bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delivering quality seed to specification - the USA and NZ novel endophyte experience
Authors: Rolston M.P. , Agee C.
Published: April 2021

Seed Certification and Seed Testing Schemes provide the rules and guidelines to maintain both varietal genetic purity and physical purity during field production and seed processing. However the Seed Certification agencies are not involved in ensuring that the quality of the endophytic component of seed is maintained. The delivery of quality endophytic seed to end users therefore requires that the commercial seed entity that is producing and marketing a novel endophyte product develops and maintains strict production and quality assurance guidelines to ensure that the benefits of novel endophyte technology are realised. The paper uses the New Zealand (NZ) experience with AR1 endophyte in ryegrass and the USA experience with MaxQÂ® Jesup tall fescue to highlight the quality control steps required to deliver a quality product to end users. Keywords: novel endophyte, tall fescue, ryegrass, Neotyphodium, MaxQ, AR1, seed production
Degradation of endophyte alkaloids in field-dried cut ryegrass herbage
Authors: Hume D.E. , Hickey M.J. , Tapper B.A.
Published: April 2021

The stability of endophyte alkaloids was investigated in ryegrass herbage cut and then dried in the field under a simulated hay drying regime in early and mid-summer. Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) infected with typical 'wild-type' and the 'AR37' strain of endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) was measured for peramine, ergovaline and lolitrem B for wild-type, and epoxy-janthitrems for AR37. Despite very contrasting weather conditions, relative decline in alkaloid concentrations was similar in both early and mid-summer. Concentrations had halved within 5 to 7 days, except for lolitrem B in mid-summer which had no decline until after 4 days of drying. Ergovaline showed quite variable and erratic responses over time possibly due to the low concentrations in the cut herbage. At least in the mid-summer experiment, if herbage had been conserved at the time of normal haying making, alkaloid concentrations would have been similar to those of the herbage at the time of cutting. Keywords: endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii, Lolium perenne, peramine, lolitrem, ergovaline, janthitrems
Introduction and acceptance of novel endophyte tall fescue in the USA
Authors: Ball D.M. , Lacefield G.D. , Agee C.S. , Hoveland C.S.
Published: April 2021

Release of the cultivar 'Kentucky 31' in 1943 led to widespread planting of tall fescue in the USA. An endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) usually present in this grass produces compounds that enhance competitiveness and survival of tall fescue in many environments, but it also produces ergot alkaloids implicated in the cause of animal disorders. Screening of hundreds of fungus strains identified some that do not produce high levels of ergot alkaloids. A "novel" endophyte strain was inserted into University of Georgia-developed cultivars 'Georgia 5' and 'Jesup' and became commercially available under the name MaxQTM in 1999. It is estimated that at present there are some 121,000 hectares of novel endophyte tall fescue in at least 35 USA states. Persistence has been good and animal performance has been excellent. It is expected that novel endophyte tall fescue area will continue to increase in the USA in the future. Keywords: novel endophyte, tall fescue, Neotyphodium, MaxQTM
Animal performance, carcass quality and economics of cattle finished after grazing endophyte-infected, endophyte-free or nonergot alkaloid-producing endophyte-infected tall fescue
Authors: Duckett S.K. , Lacy R.C. , Andrae J.G. , Hoveland C.S. , Bouton J.H. , Mccann M.A.
Published: April 2021

Angus-cross steers grazed wild type endophyte-infected (E+), nonergot alkaloid-producing endophyte-infected (AR542), or endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue pastures at two locations. Twenty-four animals per location were transported to a research feedlot after the completion of the grazing phase and fed for 100 d. Grazing average daily gain (ADG) was 0.47 kg/d greater (P=0.001) for cattle grazing AR542 than those grazing E+ pastures. In the feedlot, overall ADG did not differ among AR542 and E+ (P=0.40) or AR542 and E- (P=0.19), and averaged 2.09 + 0.15 kg/d across all treatments. Feed efficiency was greater (P=0.02) for E+ than AR542. Hot carcass weight was 40 kg greater (P=0.01) for AR542 than E+. Other carcass traits did not differ (Pâ‰¥0.10) among treatments. Net present values (NPV) were $177.08/ha for E- and $336.76/ha for AR542 compared to E+. Keywords: beef, endophyte, carcass
A new tall fescue-novel endophyte combination for the south-central USA
Authors: Hopkins A.A. , Bouton J.H.
Published: April 2021

Tall fescue use has been limited in the south central USA because of insufficient persistence of endophyte free cultivars and poor animal performance from tall fescue infected with wild-type endophyte. Here we report on the development of a tall fescue - novel endophyte combination with improved adaptation to the south central USA. A tall fescue ecotype from Oklahoma was infected with several novel endophytes. Small plot trials were conducted in Oklahoma and Texas to evaluate grazing tolerance, forage yield, and animal safety. One of the ecotypenovel endophyte combinations (AGRFA 144) had greater persistence and forage yield than Jesup MaxQÂ® in a number of environments. Lamb weight gains from the new tall fescuenovel endophyte combination were comparable to that of Jesup MaxQ and substantially greater than KY-31 infected with a toxic endophyte. Cultivar release of the new tall fescue-novel endophyte combination in 2008 is anticipated. Keywords: novel endophyte, tall fescue, cultivar
Advantages of endophyte infection for irrigated pastures of semiarid cold-desert environments
Authors: Waldron B.L.
Published: April 2021

