Effect of specific gravity and seed maturity on potato yields in peat soil

In a 3-year experiment in an organic soil, seed stocks of four different maturities were produced from certified Netted Gem seed. The following year, the most mature seed stock, from an early planted-late harvested crop, produced significantly lower yields than less mature seed stocks. Neither specific gravity nor size of whole seed affected the yield or specific gravity of the resulting crops.     

Suppression of Strawberry Root Disease with Animal Manure Composts

Compost has been suggested as a nonchemical alternative to methyl bromide (MeBr) for control of root diseases. Its widespread availability and soil improvement properties are appealing to growers, but they need information on its use and effectiveness relative to the control of economically important root diseases in specific crops. Here, we report results from controlled-environment pot studies on the effects of manure composts on two major soilborne diseases of strawberry: red stele (RS) caused by Phythophthora fragariae, and black root rot (BRR), caused by a complex of fungi. Commercially available, on-farm-produced composts, based on either poultry/steer or dairy manure, were incorporated into two different, naturally infested soils at 5, 10, and 20% rates (v/v). Results show that significant control (36-79%) of RS in susceptible cultivar ‘Chandler’ occurred at all rates and with both types of compost in comparison with the unamended soil. Low rates (5%) of poultry/steer manure compost produced more disease control than equivalent or greater rates (10% and 20%) of dairy manure compost. However, the 20% rate had significantly greater soluble salts content than all other rates. At this 20% rate, root/shoot biomass accumulation and shoot health ratings were relatively low and equivalent to those from unamended soil, despite the improved content of soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and soil micronutrient content. The 5% amendment rate of poultry/steer manure compost provided more control than the 10% or 20% rates and more than the 5-20% rates of dairy manure compost. Soluble salts content in amended soils was significantly greater than in unamended soils, especially at 20% rates of poultry/steer compost. Leaf N from all treatments was deficient despite additional weekly supplemental fertilization. This deficiency coupled with increased soluble salt content at 20% poultry/steer compost amendments likely contributed to reduced root/shoot biomass accumulation and overall reduced plant vigor, thus increasing plant susceptibility to disease. In contrast to RS, BRR in all compost treatments was moderate in intensity and equivalent to the unamended soil, with slight but insignificant control at 5 and 10% rates of poultry/steer compost. Overall effects of the two manure compost amendments on BRR were inconclusive because no treatments, including the soil only, exhibited roots with extensive disease symptoms, despite cultural evidence of BRR pathogen colonization, especially by Rhizoctonia fragariae, during the course of this pot study. Effects of compost on appearance of BRR in strawberry should be pursued over a significantly longer time period than used here, possibly in field plots located on naturally infested soils subject to environmental stressors and seasonally realistic fertilization rates, because major BRR symptoms do not appear in the short-term even when fungal pathogens are present in the root.     

Oral bioavailability of sulphonamides in ruminants: A comparison between sulphamethoxazole,sulphatroxazole, and sulphamerazine,using the dwarf goat as animal model

Summary

The various sulphonamides show marked differences in disposition characteristics after administration to ruminants. For use in combination with a diaminopyrimidine derivative such as trimethoprim or baquiloprim, it is essential that a sulphonamide has similar pharmacokinetic properties in order to obtain optimal synergy. In the present study the pharmacokinetics of sulphamethoxazole, sulphatroxazole, and sulphamerazine were investigated in dwarf goats (n=6) after IV and intraruminal administration at a dose of 30 mg/kg bodyweight. In addition, the in vitro binding of sulphamerazine to ruminal contents was studied as a possible explanation for a reduced absorption rate. Sulphamethoxazole showed the most rapid absorption after intraruminal administration (mean t_max ± SD : 0.8 ± 0.2h). However, the drug was rapidly eliminated from the plasma (t_1/2ß : 2.4 ± 1.5h) and the bioavailability was only 12.4 ± 4.7 %, most likely due to an extensive ‘first‐pass’ effect. The bioavailability of orally administered sulphamerazine and sulphatroxazole was much higher (67.6 ± 13.5 % and 70.2 ± 32.3 %, respectively). After intraruminal administration, sulphatroxazole showed the highest plasma peak concentration (26.1 ± 6.3 mg/I) and the longest plasma half‐life (4.7 ± 1.8h) and mean residence time (13.9 ± 4.5 h). Sulphamerazine showed considerable binding to rumen contents in vitro. Based on its pharmacokinetic properties sulphatroxazole appears to be a suitable candidate to be used in combination with the more recently developed diaminopyrimidines such as baquiloprim.     

Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species

Studies on temporal changes of tropical bird communities in response to habitat modification are rare. We quantified changes in bird assemblages at the rainforest margin of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, over an interval of 6 years. Standardized bird counts were conducted in the years 2001/2002 and 2008 at 15 census points representing natural forest, secondary forest, agroforest and openland sites. Although overall species richness remained nearly identical, different species groups were affected unequally by habitat modification within the forest margin landscape. The mostly endemic forest species declined in abundance (72.0% of forest species) and were detected at fewer census points in 2008 (56.0%). In contrast, 81.8% of the solely widespread openland birds became more abundant and 63.6% of the species were recorded at a larger number of census points. Hence, recent human activities in the forest margin ecotone negatively affected species of high conservation value. Species richness turned out to be a poor indicator of habitat change, and our results underline the importance of considering species identities. Biotic homogenization as result of habitat conversion is a global phenomenon. In our study, the winners were widespread openland species, while the losers were endemic forest birds. In conclusion, our study shows that 6 years of land-use change had negative impacts on bird community structure and endangered species, but not on overall bird species richness.     

Salinity and citriculture

Soil salinity significantly limits citrus production in many areas worldwide. Although data on fruit yields in response to salinity are limited, they indicate that grapefruit, lemons, and oranges are among the most sensitive of all agricultural crops. Fruit yields decrease about 13% for each 1.0 dS m(-1) increase in electrical conductivity of the saturated-soil extract (EC(e)) once soil salinity exceeds a threshold EC(e) of 1.4 dS m(-1). Accumulation of excess Cl(-) and Na(+) can cause specific ion toxicities, but this problem can be minimized by selecting rootstocks that restrict the uptake of these ions. During the past two decades, numerous papers describing the agronomic and physiological responses of citrus to salinity have been published. This paper reviews these research reports and discusses differences in the response of citrus species to salt stress, the role of different rootstocks, the causes of salt injury, and the interactions of other environmental conditions or stresses with salinity.     

Comparison of selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase activity in bovine whole blood.

Blood glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium levels were found to correlate well, indicating that glutathione peroxidase activity can be used to assess blood selenium levels in beef cattle. The glutathione peroxidase activity of blood is less stable than is the selenium concentration but when blood was stored at 4 degrees C, the glutathione peroxidase activity remained constant for seven days.     

The identity of the footrot fungus of flax

From comparative morphological studies and inoculation tests it is concluded that the footrot fungus of flax (current nameAscochyta linicola Naoum. & Vass.) can be distinguished from a ubiquitous soil-borne fungus (current namePhoma solanicola Prill. & Del.) only by its pathogenicity on flax and its general appearancein vitro. The correct name of the latter fungus proved to bePhoma exigua Desm. For the footrot fungus the new combinationPhoma exigua Desm. var.linicola (Naoum. & Vass.) Maas is proposed. A documentation of the synonymy and literature are given for both organisms, and misapplications are discussed.Samenvatting Om na te gaan in hoeverre de dode harrel-schimmel van vlas (in Nederland bekend alsAscochyta linicola Naoum. & Vass.) identiek is met een algemeen voorkomende zwak parasitaire grondschimmel (o.a. bekend alsPhoma solanicola Prill. & Del.) zijn een aantal stammen van deze twee schimmels aan een vergelijkend onderzoek onderworpen, waarbij behalve de morfologische kenmerken ook de totale habitus in vitro en de pathogeniteit ten opzichte van vlas zijn onderzocht. In verband met bepaalde literatuurgegevens is ook de koolparasietLeptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. & de N. (stat. con.Plenodomus lingam (Tode ex Fr.) Hoehn.) en de van vlaszaad beschreven maar algemeen voorkomende schimmelPeyronellaea nicotiae Leduc bij dit onderzoek betrokken.Het bleek, dat de dode harrel-schimmel alleen door zijn afwijkende uniforme groei in cultuur en door zijn veel grotere pathogeniteit ten opzichte van vlas is te onderscheiden van de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel (fig. 1; tabel 1). Derhalve werd geconcludeerd, dat we hier het beste kunnen spreken van twee variëteiten van één schimmel, welke gezien de morfologische kenmerken thuishoort in het geslachtPhoma Sacc. De oudst bekende naam van de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel bleekPhoma exigua Desm. te zijn. Voor de dode harrel-schimmel werd de nieuwe combinatiePhoma exigua var.linicola (Naoum. & Vass.) Maas geïntroduceerd. Van beide organismen is een documentatie gegeven van de synonymie, literatuurgegevens en onjuiste toepassingen.De twee andere onderzochte schimmels, welke morfologisch van een geheel ander type zijn danPhoma exigua, bleken niet pathogeen te zijn voor vlas (tabel 1). Voor de algemeen voorkomendePeyronellaea nicotiae bleek afgestorven vlas een bijzonder geschikt substraat te zijn. Het literatuurgegeven datPhoma lingam (=Plenodomus lingam) morfologisch veel overeenkomst vertoont met de dode harrel-schimmel bleek op een misidentificatie te berusten en heeft in feite betrekking op de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel.