Intravarietal variability of the structure of correlations of yield components in oat and barley plants

It is shown that intravarietal differences in level of aluminum tolerance of oat and barley plants affect the formation of yield components under nonstress conditions. Species specificity is noted in a change in the structure of correlations of the studied traits in these plants. Increased aluminum tolerance of plants is related to breakdown of many correlations characteristic for nontolerant plants.     

Development and validation of a tertiary simulation model for predicting the growth of the food microorganisms under dynamic and static temperature conditions

The use of predictive modeling software may markedly contribute to the better understanding of the microbial behavior in foods. In this paper, the development and validation of a tertiary model, which provides predictions of microbial growth in foods under dynamic or static temperature conditions, is presented. In particular, the UGPM (Unified Growth Prediction Model) software applies the Baranyi and Roberts (1994) primary model, coupled to a secondary temperature model, in order to simulate growth of a given microorganism during storage of a specific food or food category. The software, intended to be used by both expert and non-expert users, may be a valuable decision support tool for the food industry, by assisting in the management of foods based on their actual shelf-life and microbial safety, thereby limiting the deterministic “best-by” practice for the determination of shelf-life. The latter is commonly based solely on empirical observations and has high uncertainty. This in turn, may result in the rejection of large quantities of unspoiled or safe foods, or even in the distribution of spoiled and unsafe foods, due to ignorance of the effect of temperature abuse on the microbial spoilage and safety of products.     

Prediction of semolina technological quality by FT-NIR spectroscopy

The feasibility of applying FT-NIR spectroscopy (a rapid and non-destructive method) to evaluate and predict semolina characteristics by means of spectra collected directly from the kernels was investigated. More than 500 samples of durum wheat grains and of the corresponding semolina, representative of the Italian production of 4 different crops (from 2002/2003 to 2005/2006) were analyzed. Pasta-making capability of each semolina sample was assessed by the reference methods, for protein, gluten content, gluten index and alveographic indices. The kernels were also evaluated by a FT-NIR spectrometer, fitted with an integration sphere working in diffuse reflectance. The processed spectra collected on the kernels were correlated with the chemical and rheological parameters obtained by the reference tests performed on semolina. The PLS algorithm was used to develop calibration models from the original spectra datasets. Protein content proved to be well correlated to kernel spectral data: high values for the RPD indicate efficient NIR reflectance predictions for protein content. The models obtained for gluten content, gluten index and alveographic W and P/L parameters were less successful. The results of this work highlighted the feasibility of applying FT-NIR spectroscopy to evaluate and predict the technological properties of semolina, in particular that of the protein content, by collecting the spectra directly from the kernels, without performing further grinding or milling operations.     

Integrated gene resource management of underutilized legumes in India

The Indian gene centre possesses a rich legume biodiversity––1,152 species comprising cultivated, underutilized edible and forage legumes. Majority of the underutilized food legumes are widely distributed as wild species in various agro-ecological regions of peninsular India. Indian legume species (62%) contribute to the food and health security of ethnic communities. A total of 66,546 accessions of legume gene resources including underutilized species are conserved in the National Gene Bank. Collection, characterization and conservation efforts regarding the diversity of these beans are described. The importance of genetic variation in legumes and their wild relatives as a source of desirable resistance to pests and diseases in a changing climate scenario is discussed. Information on legumes used in Indian and modern systems of medicine and ethno-botany as well as the scope for bio-prospecting are presented. Advanced biotechnological applications in legume research for sustainable utilization of these resources are highlighted. An integrated gene resource management strategy to combat malnutrition, identify gene resources for legume improvement and enhance their value as traditional food and medicine is described.     

Ethical equitation: Capping the price horses pay for human glory

Ethical equitation is nowadays coming into sharp focus in equestrian culture. Concerns surround the ethics of sports based on controlling an animal's locomotory responses and in using animals such as horses in sport in general. Anthropomorphically labeled misinterpretations of the responses of trained horses, such as the use of terms like “mad,” “lazy,” “keen,” and “stubborn,” may be detrimental to optimal equine welfare. Similarly, the concept of the “equine athlete” may imply an ill-informed teleological explanation of the motives of the horse in sport. Despite problems in identifying the happy horse, rewarding optimal welfare and the absence of critical stress responses in performance horses is an important step forward.Horse racing is the source of many welfare concerns because of the use of the whip and the physical dangers to horses involved in hurdle racing and steeplechasing. The use of the whip in racing is controversial and, because it does not always lead to acceleration, problematic. There is a pressing need for learning theory to be adopted in all equestrian pursuits, because such an approach would obviate the need for whips, punishment, and the use of fear in escape learning. In other disciplines, practices such as hyperflexion and soring have a significant potential to compromise the welfare of the horse in sport.The future of horse sports should involve abandoning the mandatory use of primitive control devices, such as curb bits, that have a real potential to cause harm. International governing bodies and national equestrian federations ought to proceed with removing any requirements to use curb bits and judges should reward riders who use the most humane control devices at the higher levels of competition.Finally, horse breeding should also be scrutinized under an ethical spotlight. Selecting horses on the basis of temperament has inherent risks, including lowered motivation of riders and trainers to refine their training skill set, which may also lead to significant wastage. Pure breeding risks the health and welfare of horses owing to increases in homozygous deleterious genes expressing themselves.     

