Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation

For the increase of the occupation ratio of inoculum strain in the competition with indigenous rhizobia, the relationship between Rj-genotypes of soybean and the preference of Rj-cultivars for various types of rhizobia for nodulation was investigated by using the Rj ₂ Rj ₄-genotype of soybean isolated from the cross between the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivar IAC-2 and Rj ₄-one Hill (Ishizuka et al. 1993: Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 39, 79-86). Firstly, these Rj ₂ Rj ₄-genotypes were found to harbor the Rj ₃-gene. The Rj ₂Rj₃Rj₄-genotypes of soybean were considered to exhibit a more narrow microsymbiont range for nodulation than the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-and Rj₄-cultivars. Therefore, rhizobia were isolated from the nodules of various Rj-genotypes of soybeans grown in soils, and the preference of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype for indigenous rhizobia was examined. The nodule occupancy of serotype 110 was significantly higher in the bacteroids of the nodules from the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-rgenotypes than in those from the other genotypes, non Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj _3-, and Rj ₄-cultivars. These results demonstrated that the Rj ₂ Rj ³ Rj ⁴-genotype prefers more actively serogroup USDA110 to the others of rhizobia. Thus, Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype is superior to non- Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃-, and Rj ₄-genotypes for the formation of efficient nodules for nitrogen fixation.     

干制黄花菜工业化生产工艺技术

为改进干制黄花菜传统生产方法并实现工业化生产,采用带式汽蒸生产线对黄花菜进行前处理,在干制过程中将全自动隧道式干燥生产线与工业微波生产线相结合,利用正交试验设计对干制黄花菜工业化生产工艺技术条件进行了较为详尽的研究。结果表明,在蒸汽温度95℃,汽蒸时间60s;隧道式干燥生产线装载量5.0kg/m2,热风温度85℃,风速1.5m/s;微波干燥生产线铺料厚度15mm、干燥功率16kW、干制时间90s的条件下,所生产的干制黄花菜经农业部食品质量监督检验测试中心检测其感官、理化和微生物指标均达到了《无公害食品—干制金针菜》NY5186-2002所规定的一级品标准。     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation

For examining the probability of increase in the occupation ratio of inoculated rhizobium in nodules, various Rj-soybean cultivars including the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines of soybean were grown in a field of the Kyushu University Farm. Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 that carries uptake hydrogenase (Hup⁺) was used as an inoculum. The relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation generally increased by the inoculation. However, there were no significant differences in the effects among the genotypes of the host plants. The occupation ratio of serogroup USDA110 in the nodules on the taproot of the inoculated plants was in the range of 77–100%, suggesting that the B. japonicum strain USDA110 infected taproots immediately after inoculation. The occupation ratios in the nodules on the lateral roots were 53–67, 40–86, 63–83, and 62–77% in inoculated plants of the non-Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃-, Rj ₄-, and Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, respectively, and they decreased in all the genotypes with the progression of growth. At the time of the first sampling, the occupation ratios on the lateral roots of these Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes showed values intermediate between those of IAC-2 (Rj ₂ Rj ₃) and Hill (Rj ₄) , which were the parent cultivars of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines, B340, B349, and C242. The reduction in the occupation ratio of the serogroup USDA110 for about 1 month after the first sampling was the lowest (0.13–0.16) in the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding B349, followed by the non-Rj- and Rj ₂ Rj ₃-genotypes and highest (0.52–0.69) in the Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding Hill. Therefore, it was considered that the population of compatible rhizobia with host soybean plants increased in the rhizosphere with the progression of the development and growth. The results showed that with the expansion of the root area of host plants, the occupation ratio of type A rhizobia including the serogroup USDA110 was high. Therefore, the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes were superior to other Rj-genotypes in terms of the inoculation effects of nodulation type A rhizobium, B. japonicum USDA110. However, the preference of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype for serogroup USDA110 is not sufficient to rule out the competition with the other serogroups in this study. Therefore, the study should be centered on the isolation of more efficient (Hup⁺) and highly compatible rhizobial strains with the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄- genotypes.     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for modulation