Little research has evaluated possible endophyte benefits to adaptation and production of grasses in the irrigated pastures of the semiarid, cold-desert environments of the western USA. Severe irrigation shortages are common; however, production demands are increasing, necessitating maximizing tall fescue's (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) productivity when grown in sub-optimal conditions including drought, salinity, and cold temperatures. In a field study under irrigation in the Intermountain Western USA, the yield advantage to Kentucky 31 tall fescue infected with wild-type Neotyphodium over endophyte-free Kentucky 31 was greatest (over 15%) when irrigation was severely limited to natural precipitation. In an evaluation of salinity tolerance there were no significant differences in plant LD50 values due to endophyte infection. In a recent study Jesup MaxQ recovered better from winter injury than Jesup E- when grown in a high-elevation colddesert, irrigated environment. These studies suggest the need for additional research to elucidate the potential advantages of wildtype and novel endophytes for tall fescue production in irrigated environments typical of the semiarid western USA. Keywords: tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Neotyphodium, drought tolerance, salinity tolerance, winterhardiness
Neotyphodium infection and hybridisation as a function of environmental variation
Authors: Hamilton Cyd , Faeth Stan
Published: April 2021

Neotyphodium is an asexual, vertically transmitted, obligate fungal endosymbiont infecting cool-season grasses such as Arizona fescue. The relationship between Neotyphodium and several native grass hosts ranges from antagonistic to mutualistic. One theory that may explain how Neotyphodium infection is maintained despite inconsistent mutualistic benefit to the host is the bounded hybrid superiority hypothesis. This hypothesis argues that hybrids are more fit than non-hybrids in response to some environmental stresses. Neotyphodium infects hosts in both hybrid and non-hybrid forms. We tested the possibility of hybrid superiority in depauperate habitats (low soil water and nitrate) by quantifying the types and frequency of host infections (uninfected, hybrid-infected and non-hybrid-infected), and the quality of resources available between three host populations. A second theory, the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution, may also explain different symbiotic outcomes at the population level in response to variation in abiotic and biotic population characters. We provide cursory support for both hypotheses. Keywords: geographic mosaic theory of coevolution, hybrid, Festuca, Neotyphodium, symbiosis, mutualism, bounded hybrid superiority
The importance of endophyte in agricultural systems - changing plant and animal productivity
Authors: Easton H.S. , Fletcher L.R.
Published: April 2021

Infection of tall fescue and ryegrass pastures with Neotyphodium endophytes are of much greater interest in New World pastures than in Europe where they have been present as long as agriculture itself. This paper presents an overview of the importance of endophyte infection in pastures, enhancing the productivity and persistence of their hosts, both directly and through protection from invertebrate pressure, the biological factors behind this importance and the measures available to profit from the advantages of endophyte infection while palliating the negative effects. Keywords: tall fescue, ryegrass, livestock, edaphic stress, invertebrate pests
Role of endophytic fungi in grass litter decomposition
Authors: Osono T.
Published: April 2021

Fungal endophytes of grasses affect ecosystem processes through mutualistic interactions with host plants, but how grass endophytes affect litter decomposition remains unclear. In this study, previously published data on litter quality and decomposition of grasses are summarised and effects of fungal endophytes of grasses on litter quality and decomposition are reviewed to discuss possible roles of endophytes in decomposition. Aboveground litters of grasses have relatively low nitrogen (N) and lignin contents and show slow increase of N and lignin contents during decomposition. Endophyte-infected litter have slightly lower N contents than non-infected litter, but the differences so far reported were not statistically significant. A negative effect of grass endophytes on litter decomposition rates was demonstrated, but the effect of endophyte infection on decomposition was not as strong as the effects of other biological and environmental factors. This suggests that grass endophytes have a relatively minor effect of on litter quality and decomposition, but more studies are necessary to verify this tentative conclusion. Keywords: decomposition, lignin, litter, nitrogen
Plant influences on endophyte expression
Authors: West C.P.
Published: April 2021

Neotyphodium endophytes in the pooid grasses perennial ryegrass and tall fescue (Lolium spp.) are important ecologically and agriculturally by virtue of their ability to produce several alkaloids and their effects on host growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Such responses can be positive, neutral, or negative, and depend on the interaction of host genetics x endophyte genetics x environment (and management), which is complex and difficult to predict. Understanding the interactions is key to elucidating the ecological role of endophytes in natural and impacted ecosystems and to optimally select plant and endophyte combinations that support profitable livestock production with stable plant populations. High phenotypic variability among individual plants in an endophyte-infected population can promote population fitness across a wide range of stressful environments. Strong interactions between environmental conditions and host-endophyte combination reveal the importance of testing new grass-endophyte associations in the range of environments targeted for eventual use to determine stability of the desired traits. Care must also be taken when creating new symbiota that an important fitness trait is not lost by selecting endophytes that lack a particular alkaloid. Genetic variations within perennial ryegrass and tall fescue provide opportunities for plant breeders to perform further selections with novel symbiota to exploit host control over growth and physiology and thus overcome some of performance loss. This paper reviews the challenges of understanding grass-endophyte interactions, with particular attention to strategies of improving the performance of novel symbiota for agricultural purposes. Keywords: Lolium, Festuca, Neotyphodium, plant-endophyte interactions, symbiosis
High nutrient supply and carbohydrate content reduce endophyte and alkaloid concentration
Authors: Rasmussen S. , Parsons A.J. , Liu Q. , Xue H. , Newman J.A.
Published: April 2021

