Static analysis of lattice columns

The paper focuses on timber structures. Static analysis was performed in the paper of timber lattice columns with N and V lattice configuration made in variants of timber, plywood, fibreboard and particleboard. As a part of the study, formulae determining critical force in the column and the column slenderness ratio were derived basing on the theory by Timoshenko and Gere. In addition, the paper includes formulae applicable to shearing forces occurring in the column as well as maximum shearing forces that a column can carry, also based on the theory by Timoshenko and Gere. Basing on the formulae described above and the formulae given in the literature (EN-1995 Eurocode 5 Standard), a comparative analysis was carried out of the load-bearing capacity of columns and calculations for the truss. The calculations demonstrate that there are discrepancies between the static values being compared and both calculation methods lead to partially divergent results.     

Quantitative trait loci affecting intensity of violet flower colour in potato

Anthocyanins occur in potato tuber skin and flesh, sprouts, leaves, stems and flowers. The goal of this study was to identify genomic regions and candidate gene alleles key for accumulation of anthocyanins in potato corolla in various quantities. QTL analyses were performed in two mapping populations segregating for flower colour intensity and candidate genes were identified on the basis of function and location (chalcone isomerase, chi; chalcone synthase, chs) or location (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1, RDR1). We detected three and four QTL affecting the violet flower colour intensity using the two mapping populations, respectively. In both populations a locus F, necessary for violet flower colour, segregated and we used different approaches to differentiate the qualitative effect of this locus and to detect the genetic factors affecting the quantitative flower colour intensity. The strongest QTL and the only one common for the two mapping populations was located on chromosome V. The role of all three candidate genes, chi, chs and RDR1, in control of flower colour intensity is supported to different extents by the performed genetic analyses. The most important QTL on chromosome V is most likely in the same position as the QTL for anthocyanin tuber flesh coloration described previously, which indicates that the natural variation in some biosynthetic and/or regulatory genes may influence anthocyanin levels in multiple tissues.     

Application of white mustard and oats in the phytostabilisation of soil contaminated with cadmium with the addition of cellulose and urea

Purpose

Determination of the effectiveness of white mustard and oats in immobilising cadmium as a soil contaminant and determining the role of cellulose and urea in restoring homeostasis in soil under pressure from Cd²⁺.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were contaminated with cadmium (CdCl₂·2¹/₂H₂O) at 0, 4, 8 and 16 mg Cd²⁺ kg^?1. In order to reduce the negative impact of Cd²⁺, cellulose was introduced to the soil at the following rates: 0 and 15 g kg^?1 and urea at 80 and 160 mg N kg^?1. The yield of the above-ground parts and roots was determined on days 40 and 80 of the experiment, along with the cadmium content in the plant material. The enzyme activity was also determined, and the physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined on the day of the oats’ (aftercrop) harvest.

Results and discussion

Contamination of soil with Cd²⁺ at 4 to 16 mg kg^?1 d.m. of soil reduced the yield of white mustard and oats. The tolerance index (TI) values indicate that oats (aftercrop) is more tolerant than white mustard of soil contamination with Cd²⁺. Cadmium accumulated more intensely in roots compared with the above-ground parts of the plants. The translocation index (TF) indicates smaller Cd²⁺ translocation from roots to above-ground parts, as it was below 1 in both plants. An addition of cellulose and nitrogen offsets the adverse impact of cadmium on plants. Arylsulphatase was the most sensitive to soil contamination with Cd²⁺, followed by dehydrogenases, catalase, β-glucosidase and urease, and alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase were the least sensitive. Contamination of soil with Cd²⁺ changed its physical and chemical properties only slightly.

Conclusions

White mustard and oats have phytostabilisation potential with respect to soil contaminated with cadmium. Cellulose introduced to the soil and fertilisation with urea alleviated the negative impact of cadmium on the growth and development of plants.

     

The effect of drought stress on the leaf relative water content and tuber yield of a half-sib family of ‘Katahdin’-derived potato cultivars

Drought tolerance in plants is a complex trait involving morphological, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms. Hundreds of genes underlie the response of plants to the stress. For crops, selecting cultivars that can produce economically significant yields under drought is a priority. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered as drought sensitive crop, although cultivar-dependent differences in tolerance have been described. Cultivar ‘Katahdin’ possesses many appropriate characteristics and is widely used for breeding purposes worldwide; it also has enhanced tolerance to drought stress. In this study, we evaluated cv. ‘Katahdin’ and a half-sib family of 17 Katahdin-derived cultivars for leaf relative water content (RWC) and tuber yield under drought stress. The yields of cultivars ‘Wauseon’, ‘Katahdin’, ‘Magura’, ‘Calrose’, and ‘Cayuga’ did not significantly decline under drought stress. Among these five, Wauseon exhibited the lowest reduction in both tuber yield and relative water content under water shortage. The data showed that ‘Wauseon’ is the most attractive cultivar for studies of molecular and physiological processes under drought and for potato breeding due to low yield losses that correspond with high RWC values. This cultivar can serve as a reservoir of potentially useful genes to develop cultivars with enhanced tolerance to this abiotic stress.     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. I. Long-term changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Long-term measurements of tuber volume were carried out with a non-destructive volume-meter. Specific leaf weight was monitored with a β-gauge. Tubers from the same plant varied in rate and duration of growth. The relative growth of stressed tubers was 43–54% less than that of the control tubers. The hierarchy of tubers from one stem changed over time in plants that were exposed to the stress. Specific leaf weight declined during the stress period but there was a prompt recovery after the relief from drought. This response was similar to the response of the average rate of volume increase of the tuber.     

Antifungal properties of new quaternary ammonium compounds in relation to their surface activity

The biological activity of 17 potential wood preservatives—quaternary ammonium and imidazolium compounds—was determined employing screening agar-plate and agar-block methods. Experiments were carried out on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood. The fungicidal value of new compounds with cycloalkyl substituents for Coniophora puteana ranged from 0.64 kg/m³ to 2.2 kg/m³. Aspergillus niger turned out to be the most resistant fungus to the action of modified ICs, whereas Sclerophoma pityophila was effectively inhibited by the examined salts. It was stated that the antifungal and surface active properties of new compounds depend upon the alkyl chain and the size of the cycloalkyl ring in the molecule. The presented results demonstrate the relationship between the effective dose (ED) and the lethal dose (LD) and critical micelle concentration of new QACs and ICs as well as the relation between inhibition of fungal colonies and concentration of compounds in the substrate.     

Effect of metal ions under laboratory conditions on the entomopathogenic Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae)

The effects of sixteen metal ions: Al, Cd, Co(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Fe(III), Li, Mg, Mn(H), Mo(VI), Ni(II), Pb(II), Se(IV), V(V), and Zn on the mortality and infectivity of Steinernema carpocapsae were observed in 96 hour laboratory tests. All ions except Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn even at naturally unrealistic concentrations did not cause the mortality of S. carpocapsae. However, such treatment lowered infectivity of nematodes with respect to wax moth caterpillars, Galleria mellonella.     

Intercropping winter cereals with Caucasian clover for forage in northern Europe

Intercropping cereal crops with perennial legumes for forage has been demonstrated as a means to improve nutritive value compared to cereal crops alone. Our objective was to determine whether sowing winter rye (Secale cereale L.) or winter triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) into living Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) improves yield or nutritive value compared to monoculture cereal crop forage in northern Europe. The experiments were conducted near Moche?ek and Fal?cin, Poland. In autumn 2010 and 2011, winter rye was sown into existing Caucasian clover or in monoculture at Moche?ek, and winter triticale was sown into Caucasian clover or in monoculture at Fal?cin, with monoculture clover as a third crop treatment at both locations. The following spring, first harvest of forage from the three crop treatments was taken at two maturities: when monoculture cereals reached heading (BBCH 51) or grain milk stage (BBCH 71), and two additional harvests were taken from mixture plots and monoculture clover before autumn. First harvest forage yields of mixtures were similar to monoculture cereal at Fal?cin, less than monoculture cereal at Moche?ek, and greater than monoculture clover at both locations. Full season forage yields of mixtures were greater than both monoculture cereal and clover crops at both locations. The proportion of clover in mixtures was 20–31% in the first harvest, resulting in slightly lower neutral detergent fiber concentrations than in monoculture cereal crop at Fal?cin, but no improvement in nutritive value at Moche?ek. By spring 2012, most Caucasian clover had died from Sclerotinia trifoliorum infection at both locations, so forage was not harvested in the second year of the experiment. Although total season forage yields were greater for mixtures than for either monoculture cereal or Caucasian clover, this system cannot be recommended for northern Europe because of failure for Caucasian clover to persist.     

The effect of different production systems on the content of micronutrients and trace elements in potato tubers

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different production systems (conventional, integrated and organic) on the content of micronutrients and trace elements in the tubers of very early, early and medium-early maturing potato cultivars. Five Polish potato cultivars were grown in three production systems under field conditions. In plant material selected microelements (chemical elements essential for living organisms) were analysed: boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as well as some trace elements (not regarded as essential element for living organisms): chromium (Cr), nickel, (Ni) and lead (Pb). The content of micronutrients and trace elements in potato tubers was modified by production system, genotype and weather conditions during the growing season. Organically grown potatoes had a higher content of B (8.6–8.9?mg kg^?1) and Cu (2.8–3.1?mg?kg^?1), and a lower content of Fe (47.0–47.1?mg?kg^?1), Mn (6.0–6.4?mg?kg^?1) and Zn (11.9–12.2?mg?kg^?1), than potatoes grown in conventional and integrated systems. Potatoes grown in the conventional system had the highest Pb content. Organic cultivation can assure better alimentation of potato tubers with B and Cu, which are important microelements often deficient in the soils. On the contrary, when cultivating potato in conventional system, one should supply this element with fertilisers.