bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The genetic control of maturity and seed characters in sunflower crosses
Authors: Holtom M. J. , Pooni H. S. , Rawlinson C. J. , Barnes B. W. , Hussain T. , Marshall D. F. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYData from the F1, F2 and F3 generations derived from four F1 hybrids of sunflower were analysed to determine the genetical control of eleven agronomically important traits namely, flowering time (FT), final height (FH), seed set (SS), fresh seed weight (FSW), dry seed weight (DSW), 25-seed weight (SSW), head diameter (HD), head angle (HA), neck width (NW), Botrylis infection (BI) and percentage oil content (PO), with the objective of assessing their potential for producing superior recombinant lines. Comparisons of means revealed significant differences between the F: generations of crosses for all the characters except FT. Model fitting indicated that these differences were attributed either to variation in the magnitude of the dominance component [h], or the projected mean of the Finfin; generation, m. Further, all the variation in the generation means was accounted for by the m and [h] parameters and epistasis was shown to be non-existent for almost all the traits. Analysis of the second degree statistics revealed the presence of additive genetic effects and most of the characters showed moderate heritability except for HD, which was highly heritable. All the crosses were predicted to produce significant numbers of transgressive segregants and consequently were expected to yield superior inbred lines and second cycle hybrids either to be released as varieties as such or to be utilized in future breeding work. The overall differences between the crosses, however, were not highly pronounced and therefore it was not possible to identify a cross which would yield markedly superior recombinant lines and F1 crosses compared to the others.
Effect of dietary copper sulphate on the performance of growing Japanese quail
Authors: Yannakopoulos A. L. , Tserveni-Gousi A. S. , Zervas G. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe effect of 200, 400 and 600 mg dietary copper sulphate/kg was studied in 64 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in 1987. The results indicated that addition of 200 or 400 mg/kg to conventional diets of quail 7–42 days old significantly increased (P < 0·05) body weight gain and significantly decreased (P < 0·05) feed intake. There were significant (P < 0·05) increases in carcass, breast and leg weights in some cases; the first two characters had the highest values in the quail fed the diet containing 200 mg Cu/kg. The addition of 600 mg Cu/kg to the diet had an adverse effect on liver weight compared with the addition of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Copper concentration in the liver was not influenced by any rate of copper supplementation.
Evaluation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes for intercropping with two types of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)
Authors: Rao L. J. , Mittra B. N. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEight genotypes of groundnut and two of pigeon pea were evaluated in intercropping at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, during the monsoon and winter seasons in 1985 and 1986, to identify plant characters associated with high yield in intercropping. The pod yield of groundnut decreased when intercropped with pigeon pea, the extent of the decline differing with groundnut and pigeon pea genotypes. The reduction in groundnut pod yield and the degree and duration of shading was less when grown with pigeon pea type ICPL87 than with LRG30. During the monsoon, pod yield among intercropped groundnut genotypes ranged between 47% and 88% of their yields under monocropping because of differences in growth pattern and duration (90–125 days). The groundnut type most suitable for intercropping had early vigour, early maturity and high partitioning and pod growth rate. However, variation in pod yield among groundnut genotypes was not observed during the winter season because they showed less variation in duration and growth and there was less shading by the associated pigeon pea.
A comparison of the effects of single or multiple spring applications of prilled urea or ‘Nitro-chalk’ to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)
Authors: Darby R. J. , Hewitt M. V. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAn earlier report of leaf scorch and diminished yield when using large amounts of urea on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) was investigated by applying 200 kg N/ha as calcium ammonium nitrate (‘Nitro-chalk’) or urea as a single dressing or divided in six ways. The ‘single-low’ variety Mikado (low in erucic acid) was grown in 1986 and was compared with the ‘double-low’ variety Ariana (low in erucic acid and glucosinolates) in 1987 and 1988. No scorch was seen in these experiments. Yield from rape fertilized with prilled urea was, on average, 98% of that from rape fertilized with ammonium nitrate. The timing and distribution of the fertilizer also had little effect on yield, though yield slightly decreased when part of the dressing was withheld during March. The earlier-maturing variety Mikado always outyielded Ariana except when harvest was delayed by bad weather.When plots were fertilized with urea, the oil content of the seed was a little larger than when fertilized with Nitro-chalk, which compensated for the smaller seed yield, resulting in almost equal oil yield from both forms of N fertilizer. Crude protein content was lower after a large single dose of urea fertilizer but parity with ammonium nitrate was restored by smaller amounts applied on a number of occasions. Neither form nor timing of N fertilizer had any consistent effect on the total glucosinolate content.The incidence of disease was significantly greater in rape given either form of N fertilizer than where none was given, but when downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) was prevalent on pods there was significantly less infection in plots fertilized with urea than with ammonium nitrate.
