Soil organic carbon(SOC):total nitrogen(TN):total phosphorus(TP)(C:N:P)stoichiometry can give important information about biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.The spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of...Soil organic carbon(SOC):total nitrogen(TN):total phosphorus(TP)(C:N:P)stoichiometry can give important information about biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.The spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of soil C:N:P ratios are still poorly understood on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China.In this study,we therefore combined data of the geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics from 319 sites across the plateau to investigate their relationships with the horizontal and vertical patterns of SOC,TN,and TP concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios(C:N and N:P).We observed higher SOC(30.5–46.8 mg g^(-1)),TN(2.4–3.4 mg g^(-1)),C:N(14.7–18.0),and N:P(6.9–8.0)in alpine meadows,forests,and shrublands and higher TP(1.6 mg g^(-1))in croplands.Overall,SOC,TN,TP,C:N,and N:P showed decreasing trends(by 67%,64%,19%,12%,and 54%,respectively)along the whole soil profile(0–100 cm).Soil cation exchange capacity and bulk density were the stronger environmental drivers of SOC and TN.Soil TP showed latitudinal and longitudinal increasing trends in all soil layers.Soil properties explained most of the variations in SOC(67%–90%),TN(67%–87%),C:N(61%–89%),and N:P(64%–85%),with increasing impacts along the soil profile.Geography and climate influenced soil TP directly and indirectly through their impacts on soil properties,with geography being the predominant driver(46%–65%)along the soil profile.The variation in soil C:N was mostly driven by SOC and TN,and the direct and indirect effects of the environmental factors were relatively weak.Geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics indirectly impacted soil N:P through their impacts on TN and TP in all the soil layers.Altogether,our findings illuminate the relative contributions of geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics to soil C:N and N:P,thus enhancing our understanding of C,N,and P cycling across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)is one of the most limited nutrients of terrestrial ecosystems,whose losses are prevented in tightly coupled cycles in finely tuned systems.Global change-induced N enrichment through atmospheric deposition ...Nitrogen(N)is one of the most limited nutrients of terrestrial ecosystems,whose losses are prevented in tightly coupled cycles in finely tuned systems.Global change-induced N enrichment through atmospheric deposition and application of vast amounts of fertilizer are now challenging the terrestrial N cycle.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)are known drivers of plant-soil nutrient fluxes,but a comprehensive assessment of AMF involvement in N cycling under global change is still lacking.Here,we simulated N enrichment by fertilization(low/high)in experimental grassland microcosms under greenhouse conditions in the presence or absence of AMF and continuously monitored different N pathways over nine months.We found that high N enrichment by fertilization decreased the relative abundance of legumes and the plant species dominating the plant community changed from grasses to forbs in the presence of AMF,based on aboveground biomass.The presence of AMF always maintained plant N:phosphorus(P)ratios between 14 and 16,no matter how the soil N availability changed.Shifts in plant N:P ratios due to the increased plant N and P uptake might thus be a primary pathway of AMF altering plant community composition.Furthermore,we constructed a comprehensive picture of AMF’s role in N cycling,highlighting that AMF reduced N losses primarily by mitigating N leaching,while N_(2)O emissions played a marginal role.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduced N_(2)O emissions directly through the promotion of N_(2)O-consuming denitrifiers.The underlying mechanism for reducing N leaching is mainly the AMF-mediated improved nutrient uptake and AMF-associated microbial immobilization.Our results indicate that synergies between AMF and other soil microorganisms cannot be ignored in N cycling and that the integral role of AMF in N cycling terrestrial ecosystems can buffer the upcoming global changes.展开更多
Mycorrhizae are the most widespread symbioses in nature,involving plants and specialized soil fungi.In recent years,mycorrhizal research has made remarkable progress.Breakthroughs in genomics and other modern techniqu...Mycorrhizae are the most widespread symbioses in nature,involving plants and specialized soil fungi.In recent years,mycorrhizal research has made remarkable progress.Breakthroughs in genomics and other modern techniques have opened new windows in multiple domains,such as evolution,physiology,and function of mycorrhizal fungi.展开更多
Pest insect monitoring and control is crucial to ensure a safe and profitable crop growth in all plantation types,as well as guarantee food quality and limited use of pesticides.We aim at extending traditional monitor...Pest insect monitoring and control is crucial to ensure a safe and profitable crop growth in all plantation types,as well as guarantee food quality and limited use of pesticides.We aim at extending traditional monitoring by means of traps,by involving the general public in reporting the presence of insects by using smartphones.This includes the largely unexplored problem of detecting insects in images that are taken in noncontrolled conditions.Furthermore,pest insects are,in many cases,extremely similar to other species that are harmless.Therefore,computer vision algorithms must not be fooled by these similar insects,not to raise unmotivated alarms.In this work,we study the capabilities of state-of-the-art(SoA)object detection models based on convolutional neural networks(CNN)for the task of detecting beetle-like pest insects on nonhomogeneous images taken outdoors by different sources.Moreover,we focus on disambiguating a pest insect from similar harmless species.We consider not only detection performance of different models,but also required computational resources.This study aims at providing a baseline model for this kind of tasks.Our results show the suitability of current SoA models for this application,highlighting how FasterRCNN with a MobileNetV3 backbone is a particularly good starting point for accuracy and inference execution latency.This combination provided a mean average precision score of 92.66%that can be considered qualitatively at least as good as the score obtained by other authors that adopted more specific models.展开更多
Background: Intra-uterine crowding(IUC) observed in hyperprolific sows impairs myofiber hyperplasia and overall fetal growth. Arginine supplementation(ARG) in gestation diets has been shown to positively affect litter...Background: Intra-uterine crowding(IUC) observed in hyperprolific sows impairs myofiber hyperplasia and overall fetal growth. Arginine supplementation(ARG) in gestation diets has been shown to positively affect litter and muscle development. The study objective was to assess whether the effect of ARG on offspring characteristics, with special emphasis on myofiber hyperplasia, differs under IUC conditions from these responses,because in that situation growth retardation is particularly prevalent due to reduced fetal nutrient supply.Unilateral oviduct ligation(OL) was used as a model for an uncrowded and hyperprolificacy(IN) as a model for a crowded intra-uterine environment.Methods: Five OL and five IN sows were fed a diet supplemented daily with either 43 g L-alanine(Ctrl) or 25 g L-arginine from d 14 to 28 of gestation in a cross-over design(two periods: 5^( th) and 6^( th) parity). At farrowing, two male and two female offspring, respectively, with a low and intermediate birth weight(BtW) were selected. After euthanization, the Semitendinosus muscle(STM) was removed and weighed, and the light and dark portions(STM_d and STM_l) were prepared for myofiber histochemistry using ATPase staining and the entire STM for gene expression analysis of myogenesis-related genes using RT-qPCR. In addition, various organs were removed and weighed. Data were analyzed using the MIXED model in SYSTAT.Results: No effect of either IUC or dietary treatment was found in litter characteristics. Offspring of ARG sows displayed a greater muscle area in STM(P < 0.01) as a result of the greater myofiber hyperplasia(P < 0.01). The increase was more distinct in the STM_l(P < 0.05) than in the STM_d(P = 0.131). Offspring of OL sows were heavier at birth(P < 0.01), had a heavier STM(P < 0.05), liver(P < 0.01) and kidney(P < 0.05), but when expressed relative to birth weight, these differences were absent. In addition, IUC had an effect(P < 0.05) on the expression of one of the myogenesis-related genes investigated.Conclusions: Independent from the extent of IUC, ARG improved Bt W, muscle and organ weights and myofiber hyperplasia in offspring.展开更多
