Enantioselective degradation kinetics of metalaxyl in rabbits

Metalaxyl [methyl-N-(2′-methoxyacetyl)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-d,l- alaninate] is a potent phenylamide fungicide. The (−)-(R)-isomer accounts for most of the fungicidal activity. A possible stereo and/or enantioselective kinetics of metalaxyl in rabbits was investigated by intravenous injection. The concentrations of (−)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-metalaxyl in plasma, liver, and kidney tissue were determined by HPLC with a cellulose-Tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phase and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. After intravenous administration of racemic metalaxyl (40 mg/kg), the (+)-(S)-enantiomer levels in plasma, liver, and kidney decreased more rapidly than the (−)-(R)-isomer. The area ratio of the (−)-(R)-/(+)-(S)-enantiomer under the concentration-time curve (AUC_0 → ∞) in plasma after drug application was 1.62. The total plasma clearance value of the (+)-(S)-enantiomer was 1.53 and higher than that of the (−)-(R)-enantiomer. The [R]/[S] ratio in plasma was >1 for standard rac-metalaxyl at each time point. The other pharmacokinetic parameters of the enantiomers were also different. The results indicate substantial stereoselectivity in the degradation of metalaxyl enantiomers in rabbits.     

反刍动物过瘤胃淀粉研究进展

过瘤胃淀粉是高产反刍动物葡萄糖的重要来源之一。本文阐述了过瘤胃淀粉在反刍动物营养中的作用,以及提高饲料过瘤胃淀粉比例的处理方法,并根据近年来的应用研究状况,提出了过瘤胃淀粉在应用中存在的问题及今后的研究方向。     

Assessing the potential impacts of alternative landscape designs on amphibian population dynamics

An individual-based, spatially explicit population model was used to predict the consequences of future land-use alternatives for populations of four amphibian species in two central Iowa (midwest USA) agricultural watersheds. The model included both breeding and upland habitat and incorporated effects of climatic variation and demographic stochasticity. Data requirements of the model include life history characteristics, dispersal behavior, habitat affinities, as well as land use and landcover in geographic information systems databases. Future scenarios were ranked according to change in breeder abundance, saturation, and distribution, compared to baseline conditions. Sensitivity of simulation results to changes in model parameters was also examined. Simulated results suggest that while all four species modeled are likely to persist under present and future scenario conditions, two may be more at risk from future landscape change. Although the study species are all widespread generalists regarded as having a low conservation priority, they depend on wetlands and ponds, increasingly endangered habitats in agricultural landscapes. Broader conservation strategies in the region would ensure that these currently common organisms do not become the endangered species of the future.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modelling spatio-temporal dynamics of herbicide resistance

A mathematical model has been developed for the risk assessment of the spread of genes conferring herbicide resistance in plant populations. The model combines an age-and-stage-structured population dynamic model, a population genetic model and a model of spatial spread. This is achieved by embedding a local matrix population model into a cellular automaton model with raster cells as spatial units. The dynamics of each cell is determined by both its local dynamics and the interaction with neighbouring cells. The model is applied to the evaluation of management strategies to delay or even to prevent long-term evolution of resistance in an annual grass weed. The results show that the appearance and spread of resistant genes is a highly non-linear process exhibiting threshold phenomena, which occur for a wide range of parameters. The properties of the seed survival curve constitute the `genetic memory' of the system and thus determine its long-term dynamics. It is possible to delay the evolution of resistance by suspension of treatment, reduction in herbicide application rate and introducing fallow periods. Spatial spread from an infested plot is inhibited by leaving untreated strips between adjacent fields.     

