Multi Criteria Assessment of Zero Residue Apple Production

During the 2008–2010 growing seasons, an alternative ‘zero residue apple production system’ was compared with integrated apple production with cvs ‘Idared’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Gala’ in commercial orchards at several locations throughout Slovenia, using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and multi criteria assessment by an analytical hierarchical process (AHP). The principle of the ‘zero residue apple production’ is a combination of integrated (IP) and organic apple production. During the first 3 months of the growing season (1 April–30 June), pesticides used in IP with rapid degradation (8–10 applications) were used to control pests and diseases. During the second part of the season from 1 July to harvest, organic products (6–12 applications) were employed compared with 19–25 applications overall in IP. The goal of the alternative system was to reduce the amount of applied conventional pesticides by 40 % and to minimize pesticide residues in fruits to below the limit of 0.5 % of the legal maximum residue level (MRL) or below the residue concentrations of 0.005–0.01 mg/kg and to retain the high long-term level of yield, fruit quality, and net income per hectare. The number of pesticide residues was reduced from 4.2–5.5 in IP to 1.8–3.4 in zero residue cultivation, while 3 year average yields (class 1 fruit) were 4–9 % lower than in IP. The break even prices ranged from € 0.31 for Idared in IP, € 0.34 for ‘Elstar’ of both production systems to € 0.35/kg for zero residue cultivated ‘Golden Delicious’. Overall, a price increase of just € 0.02/kg for residue free apples would make this new ‘zero residue apple production’ profitable then representing a realistic alternative to the standard integrated apple production system.     

Analysis of genetic variability and agronomic performance of Indian lettuce (Lactuca indica L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Lactuca indica L. is an undomesticated medicinal crop in the Asteraceae family. The study was carried out to identify elite genotypes for lettuce cultivation...     

Selenium Concentration in Spring Wheat and Leaching Water as Influenced by Application Times of Selenium and Nitrogen

ABSTRACT

Selenium (Se) deficiency in Scandinavian soils is a common problem, and crops generally contain inadequate amounts to meet human need. This study shows a relationship of the Se concentration in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., c.v. ‘Helena’) and leaching water with timing of nitrogen (N) [as ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃)] and Se [as sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄)] application. Ammonium-nitrate was applied by two methods (i) whole amount at sowing and (ii) in split application as 75% at sowing and 25% at stem elongation. Selenate was applied at cereal growth stages after sowing, e.g., tillering, stem elongation, head emergence, and milking. Split N application in comparison to one N application increased the grain protein content from 12.1 to 13.7 mg g^{? 1}, and grain Se was increased from 0.8 to 1.1 mg kg^{? 1} when Se was applied at stem elongation and from 0.6 to 0.9 mg kg^{? 1} when applied at heading. The highest Se concentration in plant was achieved with the split N application and Se application at stem elongation or heading. Selenium leaching losses increased with increasing selenium concentration in the wheat grains. No differences in Se leaching losses were obtained with split N application. Applying selenate and ammonium-nitrate together after tillering increased the grain Se concentration, but did not affect the potential leaching of Se, and thus could be considered as an appropriate time of application of these elements.     

Influence of Alternative Copper Fungicide Formulations on Copper Content in Apple Fruits

Field trials were carried out from 2008 to 2011 at Maribor, Slovenia to determine the effect of new copper fungicide formulations on the copper content in apple fruits, separated in peel and flesh, of seven cultivars at harvest. Apple trees were treated 12?C18 times per season with formulations based on copper oxychloride or sulphate (trial standards), copper hydroxide and their complexes or chelates with amino acids, peptides, EDTA, urea, and octanoic or gluconic acids at the same rate of 200?g of pure copper ions (Cu²⁺) per hectare irrespetive of the product. Copper formulations were applied with Teejet 800067 flat fan nozzles mounted on a vertical boom of the sprayer, which gave a droplet volume median diameter (VMD) of 120 microns and 130?C180 droplet impacts per square centimeter, as determined on water sensitive papers. The new formulations of copper in the form of salts of fatty acids or organic complexes or chelates had a higher penetration rate into apple fruit tissue than the traditional formulations based on Cu-hydroxide, Cu-oxychloride and Cu-sulphate. The copper content in the fruit depended on the ratio between copper solubility in the formulation, rate of penetration into the fruit and stability of the copper fungicide deposit on the fruit surface. Despite being applied at lower hectare rates, frequent applications led to the exceeding of the permitted EC maximum residue level of 5?mg/kg fresh mass (FM). MRL was most often exceeded with the application of formulations based on Cu-octanoate and Cu-gluconate and less often in case of the application of complexes of copper with amino acids, peptides or urea. A comparison of the copper content between different cultivars showed that cv. ??Jonagold??, ??Golden Delicious?? and ??Elstar?? accumulated more cooper than other cultivars. Copper concentrations in the peel exceeded that of the flesh at least twice. The potential effects of accumulation of copper in woody tissue of bearing shoots after long-term application of highly systemic copper formulations on growth and blooming of apples are discussed too. Some apple growers may not be aware of much higher penetration rate of these new copper products (fungicides, fertilisers or plant strengtheners) and should be warned about the necessity to adapt their spraying schedules despite applications of a low hectare rates of copper, i.e. the number of treatments and proper seasonal timing, to avoid exceeding of EU MRL of copper in fruit.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus tuberosus</Emphasis> L. agg. in the Carpathian Basin: a blessing or a curse?

