bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multivariate analysis of mixed inheritance model of performance traits in layers using Gibbs sampling
Authors: Szwaczkowski T. , Szydłowski M. , Moliński K. , Dobek A.
Published: March 2003

The Gibbs sampling under a multitrait animal model was applied to detect the single gene affecting chicken performance traits and their pleiotropic actions as well as to estimate the heritability and correlations for these traits. A total of 14 823 individuals of a Rhode Island Red line (RIR) and 18 653 individuals of a Rhode Island White line (RIW) from six generations under long‐term selection were recorded. Five performance traits were studied: initial egg production (IEP; until 38th week), egg production (until 54th week), egg weight at 33rd week (EW), age at first egg (AFE), and body weight at 20th week (BW). An analysis was based on the estimated marginal densities of the following parameters: frequencies, additive and dominance effects and variances and covariances (for single gene) as well as additive genetic and residual variances and respective covariances (for polygenes). An inference concerning the mixed inheritance model is performed by visualising the marginal posterior densities of major gene variance separately for all traits. The pleiotropic effect of single locus is expressed as the single gene correlation coefficient. It shows contributions of single genes to BW (10 and 15% of total variance for A22 and K44, respectively) and EW of K44 (9% of total variance). Moreover, a small positive pleiotropic single locus effect in line K44 was also registered. The polygenic heritability estimates obtained were low, except for EW and BW of both lines. Generally, the correlation estimates were in agreement with results reported in literature.
Genetic parameter estimates for growth traits in Horro sheep
Authors: ABEGAZ S. , NEGUSSIE E. , DUGUMA G. , REGE J. E. O.
Published: March 2003

Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated for growth traits: birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6‐month weight (6MWT) and yearling weight (YWT) in indigenous Ethiopian Horro sheep using the average information REML (AIREML). Four different models: sire model (model 1), direct animal model (model 2), direct and maternal animal model (model 3) and direct–maternal animal model including the covariance between direct and maternal effects (model 4) were used. Bivariate analysis by model 2 was also used to estimate genetic correlation between traits. Estimates of direct heritability obtained from models 1–4, respectively, were for BWT 0.25, 0.27, 0.18 and 0.32; for WWT, 0.16, 0.26, 0.1 and 0.14; for 6MWT 0.18, 0.26, 0.16 and 0.16; and for YWT 0.30, 0.28, 0.23, and 0.31. Maternal heritability estimates of 0.12 and 0.23 for BWT; 0.19 and 0.24 for WWT; 0.09 and 0.09 for 6MWT and 0.08 and 0.14 for YWT were obtained from models 3 and 4, respectively. The correlations between direct and maternal additive genetic effects for BWT, WWT, 6MWT and YWT were –0.64, –0.42, 0.002 and –0.46, respectively. On the other hand, the genetic correlations between BWT and the rest of growth traits (WWT, 6MWT and YWT, respectively) were 0.45, 0.33 and 0.31, whereas correlations between WWT and 6MWT, WWT and YWT and 6MWT and YWT were 0.98, 0.84 and 0.87, respectively. The medium to high direct and maternal heritability estimates obtained for BWT and YWT indicate that in Horro sheep faster genetic improvement through selection is possible for these traits and it should consider both (direct and maternal) h2 estimates. However, since the direct‐maternal genetic covariances were found to be negative, caution should be made in making selection decisions. The high genetic correlation among early growth traits imply that genetic improvement in any one of the traits could be made through indirect selection for correlated traits.
Fibre structure and metabolites in M. longissimus dorsi of Wild Boar, Pietrain and Meishan pigs as well as their crossbred generations
Authors: MÜLLER E. , RUTTEN M. , MOSER G. , REINER G. , BARTENSCHLAGER H. , GELDERMANN H.
Published: March 2003

Fibre traits and glycolytic metabolites in musculus longissimus dorsi of European Wild Boar, Pietrain and Meishan as well as their F1 and F2 crossbred generations were evaluated and compared. Pietrain had the highest relative number of white fibres and the largest muscle fibres. Wild Boar showed the smallest muscle fibres. The R‐value and lactate level of Wild Boar and Meishan were low, whereas Pietrain had high R‐values and lactate levels. The glycogen level was highest in Wild Boar and lowest in Meishan. The F1‐ and F2‐crossbreds often had trait values between those of their founder breeds. Several antagonistic relations between fibre characteristics, muscle metabolites and performance traits for carcass and meat quality have been found. They are family‐specific and strongest within the crossbreds of the Pietrain‐based families.
Simultaneous identification of two MspI polymorphisms of the porcine myogenin gene in Hungarian breeds
Authors: Anton I. , Fésüs L. , Zsolnai A.
Published: March 2003

Simultaneous analysis of two myogenin (MYOG) loci has been carried out using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) tests in DNA isolated from blood samples collected from four different pig breeds (Hungarian Large White, Duroc, Mangalica and Hungarian Landrace). The following MYOGA frequency values have been obtained: Hungarian Large White 0.2416; Duroc 0.0900; Mangalica 0.6617; Hungarian Landrace 0.2361. The MYOG2 allele was found in Duroc and Mangalica breeds only. This test allows the analysis of two loci of the MYOG gene in parallel, which might be used in marker assisted selection programmes in the near future. Ongoing studies on the possible effects of the MYOG types on carcass and growth traits are outlined.
Effect of amount and degradability of dietary starch on animal performance and meat quality in beef bulls
Authors: Fiems L. O. , De Campeneere S. , Cottyn B. G. , Vanacker J. M. , D B. G. J. , ’Heer . , Boucqué C.H. V.
Published: March 2003

