Genetics of resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">hardwickii</Emphasis> R. Alef

The genetics of resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in Cucumis sativus var. hardwickii R. Alef, the wild progenitor of cultivated cucumber was assessed by challenge inoculation and by natural infection of CMV. Among the 31 genotypes of C. sativus var. hardwickii collected from 21 locations in India the lowest mean percent disease intensity (PDI) was recorded in IC-277048 (6.33%) while the highest PDI was observed in IC-331631 (75.33%). All the four cultivated varieties (DC-1, DC-2, CHC-1 and CHC-2) showed very high PDI and susceptible disease reaction. Based on mean PDI, 8 genotypes were categorized as resistant, 13 as moderately resistant, 9 as moderately susceptible and one as susceptible. A chi-square test of frequency distribution based on mean PDI in F₂ progenies of six resistant × susceptible crosses revealed monogenic recessive Mendelian ratio 1(R):3(S) to be the best fit. This monogenic recessive model was further confirmed by 1(R):1(S) ratio as the best fit for back cross with resistant parent and no fit for either 3:1 or 1:1 in the back cross with the susceptible parent. The results revealed that CMV resistance in C. sativus var. hardwickii was controlled by a single recessive gene. Considering the cross compatibility between C. sativus var. hardwickii and cultivated cucumber, the resistance trait can be easily transferred to cultivated species through simple backcross breeding.     

Assessment of recovery of population, biomass and reproduction of the earthworm Drawida willsi following the application of malathion under field conditions

 The recovery of population, biomass and reproduction of a dominant crop field earthworm (Drawida willsi, Michaelsen) was assessed following the application of two recommended agricultural doses of malathion (2.2 mg kg^–1– single dose and 4.4 mg kg^–1– double dose) in a rice field agroecosystem for a period of 105 days. The average worm population and biomass showed 12% and 21% decline, respectively, in plots treated with single and double doses of malathion, compared with control. The peak of worm population was observed after 60 days in control (plot I) and this peak value was shifted by 15 days (i.e. observed after 75 days) in malathion-treated plots (plots II and III) indicating delay in growth and maturation of the worms following the application of malathion. Inhibition in the total number of cocoons produced, and thus in the rate of reproduction, was also observed in malathion-treated plots. The peak rate of reproduction (1.71 cocoons adult^–1) was observed after 60 days in control plots and after 75 days (1.57 and 1.40 cocoons adult^–1) in single and double dose malathion-treated plots, respectively. One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences in the population size and biomass of D. willsi up to 75 days, in rate of reproduction up to 90 days, and no difference thereafter. This indicates that, under field conditions, D. willsi worms took about 75–90 days after application of malathion to resume normal population, biomass and reproduction, and hence we suggest that a second application of malathion in single and double agricultural doses should be avoided before this time. Received: 7 September 1999     

不饱和聚酯改性松香用于抑制火箭推进剂

合成了以丙二醇、邻苯二甲酸和马来酸酐为基料并以松香改性及苯乙烯固化的４种不饱和硬质树脂。讨论了反应条件、用量对产物性能的关系，鉴定其抗热、碱、酸的性能、胶化时间，放热峰温，对水和硝化甘油的吸收。作出作为火箭燃料主抑制剂隔离涂层材料的评价。     

歧化松香缩水甘油醚酯(英文)

歧化松香是一种广泛使用于合成橡胶生产的改性松香。由于酸价高以及其他不理想的性能,歧化松香在涂料领域中的直接使用受到阻碍。本文介绍了以缩水甘油醚为基础制备歧化松香树脂的方法,所制成的树脂可以广泛使用于制油漆、清漆、天然漆以及其它各种用途。这些酯类已制成苯乙烯改性的醇酸树脂而被进一步评价。     

Effects of changes in N-fertilizer management on water quality trends at the watershed scale

