Age estimation of different tree species using a special kind of an electrically recording resistance drill

The determination of tree age is an important issue for urban green planning, forestry and dendrology; finding non-destructive and quasi-non-destructive methods for this purpose is of great theoretical and practical importance. The resistance drilling method is quasi-non-destructive because the average diameter of an opening that remains after drilling does not exceed 3 mm. Do electrically recording resistance drills allow precise assessment of tree age? The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of determining the number of tree rings based on an examination of this special kind of drilling resistance profiles for three tree species, the pine Pinus sylvestris L., the oak Quercus robur L., and the birch Betula pendula ROTH. In 2015 and 2016, 15 pine trees, 15 oak trees, and 15 birch trees were randomly selected. For each studied tree, a measurement was conducted using the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 with a flat-tipped 1.5/3 mm steel needle (research sample), and an increment core was taken (reference sample). The drill used was not a real Resistograph^®. The analysis of the E400-profiles underestimated the number of tree rings; the mean bias error (MBE) values were –6.5, –2.5, and –6.0 years for pine, oak, and birch, respectively. The proportion of investigated trees with less than five years difference between the research and reference samples varied from 38.4 (birch) to 66.7 (oak) percent. The accuracy of tree age determination was lowest for birch and highest for oak. The binomial generalised linear model (GLM) revealed that the most accurate tree age assessments were obtained from tree rings wider than 2 mm. The measurements clearly showed that the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 enables a quick, although approximate, tree age assessment. Future research should concentrate on electronically regulating and recording drills, providing a higher spatial and signal resolution, and a stronger correlation to wood density.     

耐盐抗旱优质高产棉花新品种‘衡棉1670’的选育研究

抗逆优质丰产棉花新品种的培育及应用是当前棉花生产节水提质增效的关键。‘衡棉1670’是河北省农林科学院旱作农业研究所以中早熟陆地棉品种资源材料‘衡棉210’为母本,以‘衡棉4号’为父本杂交,后代多年南繁北育,经旱棚盐池鉴定选择,在枯黄萎病混生重病地、不防治棉铃虫的高压胁迫下,经过多年连续定向选择育成。其突出表现为抗枯黄萎病、丰产优质、耐盐抗旱节水,适宜在河北省及黄河流域同类生态春播棉区推广种植,2019年8月通过河北省农作物品种审定委员会审定（审定编号为冀审棉20190013）。     

北京地区南瓜病毒病病原种类鉴定

为明确北京地区南瓜病毒病种类及其主要侵染病原,2016~2017年在北京周边采集疑似感染病毒的南瓜病样84份,并根据南瓜上的6种病毒特异性引物对其进行反转录PCR(RT-PCR)检测。结果表明:共有79份南瓜病样检测显示阳性,其中黄瓜花叶病毒(Cucumber mosaic virus,CMV)的检出率最高,为52.38%;其次是小西葫芦黄花叶病毒(Zucchini yellow mosaic virus,ZYMV)和西瓜花叶病毒(Watermelon mosaic virus,WMV),检出率分别为44.01%、14.29%,其他病毒暂未检出。此外,16.67%的样品受2种病毒复合侵染,CMV和ZYMV复合侵染占7.14%,ZYMV和WMV复合侵染占9.52%。北京地区南瓜上优势病毒种类为CMV,且存在病毒复合侵染现象。     

Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

Use of netting and whitewash spray to protect papaya plants against Nivun Haamir (NH)-dieback disease

A disease causing the decline of papaya (Carica papaya) plants was noticed in the Jordan Valley in 1982. The disease caused severe yellowing of the upper leaves and dieback of the apex. The disease was not transmissible mechanically and continued efforts to associate viruses and viroids have so far been unsuccessful. Epidemiological observations suggested that the disease is airborne and probably caused by a mollicute. In order to test this hypothesis, plots were covered by an insect-proof net and with white nets providing 15, 30 and 50% shade. The 30%, 50% and insect-proof nettings provided complete protection, and the 15% netting reduced disease incidence to <2%, compared with>37% in the uncovered control plot. Spraying plants at weekly intervals with a commercial whitewash solution was also found to be effective in reducing disease incidence. The advantages of using a range of netting field treatments as a simple means for obtaining information on the epidemiological nature of a new disease are described.     

湟源县草地资源基本特点及开发利用

湟源县草地面积有 85 1 85 .1 3hm2 ,占全县土地总面积的 5 6.45 % ,草地资源丰富 ,牧草种类较多 ,农业生产秸秆来源广泛 ,但由于利用不当 ,造成了草地严重破坏和秸秆的浪费 ,如何合理利用草地和秸秆资源 ,扼制草地退化 ,是促进该县畜牧业发展的重要因素     

中西药结合预防肉鸡腹水综合征的临床试及防治机理探讨

将一日龄艾维因肉仔鸡(雌雄各半)180只在同一舍内饲养,14日龄时将其随机分成4组,其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ组饲料按1％分别添加我们研制的方剂一和方剂二,连续用药15d,为药物预防组;Ⅲ组在饲料中按0.05％添加肾肿腹水消,连用7d(药品要求的预防剂量),为药物对照组;Ⅳ组饲料中不添加任何药物,为空白对照组。Ⅰ-Ⅳ组发病率分别为0、10％、3％和20％,42d时Ⅰ、Ⅳ组体重高于其它组,Ⅰ平均体重为1972.92g,Ⅳ组平均体重为1989.91g。试验表明方剂一为该试验条件下预防肉鸡腹水综合征最有效的方剂,其保护率可达100％,且不影响出栏重。对方剂一预防肉鸡腹水综合征的机理进行探讨。     

水稻条纹病毒在玉米和水稻上流行差异分析

为了明确水稻条纹病毒(RSV)在水稻和玉米上发生程度差异明显的原因,从一个侧面了解RSV流行本质,2004年在洪泽进行田间试验。采用黄盘诱集、盘扑、盘刮、肉眼计数等方法比较武育粳3号和掖单13上灰飞虱侵入和消长动态,结果表明两者均只有一个成虫侵入高峰,单位面积迁入虫量前者是后者的3.6倍,单株平均虫量相近。Dot-ELISA法测定灰飞虱带毒率为40%,成虫迁移扩散高峰期22d内两者接毒量约为每天百株137头带毒虫。武育粳3号有二代若虫发生,掖单13则无。逐日调查发病进程,结果显示水稻发病率为60%,玉米为0。室内抗性鉴定,掖单13对RSV的抗性比武育粳3号高4个级别。综合以上结果,寄主品种抗性决定了RSV在水稻和玉米上流行状况,二代若虫重复侵染是RSV在水稻上重发的另一主要原因。     

维生素E与母牛繁殖

维生素E是一种有效的抗氧化剂，具有广乏的生理功能，对提高机体免疫力，提高母牛繁殖力和预防产科疾病有重要的意义。本文从它的生理功能、来源及与母牛繁殖关系的最新研究成果进行了综述。