Influence of irrigation and fertilization on transpiration and hydraulic properties of Populus deltoides

Long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability was explored in 3-year-old Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. clones by examining transpiration, leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (G(L)), canopy stomatal conductance (G(S)) and leaf to sapwood area ratio (A(L):A(S)) in response to irrigation (13 and 551 mm year(-1) in addition to ambient precipitation) and fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)). Sap flow was measured continuously over one growing season with thermal dissipation probes. Fertilization had a greater effect on growth and hydraulic properties than irrigation, and fertilization effects were independent of irrigation treatment. Transpiration on a ground area basis (E) ranged between 0.3 and 1.8 mm day(-1), and increased 66% and 90% in response to irrigation and fertilization, respectively. Increases in G(L), G(S) at a reference vapor pressure deficit of 1 kPa, and transpiration per unit leaf area in response to increases in resource availability were associated with reductions in A(L):A(S) and consequently a minimal change in the water potential gradient from soil to leaf. Irrigation and fertilization increased leaf area index similarly, from an average 1.16 in control stands to 1.45, but sapwood area was increased from 4.0 to 6.3 m(2) ha(-1) by irrigation and from 3.7 to 6.7 m(2) ha(-1) by fertilization. The balance between leaf area and sapwood area was important in understanding long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability and mechanisms controlling maximum productivity in Populus deltoides.     

Comparative genome and proteome analysis of Anopheles gambiae and Drosophila melanogaster

Comparison of the genomes and proteomes of the two diptera Anopheles gambiae and Drosophila melanogaster, which diverged about 250 million years ago, reveals considerable similarities. However, numerous differences are also observed; some of these must reflect the selection and subsequent adaptation associated with different ecologies and life strategies. Almost half of the genes in both genomes are interpreted as orthologs and show an average sequence identity of about 56%, which is slightly lower than that observed between the orthologs of the pufferfish and human (diverged about 450 million years ago). This indicates that these two insects diverged considerably faster than vertebrates. Aligned sequences reveal that orthologous genes have retained only half of their intron/exon structure, indicating that intron gains or losses have occurred at a rate of about one per gene per 125 million years. Chromosomal arms exhibit significant remnants of homology between the two species, although only 34% of the genes colocalize in small "microsyntenic" clusters, and major interarm transfers as well as intra-arm shuffling of gene order are detected.     

Characterization of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril, in horses

The pharmacokinetics of enalapril (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) and the pharmacodynamics of enalapril (0.5 mg/kg PO) in 5 mares were investigated. After single i.v. dosing, concentrations of enalapril and enalaprilat, its active metabolite, were measured. Two weeks later, enalapril was administered by nasogastric tube. Potassium, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), enalapril, and enalaprilat concentrations and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity were measured in serum. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure, digital venous blood gases, and lactate were measured. Two weeks later, enalapril was again administered by nasogastric tube. To mimic activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, angiotensin I (0.5 microg/kg) was administered at fixed intervals, followed by blood-pressure and heart-rate measurement. The elimination half lives of enalapril and enalaprilat were 0.59 and 1.25 hours, respectively, after i.v. administration. After PO administration, enalapril and enalaprilat were not detectable in serum. There was a tendency (P = .0625) toward a decrease in ACE activity 45-120 minutes after enalapril administration, but ACE activity suppression was never > 16%. There was a tendency (P = .0625) toward a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) 6-8 hours after enalapril administration. Serum concentrations of potassium, creatinine, and BUN and digital venous blood gases and lactate concentrations did not change. In response to angiotensin I, there was a tendency (P = .0625) toward a decrease in the MAP response 4-24 hours after enalapril administration. Single-dose enalapril at 0.5 mg/kg PO did not demonstrate significant availability, pharmacodynamic effect, or substantial suppression of ACE activity.     

Improving the efficiency of wild Pecten maximus spat collection: potential effects of spat bag design and of species temporarily settling in spat bags

The single and combined effects of external bag size and external bag mesh size upon the collection and retention of wild King Scallop spat (Pecten maximus L.), other scallop species (Aequipecten opercularis) and other animal groups were investigated in a collection area off the west coast of Scotland. Collection was assessed after 5 weeks and at harvest (after 20 weeks). After 5 weeks, 90% of collected animals consisted of scallops (P. maximus and A. opercularis), Mytilus edulis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and Lacuna vincta (Mollusca: Gastropoda). One-way analysis of variance on count data obtained after 5 weeks showed that the larger bag and mesh size treatments had collected significantly greater numbers of scallop spat when numbers collected were compared to the quantity of material used for each treatment (P<0.05). This was partly attributed to significantly greater numbers of L. vincta crawling juveniles temporarily recruiting in the smaller bag and mesh treatments (P<0.05). Similar trends of spat abundance in treatment bags were observed at harvest, although all treatments had scallop spat retention efficiencies of less than 12%. The importance of the structural design of spat bags for spat collection and the effects of incidentally collected non-predatory species upon the collection of scallop spat are discussed.     

Effects of stable dust on farm animals-a review

The relationship between air quality-its dust content-and respiratory diseases of animals in the food industry and otherwise in examined. The correlation between dust content and incidence of disease in farm animals is also discussed. Lesions caused either directly or indirectly by dusttransported microorganisms are reviewd. Effects of dust on animal performance are included.This review is an attempt to compile available information on the natural occurrence of stable dust and the possibilities for its measurement and control.     

