Effects of adjuvants on the performance of a novel powdery mildew fungicide, 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-4-phenylpiperidine

The effects of adjuvants on the performance of a dispersible concentrate formulation (DCI) of a novel powdery mildew fungicide, 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-4-phenylpiperidine (I) were investigated. The method involved assessment, under glasshouse conditions, of the therapeutic (curative) control of infections of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC f.sp. hordei Marchal) on barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) eight to nine days after spray application to plants that had been inoculated one day prior to spraying. The results from the first trial showed that marked improvements (∽five-fold) in the performance of DCI could be obtained by the spray tank addition of some types of surfactant adjuvants and a series of further trials investigating a wide range of adjuvants was conducted. Nonylphenol, alkylamine and alcohol ethoxylates varying in mean ethylene oxide content between 5 and 20 moles were highly effective. There were indications that optimum performance enhancements were obtained with these surfactants containing between 5 and 10 moles ethylene oxide. Lower enhancements, sometimes only marginal, were obtained from trisiloxane, phosphate ester, propylene oxide, alkylamine-propylene oxide and castor oil ethoxylates and also alkyl polyglucoside biosurfactants. Negligible adjuvant enhancements were observed with emulsifiable paraffinic/naphthenic and rape seed oils, though slightly better enhancements were seen with an emulsifiable transmethylated rape seed oil and, interestingly, larger enhancements with an emulsifiable lipophilic alcohol. A final trial identified the alcohol ethoxylate, ‘Dobanol’ 91-6, as the most effective adjuvant and that its optimum application rate under glasshouse conditions was 250 g ha^-1. This information will be used to guide the design of field trials. © 1997 SCI     

Economic evaluation of financial and non-financial costs and benefits in agroforestry development and the value of sustainability

Financial appraisal of agroforestry is not different in kind from appraisals applied to pure forestry. Existing techniques for valuing non-market effects may also be applied. Effects on hydrological and carbon fluxes might be less favourable than those of pure forests. In the confusing field of biodiversity valuation too, only limited and specific claims can be made for agroforestry. Amenity valuation techniques developed for trees and woodlands encounter additional problems of interpretation in an agroforestry context. Agroforestry may offer a quantifiable value in short-term sustainability, and might meet recent economic definitions of long-term sustainable development, without encountering the full dangers to future generations embodied in conversion of natural to human capital.     

Tracks of cosmic rays in plastics

Cosmic ray nuclei have been observed with the use of plastic trackdetecting solids in satellites and high-altitude balloon flights. Nuclear emulsions in the stacks of plastic sheets allowed the positive identification of cosmic raynuclei as light as nitrogen. The most striking new information was the failure to observe relativistic iron nuclei, a result which has led to an advance in the understanding of track registration criteria.     

Aggressive behavior is reduced in bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone

The purpose of this research was to compare the frequency of aggressive behavior's in beef bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone relative to contemporary nonimmunized control bulls and surgically castrated steers. Eight males were assigned to each ofthese treatments in each of 4 yr. Immunized males were treated with a GnRH-keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugate at approximately 4 mo of age. A secondary (booster) immunization was administered at 12 mo. Steers were castrated at 4 mo of age. Animals in each treatment in each year were housed as a single group prior to testing. At approximately 16 mo of age, each group of eight animals was placed in a 10- x 16-m enclosure for 20 min on five occasions at 2 to 3 d intervals. An observer recorded butts initiated by each animal as well as participation in bouts of sparring. Relative to control bulls, immunocastration reduced the frequency of butts initiated (P < 0.05) and participation in sparring bouts (P < 0.05) to levels typically observed in steers (P > 0.05). These observations indicate that active immunization against GnRH reduces the incidence of aggressive behavior in male beef cattle and are consistent with our postulate that immunoneutralization of GnRH is an effective alternative to surgical castration in the management of beef cattle.     

Tracks of Charged Particles in High Polymers

Heavily ionizing particles create trails of damage as they move through materials. In both addition and condensation polymers these trails can be selectively dissolved so that the sites and the directions taken by the moving particles are revealed. These materials thus serve as simple detectors of heavily charged particles.     

The importance of fine-scale savanna heterogeneity for reptiles and small mammals

Tropical savannas are an important reservoir of global biodiversity. Australia’s extensive savannas, although still largely intact, are experiencing substantial declines in terrestrial biodiversity due to a variety of interrelated effects of altered fire regimes, grazing and increases in invasive species. These disturbance processes are spatially variable, combine to increase landscape to local-scale landscape heterogeneity, but rarely result in well-defined patch boundaries. We quantified the importance of this heterogeneity for native reptile and small mammal species in a tropical savanna landscape of Queensland, Australia. We used high resolution remote sensing imagery (IKONOS) to map habitat pattern at a 4 m spatial resolution and at variable extents. We found that landscapes dominated by grass or bare ground had low reptile and small mammal diversity, while landscapes with a heterogeneous mix of grass, bare ground and trees had high species diversity and relative abundance of most species. Landscape heterogeneity may increase reptile and small mammal species richness by: (i) increasing the variety and abundance of foraging resources such as seeds and invertebrates; (ii) providing cover from predators and high summer temperatures; and (iii) increasing functional connectivity and dispersal success. The importance of these resources and processes varies among individual species and at different spatial scales, reiterating the need to consider habitat requirements of multiple species in landscape management and conservation planning.