Control of tomato grey mould on unheated crops using non- systemic fungicide sprays

High volume sprays of dichlofluanid (0.1 % a.i.) reduced total fruit numbers but gave better control of Botrytis cinerea infections of tomato stems, leaves and fruit than sprays at 0.05 or 0.025% a.i. Surface residues from the sprays at 0–1, 0.05 or 0.025% a.i. were respectively 5.4, 1.6, 0.7 μg/g fresh weight of ripe fruit at harvest. Tank-mixed zineb (0.12% a.i.) and captan (0.2% a.i.) were less effective and increasing the spray intervals from 1 wk to 2 and 3 wk reduced the fungitoxicity of captan and zineb more than that of dichlofluanid. Harvest residues on ripe fruit were 7.1, 2.8 or 2.4 μg/g when dichlofluanid (0.1 % a.i.) sprays were applied at 1, 2 and 3 wk intervals respectively. Good control of B. cinerea was achieved if the whole plant was sprayed initially with dichlofluanid as soon as the second truss was flowering and subsequent sprays were restricted to the upper section of stem including the four or five youngest trusses of buds, flowers and fruit. When used as a post-infection spray there was a period of c. 8 wk before dichlofluanid markedly reduced the incidence of grey mould. Tank-mixed zineb (0.12% a.i.) controlled Botrytis fruit spotting but not leaf and stem infections. Botrytis stem lesions extended more rapidly on zineb-sprayed plants than on unsprayed plants or on plants treated with captan or dichlofluanid.     

Avian botulism during late autumn and early spring in Saskatchewan

Two outbreaks of botulism in central Saskatchewan in which mortality of waterfowl continued into late autumn and then recurred in the same marshes the following spring are described. Small numbers of birds were involved in each instance. Dabbling ducks (predominantly mallards, Anas platyrhynchos and pintails, Anas acuta) and American coots, Fulica americana were affected most commonly in autumn, whereas only diving ducks (predominantly lesser scaup, Aythya affinis) were found to be involved in spring. Live maggots present in carcasses despite sub-freezing temperatures were the probable source of intoxication in the autumn; the source of toxin in the spring was not determined.     

The use of menazon seed dressing to decrease spread of virus yellows in sugar-beet root crops

Menazon, an organophosphorus insecticide (only slightly toxic to mammals), applied to sugar-beet seed, decreased the proportion of seedlings infested with aphids during May and early June and the number of aphids per plant during June and early July to one-third of that in the control plots. It also checked the spread of virus yellows. Of eight field trials in 1965, 1966 and 1967 in which more than 10% of the plants in plots not treated with insecticide had yellows, menazon seed dressing increased sugar yield by about 8 cwt per acre. Spraying with demeton-methyl when ‘a spray warning’ was issued in the area gave a similar increase, and had no further effect on plots sown with menazon-treated seed. Menazon-dressed sugar-beet seed is recommended in regions where yellows is usually prevalent, or where there is reason to expect a large aphid infestation.     

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and chitosan sprays on yield and late blight resistance in potato crops from microplants

The established microplants, mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized controls, were planted in the field and unsprayed (controls), sprayed with a conventional fungicide (Ridomil), with Ridomil alternating with N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC — a soluble chitosan) or sprayed only with NOCC. The effects of the treatments on late blight progression in the crop were monitored throughout the season and yield measured. In a preliminary study on the inoculation of detached leaves from unsprayed plants and plants sprayed with Ridomil and NOCC, respectively, NOCC was shown to delay disease development. In the field, late blight development was most rapid in the unsprayed controls, delayed in the Ridomil-treated plants and disease progression was slowed in the other treatments (AMF-inoculation, AMF-NOCC sprayed, NOCC-sprayed and Ridomil-NOCC sprayed). It was shown that plant chitinase activity increased in the AMF, AMF-NOCC and NOCC treatments. At harvest, yields for the Ridomil-NOCC, NOCC and AMF-NOCC treatments were significantly higher than the un-sprayed, non-mycorrhizal control and were not significantly different to the Ridomil-sprayed control. The results are discussed in relation to the production of seed potatoes for organic (ecological) growers.     

