Effect of temperature,organic amendment rate and moisture content on the degradation of 1,3‐dichloropropene in soil

1,3‐Dichloropropene (1,3‐D), which consists of two isomers, (Z)‐ and (E)‐1,3‐D, is considered to be a viable alternative to methyl bromide, but atmospheric emission of 1,3‐D is often associated with deterioration of air quality. To minimize environmental impacts of 1,3‐D, emission control strategies are in need of investigation. One approach to reduce 1,3‐D emissions is to accelerate its degradation by incorporating organic amendments into the soil surface. In this study, we investigated the ability of four organic amendments to enhance the rate of degradation of (Z)‐ and (E)‐1,3‐D in a sandy loam soil. Degradation of (Z)‐ and (E)‐1,3‐D was well described by first‐order kinetics, and rates of degradation for the two isomers were similar. Composted steer manure (SM) was the most reactive of the organic amendments tested. The half‐life of both the (Z)‐ and (E)‐isomers in unamended soil at 20 °C was 6.3 days; those in 5% SM‐amended soil were 1.8 and 1.9 days, respectively. At 40 °C, the half‐life of both isomers in 5% SM‐amended soil was 0.5 day. Activation energy values for amended soil at 2, 5 and 10% SM were 56.5, 53.4 and 64.5 kJ mol^?1, respectively. At 20 °C, the contribution of degradation from biological mechanisms was largest in soil amended with SM, but chemical mechanisms still accounted for more than 58% of the (Z)‐ and (E)‐1,3‐D degradation. The effect of temperature and amendment rate upon degradation should be considered when describing the fate and transport of 1,3‐D isomers in soil. Use of organic soil amendments appears to be a promising method to enhance fumigant degradation and reduce volatile emissions. Published in 2001 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

Identification and properties of a deviant isolate of the broad bean yellow band serotype of pea early-browning virus from faba bean (Vicia faba) in Algeria

A virus, isolated from faba bean (Vicia faba) obtained from Algeria, was readily recognized as a tobravirus by its particle sizes and morphology. Pea (Pisum sativum) and French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) characteristically reacted to the isolate like pea early-browning virus (PEBV), but faba bean,Antirrhinum majus, Nicotiana rustica, andN. tabacum reacted with line-pattern symptoms which were unusually brilliant on theNicotiana species. In electronmicroscope decoration tests, the isolate did not react with an antiserum to the Dutch type strain of PEBV, but with one to the broad bean yellow band (BBYB) serotype from Italy. It resembles this serotype in reaction on faba bean, but seems to differ appreciably onN. rustica, N. tabacum, andPetunia hybrida. It is described as a deviant isolate of the BBYB serotype of PEBV.All thirteen faba-bean genotypes tested were found to be susceptible to the Algerian isolate and two Dutch type strain isolates of the virus, and to react with erratic line-pattern symptoms to the Algerian isolate only. All ten genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) tested reacted hypersensitively, and four out of ten genotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris) were susceptible to the virus but reacted differentially to the three isolates. Seed transmission of PEBV, including the new isolate, in faba bean is confirmed (9% for the Algerian isolate, and over 45% for one of the Dutch type strain isolates), and seed transmission of the virus in a non-legume (N. rustica, 4%) is herewith first reported. This is the first report on the occurrence of the BBYB serotype of PEBV outside Italy, and of PEBV outside Morocco in North Africa.     

Effects of N-methyl-D, L-aspartate on secretion of growth hormone-releasing hormone from the boar hypothalamic-preoptic area and median eminence in vitro

N-methyl-D, L-aspartate (NMA) elicited secretion of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone from both the hypothalamic-preoptic area and the median eminence that were collected from boars. We suggest that the previously described increase in GH secretion that follows peripheral treatment of swine with NMA is attributable, at least in part, to NMA-stimulated secretion of GH-releasing hormone from the central nervous system.     

Modulation of sodium channels by the oxadiazine insecticide indoxacarb and its N-decarbomethoxylated metabolite in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

The effects of the oxadiazine insecticide indoxacarb and its N-decarbomethoxylated metabolite (DCJW) on tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) voltage-gated sodium channels in rat dorsal ganglion neurons were studied using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Indoxacarb and DCJW suppressed the peak amplitude of action potentials, and DCJW exhibited a faster time course and higher potency than indoxacarb in the blocking effects. In voltage-clamp experiments, indoxacarb and DCJW suppressed TTX-R sodium currents in a time-dependent manner without a steady-state level of suppression. IC50 values for indoxacarb and DCJW on TTX-R sodium currents were estimated to be 10.7 and 0.8 microM after 25 min of bath application, respectively. DCJW was about 10 times more potent than indoxacarb in blocking TTX-R sodium currents. Although the suppressive effects of indoxacarb were partially reversible after washout with drug-free external solution, no recovery of sodium current was observed in DCJW treated neurons after prolonged washout. In current-voltage relationships, both indoxacarb and DCJW blocked the sodium currents to the same degree in the entire range of membrane potentials. The sodium conductance-voltage curve was not shifted along the voltage axis by indoxacarb and DCJW at 10 microM. In contrast, the steady-state inactivation curves were shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction by indoxacarb as well as by DCJW. Based on these results, it was concluded that indoxacarb and DCJW potently blocked the TTX-R sodium channel in rat DRG neurons with hyperpolarizing shifts of the steady-state inactivation curves, suggesting preferential association of the insecticides to the inactivated state of sodium channels. The small structural variation between indoxacarb and DCJW resulted in clear differences in potency for blocking sodium channels and reversibility after washout.     

