The discovery of the virulence gene ToxA in the wheat and barley pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana

Bipolaris sorokiniana is the causal agent of multiple diseases on wheat and barley and is the primary constraint to cereal production throughout South Asia. Despite its significance, the molecular basis of disease is poorly understood. To address this, the genomes of three Australian isolates of B. sorokiniana were sequenced and screened for known pathogenicity genes. Sequence analysis revealed that the isolate BRIP10943 harboured the ToxA gene, which has been associated previously with disease in the wheat pathogens Parastagonospora nodorum and Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis. Analysis of the regions flanking ToxA within B. sorokiniana revealed that it was embedded within a 12‐kb genomic element nearly identical to the corresponding regions in P. nodorum and P. tritici‐repentis. A screen of 35 Australian B. sorokiniana isolates confirmed that ToxA was present in 12 isolates. Sequencing of the ToxA genes within these isolates revealed two haplotypes, which differed by a single non‐synonymous nucleotide substitution. Pathogenicity assays showed that a B. sorokiniana isolate harbouring ToxA was more virulent on wheat lines that contained the sensitivity gene when compared with a non‐ToxA isolate. This work demonstrates that proteins that confer host‐specific virulence can be horizontally acquired across multiple species. This acquisition can dramatically increase the virulence of pathogenic strains on susceptible cultivars, which, in an agricultural setting, can have devastating economic and social impacts.     

干热处理对甜瓜种子活力和细菌性果斑病抑制能力的影响

以厚皮甜瓜品种‘哈密绿’种子为材料,在70℃、75℃和80℃温度下分别处理24h、48h和72h,研究不同干热处理对甜瓜种子活力萌发和生理生化指标变化及细菌性果斑病的防治效果。结果显示:(1)随着处理温度的升高和时间的延长,干热处理甜瓜种子发芽指标和成苗率显著下降,而70℃处理24h和48h对种子发芽指标(活力指数除外)和成苗率无显著影响。(2)与对照相比,干热处理种子胚芽中的SOD活性、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量升高,在同一温度处理下,SOD活性和可溶性糖含量随着处理时间的延长基本呈增长趋势,脯氨酸含量则随着处理时间的延长呈下降趋势,POD和APX活性以及可溶性蛋白含量变化随着温度的升高和处理时间的延长呈下降趋势;与对照相比,胚芽中CAT活性在70℃处理下降低,而在75℃和80℃处理下升高,但其随着处理时间的延长呈下降趋势;胚芽中O-·2产生速率在70℃和75℃处理下与对照接近,而在80℃处理下随着处理时间的延长呈上升趋势,且均显著高于对照。(3)随着处理温度的升高和时间的延长,甜瓜接菌种子幼苗细菌性果斑病发病率较对照显著降低。研究表明,适宜干热处理温度和时间诱导甜瓜种子中抗氧化酶活性增强,渗透调节物质含量增加,超氧阴离子产生速率降低,种子活力和出苗率有效提高,‘哈密绿’种子有效、安全的干热处理组合为70℃、48h。     

Genetic Structure of Cochliobolus sativus Populations Sampled from Roots and Leaves of Barley and Wheat in North Dakota

Common root rot (CRR) and spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito and Kurib.) Drechsl. ex Dast., are important diseases of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. However, the population biology of C. sativus is still poorly understood. In this study, the genetic structure of three C. sativus populations, consisting of isolates sampled respectively from barley leaves (BL), barley roots (BR) and wheat roots (WR) in North Dakota, was analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 127 AFLP loci were generated among 208 C. sativus isolates analysed with three primer combinations. Gene diversity (H = 0.277–0.335) were high in all three populations. Genetic variation among C. sativus individuals within population accounted for 74%, whereas 26% of the genetic variation was explained among populations. Genetic differentiation was high (ØPT = 0.261, corrected = 0.39), whereas gene flow (Nm) ranged from 1.27 to 1.56 among the three populations analysed. The multilocus linkage disequilibrium (LD) (= 0.076–0.117) was moderate in C  sativus populations. Cluster analyses indicate that C. sativus populations differentiated according to the hosts (barley and wheat) and tissues (root and leaf) although generalists also exist in North Dakota. Crop breeding may benefit from combining genes for resistance against both specialists and generalists of C. sativus.     

