The effect of systemic fungicides,applied as seed treatments or early foliar sprays,on speckled leaf blotch of wheat, Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) Schroeter

Control of speckled leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) with systemic fungicides used as seed treatments or foliar sprays was studied. Seed treatment with either imazalil (1·125 g/kg seed), nuarimol (0·2 g/kg), thiabendazole (1·5 and 0·75 g/kg), triadimenol (0·3 and 0·2 g/kg) or Shell WL 47675 (0·415 g/kg) reduced the number of infected plants by 28–62% when assessments were made 11 weeks after sowing. Thiabendazole (1·5 and 0·75 g/kg) and triadimefon (0·3 and 0·2 g/kg) slowed the development of speckled leaf blotch for c. 15 weeks after sowing. A single foliar spray of triadimefon (125 g/ha) slowed the development of the disease for c. 10 weeks, but a single spray of benomyl controlled it for the whole season. There was no additional benefit from combining a seed treatment of triadimefon (0·225 g/kg) with the foliar spray.     

Effects of a range of fungicides used to control rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) on spring-sown field beans (Vicia faba) in the UK

In two years a range of fungicides was used to control rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) on spring-sown field beans (Vicia faba). In 1984 fenpropimorph, maneb, mancozeb, maneb plus mancozeb, propiconazole, thiram, triadimefon and zineb-polyethylene thiuram disulphide plus tridemorph were applied once or twice and compared with no fungicide. In 1985 the experiment was repeated with the addition of benodanil. In 1984 there was very little rust or other foliar disease and the effects of treatments on yield were small. In 1985 rust was first found in late June and became severe on untreated plots in August. All the fungicides reduced the incidence of rust but the amount of control differed with frequency of application and on different dates of disease assessment. In 1985 chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) also became severe in late August. All the fungicides reduced chocolate spot but maneb plus mancozeb was the most effective. In 1985 yields were increased from 5 · 6 to 7 · 7 t/ha by maneb plus mancozeb applied once. Other fungicides gave smaller yield increases. Yield increases given were attributable mainly to control of rust but partly to control of chocolate spot. Yield increases given by non-systemic fungicides came mainly from increases in the weight of individual grains; those yield increases given by systemic materials came, in addition, from better pod retention.     

Pentoses and Hydroxycinnamic Acids in Brewer's Spent Grain

In this work, the total pentose (xylose and arabinose) and hydroxycinnamic acid (ferulic and p -coumaric acids) in eight lots of brewer's spent grain preserved by different methods (freeze-drying, oven drying and freezing) has been determined. The total acid-extractable pentose content of the samples varied between 13·0 and 19·5% dry weight for xylose, and 7·2 and 9·6% dry weight for arabinose, whereas the total alkali-extractable hydroxycinnamic acid content varied between 0·17 and 0·24% dry weight for ferulic acid, and between 0·068 and 0·121% dry weight for p -coumaric acid. Significant differences (p<0·05) between lots were found for ferulic and p -coumaric acids. With respect to the different preservation methods, significant differences (P<0·05) were only seen in arabinose content. The content of pentoses and hydroxycinnamic acids in brewer's spent grain has been compared with those from other agro-food residues whose use is also proposed for the enzymatic release of these compounds.     

