Hydrogen radicals, nitrogen radicals, and the production of O3 in the upper troposphere

The concentrations of the hydrogen radicals OH and HO2 in the middle and upper troposphere were measured simultaneously with those of NO, O3, CO, H2O, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons, and with the ultraviolet and visible radiation field. The data allow a direct examination of the processes that produce O3 in this region of the atmosphere. Comparison of the measured concentrations of OH and HO2 with calculations based on their production from water vapor, ozone, and methane demonstrate that these sources are insufficient to explain the observed radical concentrations in the upper troposphere. The photolysis of carbonyl and peroxide compounds transported to this region from the lower troposphere may provide the source of HOx required to sustain the measured abundances of these radical species. The mechanism by which NO affects the production of O3 is also illustrated by the measurements. In the upper tropospheric air masses sampled, the production rate for ozone (determined from the measured concentrations of HO2 and NO) is calculated to be about 1 part per billion by volume each day. This production rate is faster than previously thought and implies that anthropogenic activities that add NO to the upper troposphere, such as biomass burning and aviation, will lead to production of more O3 than expected.     

Atmospheric residence time of CH3Br estimated from the junge spatial variability relation

The atmospheric residence time for methyl bromide (CH3Br) has been estimated as 0.8 +/- 0.1 years from its empirical spatial variability relative to C2H6, C2Cl4, CHCl3, and CH3Cl. This evaluation of the atmospheric residence time, based on Junge's 1963 general proposal, provides an estimate for CH3Br that is independent of source and sink estimates. Methyl bromide from combined natural and anthropogenic sources furnishes about half of the bromine that enters the stratosphere, where it plays an important role in ozone destruction. This residence time is consistent with the 0.7-year value recently calculated for CH3Br from the combined strength estimates for its known significant sinks.     

Production and cyto-morphological analysis of intergeneric hybrids of Sorghum × Saccharum

Four intergeneric hybrids were produced by crossing sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, 2n =20] as a female parent with sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L., 2n = 112). The hybrids were morphologically similar to the sugarcane parent, but lacked vegetative vigour. Sorghum characters present in the hybrids included soft texture of the leaves, tight clasping of the leaf sheaths, presence of aerial roots and triangular ligule. All the hybrids were highly susceptible to natural incidence of mites. Somatic chromosome number of the hybrids ranged from 2n = 62–66, indicating n+n transmission. This is the first report of Sorghum × Saccharum hybrids with sorghum cytoplasm. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationship Between Leaf Nitrogen and Photosynthetic Characteristics in Brassica juncea and B. campestris

The relationship between leaf nitrogen content (N) versus photosynthetic rate (PN) and other associated parameters was examined in Brassica juncea , cv. Pusa Bold and B campestris , cv. Pusa Kalyani. Leaf N, specific leaf weight (SLW), leaf area and PN were significantly higher in B. juncea , while the chlorophyll content was significantly lower compared to Brassica campestris. A significant positive correlation was obtained between leaf N content and photosynthetic rate in both species. Similarly, SLW was also positively related with leaf N content, Brassica juncea showed higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) than B campestris. Leaf N and PNUE were negatively associated. This was attributed to a low investment of N in photosynthesis related reactions and/or partitioning of N towards compounds functionally unrelated to photosynthesis. This attribution is further supported by the negative relationship obtained between SLW and PNUE.     

Leguminous Cover Crop Effects on Nitrogen Mineralization Rates and Kinetics in Soils

Soils were collected from an experimental site (initiated in 1991) at which leguminous crops were grown as natural soil cover in the interspaces of a 19‐year‐old coconut plantation. Atylosia scarabaeoides, Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides and Pueraria phaseoloides were grown in separate plots during the rainy season and ploughed into the soil towards the end of the monsoon (in December every year). Soil samples were collected from this site at the end of the 7th year and incubated in PVC columns at 35 ± 1°C and 0.01 MPa moisture content for 36 weeks. The soils were then leached at periodic intervals for up to 36 weeks and nitrogen (N) mineralization rates and kinetics were determined by the double exponential model. The N mineralization rates were highest during the first week and decreased with time in all soils. Soils amended (in situ ploughing) with cover crops leached 191 mg kg^–1 more NO₃^– + NO₂^–‐N than the unamended control. The per cent organic N mineralized (total and net) and the cumulative inorganic N mineralized (NO₃^– + NO₂^–‐N) varied with the amount (biomass) and type of cover crop incorporated into the soil. In general, soils amended with cover crops had greater N mineralization potentials and rate constants than the unamended control. The kinetic parameters N_oS and N_o(1 – S) and their respective rate constants h and k also varied with the amount and type of cover crops incorporated into the soil. The results further indicated that the lignin + polyphenol : N ratio of the cover crops is extremely important in predicting the rate of decomposition and N mineralization in soils.     

L- -methyl- -hydrazino- -(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid: relative lack of antidecarboxylase activity in adrenals

In rats previously treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, the administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan results in increases in concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine in kidney, brain, and adrenal glands. When the peripheral L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, L-alpha-methyl-alpha-hydrazino-beta-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (HMD) is administered prior to 5-hydroxytryptophan, the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine in kidneys does not rise, that of the brain increases slightly, and that of the adrenal rises markedly. This indicates that although the adrenal gland is a peripheral organ, it does not respond in the typical manner to the antidecarboxylase action of HMD. These results suggest that HMD does not gain free access into the adrenal medulla and that a possible "blood-adrenal barrier" may exist to this compound.     

Nutritional quality of the protein in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa,Willd) seeds

The nutritional quality of protein in quinoa seeds has been determined by amino acid assay and by animal feeding experiments. The amino acid composition of the protein in raw quinoa and washed quinoa show similar pattern. The first limiting amino acids were the aromatic amino acids thyrosine + phenylalanine giving a chemical score of 86 for protein in raw quinoa and 85 for protein in washed quinoa. Threonine was the next limiting amino acid followed by lysine. The amount of lysine and sulfur amino acids (methionine + cystine) was relatively high. In general, the content of essential amino acids in quinoa is higher than in common cereals. The animal experiments showed NPU values of 75.7, BV of 82.6 and TD value of 91.7 for the protein in raw quinoa. Results of the in-vitro enzymatic methods showed that the digestibility of the protein in quinoa is comparable to that of other high quality food proteins. The corresponding experiments carried out with samples of guinoa seeds, which have been processed to remove the saponins, showed that, the saponins do not exert any negative effect on the nutritive quality of the protein.     

Multi-level characterization of perennial cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. race marie-galante Hutch.) populations from the northeastern Brazil to the breeding and conservation of this germplasm

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The remaining populations of perennial cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. marie-galante Hutch.) that occur in northeastern Brazil are part of the primary gene...