Effects of temperature and humidity on the contact angle of pesticide droplets on rice leaf surfaces

The effects of external factors such as temperature, humidity, pesticide formulation, and pesticide concentration on the contact angle of pesticide droplets on rice leaf surfaces were analyzed. The experiments showed that there were significant differences in the contact angles of droplets on the leaf surfaces under different temperatures and humidity. As the ambient temperature increased, the contact angle first decreased and then increased, reaching a minimum value at 25°C. With a gradual increase in humidity, the contact angle significantly increased and reached a maximum at 100% humidity. Finally, it was concluded that both the formulation and concentration of the pesticide had a significant effect on the contact angle of droplets on rice leaf surfaces. The experiments also illustrated that the effects of the pesticide formulation and concentration on the contact angle were more significant than those of temperature and humidity.     

Response of Ugandan common bean varieties to Pseudocercospora griseola and Angular leaf spot disease development in varietal mixtures

Angular leaf spot (ALS) is one of the most economically important bean diseases in Africa. One promising control option for the disease is the use of mixtures of resistant and susceptible varieties. This research evaluated (1) the reaction of farmer preferred bean varieties to ALS in the screenhouse and on-station and (2) the effect of different spatial arrangements of resistant and susceptible bean varieties on ALS disease development. For the latter, five mixture combinations and two controls were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design having three replicates. Analysis of variance and least significant differences (LSDs) were used to compare disease levels in both studies above. Varietal screening showed significant differences in varietal reaction to ALS. Screenhouse disease scores ranged between 0 and 5, compared to 0.7–3.9 in the field. For the varietal mixture trial, the lowest disease levels and the highest mixture efficiencies were observed for the combination of equal proportions of the susceptible and resistant varieties randomly mixed (even mixture) prior to planting. We conclude that even mixtures reduce the amount of ALS disease that develops in the season.     

品种及初生重对仔猪死亡率和21日龄个体重的影响

试验对2 319头仔猪的初生重与21日龄个体重和死亡率进行分析。结果表明:大约克仔猪哺乳期死亡率最低,21日龄体重最高;随着初生重的增加,仔猪死亡率降低,21日龄个体重增加。     

Inheritance of leaf angle in Triticum aestivum L.

Summary A 6×6 diallel was prepared to study the inheritance of leaf angle in T. aestivum L. Genetic analysis in terms of diallel cross parameters and graphic analysis indicated the control of additive gene effects in the expression of this character. The results of F₁ analysis were supported by the analysis of F₂ data.     

Influence of race and post infection temperature on two components of partial resistance to wheat leaf rust in seedlings of wheat

Summary Components of partial resistance, infection frequency and latency period, were determined in 71 winter and spring wheat genotypes in the seedling stage, after infection with three races of leaf rust (Felix 3B, Clement B and Betuwe 85C) at three different day/night temperature regimes (24/18°C, 18/12°C and 12/6°C). The genotypes were split into two groups and two separate experiments were carried out. Five genotypes, SVP 84039, Akabozu, Banco, BH 1146 and Orso, conferred a low infection frequency and a long latency period and Westphal 12A a long latency period, indicating a relatively high level of partial resistance. The correlation coefficient between infection frequency and latency period was low. Race-specificity was not found. There was a significant temperature effect on the latency period. In the second experiment the temperature x genotype interaction was significant. Temperature-response functions of transformed data demonstrated that the latency periods of four relatively resistant genotypes, Westphal 12A, Banco, BH 1146 and Orso and of Sarno and Mirela were most sensitive to temperature. The range between the genotypes with the longest and the shortest latency period was highest at 12°C. Therefore, low temperature regimes are preferred to distinguish differences in level of partial resistance.     

Phylogenetic studies in Citrus reticulata and related types

Summary Sixteen types of mandarins were screened for their leaf flavonoid patterns with the help of cellulose thin-layer chromatography. In general, Tanaka's classification of mandarins into 36 species is untenable, as was already concluded by Swingle (1948), Hodgson (1965) and Singh (1967). It is likely that a fine loose skinned mandarin was first evolved. Later, it hybridized with wild mandarin to give rise to numerous types and forms.Contribution No. 474 of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-6, India.     

End-of-Season Carcass and Reproductive Traits in Original and Replacement Male Broiler Breeders

Reproductive efficiency of male broiler breeders declines toward the end of a production cycle. It is common to add young, replacement males (spiking) to a breeder flock to maintain or increase fertility. To date, no study has reported if there are differences in the carcass and reproductive morphology between original and spiked males at the end of the breeding period. In this study, the weight, fleshing traits, footpad condition, and testes size of 327 Hubbard males (237 original and 90 replacement) from a commercial operation were examined. The original birds (63 wk of age) had significantly higher BW, breast weight, girth measurement, keel length, and spur length than the spiked males (48 wk of age). While external indicators of size and fleshing differed betweenreplacement and original roosters, testis weight was not affected by the age of the bird. It was found that average testis weight correlated well with BW in birds in which testicular regression had not taken place but only weakly with spur length. Because original males had a higher BW and were more heavily fleshed than replacement males, their ability to successfully complete matings may have been impeded. Further research is needed to link growth profiles with semen quality, sexual behavioral, and longevity of a male breeder in a commercial flock.     

