Evaluation of sampling methods and assessment of the sample size to estimate the weed seedbank in soil, taking into account spatial variability

As field sampling is time consuming, it is necessary to develop efficient sampling techniques to obtain accurate estimates of the weed seedbank in soil. The relative efficiency between sampling schemes depends on the spatial variability in weed seed density across agricultural fields. Spatial variability of the weed seed density was characterized by theoretical correlograms. A systematic sampling (square grill) scheme was considered and it was found that, taking into account spatial variability, this sampling scheme was more efficient than simple random sampling. As a result, the sample size can be reduced in comparison with that given in previous studies, where spatial correlation was ignored. The reduction depends on the correlation structure defined as a function of the ratio, τ, between the nugget effect and the sill of the variogram. The maximum reduction of the sample size, without loss of either precision or confidence level corresponds to the case where there is no nugget effect, τ = 0. The opposite extreme case, where the reduction is nil, corresponds to the case of a pure nugget effect τ = 1. The abaci based on given expressions are provided to determine the sample size in species whose spatial pattern can be fitted either to a Poisson or to a negative binomial distribution.     

Expression of the tobacco β-1,3-glucanase gene, PR-2d, following induction of SAR with Peronospora tabacina

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is induced following inoculation of Peronospora tabacina sporangia into the stems of Nicotiana tabacum plants highly susceptible to the pathogen. Previous results have shown that accumulation of acidic β-1,3-glucanases (PR-2's) following induction of SAR by P. tabacina may contribute to resistance to P. tabacina. We showed that up-regulation of the PR-2 gene, PR-2d, following stem inoculation with P. tabacina, is associated with SAR. Studies using plants transformed with GUS constructs containing the full length promoter from PR-2d or promoter deletions, provided evidence that a previously characterized regulatory element that is involved in response to salicylic acid (SA), may be involved in regulation of PR-2d following induction of SAR with P. tabacina. This work provides evidence that regulation of PR-2 genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR may be similar to regulation of these genes during infection of N-gene tobacco by TMV or following exogenous application of SA, and provides further support for the role of SA in regulation of genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR.     

Synergistic and antagonistic effects of atrazine on the toxicity of organophosphorodithioate and organophosphorothioate insecticides to Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The acute toxicities of two organophosphorodithioate (dimethoate and disulfoton) and two organophosphorothioate (omethoate and demeton-S-methyl) insecticides were evaluated individually and in binary combination with the herbicide atrazine using fourth-instar larvae of the aquatic midge, Chironomus tentans. Atrazine alone up to 1000 μg/L did not show significant toxicity to the midges in a 48-h bioassay. However, atrazine concentrations as low as 1 μg/L in combination with dimethoate at EC₂₅ (concentration to affect 25% of tested midges), 100 μg/L in combination with disulfoton (EC₂₅), and 10 μg/L in combination with demeton-S-methyl (EC₂₅) significantly enhanced the toxicity of each organophosphate insecticide. In contrast, atrazine concentrations of 10 μg/L and above in combination with omethoate (EC₂₅) significantly decreased the toxicity of the insecticide. Biochemical analysis indicated that increased toxicity of dimethoate, disulfoton, and demeton-S-methyl in binary combination with atrazine correlated to the increased inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Furthermore, cytochrome P450-dependent O-deethylation activity in the midges exposed to atrazine at 1000 μg/L was 1.5-fold higher than that in the control midges. Thus, atrazine appeared to induce cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in the midges. Elevated cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity may increase the toxicities of dimethoate, disulfoton, and demeton-S-methyl by enhancing the oxidative activation of dimethoate into omethoate, and disulfoton and demeton-S-methyl into their sulfoxide analogs with increased anticholinesterase activity. In contrast, atrazine reduced the toxicity of omethoate possibly by enhancing the oxidative metabolic detoxification since omethoate does not require oxidative activation.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

黔糖3号果蔗病害的致病原因与防控对策

针对黔糖3号果蔗生产上病害发生特点及危害程度提出了各病害等级划分标准,并介绍了各病害的田间表现症状、发生特点及变化规律,结合多年的调研结果,分析了导致黔糖3号病害发生的原因。同时提出了黔糖3号生产中各种病害的防控措施。     

杂交玉米品种黔玉3号耐旱和耐盐能力的鉴定

分别用不同浓度的PEG-6000和NaCl溶液模拟干旱和盐胁迫,以常规玉米品种农大108为对照,从水分状况、膜伤害、光合速率、渗透势和离子吸收等生理指标对杂交玉米品种黔玉3号幼苗的耐旱和耐盐能力进行了比较和鉴定.结果表明,供试两玉米品种受胁迫后,地上部相对含水量、叶片净光合速率(Pn)和 PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)都降低,叶片相对电解质渗漏率及盐胁迫下植株的Na /K 值都升高,农大108的变幅大于黔玉3号;叶片渗透势都降低,在盐胁迫下植株SRK,Na值都升高,但农大108的变幅小于黔玉3号.通过上述指标的综合评价表明,黔玉3号的耐旱、耐盐能力大于农大108.     

永佳牌2种机动喷雾器在果园的应用效果

2007年进行了永佳牌WFB18．2和3W-650型机动喷雾器喷药防治苹果斑点落叶病试验。结果表明：2种喷雾器与当好地常用喷雾器（红发3WJB-22型）用相同药剂防治苹果斑点落叶病的效果差异不显著,对果树也无不良影响。但2种喷雾器均比对照喷雾器节省药液60％,分别节省时间40．16％和25．96％。     

基于深度学习的车辆检测算法之特点分析

车辆检测是智能交通系统的基础架构。文章分析了三种经典的车辆检测算法——Faster R-CNN算法、YOLOv3算法、SSD算法的特点,在此基础上指出了它们的优点和缺点,为下一步的车辆检测算法改进做好了理论知识基础。