Studies on the mode of action of asulam,aminotriazole and glyphosate in Equisetum arvense L. (field horsetail). II: The metabolism of [14C]asulam, [14C]aminotriazole and [14C]glyphosate

The metabolism of [¹⁴C]asulam (methyl 4-aminophenylsulphonylcarbamate), [¹⁴C] aminotriazole (1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylamine) and [¹⁴C]glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) were assessed in Equisetum arvense L. (field horsetail). Following application of the test herbicides (4mg?0.3 °Ci herbicide/shoot) to the shoots of 2-year-old pot-grown plants, the total recovery of ¹⁴C-label after 1 week and 8 weeks was high for all three herbicides (>80-0% of applied radioactivity). Asulam was persistent (>69-7% of recovered radioactivity) in both shoots and rhizomes. Sulphanilamide, a hydrolysis product of asulam, accounted for the remainder of the recovered radioactivity. Aminotriazole showed evidence of conjugation in shoots and rhizomes. The principal ¹⁴C-labelled component in shoots was composed of high proportions of aminotriazole (>76-3%) together with the metabolites: X (ninhydrin positive), β-(3-amino-1,2,4-triazolyl-1-)α-alanine, Y (diazotization positive) and various unidentified compounds. Rhizomes generally contained lower proportions of intact aminotriazole (>59.4%) together with the metabolites X,Y and unidentified compounds. The proportion of aminotriazole did not decrease with time in shoots or rhizomes; however, the ratio of metabolite X: Y moved in favour of Y as the interval after treatment increased. Glyphosate was extensively metabolised in shoots and rhizomes to yield aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and various unidentified compounds. Differential metabolism appears to be one of the factors which may govern the persistence and toxicity of the test herbicides in E. arvense.     

Responses in growth,food intake and food conversion efficiency to different dietary protein concentrations in meat‐type lines of Japanese quail

1. A total of 360 Japanese quail of 4 commercial meat‐type lines and two diet treatments (260 and 216 g/kg or 238 and 195 g/kg of crude protein (CP) in the starter and grower diet, respectively) were used.

2. The positive effect of a high CP diet on body weight was significant only for the first 4 weeks after hatching.

3. The mean age at inflection point of the growth curve (t ⁺) across lines and sexes was 1.4 d (0.6 to 2.8 d within line/sex groups) earlier for quail fed on a high CP diet than in quail receiving a low CP diet. The inflection (y ⁺) and asymptotic (A) weights were similar under both dietary protein concentrations. Nevertheless, the shape of the growth curve, characterised by the ratio y⁺1A and parameter of the maturing rate k, was significantly influenced by diet.

4. A higher food intake and less efficient food conversion were found for quail fed on a high CP diet in the period from 15 to 28 d of age.

5. The fattening traits such as body weight, cumulative food intake and food conversion, were not affected by dietary CP content at the age of 5 weeks.

6. The effects of line on body weight, food intake and food conversion are discussed.     

Crossbreeding effects for body weight and carcase traits in Pekin duck

1. Three sire lines of Pekin duck, three dam lines and 9 crosses between these two groups were tested in replicated tests from 1987 to 1991. Body weight at the age of 7 weeks (n = 5189), carcase percentage, percentage of abdominal fat and thickness of breast muscles were recorded (n = 1432 for carcase traits).

2. The data were analysed by linear models. All models contained the factors test and sex. When analysing only crosses, general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA respectively) were included as well as their interactions with the test. Using the complete data set (lines and crosses), direct genetic and heterotic effects were considered.

3. The factors test and sex were significant in both data sets for all traits.

4. For body weight, all genetic factors were significant. The average heterosis was 65 g ± 9 g (2.2%); the highest observed heterosis was 7.7%.

5. For carcase percentage, the heterosis was always negative (up to — 2.1%), whereas in abdominal fat, a desirable negative heterosis was observed only in one cross. No significant heterotic or combining ability effects were observed in the thickness of breast muscles.

6. Significant interactions between at least one genetic factor and test were found in all traits.

7. The relative importance of GCA and SCA, possible sources of confounding estimates of genetic effects, the importance of heterotic effects and genotype × environment interactions are discussed.     

Rückstände von Carbendazim und anderen Fungiziden im Bienenhonig aufgrund der Blütespritzung von Winterraps

Zusammenfassung: 91 hessische Rapshonige der Erntejahre 2000 bis 2002 wurden auf Rückstände der zur Blütespritzung zugelassenen Fungizide Carbendazim, Iprodion, Metconazol, Tebuconazol und Vinclozolin untersucht. Dabei traten Tebuconazol und Vinclozolin vereinzelt in Mengen bis max. 0,018 mg/kg auf, Carbendazim hingegen in 35,2 % aller Proben und in Gehalten von bis zu 0,118 mg/kg. Im Mai 2002 wurden zwei isoliert gelegene Rapsflächen (9,8 bzw. 5,5 ha) während der Vollblüte mit 1 l/ha Derosal^® (360 g/l Carbendazim) bzw. mit 1,5 l/ha Folicur^® (251,2 g/l Tebuconazol) gespritzt. In jeweils sechs Honigproben von unmittelbar an den Flächen aufgestellten Völkern wurden Rückstandsgehalte von durchschnittlich 0,145 mg/kg (0,061 – 0,227 mg/kg) Carbendazim bzw. 0,018 mg/kg (<BG – 0,025 mg/kg) Tebuconazol ermittelt. Wirkstoffspezifische Eigenschaften des Carbendazims führen offensichtlich zu außergewöhnlich hohen Belastungswerten im Honig. Ungeachtet ihrer toxikologischen Relevanz veranlassten diese Befunde die Herstellerfirmen zu einer zwischenzeitlichen Vertriebseinstellung von Carbendazim und Thiopanatemethyl auf dem deutschen Markt.

