Determination of K forms in K-fertilized soils by electro-ultrafiltration

We confirmed the suitability of electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) for (a) determination of the distribution of potassium fertilizer among the various forms of potassium in soils with a predominance of micaceous minerals in their clay fraction, and (b) investigated the effects of the degree of openness of the dominant micaceous mineral and of incubation time on the kinetics of the EUF extraction of K from these soils.Samples of illitic, mixed-layer and vermiculitic soils from Galicia (N.W. Spain) were incubated at field capacity for 450 days with 0 (blank), 5,15 or 25 mg K (as KCl) per 100 g dry soil. After 1, 30, 150 and 450 days, subsamples were removed and repeatedly extracted using electro-ultrafiltration at low (20° C/200 V) and then high (80° C/400 V) temperature/voltage (6 and 10 five-minute extractions, respectively). Five different pools of K were identified: solution K (K_s), surface and internal K (collectively, K_p), slowly exchangeable K (K_e) and non-exchangeable K (K_i). The effects of increasing the incubation time depended on the dominant clay mineralogy: after 450 days, the K added to illitic soils was mostly solution K, whereas that added to vermiculitic soils was mostly internal K.For both low and high temperature/voltage EUF experiments, the extraction-time data were best fitted by the Elovich equation (extracted K=a+b ln t). The kinetic coefficient b depended on the incubation time and dominant clay mineral, and for given soil and incubation time increased linearly with the dose of added K.Abbreviations EUF Electroultrafiltration - K_s Solution potassium - K_p Easily exchangeable (surface + internal) potassium - K_e Slowly exchangeable potassium - K_i Non-exchangeable potassium     

Effect of lime and phosphorus applications on concentrations of available nutrients and on P,Al and Mn uptake by two pasture legumes in an acid soil

Summary Effects of increasing rates of lime and phosphorus addition on concentrations of available nutrients in soil and on P, Al and Mn uptake by two pasture legumes, lotus (Lotus pedunculatus Cav.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), were studied in a pot experiment using a highly leached acid (pH 4.2) soil.Liming resulted in an increase in exchangeable Ca and thus in percentage base saturation, with concomitant decreases in levels of exchangeable Al, Fe and Mn. The relationship between exchangeable Ca and Al was linear and negative with a gradient of almost unity. Liming had no consistent effect on measured CEC values. Increasing lime rates significantly reduced concentrations of Mg, K and Na in saturation paste extracts but had no effect on exchangeable Mg, K and Na levels.With increasing lime additions, available phosphate indicesviz water soluble, resin-, Morgan-and Williams-extractable all decreased significantly, Truog-extractable was unaffected, while Brayextractable generally increased. Fractionation revealed that lime additions caused a decrease in easily soluble, Fe-bound and to a lesser extent Ca-bound phosphate fractions, had no effect on reductant soluble phosphate, but resulted in an increase in the Al-bound fraction. P uptake and yield of both legumes increased with lime and P additions.Correlations between available phosphate indices and yield of both legumes were weak or nonsignificant. However, high, significant positive correlation coefficients were found between available phosphate and plant uptake of P. Indices of available Al and Mn were not generally significantly correlated with plant uptake of Al or Mn but significant negative correlations were found between available Al and Mn and yield of both species.     

The relationship between EUF-K and soil-K fractions of different K selectivity

Summary The fraction of K released during EUF 30-35 min, 80°C, 400 V (EUF₃) and various other soil-K parameters were compared for 24 soils that range widely in clay mineral composition, clay content and percentage K saturation. When EUF₃ was compared with fractions of soil-K containing increasing amounts of non-exchangeable K (=selectively adsorbed K), the R² values decreased with increasing quantities of non-exchangeable K. This indicates that EUF₃ is a function of the exchangeable pool of K, although some initially non-exchangeable K is also involved.     

