Rates of weight loss and nutrient (N and P) release patterns were studied in the leaf litter of the dominant tree species
(Ailanthus grandis, Altingia excelsa, Castanopsis indica, Duabanga sonneriatioides, Dysoxylum binectariferum, Mesua ferrea,
Shorea assamica, Taluma hodgsonii, Terminalia myriocarpa and Vatica lancefolia) of a tropical wet evergreen forest of northeast India. Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization rate and decay pattern varied
significantly from species to species. In general, the decay pattern, characterized by using a composite polynomial regression
equation, exhibited three distinct phases of decay during litter decomposition—an initial slow decay phase (0.063% weight
loss day−1), followed by a rapid decay phase (0.494% weight loss day−1) and a final slow decay phase (0.136% weight loss day−1). The initial chemical composition of the litter affected decomposition rates and patterns. Species like D. sonneriatoides, D. binectariferum, and T. hodgsonii with higher N and P content, lower carbon and lignin content, and lower C:N ratio and lignin:N ratio exhibited relatively
faster decomposition rates than the other species, for example M. ferrea, C. indica and A. grandis. A slow decay rate was recorded for species such as M. ferrea, C. indica, and A. grandis. The initial N and P content of litter showed significant positive correlations with decay rates. Carbon and lignin content,
lignin:N, and C:N showed significant negative correlations with decay rates. Soil total N and P, and rainfall, soil temperature,
and soil moisture had positive correlations with decay rates. The rapid decomposition rates observed in comparison with other
different forest litter decay rates confirm that tropical wet evergreen forest species are characterized by faster decomposition
rates, indicating a faster rate of organic matter turnover and rapid nutrient cycling. 相似文献
Accurate early antemortem diagnosis of tuberculosis in dromedary camels is difficult due to the lack of reliable diagnostic test. The present study aimed to evaluate a lateral flow assay-based kit (rapid assay kit) in tuberculosis diagnosis that employs immuno-chromatographic detection of antibodies in serum, plasma, or whole blood. In a dromedary camel herd comprising 337 animals located at Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, 50 adult weak camels (11 males and 39 females) were tested by applying a single intradermal tuberculin test (SIDT) and rapid assay kit. A total of 14 animals (2 males, 12 females) were found positive in rapid assay. In SIDT, four animals revealed a positive reaction in the neck region and seven animals in the tail base. Another male animal was found SIDT positive but negative in rapid assay; it died after 12 months. Nine rapid assay positive animals died asymptomatically in 1- to 11-month period revealing postmortem tuberculosis lesions that were confirmed by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and histopathology. No tuberculous lesion was evident in the animal found positive in SIDT alone. Results of the present study indicated that serological tests like rapid assay kit can serve as a reliable test for antemortem diagnosis of tuberculosis in dromedary camel.
An experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 1993 and 1994 on sesame ( Sesamum indicum L.) to study the effect of certain meteorological parameters on the capsule production efficiency of the main stem and branches of sesame cultivars at different sowing dates in alluvial (Entisol) soil of the tropical humid region in West Bengal, India. The highest capsule production by the main stem and the first, second and third primary branches in accrocentric order was observed for the crop sown on 19 February. The number of capsules on the main stem was reduced by 70.51 and 34.98 % when the crop was sown on 21 March and 28 April, respectively. The humidity profile at 50 days after emergence (DAE) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at 70 DAE had direct positive effects on main stem capsule production. The variations of 38, 21 and 56 % in main stem contribution to capsule production might be explained by the temperature profile, relative humidity and PAR, respectively. Thecultivar Rama produced higher numbers of capsules in branches than Kanke-1 and B-67 at all times of sowing. 相似文献
A tetraploid form of Phleum pratense from southwestern Europe was found to behave cytogenetically as an autotetraploid. Inheritance patterns in inbred seedlings artificially inoculated with stem rust agreed with this interpretation if chromosome and chromatid assortment are assumed.Results of cooperative investigations of the Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.Geneticist, Crops Research Division, A.R.S., U.S. Department of Agriculture, and former Graduate Assistant, Agronomy Department, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Madison, Wisconsin. 相似文献
Nitrogen metabolism of Acacia catechu seedlings was studied after 5, 10 and 15 days of daily 20 mM nitrate application. Fresh weight of shoots and total nitrogen content of the plants increased significantly with applied nitrate but there was no effect on nodulation. An increase in the nitrate reductase activity, nitrate and nitrite content in nodules and leaves of the treated plants was also observed. However, the total soluble protein content declined and the amino acid content increased in different parts of the treated plants. 相似文献
