Detection and genetic diversity of porcine rotavirus A,B and C in eastern Australian piggeries

Rotaviruses (RV) have a high prevalence in piggeries worldwide and are one of the major pathogens causing severe diarrhoea in young pigs. RV species A, B, and C have been linked to piglet diarrhoea in Australian pig herds, but their genetic diversity has not been studied in detail. Based on sequencing of the structural viral protein 7 (VP7) RVA G genotypes G3, G4 and G5, and RVC types G1, G3, G5, and G6 have been identified in Australian piggeries in previous studies. Although occurrence of RVB was reported in Australia in 1988, no further genetic analysis has been conducted. To improve health management decisions in Australian pig herds, more information on RV prevalence and genetic diversity is needed. Here, 243 enteric samples collected from 20 pig farms within Eastern Australia were analysed for the presence of RV in different age groups using a novel PCR-based multiplex assay (Pork MultiPath™ enteric panel). RVA, RVB, and RVC were detected in 10, 14, and 14 farms, respectively. Further sequencing of VP7 in selected RV-positive samples revealed G genotypes G2, G5, G9 (RVA), G6, G8, G14, G16, G20 (RVB), and G1, G3, G5, G6 (RVC) present. RVA was only detected in young (<10 weeks old) pigs whereas RVB and RVC were also detected in older animals (>11 weeks old). Interestingly, RVB and RVC G-type occurrence differed between age groups. In conclusion, this study provides new insights on the prevalence and diversity of different RV species in pig herds of Eastern Australia whilst demonstrating the ability of the Pork MultiPath™ technology to accurately differentiate between these RV species.     

不同燕麦品种在尼泊尔北部山区的生长特性及其营养品质的研究

畜牧业是尼泊尔北部山区的重要生计支柱,提升牧草产量是我国对尼泊尔开展农业技术援助的关键领域。为筛选出适宜尼泊尔北部山区栽培的燕麦品种,于2019年5-10月在尼泊尔热索瓦县郎唐山区对12个燕麦品种（爱沃、太阳神、贝勒1、美达、科纳、林纳、青引1号、青海444、青海甜燕麦、陇燕2号、陇燕3号、Kamadhenu）的物候期、株高、产草量、穗含量、叶茎比和关键营养成分等进行了品比试验。结果表明：美达、科纳、青引1号、青海444、青海甜燕麦和Kamadhenu 6个品种能完成生育期,生育天数在115~141 d,其余多数品种只能达到乳熟期。各燕麦品种的株高为134.8~177.7 cm,其中引进品种太阳神、青海444、青海甜燕麦、美达和林纳的株高较对照品种Kamadhenu高6.3%~20.4%,存在极显著差异（P<0.01）。青海甜燕麦、青海444和美达的干草产量分别达到了14723.0、13491.0和13369.6 kg·hm^-2,分别比对照品种Kamadhenu增产36.0%、24.7%和23.6%,差异极显著（P<0.01）。贝勒1、科纳和太阳神的叶茎比分别为0.40、0.38和0.36,是对照品种Kamadhenu的1.50~1.67倍。各燕麦品种的干物质、粗蛋白、总灰分、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量变化范围分别为93.5%~95.6%、5.7%~9.9%、4.4%~6.9%、68.2%~78.4%和39.3%~48.7%,其中太阳神的粗蛋白含量是对照品种Kamadhenu的1.57倍,存在极显著差异（P<0.01）。对各燕麦品种的10个农艺性状进行主成分分析及综合评价,结果表明,引进品种青海甜燕麦、美达、青海444和太阳神综合适应性较好,适宜在该地区推广种植。     

Prevalence of Salmonella antibodies among goats slaughtered for chevon in Bareilly (Northern India)

We screened serum samples of 1024 goats slaughtered for chevon in Bareilly in Northern India for Salmonella antibodies with indirect ELISA, MAT-H (microagglutination test using flagellar antigens e, n, x and 1, 5) and MAT-O (microagglutination test using somatic antigens 4, 12 and 3, 10, 15). Salmonella antibodies were detected in 48, 8 and 40%, goats using Salmonella-cytotoxi-I ELISA, MAT 'H' and MAT 'O', respectively. After adjusting for test accuracy, the seroprevalence were highest for Salmonella-cytotoxi-I ELISA (46%) followed by agglutinins against 'O' 3, 10, 15 (15%) and negligible for other agglutinins. With all 5 tests, prevalence of Salmonella antibodies was significantly higher in females than in males. No significant difference was evident in prevalence of Salmonella antibodies to different antigens in different age groups of male goats except for e, n, x agglutinins that were significantly more prevalent in young adult (<6-18 months) males than in adult (>18 months of age) or young (< or =6 months of age) goats. On the other hand, in females, prevalence of Salmonella-cytotoxin-I antibodies and e, n, x agglutinins differed significantly among three age groups, being the most prevalent in adult goats. As expected, the results of different tests had little or no correlation because the different tests targeted antibodies to different antigens.     

Identification and distribution of fungal pathogens associated with seedling blight of rice in the southern United States

Surveys were conducted in the five southern rice-producing states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas in the United States during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the distribution and pathogenicity of fungal pathogens associated with seedling blight in rice. A total of 349 pathogenic fungal isolates were collected and identified as belonging to four genera: Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp., Sclerotium rolfsii and Marasmius graminum based on morphological characteristics, molecular analysis and Koch's postulates. R. solani (252 out of 349 pathogenic isolates) was the most prevalent fungus isolated from diseased samples. Of the 252 pathogenic R. solani isolates, 245 were further classified as anastomosis group 11 (AG-11) and 7 as AG-4. Isolates of R. solani AG-4 and M. graminum were the most aggressive, with the highest stand loss (63% to 100%) and median disease rating (DR; 5.0), followed by isolates of R. solani AG-11 (stand loss = 4% to 100% and DR = 0.6 to 5.0), Fusarium spp. (stand loss = 26% to 48% and DR = 2.0 to 5.0) and S. rolfsii (stand loss = 33% to 48% and DR = 2.0 to 3.0) in causing seedling blight in rice. R. solani (62% to 83% of total pathogenic isolates) and Fusarium spp. (10% to 24% of total pathogenic isolates) were predominant in all the five states surveyed. S. rolfsii and M. graminum were present only in Louisiana and Texas. The results of this first systematic survey of rice seedling diseases in the southern United States will help develop effective fungicide seed treatment strategies for control of stand loss caused by seedling blight, one of the major factors limiting rice production.     

