Microphytic crusts,shrub patches and water harvesting in the Negev Desert: the Shikim system

Human-made contour banks are a central component of theShikim water harvesting system in Israels Negev Desert.Efficient water capture depends on the presence of a stable microphytic crustwhich directs surplus surface runoff into the banks where it is stored. We usedsimulated rainfall to examine the impact of soil surface disturbance on runoffand sediment transport, and the effect of this on the efficiency of resourcecapture within the Shikim system. Two disturbance regimes:1) removal of the microphytic crust only, and 2) removal of the crust and shrubpatches by cultivation, were compared with an undisturbed control. In theundisturbed state, 32% of rainfall was redistributed as runoff. This runoffpenetrated approximately 27% deeper under the shrub patches compared with themicrophytic crust. When the microphytic crust was destroyed by simulatedtrampling, the runoff coefficient declined to 13%, and there was no significantdifference in water penetration between shrub and crust patches. Completedestruction of the shrub hummocks and crust by cultivation resulted in adeclinein the runoff coefficient to 6%. The result of sustained disturbance in thesepatchy Negev shrublands is a breakdown in spatial heterogeneity, a loss ofecosystem function, a reduction in ecosystem goods and services such as plantdiversity and production, and ultimately a reduction in pastoral productivity.These results reinforce the view that microphytic crusts are critical for theefficient operation of the Shikim water harvesting system.Given that practices such as cultivation and trampling which disturbmicrophyticcrusts result in enhanced infiltration, crusts should be left intact tomaximisethe water harvesting efficiency in these desert landscapes.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Factors affecting the field performance of an attracticide against the codling moth Cydia pomonella

Factors affecting the efficacy of an attracticide strategy for the control of the codling moth Cydia pomonella L (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were investigated using laboratory and field experiments. The sex-pheromone-based insect-control strategy utilises 100-microliters droplets of a sticky, paste-like formulation containing 1 mg g-1 (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone) as an attractant for male moths and 40 mg g-1 cyfluthrin, a contact insecticide, applied to branches in the upper parts of the tree crown. The longevity of the treatment under field conditions was assessed in the laboratory by biological testing of variously aged samples of the attracticide formulation which had been applied to the bark of apple trees growing in commercial orchards. Electroantennogram responses of male moth antennae were used to compare codlemone release from the attracticide after different lengths of environmental exposure. Changes in insecticidal efficacy of the same samples were assessed with reference to the speed of knockdown (KT50) and the mortalities after 48 h among populations of male moths confined in cages containing samples of fresh and field-aged formulations. Gradual declines in both the amount of pheromone released and insecticidal activity were observed over the 10-week period of the experiments. Various factors associated with the behaviour of codling moths in the field which might influence the attracticide strategy were also investigated. Although the vertical position of attracticide sources within apple trees had a strong influence on their attractiveness, their horizontal position had none. Results of field trials showed that efficacy of the attracticide depends on the population density of the pest. Under the conditions of the current study a density of three or more sources per tree (= 4500 sources per ha) was required to attain satisfactory levels of codling moth control.     

Effects of Plant Defence Activators on Anthracnose Disease of Cashew

The plant defence activators acibenzolar-S-methyl (Benzo[1,2,3]thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester, ASM), 2,6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid (DCINA), salicylic acid (SA), and dibasic potassium phosphate (K₂HPO₄) were tested for their ability to protect cashew (Anacardium occidentale) seeds and leaves from anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. No inhibition of the early stages of pathogen development was caused by concentrations equal to or lower than 1.1mM a.i. ASM, 1.2mM a.i. DCINA, 5mM SA and 50mM K₂HPO₄. Maximum reduction of the disease in detached leaves, without phytotoxic effects, was obtained with 0.07mM a.i. ASM and DCINA, 5mM SA, and 50mM K₂HPO₄, with a time interval of at least 72h between application of the activator and inoculation with the pathogen. On attached leaves, foliar sprays were slightly more efficient than soil drench treatments, with 5mM SA being the most effective treatment, while 50mM SA as well as 0.3mM a.i. ASM and DCINA caused phytotoxic effects. In field-grown plants, protection was conferred by a soil drench of concentrations as low as 12.6M a.i. ASM and DCINA and 2.6mM SA. These concentrations were not phytotoxic suggesting that plant defence activators have potential for control of anthracnose disease in the field.     