Abstract

Caldwell and Vest (1968) planted soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) with various genotypes at Beltsville, USA, without inoculating them with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and showed that soybeans preferred certain serotypes of rhizobial strains for nodulation. Recently, the authors have reported that soybeans carrying nodulation-conditioning genes preferred appropriate strains showing specific behavior for nodulation (Ishizuka et al. 1991). For instance, nodulation of soybean cv. Hardee which carries the nodulation-conditioning genes, Rj ₂ and Rj ₃, does not occur with B. japonicum USDA122, USDA33, Is-1, etc. Nodulation of cv. Hill which carries the Rj ₄ gene, does not occur with B. japonicum USDA61, Is-21, etc. while A62-2 which carries a recessive gene rj ₁, does not nodulate with almost any of the strains of B. japonicum. Therefore, the B. japonicum strains can be classified into three nodulation types based on the compatibility with these Rj-cultivars, that is, type A strains which effectively nodulated both Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and Rj ₄-ones, type B strains which did not nodulate the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and type C strains which did not nodulate the Rj ₄-cultivars. When the nodulation types of the isolates from nodules of field-grown soybeans were examined, it was suggested that the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and Rj ₄-cultivars preferred the type C and type B strains, respectively (Ishizuka et al. 1991).     

Recommendations for preparing test samples for AOAC collaborative studies of microbiological procedures for foods

Preparation of test samples for microbial collaborative studies poses problems not encountered in studies on chemical analytes. For Associate Referees who are considering a collaborative study of a microbiological procedure for food analysis, these problems have not been adequately addressed. Types of contamination (natural or artificial), number of test samples required, analyte selection, proper controls, and container selection are addressed herein. The discussion is a supplement to the guidelines contained in the Handbook for AOAC Members.     

Critical loads for nitrogen deposition for Great Britain

There is currently much interest in mapping critical loads for nitrogen deposition as part of a strategy for controlling nitrogen emissions. While nitrogen deposition may cause acidification and excess nutrient effects, the former were considered previously in studies of sulphur deposition. In the UK, work on developing nutrient nitrogen critical loads maps has used several methods and databases. Two approaches are described here, one a steady state calculation using a nitrogen saturation limit for soil systems, the other an empirical estimate of critical loads set to prevent changes to vegetation communities. The empirical method uses national species records and land cover data derived from satellite imagery. Maps drawn from the available data are dependent upon a number of factors which reflect the approach used. To apply the nutrient critical loads to a strategy for future abatement measures, the nutrient nitrogen values for soils have been incorporated within a “critical loads function” which takes into account both acidity and nutrient effects as related to deposition loads for sulphur and nitrogen. This function may be used with deposition data to identify the need for sulphur and nitrogen emission reductions.     

Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

Soil conservation for DNA preservation for bacterial molecular studies

The aim of this study was to select a method for preserving bacterial DNA in soil samples in cases where there are no possibilities of using freezing or cooling methods. To overcome this difficulty, we hypothesized that adding absolute ethanol to soil samples could be as successful to preserve bacteria as it is to preserve insect or tissue samples for molecular studies. In an attempt to test this assumption, we compared four conservation conditions. After inoculation of soil samples with Escherichia coli, they were either kept at 28 °C, stored in the cold (4 °C), dried at 60 °C, or treated with absolute ethanol. The relative effectiveness of the methods was evaluated by using both DNA recoveries and bacterial 16S rDNA amplification as criteria. Two kinds of soils, i.e. sandy clay and clayey soil, were used. Soil conservation was tested for seven time periods ranging from 2 d to 1 year after bacterial inoculation. Results showed that cold conservation or addition of absolute ethanol to the samples yielded similar DNA recoveries. For these treatments, successful amplifications are still obtained after one year of conservation. The ethanol conservation of soil samples appears to be the easiest method to preserve the bacterial DNA because of its reliability and field convenience.     

