Vapor pressures of sulfonylurea herbicides

Vapor pressure values for agricultural chemicals are necessary for estimating volatilization and dissipation through transport in the vapor phase. The low vapor pressures of the sulfonylurea herbicides have presented significant challenges in vapor pressure determination. We have used the Knudsen gas effusion method at elevated temperatures and extrapolated to 25 °C. Along with the Knudsen method, computer calculations using the Grain equation were also used to estimate vapor pressure. The gas saturation method with quantitation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provided an upper limit that confirmed the low vapor pressures obtained using Knudsen gas effusion and computer calculations. We report the best available experimental results for the vapor pressures of sulfonylurea herbicides. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development of highly sprouting tolerant wheat germplasm with reduced germination at low temperature

The development of sprouting tolerant spring and winter wheat varieties that retain dormancy in cool, wet conditions is a long-term objective in Hokkaido, Japan. A highly tolerant spring dwarf line, “OS21-5”, derived from “Tordo” × “Zenkoji”, was used to develop transgressive spring, “OS38” and “OS74”; and winter, “OW77”, “OW104” and “OW93” wheats. More recently, winter lines with improved agronomic performance, though still deficient in quality and scab resistance, have been identified. In general, germination percentage of mature grain at 10 ^°C was closely related to the mean temperature experienced during the 5 days prior to maturity (dough–yellow ripening stage) and to the capacity to maintain a high amylograph paste viscosity. Dormancy at 10 ^°C appeared to be determined by a combination of genotype and variation in sensitivity to temperature during the later stages of ripening. Genotypes such as “OS38” and ‘OWl04’ were both highly tolerant to germination at 10 ^°C and insensitive to temperature during ripening. By comparison, most of the other cultivars showed a similar, intermediate sensitivity to ripening temperature, and dormancy decreased as ripening temperature increased. Dormancy of‘RL4137’ at maturity, and to a lesser extent ‘Gifukomugi’ and ‘KKI354’, was very sensitive to ripening temperature and useful levels of dormancy only developed under cool ripening temperatures, mean temperature < 18–20 ^°C.     

Influence of high temperature and terminal moisture stress on dormancy in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Preharvest sprouting is common in cereals that lack grain dormancy if maturing grain is exposed to rain. Over three successive seasons wheat genotypes with a range of dormancy levels, were exposed to moisture stress and periods of high temperature stress (>30 °C) in controlled field trials. Dormancy assessments were based on a germination index of hand threshed grain throughout grain filling. There were three main results. First, moisture stress combined with consistently high temperature during grain filling was associated with induced dormancy in Cunderdin, (germination index of 0.41) in a normally non-dormant genotype (germination index normally >0.80), but no additional dormancy in DM 2001, a dormant genotype (germination index normally <0.10). In contrast sudden heat shocks (>30 °C max. for >12 days) at 30–50 days post-anthesis reduced dormancy, germination index increase of 0.42 on average across five genotypes. Secondly, whilst dormancy was affected by moisture and heat stress, genotypes maintained their relative rankings across environments and genotype had the most effect on dormancy (70–92% of the variation in germination index) with DM 2001 and DH 22 more dormant than DH 56, DH 45 and Cunderdin. Finally, the effect of environment was different for different genotypes; those with partial dormancy (germination index usually 0.20–0.50, DH 56 and DH 45) were most influenced by the environmental conditions with germination indexes ranging from 0.06 to 0.85 depending on environment. Consequently avoidance of high temperatures, moisture stress, and maturity × stress interactions, are important prerequisites in screening for genotypes with genetic differences in dormancy.     