Two controlled environment experiments were performed to test the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbohydrates on endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) and alkaloid concentrations in ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Three perennial ryegrass cultivars ('high sugar grasses' AberDove and AberDart; control Fennema) that differ in carbohydrate content were infected with three strains of N. lolii (common strain, CS; AR1; AR37). Infected and uninfected plants were grown under high (9 mM) and low (2.25 mM) nitrogen (AberDove, Fennema; CS, AR1, AR37) or under high (2 mM KH2PO4) and low (0.05 mM KH2PO4) phosphorus (AberDart, Fennema; CS, AR1). Quantitative realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to estimate endophyte concentrations in harvested leaf tissues. High N and P supply as well as high carbohydrate content of the host grass reduced endophyte concentrations. Alkaloid production was also reduced under both increased N supply and in the high sugar cultivar, and was linearly related to endophyte concentration (except ergovaline). The results stress the need for wider quantification of fungal endophytes in the grassland/ foliar endophyte context, and have implications for how introducing new cultivars, novel endophytes, or increasing nutrient inputs, affect the role of endophytes in grassland ecosystems. Keywords: Neotyphodium lolii, foliar endophyte, Lolium perenne, perennial ryegrass, qPCR, high sugar ryegrass, nitrogen, phosphate, carbohydrate, AR1, AR37, alkaloids
Exploring endophyte compatibility in perennial ryegrass
Authors: Faville M.J. , Koulman A. , Briggs L. , Cao M. , Podmore C. , Abraham D.
Published: April 2021

The association between perennial ryegrass (PRG) and fungal endophyte is an important factor in the protection of New Zealand pastures from insect pests, and the genetic background of the host plant significantly affects endophyte performance. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of phenotypic data from herbage harvested from a mapping population in autumn 2005 identified loci in the PRG genome influencing three traits: (1) endophyte mycelial mass; (2) ergovaline level; (3) peramine level. Three QTL were identified for each trait. For mycelial mass two QTL accounted for more than 75% of the variation (PV) for in the population and have considerable potential for development as pre-inoculation marker-assisted selection (MAS) tools for endophyte colonisation in PRG breeding programmes. The largest-effect QTL for peramine level (18% PV) coincided with a major mycelial mass QTL, implying peramine concentration is partly determined by endophyte colonisation. All other alkaloid QTL, however, were independent of mycelial mass, indicating it may be possible to develop MAS that will facilitate breeding for alkaloid phenotype, independent of the degree of endophyte colonisation. Keywords: DIMS, ELISA, Lolium, map, metabolic profiling, Neotyphodium, SSR
Endophyte survival without sex
Authors: Holland B.R. , Schardl C.L. , Schmid J.
Published: April 2021

Sex is considerably more costly for an organism than clonal reproduction. How it conveys sufficient benefits to outweigh this cost remains unclear. One of the main arguments that such benefits exist is the wide distribution of sex and the short evolutionary lifespan of asexual lineages. However, too little is known about the reproductive biology of microorganisms to be certain that sex is wide-spread among them. Among the epichloÃ« endophytes the ability to carry out sexual reproduction is frequently lost, and closely related sexual and asexual lineages can be readily collected. This offers an opportunity to test if asexual endophyte lineages have a shorter lifespan than sexual lineages, which would indicate that sex conveys advantages to epichloÃ« endophytes. Using a novel phylogeny-based statistical approach, we found strong evidence that asexual endophyte lineages are short-lived compared to sexual lineages. Keywords: sex, clonal reproduction, evolutionary biology, ecology
Progress in breeding sheep for resistance to ryegrass staggers
Authors: Morris C.A. , Amyes N.C.
Published: April 2021

Ryegrass Staggers (RGS) is predominantly a summer/autumn metabolic disorder of ruminants, caused by ingestion of the toxin lolitrem B. The toxin is produced by an endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) found in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). In clinical cases of RGS, animals experience neuromuscular uncoordination when under stress, e.g. when mustered by sheep dogs. Experiments with a standardised RGS scoring system show that resistance/susceptibility in sheep has a moderate/high heritability (0.37 Â± 0.05). An AgResearch flock was established in 1993, with two lines bred for resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) to RGS. Annually, lambs are scored for susceptibility, when both lines graze together on high endophyte pastures, and are mustered by sheep dogs. In 2005 and 2006, 2% and 6.5% of R-line lambs, respectively, showed clinical staggers, compared with 94% and 91% of S-line lambs (P
The genome and genes of Epichloe festucae
Authors: Hesse U. , Maynard P. , Macmil S. , Wiley G. , Andreeva K. , Beech W.E. , Arnaoudova E. , Willey B.T. , Puram V.G. , Wiseman J. , Webb J. , Gill L. , Farman M.L. , Jaromczyk J.W. , Roe B.A. , Schardl C.L.
Published: April 2021

