Distribution and seed production of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, in Victoria, Australia

In 1971 the net area of Cirsium arvense in Victoria was 1300 ha in permanent pasture, 120 ha in cropping land and 40 ha in non-agricultural land. In ten farms in the most heavily infested parish (approximately 100 km²). C. arvense was present in 35 % of the fields and occurred in some highly productive legume-based pastures. The most common control practice on these farms was pasture slashing. It was considered that the weed had been on the farms for 40–80 years. At a constant temperature of 20°C, but not at alternating temperatures, the germination percentage of seed was enhanced by pre-chilling. At constant temperatures the germination percentage was higher at 30°C than at lower temperatures. Alternating temperatures that included 30°C also increased the germination percentage, but it was depressed at 15°/40°C. The germination percentage of seed from forty sites was 52%-97% and some seed was formed where male and female plants were separated by distances of up to 390 m. However, no seed was found in about a third of the parishes examined. Distribution et production de semences de Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, dans I'etat de Victoria en Australie. En 1971, la surface nette occupée par Cirsium arvense dans pétat de Victoria était de 1300 ha dans les prairies permanentes, de 120 ha dans les terres cultivées et de 40 ha dans les terres non agricoles. Dans 10 fermes situées dans la partie la plus infestée (approximativement 100 km²) C. arvense était present dans 35% des champs et apparaissait dans quelques pâtures hautement productives â base de 1égumineuses. La méthode de lutte la plus fréquente dans ces fermes était la pâture intensive. 11 était admis que la mauvaise herbe était présente dans les exploitations depuis 40 à 80 ans. A la temperature constante de 20°C, maisnon à des tempértures alternées, le pourcentage de germination des semen-ces fut augmenté par une réfrigération préalable. A température constante, le pourcentage de germination fut plus élevé k 30°C quà des temperatures plus basses. Les températures alternées, qui comprenaient celle de 30°C augmentérent aussi le pourcentage de germination, mats celui-ci diminua à 15°/40°C. Les pourcentages de germination de semences de 40 provenances différences se situa entre 52% et 97%; quelques semences furent formées dans des cas où les plantes mäles et les plantes femelles étaient séparées par des distances atteign-ant 390 m. Toutefois aucune semence ne fut trouvée dans un tiers environ des localities examinées. Verbreitung und Samenproduktion von Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, in Victoria, Australien Die mit Cirsium arvense verseuchte Flfiche in Victoria im Jahre 1971, gliedert sich auf in: 1 300 ha Daucrweide. 120 ha Ackerland und 40 ha nicht-landwirtschafllich genutzte Fläche. In 10 Betrieben des am stftrksten verseuchten Bezirks (ca. 100 km²), war C. arvense in 35% der Felder vorhanden und kam in einigen hochproduktiven Leguminosenweiden vor. Die gebräuchlichste Bekämpfungsmassnahme in diesen Betrieben war das Abmiihen mit Schlegelhilckslem. Es wird angenommen, dass dieses Unkraut seit 40 bis 80 Jahren in den Betrieben vorhanden ist. Bei einer konstanten Temperatur von 20°C, nicht aber bei Wecheseltemperaturen, wurde durch vorheriges Einfrieren die Keimungsrate erhöht. Bei konstanten Temperaturen war sie bei 30°C hSoUher als bei niedrigeren Temperaturen. Wechseltemperaturen die 30°C einschlossen, erhöhten auch die Keimungsrate; bei 15°C/40°C war sie aher geringer. Die Keimung der Samen von 40 Siandorten betrug 52% bis 97%. Wenn weibliche und mflnnliche Pfianzen his zu 390 m von einander entfernt waren. wurden noch einige Samen gebildet. In etwa einem Drittel der untersuchten Bezirke wurden jedoch keine Samen gefunden.     

