Soil amendments and seed priming influence nutrients uptake,soil properties,yield and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in alkali soils

The effects of soil amendments [i.e., control, gypsum, farmyard manure (FYM), and gypsum?+?FYM] and seed priming (i.e., unprimed, seed soaked in water for 10?hr prior to sowing, and seed soaked in 0.4% gypsum solution for 10?hr prior to sowing) were assessed on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in alkali soil in northwestern Pakistan. A split plot design was used, keeping priming methods in main plots and soil amendments in sub-plots. The results showed that the effects of soil amendments and seed priming on grain yield, straw yield, harvest index and number of spikes were significant but their interactive effect was non-significant. The highest crop yields and yield index were obtained with gypsum?+?FYM amendments, and seed priming with gypsum solution. The effect on seed emergence, plant height and number of grains per spike was, however, not significant. Grain yield increased by 104% in gypsum?+?FYM treatment over control and by 16.8% with seed primed in water, followed by 8.5% with priming in gypsum solution, as compared to non-priming. The weight of 1000 grains was significantly increased by 35% in gypsum?+?FYM treatment and by 15.8% in gypsum priming. The phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content increased with soil amendments. Soil pH and gypsum requirement reduced significantly with soil amendments. The blend of gypsum and FYM has improved the properties of salt-affected soil and enhanced fertility for optimum production of wheat in addition to the beneficial effect of seed priming in gypsum solution on crop yield. Using these amendments could be ameliorative in removing the adverse effect of the salt-affected soils, rendering the soil a good medium for plant growth.     

Variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) leaf morphology and its relation to drought tolerance

The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) is a valued savannah tree. Although variation in fruit characteristics of this tree have been studied, no studies to our knowledge have been carried out on variation of leaf morphology which can be linked to drought adaptation mechanisms. Accessions of baobab from different ecosystems in Benin were characterised for leaf size and thickness, stomata size and density on the abaxial surface of leaves. Significant variation was found in leaf size and stomata characteristics. Trees from northern study sites had higher stomata density and smaller guard cell length than those from southern study sites. The results show that pruning has a significant effect on leaf size, but not on stomatal characteristics. Trees from northern study sites showed more xerophytic characteristics than those from the south. It seems that genetic and physiological effects may play a role in baobab drought adaptation.     

Overwintering of the Japanese bayberry whitefly,parabemisia myricae,in Israel

The Japanese bayberry whitefly,Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana), was discovered in Israel on citrus and avocado trees in 1978. In order to clarify its mode of overwintering, observations and counts were carried out during the winters of 1979/80, 1982/83 and 1983/84, with the following findings. Larvae and adults were detected on citrus and avocado trees throughout the winter; only females were found. The oviposition rate ofP. myricae in winter was low, and rose steeply in spring. The density of larvae on the lower side of leaves was higher than on the upper side. Substantial numbers of larvae survived the winter on avocado trees. Emergence of adults became intensified at the end of February, reached a peak in early March, and ceased at the end of March or beginning of April.     

Infectivity analysis of a soybean isolate of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus by agroinoculation

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) of legumes endemic to South Asia are caused by begomoviruses transmitted by whiteflies. Based on molecular characterization, two distinct viruses – Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) – were found previously to be the etiological agents of YMD in legumes. Here, host range studies with a soybean isolate of MYMIV (MYMIV-[Sb]) were carried out by both whitefly transmission and agroinoculation. MYMIV-[Sb] was similar to a cowpea isolate of MYMIV (MYMIV-[Cp]) in its ability to infect cowpea, thus differing from blackgram (MYMIV) and mungbean (MYMIV-[Mg]) isolates, which do not infect cowpea. Genomic analysis of DNA A and DNA B components of these MYMIV isolates show characteristic differences in complete DNA B nucleotide sequence correlating with host range differences.     

Detection of a mammalian-like group A rotavirus in diarrhoeic chicken

The present investigation describes detection of a mammalian-like electropherogroup A rotavirus in chicken with diarrhoea. This also records the first detection of a rotavirus in an avian species from India. During the investigation 75 diarrhoeic faecal samples collected from adult chicken were screened for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen by sandwich ELISA. All three samples positive for rotavirus antigen revealed 11 bands of RNA in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). In contrast to avian group A rotavirus, segment 5 was found to migrate closer to 6 as is the case with mammalian group A rotaviruses. Segments 7, 8 and 9 were found to migrate as a tight triplet, which is characteristic of group A rotavirus.     

Effects of interferon-γ knockdown on vaccine-induced immunity against Marek’s disease in chickens

Interferon (IFN)-γ has been shown to be associated with immunity to Marek’s disease virus (MDV). The overall objective of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between IFN-γ and vaccine-conferred immunity against MDV in chickens. To this end, 3 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting chicken IFN-γ, which had previously been shown to reduce IFN-γ expression in vitro, and a control siRNA were selected to generate recombinant avian adeno-associated virus (rAAAV) expressing short-hairpin small interfering RNAs (shRNAs). An MDV challenge trial was then conducted: chickens were vaccinated with herpesvirus of turkey (HVT), administered the rAAAV expressing shRNA, and then challenged with MDV. Tumors were observed in 4 out of 10 birds that were vaccinated with HVT and challenged but did not receive any rAAAV, 5 out of 9 birds that were administered the rAAAV containing IFN-γ shRNA, and 2 out of 10 birds that were administered a control enhanced green fluorescent protein siRNA. There was no significant difference in MDV genome load in the feather follicle epithelium of the birds that were cotreated with the vaccine and the rAAAV compared with the vaccinated MDV-infected birds. These results suggest that AAAV-based vectors can be used for the delivery of shRNA into chicken cells. However, administration of the rAAAV expressing shRNA targeting chicken IFN-γ did not seem to fully abrogate vaccine-induced protection.     

