Scheduling irrigation with a dynamic crop growth model and determining the relation between simulated drought stress and yield for peanut

A computer simulation model can be used as a tool to help explain the impact of drought stress on plant growth and development because it integrates the complex soil–plant-atmosphere system through a set of mathematical equations. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of different irrigation scheduling regimes on peanut growth and development, to determine the capability of the CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model to simulate growth and development of peanut, and to determine the relationship between yield and the two cumulative drought stress indices simulated by the peanut model. The CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model was evaluated with experimental data collected during two field experiments that were conducted in four automated rainout shelters located at The University of Georgia, USA, in 2006 and 2007. Irrigation was applied when the simulated soil water content in the effective root zone dropped below a specific threshold value for the available soil water capacity (AWC). The irrigation treatments corresponded to irrigation thresholds (IT) of 30, 40, 60, and 90 % of AWC. The results showed that growth and development was reduced for the 30 and 40 % IT treatments which resulted in yield reductions that were 92 and 45 %, respectively, of the 90 % IT treatment. The Cropping System Model (CSM)-CROPGRO-Peanut model was able to accurately simulate growth and development of peanut grown under different irrigation treatments when compared to the observed data. We found an inverse relationship between the two simulated total cumulative drought stress indices for leaf growth (expansion) and photosynthesis and simulated pod yield. Knowing the cumulative drought stress value prior to harvest maturity could help with the prediction of potential harvestable yield.     

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC AND MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON GERMINATION,LEAF NITROGEN,NITRATE ACCUMULATION AND YIELD OF VEGETABLE AMARANTH

The influence of manure and diammonium phosphate (DAP) mineral fertilizer on germination, leaf nitrogen content, nitrate accumulation and yield of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) was investigated. Field trials were set up at the University of Nairobi Field Station at the Upper Kabete Campus during the long rains of March–May in 2007 and 2008. Trials were laid out as complete randomized block design with four fertilization treatments: 20, 40, and 60 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1 supplied by DAP (18:46:0), 40 kg N ha^?1 supplied by cattle manure and an unfertilized control variant. The vegetables were harvested at three maturity stages at 6, 7, and 8 weeks after planting. Results indicated that there were significant differences between treatments in germination percentage, leaf nitrogen content, nitrate accumulation and vegetable yield. Plants that received manure had a higher germination percentage than those that received the same amount of N supplied by the chemical fertilizer DAP. The yields generally increased from week 6 to week 8. The highest yield was recorded in plots receiving 40 kg N ha^?1 from DAP at eight weeks after planting. Plots that were supplied with manure recorded the lowest yield when compared to the fertilizer treated plots at all rates. Leaf nitrogen content increased with increasing rate of N but only when N was supplied by DAP fertilizer. The leaf nitrogen content decreased with increasing age of the plants. The leaf nitrate content increased with increase in DAP application rate. Results indicate that manure application produced quality vegetables in terms of low nitrate levels, but leaf nitrogen and vegetable yields were low. DAP application effected higher yields, but the vegetables had high though acceptable nitrate levels.     

Latitudinal variability in the seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in non-migrant and Arctic migratory geese

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular coccidian parasite found worldwide and is known to infect virtually all warm-blooded animals. It requires a cat (family Felidae) to complete its full life cycle. Despite the absence of wild felids on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, T. gondii has been found in resident predators such as the arctic fox and polar bear. It has therefore been suggested that T. gondii may enter this ecosystem via migratory birds. The objective of this study was to identify locations where goose populations may become infected with T. gondii, and to investigate the dynamics of T. gondii specific antibodies. Single blood samples of both adults and juveniles were collected from selected goose species (Anser anser, A. brachyrhynchus, Branta canadensis, B. leucopsis) at Arctic brood-rearing areas in Russia and on Svalbard, and temperate wintering grounds in the Netherlands and Denmark (migratory populations) as well as temperate brood-rearing grounds (the Netherlands, non-migratory populations). A modified agglutination test was used on serum, for detection of antibodies against T. gondii. Occasional repeated annual sampling of individual adults was performed to determine the antibody dynamics. Adults were found seropositive at all locations (Arctic and temperate, brood-rearing and wintering grounds) with low seroprevalence in brood-rearing birds on temperate grounds. As no juvenile geese were found seropositive at any brood-rearing location, but nine month old geese were found seropositive during spring migration we conclude that geese, irrespective of species and migration, encounter T. gondii infection in wintering areas. In re-sampled birds on Svalbard significant seroreversion was observed, with 42% of seropositive adults showing no detectable antibodies after 12 months, while the proportion of seroconversion was only 3%. Modelled variation of seroprevalence with field data on antibody longevity and parasite transmission suggests seroprevalence of a population within a range of 5.2–19.9%, in line with measured values. The high occurrence of seroreversion compared to the low occurrence of seroconversion hampers analysis of species- or site-specific patterns, but explains the absence of an increase in seroprevalence with age and the observed variation in antibody titre. These findings imply that even though infection rate is low, adults introduce T. gondii to the high Arctic ecosystem following infection in temperate regions.     