Introduction  Even at a similar energy concentration of the diet, energy source may affect animal performance. O
wens et al. (1997) reported that daily dry matter (DM) intake tended to be lowest for wheat‐based diets and highest for milo and oat‐based diets. O’M
ara et al. (1997) found a lower pH and less ammonia in the rumen of lactating cows, when unmolassed beet pulp was replaced with ground wheat. Contrary to the results of O’M
ara et al. (1997), M
alestein et al. (1984) found a greater risk for lactic acidosis for citrus and beet pulp than for maize meal and tapioca. For years it has been known that rapidly degradable carbohydrates may provoke acidosis (H
untington and B
ritton 1979; F
iems et al. 1993). Furthermore, low ruminal pH may inhibit cellulose digestion (M
ould et al. 1983) and decrease efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (R
ussell et al. 1979).

As energy concentration of the diet is important for finishing cattle (B oucqu&
eacute; et al. 1980), the amount of roughage is rather limited. This may result in sub‐clinical acidosis with a negative impact on animal performance (O
wens et al. 1998), especially when the diet is rich in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates. Therefore an experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of energy source in the finishing diet on voluntary daily feed intake, daily liveweight gain, feed efficiency, blood metabolites and carcass quality.

Energy source may also affect meat quality. C asteels et al. (1969) found differences in meat colour when concentrates were based on cereals or sugarbeet pulp. W
ood (1984) reported that the concentrate : forage ratio in the diet affects the fatty acid composition of body fat through an increase in propionate production in the rumen. Therefore the effect on meat quality was also studied.
Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on energy metabolism in growing‐finishing pigs
Authors: Müller H. L. , Kirchgessner M. , Roth F. X. , Stangl G. I.
Published: March 2003

The effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on energy metabolism was studied in a respiration experiment with 20 growing pigs. From 70 kg liveweight onwards the animals received isoenergetic rations containing 0 or 3% CLA on the basis of metabolic bodyweight. Between 95 and 100 kg liveweight the gas exchange of each animal was measured over 48 h in a respiration chamber. This was preceded by a 5‐day quantitative determination of faeces and urine. The heat production and energy retention of the animals were determined by the carbon–nitrogen balance technique and the RQ method. Additionally several parameters of blood serum were determined. CLA had no effect on digestibility and metabolizability of energy, nor were gas exchange and heat production (HP) of the animals affected by the treatment. Average heat production across all measurements was 628 kJ/kg W0.75 in the control group and 636 kJ/kg W0.75 in the CLA group. No difference in fat deposition was observed (control 386, CLA group 379 kJ/kgW0.75). The N balance on the other hand was 2.2 g/day higher in the CLA‐supplemented animals. This caused retained protein energy, as a proportion of total energy retention, to increase from 24.2 to 25.8%. The ratio of retained protein energy to fat energy was 10% higher in the CLA‐treated animals than in the controls. Body mass increase over the trial as a whole was unaffected (control 27.6, CLA group 28.1 kg, equivalent to daily gains of 931 and 946 g, respectively). Blood serum lipoproteins exhibited few CLA‐induced changes. The greatest effects were observed in triacylglycerols, which were raised in the CLA animals compared with the controls. The ratio of cholesterol‐low‐density lipoprotein to cholesterol‐high‐density lipoprotein rose by 17% as a result of CLA treatment. Serum concentrations of albumin, creatinine, urea and glucose were unchanged. In conclusion, the study showed that supplementation with CLA under isoenergetic feeding conditions with a strongly positive energy balance has no marked effect on total metabolism, although a slightly enhanced deposition of protein was evident.
Metabolic changes during the perinatal period in dairy sheep in relation to level of nutrition and breed. I. Late pregnancy
Authors: Charismiadou M. A. , Bizelis J. A. , Rogdakis E.
Published: March 2003

The effects of level of nutrition during pregnancy on the development of the mammary gland, on various biochemical parameters, on feed intake and on body weight were investigated in Chios (CH) and Karagouniko (K) ewes. Thirty pregnant ewes of both breeds were randomly assigned to groups A and B, which received 110% of their energy requirements for maintenance plus pregnancy for two foetuses and 90% of their maintenance energy requirements, respectively. In a second experiment, 34 pregnant Chios ewes were assigned and fed as in the first trial, but they were slaughtered on day 140 of pregnancy to study udder characteristics. The feed intake and the body weight in pregnancy were higher in ewes of group A and K ewes than of groups B (p 0.001) and CH (p 0.01), respectively. Plasma glucose concentration tended to be higher in group A than group B. Group A ewes had significantly decreased plasma free fatty acids (p 0.001) and β‐hydrobutyric acid (p 0.05), but higher insulin (p 0.01) concentrations, whereas serum T4 concentrations were higher in K than in CH ewes (p 0.01), during the last 10 days of pregnancy. The fat cell diameter and the NADP‐isocitrate dehydrogenase activity of the adipose tissue were higher in ewes of group A than group B, on the day 7 before lambing. In the second experiment, the underfed CH ewes had significantly lower empty udder weight (p 0.05), smaller udder (p 0.05), smaller teat length (p 0.01), lower mammary gland weight (p 0.05), less total content of DNA (p 0.05) and less fat percentage of mammary gland (p 0.01) in comparison with the well‐fed CH ewes. It is concluded that undernutrition during pregnancy causes considerable changes in the ewe's metabolism, mainly in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, the level of nutrition significantly affected udder development.
The lowering effect of high copper intake on selenium retention in weanling rats depends on the selenium concentration of the diet
Authors: Yu S. , Beynen A. C.
Published: March 2003

