Cotyledon angle as a predictor of growth rate of cucumber plant

Summary Experiments conducted in the greenhouse and in the field indicated that plants produced from seedlings of Cucumis sativus L. which displayed their cotyledons in an upward position grew faster than plants which displayed their cotyledons in a downward position. Cotyledon angle was not a function of seed size nor seedling weight at 10 days after planting. An increase in plant height, node number, and fresh weight at later growth stages was associated with an upward cotyledon angle and persisted until time of harvest. Anthesis tended to occur later in plants having a downward cotyledon angle. The number of pistillate flowers was greater in plants with an upward cotyledon angle compared to those with a downward cotyledon angle. Differences in yield (fruit number) were not associated with cotyledon angle.Paper No. 5432 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, NC. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Conclusions on the use of Suisychron in the USSR

Suisynchron was applied to 2,258 gilts, including 850 from breeding farms. Forty-four pigs were checked to elucidate the influence of sexual maturity on the success of oestrus synchronisation. Suisynchron-Pr?mix was fed to the animals over 20 days, the daily dose for each pig having been 5 g. Twenty-four hours were allowed to elapse from the last administration before 1,500 I.U. PMSG were injected. Synchronised oestrus occurred in 81.2 per cent of all pigs between four and six days from serum injection.Fertilisation in response to first insemination was recorded from 72.9 percent of the pigs, their fertility rate being 9.7 piglets from each farrowing sow. The results of oestrus synchronisation obtained from fattening pigs were somewhat inferior to those recorded from pigs of breeding units. Suisynchron and serum of pregnant mares can synchronise oestrus in 91 per cent of all mateable sows with no previous cycle. The fertility rates recorded from such pigs did not exceed 59 per cent or were between 28.9 and 31.9 per cent lower than those recordable from pigs with a cycle history prior to the use of Suisynchron.     

Absorption, distribution, and excretion of imidocarb dipropionate in sheep

Spectrophotometric and thin-layer chromatographic methods for determination of imidocarb in biological specimens are described. Following intravenous injection of imidocarb (2.0 mg/kg) into 3 sheep, plasma concentrations, initially averaging 10.8 microgram/ml, decreased to an average of 1.9 microgram/ml within 1 hour and then to less than 1 microgram/ml within the next 4 hours. When imidocarb (4.5 mg/kg) was injected intramuscularly (IM) into 7 sheep, peak plasma concentrations averaging 7.9 microgram/ml were achieved within 4 hours and then rapidly decreased to 4.6 microgram/ml within the next 2 hours. Plasma values then decayed very slowly by first-order kinetics and trace amounts were still present 4 weeks after treatment. Imidocarb was bound to plasma proteins and the apparent volume of distribution was estimated to be slightly higher than the total body water. The concentrations of the drug in the plasma and in the erythrocytes were approximately equal. Detectable amounts were present in all examined tissues 4 weeks after IM administration Twenty-four hours after IM administration, the highest concentrations were in kidney, liver, and brain. The 14C-labeled imidocarb could be detected in all regions of the central nervous system examined, in the hypophysis, and in the pineal body. Metabolic or biotransformation products were not detected by the methods used. Of the administered IM dose, 11 to 17% was excreted in the urine within 24 hours; thereafter, the excretion rate was low, and detectable amounts were still present in the urine for 4 weeks. Renal clearance of imidocarb was less than glomerular filtration rate, indicating net tubular reabsorption. The relatively high concentration of imidocarb in the bile suggests that the bile is an important route of excretion. High concentrations were also found in the mild of lactating ewes, but the drug could not be detected in the plasma of lambs fed milk from these ewes.     

An investigation into some causes of canine diarrhoea in Ibadan

Between October 1975 and March 1976, fourteen dogs of the 308 examined in the small animal clinic of the University of Ibadan were diarrhoeic while eight dogs from two experimental groups housed within the university and kept at a distance of about 1.5 km from the small animal clinic also had diarrhoea. The most common condition associated with diarrhoea in dogs in Ibadan was intestinal parasitism caused mainly by Ancylostoma caninum (six cases) Isospora canis (five cases) and Dipylidium caninum (one case). The other causes of diarrhoea were canine distemper, bacterial enteritis, canine babesiosis, traumatic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.     

Diurnal patterns of feeding and activity in laying hens in relation to dietary restriction and cage shape

1. The diurnal feeding pattern and motor activity of medium‐weight hybrid hens housed in groups of four were observed. Cages of two shapes were compared: conventional deep cages (406 × 457 mm) and shallow cages (610 × 305 mm).

2. Birds in conventional deep cages were more active than those in shallow cages in each of four different periods of day. Activity reached a peak between 11.00 and 13.00 h irrespective of cage shape.

3. Mean feeding activity was greater in the shallow (45.6%) than in the conventional deep cages (39.9%).

4. Mean feeding activity was greater in birds fed ad libitum (43.3%) than in those fed on a restricted diet (40.4%).

5. Although restricted birds in shallow cages showed more feeding activity than those in conventional deep cages they consumed less food (56% against 67%) in the 7 h between supply of their daily ration and the onset of the dark period.

6. Feather damage was greater in the conventional deep cages than in the shallow cages.

7. The more efficient utilisation of food by hens in shallow cages is probably due largely to three factors: reduced levels of motor activity and general disturbance, a more leisurely eating pattern and better feather cover.     

Current situation and characterization of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae on kiwifruit in Galicia (northwest Spain)

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is a disease that is spreading rapidly in several kiwifruit‐producing countries, causing significant economic losses. In 2011, it was detected for the first time in Spain, in the south of Galicia (northwest Spain). Kiwifruit orchards were therefore inspected and sampled in 2011 and 2012 to determine the pathogen distribution, and the isolates obtained were characterized by morphology, fatty acids profile, biochemical tests and molecular techniques. Isolates were obtained from Actinidia deliciosa ‘Hayward’ (from leaves, canes, flower buds, fruits and roots), from A. deliciosa ‘Summer’, from Actinidia chinensis ‘Jin Tao’ (from canes and leaves) and from A. chinensis pollinator ‘Belén’ (from canes). Results of the analysis of the cfl gene (phytotoxin production‐related), the tox–argK gene cluster and phylogenetic analysis of the cts gene demonstrated that all Psa isolates from northwest Spain correspond to the Psa3 population, which includes strains of haplotype 2. This is the first record of Psa3 and haplotype 2 in Spain.