Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMPACT OF INFECTIONS WITH TWO TRICHODERMA AGGRESSIVUM F. EUROPAEUM ISOLATES ON THE YIELDING OF SOME WILD STRAINS OF AGARICUS BISPORUS (LANGE) IMBACH

The effect of infections with Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum on the yielding of seven wild and one commercial strain of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. was investigated. Wild strains of the mushroom were derived from natural habitats of Poland. The cultivation substrate was inoculated with two different isolates of T. aggressivum f. europaeum Th2. It was found that infections of the substrate with these isolates resulted in a very serious decrease in mushroom yield. The examined mushroom strains showed differ- ent reactions to the infections with Trichoderma isolates.
Elwha River Sediments: Phosphorus Characterization and Dynamics Under Diverse Environmental Conditions

Abstract Two large dams on the Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula, Washington, will be removed over a 2–3 year period starting in 2011. Sediments that have accumulated in reservoirs behind these dams will be exposed to new physical and chemical conditions that could affect P distribution and availability in the oligotrophic river system. Coarse sediments from a reservoir delta and fine sediments from a reservoir bottom were collected. The sediments were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics relevant to P availability. The fine sediments had 20 to 200% greater concentrations of C, N, amorphous Fe, Fe-bound P, Ca-bound P and organic P than the coarse sediments. Both sediment types had relatively low P concentrations compared with published values for eutrophic systems. Both fine and coarse sediments immobilized large quantities of added P, but fine sediments maintained dissolved P concentrations at half the level of coarse sediments. A 300 h incubation of sediments under diverse environmental conditions indicated released P was not affected by short-term exposure to oxygen. For coarse sediments, P release was greater in freshwater than saltwater throughout the incubation, for fine sediments this occurred only initially. Results of sediment characterizations are important in understanding potential post-dam conditions. Release of P from eroded and resuspended sediments will likely be of sufficient magnitude to increase downriver P concentrations. The Ca-bound P in non-eroded dewatered sediments will likely be sufficient to meet the P demand of vascular vegetation that establishes in the new riparian zone.
Internode length in Pisum. Comparison of genotypes in the light and dark

There is a strong relationship across the full range of gibberellin deficient, internode length genotypes (le, lh, is, na) between internode length in the dark and in red or white light. Further, the new, more severe allele at the le locus. Ied, is shown to influence growth in the dark as well as in the light. These results suggest that darkeness does not specifically overcome any of the steps blocked by the gibberellin (GA) synthesis genes contrasting with the conclusions drawn by other workers. Supporting this conclusion in relation to the Ie gene are results which show that, at least at certain dosage rates, dark-grown Ie na plants respond better to GA1 than to GA20 similar to the response previously reported in light grown plants. The greater response by plants of the nana line NGB1766 (na) to GA1 in the dark than in the light suggests that light may influence internode length by altering GA-sensitivity. These results are discussed in relation to previous views on the control of stem elongation by light.
Histopathological studies of microsporidian infected tissues of Lamerin breed of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Ultrastructure of gut and fat bodies of Lamerin breed of the silkworm Bombyx mori L infected with microsporidia did not show hypertropy of cells but structural disorganization was obvious in infected tissues. The different developmental stages (meronts and sporonts) and a few mature spore could be observed in direct contact with cell cytoplasm. Key words: Bombyx mori, cytoplasm, microsporidia, Lamerin, spore.
Physiological impact of sea lice on swimming performance of Atlantic salmon.

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were infected with two levels of sea lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis (0·13 ± 0·02 and 0·02 ± 0·00 sea lice g−1). Once sea lice became adults, the ventral aorta of each fish was fitted with a Doppler cuff to measure cardiac output (Q), heart rate (fH) and stroke volume (VS) during swimming. Critical swimming speeds (Ucrit) of fish with higher sea lice numbers [2·1 ± 0·1 BL (body lengths) s−1] were significantly lower (P < 0·05) than fish with lower numbers (2·4 ± 0·1 BL s−1) and controls (sham infected, 2·6 ± 0·1 BL s−1). After swimming, chloride levels in fish with higher sea lice numbers (184·4 ± 11·3 mmol l−1) increased significantly (54%) from levels at rest and were significantly higher than fish with fewer lice (142·0 ± 3·7 mmol l−1) or control fish (159·5 ± 3·5 mmol l−1). The fH of fish with more lice was 9% slower than the other two groups at Ucrit. This decrease resulted in Q not increasing from resting levels. Sublethal infection by sea lice compromised the overall fitness of Atlantic salmon. The level of sea lice infection used in the present study was lower than has previously been reported to be detrimental to wild Atlantic salmon.
Effect of Urea Levels, Moisture Content, Incubation Period and Temperature Variation on Ammoniation Of Wheat Straw and its in sacco Dry Matter Disappearance

