Host Status of Five Weed Species and Their Effects on Pratylenchus zeae Infestation of Maize

The host suitability of five of the most common weed species occurring in maize (Zea mays L.) fields in South Africa to Pratylenchus zeae was tested. Based on the number of nematodes per root unit, mealie crotalaria (Crotalaria sphaerocarpa) was a good host; goose grass (Eleusine indica), common pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus), and thorn apple (Datura stramonium) were moderate hosts; and khaki weed (Tagetes minuta) was a poor host. Only the root residues of khaki weed suppressed the P. zeae infestation of subsequently grown maize. When goose grass, khaki weed, and mealie crotalaria were grown in association with maize in soil infested with P. zeae, goose grass and khaki weed severely suppressed maize root development; this resulted in a low number of nematodes per maize root system and a high number of nematodes per maize root unit. Mealie crotalaria did not restrict maize root growth and did not affect nematode densities per maize root system or maize root unit. Special attention should be given to the control of mealie crotalaria, which is a good host for P. zeae, and goose grass, which, in addition to its ability to compete with maize, is also a suitable host for P. zeae.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Configurational assignments of C-nitromethyl-C-hydroxy branched-chain carbohydrate derivatives by use of a europium shift-reagent in 1 H-N.M.R. spectroscopy

Configurational assignments for the tertiary alcoholic centers of four branched-chain 3-C-nitromethylglycopyranosides, namely, methyl 2-benzamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-C-nitromethyl-α-D-allopyranoside (1), benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-C-nitromethyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (4), benzyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-C-nitromethyl-α-D-allopyranoside (5), and methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-nitromethyl-2-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (8), were made on the basis of the downfield chemical shifts of their identifiable protons per molar equivalent of added Eu(fod)₃, as compared with those of model compounds, of known configuration, having a close structural relationship. In some cases, the assignments were corroborated by the position of the acetyl resonances in the unshifted 60-MHz p.m.r. spectra of the corresponding O-acetyl derivatives.     

Direct and size-mediated effects of temperature and ration-dependent growth rates on energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Growth rate and energy reserves are important determinants of fitness and are governed by endogenous and exogenous factors. Thus, examining the influence of individual and multiple stressors on growth and energy reserves can help estimate population health under current and future conditions. In young anadromous fishes, freshwater habitat quality determines physiological state and fitness of juveniles emigrating to marine habitats. In this study, the authors tested how temperature and food availability affect survival, growth and energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), a forage fish distributed along the eastern North American continent. Field-collected juvenile anadromous A. pseudoharengus were exposed for 21 days to one of two temperatures (21°C and 25°C) and one of two levels of food rations (1% or 2% tank biomass daily) and compared for differences in final size, fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Increased temperature and reduced ration both led to lower growth rates, and the effect of reduced ration was greater at higher temperature. Fat mass-at-length decreased with dry mass, and energy density increased with total length, suggesting size-based endogenous influences on energy reserves. Lower ration also directly decreased fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Given the fitness implications of size and energy reserves, temperature and food availability should be considered important indicators of nursery habitat quality and incorporated in A. pseudoharengus life-history models to improve forecasting of population health under climate change.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Comparative analysis of the eye anatomy in fossorial and surface-living skink species (Reptilia: Scincidae), with special reference to the structure of the retina

We compared the eye anatomy of the scotopic fossorial Acontias orientalis, Acontias rieppeli and Typhlosaurus vermis with that of the photopic surface-living Trachylepis punctatissima, with particular reference to the retina. The findings were compared with published data on gecko species (Röll, 2001), to determine whether similar trends existed. The vestigial eye of T. vermis was not comparable with that of the other three skink species. The findings in A. orientalis, A. rieppeli and T. punctatissima were as follows: (a) A. rieppeli lacked a conus papillaris, (b) A. orientalis, A. rieppeli and T. punctatissima were pure-cone species but lacked a fovea, (c) estimated cone density in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli was lower than that in T. punctatissima, (d) the ellipsoid cone segment was smaller and the paraboloid segment larger in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli with the reverse in T. punctatissima, (e) VCL%, ONL%, OPL% and GCL% in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli were significantly greater than that of T. punctatissima, (f) INL% and IPL% in T. punctatissima was significantly greater, and (g) T. punctatissima had abundant Müller cells and fibres. Findings in the gecko species were congruent with those of the three skink species of the present study.