Weed Control

Abstract

Research into weed control in Iraq is largely the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture. The recommendations which the Department of Weed Control have made on the basis of this research are presented. The principal weed species of Iraq are listed with some indication of their occurrence and importance. Both research and control of weeds in Iraq are limited at present.     

Prediction of Major Agricultural Fruits Production in Pakistan by Using an Econometric Analysis and Machine Learning Technique

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to use an econometric analysis to investigate the relationship between agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and variables such as apple, citrus, pears, grape and banana in Pakistan; data were explored from 1980 to 2015; we used time series data collected from secondary sources, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Year Books and the Economic Survey of Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method and Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, and results were interpreted by using the Johansen co-integration test. The machine learning technique was used to examine and predict the future agricultural productivity in Pakistan. We found that output of banana, citrus and pears had a positive and significant influence on AGDP, whereas apples and grapes had a negative but insignificant influence on AGDP.     

梨两个休眠相关MADS-box 基因特征及在其休眠过程中的表达分析

 PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 是从‘酥梨’（Pyrus pyrifolia white pear group‘Suli’）休眠芽转录组 文库筛选的两个与休眠相关的MADS-box 基因序列。为了解序列的特征,对其进行了相关生物信息学分 析,并以‘翠冠’和‘圆黄’梨为试材,用实时定量PCR 技术分析其花芽休眠不同阶段的表达变化。结 果表明：两个基因都具有MADS-box 家族的特征序列MIKC-基序,PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 分别与日本梨 （P. pyrifolia‘Kosui’）休眠相关的两个MADS-box 基因PpMADS13-1 和PpMADS13-2 聚在一起,且单独 聚为一支,与李属植物休眠相关的MADS-box 基因关系最近。在两个品种的休眠过程中,PpMADS1 和 PpMADS2 的表达呈现相似的变化趋势,都有一个表达高峰,但‘翠冠’梨PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表 达高峰均出现在11 月15 日,而‘圆黄’梨PpMADS1 的表达高峰延后到12 月30 日,PpMADS2 的表达 高峰出现在12 月15 日。两个品种PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表达高峰都出现在内休眠解除之前,随内休 眠解除其表达量下调,在生态休眠阶段表达量维持在较低的水平。据此推测PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表 达对梨芽内休眠的解除具有调控作用     

A validated mechanistic model of carrot (Daucus carota L.) growth

A mechanistic model of carrot vegetative and root development was constructed. This model determined canopy photosynthesis over a day, assimilates were then partitioned into either roots or leaves via temperature dependent partitioning coefficients. Assimilates were lost via terms describing growth and maintenance respiration. The model was calibrated on data from four different carrot cultivars, originating from the UK (Autumn King), Syria (Carrot_S), Poland (Dolanka) and Russia (Hibinskaja), grown in controlled environment glasshouse compartments at one of six temperatures (9–30 °C) repeated over three sowing dates. Calibration of the model showed that it could account for between 83 and 95% of the variance in carrot plant and root dry weights. The model was then validated using independent data from the same cultivars of carrots grown in the field at Reading. In this instance, the model accounted for 75 and 79% of the variance in plant and root weight, respectively. Two other independent data sets were used to validate the model, including carrot of a different cultivar (Panther) grown in phytotrons at temperatures between 9 and 21 °C, at two different locations and over a three sowing dates. In this instance, the model accounted for between 63 and 69% of the variance in root weight. The model also predicted that if ambient carbon dioxide levels increased from 348 to 551 μmol mol⁻¹, root dry weight would increase by 12%, which is within the margin of error of the experimental value of 16% reported in the literature. The model can therefore be used to study the potential impacts of global climate change on carrot production, as well as to rapidly predict whether germplasm is suited to any particular environment.     

Using leaf tip necrosis as a phenotypic marker to predict the presence of durable rust resistance gene pair <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yr18</Emphasis> in wheat

Fifty wheat varieties along with Jupateco-73 and Morocco were studied for the expression of leaf tip necrosis (LTN), a trait linked with the durable rust resistance gene pair Lr34/Yr18. LTN was frequent (i.e., ≥6) in nine replications of a field experiment over 3 years in 17 genotypes, and the varieties were considered positive for LTN. In molecular analyses of these varieties, having relative severity values up to 78 for yellow rust and 45 for leaf rust, the 150-bp Lr34/Yr18-linked allele was consistently amplified. Expression of LTN in six of nine replications is an appropriate threshold for predicting the presence of Lr34/Yr18 gene pair, and genotypes can be selected using this trait.     