A new approach to quantify the utilization of non-exchangeable soil potassium by plants

To predict the contribution of soil K fractions of different mobility to K supply of plants, the kinetics of K release from soil was related to the kinetics of K uptake of young sugar beet and wheat plants. For this purpose K release rates from soil were measured by continuously percolating samples of a luvisol with 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution and effective diffusion coefficients, D_e, were determined. Two soil K fractions of different mobility were obtained. D_e values of the more mobile exchangeable K and the less mobile non-exchangeable K fraction were found to be 58.9 × 10^–9 and 8.2 × 10^–9 cm² s^–1, respectively. In a pot experiment, sugar beet and wheat plants were grown, for 15 days and both root growth and K uptake were measured. K uptake kinetics of both crops was determined in a separate experiment using flowing solution culture. To integrate these data quantitatively, the simulation model of Claassen et al. (1986) was applied. Results show that calculated total K uptake agreed closely with real K uptake of the plants. On this basis, 64 and 79% of the K taken up by wheat and sugar beet plants was derived from the rapidly released exchangeable and 21–36% from the less mobile non-exchangeable soil K fraction.     

Poly(U)-directed peptide-bond formation from the 2′(3′)-glycyl esters of adenosine derivatives

Summary The self-condensation of 2(3)-O-glycyl esters of adenosine, adenosine-5-(O-methylphosphate) and P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate in 6.2 mM solutions at pH 8.0 and -5°C in the presence of 12.5 mM poly(U) yields approximately 3 times as much diketopiperazine as reactions without poly(U). As the concentration of 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate is decreased from 6.2 mM to 1.5 mM the yield of diketopiperazine in the presence of poly(U) decreases slightly from 6.6% to 5.2%, whereas, in the absence of poly(U) the yield of diketopiperazine decreases substantially from 2.4% to 0.75%. The enhanced yield of diketopiperazine that is attributed to the template action of poly(U) is temperature dependent and is observed only at temperatures below 10°C (5°C to -5°C) for 6.2 mM 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine-5-(O-methylphosphate) and below 23°C (15°C to -5°C) for 6.2 mM 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate. The absence of a template effect at high temperatures is attributed to the melting of the organized helices. The hydrolysis half-lives at pH 8.0 and -5°C of 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine, 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine-5-(O-methylphosphate), 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate, and 5-O-(glycyl)-adenosine in the presence of poly(U) are substantially larger than their half-lives in the absence of poly(U). The condensation of 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine yields 5% of 5-O-(glycyl)-adenosine in the presence of poly(U) compared to 0.7% in the absence of poly(U).Abbreviations DKP diketopiperazine - (gly)₂ glycylglycine - (gly)₃ glycylglycylglycine - AppA-gly 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate - MepA-gly 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine-5-(O-methylphosphate) - Ado-2(3)-gly 2(3)-O-(glycyl)-adenosine - Ado-5-gly 5-O-(glycyl)-adenosine - Boc-gly N-tert-butyloxycarbonylglycine - AppA P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate - MepA adenosine-5-(O-methylphosphate) - AppA-Boc-gly 2(3)-O-(Boc-glycyl)-P₁, P₂-diadenosine-5-pyrophosphate - Ado-5-Boc-gly 5-O-(Boc-glycyl)-adenosine - Ado-2(3)-Boc-gly 2(3)-O-(Boc-glycyl)-adenosine     

Cleavage of nucleotides by Ce4+ and the lanthanide metal complexes

The cleavage of adenosine-5-monophosphate (5-AMP) and guanosine-5-monophosphate (5-GMP) by Ce⁴⁺ and lanthanide complex of 2-carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) in acidic and near neutral conditions was investigated by NMR , HPLC and measuring the liberated inorganic phosphate at 37°C and 50°C. The results showed that 5-GMP and 5-AMP was converted to guanine (G), 5-monophosphate (depurination of 5-GMP), ribose (depurination and dephosphorylation of 5-GMP), phosphate and adenine (A), 5-monophosphate (depurination of 5-AMP), ribose (depurination and dephosphorylation of 5-AMP), phosphate respectively by Ce⁴⁺. In presence of lanthanide complexes, 5-GMP and 5-AMP were converted to guanosine (Guo) and phosphate and adenosine (Ado) and phosphate respectively. The mechanism of cleaving 5-GMP and 5-AMP is hydrolytic scission     

