The breakage of dormancy in Datura ferox seeds as an effect of water absorption

Datura ferox seeds do not germinate when they are incubated intact and in darkness, even after 24 months of dry storage. If allowed to absorb water vapour for 3–4 weeks at 20°C, they lose dormancy, germinating even when incubated in darkness. The breakage of dormancy is directly related to the vapour pressure of the atmosphere where the seeds are stored, and good aeration is necessary for the process to occur. If seeds absorb liquid water, the toss of dormancy is much less than that of seeds stored in a saturated atmosphere. A similar effect is observed when seeds are buried in a soil at field capacity. The results indicate that a certain degree of imbibition, under good gas-exchange conditions, is important for breaking dormancy. As a hypothesis, it is proposed that most of the population remains dormant when not enough O₂ is available for (he imbibed seed. The low rate of O₂ entry could be due to poor diffusion through the water-saturated seed coat (seeds which absorb liquid water) or to a low O₂ level in the surrounding atmosphere (soil at field capacity). One of the possible roles of O₂ could be to oxidize the inhibitor(s) present in these seeds. La rupture de la dormance des semences de Datura ferox considérée comme un effet de l'absorplion de l'eau. Les semences de Datura ferox ne germent pas quand elles sont mises au germoir intactes et à l'obscurité, même aprés 24 mois de conservation au sec. Si elles peuvent absorber de la vapeur d'eau pendant 3 à 4 semaines à 20°C, elles perdent leur dormance et germent meme & à l'obscurité. La rupture de la dormance est en relation directe avec la pression de la vapeurd'eau de l'atmosphére dans laquelle les semences sont conservées; une bonne aération est nécessaire pour que le processus se déclanche. Si les semences absorbent de l'eau à l'état liquide, la rupture de dormance est beaucoup moindre que celle de semences conscrvées dans une atmosphére saturée. Un effet analogue est observé lorsque les semences sont ententes dans un sol ayant atteint sa capacity au champ. Les résultats indiquent qu'un certain degriS d'imbibition, sous de bonnes conditions d'changes gazeux. est important pour la rupture de la dormance. Comme hypothtése, il est proposé que la plus grande partie de la population reste dormante lorsqu'il n'y a pas assez d'oxygene disponible pour la semence imbibeée. Le faible taux d'absorption d'oxygéne pourrait étre du à sa fuible diffusion à travers l'enveloppe saturée d'eau de la semence (pour celles qui absorbent l'eau à I état liquide) ou à un bas niveau d'oxygene dans Tatmosphére environnante (cas d'un sol à la capacityé au champ). Un des rôles possibles de l'oxygéne pourrait être d'oxyder les inhibiteurs presents dans les semences. Das Brechen der Keimruhe in Samen von Datura ferox ah ein Effekt der Wasseraiifnahme Samen von Datura ferox keimen nicht, wenn sie bei Dunkelheit gehalten werden; auch nicht, wenn sie zuvor 24 Monate trocken lagerten. Wenn sie bei 20°C, 3 bis 4 Wochen tang Wasserdampf aufnehmen, verlieren sie die Keimhemmung und keimen sogar im Dunketn. Zwischcn dem Brechen der Keimruhe und dem Damptdruck der Luft in der sie gelagert werden, besteht eine direkte Beziehung. Fur diesen Vorgang ist eine gute BelCiflung Vorausselzung. Wenn die Samen flijssiges Wasser aufnehmen, ist der Verlust der Keimhemmung wesentlich geringer als wenn sie in einer gesättigten Atmosphäre gelagert werden. Eine ähnliche Wirkung wird beobachtet. wenn die Samen im Boden bei Feldkapazität gelagert werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass für das Brechen der Keimruhe ein bestimmtes Mass der Aufnahme bei ausreichendem Gasaustausch wichtig ist. Als cine Hypothese wird vorgeschlagen, dass die meisten der Population dormant bleiben, wenn für die mil Wasser vollgesaugten Samen nicht ausreichend O₂ verfügbar ist. Der geringe Zutritt an O₂ konnte auf die mässige Diffusion durch die wassergesättigte Samenschale (Samen die fliissiges Wasser aufnehmen), oder auf einen geringen O₂-Gehalt in der umgebenden Luft (Boden bei Feldkapazität) zurückzuführen sein. Eine der möglichen Bedeutungen die dem O₂ zukommen, könnte in der Oxidation des bzw. der Hemmstoffe der Samen liegen.     