Long-term modelling of weed control strategies: analysis of threshold-based options for weed species with contrasted competitive abilities

A simple life-cycle-based demography model was adapted for two contrasting weed species ( Alopecurus myosuroides and Poa annua ). This model included a seed production function that accounted for population self-regulation through weed:weed interactions. The A. myosuroides version of the model was tested with field data. Long-term simulations of population demography were then performed to investigate the relationship between weed control strategies based on density thresholds and both the frequency of herbicide use and the long-term economic profitability. This study confirms that threshold-based weed management strategies are more cost-effective than spraying every year and may allow important reductions in herbicide use. However, after the first transient years of either systematically spraying or withholding herbicide, the long-term spraying frequency was insensitive to threshold values between 0.01 and 100 plants m⁻². The highest long-term profitability was obtained for the lowest threshold tested, and the profitability decreased rapidly when the threshold was raised above 4–6 and 10–20 plants m⁻² for A. myosuroides and P. annua respectively. The study thus indicates that the exact threshold value is of little importance for the long-term reliance of the system on herbicide, provided that it is reasonably low. For species with low competitive ability, high thresholds may be used in some cropping systems to reduce the spraying frequency for environmental considerations, but those options would also reduce the profitability if no compensatory measures were taken.     

Influence of the physical and chemical properties of soil on the retention process of isoxaflutole and its two main derivatives

Isoxaflutole is a new pre‐emergence herbicide for use in maize and sugarcane. Its two main derivatives are a diketonitrile derivative, the 2‐cyano‐3‐cyclopropyl‐1‐(2‐methanesulfonyl‐4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)propan‐1,3‐dione, named DKN, and a benzoic acid derivative, the 2‐methanesulfonyl‐4‐trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, named BA. The adsorption/desorption processes have never been studied for isoxaflutole (IFT) at high concentrations nor for BA, and the present work aimed at completing the knowledge of the behaviour of these three molecules in conditions close to those encountered in the context of agricultural use. The adsorption/desorption study was conducted on seven soils of different physical and chemical properties, using the batch equilibrium technique. During the experiments, IFT was chemically converted into DKN in a continuous manner. This reaction appeared to be dependent on the pH of the soil and was taken into account in the calculations of the adsorbed and desorbed amounts. The adsorption isotherms obtained were predominantly C‐shaped for IFT and DKN and S‐shaped for BA, but some differences appeared on a few soils. They fitted well the Freundlich equation, and the values of the Freundlich coefficient K_fa showed that, whatever the soil, IFT was more adsorbed than its two derivatives. The main parameter influencing the adsorption of IFT appeared to be the organic matter content, whereas this effect was not evident for DKN and BA. No correlation was found between the extent of adsorption and either clay content or pH of the soil, for the three molecules.     

水稻与稻瘟病菌非亲和性互作中重要防御酶活性变化规律研究

 选以CO39为背景的水稻抗稻瘟病近等基因系,与稻瘟菌生理小种ZC₁₃(菌株97-151a)组成的3类典型非亲和性互作,以亲和性互作为对照,对各互作中过氧化物酶(POD)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、几丁质酶及β-1,3-葡聚糖酶的活性变化规律进行了系统研究。完全非亲和性互作C101A51/97-151a、高度非亲和性互作C101L AC/97-151a及中度非亲和性互作C104 PKT/97-151a,POD比活性接种后即开始明显升高,48h前达到高峰,升高趋势一直持续到7d完全显症时,幅度基本与各互作非亲和程度呈正相关;亲和性互作CO39/97-151a接种后40 h POD比活性才开始升高,4~6 d达到高峰,峰值也较大。3类非亲和性互作PAL比活性在接种后0 h或16 h开始较明显升高,整个互作中形成3~4个较明显的峰;亲和性互作中PAL比活性一直明显下降。3类非亲和性互作外切几丁质酶比活性接种后即开始升高,基本一直保持升高趋势,在40 h前幅度较大,并形成1~3个较高的峰;亲和性互作外切几丁质酶比活性接种后即开始大幅度升高直至完全显症,48h后幅度远高于非亲和性互作。3类非亲和性互作β-1,3-葡聚糖酶比活性在24 h内开始较明显升高,在48h前形成2~3个较明显的峰;亲和性互作在接种后β-1,3-葡聚糖酶比活性即开始升高,在48h后显著高于非亲和性互作。讨论了POD、PAL、几丁质酶及β-1,3-葡聚糖酶参与水稻抗稻瘟病的可能性。     