The ascomycete EpichloÃ« festucae is a model endophyte that 1) switches between mutualistic and antagonistic states, 2) is seed transmissible, 3) has a sexual state amenable to genetic analysis, and 4) is rich in bioprotective alkaloids. This fungus grows systemically and intercellularly throughout the life of its host plant. On each reproductive tiller the fungus either infects benignly and transmits clonally in seeds, or produces its sexual state (stroma) and chokes inflorescence development. The E. festucae genome was estimated at 29 Mb in six chromosomes. The genome sequence was assembled from cloned insert end reads (4.2 x coverage) and preassembled pyrosequencing reads (454-sequencing: 20 x raw, 1.7 x assembled), giving 3967 supercontigs, of which 1004 were larger than 2 kb and covered 92% of the genome. Gene prediction with FGENESH identified ~10,000 putative genes. We also sequenced 25,000 ESTs from each of two normalised libraries â€” one of choked inflorescences, the other of benignly infected inflorescences â€” yielding 5077 E. festucae unigenes, annotated by BLAST and InterPro. Sequence data and annotations are stored in a database for visualisation and inspection with the GBrowse browser. The genomic sequences can be queried by BLAST at http://www.genome.ou.edu/blast/ ef_blastall.html. Keywords: bioinformatics, DNA sequence, EpichloÃ« festucae, expressed sequence tags, Festucae pratensis, fungal genomics, Lolium pratense
Biosynthesis of insecticidal loline alkaloids by epichloe endophytes of grasses
Authors: Schardl C.L. , Grossman R.B. , Blankenship J.D. , Spiering M.J. , Faulkner J.R.
Published: April 2021

EpichloÃ« endophytes are protective mutualists of cool-season grasses.
Analysis of expressed sequence tags derived from the endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii grown in vitro and in association with its host plant perennial ryegrass
Authors: Johnson R. , Khan A. , Voisey C. , Bassett S. , Gaborit C. , Johnson L. , Christensen M. , Mcculloch A. , Bryan G.
Published: April 2021

As a first step towards a functional genomics approach to gain a greater understanding of this important symbiosis, we have generated, sequenced and analysed two EST libraries from cultures of N. lolii and six in planta subtracted EST libraries enriched for differentially expressed genes. A total of 12871 ESTs were sequenced which, after filtering for quality, clustered into 1066 contigs and 3230 singletons to give a set of 4296 unique sequences or unigenes. BLASTX analysis revealed that 60% of fungal sequences derived from cultures were of unknown function with a sub-set of these corresponding to orphans. For the in planta-derived ESTs, most of the sequences with homologs in the public databases (98%) were of ryegrass origin. Comparisons made against fully sequenced genomes revealed that most fungal ESTs were homologous to genes present in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic ascomycete filamentous fungi, whereas the subtracted libraries comprised mostly plant genes. A range of sequences having significant homology to demonstrated pathogenicity/virulence genes in other fungal pathosystems were also identified, as well as some ESTs with proven roles in endophyte secondary metabolism. Keywords: ESTs, cDNA, Neotyphodium lolii, Lolium perenne, symbiosis, mutualism, suppression subtractive hybridisation
Discovery of novel microorganisms involved in ergot alkaloid detoxification: An approach
Authors: Perumbakkam S. , Rattray R.M. , Delorme M.J.M. , Duringer J.M. , Craig A.M.
Published: April 2021

Fescue toxicosis and ergot alkaloids are estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cost the U.S. ranchers $860 million per year. The endophyte fungi Neotyphodium coenophialum is present in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). This fungus produces toxic alkaloids (principally ergovaline) that cause deleterious effects in cattle and other livestock when infected grasses are eaten. Previous studies in sheep and cattle have yielded no culturable microbes able to detoxify the ergot molecules, leading to the search for novel sources of anaerobic organisms capable of degrading ergot alkaloids. Anaerobic incubation of earthworm (Eisenea fetida) homogenate with pure ergovaline has exhibited a 60% decrease in ergovaline concentration. Digestive tracks were dissected from worms obtained from an endophyte-fed digester. Cloning and partial sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA obtained from these samples revealed a diverse microbiota, including bacteria sequences which classified into the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Planktomycetes. Future work is focused on refining our understanding of the contribution towards possible ergot alkaloids detoxification made by the bacteria of the worm-gut microbiota. Keywords: ergovaline, microbial degradation, endophyte, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Eisenea fetida
Endophyte survival during seed storage
Authors: Hill N.
Published: April 2021

Commercial seed lots of Flecha/AR542, Jesup/AR542, Jesup/ AR584, and Grasslands Advance/AR542 were stored at 25oC for 18 months
Can aphids learn to cope with the pressure of endophytic fungi in their food plants?
Authors: HÃ¤rri S.A. , Krauss J. , MÃ¼ller C.B.
Published: April 2021

