Fecal calprotectin is a noninvasive marker of gut inflammation and has been widely utilized in human gastrointestinal diagnostics. This marker, however, has not been extensively utilized in porcine samples. The aim of this study was to optimize a protocol for the extraction of porcine fecal calprotectin, and to the best of our knowledge this is the first study to be conducted in this regard. Freshly collected swine fecal samples were used in this study. We determined the variability of three commercial ELISA assays in the recovery of porcine fecal calprotectin. We further studied the effect of dilution factor and roller shaker homogenization on the yield of calprotectin from swine fecal samples. Calprotectin recovery was significantly different(p<0.05) across the three commercial assays with MBS033848 having a greater recovery compared to DAEF-012 and calprest. Fecal calprotectin yield increased with an increase in dilution factor with maximum recovery at 1:250. Furthermore, homogenization of fecal sample extracts using a roller shaker for tubes for 30 min led to a 30.75% relative increase in calprotectin yield. Further increase in shaking time(at 60 min) led to a reduced calprotectin recovery. Calprotectin recovery ratio was 130.8% and 101.4% at 30 min and 60 min homogenization respectively. In our conclusion, we observed that various factors affect the recovery of porcine fecal calprotectin, and therefore the researcher should double check certain parameters in regard to the type of kit, the dilution factor and homogenization time if reliable and reproducible results are to be obtained. Results of the present study provide useful information on a non-invasive protocol to veterinarians and researchers in examining and monitoring swine gut healthusing the fecal calprotectin.

This study was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors that affect the reproductive performance of cows at the Monirampur upazila in Jessore district of Bangladesh. A total of 224 cows were brought to the upazila livestock hospital for artificial insemination (AI). The cows were inseminated between 12 to 18 hours from the onset of estrus and data was obtained from the owner. Out of 224 cows, 133 became pregnant and 91 were non pregnant. In this study, the overall pregnancy rate was 59.29%. Among the age variability, the highest pregnancy rate (70.27%) was at the age of 4 years old. In case of breed variation, the highest pregnancy rate was observed in local breed (69.07%) compared with other crossbred cows. Hence the breed variations significantly influence the conception rate of cows. According to the parity, we found that the pregnancy rate was increasing with their parity but decreasing after 4th parity. The highest conception rate was observed in 3rd parity (67.74%) which was significantly higher than that of heifers (Parity-0). Here we also found that the types of bull semen used for AI had no significant effect for pregnancy rate. The skills of AI technician for AI to cows were significantly affecting the pregnancy rate. However, this study is not enough for rating and comment about the reproduction performance of cows. Therefore, further extensive study is needed for rating and recommendation for the cattle up gradation at that particular area.

농진청에서 수행하고 있는 아프리카 국제협력프로그램인KAFACI 사업의 일환으로 우간다 등 8개국에 ‘통일형 다수성벼 품종개발’ 사업을 추진하고 있다. 이를 위해 아프리카에서정상적인 생육과 수량을 나타내는 다수성 통일형 품종인 밀양23호와 아프리카의 재래종인 O. glaberrima를 이용하여 밀양23호의 유전적배경을 보유한 근동질 계통인 BC4F1을 육성하고, 약배양을 통해 유전적 고정계통을 육성하였다. 이 중 50개계통을 우간다에서 생물검정을 실시한 결과, 아프리카에서 문제시되는 Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV), Bacterial LeafStreak(BLS), 흰잎마름병 및 도열병에 복합저항성인 계통으로판명되었다. 특히 RYMV에 대한 저항성은 저항성원이 결여되어 있는 병으로 본 연구를 통해 육성한 계통들은 향후 아프리카에 적응하는 내병성 다수성 품종개발에 유용한 재료를 활용 될 것으로 생각된다.

The study was carried out to assess the production performances of Japanese quail parent stock raised under open housing system and the study was conducted in a local farm with 2000 Japanese parent stock quail birds (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Observed body weight gain was recorded in each weekend up to 7 weeks of their age; birds gained weight 15.73, 31.45, 47.20, 90.80, 125.27, 153.14 and 175.20 grams, respectively. There have been observed sharp decline of fertility and hatchability of birds with increase of their age. Optimum fertility was recorded at third week and optimum hatchability at fifth week of their age. Average flock uniformity was found 83.68%. The hen day egg production of the flock was recorded 81, 83, 85, 86, 89, 89, 89, 89 and 88% in each weekend, respectively. It may therefore be concluded that Japanese quail parent stock performs well under open housing system in Bangladesh and future study can be taken to better understand their production performances.

New QTLs were identified for high grain yield with long panicle in rice. A total of 137 F15 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Dasanbyeo (Tongil) and TR22183 (japonica), together with the parents were evaluated for 16 agronomic traits at IRRI in dry and wet seasons under different phosphorus (P) and irrigation conditions. A linkage map was constructed using 236 polymorphic markers in 384-plex Bead Xpress indica-japonica single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) platform. P and water effects were significant in both wet and dry seasons. Both parents and RILs showed varying degree of sensitivities to scarcities in water and phosphorus in terms of panicle length. Collocating with 20 yield-related QTLs, the panicle QTLs on chromosomes 1 (pl01) ,2 (pl02), 9 (pl09), and 11 (pl11) under low P and rainfed conditions were identified. RILs with TR22183 allele at pl11 showed longer panicle length under low P input rainfed condition in dry and wet seasons. The whole-genome sequences of the two varieties are being compared to design the molecular markers for fine-mapping and candidate gene identification. Based on Nipponbare MSU 7.0 annotation, a total of 1464 genes with predicted function were identified within the four QTL regions. Candidate genes identified in other studies for QTLs under low P and water conditions, such as calmodulin and dehydrin genes, were targeted for designing molecular markers for fine-mapping and expression analysis. Pyramiding the panicle length QTLs correlating with yield QTLs will provide an opportunity of improving yield traits.

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) with pungent (chili, hot pepper) and non-pungent (sweet pepper, bell pepper, paprika, capsicum) fruits are important spice and vegetable crops worldwide, especially in many developing countries of Asia and Africa. Among the five cultivated species of the genus Capsicum, C. annuum L. var. annuum is the most widely cultivated; over the past 25 years, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center has focused on improving this commonly grown species. Other domesticated species also have been used as resistance sources against biotic stresses in breeding programs to improve C. annuum (for example, C. chinense and C. baccatum resistant to anthracnose). The major focus of the Center’s pepper breeding activities has been to identify and use host plant resistance to many biotic stresses, including viral (Cucumber mosaic virus, Chili veinal mottle virus, Potato virus Y, Tomato mosaic virus, geminiviruses), fungal (Phytophthora wilt, anthracnose, mildews) and bacterial (bacterial wilt, bacterial spot) diseases. The Center disseminates seeds of improved lines to cooperators in developing countries (usually public and private sector breeders), who make use of the germplasm in various ways: (i) direct release of supplied breeding lines as varieties through national varietal release procedures, (ii) reselection among the supplied populations according to local trait preferences and subsequent release as new varieties, (iii) use of supplied materials (possibly after further selection) as parental lines in hybrid breeding, and (iv) use in crosses in breeding programs. Examples from these categories will be presented.