Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF VA MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND RHIZOSPHERE MICROORGANISMS ON ROOT AND SHOOT MORPHOLOGY, GROWTH AND WATER RELATIONS IN MAIZE

summary Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown in fertilized calcareous soil in pots which were separated by 30 μm nylon nets into three compartments, the central one for root growth and the two outer ones for hyphal growth. The size of each compartment was 40 × 25 × 3 cm. The treatments comprised of sterilized soil, either inoculated with rhizosphere microorganisms (other than VA mycorrhizal fungi), with rhizosphere microorganisms together with a VA mycorrhizal fungus [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe] or remained non-inoculated (sterile control). As inoculum for rhizosphere microorganisms the roots with adhering rhizosphere soil of non-mycorrhizal maize plants was used. Compared to the non-inoculated (sterile) control, inoculation with rhizosphere microorganisms did not affect shoot dry weight and morphology, but increased total root length (17 %) and root length per unit root dry weight (35%). The additional inoculation with VA mycorrhizal fungi had no influence on the shoot dry weight but increased area and dry weight of the leaf blades by about 30% and the ratio leaf blade:leaf sheath + stem (w/w) by 41 %. The most profound effect of VA mycorrhizal fungi inoculation was on root growth and morphology. Compared to the non-inoculated control, root dry weight was decreased by 16%, root length by 31 % and root hair density and length by 41 and 43 %, respectively. In mycorrhizal plants the transpiration rates per plant were about 30 % higher than in the other treatments and this is attributed to the larger leaf area. Water uptake rate per unit root length and per unit time was about twice as high in mycorrhizal plants. For several reasons a substantial hyphal water transport seems unlikely. The results stress the necessity of detailed studies on root morphology for interpretation of effects of mycorrhizal fungi on mineral nutrient uptake and water relations in plants.
Cover Crops Affect Sorghum Seedling Growth

Recently killed cover crops often interfere with crop seedling growth. Controlled-environment and field studies were conducted to characterize the nature and persistence of cover crop interference with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] seedling growth and to test several seed-zone management practices that might alleviate detrimental effects. Germination, root and shoot length, and disease incidence of sorghum germinated at 25°C for 5 d in soil collected 2, 4, 7, 14, 23, and 32 d after killing cover crops indicated legume cover crops were more detrimental to seedling growth than were nonlegumes. Surface residues, subsurface residues, and residue leachates contributed to the deleterious effects. Seedling shoot disease incidence of 50% persisted through 32 d when legume residues were mixed into soil or placed on top of soil at planting, but disappeared by 7 to 14 d if residues were removed. Pathogenic organisms isolated from lesions on seedlings indicated legume cover crops increased damage due to Rhizoctonia solani KUhn. In a no-till field study, stand density was reduced 15% and aboveground seedling dry weight was reduced 45%, from 85 to 45 mg plant -1 28 d after planting, when sorghum was planted 1 d after killing crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) compared with planting 21 d or longer after killing. Insecticide, activated charcoal, or CaO 2 seed coating improved sorghum stand density 15%, but did not affect seedling size. In-furrow fungicide drench had no effect on stand density, but phytotoxic effects of the fungicide reduced shoot and root growth rates in both field and controlled-environment studies. Residue removal combined with selected in-furrow treatments may allow the interval between cover-crop killing and successful no-till planting to be reduced to less than 7 d.
Timing of defoliation and its effect on bud development, starch reserves, and sap sugar concentration in sugar maple

Sapling sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) trees were defoliated artificially at 10-day intervals beginning May 27 and ending August 5, 1981. Refoliation, terminal bud and shoot development, and xylem starch and sap sugar concentration were observed in defoliated and control trees. All defoliated trees refoliated, but decreasingly with later defoliation. Defoliation caused an acceleration in the rate of primordia initiation in terminal shoot apices. After early season defoliations, the developing buds in the axils of the removed leaves abscissed, but axillary and terminal buds on the refoliated terminal shoots survived through winter. In late season defoliation, most buds of refoliated shoots did not survive and the next year's growth depended on axillary buds formed prior to defoliation. Thus, when progressing from early to late defoliations, the next year's shoot growth depended decreasingly on the last-formed and increasingly on the first-formed portions of the previous year's shoot. Early October star.
Environmental effects on cytoplasmic incompatibility and bacterial load in Wolbachia‐infected Drosophila simulans