Effects of Foliar Endophytic Fungi on the Preference and Performance of the Leaf Beetle Chelymorpha alternans in Panama

Foliar endophytic fungi live inside healthy plant leaves, and in some cases they confer herbivore resistance to the host. All previous studies of endophyte–herbivore interactions have occurred in temperate areas, and many use correlations rather than experiments. In Panama, Glomerella cingulata is a common endophyte species found in healthy leaves, and Chelymorpha alternans is a common herbivore on Merremia umbellata , a tropical vine. We manipulated the abundance of G. cingulata in the leaves of M. umbellata . We then assessed the effects of high and low endophyte densities on the food choice, development, and reproductive success of the leaf beetle, C. alternans . In 'choice' experiments, adult females with a history of feeding on wild plants showed no preference when offered food plants with high and low endophyte densities. Further, in 'no-choice' experiments, C. alternans larvae that were fed high- or low-density endophyte leaves did not differ in development or survivorship. However, when larvae fed on leaves with low endophyte densities became adults, they produced 80 percent more offspring. This suggests high endophyte levels in hosts can have a negative effect on herbivore fecundity. Further experiments are necessary to understand whether the reproductive effects are due to feeding on low-density endophytes in the larval or adult stages, and whether changes in reproductive success are motivated by the adult's perception of food quality or by physiological constraint due to food quality.     

Effect of Growing Conditions on Wheat Hormonal Status and Productivity in Experimental Ecological System

The levels of free and bound forms of IAA, ABA, cytokinins (CK), and gibberellins, as well as growth characteristics and productivity were investigated in two wheat lines. The plants were grown under controlled conditions in an artificial ecosystem that allowed the irradiance, CO₂ concentration, and rhizosphere temperature to be changed. The main difference in the hormonal status of leaves of tall spring wheat, line 232, and dwarf wheat, line 95-3, was the absence of GA₉ gibberellins in the latter. It was found that the light intensity and temperature of rhizosphere insignificantly affected the balance of endogenous phytohormones and HI in wheat. The elevation of CO₂ concentration resulted in a considerable increase in the content of free IAA, an appearance of free GA₉, and a rise in the productivity of wheat, line 232. The concentration of CO₂ was shown to be a major parameter that determined HI in the experimental ecological system.     

Kinematic Analysis of Leaf Growth in Grasses: A Comment on Spatial and Temporal Quantitative Analysis of Cell Division and Elongation Rate in Growing Wheat Leaves under Saline Conditions

Hu and Schmidhalter (2008) conducted a study with wheat seedlings growing in saline and non-stressed (control) con-ditions with the aim of identifying and quantifying the cellular basis for the re-duction in leaf growth. We applaud their goals as salinity is an important issue for plant ecology and food production; however, we have concerns about the methodology used and the subsequent conclusions that are drawn.     

He-Ne激光对增强UV-B辐射小麦叶片显微结构及光合特性的影响

采用低剂量(5 mW·mm-2)He-Ne激光辐照经增强UV-B辐射处理(10.08 kJ·m-2·d-1)后的晋麦47号小麦幼苗,用常规石蜡切片法,观察各处理组小麦幼苗叶片组织显微结构特征;同时对幼苗光合特性、水分利用及色素含量状况进行测定分析.结果显示:(1)与对照(CK)相比,UV-B辐射处理(B)与复合处理(BL)的表皮细胞及腺毛排列致密,气孔稀疏、缩小且下陷;叶肉组织细胞均明显加厚,细胞略小且排列紧密,维管束相对面积减小,BL的以上性状均介于CK与B之间.(2)B组净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率均显著降低.与B相比,BL气孔导度及光合速率偏高,蒸腾速率差异不明显.就水分利用率而言,L最大,略高于CK,B组最小,略低于BL,各组间差异显著.(3)增强UV-B辐射可使小麦幼苗叶绿素含量显著降低,经He-Ne激光辐照处理后可以使叶绿素含量得到一定程度恢复性升高,并且Chla变化的幅度大于Chlb.结果表明:低剂量He-Ne激光辐照能够对小麦幼苗组织显微结构以及光合器官的UV-B辐射损伤起到促进修复的作用.     