The question addressed was whether the influence of dietary copper concentration on selenium metabolism depends on the amount of selenium in the diet. Weanling, male rats were fed purified diets containing either 1 (low), 4 (normal) or 42 (high) mg Cu/kg diet and either 0.03 (low), 0.05 (normal) or 1.0 (high) mg Se/kg diet in a 32 factorial design. Extra copper was added to the diets in the form of CuSO4 · 5H2O and selenium as Na2SeO3 · 5H2O. In rats fed either the low or normal amounts of selenium, higher intakes of copper decreased the apparent intestinal selenium absorption and increased urinary selenium excretion. The effects of copper on selenium absorption, excretion and retention were not seen in rats fed the high‐selenium diets. An increase in dietary copper concentrations elevated selenium concentrations in the liver and kidneys, but slightly lowered those in the spleen of rats that were fed the diets with the normal level of selenium. In rats that were fed the diets with either low or high selenium concentration, copper intake had no effect on organ selenium concentrations. Glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes was raised by feeding the diets which contained either normal or high copper content instead of those that were low in copper. It is concluded that the amount of selenium in the diet determines whether or not an increase in dietary copper concentration affects selenium metabolism.
Application of the E‐screen assay to test for oestrogenically active substances in swine feed
Authors: Bitsch N. , Körner W. , Postupka S. , Brunn H.
Published: March 2003

A pig breeder in central Hesse (Germany) noticed the occurrence of enlarged vulvae in female piglets. Intoxication with oestrogenically active substances by contamination of two feed mixes ingested by the mother sows appeared to be a possible cause. Using a combined technique of the DFG analytical method S19 and the E‐screen assay, two feed samples were found to contain powerful oestrogenically active compounds. By co‐incubation with the anti‐oestrogen tamoxifen it could be clearly demonstrated that the oestrogenic activity was mediated by the oestrogen receptor. These results demonstrate that use of the E‐screen assay in combination with the DFG analytical method S19 provides a simple and readily useable prescreening method for the routine detection of oestrogenically active compounds in animal feed. The results from the E‐screen assay show that the sows ingested 10–80 μg oestradiol equivalents per day in their feed. Because of the bioavailability of these substances, the oestrogenic active compounds seem to be transferred into the milk and passed to the piglets via suckling. The milk of the dam appears to contain this substance in biologically active form and at such high concentrations that the female piglets had enlarged vulvae.
Absorption and metabolism of α‐ketoglutarate in growing pigs
Authors: Kristensen N. B. , Jungvid H. , Fernández J. A. , Pierzynowski S. G.
Published: March 2003

The portal appearance of enteral α‐ketoglutarate (AKG) and the effect of enteral or parenteral AKG on portal net appearance of glucose, short‐chain fatty acids, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, proline and insulin were investigated in three growing pigs. During the experimental samplings the pigs were fed hourly with a standard feed mix with 5% glucose (control), 5% AKG (enteral) or no feed additive but continuously infused with AKG into the mesenteric vein in an amount equivalent to 5% of feed intake (parenteral). The arterial plasma concentration of AKG increased (p < 0.05) following both enteral (from 16±2 to 22±3 μmol/l) and parenteral (from 16±2 to 425±27 μmol/l) administration of AKG. With the enteral treatment 4±1% of the AKG could be accounted for in the portal vein, however, with the parenteral treatment 86±5% could be accounted for in the portal vein. The arterial plasma concentration of proline increased (p < 0.05) with the enteral treatment (365 ± 3 to 443 ± 39 μmol/l), but was not affected by the parenteral treatment (p > 0.10). The plasma concentration glutamine decreased (p < 0.05) with the parenteral treatment only. The portal net appearance of proline showed a numerical increase with the enteral treatment but no other affects on arterial concentrations or portal net appearance were found. A small accompanying study showed that only small amounts of enteral AKG was present in the small intestine. It was therefore concluded that enteral AKG has a low availability to peripheral tissues either because it is absorbed and metabolized in the stomach and duodenum or because it is metabolized by microbes in the stomach. The study showed that AKG is metabolized differently following enteral and parenteral application in growing pigs.
Reproduction of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) after feeding or food deprivation in winter
Authors: Asikainen J. , Mustonen A.‐M. , Nieminen P. , Pasanen S. , Araja‐Matilainen H. , Hyvärinen H.
Published: March 2003