Effects of dehydration on the heat tolerance of male and female New Zealand White rabbits
Authors: Thwaites C. J. , Baillie N. B. , Kasa W. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYMale and female New Zealand White rabbits were exposed for 3h to 34 °C and 36 °C (both at 40% r.h.) when hydrated and dehydrated. Females had lower rectal and skin temperatures and respiratory rates than males (P <0·001). Differences between the sexes in rectal temperature were greater at 36 °C than at 34 °C. Withholding water for 24h significantly increased the responses in rectal temperature; the differentials between hydrated and dehydrated males and females being 0·3 °C and 0·2 °C, respectively. In contrast, respiratory rates were lower in dehydrated than in hydrated rabbits, suggesting that the former were attempting water homeostatis at the expense of thermoregulation.The results suggest that the performance of rabbits in the tropics is likely to be maximized when drinking water is available at all times, and that of males, particularly breeding bucks, might be improved simply by housing them in the coolest available location. Significant individual differences in observed responses point to the need for genetic studies of heat tolerance and the possibility of developing better adapted genotypes.
Prediction of intake and digestion in ruminants by a model of rumen kinetics integrating animal size and plant characteristics
Authors: Illius A. W. , Gordon I. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYSimulation modelling was used to investigate interactions between forage degradation characteristics, rumen processes and body weight, and to predict the voluntary food intake and digestion of a range of forages. Predicted voluntary intake and digestion agreed well with empirical data, explaining 61 and 70%, respectively, of variance in observed values. Since the data covered a wide range of animal weights and forage qualities, these results suggest that the model is a useful means of integrating the effects of animal and forage variables. Interactions were examined between animal weight and diet quality, as defined by the proportion of potentially digestible cell contents and cell walls and their rates of digestion. Retention time of food in the digestive tract was shown by regression to scale with W0·27. The time taken to comminute large fibre particles also scaled with W0·27. Longer retention of digesta by large ruminants increases digestive efficiency compared with small animals and would permit them to survive on lower-quality foods. The model showed that maximum intake of metabolizable energy scales with c. W0·87, greater than the scaling of maintenance with W0·73.
Relationship between air conditions and the drying rate of thin-layers of grass
Authors: Lamond W. J. , Graham R. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA series of 240 thin-layer drying runs carried out in 1988 and 1989 at the Scottish Centre of Agricultural Engineering were analysed to find out which factors influenced the rate of drying of grass mixtures. The grass used in the experiments was cut by hand, by a mower without conditioner or by a mower with conditioner. The experiments covered a range of air conditions from 16·0 to 40·4 °C temperature and 24·4 to 82·8% relative humidity. By fitting curves to the experimental data it was shown that the drying curves could be simulated by a two-parameter, exponential equation. Analysis of the data showed that the experimental results could be adequately represented by holding one of the parameters fixed and fitting the curves with only one parameter varying. The variable parameter, called the drying coefficient, was dependent on harvesting method and related to drying air temperature, initial moisture content and ratio of leaf area to stem area. A regression equation relating the drying coefficient to these variables for conditioned and unconditioned grass is presented.Predictions from the regression equations indicated that the temperature of the drying air had a major effect on the drying coefficient. Both the initial moisture content of the samples and ratio of leaf to stem had a smaller influence on the coefficient over their likely range.
