A spectral index to monitor the head-emergence of wheat in semi-arid conditions

Harvesting wheat (Triticium aestivum L.) for forage or leaving it for grain is the main decision uncertainty growers face in semi-arid regions during mid-season. To facilitate decision-making, a decision support system (DSS) has recently been proposed that requires information about crop water and nutritional status during spike emergence. Though remote sensing has been used to provide site-specific crop status information, a spectral vegetation index is needed to ensure that the information has been acquired during spike emergence. The objective of this study was to propose a spectral index sensitive to spike emergence and validate its suitability across different commercial farm fields by using ground spectral measurements and multispectral satellite imagery. To develop the index, controlled experiments with commonly grown wheat varieties were conducted during the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 growing season in the agricultural area of the northern Negev desert of Israel. The experiments showed that spike emergence correlated most strongly (r = 0.7, p < 0.05) with spectral changes near the 1.2 μm water absorption feature in contrast to the band at 1.1 μm which appeared to be only weakly correlated. Thus, the spike emergence sensitive band at 1.2 μm has been combined with the insensitive band at 1.1 μm as reference to form the ratio-based normalized heading index (NHI). Experimental data were then used to establish an index threshold that helps separate data acquired before and after spike emergence. The proposed NHI was able to identify spike emergence with a classification accuracy varying between 53 and 83%. Accuracy was influenced by season, and whether narrow or broad spectral bands were used. Validation of the index in commercial farm fields in Israel and the United States showed that the classification accuracy was similar for ground spectral measurements and the advanced land imager (ALI) satellite imagery. These results suggest that the NHI is suited for identifying the onset of heading throughout wheat-growing areas without the need for characterizing seasonal trends.     

Single-molecule lysozyme dynamics monitored by an electronic circuit

Tethering a single lysozyme molecule to a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor produced a stable, high-bandwidth transducer for protein motion. Electronic monitoring during 10-minute periods extended well beyond the limitations of fluorescence techniques to uncover dynamic disorder within a single molecule and establish lysozyme as a processive enzyme. On average, 100 chemical bonds are processively hydrolyzed, at 15-hertz rates, before lysozyme returns to its nonproductive, 330-hertz hinge motion. Statistical analysis differentiated single-step hinge closure from enzyme opening, which requires two steps. Seven independent time scales governing lysozyme's activity were observed. The pH dependence of lysozyme activity arises not from changes to its processive kinetics but rather from increasing time spent in either nonproductive rapid motions or an inactive, closed conformation.     

Insecticidal activity and chemical composition of volatile oils from Hyptis martiusii Benth

The essential oils from leaves and inflorescences of Hyptis martiusii Benth were analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty-six compounds representing 93.2% of the essential oil of leaves were characterized; Delta-3-carene (22.5%), 1,8-cineole (24.27%), beta-caryophyllene (6.15%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.32%) were found as the major components. In the essential oil of inflorescences 27 compounds representing 87.7% of the oil were identified. The major components were Delta-3-carene (13.5%), alpha-pinene (5.78%), beta-caryophyllene (6.59%), viridiflorene (8.25%), and germacrene B (5.21%). The essential oil of leaves and 1,8-cineole showed pronounced insecticidal effect against Aedes aegypti larvae and Bemisia argentifolii, the vectors of dengue fever and white fly fruit plague, respectively.     

Compositional variation amongst sorghum hybrids: Effect of kafirin concentration on metabolizable energy

Kafirins are stored proteins that negatively affect the nutritional quality of sorghum grain. Kafirin concentration and other chemical characteristics were determined in 12 sorghum hybrids and varied significantly, from 58% (HB1) to 42% (HB12) as percent total protein. Kafirin concentration correlated negatively with crude protein (CP) (−0.49), with acid detergent fiber (−0.40), apparent metabolizable energy (−0.61), and true metabolizable energy corrected for N (−0.63). HB12 was the hybrid with the lowest content of kafirins, amylose and tannins, and the highest content of apparent metabolizable energy. No differences were observed in the concentration of starch, but differences were found in apparent metabolizable energy (3325–2944 kcal kg⁻¹) probably due to a greater availability of starch, related to differences in kafirin concentration.     