The potentialities of agroforestry are generally investigated through their biophysiological phenomena, cost–benefit analysis,
and possible impact upon poverty reduction. There have been inadequate studies on the actual impacts of agroforestry intervention
on small landholders and of farmers' attitudes toward these agroforestry programs. Drawing upon the findings of an empirical
study, this article explores the effects of small-scale agroforestry on upland community development in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, Bangladesh. More specifically, the study clarifies the merits and demerits of different agroforestry systems as perceived
by farmers, their impacts on the rural economy and the environment, farmers' attitudes toward the adoption of agroforestry,
and impacts of various government policies. Field data were collected by administering questions to 90 randomly selected smallholders
of the Upland Settlement Project (USP), as well as from project staff. The research tools employed were semistructured interviews,
group discussions, and uncontrolled observations. The results indicated that the agroforestry interventions have in fact increased
farmers' income through employment and the selling of farm products, as well as by improving the ecological conditions of
these areas through reduction of soil erosion, increasing tree coverage, and maintaining soil fertility. The adoption of different
agroforestry systems was governed mainly by the farmers' interests in following these techniques, their ability to cultivate
the land in the prescribed manner, and the market demand for their products. The major obstacles that prevented increased
agroforestry improvements included lack of confidence in new land-use systems, inappropriate project design (e.g., top-down
innovation approach), and policy issues regarding land tenure. Recommendations are proposed to strengthen social capital in
local organizations to enhance the livelihoods of the upland communities. 相似文献
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity is an immunocompetent trait considered an indicator of cell-mediated immune or T-cell responses. Divergent selection was performed to generate high and low lines for response to PHA-P. Extreme-responder birds of the F2 generation in each line were used to study possible differences in macrophage activity and the associated functional genes. To evaluate macrophage activity, nitric oxide (NO) was estimated both systemically in serum and in in vitro monocyte culture. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the differential mRNA expression patterns of iNOS and MIP-1beta in monocyte culture, whereas T(H)1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at different time intervals after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction. The high line showed strong systemic, as well as in vitro NO production, compared to the low line, upon stimulation with NDV and LPS, similar to early and high iNOS mRNA expression. Following the pattern of iNOS gene expression, an early strong expression of cytokines with powerful iNOS-inducing action, such as IFN-gamma and the chemokine MIP-1beta, was observed in the high line. In contrast, for response to PHA-P, low expression of IL-2 was observed in the high compared to the low line. In conclusion, the study revealed that divergent selection for response to PHA-P resulted in a divergent effect on T(H)1 cell activity, resulting in altered macrophage function in chickens. Selection, based on response to PHA-P, could lead to more resistant birds or birds with an enhanced immune response. 相似文献
A stochastic epidemic model is presented to study infection transmission dynamics, and hence epidemic severity and disease incidence, in a closed population. The aim was to understand the relative importance of various parameters that influence the dynamics of potential epidemics, particularly when the genetic mechanisms of resistance or tolerance to infection are considered. Simulations explored the effect of varying the transmission coefficient, latent period, recovery period, mortality rate, and the period of loss of immunity on overall epidemic outcomes. The critical parameters influencing the transmission of infection, and hence disease incidence, were the transmission coefficient, the latent period, and the recovery period; the period of loss of immunity had only trivial effects. Ideally, control strategies should decrease the transmission coefficient and/or increase the latent period and/or decrease the recovery period. By equating measured traits with disease transmission parameters, the model described in this paper can be used to identify which disease resistance genes or QTL will be truly effective in helping to develop disease-resistant livestock that suffer fewer epidemics and side-effects of infection. In particular, emphases should be placed on finding genes that decrease the transmission of infection, increase the latent period, or decrease the recovery period. 相似文献