A study on relations of vegetation,climate and soils in Shanxi province,China

Relationships of vegetation, climate and soils in Shanxi plateau wereanalyzed by use of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Shanxi province,located at 34°35–40°43 N, 110°15–114°33 E, was divided into a series of rectangular districts of30 latitude by 20 longitude. Areas of vegetation formations and soil types ineach district were measured carefully using fine grain on the vegetation andsoil maps of Shanxi. Climatic data were mean values of 25 years records in eachdistrict. Three data matrices of climate, vegetation and soil were combined byCCA. The results showed that the distribution of vegetation is closely relatedto the variety of climates and to soils distribution.     

Studies of α- and βL-Crystallin Complex Formation in Solution at 60°C

Studies of molecular mechanisms of chaperone-like activity of -crystallin became an active field of research over last years. However, fine interactions between -crystallin and the damaged protein and their complex organization remain largely uncovered. Complexation between - and _L-crystallins was studied during thermal denaturation of _L-crystallin at 60°C using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), light scattering, gel-permeation chromatography, and electrophoresis. A mixed solution of - and _L-crystallins at concentrations about 10 mg/ml incubated at 60°C was found to contain their soluble complexes with a mean radius of gyration 14 nm, mean molecular mass 4 MDa and maximal size over 40 nm. In pure _L-crystallin solution, no complexes were observed at 60°C. In SAXS studies, transitions in the -crystallin quaternary structure at 60°C were shown to occur and result in doubling of the molecular weight. This suggests that during the temperature-induced denaturation of _L-crystallin it binds with modified -crystallin or, alternatively, _L-crystallin complexation and -crystallin modifications are concurrent. Estimates of the -_L-crystallin complex size and relative contents of - and -_L-crystallins in the complex suggest that several -crystallin molecules are involved in complex formation.     

Photoperiodism and thermoperiodism in the predatory mite Amblyseius potentillae are probably based on the same mechanism

Summary A comparative study was made of the photoperiodic and thermoperiodic induction of diapause in the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius potentillae. Sensitivity to thermoperiod was found to be highest during the protonymphal and deutonymphal stages, with some sensitivity still being present in the young adult. Summation of both photoperiodic and thermoperiodic cycles was shown to take place, which demonstrated the presence of a photoperiodic counter as well as a thermoperiodic counter in these mites. Vitamin A appeared to be necessary for some early step in the physiological mechanism of diapause induction and not just for the expression of the diapause response. The light sensitivity threshold for photoperiodic induction of diapause was found to be extremely low, viz. less than 0.02 W/cm². Moreover, the light sensitivity threshold appeared to be strongly temperature dependent in A. potentillae. Experiments in which the mites experienced various sequences of short-day photoperiods and short-day thermoperiods, applied either concurrently or in succession, showed that the information collected by the photoperiodic counter and the thermoperiodic counter is integrated into one induction sum. These results strongly suggest that photoperiodic and thermoperiodic induction of diapause in these mites is based on the same physiological mechanism.Abbreviations DD continuous darkness - LL continuous light - LD light-dark cycle (e.g. LD 16:8 is a cycle of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness) - TC thermoperiodic cycle (e.g. TC 16:8 (27°: 15°) is a thermoperiod with a 16 h thermophase of 27 °C and an 18 h cryophase of 15°C)     

The quantum efficiency of photosystem II and its relation to non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence; the effect of measuring-and growth temperature

The relation between the quantum yield of oxygen evolution of open photosystem II reactions centers (_p), calculated according to Weis and Berry (1987), and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence of plants grown at 19°C and 7°C was measured at 19°C and 7°C. The relation was linear when measured at 19°C, but when measured at 7°C a deviation from linearity was observed at high values of non-photochemical quenching. In plants grown at 7°C this deviation occurred at higher values of non-photochemical quenching than in plants grown at 19°C. The deviations at high light intensity and low temperature are ascribed to an increase in an inhibition-related, non-photochemical quenching component (q_I).The relation between the quantum yield of excitation capture of open photosystem II reaction centers (_exe), calculated according to Genty et al. (1989), and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence was found to be non-linear and was neither influenced by growth temperature nor by measuring temperature.At high PFD the efficiency of overall steady state electron transport measured by oxygen-evolution, correlated well with the product of q _N and the efficiency of excitation capture (_exe) but it deviated at low PFD. The deviations at low light intensity are attributed to the different populations of chloroplasts measured by gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence and to the light gradient within the leaf.Abbreviations F₀ basic fluorescence - F₀ basic fluorescence, thylakoid in energized state - F_m maximal fluorescence - F_m maximum fluorescence in energized state - F_s steady state fluorescence - F_v maximal variable fluorescence - PFD photon flux density - PS II_rc Photosystem II reaction center - q_F0 quenching of basic fluorescence - q_E energy related quenching - q_N non-photochemical quenching:-q_f-total quenching - q_I inhibition-related quenching - q_p photochemical quenching - q_r quenching due to state transition - R_d dark respiration - _p PS II efficiency of excitation capture of open PS II_rc - _pe extrapolated minimal value of _p - _p0 extrapolated maximal value of _p - _si quantum efficiency of linear electron transport, calculated from gas exchange measurements based on incident light - _sf quantum efficiency of linear electron transport, calculated from fluorescence measurements, based on incident measuring light     

Production of thermostable amylolytic enzymes by Thermococcus hydrothermalis

A cell extract of Thermococcus hydrothermalis, grown for 6 h, gave -glucosidase activity at 14.9 U/l, degrading oligosaccharides and maltose. -Amylase, -glucosidase and pullulanase activities were detected at 289 U/l, 13.5 U/l and 30 U/l respectively in the culture medium after 24 h growth of the archaeum. All of three enzymes, characterised by a half-life time of 1 to 5 h at 95°C, degraded both the (14) and (16) linkages of polysaccharides and the (14) linkages of oligosaccharides. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

The prebiotic chemistry of nucleotides

Diiminosuccinonitrile (DISN), formed by the oxidation of diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN), has been investigated as a potential prebiotic phosphorylating agent. DISN effects the cyclization of 3-adenosine monophosphate to adenosine 2, 3-cyclic phosphate in up to 39% yield. The mechanism of this reaction was investigated. The DISN-mediated phosphorylation of uridine to uridine monophosphate does not proceed efficiently in aqueous solution. The reaction of DISN with uridine-5-phosphate and uridine results in the formation of 2,2-anhydronucleotides and 2,2-anhydronucleosides respectively, and other reaction products resulting from an initial reaction at the 2- and 3-hydroxyl groups. The clay mineral catalysis of the cyclization of adenosine-3-phosphate was investigated using homoionic montmorillonites.     

Pressure dependence of the potassium currents of squid giant axon

Summary The effect of pressure upon the delayed, K, voltage-clamp currents of giant axons from the squidLoligo vulgaris was studied in axons treated with 300nm TTX to block the early, Na, currents. The effect of TTX remained unaltered by pressure. The major change produced by pressures up to 62 MPa is a slowing down of the rising phase of the K currents by a time scaling factor which depends on pressure according to an apparent activation volume, V, of 31 cm³/mole at 15°C; V increased to about 42 cm³/mole at 5°C.Pressure slightly increased the magnitude, but did not produce any obvious major change in the voltage dependence, of the steady-state K conductance estimated from the current jump at the end of step depolarizations of small amplitude (to membrane potentials,E, 20 mV) and relatively short duration. At higher depolarizations, pressure produced a more substantial increase of the late membrane conductance, associated with an apparent enhancement of a slow component of the K conductance which could not be described within the framework of the Hodgkin-Huxley (HH)n ⁴ kinetic scheme.The apparent V values that characterize the pressure dependence of the early component of the K conductance are very close to those that describe the effect of pressure on Na activation kinetics, and it is conceivable that they are related to activation volumes involved in the isomerization of the normal K channels. The enhancement of the slow component of membrane conductance by pressure implies either a large increase in the conductance of the ionic channels that are responsible for it or a strong relative hastening of their turn-on kinetics.     

