楝树籽提取物对土壤供氮和氮肥利用率的影响

研究了楝树籽不同方式的提取物（NI,NⅡ）对普通铁质淋溶土壤,简有水耕人为土壤供N和N肥利用率的影响。NI可在一定程度上抑制两种土壤产生NO3－N,NⅡ在两种土壤上前期均能显著固定NH4^ -N并在后期释放出NH4^ -N。如果NI和NⅡ2种提取物同时与化肥N施入土壤,则可明显改善土壤的供N状况,使这与作物需N过程更吻合。盆栽实验证明,NⅡ可显著提高肥旱耕人为土壤上作物对N肥的利用率。     

Ammonia volatilization losses from prilled urea,urea supergranules (USG) and coated USG in rice fields

Summary About 8.4 per cent of applied nitrogen was lost as ammonia during a week after application when prilled urea was broadcast or banded and incorporated in soil 20 days after sowing of rice. Ammonia volatilization was reduced to 3.3 per cent when urea supergranules (USG) were used. Coating of USG with DCD or neem cake showed no advantage. Ammonia volatilization was only 0.7 to 1.6 per cent when fertilizer was applied at panicle initiation stage of rice; highest values were again obtained with prilled urea. The experiments were carried out in closed cages.     

Quality evaluation of co-composted wheat straw, poultry droppings and oil seed cakes

Poultry droppings, neem cake, castor cake, jatropha cake and grass clippings were used separately as organic nitrogen additives to decrease the high C:N ratio of wheat straw. Composting was carried out aerobically in presence of fungal consortium developed by including Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus nidulans, Trichoderma viride and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The degraded product was characterized to assess the technical viability of organic nitrogen supplements as well as fungal consortium in improving the quality of compost and hastening the process of decomposition of high lignocellulolytic waste. Evaluation of maturity showed that mixture of wheat straw, poultry dropping and jatropha cake had the lowest C:N ratio of 10:1, the highest humic acid fraction of 3.15%, the lowest dehydrogenase activity and a germination index exceeding 80% in 60 days of decomposition. Inoculated and grass clipping amended wheat straw–poultry dropping mixture resulted in compost with highest humus content of 11.8% and C:N ratio of 13.5, humic acid fraction of 2.84% and germination index of 59.66%. Fungal consortium was effective in improving the humus content of all the composted mixtures. In some treatments, germination index could not be correlated with C:N ratio. Non edible oil seed cake supplemented substrate mixtures did not respond to fungal inoculation as far as C:N ratio was concerned.     

Effect of rates of nitrogen and relative efficiency of sulphur-coated urea and nitrapyrin-treated urea in dry matter production and nitrogen uptake by rice

Summary A field experiment conducted for two rainy seasons (1974 and 1975) on a sandy clay loam soil at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi showed that at 100kg N/ha the apparent recovery of urea nitrogen by the rice crop was only 28%, which was raised to 41.7% by treating urea with Nitrapyrin and to 47.4% by coating urea withneem (Azadirachta indica Juss) cake. The recovery with sulphur-coated urea was 37.7%. Dry matter production nitrogen concentration in plant and uptake by rice were increased as the rate of nitrogen was increased from 0 to 150kg N/ha. Advantage of treating urea with Nitrapyrin or coating withneem cake was seen more in grain than straw yield.     

Mycorrhizal inoculation in neem (Azadirachta indica) enhances azadirachtin content in seed kernels

In view of the high mycorrhizal dependency of neem trees (Azadirachta indica), an experiment was conducted to study if Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation can enhance the azadirachtin content in seed kernels of trees grown in the field. Azadirachtin is an important active ingredient in neem seed kernels based on which a large biopesticide industry has emerged in India and few countries in Europe and the USA. Inoculation of neem seedlings in the nursery with Glomus fasciculatum and Glomus mosseae resulted in increased height, dry weight, root colonization and phosphorus (P) content. In a separate experiment, field-grown neem plants inoculated in the nursery and during transplantation with Glomus fasciculatum were evaluated after 5 years. No significant differences were found in the tree height, girth at breast height (GBH) and fruit yield but oil percentage, total triterpenoids and azadirachtin content in kernels increased significantly as a result of AM inoculation. A similar enhancement in azadirachtin was noted with P application. These results open up possibilities of producing quality neem seed with high bioactive ingredients through AM inoculation.     