Vepsuche zur Ermittlung der Inkubationszeit der Tödlichen Vergilbung der Kokospalme (Lethal Yellowing Disease of coconut palm) in der Wirtspflanze

Zusammenfassung Das Aussetzen von 24 Serien von Palmen in Kübeln in einem Krankheitsgebiet für eine beschränkte Zeit, 7 Sätze von 15–20 Palmen für einen Monat, 3 Sätze für zwei Monate und 14 Sätze für drei Monate, diente zur Ermittlung der Inkubationszeit für die Tödliche Vergilbung der Kokospalme. In den meisten Fällen, die zur Ansteckung im Krankheitsgebiet führten, lag die geschätzte Inkubationszeit zwischen 3 und 6 Monaten; nach dem aufgestellten Histogramm betrug die durchschnittliche Inkubationszeit 150–160 Tage. Die lange Expositionszeit bei der größeren Zahl der Sätze erlaubt keine genaue Festlegung der Zeitspanne. Nach Entfernen von Käfigen in einem zweiten Versuch, die als Schutz gegen Infektionen dienten, traten erstmals Symptome an Palmen nach 6 (1 Palme) und 7 (2 Palmen) Monaten auf. Unter Berücksichtigung, daß der Ausbruch einer Krankheit Schwankungen unterworfen ist und auß erdem wesentlich vom Infektionszeitpunkt abhängt, fügen sich diese Daten gut in die für die Inkubationszeit angenommene Zeitspanne ein.Bodenorganismen (Nematoden) scheiden als Überträger der Tödlichen Vergilbung aus, da die Palmen in Kübeln keinen Bodenkontakt hatten. Die Palmen in den Käfigen dagegen konnten, soweit sie in den Boden gepflanzt waren, mit ihren Wurzeln unter den Käfigrand vordringen und wären dadurch der Infektion zugänglich gewesen.Da nur in den Sätzen, die den Infektionsbedingungen eines Krankheitsgebietes zwischen den Monaten Februar und August ausgesetzt waren, einzelne Palmen in den Gruppen erkrankten, dürfte in dieser Zeitspanne der Ü berträger besonders aktiv oder in der übrigen Zeit des Jahres relativ selten sein, anders wäre die Häufung der Infektionen in diesen Monaten nicht zu erklären.

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Summary A transfer experiment using 17 sets of coconut palms, planted in drums and transferred bimonthly or three-monthly from a healthy into a diseased area (2 or 3 months exposure time) and 7 sets exposed for only a month, provided us with good information about the incubation period of Lethal Yellowing in a palm. The most probable incubation period ranges between 3 and 6 months; according to the dates on the histogram the mean incubation period appeared to be 150–160 days. The long exposure time used for most of the sets does not allow a more accurate assessment of this time interval.In a second experiment, groups of coconut palms which had been protected by cages for at least a year against infections were exposed to the natural infection conditions by removal of the cages. The first case of disease was recognized 6 months after cage removal, 2 additional cases a month later. Taking into consideration that the development of symptoms varies within a time interval depending upon the date of infection, growing conditions etc, this observation agress with the inferred incubation period gained in the transfer experiment.Soil organisms (nematodes o. a.) can be excluded as transmitters of the Lethal Yellowing pathogen. The palms used in the transfer experiment which later on showed symptoms were planted in drums; the roots having no connection with the soil in the field. The soil for filling the drums was collected in a healthy area. The roots of caged palms which were planted directly into the soil could penetrate under the cage border into the unprotected part of the plot which contained a lot of naturally diseased palms scattered across the field.Only sets of palms which were partly or fully exposed to the infection conditions of a diseased area during February to August developed a number of cases of Lethal Yellowing. The occurrence of infection during this period indicates this to be a time of particular vector activity.

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F.A.O.- Expert in Kingston, Jamaica; jetzt: Biologiche Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forwirschaft, Berlin-Dahlem.

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F.A.O.- Associate-Expert in Kingston (Coconut Industry Board.

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Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirstchaft, 1 Berlin 33 Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 19.     

Prediction of oriented strand board properties from mat formation and compression operating conditions. Part 2: MOE prediction and process optimization

A model to predict the bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) of oriented strand board (OSB) panels produced by batch processing is presented. The approach developed herein is unique in its comprehensiveness since the MOE is determined from information on the panel structure, temperature and moisture profiles and vertical density profiles obtained from the mat formation and compression models presented in Part 1. Comparison of predicted MOE values with those measured from 24 commercially produced panels shows good agreement considering some of the uncertainties involved. Simulations show that the MOE can be increased by any of the following changes: reduced fines content, increased panel density, better flake alignment in each of the three layers within a panel, increased flake length and a larger difference between the density of the face and core layers. The model was also used in a genetic algorithm to carry out an optimization study of batch OSB manufacturing. This analysis showed that by combining the appropriate reduction in the amount of flakes used, increase in fines content, improvement in flake alignment within each of the face and core layers and shortening of the batch time, a significant theoretical profit increase from the base case scenario can be obtained.     

Effects of induction treatments on flowering in Populus deltoides

Stimulation of early flowering is required to shorten breeding cycles of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. var. deltoides), a commercially important and fast-growing hardwood species. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the influence of various treatments on flowering in rooted cuttings from mature and juvenile trees. A combined treatment of water stress, root pruning and paclobutrazol was applied to 3-month-old rooted cuttings from mature trees. These cuttings had been subjected to root restriction and long days. All treated plants flowered, whereas no untreated plants formed flower buds. One-year-old rooted cuttings from juvenile trees did not flower when treated with either paclobutrazol, paclobutrazol plus water stress, paclobutrazol plus root pruning, or paclobutrazol plus girdling. This was true both under continuous or periodic growth. Assessment of the lack of flowering in juvenile trees may require an integrated approach that investigates environmental or physiological stimuli, assimilate shift, gibberellic acid type and concentration, and flowering-time gene activity in the new shoots of mature and juvenile cottonwood trees.