The effects of high temperatures, antibiotics, nutrition and larval density on cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by a Wolbachia infection were investigated in Drosophila simulans. Exposure of larvae from an infected stock to moderate doses of tetracycline led to complete incompatibility when treated females were crossed to infected males; the same doses only caused a partial restoration of compatibility when treated males were crossed to uninfected females. In crosses with treated females, there was a strong correlation between dose effects on hatch rates and infection levels in embryos produced by these females. Ageing and rearing males at a high temperature led to increased compatibility. However, exposing infected females to a high temperature did not influence their compatibility with infected males. Male temperature effects depended on conditions experienced at the larval stage but not the pupal stage. Exposure to 25 °C reduced the density of Wolbachia in embryos compared with a 19 °C treatment. Low levels of nutrition led to increased compatibility, but no effect of larval crowding was detected. These findings show the ways environmental factors can influence the expression of cytoplasmic incompatibility and suggest that environmental effects may be mediated by bacterial density.
Meat yield of culled cow and steer carcasses

The experiment evaluated the meat yield of prepared beef cuts, bone and trimmings of steer and culled cow carcasses. Culled 72-month-old Braford cows, 496 kg live weight and 36-month-old steers, 494 kg live weight were used, all from the same herd and finished on ryegrass pasture. A randomized complete design, with two treatments and 15 replications, was used. Hot carcass weight was lower for cows (248 kg) than for steers (263 kg). Steer carcasses presented better conformation, lower chilling loss, shorter (128.6 vs. 137.7 cm), with longer and thicker limbs compared to cows and similar fat finishing. Steer carcasses showed, compared to cow carcasses, always in the same order, similar side cut yield (13.5 vs. 13.4%), higher forequarter yield (38.4 vs. 37.2%), and lower hindquarter yield (48.1 vs. 48.9%), resulting lower yields of the sub-primal cuts full rump and sirloin, lower rump UK trim, rump tail and striploin. Steer and cow carcasses were similar in total yield of prepared meat cuts (77.8 vs. 77.6%), discarded bone (17.4 vs. 17.9%), discarded trimmings (4.54 vs. 4.09%), and losses inherent to the deboning process (0.34 vs. 0.34%). The results showed that cow carcasses are longer, have shorter and thinner limbs, have higher hindquarter and lower of forequarter yields, but the total yield of prepared meat cuts were similar between cow and steer carcasses.
Prevalência de anticorpos anti-Chlamydophila spp. em propriedades rurais com histórico de aborto bovino no estado do Paraná

Chlamydophila abortus is a recognized cause of bovine epizootic abortion. Abortion, premature birth and weak lamb/calf, stillbirth and repeat breeding in irregular intervals are the most frequent disease manifestations. The complement fixation test is the recommended by the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) for Chlamydophila spp. serologic diagnosis. The aim of this study was estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Chlamydophila spp. in cattle herds with abortion, selected inside the sampling design of National Program of Control and Erradication of Brucellosis in Parana state. Serum samples of 3,102 cows (age > 24 months) from 373 herds were analyzed by complement fixation test. Totally, 44 (1.42%) animal were positive with titers > 32. The seroprevalence of Chlamydophila spp. in the herds was 8.82% (6.15%-12.17%). Four variables were associated with seroprevalence for Chlamydophila spp. in the final model of logistic regression: confined or semi-confined breeding (OR=3.339, P=0.004), farms with less than 35 cows (OR=3.339, P=0.017), abortion in the pasture (OR=2.372, P=0.037) and pasture rent (OR=3.398, P=0.006) were risk factors for Chlamydophila spp. This bacterium infected a small number of cattle from herds with abortion in Parana state. Chlamydophila spp impact as abortion cause is reduced in this state.
POLYPHENOLICS EXTRACTS FROM LEGUME SEEDS: CORRELATIONS BETWEEN TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOTAL PHENOLICS CONTENT, TANNINS CONTENT AND ASTRINGENCY