Plant-endophyte associations can have major impacts on the dynamics of consumer interaction-webs but long-term effects of mycotoxins and the ability of herbivores to adapt to these toxins have not been studied. To understand the potential of aphids to cope with mycotoxins, we compared the life-history parameters for aphids conditioned for several generations on endophyte-infected plants with those of endophyte-naÃ¯ve aphids on both endophyteinfected and endophyte-free grasses. Aphids conditioned on endophyte-infected plants produced more offspring during the first days of adulthood than endophyte-naÃ¯ve aphids independent of the endophyte infection of the test environment. However, the endophyte-conditioned aphids tended to have a shorter lifespan, which resulted in similar numbers of total offspring produced for endophyte-conditioned and endophyte-naÃ¯ve aphids. The difference in life-history parameters caused by the conditioning environment suggests that the effects of endophytes on herbivore life-history traits may represent an adaptive change that should be considered in future studies of endophyte-herbivore interactions. Keywords: Rhopalosiphum padi, Neotyphodium lolii, Lolium perenne, common strain, adaptation, long-term effects, microbes, endosymbionts, reproductive strategy, life-history traits
Assessment of vasoconstrictive capacity of tasll fescue alkaloids using fescue naive lateral saphenous veins of crossbred heifer cattle
Authors: Klotz J.L. , Kirch B.H. , Aiken G.E. , Bush L.P. , Arrington B.C. , Strickland J.R.
Published: April 2021

Vasoconstriction is one response associated with consumption of toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. Because it is not known if endophyte-produced alkaloids act alone or collectively, the objective of this study was to examine the vasoconstrictive potentials of D-lysergic acid, ergovaline, and N-acetylloline individually or in paired combinations using bovine lateral saphenous veins biopsied from fescue naÃ¯ve cattle. Segments (2- 3 cm) of vein were surgically biopsied from healthy Brahmaninfluenced yearling cattle (n=22; 330 Â± 8 kg). The data indicated that ergovaline is a more potent vascular toxicant than lysergic acid and N-acetylloline. Further, the presence of N-acetylloline did not inhibit or potentiate the effects of the ergot alkaloids on vascular activity. The contractile responses of the remaining combinations did appear to differ from the individual concentration responses. This supports the possibility that a combinatorial or repetitive alkaloid exposure effect may exist in vivo and should be considered during in vitro evaluations of ergot alkaloids. Keywords: fescue-naÃ¯ve cattle, fescue toxicosis, vasoconstriction
Clinical manifestations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (lolium perenne) toxicosis in Oregon and Japan
Authors: Blythe L.L. , Craig A.M. , Estill C. , Cebra C.
Published: April 2021

There are multiple vehicles for endophyte toxicosis in animals including exposure from pasture, straw residues and seed screenings. This report discusses the clinical cases typically seen with tall fescue and perennial ryegrass toxicosis in Oregon and Japan. Case I involves a herd of 330 Black Angus cattle. Before the March calving season the owner wished to increase the protein content of the feed ration by feeding pellets made of seed screenings and grass hay. Forty two animals were lost to tall fescue toxicosis and dry gangrene of the feet and legs. Case II involves 1300 beef cows in Eastern Oregon fed grass straw; 485 animals were lost due to dry gangrene characteristic of tall fescue toxicosis. Case III describes 4 of 15 cases of both tall fescue and perennial ryegrass toxicosis in Japanese black cattle. Case IV involves llamas and alpacas on pasture and lawn paddocks where some animals were affected by tall fescue and some by perennial ryegrass. Keywords: tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea L., perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, Neotyphodium lolii
Availability of seed for hill country adapted forage legumes
Authors: Monk S. , Moot D.J. , Belgrave B. , Rolston M.P. , Caradus J.R.
Published: April 2021

New Zealand hill and high country are marginal environments for perennial ryegrass and white clover. Other pasture species, particularly legumes, provide more productive and persistent options for the range of soil climate and topography found in these environments. On cultivatable hill country, lucerne (alfalfa) has been successfully introduced to dryland areas with imported seed increasing five-fold to 210 t per annum over the last decade. This has led to the first release of a New Zealand selected cultivar in 20 years. For subterranean clover reliance on hardseeded Australian cultivars that frequently fail to meet New Zealand biosecurity standards means seed supply is inconsistent. The potential exists to create a niche seed market through selection of locally adapted material grown for seed in New Zealand. Lotus pedunculatus is available commercially but seed often fails to meet certification standards and is predominantly used in forestry. Lotus corniculatus requires agronomic research to overcome some management constraints and the re-establishment of seed supply before it would be a viable option for drier hill country. Seed production for perennial lupins in New Zealand is predominantly for an export ornamental market, with some direct relationships with growers allowing onfarm use. Caucasian clover seed production has ceased in New Zealand and the demand for seed particularly from high country farmers is no longer met. The smallseeded annual balansa clover is being integrated into farm systems and its prolific seeding has enabled some on-farm production of seed for personal use. For it and arrowleaf and Persian clovers, imported cultivars are available and a local market is unlikely to thrive until agronomic and hard seed issues are addressed. Seed supply of forage legumes to satisfy demand for hill country is problematic and will require development of different models including grower co-ops, regional seed retailers, and on-farm production for niche markets. Keywords: alfalfa, Lolium perenne, Lupinus polyphyllus, Medicago sativa, perennial ryegrass, Sitona lepidus, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium michelianum, Trifolium repens, Trifolium resupinatum, Trifolium subterraneum, Trifolium tumens, Trifolium vesiculosum, white clover
Diversity within subterranean clover and biserrula for persistence traits with potential use in New Zealand hill country
Authors: Ghamkhar K. , Faithful T. , Nichols P.G.H. , Ryan M.H.
Published: April 2021