Production, behaviour and fertility of Merino wethers, hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma and induced cryptorchids

Greasy wool production, body weight, behaviour and fertility of male, fine wool Merino sheep were studied from 10 to 21 months of age to assess their suitability for wool production. The males were either castrated (wethers), or were hemi-castrated with a vasectomy and reduction (either partially or in full) of the parenchyma of the retained testicle, or the testicles pushed up into the ingulnal canal and the scrotum shortened (induced cryptorchids). There were significant differences among all groups in body weight, with increases being associated with the larger amounts of testicular tissue present. Fertility was low in the induced cryptorchids at 19 months of age. The hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma were infertile. The hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma had significantly heavier greasy fleece weights than the wethers and induced cryptorchids, which had similar fleece weights. The wether group suffered a higher prevalence of posthitis in spring and autumn than the hemi-castrate or induced cryptorchid groups. Those hemi-castrates with the largest amount of testicular parenchyma retained and the induced cryptorchids exhibited masculine behaviour patterns and had an increased incidence of fly strike to the head. The principle of hemi-castration and reduction of the testicular parenchyma is shown to be applicable in wool producing flocks with the potential to increase greasy wool production while minimising the management and marketing limitations previously associated with induced cryptorchids.     

全球鹤类现状、威胁及优先保护综述(英文)

本文综述了全球范围内15种鹤类的种群动态趋势及受胁状况,并对鹤类的优先保护行动作了总体评价。全球五大洲均有鹤类生存,其中东亚种类最多(9种),其次是撒哈拉以南非洲地区(6种)。IUCN红色名录中11种鹤类为受胁而濒临灭绝物种,其中1种为极危物种(CR),3种为濒危物种(EN),7种为易危物种(VU)。在目前无危的4个鹤类中,蓑羽鹤(Anthropoides virgo)和澳洲鹤(Grus rubicunda)种群现状不是十分明确;但在某些地区,这两种的种群数量也在不断下降。沙丘鹤(Grus canadensis)和灰鹤(Grus grus)的数量最为丰富,种群数量也在快速增长,部分原因是它们能够灵活选择觅食地,并利用农田中废弃谷物作为食物来源。本文更为详细地总结了灰冠鹤(Balearica regulorum)、蓝蓑羽鹤(Anthropoides paradise)、黑颈鹤(G.nigricollis)、丹顶鹤(G.japonensis)、沙丘鹤及白鹤(G.leucogeranus)的现状,以说明鹤类家族内种群多样性的变化以及受胁情况。列出了鹤类面临的主要威胁,对各种鹤的威胁进行了逐一评价,并对鹤类家族所受的各种威胁计分。5种主要威胁中的4种均对鹤类赖以生存的生态系统产生直接影响,而另外一种则来自于人类活动的直接干扰。特别讨论了4种主要的威胁,即:水坝及河流改道、农业开发、鹤类贸易、气候变化。对鹤类的保护措施应切实具备科学依据,减少对鹤类的直接威胁,保护或修复栖息地环境,增强决策者及群众关于保护鹤类及湿地的意识。对受胁极其严重的鹤类,需要付出更多的努力来综合理解鹤类的需求及其所栖息的生态系统,并与农业、水资源管理及能源发展的决策结合起来。     

The detection and estimation of Verticillium dahliae in naturally infested soil

The effects of several factors on the estimation of Verticillium dahliae in soil by the wet-sieving method were studied. The following factors were important for maximising recovery: the removal of soil particles of < 20 μm size from suspensions before plating; the medium used for plating; the amount of sieved soil inoculated to plates; the length of time of incubating plates; and the method of incubating soil on plates. There was no short-term effect of air-drying soil before analysis. Using sodium hexametaphos-phate to aid soil dispersion, treating soil suspensions with sodium hypochlorite, or making suspensions from different amounts of soil had no consistent effect on recovery. Excessive sample-to-sample variability in the results of some experiments was attributed to non-random distribution of fungus propagules in soil, or to the difficulty of standardizing the sieving part of the analysis, or both. Wet-sieving was generally more effective in detecting V. dahliae and gave higher counts than a sucrose-flotation method. Bait methods with eggplants or antirrhinums proved ineffective for estimating V. dahliae in naturally infested soil.     

