Production of Lambs After the Transfer of Fresh and Cryopreserved in vitro Produced Embryos from Prepubertal Lamb Oocytes and Unsorted and Sex-sorted Frozen-thawed Spermatozoa

Cumulus-oocyte complexes from hormone-stimulated 3-4-week-old (n=43) and 6-7-week-old (n=12) prepubertal lambs were matured in vitro and incubated with unsorted, or X- or Y-spermatozoa separated with a high-speed cell sorter (SX MoFlo)frozen-thawed. Presumptive zygotes were then cultured to the blastocyst stage, and transferred to recipients fresh or after cryopreservation (frozen). Oocyte cleavage was higher (p <0.05) with unsorted (515/926, 55.6%) than X- or Y-spermatozoa (261/672, 38.8% and 229/651, 35.2%, respectively) and blastocyst formation (% zygotes) by Day 9 of in vitro culture was lower (p <0.05) for X- (102/261, 39.1%) than unsorted spermatozoa (249/515, 48.3%), but did not differ between Y-spermatozoa (103/229, 45.0%) and unsorted spermatozoa, or between X- and Y-spermatozoa (p >0.05). For fresh embryos, survival to term was 50.0% (3/6) for unsorted, 0.0% (0/6) for X- and 16.7% (1/6) for Y-spermatozoa-derived embryos (p >0.05), and for frozen embryos was 4.0% (2/50) for unsorted, 9.1% (2/22) for X- and 2.9% (1/34) Y-spermatozoa-derived embryos (p >0.05). Of the two lambs born from X-spermatozoa-derived embryos, one was female (50%), and from the two Y-spermatozoa-derived lambs, both were male (100%), demonstrating that lambs can be produced after the transfer of fresh and cryopreserved IVP embryos derived from prepubertal lamb oocytes and frozen-thawed sex-sorted sperm.     

Device Applications of Side-Chain Ferroelectric Liquid Crystalline Polymer Films

Side-chain ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymers are currently used in a number of applications, including displays and electrical sensors. Comparisons with existing technologies and materials indicate that relative to ceramics, such polymers have lower figures of merit but offer greater durability in sensor applications.     

Assessment of ZN Interaction with Nutrient Cations in Alkaline Soil and its Effect on Plant Growth

An experiment was conducted to assess the zinc (Zn) availability to wheat in alkaline soils during Rabi 2009–2010. Wheat seedlings in pots having 2 kg alkaline sandy soil per pot were treated with 5, 10 and 15 kg Zn ha^?1 as soil and with 0.5 and 1.0% zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) as foliar application. Results showed that Zn increasing levels in soil helped in phosphorus uptake up to boot stage but its conversion to grain portion lacked in Zn treated plants. Potassium (K) uptake also increased up to 6.24% in boot stage with treatment of 10 kg Zn ha^?1 + 1.0% ZnSO₄ foliar spray. Zinc (Zn) concentration increased in plant tissues with the increasing level of Zn application but this disturbed the phosphorus (P)-Zn interaction and, thus, both of the nutrients were found in lesser quantities in grains compared to the control. Despite of the apparent sufficient Zn level in soil (1.95 mg kg^?1), improvement in growth and yield parameters with Zn application indicate that the soil was Zn deplete in terms of plant available Zn. The above findings suggest that the figure Zn sufficiency in alkaline soil (1.0 mg kg^?1) should be revised in accordance to the nature and type of soils. Furthermore, foliar application of Zn up to 1.0% progressively increased yield but not significantly; and it was recommended that higher concentrations might be used to confirm foliar application of Zn as a successful strategy for increasing plant zinc levels.     

Impact of Distillery Effluent on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Vertisol of Central India

Distilleries produce a huge quantity of effluents, popularly known as spent wash (SW), which when bio-methanated produce post-methanation effluents (PME). A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for five consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ten treatment combinations consisting of control, 100% NPK + Farmyard Manure (FYM), and graded level of SW and PME were applied. Total carbon content of soil increased significantly with applications of FYM and DE. SW was found superior in enhancing carbon content of soil in comparison to PME. Farmyard Manure contributed more carbon toward the recalcitrant pool, whereas DE contributed more carbon toward the active and slow pool. Nitrogen (N) availability was significantly improved with the application of DE. Balanced application of DE may act as amendment for increasing C and N stocks in Vertisol.     

Relative tolerances of wild and cultivated barley to infection by Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei (Syn. Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei). II—the effects of infection on photosynthesis and respiration

The relative levels of tolerance of two wild barley lines (Hordeum spontaneum), B19909 and I-17-40, and one cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare), cv. Prisma, to Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei were determined by comparing the effects of different levels of infection on the photosynthesis and respiration rates of the third leaf. Infection caused the early onset of senescence in all three lines, and in particular in cv. Prisma, and was accompanied by decreases in gross and net photosynthesis rates, increases in respiration rates, and loss of chlorophyll. The onset of senescence occurred at approximately the same time in infected leaves of the two wild lines, but once triggered, photosynthesis rates and chlorophyll levels declined more rapidly in I-17-40 than in B19909. A burst of respiratory activity accompanied the onset of senescence, and this was greatest in cv. Prisma. Conidial production was higher in B19909, indicating a higher level of tolerance in this line.     