The nutritive value of new high-lysine barley mutants

Four new high-lysine barley mutants, the mother variety ‘Sultan’, and the cultivar ‘Lysimax’ with the high-lysine gene lys3a were grown in a field trial in 1992 at Riso, Denmark. Yield and 1000 kernel weights were measured. The material was analyzed for protein, fat, starch, soluble non-starch polysaccharides, insoluble non-starch polysaccharides, lignin, β-glucans, sugars, energy and amino acids. The nutritive value was evaluated in balance experiments with rats. The mutants yielded less than the mother cultivar ‘Sultan’ in the range 80–96%. Thousand kernel weights were also lower than for the mother cultivar. The protein concentration was higher in the mutants, with the highest value of 14·2% vs 12·9 in ‘Sultan’. The fat content was usually higher in the mutants, with the highest value of 5·3% vs 3·9% for ‘Sultan’. The starch content varied considerably, from 51·2%–60·3% for the mutants, while ‘Sultan’ contained 58·2%. The level of dietary fibre was usually higher in the mutants compared to the level in ‘Sultan’ (19·7%). β-glucan and sugar contents varied among the mutants, with values higher and lower than in ‘Sultan’. ‘Sultan’ contained 3·31 g lysine/ 16 g N vs 4·73 g N in one of the mutants. The higher lysine content resulted in an 11·6% unit increase (P<0·05) in biological value (77·6% for ‘Sultan’ vs 88·2% for this mutant). The protein digestibility was usually higher (P<0·05) in ‘Sultan’ (87·1%). Energy digestibility was slightly lower (P<0·05) in the mutants compared to the value for ‘Sultan’ (84.1%).     

Chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) fed to growing pigs

Pearl millet grown at two different locations in the U.S.A., pearl millet A (PMA) and pearl millet B (PMB), were analyzed for chemical composition and nutrient content and compared to corn. The two samples of pearl millet and corn were incorporated into diets and fed to 24 growing pigs in a metabolism trial to determine nitrogen and mineral balance and digestibilities of energy, fat and amino acids. Pearl millet (PMA and PMB) was found to be richer in crude protein, gross energy, ether extract, acid detergent fiber, amino acid profile and mineral content than corn. However, digestibilities of dry matter (corn, 86·8%; PMA, 80·5%; PMB, 82·0%) and energy (corn, 85·3%; PMA, 78·8%; PMB, 80·5%) were higher (P<0·05) for corn than either of the pearl millet samples. Fat digestibility was much higher in pearl millet than corn. Although nitrogen intake and absorption were higher (P<0·05) for pearl millet, the digestibility of nitrogen was similar for pearl millet and corn. Net protein utilization was lower (P<0·05) in pearl millet when compared to corn (corn, 44·8%; PMA, 34·6%; PMB, 39·9%). Digestibilities of the essential amino acids, arginine, threonine, valine, isoleucine and lysine were higher in pearl millet than corn. Phosphorus retention, expressed as a percentage of intake and absorption, was higher in corn than pearl millet. Calcium intake and absorption were similar for pearl millet and corn. Intake and absorption of magnesium and managanese were also similar in pearl millet and corn. Zinc and copper retention, when expressed as a percentage of intake, were higher in corn, but absorption for both minerals was similar in corn and pearl millet. Pearl millet was found to supersede corn in nutrient content and amino acid digestibility.     

Changes in plant population density, composition and sward structure of a hill pasture during a pastoral fallow

Appropriate pre-sowing methods for the introduction of improved forage legume and grass germplasm are an important issue for hill pasture improvement in New Zealand. A pastoral fallow, which involves not defoliating pasture for a period generally from late spring/early summer to autumn, could create a potentially favourable environment for introducing improved germplasm. A field study was conducted on two aspects (shady and sunny) of moist, low-fertility hill country with or without added fertilizer (phosphorus and sulphur) in the southern North Island of New Zealand, to investigate the changes in plant population density and sward structure during a full or partial pastoral fallow, compared with a rotationally grazed pasture. A 7-month (October to May) pastoral fallow dramatically decreased the densities of grass tillers by 72% (P < 0·01), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) growing points by 87% (P < 0·01) and other species by 87% (P < 0·05). The decline in tiller density by pastoral fallow was enhanced on the shady aspect. Fertilizer application increased white clover growing-point density on the shady aspect (P < 0·05) and grass tiller density on the sunny aspect (P < 0·05). Decreased plant density during pastoral fallowing was attributed to aboveground biomass accumulation, which altered sward structure, leading to interplant competition and mortality by self-thinning and completion of the life cycle of some matured plants. The plant size-density relationship during pastoral fallowing in this mixed-species sward followed the serf-thinning rule, particularly when the calculation was based on all plant species rather than grass alone. There was no significant (P > 0·05) difference in final plant population density between the 7-month pastoral fallow and a shorter term (October to December) pastoral fallow. It is concluded that pastoral fallowing effectively reduced the plant population density and altered sward structure of a hill pasture. Such changes create a more favourable environment for the introduction of improved forage species.     