矾根主要品种的叶色表型性状分析

通过目测进行分类的方式很难准确界定矾根品种叶色。为建立一套更为科学的基于叶色表型的矾根品种分类体系,笔者利用色差仪对72个矾根品种共计432个样品的叶色进行测定,对获得的L、a、b 3个色度值进行聚类分析,将72个矾根品种分为褐色系、深绿色系、黄色系、灰绿色系、浅绿色系5类色系。对矾根品种各色系的L、a、b值进行相关性分析,发现叶片正面的L值与a值、a值与b值呈负相关,L值与b值呈正相关,但相关性不明显;叶片背面的L值与a值、a值与b值呈负相关,L值与b值呈显著正相关。从多重比较的结果中可以看出,矾根品种各色系之间的L、a、b色度值差异显著,尤其是各色系间叶正面的颜色差异较大,在矾根品种选育工作中,叶片正面的颜色将作为主要参考。     

孕穗期低温条件下ABA对水稻结实率及叶片生理特性的影响

为了明确ABA对孕穗期低温下水稻结实率及叶片生理特性的调控效应,本试验在盆栽条件下,以2个水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种‘龙粳11’（冷敏型）和‘龙稻5’（耐冷型）为材料,于孕穗期在人工气候室进行低温（15℃,持续1,2,3,4,5天）处理,并喷施不同浓度的脱落酸(ABA),研究低温条件下ABA对不同水稻结实率的调控效应,同时探讨了ABA和低温对水稻叶片膜透性、抗氧化酶等生理特性的影响。结果表明：低温条件下,‘龙稻5’的结实率变化不大,‘龙粳11’的结实率显著降低,20 mg/L的ABA能够有效缓解低温伤害,相对提高低温胁迫下水稻的结实率。叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性表现出先升高后下降的变化趋势,‘龙稻5’的抗氧化酶活性、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量高于‘龙粳11’,但丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率低于‘龙粳11’。ABA可提高冷敏品种的抗氧化酶活性、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的含量,同时可降低MDA含量和相对电导率。这说明ABA可以通过调控水稻抗氧化酶、可溶性糖等生理指标的活性及含量,进而提高冷敏水稻品种的耐冷性。     

Feeding Acacia etbaica and Dichrostachys cinerea fruits to smallholder goats in northern Ethiopia improves their performance during the dry season

Acacia etbaica Schweinf. and Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. are among the common woody browse plants that naturally grow in many arid and semi-arid rangelands in sub Saharan Africa. An experiment was conducted to compare the voluntary dry matter intake, body weight gain, nitrogen balance, carcass composition and sensory attributes of goats supplemented with different levels of A. etbaica and D. cinerea fruits. Average initial body weight of the goats was 20.4 kg (± 0.8SE) and received one of the following fruit supplementation regimes for 120 days (on body weight basis, n = 4 goats per group): (1) Control, no supplement; (2) 0.5% of A. etbaica; (3) 0.5% of D. cinerea; (4) 1.0% of A. etbaica; (5) 1.0% of D. cinerea; (6) 1.5% of A. etbaica; (7) 1.5% of D. cinerea. All groups were allowed to graze/browse during the day. Compared to A. etbaica, D. cinerea fruits contained higher amounts of crude protein (182 vs 135 g/kg DM), metabolizable energy (11 vs 8.4 MJ/kg DM), and in vitro dry matter digestibility coefficient (0.7 vs 0.6). The concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF), sulphuric acid solubulized lignin, and tannin (soluble and condensed) were lower (P < 0.05) in D. cinerea than in A. etbaica fruits. A. etbaica fruits, however, contained higher amounts of Na, K, Fe, and Zn concentrations than D. cinerea fruits. Dry matter intake was markedly higher in supplemented groups than in the control group without supplement. Similarly, body weight gain in the control group was negative and lower (P < 0.05) than any of the supplemented groups. During the course of the experimental period (120 days) the group placed in the 1.5% D. cinerea fruit diet gained 2.6 kg whereas the control group lost 2.0 kg. Thus, the difference between these two groups was 4.6 kg, which suggests about 22.5% increment of the goats' initial body weight. N retention was negative for the control group and varied little among the remaining treatment groups. Dressing percent increased with increased level of either type of fruit supplement, the highest (51.8%) being achieved at the 1.5% D. cinerea level. There was no difference in bone tissue across treatment groups. D. cinerea fruit intake also resulted in juicy/watery flavor and tender carcass. D. cinerea fruits appeared to have no adverse effects when included at the highest level (1.5%) and could be collected and stored as dry season supplement to smallholder goats. This study shows that poor farmers can increase goat performance substantially through supplement feeding with wild fruits. Areas in Ethiopia originally set aside for provision of ecological services and biodiversity protection can also be used for wild fruit production and feeding of small stock. The effect of increasing D. cinerea fruits above the 1.5% body weight level should be a focus of future investigation. Further work on deactivation mechanism of tannins is required for A. etbaica fruits included at levels higher than 1.0%.