EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND SULFUR FERTILIZATION ON YIELD COMPONENTS,SEED AND OIL YIELDS OF CANOLA

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) levels and their methods of application on canola. Branches plant^?1, pods plant^?1 and biological yield significantly increased with increase in nitrogen level and no significant increase in seed pod^?1 and seed and oil yields occurred beyond 120 kg N ha^?1. However, thousand seed weight consistently decreased with increasing level of nitrogen. Pods plant^?1 and biological yield continually increased with increase in sulfur level. Alternatively, significant increase in branches plant^?1, seed pod^?1, seed weight, seed and oil yields was noted with increase in sulfur level up to 40 kg ha^?1. Applications of sulfur and nitrogen in split significantly decreased seed yield as compared to sole applications. It is concluded that sulfur and nitrogen application as sole at the rate of 40 and 120 kg ha^?1, respectively performed better than the rest of their levels and method of application.     

Urban wastewater irrigation and its effect on growth,photosynthesis and yield of chickpea under different doses of potassium

The deficiency of potassium (K) has resulted in decreasing the yield and quality of food grains. Moreover, with decreasing water resources the use of wastewater in agriculture as an alternative source of water and nutrients is being debated. This study was therefore undertaken to test wastewater for its suitability as irrigation water together with uniform basal doses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and varying doses of potassium (K_0, K₂₀, K₄₀ and K₆₀). It was observed that the plants receiving wastewater as a source of irrigation water performed better with a lower K dose. Potassium at 20?kg?ha^?1 along with wastewater resulted in better growth, photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s) and yield of the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Thus fertilizer rates could be lowered with the use of wastewater which can serve not only as the source of water but of nutrients also. However, regular monitoring of wastewater and soil for any buildup of heavy metal is necessary. The physical and chemical parameters of wastewater were also tested and most of them were found to be well within the permissible limits as set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).     

Evidence for absence of equine arteritis virus in the horse population of New Zealand

AIM: To summarise investigation and laboratory data collected between 2001 and 2011 to provide evidence that equine arteritis virus is not present in the horse population of New Zealand.

METHODS: Analysis was carried out on results from laboratory tests carried out at the Ministry for Primary Industries Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) for equine arteritis virus from horses tested prior to being imported or exported, testing of stallions as part of the New Zealand equine viral arteritis (EVA) control scheme and testing as part of transboundary animal disease (TAD) investigations for exclusion of EVA. Horse breeds were categorised as Thoroughbred, Standardbred or other.

RESULTS: A total of 7,157 EVA serological test records (from import and export testing, EVA control scheme testing and TAD investigations) were available for analysis between 2005 and 2011. For the three breed categories a seroprevalence of ≤1.6% at the 95% confidence level was determined for each category. Between 2001 and 2011, as part of the EVA control scheme, the EVA status of 465 stallions was determined to be negative. During 2005–2011 EVA was excluded from 84 TAD investigations.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence of equine arteritis virus being present in the general horse population outside of carrier stallions managed under the EVA control scheme.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine arteritis virus is absent from the general horse population of New Zealand.     

Effects of Gonadotropins on In Vitro Maturation and of Electrical Stimulation on Parthenogenesis of Canine Oocytes

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gonadotropins on in vitro maturation (IVM) and electrical stimulation on the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. In experiment I, cumulus oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries at a random phase of the oestrus cycle and cultured on maturation medium treated with hCG or eCG for 48 or 72 h. There were no significant differences in the effects on the metaphase II (MII) rate between the hCG and eCG treatment groups over 48 h (5.4% vs 5.5%). The MII rate in the co-treatment group of hCG and eCG for 48 h was higher than in each hormone treated group (15.5%, p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the parthenogenetic effect on oocyte development, at various electrical field strengths (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 kV/cm DC) for 60 or 80 μs with a single DC pulse after IVM on the co-treatment of hCG and eCG, was examined. The rate of pronuclear formation (37.1%) in electrical activation at 1.5 kV/60 μs without cytochalasin B (CB) was higher than that of oocytes activated in the other groups (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe the cleavage stages. Also, CB did not influence parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. The results showed that the pronucleus formation rate, indicative of the parthenogenesis start point, could be increased by electrical stimulation. Therefore, these results can provide important data for the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes and suggest the probability of parthenogenesis in canines.     

Dynamics of resistance to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in the cotton whitefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Pakistan

Field populations of adult whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci, from Pakistan were monitored from 1992 to 2007 for their susceptibility to seven organophosphate and three carbamate insecticides using a leaf-dip method. Malathion, quinalphos and chlorpyrifos generally exhibited no or a very low level of resistance in B. tabaci over a 16-year monitoring period. Resistance to profenofos, triazophos, parathion-methyl and ethion was usually low to high up to 1995, and then it dropped to very low levels during 1996–2004. Resistance levels again picked up from low to moderate levels for triazophos during 2005–2007, for parathion-methyl during 2003–2007, and for ethion in 2006. Among carbamates, thiodicarb resistance was high during 1994–1996, which dropped to moderate levels in 1997 and 1998 and to very low levels during 1999–2001, but again increased from low to high levels during 2002–2007. Methomyl resistance was moderate in 1994 and 1995, which dropped to very low levels during 1996–2002, and then increased to low levels during 2003–2007. Butocarboxim resistance remained very low during 1994–2003 and then increased from low to high levels during 2004–2007. The insecticides exhibiting no, very low or low resistance, and no cross-resistance among themselves can be exploited in devising an insecticide resistance management strategy to combat whitefly resistance in the field.