Agronomic Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Influenced by Moisture Stress at Various Growth Stages and Seeding Rate

A field experiment was conducted at Samaru, Nigeria during the 1981–82 dry season to determine the yield and growth responses of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) to moisture stress imposed at various growth stages and to seeding rate. It was also to identify wheat growth stages that are most sensitive to soil moisture stress. Treatments tested include three seeding rates, namely, 75, 100 and 150 kg per ha, and seven drought treatments, effected by missing one or two consecutive irrigations at different growth stages.
Withholding irrigation at any growth stage prior to anthesis had detrimental effects on most of the growth characters and stress during crown root initiation (CRI) and jointing reduced most of the yield characters. Missing two consecutive irrigations at any given growth stage reduced grain yield more than did missing one irrigation; the greatest reductions in grain yield were 13 and 65% when one irrigation was missed at CRI and two consecutive irrigations were missed at jointing (the most sensitive growth stage) respectively. Moisture stress was also detrimental to number of grains, spike number, spike length, leaf area and number of tillers. A seeding rate of 100 kg per ha produced the best wheat performance in the present study.     

Effect of Some Growth Factors and Glyphosate Herbicide on Pigments and Protein in Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.)

Two field experiments were carried out during 1982/83 and 1983/84 seasons at Experimental Farm of National Research Centre at Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effects of supplemental growth factors on the reversal of glyphosate-induced inhibition in photosynthetic pigments and protein in faba beans. A split plot design with four replications was used in both seasons. Glyphosate at 0,312 and 468 g.a.i./ha as well as the untreated treatment, arranged at random in main plots while, the growth factors, i.e., growth regulators, amino acids and nutrient elements at different concentrations distributed randomly in the sub plots. The results could be summarized as follows:
1. Glyphosate decreased chlorophyll a, b and carotenoides content and the total pigments content in the leaves of faba bean plants, as well as, the protein content of seeds and protein yield per hectare.
2. The treatments of phenylalanine at 500 ppm, urea at 1 %, cytolinin at 4/1000 and tryptophan at 500 ppm, reversed the glyphosate-induced-phytotoxicity on decreasing the chlorophyll a, b content and total pigments content in faba bean leaves. The same treatments, as well as, zinc sulfate at 1 %, reversed the glyphosate-induced-phytotoxicity on decreasing the carotenoids content in faba bean leaves.
3. The treatment of G a ₃ at 100 ppm gave the highest percentage of crude protein in seeds, while the lowest value was obtained from cytokinin at 4/1000, in both seasons.
4. The treatments of cytokinin at 4/1000, phenylalanine at 500 ppm and tryptophan at both levels, reversed the glyphosate-induced-phytotoxicity on decreasing the protein yield per h.     

Towards sustainable control of Lepidopterous pests in olive cultivation

Zusammenfassung Traditionelle, extensiv bearbeitete Olivenhaine, aber auch moderne Intensiv-Plantagen mit künstlicher Bewässerung und hohem Einsatz von Düngern bzw. chemischen Pflanzenschutzmitteln kennzeichnen die derzeitigen verschiedenen Anbauformen der Olive im Mittelmeerraum. Schadlepidopteren wie die Olivenmotte (Prays oleae, Lep.: Yponomeutidae) und die Jasminmotte (Palpita unionalis, Lep.: Pyralidae) werden durch regelmässigen Insektizideinsatz bekämpft. Das von der EU geförderte internationale Forschungsprojekt TRIPHELIO zielte auf die Entwicklung insektizidfreier Alternativmethoden durch (1) die Optimierung der pheromongestützten Überwachung und Verwirrtechnik, (2) der Anwendung von Habitatmanagement-Strategien zur Förderung natürlicher Gegenspieler, und (3) dem Einsatz von Trichogramma-Schlupfwespen. Zusätzlich wurden Module für eine optimale Anwendung biotechnischer und biologischer Methoden bezüglich der Phänologie der Schadinsekten und möglicher Nebenwirkungen von Pestiziden erarbeitet. Die intensive Kooperation zwischen Wissenschaftlern und Praktikern aus mehreren Ländern Europas und Nordafrikas erlaubte den Entwurf möglicher Lösungsansätze für verschiedene Anbaubedingungen und klimatische Regionen des Mittelmeerraumes. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse und Ausblicke für eine zukünftige praktische Umsetzung werden in dieser Veröffentlichung beschrieben.     

