Effect of inoculum type and timing of application of Coniothyrium minitans on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: control of sclerotinia disease in glasshouse lettuce

The effects of Coniothyrium minitans inoculum quality and an 8-week interval between inoculum application and crop planting on sclerotinia ( Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ) disease in three successive lettuce crops were investigated in a glasshouse trial. Spore suspensions of three isolates of C. minitans (Conio, IVT1 and Contans) applied at 10⁸ CFU m⁻² and a standard Conio maizemeal–perlite application (06 L m⁻², 10¹¹ CFU m⁻²) were assessed for their ability to control S. sclerotiorum . Only the maizemeal–perlite inoculum (isolate Conio) consistently reduced sclerotinia disease. In the third lettuce crop only, isolates IVT1 and Contans formulated by Prophyta and isolate IVT as an oil–water formulation, all applied as spore suspensions, reduced disease at harvest compared with the untreated control. Recovery, viability and C. minitans infection of sclerotia buried during the 8-week period prior to each of the three lettuce crops, and of sclerotia formed on the crop, were tested. Only the maizemeal–perlite inoculum (isolate Conio) reduced the recovery of sclerotia buried in soil for weeks between inoculum application and crop planting, reducing their viability and increasing infection by C. minitans . Eight weeks was sufficient to enable C. minitans to infect sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum , and may account for disease control. After harvest of the second and third crops, maizemeal–perlite treatment (isolate Conio) reduced the number and viability of sclerotia recovered on the soil surface and increased infection by C. minitans compared with spore-suspension treatments. The effect of inoculum concentration and the influence of soil temperature (varying with time of year) on infection of sclerotia by C. minitans are discussed.     

"Polywater": a hydrosol?

Measurements of the dielectric constant and the effective parallel conductance of a specimen of anomalous water suggest that anomalous water is a hydrosol consisting of finely divided particulate matter suspended in ordinary water. Scanning electron micrography confirms the presence of particulate matter. These new experimental data provide an alternative explanation for the properties of anomalous water.     

Long-term response of mature plum trees to salinity

Deciduous fruit trees are known to be salt sensitive but the degradation may be delayed for a number of years depending on salinity level and tree size. A field experiment was conducted in the San Joaquin Valley of California on mature plum trees. The objectives were to quantify salt tolerance with time and to document the development and impact of salt stress over a 6-year period. After three years, the salt tolerance threshold, measured as the electrical conductivity of saturated soil extracts, for fruit yield was 2.6 dS/m. At salinity levels in excess of the threshold, yield was reduced at the rate of 31% for each 1 dS/m increase in soil salinity. The continuation of this experiment for an additional three years did not alter the salt tolerance as measured by fruit yield. Attempts to revive trees that had been severely damaged by excess salinity were successful but recovery, depending on the severity of damage, requires several years.     

Yield and foliar injury responses of mature plum trees to salinity

Summary The salt tolerance of mature Santa Rosa plum trees was assessed on 20-year-old trees grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The experimental design consisted of six levels of irrigation water salinity (electrical conductivities of 0.3 to 8 dS/m) replicated five times with each replication consisting of ten trees. Salinity treatments imposed in March 1984 did not influence tree yields harvested in June 1984. In 1985, the second year of treatments, yield from the highest salt treatment (electrical conductivity of irrigation water, EC _i , of 8 dS/m) was reduced by half; the number of fruit harvested was reduced 40%, and fruit size was reduced significantly. Foliar damage was so severe by the end of 1985 that nonsaline water was applied to the two highest salt treatments (EC _i = 6 and 8 dS/m) in an attempt to restore tree vigor. In 1986 salt effects had become progressively worse on the continuing saline treatments. A linear piece-wise salt tolerance curve is presented for soil salinity values, expressed as the electrical conductivity of saturated extracts (EC _e ) integrated to a soil depth of 1.2 m over a 2-year period. The salt tolerance threshold for relative yield (Y _r ) based on 3 years of data was 2.6 dS/m and yield reduction at salinity levels beyond the threshold was 31% per dS/m (Y _ir=100 – 31 [EC _e – 2.6]j). Significant foliar damage occurred when leaf chloride concentrations surpassed 200 mmol/kg of leaf dry weight (0.7%). Sodium concentrations in the leaves remained below 10 mmol/kg (0.02%) until foliar damage became severe. This suggests that chloride was the dominant ion causing foliar damage.     