Effects of domestication on structural polysaccharides and dietary fiber in nopalitos (Opuntia spp.)

Domestication is an evolutionary process that modifies morphological, physiological, chemical and genetic features of wild plants, and is a product of artificial selection. A gradient of domestication can be appreciated in species of the Opuntia genus. There are wild species like O. streptacantha, others semi-domesticated like O. hyptiacantha O. megacantha and O. albicarpa, or other like O. ficus-indica with the highest degree of domestication. At the same time, some structural polysaccharides have been associated with plant drought and freeze resistance. This study aimed at quantify five groups of structural polysaccharides in 14 variants of nopalitos (edible young cladodes of flat-stemmed spiny cacti consumed as vegetables) of Opuntia spp. in a domestication gradient. Given that extreme environment is less frequent under cultivation than in the wild, we hypothesized that structural polysaccharides in nopalitos are reduced throughout the domestication process. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with a 5?×?14 two-factor factorial treatment structure, with four replications. Mucilages, pectins, hemicelluloses and cellulose were extracted and dietary fiber content was calculated. ANOVA of data was performed, pair wise comparisons of species and variants were conducted by Tukey test and principal components analysis was carried out. Mucilages were higher in O. ficus-indica (12% of total dry mass) and pectins, loosely and tightly bound hemicelluloses in O. streptacantha (2.5, 9 and 3%, respectively). All five species had similar content of cellulose (5.1% dry mass); but, O. streptacantha presented more dietary fiber. Higher pectins and both loosely and tightly bound hemicelluloses content in wild species can be related to genotype and the persistence of reaction to a wild environment. Mucilages which are one of the main characteristics of consumer preference and loosely bound hemicelluloses could have impact for selection during Opuntia domestication.     

A cost‐effective model for preliminary site evaluation for the reintroduction of a threatened quillwort

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Biological nitrogen fixation in maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) by <Superscript>15</Superscript>N isotope-dilution and identification of associated culturable diazotrophs

The nitrogen-fixing capacity of a range of commercial cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated by the ¹⁵N isotope-dilution method. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) expressed as percent nitrogen derived from air (Ndfa) ranged from 12 to 33 regardless of nitrogen fertilization. BNF was not affected by mineral nitrogen fertilization except on cultivar Topacio and PAU-871 cultivars. Subsequently, culturable bacterial diazotrophs were isolated from endophytic tissue of maize: seed, root, stem, and leaf. All isolates were able to grow on N-free semisolid medium. Eleven bacteria isolates showed nitrogen-fixing capacity by the reduction of acetylene to ethylene and confirmed by PCR the presence of nifH gene in their genome. Identification of the 11 isolates was performed by bacteriological methods, 16S rRNA gene sequences, and phylogenetic analysis, which indicated that the bacteria isolated were closely related to Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rhanella, Herbaspirillum, Azospirillum, Rhizobium (Agrobacterium), and Brevundimonas. This study demonstrated that maize cultivars obtain significant nitrogen from BNF, varying by maize cultivar and nitrogen fertilization level. The endophytic diazotrophic bacteria isolated from root, stem, and leaf tissues of maize cultivars may contribute to BNF in these plants.     

Growth and gut morphology of diploid and triploid juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

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Resistance gene analogue isolation and RGA-based marker development for identifying downy mildew resistance in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

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