Over the last decades, the reduction of manpower for herd management has led to an increase of continuous grazing systems(CGS) in the Italian Alps, which allow cattle to roam freely. Under CGS, due to high selectivity...Over the last decades, the reduction of manpower for herd management has led to an increase of continuous grazing systems(CGS) in the Italian Alps, which allow cattle to roam freely. Under CGS, due to high selectivity, livestock exploit grasslands unevenly, over-and under-using specific areas at the same time with negative effects on their conservation. To counteract these effects, a specific policy and management tool(i.e. Grazing Management Plan) has been implemented by Piedmont Region since 2010. The Grazing Management Plans are based on the implementation of rotational grazing systems(RGS), with animal stocking rate adjusted to balance it with grassland carrying capacity. A case study was conducted on alpine summer pastures to test the 5-year effects produced by the implementation of a Grazing Management Plan in grasslands formerly managed under several years of CGS on 1) the selection for different vegetation communities by cattle, 2) the abundance of oligo-, meso-, and eutrophic plant species(defined according to Landolt N indicator value), and 3) forage yield, quality, and palatability. A total of 193 vegetation surveys were carried out in 2011 and repeated in 2016. Cows were tracked yearly with Global Positioning System collars to assess their grazing selectivity, and forage Pastoral Value(PV) was computed to evaluate forage yield, quality, and palatability. Five years after RGS implementation, cow selectivity significantly decreased and the preference for the different vegetation communities was more balanced than under CGS. The abundance of meso-and eutrophic species increased, whereas oligotrophic ones decreased. Moreover, the abundance of moderately to highly palatable plant species increased, whereas non-palatable plant species decreased, with a consequent significant enhancement of the PV. Our findings indicate that the implementation of Grazing Management Plans can be considered a sustainable and effective management tool for improving pasture selection by cattle and forage quality in mountain pastures.展开更多
Texture is a complex trait and a major component of fruit quality in apple.While the major effect of MdPG1,a gene controlling firmness,has already been exploited in elite cultivars,the genetic basis of crispness remai...Texture is a complex trait and a major component of fruit quality in apple.While the major effect of MdPG1,a gene controlling firmness,has already been exploited in elite cultivars,the genetic basis of crispness remains poorly understood.To further improve fruit texture,harnessing loci with minor effects via genomic selection is therefore necessary.In this study,we measured acoustic and mechanical features in 537 genotypes to dissect the firmness and crispness components of fruit texture.Predictions of across-year phenotypic values for these components were calculated using a model calibrated with 8,294 SNP markers.The best prediction accuracies following cross-validations within the training set of 259 genotypes were obtained for the acoustic linear distance(0.64).Predictions for biparental families using the entire training set varied from low to high accuracy,depending on the family considered.While adding siblings or half-siblings into the training set did not clearly improve predictions,we performed an optimization of the training set size and composition for each validation set.This allowed us to increase prediction accuracies by 0.17 on average,with a maximal accuracy of 0.81 when predicting firmness in the‘Gala’בPink Lady’family.Our results therefore identified key genetic parameters to consider when deploying genomic selection for texture in apple.In particular,we advise to rely on a large training population,with high phenotypic variability from which a‘tailored training population’can be extracted using a priori information on genetic relatedness,in order to predict a specific target population.展开更多
Measuring ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization from urea-fertilized soils is crucial for evaluation of practices that reduce gaseous nitrogen(N)losses in agriculture.The small area of chambers used for NH_(3)volatilization m...Measuring ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization from urea-fertilized soils is crucial for evaluation of practices that reduce gaseous nitrogen(N)losses in agriculture.The small area of chambers used for NH_(3)volatilization measurements compared with the size of field plots may cause significant errors if inadequate sampling strategies are adopted.Our aims were:i)to investigate the effect of using multiple open chambers on the variability in the measurement of NH_(3)volatilization in urea-amended field plots and ii)to define the critical period of NH_(3)-N losses during which the concentration of sampling effort is capable of reducing uncertainty.The use of only one chamber covering 0.015%of the plot(51.84 m^(2))generates a value of NH_(3)-N loss within an expected margin of error of 30%around the true mean.To reduce the error margin by half(15%),3–7 chambers were required with a mean of 5 chambers per plot.Concentrating the sampling efforts in the first two weeks after urea application,which is usually the most critical period of N losses and associated errors,represents an efficient strategy to lessen uncertainty in the measurements of NH_(3)volatilization.This strategy enhances the power of detection of NH_(3)-N loss abatement in field experiments using chambers.展开更多
In 2010,a major scientific milestone was achieved for tree fruit crops:publication of the first draft whole genome sequence(WGS)for apple(Malus domestica).This WGS,v1.0,was valuable as the initial reference for sequen...In 2010,a major scientific milestone was achieved for tree fruit crops:publication of the first draft whole genome sequence(WGS)for apple(Malus domestica).This WGS,v1.0,was valuable as the initial reference for sequence information,fine mapping,gene discovery,variant discovery,and tool development.A new,high quality apple WGS,GDDH13 v1.1,was released in 2017 and now serves as the reference genome for apple.Over the past decade,these apple WGSs have had an enormous impact on our understanding of apple biological functioning,trait physiology and inheritance,leading to practical applications for improving this highly valued crop.Causal gene identities for phenotypes of fundamental and practical interest can today be discovered much more rapidly.Genome-wide polymorphisms at high genetic resolution are screened efficiently over hundreds to thousands of individuals with new insights into genetic relationships and pedigrees.High-density genetic maps are constructed efficiently and quantitative trait loci for valuable traits are readily associated with positional candidate genes and/or converted into diagnostic tests for breeders.We understand the species,geographical,and genomic origins of domesticated apple more precisely,as well as its relationship to wild relatives.The WGS has turbo-charged application of these classical research steps to crop improvement and drives innovative methods to achieve more durable,environmentally sound,productive,and consumer-desirable apple production.This review includes examples of basic and practical breakthroughs and challenges in using the apple WGSs.Recommendations for“what’s next”focus on necessary upgrades to the genome sequence data pool,as well as for use of the data,to reach new frontiers in genomics-based scientific understanding of apple.展开更多
