NORMS FOR MULTIVARIATE DIAGNOSIS OF NUTRIENT IMBALANCE IN THE EAST AFRICAN HIGHLAND BANANAS (MUSA SPP. AAA)

Despite low yields and soil fertility problems, fertilizer use in the East African Highland banana (AAA-EA) production is absent. High fertilizer costs increase the need for site-specific fertilizer recommendations that address deficiencies. This study aimed to derive and compare norms for AAA-EA bananas, using Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis (CND), Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS), and a DRIS that includes a filling value (DRIS-R_d), and study nutrient interactions. Data on foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, and plant performance were obtained from 300 plots in Uganda. CND indices were closely related to DRIS and DRIS-Rd indices (R² > 0.965). Four nutrient interactions were common in both low and high bunch weight subpopulations. Although the three approaches can be used to determine nutrient imbalances in AAA-EA bananas, we recommend CND for ease of use. Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies should be based on methods that identify plant nutritional imbalances.     

Remnant genetic diversity detected in an ancient crop: Triticum dicoccon Schrank landraces from Asturias, Spain

Emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccon Schrank was one of the founder crops of Neolithic agriculture. Though its cultivation was largely replaced by hexaploid wheats 2000 years ago, pockets of small scale cultivation can still be found. One such area is the Asturias region of Northern Spain, where emmer wheat remains a traditional crop for high value specialist culinary uses, and farmers grow locally adapted landraces. In order to study the diversity of these landraces, we sampled emmer wheat from different regions of Asturias, and genotyped multiple plants from each village using nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites. A high level of variation was observed with markers from both genomes, including a novel chloroplast haplotype. A strong geographic structure was observed in the Asturian emmer wheats in both the chloroplast markers and the nuclear microsatellite data.     

Perioperative physiology and pharmacology in the obese small animal patient

ObjectiveTo review the available literature concerning the physiologic and pharmacologic alterations induced by obesity in canine and feline patients and their relevance to perioperative care.Study designLiterature review.DatabasesPubmed, CAB, Web of Science.ConclusionsObesity of cats and dogs is a chronic inflammatory condition that is increasingly prevalent. Similar to the situation in humans, small animal obesity may be associated with changes in endocrine, respiratory, and cardiovascular function. In addition, alteration of body composition in obesity can affect pharmacokinetic variables. Modifications in perioperative care may need to be made for obese dogs and cats, including attention to respiratory and cardiovascular supportive care and drug dose adjustments.     

Population dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> on cucumber grafted onto the Cucurbita hybrid RS841 or ungrafted and yield losses under protected cultivation

The influence of the squash hybrid RS841 rootstock (Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata) on population dynamics of Meloidogyne incognita and yield of cucumber cv. Dasher II was assessed during 2013 and 2014 in a plastic greenhouse. In addition, the relationship between ecophysiological parameters (plant water status, gas exchange, and leaf reflectance) and Pi and cucumber yield were also estimated in 2013. Nematode densities were determined at the beginning (Pi) and at the end (Pf) of each crop, and the relationship between these parameters was used to estimate the maximum multiplication rate (a), the maximum population density (M) and the equilibrium density (E) per grafted and ungrafted cucumber and cropping season. Moreover, the relationship between the multiplication rate (Pf/Pi) and Pi was compared between grafted and ungrafted cucumber per cropping season. Finally, the relative yield of grafted or ungrafted cucumber was plotted against Pi to determine the tolerance limit (T) and the minimum relative yield (m) by the Seinhorst damage function model. Values of a, M and E in grafted cucumber were higher than in ungrafted one irrespective of the cropping season. These results were supported by comparing the relationship between Pf/Pi and Pi between grafted and ungrafted cucumber. The relationship between Pi and yield fitted the Seinhorst damage function. The values of T and m did not differ between grafted and ungrafted each year. Predawn water potential, net photosynthetic rate, and leaf chlorophyll index decreased with increasing Pi. In addition, relative yield was related to variation in net photosynthetic rate and the leaf chlorophyll index. Under the conditions of this study, RS841 rootstock was neither resistant nor tolerant to M. incognita.     

Sap flow of three co-occurring Mediterranean woody species under varying atmospheric and soil water conditions

We studied the seasonal patterns of water use in three woody species co-occurring in a holm oak forest in northeastern Spain. The three species studied, Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and Arbutus unedo L., constitute more than 99% of the total basal area of the forest. The study period included the dry seasons of 1999 and 2000. Water use was estimated with Granier-type sap flux sensors. Standard meteorological variables, soil water content and leaf water potentials were also monitored. All monitored individuals reduced leaf-related sap flow (Q(l)) during the summer, concurrent with an increase in soil moisture deficit (SMD). Despite similar maximum Q(l) between species, the decline in Q(l) with increasing SMD was species-dependent. The average reduction in Q(l) between early summer and the peak of the drought was 74% for A. unedo (n = 3), 58% for P. latifolia (n = 3) and 87% for Q. ilex (n = 1). The relationship between canopy stomatal conductance (G(s)) and vapor pressure deficit (D) changed during the course of the drought, with progressively lower G(s) for any given D. Summertime reductions of Q(l) and G(s) were associated with between-species differences in vulnerability to xylem embolism, and with the corresponding degree of native embolism (lowest in P. latifolia and highest in Q. ilex). Our results, combined with previous studies in the same area, outlined differences among the species studied in manner of responding to water shortage, with P. latifolia able to maintain water transport at much lower water potentials than the other two species. In an accompanying experiment, A. unedo responded to an experimental reduction in water availability by reducing Q(l) during the summer. This species also modified its water use between years according to the different seasonal patterns of precipitation. These results are discussed in relation to the possible impacts that climate change will have on Q. ilex-dominated forests.     

New sources of resistance to the potato cyst nematodes Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis in the Commonwealth Potato Collection

The Commonwealth Potato Collection contains 77 species following the incorporation of the personal collection of Professor JG Hawkes. The material originates from several expeditions to the Americas and represents a potentially valuable source of resistance to pests and pathogens, including potato cyst nematodes (PCN). The germplasm from the Hawkes collection screened in this study included taxa mainly from Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina and Peru. Seedlings of 198 accessions, from 63 different species were screened for reaction to the PCN species G. pallida and G. rostochiensis. Of the 198 accessions tested, 56% contained G. pallida-resistant clones and 53% contained clones resistant to G. rostochiensis. Twelve species in this survey are believed to contain novel, previously unreported sources of resistance. The geographical distribution of resistance indicated a contrast between the two PCN species. Although, as in previous studies, resistance to G. rostochiensis was centred on Bolivia and Argentina, G. pallida resistance was found across the geographical range of tuber-bearing Solanum. The possibility of cross-resistance arising from selective pressure from the more northern species G. mexicana is discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.