Effect of cutting and gibberellin treatment on autumn-grown seed potatoes for spring planting

Summary Length of dormancy limits the use of autumn-grown seed potatoes for planting the spring crop. Trials of different treatments for breaking dormancy were carried out for four successive seasons (1958–1961). Cutting the seed and dipping in gibberellic acid (GA) was effective in breaking dormancy. Cutting two weeks before planting and dipping the seed pieces in a 1 ppm GA solution gave the best results. Instead of cutting, smaller sized seed can be pierced, thus enabling the entire yield of tubers to be used for seed. Higher concentrations of GA induced growth abnormalities in both plants and tubers without producing any improvement in the breaking of dormancy over the lowest concentration used (1 ppm). Physiological aspects of seed potatoes are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung In Israel wird der Gebrauch von Saatkartoffeln aus Herbsternte für die Frühjahrspflanzung durch die L?nge der Keimruhe beschr?nkt. W?hrend vier aufeinanderfolgenden Anbauperioden (1959–1961) wurden Versuche mit verschiedenen Behandlungen zur Brechung der Keimruhe durchgeführt. Durch Schneiden und Eintauchen der Saatknollen in Gibberellins?ure (GA) wurde die Keimruhe wirksam gebrochen. Die besten Ergebnisse wurden erzielt, wenn das Saatgut zwei Wochen vor der Pflanzung geschnitten und die Knollenstücke in eine GA-L?sung von 1 ppm eingetaucht wurden (Tabellen 1 und 2). Kleinere Saatknollen k?nnen statt geschnitten nur durchstochen werden, so dass der ganze Knollenertrag für Saatzwecke gebraucht werden kann (Tabelle 2). H?here GA-Konzentrationen führten zu Missbildungen sowohl der Pflanzen wie der Knollen, ohne eine Verbesserung im Brechen der Keimruhe gegenüber der niedrigsten angewendeten Konzentration (1 ppm) zu bewirken. Physiologische Aspekte der Pflanzkartoffeln werden besprochen.

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Résumé En Isra?l, la longueur de la dormance limite l’utilisation de plants de pomme de terre poussés en automne pour la plantation de printemps. Différents traitements pour rompre la dormance ont été effectués pendant quatre saisons successives (1959–1961). Le sectionnement des plants et le trempage dans l’acide giberellique (GA) sont efficaces pour rompre la dormance. Le sectionnement deux semaines avant la plantation et le trempage des fragments dans une solution à 1 ppm¹ de GA donnent les meilleurs résultats (Tableaux 1 et 2). Les petits plants peuvent être perforés plut?t que sectionnés, ce qui permet alors d’utiliser la récolte entière de tubercules comme plants (Tableau 2). Une plus haute concentration de GA provoquait le développement d’anomalies à la fois dans les plantes et les tubercules sans apporter d’avantage dans la rupture de la dormance, par rapport à la plus basse concentration utilisée (1 ppm¹). Le point de vue physiologique est discuté. ¹ppm.=partie par million.

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Publication of the National and University Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel. 1963 series. No. 571-E.     

Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of essential oils from Vanillosmopsis pohlii baker against Bemisia argentifolii

Essential oils from the heartwood and leaves of specimens of Vanillosmopsis pohlii collected in two different localities were analyzed by GC-MS. The major constituent of both heartwood essential oils was the sesquiterpene alpha-bisabolol. Essential oil composition from leaves was quite different for two specimens and showed beta-pinene and E-caryophyllene as principal constituents. The essential oil of heartwood and the pure sesquiterpene alpha-bisabolol were tested against Bemisia argentifolii, the white fly fruit plague, and pronounced insecticidal effects were observed.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bipolaris cactivora</Emphasis> causing fruit blotch and stem rot of dragon fruit (pitaya) in Israel

Dragon fruit (pitaya) fruit blotch and stem rot, caused by Bipolaris cactivora, is reported for the first time in Israel. Different symptoms of fruit blotch appear on two different cultivars.     

Direct observation of percolation in a manganite thin film

Upon cooling, the isolated ferromagnetic domains in thin films of La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 start to grow and merge at the metal-insulator transition temperature TP1, leading to a steep drop in resistivity, and continue to grow far below TP1. In contrast, upon warming, the ferromagnetic domain size remains unchanged until near the transition temperature. The jump in the resistivity results from the decrease in the average magnetization. The ferromagnetic domains almost disappear at a temperature TP2 higher than TP1, showing a local magnetic hysteresis in agreement with the resistivity hysteresis. Even well above TP2, some ferromagnetic domains with higher transition temperatures are observed, indicating magnetic inhomogeneity. These results may shed more light on the origin of the magnetoresistance in these materials.