The wild raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides, Canidae, Carnivora) goes through autumn fattening followed by winter sleep. Farmed raccoon dogs also exhibit autumn fattening but not winter sleep, as a result of daily feeding and lack of nests. We studied the effects of food deprivation and winter sleep or active winter feeding on the physiology and reproduction of farm‐born raccoon dogs. Eighty‐six animals were put on a 2‐month fast in November–December. The fast caused no deleterious effects on the health of the raccoon dogs. In the spring the food‐deprived animals had slightly more cubs per mated female than the fed animals. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of cubs obtained and the mean body mass of the females at the beginning of the mating season. The highest mean number of cubs was obtained by the females that weighed 5–7 kg. The results indicate that the raccoon dog is finely adapted to a long period of food deprivation in the winter. Furthermore, winter sleep and food deprivation could be introduced to farm conditions by providing the raccoon dogs with nestboxes and withholding food for a period of 6–8 weeks in mid‐winter.
Characterization of 18:1 and 18:2 isomers produced during microbial biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids from canola and soya bean oil in the rumen of lactating cows
Authors: Loor J. J. , Bandara A. B. P. A. , Herbein J. H.
Published: March 2003

Ruminal production of biohydrogenation intermediates in response to unsaturated oils was assessed using 24 Jersey cows fed a control diet or the control diet supplemented at 35 g/kg dry matter (DM) with canola, soya bean, or a mixture of equal amounts of canola plus soya bean oil for 4‐weeks. Total fatty acid content averaged 63 or 35 g/kg DM for oil‐supplemented diets or control. Oleic acid accounted for 6, 29, 21 or 12 g/kg DM in the control, canola, mixture, or soya bean oil diet, respectively. Linoleic acid averaged 17, 19, 26, or 33 g/kg DM and linolenic acid 5, 5, 6 or 8 g/kg DM for control, canola, mixture, or soya bean oil. Concentrations of cis12‐, trans11‐, trans13+14, and trans15‐18:1 were 0.81, 2.99, 2.24, and 0.73 mg/g rumen fluid, respectively, in response to soya bean oil and were 126, 90, 45, and 38% greater compared with other diets. Trans11cis15‐, cis9trans11‐ and cis9 cis11‐18:2 also were greater when soya bean oil (0.30, 0.34 and 0.01 mg/g, respectively) was fed compared with other treatments (0.12, 0.21 and 0.004 mg/g, respectively). Feeding canola oil resulted in greater concentrations of trans4‐, trans5‐, trans6+7+8‐, trans9‐ and trans10‐18:1 (0.20, 0.25, 0.87, 0.39 and 0.70 mg/g, respectively) compared with other diets (0.09, 0.15, 0.36, 0.20 and 0.46 mg/g, respectively). Trans10cis12‐18:2 concentration did not differ as a result of diet and averaged 0.002 mg/g rumen contents. The pattern of 18:1 and 18:2 isomers formed during ruminal biohydrogenation depends greatly on dietary profile of unsaturated fatty acids.
Laboratory evaluation of Alsystin, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, against Culex pipiens pipiens L. (Dip., Culicidae): effects on development and cuticle secretion
Authors: Rehimi N. , Soltani N.
Published: March 2003

Alsystin, a benzoylphenylurea derivative, was evaluated on Culex pipiens pipiens L. Treatment was made on newly third‐ and fourth‐instar larvae for 24 h. Mortality occurred at various developmental stages following treatment. However, death as larvae was relatively important compared with the mortality recorded for the other later developmental stages. Treatment resulted in a dose‐dependent reduction in adult emergence. Moreover, treatment caused morphological aberrations depending upon the importance of larval–adult transformation and significantly increased the duration of both third and fourth larval instars. A histological study conducted on fourth instar larval integument, revealed that Alsystin delayed the ecdysis and significantly reduced the thickness of both larval and pupal cuticles secreted compared with controls. Moreover, the apolysis that occurred at day 4 in controls was not affected by treatment.
Numerical response of ladybird beetles (Col., Coccinellidae) to aphid prey (Hom., Aphididae) in a field bean in north‐east India
Authors: Agarwala B. K. , Bardhanroy P.
Published: March 2003

Two predaceous species of Coccinellidae, Menochilus sexmaculatus and Coccinella transversalis, occurred abundantly in bean crops infested with the aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch in north‐east India. The number of eggs and adults of the two coccinellids increased in response to the increase in the population of aphid prey. Reproductive numerical responses were found to be synchronous to prey density whereas aggregative numerical responses appeared asynchronous in the later part of the aphid cycle on beans. Menochilus sexmaculatus oviposited smaller clusters of eggs at lower density of aphids than C. transversalis which laid larger clusters and showed greater numerical response at higher densities of aphids. Within a species cluster the size of the eggs seems to be directly related to aphid density. The two coccinellid species of this study seem to be efficient predators of A. craccivora in terms of their reproductive and aggregative numerical responses.
Insecticidal impact on the post‐embryonic development of Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone (Het., Reduviidae)
Authors: George P. J. E. , Ambrose D. P.
Published: March 2003

The impact of sublethal concentration of five insecticides namely monocrotophos, dimethoate, methylparathion, quinalphos and endosulfan on the post‐embryonic developmental characteristics such as stadial period, body weight, fecundity and longevity of Rhynocoris kumarii was studied. All of the insecticides except endosulfan increased stadial period, decreased body weight, fecundity and longevity.
Reproductive potential of gamma‐irradiated males of the meadow grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt) (Orth., Acrididae)
Authors: Reinhardt K. , Füller J. , Köhler G. , Stecher M.
Published: March 2003

