Performance of the Swedish lucerne variety U 0615 from seed multiplied in Israel

Seed of the Swedish lucerne variety U 0615 harvested in a seed field in Israel for four consecutive seasons was tested in field trials in Sweden. Differences in seed yield between plants were demonstrated in Israel — less winter-dormant plants gave more than four times as much seed as winter-dormant plants. On the average Israel-grown seed yielded less in the first cut than Swedish-grown seed, which indicates a decrease in winter-hardiness. The yield was especially reduced in 1962 when winter damage was severe. It is pointed out that varieties may react differently when seed is produced outside the area of adaptation. In a variety with a high degree of heterogeneity, e.g. U 0615, the mode of increase and the stage to be multiplied at southern latitudes should be tested carefully before it is undertaken commercially.Swedish Seed Association, Uppsala 1, Sweden.The Hebrew University, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel.     

Changes in adaptation in a Swedish and an Italian lucerne variety when grown for seed without isolation

Seed of two lucerne varieties, Tuna from Sweden and Nostrale (common) from Italy, multiplied in isolated stand and in the vicinity of each other, was tested in field trials at Perugia (Italy) and at Uppsala (Sweden). In both places distinct differences between the intercrossed populations Tuna (× Nostrale) and Nostrale (× Tuna) were demonstrated. The decrease in winterhardiness as compared with Tuna was very pronounced in the trial at Uppsala. It is concluded that the influence of volunteer lucerne plants in a field or in the vicinity of a seed field is economically very important when seed of a North European variety is produced outside the area of adaptation.

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Samenvatting Zaad van twee lucernerassen, Tuna uit Zweden en Nostrale uit Italië, afkomstig van geïsoleerde en van naast elkaar gezaaide velden, werd gebruikt voor veldproeven te Perugia (Italië) en te Uppsala (Zweden). Op beide plaatsen konden duidelijke verschillen tussen de populaties Tuna (x Nostrale) en Nostrale (x Tuna) worden vastgesteld.Opvallend was de achteruitgang in winterhardheid van het in Italië, in de nabijheid van het ras Nostrale, vermeerderde Zweedse ras Tuna.Geconcludeerd wordt dat bij de vermeerdering van Noord-Europese lucernerassen in andere landen (buiten het gebied, waaraan zij zijn aangepast) spontane kruisbestuiving met andere rassen of opslag-planten voorkomen dient te worden.

     

Grid keratotomy as a treatment for superficial nonhealing corneal ulcers in 10 horses

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical symptoms of 10 cases of superficial nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses and to evaluate the results of grid keratotomy in these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Ten horses with superficial nonhealing corneal ulceration in one eye. PROCEDURE: The signalment, history and clinical symptoms are reported of 10 patients with superficial nonhealing corneal ulcers during the period from August 2003 to February 2005. Grid keratotomy was performed in all cases. In addition, the surgical procedure of grid keratotomy and response to therapy are described. RESULTS: Horses generally responded well to grid keratotomy (eight cases healed after one grid keratotomy and one horse healed after a second grid keratotomy; one case was not available for follow-up). Only 2/10 had discomfort after treatment and only 2/9 had some degree of scarring after treatment. The healing time, which was known in seven cases, averaged 8.4 days (+/- SD 4). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Grid keratotomy is an appropriate option for treatment of superficial nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses. The procedure is simple to perform. It generally induces a rapid and uncomplicated healing of the cornea. Only in a limited number of cases does a small amount of scarring occur.     

Regional groundwater monitoring and examples of acidification trends in the province of Göteborg and Bohus,southwestern Sweden

Acidification is the most serious threat to the groundwater quality in the province, causing both corrosion on water pipe systems and increased leaching of metals from the ground. The regional groundwater monitoring programme focuses on parameters as pH, alkalinity, sulphate and total aluminium. Sampling is done regularly in 1) natural groundwater springs in the countryside, 2) public water supplies, 3) observation wells in the countryside and 4) observation wells in urban areas.For most of the sites, analysing has been carried out during a time period that is shorter than five years. These sites give valuable information about the general relationship between groundwater acidity and the hydrogeological conditions in the recharge area. Results from regular sampling of public water supplies have been used for studies of time series. The trends indicate that the hydrogeological conditions are of great importance for how the groundwater responds to acid input. In general, surficial groundwater in Quaternary deposits is more sensitive to acidification than groundwater in crystalline bedrock.     

Important factors in nutrient availability: Root morphology and physiology

Nutrient availability in the soil is not only determined by chemical, physical, and micro-biological factors but can be actively influenced by the plant root system. Various components of root activity have been studied in our laboratory during the last 10 years. The major findings are summarized and discussed with special emphasis on root morphology, cation-anion imbalance and proton release, the mechanism of proton release and anion secretion. Large species differences in root morphology were found between red clover and rye-grass. Root morphology was also found to be controlled by environmental and physiological factors. Experimental results obtained with different plant species suggest that proton release by plant roots is not primarily a consequence of excess cation uptake to achieve charge balance in the plant, but rather that active proton extrusion by ATPase activity creates a charge imbalance and a pH gradient which drive nutrient uptake. The pH gradient across the plasmalemma of root cells was also found to be essential for the retention of organic anions by plant roots.     

Effect of feeding intensity and milking system on nutritionally relevant milk components in dairy farming systems in the North East of England

There is increasing concern that the intensification of dairy production reduces the concentrations of nutritionally desirable compounds in milk. This study therefore compared important quality parameters (protein and fatty acid profiles; α-tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations) in milk from four dairy systems with contrasting production intensities (in terms of feeding regimens and milking systems). The concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds (β-lactoglobulin, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, conjugated linoleic acid c9t11, and/or carotenoids) decreased with increasing feeding intensity (organic outdoor ≥ conventional outdoor ≥ conventional indoors). Milking system intensification (use of robotic milking parlors) had a more limited effect on milk composition, but increased mastitis incidence. Multivariate analyses indicated that differences in milk quality were mainly linked to contrasting feeding regimens and that milking system and breed choice also contributed to differences in milk composition between production systems.