Despite the availability of whole genome sequences of apple and peach,there has been a considerable gap between genomics and breeding.To bridge the gap,the European Union funded the FruitBreedomics project(March 2011 ...Despite the availability of whole genome sequences of apple and peach,there has been a considerable gap between genomics and breeding.To bridge the gap,the European Union funded the FruitBreedomics project(March 2011 to August 2015)involving 28 research institutes and private companies.Three complementary approaches were pursued:(i)tool and software development,(ii)deciphering genetic control of main horticultural traits taking into account allelic diversity and(iii)developing plant materials,tools and methodologies for breeders.Decisive breakthroughs were made including the making available of ready-to-go DNA diagnostic tests for Marker Assisted Breeding,development of new,dense SNP arrays in apple and peach,new phenotypic methods for some complex traits,software for gene/QTL discovery on breeding germplasm via Pedigree Based Analysis(PBA).This resulted in the discovery of highly predictive molecular markers for traits of horticultural interest via PBA and via Genome Wide Association Studies(GWAS)on several European genebank collections.FruitBreedomics also developed pre-breeding plant materials in which multiple sources of resistance were pyramided and software that can support breeders in their selection activities.Through FruitBreedomics,significant progresses were made in the field of apple and peach breeding,genetics,genomics and bioinformatics of which advantage will be made by breeders,germplasm curators and scientists.A major part of the data collected during the project has been stored in the FruitBreedomics database and has been made available to the public.This review covers the scientific discoveries made in this major endeavour,and perspective in the apple and peach breeding and genomics in Europe and beyond.展开更多
Breeding of apple is a long-term and costly process due to the time and space requirements for screening selection candidates.Genomics-assisted breeding utilizes genomic and phenotypic information to increase the sele...Breeding of apple is a long-term and costly process due to the time and space requirements for screening selection candidates.Genomics-assisted breeding utilizes genomic and phenotypic information to increase the selection efficiency in breeding programs,and measurements of phenotypes in different environments can facilitate the application of the approach under various climatic conditions.Here we present an apple reference population:the apple REFPOP,a large collection formed of 534 genotypes planted in six European countries,as a unique tool to accelerate apple breeding.The population consisted of 269 accessions and 265 progeny from 27 parental combinations,representing the diversity in cultivated apple and current European breeding material,respectively.A high-density genome-wide dataset of 303,239 SNPs was produced as a combined output of two SNP arrays of different densities using marker imputation with an imputation accuracy of 0.95.Based on the genotypic data,linkage disequilibrium was low and population structure was weak.Two well-studied phenological traits of horticultural importance were measured.We found marker–trait associations in several previously identified genomic regions and maximum predictive abilities of 0.57 and 0.75 for floral emergence and harvest date,respectively.With decreasing SNP density,the detection of significant marker–trait associations varied depending on trait architecture.Regardless of the trait,10,000 SNPs sufficed to maximize genomic prediction ability.We confirm the suitability of the apple REFPOP design for genomics-assisted breeding,especially for breeding programs using related germplasm,and emphasize the advantages of a coordinated and multinational effort for customizing apple breeding methods in the genomics era.展开更多
The study of plant phenology has frequently been used to link phenological events to various factors,such as temperature or photoperiod.In the high-alpine environment,proper timing of the phenological cycle has always...The study of plant phenology has frequently been used to link phenological events to various factors,such as temperature or photoperiod.In the high-alpine environment,proper timing of the phenological cycle has always been crucial to overcome harsh conditions and potential extreme events(i.e.spring frosts)but little is known about the response dynamics of the vegetation,which could shape the alpine landscape in a future of changing climate.Alpine tundra vegetation is composed by an array of species belonging to different phytosociological optima and with various survival strategies,and snowbed communities are a relevant expression of such an extreme-climate adapted flora.We set eight permanent plots with each one in a snowbed located on the Cimalegna plateau in Northwestern Italy and then we selected 10 most recurring species among our plots,all typical of the alpine tundra environment and classified in 3different pools:snowbed specialists,grassland species and rocky debris species.For 3 years we registered the phenophases of each species during the whole growing season using an adaptation of the BBCH scale.We later focused on the three most biologically relevant phenophases,i.e.,flower buds visible,full flowering,and beginning of seed dispersion.Three important season-related variables were chosen to investigate their relationship with the phenological cycle of the studied species:(i)the Day Of Year(DOY),the progressive number of days starting from the 1 st of January,used as a proxy of photoperiod,(ii)Days From Snow Melt(DFSM),selected to include the relevance of the snow dynamics,and(iii)Growing Degree Days(GDD),computed as a thermal sum.Our analysis highlighted that phenological development correlated better with DFSM and GDD than with DOY.Indeed,models showed that DOY was always a worse predictor since it failed to overcome interannual variations,while DFSM and marginally GDD were better suited to predict the phenological development of most of the species,despite differences intemperature and snowmelt date among the three years.Even if the response pattern to the three variables was mainly consistent for all the species,the timing of their phenological response was different.Indeed,species such as Salix herbacea and Ranunculus glacialis were always earlier in the achievement of the phenophases,while Agrostis rupestris and Euphrasia minima developed later and the remaining species showed an intermediate behavior.However,we did not detect significant differences among the three functional pools of species.展开更多
Field studies on soil ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization are restricted in many countries owing to the high costs commonly demanded for accurate quantification.We assessed the accuracy of a simple,open chamber design to ca...Field studies on soil ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization are restricted in many countries owing to the high costs commonly demanded for accurate quantification.We assessed the accuracy of a simple,open chamber design to capture NH_(3)under field conditions,as affected by different chamber placement schemes.Urea-15 N was surface applied to lysimeters installed in the spaces between maize rows.Open chambers made from plastic bottles were installed on each lysimeter with variations in i)N rates(3,8,13,and 18 g m^(-2)),ii)the height of the chamber above the soil surface(0,5,and 10 mm),and iii)chamber relocation(static vs.dynamic).Reference lysimeters without chambers were used to measure NH_(3)losses by^(15)N-balance.Losses of NH_(3)-N accounted for more than 50%of the applied N.Relocation of the chambers had no impact on their NH_(3)-trapping efficiencies,proving to be an unnecessary procedure.Variation in the height of the chambers above the soil surface affected the capture of NH_(3),but the results still maintained high linearity with the NH_(3)losses quantified by the reference method(R^(2)>0.98).When the same placement scheme used in the introductory study describing the chamber was utilized(static and touching the soil surface),we found a trapping efficiency of 60%,which was very similar to that(57%)obtained in the previous study.Our results show that this simple,open chamber design can be used with satisfactory accuracy under field conditions,provided that simple,standardized procedures are warranted.展开更多
