No abstract

A thermophilic fungus belonging to the Deuteromyces, having pectinase and xylanase activities, was grown at its optimum temperature of 55°C. It grew over a wide pH range of 4 to 10, being optimal at 6. The fungus grew well on modified Mandels' medium in which cellulose was substituted either with hemicellulose or pectin. With citrus pectin as carbon source, 121 units/ml of pectinase activity were obtained and with larch wood xylan as carbon source, 83 units/ml of xylanase activity were obtained.

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Pedigree and performance of 878 Nili-Ravi buffaloes progeny of 38 sires maintained for 47 years were recorded at Livestock Production Institute, Bahadurnagar, Okara, Pakistan. The phenotypic correlations of age at first calving with lifetime milk yield, productive life, herd life and coefficient of reproductive ability were negative and significant. However, the phenotypic correlation (0.03) between age at first calving and longevity was non-significant. The genetic correlations of age at first calving with lifetime milk production, productive life, herd life, longevity and the coefficient of reproductive ability were -0.52, -0.41, -0.44, -0.11 and -0.60, respectively. These negative and significant genetic correlations indicated that reduction in age at first calving in buffaloes would help to improve lifetime milk yield, longevity and reproductive ability as a correlated response.