Freeze preservation of rose pollen in liquid nitrogen: Feasibility,viability and fertility status after long-term storage

Summary

The pollen cryobehaviour of four rose cultivars was studied. Pollen retained viability as indexed by in vitro germination after 48 h and one year (three cultivars) in liquid nitrogen. Cryostored pollen retained its ability to fertilize and produce seeds. The availability of cryostored pollen would enable rose breeders to pollinate at any time of the year at any location. Cryogenic preservation also offers the possibility of conserving the haploid gene pool in rose species through a pollen cryobank facility.     

Tracking the long-term decline and recovery of an isolated population

Effects of small population size and reduced genetic variation on the viability of wild animal populations remain controversial. During a 35-year study of a remnant population of greater prairie chickens, population size decreased from 2000 individuals in 1962 to fewer than 50 by 1994. Concurrently, both fitness, as measured by fertility and hatching rates of eggs, and genetic diversity declined significantly. Conservation measures initiated in 1992 with translocations of birds from large, genetically diverse populations restored egg viability. Thus, sufficient genetic resources appear to be critical for maintaining populations of greater prairie chickens.     

Effect of Early Postpartum Ovulation on Fertility in Dairy Cows

Our objectives were to determine the effects of early ovulation on fertility and uterine health of dairy cows. Four hundred and forty‐five Holstein cows (185 primiparous and 260 multiparous) from five herds were used. Blood samples were collected at 21, 35 and 49 days in milk (DIM) and cows were considered to be cyclic at 21 DIM (Cyc21) if serum progesterone (P4) concentration was above 1 ng/ml, cyclic by 49 DIM (Cyc49) if P4 concentration was above 1 ng/ml at 35 or 49 DIM, or not cyclic (NotCyc) if P4 concentration was below 1 ng/ml at all sample times. Endometrial cytology for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis was examined at 49 DIM in a subset of 414 cows. Cows in the group Cyc21 had increased hazard of insemination, for the first service, compared with cows in Cyc49 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.10–1.79; p = 0.006] and NotCyc (HR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.52–2.82; p < 0.001). Cows in the Cyc49 group also had increased hazard of insemination compared with cows in the NotCyc group (HR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.13–1.93; p = 0.005). Median days to insemination were, respectively, 71, 76 and 96 for cows in Cyc21, Cyc49 and NotCyc groups. Cows in Cyc21 had greater first service pregnancy per AI than Cyc49 [38.6 vs 28.1%; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.01–2.75; p = 0.04] and NotCyc (38.6 vs 23.6%; AOR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.08–4.00; p = 0.03). Pregnancy per AI was similar in Cyc49 and NotCyc cows (28.1 vs 23.6%; AOR = 1.25; 95% CI = 0.70–2.24; p = 0.45). Cows in Cyc21 had increased hazard of pregnancy up to 300 DIM compared with Cyc49 (HR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.17–1.96; p = 0.002) and NotCyc (HR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.41–2.78; p < 0.001). Cows in Cyc49 tended to have increased hazard of pregnancy compared with NotCyc (HR = 1.31; 95% CI = 0.96–1.77; p = 0.09). Median days to pregnancy were, respectively, 103, 147 and 173 for cows in Cyc21, Cyc49 and NotCyc groups. Cows in the Cyc21 group had decreased prevalence of subclinical endometritis compared with cows in the NotCyc group (29.9 vs 43.7%; AOR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.29–0.97; p = 0.04); however, the prevalence did not differ from the Cyc49 group (29.9 vs 39.1%; AOR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.41–1.14; p = 0.15). Cyc49 cows had similar prevalence of subclinical endometritis compared with NotCyc cows (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.46–1.29; p = 0.32). Early postpartum ovulation was associated with improved uterine health and fertility.     

Adoption of intercropping in rubber smallholdings in Kerala, India: a tobit analysis

Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is one of the major plantation crops of the state of Kerala in India and intercropping is practised during the initial gestation period of the crop. In this paper a to bit model was used to study the decision making behaviour of farmers in adoption and extent of adoption of intercropping in three regions of Kerala. The availability of family labour and the type of intercrops were found significant in explaining the adoption behaviour in all three regions. The perception of profitability of intercropping was also found to influence decision on adoption. The probability of adoption of intercropping was highest for three intercrops, banana (Musa spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and pineapple (Ananas comosus). Targeting extension efforts to groups of farmers with available family labour and popularising selected intercrops may result in higher rates of adoption of intercropping in all three regions of the state.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Factors Affecting Synchronization and Conception Rate after the Ovsynch Protocol in Lactating Holstein Cows

Objectives were to evaluate risk factors affecting ovulatory responses and conception rate to the Ovsynch protocol. Holstein cows, 466, were submitted to the Ovsynch protocol [day 0, GnRH‐1; day 7, prostaglandin (PG) F_2α; day 9, GnRH‐2] and 103 cows were inseminated 12 h after GnRH‐2. Information on parity, days in milk at GnRH‐1, body condition, milk yield, exposure to heat stress, pre‐synchronization with PGF_2α and the use of progesterone insert from GnRH‐1 to PGF_2α was collected. Ovaries were scanned to determine responses to treatments. Overall, 54.7%, 10.6%, 2.2%, 81.1%, 9.0%, 91.5% and 36.9% of the cows ovulated to GnRH‐1, multiple ovulated to GnRH‐1, ovulated before GnRH‐2, ovulated to GnRH‐2, multiple ovulated to GnRH‐2, experienced corpus luteum (CL) regression and conceived, respectively. Ovulation to GnRH‐1 was greater in cows without a CL at GnRH‐1, cows with follicles >19 mm and cows not pre‐synchronized with PGF_2α 14 days before GnRH‐1. Multiple ovulations to GnRH‐1 increased in cows without CL at GnRH‐1 and cows with follicles ≤19 mm at GnRH‐1. Ovulation before GnRH‐2 was greater in cows without CL at PGF_2α. Ovulation to GnRH‐2 increased in cows that received a progesterone insert, cows with a CL at GnRH‐1, cows with follicles not regressing from the PGF_2α to GnRH‐2, cows with larger follicles at GnRH‐2, cows that ovulated to GnRH‐1 and cows not pre‐synchronized. Multiple ovulations after GnRH‐2 increased in cows with no CL at GnRH‐1, multiparous cows and cows that multiple ovulated to GnRH‐1. Conception rate at 42 days after AI increased in cows with body condition score > 2.75 and cows that ovulated to GnRH‐2. Strategies that optimize ovulation to GnRH‐2, such as increased ovulation to GnRH‐1, should improve response to the Ovsynch protocol.     

Freeze preservation of gladiolus pollen

Viability and fertility profiles of cryopreserved gladiolus pollen from 7 cultivars have shown that it is possible to use cryogenic methods for conservation and management of the haploid gene pool in this species. There was no decline in pollen viability (in vitro) levels after 1 and 10 years of cryogenic storage. Field pollinations with cryogenic stored pollen induced capsule and seed set in varying capacities. Long-term cryogenic storage of gladiolus pollen could enhance breeding efficiency through better management of the haploid gene pool resources. Pollen parents could be made available throughout the breeding programme, ensuring guaranteed supply at the time of peak stigma receptivity. A pollen cryobank facility established for this species would increase genetic diversity conservation at the haploid stage.IIHR Contribution No. 112/93