Diagnosis of iron deficiency in groundnut,Arachis hypogaea L.

Summary Investigations into iron deficiency have been hindered by the lack of a satisfactory diagnostic tissue test, which in turn results from the total iron content of plant tissue commonly being an unreliable index of the iron status. Our measurements of chlorotic and normal leaves of field grown groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) showed that total iron was unsatisfactory as the measure of iron status of plant tissue. It was found that iron status was better assessed from an estimate of the ferrous iron content of fresh leaf materials obtained by extraction with o-phenanthroline. Extractable iron content increased with leaf age. Chlorotic buds or the first fully opened leaf always contained less than 6μg extractable-Fe/g fresh tissue. Approved for publication as ICRISAT Journal Article No. 307.     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the genera of Triticum and Aegilops revealed by southern blot hybridization

Summary Southern blot hybridization of total DNA to defined mitochondrial DNA sequences provides a sensitive assay for mtDNA variation in the genera of Triticum and Aegilops. A clear distinction between cytoplasms of tetraploid species sharing the AG haploid genome is reported for the first time. The Sitopsis section of the genus Aegilops showed the most extensive intra- and inter-specific variation, whereas no variation could be detected among the cytoplasms of polyploid Triticum species (wheats) sharing the AB haploid genome. Extensive cytoplasmic intraspecific diversity was revealed in Ae. speltoides.     

Enumeration and presumptive identification of some functional groups of bacteria in the rumen of dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets

Abstract Samples of rumen ingesta from two rumen-fistulated dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets were examined for numbers and types of bacteria that developed colonies on rumen fluid-agar media designated to support the growth of (a) a wide range of species, (b) cellulolytic bacteria, (c) lactate-fermenting bacteria, (d) non-fermentative bacteria. The most numerous species was Bacteroides ruminicola followed by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens . The most abundant cellulolytic species were Eubacterium cellulosolvens and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium were important lactate fermenters but an unidentified bacterium that grew poorly on maintenance medium was by far the most numerous among bacteria isolated from lactate-containing medium. One strain remained sufficiently viable to show that it fermented lactate to propionate and acetate.     

Lipid composition of adult Foleyella agamae

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& Obiamiwe B. A. 1986. Lipid composition of adult Foleyella agamae. International Journal for Parasitology 16: 655–657. The lipid and fatty acid composition of the filarial parasite Foleyella agamae were investigated. Total lipids accounted for 7.05% of the parasite fresh weight. Neutral lipids comprised 56.34% of the total and polar lipids 43.66%. The major lipid classes detected include sterol esters, cholesterol, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Fatty acids varying in chain length from 10 carbon atoms through 20 carbon atoms were identified in the total lipid extract. The 18 carbon fatty acids formed the predominant components. The 20 carbon fatty acids were confined to the polar lipds.     

Ecological studies on the population of isaza,Chaenogobius Isaza Tanaka,in Lake Biwa,with special reference to the effects of population density upon its growth

1. In order to get the knowledge on the age composition of “isaza” population in Lake Biwa and the effect of population density on growth, monthly distribution of mean body length and mean body weight has been analyzed on the basis of monthly haul by “isazabiki” trawl during 1949 to 1953 and also 1960 to 1965.
2. There is no apparent sex difference in the growth in the first and second years of life.
3. “Isaza” population is composed of two age groups, age 0 and 1 groups (1+fish), the latter occupying by far the greater part in commercial catch.
4. During the growth season fishes of both ages feed mainly on zooplankton, though in winter frequently take chironomid larvae, gammaridae and others in volume.
5. The growth season falls in the period from April to October in both age groups.
6. A considerable yearly variation occurring in growth is in close connection with the fluctuation of population density of all ages.
7. The influence affected by the density of age 1 group is larger than that by age 0 group.

     

Estimation of the stage-specific survival rate in the insect population with overlapping stages

An application ofHokyo andKiritani 's method (1967) was attempted to estimate the stage specific survival rates of the population with overlapping stages. This method can be written as follows assuming a constant daily survival rate (K) throughout the life: where, and F refer respectively to the total incidence of ith instar nymphs and that of individuals after ith instar inclusive, and α_i refers to the developmental period of ith instar. Application of this model to caged and natural populations of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, was made to test its validity. The estimates of the initial number of successive stages obtained from the present method were compared with those fromRichards andWaloff 's method (1954) for the caged populations of 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations. The superiority of the present method to theRichards andWaloff 's in estimating adult numbers was shown in all the generations examined. When different daily survival rates are involved in the course of population decrease, application of the revised method proposed byHokyo andKiritani (1967), gives much reliable estimate as compared with one before correction. The present method is useful in constructing life table of such species as scale insects which complete their life cycle within a defined space, but their successive stages overlap considerably.     

武汉东湖磷含量的变动及其分布

本文总结了武汉东湖水体中磷含量（均以PO4计算）的周年逐月季节和年际变动及其分布上的差异（1973－1985年）。按面积加权法计算总磷的平均含量为0．244毫克／升（1983－1985年）,总溶解磷和溶解活性磷的平均含量分别为0．121毫克／升和0．051毫克／升（1981－1984年）,总磷和总溶解磷周年中出现两次高峰含量,即春季（3－5月）和夏末秋初（8－9月）。低含量出现在水温最低的冬季（12－2月）,周年中溶解活性磷高峰含量出现在冬末春初（1－3月）,低含量多数出现在春天夏初（5－7月）。东湖水体中磷含量平面分布有明显的差异,而垂直分布表层和底层差异小,各种形态磷的组成中颗粒磷所占比较最大（1983－1984年平均值）,平均占总磷63．4％,溶解非活性磷所占比较最小,平均占总磷12．0％。     