奶牛的有机锌应用效果研究进展

就有机锌对奶牛的营养作用效果、影响有机锌作用效果的因素进行综述。认为添加有机锌可提高奶牛的产奶性能、免疫机能、繁殖性能,改善体健康。同时影响有机锌作用效果的因素有:有机锌的产品质量、添加量和添加时期、饲料营养水平、参照物类型和评价指标等。     

Observations on the potential of microwaves for weed control

Field tests of a prototype microwave‐based weed killer machine were conducted on Abutilon theophrasti, Panicum miliaceum, lucerne and oilseed rape pure stands. The approach can be considered a thermal weed control method, the microwave radiation causing dielectric heating of plant tissue water that eventually kills the plant. The method could overcome the limitations of other thermal methods, such as fire risk with flaming or the heavy loads required for hot water treatments. Species were effectively controlled by microwave irradiation, but their sensitivity and the evolution of damage symptoms over time differed. Lucerne showed no sigmoidal response and was the least affected by the treatment, while a log‐logistic curve expressed the dose–response relationships of the other species quite well. The estimated microwave dose for a 90% dry weight reduction ranged from 1015 kJ m^?2 in A. theophrasti to 3433 kJ m^?2 in P. miliaceum. Energy cost evaluation indicated that increased efficiency is required for this technique to compete with other thermal methods. Microwave efficiency could be increased by a flux configuration that minimizes soil penetration and maximizes absorption by plants, which, in turn, depends on plant growth form.     

Note: First record in crete ofHercinothrips femoralis in greenhouse banana plantations

In 2004 the banded greenhouse thrips,Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was recorded for the first time in greenhouse-grown organic banana in the area of Sitia (northeastern Crete). Banana fruits were severely damaged by the thrips infestation and a typical smoky-red discoloration of the fruit was observed. Pest control was poor using either high-pressure washing with potassium fatty acids, or commercially available thrips predatorsNeoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) andOrius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). During 2005H. femoralis was also found causing severe damage in conventional banana plantations in Arvi, the main banana-growing area of Crete. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 17, 2006.     

铜的来源和水平对生长猪生长性能禾粪铜排出量的影响

选用平均体重29．6kg的三元杂（杜×大×长）生长猪144头，按随机区组设计分为6个处理。饲粮中分别添加0、100、200mg／kg硫酸铜、200mg／kg碱式氯化铜、100mg／kg小肽铜、100mg／kg复合氨基酸螯合铜（以铜含量计）。结果表明：100mg／kg小肽铜和100mg／kg复合氨基酸螯合铜均能有效提高生长猪日增重和日采食量，其促生长效果与200mg／kg硫酸铜无显著（P〉0．05）差异，而粪中铜含量分别下降了36．8％和48．4％（P〈0．05）。     

紫花苜蓿对九种杂草的化感作用

试验运用生物测定法研究了紫花苜蓿叶化感物质对九种受体植物的作用.结果表明,紫花苜蓿叶提取物对多变小冠花的发芽势和发芽率具有抑制作用,与对照差异显著(P＜0.05);提取物对高羊茅种子的发芽势有促进作用,与对照差异显著(P＜0.05),其最终发芽率也增加(P＜0.05);除狗尾草外,其余八种受体植物的胚根长度都受到紫花苜蓿叶提取物的抑制,与对照的差异均显著(P＜0.05);提取物对稗草、狗尾草、高羊茅、毛马唐和多变小冠花的苗长具有促进作用,与对照差异均显著(P＜0.05);反枝苋的苗长则受到抑制(P＜0.05);提取物对受体植物的幼苗鲜重均有不同程度的影响,虎尾草、匍匐翦股颖、巴哈雀稗、反枝苋和多变小冠花幼苗鲜重明显降低,与对照差异达显著水平(P＜0.05).     

氮、磷和钾肥施用量对有机生态型无土栽培温室黄瓜产量影响的研究

采用二次回归饱和D-最优试验设计方法研究了固态N、P和K肥施用量对日光温室有机生态型无土栽培春茬黄瓜产量的影响,建立了N、P和K肥施用量与早、中、后期黄瓜产量形成之间的数学模型.试验结果表明:N、P及K对黄瓜的早期产量影响极显著,产量区间为2 400～3 260 g/小区的最佳施肥量(单位:g/株/次)为N 0.83,P2O5 0.37,K2O 0.86;P、K是影响黄瓜中期产量的主要因素,产量区间为6 400～9 200 g/小区的最佳施肥量分别为N 0.66,P2O5 0.33,K2O 0.90;黄瓜生长后期,N肥对黄瓜产量的影响极其显著,产量区间为2 000～2 940 g/小区的最佳施肥量为N 0.61,P2O5 0.40,K2O 0.94.