Evaluation of soil extractants for silicon availability for sugarcane

Adequate evaluation and interpretation of silicon (Si) phytoavailability in soil is a key to fertilizer recommendation. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil texture on the choice of Si extractant, and provide baseline data on the relationship between extractable Si and sugarcane Si accumulation. The effects of soil texture and extractant solutions of Si were investigated on soil of nine areas of sugarcane cultivation. Si contents in clayey soils were higher than in sandy soils only in the extraction with standard calcium chloride, acetic acid, potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium acetate buffer. Other extractants failed to reveal differences in the Si availability among the three soil textures. The choice of the extractant should consider soil texture for the determination of adequate Si contents in soils planted with sugarcane, and the extractants that proved to be more efficient in the three soil textures was acetic acid and KCl.     

Rational basis for the logistic model for forage grasses

The logistic model has proven very useful in relating dry matter yields and plant N uptake of forage grasses to applied N. In the past the model has been treated simply as a regression model. This article provides a more rational mathematical foundation for the model. Differential response of dry matter to applied N was related to the product of filled and unfilled dry matter capacity of the system. Characteristics of the logistic and gaussian distributions were compared and refection symmetry of both noted. Symmetry in the logistic model was related to conservation of potential dry matter yield. At lower yields the logistic model approximates exponential behavior, while at higher yields it approximates the Mitscherlich model. Dry matter was coupled to plant N uptake through a hyperbolic equation. As a consequence, plant N uptake was also shown to follow logistic response to applied N with the same N response coefficient as for dry matter. In addition, plant N concentration exhibited linear dependence on plant N uptake. Field data were used to confirm all of these characteristics of the logistic model and to affirm its continued use to model forage grasses.     

Gross for kids but good for parents: differing messages in advertisements for the same products

OBJECTIVES: There has been surprisingly little research into the effects of food advertising on parents' perception of commonly consumed children's food items, although the available research suggests that parents may find nutritional claims in these advertisements confusing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate parents' perceptions of branded snack foods targeted at children, and the extent to which these perceptions are influenced by advertising messages. DESIGN: Using an intercept survey, participants were shown either adult-targeted or child-targeted advertisements for the same food products. SETTING: Central business district of a major Australian city. SUBJECTS: One hundred adults, mean age 40 years. RESULTS: The study results suggest that: (1) adults' perceptions of advertised food products and, most importantly, purchase intentions for those products differ according to the version of the advertisement seen (for three of the products, 42-54% would buy the product after seeing the child version compared with 82-84% after seeing the adult version); and (2) adults clearly perceive distinctly different messages in advertisements for the same products which are targeting parents vs. those targeting children (e.g. for three of the products, 74-92% perceived that the adult version of the advertisement suggested the food was nutritionally beneficial compared with 2-14% perceiving this for the child version). CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that the messages conveyed to children about specific foods are quite different to the messages conveyed to adults - and importantly parents - about the same foods.     

Sap analysis for the prediction of stem yield and the need for extra nitrogen fertiliser for Kenaf

Abstract

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus var. Guatemala 4) was grown at Ayr in north Queensland under eleven nitrogen (N) treatments, including seven treatments with all nitrogen applied at planting and four split treatments in which half the nitrogen was applied at planting and half applied 67 days after planting. At weekly intervals from 36 days after planting, petioles from the youngest mature blades were sampled to investigate the possibility of using petiole sap analysis as a fertiliser‐management tool.

The sap nitrate test showed promise in prognosing final stem dry‐matter yield. Relationships between final stem yield and sap NO₃‐N at various sampling times, leading up to canopy closure of treatments supplied with 240 kg N/ha or more, are presented. Estimated desirable NO₃‐N concentrations are also presented.