Grain yield, symbiotic N2 fixation and interspecific competition for inorganic N in pea-barley intercrops

The effect of mixed intercropping of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), compared to monocrop cultivation, on the yield and crop-N dynamics was studied in a 4-yr field experiment using ¹⁵N-isotope dilution technique. Crops were grown with or without the supply of 5 g ¹⁵N-labeled N m^-2. The effect of intercropping on the dry matter and N yields, competition for inorganic N among the intercrop components, symbiotic fixation in pea and N transfer from pea to barley were determined. As an average of four years the grain yields were similar in monocropped pea, monocropped and fertilized barley and the intercrop without N fertilizer supply. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence the intercrop yield, but decreased the proportion of pea in the yield. Relative yield totals (RYT) showed that the environmental sources for plant growth were used from 12 to 31% more efficiently by the intercrop than by the monocrops, and N fertilization decreased RYT-values. Intercrop yields were less stable than monocrop barley yields, but more stable than the yield of monocropped pea. Barley competed strongly for soil and fertilizer N in the intercrop, and was up to 30 times more competitive than pea for inorganic N. Consequently, barley obtained a more than proportionate share of the inorganic N in the intercrop. At maturity the total recovery of fertilizer N was not significantly different between crops, averaging 65% of the supplied N. The fertilizer N recovered in pea constituted only 9% of total fertilizer-N recovery in the intercrop. The amount of symbiotic N₂ fixation in the intercrop was less than expected from its composition and the fixation in monocrop. This indicates that the competition from barley had a negative effect on the fixation, perhaps via shading. At maturity, the average amount of N₂ fixation was 17.7 g N m^-2 in the monocrop and 5.1 g N m^-2 in the intercropped pea. A higher proportion of total N in pea was derived from N₂ fixation in the intercrop than in the monocrop, on average 82% and 62%, respectively. The ¹⁵N enrichment of intercropped barley tended to be slightly lower than of monocropped barley, although not significantly. Consequently, there was no evidence for pea N being transferred to barley. The intercropping advantage in the pea-barley intercrop is mainly due to the complimentary use of soil inorganic and atmospheric N sources by the intercrop components, resulting in reduced competition for inorganic N, rather than a facilitative effect, in which symbiotically fixed N₂ is made available to barley.Abbreviations MC monocrop - IC intercrop - PMC pea monocrop - BMC barley monocrop - PIC pea in intercrop - BIC barley in intercrop     

Exposure of preterm neonates to toxic metals during their stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its impact on neurodevelopment at 2 months of age

BackgroundPremature neonates might be exposed to toxic metals during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which could adversely affect neurodevelopment; however, limited evidence is available. The present study was therefore designed to assess the exposure to mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and manganese of preterm neonates who received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and/or red blood cell (RBC) transfusions during their NICU stay and the risk of neurodevelopment delay at the age of 2 months.MethodsWe recruited 33 preterm neonates who required TPN during their NICU admission. Blood samples were collected for metal analysis at two different time points (admission and before discharge). Metals in the daily TPN received by preterm neonates were analyzed. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Edition 3 (ASQ-3).ResultsAll samples of TPN had metal contamination: 96% exceeded the critical arsenic limit (0.3 μg/kg body weight/day); daily manganese intake from TPN for preterm neonates exceeded the recommended dose (1 µg/kg body weight) as it was added intentionally to TPN solutions, raising potential safety concerns. All samples of RBC transfusions exceeded the estimated intravenous reference dose for lead (0.19 µg/kg body weight). Levels of mercury, lead and manganese in preterm neonates at discharge decreased 0.867 µg/L (95% CI, 0.76, 0.988), 0.831 (95%CI, 0.779, 0.886) and 0.847 µg/L (95% CI, 0.775, 0.926), respectively. A decrease in ASQ-3-problem solving scores was associated with higher levels of blood lead in preterm neonates taken at admission (ß = −0.405, 95%CI = −0.655, −0.014), and with plasma manganese (ß = −0.562, 95%CI = −0.995, −0.172). We also observed an association between decreased personal social domain scores with higher blood lead levels of preterm neonates before discharge (ß = −0.537, 95%CI = −0.905, −0.045).ConclusionOur findings provide evidence to suggest negative impacts on the neurodevelopment at 2 months of preterm infants exposed to certain metals, possibly related to TPN intake and/or blood transfusions received during their NICU stay. Preterm neonates may be exposed to levels of metals in utero.     

Measurement of trace elements in murine liver tissue samples: Comparison between ICP-MS/MS and TXRF

BackgroundTrace elements exhibit essential functions in many physiological processes. Thus, for research focusing on trace element homeostasis and metabolism analytical methods allowing for multi-element analyses are fundamental. Small sample amounts may be a big challenge in trace element analyses especially if also other end points want to be addressed in the same sample. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine trace elements (iron, copper, zinc, and selenium) in murine liver tissue prepared by a RIPA buffer-based lyses method.Methods and resultsAfter centrifugation, lysates and pellets were obtained and trace elements were analyzed with TXRF in liver lysates. The results were compared to that obtained by a standard microwave-assisted acidic digestion with subsequent ICP-MS/MS analysis of the same liver tissue, liver lysates, and remaining pellets. In addition, trace element concentrations, determined in murine serum with both methods, were compared. For serum samples, both TXRF and ICP-MS/MS provide similar and highly correlating results. Furthermore, in liver lysate samples prepared with RIPA buffer, comparable trace element concentrations were measured by TXRF as with the standard digestion technique and ICP-MS/MS. Only marginal amounts of trace elements were detected in the pellets.ConclusionTaken together, the results obtained by the present study indicate that the RIPA buffer-based method is suitable for sample preparation for trace element analyses via TXRF, at least for the here investigated murine liver samples.