Effects of Compression and Aeration on Wood Formation in Lennea grandis Eng.

At the fifth internode, where a cambial ring was just formed,pressure was applied to the twig surface by girdling it witha rubber tube. This blocked also aeration of the surface. Inthe presence of the compact pith within, the pressure producedthicker wood with a low frequency of pores, in comparison tonormal wood at that region. When the pith was replaced by vaselinethe pressure, without a resistance from the centre, produceda very thin wood with long vessel elements and more abundantrays. Blocking of aeration from outside, without pressure, producedmore abundant vessels. Aeration from the pith region produceda narrower wood zone. Absence of pith (replaced by vaseline)resulted in a wider zone of wood with narrower and shorter vesselmembers.     

转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因籼稻对稻田节肢动物群落影响

将稻田节肢动物群落按营养关系划分为5个功能团,即植食类、寄生类、捕食类、腐食类和其它类,从功能团优势度、功能团内科组成及其优势度、群落主要参数及群落相异性等方面,经两年四点的调查就2个转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因籼稻（Bt水稻）品系TT9.3和TT9.4对稻田节肢动物群落的影响作了较系统评价。植食类、寄生类和腐食类功能团内某些优势科的优势度在Bt水稻田与对照（IR72）田之间有时呈显著或极显著差异,如Bt水稻田中茧蜂或姬蜂科的优势度有时明显低于对照。但是,在大多情况下Bt水稻田与对照田之间功能团优势度、功能团内科组成及其优势度、群落主要参数（物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、均匀性指数、优势集中性指数）及其时间动态基本无明显差异;Bt水稻田与对照田间植食类、寄生类、捕食类亚群落和整个节肢动物群落的相异性大多较低。可见,Bt水稻对稻田节肢动物群落基本无明显的负面影响。     

Spikelet Sterility and Flowering Response of Rice to Water Stress at Anthesis

Water deficits at the anthesis stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.)induce a high percentage of spikelet sterility and reduce grainyield. This study attempted to elucidate the direct effectsof water stress on panicle exsertion, spikelet opening, andspikelet desiccation leading to spikelet sterility. A well-wateredtreatment and two water stress levels were imposed in pot-grownplants of IRAT 13 (upland cultivar) and IR20 (lowland cultivar)at the time of flowering under greenhouse conditions A cultivar difference was observed in the flowering responseto water stress with a high sensitivity in IR20. The time courseof panicle exsertion showed an inhibitory effect due to thelow panicle water status. Low panicle water potentials significantlyreduced the number of opened spikelets. Spikelet opening wascompletely inhibited at panicle water potentials below –1·8MPa and –2·3 MPa in IR20 and IRAT 13, respectively.However, the peak spikelet opening time in a day was not influencedby the stress treatment. Spikelets in stressed panicles wereobserved to remain open for a longer period than in the well-wateredpanicles. The role of turgor in spikelet opening is also discussedin the study. At low panicle water potentials, severe desiccationof spikelets and anthers was noted. The deleterious effectsof water deficits on spikelet opening and spikelet water losscontributed to reduced spikelet fertility Oryza sativa L., rice, spikelet sterility, flowering, water stress, panicle water potentials, turgor potentials, desiccation     

Some observations on the effect of Daflon (micronized purified flavonoid fraction of Rutaceae aurantiae) in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema

BACKGROUND: Morbidity management is a core component of the global programme for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. In a double-blind clinical trial, the tolerability and efficacy of Daflon (500 mg) + DEC (25 mg) or DEC (25 mg) alone, twice daily for 90 days, was studied in 26 patients with bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. RESULTS: None of the patients in either drug group reported any adverse reaction throughout the treatment period (90 days). Haematological and biochemical parameters were within normal limits and there was no significant difference between the pre-treatment (day 0) and post-treatment (day 90) values. The group receiving Daflon showed significant reduction in oedema volume from day 90 (140.6 PlusMinus; 18.8 ml) to day 360 (71.8 PlusMinus; 20.7 ml) compared to the pre-treatment (day 0, 198.4 PlusMinus; 16.5 ml) value. This accounted for a 63.8% reduction in oedema volume by day 360 (considering the pre-treatment (day 0) as 100%). In the DEC group, the changes in oedema volume (between day 1 and day 360) were not significant when compared to the pre-treatment (day 0) value. The percentage reduction at day 360 was only 9%, which was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that Daflon (500 mg, twice a day for 90 days) is both safe and efficacious in reducing oedema volume in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. Further clinical trials are essential for strengthening the evidence base on the role of this drug in the morbidity management of lymphatic filariasis.