Establishment of an in vitro method for evaluating whitefly resistance in tomato

An accurate and simple evaluation method is crucial for identifying whitefly resistance in tomato breeding. We developed an in vitro method for evaluating resistance of tomato leaves and tested this on wild and cultivated tomato varieties. We found that young leaves observed for whitefly oviposition after 8 hours provided appropriate comparative conditions. This method effectively distinguished resistance among tomato cultivars and wild species and also demonstrated significant difference in oviposition rates among leaf positions on susceptible cultivars. The in vitro test was as precise as in vivo test using intact plants and had advantages over in vivo test, and can be used for evaluating resistance in large populations.     

Experimental transmission of encephalopathy and retinopathy induced by nodavirus to sea bream, Sparus aurata L., using different infection models

The transmission of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) was investigated in juvenile sea bream, Sparus aurata L. Two different infection routes [intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intramuscular injection (i.m.)] were tested at two different temperatures (20 and 26 °C) using sea bream of mean weight 0.7, 2 and 4 g, as well as an immersion challenge performed at 26 °C with sea bream of 0.7 g. Successful transmission of the disease was only achieved by i.m. injection. Mortalities of 100% occurred in sea bream of 0.7 g at day 15 post-infection and 47% in sea bream of both 2 and 4 g at day 30 post-infection in all the experimental infections at 26 °C. No mortalities were ever observed with infections at 20 °C. When mortalities were observed, the virus was detected by immunoperoxidase staining in the SSN-1 cell line inoculated with tissues from infected fish. Histological examination of both normal and infected fish showed a vacuolization in the bipolar and granular layers of the retina of the infected sea bream. This is the first experimentally induced transmission of VER in sea bream. Differences were observed at the time of disease onset depending on water temperature, the route of infection and the age of the juvenile fish.     

Penetration of Polyethylene Film by the Shoots of Cyperus rotundus

Abstract

Orobanche is the most debilitating plant parasite of tobacco in Andhra Pradesh. The crop suffers considerably for about six weeks before the parasite appears above the ground. In the absence of effective herbicides for controlling Orobanche especially in this pre-emergence phase, it was felt worthwhile to evaluate the effectiveness of various cultivated crops as trap crops. A preliminary pot trial was conducted with 17 crop plants and the results are presented.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from grazed grassland

Abstract. Grazing animals on managed pastures and rangelands have been identified recently as significant contributors to the global N₂O budget. This paper summarizes relevant literature data on N₂O emissions from dung, urine and grazed grassland, and provides an estimate of the contribution of grazing animals to the global N₂O budget.
The effects of grazing animals on N₂O emission are brought about by the concentration of herbage N in urine and dung patches, and by the compaction of the soil due to treading and trampling. The limited amount of experimental data indicates that 0.1 to 0.7% of the N in dung and 0.1 to 3.8% of the N in urine is emitted to the atmosphere as N₂O. There are no pertinent data about the effects of compaction by treading cattle on N₂O emission yet. Integral effects of grazing animals have been obtained by comparing grazed pastures with mown-only grassland. Grazing derived emissions, expressed as per cent of the amount of N excreted by grazing animals in dung and urine, range from 0.2 to 9.9%, with an overall mean of 2%. Using this emission factor and data statistics from FAO for numbers of animals, the global contribution of grazing animals was estimated at 1.55 Tg N₂O-N per year. This is slightly more than 10% of the global budget.     

Recycling Newsprint on Agricultural Land with the Aid of Poultry Litter

The large volume of cellulose products, primarily newsprint and yard waste, that are disposed of in landfills and the resistance of these products to decomposition led to an evaluation of the disposal of ground newsprint on agricultural land. A field study was conducted with cotton to evaluate the effects of trenching and mixing the excavated soil with ground newsprint and/or poultry litter. Decomposition rate of newsprint and potential for environmental contamination were investigated in a Cahaba-Wickham-Bassfield sandy loam (Typic Hapludult) soil. The experimental variables included different ratios of soil, ground newsprint, and/or poultry litter applied on the soil surface and in trenches 0.61 m or 1.22 m deep. When ground newsprint and excavated soil were mixed without adjusting the C:N ratio of the backfill, the newsprint was still present seven months after application. However, adjusting the C.N ratio of the excavated soil and ground newsprint with poultry litter provided the nitrogen necessary to completely decompose the ground newsprint within seven months. Soil surface application of ground newsprint required adjusting the C:N ratio to control the occurrence of plant pathogenic organisms. Extractable soil nutrients were increased when poultry litter was added, including P and K which are of concern with respect to surface and groundwater contamination. Extractable Zn, Cu, and Mn levels were increased by the addition of poultry litter, but their levels were in the ranges that most row crops will tolerate. The metals Cr and Pb, found in some printer's ink, may be of concern if repeated application of newsprint is made to the same site. Soil organic matter content was increased from 11.9 g kg-1 to 23.8 g kg-1 in the 50:40:10 backfill mixture of soil, newsprint, and poultry litter seven months after application.     

The Irish sea trout enhancement programme: a review of the broodstock and ova production programmes

The Irish sea trout, Salmo trutta L., broodstock programme was instigated in response to the collapse of sea trout stocks in the west coast of Ireland in 1989 and 1990. Wild sea trout kelts and post-smolts were successfully reconditioned and used as broodstock to produce eyed ova for distribution to affected fisheries. From 1991 to 1999, a total of 8.2 million green ova from four separate stocks were produced. The number of females stripped increased from 34 in 1991 to a peak of 1435 in 1997. Green ova survival to the eyed ova stage ranged from 65 to 96%. The eyed ova produced were distributed to 23 affected fisheries along the west coast. The average cost per eyed ova decreased from €2.02 at the start of the programme to €0.04 at the end. The growth rates recorded for broodstock held in captivity were comparable with those recorded for wild sea trout. Relationships between fish size, egg size and number of eggs produced were examined for each stock and for each stock in each year. Significant positive relationships were found between fish size and egg number and fish size and egg size, with the exception of the first year in which fish were stripped, when a negative correlation between fish size and egg size was found.     

Development of diets for the intensive culture of Pacific lamprey

The Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is an ancestral species of critical importance to the ecosystem and indigenous cultures in the Pacific Northwest. Conservation aquaculture has been proposed as a potential technique to restore Pacific lamprey populations. Intensive culture methods and diets for this species have not been developed. A sixteen week feeding trial tested the effects of seven diet treatments on the survival, growth, fatty acid profile and whole body lipid content of Pacific lamprey ammocoetes. Dietary treatments were: active dry yeast, yeast plus fish oil emulsion, micro‐algae, micro‐algae plus fish oil emulsion, yeast with micro‐algae, yeast with micro‐algae plus fish oil emulsion and yeast with larval fish diet. Each diet was offered to five replicate tanks stocked with 20 ammocoetes that were 51 days post hatch. Survival during the trial was not affected by diet. The greatest length and weight increases were in fish fed diets containing yeast. Growth decreased as the amount of algae in the diet was increased. Lipid retention was significantly higher in fish fed yeast with larval fish diet relative to the other treatments. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in fish fed diets containing yeast. Whole body fatty acid profiles tended to reflect the fatty acid profile of the diet. Percentages of 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 were significantly higher in fish fed diets containing fish oil emulsion. Overall, yeast with larval fish diet provided the best growth performance in larval Pacific lamprey.