Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Substratos para testes de emergência de plântulas e vigor de sementes de Erythrina velutina Willd., Fabaceae

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influencia de diferentes substratos na emergencia e desenvolvimento de plântulas de Erythrina velutina Willd. foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetacao pertencente ao Laboratorio de Ecologia Vegetal do Centro de Ciencias Agrarias da Universidade Federal da Paraiba. Foram comparados os substratos areia lavada; areia lavada + vermiculita na proporcao de 1:1, 3:1 e 1:3; terra vegetal, terra vegetal + areia lavada na proporcao de 1:1, 3:1 e 1:3, terra vegetal + vermiculita na proporcao de 1:1, 3:1 e 1:3, vermiculita, bioclone®, bioplant® e plugmix®. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 15 tratamentos (substratos) e quatro repeticoes de 25 sementes. Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de emergencia, primeira contagem, indice de velocidade, tempo medio e frequencia relativa de emergencia, comprimento e massa seca da raiz e parte aerea das plântulas. Constatou-se que os substratos areia e vermiculita foram responsaveis pelos melhores desempenhos, sendo recomendados para conducao de testes de emergencia de plântulas de mulungu.
The influence of cannibalism and prey density on growth in the damselfly Coenagrion hastulatum

The effects of prey density and cannibalism on individual growth rate in similar sized Coenagrion hastulatum (Zygoptera) larvae were studied in a 66 day laboratory experiment. The frequency of cannibalism decreased with increasing alternative prey densities. No significant difference in damselfly growth rate was found between intermediate and high alternative prey densities, but larvae with the lowest alternative prey densities grew more slowly. This pattern is attributed to cannibalism. Cannibals should have gained extra nutrients from consuming conspecifics. In addition cannibalism might have decreased exploitation competition at intermediate prey densities. In fact, some of the largest individuals from intermediate prey densities grew as fast or faster than the smallest individuals in the high alternative prey treatments. Individuals that were cannibals early were larger at the end of the experiment than late cannibals. Also, individuals that ate several conspecifics were larger at the end the experiment. The results suggest that cannibalistic individuals from low alternative-prey-density habitats can grow and develop as fast as those from high alternative-prey-density habitats.
Molecular and ecological analysis of LOX3- and NPR1-dependent defense responses in plant-herbivore interactions

JA-dependent LOX3 and SA-dependent NPR1 perform vital defense functions in Nicotiana attenuata. LOX3 impose stringent growth responses in insects and NPR1 act as a signalling modulator of plant defenses. We found that JA-dependent LOX3-dependent defense responses/metabolites decrease food digestibility in early-instar larvae which prevent them from consuming more food in the later stages. On the other hand, NPR1 serves as a signal modulator and is vital in determining the outcome of JA-dependent LOX3-dependent defense responses. SA was found to have an inhibitory effect on JA- dependent LOX3-dependent defense responses. Therefore, NPR1 serves as a negative regulator of SA biosynthesis in response to herbivore damage in order to activate the JA pathway, and helps the plant finetune an appropriate defense response to herbivores.
Co-occurring grassland species vary in their responses to fine-scale soil heterogeneity

Questions How does fine-scale soil heterogeneity impact on co-occurring species? Which species are advantaged in heterogeneous soils? Location Greenhouse experiment using European grassland species, University of Tartu, Estonia. Methods We grew plant assemblages consisting of 15 species in five soil treatments – comprising three spatially uniform fertility levels (low, medium or high) and two heterogeneous conditions created using checkerboard combinations of low- and high-fertility patches at two spatial scales (6.25 × 6.25 cm or 12.5 × 12.5 cm patches, overall medium fertility). We compared species responses (above-ground biomass) between heterogeneous and homogeneous treatments. Additionally, we compared species responses within low-fertility patches in heterogeneous treatments to the homogeneous treatment of the same fertility. Results Larger, dominant species were advantaged in heterogeneous compared to homogeneous conditions (with the same or lower overall fertility), whereas the growth and survival of smaller, subordinate species was reduced. Larger, dominant species also had increased above-ground biomass within the low-fertility patches in heterogeneous compared to homogeneous low-fertility conditions, but the opposite was true for smaller, subordinate species. In general, species responses in heterogeneous conditions did not differ from the homogeneous high-fertility treatment, although the heterogeneous conditions had lower overall fertility. Conclusions In our experimental grasslands, species differed in their responses to fine-scale soil heterogeneity. Patchy resource distribution directly benefits larger, dominant species that can forage among patches and produce more above-ground biomass compared to conditions where the same amount of resources is distributed homogeneously. Smaller, subordinate species that are more likely confined to a uniform soil patch are disadvantaged by heterogeneity due to increased root and shoot competition from neighbouring species. These species-specific responses to fine-scale soil heterogeneity and altered competitive interactions have important implications for plant community structure and productivity.
Effect of age on concentrations of nutrients in four muscles of the Sudanese dromedary (Camelus dromedaries) camel

