施用锌肥和遮阴互作对花生生长发育、抗病性及产量的影响

采用大田裂区试验，研究了施用锌肥和不同遮阴程度互作对花生生长发育、抗病性及产量的影响。结果表明，与不施锌肥相比，施用锌肥能提高花生不同部位锌含量、增加叶片SPAD值，提高花生叶片中可溶性糖、蛋白质和生长素含量，减少花生病害的发生，平均降低7.1个百分点，花生产量平均增加19.4%。相同施锌水平下，随着遮阴程度的增加，花生不同部位锌的含量和不同生育期叶片SPAD值以及花生叶片中可溶性糖、蛋白质和生长素含量呈增加趋势，花生的发病率比不遮阴对照增加4.8、10.2个百分点，花生产量平均降低16.5%、10.0%。在30%、70%的遮阴条件下，施用锌肥的花生产量比不施锌的分别提高21.1%、25.0%。本试验条件下，施用七水硫酸锌30 kg/hm2，使花生具有较强的抗低温寡照能力及抗病性能，增产显著，可在花生产区推广应用。     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of circulating antigens of Toxoplasma gondii in the serum of cats

An ELISA was developed to detect circulating antigens of Toxoplasma gondii in the serum of cats. For the experiment, toxoplasmosis was induced in a group of cats by oral administration of bradyzoites. An ELISA that detects anti-Toxoplasma IgG, an ELISA to detect circulating antigens, and fecal examinations were performed on samples from each cat for 1 year after inoculation. When coupled with IgG-class antibody measurement, antigen detection can aid in the diagnosis of some cases of subclinical feline toxoplasmosis.     

Ionophores alter hepatic concentrations of intermediary carbohydrate metabolites in steers

The effects of ionophores on liver weight and function were determined in finishing steers (n = 24; avg weight 440 kg). Steers were group-fed one of three treatments (control, lasalocid or monensin at 33 mg/kg feed) for 46 d prior to slaughter. Three days prior to slaughter, blood was collected for the determination of serum Ca and Mg. At slaughter, the liver was removed, weighed, sampled, frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of carbohydrate metabolites and minerals. Liver weight (5.9 kg) was unaffected by treatment. Serum and hepatic Ca and Mg were not affected by ionophore treatment. Hepatic glycogen levels in steers fed ionophores were unaffected by treatment. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was 21% lower (P less than .10) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores, whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate was 15 to 37% greater in hepatic tissue of steers fed monensin (P less than .20) or lasalocid (P less than .10). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was elevated more extensively by lasalocid than by monensin with increases of 72 (P less than .05) and 132% (P less than .001), respectively, over controls. Glycerol 3-phosphate levels were 37% (P less than .05) and 12% (NS) greater with these ionophores. Hepatic levels of pyruvate were elevated 12 (NS) to 36% (P less than .17) for monensin and lasalocid. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were 25% lower (P less than .25) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores than in hepatic tissue from control steers. Other metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism in hepatic tissue were not altered appreciably. Changes in levels of intermediary metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism suggest alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism favoring gluconeogenesis in steers fed ionophores.     

Effects of monensin on Mg, Ca, P and Zn metabolism and tissue concentrations in lambs

A study consisting of two trials was conducted to determine the effects of monensin on the apparent absorption and retention of magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) and to determine mineral changes in tissue and ruminal fluid. Eight lambs (39 kg) were used in trial 1, and 10 lambs (37 kg) were used in trial 2. Animals were blocked by weight and fed a high concentrate diet with or without 20 mg/kg monensin. Trials began with a dietary adjustment period lasting 18 d in trial 1 and 21 d in trial 2. Animals were then placed in metabolism stalls for a 10-d stall adjustment period followed by a 12-d collection period. Collections to determine mineral balance were made during the first 10 d of the collection period. Blood and ruminal fluid samples were taken on d 11 of the collection period. Lambs were slaughtered on d 12 of the collection period and tissue samples were collected. Monensin supplementation increased (P less than .05) Mg retention 42.0%. Urinary Ca excretion decreased (P less than .05) 60.0% when monensin was fed. Monensin supplementation decreased (P less than .05) liver Ca and bone Ca, 45.5 and 2.9%, respectively. Apparent P digestibility increased (P less than .05) 40.0% and P retention increased (P less than .10) 26.8% due to monensin supplementation. Both apparent absorption and retention of Zn increased (P less than .01) 50.0 and 45.0%, respectively, with monensin supplementation. Ruminal fluid Zn concentrations decreased (P less than .05) 33.0% with the addition of monensin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coccidioidomycosis in 48 Cats: A Retrospective Study (1984–1993)