Effects of Long-Term Fertilization on Leaf Photosynthetic Characteristics and Grain Yield in Winter Wheat

Based on a 20-year fertilization experiment with wheat-maize double cropping system, the effects of different long-term fertilization treatments on leaf photosynthetic characteristics and grain yield in different winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were studied in the growing seasons of 2000–2001 and 2001–2002. A total of nine fertilization treatments were implemented, i.e. no fertilizer (CK), N fertilizer (N), N and P fertilizers (NP), N and K fertilizers (NK), N, P, and K fertilizers (NPK), only organic manure (M), organic manure and N fertilizer (MN), organic manure and N and P fertilizers (MNP), and organic manure and N, P, and K fertilizers (MNPK). With the treatments of combined organic manure and inorganic fertilizers (TMI), net photosynthetic rate (P _N), maximal activity of photosystem 2, PS2 (F_v/F_m), and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of flag leaves and leaf area index (LAI) were much higher at the mid grain filling stage (20 or 23 d post anthesis, DPA), and exhibited slower declines at the late grain filling stage (30 DPA), compared with the treatments of only inorganic fertilizers (TI). The maximal canopy photosynthetic traits expressed as P _N×LAI and SPAD×LAI at the mid grain filling stage were also higher in TMI than those in TI, which resulted in different grain yields in TMI and TI. Among the treatments of TMI or among the treatments of TI, both flag leaf and canopy photosynthetic abilities and yield levels increased with the supplement of inorganic nutrients (N, P, and K fertilizers), except for the treatment of NK. Under NK, soil contents of N and K increased while that of P decreased. Hence the unbalanced nutrients in soil from the improper input of nutrients in NK treatment were probably responsible for the reduced flag leaf and canopy photosynthetic characteristics and LAI, and for the fast declining of flag leaf photosynthetic traits during grain filling, resulting in the reduced yield of NK similar to the level of CK.     

Ca2 +对小麦种根及其根毛生长发育的影响

低浓度的CaCl2对小麦种根生长、根毛发生和生长无明显影响,高浓度的CaCl2(0.1 mol/L)对种根和根毛生长有抑制作用,但不影响根毛的发生。Ca2+专一性整合剂EGTA抑制种根生长和根毛的发生及生长,添加一定浓度的外源CaCl2,这种抑制作用可被消除。CaM抑制剂TFP(三氟拉嗪)和CPZ(氯丙嗪)对种根生长、根毛发生和生长均有抑制作用,添加外源CaM可减弱或消除这种抑制作用。     

Effects of Fusarium Toxin Contaminated Wheat and of a Detoxifying Agent on Performance of Growing Bulls,on Nutrient Digestibility in Wethers and on the Carry Over of Zearalenone

Experiments were carried out to examine the effects of a Fusarium contaminated wheat (10mg deoxynivalenol and 0.76mg zearalenone, ZON, perkg dry matter) and of a detoxifying agent (Mycofix ®Plus, Biomin GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria) on the growing performance of bulls, carry-over of ZON and its metabolites into body fluids and tissues, and on nutrient digestibility in wethers. The experiments were designed according to a complete two by two factorial approach which meant that both the uncontaminated control wheat and the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat were tested both in the absence and presence of Mycofix ®Plus. The growing experiment with bulls (n = 14 per treatment) covered the live weight range between 244kg and 460kg. The respective wheat batches were included in the concentrate portion at 65%. Concentrates were fed according to plan whereas maize silage was offered for ad libitum consumption. Daily dry matter intake and live weight gain [kg per animal and day] were 7.40, 7.52, 7.51 and 7.49 and 1.367, 1.296, 1.380 and 1.307 for bulls fed the unsupplemented control wheat, the supplemented control wheat, the unsupplemented and Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat and the supplemented Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat, respectively. ZON and its metabolites were not detected in edible tissues. The most striking effects of feeding the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat on carcass characteristics were a reduced dressing percentage, an increased weight of the emptied gastro-intestinal tract and a reduced weight of the testicles. No effect of the detoxifying agent was seen for these parameters whereas heart weight increased independently of Fusarium toxin contamination of the concentrates. Nutrient digestibility of the two wheat batches, unsupplemented or supplemented with Mycofix ®Plus was evaluated according to the difference method using wethers. Presence of Fusarium toxins in wheat did not influence its feeding value. The effects of the addition of the detoxifying agent were mycotoxin unspecific and resulted in an increase in apparent digestibility of crude protein and a decrease in crude fiber digestibility. It is concluded that feeding of Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat did not adversely affect performance of growing bulls (approximately 2.2mg DON and 0.1mg ZON perkg complete ration at a reference dry matter content of 88%) or nutrient digestibility in wethers. The effects of the detoxifying agent Mycofix ®Plus on growing performance and on nutrient digestibility were rather Fusarium toxin unspecific. The slightly negative effects on growing performance needs to be examined further.     