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of age (3–4 and 6–7 years old) on concentration of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and collagen in the longissimus thoraces (LT), biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles of 12 Sudanese camels. There were significant effects of age and muscle type on moisture, fat and protein contents. The LT muscle had significantly (P < .05) higher fat than other muscles. The proportion of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, which ranged from 1 . 0 to 1.07, was above the minimum ratio of 4.0 recommended to reduce the risk of coronary diseases in humans. The most abundant essential amino acid in camel muscles was lysine, followed by leucine, phenylalanine, Isoleucine, threonine and methionine. Muscles from 6- to 7-year-old camels had slightly higher insoluble collagen than those from 3- to 4-year-old camels. There was a general trend for mineral content of camel meat increasing with age with significant effect on Ca and Pb concentrations. The Sudanese camel meat is also an important source of several vitamins. This study indicated that concentrations of nutrients among muscles were affected by age and the knowledge of these factors allow for better marketing and processing of camel meat.
Pattern of induced oestrus and conception rate following ovsynch programme in post-partum dairy cows

Sixteen normally calved cows were selected at 35–50 days postpartum and equally divided into two groups as group I and II. All the cows were orally supplemented daily with 30–50 grams of TANUVAS mineral mixture continuously for 15 days. Group I cows were treated with ovsynch protocol between days 50 and 65 post-partum. Oestrus response, mean interval to onset of induced oestrus, duration of oestrus and ovulatory response in group I were 100 per cent, 47.97±2.65 hours, 29.84±0.67 hours and 100 per cent and the corresponding values in group II were 75.00 per cent, 23.50±4.24 days, 28.78±0.67 hours and 62.50 per cent, respectively. The percentage of intense oestrus intensity was higher in group I than group II cows. The first service, second service and overall conception rate observed were 37.50, 50.00 and 87.50 per cent in group I and 25.00, 37.50 and 62.50 per cent in group II cows, respectively.
Subtypisierung von stx-Genen in Shigatoxin-produzierenden Escherichia coli (STEC): Vorkommen in rohen Lebensmitteln und Korrelationen zu anderen Faktoren

We subtyped the stx-genes in STEC isolates from foods like raw and certified milk, raw minced beef or other undercooked meat samples and raw sausage containing beef. Furthermore correlations to 10 other factors and the serogroup were investigated. For this study we used 17 STEC (VTEC) isolates from milk, 44 STEC (VTEC) strains from meat samples and 7 STEC (VTEC) isolates from samples of raw sausage containing beef. All 68 isolates showed in PCR an amplificate by using the primer pair LP 43/LP 44. The target sequence of this primer pair is within the A subunit of the stx-subtypes stx 2, stx 2c, stx 2d and stx 2e. A subtyping was possible by using special primer pairs. 56 (82,3 %) of the isolates showed the stx 2 gene, 25 (36,8 %) of the strains showed the stx 2c gene, 7 (10,3 %) of the isolates showed the stx 2d-gene and 9 (13,2 %) of the isolates gave a positive reaction for stx 2e-gene. Many strains had 2 different stx-types and 3 isolates showed the genes stx 1, stx 2 and stx 2c. We detected the stx 1-gene in 16 (23,5 %) of the isolates by using the PCR-primers KS 7/ KS 8. We could detect the stx 2e-gene only in isolates from samples of raw minced beef or undercooked meat and in samples of raw sausage containing beef. The content of other virulence genes in strains containing the stx2d-gene was very low. This fact could gain importance for the differentiation between STEC- and EHEC-strains. In addition different stx-genes in STEC could cause different expressions of toxins. As a consequence the sensitivity of screening tests using the toxin protein as target could vary.
RCD1 homologues and their constituent WWE domain in plants: analysis of conservation through phylogeny methods

