The effect of sowing date, stale seedbed, row width and mechanical weed control on weeds and yields of organic winter wheat

Three field experiments were carried out in organically grown winter wheat in Denmark. The treatments were sowing time (normal or late sowing) and false seedbed, row width (12 and 24 cm) and weed control method [untreated; mechanical weed control (weed harrowing at 12 cm supplemented with inter‐row hoeing at 24 cm); and herbicide weed control]. Weed biomass in midsummer was greatest on plots sown at the normal sowing time (compared with delayed sowing) and was reduced by mechanical or chemical weed control (compared with untreated plots). Row width alone had no influence on weed biomass, but in the experiment with high weed pressure, the more intensive mechanical weed control used at a row width of 24 cm reduced weed biomass. Normal sowing time tended to give higher yields, but this was only statistically significant in one of the three experiments. Wide rows gave a yield decrease in the experiment with low weed pressure. The effect of weed control on yield was dependent on the weed pressure. At low weed pressure, mechanical weed control caused a yield decrease compared with untreated or herbicide treated. At intermediate weed levels there were no differences, whereas at high weed pressure, mechanical weed control and herbicide treatment caused a yield increase compared with untreated. False seedbeds were shown to contribute to a decrease in the soil seed reserve.     

UV-absorbing compounds and susceptibility of weedy species to UV-B radiation

Stratospheric ozone (O₃) depletion has led to increased terrestrial ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation (290–320 nm). Leaves exposed to this radiation produce UV‐absorbing compounds in the epidermal cells, which protect plants from UV‐B damage. To determine the role of UV‐absorbing compounds in the UV‐B sensitivity of weeds (common chickweed (Stellaria media), downy brome (Bromus tectorum), green smartweed (Polygonum scabrum), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), spotted cat’s‐ear (Hypochoeris radicata), and stork’s‐bill (Erodium cicutarium)) seedlings were exposed to 0, 4 (field ambient), 7 (18% O₃ depletion) and 11 (37% O₃ depletion) kJ m^?2 d^?1 of biologically effective UV‐B radiation in a greenhouse. Ultraviolet‐absorbing compounds were extracted from the second true‐leaf (0.5 cm² samples) with methanol : distilled water : HCl (79 : 20 : 1) in an 85°C water bath for 15 min, and the absorbance of the extracts measured at 300 nm. The shoot dry biomass was recorded to determine the susceptibility to UV‐B radiation. Common chickweed was the most sensitive and green smartweed the least sensitive weed to UV‐B radiation. The latter accumulated more UV‐absorbing compounds and this accumulation occurred earlier compared with common chickweed. As UV‐B_BE radiation levels increased from 0 to 11 kJ m^?2 d^?1, the green smartweed shoot biomass did not decline. However, the biomass of all five susceptible species declined despite an increase in the UV‐absorbing compounds in response to increased UV‐B radiation. Therefore, formation of a ‘UV‐screen’ in these species is not sufficient to fully prevent UV‐B damage. When the concentration of UV‐absorbing compounds in the six species was plotted against their susceptibility to UV‐B radiation, no relationship was observed. Thus, while the accumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds may be a major factor in the protection of certain species against UV‐B radiation and may offer some degree of defence in other species, it does not explain UV‐B susceptibility differences in weedy species in general.     

狗牙根辐射诱变后代外部性状变异分析

对1997-2002年经过辐射诱变得到的狗牙根诱变后代的6个坪用性状指标的统计分析结果表明,1)不同的辐射诱变剂量处理的后代间坪用性状有显著差异,尤其在节间直径和密度上,6 800 rads处理的后代节间都比9 000 rads处理的后代粗,而密度是前者低于后者,2种剂量处理都可以显著降低草层高度;2)不同辐射诱变代数的后代间存在着差异,原始种源进行多代的辐射诱变,可以使得叶片显著变窄,草层高度显著降低,节间变细变长; 3)同一材料在相同辐射剂量诱变处理后匍匐茎不同节之间也存在显著的差异.     

光氮互作对草地早熟禾碳氮代谢的影响

以草地早熟禾的3个品种为试验材料,研究了高低光照下不同的施氮水平对植株体内碳氮代谢的影响。对可溶性糖和硝酸还原酶的含量测定结果显示:高低光强下早熟禾的氮素同化能力均随着氮水平的升高呈现先升高后降低的趋势,碳代谢的中间产物可溶性糖随着氮水平的升高呈现先降低后升高的趋势,高低光下糖的含量随着氮水平的升高其品种间差异逐渐减小;在低氮条件下,植物的氮素同化能力较弱,光合碳代谢相对较强,糖含量较高,随着氮水平的增大,光合产物逐渐流向氮素代谢,硝酸还原酶含量升高。     

Heritability and genetic correlations between rumination time and production traits in Holstein dairy cows during different lactation phases

So far, rumination has been used as a proxy for monitoring dairy cow health at farm level. However, investigating its genetic aspects as well as its correlation with other important productive traits may turn this management tool into a new informative selection criterion. However, scientific evidences on genetic correlation among rumination time (RT) and milk production and milk composition are still scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of RT across three lactation phases and its genetic correlation with milk production, milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC). Results of our study showed that heritability for RT was 0.34 and was constant across lactation. The mean genetic correlations between RT and milk production and composition traits were 0.07 (milk production), ?0.07 (protein yield), ?0.31 (fat yield), and ?0.32 (fat/protein ratio). The mean genetic correlation between RT and the SCC was 0.05.     