化学调节物质浸种对不同水分条件下苦荞生长及其生理特性的影响

以‘黑丰一号’苦荞为材料,采用盆栽试验,研究了硫酸锌、硫酸锰、水杨酸及脯氨酸等4种化学调节物质浸种对正常灌水及干旱胁迫下苦荞生长的影响,探索提高苦荞抗旱性的最佳化学调控物质.结果表明:(1)在正常水分条件下,用化学调节物质浸种可不同程度提高苦荞幼苗的叶面积、株高、总根长、根表面积、根体积、壮苗指数、叶片相对含水量、叶绿素含量、游离脯氨酸含量、可溶性糖含量、根系活力、SOD活性、POD活性以及光合速率;其中用硫酸锌的浸种效果最好,其次为水杨酸,二者与对照均达极显著差异,而叶片相对电导率、MDA含量较对照明显下降;硫酸锌和水杨酸浸种使苦荞比对照的单株穗数分别增加31.8％和21.0％,单株粒数增加38.0％和28.9％,百粒重提高8.9％和4.2％.(2)干旱胁迫与正常水分条件下相比,各调节物质浸种处理的苦养幼苗叶面积、茎粗、总根长、根表面积、根体积、根重、叶片相对含水量、叶绿素含量、游离脯氨酸含量、可溶性糖含量、根系活力、SOD活性、POD活性以及光合速率均有所降低,但不同处理的下降幅度不同,其中以清水浸种(对照)的下降幅度最大;但叶片相对电导率和MDA含量明显上升,而且以清水浸种的上升幅度最大.(3)干旱胁迫下,硫酸锌和水杨酸浸种与对照相比,二者分别使苦荞叶片SOD活性、POD活性、光合速率、叶面积、总根长、叶绿素含量、根系活力均极显著提高,其中叶片相对含水量分别提高79.9％和70.9％,游离脯氨酸含量分别提高32.2％和36.6％,可溶性糖含量上升66.0％和43.9％,株穗数、株粒数、百粒重分别增加38.6％和36.2％、40.4％和39.0％、10.7％和6.9％.研究表明,在正常水分条件和干旱胁迫下,利用化学调节物质浸种均可显著提高苦荞的光合生理特性及其抗旱性,而且硫酸锌和水杨酸的处理效果更好.     

硫氮配施对持绿型小麦氮素运转及叶片衰老的影响

以持绿型小麦品种‘豫麦66号’、‘潍麦8号’及非持绿型品种‘小偃6号’为材料,采用以氮肥为主区硫肥为副区的田间裂区试验,研究了2个施氮水平[纯氮120kg/hm2(N120)、220kg/hm2(N220)]和3个施硫水平[纯硫0kg/hm2(S0)、20kg/hm2(S20)、60kg/hm2(S60)]下植株各部位的含氮量、叶片干鲜重及叶片叶绿素含量的变化,探讨硫氮配施对不同类型小麦氮吸收及衰老的影响。结果表明:在相同处理下,持绿型小麦植株的总含氮量、氮素转运量、叶绿素含量、叶片含水量及穗粒数和千粒重均高于非持绿型小麦。N120处理条件下,不同硫肥处理时持绿型小麦与非持绿型小麦变化趋势相同,开花期茎和叶含氮量及叶绿素含量在S60处理下均低于其他2个硫肥处理,生育后期叶片含水量下降幅度也明显高于其他处理;在N220处理条件下,3个品种开花期叶含氮量、收获期总氮累积量、氮收获指数、叶绿素含量及叶片含水量在S60处理下均高于其他2个处理,其中非持绿型小麦在高硫处理条件下灌浆期的叶绿素含量的增长率明显高于持绿型小麦,而灌浆中后期叶片含水量的下降幅度则明显低于持绿型小麦。研究发现,施用硫肥在氮肥不足时会对小麦植株氮素的吸收利用及叶片衰老等方面产生负面影响,但在氮肥充足时却在氮素的吸收利用、延缓叶片衰老及最终籽粒产量和总生物量等方面表现出正面效应;本实验条件下,220kg/hm2左右施氮量和60kg/hm2左右施硫量有利于各品种小麦生长发育和产量提高;高N和高S水平对于延缓小麦的衰老而言,非持绿性小麦比持绿型小麦更明显。     