Forest vegetation as related to climate and soil conditions at varying altitudes on a humid subtropical mountain, Mount Emei, Sichuan, China

Altitudinal variations in temperature and soils were analysed on a humid subtropical mountain, Mt Emei (3,099 m a.s.l., 29°34.5N, 103°21.5E), in Sichuan, China, to see how the vegetation varies with the environmental factors. As a principal finding, the coldest mean monthly temperature –1°C, rather than the warmth index of 85°C·months, emerged as the primary factor that delimited the evergreen broadleaved forest. With regard to soils, properties such as organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K tended to increase with altitude. The highest values in organic C (26.6%), total N (1.34%) and available P (45.39 ppm) were recorded in surface soils of the mixed forest (2,210 m a.s.l.) including all three tree life forms, i.e. evergreen/deciduous broadleaved and coniferous trees. The high pH and contents of exchangeable Ca and Mg in the surface soils derived from the parent material, limestone and dolomite, between 900 and 1,200 m, where several Tertiary tree species existed. The C/N ratios of surface soils in the coniferous forests (2,500–3,099 m) were higher than those of the evergreen broadleaved forests (600–1,500 m) and the mixed forests (1,500–2,500 m).     

Estimation of available potassium for cotton by soil analysis

Measurements of exchangeable K, percentage of exchangeable K of the total exchange capacity (EPP), K extracted in a CaCl₂ solution, and the change in free-energy of exchange of K for Ca+Mg (F), were compared as methods for estimation of available K in soil for growing irrigated cotton. A significant correlation was found between each of the methods and the response to K fertilizer. The different methods are discussed; the advantages of extraction with CaCl₂ solution are that it reflects the change in free energy and is easy to operate. For sandy soils, it is suggested that determination of exchangeable K be added.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1975 Series, No. 202-E Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1975 Series, No. 202-E     

Über die „Schalen-und Fleischfestigkeit“ von Kartoffelknollen

Summary Skin firmness of tubers of the varieties Schwalbe and Ora was determined during growth and storage. Samples were measured once during growth, again after 2 to 5 days of storage at room temperature and once more after 3 days storage at 2 to 3 °C. Skin firmness reaches its maximum during tuber formation; at normal harvesting time it becomes minimal.Skin firmness of the Schwalbe variety could be increased in direct proportion to the amounts of nitrogen added. Different doses of P and K supplements, or a water supply to 50, 70 and 100% capacity had no effect on the firmness of the skin.Measurements on the firmness of flesh showed some significant differences between varieties. The tissue near the end of the navel is as a rule firmer than that in the other parts of the tubers, the center being least firmness. Different doses of water supply and N, P and K effected no differences.A correlation coefficient of 0,8 indicates a close relationship between skin and flesh firmness; but no correlation was found between the firmness of skin and flesh and injury to the tuber during harvesting.Measurements of the internal pressure on skin and flesh can therefore not be used as a means of selecting for high resistance to injury during the harvesting process.     

Regio- and stereo-selective synthesis of vinyl glucose ester catalyzed by an alkaline protease of Bacillus subtilis

The transesterification of -d-glucose with divinylsuccinate, divinyladipate and divinylsebacate in pyridine at 55 °C for 3 days was catalyzed by an alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis to give corresponding 6-O-vinyl glucose esters at 30%, 53% and 35% yield, respectively. The stereo-selectivity of the alkaline protease toward the -anomer was affected by the acyl donor chain length. 6-O-Vinylsuccinyl-d-glucose was mixture of - and -anomers (/=44/56), the other two products were the pure -d-glucose derivatives.     