Rapid Tests of Wheat Nutritive Value for Growing Chickens

Two series of broiler chicken feeding experiments quantified the differences in growth performance of broiler chickens fed either six different U.K. wheat cultivars from one harvest year or six wheat samples that comprised two cultivars (Dean and Beaver) each grown in three harvest years. Differences in broiler growth performance were compared to four rapid tests of wheat quality (specific weight, Hagberg falling number, water-extract viscosity and endosperm hardness) and the determined true metabolisable energy. Broilers fed the cultivar Dean had higher (P<0·001) weight gains and lower (P<0·05) feed conversion ratios compared to those fed Beaver. Samples from a harvest year (1992) in which there was high rainfall in the month during which harvest occurred resulted in lower (P<0·05) broiler feed conversion ratios. Endosperm hardness and water-extract viscosity were both linearly related (P<0·05) to differences in broiler feed conversion ratios but there was no (P>0·05) reduction in unaccountable variation from including both variables in a multiple regression analysis. The measurement of endosperm hardness by near infra-red spectroscopy is rapid and has the potential to be used to discriminate nutritive value between wheat samples on their arrival at poultry feed mills.     

Effect of Triticum monococcum glutenin loci on cookie making quality and on predictive tests for bread making quality

The effects of Triticum monococcum glutenin loci on cookie making quality and predictive tests for bread making quality were evaluated in recombinant substitution lines (RSLs) between chromosome 1A^m from T. monococcum and chromosome 1A from Chinese Spring. All four combinations of high molecular weight (H M_r-GS) and low molecular weight glutenin alleles (L M_r-GS) were studied in a factorial design to evaluate their interactions. Grain protein content was used as a covariable to evaluate the effect of these loci independently of the variation in protein content among lines. No significant interactions were detected indicating an additive effect. RSLs carrying the HM_r -GS from T. monococcum showed a 13·6% increase in SDS sedimentation volume (p=0·004) and a significant reduction in cookie diameter (−5·2%,p =0·02), and cookie quality (−6·8%, p=0·02). RSLs carrying the LM_r -GS from T. monococcum showed a significant decrease in the proportion of polymeric protein (−2·8%, p<0·0001), SDS sedimentation volume (−8·1%,p =0·03) and gluten strength (−16·5%, p=0·01), and a significant increase in cookie quality (5·9%, p=0·05). The T. monococcum LM_r. -GS allele has potential value to be used in soft wheat breeding programs. These results suggest that diploid T. monococcum could be a valuable source for new allelic variation for storage proteins loci and new quality characteristics.     

Biological efficiency of small dicofol droplets against Tetranychus urticae (Koch) eggs,larvae and protonymphs

The influence of droplet size on mortality of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) eggs, larvae and protonymphs was evaluated using sprays of an oil-based 1% dicofol formulation. The effect of using droplets of fixed size but with varying concentrations of active ingredient (0·05%–4·0% a.i.) against eggs was also investigated. The relationship between LD₅₀ and droplet diameter was positive and curvilinear for the three developmental stages, with an LD₅₀ of 12 ng/cm² against eggs, 5 ng/cm² against larvae and 6 ng/cm² against protonymphs when applying droplets of diameter 20 μm. With droplets of 40 μm the LD₅₀ value increased approximately twofold against larvae, protonymphs and eggs: thus an increase in droplet size generally resulted in a decrease in the efficiency of sprays against all three developmental stages of the mite. A U-shaped relationship was found between LD₅₀ and concentration with a theoretical optimum concentration of 1·18% a.i. (i.e. 11·8 g/litre) when droplets of a fixed size were used against eggs. The efficiency of droplets with the minimum active ingredient content (0·05% a.i.) and those with the maximum concentration (4·0% a.i.) was reduced by more than three times compared with the efficiency of droplets with the optimum concentration.     