Detection of potato virus Y in early-harvested potato tubers by cDNA hybridization and three modifications of ELISA1

The standard ELISA method for detection of PVY in dormant potato tubers was compared with recently developed methods: (1) a hybridization technique, using a complementary DNA-probe to PVY^N; (2) three modifications of ELISA (standard monoclonal, Flegg & Clark polyclonal or monoclonal). Sap of six Dutch cultivars secondarily infected with PVY was subjected to these methods directly after lifting and after six subsequent one-week intervals during storage at 20°C. During storage the detectability of PVY decreased, irrespective of the diagnostic method applied. However, decrease was less in susceptible than in resistant cultivars. Although the hybridization technique yielded slightly better results than the standard ELISA procedure, it was time-consuming and involved hazardous reagents. The modifications of ELISA investigated were not, in general, more sensitive than standard ELISA.     

Einfluss von Pflanzenschutzmitteln einer Zuckerrüben-Spritzfolge auf biologische Aktivitäten und auf den Abbau von Chloridazon im Boden. II. Gefäss-und Laborversuche

Effect of carious pesticides of a sugar-fact spray programme on biological activities and chloridazon degradation in soil. II Pot trials and laboratory experiments In pot trials and laboratory experiments degradation and plant availability of Chloridazon (Pyramin) in soil, applied alone and in combination with other pesticides of a sugar-beet spray programme were investigated and also the influence of these treatments on soil dehydrogenusc activity and straw decomposition. After an initial lag-period chloridazon degradation was rapid, and obviously was unaffected by plant growth and other pesticides. The average lime for 50% decrease of the initial concentration was 10 days. The water-extractable portion of chloridazon in soil was not affected by the presence of other pesticides and was about 43% 1 week after application and decreased to 0% during the following week. Pyramin alone did not influence straw decomposition, and the spray programme was slightly stimulatory. In pot trials with and without plains, dehydrogenase activity was not significantly inhibited by Pyramin, whereas with the spray programme and bare soil, slightly reduced enzyme activities were observed. Under laboratory conditions the spray programme was more inhibitory than Pyramin alone. There was no correlation between biological soil activities and chloridazon degradation.     

Prediction of codling moth egg hatch in Germany and Italy using the Californian forecasting model Bugoff21

The effectiveness of the Californian model Bugoff2 for Cydia pomonella was tested in Germany (4 years) and Italy (2 years), the Italian results confirming the German findings. In the first codling moth generation (air temperatures normally below 30 C) good agreement was found between field observations of egg hatching and the model's forecast. However, the model gave notable differences for the second generation, i.e. 3 weeks in Germany and 1 week in Italy, and a significant difference for the third generation in Italy. These divergencies arise from an overestimation of the development rate of the codling moth in Bugoff 2's heat unit table whenever air temperature exceeds the upper limit for development. As a result of modifications to Bugoff 2, an example of a better simulation of the codling moth egg hatch in Germany and Italy is discussed.     

西藏地区地面温度的时空分布及其异常类型研究

利用1980-2004年地面温度月平均资料,分析了近25年西藏地区地面温度空间分布的基本气候特征。同时,依据EOF(REOF)经验正交函数展开,讨论了全年及各季节地温异常空间特征和时间演变,并对地温异常类型进行了区域划分。     

Observations on the potential of microwaves for weed control

Field tests of a prototype microwave‐based weed killer machine were conducted on Abutilon theophrasti, Panicum miliaceum, lucerne and oilseed rape pure stands. The approach can be considered a thermal weed control method, the microwave radiation causing dielectric heating of plant tissue water that eventually kills the plant. The method could overcome the limitations of other thermal methods, such as fire risk with flaming or the heavy loads required for hot water treatments. Species were effectively controlled by microwave irradiation, but their sensitivity and the evolution of damage symptoms over time differed. Lucerne showed no sigmoidal response and was the least affected by the treatment, while a log‐logistic curve expressed the dose–response relationships of the other species quite well. The estimated microwave dose for a 90% dry weight reduction ranged from 1015 kJ m^?2 in A. theophrasti to 3433 kJ m^?2 in P. miliaceum. Energy cost evaluation indicated that increased efficiency is required for this technique to compete with other thermal methods. Microwave efficiency could be increased by a flux configuration that minimizes soil penetration and maximizes absorption by plants, which, in turn, depends on plant growth form.