As part of an investigation into the potential of alternative forage species and/or germplasm in New Zealand's hill country and the traits required for their success, two F2 populations, their original parents, and 34 cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean) were evaluated for hardseededness in Australia. The 34 cultivars were also screened for burr burial strength and flowering time. Microsatellite markers were also used to investigate their association with these traits. The polygenic nature of hardseededness was confirmed and markers associated with this trait were detected and traits for New Zealand's hill country were identified. Additionally, a core collection of 30 (two cultivars and 28 wild) biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus) accessions was screened for flowering time, growth habit and leaflet size. Also, a subset of five accessions of biserrula exhibited traits that are desirable for hill country, namely, mid-late flowering and adaptation to lowmedium rainfall. Keywords: biserrula, flowering time, hardseededness, hill country, subterranean clover
Why a hill country symposium?
Authors: Kerr G.A.
Published: April 2021

Introduction When I was young the hill country was where the store lambs came from. But with the flatter and generally better land being lost to the likes of urban and dairy farming expansion, New Zealand's hill country is now the key breeding platform, and is increasingly being required to finish stock for the red meat sector - a sector that generates nearly $8 billion/year in export earnings for the country. Hill country farmers, their service providers and local communities face notable challenges including continuing pressure on profitability, rural depopulation and climate change, as well as environmental pressure around the 'right to farm' from the greater New Zealand population. However, there are also great success stories in terms of the improvements in productivity and environmental stewardship that have been made in the hill country. The Hill Country Symposium (HCS) will update relevant research and present some of the industry's successes. However, our main aim is as a group to answer two questions: What does a profitable and resilient future for our hill country farming look like? What do we, collectively
Innovations behind the farm gate that will influence performance of hill farming
Authors: Fennessy P.F. , Glennie S.F. , Mccorkindale A.B.
Published: April 2021

TThe challenges on farm What are the big issues that will face us in the hill country over the next 3 decades? It is these issues and the resulting pressures that are likely to shape the innovations required to support a robust future for hill country farming. If necessity is the mother of invention, then what are the pressures and hence what will shape the likely innovations that will be necessary for this important sector in the time ahead? Profitability is at the heart, but the pathway to adoption of innovation begins with farmers understanding and being confident to make system changes as well as having the desire to do it. By looking back over the past few decades at the major lift in productivity, especially in sheep, and at some of the innovations that have contributed, we may be better able to look ahead. There are some broad principles that are likely to be important over the next 30 years:
Impact of Government and regulatory policy on hill country farming
Authors: Crofoot A.
Published: April 2021

New Zealand has a long history of Government policy affecting agriculture. Some policy interventions, such as Producer Boards were long-lived, others like Land Development Encouragement Loans and the Supplementary Minimum Price scheme ramped up quickly and were then dismantled. Currently, the National Policy for Freshwater Management and the Emissions Trading Scheme are having mixed effects on hill country farmers. While regulation is often seen by farmers as a negative, environmental regulation has the potential to be used for market advantage. Farmers need to engage in policy and regulation development as they can help avoid unintended consequences. If they do not then they are ceding control of important aspects of their business to others. This paper explores some of the impacts of past and present policy on hill country farming from a farmer's perspective, and based on 9 years of regular involvement in development and implementation of policy at a local, regional and national level. Keywords: policy, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, Emissions Trading Scheme, farmer engagement
Informing extension project design: the right tool for the job
Authors: Payne T.A. , Turner J.A. , Rijswijk K. , Mcdermott A.K. , Wakelin R.D.N.
Published: April 2021

Extension successfully creates change when projects are designed to fit the issue, opportunity, or technology to be implemented, the potential users, and the influences external to the farm team. To better understand when and why different approaches to extension succeed this study developed a typology of nine extension approaches. The nine approaches provide a framework to identify the right extension approaches that will drive sustainable productivity improvements for higher onfarm profitability. Factors that need to be understood when deciding which of the extension approaches is best suited to a particular circumstance are: farmers' awareness of the problem, problem complexity, benefits desired by farmers, compatibility of the new technology with existing farm management, and the ability of the farm team to implement the technology. This paper outlines the 9 extension approaches, and the criteria and process for choosing the appropriate approach for the circumstances. Keywords: extension approaches, technology transfer, co-development
Farming systems research: purpose, history and impact in New Zealand hill country
Authors: Stevens D.R. , Casey M.J. , Cousins K.A.
Published: April 2021