A standard procedure for the micropropagation of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Micropropagated shoots were initiated from leaf explants of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Regardless of their origin, shoots were successfully produced by culturing leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium containing benzylaminopurine (1 mg l^–1), kinetin (0.8 mg l^–1) and adenine sulphate (6 mg l^–1) in complete darkness. These shoots were further multiplied on Murashige and Skoog medium containing benzylaminopurine (0.1 mg l^–1), kinetin (0.08 g l^–l) and adenine sulphate (0.6 mg l^–1). Within 32 weeks, 80 shoots could be produced from a single leaf explant (10 mm×10 mm). Fifty-five percent of these shoots rooted on Murashige and Skoog medium containing indolebutyric acid (1 mg l^–1) and all of these grew on transfer to soil. Received: 5 May 1996 / Revision received: 23 August 1996 / Accepted: 5 October 1996     

Repeated fed-batch cultivation of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis using urea as nitrogen source

Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont was autotrophically cultivated for biomass production in repeated fed-batch process using urea as nitrogen source, with the aim of making large-scale production easier, increasing cell productivity and then reducing the production costs. It was investigated the influence of the ratio of renewed volume to total volume (R), the urea feeding time (t_f) and the number of successive repeated fed-batch cycles on the maximum cell concentration (X_m), cell productivity (P_x), nitrogen-to-cell conversion yield (Y_x/n), maximum specific growth rate (μ_m) and protein content of dry biomass. The experimental results demonstrated that R = 0.80 and t_f = 6 d were the best cultivation conditions, being able to simultaneously ensure, throughout the three fed-batch cycles, the highest average values of three of the five responses (X_m = 2101 ± 113 mg L^?1, P_x = 219 ± 13 mg L^?1 d^?1 and Y_x/n = 10.3 ± 0.8 g g^?1).     

印楝种子提取物对荔枝蝽的毒性及与其等位酶基因型之间的关系

用5.2 mg/mL（LC₅₀）的印楝种子提取物对荔枝蝽1龄若虫进行急性毒性处理,24 h死亡率为51.8%。通过等位酶分析检测了死亡与存活试虫两种酶（PGI和MDH）,两个基因座（Pgi和Mdh）上各基因型及等位基因与印楝种子提取物毒性之间的关系,进行致死性差异比较研究。结果表明,印楝种子提取物对具有不同基因型及等位基因个体的致死性存在差异。在Pgi基因座上,Pgi-bb基因型死亡率最高,为84%,Pgi-aa 和Pgi-cc基因型死亡率较低,分别为0和7%,且与死亡率最高的Pgi-bb基因型存在显著差异（P<0.05）。在基因座Mdh上,Mdh-aa基因型个体死亡率最高（93%）,而具有Mdh-cc基因型的个体全部存活了下来, 另外3个基因型Mdh-ab、Mdh-bb与Mdh-bc死亡率居中,都与Mdh-aa、Mdh-cc基因型死亡率之间存在显著差异。在等位基因上,Pgi-a和Mdh-c个体的死亡率都最低,与各自其他两个等位基因的死亡率之间存在显著差异。结果说明不同基因型个体对印楝提取物具有不同的反应,印楝种子提取物对荔枝蝽等位酶基因型及等位基因存在选择性致死作用。这种荔枝蝽对印楝种子提取物的敏感性与其等位酶基因型及等位基因之间显明的相关关系提示我们,可将荔枝蝽种群中对印楝种子提取物敏感性低的基因型及等位基因作为遗传标记去监测荔枝蝽对印楝种子提取物的抗性状况。     