Wheat straw was mixed with solution containing varying amounts of urea (3-7%) made at 25% moisturisation level and with or without added 10% molasses treatment. In a separate set of treatments, only 7% urea dissolved in varying volumes of water, was used for treatment. of straw. The treated samples were packed and sealed in polythene bags and incubated for 1-5 weeks at room temperature, 39° or 22 C.CP content of the ammoniated straw increased with increasing levels of urea and the period of incubation. Urea treatment at 7% level, raised the CP content three times the concentration present in unammoniated straw and rendered about 60% nitrogen of the ammoniated straw in water soluble form. The moisture content of 38% and incubation at 39°C favoured optimum ammoniation. Addition of 10% molasses enhanced the CP content of the ammoniated straw. The in sacco DMD increased to 23% in ammoniated straw with 7% urea in contrast to 3% urea treatment.
Qualitative modelling of invasive species eradication on subantarctic Macquarie Island

1. Invaded ecosystems present complex management issues. This problem is exacerbated in many situations by a lack of knowledge about the ecosystem. However, delaying conservation action to collect further data and so reduce such uncertainty is often either impractical or inadvisable. 2. The Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project, currently underway, is attempting to eradicate rabbits, rats, and mice from the island. We undertook qualitative modelling of this project, examining a range of likely outcomes and their possible ecological consequences. The results were aggregated across a large number of possible models, in order to account for uncertainty concerning interactions within the ecosystem. 3. The results strongly support the current actions of simultaneous eradication of all three pest species, as simulated eradications of only one or two generally led to continued impacts on the island's native biota. The results also provided support for the anticipated positive outcomes of the project, with predicted recoveries of tall tussock vegetation, and burrow- and surface-nesting seabirds. 4. However, the model predictions also highlighted potential risks: the eradication of mice from the island may not succeed, due in part to the structural position of this species within the ecosystem. Successful eradication of all three target species could potentially release the self-introduced, non-native redpolls and starlings, allowing expansion of their populations, with possible impacts on macro-invertebrates and vegetation. 5. Synthesis and applications. These results demonstrate that qualitative modelling approaches can in some cases deliver consistent results, despite high levels of uncertainty regarding interactions within the underlying ecosystem. Such outcomes can provide assistance in the development of strategic contingency plans and ongoing future management action.
Learned Predator Recognition in a Freshwater Snail, Pomacea canaliculata

ABSTRACT The involvement of associative learning in predator recognition has not been clear in aquatic invertebrates, including molluscs, due to confounding effects of sensitization. The freshwater apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, displays an alarm response (crawling above the waterline) when exposed to crushed conspecifics or some predators. We conducted two series of experiments to investigate whether the apple snail learns to avoid predators. In the first experiment, hatchlings were conditioned simultaneously to crushed conspecifics and either a live carp, Cyprinus carpio, or a turtle, Chinemys reevesii, and subsequently exposed to the same predator without crushed conspecifics. Irrespective of the predator species used, the alarm response was significantly higher in conditioned snails than in unconditioned snails. Thus, the snail is able to avoid predators by learning, in a broad sense. In the second experiment, designed to distinguish associative learning from sensitization, we conditioned hatchlings to crushed conspecifics and either a carp or a turtle. The hatchlings were subsequently exposed to one or other of the predators. Hatchlings that were conditioned to a predator displayed significantly higher alarm response when later exposed to the same predator than another predator, suggesting that the snail can recognize predators by associative learning.
Fenología productiva y nutricional de maíz para la producción de forraje.

