Nutrient utilisation and growth performance of broiler chickens fed standard or moderately reduced dietary protein diets with and without β-mannanase supplementation.

The use of reduced protein diets in broiler chicken production provides potential benefits for performance and environmental footprint of production. The effectiveness of β-Mannanase supplementation in wheat and soy based standard protein (SP) and reduced protein (RP) diets was tested for growth performance, nutrient utilisation and selected intestinal gene expression of broiler chickens. In a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, two main factors included dietary protein (standard and reduced protein) and β-Mannanase supplementation (with or without).

Linking phenology, harvest index and genetics to improve chickpea grain yield.

Understanding phenology and its regulation is central for the agronomic adaptation of chickpea. We grew 24 chickpea genotypes in 12 environments to analyse: the environmental and genotypic drivers of phenology; associations between phenology and yield; and phenotypes associated with allelic variants of three flowering related candidate loci: CaELF3a; a cluster of three FT genes on chromosome 3; and an orthologue of the floral promoter GIGANTEA on chromosome 4. A simple model with 3 genotype-specific parameters explained the differences in flowering response to daylength.

Improving the efficacy of progesterone pessary treatment for synchrony of estrus in the sheep.

Treatment with intra-vaginal progesterone pessaries for synchrony of estrus is essential in fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) of sheep. Globally, the conventional 14-day pessary treatment is the mainstay of commercial AI programs. It has remained largely unchanged for many decades even though it is associated with variable patterns of estrus and often disappointing pregnancy rates.

Incorporating stressor interactions into spatially explicit cumulative impact assessments.

Human-induced stressors are impacting the oceans and reducing the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. The many stressors affecting marine environments do not act in isolation. However, their cumulative impact is difficult to predict.

The causal arrows from genotype, environment and management to plant phenotype are double headed.

Cause-and-effect arrows are drawn from genotype (G), environment (E), and agronomic management (M) to the plant phenotype in crop stands in a useful but incomplete framework that informs research questions, experimental design, statistical analysis, data interpretation, modelling, and breeding and agronomic applications. Here we focus on the overlooked bidirectionality of these arrows. The phenotype-to-genotype arrow includes increased mutation rates in stressed phenotypes, relative to basal rates.

Coenzyme Q10 Improves the Post-Thaw Sperm Quality in Dwarf Surfclam .

Previous studies have shown that post-thaw sperm performance is affected by multiple stressors during cryopreservation, such as those induced by physical, chemical, mechanical and physiological changes. One of these is the balance disturbance between the antioxidant defense system and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This study investigated whether this disturbance could be alleviated by the addition of different antioxidants to cryoprotective solution [8% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in 1 µm filtered seawater] optimized for the sperm in dwarf surf clam , the model bivalve species used in many different types of studies.

Effects of feeding a negative dietary cation and anion difference diet to twin-bearing Merino ewes in late gestation on parturition outcomes.

In Australia, dystocia is responsible for 53% of lamb mortalities, and calcium deficiencies may be a contributing factor. A negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) diet can increase calcium concentrations in sheep. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a negative DCAD diet on metabolic state, mineral status, and parturition duration in ewes compared with those fed a positive DCAD diet.

Metal concentrations in fish, crabs, and bivalve molluscs from marine waters adjacent to a multi-metals smelter and refinery.

Metal concentrations were determined in tissues of finfish, crabs, and bivalve molluscs collected from marine waters near Port Pirie, South Australia, the site of a long-standing multi-metals smelter and refinery. A general trend of tissue metal concentrations in order of highest to lowest was observed in bivalves > crabs > finfish. A lead concentration of 158 ± 6.

Negative dietary cation and anion difference supplementation of twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture in late gestation did not affect lamb growth or survival.

Each year in Australia, 53% of lamb mortalities are attributed to dystocia, with subclinical maternal calcium deficiencies likely contributing to dystocia rates. A negative dietary cation and anion difference (DCAD) diet has increased circulating calcium in sheep. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementing twin-bearing, grazing ewes with a negative DCAD partial mixed ration (PMR) during late gestation on ewe calcium and magnesium concentrations and subsequent lamb growth and survival.