Fifty two accessions of Festuca pratensis Huds. were analysed of which 18 had been collected in Switzerland and 32 in Bulgaria. SDS-PAGE of seed proteins was implemented to detect genetic variation among ecotype popul...Fifty two accessions of Festuca pratensis Huds. were analysed of which 18 had been collected in Switzerland and 32 in Bulgaria. SDS-PAGE of seed proteins was implemented to detect genetic variation among ecotype populations using a modification of UPOV method for barley. The modification concerns mainly protein extracting procedure as detailed described in the protocol. The two cultivars Preval and Cosmolit were used as standards. Cluster analyses and correspondence analyses/scatter plot were used as statistic approaches for determining genetic diversity among individual ecotypes and groups of ecotypes. Electrophoretic spectra of proteins show clear differences among local accessions in relation to their origin. In Swiss ecotypes 32 protein fragments were determined whereas in Bulgarian local populations their number was 68. Each of the two eco-groups possesses fragments that appear in all accessions of the group. The number of monomorphic bands within Bulgarian local ecotypes is four whereas their number in Swiss ecotypes is 12. Four monomorphic bands appearing in all proteinograms no difference of eco-groups was identified with Rm values of： 0.43, 0.55, 0.58, 0.82. A higher level of protein band polymorphism was proven in Bulgarian ecotypes in comparison with Swiss ecotypes. Thirty seven polymorphic bands occurred exclusively in the Bulgarian local ecotypes and had a frequency of 0.03 or higher whereas within Swiss ecotypes was detected one unique protein fragment. SDS-PAGE ＂fingerprinting＂ is suggested as a fast and easy approach to differentiate F. pratensis ecotypes by their origin as well for detection of foreign germplasm for inclusion in breeding programs.展开更多
Wine production has a long-standing history in Palatinate (Southwestern Germany), dating back to Roman times. Especially “Riesling”, but also several “Pinot” varieties gained major significance. Red wine varieties...Wine production has a long-standing history in Palatinate (Southwestern Germany), dating back to Roman times. Especially “Riesling”, but also several “Pinot” varieties gained major significance. Red wine varieties gained prominence over the last 20 years only, which may be a consequence of climate change. Our objective was to review temperature and rainfall data over the last 40 years, measured “on-winery” in Hainfeld and correlate these data with grapevine growth parameters: the development of bud break, flowering, veraison and harvest dates, yields and grape sugar concentrations of “Pinot Gris”, “Pinot Noir”, “Riesling”, “Silvaner” and “Müller-Thurgau”. Since the 1970s, bud break, flowering and veraison are 11 - 15, 18 - 22 and 16 - 22 days earlier;harvest dates are 25 - 40 days earlier. Sugar concentrations increased significantly, but yields decreased. Annual rainfall has not significantly risen, while the mean annual minimum and maximum air-temperatures rose by ~0.9°C, and by ~3.4°C, respectively, resulting in an average increase of the mean annual temperature of ~2.1°C. Remarkably, both mean monthly minimum and maximum temperatures rose especially in springtime, which should have been the driver for earlier bud break and flowering. A change in the climatic conditions, therefore, appears to be one of the key reasons for more favorable grapevine production in Palatinate, especially for “Pinot Noir”, which showed the highest increase in sugar concentrations. The Huglin-index, a measure for the suitability of growing specific grapevine varieties in given environments, increased from 1685 to 2063. According to this index, the climate change may be favorable already for growing grape varieties so far rarely grown in temperate zones, such as “Cabernet Sauvignon”, “Syrah” and “Tempranillo” that are more suited to warmer, Mediterranean climates.展开更多
Strath?/Bio-Strath? is a plasmolyzed herbal yeast product with malt, honey and orange syrup. Its ability to support the immune system of the human being is well known and was tested in several studies. Equi-Strath?, t...Strath?/Bio-Strath? is a plasmolyzed herbal yeast product with malt, honey and orange syrup. Its ability to support the immune system of the human being is well known and was tested in several studies. Equi-Strath?, the adapted product for horses was tested in this study. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of Equi-Strath? on skin condition in the horse. The study included twenty healthy Franches-Montagnes stallions which were divided into two groups. The study group (SG, n = 10) received 0.06 ml/kg bodyweight of Equi-Strath?, the control group (CG, n = 10) the same amount of placebo, daily. The supplement and the placebo were given from week 1 until week 10 of the trial, orally. Skin biopsies were taken three times, once at the beginning of the study (week 0), once at half time (week 5) and once at the end of the study (week 10), followed by histological analysis including leucocytes count twice in five vision fields of each slide. No alterations of hair, adnexal structures or skin thickness were found. However, the number of perivascular lymphocytes turned out to be increased at the end of the study in 9 out of 10 animals of the study group, whereas number of lymphocytes in biopsies of the control group where increased only in 4 out of 10 animals. The increase of lymphocytes in the study group suggests an activation of the immune system due to the application of Equi-Strath?.展开更多
Goat satisfying energy requirements of goat are determined by anatomical body and browse leaves. In High Bassin zone of Mandrare in Southern Madagascar, sampling area of 400 m^2 has been monitored to analysis floristi...Goat satisfying energy requirements of goat are determined by anatomical body and browse leaves. In High Bassin zone of Mandrare in Southern Madagascar, sampling area of 400 m^2 has been monitored to analysis floristic diversity and Shannon-Weaver index and to establish rangeland typology. With one ram, two castrated goats and three ewes, foraging behaviour, bite rate and forage nutritive value were analyzed in native pastureland during six days at two browsing periods. As results, four pastureland groups were classified with dominant shrubs plants Acacia farnesiana, Poupartia caffra, Kigelianthe madagascariensis and Rhigozum madagascariense. Rangelands sites have presented lower heterogeneity with floristic density （236-658 plants per hectare）, Shannon-Weaver index （0.28-0.95）, maximum diversity （1.04 ± 0.07） with P 〈 0.05. Most of 42 identified fodder plants presented significant difference （P 〈 0.05） and higher nutritive value （35-54% Dry Matter or DM）; mineral matter （70-162 g·kg DM^-1）; Crude Protein （124-175 g·kg DM^-1）; Crude Fibre （203-376 g·kg DM^-1）; Neutral Detergent Fiber （388-548 g·kg DM^-1） and gross energy （3617-4464 kcal·kg DM^-1）. Acaciafarnesiana rangeland was overgrazed with 4.00 to 9.00 bites·mn^-1. In fact, relationships between phytosociology, nutritional parameters and foraging behaviour have been analyzed to improve with autochthonous plants and to manage rangeland in semi arid environment.展开更多