Sap nitrate levels declined rapidly from 36 days after planting. The rate of decline of petiole nitrate levels depended upon the rate of nitrogen applied at planting. Monitoring sap nitrate over the four‐week period before canopy closure is expected and using the levels established as desirable in this work as a guide, will help the kenaf grower to identify the need for extra nitrogen.     

A process for evaluating anticipatory adaptation measures for climate change

Many countries are preparing national climate change action plans that describe specific measures they are taking to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the potential effects of climate change. Among the reasons for preparing such plans are that climate change is likely to occur, and many anticipatory measures that would be taken in response to climate change are “no regret” measures that will produce benefits even if climate does not change. Additionally, these plans can serve as communications required by the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. We propose here an assessment process for anticipatory adaptation measures that will enable countries to identify and select measures to adapt to climate change. These measures anticipate potential climate changes and are flexible enough to meet objectives under a wide variety of future climate conditions. The process builds on assessments of vulnerability by focusing on adaptation measures for the most sensitive regions, or populations, within a country. Potential anticipatory adaptation measures are identified, and two or three are chosen based on expert judgment and analysis regarding which measures would produce the greatest benefits and be easiest to implement. Analytic techniques are used to assess the benefits and costs of each of the measures and evaluate barriers to implementation. The measure that is most cost-effective and is easiest to implement is selected. We illustrate the application of the process by examining a hypothetical forest threatened by climate change.     

Job hazards for musculoskeletal disorders for youth working on farms

A series of eight focus groups were convened to: (1) identify tasks and activities performed by youth on farms with the potential for causing non-traumatic work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs); (2) determine the participants perceptions about risks of MSDs for youths performing those tasks; and (3) determine other factors that might relate to MSDs for youth working on farms, such as possible interventions for prevention. Seventy-two farm family members, 40 adults and 32 farm youth aged 8-18, participated in focus groups. Ten questions were posed to each of the eight groups about what tasks youth perform on the farm, how the work is assigned, and what risk factors are associated with the work. There was general agreement among the adults that maturity rather than age is the dominant factor for determining what tasks are performed by youth workers on the farm. Youth, on the other hand, believed that task urgency dictated what jobs were assigned to youth workers. Most adults indicated that lifting objects, forking, or shoveling was responsible for most of the serious non-traumatic injuries. Bending over while working, sitting in an awkward position looking back at equipment from a tractor, sitting in a cramped position, looking down at a combine header, and long hours of work were also identified as potential problems. Youth described muscle aches and strains of the legs, arms, shoulder, back or neck as everyday occurrences. According to the youth, "If it's not broken, you're fine". Only basic training is provided and most respondents believed that youth learned best through observation. There was general agreement that physician recommended guidelines for assigning youth to tasks would be ignored unless they carried the force of the law.     

气力滚筒式蔬菜穴盘播种机吸排种动力学模型的研究

为设计结构合理的气力滚筒式排种器,按单刚体系统对种子的吸排种过程建立动力学模型,结合试验研究影响吸排种效果的主要因素.在吸附阶段,选用合适的滚筒材料,提高种子与滚筒间的摩擦系数,适当增大气流量,减小种子与吸孔的距离,可以大大提高吸附效果.为保证种子能随滚筒转到排种位置,需限制滚筒的最大圆周速度,为此滚筒直径尺寸应适中,滚筒上吸孔按种子平均直径设计,并应合理调节吸种气腔内的真空度.在排种阶段,应优化设计滚筒气腔结构,使每行排种孔的流场分布尽量均匀,以尽量减小射流场对排种穴距不均匀的影响.     

Procedure for radiolabeling gizzerosine and basis for a radioimmunoassay.

