The response of spring barley and winter wheat to Avena fatua population density

Populations of Avena fatua were established in crops of spring barley and winter wheat, and relationships derived between yield and other crop parameters, and weed density. Competitive effects of A. fatua, which were similar to those found in other countries, were greatest at low crop densities. Crop head numbers were reduced proportionately less than crop yield, indicating that competition was affecting other yield components. Competition increased the proportion of thin grain of barley but not of wheat. Competition had little effect on the moisture content and the contamination of the harvested grain by A. fatua, suggesting that at threshold populations these factors are unlikely to be of economic significance. It was concluded that at average crop densities, low infestations of A. fatua are likely to result in cereal yield losses in the region of 1 % for each A. fatua plant m^-2.     

Thinking with Animals: New Perspectives on Anthropomorphism

Thinking with Animals: New Perspectives on Anthropomorphism. Lorraine Daston and Gregg Mitman, eds. New York: Columbia University Press, 2005. 230 pp.     

Rethinking Commodification: Cases and Readings in Law and Culture

Rethinking Commodification: Cases and Readings in Law and Culture . Martha M. Ertmanand Joan C. Williams, eds. New York. New York University Press, 2005. 450 pp.     

Controlling potato tuber blemish diseases on cv. Estima with chemical and non-chemical methods

In 3 years, seed tubers were treated or not with imazalil in March or April, sprouted and planted in field experiments. Tubers were harvested on several dates and cured under different conditions for 2 wk, or not cured, before storage for 6 months. In some years effects of irrigation, seed tuber size and seed stock were tested. Fungicide seed treatment decreased silver scurf, and was most effective in 1989 when the seed had little infection and the season was dry, but the treatment increased black dot. Silver scurf and black dot were decreased by harvesting early and also by drying tubers before storage (dry curing), and these practices also sometimes decreased black scurf and skin spot. The effects of fungicide seed treatment and of dry curing were greater the earlier the tubers were harvested. Irrigation decreased silver scurf and in one year decreased black scurf but greatly increased black dot. Silver scurf, black dot and skin spot were more common on tubers from large than small seed whereas black scurf was most common on tubers from small seed. In 2 years tubers were affected with a brown superficial blemish (golding blotch). This developed on the undersides of tubers in soil and was decreased by irrigation. Its cause is not known.     

Paramecium Phagosome Membrane: From Oral Region to Cytoproct and Back Again1

Ten years of research on digestive vacuoles (phagosomes) of Paramecium caudatum have revealed sequential changes both within the vacuole lumen as well as within the surrounding membrane. Four vacuole stages can be recognized by a combination of thin section and freeze-fracture ultrastructural features. Three sets of vesicles (discoidal vesicles, acidosomes, and lysosomes) fuse with the vacuole, each at a predetermined stage, to bring about these membrane and physiological changes. At various times membrane is removed as vesicles from the vacuole surface, which has the effect of regulating vacuole size. Membrane recycling, membrane replacement, and specific membrane to membrane recognition all appear to be operating during the digestive cycle. Details of these events are summarized in this address and a number of unanswered questions suggest areas for future research.     

Effects of environment and host on vector biology and incidence of two whitefly-spread diseases of legumes in Nigeria

Seasonal periodicity in the incidence of cowpea golden mosaic (CGM) and lima bean golden mosaic (LBGM), two whitefly-spread virus-like diseases, corresponded closely with fluctuations in population density of their vector, Bemisia tabaci, at two contrasting sites in southern Nigeria. Peak catches of the vector followed the onset of rains after very high temperatures during the dry season; populations declined abruptly with continuous, heavy rainfall. At Onne, B. tabaci infested legumes at emergence and remained and reproduced on them but at Ibadan infestation was delayed and there was no evidence of reproduction on legumes. B. tabaci preferred LBGM-susceptible lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) to resistant ones and more pupae of B. tabaci occurred on CGM-susceptible cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars than on resistant ones but these observations did not relate to the yellow-sensitivity of whiteflies. Resistance to CGM in cowpea, and to LBGM in lima bean, was identified amongst germplasm exposed to natural infection. Resistance was, in each case, associated with lower disease incidence, slower spread and milder expression of symptoms relative to susceptible cultivars. Vector non-preference for resistant cultivars may have contributed to reduced secondary spread.     

Development of Vertebrate Skeletal Muscle

An investigation of developing skeletal muscle necessitatesthe study of three categories; the derivation of muscle cellsor fibers, myofilament synthesis and interactions, assemblyof myofilaments into functional sarcomeres of striated myofibrils.With few exceptions, skeletal muscle cells are of mesodermalorigin, and consist of rounded mononucleated cells which elongateand fuse with one another to become myotubes. Within the sarcoplasm,myofibrillar proteins are synthesized and grouped into interactingthick and thin filaments. Crude, non-striated myofibrils resultfrom linear arrangements of thick and thin filaments which arehorizontally aligned by the invaginating sarcotubular system.After Z-lines form, providing attachment sites for thin filaments,a typical banding pattern follows. The newly formed Z-linespull apart, followed by the attached thin filaments, and repeating"relaxed" sarcomeres are the resulting striated myofibrillarpattern.     

Patterns of arbuscular mycorrhiza down the profile of a heavy textured soil do not reflect associated colonization potential

Colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in several annual crops in two consecutive seasons was compared with, in the second season, the density of fungal propagules in the soil with the use of a bioassay. Root density decreased down the soil profile in both years in all crops, and a high proportion of roots were mycorrhizal throughout the profile. AM colonization decreased down the profile in cotton and lablab in the second season only. The bioassay indicated that most propagules of AM fungi in soils under cotton were located near the surface, with virtually no propagules at 1 m. The absence of propagules at depth indicates a lack of mycelium deep in the soil, and suggests that mycorrhizas are primarily initiated in the surface soil and that the fungi colonize the root system mostly through secondary spread down the profile. The use of AM colonization in the field as an indicator of propagule density and symbiotic function should be qualified by an understanding of the depth in the soil from which roots were extracted.