Males of the meadow grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus were treated with five doses ranging from 0 (control) to 140 Gy of gamma irradiation. There was a negative correlation between irradiation dose and post‐treatment longevity. Individuals irradiated with the lowest dose lived, on average, longer than the controls. This was presumably not attributable to an energy allocation from tissue since at the time of death there were no dry weight differences. There was a negative correlation between irradiation dose and number of faecal pellets excreted in a period 6–9 days after treatment but not before. There were no negative correlations between irradiation dose and the time required to copulate, copulation duration and ejaculate size. The proportion of tail‐less sperm did not differ between the treatments.
Host‐plant preference and oviposition responses of the sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coquillett) (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) towards wild relatives of sorghum
Authors: Sharma  , Franzmann
Published: March 2003

Sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis (Contarinia) sorghicola (Coquillett) is an important pest of grain sorghum world‐wide. Considerable progress has been made in screening and breeding for resistance to sorghum midge. However, some of the sources of resistance have become susceptible to sorghum midge in Kenya, in eastern Africa. Therefore, the wild relatives of Sorghum bicolor were studied as a possible source of new genes conferring resistance to sorghum midge. Midge females did not lay eggs in the spikelets of Sorghum amplum, Sorghum bulbosum, and Sorghum angustum compared to 30% spikelets with eggs in Sorghum halepense when infested with five midge females per panicle under no‐choice conditions. However, one egg was laid in S. amplum when infested with 50 midges per panicle. A larger number of midges were attracted to the odours from the panicles of S. halepense than to the panicles of Sorghum stipoideum, Sorghum brachypodum, S.angustum, Sorghum macrospermum, Sorghum nitidium, Sorghum laxiflorum, and S. amplum in dual‐choice olfactometer tests. The differences in midge response to the odours from S. halepense and Sorghum intrans were not significant. Under multi‐choice conditions, when the females were also allowed a contact with the host, more sorghum midge females were attracted to the panicles of S. bicolor compared with S. amplum, S. angustum, and S. halepense. In another test, numerically more midges responded to the panicles of IS 10712 compared with S. halepense, whereas the differences in midge response to the panicles of ICSV 197 (S. bicolor) and S. halepense were not apparent, indicating that S. halepense is as attractive to sorghum midge females as S. bicolor. The wild relatives of sorghum (except S. halepense) were not preferred for oviposition, and they were also less attractive to the sorghum midge females. Thus, wild relatives of sorghum can prove to be an alternative source of genes for resistance to sorghum midge.
The effects of carbohydrates upon the survival and reproduction of adult female Pimpla turionellae L. (Hym., Ichneumonidae)
Authors: Özalp  , Emre
Published: March 2003

In this study the effects of 23 carbohydrates belonging to various groups upon the survival egg production and egg of female adult Pimpla turionellae L. were investigated. The best results among the carbohydrates tested was obtained with sucrose which was also employed as control. Glucose, maltose, trehalose and melezitose on the other hand showed no significant effect. The egg production was observed to be unaffected by glucose and maltose although it showed significant increase with trehalose and significant decrease with melezitose. Fructose and sorbitol caused a significant decrease in the survival of the insect. Fructose and sorbitol did not have any significant effect upon egg production whereas galactose caused a significant decrease. With the exception of galactose, no carbohydrate caused any significant effect upon egg hatching. Although they did not produce any eggs the female insects survived for 13.17, 15.13, 11.58 and 15.83 days in mannose, melibiose, raffinose and mannitol, respectively. The shortest life span was observed in arabinose followed by α‐methyl‐D‐glucoside, dulcitol, rhamnose, cellobiose, xylose, starch, lactose, sarbose, ribose and glycogen.
Rearing and life table of reduviid predator Rhynocoris marginatus Fab. (Het., Reduviidae) on Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lep., Noctuidae) larvae
Authors: Sahayaraj K. , Paulraj M. Gabriel
Published: March 2003

The tobacco armyworm, Spodoptera litura Fab., a serious pest of many cultivated crops was evaluated as prey for the reduviid predator, Rhynocoris marginatus Fab. The development, sex ratio, fecundity, hatchability and adult longevity of R. marginatus were investigated in the laboratory. Moreover, a life table was constructed for this predator. Observations clearly indicated that total developmental period of this predator was 46.71±1.58 days. In sex ratio, no significant difference was observed between male and female predators. The pre‐oviposition period lasted for 18.64±0.76 days and it was 6.31 times shorter than the oviposition period. Female predators lived longer (128.04±8.48 days) than males (82.84±11.09 days). The total number of eggs laid per female predator in its life span was 405.28±22.15 eggs and the incubation period lasted for 6.81±0.10 days. Life‐table studies showed that the intrinsic rate of increase was 0.063 female/day. The population multiplied 292.28 times in the cohort generation time of 103.933 days.
Influence of prey size on predation success by Zelus longipes L. (Het., Reduviidae)
Authors: Cogni R. , Freitas A. V. L. , Amaral Filho B. F.
Published: March 2003

