the cell wall and pectin fractions compared to the Ca treatment alone in the presence of Al. It is concluded that the B+Ca treatment enhanced root growth and, B and Ca uptake, and helped to maintain a normal B and Ca metabolism in the cell walls even in the presence of Al.     

Performance of Bangladesh indigenous rice in a weed infested field and separation of allelopathy from resource competition

This study aimed to identify the potential allelopathic indigenous rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) varieties from Bangladesh using a performance study in a weed‐infested field and to assess the extent of allelopathic interference relative to resource competition in a glasshouse experiment. Six varieties – namely, “Boterswar,” “Goria,” “Biron” and “Kartiksail” as the most allelopathic, “Hashikolmi” as weakly allelopathic and “Holoi” as nonallelopathic – were raised following a nonweed control method. The infestation levels of weed species were calculated using Simpson's Diversity Index (SDI), which ranged from 0.2 to 0.56. However, a significant correlation coefficient (0.87, P < 0.001) was obtained from these field data compared with the root inhibition percentage from the laboratory bioassay, and the “Boterswar” variety was the most allelopathic. The interactions between the allelopathic variety “Boterswar,” weakly allelopathic variety “Hashikolmi” and Echinochloa oryzicola via a target (rice)‐adjacent (E. oryzicola) cogrowth culture were determined in a hydroponic arrangement. The relative competitive intensity (RCI) and the relative neighbor effect (RNE) values showed that the crop–weed interaction was facilitation for “Boterswar” and competition for “Hashikolmi” and E. oryzicola in rice/E. oryzicola cogrowth cultures. The allelopathic effects of “Boterswar” were much higher than the resource competition in rice/E. oryzicola cogrowth cultures. The converse was observed for “Hashikolmi.” Moreover, the mineral content of E. oryzicola was severely affected by “Boterswar”/E. oryzicola cogrowth cultures’ exudate solution. Therefore, the allelopathic potential of “Boterswar” variety might be useful for developing the weed‐suppressing capacity of rice, which will likely have a significant influence on paddy weed control.     

Postharvest quality response of strawberries with aloe vera coating during refrigerated storage

Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were coated either with chitosan (1, 1.5, and 2% solution, w/v) or aloe vera (AV) gel and the coatings were air dried. Coated strawberries were put in a polypropylene box and stored in refrigerator (6 ± 1°C and 50 ± 5% relative humidity. The success of coating in retaining the postharvest quality of the strawberries was evaluated by determining respiration rate, firmness, weight loss, external colour change, ascorbic acid content, total soluble solids, acidity, pH, microbial decay and sensory quality. The incidence of microbial rot started on day-6 in uncoated and 1% chitosan coated strawberries. Strawberries coated with 1.5 and 2% chitosan were affected by microbial decay on day-9 of storage. On the other hand, rot incidence was initiated in AV gel coated strawberries on day-15 of storage. Aloe vera gel or chitosan coating reduced respiration rate, weight loss, and microbial decay and preserved firmness, ascorbic acid content, and other quality parameters, thus delaying ripening and the progress of fruit decay due to senescence or microbial attack. Furthermore, AV gel delayed the changes in external colour and retained all other postharvest quality of strawberries compared to chitosan coated or uncoated ones throughout the storage.     

Key Factors Affecting Reproductive Success of Thoroughbred Mares and Stallions on a Commercial Stud Farm

To evaluate factors contributing to fertility of thoroughbred mares, data from 3743 oestrous periods of 2385 mares were collected on a large thoroughbred farm in Ireland. Fourteen stallions (mean age 8.3 years; range 4–15 years) had bred 2385 mares (mean age 9.4 years; range 3–24 years). Maiden mares accounted for 12%, mares with a foal at foot for 64%, and barren, slipped or rested mares for 24% of the total. The mean pregnancy rate per cycle was 67.8% (68.6% in year 1 and 66.9% in year 2). Backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to develop two models to evaluate mare factors, including mare age, reproductive status, month of foaling, dystocia, month of cover, foal heat, cycle number, treatments, walk‐in status and stallion factors including stallion identity, stallion age, shuttle status, time elapsed between covers and high stallion usage on the per cycle pregnancy rate and pregnancy loss. Old age (p < 0.001) and cover within 20 days post‐partum (p < 0.003) were associated with lowered pregnancy rates. High mare age (p < 0.05) and barren, slipped or rested reproductive status (p = 0.05) increased the likelihood of pregnancy loss. Uterine inflammation or infection, if appropriately treated, did not affect fertility. Only high usage of stallions (used more than 21 times in previous week) was associated with lowered (p = 0.009) pregnancy rates. However, shuttle stallions were more likely to have increased (p = 0.035) pregnancy survival, perhaps reflecting a bias in stallion selection. In conclusion, mare age exerted the greatest influence on fertility; nonetheless, thoroughbreds can be effectively managed to achieve high reproductive performance in a commercial setting.     

Bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma in a mare causing haemoperitoneum and colic

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare was presented with a history of mild colic over 3 days. This colic had acutely exacerbated and was unresponsive to analgesic treatment, and was referred to Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: On examination the heart rate was 100 beats per minute, and mucous membranes were pale and tacky. A large mass was detected on transrectal palpation in the caudal abdomen to the left of midline. Explorative laparotomy revealed severe haemoperitoneum and several masses that were associated with the reproductive tract. The mare was then subject to euthanasia. On post-mortem examination, adjacent and attached to each ovary were soft, lobulated dark red masses up to 200 mm in diameter. Similar masses were present in the omentum and on the peritoneal surface of the diaphragm and the serosa of the spleen and liver. Histopathology revealed that the neoplastic component of the masses comprised proliferating cuboidal to columnar cells forming disorganised acini and cords separated by dense collagenous stroma. Immunohistochemistry showed the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and vimentin, but negative for cytokeratin 7 and inhibin α.

