Analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in honeybee by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry

Pesticides applied in extended agricultural fields may be controlled by means of bioindicators, such as honeybees, in which are the pesticides bioaccumulate. Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) experiments with positive (PI) and negative (NI) ion modes were optimized for the analysis of 22 organophosphorus pesticides in honeybee samples. The extraction required 3 g of sample, which was extracted with acetone. The extract was purified with coagulating solution and reextracted with Cl(2)CH(2). Pesticides studied could be detected by both ionization modes except for parathion, parathion-methyl, and bromophos, which did not give signals in PI mode, and triazophos, which was not detected in NI mode. Fragmentation voltage and vaporizer temperature were optimized to achieve the highest sensitivity. The spectra profile of each pesticide in PI mode showed the [M + H](+) ion as the main signal, whereas in NI mode only fragment ions were shown. The detection limit obtained in selected ion monitoring mode ranged from 1 to 15 microg kg(-1). The average recoveries from spiked honeybees at various concentration levels (0.5-5 mg kg(-1)) exceeded 65% with relative standard deviations of 4-15%. The method was applied to real samples, in which residues of coumaphos and dimethoate were detected.     

Irrigation scheduling of plastic greenhouse vegetable crops based on historical weather data

Irrigation scheduling based on the daily historical crop evapotranspiration (ET_h) data was theoretically and experimentally assessed for the major soil-grown greenhouse horticultural crops on the Almería coast in order to improve irrigation efficiency. Overall, the simulated seasonal ET_h values for different crop cycles from 41 greenhouses were not significantly different from the corresponding values of real-time crop evapotranspiration (ET_c). Additionally, for the main greenhouse crops on the Almería coast, the simulated values of the maximum cumulative soil water deficit in each of the 15 consecutive growth cycles (1988–2002) were determined using simple soil-water balances comparing daily ET_h and ET_c values to schedule irrigation. In most cases, no soil-water deficits affecting greenhouse crop productivity were detected, but the few cases found led us to also assess experimentally the use of ET_h for irrigation scheduling of greenhouse horticultural crops. The response of five greenhouse crops to water applications scheduled with daily estimates of ET_h and ET_c was evaluated in a typical enarenado soil. In tomato, fruit yield did not differ statistically between irrigation treatments, but the spring green bean irrigated using the ET_h data presented lower yield than that irrigated using the ET_c data. In the remaining experiments, the irrigation-management method based on ET_h data was modified to consider the standard deviation of the inter-annual greenhouse reference ET. No differences between irrigation treatments were found for productivity of pepper, zucchini and melon crops.     

Use of stem diameter variations to detect plant water stress in tomato

The sensitivity of stem diameter variations (SDV) measured with linear variable transducer (LVDT) sensors as indicators of plant water status in tomato was evaluated. Two tomato crops were grown sequentially in a sandy loam soil in an unheated plastic greenhouse. These were an autumn–winter tomato crop (autumn crop) and a spring–summer tomato crop (spring crop). One drying cycle of 61 days was imposed to the autumn crop in winter at 92 days after transplanting (DAT). Two drying cycles, each of 29 days, were applied to the spring crop, to young (58 DAT) and mature plants (121 DAT). For each drying cycle, four replicate plots did not receive irrigation, and four were well watered. During each drying cycle, LVDT sensors continuously measured SDV, and daily measurements were made of leaf (Ψ _leaf) and stem water potential (Ψ _stem). SDV data was interpreted using the SDV-derived indices, maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and stem growth rate (SGR). The response of SDV-derived indices to water deficit differed with (1) climatic conditions during stress imposition and (2) crop age. In the winter drying cycle of the autumn crop, the responses of the SDV-derived indices to soil drying were relatively small and slower than Ψ _leaf and Ψ _stem. Under warmer conditions, the SDV-derived indices were much more responsive to soil drying. In rapidly growing young plants, where SDV was characterized by high SGR and small MDS, SGR was the most sensitive SDV-derived index. In more mature plants with little stem growth, MDS was the most sensitive SDV-derived index. In mature plants grown in warm to hot conditions, MDS (1) responded at a similar time or earlier than Ψ _leaf and Ψ _stem and (2) had larger “signal” values (ratio of values from unwatered to control plants) than Ψ _leaf and Ψ _stem. However, there was appreciably more “noise” (coefficient of variation, CV) associated with the SDV-derived indices, giving lower “sensitivity” values, determined from “signal” to “noise” ratios, than for Ψ _leaf and Ψ _stem. Regression analysis between MDS of well-watered plants and climatic variables gave best results for a linear relationship between MDS and daily maximum vapor pressure deficit. There were strong linear relationships between MDS and Ψ _leaf for each drying cycle. The slopes of these relationships differed with crop age indicating that there was no constant relationship between MDS and Ψ _leaf for a whole season. Overall these results demonstrated that MDS and SGR can be sensitive indicators of the water status of tomato crops under conditions of moderate to high evaporative demand. However, the variability associated with the SDV-derived indices and the changing MDS–Ψ _leaf relationship with crop age represent major issues regarding the development of irrigation scheduling protocols for tomato.     