Helianthus tuberosus agg., an herbaceous perennial plant from the Asteraceae family, is native to North America and was introduced as a crop to Europe in the seventeenth century. The status of this plant has been rather controversial in the Carpathian Basin. This paper reviews its taxonomy, chorology, and ethnobotany in this region, using data obtained from herbarium specimens, ethnobotanical surveys performed in Transylvania, and data published earlier, documenting the invasive features of the plant since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Our results suggest that (1) Helianthus tuberosus agg. has been present in the Carpathian Basin from the nineteenth century, (2) its taxonomy is problematic since the first part of the nineteenth century; (3) ethnobotanical surveys confirmed that the plant’s tuber has been locally used mostly as a food in Transylvania, collected from cultivation. Overall, Helianthus tuberosus agg. is both a ‘blessing and a curse’ at the same time, it is a valuable crop with beneficial nutritional value, and also an environmentally dangerous invasive element for the diversity of the flora of the Carpathian Basin.     

Taurine does not improve the quality of short‐term stored rabbit spermatozoa in vitro

This study examines the impact of taurine on the viability, morphology and acrosome integrity of rabbit spermatozoa in vitro. Semen samples, obtained from four to five sexually mature and healthy New Zealand White rabbits, were pooled in heterospermic semen sample. This was divided and treated with taurine in a concentration of 0 (control), 1.5, 7, 12.5, 50 mM to a final concentration of 10⁸ spermatozoa/ml. The samples were then incubated at 37°C for 4 hr. A combination of fluorescent probes SYBR‐14/propidium iodide/PNA‐Alexa Fluor 647 was used to assess spermatozoa viability and acrosome integrity on a flow cytometer. The sperm morphology was evaluated under a light microscope following fixation in 1.5% paraformaldehyde. The experiment was repeated three times. According to the obtained results, the spermatozoa neither could have benefit from immediate taurine treatment, nor had they after 4‐hr incubation with respect to viability and acrosome integrity. Taurine did not initially alter the total and acrosome morphology of treated spermatozoa nor has it by 4 hr upon treatment. In conclusion, taurine may have no protective effect on the viability, morphology and acrosome integrity of short‐term stored rabbit spermatozoa.     

Spatiotemporal dynamic of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Slovenia, 1970–2005

Based on data acquired from the spatial information system Silva-SI, the majority of the entire forest area in Slovenia (22,220 forest compartments with a total area of 7446 km², classified into eight forest categories) was analysed for changes in the distribution of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the period 1975–2005 using a binary logistic regression model in terms of selected site, stand and management variables. Additionally, changes in the abundance of beech in forest stands in which beech was present at the beginning and the end of the analysed period were analysed. Beech expanded its area by more than 1200 ha per year on average, i.e. the annual expansion rate amounted to 0.24%. Among the 18 studied variables, three site, four stand and no management variables were included in the binary logistic regression model of beech expansion. Beech expansion was more pronounced at lower altitudes, on sites with steep topography, and on sites with a higher proportion of beech in potential natural vegetation. The probability of beech expansion reduced by a factor of 0.54 when the distance to the nearest compartment with beech increased by 1 km. Among other stand variables, the proportion of early successional phases and the proportion of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) also influenced the expansion of beech. During the observed period the growing stock of beech almost doubled, its proportion in total growing stock increasing from 27% to 32%. Significant differences were found in changes of beech proportion in the total growing stock among different forest categories; a decrease in the beech proportion was registered in alpine coniferous forests and thermophilous deciduous forests, while in other forest categories the proportion of beech increased. The recent development of forest stands and their current structure indicate a further expansion of beech and an increase in the proportion of beech in forest stands.