A survey of seedling establishment in sugar-beet crops in 1980 and 1981

One hundred and twenty five crops distributed throughout the UK sugar-beet growing area were examined to identify the growth stage at which failures occurred during the seedling establishment phase. Establishment varied between 15 and 90% and averaged 64 and 67% in 1980 and 1981 respectively. It exceeded 70% in 46% of fields. Overall, the actual seed spacing was only 0·15cm wider than the 17·0cm intended but the number of seed stations in individual fields varied from 27% less to 19% more than the target. On average the drill failed to place a seed at 5% of seed stations but up to 14% misses were recorded. Germination in the field was 92% - only 1% less than in the standard laboratory germination test. However, on average, 16% (range 2 - 42%) of seeds which germinated failed to develop much further; the cause of only a quarter of these losses was identified as due to soil pests, diseases or being caught under stones or clods. There was a tendency for more seeds to fail between germination and emergence as the proportion of empty seed stations increased. Rapid emergence usually resulted in greater final emergence. There were post-emergence losses in 122 of the 125 fields. These losses averaged 6% and exceeded 14% on five fields. Birds were considered to have killed plants in 49 fields, soil pests caused losses in 20 fields and herbicides, fungal disease or grazing by rabbits or hares decreased plant stands in about 10 fields.     

The effects of gap size on some microclimate variables during late summer and autumn in a temperate broadleaved deciduous forest

The creation of gaps can strongly influence forest regeneration and habitat diversity within forest ecosystems. However, the precise characteristics of such effects depend, to a large extent, upon the way in which gaps modify microclimate and soil water content. Hence, the aim of this study was to understand the effects of gap creation and variations in gap size on forest microclimate and soil water content. The study site, in North West England, was a mixed temperate broadleaved deciduous forest dominated by mature sessile oak (Quercus petraea), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) with some representatives of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Solar radiation (I), air temperature (T _A), soil temperature (T _S), relative humidity (h), wind speed (v) and soil water content (Ψ) were measured at four natural treefall gaps created after a severe storm in 2006 and adjacent sub-canopy sites. I, T _A, T _S, and Ψ increased significantly with gap size; h was consistently lower in gaps than the sub-canopy but did not vary with gap size, while the variability of v could not be explained by the presence or size of gaps. There were systematic diurnal patterns in all microclimate variables in response to gaps, but no such patterns existed for Ψ. These results further our understanding of the abiotic and consequent biotic responses to gaps in broadleaved deciduous forests created by natural treefalls, and provide a useful basis for evaluating the implications of forest management practices.     

Control of Botrytis cinerea and Botrytis squamosa in overwintered salad onions by fungicide sprays

In 1974/75, 13 sprays of 0·2% a.i. thiram applied at 14 day intervals to overwintered salad onions reduced the incidence of Botrytis cinerea and significantly increased onion yields. In 1977/78 both B. cinerea and B. squamosa occurred, and 12 iprodione sprays at 0·1% a.i. applied at 14-day intervals or 6 sprays at 0·2% a.i. applied at 28-day intervals gave good control of B. cinerea and B. squamosa and significantly increased onion yields. Benomyl (0·1% a.i. at 14-day intervals, or 0·2% a.i. at 28-day intervals) failed to control either pathogen because of the development of carbendazim-insensitive strains of the fungi. Effective control of both pathogens and increased yields were obtained with an application of 0·4% a.i. thiram in October and November followed by an application of 0·2% a.i. iprodione in December and January.     

Experiments with foliar sprays of thiabendazole and captafol for control of potato gangrene

In an experiment designed to measure the effect of foliar sprays of fungicides on gangrene in stored tubers thiabendazole but not captafol reduced yield by 30%. Although both fungicides reduced disease incidence in stems and tubers the extent of the reduction was so small that foliar sprays were considered unimportant as a method of control. Sprays of thiabendazole and captafol applied to the haulm 1 wk or 1 wk and 2 wk after desiccation did not reduce the incidence of gangrene in storage.     