Bovine foetal sex determination—Different DNA extraction and amplification approaches for efficient livestock production

Foetal sex determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in mammals is based on the amplification of gender‐specific foetal DNA sequences circulating in maternal blood. The bovine synepitheliochorial placenta does not allow a direct contact between the trophoblast and the maternal blood, resulting in difficult passage of foetal DNA and, consequently, its very small amounts in maternal bloodstream. Circulating cell‐free foetal DNA (ccffDNA) encompasses short nucleotide fragments (300–600 bp) in maternal circulation. The aim of this study was to assess this non‐invasive method in accurate prenatal sexing in early and late gestational periods in comparison with ultrasound diagnostics. As various DNA isolation and amplification methods were tested, their success in obtaining reliable results was evaluated. Two groups were tested, each consisting of 20 pregnant cows. Blood of a bull and a non‐pregnant heifer was the controls. Extraction of foetal DNA was accomplished by three different methods: using tubes with silicone membranes, a single‐tube extraction without silicone membranes and phenol–chloroform extraction. Following each extraction method, foetal DNA was amplified using PCR and real‐time PCR with both bAML and TSPY primers in a separate reaction. Positive results were obtained only after amplification of foetal DNA extracted with a single‐tube extraction kit. In comparison with ultrasound examination results and foetal gender recorded at birth, the sensitivity of the PCR test was 90% in Group I, but the technique failed to detect male foetuses in Group II. The real‐time PCR test sensitivity in Group I was 90% and in Group II 91.6%.     

Endocannabinoids as endometrial inflammatory markers in lactating Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to consider endocannabinoid system as inflammatory markers in bovine endometrium to better understand the role of this system in regulating many of the functions that are related to inflammatory condition. At day 26 post‐partum, fourteen cows were divided into two groups depending on the inflammatory condition: 1‐ subclinical endometritis (n = 7, with purulent or mucopurulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina) and 2‐ healthy (n = 7, No (muco)) purulent discharge. Blood samples were collected at 26 and 30 days relative to calving to determine plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP) concentrations; moreover, uterine biopsy was carried out on day 26 post‐partum to measure mRNA abundance of TNF, interleukin‐1B (IL1B), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), endocannabinoid receptor (CNR2), N‐acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPEPLD), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N‐acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) by real‐time PCR. Results showed mean plasma concentrations of TNF and LBP were lower in healthy cows compared to subclinical endometritis cows (p < .05). Relative mRNA expression for NAAA and FAAH was decreased (p < .05), and relative mRNA expression for CNR2 and NAPEPLD increased in cows with subclinical endometritis compared to healthy cows. In conclusion, relative mRNA expression of TNF, IL1B and CXCL8 and plasma concentration of LBP increased during inflammatory condition along with decreased endocannabinoids hydrolyzing enzyme (NAAA and FAAH), increased enzymes that synthesize endocannabinoids (NAPEPLD) and relative gene expression of the endocannabinoid receptor; together, these contribute to increased endocannabinoids levels during inflammation. Overall, we provide evidence that endocannabinoid system is altered in endometrium tissue during inflammation through increased mRNA expression of CNR2 and synthesis enzyme and decreased mRNA expression of hydrolyzing enzymes interfere with pro‐cytokine production and signalling, which may interfere with the onset and progression of inflammation.     

育苗轻型基质块配方研究

为充分利用南方果树废弃物资源,以香蕉菠萝废弃茎叶堆肥和椰糠作为基质材料,添加粘合剂、固化剂、改良剂,制作出基质块。采用正交法设定基质块配方,通过测试分析基质块的理化性状,确定最佳的基质块配方。结果表明,香蕉菠萝废弃茎叶堆肥和椰糠的配比是影响基质块理化性状的主要因素,各因素影响的主次顺序为:基质配比改良剂粘合剂固化剂;综合分析,A3B2C3D3组合配方具有最佳的理化性状,即基质配比(堆肥:椰糠)为4:6,粘合剂(聚乙烯醇)为4%,固化剂(硼砂)为2.5%,改良剂为140%。     

信息化、社会网络与农户农资购买渠道选择——基于公司直销与农资零售店的比较

农户购买农资时面临多样化的购买渠道,而信息化与社会网络是影响农户农资购买渠道选择的重要因素。本文利用陕西、甘肃、山东和云南四省农户调研数据,比较了公司直销与农资零售店两种购买渠道的差异,运用二元 Logit 模型和中介效应模型,分析信息化与社会网络对农户农资购买渠道选择的影响。结果表明,农户选择公司直销与农资零售店的比例分别为10.1%和89.9%,即大多数农户选择农资零售店购买农资。信息利用对农户选择公司直销渠道具有显著正向影响;从亲戚和朋友两个维度测量社会网络,发现宗族型社会网络对农户选择公司直销渠道产生了正向影响,朋友圈型社会网络影响不显著;农户农资市场信息认知在信息利用促进农户选择公司直销渠道中发挥部分中介效应。因此,政府应加强农村信息基础设施建设,培养农户信息利用能力。公共信息供给过程中扩大宣传对象群体,促使信息在农户社会网络中有效扩散传播。建设农资企业与农户间有效的信息交流平台,打破信息壁垒,从而帮助农户改进农资购买决策。