Food preferences and consumption parameters of Cabbage butterfly,Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on different kale genotypes

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Food preferences and consumption parameters of Pieris brassicae larvae were carried out on 17 kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) genotypes....     

Different Eucalyptus Species Show Different Mechanisms of Tolerance to Salinity and Salinity × Hypoxia

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity and oxygen deficiency stress on growth and leaf ionic composition of three Eucalyptus species [E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis (Silverton), and E. camaldulensis (Local)]. Species were grown with control (no NaCl) and salinity (150 mol m^?3 NaCl) under hypoxic and non-hypoxic conditions in nutrient solution with five replications following CRD. Species differed significantly in their response to salinity and hypoxia. Absolute shoot dry matter was significantly better in E. camaldulensis (Silverton) in salinity and in E. camaldulensis (Local) in saline hypoxic treatment. E. tereticornis was the most sensitive species to salinity and salinity × hypoxia in the root environment. Sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) concentrations were significantly lower in E. camaldulensis (Local) in non-hypoxic saline treatment compared to the other two species. E. camaldulensis (Silverton) seems to have better tissue compartmentalization, whereas E. camaldulensis (local) seems to have better exclusion of Na⁺ at the root level.     

BORON NUTRIPRIMING IMPROVES THE GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Boron (B) is one of the important micronutrient required for rice in particular during reproductive growth. A laboratory study was conducted to explore the potential of boron nutripriming in improving the germination and early seedling growth of rice. Seeds of fine grain aromatic rice cultivar Super Basmati were primed in aerated B solution (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5% w/v) while untreated dry seeds were taken as control. Seed priming in 0.001 and 0.1% B solutions improved the time to 50% germination, germination energy, final germination percentage, mean germination time, and germination index. Beyond this concentration either there was no effect or an adverse effect on rice seeds. In the cases of radicle length, plumule length and secondary roots priming more diluted B solution, i.e., 0.001% proved better than rest of the treatments as suppression in these three traits was observed by other B treatments than control. Seed priming in relatively concentrated B solution, i.e., 0.5% completely suppressed the germination and growth.     

VARIATION IN PHOSPHORUS EFFICIENCY AMONG BRASSICA CULTIVARS I: INTERNAL UTILIZATION AND PHOSPHORUS REMOBILIZATION

Plants have adapted a number of mechanisms to cope with widespread phosphorus (P) deficiency in arable lands. Crop species and even cultivars differ widely in one or more of these adaptive mechanisms hence, in P efficiency. Identification of these mechanisms is pre-requisite for long term breeding programs. Two independent experiments were conducted to study the possible mechanisms of P efficiency in Brassica cultivars. Eight Brassica cultivars (‘B.S.A.’, ‘Toria’, ‘Toria Selection’, ‘Brown Raya’, ‘Peela Raya’, ‘Dunkeld’, ‘Rainbow’, and ‘CON-1’) were selected on the basis of differences in growth under P deficiency from preliminary experiment. In the first experiment, cultivars were grown for 40 days in sand supplied either with sparingly soluble phosphate rock (PR) or soluble mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP). Cultivars differed significantly (P<0.05) for biomass production, P contents and P use efficiency. Low P availability in PR treatment resulted in significantly lower dry weights and P contents than those grown with MAP. The cultivars ‘Rainbow’, ‘Brown Raya’ and ‘Dunkeld’ accumulated more biomass (3.2 g/pot) and P contents (3.0 mg/pot) than other cultivars when grown with PR. Root dry weight was significantly correlated with shoot dry weight, shoot P content and total P content (r > 0.65) indicating significance of improved root growth for P acquisition. While in the second experiment cultivars were grown with adequate P for 30 days and then P was withdrawn from the nutrient solution by replacing fresh P free nutrient solution for 10 days. Induced P deficiency increased P contents in young leaves by two folds indicating remobilization of P from older leaves and shoot. Nonetheless cultivars varied for remobilization but differences in P remobilization could not explain the differences in P utilization efficiency among cultivars. Hence further experimentation to study root morphology, P uptake, and organic acid exudation by these cultivars in relation to P deficiency is recommended.     

Effect of short-term supply of farmyard manure on maize growth and soil parameters in pot culture

Farmyard manure (FYM) improves various soil parameters and to a large extent, the availability of water and nutrient to crops when it is applied to the soil. This study aims to further investigate the short-term effects of different levels of FYM on maize plants and soil parameters. Maize plants grown in pot culture were treated with no FYM (control), recommended NPK (inorganic fertilizers), and FYM at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 t ha^?1 along with recommended NPK, and the cultures were analyzed 8 weeks after germination. Soil bulk density and soil pH decreased with the increasing levels of FYM, whereas soil porosity, soil organic matter (SOM), soil water content, plant height, root and shoot yield, and NPK uptake of maize were increased compared with the control or recommended NPK, respectively. The present results indicate that short-term application of higher FYM levels improves soil properties. Furthermore, the application of FYM at only higher rates significantly increases the nutrient uptake of maize plants due to improved soil properties. The supply of different amounts of nutrients increases biomass and nutrient uptake in plants.     