太白山北坡夏秋季鸟类物种多样性

2006年5月～7月(夏季),9月～10月(秋季)在秦岭主峰太白山的北坡根据海拔和典型植被划分生境类型,在6种生境中选择典型样区划定样线并采用样线法对鸟类进行调查,根据鸟类的绝对数量和估算面积计算鸟类的绝对密度,并根据密度等级划分各生境类型中优势物种和常见物种。共观察到鸟类144种,其中留鸟102种,夏候鸟41种,冬候鸟1种。不同的海拔和不同生境类型中的鸟类物种丰富度和多度有较大差异,而且同一生境中鸟类多样性的季节性变化也很明显。无论是夏季还是秋季,低海拔农田带生境中鸟类的总密度最高,而高山灌丛草甸生境中的鸟类总密度最低。优势物种和常见物种在不同的生境类型组成也不相同,而且在不同季节也有变化。夏秋季的鸟类食性组成在农田带有显著差异,而其它生境类型中的鸟类食性夏秋季无明显差异,但是秋季植食性鸟类在各个生境类型中都有增多的趋势。物种丰富度和海拔梯度的关系显示在中海拔地区的鸟类丰富度最高。总体上,和20世纪80年代相比,太白山北坡的鸟类已经发生了明显的变化。     

太湖浮游细菌与春末浮游藻类群落结构演替的相关分析

为研究浮游细菌与浮游藻类群落演替的相关性,2005年4月至6月在太湖5个观测点采集浮游细菌及浮游藻类样本。分别采用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳（PCR—DGGE）和显微观察的方法分析浮游细菌及浮游藻类群落组成。结果表明,春末夏初,浮游细菌与藻类均呈现较高的多样性,浮游细菌DGGE图谱具有43种不同条带,浮游藻类的常见种有29种。浮游细菌群落聚类分析显示,丝藻（Ulothrix sp．）和微囊藻（Microcystis spp．）占优势时,浮游细菌群落基因组成存在明显差异。以藻类种群Shannon—Wiener多样性指数（Hp）,浮游藻类总细胞数（N）以及Microcystis spp．（M）百分含量为变量,典型对应分析（CCA）结果显示浮游细菌与浮游藻类群落结构变化的相关系数为30．9％,表明春末夏初太湖浮游细菌与浮游藻类群落演替具有较高的相关性。     

Feeding habits of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) during early summer and autumn in the northern Barents Sea

The feeding habits of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in the Barents Sea were examined in studies conducted during June 1991, September 1990 and 1991, and October 1992. Analyses of stomach and intestinal contents were carried out and concurrent estimates of prey abundance were made using trawl gear. Harp seals appeared to feed at low intensity in the pack ice belt during the first half of June. There was little potential prey in the water column, but prawns (Pandalus borealis), capelin (Mallotus villosus) and polar cod (Boreogadus saida) were abundant close to the bottom. In September, the seals sampled in the northern pack ice areas of the Barents Sea fed on the pelagic amphipod Parathemisto libellula, krill (Thysanoessa spp.), prawns and, to a lesser extent, on fish species such as polar cod, sculpins (Cottidae) and snailfish (Liparidae). Trawling revealed that large quantities of Parathemisto libellala were present in the upper layers of the water column. Fish, mainly capelin and polar cod, were less abundant and occurred in deeper waters. In mid-October, the diet of seals in the northern Barents Sea consisted mainly of amphipods (Parathemisto sp.). Later in October, when increasing pack ice cover forced the harp seals to move south, the diet seemed to change from amphipods to fish prey, predominantly capelin and polar cod.     