Review of Trends in Strawberry Research from 1960 to 2016

A review of publications on “Strawberry” was done by using the Scopus database for the period 1960–2016. A total of 10,400 articles were found in the database and analyzed using a variety of measures. Results show that publication increased exponentially from 1960 to 2016. Multiple authors are collaborating in strawberry research. Acta Horticulturae was the most productive journal. The United States of America was the most productive country. The greatest portion of the research was concerned with medicinal benefits of strawberries to humans. This work will be useful to researchers in identifying trends in strawberry research.     

Effect of Temperature on Bio-Kinetic Coefficients in UASB Treatment of Municipal Wastewater

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)reactors were used to treat municipal wastewater attemperatures of 6, 11, 15, 20 and 32 °C and athydraulic retention times (HRTs) ranging from 48 to 3 h overan operational period of approximately 860 days. The Monodmodel was used to evaluate substrate utilization. TheArrhenius model was used to calculate the activationenergies from which temperature coefficients weredetermined. It was found that the maximum specific substrateutilization rate constant (k) decreased from 0.387 d^-1(at 32 °C) to 0.041 d^-1 (at 6 °C). Thedecay rate constant (k_d), yield coefficient (Y_g),half velocity constant (K_s) and maximum specific growthrate (μ_m ) were also impacted by temperature in theUASB treatment of municipal wastewater.     

Studies on the systemicity of [14C]metalaxyl in cowpea (vigna unguiculata (L.) walp.)

[¹⁴C]metalaxyl applied to seeds, roots and leaves of cowpea was readily taken up by all plant parts and a major fraction of it was retained within the treated leaves and seeds but not in the roots. The fungicide exhibited ambimobility inside the plant. When applied to the middle of leaflets, metalaxyl mobilised towards proximal and distal parts of the leaflet. Intraleaflet movement seemed to result from translocation through veins and diffusion through cell walls and intercellular spaces. Accumulation of metalaxyl at tips and margins of primary leaves followed application to roots. Metalaxyl was readily extracted from most plant parts except cotyledons and only 0.8% of the fungicide applied as a seed treatment was recovered from 50-day-old plants.     

Seed Size as a Predictor of Germination Success and Early Seedling Growth in ‘Hollong’ (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus Vesque)

In species with seeds losing viability shortly after dispersal and exhibiting inherently low germination, quick decisions are required with respect to seeds that should be selected to maximize germination success and vigorous growth of seedlings. In ‘hollong’ (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus Vesque), I address the following questions: (a) are seeds that germinate randomly distributed within a seed population, (b) are subpopulations of viable and non-viable seeds separable, (c) does seed size predict which seeds germinate and (d) does seed size predict time required for germination and seedling vigour? Two estimators of seed size, diameter and weight, demonstrated a significant positive linear relationship endorsing assumption that accumulation of mass increases with increase in diameter of seeds. A threshold for selection of potential seeds for germination could not be derived from diameter measurements since seeds in an entire range of diameter did or did not germinate. All seeds <11 g did not germinate, but this threshold lies at the far lower end of the weight range and allows rejection of only a few seeds and acceptance of many seeds that will not germinate. A risk of potential seeds being rejected or non-viable seeds being picked exists if selection was derived from either diameter or weight. However, viable seeds could be better predicted from a scatter-plot of diameter on x-axis and weight on y-axis. Seeds showed a fan-shaped scatter and those developing the lower blade of the fan did not germinate while those following the handle were successful. Hence, two subpopulations segregated, but with a fuzzy edge. Mean diameter and mean weight of germinated seeds were significantly greater than those of ungerminated seeds. Most ungerminated seeds were those that had relatively smaller weight compared to their diameter. Although some large diameter seeds with small weight did germinate, but failed to develop into seedlings. Germination time and seedling vigour parameters (height, leaf number and collar diameter) were correlated both with diameter and weight. However, weight appears to have mattered more than diameter in germination success and early seedling growth.     

Copper toxicity in tropical barnacles,Balanus Amphitrite amphitrite and Balanus tintinnabulum tintinnabulum

The effect of Cu on survival time, O₂ consumption and accumulation of Cu in barnacles, Balanus amphitrite amphitrite and Balanus tintinnabulum tintinnabulum was studied. B. amphitrite amphitrite were found to survive longer than B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum at all concentrations of Cu. Copper reduced the O₂ consumption of both barnacles, but the reduction was greater with B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum. Copper accumulation in soft parts of the barnacles increased with increasing Cu concentration and time. The barnacles accumulated Cu up to a particular limit (166.7 ± 8.98 μg g^?1 in B. amphitrite amphitrite and 173.6 ± 12.17 μg g^?1 in B. tintinnabulum tintinnabulum) at all Cu concentrations beyond which they died.     

Amplification of a gene related to mammalian mdr genes in drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains at least two genes related to the mammalian multiple drug resistance genes, and at least one of the P. falciparum genes is expressed at a higher level and is present in higher copy number in a strain that is resistant to multiple drugs than in a strain that is sensitive to the drugs.