甜椒始花期氮素分配动态的研究

 利用¹⁵N 示踪技术研究了营养液培养甜椒始花期吸收的氮素在体内的动态分配规律。结果表明: 根与果实中氮的含量在始采期以后保持稳定; 而叶片中氮的含量则随生育进程迅速下降, 盛采期时与果实和根相近, 且两倍高于茎和侧枝。始花期由根吸收的标记氮主要贮存在叶片中, 2 周后向新生器官的运转率高达50. 6%, 4 周后达到57. 1%, 6 周后为58. 0%, 说明越是新近吸收的氮素越容易被再度运转到其它器官, 随着在体内时间的延长, 氮的再运转能力逐渐降低。开花后2 周收获的果实中标记氮占始花期吸收总量的3. 24%, 第3、4、6 周分别为11. 12%, 9. 49%和4. 75%。果实是甜椒体内氮的强力库, 氮素竞争力最强。     

Population dynamics and habitat connectivity affecting the spatial spread of populations – a simulation study

In this paper we show how the spatialconfiguration of habitat quality affects the spatial spread of apopulation in a heterogeneous environment. Our main result is thatfor species with limited dispersal ability and a landscape withisolated habitats, stepping stone patches of habitat greatlyincrease the ability of species to disperse. Our results showthat increasing reproductive rate first enables and thenaccelerates spatial spread, whereas increasing the connectivity has aremarkable effect only in case of low reproductive rates. Theimportance of landscape structure varied according to thedemographic characteristics of the population. To show this wepresent a spatially explicit habitat model taking into accountpopulation dynamics and habitat connectivity. The population dynamicsare based on a matrix projection model and are calculated on eachcell of a regular lattice. The parameters of the Leslie matrix dependon habitat suitability as well as density. Dispersal between adjacentcells takes place either unrestricted or with higher probability inthe direction of a higher habitat quality (restricted dispersal).Connectivity is maintained by corridors and stepping stones ofoptimal habitat quality in our fragmented model landscape containinga mosaic of different habitat suitabilities. The cellular automatonmodel serves as a basis for investigating different combinations ofparameter values and spatial arrangements of cells with high and lowquality.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of recent cropping history and herbicide use on the degradation rates of isoproturon in soils

Five soil samples were taken from each of five fields with different crop management histories. Three of the fields were in an arable rotation, the fourth field was temporary grassland, and the final field was under permanent grass. Of the three arable fields, two had been cropped with winter wheat in three of the preceding 6 years, and the third had last been cropped with winter wheat once only, 6 years previously. With one exception, the winter wheat had been sprayed with the herbicide isoproturon. The rate of isoproturon degradation in laboratory incubations was strongly related to the previous management practices. In the five soils from the field that had been treated most regularly with isoproturon in recent years, <2.5% of the initial dose remained after 14 days, indicating considerable enhancement of degradation. In the soils from the field with two applications of the herbicide in the past 6 years, residues after 27 days varied from 5% to 37% of the amount applied. In soils from the other three sites, residue levels were less variable, and were inversely related to microbial biomass. In studies with selected soils from the field that had received three applications of isoproturon in the previous 6 years, kinetics of degradation were not first‐order but were indicative of microbial adaptation, and the average time to 50% loss of the herbicide (DT₅₀) was 7.5 days. In selected soils from the field that had received just one application of isoproturon, degradation followed first‐order kinetics, indicative of cometabolism. Pre‐incubation of isoproturon in soil from the five fields led to significant enhancement of degradation only in the samples from the two fields that had a recent history of isoproturon application.