The effects of prey size on the predatory responses of the reduviid Zelus longipes were studied through laboratory tests using larvae of the noctuid moth Spodoptera frugiperda as preys. In tests with one caterpillar, larvae of three different weight classes were offered individually to the predator. The prey weight was positively correlated with relative weight gain by the predator, mean feeding time and discarded biomass, but not with the relative extraction rate (defined as the relative weight gain by the predator by feeding time). The different sizes of caterpillars were attacked with the same frequency, but the successful attacks were more frequent in small larvae. The median mass of successfully attacked larvae was also less than that of unsuccessfully attacked. In tests with three caterpillars, larvae of three weight classes were offered at the same time; small caterpillars were more often attacked and killed than the medium and large ones. The results showed that even if larger preys resulted in more energy intake, when the choice is possible, smaller caterpillars were more likely to be attacked than medium and large. This is probably related to the fact that successful attacks were more frequent in small larvae, and also reduced the risk of injury to the predator.
The effect of NeemAzal‐T/S®, a commercial neem product, on different developmental stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae)
Authors: Von Elling K. , Borgemeister C. , Sétamou M. , Poehling H.‐M.
Published: March 2003

The effects of NeemAzal‐T/S®, a commercial neem product, on different life development stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae) were tested in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Treatment of eggs of T. vaporariorum did not affect either larval emergence or the time until larval emergence. However, the proportion of pupal formation (based on the numbers of emerged larvae) was significantly reduced after a treatment of the eggs 3, 5 and 7 days after oviposition, respectively. The proportion of emerged adults (based on the number of formed pupae) was only significantly reduced when eggs had been treated 5 and 7 days after oviposition. In all neem treatments the time until adult emergence was significantly delayed. A neem treatment of early larval instars of T. vaporariorum resulted in a significantly reduced proportion of pupal formation, but subsequent adult emergence (based on the number of formed pupae) was not affected. Treating early larval instars of T. vaporariorum significantly prolonged the time until adult emergence. A neem treatment of T. vaporariorum pupae significantly reduced the proportion of emerged adults but had no effect on the time until adult emergence. Exposing female whiteflies to fresh, 24‐h‐old and 72‐h‐old residues of NeemAzal‐T/S® had no effect on the mortality of the insects, though the number of eggs laid per female was significantly reduced in T. vaporariorum exposed to fresh neem residues. These findings are discussed within the context of integrated control of whiteflies in the greenhouse environment.
Geranyl hexanoate attracting male click beetles Agriotes rufipalpis Brullé and Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Col., Elateridae)
Authors: Tóth M. , Furlan L. , Szarukán I. , Ujváry I.
Published: March 2003

Abstract:  In field screening tests in Hungary, traps baited with geranyl hexanoate captured males of the click beetle Agriotes rufipalpis Brullé, whereas in Italy males of Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Col., Elateridae) were captured. Geranyl hexanoate‐baited traps could be very useful in rationalizing the control of these pests. Such traps can give useful information without making expensive and time‐consuming samplings of the soil layers in search of larvae. Traps can be effective also in describing swarming patterns and identifying the peak of male activity, thus yielding an estimate of the level of adult populations, making it possible to forecast future outbreaks and to concentrate agronomic and chemical control strategies against the pests most effectively.
Depth of pupation of the wild olive fruit fly, Bactrocera (Dacus) oleae (Gmel.) (Dipt., Tephritidae), as affected by soil abiotic factors
Authors: Dimou I. , Koutsikopoulos C. , Economopoulos A. P. , Lykakis J.
Published: March 2003

Abstract:  The influence of four abiotic factors (temperature, soil type, compaction, moisture) on the pupation depth of the wild Bactrocera (Dacus) oleae (Gmel.) larvae was studied using soils sampled in the field. Two temperatures (25 and 12°C), three different soil types (alluvial deposits, soil from decaying of limestone, soil from decaying of flysch), two compaction levels (low and high) and two moisture levels (10 and 50% field capacity) were tested in a factorial experiment with a total of 96 experimental units. Five larvae were placed on the soil surface of each test container and when burrowing was completed pupae were retrieved and pupation depth was recorded. The majority of larvae pupated in the top 3 cm and the mean depth of all units was 1.16 cm. The means differed significantly depending on soil type, moisture, the temperature–soil type interaction and the soil type–moisture interaction. Larvae pupated at a greater depth in limestone than in the other two soils. Depths were greater in soils at 50% field capacity than in those at 10% field capacity. In limestone and flysch the depth was greater at 25°C whereas no differences were found in alluvial soil. Different moisture levels had diverse effects in the three soil types; in alluvial soil and in flysch the increased moisture resulted in greater values but in limestone these were slightly lower. These results can be used in developing non chemical control measures and designing efficient sampling techniques for the insect in the ground.
Substrate distribution in fungus chambers in nests of Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 (Hym., Formicidae)
Authors: Moreira A. A. , Forti L. C. , Boaretto M. A. C. , Andrade A. P. P. , Rossi M. N.
Published: March 2003

Abstract:  Substrate distribution was studied in three adult colonies of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 using dye. Some supply holes were mapped using baits made from small plastic straws impregnated with citric pulp. Two holes, equidistant from one another, were then selected in each nest. The colonies were excavated completely 24 h after bait placement. During excavation, fungus chambers were checked for dye. We observed that the dyed baits were distributed in all sectors and at all depths regardless of where the baits had been placed. This supported the hypothesis that toxic baits placed in a single supply hole are uniformly distributed throughout the colony.
Effect of Cuticular Wax Layers of Green and Red Pepper Fruits on Infection by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Authors: Oh B. J. , Kim K. D. , Kim Y. S.
Published: March 2003