Sequence- and Regio-Selectivity in the Montmorillonite-Catalyzed Synthesis of RNA

The six binary montmorillonite clay-catalyzed reactions of the5-phosphorimidazolides of adenosine, cytidine, guanosine anduridine were performed and the eight dimers from each reactionwere separated and analyzed by HPLC. A 16–51-fold higher yieldof the 5-purine-pyrimidine dimers over that of the5-pyrimidine-purines was observed. The total yield of the5-purine-pyrimidine dimers was in the 50–70% range while thatof the 5-pyrimidine-purine dimers was 1.3–7.0%. Less sequenceselectivity was observed in the homodimers formed.Regioselectivity for the formation of 3, 5-phosphodiesterbonds over that found in the absence of clay was observed. The5-purine-pyrimidine, 5-pyrimidine-pyrimidine and5-purine-purine dimers had 3, 5-links in about half of theirphosphodiester bonds. The percent phosphodiester links in the5-pyrimidine-pyrimidine dimers was 18%, a value close to thatobserved in the absence of the montmorillonite catalyst. Themontmorillonite-catalyzed reaction of all four activatednucleotides was performed and the 24 products were separated andanalyzed. The trends observed in the binary reactions wereconfirmed and the results also showed that the relativereactivity of the activated monomers was A>G>C>U in theratio 8.2: 4.8: 1.3: 1 respectively. No 5-pyrimidine-purineswith a 5-U and pG³pU, pC³pAand pC³pG weredetected. These studies suggest that a limited population ofRNAs would have formed in catalyzed prebiotic reactions.     

Life tables of Moina macrocopa (Straus) in successive generations under food and temperature adaptation

Life tables of Moina macrocopa (Straus) cultured at seven foodconcentrations (FC) (Scenedesmus sp., 1.49–1490 mg wet weightl^-1, 10⁴–10⁶ cellml^-1) were investigated for animals of the first generation(nonadapted animals) and for animals of the third generation (adaptedanimals) cultivated at these FC. Adapted animals showed a trophicpreferendum, i.e. a narrow FC-range at which maximal R_ovalues were observed in comparison with nonadapted animals. In adaptedanimals, the maximal R_o was 115.3 individual, observed at 20°C and a FC of 74.5 mg wet weight l^-1.     

Geoecological alteration of surface soils by the Hawaiiansilversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC.) inHaleakala's crater,Maui

The geoecological effects of organic matter addition to soil byHawaiian silverswords (Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC.,Asteraceae) in Haleakala's crater (Maui) are examined. Sets of 12 surfacesoil samples were gathered in three positions: bare soils; under the crowncanopy of adjacent live plants; and below dead, withered rosettes. Silverswordstanding litter and live foliage were also collected. Several physical andchemical properties were investigated. Bare soils were coarse and exceptionallylow in chemical nutrients and water-holding capacity. Litter addition belowsilverswords altered all properties except particle-size distribution; soilsunder dead rosettes became modified more strongly than those below live plants.While rosettes grow, standing litter is tightly preserved, thus only smallamounts of organic matter are added to soil. When plants die, a substantialinflux of litter is released in a short period (7 to 9 years average); thisraises the C and N content, C/N ratios, exchangeable nutrient levels (Ca, Mg,K, P) and cation exchange capacity of soil. Physical properties, such as color,bulk density and porosity are also greatly affected; as a result, soilwater-retention at field capacity nearly doubles under withering plants. Soiltemperatures (5 cm depth) at noon were 18.1°C lower beneath silversword canopies(18.5°C mean) than in contiguous bare soils(36.6°C). This cooling may result in lower evaporationand further conservation of soil moisture, thus increased seedgermination. Nutrient-retention strategies may have evolved in the semelparousArgyroxiphium to help it cope with the harsh,drought-prone soils and unpredictable climate of Haleakala. Silverswordflowering results in a tremendous seed output, but the plant needs to ensurethat some seeds – which have limited dispersal capability – willgerminate, and thus provides a nutrient-rich, water-retaining substrate moresuitable for seedling establishment than bare soils. Through itsself-regulating influence on underlying soils,Argyroxiphium affects both soil formation and its ownregeneration in Haleakala.