共生期土壤水分对麦棉套种冬小麦比叶重、WUE和产量的影响

在麦棉套种的条件下,研究了共生期土壤水分对冬小麦旗叶比叶重(LSW)、水分利用效率(WUE)和产量的影响,并对旗叶干物质衰减速率(DM DR)、叶绿素含量和旗叶的籽粒贡献率做了测定.试验结果表明,共生期土壤水分条件明显影响了比叶重的下降速度,土壤水分高时比叶重的下降速度较小.不同土壤水分条件的旗叶水分利用效率(LWUE)在共生期均经历了先上升后下降,接近成熟期又上升3个阶段.在共生后期,土壤含水量高的冬小麦具有较高的比叶重和叶绿素含量,但其产量和产量水平水分利用效率(YWUE)则显著下降(P<0.01).     

外源一氧化氮供体对渗透胁迫下小麦种子萌发和水解酶活性的影响

采用含水量测定和种子吸胀实验,发现一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)促进小麦种子在渗透胁迫下萌发的效应是通过提高种子的吸胀能力实现的;SNP还能明显诱导胁迫下种子淀粉酶同工酶Ⅰ活性的上升,加速淀粉胚乳的液化或溶解,而对酯酶影响不大.此外,在无胁迫条件下的小麦种子萌发早期(12 h),SNP处理可以显著诱导葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖含量的上升;采用外源糖和SNP,结合NO清除剂处理小麦种子,观察到葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖都参与萌发早期NO信号对小麦种子淀粉酶同工酶Ⅰ的激活.     

冬小麦粒叶比杂种优势及遗传效应分析

用9个冬小麦品种按5×4不完全双列杂交设计组配20个杂交组合,对小麦粒叶比的杂种优势和遗传效应进行分析。结果表明,小麦粒叶比表现出一定的杂种优势;一般配合力和特殊配合力方差均达极显著水平,说明亲本的粒叶比差异及杂交互作均对F1代产生遗传差异,该试验中石6021、农大99260080等的一般配合力较大,石6021×农大99260080、鲁麦14×济南17等组合的特殊配合力较大,产生了较强的杂种优势;粒叶比遗传符合加性-显性遗传模型,但以加性效应为主,其遗传决定度达87.65%,狭义遗传力为64.71%;在高粒叶比品种选育上应重视高粒叶比亲本筛选利用和杂交后代的早代选择。     

Effects of Amendments and Water Conditions on the Chemical Speciation of Cd and Pb in Contaminated Paddy Soil in a Mining Area

Lime, sepiolite and peat were used as amendments to study their effects on the chemical speciation of Cd and Pb in a polluted paddy soil under moist and water-logged conditions. The results showed that application of amendments reduced acid-extractable Cd (up to 12.56% and 5.07%) and Pb (up to 6.69% and 2.68%) in moist and water-logged soils, respectively. The reducible Cd and residual Cd was increased while the oxidizable Cd was decreased after adding amendments. However, the oxidizable Pb was increased while the residual Pb was decreased in amended soil, and the reducible Pb presented a different changing trend under moist and water-logged conditions. The soil pH was significantly correlated with different fractions of Cd and Pb in soil, which indicated a distinct influence of soil pH on the redistribution process of Cd and Pb fractions in amended soil.     

Acetic Acid, Ethanol and Steam Effects on the Growth of Botrytis cinerea in vitro and Combination of Steam and Modified Atmosphere Packaging to Control Decay in Kiwifruit

The effects of acetic acid fumigation, ethanol fumigation, and steam heat treatment on growth of Botrytis cinerea in vitro were investigated. The effect of steam heat treatments in combination with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on Botrytis decay development on 'Hayward' kiwifruit was also studied. The fungus was grown in Petri dishes on potato dextrose agar. Ethanol fumigation with 100  μ l/l for 3 or 6 min, or 200  μ l/l for 6 min enhanced the growth of B. cinerea . The effect of acetic acid on growth of B. cinerea was time and dosage-dependent. Fumigation with 1  μ l/l for 6 min, 2  μ l/l for 3 min, and 4  μ l/l for 3 min promoted radial growth of the fungus when compared to the growth of the untreated control. Fumigation with 2  μ l/l for 6 min delayed the growth of the fungus for the first 6 days, while fumigation with 6  μ l/l for 3 min delayed the growth of the fungus after the sixth day. Fumigation with 4 or 6  μ l/l acetic acid for 6 min, and 8  μ l/l acetic acid for 3 or 6 min resulted in complete inhibition of fungal growth. Steam heat treatment at 45°C for 6 min, and at 48, 51, and 54°C for 3 or 6 min completely inhibited fungal growth in vitro . Furthermore, steam treatments at 47, 50, and 53°C for 3 or 6 min completely inhibited decay at the stem end of kiwifruit kept at 10°C in MAP for 12 days. However, none of the steam treatments inhibited decay in wounds on the surface of the fruit kept in MAP.     