Yeast cell wall and live yeast products and their combination in broiler diets formulated with weekly ingredient variations

A 6‐week broiler study was conducted to evaluate whether subjecting the intestinal microflora of broilers to the effect of weekly variations in feed ingredients could be ameliorated by the inclusion of yeast‐derived feed additives: a yeast cell wall extract (YCW), live yeast culture (LY) or their combination (YCW + LY). Recent changes in ingredient prices have motivated producers to formulate diets not necessarily based primarily on corn and soya bean meal. Intestinal microflora in birds can vary significantly based on the ingredient composition of their diet, and the make‐up of the flora can influence overall bird performance. Within the three nutrient phases of this study, birds were fed either a traditional corn–soya ingredient profile or a variable‐ingredient regimen, which had weekly changes in the ingredient composition. There were consistent ameliorative effects of the yeast treatments in both the corn–soya and the variable‐ingredient groups throughout all 6 weeks, with the YCW + LY combination showing a reduced effect when compared to either product fed alone. The effectiveness of YCW and LY on ameliorating the effects of weekly ingredient variations appeared most effective during the starter and grower phases, but was less significant during the sixth week.     

Who's keeping the code? Compliance with the international code for the marketing of breast-milk substitutes in Greater Glasgow

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate compliance with the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in primary care, after the introduction of strict local infant feeding guidelines. DESIGN: An audit form was sent to all community-based health professionals with an infant feeding remit. Walking tours were conducted in a random sample of community care facilities. SETTING: Greater Glasgow Primary Care Division. SUBJECTS: (1) Primary-care staff with an infant feeding remit; (2) community health-care facilities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contact with manufacturers of breast-milk substitutes (BMS) and BMS company personnel, free samples or incentives, and advertising of BMS. RESULTS: Contact with company personnel was minimal, usually unsolicited and was mainly to provide product information. Free samples of BMS or feeding equipment were rare but childcare or parenting literature was more prevalent. Staff voiced concerns about the lack of relevant information for bottle-feeding mothers and the need to support the mother's feeding choice. One-third of facilities were still displaying materials non-compliant with the Code, with the most common materials being weight conversion charts and posters. CONCLUSIONS: Contact between personnel from primary care and BMS companies was minimal and generally unsolicited. The presence of materials from BMS companies in health-care premises was more common. Due to the high level of bottle-feeding in Glasgow, primary-care staff stated a need for information about BMS.     

Sex differences in circulating steroid hormone levels in the red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus L.

Steroid profiles of cultured and captive red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus L.) were investigated to evaluate the potential use of circulating sex steroid levels as a tool for gender identification in this species. Cultured 18‐month‐old fish were maintained on a 120‐day shortened photothermal cycle to induce precocious maturation. Additionally, wild‐caught fish were maintained in captivity under simulated natural photothermal conditions from late spring to early fall. Circulating 11‐ketotestosterone (11‐KT) levels were significantly higher in males compared with females during the early stages of gonadal growth in both cultured and captive fish. Plasma testosterone (T) levels showed a similar trend; however, the differences were significant only when males were already producing sperm. 17β‐estradiol (E₂) concentrations were low in males and females before gonadal recrudescence but increased significantly with the progression of vitellogenesis in females. These results show that a test using a minimum concentration of circulating 11‐KT could be developed to differentiate between sexes in the early stages of gonadal maturation in red drum. Moreover, plasma E₂ concentrations could be used to identify vitellogenic females. The two steroids considered together could help avoid possible error in gender identification due to unusually high levels of certain steroids encountered in some individuals.     

Strawberry-cultivar Identification using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers

Accurate and rapid cultivar identification is important for breeders'-rights protection, especially for vegetatively propagated plants. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of developing cultivar-specific RAPD markers in commercial strawberries (Fragaria ananassa Dutch). Efforts were focused on distinguishing between two newly developed Volcani cultivars, ‘Ofra’ and ‘Dorit’, and six other cultivars, ‘Douglas’, ‘Chandler’, ‘Oso Grande’, ‘Dover’, ‘Nurit’ and ‘Parker’. Reproducible RAPD fingerprints were generated, each containing at least one polymorphic DNA product. A combination of 10 polymorphic DNA products exhibited cultivar-specific patterns enabling the distinction between closely related varieties, such as ‘Ofra’ (which is the progeny of ‘Dorit’ and ‘Parker’) and ‘Dorit’ (which is the progeny of ‘Nurit’ and ‘Dover’). This study shows that RAPD markers can help in the protection of breeders’ rights to strawberry cultivars.