Gene flow in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

This study was conducted in Brazil in order to assess the potential risk posed by gene escape from transgenic into non-transgenic plants and wild populations. A new methodology was applied to evaluate the gene flow between common bean cultivars, by means of a specially delineated experiment in two stages. The first stage consisted of the planting of one cultivar with violet flowers (BB) as pollen source (‘Diamante Negro’), and a receiver (‘Talismã’) with white flowers (bb), at different distances. The source was sown in the center of the area. The pollen receiver cultivar was sown, in concentrical squares around it. At maturity, the rows were sampled at varied distances from the source in the four cardinal directions. In the second stage, the sampled seeds of the previous stage were sown, and the percentage of outcrossing was evaluated during flowering through the presence of violet flowers (Bb). The highest frequency of natural hybrids, 0.136%, occurred at a distance of 0.5 m between the cultivars. The natural outcrossing rate was practically zero beyond a distance of 3.25 m.     

Basics of effective erosion control in German agriculture

Present research in Germany on water, wind, and tillage erosion is examined. Existing soil‐protection strategies, laws, and guidelines are outlined. These are the result of extensive scientific investigations and the adoption of existing international knowledge. The most common methodologies currently used in Germany are reviewed. They allow an estimation of the water‐ and wind‐erosion risks as well as methods for their reduction. The results enable an aim‐orientated, site‐specific, risk‐adequate approach to implementing control measures in an easily understood framework. The most important remaining research problems are explained.     

Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of bell pepper grown in SLAB fertigated with different nitrogen rates

Abstract

Adequate plant nutrition is important to reduce costs and increase the crop yield. This study tried to verify the influence of Nitrogen (N) on plant biomass production and the yield of bell pepper grown in SLAB; quantify the N use efficiency (NUE), and to quantify the residual N concentration in the substrate after the end of the crop cycle. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment. Pepper seedlings were transplanted to SLAB bags containing 40?dm³ of substrate. The treatments consisted of six N rates (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5?g plant^?1) split into 10 fortnightly applications, in a randomized block design with four replications. The fruit yield was evaluated throughout the experiment and after the final harvest, the dry mass of leaves, stem, and root of the plant, the N content and accumulated, the residual nitrate and ammonium in the substrate, and the NUE were evaluated. The rate of 5.51?g plant^?1 of N, corresponding to 355.5?kg ha^?1, provided the maximum yield of commercial fruits of 1.57?kg plant^?1 or 101.2 t ha^?1. With increasing N rate, the residual nitrate concentration in the substrate increased and the NUE decreased.     

Foraging behaviour and habitat use by Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in response to predation risk in eucalypt woodland

We examined the foraging behaviour and habitat use of two species of small Australian mammal (Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina) in response to predation risk in remnant eucalypt woodland. Predation risk was manipulated by providing refuge in the form of ground level wire netting to reduce risks from avian and mammalian predators. Giving-up-densities (GUD) using artificial food trays (20 mealworms in 1.5 l vermiculite) quantified the foraging behaviour in response to predation risk, by measuring the quitting harvest rate. Both A. flavipes and S. murina had lower GUDs (number of mealworms remaining) under the netting than in the open, most likely because these areas have lower predation risk. Animals also made greater visits to tracking tunnels under the netting compared to in the open. Tracking animal movements using fluorescent pigments also revealed preference for natural microhabitats that were structurally complex with animals moving most where logs and rock crevices were present. These results suggest that small mammals may use habitat structure to reduce their risks of predation. If future studies are able to demonstrate commensurate population-level responses, manipulation of habitat may be a useful management option to complement the direct control of exotic predators such as foxes and feral cats.     

A correlation study of vehicle-generated air pollutants

The concentrations of Pb, CO, CH₄ and total hydrocarbons have been measured at a roadside site and at the exit of a multistorey car park. Average concentrations over short periods (10 to 25 min) have been calculated for each pollutant and possible correlations between these average levels of the different pollutants investigated. Significant correlations were found at only one site and the conclusion was drawn that it is only under exceptional conditions that correlations in levels exist over these extremely short averaging periods.     

The effect on model identifiability of allowing different relocation rates for live and dead animals in the combined analysis of telemetry and recapture data

Models are described for the joint analysis of live-trapping and radio telemetry data from a study on black bears (Ursus americanus) in which all animals received ear tags and a subset also received radio tags. Concerns about bias in survival estimates led to investigation of identifiability and estimator precision for a series of models that allowed differenttelemetry relocation rates for living and dead animals, in addition to emigration and seasonal variation in survival. Identifiability was determined by showing that the expected information matrix was nonsingular. Models with fidelity constant across time, and with the same degree of time specificity for survival rates and relocation rates for dead animals, were determined to be nonidentifiable. More general models, with a greater degree of time specificity for survival rates, were near-singular, and estimators under these near-singular models had poor precision. Analysis of data from the study on black bears illustrated that estimates of survival have poor precision when relocation rates are estimated separately for live and dead animals. It is recommended that the effort expended to relocate both living and dead animals be consistently high in each telemetry survey, so that relocation rates will be high and constant across time and mortality status.     

环境放射性核素~(137)Cs和~(210)Pb_(ex)的田间原位测定研究

原位现场γ谱仪具有快速准确监测土壤中环境放射性核素137Cs和210Pbex的潜力,可以解决传统环境放射性核素示踪土壤侵蚀在选择参考点和测定时间过长问题。本研究应用现场γ谱仪(ISOCS,In-situObject Counting System),对内蒙古锡林浩特草原土壤中137Cs和210Pbex的含量进行了田间原位(不采样)测定,并与室内γ谱仪测定结果进行了比对。结果显示:现场γ谱仪的探头离地面1m,采用90度准直器,测量时间保证3600s以上时,测定的土壤中137Cs面积浓度与室内测定结果一致,二者的平均偏差为8%,表明现场γ谱仪测定具有较高精度,是快速评价土壤侵蚀速率的有效技术;210Pbex的原位测定结果显著高于室内测定结果,可能由于测定时间较短所致。初步研究结果表明:原位测定具有时间短、精度高的优点,可以克服传统采样造成的空间变异误差。     

商陆(Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.)的锰耐性和超积累

超积累植物的确证对成功实施重金属污染环境植物修复是必不可少的。通过野外调查和营养液培养试验 ,研究超积累植物商陆 (PhytolaccaacinosaRoxb )的锰富集特性 ,结果表明 ,商陆对生长介质中的Mn具有很强的耐性和累积能力。商陆在锰含量高达 114× 10 3 mgkg-1的尾矿废弃地上依然生长良好 ,叶锰含量最高达 19 3× 10 3 mgkg-1。温室培养条件下 ,当生长介质中Mn浓度为 8 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,虽然其生物量与对照相比有所降低 ,但植株仍能生长。随着生长介质中Mn浓度的升高 ,商陆叶和茎的Mn含量逐渐增加 ,生物富集系数则逐渐降低 ,但是地上部分锰积累量则先增加后减少。当Mn浓度为 5 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,商陆地上部分锰积累量达到最大值 2 5 8 2mgplant-1;当Mn浓度为 12 0 0 0mmolL-1时 ,商陆仍能完成整个生命周期 ,叶锰含量达到最大值 36 4× 10 3 mgkg-1,生物富集系数为 5 5。不同锰供应水平下 ,商陆吸收的锰有87%～ 95 %被转移到地上部分。这进一步验证商陆的锰超积累特性 ,为利用超积累植物对大面积污染土壤实施植物修复提供了有力证据 ,对锰污染土壤和水体实施植物修复具有很大的应用前景