Enzyme Immunoassays for the Determination of Ovine LH and FSH

The development of competitive enzyme immunoassays for ovine plasma LH (oLH) and FSH (oFSH) is described. Standards and plasma samples were preincubated with diluted antiserum to oLH or oFSH and the reacted solution (100 μl per well) was transferred to plates previously coated with oLH or oFSH, respectively. The second antibody used was anti‐rabbit IgG horseradish peroxidase. The measuring range was 0.39–50 ng/ml for each hormone and the 50% relative binding sensitivity was 9 ng/ml for oLH. The respective value for oFSH was 3.5 or 34 ng/ml with different hormone and antibody preparations used for the assay. The enzyme immunoassays were used to determine oLH and oFSH levels in plasma from ewes of two breeds during the oestrous cycle. The assays detected the first FSH surge coincident with the LH surge, the second FSH surge about 24 h later and the periodic fluctuations of FSH concentrations during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle. These enzyme immunoassays are an efficient and economic alternative to the established radioimmunoassays (RIA) for oLH and oFSH.     

Determination of extractable and non-extractable radioactivity from prairie soils treated with carboxyl- and ring-labelled [14C]2,4-D

Ring- and carboxyl-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D were incubated under laboratory conditions, at the 2 g/g level, in a heavy clay, sandy loam, and clay loam at 85% of field capacity and 20 1C. The soils were extracted at regular intervals for 35 days with aqaeous acidic acetonitrile, and analysed for [¹⁴C]2,4-D and possible radioactive degradation products. Following solvent extraction, a portion of the soil residues were combusted in oxygen to determine unextracted radioactivity as [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide. The remaining soil residues were then treated with aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the radioactivity associated with the fulvic and humic soil components determined. In all soils there was a rapid decrease in the amounts of extractable radioacitivity, with only 5% of that applied being recoverable after 35 days. All recoverable radioactivity was attributable to [¹⁴C]2,4-D, and no [¹⁴C]-containing degradation products were observed. This loss of extractable radioactivity was accompanied by an increase in non-extractable radioactivity. Approximately 15% of the applied radioactivity, derived from carboxyl-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D, and 30% from the ring-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D was associated with the soil in a non-extractable form, after 35 days of incubation. After 35 days, less than 5% of the radioactivity from the carboxyl-labelled herbicide, and less than 10% of the ringlabelled material, was associated with the fulvic components derived from the three soils. Less than 5% of the applied radioactivities were identifiable with any of the humic acid components. It was considered that during the incubation [¹⁴C]2,4-D did not become bound or conjugated to soil components, and that non-extractable radioactivity associated with the three soil types resulted from incorporation of radioactive degradation products, such as [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide, into soil organic matter.     

Relative persistence of di-and tri-chlorophenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides in Saskatchewan soils

The persistence of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, 2,4,5-T, and fenoprop at the 2 ppm level was studied in the laboratory on three prairie soils at 85% of field capacity and 20°C. Following extraction of the soils with aqueous acetonitrile containing acetic acid, the herbicidal acids remaining were analysed gas chromatographically. Breakdown was rapid on all soils and the average half-lives for 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichloroprop, 2,4,5-T, and fenoprop were < 7, < 7, 10, 12, and 12 days respectively. Degradation on air-dried soils (15% of field capacity) was negligible with over 85% of the applied herbicides being recoverable after incubation periods during which the herbicides remaining in the moist soils accounted for less than 30% of the original treatments. Persistance relative des acides di et tri-chlorophénoxy-alkanoï-ques herbicides dans des sols du Saskatchewan. La persistance du 2,4-D, du 2,4-DB, du dichlorprop, du 2,4,5-T et du fénoprop, à la concentration de 2 ppm, a étéétudiée au laboratorire, sur trois sols de prairie, a 85% de la capacité au champ et a 20°C. Après leur extraction des sols par l'acétonitrile aqueux contenant de l'acide acétique, les acides herbicides restants ont été analysés par chromatographie en phase gaseuse. La dégradation a été rapide pour tous les sols et les demi-vies moyennes du 2,4-D, du 2,4-DB, du dichlorprop, du 2,4,5-T, et du fénoprop ont été respectivement de <7, <7, 10, 12 et 12 jours. La dégradation sur des sols séchés a l'air (15% de la capacité au champ), a été négligeable, plus de 85% des quantités d'herbicides appliquées étant récupérables après des périodes d'incubation durant lesquelles les herbicides restant dans les sols humides ne représentaient plus que moins de 30% des quantités apportées à l'origine. Relative Persistenz von Di-und Trichlorphenoxyalkansäure-Her-biziden in Böden Saskatchewan In Laborversuchen wurde die Persistenz von 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, Dichlorprop, 2,4,5-T und Fenoprop in drei Prärieböden festgestellt. Die Versuche wurden bei 20°C, 85 % der Feldkapazität und einem anfänglichen Herbizidgehalt der Böden von 2 ppm durchgeführt. Die Extraktion der Böden erfolgte mit wässerigem Acetonitril mit einem geringen Anteil an Essigsäure. Die Herbizide wurden gaschromatographisch nachgewiesen. In allen Böden wurde ein schneller Abbau festgestellt. Die Halbwertszeiten betrugen für 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, Dichlorprop, 2,4,5-T und Fenoprop < 7, < 7,10, 12 bzw. 12Tage. Der Abbau im lufttrockenen Boden (15% der Feldkapazität) war zu vernachlässigen. Hier waren noch mehr als 85% der ausgebrachten Herbizidmenge vorhanden, wenn in den feuchten Böden die Konzentration bereits weniger als 30% betrug.     

