Oil biosynthesis and its related variables in developing seeds of mustard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> L.) as influenced by sulphur fertilization

The aim of this research was to study the effect of sulphur (S) fertilization on oil biosynthesis and its related variables at various stages of seed development, and to find possible explanations for increased oil content in the seeds of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss) due to S fertilization. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity and contents of oil, acetyl-CoA, soluble protein, total RNA, total sugar and sulphur were determined in the developing seeds of mustard grown in the field with sulphur (+S) and without sulphur (-S). The period between 10 to 30 days after flowering was observed as the active period of oil accumulation in the developing seeds of mustard. The accumulation of the oil was preceded by a marked rise in acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity and acetyl-CoA concentration, which declined rapidly when oil accumulation reached a plateau. Total sugar content decreased, while protein content increased during the active period of oil accumulation in the developing seeds (i.e. between 10–30 days after flowering). Sulphur fertilization significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the oil accumulation in the developing seeds at all the growth stages. The increase in the oil content was 5–63% with S fertilization over the control treatment. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity and contents of acetyl-CoA, soluble protein, total RNA and sugar were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the developing seeds of +S-treated plants compared to — S-treated plants. It is suggested that the increase in the oil content with sulphur fertilization may be associated with the increases in acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity through the enhancement of acetyl-CoA concentration. Further, the increased sugar content due to S fertilization provided enough carbon source and energy for oil biosynthesis.     

Active transportation indicators and establishing baseline in a developing country context: A study of Rajshahi,Bangladesh

This paper shares the findings of an active transportation (AT) study conducted in the context of a city in a developing country. First, a list of AT indicators was developed based on the literature review and expert opinion survey. Second, a face-to-face survey was conducted to collect information on individuals' socio-demographic characteristics, travel behavior, AT mode choice, and their perceptions regarding the AT conditions in their neighborhoods. Analysis of the survey results suggests that several socio-demographic characteristics are associated with AT use. For example, young adults and individuals with low income are the primary users of AT. Also, results suggest that students are mainly active commuters. The ratio of AT use increases with the number of bicycles in the household. Individuals tend to walk more when travel duration is less than 10 minutes. Educational areas are perceived as safer and convenient areas for using active modes of transport compared to other land-use types. Also, a higher proportion of active commuters perceive local roads to be safer from vehicular traffic compared to main roads. Many sectors such as planning, transportation, health, and education as well as non-government organizations will be benefited from this study.     

Stoffbilanzierung in einer Pseudogley-Parabraunerde aus Löß unter Anwendung der IR-Phasenanalyse

Material balance in an aquic Hapludalf from loess by means of IR-phase analysis Grain size fractions of an aquic Hapludalf from loess near Göttingen were examined mineralogically and chemically. On the base of actual mineral composition (mode) by means of infrared spectroscopy weathering balances were made up. The results reveal a strong illite/mica loss of about 80 kg/m², which is due to decomposition in the A-horizon, and which is not compensated by a slight gain in the B-horizon. The mineral balance of the total profile yields a clay degradation of 44 kg/m². Furthermore, in the A-horizon the chemical balance gives evidence of considerable mobilizations and substantial losses mainly of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO and K₂O combined in silicates. Depending on soil horizons and grain sizes the illites have K-contents varying from 4 to 8% K₂O. Al₂O₃ and MgO also show distinct variations. Both components are correlated negatively and decrease (Al₂O₃) respectively increase (MgO) from the top to the bottom.     

Parasitic flowering plants of woody species in Jordan

Parasitic weed occurrence in Jordan was surveyed during the period from 2004 to 2009. Results revealed the presence of seven genera attacking 85 woody plant species belong to 33 botanical families. Parasitic genera were Cuscuta, Orobanche, Cistanche, Plicosepalus, Viscum, Osyris and Cynomorium. Among the most severely parasitized species were Citrus spp., Olea europaea, Vitis vinifera, and Ziziphus spina-christi by Cuscuta monogyna; Amygdalus communis and O. europaea by Orobanche cernua, Orobanche palaestina and Orobanche schultzii,; A. communis, Cupressus sempervirens, O. europaea and V. vinifera by Osyris alba; Casuarina equisetifolia and Haloxylon persicum by Cistanche spp.; Acacia asak, Acacia cyanophylla, Acacia farnesiana, Acacia nilotica, C. equisetifolia, Ficus carica, Melia azedarach, Parkinsonia aculeata, Poinciana gilliesii, Retama raetam, Tamarix pentandra and Ziziphus spp. by Plicosepalus acaciae; A. communis, Crataegus azarolus, O. europaea, P. granatum, R. raetam, and Rhamnus palaestina by Viscum cruciatum; and H. persicum by Cynomorium coccineum. Many of the host species are first time reported while O. schultzii was the first record parasitizing woody plants.     