Influence of fertilisation and harvest time on fuel quality of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in central Italy

The perennial grass giant reed (Arundo donax L.) has been proposed as a promising biomass energy crop in southern Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two fertilisation levels (F = 200–80–200 N–P–K kg ha^?1; UF = 0–0–0 N–P–K kg ha^?1) and two harvest times (A: autumn, W: winter) on the biomass quality of giant reed as a solid fuel for combustion. Different aged crops grown in central Italy (latitude 43°40′N, and longitude10°19′E) in the period of 1996–2005 were collected and analysed. Our results confirmed that giant reed biomass is characterized by a high content of ash and silicon. Giant reed showed an increase in ash content from F to UF and from A to W. The production of biomass from fertilised crops harvested in the autumn may thus be a good method for reducing the ash content by about 20%. The results also showed an improvement in biomass combustion quality in 10-year-old crops due to a lower ash content and higher SiO₂/K₂O and CaO/K₂O ratios, which could contribute to a lower slagging tendency. This research should help to improve our knowledge of the chemical composition of giant reed and presents possible agronomic strategies to combine a high biomass yield with good combustion quality.     

Benefit-cost analysis of raising Pinus wallichiana seedlings in different capacities/sizes of root trainers in the nursery

Modern nursery methods of seedling production in different sized root trainers,were compared by raising seedlings of Pinus wallichiana involving costs incurred and benefits received. In order to provide a common basis for the comparisons,the study involved the raising of 1000 seedlings annually on a continuous basis for seven years. A relative economic analysis of raising P. wallichiana seedlings in 300,150 and 100 cm3 root trainers was carried out and we estimated that the root trainers of 300 cm3 capacity...     

Variation in the abundance of invertebrate predators of the green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae) along an altitudinal transect

Green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) is a major defoliator of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in north-west Europe and other parts of the world that have a mild and wet maritime climate. Periods of cold weather during the winter currently limit E. abietinum populations and the amount of damage, but as mean winter temperatures rise in response to global climate change, overwinter survival of the aphid is likely to improve and the risk of severe and more widespread defoliation will increase. Populations of E. abietinum are also influenced by mortality caused by generalist invertebrate predators, although the extent to which predation might modify the response of E. abietinum to climate change is unclear. In this study, the response of generalist predators to changes in environmental conditions and potential increases in E. abietinum populations was evaluated by sampling invertebrate predators in the canopy of Sitka spruce along an altitudinal gradient from 310 m to 610 m above sea-level. Variation in predator abundance was related to local climate and aphid numbers. Population densities of E. abietinum differed widely between altitudes, and showed different patterns in different years, but mean densities over the 3-year study were highest at mid altitudes. In contrast, the majority of invertebrate predators (coccinellid and cantharid beetles, syrphid larvae, brown lacewings, spiders and harvestmen) were most abundant at low altitudes. Their abundance was not correlated with E. abietinum densities, but coincided with the more favourable climatic conditions at low altitudes and the availability of alternative prey. The association of low population densities of E. abietinum with greater general abundance of invertebrate predators at low altitudes, where higher temperatures would have been expected to promote higher aphid populations, suggests that above a certain temperature regime generalist predators have the capacity to prevent E. abietinum responding to further increases in environmental temperatures and eventually cause mean population densities to decline. Consequently, increases in the activity and abundance of natural enemies need to be considered when predicting how E. abietinum might respond to climate change.     

Agrotechnical and operating comparison of foreign and domestic seeding machines

Comparative grain production field tests of foreign and domestic seeding machines have been carried out. It is established that imported machines are considerably inferior to domestic ones, in connection with which they need to be equipped with domestic implements.     

Molecular markers in identification of sunflower pollen fertility restorer genes

The presence of the Rf1 gene (pollen fertility restorer of CMS PET1) in genotypes of most restorer lines is confirmed by molecular and hybridological analysis methods. Molecular markers of the Rf1 locus are identified for the first time in genotypes of autofertile lines of the collection of the Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) as well as in genomes of perennial and annual wild species of the genus Helianthus. The possibility of introgression of the fertility restorer gene into the genome of the cultivated sunflower during distant hybridization is shown.