Productive and nutritional phenology of corn for the yield of fodder. The purpose of this study was to determine the yield of biomass of corn in different stages of growth, cultivated in the higlands of Costa Rica as fodder for dairy cattle. It was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station of the University of Costa Rica. The first sampling was carried out after 37 days and every two weeks threafter through 149 days. Dry matter, crude protein, ashes, neutro detergent fiber (NDF), acld detergent fiber (ADF) and the lignin were analyzed. The value of hemicellulose and cellulose were calculate. The yield of green and dry biomass in the stems, leaves, flowers and fruit of the plant was measured at different stages of growth. Before 65 days, the yield of dry mateiral in the leaves was superior to that in the stems. Later the accumulation of dry matter in the stems was around three times greater then that in the leaves. The first blossoming occurred after three months. Two weeks later the first ears of corn were collected, thir highest yield occuring at four months. After 65 days, the relation leaves:stems was less than 1, predominating the accumulation of stems. This relationship slowly decresed as the plants became older. The concentration of dry matter in the stems was less than in the leaves at all growth stages. The content of crude protein (CP) in the stem was higher (18%) during the first 50 days, decresing to 11% at 80 days and threafter remined between 6.5% and 7.5%.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in endemic and native tree species, wild pear (Pyrus glabra ) and maple (Acer cinerascens)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a tightly linked symbiotic association with many plant species. The arbuscular mycorrhizal potential (including fungal diversity, root colonization and sporulation) in two of the forest tree species Pyrus glabra and Acer cinerascens growing in a semi-arid area were analyzed both in wet and dry seasons. Measurements were recorded from October 2009 to April 2010. In addition, the nutrient status of their rhizosphere interactions was assessed. Roots were stained with Trypan blue, fungal structures quantified using magnified intersections method, and AMF spores were extracted through wet-sieving and decanting in the rhizosphere soils of the species. A total of 12 AM fungal taxa belonging to two genera were found based on spores isolated within two species identified. Seven species of AM fungi were observed in the rhizosphere of P. glabra and five species isolated from rhizosphere of A. cinerascens. Three species belonged to Acaulospora and nine to Glomus. The mean spore density and organic matter percentage increased and colonization and phosphorous amounts (P) decreased in dry season (autumn). There was no significant correlation between AMF colonization and the available P, regarding to A. cinerascens.
Endoscopic Imaging of Gonads, Sex Ratios, and Occurrence of Intersexes in Juvenile Captive-Bred Aldabra Giant Tortoises

Abstract The evaluation of offspring sex ratios is important in any large-scale threatened species breeding programs if temperature-dependent sex determination is a possibility. We assessed the sex ratio in captive-bred juvenile Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea or Dipsochelys dussumieri) at the La Vanille Crocodile and Tortoise Park in Mauritius. The gonads of small juvenile Aldabra tortoises are thin and elongate and fixed to the dorsal part of the body cavity, with ovaries appearing as transparent sheaths with some visible oocytes and testes appearing as small, transparent, thin, sausage-like structures with a net of fine blood vessels on the surface. With growth, ovaries expand and masses of previtellogenic follicles appear on the surface; testes first turn pinkish-white and then yellowish, with tubular structures visible through a thin, transparent theca containing a network of fine blood vessels but no melanocytes. Three tortoises had both testes and ovaries and were classified as intersexes. Aldabra tortoises bred in La Vanille in the late 1990s and 2000s show a male∶female ratio of 1∶4 (n = 106), suggesting that Aldabra tortoises have temperature-dependent sex determination. However, the incubation conditions were not monitored rigorously enough to allow the determination of pivotal temperatures or the transitional range of male- and female-producing temperatures. Because a female-biased sex ratio seems to be preferable to a male-biased or even to a balanced sex ratio in recovery programs of threatened species, there does not seem to be an immediate need to change egg incubation methods to adjust sex ratios.
LITHIUM CHLORIDE EXTRACTION OF DNA FROM THE SEAWEED PORPHYRA PERFORATA (RHODOPHYTA) 1

Lithium chloride facilitates the softening of cell walls resulting in a simple, quick (2 h) method for DNA extraction from the red seaweed Porphyra perforata J. Agardh. A 5‐min treatment of tissues in Lid at 55°C extracts DNA that is relatively free of the viscous polysaccharides and proteins that are usually coextracted in large amounts from cell walls and cytoplasm. This protocol does not require grinding of tissues, hydroxyapatite binding, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide treatments, enzymatic treatments, phenol extraction, or CsCl‐gradient centrifugation. The resulting DNA is of sufficient quality to be used as a template for polymerase chain reaction amplification.
EFFECTS OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC PIGMENTS IN DIETS ON FLESH COLORATION AND GROWTH OF RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS W.)

The desired pink to red color of rainbow trout flesh (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.) can be obtained by adding carotenoids to the fish diet. This study was conducted to determine the effects on growth and color retention of natural pigments (30 ppm red pepper meal, 60 ppm red pepper meal, 30 ppm shrimp by-products meal, 60 ppm shrimp by-products meal), synthetic carotenoids (30 ppm astaxanthin, 60 ppm astaxanthin), and a control group (no added pigment). Duplicates of each of the seven treatments were reared for three months. The best specific growth rates were obtained with 30 ppm astaxanthin (0.83%) and 60 ppm red pepper meal (0.84%); the lowest was in the control (0.54%). The lowest food conversion ratio was obtained with 30 ppm astaxanthin (1.38) and highest in the control (2.23; p<0.05). Visual coloration values ranged from 14.46±0.23 in the 30 ppm astaxanthin group to 11.55±0.25 in the control. Retention coefficients ranged from 6.63 in the 30 ppm astaxanthin group to 1.79 in the 60 ppm shrimp by-products meal (p<0.05). Tristimulus chromometer a values ranged from 0.87±0.47 in the control to 6.96±0.47 in the 60 ppm astaxanthin treatment, b values from 10.94±0.27 in the control to 12.90±0.27 in the 60 ppm red pepper meal treatment, and L values from 46.81±0.50 in the 60 ppm astaxanthin group to 54.57±0.26 in the control (p<0.05).
The effect of environmental conditions on the annual dormancy pattern of seeds of Spergula arvensis