Effects of fungicides on in vitro spore germination and mycelial growth of the phytopathogens Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa (phoma stem canker of oilseed rape)

BACKGROUND: Phoma stem canker, caused by the coexisting related fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans (Des.) Ces. & de Not and L. biglobosa Shoemaker & H Brun, is a major disease of winter oilseed rape in the UK. Annually, over 90% of UK crops receive at least one foliar application of fungicide, but little is known about the sensitivity of the more damaging L. maculans and the less damaging L. biglobosa to these fungicides. The effects of flusilazole, tebuconazole and Methyl Benzimidazole Carbamate (MBC) fungicides (benomyl and carbendazim) on the germination of ascospores, conidia and germ tube growth of both species were examined. Isolates collected from different oilseed rape crops in England and Wales were assessed for their mycelial growth on fungicide‐amended medium, and ED₅₀ values were calculated. RESULTS: Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa differed in their sensitivity to fungicides. Conidial germination of L. maculans was more sensitive to these fungicides than that of L. biglobosa. Isolates of L. maculans had smaller ED₅₀ values for mycelial growth for all fungicides tested than isolates of L. biglobosa. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that fungicide applications might affect the structure of L. maculans/L. biglobosa populations in UK winter oilseed rape crops. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Interactions between Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tracheiphilum and Meloidogyne spp. in Vigna unguiculata. 1. Effects of different inoculum densities on Fusarium wilt

The effects of chlamydosporesandconidia of Fusarium oxysporum f sp. tracheiphilum at different initial spore concentrations were compared in the wilt-susceptible cowpea cultivar California Blackeye No. 5 (CB5). In glasshouse experiments with one inoculum density of either Meloidogyne incognita or M javanica, chlamydospores resulted in greater incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt than conidia at the same inoculum densities. Wilt symptoms also increased on wilt-resistant cultivar CB3 as inoculum densities of M. javanica were increased. When three cultivars were infested with moderate or high densities of both F. o. tracheiphilum and M. javanica. only CB5 developed sere wilt at either inoculum density. The wilt-tolerant cultivar Grant had mild wilt symptoms in most plants at moderate inoculum densities, and a tenfold increase in inoculum did not increase wilt ratings. CB3. however, had higher incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt symptoms at high inoculum densities, although 60% of the plants survived for 9 weeks.     

Interactions between Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tracheiphilum and Meloidogyne spp. in Vigna unguiculata. 3. Pathogenesis by F. o. tracheiphilum as affected by M. javanica and host cultivar

Experiments were conducted to determine the temporal and spatial effects of Meloidogyne jav anica and host cultivar on pathogenesis by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp tracheiphilum in cowpea. In the wilt-susceptible cowpea cultivar California Blackeye No. 5 (CB5). F. o. tracheiphilum proliferated rapidly in both the hypocotyl and first internode 6 weeks after inoculation. The fungus spread quickly upward as plants grew, colonized most tissues within 6 weeks, and caused severe wilt. In wilt-resistant cultivar CB3. there was little proliferation of F. oxysporum in any tissue, whether or not plants were infected by St. javanica. The fungus was found above the primary internode in 15"., of all CB3 plants, but did not continue to spread upward after 4 weeks Vascular discoloration was greatest when St. javanica was added 4 weeks before F. o. tracheiphilum, but simultaneous inoculation also increased wilt symptoms Root wounding did not increase wilt. Split-root experiments provided no evidence that infection by, M. javanica results in a translocatable factor that reduces wilt resistance. When hypocoivls were inoculated with F. o. tracheiphilum at different intervals after roots infected by St. jav anica were removed, there was no evidence that the effect of the nematode on wilt susceptibility was translocated or persistent.     

Control of Cirsium arvense (L) Scop, by herbicides and mowing

The efficacy of mowing and of herbicides (applied by spot spraying or boom spraying) for the selective control of Cirsium arvense (L) Scop, in Victorian pastures was investigated. The pastures were based on Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L. A general decline in the number of thistle shoots in untreated plots at three out of five sites was recorded.‘Tordon 50-d' (5% a.i. picloram and 20% a.i. 2,4-D as triisopropanolamine salts), MCPB, 2,4-DB and mowing resulted in suppression, but not eradication, during the experimental period. MCPB and 2,4-DB are the most suitable herbicides for selective control. The use of‘Tordon 50-d' is restricted by its effect on clovers, soil persistence and cost. Variable growth of C. arvense, associated with variable summer rainfall in Victoria, increases the difficulty in controlling this weed and necessitates a persistent long term approach.