Abstract RCD1 protein confers multiple stress tolerance to plant, while playing in it developmental roles as well. After an extensive characterization of its gene in A. thaliana, role of its orthologues under varying stresses have also been characterized in rice, wheat and tomato plants. RCD1 of A. thaliana with its rice homologue has been found consensually involved in providing plant tolerance against oxidative and osmotic stresses; however, its stress-tolerance roles under other environmental stresses seem rather contrasting. This is also the case with the expression profile, primary protein structure and binding affinities of these two homologues. Such differences in behaviours of the RCD1 homologues raises need to study their evolutionary status, in an effort to infer relative conservation of their functions. To elucidate this pattern, available RCD1 homologues have been subjected to Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference-based analysis in this research. Conservation status of the SRO1/RCD1 type-specific WWE domain has also been explored using the available sequences in online databases along with the WWE-encoding sequences obtained in sugarcane, wheat and rice using single set of primers designed on conserved flanking regions. Results suggest a high conservation of these homologues within plant families, suggesting family-specific conservation of their functionalities in demonstrating stress responses.
Trophic transfer of nearshore basal resources: interpreting fatty acid and stable isotope biomarkers

Trophic transfer of nearshore basal resources: interpreting fatty acid and stable isotope biomarkers Aaron W. E. Galloway Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Kenneth P. Sebens School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences Benthic heterotrophs living in aphotic aquatic habitats rely upon subsidies of detrital energy, in the form of complex organic molecules, which are synthesized by macrophytes and phytoplankton in the photic zone. Identifying the relative importance of different basal energy resources to consumers is critical for understanding ecosystem function and trophic connectivity in aquatic habitats. Partitioning the contribution of differing detrital resources to deep nearshore subtidal consumers is impractical using solely observational techniques such as surveys of macrophyte biomass or gut content analyses. Biochemical markers such as fatty acids (FA) and multiple stable isotopes (MSI; collectively FAMSI) can help resolve which sources are actually important in consumers, but several key uncertainties in the assumptions of the approach limit its utility. In this dissertation, I used a combination of observational and
Luminous enteric bacteria as spoilage indicator of tropical fish, Sardinella gibbosa

Luminous enteric bacteria in the marine fish, Sardinella gibbosa collected from retail fish markets were quantified. The market fish samples were characterised by high bacterial counts. Luminous bacterial counts per gram of samples ranged as follows: 1 - 2230 x 10 4 in gills, 1.27 - 28.3 x 104 in muscle with skin and 2.18 - 24 x 10 7 in digestive tract. Five different species of luminous bacteria, viz., Vibrio fischeri, V. harveyi, V. orientalis, V. splendidus 1 and Photobacterium leiognathi, were isolated from the samples of gill, muscle and digestive tract. V. harveyi was the most abundant species, comprising 61.07% of the total luminous bacteria. Presence of high counts of luminous enteric bacteria in the fish muscle could be taken as an indication of spoilage of fish.
The effect of field storage of Koroneiki and Mastoides olives on oil quality characteristics

