Effects of adding different concentrations of melatonin (10?7, 10?9 and 10?11 M) to maturation (Experiment 1; Control, IVM + 10?7, IVM + 10?9, IVM + 10?11) and culture media (Experiment 2; Control, IVC + 10?7, IVC + 10?9, IVC + 10?11) were evaluated on in vitro bovine embryonic development. The optimal concentration of melatonin (10?9 M) from Experiments 1–2 was tested in both maturation and/or culture media of Experiment 3 (Control, IVM + 10?9, IVC + 10?9, IVM /IVC + 10?9). In Experiment 1, maturated oocytes from Control and IVM + 10?9 treatments showed increased glutathione content, mitochondrial membrane potential and percentage of Grade I blastocysts (40.6% and 43%, respectively). In Experiment 2, an increase in the percentage of Grade I blastocysts was detected in IVC + 10?7 (43.5%; 56.7%) and IVC + 10?9 (47.4%; 57.4%). Moreover, a lower number and percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were observed in the IVC + 10?9 group compared to Control (3.8 ± 0.6; 3.6% versus 6.1 ± 0.6; 5.3%). In Experiment 3, the IVC + 10?9 treatment increased percentage of Grade I blastocysts with a lower number of apoptotic cells compared to IVM /IVC + 10?9 group (52.6%; 3.0 ± 0.5 versus 46.0%; 5.4 ± 1.0). The IVC + 10?9 treatment also had a higher mRNA expression of antioxidant gene (SOD 2) compared to the Control, as well as the heat shock protein (HSPB 1) compared to the IVM + 10?9. Reactive oxygen species production was greater in the IVM /IVC + 10?9 treatment group. In conclusion, the 10?9 M concentration of melatonin and the in vitro production phase in which it is used directly affected embryonic development and quality. 相似文献
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil solution represents a complex mixture of organic molecules and plays a central role in carbon and nitrogen cycling in plant–microbial–soil systems. We tested whether excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to characterize DOM and support previous findings that the majority of DOM is of high molecular weight (MW). EEM fluorescence spectroscopy was used in conjunction with MW fractionation to characterize DOM in soil solution from a grassland soil land management gradient in North Wales, UK. Data analysis suggested that three distinct fluorescence components could be separated and identified from the EEM data. These components were identified as being of humic‐like or fulvic‐like origin. Contrary to expectations, the majority of the fluorescence signal occurred in the small MW (<1 kDa) fraction, although differences between soils from the differently managed grasslands were more apparent in larger MW fractions. We conclude that following further characterization of the chemical composition of the fluorophores, EEM has potential as a sensitive technique for characterizing the small MW phenolic fraction of DOM in soils. 相似文献
Aglime application can promote carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from acid soils. However, the controlling mechanisms are still poorly understood, particularly the role of fertiliser-ammonium oxidation. This study therefore assessed the effects of aglime on soil inorganic C (SIC)– and soil organic C (SOC)–derived CO2 emissions from acid soils amended with ammonium.
Materials and methods
Ammonium at three N rates [0% (A0), 0.005% (A1), and 0.2% (A2) w/w] and labelled aglime (Ca13CO3,13C 5.94% aa) at three rates [0% (L1), 0.067% (L1), and 0.392% (L2) w/w] were applied to two contrasting acid soils (Nariva series, Mollic Fluvaquents; and Piarco series, Typic Kanhaplaquults) and incubated in 1-l media bottles for 23 days. A calcareous soil (Princes Town series, Aquentic Eutrudepts, carbonate δ13C of ??4.79‰) was included as a control that only received ammonium at the three rates.
Results and discussion
The application of ammonium at the A2 rate significantly (p?<?0.05) increased cumulative SIC-CO2 emissions by 15.8 and 27.1% in comparison to the A0 rate for the Nariva and Piarco soils, respectively, when they were limed at the L2 rate. The lower rate of ammonium (A1), however, had no effect on these emissions, which suggests that enough acidity may not have been generated at this rate to significantly enhance the release of SIC-CO2. Furthermore, no effect of ammonium rates was observed on SIC-CO2 emissions from the calcareous soil, which refutes the hypothesis that this amendment plays a greater role in regulating these emissions from calcareous soils compared with acid soils. Also, in contradiction to another hypothesis, the aglime-induced priming effect on SOC decomposition was more apparent in the low-C Piarco soil. This effect was also significantly (p?<?0.05) greater at the L2 rate (above the lime requirement for Piarco), which demonstrates the negative impact that over-liming could have on the sequestration of C in this soil. Our results also showed that ammonium addition may also help to reduce the magnitude of the aglime-induced priming effect in the Piarco soil when it is not over-limed.
Conclusions
Overall, the findings of this study suggest that ammonium fertiliser broadcast at conventional rates may not serve as a significant regulator of SIC-CO2 emissions from highly to moderately acidic soils amended with aglime. Our findings also indicate a need to consider nitrogen management as an important factor regulating the effects of aglime on SOC-CO2 emissions.
The role of the bark beetle Hylastes ater in the re-establishment of Pinus radiata forest in New Zealand is discussed. H. ater was found to be a dominant factor in seedlings mortality in the first year following planting. However, seedling mortality is usually relatively low. In contrast, it was found the large numbers of seedlings were sub-lethally damaged by H. ater feeding attempts, particularly in high risk sites. High risk sites were identified as sites that were harvested during March and April (autumn) when the peak flight activity of H. ater occurred, and subsequently planted with P. radiata seedlings the following winter. H. ater was found to vector sapstain fungi to seedlings during feeding attempts, and a strong relationship between the severity of damage and presence of sapstain fungi was identified. The role of H. ater as a vector of these fungi and the potential implications to the New Zealand forest industry are discussed. 相似文献
1.Three experiments were undertaken to determine the optimum inclusion rates of field peas, faba beans, chick peas and sweet lupins in broiler starter and finisher diets in amounts up to 360 g/kg. 2. In experiment A chickens in cages grown to 21 d on diets with field peas and faba beans gave better growth rate and feed efficiency than those with sweet lupins and chick peas. Growth rate and Food conversion ratio (FCR) improved with increasing amounts of faba beans in the diet while for chick peas growth rate and FCR declined. Digesta viscosity and excreta stickiness scores were much higher on diets with sweet lupins. Steam pelleting improved growth rate and FCR on all diets. 3. In experiment B birds were in cages and grown from 21 to 42 d. There were no differences between grain legumes (when combined for all inclusions) for growth rate, food intake or FCR. Viscosity was again much higher on the sweet lupin-based diets while the pancreas was significantly enlarged on the diets with chick peas, as observed previously in chickens grown to 21 d. Steam pelleting of diets gave a consistent and positive response for weight gain and FCR. 4. Experiment C was carried out in pens each holding 60 birds under semi-commercial conditions and grown to 42 d on starter and finisher diets with the same grain legumes as used previously but each at 2 rates of inclusion similar to those in commercial practice. Field peas at 200 to 300 g/kg and chick peas at 150 to 220 g/kg gave inferior growth to faba beans (150 to 180 g/kg) and sweet lupins (120 g/kg). 5. The results of these experiments allowed tentative recommendations to be made to industry for inclusion rates of these cultivars of the 4 grain legumes. These were: field peas 300 g/kg; faba beans 200 g/kg, chick peas 100 g/kg and sweet lupins <100 g/kg. Wet droppings and high gut viscosity were serious problems with sweet lupins although these were not so obvious in experiment C. 相似文献