Salinity Effects on the Growth and Ion Contents of Some Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) Varieties

The effect of salinity on seed germination, plant yield parameters, and plant Na, Cl and K concentrations of chickpea and lentil varieties was studied. Results showed that in both crops percentage emergence was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels (0–8dSm^?1). From the plant growth studies it was found that differences existed among chickpea and lentil varieties in their response to NaCl application. In chickpea, the variety Mariye showed the comparatively lowest germination percentage and the lowest seedling shoot dry weight in response to salinity and was also among the two varieties which had the lowest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield at maturity. Similarly, variety DZ-10-16-2, which was the second best in germination percentage and the highest in terms of seedling shoot dry weight, also had the highest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield at maturity. In lentil, however, such relationships were less pronounced. Chloride concentration (mg g^?1) in the plant parts at salt levels other than the control was about 2–5 times that of Na. K concentration in the plants was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels. Chickpea was generally more sensitive to NaCl salinity than lentil. While no seeds were produced at salinity levels beyond 2dSm^?1 in chickpea (no seeds were produced at this salt level in the most sensitive variety, Mariye), most lentil varieties could produce some seeds up to the highest level of NaCl application. Overall, varieties R-186 (lentil) and Mariye (chickpea) were the most sensitive of all varieties. On the other hand, lentil variety NEL-2704 and chickpea variety DZ-10-16-2 gave comparatively higher mean relative shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield, thus showing some degree of superiority over the others. The observed variations among the varieties may be useful indications for screening varieties of both crops for salt tolerance.     

Detection of mycoplasmas in experimentally-infected bull sperm

Bull sperm pellets experimentally infected with various concentrations of Mycoplasma (M.) bovis, M. bovigenitalium, and M. californicum were stored several months at -196 degrees C and were subsequently tested for mycoplasmas, using different methods and culturing media. M. bovis was reliably identified by laboratory diagnosis up to a concentration of 10(2) cfu/pellet. M. bovigenitalium and M. californicum were found to make higher demands on the quality of culturing substrates. Recommended are 1-h broth incubation and 5-d broth breeding.     

Analysis of a Long-term Experiment with Repeated-measurement Models

Long‐term experiments are a classical case of repeated measurements. Traits are measured on the same experimental unit over many years so that correlations arise between the observations made on the same plot in consecutive years. This paper describes the analysis of a three‐crop‐rotation long‐term experiment. We analysed the yields of the crops and the organic carbon content in the topsoil over 30 consecutive years. Several variance–covariance approaches are discussed and the trait‐specific best fit is interpreted. Mixed models are used to describe the structure of the experiment. Both yields and soil organic carbon show a more or less pronounced variance heterogeneity. Especially for yields, the heterogeneity of cycles and years is dominant. The consideration of correlations results in a better model fit in all cases.     

Beschreibung des Feuerbrandbefalls am Institut für Obstzüchtung in Dresden-Pillnitz im Jahr 2003

The orchard of the Institute of Fruit Breeding of the German Federal Centre of Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants in Dresden-Pillnitz was highly affected by fire blight in 2003. Infected pomefruit trees were observed over a period of nearly 3 months. The first symptoms on pear trees were found on May 19th. The pathogen Erwinia amylovora was confirmed officially on May 26, and the last infected apple trees were detected the 11th of August. The infected trees had to be grubbed at the decision of the Phytopathological Authority. In total, 1164 apple and 478 pear trees were grubbed, including the entire pear collection of the gene bank. Of 35 wild species of pear, 49 accessions, eight accessions of six species each, showed infections. The apple collection of the gene bank included 33 wild species, with 365 accessions, and 845 cultivars and clones. Ten accessions of nine wild apple species and 81 cultivars/clones of these collections showed fire blight infection. The source of infection was the pear collection, and the distance from that source was important for the occurrence of infection. Field plots close to the pear collection had tree losses of 10–34%, while more distant plots had losses of 0–6%. Around 80% of the lost apple trees were detected and grubbed from 27th May to 11th June. Some of the cultivars bred in Dresden-Pillnitz, e.g. ‘Pilot’ and ‘Rekarda’, were affected by fire blight in most field plots, whereas most others were affected mainly only in plots adjacent to the infection source. A correlation of r=?0.72 could be calculated for rating in artificial shoot inoculations and percentage of trees of resistant cultivars lost. The cultivars ‘Pirol’, ‘Reanda’, ‘Remo’, ‘Rene’, ‘Renora’, ‘Resi’, and ‘Retina’ showed only a very low numbers of infected trees. No tree of ‘Rewena’ showed symptoms of fire blight. Despite a tendency to postblooming, only 8.9% of ‘Pinova’ trees had to be grubbed.     

Die Gro?wasserkraftwerke in ?sterreich und ihre Auswirkungen auf die Forstwirtschaft (Wildbachverbauung)

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 1 Abbildung     

Modelling the microbial breakdown of pesticides in soil using a parameter estimation technique

Results of field measurements and laboratory experiments were used to simulate the behaviour of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) in a loamy sand soil. Microbial activity was described using pre-set conditions to compute transformation rates as dependent on compound concentrations and temperature. These kinetics could only be analysed using non-linear transformation rates. To link the development of microbial populations and the consumption of the compound over time, an iterative technique was used to estimate the necessary parameters.     

Impact of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) wilt disease induced by Colletotrichum cf. gloeosporioides

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The importance of herbal plants is evident in the prevalent use as flavoring ingredients in food. However, meeting the growing demand for organic grown...