In order to clarify the effects of time duration of olives during field storage on the changes in oil content, fruit weight, and oil quality, olive fruits of cv. Koroneiki and Mastoides were harvested and stored for 80 days in open field in harvesting nets. Olive samples were periodically examined for fruit and oil quality characteristics. Average fruit weight, fruit moisture and oil content significantly decreased during field storage, while titratable acidity, PV and UV absorbance of oil extracted from fruits of both cultivars, increased during field storage. Total phenol and chlorophyll content decreased by 10-fold and 5 fold, respectively, over 80 days of field storage. In all cases cv. Koroneiki performed better but only initially. Fatty acid composition was not affected significantly except of linoleic acid which increased, ond oleic acid which decreased with storage time (oil of cv. Koroneiki). The ratio between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in the oil of both cultivars showed a fluctuation, however, it was significantly higher in cv. Mastoides than that of cv. Koroneiki. Field storage of olives even for a short period of time significantly affects fruit and oil quality characteristics and therefore should be avoided where it is possible.
Response of pigeon pea and cowpea to phosphate and dual inoculation with vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza and Rhizobium

Response of cowpea and pigeon pea to dual Inoculation with Glomus fasciculatum and/or Rhizobium sp. , with and without added P (22 kg P ha-1) was studied in a P-deficient non-sterile soil. Application of P increased nodulation and the number of endomycorrhizal spores in the root zone of both legumes. Plants inoculated with both organisms and supplemented with P recorded the highest shoot dry weights and N and P contents, indicating the need for the addition of a small amount of P to derive maximum benefit from dual inoculation with Rhizobium and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza.
Land-use correlates of anuran community richness and composition in southeastern Ontario wetlands

Abstract In light of increasing evidence of declining anuran populations worldwide, an important conservation issue is the extent to which declines are consequences of smaller-scale stresses such as local habitat loss or degradation, or larger-scale stresses such as climate change. Here we show that anuran richness in 77 southeastern Ontario wetlands is negatively correlated with the density of roads on lands within 1 km of the wetland, and positively correlated with the percentage of forest cover. Logistic regression analysis shows that the presence of at least two species, the mink frog (Rana septentrionalis) and the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), is negatively related to road density, while the pickerel frog (Rana palustris) shows significant positive association with adjacent forest cover. These results suggest that in southeastern Ontario, significant conservation gains can be achieved through local land-use planning and management decisions that mitigate the effects of existing roads, minimize the construction of new roads, and discourage further forest conversion on lands adjacent to wetlands.
The effect of nutrient compounds (sugars and amino-acids) on balt consumption by Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Nutrient compounds (sugars, amino acids, and uric acid) were applied to paper baits to determine their ability to influence subterranean termite (Reticulitermes spp.) consumption in laboratory bioassays. In choice tests subterranean termites consumed significantly more paper treated with 0.01 M or 0.1 M solutions of fructose, galactose, glucose, raffinose, sucrose, and trehalose. Several of the amino acids tested significantly deterred feeding at the 0.1 M concentration. However, uric acid was found to significantly increase feeding at the 0.001 M concentration. Nutrients that stimulated significantly higher or lower levels of consumption in the choice bioassays were evaluated further in no-choice tests. The purpose of the no-choice evaluation was to determine if those nutrients that had significantly influenced termite feeding were simply preferred (or not preferred) or were actually true phagostimulants (or feeding deterrents) causing termites to eat significantly more (or less) of the nutrient treated baits than they would of a control bait. No-choice evaluations determined that termite consumption of nutrient treated baits was not significantly different from that of the control baits, indicating that subterranean termites found all of the baits equally palatable if they were not given a choice. While none of the nutrients tested were found to be true termite phagostimulants or feeding deterrents, choice tests determined that several of the sugars and uric acid would stimulate preferential feeding in the presence of a competing food resource.
Does coyote diet vary seasonally between a protected and an unprotected forest landscape?

Abstract In forested areas of the northern portion of their range, coyote (Canis latrans) populations are thought to depend mainly on areas disturbed by humans. Within a forested landscape, we analyzed scat contents to study seasonal variations in coyote diet, from January to December 1996, between a protected area (Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, N = 311) and an adjacent unprotected area (N = 364). Coyote diet changed significantly between May-July and August-September in both areas, and between October-December and January-April in the protected area. From January to July, the proportion of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) in coyote diet was significantly higher in the unprotected area than in the protected area, but no other items differed between areas. Diet also differed between the two areas during August-December. In the protected area, the proportion of mammals in the diet was significantly lower, while the proportions of fruits and insects were significantly higher. Diet diversity was maximum during August-September in both areas. During January-April, diet diversity was higher in the protected area. Our results suggest that during winter, human-induced habitat alterations increase snowshoe hare vulnerability to coyotes and thus favour coyote populations. However, during summer, human persecution seems to reduce the daylight activity of coyotes and limits their use of open habitats, thereby limiting their consumption of fruits and insects. We suggest that the level and type of human disturbance could have important implications for coyote foraging behaviour and might be a confounding factor for temporal or spatial comparisons of coyote diet.
In vitro propagation of Capparis spinosa L.

