Root growth and N‐uptake activity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in nitrogen efficiency

Nitrate‐N uptake from soil depends on root growth and uptake activity. However, under field conditions N‐uptake activity is difficult to estimate from soil‐N depletion due to different loss pathways. We modified the current mesh‐bag method to estimate nitrate‐N‐uptake activity and root growth of two oilseed‐rape cultivars differing in N‐uptake efficiency. N‐efficient cultivar (cv.) ‘Apex' and N‐inefficient cv. ‘Capitol' were grown in a field experiment on a silty clayey gleyic fluvisol near Göttingen, northern Germany, and fertilized with 0 (N₀) and 227 (N₂₂₇) kg N ha^–1. In February 2002, PVC tubes with a diameter of 50 mm were installed between plant rows at 0–0.3 and 0–0.6 m soil depth with an angle of 45°. At the beginning of shooting, beginning of flowering, and at seed filling, the PVC tubes were substituted by PVC tubes (compartments) of the same diameter, but with an open window at the upper side either at a soil depth of 0–0.3 or 0.3–0.6 m allowing roots to grow into the tubes. Anion‐exchange resin at the bottom of the compartment allowed estimation of nitrate leaching. The compartments were then filled with root‐free soil which was amended with or without 90 mg N (kg soil)^–1. The newly developed roots and nitrate‐N depletion were estimated in the compartments after the installing period (21 d at shooting stage and 16 d both at flowering and grain‐filling stages). Nitrate‐N depletion was estimated from the difference between NO ‐N contents of compartments containing roots and control compartments (windows closed with a membrane) containing no roots. The amount of nitrate leached from the compartments was quantified from the resin and has been taken into consideration in the calculation of the N depletion. The amount of N depleted from the compartments significantly correlated with root‐length density. Suboptimal N application to the crop reduced total biomass and seed‐yield formation substantially (24% and 38% for ‘Apex’ and ‘Capitol’, respectively). At the shooting stage, there were no differences in root production and N depletion from the compartments by the two cultivars between N₀ and N₂₂₇. But at flowering and seed‐filling stages, higher root production and accordingly higher N depletion was observed at N₀ compared to N₂₂₇. Towards later growth stages, the newly developed roots were characterized by a reduction of root diameter and a shift towards the deeper soil layer (0.3–0.6m). At low but not at high N supply, the N‐efficient cv. ‘Apex’ exhibited higher root growth and accordingly depleted nitrate‐N more effectively than the N‐inefficient cv. ‘Capitol’, especially during the reproductive growth phase. The calculated nitrate‐N‐uptake rate per unit root length was maximal at flowering (for the low N supply) but showed no difference between the two cultivars. This indicated that the higher N‐uptake efficiency of cv. ‘Apex’ was due to higher root growth rather than higher uptake per unit of root length.     

Modelling of sorption experiments and seepage data of an Amazonian Ultisol subsoil under cropping fallow

The results of physico-chemical investigations of an Ultisol subsoil under a 2-year old fallow in eastern Amazonia are presented. Subsoil chemistry was studied using 4 different approaches: i) concentrations of H, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, and Fe in seepage water were measured under field conditions, ii) the equilibrium soil chemistry was studied in sequential batch experiments where the soil was treated with different solutions, iii) results of batch experiments were simulated with a chemical equilibrium model, and iv) the seepage data were calculated using selectivity coefficients obtained by modelling the batch experiments. The model included multiple cation exchange, precipitation/dissolution of Al(OH)₃ and inorganic complexation. Cation selectivity coefficients were pK_x/Ca^sel: X = Na: 0.3, K: 0.8, Mg: ?0.1, and Al: 0.4. The amount of cations sorbed ranged from ?0.2 to 2.0 (K), ?0.7 to 2.3 (Mg), ?1.6 to 1.8 (Ca), ?4.8 to 3.6 (Al) and 0.0 to 8.5 (Na) mmol_c kg^?1. The model predictions were good with values lying within 0.3 pH units (for the pH range 3.7 to 7.2), and 3% of CEC for individual cations. The most important proton buffer reaction seemed to be the dissolution of gibbsite and a large release of Al into the soil solution. When selectivity coefficients obtained by the modelling procedure were used to predict the field data for cation concentrations in the seepage water, they decreased in the following order: Na > K > Ca > Mg > Al. These calculated values were similar to the measured order: Na > Ca > K ≈ Mg > Al. Thus the options for managing these soils should be carefully chosen to avoid soil acidification which may result from inappropriate use of fertilizer during the cropping period.     

RADIOLOGIC EVALUATION OF SPAVIN IN YOUNG TROTTERS

Tarsal radiographs of 134 trotters were made prior to training. Radiographs were evaluated for changes commonly associated with spavin. Spavin, if present, was graded as mild, moderate, or severe. Sone of the 134 horses were radiographed annually for one, two, or three years. Radiographs of the 134 horses were compared with radiographs of 141 additional horses in which spavin had been diagnosed clinically. Only 66 of the 134 trotters (50.4%) had normal tarsal radiographs at the time of initial examination; the other 65 had some radiographic evidence of spavin. The incidence and severity of radiographic changes identified in a group of horses in which spavin was diagnosed clinically. Thus, the present results suggest that tarsal radiography is of little value in establishing the diagnosis and prognosis of spavin in trotters.     