Balancing selection at the prion protein gene consistent with prehistoric kurulike epidemics

Kuru is an acquired prion disease largely restricted to the Fore linguistic group of the Papua New Guinea Highlands, which was transmitted during endocannibalistic feasts. Heterozygosity for a common polymorphism in the human prion protein gene (PRNP) confers relative resistance to prion diseases. Elderly survivors of the kuru epidemic, who had multiple exposures at mortuary feasts, are, in marked contrast to younger unexposed Fore, predominantly PRNP 129 heterozygotes. Kuru imposed strong balancing selection on the Fore, essentially eliminating PRNP 129 homozygotes. Worldwide PRNP haplotype diversity and coding allele frequencies suggest that strong balancing selection at this locus occurred during the evolution of modern humans.     

Soil properties under a Pinus radiata – ryegrass silvopastoral system in New Zealand. Part I. Soil N and moisture availability, soil C, and tree growth

Understanding the changes in soil properties in silvopastoral systems is important in regulating the interactions between tree and understorey pastures. In this study, the effects of understorey management on soil mineral N and moisture availability, soil temperature, soil C, and tree growth were investigated in a seven-year-old silvopastoral agroforestry experiment in Canterbury, New Zealand. The systems included understorey treatments of bare ground and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pasture. Soil mineral N, moisture content, and temperature were monitored from July 1997 to July 1998 in two positions (0.9 and 3.5 m north of tree rows) and two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). Soil C and N in the 0–10 cm depth were higher in the ryegrass than in the bare ground plots, reflecting the organic C and N input in the ryegrass plots, as well as greater N loss from the bare ground plots in the form of nitrate leaching and/or denitrification. Soil C was higher in the position 0.9 m than 3.5 m away from the tree rows, possibly caused by the greater C input from decomposing fine tree roots and needle litterfall at the 0.9 m position. Soil moisture availability was greater in the bare ground than in the ryegrass plots in the summer. No effect of understorey management on soil temperature was found. Soil nitrate levels were lower in the ryegrass plots and may be limiting when soil moisture supply was adequate. Tree volume growth from winter 1997 to 1998 was significantly greater in the bare ground treatment, reflecting better soil moisture and N supply conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Protracted spawning of St Lawrence River northern pike (Esox lucius): simulated effects on survival, growth, and production

Abstract –  An individual-based early life history model demonstrated that the timing and distribution of St Lawrence River northern pike ( Esox lucius ) spawning could affect subsequent young-of-year (YOY) production during nursery and influence year-class formation. Three different spawning patterns have emerged from empirical studies, where egg deposition occurred along the entire littoral gradient beginning in seasonally flooded emergent habitats in tributaries, progressing to submerged aquatic vegetation in shallow bays, and ending in deep water littoral habitats (up to 6 m). The spawning period is protracted, and typically lasts 6–8 weeks due to the presence of a strong thermal gradient. The model used temperature as the driving variable to predict egg abundance, stage-specific development, growth, survival, and ultimately relative production of YOY northern pike within 1-ha plots representative of the three habitats. Earlier spawning (mean 21 days) and higher mean daily survival and growth yielded higher YOY net production for tributaries (mean = 3095.4 g ha⁻¹, SD = 2028.6) relative to the shallow bay habitat (202.5 g ha⁻¹, SD = 125.7). In contrast, deep littoral habitat represented an ecological sink with little production (<0.9 g ha⁻¹). The results demonstrate the importance of the linkage between spawning and nursery processes in determining reproductive success.     

THE MANAGEMENT OF LONG GRASS AS A BIRD REPELLENT ON AIRFIELDS

Authorities responsible for the safety of aircraft have for a number of years been very concerned with the dangers and the damage caused by aircraft striking birds while in flight, particular since the introduction of the jet engine. Methods of reducing this risk have been sought, which have brought about the method of grass management described in this paper.