Response of five temperate deciduous tree species to water stress

Gas exchange, tissue water relations, and leaf/root dry weight ratios were compared among young, container-grown plants of five temperate-zone, deciduous tree species (Acer negundo L., Betula papyrifera Marsh, Malus baccata Borkh, Robinia pseudoacacia L., and Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.) under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. There was a small decrease (mean reduction of 0.22 MPa across species) in the water potential at which turgor was lost (Psi(tlp)) in response to water stress. The Psi(tlp) for water-stressed plants was -1.18, -1.34, -1.61, -1.70, and -2.12 MPa for B. papyrifera, A. negundo, U. parvifolia, R. pseudoacacia, and M. baccata, respectively. Variation in Psi(tlp) resulted primarily from differences in tissue osmotic potential and not tissue elasticity. Rates of net photosynthesis declined in response to water stress. However, despite differences in Psi(tlp), there were no differences in net photosynthesis among water-stressed plants under the conditions of water stress imposed. In A. negundo and M. baccata, water use efficiency (net photosynthesis/transpiration) increased significantly in response to water stress. Comparisons among water-stressed plants showed that water use efficiency for M. baccata was greater than for B. papyrifera or U. parvifolia. There were no significant differences in water use efficiency among B. papyrifera, U. parvifolia, A. negundo, and R. pseudoacacia. Under water-stressed conditions, leaf/root dry weight ratios (an index of transpiration to absorptive capacity) ranged from 0.77 in R. pseudoacacia to 1.05 in B. papyrifera.     

New mechanisms for chemistry at surfaces

It is becoming increasingly apparent that chemistry at surfaces, whether it be heterogeneous catalysis, semiconductors etching, or chemical vapor deposition, is controlled by much more than the nature and structure of the surface. Recent experiments that principally make use of molecular beam techniques have revealed that the energy at which an incident molecule collides with a surface can be the key factor in determining its reactivity with or on the surface. In addition, the collision energy of an incident particle has proven essential to the finding of new mechanisms for reaction or desorption of molecules at surfaces, collision-induced activation and collision-induced desorption. These phenomena are often responsible for the different surface chemistry observed under conditions of high reactant pressure, such as those present during a heterogeneous catalytic reaction, and of low pressure of reactants (< 10(-4) torr), such as those present in an ultrahigh vacuum surface science experiment. This knowledge of the microscopic origins of the effect of pressure on the chemistry at surfaces has allowed the development of a scheme to bypass the high-pressure requirement. Reactions that are normally observed only at high reactant pressures, and which are the ones most often of practical importance, can now be carried out in low-pressure, ultrahigh vacuum environments.     

The use of the sugar beet in swine nutrition. 2. The effect of different preparation processes on the apparent prececal and fecal digestibility

With ileum cannulated sows were tested the apparent precaecal and faecal digestibility of crude nutrients from raw and thermically treated fodder sugar beets of size "Rosamona". Two samples from two different harvest years, differing extremely in the content of disaccharides were tested. The crude nutrient digestibility affected stronger by content of sucrose then by treatment. Fodder sugar beets with contents of disaccharide lower then 400 g/kg DM showed low precaecal and faecal digestibilities. A longer cooling phase decreased the feed value of steamed beets through the microbial attack in the formation of precaecal indigestible sugar alcohols (mannitol).     

Five field trials on the efficacy of a bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine

Five field trials evaluated whether immunization of beef cattle prior to weaning, at weaning, or immediately upon arrival at the feedlot with a commercial bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine would reduce subsequent treatment for respiratory disease.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccination was associated with a significant (p<0.05) reduction in treatment rate in one of three groups of calves immunized prior to weaning (−12%) and in calves immunized upon arrival at the feedlot (−4%).

There was no significant (p>0.05) effect of the BRSV vaccine on treatment rate in calves immunized at weaning, in calves immunized upon arrival at the Saskatoon bull test station, or in yearlings immunized upon arrival at the feedlot.

Although the trend in these field trials was to a sparing effect of the BRSV vaccine, the small reduction in treatment rate may not justify the cost of the vaccination program.