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolate KG13 caused necrotic, sunken anthracnose symptoms on unwounded, wax‐removed, and wounded green pepper fruits and on wounded red fruits 7 days after inoculation. Hypersensitive reactions with small brownish discolorations, on some occasions, were found on unwounded red fruits. The isolate produced whitish symptoms with brown margins, but not the typical anthracnose on red fruits wax‐removed by chloroform treatment. Generally, wax‐removed red fruits, but not green ones, produced larger lesions and more conidia than untreated controls. Wounded pepper fruits had larger lesions than those with other treatments. More germinated conidia, appressoria, and infection hyphae were found on wax‐removed fruits than on controls; however, differences between green and red fruits were not found. Cuticular wax layers of fruits were dissolved partially by chloroform and the outer epidermal cells were disrupted slightly. Anthracnose development was negatively related with fruit developmental stage. Well‐developed fruits had more cuticular wax than less developed fruits. These results suggest that the cuticular wax layers of pepper fruits may play a significant role in fruit infection by C. gloeosporioides isolate KG13, and mainly determine the incompatibility of red fruits to the isolate. Biochemical differences may also play a role.
Population Structure of Puccinia recondita in Western Europe During 1995, as Assessed by Variability in Pathogenicity and Molecular Markers
Authors: Park R. F. , Jahoor A. , Felsenstein F. G.
Published: March 2003

The population structure of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici (Prt) in western Europe was examined by assessing variability in pathogenicity and in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) among 61 single uredinial isolates. The isolates were chosen to represent pathotypes detected in a previous survey of pathogenic variability in the fungus in western Europe in 1995. Thirty‐five pathotypes were identified by assessing infection types produced by the 61 isolates on 24 differential lines, each with a single gene for resistance to Prt. In contrast, only 18 RAPD phenotypes were identified by scoring 19 polymorphic RAPD bands generated with eight RAPD primers. When analysed by cluster and bootstrap analyses, the pathogenicity and RAPD results revealed little evidence for robust distinct clusters among the isolates. Multiple isolates of several pathotypes collected from widely separated locations such as Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland had the same RAPD phenotype, providing evidence of clonal migration over considerable distances in western Europe. Some variability (one or two band differences) was observed in RAPD phenotype within several pathotypes, indicating the possible occurrence of genetic changes independent of pathogenicity, and/or the independent development of pathotypes with different genetic backgrounds. Two groups of isolates identified in the 1995 survey, differentiated by pathogenicity for genes Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr3ka and Lr30, were not distinguished by RAPD phenotype, indicating that the groups probably do not constitute separate lineages within the pathogen population. Little correlation was apparent between the polymorphisms observed in pathogenicity and RAPD phenotypes. The similarity in the genetic backgrounds of the isolates, as assessed by RAPD markers, suggest that the observed differences in pathogenicity may have arisen by selection for specific virulences corresponding to genes for resistance in wheat cultivars grown in the region. Three isolates of pathotype 3, restricted in its distribution to southern France during 1995, were distinct from all other isolates in RAPD phenotype. Circumstantial evidence suggests that this pathotype originated from northern Africa, and that it belongs to a group of leaf rust pathogens specialized to durum wheats.
Powdery Mildew Resistance in Barley Landraces from Morocco
Authors: Czembor J. H. , Czembor H. J.
Published: March 2003

Nineteen barley landraces collected from Morocco were screened for resistance to powdery mildew. The landraces originated from the collection at the Polish Gene Bank, IHAR Radzików, Poland. The fifteen landraces tested showed powdery mildew resistance reactions and 35 single plant lines were selected. Twenty‐one of these lines were tested in the seedling stage with 30, four lines with 17 and another 10 lines with 23 differential isolates of powdery mildew, respectively. The isolates were chosen according to their virulence spectra observed on the Pallas isolines differential set. Nine lines (E 1029‐1‐1, E 1042‐2‐2, E 1050‐1‐1, E 1054‐5‐1, E 1056‐2‐5, E 1056‐3‐1, E 1061‐1‐1, E 1061‐1‐3 and E 1067‐1‐2) which originated from seven landraces showed resistance to all prevalent European powdery mildew virulence genes. The most frequent score was 2 and 16 lines showed this reaction for inoculation with most isolates used. The distribution of reaction type indicated that about 77% of all reaction types observed were classified as powdery mildew resistance (scores 0, 1 and 2). In all lines the presence of unknown genes alone or in combinations with specific ones was postulated. Four different resistance alleles (Mlat, Mla6, Mla14 and Mla12) were postulated to be present in 10 tested lines alone or in combination. Alleles Mlat, Mla6 and Mla14 were postulated to be present in four and Mla12 in two tested lines, respectively. The value of barley landraces for diversification of resistance genes for powdery mildew is discussed.
Antifungal Activity of Leaf Extracts and Essential Oils of some Medicinal Plants against Didymella bryoniae
Authors: Fiori A. C. G. , Schwan‐Estrada K. R. F. , Stangarlin J. R. , Vida J. B. , Scapim C. A. , Cruz M. E. S. , Pascholati S. F.
Published: March 2003

