The Phytotoxicity of Various Graminicides in Durum Wheat in Greece

The effect of three herbicides, diclofop-methyl (DM), imazamethabenz-methyl (IM) and fenoxaprop-ethyl (FE), was investigated at the recommended rate (×) and double the recommended rate (2×) in a durum wheat crop. FE had the smallest effect on root system characteristics, while IM had the greatest effect. For all herbicides, the double rate treatment gave a greater statistical reduction than the single rate for root system characteristics. FE had the smallest effect on the activity of aerobic microorganisms, while DM gave the greatest reduction, 10 days after application, and all three herbicides reduced earthworm abundance. DM gave the smallest reduction in the number of tillers and in plant height, while the double rate of IM gave the greatest reduction. For all three herbicides, double the recommended rate resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of 1000 seeds, while no statistically significant deviations were noted at the recommended rate. Finally, the use of all three herbicides resulted in significantly lower statistical yields compared to the sample (control plot), although there were no significant statistical differences among them, for either recommended or double recommended rates.     

Purification of carbonic anhydrase isozyme VI (CA-VI) from swine saliva.

Salivary or secreted carbonic anhydrase (CA), which constitutes a new class of CA, designated CA-VI, was isolated. Swine CA-VI purified from swine saliva by inhibitor-affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography had a specific activity of 5,468 units/mg. The molecular weight was 250,000, as determined by gel filtration under non-denaturing conditions, and the subunit molecular weight was found to be 37,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that swine CA-VI consists of 7 subunits. The treatment of the enzyme with endo-N-acetylglucosaminidase F reduced its subunit molecular weight from 37,000 to 35,000 and 32,000. We raised a rabbit antibody against purfied swine CA-VI. Double immunodiffusion showed that anti-swine CA-VI serum reacted with swine CA-VI and swine saliva, but not with hemolysate (containing CA-I and CA-Il) or muscle extracts (containing CA-III). The concentration of CA-VI in swine saliva, measured using single radial immunodiffusion, was 0.027 +/- 0.017 mg/mg total protein.     

Comparison of three in vitro techniques to estimate benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus of sheep

Three in vitro assays to detect benzimidazole resistance, namely, the egg-hatch assay, tubulin-binding assay, and a larval-development assay, were evaluated by estimating the level of benzimidazole resistance in three field isolates of Haemonchus contortus compared with a susceptible reference strain. Comparisons were also made with estimates of benzimidazole resistance of the three field strains obtained from an in vivo controlled anthelmintic efficacy test. All three in vitro tests showed similar, consistent results which also suggested greater sensitivity than the in vivo assay. These results indicate that selection of an in vitro technique to determine benzimidazole resistance should therefore be based on considerations other than precision, such as technical expertise, availability of equipment, cost and speed in which diagnosis is required.     

The Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on the Nitrogen Absorption by Sunflowers

Little is known about the effect of fertilization on the N uptake of sunflowers. A 4² factorial trial with 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg P ha⁻¹ was conducted over three years. The N content and concentration of leaves, stems and capitula were determined at three growth stages. High N levels increased the N content and concentration of all plant parts at all growth stages sharply. High P levels increased the N content of all plant components through better growth. P has an inconsistent effect on N concentration but tended to decrease it. After flowering the crop assimilated 20 to 25 % of the total N. This implies that N applied can still be applied and utilized by the crop at a late stage. This should be substantiated by further research.     

Effect of Low Night Temperatures on Photosynthetic Activity of the Maize Seedlings (Zea mays L.)

Night chilling (5 °C) subsequently lowered photosynthetic intensity in the leaves of maize seedlings at 20 °C through an increase in leaf diffusive resistance brought on by lower tissue water content in morning hours. A more significant increase in leaf diffusion resistance was observed when soil temperature was lowered than in the case of lower air temperature.
The unfavorable effect of soil and air cooling temperature on photosynthesis was limited by air saturated with water vapour. However, as a result of lowering the night temperature from 5 °C to 1 °C, the efficiency of the protective influence of higher atmospheric humidity was decreased. This demonstrates that the participation of factors unrelated to plant water status in inhibiting photosynthesis increases with lower night temperatures.
An additional reason for inhibited photosynthesis following cool nights was a decrease in chlorophyll accumulation, below 50 μg per 1 cm² of leaf area.     