精准喷雾控制装置的设计与制作

为了实现精准喷雾,设计并制作了一套基于51单片机的精准喷雾自动/手动两种模式切换的控制装置。在自动模式下,单片机根据现场信号输入模块提供的作物病虫害情况分别打开或关闭对应的电磁阀;手动模式下,由面板手动开关分别控制各个电磁阀打开或关闭。经田间试验测定,该喷雾控制装置能够在自动或手动模式下实现精准喷雾作业控制。     

Evaluation of the sorption process for imidacloprid and diuron in eight agricultural soils from southern Europe using various kinetic models

Kinetic studies are of great concern for understanding the processes and parameters involved in the sorption of pollutants by soils. Sorption kinetics of imidacloprid and diuron in eight soils of different characteristics, with very low organic carbon content were investigated. Pseudosecond-order kinetic reactions closely correlate with the experimental kinetic (R(2) > 0.98) in all soils. The sorbed amount of diuron was higher than that for imidacloprid. The low OC content of these soils correlated neither with the sorbed amount nor with the kinetic parameters for both pesticides. Imidacloprid sorption was correlated with silt and sand content and cation exchange capacity (CEC); meanwhile for diuron, no correlation was found. Thus, sorption kinetics take place throughout different mechanisms related mainly to the chemical character of the pesticides. Sorption kinetic parameters determined using three of the four models selected (pseudosecond-order kinetic reactions, Elovich equation, and Weber-Morris models) have been shown to be worthy to distinguish the process controlling the sorption kinetic of both pesticides.     

水稻氮磷肥料减施途径研究

通过大田双季稻轮作试验,研究了在农民习惯施肥的基础上,不同减少氮磷肥料用量的施肥措施对水稻生长、产量的影响。减施氮肥处理结果表明:比农民习惯施肥减施20%氮肥的条件下,施用缓释肥料(80R)产量最高,比传统不减少施氮处理(CFN)增产0.4%,比等养分量纯化肥处理(80F)增产6.0%;用有机肥和化肥配施的处理(30F+50M)比80F增产1.9%;绿肥和化肥配施的处理(50F+30A)比80F显著减产7.2%(P<0.05)。因此,施缓释肥料或用有机肥和化肥配施均能提高产量,减少氮肥施用量。减施磷肥处理结果表明:比农民习惯施肥减少施磷20%的处理均没有减产,说明在本地区减少施磷20%,具有一定的可行性。     

Hexavalent Chromium Removal by Candida sp. in a Concentric Draft-Tube Airlift Bioreactor

The main purpose of this work was to conduct a kinetic study on cell growth and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] removal by Candida sp. FGSFEP in a concentric draft-tube airlift bioreactor. The yeast was batch-cultivated in a 5.2-l airlift bioreactor containing culture medium with an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 1.5 mM. The maximum specific growth rate of Candida sp. FGSFEP in the airlift bioreactor was 0.0244 h^?1, which was 71.83% higher than that obtained in flasks. The yeast strain was capable of reducing 1.5 mM Cr(VI) completely and exhibited a high volumetric rate [1.64 mg Cr(VI) l^?1 h^?1], specific rate [0.95 mg Cr(VI) g^?1 biomass h^?1] and capacity [44.38 mg Cr(VI) g^?1 biomass] of Cr(VI) reduction in the airlift bioreactor, with values higher than those obtained in flasks. Therefore, culture of Candida sp. FGSFEP in a concentric draft-tube airlift bioreactor could be a promising technological alternative for the aerobic treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated industrial effluents.     

刺五加鲨烯合酶基因的表达及其对皂苷含量的影响

为了了解刺五加鲨烯合酶基因(squalene synthase,SS)的表达特点及其对刺五加中皂苷含量的影响情况,以GAPDH基因为内参照基因,采用实时定量PCR技术,分析了SS基因在刺五加不同生长发育时期不同器官中的表达量及茉莉酸甲酯对其表达的影响情况;还利用SPSS 17.0软件分析了SS基因的表达量与刺五加中皂苷总含量的相关性。结果表明,在刺五加的整个生长期中,SS基因的表达量呈现出"低—高—低—高—低"的变化趋势:萌芽期(4月26日)该基因的表达量最低,而盛花期(6月26日)该基因的表达量最高,为萌芽期的3.11倍;SS基因在刺五加根中的表达量显著高于茎、叶和叶柄中的表达量(P<0.05),其在茎中的表达量最低,仅为根中表达量的51.88%。茉莉酸甲酯可提高SS基因的表达量,但其与对照组的差异未达到显著水平。刺五加中的皂苷总含量与SS基因的表达量间呈现出同升同降的变化趋势,存在极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01)。文中初步判定,鲨烯合酶是刺五加皂苷生物合成的关键酶。     

国槐枝叶水分特征及其对树干边材液流的影响

为探明国槐Sophora japonica组织含水量、水势、水容等枝叶水分特征及其对树干边材液流的调节和影响,于2007年3月下旬至2008年3月下旬利用热扩散式边材液流检测技术(TDP)、压力室技术等对生长在北京林业大学校园内的国槐树干边材液流、组织含水量、水势、水容等进行了系统研究。结果表明:城市环境下,(1)国槐树干边材液流速率日变化春季和夏季呈双峰曲线,秋季呈单峰曲线;液流峰值出现时间春季最早,夏季次之,秋季最晚;春季和秋季液流速率峰值较夏季高,但峰值维持时间夏季较春、秋两季长。(2)国槐枝条与叶片绝对含水量、水势、水容具有相似的日变化规律,但不同季节日变化有所差异。(3)整个生长季,国槐含水量、水势、水容的大小排序为春季夏季秋季;枝条平均含水量(52.12±2.59)%叶片平均含水量(69.59±4.64)%;枝条平均水势(-1.70±0.74)MPa叶片平均水势(-1.87±0.65)MPa;枝条水容(1.488±3.060)g.cm-3.MPa-1叶片水容(5.86±6.70)×10-3g.cm-3.MPa-1。(4)国槐组织水容日变化与树干边材液流速率日变化反向相关,国槐枝叶含水量、水势、水容等共同作用和调节其蒸腾耗水。     

Correction to: Individual based modelling of fish migration in a 2-D river system: model description and case study

Landscape Ecology - In the original publication of the article, the third author name has been misspelt. The correct name is given in this Correction. The original version of this article was revised.