‘MaxClover’ grazing experiment: I. Annual yields,botanical composition and growth rates of six dryland pastures over nine years

Six dryland pastures were established at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, in February 2002. Production and persistence of cocksfoot pastures established with subterranean, balansa, white or Caucasian clovers, and a perennial ryegrass‐white clover control and a lucerne monoculture were monitored for nine years. Total annual dry‐matter (10.0–18·5 t DM ha^?1) and sown legume yields from the lucerne monoculture exceeded those from the grass‐based pastures in all but one year. The lowest lucerne yield (10 t ha^?1 yr^?1) occurred in Year 4, when spring snow caused ungrazed lucerne to lodge and senesce. Cocksfoot with subterranean clover was the most productive grass‐based pasture. Yields were 8·7–13·0 t DM ha^?1 annually. Subterranean clover yields were 2·4–3·7 t ha^?1 in six of the nine years which represented 26–32% of total annual production. In all cocksfoot‐based pastures, the contribution of sown pasture components decreased at a rate equivalent to 3·3 ± 0·05% per year (R² = 0·83) and sown components accounted for 65% of total yield in Year 9. In contrast, sown components represented only 13% of total yield in the ryegrass‐white clover pastures in Year 9, and their contribution declined at 10·1 ± 0·9% per year (R² = 0·94). By Year 9, 79% of the 6.6 t ha^?1 produced from the ryegrass‐white clover pasture was from unsown species and 7% was dead material. For maximum production and persistence, dryland farmers on 450–780 mm yr^?1 rainfall should grow lucerne or cocksfoot‐subterranean clover pastures in preference to ryegrass and white clover. Inclusion of white clover as a secondary legume component to sub clover would offer opportunities to respond to unpredictable summer rainfall after sub clover has set seed.     

Determination of the Level and Position of Substitution in Hydroxypropylated Starch by High-Resolution1H-NMR Spectroscopy ofAlpha-limit Dextrins

Eleven hydroxypropylated starch samples were thinned by bacterialalpha-amylase at 80 °C prior to¹H-NMR analysis on a 400 MHz instrument. Hydroxypropyl (HP) levels were calculated from the intensity of the HP methyl signal (1·18 ppm) compared with that of the methylene and methine (HCO) multiplet (3·2–4·1 ppm). HP values determined by¹H-NMR correlated well with those determined by the colorimetric Johnson procedure. Anomeric proton signals in the spectra ofalpha-limit dextrins were used to identify the positions of HP substitution. Methyl 2-O-, 3-O- and 6-O-hydroxypropyl-α-d-glucopyranosides were synthesized, and only the 2-ether shifted the H-1 signal. Eight HP starches with a molar substitution of 0·05–0·23 had 67–78% HP on O-2, 15–29% on O-3 and 2–17% on O–6.     

Effect of six synthetic pyrethroids on two populations of potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in Peru

The toxicity of six synthetic pyrethroids, permethrin, cypermethrin, flucythrinate, fenvalerate, cyfluthrin and deltamethrin, were evaluated on two populations of potato tuber moth (PTM) Phthorimea operculella (Zeller) in Peru. Deltamethrin was most toxic with an LC₅₀ of 120 μg/ml for male PTM from La Molina and 137 μg/ml for female PTM from San Ramon. Fenvalerate was least toxic and the other four insecticides were intermediate in toxicity. At field recommended concentrations (0·05-0·04%) none of the six synthetic pyrethroids were effective on the two populations tested.     

Barley Bulgur: Effect of Processing and Cooking on Chemical Composition

Three barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgareL.) were processed into bulgur by pressure cooking or cooking at atmospheric pressure. The effect of processing on levels of thiamine, riboflavin, minerals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg) as well as the phytic acid and β-glucan was investigated. Significant decreases (p<0·05) were observed in ash, riboflavin and thiamine contents during bulgur processing. Neither the cooking methods nor the dehulling process had significant influence on the content of Fe, Cu, Zn or Mg. However, the Mn and Ca content of the bulgurs were significantly (p<0·05) lower compared with the corresponding raw barleys. For all cultivars total P and phytate P contents of the bulgurs were significantly (p<0·05) lower compared with the corresponding raw barleys. In contrast, levels of β-glucan were significantly higher in processed bulgur vs raw barley. Protein contents of the samples did not change significantly during bulgur processing. Bulgur processed from barley appeared to retain most of the nutritional value of raw barley, in particular it showed high levels of soluble dietary fibre.     