The fungitoxicity of crude extracts and essential oils of Achillea millefolium, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus citriodora and Ageratum conyzoides on the fungus Didymella bryoniae was verified in vitro by means of germination of spores and mycelial growth. In addition, some observations were made using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to detect possible alterations on the hyphae of Didymella bryoniae. The results revealed that crude extracts of E. citriodora and A. conyzoides were more effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of D. bryoniae whereas in the germination of spores A. conyzoides and A. millefolium were responsible for most of the inhibition, namely, 52 and 46%, respectively. The essential oils of C. citratus, A. conyzoides and E. citriodora provided 100% inhibition of the mycelial growth and germination of spores of D. bryoniae. SEM observations revealed alterations in the growth pattern of hyphae of D. bryoniae when the essential oil of A. millefolium was present.
Effects of Fusarium culmorum head blight on mycotoxin accumulation and yield traits in barley doubled haploids
Authors: Chełkowski J. , Wiśniewska H. , Adamski T. , Goliński P. , Kaczmarek Z. , Kostecki M. , Perkowski J. , Surma M.
Published: March 2003

The susceptibility of barley doubled haploids (DH) to Fusarium head blight (FHB) was investigated. Heads of 24 DH lines (11 two‐rowed and 13 six‐rowed) derived from F1 Maresi (two‐rowed) × Pomo (six‐rowed) hybrids were inoculated with a conidial suspension of the single isolate IPO348‐01 of Fusariumculmorum. The experiment was carried out in three consecutive years (1996–98) in one location. The number of kernels per ear, 1000‐kernel weight and kernel weight per ear were recorded in inoculated and control plots. In the infected kernels nivalenol (NIV) content and deoxynivalenol (DON) content were determined. The effects of genotype, year and genotype‐year interaction on reduction of yield traits were significant. For mycotoxin content only genotype and year effects were found to be important. The average NIV concentration in kernels of inoculated lines ranged from 0.15 mg/kg in the two‐rowed line MP7 to 6.36 mg/kg in the six‐rowed line MP113. A low accumulation of DON was observed in the studied population (from 0.01 to 0.20 mg/kg). Generally, no significant differences in mycotoxin content were found between two‐rowed and six‐rowed genotypes. The line MP7 was found to be superior — with the lowest mycotoxin accumulation, and reduction in yield traits. Environmental conditions (years) affected DON and NIV level in kernels; however, the tendency to a lower or higher accumulation of mycotoxin in individual lines was stable over the years.
Cytological Observations of the Infection Process by Phomopsis helianthi (Munt.‐Cvet) in Leaves of Sunflower
Authors: Heller A. , Gierth K.
Published: March 2003

The infection process of Phomopsis helianthi and the specific degradation of infected tissue were studied in detail using light and transmission electron microscopy. In comparison with other vascular pathogens, the infection and degradation process was in some aspects different. The favourite tissue for the pathogen to grow in was the phloem. Parenchymatic cells in and around vascular bundles were extremely sensitive to infection long before hyphae arrived, probably due to a toxin. In the parenchymatic cells the first changes were visible at the chloroplasts where electron‐dense material accumulated in the thylakoid space. The chloroplast stroma changed contrast and later the whole cytoplasm also appeared electron dense. In the vascular bundles, first the phloem was destroyed and then hyphae invaded the adjacent mesophyll, the cambium, and finally the vessel elements. In particular, the compact mesophyll of the midvein was severely affected. Vessel elements were lined with electron‐dense material and some were filled with flocculent material. Severe wall destruction indicated the action of a complete set of cell wall‐degrading enzymes before hyphae entered the tissue; it always started at the innermost wall layer. Wall degradation in vascular tissue and adjacent parenchyma with intercellular spaces was different. Before the degradation of the protoplasts started, the cell walls were completely metabolized and only the secondary walls of the vessels resisted for longer. There were no host–cell reactions visible that could be interpreted as a defence reaction.
Comparative Analysis of Tissue Tropism of Bipartite Geminiviruses
Authors: Wege C. , Saunders K. , Stanley J. , Jeske H.
Published: March 2003

Abutilonmosaic virus (AbMV), a bipartite geminivirus of the genus Begomovirus, has been vegetatively propagated for many years inAbutilon sellovianumin which it is strictly phloem‐restricted. Usingin situhybridization and immunological analyses, the tissue tropism of AbMV in the laboratory hostNicotiana benthamianawas compared with that of two other bipartite begomoviruses, African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV). Analysis of the first systemically infected leaves and longitudinal sections of axillary and flower buds revealed that all three viruses are initially confined to the vascular traces, although both ACMV and TGMV are later detectable in nearly all tissue types. In contrast, AbMV remained strictly phloem‐limited in this host throughout the course of infection. The ability of ACMV and TGMV to move out ofN. benthamianaphloem tissues is correlated with the development of severe symptoms in comparison with the mild symptoms associated with AbMV infection. It was also demonstrated thatSida micranthamosaic virus, a virus that is closely related to AbMV, is phloem‐limited inMalva parvifloraeven though it induces severe leaf curl, stunting and necrosis in this host. The present data demonstrate that bipartite begomoviruses can exhibit strikingly different patterns of tissue tropism.