The effect of environmental factors on the germination of exhumed seeds of Spergula arvensis L. after variable periods of burial in soil was investigated. Seeds were buried in the field and exhumed at regular intervals after which germination was tested over a range of conditions. These tests showed clear seasonal changes in dormancy during 3 successive years. Dormancy was broken in spring and reinduced in autumn at rising and falling temperatures, respectively. In experiments in incubators, greater loss of dormancy occurred at 10 and 15 °C than at 2 and 6 °C. As in the field, induction of dormancy occurred when the preincubation temperature was lowered. The expression of the dormancy pattern was strongly influenced by the germination tests conditions. At 15 °C, seeds germinated during a longer period of the year than at 2 or 30 °C. Irradiation with red light, addition of nitrate, and desiccation of the seeds prior to the germination test strongly stimulated germination. All three factors enabled germinat.
Effects of Initial Seed-Bank Density on Weed Seedling Emergence during the Transition to an Organic Feed-Grain Crop Rotation

Abstract The transition period to certified organic production can present a significant weed management challenge for growers. Organic certification requires that prohibited fertilizers and pesticides must not have been used for 36 mo before harvest of the first organic crop. Understanding how organic management practices and initial weed seed-bank densities affect weed population dynamics during the transition period may improve weed management efficacy and adoption of organic practices. We examined how tillage systems (full or reduced) and cover crop species planted during the first transition year (rye or a mixture of timothy and red clover) affect the seedling densities of three common annual weed species, common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and foxtail spp. , during the 3-yr transition period. Weed seeds were applied in a one-time pulse at the beginning of the study at three densities, low, medium, and high (60, 460, and 2,100 seeds m−2, respectively), and cumulative seedling densities of each species were assessed annually. Treatment factors had variable and species-specific effects on weed seedling densities. In general, the full-tillage system, with an initial cover crop of timothy and red clover, resulted in the lowest density of weed seedlings following seed-bank augmentation. There was little consistent association between the initial densities of applied weed seeds in the weed seed bank at the start of the transition and weed seedling densities at the end of the transition period. This suggests that when multiple crop and weed cultural management practices are employed during the organic transition period, initial failures in weed management may not necessarily lead to persistent and intractable annual weed species management problems following organic certification. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. SETFA; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. ABUTH; yellow foxtail, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. SETLU; red clover, Trifolium pretense L. ; rye, Secale cereal L. ; timothy, Phleum pratense L.
Effect of forage type and proportion of concentrate in the diet on milk fatty acid composition in cows given sunflower oil and fish oil

Based on the potential benefits of cis-9, trans- 11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for human health there is a need to develop effective strategies for enhancing milk fat CLA concentrations. In this experiment, the effect of forage type and level of concentrate in the diet on milk fatty acid composition was examined in cows given a mixture of fish oil and sunflower oil. Four late lactation Holstein-British Friesian cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin-square experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and 21-day experimental periods. Treatments consisted of grass (G) or maize (M) silage supplemented with low (L) or high (H) levels of concentrates (65: 35 and 35: 65; forage: concentrate ratio, on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively) offered as a total mixed ration at a restricted level of intake (20 kg DM per day). Lipid supplements (30 g/kg DM) containing fish oil and sunflower oil (2: 3 w/w) were offered during the last 14 days of each experimental period. Treatments had no effect on total DM intake, milk yield, milk constituent output or milk fat content, but milk protein concentrations were lower (P = C20 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lower (P = C20 (n-3) PUFA content, but reduced (P 0.05) on total milk conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (2.7 and 2.8 g/100 g fatty acids, for M and G, respectively) or cis-9, trans-11 CLA content (2.2 and 2.4 g/100 g fatty acids). Feeding high concentrate diets tended (P<0.10) to decrease total CLA (3.3 and 2.2 g/100 g fatty acids, for L and H, respectively) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA (2.9 and 1/7 g/100 g fatty acids) concentrations and increase milk trans-9, cis-11 CLA and trans-10, cis-12 CLA content. In conclusion, the basal diet is an important determinant of milk fatty acid composition when a supplement of fish oil and sunflower oil is given.