品种、种子大小和施肥对冬小麦生物学特性的影响

试验设不同年代冬小麦品种、粒重、播种方式和施肥等4个因子,品种选用白芒麦（20世纪60年代）、咸农39（20世纪70-80年代）、小偃6号（20世纪90年代后期）、远丰998（近期）等不同年代的4个冬小麦品种,粒重分为2种截然不同重量的大粒和小粒,播种方式设小粒单播、大粒单播以及大小粒等比例混播等3种播种方式,施肥设不施肥（CK）、施氮（N）、施磷（P）和同时施氮磷（NP）等4种方式,共48个处理。以土垫旱耕人为土为供试土样,进行盆栽试验,研究不同品种、种子大小和施肥对冬小麦生物学特性的影响。结果表明,不同品种间、大小粒播种间、不同施肥间植株株高均存在极显著差异（p〈0.01）,且这些因子间存在显著的交互作用（p〈0.05）。品种间,苗期和越冬前以近期品种远丰998植株最高,灌浆期以早期品种白芒麦植株最高。株高稳定后以早期品种高,反映了育种的演变趋势。大小粒播种间,苗期和越冬前大粒株高均显著高于小粒株高,但灌浆期大小粒播种间株高差异基本消失,说明大粒种子植株在苗期生长具有一定优势。不同施肥处理间株高差异在苗期与越冬前表现一致,单施P和NP配施植株较高;灌浆期以NP配施植株株高明显高于其它施肥处理。不同品种、大小粒播种方式和施肥显著影响冬小麦分蘖和单株叶面积。白芒麦、咸农39和小偃6号的分蘖数基本一致,变化在4.37个/株-4.74个/株之间,远丰998最少,仅为2.95个/株;NP配施和施P能够显著增加分蘖数,其分蘖数几乎是不施肥（CK）和单施N的2倍;各品种大粒种子植株分蘖数均多于小粒种子植株。远丰998绿叶面积最大（45.72cm^2/单茎）,白芒麦最低（仅为26.97cm^2/单茎）;NP配施单株绿叶面积明显大于其它施肥处理。除远丰998大粒种子植株绿叶面积（50.42cm^2/单茎）显著大于小粒种子（41.01cm^2/单茎）外,其余品种大、小粒种子植株绿叶面积相当。就施肥处理而言,施肥对近期品种小粒种子株高、分蘖数和叶面积的促进作用相对较大,而对远期品种小粒种子植株的影响相对较小。     

Gum cordia effectively enhances foliage adhesion of neem oil and increases its efficacy against aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The efficiency of pesticides is greatly affected by their ability to adhere and retain on foliage surface. Neem oil, though a very well-known source of many biologically active pesticidal compounds, is very sensitive to environmental parameters, such as UV light. Also, due to volatilization, it is lost in environment and hence fail to reach target and show activity. In this study we attempted to stabilize neem oil emulsion and increase its retention on foliage surface by adding varying concentration of gum cordia. Gum cordia is an anionic polysaccharide derived from Cordia myxa fruits with strong adhesion and emulsification properties. The lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of the final formulations were also determined against aphid species Myzus persicae and Schizaphis graminum. Adhesion was found to be dependent on the concentration of gum cordia as well as type of crop. Increasing gum cordia in neem oil formulations resulted in increase in adhesion of the spray on the leaf surfaces and up to 6 times higher adhesion was observed with 0.5% gum cordia on mustard leaf compared to control. The LC₅₀ decreased with increasing gum cordia concentration. The LC₅₀ values of neem oil sprayed on mustard, spinach, and wheat leaves with 0.5% gum cordia were 0.205, 0.715, and 2.074% respectively while for neem oil control spray (with no gum cordia) LC₅₀ values were 1.833, 2.112, and 4.992% respectively for the above tested leaves. Presence of greater than 0.125% gum cordia in neem formulations provided the barrier against UV irradiation.     

Isolation of a strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Rhizobium radiobacter) utilizing methylene urea (ureaformaldehyde) as nitrogen source

Methylene ureas (MU) are slow-release nitrogen fertilizers degraded in soil by microbial enzymatic activity. Improved utilization of MU in agricultural production requires more knowledge about the organisms and enzymes responsible for its degradation. A Gram-negative, MU-degrading organism was isolated from a soil in Sacramento Valley, California. The bacterium was identified as Agrobacterium tumefaciens (recently also known as Rhizobium radiobacter) using both genotypic and phenotypic characterization. The pathogenic nature of the organism was confirmed by a bioassay on carrot disks. The MU-hydrolyzing enzyme (MUase) was intracellular and was induced by using MU as a sole source of nitrogen. The bacterial growth was optimized in NH4Cl, urea, or peptone, whereas the production and specific activity of MUase were maximized with either NH4Cl or urea as a nitrogen source. The result has a practical significance, demonstrating a potential to select for this plant pathogen in soils fertilized with MU.     