A review of the literature accessed 234 papers that referenced farm or farming systems research in New Zealand hill country. These were categorised into resource allocation/productivity, modelling, farm studies and sociology. Sociology was further categorised into social, cultural, resilience, policy and regulation, and system behaviour and change. Farming systems research developed over the 5 decades studied from 9 papers in 1960-1975, to a peak of 60 papers during the 1986-1995 decade. The number of papers accessed during the latest decade, 2006-2015, was 57. The focus of research has changed significantly from an initial emphasis on biophysical processes and productivity, peaking in the 1976-1985 decade and then tapering off. This provided data for the development of models that could generate many more comparisons at lower cost. Modelling of the biophysical farm and economic outcomes has been steady through the decades from 1986 to present. The impacts of policy and regulation have featured strongly in the 1986-1995 decade after agricultural deregulation, and again in the 2006-2015 decade as consumer and societal concerns about the environment have emerged. Resilience of the farming system, encompassing production, economic, social and environmental trade-offs, has emerged as a topic being most prevalent in the most recent decade from 2006-2015. The discipline of farm systems research has also matured over this time as a greater range of research techniques, over a wider range of subject matter have been applied. An evolution of the discipline has also seen the integration of the principles of complex adaptive systems into the work. Keywords: cultural, economic, environmental, farm systems, modelling, policy, production, regulation, resilience, social
Varto Alevilerinde Mekânın İşlevsel Dönüşümü
Authors: TAŞ Fırat
Published: April 2021

Muş’ Bağlı Varto ve köylerinde yerleşik olarak yaşayan Alevi nüfusun inanca dair geleneksel mekân anlayışının yaşanan yoğun göç ile birlikte uğradığı dönüşümler çalışmanın temel konusudur. Mekân, bir bellek unsuru olmanın yanında ibadet ve ritüellerin duygulanım ve inanç atmosferi bağlamında tamamlayıcı bir unsur olarak ele alınmıştır. Çalışmada alan araştırması yöntemi ve katılımcı gözlem tekniği uygulanarak yapılan gözlem, tespit ve değerlendirmeler kuramsal yaklaşımlar çerçevesinde ele alınmıştır.
Length-Weight Relationships for Fourteen Fish Species Collected by Bottom Trawl From the Eastern Black Sea Coast, Turkey
Authors: ONAY Hatice , DALGIÇ Göktuğ
Published: April 2021

Length-weight relationships (LWR) were described for fourteen demersal and pelagic fish species; whiting (Merlangius merlangus), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), picarel (Spicara maena), scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), sprat (Sprattus sprattus), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), thornback ray (Raja clavata), shore rockling (Gaidropsarus mediterraneus) round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), black goby (Gobius niger) and stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber) caught with bottom trawl (12 mm mesh size) from the Eastern Black Sea. Samples were caught in depths from 10 m up to 60 m between April 2017 and March 2018 at monthly intervals. The minimum and maximum lengths and weights, length-weight relationships, parameters of a and b, ± 95% CI of b, r2, growth type (isometric or allometric) of samples, and statistical analyses of the relationship were determined. Estimates for parameter b of the length–weight relationship ranged between 2.44 and 3.54.
INFLUENCE OF ROTARY POST-EFFECT ON DISCHARGE IN THE CRUSTAL LAYER
Authors:   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Dolin Sergei V. , Kanushin Vadim F. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies
Published: April 2021

This work represents experiments which have been performed in an attempt to establish a correla-tion between the constantly changing rotational regime of the planet and the discharge in the crustal layer. From the displacement of the TAI, UTC, and UT1 time scales taken from the site of the Interna-tional Earth Rotation Service (IERS), the average annual and monthly angular rotation rates were cal-culated for the period from 1962 to 2018, and a catalog of earthquakes with 1962 to 2018. The com-piled algorithm and the written program found partial derivatives of the total deforming potential and the distribution of annual number of earthquakes over the Earth's surface per one square kilometer. The article presents the results of analytical analysis and calculations for further investigation of the rotational regime of the Earth and other planets.
MONITORING, MODELING AND BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES
Authors:   Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Mogilny Sergey G. , Sholomitskii Andrei A. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Lagutina Elena K. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Soboleva Ekaterina L. ,   Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Design and Arts
Published: April 2021

Information technology and modeling are becoming more widely used, mainly in the design and operation of buildings and structures, and in most cases this is enough for trouble-free operation. Nev-ertheless, there is a category of buildings for which the monitoring of the technical condition should be an integral part of the construction and operation. Unfortunately, the development of these technolo-gies in the Russian Federation is not at level, sufficient for answering questions about the behavior of objects under changing environmental conditions and revealing hidden patterns in monitoring data. Based on analysis of literary sources, the authors reviewed various methods for identifying hidden patterns in geodetic measurement data when monitoring buildings and structures. It is noted that mod-ern analysis methods are based on statistical processing of measurement results and on statistical fore-casting method. However, there are attempts to apply models that take into account object’s design features and temperature regime. This type includes two proposed models, which are used to model three-dimensional coordinates of strain marks in the 3D model and only elevations of marks in the 1–Z model. The article presents the rationale for the simulated geometric elements and properties of the object. The solution of the equations of both models and the analysis of the results and parameters of the model for measurement epochs are shown. The simulation is shown on the example of a real ob-ject, which was monitored by the authors in 2015–2016.The authors believe that the monitoring of large-span structures and the search for patterns of their behavior should be an integral part of the in-formation system for such structures.
Protocol for the Use of a Novel Bioreactor System for Hydrated Mechanical Testing, Strained Sterile Culture, and Force of Contraction Measurement of Tissue Engineered Muscle Constructs
Authors: Somers Sarah M. , Grayson Warren L.
Published: April 2021