太白山南坡夏秋季鸟类组成

太白山是秦岭山脉的主峰, 生物区系成分复杂。为了研究太白山鸟类区系在过去20年间的变化, 我们于2007年5–7月(夏季)和9–10月(秋季), 根据海拔和典型植被在太白山南坡选定5种生境类型(退耕林、阔叶林、混交林、针叶林和高山灌丛草甸), 并在各种生境中选择样区采用样线法对鸟类组成进行调查。两个季节共观察到鸟类122种, 其中留鸟85种, 夏候鸟31种, 冬候鸟1种, 旅鸟5种。不同的生境类型中优势种和常见种不同, 而且在夏秋两季也有变化。中低海拔退耕林带鸟类物种数最多, 夏季有60种, 优势种为绿背山雀(Parus monticolus)、黄腹山雀(P. venustulus)和冠纹柳莺(Phylloscopus reguloides); 秋季有59种, 优势种为大山雀(Parus major)。中海拔阔叶林带夏季有鸟类40种, 优势种为绿背山雀、黄腹山雀和异色树莺(Cettia flavolivaceus); 秋季37种, 优势种是黄腹山雀、黑冠山雀(Parus rubidiventris)和银脸长尾山雀(Aegithalos fuliginosus)。 中高海拔针阔混交林带夏季有46种, 优势种是黄腰柳莺(Phylloscopus proregulus)、极北柳莺(P. borealis)和黑冠山雀; 秋季有37种, 优势种是黑冠山雀、褐冠山雀(Parus dichrous)和长尾山椒鸟(Pericrocotus ethologus)。高海拔针叶林带夏季有36种, 优势种是黄腰柳莺和黑冠山雀; 秋季有27种, 优势种是血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)和黑冠山雀。高山灌丛草甸带物种最少, 夏秋季都只有7种。各生境中鸟类物种组成的季节周转率随着海拔的升高而下降, 物种丰富度也呈现同样的趋势。太白山南北坡鸟类物种组成有较高的相似性。与20年前相比, 尽管在每种生境类型中优势种和常见种的组成仍相似, 但太白山南北坡的鸟类物种组成有较大的变化。     

黑河流域树木液流秋末冬初的峰值现象

应用3套综合环境观测系统,分别布设在黑河上游祁连山区、中游绿洲边缘和下游荒漠河岸林系统,对青海云杉、樟子松、二白杨、白榆、沙枣和胡杨液流量进行了长期观测,最长观测时间为2 0 0 2年夏季到2 0 0 5年初。观测结果表明,不管是常绿树种还是落叶树种,树木液流量均会在秋末冬初出现一个峰值,而此时中下游地区的峰值大于夏季。出现这个峰值的时间,正是当地落叶树种的落叶期,也是生长季节向非生长季节过渡的特殊时期,在这个特殊的生长阶段,北半球中高纬度四季分明地区现有的不同树种的观测结果均表明,有这样一个峰值的存在,但在峰值相对大小上有差异。不同地区的观测结果表明,同一地点不同树种液流量大的周期波动具有一致性,而不同地点同一树种大的周期波动互异,这种大的周期波动与当地气候环境条件有关,我国西北干旱区出现秋末冬初液流量大于生长季节的现象,正是由于当地恶劣的气候环境条件所造成的。秋末冬初出现的液流量峰值现象,类似动物冬眠前的准备,是树木为应对严寒的冬季和漫长的早春而采取的生理措施。     

Temporal variation in chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, diets in the central Bering Sea in summer and early autumn

Seasonal, ontogenetic, and diel variations in the diets of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, were examined by analyzing the stomach contents of 1398 fish (300–755 mm fork length) collected in the Bering Sea during summer and early autumn of 2002. Whereas mesozooplankton, including euphausiids, hyperiids, and gastropods, constituted the greatest portion of the stomach contents during the summer, forage fishes (Stenobrachius leucopsarus and Atka mackerel, Pleurogrammus monopterygius) were the most important items during early autumn. Although no apparent diel trend was found in feeding intensity, distinct diel differences in prey composition were observed. Chum salmon caught in the morning contained Stenobrachius leucopsarus, whereas those caught in the afternoon had mainly fed on euphausiids. Thus, chum salmon diets change temporally because of changes in prey availability that result from differences in the annual life cycles and diurnal vertical migrations of prey species.     