杂种小麦繁制种研究和实践

用2个偏型不育系ms(ven)-149和ms(ven)-6901为供试材料,结合在近年来利用CMS和CHA法进行杂种小麦研究和应用中,有关亲本繁殖及杂交种制种技术的研究和实践,对杂种小麦繁制种技术进行分析研究,试验表明,用作杂种小麦制种的母本柱头生活力约持续15d左右,CMS母本较CHA母本柱头生活力持持续时间长,在进行花期调节时,CMS母本可比父枰早2－6d,CHA母本可比父本早2－4d,最佳父母本行比以1：2较为适宜,基本播幅为1．6m,在花期相遇不好的情况下,人工辅助授粉可明显提高异交结实率,为了保证繁制种质量,安全隔离和彻底去杂是杂交种繁制的重要措施。     

The release,diffusion and nitrification of nitrogen in soils surrounding sulfur-coated urea granules

Summary We have compared sulfur-coated urea granules (SCU) with ammonium sulfate granules (AS) in regard to nitrogen (N) release, diffusion, nitrification and the effect of irrigation. In the experiments plastic containers were filled with six layers of soil, separated from each other by fine nylon cloths. The fertilizer granules were placed between the two central layers, and irrigation was simulated by application of tap water to the uppermost layer. Nitrogen release from the SCU was slow, and after three months, 29.5% of the applied N remained in the granules. At the end of the experiment there was a deficit of 37.1% N in the case of the AS granules, while there was virtually none with the SCU. Throughout the experiment, N from SCU remained at a relatively even level, while 95% of the N applied as AS had disappeared after irrigation. Nitrification was rapid in both cases.     

Studies on plant gums. Proteases in neem (Azadirachta indica) gum

Proteolytic activity was detected in neem (Azadirachta indica) exudate gum when tested with casein and albumin as substrates. The enzyme activity was separated into two fractions by chromatography on TEAE-cellulose after EDTA treatment. Both the enzyme fractions were fairly stable to high temperatures and wide range of pH conditions. The pH optima were found to be around 6.5. Phenylmethyl sulphonylfluoride inhibited the activity of both the fractions. EDTA, Β-mercaptoethanol, tosylamide phenylethylchloromethylketone, tosyllysine chloroimethylketone,p-chloromercuribenzoate and dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoie acid did not affect the activity of the two enzyme fractions. The two fractions had no hydrolytic action on a variety of synthetic substrates tested.     

The mating system and genetic significance of polycarpy in the neem tree (Azadirachta indica)

The objectives of this study were to estimate the outcrossing rate and to explain genetic consequences of the development of seed in the endocarp in a natural population of neem in Bangladesh. Cotyledons of germinated open-pollinated seeds of individual trees were analyzed by starch-gel electrophoresis to examine allozymes. Three loci with clear Mendelian segregation were used to estimate outcrossing rate. A multilocus mixed mating model was used to evaluate the mating system. The population exhibited high outcrossing rates both for multilocus (t_m=0.90±0.024) and mean single-locus (t_s=0.92±0.020) estimates. The difference between these two parameters (t_m–t_s=0±SE 0.038) was insignificant, indicating that there was no ’biparental inbreeding’ in the population. The degree of variance of the estimates of multilocus outcrossing rates decreased when two or more loci were included. In order to elucidate the significance of polycarpy a total of 471 seeds were counted out of 440 endocarps. This mechanism appears to be a possible way of avoiding inbreeding. The results indicated that the studied neem population was predominantly allogamous. Received: 10 January 1999 / Accepted: 10 April 1999     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

Somatic embryos were initiated with mature seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) when cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ). Regeneration occurred via somatic embryogenesis: direct embryo formation and through an intermediary callus phase. TDZ was very effective and induced somatic embryogenesis across a wide range of concentrations (1–50 μm). However, somatic embryogenesis was accompanied by callus formation at concentrations of 20 μm and above. Cell suspension cultures were established with the TDZ-induced callus and groups of large cell clumps were formed within 2–3 weeks. Plants were regenerated from both directly formed somatic embryos and somatic embryos derived from cell suspensions plated on semisolid medium devoid of growth regulators. Regenerated plantlets continued to grow after transfer to a greenhouse environment and were similar phenotypically to zygotic seedlings. This simple regeneration system may be beneficial for mass propagation of selected elite clones of neem. Received: 13 May 1997 / Revision received: 13 November 1997 / Accepted: 2 December 1997     

Histological changes in the Dengue vector,Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae treated with neem oil loaded niosomes

Mosquitoes are one of the greatest threats to human health around the globe. They act as vectors for common diseases like Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, etc. Niosomes encapsulated with neem oil showed a significant mortality rate against Aedes aegypti larvae when treated for 24 h. In this study, the histological changes that led to the mortality of the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae were studied. Organs of the late III-instar stage larvae such as head, optic lobes, cuticle, adipose tissue, midgut region, haemolymph were investigated. Several histological alterations such as disorientation of the brain and antenna in the head part, damage in the optic lobe and microvilli were observed. Total disruption was seen in the inner and outer retractor muscles of the larval body. The midgut and hindgut regions were disintegrated due to the damage to the fat bodies in the region. A Series of such histological changes in the body of mosquito larvae compared to the control larvae hindered metabolic functions leading to death. The results suggested that the neem oil loaded niosomes could be used as a biocontrol agent against the Dengue vector, Aedes aegypti larvae.     