Extracts of polyphenolic compounds were obtained from seeds of faba bean, broad bean, adzuki bean, red bean, pea, red lentil and green lentil using 80% (v/v) acetone. The total antioxidant activity (TAA) of extracts was determined and their astringency (Sensation Astringency Indices – SAI) investigated using the sensory scaling method. The content of tannins in extracts was expressed as absorbance values at 500 and 550 nm after color developed with vanillin/HCl reagent and after n-butanol-HCl hydrolysis, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was found between the TAA values and total phenolics (P = 0.01), TAA and tannins determined by vanillin method (P = 0.05), TAA and tannins determined after n-butanol-HCl hydrolysis (P = 0.05), SAI values and tannins determined with vanillin method (P = 0.10), SAI values and tannins determined after n-butanol-HCl hydrolysis (P = 0.05), SAI values and total phenolics (P = 0.01), total phenolics and tannin content determined by vanillin method (P = 0.01), total phenolics and tannin content determined after n-butanol-HCl hydrolysis (P = 0.05), tannins determined with vanillin method and tannins determined after n-butanol hydrolysis (P = 0.02).
Reproductive Ecology of Chondrus crispus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) from Nova Scotia, Canada

Spore production and viability were studied in Chondrus crispus based on monthly samples from June to October 1991 at Tor Bay on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Random collection of fronds showed a gametophyte: tetrasporophyte ratio of about 3: 1. Two reproductive periods were distinguished based on number and diameter of cystocarps and number of tetrasporic sori g −1 frond weight, with reproductive fronds in June and July having larger and fewer cystocarps, and fewer tetrasporic sori g −1 than fronds collected from August to October. The pattern of daily spore release was variable among months. Spore viability varied between monthly means of 4-16% for carpospores and 6-26% for tetraspores, with maximum viability in June and August for carpospores and tetraspores, respectively
Growth and competitive ability of a highly plastic and a marginally plastic genotype of Plantago major in a fluctuating environment

The hypothesis was tested that a physiologically highly plastic genotype is better adapted to a fluctuating environment than a marginally plastic genotype. For that purpose, two inbred lines of Plantago major L. , which differ in their degree of physiological plasticity, were grown in tubes with quartz sand, either singly or in combination. Four treatments were applied with a different frequency of fluctuations in nutrient level. When grown singly, the relative growth rate of both genotypes reacted in the same way to the different treatments. The genotypes showed similar reactions when grown in monoculture with two plants per tube. In mixed culture (also two plants per tube) the response was different. With increasing frequency of fluctuations in nutrient level, the inbred line with the high plasticity grew faster at the expense of the marginally plastic line, whose growth was reduced.
Species composition and vegetation structure of an upper montane forest at the summit of Mt. Doi Inthanon, Thailand

Upper montane forest (UMF) within Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand, was investigated by means of fifty, 40 × 40 m stratified random plots situated between 2080 and 2565 m altitude. The aim was to address a number of community ecological questions concerning woody species composition and structural heterogeneity of the forest. A total of 7474 individuals of trees and woody climbers ≥ 15 cm gbh (girth at breast height) were included in the study and these were identified to 47 species, 39 genera and 26 families. The average density was 934 individuals/ha and the average stem basal area was 71.8 m2/ha. The most important species were: Quercus eumorpha, Sjzygium angkae, Litsea martabanica, Helicia nilagirica, Lindera caudata, Schima wallichii, Osmanthus fiagrans, Eurya acuminata, Myrsine semiserrata and Ilex umbellulata and the most important families were Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae and Myrtaceae. Altitude was the most important environmental variable explaining species composition and vegetation structure. Most of the calculated vegetation variables showed significant correlation with altitude: species richness, family richness, diversity, density and crown cover declined with altitude, average tree height was uncorrelated with altitude and basal area increased with altitude. An analysis of size class distributions indicated good forest conditions and reverse-J-shaped age class distribution of most species.
Elemental and isotopic analyses of mammalian fauna from Southern Africa and their implications for paleodietary research