Quick screening of cowpea genotypes for manganese tolerance during vegetative and reproductive growth

In cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypical differences in Mn tolerance during vegetative growth are due to differences in Mn tolerance of the plant tissue, especially of the leaves. Mn applied to the petioles of fully expanded leaves induces the same toxicity symptoms on the leaf blades as Mn absorbed by the roots. There is a good agreement between the rankings of the different genotypes for Mn tolerance according to the depression of shoot dry matter production by Mn excess in long term pot experiments and the appearance of toxicity symptoms after application of Mn to the petioles. However, Mn tolerance during vegetative growth is not necessarily correlated with Mn tolerance during reproductive growth as no close relation exists between reduction by Mn excess of dry matter and of grain yield. Application of Mn to the peduncles two days after flowering causes the same toxicity symptoms on the pods as Mn adsorbed by the roots. The application of Mn to the petioles allows a very simple, quick and non-destructive screening of cowpea genotypes for Mn tolerance during vegetative growth. Application of Mn to petioles and peduncles looks promising as a screening technique of Mn tolerance in vegetative and reproductive growth.     

The bleaching induced by the phenylpyridazinone herbicide Metflurazon in Chlorella is a metabolic and reversible process

The treatment of synchronized cells of the green alga Chlorella fusca under photoautotrophic conditions with metflurazon (SAN H 6706; 4-chloro-5-dimethylamino-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone)) induces a bleaching process and results in white-appearing cells. This process of bleaching was followed by quantitative analysis of cell growth and cell division, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, respiratory oxygen consumption, and of pigment pattern at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hr after incubation with different concentrations of metflurazon. Increasing concentrations of metflurazon gradually affected cell growth of Chlorella measured as increase in cell diameter. Cell division was inhibited completely with 1, 10, and 100 μM metflurazon. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen consumption were not inhibited by 1 μM metflurazon during the first 6 hr; after this time a gradually increased inhibition was observed. Both parameters were inhibited by 100 μM metflurazon immediately after herbicide addition. A detailed analysis of the pigment content during the bleaching process revealed that: (a) The bleaching of Chlorella cells by metflurazon is not a simple photochemical process like the photobleaching of boiled cells, but is directed by the active metabolism of Chlorella itself. (b) The bleaching process is characterized by two phases: an accumulation of pigments followed by their degradation. The accumulation phase extends to 6 hr after herbicide addition. (c) During the accumulation phase, chlorophyll is accumulated to 380 and 106% in cells treated with 1 and 100 μM metflurazon, respectively, compared to the initial pigment content. The breakdown of chlorophyll, however, during the degradation phase is 5 times faster in the 1 μM treatment than in the 100 μM treatment. This difference resulted in the faster appearance of white cells with the low metflurazon concentration. (d) During the accumulation phase in the 1 μM treatment, the biosynthesis of chlorophylls, xanthophylls, and carotenes is inhibited by 56, 74, and 78%, respectively, when compared to a nontreated control. When related to the initial amounts, chlorophylls, xanthophylls, and carotenes are accumulated to 380, 230, and 153%, respectively. However, the synthesis of violaxanthin is specifically inhibited, followed by α-carotene. During the degradation phase, violaxanthin and α-carotene again, are the most rapidly disappearing pigments. Continuous culturing of white Chlorella cells resulted in a regeneration to green cells after 96, 240, 384 hr for 1, 10, and 100 μM metflurazone, respectively. The bleaching of Chlorella by metflurazon is evidently dependent on a functioning metabolism and is itself a regulated disassembly of the photosynthetic apparatus, which is reversible and not lethal.     

The occurrence of hypotaurine in ovarian follicle walls in sheep and in the Fallopian tube of sheep and other animals

Inhalt: In den Ovarien von Schafen kommen während des Brunstzyklus in den Folli-kelwandungen Hypotaurin und Inositol in Konzentrationen von 0–7 mg % bzw. 40 mg % vor. Hypotaurin wurde auβerdem in den Eileitern von Schaf, Pferd, Rind, Schwein und Kaninchen gefunden; in zwei Fällen gelang auch der Nachweis von Hypotaurin in der Fimbrienplatte der Hündin. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, daβ bei mit Progesteron bebandelten Tieren das Fehlen von Hypotaurin möglicherweise die Entwicklung und den Transport der Eier ungünstig beeinfluβt.     

Cucullanus oceaniensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) from Pacific eels (Anguilla spp.)

A new species of parasitic nematode, Cucullanus oceaniensis sp. n., is described from the intestine of the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata (type host) from Futuna Island (Wallis and Futuna Islands, Polynesia) and from A. marmorata and Anguilla sp. (cf. obscura) from Fiji Islands (Melanesia, South Pacific). The main distinguishing characteristics are the length of spicules (668-1,020 microm), situation of deirids (slightly anterior to the oesophago-intestinal junction) and the excretory pore (some distance posterior to the end of oesophagus), and the arrangement of caudal papillae in the male. It is the third known species of Cucullanus from Oceania and the first one reported from freshwater eels in the region of South Pacific. Cucullanus faliexae Morand et Rigby, 1998 is considered a junior synonym of Cucullanus australiensis Baylis, 1927.