Phenolic acid changes in mycelia of Sclerotium rolfsii as influenced by neem (Azadirachta indica) cake and Zephyarenthes citrina bulb

High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of mycelia of Sclerotium rolfsii grown on neem cake, and Zephyarenthes citrina bulb incorporated media was carried out. Several phenoloic acids, e.g., gallic, tannic, caffeic, cinnamic, chlorogenic and O-coumeric acids, were found in considerable amounts in treated mycelial mat as compared to the control. The amount of phenloic acids increased with increased concentration of both the materials in mycelia of 7 and 14 day-old cultures. Due to anti-oxidant and several other properties of phenolic acids, the senescence of the fungus has been prolonged which may be one probable reason of sustaining the virulence of the pathogen.     

Preparation of a Slow Release Biofertilizer From a Polymeric Urea-Formaldehyde Matrix (PUFM)

Fertilizers industry faces the challenge of improving the efficiency of its products either by optimizing the fertilizers in use or by developing new types of them. During the last decade, controlled and slow release technologies have become more important. These technologies aim to increase the efficiency of the applied substance by increasing its action over time and avoiding losses of all kinds (leaching, volatilization). The main purpose of the current study was to obtain a slow release biofertilizer by incorporating microalgae into a polymeric ureaformaldehyde matrix (PUFM). The quantitative analysis of macronutrients and micronutrients in the microalgae was determined using different techniques including titration, UV and Atomic Adsorption Spectroscopy. The matrix and the formulation obtained (PUFM + CHLO) were also characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The “in vitro” study showed a typical slow release behavior of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) macronutrients. It was also shown that (PUFM+CHLO) formulation has the slowest macronutrients release time with a maximum release of 28%, 26% y 46% for (N-P-K) macronutrients respectively during a period of 30 days. The "in vivo" study exposed the benefits of the biofertilizer formulation (PUFM + CHLO) from conventional commercial fertilizer (CF) (NPK-14-5-12). Due to the presence of nutrients of natural origin in microalgae, (PUFM + CHLO) shows ecological effects which could also developing sustainable agriculture systems.     

Ammonium and urea as nitrogen sources for bromeliads

Epiphytic bromeliads have no contact with the pedosphere, so they need to draw their nutrients from the atmosphere as well as from the host tree and animal debris. Terrestrial bromeliads, like Ananas comosus, generally depend on the soil as their main nutrient source. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare some aspects of the nitrogen metabolism of two bromeliads with different growth habits: Ananas comosus, a terrestrial bromeliad, and Vriesea gigantea, an epiphytic tank bromeliad. Nitrogen-starved plants were grown in vitro for 3, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days, either with 5 mmol L⁻¹ ammonium [(NH₄)₂SO₄] or urea as the sole nitrogen source. When NH₄⁺ was supplied to the plants, it stimulated a faster increase of chlorophyll content in A. comosus than in V. gigantea. In the presence of urea, after 15 days of the plants in culture, there was a significant increase in tissue free-NH₄⁺ and total amino acids for V. gigantea only. V. gigantea presented a higher level of total free amino acids than A. comosus when nitrogen was supplied to the plants. Asparagine was the main amino acid accumulated in both bromeliads when plants were transferred to the medium with nitrogen. When the ratio of the main individual free amino acids between the bromeliads grown in NH₄⁺ and urea was compared, values such as 7.2 for asparagine, 5.3 for glutamate, and 1.8 for aspartate in A. comosus, and values such as 2.3 for asparagine, 1.1 for glutamate and 0.7 for aspartate in V. gigantea were observed, demonstrating that the last is more efficient in assimilating urea. The results prompted us to support the idea that V. gigantea, an epiphytic tank bromeliad, is better adapted to absorb and assimilate organic nitrogen, such as urea, while A. comosus, a terrestrial plant, is better adapted to inorganic nitrogen forms, such as ammonium. The natural exposure of tank bromeliads to urea is discussed in the paper.