Draft,construction and operation of a sequential rain sampler

Sequential sampling of rain on a volume basis presents fewer problems than sampling on a time basis. The optimum diameter of the collector opening depends on the rainfall statistics, the size of the sample needed for chemical analysis and the total number of samples that has to be collected. The sampler described here consists of a square polyethylene funnel of 0.64 m² and a fraction collector with 250 polypropylene tubes of 39 ml, which is activated by a rain detector. Each fraction corresponds to about 0.05 mm of rainfall. The funnel is covered by a roller blind that automatically rolls up when it starts to rain. Evaluation of the system leads to the conclusion that the collector opening can be made smaller (by 0.20 m²), that the measured rainfall rate depends on the averaging time, and that all other surfaces of the sampling set-up should be covered with inert material.     

Nitrogen source and aluminum toxicity of two sorghum genotypes differing in aluminum susceptibility

After a 35 days growth on nutrient solutions with NO^‐ ₃ NH₄NO₃ and NH⁺ ₄ as nitrogen source (pH 4.2) dry matter yield of the sorghum genotype SC0283 was much less affected by Al (1.5 mg‐¹) than that of the genotype NB9040. With NO^‐ ₃ as the sole nitrogen source only growth of the NB9040 plants was significantly reduced. Since OH^‐ efflux, shoot Al content and concentrations of all major nutrients of both genotypes were almost equal, a higher sensitivity to Al may underlie the lower Al tolerance of the NB9040 genotype. In the presence of NH.‐N Al again lowered d.m. yield of the NB plants. With SCO283 significant Al effects on d.m. yield were observed only with NH₄NO₃. Aluminum drastically increased the amount of protons released per unit of root surface area, especially with the NB9040 line. This shift in proton flux density was partly the result of a decrease of the specific root surface area and partly due to enhanced excess of catlonic nutrients taken up. With NH₄NO₃‐fed plants the latter could almost completely be attributed to a changed N preference brought about by inhibited uptake of NO^‐ ₃ and a simultaneous enhanced NH, absorption. Although both proton efflux and NH⁺ ₄ preference of the NB plants were severely increased by Al, relative yields of this genotype were not lowered by NH⁺ _4. This can probably be explained by (1) the high NH, sensitivity of this cultivar through which Al effects can be masked and (2) the continuous adjustment of the solution pH through which rhizosphere conditions were prevented.     

Occupation and Use of the Eucalyptus Plantations in the Tzaneen Area by Indigenous Birds / OKKUPASIE EN GEBRUIK VAN DIE EUCALYPTUS PLANTASIES IN DIE TZANEEN AREA DEUR INHEEMSE VOËLS

The eucalyptus plantations, mainly Eucalyptus grandis, which cover large areas in the North-eastern Transvaal are usually accused of being sterile and unsuitable for birdlife. This supposition is exaggerated and proved to be wrong. One must admit, however, that some less adaptable birds which occur in the area, and which must have inhabited the planted area prior to the establishment of plantations have been driven out. Plantations are obviously completely unsuited to the mode of life of certain birds for various reasons. The most obvious example in this area is the fruit-eating purple-crested lourie (Gallirex porphyreolopus) which is very seldom seen in a plantation. Other species which prefer open country for example widow birds and bishop birds, and certain larks and pipits have also of necessity moved out.     

Climate Change and Potato Production in Contrasting South African Agro-Ecosystems 3. Effects on Relative Development Rates of Selected Pathogens and Pests

A set of daily weather data simulations for 1961 to 2050 were used to calculate past and future trends in pest and disease pressure in potato cropping systems at three agro-ecologically distinct sites in South Africa: the Sandveld, the Eastern Free State and Limpopo. The diseases and pests modelled were late blight, early blight and brown spot, blackleg and soft rot, root-knot nematodes and the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (as indicator of Potato virus Y and Potato leaf roll virus). The effects of climate on trends in relative development rates of these pathogens and pests were modelled for each pathogen and pest using a set of quantitative parameters, which included specific temperature and moisture requirements for population growth, compiled from literature. Results showed that the cumulative relative development rate (cRDR) of soft rot and blackleg, root-knot nematodes and M. persicae will increase over the 90-year period in the areas under consideration. The cRDR of early blight and brown spot is likely to increase in the wet winter and wet summer crops of the Sandveld and Eastern Free State, respectively, but remains unchanged in the dry summer and dry winter crops of the Sandveld and Limpopo, respectively. Climate change will decrease the cRDR of late blight in all of the cropping systems modelled, except in the wet winter crop of the Sandveld. These results help to set priorities in research and breeding, specifically in relation to management strategies for diseases and pests.     

In Situ Production of Prebiotic AXOS by Hyperthermophilic Xylanase B from Thermotoga maritima in High‐Quality Bread

In situ enrichment of bread with arabinoxylan‐oligosaccharides (AXOS) through enzymic degradation of wheat flour arabinoxylan (AX) by the hyperthermophilic xylanase B from Thermotoga maritima (rXTMB) was studied. The xylanolytic activity of rXTMB during breadmaking was essentially restricted to the baking phase. This prevented problems with dough processability and bread quality that generally are associated with thorough hydrolysis of the flour AX during dough mixing and fermentation. rXTMB action did not affect loaf volume. Bread with a dry matter AXOS content of 1.5% was obtained. Further increase in bread AXOS levels was achieved by combining rXTMB with xylanases from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis or Bacillus subtilis. Remarkably, such a combination synergistically increased the specific bread loaf volume. Assuming an average daily consumption of 180 g of fresh bread, the bread AXOS levels suffice to provide a substantial part of the AXOS intake leading to desired physiological effects in humans.     

Host suitability and response of different vegetable genotypes to Meloidogyne incognita race 2 and Meloidogyne javanica in South Africa

The host suitability of 20 locally available genotypes of Capsicum, 10 of Daucus carota, 7 of Beta vulgaris- and 3 of Spinacea oleracea were assessed in separate greenhouse studies for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita race 2 and M. javanica, respectively. Substantial variation existed amongst the vegetable genotypes in the greenhouse screenings with regard to their host status to the respective root-knot nematode species. None of the genotypes of D. carota, B. vulgaris and S. oleracea showed resistance to the nematode species tested. However, resistance to M. incognita race 2 was identified in Capsicum genotype “Tobasco”, which was subsequently verified in a follow-up microplot trial using a range of initial population densities together with a susceptible Capsicum genotype “Paprika”. Reproduction factors of the nematodes were used as the main criterion to evaluate resistance. In the microplot trial, genotype “Tobasco” showed resistance at the lower inoculum levels but not at the higher nematode population levels. The need exists for more frequent and extensive screenings of the various vegetable genotypes in order to provide small-scale farmers with better options for improved and sustainable yields.