Some Comments on Gerechte Designs

In a companion paper we derived the correct analysis for gerechte designs with uncorrected errors. Here we show that this correct analysis cannot be justified by the usual randomization argument. However, when the regions are rectangular there is a randomization procedure which validates an analysis with three separate error terms. We also outline other developments in design and analysis that may be more satisfactory.     

Matching spatial databases and quantitative models in land resource assessment

Abstract. Good land management needs information about land resources and the processes taking place in the landscape. In practical land evaluation this information is often expressed in terms of land qualities. The original survey data are stored in geographical information systems where they can be used to estimate the values of appropriate land qualities. Land qualities are complex attributes of land used in planning that may be derived from the original attributes through empirical threshold or regression models, or from process-based deterministic or stochastic simulation models. In order to improve estimates of the distribution of land qualities in space and time, and hence to improve planning decisions, the models require data with a much better spatial resolution than is usually available. The problems and dangers associated with the ad hoc linkage of simulation models and GIS are discussed. Particular attention needs to be paid to the problems of error propagation and costs and benefits when using models.     

A quantitative study of Eimeria infections of goats from central Spain.

A survey on coccidial infections in goats from central Spain was carried out. Fifty-five goat farms from 28 localities belonging to the three bioclimatic subregions of the area were visited. Individual samples (702) were obtained from the rectum of 130 young (under 1 year of age) and adult (572 over 1 year of age) goats. Coproscopical analyses showed a 100% prevalence and a moderate average intensity (7606.48 +/- 17918.78 Eimeria oocysts per gram of faeces), although wide variations were seen among herds and among individuals within each goat flock. Statistical analysis showed a strong age-related reduction in oocysts output in goats up to 4 years of age. The intensity of coccidial infections (young and adult goats, herds) was independent of the prevailing bioclimatic conditions. Heavier infections in young goats were found in bigger herds, whereas adult goats from these same big flocks (over 300 animals) showed the lowest oocyst output. Under our conditions, neither the female restocking rate nor the age structure seemed to play a significant role in the intensity of the Eimeria infections.     

Skin and plumage changes in domestic birds. II. Plumage changes]

The study describes plumage modifications and specific feather malformations, as related to the domestication process of different poultry species. The modifications include naked necks, leg feathering, frizzle feathering, silky feathering, fat quills, and feather abnormalities caused by behavioural hypertrophies. Most of these plumage modifications correspond to the breed standard for exhibition poultry fancy. However, they impair the normal function of these animals. The negative influences comprise disorders in social behaviour, loss of typical plumage functions and disabilities of normal mobility, as well as genetic defects and pathogenic predispositions.     

Die Wurzelentwicklung von Zuckerrübenpflanzen auf einem Sandlöß-Standort und ihre Bedeutung für die Stickstoffernährung

Root development of sugar beet plants on a sandy loess site with regard to nitrogen nutrition.
Root development of sugar beet plants in a sandy loess soil (Haplic Phaeozem) was observed from the early seedling stage up to harvest by measuring at first the greatest vertical and lateral extension of the root systems of single plants and later the rooting density of the whole plant stands (auger method, profile wall method).
During the seedling stage not only the subsoil, but also large parts of the topsoil between the plants remained unoccupied by the root systems. In this phase the greatest lateral extension of single roots reaches nearly the length of the greatest leaf of the plant. With the closure of the canopy the rooting density in the topsoil accounts to 1–2 cm cm⁻³.
In summer roots penetrate to a depth of 100–150 cm with rooting densities of 0.1 to 1 cm - cm⁻³. Thus, the plants gain not only access to water reserves, but sometimes meet remarkable amounts of nitrate which under the relatively dry conditions of the region tends to accumulate in 60–120 cm depth and – when taken up by the beet plants in the late stage of growth – affects crop quality negatively.