With climate change, water may become limited for intensive agriculture even in regions presently considered “water-rich”. Information about the potential water requirement and its temporal and spatial variability c...With climate change, water may become limited for intensive agriculture even in regions presently considered “water-rich”. Information about the potential water requirement and its temporal and spatial variability can help to develop future water management plans. A case study was carried out for Switzerland with its highly complex pre-alpine topography and steep gradients in climate. The hydrological model WaSiM-ETH was used to simulate net irrigation requirement (NIR) for cropland, grassland and orchards using criteria to define irrigation periods based either on the water stress level (expressed by the ratio of actual (aET) to potential evapotranspiration ((pET) (Method 1) or on thresholds for soil water potential (Method 2). Simulations for selected catchments were carried out with a daily time step for the period 1981-2010 using a 500 × 500 m spatial resolution. Catchment-scale NIR ranged between 0 and 4.3 million m3 and 0 and 7.3 million m3 for the two methods, respectively, with no trend over the observation period in any catchment. During the heat wave in 2003, NIR increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2.3 relative to the mean, and in catchments where discharge is directly dependent on precipitation, NIR in the summer of 2003 reached the limits of river water availability. In contrast, in a region with water supply from glacier melt water, highest NIR in 2003 still remained far below total river discharge. The results show that NIR varies strongly between years and across the landscape, and even in a presently cool-temperate climate, irrigation may put pressure on regional water resources under extreme climatic conditions that may become more frequent by the end of the 21st century.展开更多
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program of China(No.2019QZKK0306-02)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42322102 and 42271058)+1 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.2021310)the Science&Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program of China(No.2022FY100202)
文摘Soil organic carbon(SOC):total nitrogen(TN):total phosphorus(TP)(C:N:P)stoichiometry can give important information about biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.The spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of soil C:N:P ratios are still poorly understood on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China.In this study,we therefore combined data of the geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics from 319 sites across the plateau to investigate their relationships with the horizontal and vertical patterns of SOC,TN,and TP concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios(C:N and N:P).We observed higher SOC(30.5–46.8 mg g^(-1)),TN(2.4–3.4 mg g^(-1)),C:N(14.7–18.0),and N:P(6.9–8.0)in alpine meadows,forests,and shrublands and higher TP(1.6 mg g^(-1))in croplands.Overall,SOC,TN,TP,C:N,and N:P showed decreasing trends(by 67%,64%,19%,12%,and 54%,respectively)along the whole soil profile(0–100 cm).Soil cation exchange capacity and bulk density were the stronger environmental drivers of SOC and TN.Soil TP showed latitudinal and longitudinal increasing trends in all soil layers.Soil properties explained most of the variations in SOC(67%–90%),TN(67%–87%),C:N(61%–89%),and N:P(64%–85%),with increasing impacts along the soil profile.Geography and climate influenced soil TP directly and indirectly through their impacts on soil properties,with geography being the predominant driver(46%–65%)along the soil profile.The variation in soil C:N was mostly driven by SOC and TN,and the direct and indirect effects of the environmental factors were relatively weak.Geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics indirectly impacted soil N:P through their impacts on TN and TP in all the soil layers.Altogether,our findings illuminate the relative contributions of geography,climate,soil properties,and vegetation characteristics to soil C:N and N:P,thus enhancing our understanding of C,N,and P cycling across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32101304 and 32160281)the Key Laboratory Project,Xinjiang,China(No.2021D04006)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2021M692707)supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation(No.31003A-166079)。
文摘Nitrogen(N)is one of the most limited nutrients of terrestrial ecosystems,whose losses are prevented in tightly coupled cycles in finely tuned systems.Global change-induced N enrichment through atmospheric deposition and application of vast amounts of fertilizer are now challenging the terrestrial N cycle.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)are known drivers of plant-soil nutrient fluxes,but a comprehensive assessment of AMF involvement in N cycling under global change is still lacking.Here,we simulated N enrichment by fertilization(low/high)in experimental grassland microcosms under greenhouse conditions in the presence or absence of AMF and continuously monitored different N pathways over nine months.We found that high N enrichment by fertilization decreased the relative abundance of legumes and the plant species dominating the plant community changed from grasses to forbs in the presence of AMF,based on aboveground biomass.The presence of AMF always maintained plant N:phosphorus(P)ratios between 14 and 16,no matter how the soil N availability changed.Shifts in plant N:P ratios due to the increased plant N and P uptake might thus be a primary pathway of AMF altering plant community composition.Furthermore,we constructed a comprehensive picture of AMF’s role in N cycling,highlighting that AMF reduced N losses primarily by mitigating N leaching,while N_(2)O emissions played a marginal role.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduced N_(2)O emissions directly through the promotion of N_(2)O-consuming denitrifiers.The underlying mechanism for reducing N leaching is mainly the AMF-mediated improved nutrient uptake and AMF-associated microbial immobilization.Our results indicate that synergies between AMF and other soil microorganisms cannot be ignored in N cycling and that the integral role of AMF in N cycling terrestrial ecosystems can buffer the upcoming global changes.
文摘Mycorrhizae are the most widespread symbioses in nature,involving plants and specialized soil fungi.In recent years,mycorrhizal research has made remarkable progress.Breakthroughs in genomics and other modern techniques have opened new windows in multiple domains,such as evolution,physiology,and function of mycorrhizal fungi.
基金partly supported and funded by the Hasler Foundation under the Project“ARPI:Automated Recognition of Pest Insect Images”(20028)。
文摘Pest insect monitoring and control is crucial to ensure a safe and profitable crop growth in all plantation types,as well as guarantee food quality and limited use of pesticides.We aim at extending traditional monitoring by means of traps,by involving the general public in reporting the presence of insects by using smartphones.This includes the largely unexplored problem of detecting insects in images that are taken in noncontrolled conditions.Furthermore,pest insects are,in many cases,extremely similar to other species that are harmless.Therefore,computer vision algorithms must not be fooled by these similar insects,not to raise unmotivated alarms.In this work,we study the capabilities of state-of-the-art(SoA)object detection models based on convolutional neural networks(CNN)for the task of detecting beetle-like pest insects on nonhomogeneous images taken outdoors by different sources.Moreover,we focus on disambiguating a pest insect from similar harmless species.We consider not only detection performance of different models,but also required computational resources.This study aims at providing a baseline model for this kind of tasks.Our results show the suitability of current SoA models for this application,highlighting how FasterRCNN with a MobileNetV3 backbone is a particularly good starting point for accuracy and inference execution latency.This combination provided a mean average precision score of 92.66%that can be considered qualitatively at least as good as the score obtained by other authors that adopted more specific models.