Coccidioidomycosis was diagnosed in 48 cats. Forty-one cases were identified within a period of 3 years. Coccidioides immitis was revealed by cytological or histopathological examinations, or culture in 70% of cats. The remaining 30% of cases were diagnosed by appropriate clinical signs, radiographic lesions, and serological test results. The average age of affected cats was 6.2 years with a median age of 5.0 years. Fifty-four percent (n = 26) were female and 46% (n = 22) were male. Domestic shorthaired and longhaired breeds comprised 89% (n = 41) of affected cats. Sixty-seven percent of cases were diagnosed during the 6-month period of December through May. Cats infected with C immitis were presented for evaluation of dermatologic (56%), respiratory (25%), musculoskeletal (19%), and neurological or ophthalmologic signs (19%). Fever, inappetence, and weight loss were present in 44% of the cats. Duration of clinical signs before diagnosis was less than 4 weeks in 85% (n = 42) of cats, with an average of 3.8 weeks and a median of 2 weeks. Agar gel immunodiffusion tests were positive in all 39 cats tested at sometime during the course of their disease. Hyperproteinemia (greater than 7.9 g/dL) was present in 52% (10/23) of cases. The majority of cats (n = 39) were negative for feline leukemia virus. Antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus were absent in the 19 cats tested. Ketoconazole was the most common antifungal agent used to treat cats with Coccidioidomycosis. Duration of treatment ranged from less than 1 week to 43 months. Thirty-two cats are currently asymptomatic, with or without treatment. Eleven cats died or were euthanized. Five cats were lost to follow-up. Ketoconazole likely is more suppressive than curative because relapses were common after discontinuing therapy.     

A diet-induced developmental polymorphism in a caterpillar

Caterpillars of the spring brood of Nemoria arizonaria develop into mimics of the oak catkins upon which they feed. Caterpillars from the summer brood emerge after the catkins have fallen and they develop instead into mimics of oak twigs. This developmental polymorphism may be triggered by the concentration of defensive secondary compounds in the larval diet: all caterpillars raised on catkins, which are low in tannin, developed into catkin morphs; those raised on leaves, which are high in tannin, developed into twig morphs; most raised on artificial diets of catkins with elevated tannin concentrations developed into twig morphs.     

(土娄)土区不同蔬菜对钾肥的肥效反应

在陕西省关中土娄土区布置线辣椒、甘蓝、白菜、芹菜钾肥大田试验,研究不同蔬菜对钾肥的肥效反应。结果表明,增施钾肥可使蔬菜硝态氮含量降低11.8%～116.0%,维生素C含量增加0.4～147.4mg/kg;产量增加9.3%～33.8%;明显促进营养生长和生殖生长;400cm深土壤剖面硝态氮累积量减少22.7～48.0kg/hm2,尤其在80～220cm剖面减少最为明显。     

气肿疽梭菌细胞毒素CctA基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

根据GenBank中气肿疽梭菌细胞毒素CctA基因的参考序列,采用PCR方法扩增细胞毒素CctA基因。在将该基因进行克隆和测序后利用生物信息学方法,对细胞毒素CctA蛋白的理化性质、结构功能域、蛋白质二级结构和三级结构及抗原表位等重要参数进行了预测和分析。结果表明:与参考序列(JQ692583)相比,存在3处突变,核苷酸序列的同源性和氨基酸序列的同源性均为99.4%;CctA蛋白的理论等电点为8.00,不存在跨膜区和信号肽序列,二级结构以β-折叠和无规则卷曲为主,主要有4个抗原表位区域。本研究为CctA蛋白功能的深入研究提供了参考,并为气肿疽梭菌单克隆抗体的制备及合成肽疫苗的研发奠定了基础。     

苦瓜对白粉病的抗性与相关生理生化指标的关系

为探讨苦瓜抗白粉病的生理生化机制,以对白粉病不同抗性的4个苦瓜品系为材料,研究苗期感染白粉病菌后,苦瓜叶片生理生化指标的变化。结果表明:接种后,叶绿素和可溶性蛋白质量分数均呈先上升后降低的趋势;可溶性糖质量分数呈下降-上升-下降-上升的趋势;抗病品系的可溶性糖、叶绿素质量分数和过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均高于或显著高于感病品系和高感品系;抗病品系的抗坏血酸(AsA)质量分数的上升和下降的幅度均小于感病品系和高感品系;接种后10~20d,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性表现为抗病品系感病品系高感品系。叶绿素、可溶性糖质量分数和POD、PPO活性与病情指数呈显著或极显著负相关。综上说明,白粉病菌侵染苦瓜后,抗病品系可通过保持较高的叶绿素质量分数,增加可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、AsA质量分数及增强POD、PPO、APX活性来提高抗病性。叶绿素、可溶性糖质量分数和POD、PPO活性均可作为苦瓜对白粉病抗性早期鉴定的指标。