High frequency embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration from mature caryposis of big bluestem and little bluestem

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash.] are native to the North America and are important forage grasses and ornamental grasses. Both grasses are proposed as ideal biomass producers for cellulosic ethanol production. To apply genetic transformation, which is an important tool for incorporating desirable agronomic traits into plants to both species, however requires an efficient and reproducible regeneration protocol. We used mature caryopses from big and little bluestem as explants and tested the effect of various combinations of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 mg l⁻¹) and kinetin (KT) (0, 0.1 or 0.2 mg l⁻¹) on embryogenic callus induction with LS as the basal medium. The highest percentage of embryogenic calli induction occurred on medium containing 2, 4-D alone at 2 mg l⁻¹ for ‘Bison’ and on medium containing 4 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D alone for ‘Bonilla’ big bluestem. For little bluestem, the highest percentage of embryogenic callus induction occurred on medium containing 3 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D plus 0.1 mg l⁻¹ kinetin, suggesting that addition of KT is beneficial. Shoot regeneration took place on LS basal medium without any plant growth regulator for both species, although the addition of KT increased both regeneration frequency and the number of shoots produced per callus. Rooting of shoots reaching about 2 cm long occurred readily with or without α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted plantlets were all successfully established in the soil.     

欧盟共同农业政策面临的挑战及最新改革措施

共同农业政策作为联系欧盟成员国农业的纽带,在经历2003年的改革后,虽然在价格补贴、农村发展等方面取得一定的成效,但仍然面临财政负担、食品安全、新成员国加入等来自内外部的挑战和压力.为应对这些挑战和压力,欧盟进行了降低政策价格、微调配额等一系列的最新改革.     

农业信息：传统与现代的耦合

近年来，国家投资建设大量信息基础设施，以保证农业信息能更好的被农户采用。而现实中，农户并不通过网络、电视和报刊等现代信息手段获得农业信息，相反，基于地缘和血缘的熟人网络和以盈利为目的的商人成了农业信息传播的主要媒介。在这种传播方式下，农户的利益常遭侵害，农业科技难以广泛有效的传播，甚至一些假信息让农户失去了对“科技”的信赖。针对目前存在的种种问题，笔者兼顾现实与未来，提出了相关对策。     

沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白属共同抗原表位的定位

用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术研制成４株沙门氏菌属特异单抗ＣＢ８，ｄｅ７，ｃｃ６，ＤＤ４，在免疫转印试验中，证实它们所识别的抗原表位位于鞭毛蛋白上，ＥＬＩＳＡ相加试验及竞争试验显示，ＣＢ８和ｃｃ６与ｄｅ７，ＤＤ４识别的抗原表位不同，表明鞭毛蛋白的属共同抗原具有多种表位的特性。用胰蛋白酶消化鞭毛蛋白，ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ结果出现两条新带，分子量分别为４２０００（Ｆ４２），２７０００（Ｆ２７），长时间消化，最终只剩下Ｆ２７条带，它可抵制该酶的消化。对该酶切样品的免疫转印结果表明，沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白属共同抗原表位出现于Ｆ４２和Ｆ２７上，而相应的沙门氏菌分型Ｈ抗原单抗或因子血清识别的表位也在Ｆ４２和Ｆ２７上都得到了证实。这为沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白抗原的多样性及结构和功能研究提供了证据。     

Investigation of Cervical Patency and Uterine Appearance in Domestic Cats by Fluoroscopy and Scintigraphy

The cervical patency of six domestic female cats was monitored under sedation by infusion of contrast medium (Omnipaque) into the cranial vagina during early oestrus, mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and interoestrus or a radiopharmaceutical (^99mTc‐HSA) during mid‐ and interoestrus in a non‐ovulatory oestrous cycle. The transport of the contrast medium or the radiopharmaceutical through the cervix and within the uterine horns was observed under fluoroscopy and with the aid of scintigraphy. In three of the queens, transcervical transport of contrast medium was demonstrated in all stages of oestrus, in one queen during mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and 1 day after oestrus, and in two queens only during late oestrus. The relations between the cervical patency to the contrast medium and the oestrous behaviour, cornification of the vaginal cells and the serum oestradiol‐17β concentration were evaluated, and a relationship was found between the cervical patency and the degree of vaginal cornification. Transcervical transport of the radiopharmaceutical was observed in three queens during mid‐oestrus. When the cervix was open, hysterography under a fluoroscope and hysteroscintigraphy were performed. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic recordings revealed the patterns of the uterine contractions during oestrus in both ascending and descending directions, and the movement of the uterine contents back and forth between the uterine horns. The hysterograms were classified according to the shape of the uterine horns and the appearance of the endometrial lining. Spiral‐shaped uterine horns with a smooth inner contour were observed in two queens, and a corkscrew appearance with irregular filling defects in the uterine lumen was shown in two queens that had developed subclinical cystic endometrial hyperplasia. These findings demonstrated that fluids or particles deposited in the cranial vagina of the cat can be transported into the uterus during some stages of the oestrous cycle. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic techniques developed in this study may be further modified to permit more detailed studies of uterine contractile patterns and sperm transport in the feline female reproductive tract. Hysterography proved useful to diagnose uterine disease. The information on cervical patency is of value also for the development of techniques for artificial insemination in this species, and should be studied also in the ovulatory cycle.     

浅谈提高高寒山区大豆单产的途径

本文分析了限制黑河地区大豆单产提高的原因，其原因是盲目引种、密度不适宜、肥效降低、病虫危害严重及重迎茬问题。提出了提高高寒山区大豆单产的方法。     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

2009年大豆市场行情回顾与2010年展望

2009年国际大豆市场触底反弹，美元疲软、流动性过剩是其上涨的外因。南美减产、中国需求增加是国际大豆回暖的关键因素．偏紧的供求结构让国际大豆库存面临考验。     

鸡新城疫免疫失败的原因及防制措施

1 免疫失败的原因1.1 免疫方式不当。鸡的新城疫(ND)保护性抗体可分为粘膜表面的IgA和血清中的IgG,只有呼吸道粘膜抗体和血清抗体都达到一定滴度时才能有效防止新城疫发生。由于免疫方法选择不当(如饮水免疫),致使鸡的呼吸道粘膜抗体未达到保护水平,或使血清中新城疫抗体不高,都可引起鸡发生新城疫。     

Correlated responses from selection for income minus food cost in pullets on traits in older hens

1. After 5 generations of selection on income minus food cost between 21 and 40 weeks of age (SECR), a correlated genetic improvement of 14.5% and 16.3% of the base population mean could be observed for income minus food cost between 41 and 60 weeks (IF60) in two lines of laying hens. The total responses up to 60 weeks amounted to 17.2% and 17.3% of the base population mean. A heritability of 0.30 for IF60 and a genetic correlation of 0.61 between SECR and IF60 were estimated.

2. The correlated relative genetic responses for 5 traits of the period between 41 and 60 weeks of age for the two lines were: 4.3% and 5.2% in egg number, 5.8% and 7.4% in egg weight, 8.4% and 10.8% in egg mass, ‐2.7% and ‐0.6% in body weight at 60 weeks, and ‐5.2% and ‐6.3% in food efficiency.

3. The estimated heritabilities of these 5 traits from the whole data set were 0.36, 0.75, 0.34, 0.71 and 0.17. The estimated genetic correlations between SECR and the same 5 traits were 0.30, 0.46, 0.61, ‐0.22 and ‐0.49.

4. A high genetic correlation of income minus food cost with egg weight and a low one with egg number were found in pullets, but the relationships were reversed in older hens.