Analytical models of weed biocontrol with sterilizing fungi: the consequences of differences in weed and pathogen life-histories

A model of the population dynamics of healthy weed plants, weed seeds in the soil, pathogen-infected weed plants and pathogen spores in the soil, was devised to investigate interactions that are important for the success of biocontrol with pathogens that prevent seed set. Three particular features of the host-pathogen interaction were examined in detail: the form of the density dependent relationship which determined seed and spore production, the host life stage at which infection could occur, and the relative competitive abilities of healthy and infected host plants. It was found that, when both weed and pathogen coexist, the equilibrium abundance of the weed in the presence of the pathogen was independent of the form of the relationship between plant density and seed or spore production. However, the form of this relationship did affect estimated equilibrium densities in the absence of biocontrol, and also affected the parametrizations under which both host and pathogen could coexist. Parameters derived from experiments with isolated host plants may therefore be sufficient to assess the biocontrol potential of new pathogens along with knowledge of densities achievable when the weed is uncontrolled. The form of the relationship used to control seed and spore production also had a marked influence on the range of parameter values over which the pathogen could persist. Other control measures were represented by changes to appropriate parameter values, e.g. weeding was represented by a change in weed death rate. With one exception, the use of additional control measures was not antagonistic to biocontrol. Often, however, the combined effect was less than additive, and the existence of synergy (where the combined effects are more than additive) was critically dependent on the form of the relationship of the rate of seed production per plant with density and the efficiency of the other control measures.     

Hepatomas in Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum) collected in the Hudson River estuary in New York

Abstract. Incidental observations of Atlantic tomcod during routine laboratory processing revealed that a portion of the adult population collected during the 1977–78 spawning season had enlarged livers containing dark coloured tumours and other abnormalities. Of the total of 264 livers collected between 16 January and 27 February 1978 and grossly examined for prevalence of abnormalities, 25% appeared to contain neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma. One liver contained a massive tumour (7 × 12 mm) that involved approximately 60% of the liver. The exact causes of the high prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown but poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are suspected of having a possible role. The Hudson River is known to contain elevated concentrations of PCBs. Twelve tomcod livers from the 1977–78 spawning population representing both normal and hepatoma conditions contained concentrations of PCBs ranging from 10–9 to 98–2 ppm (mean of 37–5 ppm).     

Policy options for Agriculture Green Development by farmers in China

Farmers are the key agents who manage land and water. Agriculture Green Development (AGD) requires a transformation in farming from high resource consumption and environmental cost to sustainable intensification with high productivity, high resource use efficiency and low environmental risk. This paper analyzes the public policy challenge of AGD and makes the case for a location-sensitive policy mix made up of regulation, advice provision, voluntarism and targeted incentives. The public agricultural extension service in China is a key resource, but one that requires reorientation and reform with the aim of better balancing high farm productivity with environmental protection.     

Chronic vascular catheterisation of the koala and the rabbit

SUMMARY: Vascular access ports were surgically placed, first in rabbits maintained under laboratory conditions, and then in koalas maintained in a wildlife park. The ports remained patent for 9 months in rabbits and for up to 13 months in the koalas and were removed successfully. They allowed collection of blood samples without assistance or disturbance in koalas, and without stress as reflected by plasma cortisol concentration. The use of retention rings on the cannula tubing is recommended.     

Persistence studies with the herbicide sethoxydim in prairie soils

The persistence of [¹⁴C]sethoxydim (2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-one) at the 2 μg g^?1 level was studied under laboratory conditions in three soils at 20°C and 85% of their field capacity moistures. Following extraction of the soils with methanol, the herbicide remaining was determined using radiochemical techniques. Loss of radioactivity was more rapid on moist clay loam and sandy loam, where the half-lives were 12 days, than on heavy clay in which the half-life was 26 days. Loss of radioactivity from air-dried soils (15% of field capacity) was negligible with over 94% of the applied activity being recovered after 28 days. The persistence of sethoxydim at a rate of 1 kg ha^?1 was investigated under field conditions using small plots at three prairie locations for 3 successive years. Using an oat-root bioassay procedure, no residues were detected in the 0–10 cm depths of any soils, any year, in September following May treatments.     

THE HYDROLYSIS OF 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY- ACETATE ESTERS TO 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID IN SASKATCHEWAN SOILS

Summary. The hydrolysis of the iso-propyl, n-butyl and iso-octyl esters of 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid to the free acid was studied in aqueous solutions and on three prairie soils. The esters were analysed using electron-capture gas chromatography following extraction from solution with benzene, and from soils, using either 10% aqueous aceto-nitrile or a 2:1 mixture of benzene and iso-propanol.
Ester hydrolysis in 0·1 n sodium hydroxide solution was very rapid, more than 50% of all the esters being hydrolysed in less than 1 min. In 0·1 n sodium carbonate solution the times for 50% hydrolysis at 25°C were < 5, 5 and 30 min for the n-butyl, iso-propyl and iso-octyl esters respectively. In distilled water negligible hydrolysis occurred over a 5 h period.
The iso-propyl and n-butyl esters underwent a very facile hydrolysis on soils. Shaking the treated soils with 0·1 M calcium chloride solution for 30 min at 25°C resulted in extensive hydrolysis to the acid as determined spectrophotometrically. Under similar conditions negligible hydrolysis of the iso-octyl ester occurred.
After 1·5 h at 25±1°C on soils at their wilting point moisture levels, and greater, less than 15% of the applied iso-propyl or n-butyl esters could be recovered using either extraction procedure, indicating rapid hydrolysis to the acid. After 24 h no iso-propyl or n-butyl ester residues could be detected in any of the soils. Loss of the iso-octyl ester was slower under these conditions with approximately 20–30% of the ester remaining after 24 h, and 10% after 48 h.
L'hydrolyse des esters de 2,4 dichlorophénoxyacétates en acide 2,4 dichlorophénoxyacétique dans les sols du saskatchewan.