The effect of routine hoof trimming on locomotion score, ruminating time, activity, and milk yield of dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of hoof trimming on cow behavior (ruminating time, activity, and locomotion score) and performance (milk yield) over time. Data were gathered from a commercial dairy farm in Israel where routine hoof trimming is done by a trained hoof trimmer twice per year on the entire herd. In total, 288 cows spread over 6 groups with varying production levels were used for the analysis.

A new cryptic virus belonging to the family Partitiviridae was found in watermelon co-infected with Melon necrotic spot virus.

A novel virus was detected in watermelon plants (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) infected with Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) using SOLiD next-generation sequence analysis. In addition to the expected MSNV genome, two double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments of 1,312 and 1,118 bp were also identified and sequenced from the purified virus preparations.

Thermal manipulations during broiler incubation alter performance of broilers to 70 days of age.

Recent decades have seen significant progress in the genetic selection of fast-growing broiler chickens. Whereas in many countries the average marketing age is 5 to 6 wk, the US, French, and other markets demand heavier broilers (~4 kg) that require a longer posthatching growing period. With greater age and greater BW, the ability to cope with hot weather conditions deteriorates, which can result in increased economic losses during periods of hot weather.

Characterization of Alternaria alternata Causing Black Spot Disease of Pomegranate in Israel Using a Molecular Marker.

Black spot disease of pomegranate is a relatively new disease in Israel that is caused by Alternaria alternata. The symptoms include black spots on leaves and fruit. Only the outer part of the fruit is damaged; the edible tissue remains unaffected.

A high level of transgenic viral small RNA is associated with broad potyvirus resistance in cucurbits.

Gene-silencing has been used to develop resistance against many plant viruses but little is known about the transgenic small-interfering RNA (t-siRNA) that confers this resistance. Transgenic cucumber and melon lines harboring a hairpin construct of the Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) HC-Pro gene accumulated different levels of t-siRNA (6 to 44% of total siRNA) and exhibited resistance to systemic ZYMV infection. Resistance to Watermelon mosaic potyvirus and Papaya ring spot potyvirus-W was also observed in a cucumber line that accumulated high levels of t-siRNA (44% of total siRNA) and displayed significantly increased levels of RNA-dependent RNA (RDR)1 and Argonaute 1, as compared with the other transgenic and nontransformed plants.

The effects of genetic line (broilers vs. layers) on embryo development.

Recent decades were characterized by genetic selection of broiler and layer chickens for enhanced growth rate and meat yield or intensified egg production, respectively. It is to be expected that genetic selection for various traits would also influence embryo development and growth patterns that affect metabolism. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of broiler (Cobb and Ross) and layer (Lohmann) lines and parent flock age (31 and 38 wk) on embryonic development, heart rate, O2 consumption, and blood parameters.

Hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant capacities of Georgian spices for meat and their possible health implications.

Georgian cuisine is famous for its spices for meat dishes. Many spices are rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants that reduce the formation of carcinogenic products during thermal processing of meat and counteract its adverse health effects. In spite of the relative popularity of meat dishes, Georgia is characterized by low incidence of the colorectal cancer.

Peroxidase activity associated with suberization processes of the muskmelon (Cucumis melo) rind.

The rind of fruits of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) contains a network of suberized tissue referred to as the 'netting', and peroxidase (EC 1.

Oxygen-mediated cold-acclimation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings.

Cold acclimation of etiolated cucumber seedlings, consisting of cooling at 12 degrees C for 48 h followed by a warming period at 25 degrees C, led to tolerance to subsequent chilling at 2 degrees C. Tolerance, as evidenced by freedom from chilling injury and continued growth, developed during the warming period in a time-course manner for 12 h but decreased with prolonged warming. A similar increase and subsequent decrease was also observed in the content of palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids in total lipid fraction from cucumber hypocotyl tissue.

A host-specific virulence protein of Erwinia herbicola pv. gypsophilae is translocated into human epithelial cells by the Type III secretion system of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

summary HsvG is a virulence factor that determines the host specificity of Erwinia herbicola pathovars gypsophilae and betae on gypsophila. We used the calmodulin adenylate cyclase reporter (CyaA) to demonstrate that HsvG is secreted and translocated into HeLa cells by the type III secretion system (TTSS) of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). A fusion of HsvG-CyaA containing 271 amino acids of the N-terminus of HsvG were introduced into a wild-type EPEC, espB mutant deficient in translocation and an escV mutant deficient in secretion.