Containing bioterrorist smallpox

The need for a planned response to a deliberate introduction of smallpox has recently become urgent. We constructed a stochastic simulator of the spread of smallpox in structured communities to compare the effectiveness of mass vaccination versus targeted vaccination of close contacts of cases. Mass vaccination before smallpox introduction or immediately after the first cases was more effective than targeted vaccination in preventing and containing epidemics if there was no prior herd immunity (that is, no prior immunologic protection within the population). The effectiveness of postrelease targeted and mass vaccinations increased if we assumed that there was residual immunity in adults vaccinated before 1972, but the effectiveness of targeted vaccination increased more than that of mass vaccination. Under all scenarios, targeted vaccination prevented more cases per dose of vaccine than did mass vaccination. Although further research with larger-scale structured models is needed, our results suggest that increasing herd immunity, perhaps with a combination of preemptive voluntary vaccination and vaccination of first responders, could enhance the effectiveness of postattack intervention. It could also help targeted vaccination be more competitive with mass vaccination at both preventing and containing a deliberate introduction of smallpox.     

Regeneration in sugarcane via somatic embryogenesis and genomic instability in regenerated plants

In the present study, embryogenic calli of sugarcane variety BL4 were induced using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin in different concentrations and combinations. In contrast to earlier studies, embryogenic callus sectors were identified and isolated microscopically within 1–2 weeks. Subsequently, 51 media formulations were used for regeneration of proliferated embryogenic callus, using MS medium supplemented with three different cytokinins [kinetin, 6-Benzylamino purine (BAP), and thidiazuron (TDZ)] and auxins (IAA/NAA and IBA) in different combination and concentrations. After acclimatization, the genomic DNA of regenerated plants was studied to explore the insertion polymorphism of transposable elements in order to ascertain the variation among somaclones. Though low concentration of kinetin with 2,4-D was found supportive to embryogenic callus development, the highest number of regenerated plantlets was observed using BAP (1 μM), however the plantlets had very low fresh weight (2.2 g). Conversely, TDZ alone supported a significant increase in the number of plantlets regenerated (38–40) with higher fresh weight. The somaclones generated during this study showed considerable positional polymorphism of activator-like transposable elements possibly due to the stress associated with in vitro culture. This study provides a procedure to produce regenerated sugarcane plants from embryogenic callus in a relatively short time.     

基于年橘为载体的柑橘木虱优势寄生蜂亮腹釉小蜂规模化生产技术

黄龙病是柑橘生产中最具毁灭性的病害,柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama)是黄龙病的传播媒介,亮腹釉小蜂Tamarixiaradiata(Waterston)是柑橘木虱的优势寄生蜂,在防治柑橘木虱上具有巨大潜力。本文研究了年橘Citrus reticulata Blanco cv.Nianju为载体的亮腹釉小蜂生产的关键技术,建立了年橘-柑橘木虱-寄生蜂的生产体系,实现了规模化生产。明确了年橘新芽繁育的标准化修剪方法,以整体修剪法为最佳,产芽时间为12.6 d,产芽数量为39.6个/株;明确了柑橘木虱若虫繁育中柑橘木虱成虫接种数量,以柑橘木虱:新芽为2:1为最佳;明确了亮腹釉小蜂生产中亮腹釉小蜂接种数量,以亮腹釉小蜂:柑橘木虱为1:10为最佳。按本文生产方法,每笼（5株年橘）可收获亮腹釉小蜂646.67头。     

Effects of Potassium Humate Fertilizers and Irrigation Rate on Potato Yield and Consumptive Use under Drip Irrigation Method

The current study was carried out at Agricultural College, University of Baghdad in the vegetable farm, Department of Horticulture during 2013 spring growing season. Yield response to irrigation of different crops is of major importance in production planning where water resources are limited. This study aims to determine the effect of different irrigation treatment （deficit irrigation） and potassium humate fertilizer on yield, content of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphor in tuber of potato and water use efficiency in the Abu-Graib Region, Iraq. Potato was grown under drip irrigation with three treatments： irrigation applied when evaporation 75%, 100% and 125% from pan A, and three potassium humate fertilizers： 0, 1.2 and 2.4 kg/ha with three times additions. The seasonal potato evapotranspiration ranged from 267 mm to 372 mm. The drip irrigation treatment had significant effecting tuber yield of potato recorder 29,530, 27,630 and 24,880 kg/ha for 125%, 100% and 75% from pan A evapotranspiration, respectively. Humus fertilizers addition has the lowest value of ETa 309 mm and maximum value of yield 2,930 kg/ha. Water use efficiency （WUE） and irrigation water use efficiency （IWUE） values increased with increasing humus fertilizers, recording 9.92, 14.52, 8.59, 12.42 and 7.51, 10.70 kg/m3 for potassium humate K3 （2.4 kg/ha）, K2 （1.2 kg/ha） and KI （0.0 kg/ha）, respectively. Plants irrigated with 125% from class pans A evaporation, produced a significant increase in N, P and K content in tubers recorder 0.96%, 0.58% and 1.52%, respectively. Potassium humus-fertilizer significant differences among K1, K2 and K3 on high of plants reached 41.52, 50.08 and 56.39 cm, respectively, number of stems/plant 2.69, 3.22 and 3.78, respectively, leaves area index recorder 2.80, 3.35 and 3.73.