Effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and two plant-parasitic nematodes on<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Musa</Emphasis> genotypes differing in root morphology

In this study, the effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and two migratory endoparasitic nematodes on Musa plant growth, including the root system, were examined. In addition, the AMF-nematode interaction was studied. Seven Musa genotypes with different root systems were selected. Based on their relative mycorrhizal dependency, two genotypes (Calcutta 4 and Obino l'Ewai) were selected for AMF-nematode interaction studies. The experiments were performed under greenhouse conditions. Mycorrhization with Glomus mosseae resulted in a significantly better plant growth even in the presence of nematodes. The effect of AMF on the root system was genotype-dependent and seemed to be related to the relative mycorrhizal dependency of the genotype. The nematodes also affected the root system, decreasing branching. Nematode population densities were significantly reduced in the presence of AMF, except for Pratylenchus coffeae in Obino l'Ewai. In the root system, it appeared that the decreased branching caused by the nematodes was counterbalanced by the increased branching caused by the AMF.     

栗疫病菌对板栗几丁质酶活性的诱导

以板栗 (Castanea mollissima Bl.)实生苗和嫁接苗 (怀黄 )为试材 ,研究了栗疫病菌 (Cryphonectriaparasitica)菌块、CFE、ME等对板栗几丁质酶的诱导 ,测定了几丁质酶活性、比活性 ,并对其进行初步纯化。结果表明 ,菌块对板栗几丁质酶总活性、比活性的诱导效果最佳 ;接种后 35～ 4 0 h几丁质酶活性持续上升并达到高峰 ,之后开始下降。能够同时检测到板栗几丁质酶的内切酶和外切酶 ,以内切酶活性稍高。初步确定板栗几丁质酶的分子质量为 6 0 ku     

粳稻不同生态类型间F1的杂种优势及其亲本的配合力分析

用8个不同生态类型的粳稻品种配成8×8双列杂交,研究8个重要农艺性状的杂种优势以及亲本的配合力。结果表明,不同生态类型间杂种F1 各性状的优势有正有负。56个F1组合平均, 小区产量性状表现19.5%的高亲优势, F1小区产量超过高亲值的组合占87.5%,其余7个性状的F1值位于中亲值与高亲值之间。 在不同生态类型所构成的总体中,株高、每穗总粒数、每穗实粒数和小区产量4个性状的加性遗传方差和非加性遗传方差同等重要;抽穗期、穗长、单株有效穗3个性状的加性遗传方差更重要;千粒重性状非加性遗传方差更为重要。小区产量和产量构成因素一般配合力效应和特殊配合力效应方差较大的亲本是秀水04和3726;特殊配合力效应大且综合性状优良的组合是越光/秀水04。     

Comparing apparent electrical conductivity measurements on a paddy field under flooded and drained conditions

Every growing season, paddy fields are kept both flooded and drained for a significant period of time. As a consequence, these soils develop distinct physico-chemical characteristics. For practical reasons, these soils are mostly sampled under dry conditions, but the question arises how representative the results are for the wet growing conditions. Therefore, the apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a) of a 1.4 ha alluvial paddy field located in the Brahmaputra floodplain of Bangladesh was measured in both dry and wet conditions by a sensing system using the electromagnetic induction sensor EM38, which does not require physical contact with the soil, and compared both surveys. Due to the smooth water surface under wet conditions which ensured increased stability of the sensing platform, the results of the survey showed considerably reduced micro-scale variability of EC_a. Furthermore, the wet survey results more reliably furnished soil-related information mainly due to the absence of soil moisture dynamics. The differences between EC_a under wet and dry conditions were attributed to differences in soil texture, mainly the sand content variation having considerable effect on soil moisture differences when flooded following drainage. Accordingly, the largest differences between EC_a under wet and dry conditions were found in those parts of the field with a large sand content. Hence, the conclusion was that an EC_a survey on flooded fields has an added value to precision soil management.     

Soil organic matter fractionation as a tool for predicting nitrogen mineralization in silty arable soils

After decades of searching for a practical method to estimate the N mineralization capacity of soil, there is still no consistent methodology. Indeed it is important to have practical methods to estimate soil nitrogen release for plant uptake and that should be appropriate, less time consuming, and cost effective for farmers. We fractionated soil organic matter (SOM) to assess different fractions of SOM as predictors for net N mineralization measured from repacked (disturbed) and intact (undisturbed) soil cores in 14 weeks of laboratory incubations. A soil set consisting of surface soil from 18 cereal and root‐cropped arable fields was physically fractionated into coarse and fine free particulate OM (coarse fPOM and fine fPOM), intra‐microaggregate particulate OM (iPOM) and silt and clay sized OM. The silt and clay sized OM was further chemically fractionated by oxidation with 6% NaOCl to isolate an oxidation‐resistant OM fraction, followed by extraction of mineral bound OM with 10% HF (HF‐res OM). Stepwise multiple linear regression yielded a significant relationship between the annual N mineralization (kg N/ha) from undisturbed soil and coarse fPOM N (kg N/ha), silt and clay N (kg N/ha) and its C:N ratio (R² = 0.80; P < 0.01). The relative annual N mineralization (% of soil N) from disturbed soils was related to coarse fPOM N, HF‐res OC (% of soil organic carbon) and its C:N ratio (R² = 0.83; P < 0.01). Physical fractions of SOM were thus found to be the most useful predictors for estimating the annual N mineralization rate of undisturbed soils. However, the bioavailability of physical fractions was changed due to the disturbance of soil. For disturbed soils, a presumed stable chemical SOM fraction was found to be a relevant predictor indicating that this fraction still contains bio‐available N. The latter prompted a revision in our reasoning behind selective oxidation and extraction as tools for characterizing soil organic N quality with respect to N availability. Nonetheless, the present study also underscores the potential of a combined physical and chemical fractionation procedure for isolating and quantifying N fractions which preferentially contribute to bulk soil N mineralization. The N content or C:N ratio of such fractions may be used to predict N mineralization in arable soils.     