Effectiveness of carbofuran applied to the soil and as a seed treatment for the control of aphids on wheat in Northwestern Mexico

The effectiveness of carbofuran 300 ST and 350 L applied to the soil and as a seed treatment was evaluated with two wheat cultivars ‘Genaro’ and ‘Sonoyta’ in the Valle del Yaqui, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora in Northwestern Mexico. Both the soil and seed treatment significantly (P < 0·05) reduced greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) and corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) populations. Infestations of greenbugs and corn leaf aphids were 97·8% and 98·3% less, respectively, with the soil application of carbofuran 350 L in the Genaro wheat plots and 91% less for both aphids in the Sonoyta wheat plots than on the untreated controls. Greenbug and corn leaf aphid infestations in the seed treatment with carbofuran 300 ST on the Genaro wheat plots were 93·4% and 52·5% less, respectively, and in the Sonoyta wheat plots, infestations of greenbugs and corn leaf aphids were 92% and 78·9% less, respectively, than on the untreated controls. The wheat plots where carbofuran 350 L was applied to the soil had yields 18% and 16% greater for the Genaro and Sonoyta cultivars, respectively, than the untreated controls, while those plots where carbofuran 300 ST was applied as a seed treatment had yields 15% and 12% greater for the Genaro and Sonoyta cultivars, respectively, than the untreated controls.     

The effects of wilting grass before ensiling on silage intake

Herbage, predominantly perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) grown in Northern Ireland, was harvested at four dates from June to October 1996 (H1, H2, H3 and H4). At each harvest approximately one-fifth of the grass harvested was artificially dried and pelleted (G). The remainder of the grass was either wilted for 28–52 h (W), depending on the weather conditions, or ensiled directly, i.e. unwilted (UW). Within the W and UW treatments an inoculant or formic acid additive was applied to the herbage before ensiling. After a minimum ensiling period of 10 weeks, sixty steers, mean initial live weight 432 (s.d. 37) kg, were offered the twenty forages in a four-period partially balanced changeover design experiment. Each period was of 2 weeks’ duration. Dry-matter (DM) intakes were recorded daily, with intakes in the second week of each period used in the statistical analysis of the data. The digestibility of each of the forages was also determined in vivo using four castrated male sheep per silage. Wilting increased the DM content of the silage and the pH, the largest increase in DM content occurring at the second harvest. On average, wilting proportionally increased silage DM intake by 0·21 compared with the unwilted silage (P < 0·001), but the intake of the wilted silage was not significantly different from that of the artificially dried and pelleted grass (P > 0·05). The intake of the wilted silage was higher than that of the unwilted silage at each harvest, the proportional increases being 0·22 (P < 0·001), 0·41 (P < 0·001), 0·19 (P < 0·001) and 0·05 (P > 0·05) at harvests H1, H2, H3 and H4 respectively. Treatment of the grass with formic acid before ensiling resulted in a proportional increase in silage intake of 0·08 compared with the inoculant-treated silage (P < 0·05). Compared with the inoculant-treated silage, formic acid increased silage intake by 0·08, 0·02, 0·14 and 0·10 at harvests H1 (P > 0·05), H2 (P > 0·05), H3 (P < 0·01) and H4 (P < 0·05). The results of this study indicate that the effect of wilting on silage intake varies across different harvests and additive treatments. The difference in response to wilting across different harvests is mainly a result of the prevailing weather conditions during wilting.     