文摘Background: Intra-uterine crowding(IUC) observed in hyperprolific sows impairs myofiber hyperplasia and overall fetal growth. Arginine supplementation(ARG) in gestation diets has been shown to positively affect litter and muscle development. The study objective was to assess whether the effect of ARG on offspring characteristics, with special emphasis on myofiber hyperplasia, differs under IUC conditions from these responses,because in that situation growth retardation is particularly prevalent due to reduced fetal nutrient supply.Unilateral oviduct ligation(OL) was used as a model for an uncrowded and hyperprolificacy(IN) as a model for a crowded intra-uterine environment.Methods: Five OL and five IN sows were fed a diet supplemented daily with either 43 g L-alanine(Ctrl) or 25 g L-arginine from d 14 to 28 of gestation in a cross-over design(two periods: 5^( th) and 6^( th) parity). At farrowing, two male and two female offspring, respectively, with a low and intermediate birth weight(BtW) were selected. After euthanization, the Semitendinosus muscle(STM) was removed and weighed, and the light and dark portions(STM_d and STM_l) were prepared for myofiber histochemistry using ATPase staining and the entire STM for gene expression analysis of myogenesis-related genes using RT-qPCR. In addition, various organs were removed and weighed. Data were analyzed using the MIXED model in SYSTAT.Results: No effect of either IUC or dietary treatment was found in litter characteristics. Offspring of ARG sows displayed a greater muscle area in STM(P < 0.01) as a result of the greater myofiber hyperplasia(P < 0.01). The increase was more distinct in the STM_l(P < 0.05) than in the STM_d(P = 0.131). Offspring of OL sows were heavier at birth(P < 0.01), had a heavier STM(P < 0.05), liver(P < 0.01) and kidney(P < 0.05), but when expressed relative to birth weight, these differences were absent. In addition, IUC had an effect(P < 0.05) on the expression of one of the myogenesis-related genes investigated.Conclusions: Independent from the extent of IUC, ARG improved Bt W, muscle and organ weights and myofiber hyperplasia in offspring.
文摘Over the last decades, the reduction of manpower for herd management has led to an increase of continuous grazing systems(CGS) in the Italian Alps, which allow cattle to roam freely. Under CGS, due to high selectivity, livestock exploit grasslands unevenly, over-and under-using specific areas at the same time with negative effects on their conservation. To counteract these effects, a specific policy and management tool(i.e. Grazing Management Plan) has been implemented by Piedmont Region since 2010. The Grazing Management Plans are based on the implementation of rotational grazing systems(RGS), with animal stocking rate adjusted to balance it with grassland carrying capacity. A case study was conducted on alpine summer pastures to test the 5-year effects produced by the implementation of a Grazing Management Plan in grasslands formerly managed under several years of CGS on 1) the selection for different vegetation communities by cattle, 2) the abundance of oligo-, meso-, and eutrophic plant species(defined according to Landolt N indicator value), and 3) forage yield, quality, and palatability. A total of 193 vegetation surveys were carried out in 2011 and repeated in 2016. Cows were tracked yearly with Global Positioning System collars to assess their grazing selectivity, and forage Pastoral Value(PV) was computed to evaluate forage yield, quality, and palatability. Five years after RGS implementation, cow selectivity significantly decreased and the preference for the different vegetation communities was more balanced than under CGS. The abundance of meso-and eutrophic species increased, whereas oligotrophic ones decreased. Moreover, the abundance of moderately to highly palatable plant species increased, whereas non-palatable plant species decreased, with a consequent significant enhancement of the PV. Our findings indicate that the implementation of Grazing Management Plans can be considered a sustainable and effective management tool for improving pasture selection by cattle and forage quality in mountain pastures.
基金funded by the EU seventh Framework Programme by the FruitBreedomics Project No.265582。
文摘Texture is a complex trait and a major component of fruit quality in apple.While the major effect of MdPG1,a gene controlling firmness,has already been exploited in elite cultivars,the genetic basis of crispness remains poorly understood.To further improve fruit texture,harnessing loci with minor effects via genomic selection is therefore necessary.In this study,we measured acoustic and mechanical features in 537 genotypes to dissect the firmness and crispness components of fruit texture.Predictions of across-year phenotypic values for these components were calculated using a model calibrated with 8,294 SNP markers.The best prediction accuracies following cross-validations within the training set of 259 genotypes were obtained for the acoustic linear distance(0.64).Predictions for biparental families using the entire training set varied from low to high accuracy,depending on the family considered.While adding siblings or half-siblings into the training set did not clearly improve predictions,we performed an optimization of the training set size and composition for each validation set.This allowed us to increase prediction accuracies by 0.17 on average,with a maximal accuracy of 0.81 when predicting firmness in the‘Gala’בPink Lady’family.Our results therefore identified key genetic parameters to consider when deploying genomic selection for texture in apple.In particular,we advise to rely on a large training population,with high phenotypic variability from which a‘tailored training population’can be extracted using a priori information on genetic relatedness,in order to predict a specific target population.
基金supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA),Vienna,Austria through a Coordinated Research Project(No.D15016)the“Carlos Chagas Filho”Foundation for Support of Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro(FAPERJ)of Brazil with grants awarded to BJRA,CPJ,RMB,and SU and postdoctoral scholarships to MRM and SS。
文摘Measuring ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization from urea-fertilized soils is crucial for evaluation of practices that reduce gaseous nitrogen(N)losses in agriculture.The small area of chambers used for NH_(3)volatilization measurements compared with the size of field plots may cause significant errors if inadequate sampling strategies are adopted.Our aims were:i)to investigate the effect of using multiple open chambers on the variability in the measurement of NH_(3)volatilization in urea-amended field plots and ii)to define the critical period of NH_(3)-N losses during which the concentration of sampling effort is capable of reducing uncertainty.The use of only one chamber covering 0.015%of the plot(51.84 m^(2))generates a value of NH_(3)-N loss within an expected margin of error of 30%around the true mean.To reduce the error margin by half(15%),3–7 chambers were required with a mean of 5 chambers per plot.Concentrating the sampling efforts in the first two weeks after urea application,which is usually the most critical period of N losses and associated errors,represents an efficient strategy to lessen uncertainty in the measurements of NH_(3)volatilization.This strategy enhances the power of detection of NH_(3)-N loss abatement in field experiments using chambers.
文摘In 2010,a major scientific milestone was achieved for tree fruit crops:publication of the first draft whole genome sequence(WGS)for apple(Malus domestica).This WGS,v1.0,was valuable as the initial reference for sequence information,fine mapping,gene discovery,variant discovery,and tool development.A new,high quality apple WGS,GDDH13 v1.1,was released in 2017 and now serves as the reference genome for apple.Over the past decade,these apple WGSs have had an enormous impact on our understanding of apple biological functioning,trait physiology and inheritance,leading to practical applications for improving this highly valued crop.Causal gene identities for phenotypes of fundamental and practical interest can today be discovered much more rapidly.Genome-wide polymorphisms at high genetic resolution are screened efficiently over hundreds to thousands of individuals with new insights into genetic relationships and pedigrees.High-density genetic maps are constructed efficiently and quantitative trait loci for valuable traits are readily associated with positional candidate genes and/or converted into diagnostic tests for breeders.We understand the species,geographical,and genomic origins of domesticated apple more precisely,as well as its relationship to wild relatives.The WGS has turbo-charged application of these classical research steps to crop improvement and drives innovative methods to achieve more durable,environmentally sound,productive,and consumer-desirable apple production.This review includes examples of basic and practical breakthroughs and challenges in using the apple WGSs.Recommendations for“what’s next”focus on necessary upgrades to the genome sequence data pool,as well as for use of the data,to reach new frontiers in genomics-based scientific understanding of apple.
基金This work has been funded under the EU seventh Framework Programme by the FruitBreedomics project No.265582:Integrated Approach for increasing breeding efficiency in fruit tree crops(http://www.fruitbreedomics.com/).