镉胁迫对水稻生长和营养代谢的影响

 选择苗期镉耐性和籽粒镉含量差异明显的4个晚粳稻品种为供试材料，研究了有毒重金属镉胁迫对水稻生长和营养代谢的影响。结果表明，镉胁迫显著降低各品种的产量和每株穗数、每穗总粒数、结实率、粒重等经济性状以及不同生育期的地上部干物质重，但苗期镉耐性较强的品种受抑制程度要小于镉耐性较弱的品种，相近耐性类型中籽粒镉含量较高的品种比镉含量较低的品种受害严重。因此可用苗期镉的耐性评价不同基因型耐镉性的差异。镉胁迫显著增加各品种地上部茎叶和籽粒的镉含量和积累量，但增加的程度品种间存在着很大差异。植株镉含量随生育进程而逐步下降，而植株镉积累量随生育进程而增加，与干物质产量一致。本研究还表明，镉胁迫显著影响籽粒中一些矿质元素的含量，按镉对籽粒元素含量的效应可将所涉及的8种元素划分为二类，一类呈现为抑制效应，包括K、P、Mg、Mn和Zn等5种；另一类呈现为促进效应，包括Fe、Cu和Ca等3种。此外，镉胁迫对游离氨基酸含量的影响与氨基酸种类和品种有关。值得注意的是，谷氨酸和半胱氨酸等含硫氨基酸的合成受镉胁迫的抑制，且耐性较弱的品种受抑制程度明显大于镉耐性较强的品种。同时，耐性较强的品种这些氨基酸的含量均高于耐性较弱的品种，说明这些氨基酸的代谢可能与水稻品种的Cd耐性反应有关。     

Loss of soil organic matter and related soil properties under long-term sugarcane production on two contrasting soils

The effects of increasing periods under sugarcane monoculture (managed with preharvest burning) on soil organic matter content and related soil properties were investigated in the 0- to 10-cm layer of a sandy coastal Ochric Cambisol (Glenrosa soil) and a red Rhodic Ferralsol (Hutton soil) from the sugar belt of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The organic C content at both sites under undisturbed vegetation was between 40 and 50 g C kg^-1. This declined exponentially with increasing years under sugarcane. For the Glenrosa site it reached a new equilibrium level after about 30-40 years. After 20-30 years of sugarcane, organic C content had declined to about 33 g kg^-1 for the Hutton soil and 17 g kg^-1 for the Glenrosa soil. The higher organic matter content maintained at the Hutton site was attributed mainly to clay protection of organic matter since the clay content of the Hutton soil was 62% compared to 18% for the Glenrosa soil. For the same reason, aggregate stability was also generally higher in the Hutton than Glenrosa soil. The loss of soil organic matter under sugarcane resulted in a concomitant decline in soil microbial biomass C, percentage of organic C present as microbial biomass, basal respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity and aggregate stability. At the Glenrosa site, the natural '¹³C abundance in soils was used to calculate the loss of forest-derived, native soil C and the concomitant input of sugarcane-derived C. Sugarcane-derived organic C increased over time until it accounted for about 61% of organic C in the surface 10 cm in soils that had been under sugarcane for greater than 50 years. It was concluded that sugarcane production can cause a large decline in soil organic matter content and that practices such as green cane harvesting, zero tillage and use of green crops should be promoted to help ameliorate the problem.     

Leaf mineral element concentrations and growth of sweet sorghum subjected to acid soil stress

Abstract

The nutritional profile of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars grown under acid soil field stress conditions is a critical consideration when developing plants which are adapted to these infertile soils. Uptake and accumulation of macro‐ and micronutrients vary among genotypes and ultimately Influence plant growth and development. This study compared fourteen sweet sorghum germplasm lines and varieties for their Individual patterns of leaf nutrient concentrations and productivity when grown under acid soil field conditions (pH 4.45 to pH 4.85) at three locations over a two‐year period. Significant year x location interactions were found for Fe, K, and Ca concentrations at both Blairsville and Calhoun and for Mn and P levels at Blairsville and Calhoun, respectively. Data from Calhoun on plant height, dry weight, visual stress ratings, and rainfall indicate a possible association between drought tolerance and acid soil tolerance in sorghum. No significant differences in A1 concentrations were found among these sweet sorghum lines and varieties, which indicate that their acid soil tolerance mechanisms are probably not related to A1. MN 1054 accumulated the highest levels of Mn in the three acid soils. The highest concentrations of Mg and P were found in Brandes. MN 960 had the highest visual stress ratings (highest susceptibility) while Brandes, Ramada, Roma, and Wray were the most tolerant. All fourteen cultivars apparently have some tolerance to acid soil stress conditions.