Bioreactor systems are built as controlled environments for biological processes and utilized in the field of tissue engineering to apply mechanical, spatial, and chemical cues to developing tissue grafts. Often the systems are applied to instruct differentiation and maturation of the cells grown inside. Perhaps the most obvious targets for strain and compression-based bioreactors are mechanically active tissues, as it is hypothesized that biomimetic mechanical environments instruct immature cells to form differentiated tissues. One such tissue, skeletal muscle, has been identified as a key candidate for strain application due to the close structure-function relationship of myofibers. Here we detail the multiple uses of a custom-built bioreactor system in combination with electrospun fibrin microfibers for muscle tissue engineering. Outlined below are the methods used in the system to test the mechanical properties of hydrogel-based scaffolds in an aqueous environment, including Young’s modulus and poroelasticity. Additionally, we demonstrate the application of tensile strain to sterile cell cultures grown on electrospun scaffolds and perform end-point testing of tissue contractility with the addition of an electrode.
Application of the Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Reaction for Metabolic Glycoengineering
Authors: Haiber Lisa Maria , Kufleitner Markus , Wittmann Valentin
Published: April 2021

The inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA or DAinv) reaction is an emerging bioorthogonal ligation reaction that finds application in all areas of chemistry and chemical biology. In this review we highlight its application in metabolic glycoengineering (MGE). MGE is a versatile tool to introduce unnatural sugar derivatives that are modified with a chemical reporter group into cellular glycans. The IEDDA reaction can then be used to modify the chemical reporter group allowing, for instance, the visualization or isolation of glycoconjugates. During the last years, many different sugar derivatives as well as reporter groups have been published. These probes are summarized, and their chemical and biological properties are discussed. Furthermore, we discuss examples of MGE and subsequent IEDDA reaction that highlight its suitability for application within living systems.
Modulation of Immune Response to Chlamydia muridarum by Host miR-135a
Authors: Keck Jonathon , Chambers James P. , Yu Jieh-Juen , Cheng Xingguo , Christenson Lane K. , Guentzel M. N. , Gupta Rishein , Arulanandam Bernard P.
Published: April 2021

Previously, our laboratory established the role of small, noncoding RNA species, i.e., microRNA (miRNA) including miR-135a in anti-chlamydial immunity in infected hosts. We report here chlamydial infection results in decreased miR-135a expression in mouse genital tissue and a fibroblast cell line. Several chemokine and chemokine receptor genes (including CXCL10, CCR5) associated with chlamydial pathogenesis were identifiedin silicoto contain putative miR-135a binding sequence(s) in the 3’ untranslated region. The role of miR-135a in the host immune response was investigated using exogenous miR-135a mimic to restore the immune phenotype associated with decreased miR-135a followingChlamydia muridarum(Cm) infection. We observed miR-135a regulation of Cm-primed bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDC)viaactivation of Cm-immune CD4+T cells for clonal expansion and CCR5 expression. Using a transwell cell migration assay, we explore the role of miR-135a in regulation of genital tract CXCL10 expression and recruitment of CXCR3+CD4+T cellsviathe CXCL10/CXCR3 axis. Collectively, data reported here support miR-135a affecting multiple cellular processes in response to chlamydial infection.
Chicken Egg Yolk Antibody (IgY) Protects Mice Against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infection Through Improving Intestinal Health and Immune Response
Authors: Han Shuaijuan , Wen Yang , Yang Fengfan , He Pingli
Published: April 2021

Chicken egg yolk antibody (IgY), considered as a potential substitute for antibiotics, has been used for preventing pathogens infection in food, human and animals. This study investigated effects of IgY on growth, adhesion inhibitory and morphology of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 in vitro, and evaluated the protective effects of IgY on intestinal health and immune response of mice infected with ETEC in vivo. Sixty pathogen-free C57BL/6J (4-6 weeks of age) mice were divided into six treatments: control (neither IgY nor ETEC infection), ETEC infection, ETEC-infected mice treated with 250 μL of high-dose (32 mg/mL), medium-dose (16 mg/mL) or low-dose (8 mg/mL) anti-ETEC IgY, or ETEC-infected mice treated with 250 μL of non-specific IgY (16 mg/mL). Anti-ETEC IgY inhibited ETEC growth, reduced adherence of ETEC to intestinal epithelial cells J2 and damaged the morphology and integrity of ETEC cell. Oral administration of anti-ETEC IgY effectively ameliorated ETEC-induced clinical signs, reduced ETEC colonization and intestinal permeability, alleviated inflammatory response through reducing the production and expression of proinflammatory cytokines, improved intestinal morphology, and inhibited excessive activation of the mucosal immune response of challenged mice. The overall protective effects of high-dose and medium-dose anti-ETEC IgY against ETEC infection were more effective. These results suggest that anti-ETEC IgY may function as a promising novel prophylactic agent against enteric pathogens infection.