文摘Despite the availability of whole genome sequences of apple and peach,there has been a considerable gap between genomics and breeding.To bridge the gap,the European Union funded the FruitBreedomics project(March 2011 to August 2015)involving 28 research institutes and private companies.Three complementary approaches were pursued:(i)tool and software development,(ii)deciphering genetic control of main horticultural traits taking into account allelic diversity and(iii)developing plant materials,tools and methodologies for breeders.Decisive breakthroughs were made including the making available of ready-to-go DNA diagnostic tests for Marker Assisted Breeding,development of new,dense SNP arrays in apple and peach,new phenotypic methods for some complex traits,software for gene/QTL discovery on breeding germplasm via Pedigree Based Analysis(PBA).This resulted in the discovery of highly predictive molecular markers for traits of horticultural interest via PBA and via Genome Wide Association Studies(GWAS)on several European genebank collections.FruitBreedomics also developed pre-breeding plant materials in which multiple sources of resistance were pyramided and software that can support breeders in their selection activities.Through FruitBreedomics,significant progresses were made in the field of apple and peach breeding,genetics,genomics and bioinformatics of which advantage will be made by breeders,germplasm curators and scientists.A major part of the data collected during the project has been stored in the FruitBreedomics database and has been made available to the public.This review covers the scientific discoveries made in this major endeavour,and perspective in the apple and peach breeding and genomics in Europe and beyond.
基金supported by the project RIS3CAT(COTPAFRUIT3CAT)financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the FEDER frame of Catalonia 2014–2020 and by the CERCA Program from Generalitat de Catalunya.
文摘Breeding of apple is a long-term and costly process due to the time and space requirements for screening selection candidates.Genomics-assisted breeding utilizes genomic and phenotypic information to increase the selection efficiency in breeding programs,and measurements of phenotypes in different environments can facilitate the application of the approach under various climatic conditions.Here we present an apple reference population:the apple REFPOP,a large collection formed of 534 genotypes planted in six European countries,as a unique tool to accelerate apple breeding.The population consisted of 269 accessions and 265 progeny from 27 parental combinations,representing the diversity in cultivated apple and current European breeding material,respectively.A high-density genome-wide dataset of 303,239 SNPs was produced as a combined output of two SNP arrays of different densities using marker imputation with an imputation accuracy of 0.95.Based on the genotypic data,linkage disequilibrium was low and population structure was weak.Two well-studied phenological traits of horticultural importance were measured.We found marker–trait associations in several previously identified genomic regions and maximum predictive abilities of 0.57 and 0.75 for floral emergence and harvest date,respectively.With decreasing SNP density,the detection of significant marker–trait associations varied depending on trait architecture.Regardless of the trait,10,000 SNPs sufficed to maximize genomic prediction ability.We confirm the suitability of the apple REFPOP design for genomics-assisted breeding,especially for breeding programs using related germplasm,and emphasize the advantages of a coordinated and multinational effort for customizing apple breeding methods in the genomics era.
文摘The study of plant phenology has frequently been used to link phenological events to various factors,such as temperature or photoperiod.In the high-alpine environment,proper timing of the phenological cycle has always been crucial to overcome harsh conditions and potential extreme events(i.e.spring frosts)but little is known about the response dynamics of the vegetation,which could shape the alpine landscape in a future of changing climate.Alpine tundra vegetation is composed by an array of species belonging to different phytosociological optima and with various survival strategies,and snowbed communities are a relevant expression of such an extreme-climate adapted flora.We set eight permanent plots with each one in a snowbed located on the Cimalegna plateau in Northwestern Italy and then we selected 10 most recurring species among our plots,all typical of the alpine tundra environment and classified in 3different pools:snowbed specialists,grassland species and rocky debris species.For 3 years we registered the phenophases of each species during the whole growing season using an adaptation of the BBCH scale.We later focused on the three most biologically relevant phenophases,i.e.,flower buds visible,full flowering,and beginning of seed dispersion.Three important season-related variables were chosen to investigate their relationship with the phenological cycle of the studied species:(i)the Day Of Year(DOY),the progressive number of days starting from the 1 st of January,used as a proxy of photoperiod,(ii)Days From Snow Melt(DFSM),selected to include the relevance of the snow dynamics,and(iii)Growing Degree Days(GDD),computed as a thermal sum.Our analysis highlighted that phenological development correlated better with DFSM and GDD than with DOY.Indeed,models showed that DOY was always a worse predictor since it failed to overcome interannual variations,while DFSM and marginally GDD were better suited to predict the phenological development of most of the species,despite differences intemperature and snowmelt date among the three years.Even if the response pattern to the three variables was mainly consistent for all the species,the timing of their phenological response was different.Indeed,species such as Salix herbacea and Ranunculus glacialis were always earlier in the achievement of the phenophases,while Agrostis rupestris and Euphrasia minima developed later and the remaining species showed an intermediate behavior.However,we did not detect significant differences among the three functional pools of species.
基金supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA),Vienna,Austria through a Coordinated Research Project(No.D15016)the“Carlos Chagas Filho”Foundation for Support of Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro(FAPERJ)of Brazil with grants awarded to BJRA,CPJ,RMB,and SU and postdoctoral scholarships to MRM,RFG and SACSthe Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq)with a Productivity Grant(PQ)awarded to BJRA,CPJ,RMB,and SU and scholarships to LFS and CAS。
文摘Field studies on soil ammonia(NH_(3))volatilization are restricted in many countries owing to the high costs commonly demanded for accurate quantification.We assessed the accuracy of a simple,open chamber design to capture NH_(3)under field conditions,as affected by different chamber placement schemes.Urea-15 N was surface applied to lysimeters installed in the spaces between maize rows.Open chambers made from plastic bottles were installed on each lysimeter with variations in i)N rates(3,8,13,and 18 g m^(-2)),ii)the height of the chamber above the soil surface(0,5,and 10 mm),and iii)chamber relocation(static vs.dynamic).Reference lysimeters without chambers were used to measure NH_(3)losses by^(15)N-balance.Losses of NH_(3)-N accounted for more than 50%of the applied N.Relocation of the chambers had no impact on their NH_(3)-trapping efficiencies,proving to be an unnecessary procedure.Variation in the height of the chambers above the soil surface affected the capture of NH_(3),but the results still maintained high linearity with the NH_(3)losses quantified by the reference method(R^(2)>0.98).When the same placement scheme used in the introductory study describing the chamber was utilized(static and touching the soil surface),we found a trapping efficiency of 60%,which was very similar to that(57%)obtained in the previous study.Our results show that this simple,open chamber design can be used with satisfactory accuracy under field conditions,provided that simple,standardized procedures are warranted.
