THE EFFECT OF DEFOLIATION ON THE SEED-PRODUCING CAPACITY OF BRED VARIETIES OF GRASSES

Leafy grass varieties S24 perennial ryegrass, S26 cocksfoot, S215 meadow fescue and S51 timothy were cut in October and at various growth stages in spring; S53 meadow fescue was grazed at similar periods. Sub-plots were given different applications of N. The control plots had similar manurial treatments but were not defoliated. The seed yield of S24 following October cutting was significantly lower than the control in the first harvest year and significantly higher in the second; the mean yields over 2 years, as a result of cutting at this stage and before ear formation in March, were very similar to those of the control treatment. The mean yields from 3 harvest years for S26, S215 and S51 were generally improved by cutting in October and before ear formation, but cutting after ear formation reduced the number of heads and the seed yields. Extra N applied in conjunction with the defoliation had no significant effect on the number of seed heads or on seed yield. Double grazing of S53 in Sept. and Dec. reduced significantly its seed production in both harvest years. Application of N in spring gave a greater response than a similar application in autumn.     

Experimental hybridization in certain diploid mexican solanum species

S. bulbocastanum is highly interfertile with S. cardiophyllum. Through the F₁ to F₅ little breakdown due to sterility or lack of plant vigour occurred. F₁ plants of a 5-species hybrid involving S. pinnatisectum, S. trifidum, S. jamesii, S. bulbocastanum, and S. cardiophyllum could also be intercrossed. One-way compatibility was frequently expressed in progenies of these interspecific crosses. It appears to be cytoplasmically controlled, although nuclear factors may be present which interact with cytoplasmic factors. The group of Mexican diploid potatoes represented by these species is potentially interbreeding and shows evidence of introgression throughout its range in central and Western Mexico.Contribution No. 169, Canada Department of Agriculture Research Station, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada     

LOSSES IN THE CONSERVATION OF HEAVILY-WILTED HERBAGE SEALED IN POLYTHENE FILM IN LINED TRENCH SILOS

A conservation experiment is described in which the losses in ensiling heavily-wilted herbage, of approximately 50% dry matter, in lined trench silos, with and without a polyethylene film seal, are compared. The composition and digestibility of the silages produced in the sealed silos were comparable with those of the original herbage. The content of organic acids in the sealed silos was low, suggesting that fermentation was suppressed by the partially gas-tight seal. In the unsealed silos there was considerable spoilage, 70% of the material being inedible. In the 2 sealed silos losses of dry matter were 8·2 and 5·2% and losses of SE 11·5 and 7·8%, respectively. The losses recorded are compared with those usually encountered in lined trench silos.     

The genetic system for reaction of field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to infection by three physiologic races of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

Genetic resistance to race alpha of C. lindemuthianum in the nine varieties of beans studied can be accounted for by dominant alleles at either of two loci, which are unlinked and which behave as duplicate factor loci in the classical sense. A similar system of loci governs reaction to races beta and gamma, with evidence favoring multiple allelism and dominance of alleles conferring susceptibility in certain instances in the case of beta. In addition, for reaction to races beta and gamma, there are distinct systems of complementary factors, again with multiple allelism at the beta loci. Finally, there is genetic linkage between genes of the duplicate factor set governing reaction to gamma and genes of the duplicate factor set, and complementary factor set conditioning reaction to beta. The genes that are members of the set(s) pertaining to any one race alone are independent of each other in a linkage sense.Paper based on work conducted by the senior author in partial fulfilment of requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree at Michigan State University and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation.Formerly Rockefeller Foundation Student in Crop Science, now Director, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agricolas, Veracruz, Mexico; Professor of Crop Science, Michigan State University; and Research Pathologist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA.     

On the occurrence of male sterility in West-European fodder and sugar beets

Since 1958 a search has been made for male sterile plants in fodder and sugar beet of West European origin. In some productive fodder beet varieties 11 male sterile plants were found in approx. 90,000 plants (0.01%), and in sugar beet varieties 32 in approx. 110,000 plants (0.03%).The conclusion may be that male sterility occurs more in sugar beet than in fodder beet, although it may also be explained by a different descent.     

Developments in Yield Control and Inventory in British Forestry

Forecasting timber production many years in advance has becomea problem of considerable importance in this country becauseof the need to co-ordinate the rapid increase in productionwith the establishment of new timber-using industries. Thispaper describes a change in emphasis in state forest WorkingPlan Inventory methods employed in the predominantly young,coniferous forests of Great Britain and is a development ofthe methods described in a previous paper (‘Problems ofYield Control and Inventory in British Forestry’—D.R. Johnston, 1960, Forestry, 33, 19–36). Total enumerationof the growing stock is no longer the main objective of forestinventory and the new approach is directed towards (a) assessmentof the productive potential of each subcompartment and (b) theintensive enumeration of sample or ‘index’ subcompartmentsinitially and at each re-enumeration as a check on growth predictionsand yield control.     

Heritable necrosis of red storage cabbage

Research was carried out on heritable necrosis of red storage cabbage. Susceptibility to this type of necrosis depends on 1 incompletely recessive factor n. NN-plants always remain healthy, whereas the majority of the nn-plants become necrotic shortly after the harvest. A number of the Nn-plants also show (mostly weak) symptoms in the second half of the storage period. Minor genes may have an effect as well.Selection for resistance to necrosis should be carried out as late as possible, preferably at the end of the storage period.

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Samenvatting Onderzoek vond plaats over erfelijke necrose bij rode bewaarkool. De gevoeligheid voor dit verschijnsel wordt bepaald door 1 onvolledig recessieve factor n. N N-planten blijven steeds gezond, terwijl de meeste nn-planten korte tijd na het oogsten necrotisch worden. Bij een deel van de Nn-planten treden in de tweede helft van de bewaar-periode dat ook andere genen op resistentie tegen necrose nog een geringe invloed hebben.Voor de selectie op resistentie tegen necrose is hetvan belang dat deze zo laat mogelijk uitgevoerd wordt, dus bij voorkeur aan het eind van het bewaarseizoen.

     

The History and Future of Forestry in the Middle Tweed

History is outlined briefly and the more recent developmentsin afforestation and the establishment of plantations are described.The effects of the factors of locality on silvicultural practiceand the problems which will subsequently arise in the futuremanagement of the forests are discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF WHITE CLOVER AND NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER ON THE PRODUCTION OF A SWARD

Three-year leys of cocksfoot/white clover and cocksfoot alone were dressed with 0, 35, 105 and 210 lb N per acre every year to provide information on the effect of clover and N on production.
Data from the grass-alone swards allowed an estimate to be made of the effect of N on production at different cutting dates. This was compared with the effect of clover.
The effect of N was greater than that of clover in the mid- and late-season cuts. Clover made its greatest contribution, both directly and indirectly, at the first cut, taken in May.
Under very dry conditions (1959), N was more effective than clover in maintaining production and the proportional response was large in relation to that produced under moist conditions.
The results are discussed with reference to the present seasonal use of N on grassland and an argument is advanced for increasing its use in mid-season.     

THE EFFECT OF METHOD OF SOWING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GRASS SEED CROPS

Methods used by growers to establish seed crops of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy and meadow fescue have been examined. While satisfactory establishments were obtained by sowing perennial ryegrass broadcast, cocksfoot, timothy and meadow fescue should be sown in rows, especially if they are to be sown under a cover crop.