Determination of Some Metals Which are Important for Food Quality Control in Bread

This study is the small part of the big project related to the metallic contamination in foodstuff. The work presented here allowed determination the level of iron, copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in bread samples obtained from 20 bakeries in Ankara and Samsun, Turkey. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry method was used to determine these metals. The mean values of iron, copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium levels were found as 19·2±8·1 mg/kg-dry weight (dw), 2·1±1·0 μg/kg-dw, 10·0±3·0 μg/kg-dw, 86·8±176·0 μg/kg-dw, and 12·2±6·1 μg/kg-dw, respectively. No significant differences were found in copper and lead levels of samples obtained from bakeries in general, and in copper and cadmium levels of the samples from different provinces (P>0·05), while they were considered significant in iron, zinc, and cadmium levels of samples in general, and in iron, zinc and lead levels of samples from different provinces (P<0·05).     

Effect of cowpea/maize mixed cropping on the incident light at the cowpea canopy and flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) population density

The effect of mixed cropping of cowpeas with maize on light intensity in the cowpea canopy and on population density of Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom) was investigated in the field and in cages. Significantly less (P< 0 · 05) light was intercepted by the cowpea canopy in the cowpea/maize mixed crop than in the cowpea crop alone. The population density and activity of M. sjostedti were significantly less in the mixed crop than in the single crop. There were significant correlations between light interception and differences in the population density of nymphs (r=0 · 79), adults (r=0 · 84) and the overall activity (r=0 · 93) of M. sjostedti. In a screenhouse choice test, M. sjostedti preferred unshaded cowpea plants to shaded ones. The results suggested that reduced light intensity in the cowpea/maize mixture contributes to the relative scarcity of M. sjostedti in the mixture.     

A Study of Indigestible Protein Fractions of Rice (Oryza sativa,L.) Endosperm Fed to Mice (Mus musculus) and Sheep (Ovis musimon): A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Rice (Oryza sativaL) endosperm protein was fed, both cooked and uncooked, to mice and sheep, animals that have monogastric and polygastric digestive systems respectively. Both species ate the rice diets; however, neither were able tocompletelydigest the protein. This was evident as undegraded protein bodies and/or faecal protein particles (FPP) were present in the faecal matter. Significant differences between cooked and uncooked rice degradability was found when fed to both the mice and the sheep (P<0·05). The ruminant digestive system of sheep was significantly better (P<0·05) at digesting the rice protein than was the single stomach system of mice. The implications of this study reduces the potential effectiveness of using FPP as carriers of medications or antigens, to a large group of domestic animals.     

Urea supplementation effects on the utilization of low-quality forage and lamb production in patagonian rangelands

The effect of feeding a urea-based supplement for the last 8 weeks of pregnancy was examined on ewes grazing the grass-shrub steppes of NW Patagonia, Argentina. The productivity of ewes and lambs and the utilization rate of the major, less preferred, grass species (Stipa speciosa, 27% cover) was analysed. In a paddock-scale experiment, ewes grazed two areas of 450–500 ha from 15 August to 15 February at a stocking rate of 0·5 ewes ha^?1. From 15 August to 10 October, one group of ewes was given access to a urea-based supplement containing 300 g kg^?1 urea, 320 g kg^?1 salt, 30 g kg^?1 molasses and 300 g kg^?1 bone meal. Average supplement consumption was 3·5 g ewe^?1 d^?1. The performance of 100 ewes in each of the two areas was evaluated. Supplemented ewes gained 4·2 kg more live weight than the control ewes between 15 August and 10 October (prepartum) (liveweight gain was 10·3 vs. 6·1 kg ewe^?1, P < 0·05). The number of live lambs at 8 weeks of age, as a proportion of ewes mated, was 15% higher in the supplemented than in the control group (0·634 vs. 0·553, P < 0·05). A similar increase in the live weight of lambs at 8 weeks of age in the supplemented group compared with the controls was also observed (12·1 vs. 10·6 kg, P < 0·05). In the paddock with the supplemented ewes, there was a significant increase in the proportion of Stipa speciosa plants defoliated (0·62 vs. 0·38, P < 0·05) and in the intensity of defoliation of these plants. It was concluded that urea-based supplements increased productivity of ewes and that this was likely to be associated with an increase in the intake, and possibly digestibility, of the less preferred species such as Stipa speciosa.