Chronic obstructive mastitis in the camel. A clinicopathological study

Unilateral chronic mastitis in three she camels was due to obstruction of the teat canal by keratin. This lead to dilatation of the ducts, retention of milk and secondary bacterial infection. The teat canals and dilated ducts were lined by stratified squamous epithelium. There was excessive periductal fibrosis. Pasteurella hemolytica was isolated from one animal and Staphylococcus aureus from another. The fluid from the third animal was sterile. The condition was treated successfully by surgical amputation of the affected halves of the udder.     

Treatment of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia

Goats that had been inoculated with the causal organism of contagious, caprine pleuropneumonia and treated, within a few days, with oxytetracycline or tylosin, were less severely affected than infected, untreated control goats. However, 20% of treated cases remained infective and were, presumably, capable of transmitting the infection.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against formalin-inactivated Nipah virus isolated from the lungs of a pig

Eight clones of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to Nipah virus (NV) were produced against formalin-inactivated NV antigens. They reacted positive by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test, and one of them also demonstrated virus neutralizing activity. They were classified into six different types based on their biological properties. These Mabs will be useful for immunodiagnosis of NV infections in animals and further research studies involving the genomes and proteins of NV.     

Identification of Staphylococcus hyicus by polymerase chain reaction mediated amplification of species specific sequences of superoxide dismutase A encoding gene sodA

A species specific PCR test, based on manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase A encoding gene sodA, was developed for the identification of Staphylococcus hyicus, an important bacterial pathogen in pigs. The designed primers allowed a rapid and reliable identification of phenotypically characterized S. hyicus, isolated in Russia, Germany and Denmark. No cross reactivities could be observed investigating staphylococcal reference strains representing 18 different species and subspecies. The use of the described primers might improve a future diagnosis of this bacterial pathogen.     

A Review on Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) with Special Reference to PPR in Iran

In 1995, a peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreak was diagnosed in Ilam province in Iran near the border with Iraq both serologically and virologically. As then, despite all control measures, PPR has been identified in the whole country and has led to costs of at least US$1.5 million to the Iranian owners of sheep and goats.     

Linking research and public engagement: weaving an alternative narrative of Moroccan family farmers’ collective action

Rural development policies are often inspired by narratives that are difficult to challenge because they are based on an apparently obvious and coherent reading of reality. Research may confront such narratives and trigger debates outside the academic community, but this can have a feedback effect and lead to a simplistic or biased posture in research. This article analyzes a research-based initiative that questioned a commonly held narrative in large-scale irrigation schemes in Morocco concerning the structural weaknesses of farmer-led collective action. This initiative conceived an alternative narrative of farmer-led collective action, based on research and actions undertaken in collaboration with the farmers. The article assesses to what extent it was possible to design this narrative and to draw on it to orient research activities, actions with farmers and public engagement, without impairing the quality of the research process. The alternative narrative was designed and diffused based on three intertwined activities: (1) the identification and analysis of farmer-led collective actions, (2) the diffusion of information on successful farmer-led collective actions especially through the production of videos, and (3) exchanges with and between local farmers’ organizations. The alternative narrative that resulted from these activities emphasizes the potentialities of farmer-led collective action, and more broadly, the willingness and capabilities of many family farmers to play an active role in the governance of rural areas. The message of the alternative narrative and the distinction made between the research articles and videos in both their content and role ensured that research did not fall into simplistic or biased analyses. The alternative narrative also became a key to renewed relations between farmers and researchers and helped design training for students that pay more attention to local dynamics. In a situation in which scheme-level organizations show limited interest in reflexive enquiry, this initiative proposes some stepping stones to make it possible for changing narratives to accompany changing relations between actors.     

Identification of Arcanobacterium (Trueperella) abortisuis, a novel species of veterinary importance, by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)

In the present study A. (T.) abortisuis isolated from pigs and bovines could be reliably identified by determination of phenotypic properties, genotypically by polymerase chain reaction with the help of A. (T.) abortisuis 16s-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region specific oligonucleotide primer and by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time Of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The latter appeared to be a promising tool for fast and cost effective identification of this species and might help to elucidate the role A. (T.) abortisuis plays in infections of pigs, bovines, possibly other animals or humans.