RESEARCN OF MODEL OF AUTOMATIC CHECWEIGHER

Generally,a second order spring-damper system is used to represent the model ofweighing sensor in checkweigher. It only represents one part of checkweigher.In this paper,accord-ing to the relationships of individual parts of checkweigher and main disturbance source,a model isproposed for whole checkweigher.It is proved by simulatlon that this model is in a good approxima-tion.     

Haploidy breeding and mutagenesis for drought tolerance in wheat

Several intraspecific crosses between known drought tolerant wheat varieties and stable high yielding recombinants were made with the objective to develop improved cultivars for the moisture stressed rainfed areas of Pakistan. Five of these crosses were selected for further creation of useful mutations through the application of low doses of gamma rays and development of doubled haploids through anther culture. Anther culture response of the selected irradiated F₁ generations was studied on liquid and solid induction media. The highest number of calli among almost all crosses was produced on Potato-2induction medium. All the crosses varied greatly in response to callus induction and maximum calli (75%) were obtained from Lyl-73/vee’s’ cross. Similarly, genotypic differences were found for green vs. albino regenerants. The highest number of green plantlets (12.1%) was recorded for Lu-26/3062. From the developed doubled haploid population 25 DH-mutants were initially selected and nine lines were finally included in multi-locational field tests. Two DH-mutants (i.e. DHML-50 and DHML-9) have potential for better grain yield, earliness, disease resistance and moisture stress tolerance. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biodegradation kinetics of endosulfan by Fusarium ventricosum and a Pandoraea species

Endosulfan, classified as an organochlorine pesticide, is rated by the U.S. EPA as a Category 1 pesticide with extremely high acute toxicity. This study describes the biodegradation kinetics of endosulfan and the metabolic pathway utilized by Fusarium ventricosum and a Pandoraea sp. Complete disappearance of both alpha- and beta-endosulfan was observed during 12 days of incubation with F. ventricosum in flasks containing 100 mg L(-)(1) of endosulfan. The rate constants (k) for biodegradation of alpha- and beta-endosulfan by F. ventricosum using zero-order kinetics were 14.22 and 6.60 mg L(-)(1) day(-)(1), respectively. The Pandoraea sp. degraded about 95 and 100% of alpha- and beta-endosulfan, respectively, in 18 days of incubation in flasks spiked with 100 mg L(-)(1) of endosulfan. The rate constants (k) for biodegradation of alpha- and beta-endosulfan by the Pandoraea sp. were 8.19 and 3.78 mg L(-)(1) day(-)(1), respectively. Both fungal and bacterial strains formed less toxic endosulfan diol and endosulfan ether as metabolites during metabolism of endosulfan. The results of this study suggest that these novel strains may be used for the bioremediation of endosulfan-contaminated sites.     

Food preferences and consumption parameters of Cabbage butterfly,Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on different kale genotypes

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Food preferences and consumption parameters of Pieris brassicae larvae were carried out on 17 kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) genotypes....     

The endophyte Enterobacter sp. FD17: a maize growth enhancer selected based on rigorous testing of plant beneficial traits and colonization characteristics

With the aim to select powerful microbial strains to be used for the enhancement of maize yield and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, we tested five endophytic bacterial strains previously isolated from maize roots. A range of different laboratory assays in regard to potential plant growth promotion was performed and strains were further evaluated for improving growth of five maize cultivars under axenic and natural soil conditions. Endophytic colonization was an additional component in our selection process as it is of high importance for an inoculant strain to efficiently colonize the plant environment. All strains had the potential to improve maize seedling growth under axenic conditions. Enterobacter sp. strain FD17 showed both the highest growth-promoting activity under axenic conditions as well as colonization capacity. FD17 was therefore selected for further plant tests in a net house, in which two different maize cultivars were grown in large pots until ripening and subjected to outdoor climatic conditions. Results showed that inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, number of leaves plant^?1, leaf area, and grain yield up to 39 %, 14 %, 20 %, and 42 %, respectively, as compared to the un-inoculated control. Similarly, inoculation also improved the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) of maize plant and reduced the time needed for flowering. We also confirmed that strain FD17 is able to colonize the rhizosphere, roots and stems. Based on rigorous testing, Enterobacter sp. strain FD17 showed the highest potential to promote growth and health of maize grown under natural conditions. This study suggested that in vitro plant growth-promoting traits and potential of maize seedling growth promotion by bacterial endophytes could be used for the selection of potential inoculant strains subjected for further testing as bio-inoculant under field conditions.     

Coccolithophores: functional biodiversity, enzymes and bioprospecting

Emiliania huxleyi is a single celled, marine phytoplankton with global distribution. As a key species for global biogeochemical cycling, a variety of strains have been amassed in various culture collections. Using a library consisting of 52 strains of E. huxleyi and an 'in house' enzyme screening program, we have assessed the functional biodiversity within this species of fundamental importance to global biogeochemical cycling, whilst at the same time determining their potential for exploitation in biocatalytic applications. Here, we describe the screening of E. huxleyi strains, as well as a coccolithovirus infected strain, for commercially relevant biocatalytic enzymes such as acid/alkali phosphodiesterase, acid/alkali phosphomonoesterase, EC1.1.1-type dehydrogenase, EC1.3.1-type dehydrogenase and carboxylesterase.     

Different Eucalyptus Species Show Different Mechanisms of Tolerance to Salinity and Salinity × Hypoxia

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity and oxygen deficiency stress on growth and leaf ionic composition of three Eucalyptus species [E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis (Silverton), and E. camaldulensis (Local)]. Species were grown with control (no NaCl) and salinity (150 mol m^?3 NaCl) under hypoxic and non-hypoxic conditions in nutrient solution with five replications following CRD. Species differed significantly in their response to salinity and hypoxia. Absolute shoot dry matter was significantly better in E. camaldulensis (Silverton) in salinity and in E. camaldulensis (Local) in saline hypoxic treatment. E. tereticornis was the most sensitive species to salinity and salinity × hypoxia in the root environment. Sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) concentrations were significantly lower in E. camaldulensis (Local) in non-hypoxic saline treatment compared to the other two species. E. camaldulensis (Silverton) seems to have better tissue compartmentalization, whereas E. camaldulensis (local) seems to have better exclusion of Na⁺ at the root level.     

BORON NUTRIPRIMING IMPROVES THE GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Boron (B) is one of the important micronutrient required for rice in particular during reproductive growth. A laboratory study was conducted to explore the potential of boron nutripriming in improving the germination and early seedling growth of rice. Seeds of fine grain aromatic rice cultivar Super Basmati were primed in aerated B solution (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5% w/v) while untreated dry seeds were taken as control. Seed priming in 0.001 and 0.1% B solutions improved the time to 50% germination, germination energy, final germination percentage, mean germination time, and germination index. Beyond this concentration either there was no effect or an adverse effect on rice seeds. In the cases of radicle length, plumule length and secondary roots priming more diluted B solution, i.e., 0.001% proved better than rest of the treatments as suppression in these three traits was observed by other B treatments than control. Seed priming in relatively concentrated B solution, i.e., 0.5% completely suppressed the germination and growth.