Effect of Different Mineral and Organic Fertilization on Uptake and Balance of Nutrients as well as on Contents of Dl-soluble Phosphorus and Potassium in a Long-term Trail

On the basis of results from stationary long-term trails the accumulating effects of different mineral-organic fertilization on the uptake and the balance of nutrients as well as DL-soluble P and K contents in soil was examined. The long-term varied fertilization affected the uptake and the balance of nutrients considerably. With farmyard-manure supplied doses of P and K caused a significant higher increase of the plant-available soil contents in comparison to the straw-fertilization and also to the pure mineral PK-supply. The organic fertilization obviously favours by increased humus contents and a thereby promoted biological activity the solubility behavior of phosphorus and potassium.     

Calcarides A–E,Antibacterial Macrocyclic and Linear Polyesters from a Calcarisporium Strain

Bioactive compounds were detected in crude extracts of the fungus, Calcarisporium sp. KF525, which was isolated from German Wadden Sea water samples. Purification of the metabolites from the extracts yielded the five known polyesters, 15G256α, α-2, β, β-2 and π (1–5), and five new derivatives thereof, named calcarides A–E (6–10). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy supported by UV and HRESIMS data. The compounds exhibited inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Xanthomonas campestris and Propionibacterium acnes. As the antibacterial activities were highly specific with regard to compound and test strain, a tight structure-activity relationship is assumed.     

Hybrid seed set in wheat is a complex trait but can be improved indirectly by selection for male floral traits

Efficient hybrid wheat breeding requires the redesign of the wheat floral architecure to enhance cross-pollination. Several studies evaluated the phenotypic variation and the genetic architecture of male floral traits, but their contribution to the most important trait, hybrid seed set on the female parent, has not yet been considered. To bridge this gap, we employed 31 male lines and evaluated the hybrid seed set on two female tester lines in crossing blocks. Hybrid seed set showed large genetic variance and high heritability, which demonstrates the potential for the improvement of this trait. However, the assessment of hybrid seed set is difficult as secondary traits like plant height and especially flowering time, as well as the environment largely influence the hybrid seed set. Nevertheless, a moderately high correlation between visual anther extrusion and hybrid seed set opens up the possibility to use visual anther extrusion as an indirect trait for preliminary male screenings. Further research evaluating traits influencing female receptivity coupled with genomics-assisted approaches are highly recommended to develop an improved selection portfolio for maximizing hybrid seed set.     

Higher grain yield and higher grain protein deviation underline the potential of hybrid wheat for a sustainable agriculture

Grain yield and protein content are traits of major importance in wheat breeding, but their combination is challenging due to a tight negative correlation. Protein yield and grain protein deviation have been proposed as selection criteria to simultaneously improve both traits. Sedimentation volume is an indicator of protein quality, which plays an important role for bread‐making quality in wheat. All these traits have been investigated in our study with 135 parental inbred lines, their 1,604 hybrids and 10 commercial check varieties evaluated at five environments. The focus of our study was to investigate the usefulness of the grain protein deviation and to define a bivariate model for calculating the grain protein deviation. Further, we compared line and hybrid wheat for grain yield and quality‐related parameters such as protein content and sedimentation volume. The grain protein deviation determined with a bivariate model delivered robust estimates of variance components and enabled a balanced selection of genotypes with improved protein content and grain yield across different quality classes. Although heterosis for protein content and sedimentation volume was negative, hybrids had a higher grain protein deviation as well as higher grain yield at a given sedimentation volume or a given protein content than line varieties.     