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Residues of Carbendazim and other fungicides in honey due to blossom application in canola

Summary: During 2000 to 2002, 91 Hessian spring honeys from regions with an extended cultivation of canola were analysed for residues of the registered fungicides Carbendazim, Iprodion, Metconazol, Tebuconazol and Vinclozolin. The samples included 15 honeys from certified ecological apiaries.While Iprodion and Metconazol were not detected at all and Tebuconazol and Vinclozolin only sporadic with maximum levels of 0,018 mg/kg, Carbendazim was found in 35,2 % of the samples with up to 0,118 mg/kg. The eco honeys did not differ from the other samples.In May 2002 two isolated canola fields (9,8 resp. 5,5 ha) were treated with 1 l/ha Derosal^® (active in gredient: 360 g/l Carbendazim) in 600 l water/ha resp. with 1,5 l/ha Folicur^® (active ingredient: 251,2 g/l Tebuconazol) in 400 l water/ha during full blossom while a third field served as an untreated control. Three honey bee colonies were placed close to each field four days before treatment. From each hive, two samples of fresh honey were taken seven days after the treatment and analysed for residues of Carbendazim and Tebuconazol. While only one of six samples from the control field was contaminated with 0,080 mg/kg Carbendazim, each of the six honey samples from the Carbendazim treated field showed residues of Carbendazim (average: 0,145 mg/kg, range: 0,061 – 0,227 mg/kg) and five of six samples from the Tebuconazol treated field were positive for Tebuconazol (average: 0,018 mg/kg, range: <DL – 0,025 mg/kg).Due to its specific characters (slightly hydrophilic compared to other fungicides) a blossom application of Carbendazim can result in extremely high residue levels in honey. In the meantime, the manufacturers of Carbendazim and Thiophanatemethyl acknowledged these findings and, irrespectively of its toxicological relevance, stopped their deal with such products on the German market.

     

Experiences with the control of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the government district of Hannover

An FMD-outbreak in the Hannover provincial government district is reported. Cattle and pigs in 6 farms were affected. In all cases FMD-serotype O1 was isolated. The origin of the virus could not be clearly found. The new disease control measures in the FRG are regarded as adequate. It is recommended that all disease control measures should be immediately coordinated by the provincial district government from the very beginning. All infected farms were immediately cleared. For the first time the electric killing method was applied. In an area of about 13 kms around the outbreak all clawed animals were immediately vaccinated. Attention is directed to the economic losses as a result of commercial restrictions placed on agricultural products from the infected area.     

Partial stem and leaf resistance against the fungal pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> in wild relatives of tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of many greenhouse crops that can be infected by the necrotrophic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea. Commercial cultivation of tomato is hampered by the lack of resistance. Quantitative resistance has been reported in wild tomato relatives, mostly based on leaf assays. We aimed to identify wild tomato relatives with resistance to B. cinerea based on quantitative assays both on leaves and stem segments, monitoring infection frequency and disease expansion rate as parameters. A quantitative tomato stem segment assay was developed. This stem assay and a previously described leaf assay were used to screen a collection of 22 Solanum accessions. Significant differences in disease parameters were observed among accessions. Resistance to B. cinerea was observed in a number of wild Solanum species, including accessions of S. chilense, S. habrochaites and S. neorickii, both in the leaf assay and the stem segment assay. A number of resistant and susceptible accessions were evaluated as adult plants under greenhouse conditions. The data obtained in greenhouse assays confirmed the leaf and stem disease data. The expression of several defence-related genes was studied in a subset of accessions. There was no apparent correlation between the expression levels of the genes tested and the quantitative resistance level to B. cinerea. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Experimental application of steroids to sows in early gravidity to increase litter size. 2. Effects of repeated administration of progesterone alone or in combination with estradiol benzoate during 2 to 5 consecutive days

Two mutually adjusted experiments were applied to 607 inseminated gilts and sows on the premises of two farms to test the effects on both pregnancy rate and litter size of repeated treatment, using progesterone in isolation or in combination with 0.5 mg oestradiol benzoate during the phase of implantation. The steroids were applied on the 14th and 16th or 15th and 16th days of pregnancy or between the 13th and 17th or 14th and 18th days following first insemination. The doses per animal and die were 25 mg ofhydroxyprogesterone capronate or 20 mg of progesterone. None of these variants had a secured positive effect upon litter size.