Elemental analyses of mammalian bone (e.g., strontium-calcium ratios, or Sr/Ca) distinguish between herbivores and carnivores; however, the relationships among herbivores are unclear. To study this question, a modern faunal sample from the Nagupande Tsetse Control Area (Zambezi drainage, Northwestern Zimbabwe) was used. This collection has the advantage of well-established geographical controls in addition to a varied fauna, which includes both bovids and suids. The grazing/browsing dietary status of each species was ascertained by means of isotopic analysis of carbon. Clear differences were seen in the δ13C of grazing and browsing animals; a specialized grazer was found to have significantly lower Sr/Ca than less specialized grazers and browsers. In this study it was also possible to examine differences in Sr/Ca by sex; female warthogs were found to have significantly lower Sr/Ca than males. The variation in certain animal groups was found to be abnormal. Implications for reconstruction of prehistoric human diets using trace-element techniques are discussed.
Modeling preemergent maize shoot growth. II. High temperature stress conditions

High soil temperatures are a significant constraint to crop establishment. Exposure of preemergent maize (Zea mays L.) to temperatures in excess of 40°C stops shoot elongation and may also damage the seedling, reducing subsequent shoot growth in the physiological temperature range (9 to 40°C). At present, there is little quantitative understanding of the effects of high temperature stress on preemergent maize shoot growth. Consequently, existing maize emergence or preemergent maize shoot growth models are restricted to the physiological temperature range. The work described in this paper quantified the effect of supramaximum temperatures (temperatures greater than 40°C) on maize shoot growth, and in particular on its component parts, the coleoptile and first internode. The major impact of supramaximum temperatures on shoot growth was due to a severe reduction in the first internode growth rate, which was correlated with the maximum temperature reached during the day. We also found that, under diurnally varying temperature conditions, coleoptile growth ceased only at 45°C, rather than at 40°C as found previously in constant temperature experiments. Inhibition of shoot growth due to high temperature damage was alleviated when seedlings were grown in the physiological temperature range for 33 h. Based on these findings, a model was developed that can predict shoot growth of seedlings exposed to supramaximum temperatures. The model successfully predicted shoot growth of seedlings exposed to supramaximum temperatures as a part of the diurnal cycle. The model was unable, however, to predict seedling recovery from high temperature damage.
Determination of the inheritance pattern of hyperthelia in cattle by maximum likelihood analysis 1

Summary A previously published data-set with observations on supernumerary teats (hyperthelia) in dual-purpose Simmental was reanalysed by maximum-likelihood. The data comprised 537 unrelated animals and 614 members of 27 paternal half-sib families with known phenotype of each sire. The frequency of hyperthelia was 58% in unrelated animals, 51% in families with unaffected sire, and 73% in families with affected sires. Six different cases of single-gene inheritance were considered. The highest log-likelihood was obtained for additive inheritance and for a recessive pattern with 100% penetrance for recessive homozygotes and 32% for both other genotypes. Estimates for the gene frequency of the favourable allele were 0.34 and 0.29, respectively. Simple dominance or recessiveness with full or incomplete penetrance could be excluded. The possibility of finding paternal half-sib families with a heterozygous sire as a resource for a mapping experiment seem to be good in German Simmental. Zusammenfassung Untersuchung des Erbganges fur Hyperthelie beim Rind mittels Maximum-Likelihood-Analyse Schon fruher veroffentliche Daten mit Beobachtungen zum Auftreten uberzahliger Zitzen (Hyperthelie) bei Fleckviehtieren wurden einer Maximum-Likelihood-Analyse unterzogen. Das Material bestand aus 537 unverwandten Tieren und 614 Tieren, die aus 27 verschiedenen vaterlichen Halbgeschwistergruppen stammten, wobei der Phanotyp des Vaters jeweils bekannt war. Die relative Haufigkeit uberzahliger Zitzen betrug 58% bei unverwandten Tieren, 51% bei Nachkommen von nicht betroffenen Vatern und 73% bei Nachkommen von Vatern, die selbst uberzahlige Zitzen aufwiesen. Sechs verschiedene Moglichkeiten monogener Vererbung wurden untersucht. Die hochsten Werte fur die log-likelihood ergaben sich fur einen additiven Erbgang sowie fur eine Variante mit 100% Penetranz fur die rezessiv Homozygoten und jeweils 32% Penetranz fur die beiden anderen Genotypen. Fur das erwunschte Allel wurde in beiden Varianten eine ahnliche Frequenz von 34% bzw. 29% geschatzt. Einfache dominante oder rezessive Erbgange, auch mit unvollstandiger Penetranz, konnten ausgeschlossen werden. Die Aussicht, fur Kartierungsexperimente geeignete vaterlichen Halbgeschwisterfamilien zu finden, scheint fur die Rasse Fleckvieh gunstig zu sein.
Passive Soil Manipulation Influences the Successional Trajectories of Forest Communities at a Denuded Former Campsite