Interplay between drought and plant viruses co-infecting melon plants.

Drought affects crops directly, and indirectly by affecting the activity of insect pests and the transmitted pathogens. Here, we established an experiment with well-watered or water-stressed melon plants, later single infected with either cucumber mosaic virus (CMV: non-persistent), or cucurbit aphid-borne yellow virus (CABYV: persistent), or both CMV and CABYV, and mock-inoculated control. We tested whether i) the relation between CMV and CABYV is additive, and ii) the relationship between water stress and virus infection is antagonistic, i.

Using RNA sequencing to unravel molecular changes underlying the defense response in chickpea induced by Phytophthora medicaginis.

Phytophthora root rot (PRR), caused by Phytophthora medicaginis, is a major soil-borne disease of chickpea in Australia. Breeding for PRR resistance is an effective approach to avoid significant yield loss. Genetic resistance has been identified in cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and in the wild relative C.

A Quantitative Trait Locus with a Major Effect on Root-Lesion Nematode Resistance in Barley.

Although the root-lesion nematode is known to affect barley ( L.), there have been no reports on the genetic control of resistance in barley. In this research, resistance was assessed for a panel of 46 barley mapping parents and for two mapping populations (Arapiles/Franklin and Denar/Baudin).

Preweaning Purified Fucoidan Drench: Effects on Growth, Immune Response, and Intestinal Morphology in Weaned Piglets.

Weaning stress imposes considerable physiological challenges on piglets, often manifesting in intestinal disturbances, such as inflammation and compromised barrier function, ultimately affecting growth and health outcomes. While conventional interventions, including antimicrobials, have effectively mitigated these sequelae, concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance necessitate the exploration of alternatives. Fucoidan, derived from brown seaweed, offers promise due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Developing isotopic proxies to reconstruct the metabolic rates and thermal histories of octopus.

Understanding an animal's metabolic rate and thermal history is pivotal for ecological research. Recent studies have proposed the use of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes (δC and δO) in biogenic carbonates as proxies of metabolic rate and experienced temperature, respectively, to overcome the challenges of directly measuring these data in the field. Our study represents the first experimental investigation to develop δC and δO proxies in octopus.

Genetics of phenological development and implications for seed yield in lentil.

Understanding phenology, its genetics and agronomic consequences, is critical for crop adaptation. Here we aim to (i) characterize lentil response to photoperiod with a focus on five loci: the lentil ELF3 orthologue Sn, two loci linked to clusters of lentil FT orthologues, and two loci without candidates in chromosomes 2 and 5 (Experiment 1: 36 lines, short and long days in a phytotron), and (ii) establish the phenology-yield relationship (Experiment 2: 25 lines, 11 field environments). A vintage perspective, where we quantify time trends in phenotype over three decades of breeding, links both experiments.

Projected ocean temperatures impair key proteins used in vision of octopus hatchlings.

Global warming is one of the most significant and widespread effects of climate change. While early life stages are particularly vulnerable to increasing temperatures, little is known about the molecular processes that underpin their capacity to adapt to temperature change during early development. Using a quantitative proteomics approach, we investigated the effects of thermal stress on octopus embryos.

Sensitivity of Plasmopara viticola to selected fungicide groups and the occurrence of the G143A mutant in Australian grapevine isolates.

Background: Grapevine downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, is an economically important disease in Australia and worldwide. The application of fungicides is the main tool to control this disease. Frequent fungicide applications can lead to the selection of resistant P.

Strong philopatry in an estuarine-dependent fish.

Understanding fish movement is critical in determining the spatial scales in which to appropriately manage wild populations. Genetic markers provide a natural tagging approach to assess the degree of gene flow and population connectivity across a species distribution. We investigated the genetic structure of black bream across its entire distribution range in Australia, as well as regional scale gene flow across south-eastern Australia by undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the populations in estuaries across the region.