Cell-cell adhesion in fresh sugar-beet root parenchyma requires both pectin esters and calcium cross-links

Multicellular plants depend for their integrity on effective adhesion between their component cells. This adhesion depends upon various cross-links; ionic, covalent or weak interactions between the macromolecules of the adjacent cell walls. In sugar-beet ( Beta vulgaris L. Aztec) root parenchyma, cell-cell adhesion is disrupted by successive extractions with a calcium-chelating agent (imidazole) and a de-esterifying agent (sodium carbonate) but not by the calcium-chelating agent or the de-esterifying agent alone. Cell-cell adhesion in sugar-beet parenchyma thus depends upon both ester and Ca²⁺ cross-linked polymers. Pectic polysaccharides are removed by these treatments. Both parallel-electron energy-loss spectroscopy (PEELS) and Image-EELS show that calcium-binding sites are removed from the wall by imidazole. Using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a relatively unesterified epitope of homogalacturonan, JIM 5, we show that a subset of JIM 5-reactive antigens remain in the middle lamella after Ca²⁺ chelation and that this subset is removed by cold (4° C) Na₂CO₃-induced breakage of ester bonds. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and spectrophotometric assays show that methyl and feruloyl esters are removed from the wall by Na₂CO₃ but acetyl esters remain. Sodium carbonate extraction at 20° C removes cell wall autofluorescence and most of the feruloylated moieties from the wall. We propose that the chelator-resistant subset of ester-linked JIM 5-reactive pectins are important for cell-cell adhesion.     

Genotype and fungicide effects on late-season root growth of winter wheat

The aim of this work was to investigate differences among genotypes in post-anthesis root growth and distribution of modern UK winter wheat cultivars, and the effects of fungicide applications. Post-anthesis root growth of up to six cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), given either one or three applications of fungicide, was studied in field experiments during two seasons. Total root mass remained unchanged between GS63 (anthesis) and GS85, but root length increased significantly from 14.7 to 31.4 km m⁻² in one season. Overall, there was no evidence for a decline in either root mass or length during grain filling. Root mass as a proportion of total plant mass was about 0.05 at GS85. There were significant differences among cultivars in root length and mass especially below 30 cm. Malacca had the smallest root length and Savannah the largest, and Shamrock had a significantly larger root system below 40 cm in both seasons. Fungicide applied at ear emergence had no significant effect on root mass in either season but increased root length (P<0.01) in the more disease-prone season. By maintaining a green canopy for longer, fungicide applied at flag leaf emergence may have resulted in delayed senescence of the root system and contributed to the post-anthesis maintenance of root mass and length. Section Editor: R. W. Bell     

冬季作物种植对双季稻根系酶活性及形态指标的影响

基于湖南长沙7a定位试验,以冬闲为对照,研究了冬种马铃薯、紫云英及油菜为前茬作物对早、晚稻根系酶活性、形态指标及产量的影响.结果表明,与冬闲相比,冬种作物后早、晚稻根系丙二醛(MDA)含量增加,但其根系的活性氧清除能力更强(SOD、POD和CAT活性高),能够在一定程度上缓解膜脂过氧化作用带来的伤害;冬种不同作物对早晚稻根系形态的影响表现不一.冬种马铃薯和紫云英处理在早稻生育后期的根系优势明显,并能在一定程度上促进晚稻根系生长,双季稻总产量较对照分别增加6.29％和7.76％,而冬种油菜抑制了晚稻根系生长,导致晚稻产量及双季稻总产分别降低6.31％和1.96％;相关性分析表明,灌浆期较高的根长、根数、根体积和根表面积是冬种作物改善双季稻产量的主要原因.综合来看,冬种马铃薯和紫云英对于促进双季稻根系生长,提高稻谷产量具有重要作用,而冬种油菜则不利于提高双季稻的稻谷生产力.