In this study, the ADAPT (Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport) model was calibrated and validated for monthly flow and nitrate-N losses, for the 2000-2004 period, from two minor agricultural watersheds in Seven Mile Creek (SMC-1 and SMC-2) in south-central Minnesota. First, the model was calibrated and validated using the water quality data from the SMC-1 and again independently validated with the SMC-2 dataset. The predicted monthly flow and associated nitrate-N losses agreed reasonably with the measured trends for both calibration (r² = 0.81 and 0.70 for flow and nitrate-N losses, respectively) and validation (r² = 0.85 and 0.78 for flow and nitrate-N losses from SMC-1, and 0.89 and 0.78 for flow and nitrate-N losses from SMC-2, respectively) periods. The model performed less satisfactorily for the snowmelt periods than it did for the entire simulation period. Using the calibrated model, long-term simulations were performed using climatic data from 1955 to 2004 to evaluate the effects of climatic variability and N application rates and timing on nitrate-N losses. The predicted nitrate-N losses were sensitive to N application rates and timing. A decrease in the fall N application rate from 179.3 to 112 kg/ha decreased nitrate-N losses by 23%. By changing application timing from fall to spring at a rate of 112 N kg/ha, nitrate-N losses decreased by 12%. The predicted nitrate-N losses showed a linear response to precipitation with larger losses generally associated with wet years. A 25% increase in mean annual precipitation would offset reductions in nitrate-N loss achieved using better N fertilizer management strategies described above.     

A PCR diagnostic assay for rapid detection of plant pathogenic pseudomonads

Molecular detection of phytopathogens is increasingly being applied to identify regulated organisms at the border in many parts of the world. However, even with molecular tests, complete phenotyping and identification of a strain is often time consuming and sometimes inconclusive. In this study, a leaf-based pathogenicity test was used to separate pseudomonads into two groups, Group A containing pathogens, and Group B containing saprotrophs. Comparative genomics of 56 pseudomonad genomes from different plant hosts (including 29 strains from kiwifruit) agreed with kiwifruit pathogenicity test results, placing pathogens into Group A and saprotrophs into Group B. Sixteen loci were found unique to Group A. A PCR assay was developed for amplification of one of these loci, the trehalose phosphatase gene. The generation of this 655 bp amplicon was associated with production of water-soaked lesions on inoculated kiwifruit leaves by pseudomonads in Group A. This test was validated for further strains from all seven pathogenic Pseudomonas phylogroups, non-pathogenic pseudomonads, and other bacterial genera. The sensitivity of the PCR was comparable to the limit of recovery of pseudomonads by culturing. This simple PCR assay could be used as part of a testing pipeline at the border and for general surveillance for screening plants with and without symptoms, offering the potential to detect uncharacterized pseudomonads that may pose a biosecurity risk. The method was shown to be able to rapidly identify pathogens cultured from plant material with symptoms, or, more importantly, to detect pathogens directly from plant tissue.     

Effect of supplementary choline on the performance of broiler breeders fed on different energy sources

1. Laying performance, egg quality, fertility and hatchability, and fat deposition in liver and abdomen were recorded in broiler breeders (29 to 48 weeks of age) fed on diets containing perarl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) (PM), broken rice (BR) or yellow maize (YM) (600 g/kg diet). Constant ratios of metabolisable energy (ME) to other nutrients were maintained in all the diets. Food grade choline chloride (50%) was added to the diets at 3 concentrations (0, 760 and 1,520 mg/kg). Each diet was offered to 3 replicate groups of 15 birds (12 hens and 3 cockerels), maintained in deep litter pens, to provide 1.46 MJ ME/bird/d. 2. Neither the source of energy nor dietary choline content had any influence on hen-d egg production, fertility or hatchability. Food efficiency and egg weight were significantly reduced in BR-fed groups compared to those fed on the other energy sources. 3. The efficiency of energy and protein utilisation increased and liver fat content was decreased significantly by dietary choline supplementation. 4. Haugh unit score, egg shell weight, liver weight and intestinal weight were not influenced by either supplementary choline or the source of energy. However, the yolk colour index was significantly reduced in PM- or BR-fed groups compared to those fed on the maize-based diet. 5. Deposition of abdominal fat was significantly greater in BR-fed birds compared to those fed on the YM-based diet, while liver fat content was significantly greater in the birds fed on the PM-or BR-based diets than those based on YM. Although supplementation of the diet with choline had no influence on abdominal fat deposition, liver fat content was significantly reduced in birds given diet containing 760 mg supplemental choline/kg diet. 6. The present study indicates that PM or BR can be used as principal energy sources in place of YM in broiler breeder diets without affecting egg production, fertility or hatchability. Liver fat content can be reduced by adding choline at 760 mg/kg to diets based on different energy sources.