High functional diversity within species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

•  Species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) differ markedly in their improvement of plant nutrition and health. However, it is not yet possible to relate the diversity of an AMF community to its functional properties due to the lack of information on the functional diversity at each taxonomic level. This study investigates the inter- and intraspecific functional diversity of four Glomus species in relation to a phylogenetic analysis of large ribosomal subunit (LSU) sequences.

Frequencies of genes for coat colour and horns in Nordic cattle breeds.

Gene frequencies of coat colour and horn types were assessed in 22 Nordic cattle breeds in a project aimed at establishing genetic profiles of the breeds under study. The coat colour loci yielding information on genetic variation were: extension, agouti, spotting, brindle, dun dilution and colour sided. The polled locus was assessed for two alleles.

Identification of a gene cluster for the mevalonate pathway in Lactobacillus helveticus.

Three Lactobacillus helveticus 53/7 genes essential for the biosynthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate and the gene coding for a putative carotenoid biosynthesis protein were for the first time identified from lactic acid bacteria. The deduced amino acid sequences of the mevalonate pathway gene products share significant identity with corresponding proteins of a few gram-positive cocci and Streptomyces species.

Colostral whey concentrate supplement increases complement activity in the sera of neonatal calves.

We evaluated the effect of a commercial bovine colostral whey on the complement-mediated immune responses of calves. Two groups of neonatal calves were fed, in addition to whole milk (WM) and pooled colostrum (PC), different amounts of a commercial immunoglobulin concentrate made from pooled colostral whey (Ig-C) for the first two feedings post natum. The control group was fed WM and PC only.

Effect of heterogeneous digesta chemical composition on the accuracy of measurements of fiber flow in dairy cows.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of unrepresentative sampling of digesta particulate matter entering the omasal canal on the accuracy of fiber flow measurements. The experimental design comprised one period, one diet, and three cows as experimental units. Within each cow, the physical and chemical composition of digesta particulate matter was assessed at seven sites within the digestive tract.

Effects of preservation method and beta-glucanase supplementation on ileal amino acid digestibility and feeding value of barley for poultry.

1. Effects of preservation method (drying or air-tight storage of whole grain and ensiling of rolled high-moisture grain) and beta-glucanase supplementation (Econase) on apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities and metabolisable energy content of barley were evaluated with Ross broiler chickens. In addition, the effect of barley preservation method was assessed using Leghorn cockerels.

Ratio of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive nuclei to total cell number is higher in day 7 than in day 8 vitrified in vitro-produced bovine embryos.

The aim of the present study was to find a reliable functional criterion for the evaluation of the proliferation potential of bovine in vitro-produced embryos. We used immunocytochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) combined with propidium iodide (PI) staining and subsequent confocal laser scanning microscopy together with routine morphological evaluation under a stereomicroscope to study fresh Day 7, 8, and 9, and cryopreserved Day 7 and 8 embryos. The ratio of PCNA/PI-positive nuclei was equal in fresh Day 7 and Day 8 embryos and significantly lower in Day 9 embryos.

Microsatellite diversity associated with ecological factors in Hordeum spontaneum populations in Israel.

Microsatellite diversity at 18 loci was analysed in 94 individual plants of 10 wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum (C. Koch) Thell., populations sampled from Israel across a southward transect of increasing aridity.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis in cattle: a review.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is reviewed and novel fields where it may be applied are investigated. Technical advances of PGD in cattle embryos have already enabled its integration as a part of the MOET (Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer) breeding system. PGD for well-defined selection targets can enhance cattle breeding and embryo trade.

Contents of vitamins, mineral elements, and some phenolic compounds in cultivated mushrooms.

The aim of the study was to determine the contents of mineral elements (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, and Se), vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(12), C, D, folates, and niacin), and certain phenolic compounds (flavonoids, lignans, and phenolic acids) in the cultivated mushrooms Agaricus bisporus/white, Agaricus bisporus/brown, Lentinus edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus. Selenium, toxic heavy metals (Cd, Pb), and other mineral elements were analyzed by ETAAS, ICP-MS, and ICP methods, respectively; vitamins were detected by microbiological methods (folates, niacin, and vitamin B(12)) or HPLC methods (other vitamins), and phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC (flavonoids) or GC--MS methods (lignans and phenolic acids). Cultivated mushrooms were found to be good sources of vitamin B(2), niacin, and folates, with contents varying in the ranges 1.

Developmental kinetics of in vitro produced bovine embryos: the effect of sex, glucose and exposure to time-lapse environment.

In this study, a simple time-lapse video recording system was used to compare developmental kinetics of female and male bovine embryos produced in vitro. Following embryo sex determination, the timing of each cleavage up to the 4-cell stage was compared between the sexes from the videotapes after culture in the presence and absence of glucose. In the second experiment, the consequences of exposure to a time-lapse video recording (TL) environment were studied by culturing embryos further until day 7 in an incubator, followed by collection and sex determination of morulae and blastocysts.

Determination of flavonoids in plant material by HPLC with diode-array and electro-array detections.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with in-line connected diode-array (DAD) and electro-array (EC) detection to identify and quantify 17 flavonoids in plant-derived foods is described. Catechins were extracted from the samples using ethyl acetate, and quantification of these compounds was performed with the EC detector. Other flavonoids were quantified with DAD after acid hydrolysis.

Particulate phosphorus and sediment in surface runoff and drainflow from clayey soils.

Recent work has shown that a significant portion of the total loss of phosphorus (P) from agricultural soils may occur via subsurface drainflow. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of different P forms in surface and subsurface runoff, and to assess the potential algal availability of particulate phosphorus (PP) in runoff waters. The material consisted of 91 water-sample pairs (surface runoff vs.

Bovine milk antibodies for health.

The immunoglobulins of bovine colostrum provide the major antimicrobial protection against microbial infections and confer a passive immunity to the newborn calf until its own immune system matures. The concentration in colostrum of specific antibodies against pathogens can be raised by immunising cows with these pathogens or their antigens. Immune milk products are preparations made of such hyperimmune colostrum or antibodies enriched from it.

Milk immunoglobulins and complement factors.

The importance of colostrum for the growth and health of newborn offspring is well known. In bovine colostrum, the antibody (immunoglobulin) complement system provides a major antimicrobial effect against a wide range of microbes and confers passive immunity until the calf's own immune system has matured. Bovine serum and lacteal secretions contain three major classes of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgM and IgA.

Expression of six peptidases from Lactobacillus helveticus in Lactococcus lactis.

For development of novel starter strains with improved proteolytic properties, the ability of Lactococcus lactis to produce Lactobacillus helveticus aminopeptidase N (PepN), aminopeptidase C (PepC), X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (PepX), proline iminopeptidase (PepI), prolinase (PepR), and dipeptidase (PepD) was studied by introducing the genes encoding these enzymes into L. lactis MG1363 and its derivatives. According to Northern analyses and enzyme activity measurements, the L.

Comparison of hay and silage for pregnant and lactating Finnish Landrace ewes.

A comparison of conserving timothy/meadow fescue/meadow grass as silage or hay was conducted with Finnish Landrace ewes. Intake of hay (H), silage (S) and hay/silage (HS), and the performance of 30 Finnish Landrace ewes carrying twins, triplets and quadruplets and suckling either twin or triplet lambs was measured during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy and during the first 6 weeks of lactation. The dry matter (DM) intake of HS was lower (p<0.

Responses to graded postruminal doses of histidine in dairy cows fed grass silage diets.

Five Finnish Ayrshire cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment designed to study the effects of graded doses of postruminal His infusion on milk production, arterial concentrations, and mammary uptakes of plasma amino acids (AA) as well as utilization of added His. Grass silage (16.9% CP) was given ad libitum with 8 kg of cereal-based concentrate per day (11.

Metabolic engineering of Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32 for production of pure L-(+)-lactic acid.

Expression of D-(-)-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) and L-(+)-LDH genes (ldhD and ldhL, respectively) and production of D-(-)- and L-(+)-lactic acid were studied in Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32. In order to develop a host for production of pure L-(+)-isomer of lactic acid, two ldhD-negative L. helveticus CNRZ32 strains were constructed using gene replacement.

Effects of space allowance and earthen floor on welfare-related physiological and behavioural responses in male blue foxes.

Welfare-related physiological and behavioural responses were studied in farm-bred male blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Three different-sized cages (80-cm long [CL80], 120-cm long [CL120], and 240-cm long [CL240]; each 105-cm wide x 70-cm high) with wire-mesh floors and one enlarged cage (CL240E) with both wire-mesh floor (240-cm long x 105-cm wide x 70-cm high) and earthen floor (80-cm long x 105-cm wide x 70-cm high) were compared. N = 30 males for each group.

Extension of anther culture to several genotypes of cultivated oats.

 To improve plant regeneration from oat anther culture, the basic medium, hormonal supplements and genotype effect were studied. Six of the 14 genotypes tested regenerated plants. Cultivars Kolbu, Katri, Stout and naked oat Lisbeth produced green plants, cultivars Virma and line OT 257 only albinos.

Comparison of in-line connected diode array and electrochemical detectors in the high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of coenzymes Q(9) and Q(10) in food materials.

In-line connected electrochemical (EC) and diode array (DAD) detectors were compared in the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) analysis of coenzymes Q(9) and Q(10) in some food materials (beef steak, beef heart, Baltic herring fillet, and rye flour). Coenzymes Q(9) and Q(10) were extracted from the samples using a 5:1 n-hexane-ethanol mixture. Coefficient of variation (CV%) of quadruplicate or quintuplicate determined samples for coenzymes Q(9) and Q(10) was <10 by both EC detector and DAD.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory properties of whey protein digests: concentration and characterization of active peptides.

The aim of this study was to identify whey-derived peptides with angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The bovine whey proteins alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin were hydrolysed with pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatin, elastase or carboxypeptidase alone and in combination. The total hydrolysates were fractionated in a two step ultrafiltration process, first with a 30 kDa membrane and then with a 1 kDa membrane.

Determination of reticulo-rumen and whole-stomach digestion in lactating cows by omasal canal or duodenal sampling.

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated multiparous Finnish Ayrshire cows were fed on diets consisting of grass silage (0.6 kg/kg DM) and one of four concentrates: barley, barley + urea, barley + rapeseed meal and barley + rapeseed cake. The objective of the present study was to compare omasal canal and duodenal digesta flows.