文摘Fifty two accessions of Festuca pratensis Huds. were analysed of which 18 had been collected in Switzerland and 32 in Bulgaria. SDS-PAGE of seed proteins was implemented to detect genetic variation among ecotype populations using a modification of UPOV method for barley. The modification concerns mainly protein extracting procedure as detailed described in the protocol. The two cultivars Preval and Cosmolit were used as standards. Cluster analyses and correspondence analyses/scatter plot were used as statistic approaches for determining genetic diversity among individual ecotypes and groups of ecotypes. Electrophoretic spectra of proteins show clear differences among local accessions in relation to their origin. In Swiss ecotypes 32 protein fragments were determined whereas in Bulgarian local populations their number was 68. Each of the two eco-groups possesses fragments that appear in all accessions of the group. The number of monomorphic bands within Bulgarian local ecotypes is four whereas their number in Swiss ecotypes is 12. Four monomorphic bands appearing in all proteinograms no difference of eco-groups was identified with Rm values of： 0.43, 0.55, 0.58, 0.82. A higher level of protein band polymorphism was proven in Bulgarian ecotypes in comparison with Swiss ecotypes. Thirty seven polymorphic bands occurred exclusively in the Bulgarian local ecotypes and had a frequency of 0.03 or higher whereas within Swiss ecotypes was detected one unique protein fragment. SDS-PAGE ＂fingerprinting＂ is suggested as a fast and easy approach to differentiate F. pratensis ecotypes by their origin as well for detection of foreign germplasm for inclusion in breeding programs.
文摘Wine production has a long-standing history in Palatinate (Southwestern Germany), dating back to Roman times. Especially “Riesling”, but also several “Pinot” varieties gained major significance. Red wine varieties gained prominence over the last 20 years only, which may be a consequence of climate change. Our objective was to review temperature and rainfall data over the last 40 years, measured “on-winery” in Hainfeld and correlate these data with grapevine growth parameters: the development of bud break, flowering, veraison and harvest dates, yields and grape sugar concentrations of “Pinot Gris”, “Pinot Noir”, “Riesling”, “Silvaner” and “Müller-Thurgau”. Since the 1970s, bud break, flowering and veraison are 11 - 15, 18 - 22 and 16 - 22 days earlier;harvest dates are 25 - 40 days earlier. Sugar concentrations increased significantly, but yields decreased. Annual rainfall has not significantly risen, while the mean annual minimum and maximum air-temperatures rose by ~0.9°C, and by ~3.4°C, respectively, resulting in an average increase of the mean annual temperature of ~2.1°C. Remarkably, both mean monthly minimum and maximum temperatures rose especially in springtime, which should have been the driver for earlier bud break and flowering. A change in the climatic conditions, therefore, appears to be one of the key reasons for more favorable grapevine production in Palatinate, especially for “Pinot Noir”, which showed the highest increase in sugar concentrations. The Huglin-index, a measure for the suitability of growing specific grapevine varieties in given environments, increased from 1685 to 2063. According to this index, the climate change may be favorable already for growing grape varieties so far rarely grown in temperate zones, such as “Cabernet Sauvignon”, “Syrah” and “Tempranillo” that are more suited to warmer, Mediterranean climates.
文摘Strath?/Bio-Strath? is a plasmolyzed herbal yeast product with malt, honey and orange syrup. Its ability to support the immune system of the human being is well known and was tested in several studies. Equi-Strath?, the adapted product for horses was tested in this study. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of Equi-Strath? on skin condition in the horse. The study included twenty healthy Franches-Montagnes stallions which were divided into two groups. The study group (SG, n = 10) received 0.06 ml/kg bodyweight of Equi-Strath?, the control group (CG, n = 10) the same amount of placebo, daily. The supplement and the placebo were given from week 1 until week 10 of the trial, orally. Skin biopsies were taken three times, once at the beginning of the study (week 0), once at half time (week 5) and once at the end of the study (week 10), followed by histological analysis including leucocytes count twice in five vision fields of each slide. No alterations of hair, adnexal structures or skin thickness were found. However, the number of perivascular lymphocytes turned out to be increased at the end of the study in 9 out of 10 animals of the study group, whereas number of lymphocytes in biopsies of the control group where increased only in 4 out of 10 animals. The increase of lymphocytes in the study group suggests an activation of the immune system due to the application of Equi-Strath?.
文摘Goat satisfying energy requirements of goat are determined by anatomical body and browse leaves. In High Bassin zone of Mandrare in Southern Madagascar, sampling area of 400 m^2 has been monitored to analysis floristic diversity and Shannon-Weaver index and to establish rangeland typology. With one ram, two castrated goats and three ewes, foraging behaviour, bite rate and forage nutritive value were analyzed in native pastureland during six days at two browsing periods. As results, four pastureland groups were classified with dominant shrubs plants Acacia farnesiana, Poupartia caffra, Kigelianthe madagascariensis and Rhigozum madagascariense. Rangelands sites have presented lower heterogeneity with floristic density （236-658 plants per hectare）, Shannon-Weaver index （0.28-0.95）, maximum diversity （1.04 ± 0.07） with P 〈 0.05. Most of 42 identified fodder plants presented significant difference （P 〈 0.05） and higher nutritive value （35-54% Dry Matter or DM）; mineral matter （70-162 g·kg DM^-1）; Crude Protein （124-175 g·kg DM^-1）; Crude Fibre （203-376 g·kg DM^-1）; Neutral Detergent Fiber （388-548 g·kg DM^-1） and gross energy （3617-4464 kcal·kg DM^-1）. Acaciafarnesiana rangeland was overgrazed with 4.00 to 9.00 bites·mn^-1. In fact, relationships between phytosociology, nutritional parameters and foraging behaviour have been analyzed to improve with autochthonous plants and to manage rangeland in semi arid environment.
文摘With climate change, water may become limited for intensive agriculture even in regions presently considered “water-rich”. Information about the potential water requirement and its temporal and spatial variability can help to develop future water management plans. A case study was carried out for Switzerland with its highly complex pre-alpine topography and steep gradients in climate. The hydrological model WaSiM-ETH was used to simulate net irrigation requirement (NIR) for cropland, grassland and orchards using criteria to define irrigation periods based either on the water stress level (expressed by the ratio of actual (aET) to potential evapotranspiration ((pET) (Method 1) or on thresholds for soil water potential (Method 2). Simulations for selected catchments were carried out with a daily time step for the period 1981-2010 using a 500 × 500 m spatial resolution. Catchment-scale NIR ranged between 0 and 4.3 million m3 and 0 and 7.3 million m3 for the two methods, respectively, with no trend over the observation period in any catchment. During the heat wave in 2003, NIR increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2.3 relative to the mean, and in catchments where discharge is directly dependent on precipitation, NIR in the summer of 2003 reached the limits of river water availability. In contrast, in a region with water supply from glacier melt water, highest NIR in 2003 still remained far below total river discharge. The results show that NIR varies strongly between years and across the landscape, and even in a presently cool-temperate climate, irrigation may put pressure on regional water resources under extreme climatic conditions that may become more frequent by the end of the 21st century.