Thermotolerance acquisition in broiler chickens by temperature conditioning early in life--the effect of timing and ambient temperature.

Thermal conditioning of chicks results in improvements in performance and thermotolerance at marketing age. Conditioning has been found to be a sensitive process, dependent on age and the temperature used. The objective of this study was to assess the optimal timing and temperature for the conditioning processes.

Air velocity alters broiler performance under harsh environmental conditions.

The effect of air velocity (AV) on weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency was studied in male broiler chickens exposed to a constant 35 C, 60% RH, and continuous illumination from 4 through 7 wk of age. In two separate trials, AV of 0.5, 1.

Reduced Dosage of Methyl Bromide for Controlling Verticillium Wilt of Potato in Experimental and Commercial Plots.

The use of gas-impermeable films to reduce the dosage of methyl bromide (MB) required to control Verticillium wilt in potatoes was examined in field experiments, conducted in soils naturally infested with Verticillium dahliae. The incidence and severity of Verticillium wilt were significantly reduced (by 74 to 94%) by fumigation with MB at 50 g/m under standard low density polyethylene (LDPE) or at 25 g/m under gas-impermeable films. Fumigation at 25 g/m under LDPE was less effective.

Interactions amongHeliothis virescens larvae, cotton condensed tannin and the CryIA(c) δ-endotoxin ofBacillus thuringiensis.

The potential interactions among a plant-produced allelochemical, a phytophagous insect, and an endotoxin produced byBacillus thuringiensis were investigated using purified cotton condensed tannins, the CryIA(c)δ-endotoxin fromB. thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki strain HD-73, and larvae ofHeliothis virescens.

Role of sex pheromone components in behavioral reproductive isolation betweenAutographa gamma (L.) and eitherTrichoplusia ni (Hübner) ORChrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae).

The composition of theAutographa gamma sex pheromone was reexamined and only (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and (Z)-7-dodecenol were identified by capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization and subsequent GC-MS analysis. The fatty acid content of the pheromone glands was also studied, and a series of saturated and unsaturated acids was identified. However, most of the related pheromonal compounds were not detected.

Female sex pheromone components ofHeliothis peltigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) : Chemical identification from gland extracts and male response.

Ten compounds were found in the sex pheromone glands ofHeliothis peltigera (Schiff) and identified as tetradecenal, (Z)-9-tetradecenal, (Z)-9-tetradecenol, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, hexadecanal, (Z)-7-hiexadecenal, (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenol, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate. Behavioral tests in a wind tunnel and subsequent trapping studies conducted in the field indicated that (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-9-tetradecenal are the main pheromone components ofH. peltigera.

Identification of sex pheromone components from pheromone gland volatiles of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (Esp.).

The sex pheromone glands ofPlusia chalcites release, dodecyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-tridecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate. A combination of capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization enabled a rigorous identification of all these compounds, some of which were previously found in gland extracts. Bioassays in a flight tunnel showed that a ternary blend of (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate elicited directed flights from 85 to 100% of the males tested and elicited copulation attempts, at the end of the flights, from 44 to 74% of the males tested.

Synthesis and field bioassay of some analogs of sex pheromone of citrus mealybug,Planococcus citri (Risso).

A series of structural analogs of (s+)-cis-(1R)-3-isopropenyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutanemethanol acetate, sex pheromone of the citrus mealybug,Planococcus citri (Risso), was synthesized. The analogs were tested in a field bioassay in order to determine the structure-activity relationships of the pheromone. All changes in structure reduced the activity of the test compounds, to various degrees.

Sex pheromone of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (ESP).

Z-7-Dodecenyl acetate (A) andZ-9-tetradecenyl acetate (B), in a 5∶1 ratio, have been identified as sex pheromone components of femalePlusia chalcites. In addition, small amounts of dodecyl acetate, tetradecyl acetate, hexadecyl acetate, andZ-9-dodecenyl acetate have been found in the abdominal tip extracts. This is the first known Plusiinae species which utilizes a two-component primary sex pheromone system.