Water supply for Peking ducks--possible alternatives for bathing

In order to investigate possible advantages of open water drinkers such as troughs and bells in the intensive husbandry of ducks, we evaluated in this study the effect of open water systems on the behavior and health of peking ducks. In this investigation six fattening trials each with 1152 Cherry Valley Peking ducks were analyzed. The average fattening period was 47 to 49 days. The ducks were kept on straw in six standardized compartments each 32 qm with 192 ducks. 25% of the compartment with perforated grid, with one of the tested water systems. In contrast to pens with nipple-drinkers only, the ducks in pens with open water troughs/showers had the opportunity to exhibit their natural drinking behavior and water associated activities in accordance with the animal welfare requirements. In the free-choice pens the open water systems were significantly preferred, and over a 24-hour period the ducks in watering areas with open water troughs showed higher activity. Limiting the access to the open water systems to eight, four or two hours per day led to an increased use per time unit. Ducks with access to nipple drinkers only showed a significantly higher percentage of plugged up nostrils than animals from pens with open water drinkers. Open water drinkers had also a positive impact on the plumage condition.     

Noninvasive evaluation of the degree of ripeness in grape berries (vitis vinifera L. Cv. Bacchus and silvaner) by chlorophyll fluorescence

The use of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to noninvasively evaluate degrees of ripeness was investigated in berries at various stages of ripening from two white grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L. Cv. Bacchus and Silvaner). Berries were characterized by diameter, weight, and density and by concentrations of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and total sugars, as well as fructose/glucose ratios, and also by chlorophyll fluorescence at F(0) and F(M) levels and the fluorescence ratio F(V)/F(M). Pearson product moment correlation analysis on data from both cultivars revealed clear negative associations between F(0) and concentrations of fructose, glucose, and total sugars, and fructose/glucose ratios (correlation coefficient < -0.89). Curvilinear trend-lines were established for plots of F(0) versus concentrations of fructose, glucose, and total sugars, but a linear relationship between F(0) and fructose/glucose ratios was found: the corresponding coefficients of determination were always >0.82. Therefore, chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are well-suited to determine noninvasively sugar accumulation in grape berries during ripening.     

Adaptive dynamic resource allocation in annual eusocial insects: environmental variation will not necessarily promote graded control

Background  

According to the classical model of Macevicz and Oster, annual eusocial insects should show a clear dichotomous "bang-bang" strategy of resource allocation; colony fitness is maximised when a period of pure colony growth (exclusive production of workers) is followed by a single reproductive period characterised by the exclusive production of sexuals. However, in several species graded investment strategies with a simultaneous production of workers and sexuals have been observed. Such deviations from the "bang-bang" strategy are usually interpreted as an adaptive (bet-hedging) response to environmental fluctuations such as variation in season length or food availability.     

Distribution of Protura along an urban gradient in Vienna

In the first study of the Protura of a big city, six representative habitat types were sampled in Vienna, Austria. Twenty-five sites between the green belt and the city centre yielded 42 known species. Abundance, species number and diversity were highest in colline deciduous forests, with a maximum of 23 syntopic species in a Quercus pubescens stand. Acerella muscorum, all of the five Acerentomon spp. and 13 further species occurred exclusively in colline deciduous forests. The mediterranean Berberentulus berberus and six other species were recorded exclusively in parks or artificial habitats, suggesting anthropogenic transport. No Protura were found in garden and arable soils. Species density in the municipal area of Vienna (415 km²) is a function of the city's biogeographic situation on the border between the Alps and the Pannonian lowland as well as its diversity of seminatural habitats, and unintentional introduction.     

Ecosystem service supply and vulnerability to global change in Europe

Global change will alter the supply of ecosystem services that are vital for human well-being. To investigate ecosystem service supply during the 21st century, we used a range of ecosystem models and scenarios of climate and land-use change to conduct a Europe-wide assessment. Large changes in climate and land use typically resulted in large changes in ecosystem service supply. Some of these trends may be positive (for example, increases in forest area and productivity) or offer opportunities (for example, "surplus land" for agricultural extensification and bioenergy production). However, many changes increase vulnerability as a result of a decreasing supply of ecosystem services (for example, declining soil fertility, declining water availability, increasing risk of forest fires), especially in the Mediterranean and mountain regions.