新鲜蜂王浆和 6-BA对水稻种子萌发和离体白菜叶片叶绿素含量的影响

 经用10-3g/L、10-2g/L、10-1g/L 6-BA和10-2,10-1、1 g/L新鲜蜂王浆处理水稻种子和离体白菜叶片后,水稻种子发芽率均高于对照值,其中10-2 g／L的6-BA和1g／L的蜂王浆效果最佳。而离体白菜叶片叶绿素含量也比对照高,其中10-3 g/L的6-BA和l g／L的蜂王浆效果最佳。10-2 g/L的6-BA和10-2 g/L的蜂王浆混合处理白菜叶片,其效果要比单独用6-BA和蜂王浆处理好。     

Ultrastructural and Immunocytochemical Studies on Effects of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus – Infection on Fusarium Head Blight, Caused by Fusarium graminearum, in Wheat Plants

The interactions between barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, were studied in the two winter wheat cultivars (cvs.), Agent (susceptible to FHB) and Petrus (moderately resistant to FHB), using ultrastructural and immunocytochemical methods. Infections of wheat plants of both cvs. by BYDV increased susceptibility to FHB. BYDV infection caused numerous cytological changes in lemma tissue of both cvs. such as formation of vesicles in the cytoplasm, degradation of fine structures of chloroplasts of both cvs. and accumulation of large starch grains in the chloroplasts. Electron microscopical studies showed that the development of F. graminearum on spike surfaces was not affected in BYDV‐infected plants. After penetration and intercellular growth in lemma tissue, defence responses to Fusarium infections were markedly reduced in BYDV‐diseased plants compared to the tissue of virus‐free plants. At sites of contact of fungal cells with host tissue, depositions of cell wall material were distinctly less pronounced than in tissues of virus‐free plants of cv. Petrus. Detection of β‐1,3‐glucanases and chitinases in lemma tissue of cv. Agent revealed no appreciably increased accumulation of both defence enzymes in F. graminearum‐infected virus‐free and BYDV‐infected tissues compared to the non‐infected control tissue. On the other hand, in cv. Petrus, infection with F. graminearum induced a markedly enhanced activity of both enzymes 3 days after inoculation. The increase of both enzyme activities was less pronounced in BYDV‐infected plants than in tissue exclusively infected with F. graminearum. Cytological studies suggest that in contrast to the susceptible cv. Agent postinfectional defence responses may play still an important role in the resistance of the moderately resistant cv. Petrus to FHB.     

Effects of Dietary Copper (II) Sulfate and Copper Proteinate on Performance and Blood Indexes of Copper Status in Growing Pigs

160 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace ×Yorkshire) gilts averaged 21.25 kg body weight were used to study the effects of dietary copper (II) sulfate (CuSO₄) and copper proteinate (Cu-Pr) on growth performance, plasma Cu concentration, ceruloplasmin activity, and erythrocyte Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. All pigs were allotted to four treatments and fed with basal diets supplemented with 0 (control), 250 mg /kg Cu as CuSO₄, and 50 and 100 mg/kg Cu as Cu-Pr. Growth performance was determined based on two growth phase (phase 1: days 0 to 15, phase 2: days 15 to 30). After 30 days of the treatment, 16 pig blood samples (four per treatment) were collected for indexes of copper status determination. The experimental results showed that compared with control, pigs fed with 250 mg Cu/kg as CuSO₄ and 100 mg Cu/kg as Cu-Pr had higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake in the whole growth phase (d 0 to 30). In addition, 250 mg Cu/kg as CuSO₄ and 100 mg/kg Cu as Cu-Pr enhanced plasma ceruloplasmin activity (P < 0.05), and 100 mg/kg Cu as Cu-Pr increased erythrocyte Cu/Zn-SOD activity (P < 0.01) compared with the control. There was no obvious treatment response on plasma Cu concentration in the present study.