Life cycle of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

We examined exogenous and endogenous development of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Our examination included data on morphology, localization, duration of schizogony and gametogony and morphology of sporulated oocysts. The endogenous stages of E. procera developed in large numbers within the epithelial cells of caecal crypts. The asexual development comprised three generations of schizonts. The first fully developed macrogametes and microgamonts were observed on Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in histologic section. The patent period began on Day 6 p.i. and ended on Day 11 p.i. with peak production of oocysts on Days 7 and 8. Long oval oocysts of E. procera measured 25.78–28.13 μm in length and 14.06–15.24 μm in width, sporulation time ranged from 18 to 24 h at 25°C and from 36 to 48 h at 20°C.     

黄皮种子脱水敏感性与核酸、蛋白质代谢的关系

黄皮种子发育晚期,胚内核酸和蛋白质合成能力增强,而花生种子发育晚期则呈下降趋势。脱水处理使生理成熟期黄皮胚核酸和蛋白质合成能力急剧下降,核酸水解酶活性增强。生物大分子代谢能力的变化是黄皮种子脱水敏感性的分子基础。     

家蚕蛾黄翅的遗传分析与黄血基因的多效作用

在保存家蚕突变基因资源过程中调查发现：黄血蚕蛾翅在羽化之初呈鲜黄色,白血蚕均不然。通过与白血蚕（非黄翅）和黄血抑制基因（I）进行杂交试验,分析黄翅的遗传规律,结合普查家蚕突变系统蛾翅色性状,证明黄翅性状与幼虫黄脚一样,为黄血基因支配。进而记录了因黄血基因的多效作用在卵、幼虫、茧、成虫各阶段表现的形态特征。     

纳罗克非洲狗尾草种子生产技术研究概况

从施肥、刈割、植物生长调节剂、收获时间等方面论述了纳罗克非洲狗尾草种子生产的主要环节,提出了增加种子产量的关键措施。     

不同干燥方法对苜蓿相同区段营养价值影响的研究

取同一地块现蕾期紫花苜蓿,分成上1/3、下2/3和全株苜蓿3部分样品,每种样品都分别采用自然通风晒干、室内通风阴干和60～65℃人工烘干3种不同的方式进行干燥。每个样品都进行干物质、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维等营养成分的测定,结果表明:粗蛋白含量以晒干方式的最高(P<0.05);苜蓿干草中粗脂肪类物质的含量受干燥中温度的影响较大,随温度升高粗脂肪含量有增大的趋势;苜蓿不同的区段粗纤维含量均以风干干燥方式的最高(P<0.05)。     

鸡肝脏和肌肉组织中常山酮残留的ELISA检测

将常山酮进行人工改造,制备了半抗原常山酮琥珀酸衍生物（Hal-suc）.采用N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺活性酯法将半抗原与牛血清白蛋白（BSA）、卵清白蛋白（OVA）偶联,制备免疫原和包被原.动物免疫6次后采血制备抗血清,以间接ELISA法测定血清效价,测得抗血清的最佳工作浓度为1∶102 400.建立了常山酮在鸡肝脏和肌肉组织中检测的ELISA法,该方法在50、100、500 ng/g 的添加浓度水平下,在鸡肝脏和肌肉组织中测得的平均回收率范围分别为74.2%～96.8%和74.3%～90.0%,检测限分别为28和19 ng/g.     

亚洲璃眼蜱唾液腺一新基因(GP29)的原核表达及产物鉴定

将吸血诱导的亚洲璃眼蜱唾液腺差异表达基因GP29的开放性阅读框插入pGEX-4T-1,转化BL21,表达出一相对质量为53 ku的蛋白,其大小与预计结果一致。蛋白质的肽质量图谱和“1381.7511”肽段序列两方面的结果证明,SDS-PAGE胶板上相对质量为53 ku的蛋白就是由目的基因表达的GST融合蛋白。该蛋白与SwissPROT库中的任何蛋白均有较大差别,可能是一个新功能分子。