A method for the labeling of gizzerosine (GZ), a biogenic amine found in fish meal, is described. The labeling procedure with (125)I using a water-soluble Bolton-Hunter reagent and a mild water-insoluble oxidant (Iodogen) reagent is rapid and reproducible. The (125)I-GZ hapten was demonstrated to be immunologically active in a radioimmunoassay developed with polyclonal antibodies to GZ absorbed with a histamine-Sepharose column. The curves were linear in the range of 0.0001 and 0.1 microgram/mL. Samples of fish meal previously extracted of histamine with methanol and submitted to acid hydrolysis were contaminated with known amounts of GZ and submitted to the assay. The fish meal samples contaminated with GZ show a dose-response effect similar to the standard curve, and apparently the other component present in the sample did not interfere with the binding of the antibodies to (125)I-GZ. These data indicate the suitability of the radioimmunoassay to determine specifically GZ in fish meal.     

Methodology for Creating an Information Tool for Animal Food Facilities

The U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requires animal feed and pet food facilities to conduct a hazard analysis by identifying and evaluating potential hazards in animal food. This paper describes the creation of an information tool designed to help animal food facilities comply with this requirement. A thorough search of the scientific literature and FDA recall data identified the occurrence of hazards in animal food, assessed the severity of the hazards, and provided a scoring system useful for the identification and prioritization of specific animal food-hazard-species combinations.     

Strategy for Innovation in Soil Tests Illustrated for P Tests

Soil phosphorus (P) tests are used for P fertilization recommendations, environmental evaluations, and occasionally for legislation purposes. The basis of fertilization recommendation as function of soil P status was established in the 1950s–1960s. Since then the agroeconomic environment has altered: Environmental protection became increasingly important and P rock resources for fertilizers appeared exhaustible. Also, new insights in soil testing and fertilization recommendations reflecting more efficient use of P became available. However, these new insights seem hard to implement into agricultural practice, to a large extent because replacing existing soil tests and recommendations would imply a very significant effort with respect to introducing new tests and recommendations by fertilization trials in practice. The same would apply for environmental evaluations. Here, a novel, three-step schedule for introducing new soil tests is proposed: (1) establishing new promising soil tests, (2) creating regression models between the old and new soil tests, and (3) implementing the new soil test stepwise by fertilization trials. In this way, the knowledge based on the old soil tests can be used until the new soil tests and their subsequent crop responses are validated sufficiently. As a novel P test we considered combining soil P intensity [as reflected by P–calcium chloride (CaCl₂)] with P capacity [as reflected by P-ammonium lactate (Al)] and P-buffering capacity (as reflected by P-Al/P-CaCl₂ ratio) characteristics. Researchers tested whether this novel soil test can predict P water (Pw), P–calcium lactate?/?acetate (CAL), and P-Olsen values. To test the hypothesis, four datasets were used (two with Pw, one with P-CAL, and one with P-Olsen). In all datasets additional soil characteristics were available including soil type. Regression models with R_adj ² from 0.80 to 0.93 were obtained by using P-Al, P-CaCl₂, and soil type. It can be concluded that these regressions can be used as a helpful intermediate instrument when introducing fertilization recommendations based on new soil tests. Predicting one soil P test out of other soil characteristics, analogous to the predicted Pw, P-CAL, and P-Olsen, could also be helpful in comparing P statuses of agricultural land in different nations.     

水产养殖物联网的应用评价方法

构建科学合理的水产养殖物联网应用评价指标体系和评价方法,是保证水产养殖物联网系统发挥最大能效的基础。为解决指标设置随意、冗余、交叉及技术指标过剩的问题,该文构建了指标筛选模型,将水产养殖物联网应用评价指标体系从40个优化到14个,用35%的指标表达了88.45%的信息,保证了指标体系的完备性和简洁性。同时,基于模糊评价法构建了水产养殖物联网应用评价模型,可对水产养殖物联网应用水平进行总体评价以及功能、性能、效益方面的评价。最后,以江苏宜兴河蟹养殖物联网和广东湛江南美白对虾养殖物联网为实例进行了验证,宜兴物联网的评价结果为优,而湛江物联网的评价结果为良,与实际情况相符,表明该研究构建的指标体系科学合理,评价方法可行,可为水产养殖物联网应用评价提供参考。