Chronic ocular lesions associated with bi-directional microbeam radiation therapy in an experimental rat study for therapy of C6 and F98 gliomas

Objectives  To describe the chronic ocular lesions associated with microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) in an experimental rat study.
Procedures  MRT was administered bi-directionally with a skin entry dose of 350 Gy. During laterally directed irradiation, the beam entered the head on the right with the center of the beam array 3 mm posterior to the center of the right eye. During irradiation in anterior-posterior direction, the right eye was almost completely in the path of the beam array. Twelve months after MRT ophthalmic examinations were completed on 37 treated (MRT+) and 16 control (MRT–) rats. Electroretinography (ERG) was completed in two MRT+ and one MRT– rat. Histopathology was performed on eyes of 16 MRT+ and 9 MRT– rats, and retinal and choroidal thicknesses were measured.
Results  Biomicroscopic and indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations revealed fundus pallor and retinal vascular attenuation in 33 of 37 right and 2 of 37 left eyes of MRT+ rats. Cataracts were present in the right eyes of 12 of 37 MRT+ rats. ERG amplitudes were reduced in the eyes of MRT+ rats. Light microscopy revealed retinal lesions ranging in severity with loss of outer to inner retinal cell layers, in 16 of 16 right and of 8 of 16 left eyes MRT+ rats. The mean right retinal thickness of MRT+ rats was reduced.
Conclusions  Eyes within the field treated with MRT at a dose of 350 Gy develop retinal degeneration and occasionally, cataract.     

重新评估母猪妊娠期日粮的纤维营养

养猪生产者有机会通过给妊娠母猪饲喂富含纤维的日粮来维持和改善其繁殖性能。 概述：笔者查阅了1975～2007年发表的24篇报告,以确定给妊娠母猪饲喂高水平纤维型日粮所产生的总体影响。母猪及其产仔性状通过每个试验内各个处理的母猪窝数来权衡。总体而言,母猪妊娠阶段可以安全地采食高纤维日粮,而几乎不会带来的有害影响。母猪采食高水平纤维型日粮后产生的积极影响可明显地反映在窝产仔数（提高0.2～0.6头/窝）和哺乳期的采食量（提高0.5～0.8lb/d）上,但在母猪持续采食高水平纤维型日粮后的第2个繁殖周期前,这些影响并不是非常显著。通过饲喂高水平纤维型日粮,可能有助于确保母猪及其所产仔猪的生产性能得到改善,但纤维类饲料必须在母猪配种之前加入所喂的日粮中。     

Study on Relationship Between the Size Distribution of Glutenin Polymeric Protein and Wheat Flour Mixing Properties

Parental varieties Suneca and Cook have contrasting alleles at each of the five glutenin subunit loci (Glu-B1, Glu- D1, Glu-A3, Glu-B3, and Glu-D3), a set of 60 lines homozygous at these loci from the F4 progeny population of Suneca × Cook was chosen to analyze the variation of the size distribution of glutenin polymeric protein (measured by SE-HPLC) and flour mixing properties of these lines and to study relationship between the size distribution of glutenin polymeric protein and wheat flour mixing properties. The results showed that there were very significant differences among the relative size distributions of glutenin polymeric protein (i. e. percentage of unextracTable polymeric protein in the total polymeric protein, or UPP% ) and dough development times (i. e. peak time of mixograph, or PTM) of different homozygous lines, respectively.Flour mixograph shape was closely related to UPP% value. The results also indicated that UPP% was very strongly positive correlation with PTM and negative correlation with peak height of mixograph (PHM).Comparing with flour protein content (FP%), UPP% gave greater effect on PTM and PHM, i.e. flour mixing properties, and it can be considered as one of criteria for quality selecting from early generation of breeding program.     

Allelic variation for the rust resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yr18</Emphasis> in Canadian wheat cultivars

The wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) gene Lr34/Yr18 conditions resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust, and stem rust, along with other diseases such as powdery mildew. This makes it one of the most important genes in wheat. In Canada, Lr34 has provided effective leaf rust resistance since it was first incorporated into the cultivar Glenlea, registered in 1972. Recently, molecular markers were discovered that are either closely linked to this locus, or contained within the gene. Canadian wheat cultivars released from 1900 to 2007, breeding lines and related parental lines, were tested for sequence based markers caSNP12, caIND11, caIND10, caSNP4, microsatellite markers wms1220, cam11, csLVMS1, swm10, csLV34, and insertion site based polymorphism marker caISBP1. Thirty different molecular marker haplotypes were found among the 375 lines tested; 5 haplotypes had the resistance allele for Lr34, and 25 haplotypes had a susceptibility allele at this locus. The numbers of lines in each haplotype group varied from 1 to 140. The largest group was represented by the leaf rust susceptible cultivar “Thatcher” and many lines derived from “Thatcher”. The 5 haplotypes that had the resistance allele for Lr34 were identical for the markers tested within the coding region of the gene but differed in the linked markers wms1220, caISBP1, cam11, and csLV34. The presence of the resistance or susceptibility allele at the Lr34 locus was tracked through the ancestries of the Canadian wheat classes, revealing that the resistance allele was present in many cultivars released since the 1970s, but not generally in the older cultivars.     

Etiology of potato early dying in Delaware

Greenhouse and field plot experiments along with surveys of commercial potato fields were conducted to determine the etiology of potato early dying in Delaware and its impact on yield ofSolanum tuberosum cultivar Superior.Verticillium dahliae was the primary pathogen causing early dying, and no increase in disease severity or yield loss was observed when plants were inoculated with bothV. dahliae andColletotrichum coccodes. The field survey showed thatV. dahliae was the predominant pathogen in symptomatic plants, and nematodes were not essential in association withVerticillium to cause early dying. Disease severity was the same in the presence of a low population or absence of nematodes.     

A framework for results‐based management in fisheries

We present a framework for results‐based management (RBM) of commercial fisheries. The core idea of RBM is to reduce micromanagement by delegating management responsibility to resource users. The RBM framework represents an industrial organization approach to co‐management and comprises three defining processes, conducted by three independent “agents”: (i) an “authority” defines specific and measurable and achievable objectives (outcome targets, OTs) for the utilization of fisheries resources, (ii) resource user organizations (termed “operators”) take responsibility for achieving these OTs and provide documentation that (iii) allows independent “auditors” to evaluate the achievement of OTs. Using incentive mechanisms, notably deregulation, RBM grants operators the flexibility to develop and implement innovative and cost‐effective ways to achieve OTs. The feasibility of implementing RBM in five European fisheries was investigated in cooperation with relevant stakeholders through artificial planning processes and computer simulations. The operators involved were enthusiastic, and new management plans were drafted based on the framework. These included socioeconomic OTs in addition to traditional stock objectives, encompassing an ecosystem approach. Several issues are in need of further research to consolidate the approach and prepare the ground for practical implementation, including: the specification of the legal and regulatory framework required to underpin RBM, details of transitional arrangements when shifting towards RBM (including cost‐sharing) and the development of necessary organizational capacity for operators. Initially, we therefore envisage the framework being applied to high‐value single‐species fisheries, with a limited number of participants, which are adequately represented by a competent organization.     

Distribution and status of manatees Trichechus spp. Near the mouth of the amazon river,Brazil

Interviews with hunters and collection of skulls indicate that Trichechus inunguis occurs throughout the region of the Amazon River estuaries from Amapá to the mainland of Pará, including Ilha de Marajó and islands on its Atlantic coast. T. manatus has a disjunct distribution in Brazil, apparently occurring both on the coast of Amapá north of Cabo Norte and in the Rio Mearim (Maranhão) as well as further to the southwest; it seems to have been exterminated from the Atlantic coast of Pará and is absent from the Marajó region. Continued subsistence hunting can best be controlled by destruction of illegal camboas (fence-like traps) which catch manatees at high tide. Areas deserving study are the coast and inland lakes of eastern Amapá, the only place in the world where two sirenian species might still be found in sympatry or immediate proximity, and the lower Rio Mearim in Maranhão, which may still contain a sizable population of T. manatus. Ecological studies in these areas should have particular relevance to hypotheses of sirenian evolutionary interactions, and manatee reserves should be established in both areas.