Attraction ofTrichogramma platneri to eggs of some lepidopterous pests of avocado

The attraction ofTrichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to eggs of two lepidopterous avocado pests,Boarmia sel-enaria (Schiffermüller) (Geometridae) andCryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Phycitidae), was evaluated in olfactometer tests. The mobility of the wasp as measured by a mobility index was 0.6 for males and 1.8 for females; the males had a lower mobility and a lower search capacity index than the females. Frozen and fresh youngB. selenaria eggs had the greatest attraction forT. platneri, which diminished with increasing age of the eggs. The eggs ofC. gnidiella were also attractive to the parasitoid. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 2704-E, 1989 series.     

Infectious bronchitis serology in broilers and broiler breeders: correlations between antibody titers and performance in vaccinated flocks

In this study, a follow-up was made between 1993 and 1997 from broiler breeders at birth down to offspring broilers at processing, through vertically integrated registration of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) antibody titers and performance data. All measurements were used two by two in a simple correlation study to calculate the degree to which they were linearly correlated. The antibody patterns in the broiler breeders indicated frequent field infections breaking through vaccinal immunity. Significant correlations measured between antibody titers and production parameters within and between the generations strongly suggested negative effects of IBV infections on laying percentage in the breeders and on mortality and daily weight gain in the broilers. Economic losses associated with IBV infections in the broilers occurred predominantly in flocks hatched with low and erratic maternal antibody titers. We concluded that IBV vaccination strategies should aim at high and uniform antibody titers in the broiler breeders.     

Dual-chamber pacemaker implantation via the cephalic vein in healthy equids

The purpose of the present study was to develop a feasible and safe technique for dual-chamber pacemaker implantation in healthy horses. Implantation was performed in a standing, tranquilized horse and in ponies. Atrial and ventricular leads were transvenously inserted through the cephalic vein, and a subcutaneous pacemaker pocket was created between the lateral pectoral groove and the manubrium sterni in 6 equids. Positioning of each lead was guided by echocardiography and by measuring the electrical characteristics of the lead. The implantation procedure lasted about 4 hours in each animal and was well tolerated. In all animals, dual-chamber pacemaker function was obtained, and these results remained good throughout the follow-up period. At the time of implantation, atrial and ventricular sensing were between 2.1 and 7.2 mV and 7.8 and 16.8 mV, respectively, and atrial and ventricular pacing thresholds at 0.5 millisecond varied from 0.5 to 0.7 V and from 0.3 to 1.0 V, respectively. Six months after the implantation, sensing values varied from 2 to 10 mV for the atrial lead and from 2 to 16 mV for the ventricular lead, while pacing thresholds at 0.5 millisecond varied from less than 0.5 to 2.5 V for the right atrium and from less than 0.5 to 5.0 V for the right ventricle. Atrial lead dislodgment occurred in 2 animals, requiring insertion of a new lead. Ventricular lead dislodgment was not observed.     

Classification, nomenclature, and plant pathogenic bacteria - a clarification

ABSTRACT In a recent Letter to the Editor of Phytopathology, proposals were made for endorsement and for rejection of selected names of plant pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. and Xanthomonas spp. We believe that support for, and rejection of, several names was based on misconceptions concerning the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names and entails misinterpretations of several Rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria. This letter aims to clarify those misconceptions and misinterpretations.     

Control of Phytophthora cryptogea in the hydroponic forcing of witloof chicory with the rhamnolipid-based biosurfactant formulation PRO1

Rhamnolipids, extracellular metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with surfactant properties, proved to be very effective in controlling the spread of brown root rot disease caused by Phytophthora cryptogea in the hydroponic forcing system of witloof chicory ( Cichorium intybus var. foliosum ). The biosurfactant was applied as the product PRO1, a formulation of 25% rhamnolipids in oil. Both an in vitro screening and in vivo experiments in a mini-hydroponic system demonstrated the ability of PRO1 to control brown root rot. A 25  µ g mL⁻¹ rhamnolipids nutrient solution was enough to obtain good control of an artificial infection with a zoospore suspension of P. cryptogea . The biosurfactant PRO1 performed well in a semicommercial system under growers' conditions. A treatment of 25  µ g mL⁻¹ rhamnolipids (100  µ g mL⁻¹ PRO1) reduced the disease incidence significantly in two independent experiments. However, PRO1 was not effective when a mycelial suspension was used as inoculum. Rhamnolipids have good potential to limit the spread of P. cryptogea in the hydroponic forcing system of witloof chicory, and can be used as a preventive measure against brown root rot.