Preliminary results on the atmospheres of io and jupiter from the pioneer 10 s-band occultation experiment

The preliminary analysis of data from the Pioneer 10 S-band radio occultation experinment has revealed the presence of an ionosphere on the Jovian satellite Io (JI) having an electron density peak of about 6 x 10(4) electrons per cubic centimeter at an altitude of approximately 60 to 140 kilometers. This suggests the presence of an atmosphere having a surface number density of about 10(10) to 10(12) per cubic centimeter, corresponding to an atmospheric surface pressure of between 10(-8) and 10(-10) bar, at or below the detection threshold of the Beta Scorpii stellar occultation. A measurement of the atmosphere of Jupiter was obtained down to the level of about 80 millibars, indicating a large temperature increase at about the 20 millibar level, which cannot be explained by the absorption of solar radiation by methane alone and can possibly be due to absorption by particulate matter.     

Viability of litter-stored Pinus taeda L. seeds after simulated prescribed winter burns

Stratified loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seeds were placed at three depths in a reconstructed forest floor and subjected to simulated prescribed winter burns. Within the forest floor, pine seeds were placed at the L/upper-F interface, upper-F/lower-F interface, and lower-F/mineral-soil interface. Wind was generated by electric box-fans. Seeds that survived the burns were transferred to moist sand flats for 30-day germination tests. About 96% of seeds placed at the two upper layers in the forest floor were either destroyed by the fires or failed to germinate. Germinative capacity of seeds placed at the lower-F/mineral-soil interface averaged 79% as compared to 97% for unburned control seeds.     

Enhanced Degradation of the Fungicide Vinclozolin: Isolation and Characterisation of a Responsible Organism

Enhanced degradation of the fungicide vinclozolin was stimulated by multiple successive applications to a soil without any history of previous pesticide input. A vinclozolin-degrading bacterium isolated from this soil was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas putida. This organism metabolised vinclozolin as a source of carbon, but it would neither grow with nor transform any other closely related dicarboximide fungicides nor the degradation product, 3,5-DCA. The degradation of vinclozolin by cultures of P. putida St-1 was investigated under various culture conditions; biodegradation was optimal at 23°C, pH 6·5 and inoculum densities of 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹ but cultures would grow from as little as 100 cells ml⁻¹. Amendments of the vinclozolin-degrading isolate to soil previously untreated with the fungicide caused rapid degradation of applied vinclozolin, whereas amendments of boiled cells, or viable cells grown in the absence of vinclozolin, produced no discernible effect on the rate of vinclozolin degradation.