In vitro propagation of Capparis spinosa was conducted via seeds and nodal buds of a Lebanese ecotype. High seed germination percentage was achieved on MS medium deprived of hormones (71%) and on sterile water (64%) after a dormancy-breaking treatment by coat-scarification with a scalpel. Multiple shoots were obtained from nodal buds on both MS and modified MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.5 mg l -1 ), IBA (0.05 mg l -1 ) ± GA 3 (0.1 mg l -1 ), at intervals of 4 weeks. Shoot multiplication was conducted on the same media by subculturing shoot segments with 2-3 nodes every six weeks. After six subcultures, multiplication was achieved with a mean rate of 20 new shoots per explant. High rooting response of shoots (87%) was obtained after a 4h pulse treatment period in darkness with IAA solution (100 mg l -1 ), followed by a subsequent 30-day of culture on gelled half-strength MS basal medium. These results indicate the enormous potential for caper to be used for large-scale mulitiplication.
COMBINING ABILITY AND HETEROSIS FOR SOME ECONOMIC TRAITS IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)

The present study was conducted to estimate the effects of combining ability and heterobeltiosis in bittergourd under two different seasons as set-1 (rainy season, 2013) and set-2 (spring season, 2014) at Vegetable research farm, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana. Set one consisted of 6 lines, 7 testers and set-2 of 7 lines, 7 testers which were mated in a line x tester manner to produce 42 and 49 hybrids respectively. In both the seasons, hybrids and parents were evaluated with local check (Punjab-14 and commercial check (Prachi). The study on combining ability and heterosis revealed predominance of nonadditive gene action for all the characters except days to anthesis of male flower and vine length during rainy season whereas fruit width and carotene during spring season. In rainy season, lines PAUBG-1, WBBG-28, DBG-35 and DBG-45 and tester PBIG-56 and Pusa Vishesh were found to be good combiner for number of fruits, total and marketable yield. The hybrids PAUBG-1 x PBIG-56, WBBG-28 x PBIG-56, DBG-35 x Pusa Vishesh and DBG-45 x PBIG-56 were found to be the promising ones for number of fruits per plant, total and marketable yield. Maximum heterosis over better parent for marketable yield per plant was recorded for cross combination of PAUBG-1 x PBIG-56 (136.6%). However, coss DBG-45 x PBIG-56 showed 113.8% and 178.4% heterosis over local and commercial check, respectively. The cross combinations of DBG-45 x PBIG-56, PAUBG-1 x PBIG-56, DBG-35 x PBIG-56, WBBG-28 x PBIG-56 and WBBG-28 x Pusa Vishesh seemed to be high yielding with the yield potentialities of 1441.0, 1224.7, 1207.0, 1173.7 and 994.7 g/plant of marketable yield. During spring season, lines PAUBG-1, PAUBG-4 and DBG-45 and testers Punjab Kareli-1, Arka Harit and Pant Karela were recorded as good combiners for yield and yield attributing characters in spring season. The cross combination of PAUBG-13 x Arka Harit, DBG-45 x Pusa Do Mausami, DBG-35 x Arka Harit, WBBG-28 x Pant Karela and PAUBG-4 x Punjab Kareli-1 were found good for number of fruit per plant, fruit weight, days to last harvest and marketable yield and with the yielding potentialities 2329.1, 2007.7, 1908.5, 1768.3 and 1752.5 g/plant respectively. The cross combination of PAUBG-13 x Arka Harit showed 104.6% heterosis over better parent 111.4% and 64.0% heterosis over local and commercial check, respectively.