Potential of weed seedbanks for managing weeds: a review of recent New Zealand research

Weed seedbanks are the primary source of weeds in cultivated soils. Some knowledge of the weed seedbank may therefore be appropriate for integrated weed management programs. It would also be very useful in planning herbicide programs and reducing the total herbicide use. However, a number of problems are inherent in the estimation of the seedbank size for arable weeds that usually have annual life cycles. In a long-term research project we have investigated the dynamics of weed seedbanks in corn fields for the past 8 years. Specific studies have included (i) developing cheap and efficient methods for estimating the weed seedbank; (ii) developing guidelines for efficient soil sampling (including the number and size of samples); (iii) influence of cultivation methods on weed seed distribution; (iv) mapping the spatial variability of the seedbank; (v) estimating the rate of seedbank decline for certain weed species; and (vi) assessing the potential of using the weed seed content in the soil to predict future weed problems. This paper reviews and summarizes the results of our research on the above aspects. The strong correlation between seedlings emerged in the greenhouse and seeds extracted in the laboratory for the most abundant weed species has demonstrated the potential for using the weed seed content of the soil to predict future weed infestations. The next step is to establish correlations with field emergence under commercial conditions using the sampling guidelines developed in our studies. Subsequently, we aim to offer the weed seedbank estimation as a commercial service to farmers for planning the most appropriate weed management options.     

Comparison of homogeneity and heterogeneity of residual variance using random regression test-day models for first lactation Japanese Holstein cows

Using a large‐scale data set that included first lactation test day records from 1975 to 2000 for Japanese Holsteins, genetic parameters for milk yield were estimated by using random regression (RR) test‐day models (TDM) with heterogeneous and homogeneous residual variances. It is necessary for the RR‐TDM to include a function that explains the shape of the lactation curve. The RR‐TDM with the LW curve, which combined Wilmink's curve and a Legendre polynomial, was used for fitting the model for milk yield. In recent years, increases in residual variance have been noted for Japanese dairy cattle. Thus, three kinds of heterogeneous residual variance over the calving year were considered: H1, H2 and HG. Linear and quadratic exponential functions for the calving year were used in H1 and H2, respectively. Residual variance of HG was divided into five groups according to calving year. Homogeneous residual variance was HO. All heterogeneous residual variances increased with calving year in an almost linear fashion. Residual variance increased over the study period. However, there is no need to consider heterogeneous residual variances in genetic evaluations, because the heterogeneity of residual variance over the years did not affect the ranking of top sires and cows.     

条斑型玉米圆斑病病原鉴定及其生物学特性研究

 本研究通过致病性测定、形态学和分子生物学鉴定方法,首次明确陕西省发生的玉米条斑型叶斑病是玉米圆斑病的一种症状类型,由玉米生离蠕孢(Bipolaris zeicola)3号生理小种引起。供试品种豫玉22、农大108、农大3138、东单7号、沈单10号、沈单16号、户单4号、新陕资1号、高农1号和陕单9号都对3号生理小种表现感病,品种间抗病性差异不显著。此菌在PDA、PSA、OMA、CMA、WA和Czapek上均可生长,最适生长培养基为PDA。菌落生长温度为5~35℃,最适菌落生长温度为25℃。分生孢子在5~40℃均可萌发,低于5℃高于40℃萌发率极低,萌发的最适温度为28℃。孢子在pH 3~11均可萌发,萌发最适pH为5。在自来水中分生孢子可以萌发,蔗糖和葡萄糖溶液可以明显促进孢子萌发。     

甘薯地土壤线虫群体分布规律及取样方法研究

在5年连作甘薯地,于甘薯移栽前和移栽后的不同时间,调查甘薯穴中和穴间、株间和行间以及各样点不同土层线虫的群体数量。分析明确了植物寄生线虫和非植物寄生线虫群体的水平分布和垂直分布规律,提出了研究和了解甘薯地土壤线虫发生动态的调查取样方法。     

Identification of Landscape Elements Related to Local Declines of a Boreal Grey-sided Vole Population

Several studies indicate a long-term decline in numbers of different species of voles in northern Fennoscandia. In boreal Sweden, the long-term decline is most pronounced in the grey-sided vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus). Altered forest landscape structure has been suggested as a possible cause of the decline. However, habitat responses of grey-sided voles at the landscape scale have never been studied. We analyzed such responses of this species in lowland forests in Västerbotten, northern Sweden. Cumulated spring densities representing 22 local time series from 1980–1999 were obtained by a landscape sampling design and were related to the surrounding landscape structure of 2.5×2.5 km plots centred on each of the 22 1-ha trapping plots. In accordance with general knowledge on local habitat preferences of grey-sided voles, our study supported the importance of habitat variables such as boulder fields and old-growth pine forest at the landscape scale. Densities were negatively related to clear cuts. Habitat associations were primarily those of landscape structure related to habitat fragmentation, distance between habitat patches and patch interspersion rather than habitat patch type quantity. Local densities of the grey-sided vole were positively and exponentially correlated with spatial contiguity (measured with the fragmentation index) of old-growth pine forest, indicating critical forest fragmentation thresholds. Our results indicate that altered land use might be involved in the long-term decline of the grey-sided vole in managed forest areas of Fennoscandia. We propose two further approaches to reveal and test responses of this species to changes in landscape structure.     

微孔草的分布及植物群落特征研究

采用定量样地法,对孔微草这一特种油料植物的群落结构、群落变异以及群落特征进行了研究。结果表明,微孔草干物质生产量占总量的比率,休闲地为９．１６％、撩荒地为１６．９０％、油草地为１５．３２％、燕麦地为１０．６６％、青稞地为５．９７％;群落系数相应为８７．０９％、８７．９１％、９１．８２％、９５．６５％、９３．６０％;优势度相应为９．６０％、１３．４５％、１１．９９％、１６．６１％、７．１３％。经主分     

成套小样园作为典型众数抽样调查单元的方法

本文介绍了用成套小样园作为典型众数抽样调查单元的方法测定两个不同林分小班的蓄积，并与用点抽样和不同形状样地的系统抽样结果相比较，表明用成套小样园作为典型众数抽样调查单元的方法能满足９０％以上的精度，而且工效很高；作者也探讨了使用此法的条件．     

千万不可忽视良种黄牛的保种问题

阐述了良种牛保种的重要意义．基因的随机漂移、选择与杂交、近交是特定基因从群体中消失的主要原因，群体及其有效含量和系统选育的科学组织是保种的重要内容。最后介绍我国良种牛的保种方法及其存在的问题，并提出解决的办法。     

次黄筒天牛生物学特性及卵的空间分布研究

次黄筒天牛在江苏太仓1～2年发生一代，幼虫在枝干内越冬，成虫6月上旬～7月中旬羽化，取食桑树的嫩叶、叶脉，产卵于桑树新梢端部。卵期13d，幼虫蛀入枝条，先向上蛀食到梢端再调头向下蛀食，枝条短的幼虫可入拳越冬，第2年5月中旬化蛹，蛹期约16d。被害株有效条数降低，影响产叶量。该虫卵的空间分布为聚集型。个体间相互吸引但聚集强度不高，并在此基础上提出了序贯抽样模型。     

3种提取基因组DNA方法的比较分析

分别采用3种不同的方法提取基因组DNA，比较所提取的DNA的质量以及提取所需时间、费用，以期选择一种高效、简洁快速、价格合理的提取方法。结果发现这3种方法提取的质量都能达到相关分子生物学试验的要求，但在操作步骤、时间、价格等方面存在差异，具体比较结果可为分子生物学试验选择提取方法提供依据。