DIAGNOSIS: Bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma with transcoelomic metastasis and terminal decompensation due to rupture of a neoplastic mass and consequent haemoperitoneum.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma has not been previously reported in a horse. Ovarian adenocarcinoma should be considered when horses present with haemoperitoneum and colic. Further research is required on the immunohistochemical differentiation of adenocarcinoma of ovarian and intestinal origin in the horse.     

Exogenous Calcium Supplementation Improves Salinity Tolerance in BRRI Dhan28; a Salt-Susceptible High-Yielding Oryza Sativa Cultivar

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Salinity is one of the most brutal abiotic stressors, commencing a great stumbling block in the way of attaining food security in Bangladesh. Cultivation...     

Marker-assisted selection of low erucic acid quantity in short duration Brassica rapa

Low erucic acid (LEA) rapeseed, which has accumulated mutant fatty acid elongase genes at the BnFAE1.1 and BnFAE1.2 loci of the A- and C-genome, respectively, is an important oilseed crop. Short growing turnip rape (B. rapa) is also important as a catch crop in the continuous cropping of rice in Asia but there is no LEA B. rapa cultivar for cultivation in South Asia. In order to develop LEA turnip rape cultivars, high erucic acid turnip rape cultivars were interspecifically crossed as recurrent parents to a canola quality rapeseed. In the meantime, we monitored incorporation of the mutant bnfae1.1 (e1) gene into A-genome of turnip rape, using a dCAPS primer pair, which can amplify PCR fragment only for the mutant e1 gene from A-genome. The early backcross progenies showed poor seed set, but which was improved in advanced progenies. Finally, homozygous e1e1 genotypes were established in the selfed progenies of BC₂–BC₃, and their LEA content was confirmed by gas-chromatography analysis. Our results and promising lines will contribute to LEA-trait selection in turnip rape and rapeseed breeding.     

Effect of feeding time and frequency on the growth and feed utilization of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) fingerlings

The effects of feeding time and frequency on the growth, feed utilization and survival of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822; family Clariidae) fingerlings were evaluated in a 25-day study. Groups of African catfish with an initial individual weight of 0.98 ± 0.02 g were offered feeds continuously for 24 h, or during the day or night at different time intervals, with varying meal size. The growth rate was significantly affected by meal times. Widely practised day time feeding with three equal size meals a day gave the lowest growth and highest food wastage. The growth rates of fish fed continuously or during night time following their feed demand were significantly higher with lowest food conversion ratios and food wastage.     

Marker‐assisted introgression of rare allele of β‐carotene hydroxylase (crtRB1) gene into elite quality protein maize inbred for combining high lysine,tryptophan and provitamin A in maize

Vitamin A deficiency in humans is a widespread health problem. Quality protein maize (QPM) is a popular food rich in lysine and tryptophan, but poor in provitamin A (proA). Here, we report the improvement of an elite QPM inbred, HKI1128Q for proA using marker‐assisted introgression of crtRB1‐favourable allele. HKI1128 was one of the parental lines of three popular hybrids in India and was converted to QPM in our earlier programme. Severe segregation distortion for crtRB1 was observed in BC₁F₁, BC₂F₁ and BC₂F₂. Background selection by 100 SSRs revealed mean recovery of 91.07% recurrent parent genome varying from 88.78% to 93.88%. Across years, introgressed progenies possessed higher mean β‐carotene (BC: 9.22 µg/g), β‐cryptoxanthin (BCX: 3.05 µg/g) and provitamin A (proA: 10.75 µg/g) compared to HKI1128Q (BC: 2.26 µg/g, BCX: 2.26 µg/g and proA: 3.38 µg/g). High concentration of essential amino acids, viz. lysine (mean: 0.303%) and tryptophan (0.080%) in endosperm, was also retained. Multi‐year evaluation showed that introgressed progenies possessed similar grain yield (1,759–1,879 kg/ha) with HKI1128Q (1,778 kg/ha). Introgressed progenies with higher lysine, tryptophan and proA hold immense potential as donors and parents in developing biofortified hybrids.     

Application of Biofloc Technology for the culture of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in Bangladesh: stocking density,floc volume,growth performance,and profitability

Though Biofloc Technology is a new concept in Bangladesh, it provides advantages for improving aquaculture production in many countries, leading to achieve sustainable development goals. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of stocking densities on the growth performance of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) under Biofloc Technology and assess the economic prospects and business feasibilities. Fingerlings were stocked in unique 5000-L tanks with three stocking densities, i.e., 3500 fish/tank (Treatment-I), 4000 fish/tank (Treatment-II), 4500 fish/tank (Treatment-III). The treatments showed significant differences (P?<?0.05) considering the species-specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. Treatment-I had significantly ((P?<?0.05) higher final biomass (29.51 ± 0.04 kg/m³) than the other treatments. The present findings revealed that using a lower stocking density, the Biofloc Technology reduced ammonia (NH₃), nitrite (NO₂), nitrate (NO₃), TDS, and floc volume but significantly increased the dissolved oxygen. As a result, Treatment-I had generated significantly higher net income (BANGLADESHI TAKA—BDT 86,278.90) over the other treatments. Moreover, the NPV, net BCR, and RoR with 4% and 9% opportunity cost were also significantly higher in Treatment-I than other treatments. The internal rate of return (IRR) and SWOT analysis index indicates that investing in Biofloc Technology is far superior, and a stocking density of 3500 fish/tank (Treatment-I) resulted in a faster investment return.