Competition of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and nettle-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium murale L.) with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars

Competition of 31 tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars with Amaranthus retroflexus and Chenopodium murale was investigated at different growing periods under natural conditions, University of Jordan, during 2008–2010. Cultivars were varied in their competitiveness with weeds; some tolerated while others were highly susceptible and exhibited great growth (shoot dry weight) and fruit yield reductions. A. retroflexus was more competitive than C. murale at most growing periods. Weeds attained high growth in the spring and summer but were much reduced in autumn. A. retroflexus requires relatively higher temperature for growth and competitiveness than C. murale. Gardners Delight and Special Back cultivars showed tolerance and their growth and yield either increased or least reduced in competition with weeds. In contrast, growth of First in the Field, Back More, Orient and Tiny Tim was reduced by 65–75% of their controls. Highest growth of weeds was in competition with The Amateur and lowest with First in the field and Back More. Fruit yield of all cultivars was reduced in competition, especially with A. retroflexus. Reduction was up to 100% in the spring. Both weeds reduced growth of cultivars most during the spring while A. reteroflexus eliminated certain cultivars.     

Building capacity for improved veterinary epidemiosurveillance in southern Africa

A workshop to produce recommendations on training requirements for improved epidemiosurveillance of livestock diseases in southern Africa was organised at the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases in the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria. It was attended by 23 persons representing 10 different southern African countries. The majority of the participants were actively involved in veterinary epidemiosurveillance and many of them were members of the SADC Epidemiology and Informatics Subcommittee. Discussions focused on (i) epidemiosurveillance networks and their 2 main components, i.e. (ii) diagnosis and (iii) information flow. The debates were guided by 3 questions; (i) what are the requirements for an effective network, (ii) what cannot be achieved with existing capacity and (iii) how can the current capacity be improved. Workshop participants developed lists of realistic capacity building needs, which were divided into structural needs and training requirements. Structural needs mainly concerned communication means and quality assurance. With regard to training, the need for appropriate continuing education of all actors at the various disease management levels (non-professional, para-professional, professional) was expressed. Special emphasis was put on capacity building at the lowest level, i.e. the livestock owner and the para-professionals at the community level. At the international level, it was felt that special emphasis should be put on building capacity to improve the understanding of international agreements on trade in animals and animal products and to improve the capacity of negotiating such agreements.     

Transport of microorganisms through soil

Microorganisms migrating into and through soil from sources on the land surface may cause a serious threat to both ground and surface waters. It has been estimated that microorganisms can migrate significant distances in the field. Results from various studies suggested that preferential flow through macropores, worm holes, cracks, and fractures is the main reason for such observations. However, a quantitative representation of this phenomenon has not been provided. Microorganisms migrate through soil by advection and dispersion, while being subjected to effects of filtration, adsorption, desorption, growth, decay, sedimentation and chemotaxis. Both laboratory and field investigations have contributed important information on bacterial movement in soils. Qualitative comparisons are generally transferable from laboratory to field situations. Quantitative agreement is much more difficult to establish. Available mathematical modelling of microbial transport is limited in practical application because of the simplifying assumptions used in its development.     

Analysis of spatial and temporal risk of agricultural loss due to flooding in paddy farms

Evaluating agricultural loss due to flooding is essential for defining an appropriate risk level in flood management projects. This research introduces a method for computing annual damage risk for rice fields with respect to both spatial and temporal pattern of floods, while considering the effect of crop growth stages on the total damage. For finding the spatial pattern of floods, HEC-RAS was employed to derive selected physical parameters of floods of interest and then a physical loss function was used to calculate the unconditional loss over flood prone areas. A time-dependent loss function was introduced for rice to determine the effect of growth on damages derived through the physical loss function. Due to the seasonal nature of agricultural risk, frequency analysis was performed for seasonal discharges for each growth stage of rice. A method was introduced to use the concept of Expected Annual Damage in agricultural fields. A method called “AGEAD” was introduced for evaluating short-term risk for agricultural activities considering their inherent spatial and temporal characteristics. Results showed that damages evaluated by employing AGEAD were completely different from what was obtained by applying a flood of defined return period, i.e. from the results of long-term risk evaluation. While it is common to attribute a unique predicted loss to all flood prone areas, AGEAD application showed that different zones in flooded paddy fields were subjected to different amount of damages from 100 to 0%.