©2012 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Passive Soil Manipulation Influences the Successional Trajectories of Forest Communities at a Denuded Former Campsite nate Hough-snee, University of Washington school of Forest Resources and center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115, seattle, Wa 98195-2100, Usa; Present address: Utah state University Ecology center and Department of Watershed sciences, 5210 old Main Hill, logan, Ut 84322-5210, Usa; a. lexine long, University of Washington school of Forest Resources and center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115, seattle, Wa 98195-2100, Usa; Present address: Utah state University Ecology center and Department of Watershed sciences, 5210 old Main Hill, logan, Ut 84322-5210, Usa; Rodney Pond (corresponding author), University of Washington school of Forest Resources and center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115, seattle, Wa 98195-2100, Usa, rodney.pond@gmail.com.
Using endogenous and exogenous markers in bird conservation

Abstract Understanding how avian populations are structured spatially and temporally is fundamental to their effective conservation. Protecting migratory species in one jurisdiction or period of the annual cycle may be ineffective if they periodically move to areas where they are not protected or are exposed to factors that limit populations or cause their decline. Unfortunately, for most species, our understanding of connectivity between breeding, wintering or stopover sites during the annual cycle are poorly understood and there is an urgent need to define such connections in order to achieve more effective conservation. This paper provides an overview of the methods used to mark individuals in order to track their movements. Passive exogenous markers such as numbered rings or bands are typically ineffective for most avian species. Active exogenous markers such as satellite tags have provided significant breakthroughs but are still prohibitive financially and still cannot be applied to species under 200g. Endogenous markers such as DNA markers, trace elements and stable isotopes show significant promise as a means of moving forward the field of animal tracking. The advantage of these endogenous approaches is that they depend only on sampling a population once and so are not biased by limitations of mark-recapture methods. Nonetheless, all methods have disadvantages and the path ahead must consider multiple approaches to tracking avian populations.
The effect of age at first breeding on Ural owl lifetime reproductive success and fitness under cyclic food conditions

1. Individuals are expected to balance the costs and benefits underlying the trade-off between current and future reproduction. If starting to breed does not seriously lower future reproductive output, individuals that start breeding early in their life should have a higher fitness than individuals that postpone their breeding career. We studied how the fluctuations in food supply interacted with Ural owl’s age at first breeding, lifetime reproductive success (LRS) and fitness. 2. During the period 1977–95, 126 Ural owl females started and ended their breeding career in a study area in southern Finland. Voles, the owls’ main food source, showeda 3-year cycle of low, increase and peak population numbers. We recorded when the females started to breed and how many fledglings they produced. For 57 females the age at first breeding was known. 3. LRS of female Ural owls varied from 0 to 33 fledglings (mean 6.7±0.52 SE). The variance in LRS was explained by variation in the components: breeding lifespan (97%); nest success (23%); and average clutch size (15%). 4. Survival of breeding females was low (62%) after a peak year, when the vole population crashed. In other phases the survival was 85–95%. Females that started breeding in a peak year had half the LRS of females that started in an increase year. 5. There was a strong interaction between the vole cycle and age at first breeding. 1-year-olds started in a peak and 2-year-olds in an increase year. 6. There was no effect of age at first breeding on LRS for females that started breeding in the same phase of the vole cycle. 7. Females that started breeding at age 1–3 years had equal fitness, whereas females that started at age ≥4 had a lower fitness. Females that postponed first breeding as a two-year-old in an increase year had a lower fitness than females that did not do so. Females that postponed first breeding as a 1-year-old in a peak year had equal fitness to females that did not do so. 8. Cyclic fluctuation in food supply clearly constrains the option as to during what phase and at what age to start breeding. In terms of fitness, the optimal age to start breeding depends on the phase of the vole cycle at hatching.