Risks factors associated with subclinical mastitis in water buffaloes in Pakistan

The present study was carried to ascertain the association of various risk factors of mastitis in water buffaloes. The milk samples from buffaloes were collected and screened through California Mastitis Test for the presence of mastitis. In the present study, 15.2 % prevalence of subclinical mastitis was recorded both at the government (13.4 %) and private farms (15.5 %). The chi-square analysis showed significantly higher involvement of the right rear and front quarters. The analysis of variance technique showed significant difference in live body weight, milk yield, teat end to floor distance (P?<?0.001), udder depth, teat length, and teat diameter in mastitic and healthy buffaloes. The frequency analysis also revealed significant difference between various groups including lactation stage, teat and/or udder pathology, teat shape, and udder shape (P?<?0.001). The logistic regression analysis revealed significant positive association of mastitis with milk leakage, live body weight, milk yield, parity, calf suckling, pendulous udder, number of attendants at the farm, dirty hind legs, and udder depth.     

Impact properties of glass-fiber/polypropylene composites: The influence of fiber loading, specimen geometry and test temperature

Glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were compounded with a twin-screw extruder and injection molded. Fiber length distribution study showed that more fiber degradation occurred during processing of the composites with higher fiber loading. Dynamic mechanical analysis carried out showed that magnitudes of storage and loss modulus of composites are improves with the presence of the glass fiber in the system. The incorporation of fibers into the composites has slightly shifted the glass transition temperature to lower values. On the other hand, the presence of the glass fiber reduces the magnitude of tan δ at α-transition dramatically due to the strengthening effect by the fibers. From impact test, it was found that increment in glass fiber loading leads to an increase in peak load, critical strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor indicating the improvement in the material toughness. However, there was no significant change observed in fracture energy. With respect to increasing in specimen geometry, despite an improvement in peak load and fracture energy of the impact specimen, the critical strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor values were decreased. On the other hand, increase in test temperature resulted in reduction of peak load and critical stress intensity factor due to increment in material ductility, whereby fracture energy and critical strain energy release rate improved.     

Control of Sugarcane Pyrilla and Whitefly by Aerial Application of Emulsifiable Concentrates at Ultra-Low-Volume

Abstract

Large scale field trials were undertaken with emulsifiable concentrates of different organophosphorus insecticides to control Pyrilla and whitefly, two serious pests of the sugarcane crop in the Peshawar Division of West Pakistan. All emulsifiable concentrates excepting Dimecron were applied in concentrate form without diluting with water. Of the seven insecticides tested against Pyrilla adults and nymphs, Dimecron, Lebaycid, Nexion (Bromophos) and Malathion gave superior control. In the case of whitefly, Dimecron, Lebaycid and Malathion gave almost equal mortality of adults and 3rd instar nymphs when applied at 8, 8 and 17 oz a.i./ac respectively, but much higher dosages would be required to get satisfactory control of the 4th instar nymphs. The cost of operations for the ultra-low-volume technique (excluding cost of insecticide) was 66% less than for the conventional method.     

秸秆腐熟剂对苦豆子沤肥氮、磷、钾含量及动态变化的影响

[目的]研究苦豆子沤肥不同时期基本养分含量的变化及秸秆腐熟剂对苦豆子沤肥的影响.[方法]向苦豆子沤肥中添加一定量的秸秆腐熟剂,以未添加秸秆腐熟剂的沤肥为对照,每隔15 d取样,测定不同时期沤肥液的氮,磷,钾含量.[结果]添加秸秆腐熟剂处理沤肥液的全氮最高含量为121.03g/kg,比未添加秸秆腐熟剂的处理提前30 d出现,全磷最高含量为14.13 g/kg,比未添加秸秆腐熟剂的处理高出86.17;,提前15 d出现.两个不同处理全钾最高含量之间没有显著性差异.[结论]在整个沤肥过程中添加秸秆腐熟剂的处理苦豆子沤肥液总磷量较高,全氮、全钾含量的影响不大,但全氮、磷、钾最高含量比未添加秸秆腐熟剂的处理提前出现.说明向苦豆子沤肥中添加一定量的秸秆腐熟剂可加快沤肥进程以及缩短沤肥周期和养分浸提时间.