Computer simulation of bovine copper metabolism
Authors: Blincoe C. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYCopper deficiency in cattle is a world-wide problem. A deterministic digital computer simulation of copper metabolism was applied to cattle and especially to their response to dietary copper. This simulation was verified by comparison with published data on copper metabolism of cattle. Copper loss under conditions of dietary deficiency was governed largely by the rate of hepatic loss of copper. Copper stores were replenished gradually when the animal was returned to a normal diet. The increased copper consumption associated with increased total digestible nutrients (TDN) during lactation compensated for loss of copper in milk. Cattle have a very efficient mechanism for extrahepatic copper homeostasis by storage of excess copper in the liver, which can then be withdrawn in future deficiencies.
Response of winter barley cultivars to nitrogen and a plant growth regulator in relation to lodging
Authors: White E. M. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYApplications of nitrogen and a plant growth regulator (mepiquat chloride and ethephon) were used to manipulate stem structure and induce differing degrees of damage due to leaning and lodging in six cultivars of winter barley grown in Belfast, UK, in 1986/87. Weighted incidences of leaning and lodging were combined to give an index indicating damage susceptibility of the cultivars. The index was very high (70) in Pipkin and ranged between 1 and 18 in the other cultivars. Differences between cultivars in number of internodes, plant height and stem weight did not explain their differences in resistance to damage. However, dry weight per unit length ranged from 2·35 and 2·34 mg/mm in the strongest cultivars, Panda and Jennifer, respectively, to 1·75 mg/mm in the weakest cultivar, Pipkin.Nitrogen application increased plant height but did not affect dry weight/main stem, so that dry weight/unit length of stem decreased. The growth regulator treatments reduced plant height and although dry weight/stem did not decrease significantly, dry weight/unit length of stem was similar in treated and untreated plots.Dry weight/unit length has potential as an objective indicator of straw strength in winter barley cultivars and could be used in cultivar evaluation in the absence of damage in field trials.
Evaluation of wild sunflower (Helianthus) species for high content and stability of linoleic acid in the seed oil
Authors: De Haro A. , Fernandez-Martinez J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYA collection of 168 accessions belonging to 62 species and subspecies was evaluated in Cordoba, Spain, in 1985 for fatty acid composition of the seed oil. Linoleic acid content of seed produced in Cordoba (mean temperature during seed formation 27·9 °C) was compared with that of seed obtained under much cooler environmental conditions in Montpellier, France, (mean temperature 19·5 °C). Linoleic acid content ranged from 27·3 to 83·7% in the warm environment and from 45·9 to 88·7% in the cool environment with average values of 64·3% and 75·0%, respectively. Twenty-three species with linoleic acid values of > 70% in both environments were evaluated again, in 1989 in Cordoba (mean temperature 31 °C). Twelve wild species showed consistently high and more stable linoleic acid contents than the cultivated control and could be readily used in breeding programmes to improve oil quality.
Effects of inflorescence removal on interactions between reproductive storage sites of field beans (Vicia faba) under different shading treatments
Authors: Aufhammer W. , Götz-Lee I. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYIn studies of two indeterminate cultivars in field experiments in 1985 and 1986 at Hohenheim University, the hierarchy within the reproductive storage system of field bean plants was manipulated by removal of inflorescences at various growth stages and nodes. Shading reduced pod set and seed weight mainly at basal nodes. Increasing plant population density reduced seed yield traits at all nodes. Removal of basal inflorescences increased pod set and seed weight at the remaining nodes, especially the lower ones. The favourable effects were greater under high light intensities and in sparse stands. The growth stages at which the basal inflorescences were removed and the removal of apical inflorescences were of minor importance.
Interaction of lipid supply and carbohydrates in the diet of sheep with digestibility and ruminal digestion
Authors: Elmeddah Y. , Doreau M. , Michalet-Doreau B. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYTwo groups of nine wethers, three of which were fitted with rumen cannulas, were used in a digestion trial at the INRA centre in Theix, France, in 1988. Group 1 received 65% maize silage and 35% concentrates; group 2 received 65% hay and 35% concentrates. Concentrates were based on either cereals rich in starch, or by-products rich in fibre and were given either alone or supplemented with lipids as calcium soaps. The fatty acid content of lipid-supplemented diets wasc.9·5 and 8·5% of dry matter, of which 85 and 89% was provided by calcium soaps, for maize silage and hay diets, respectively. For each group, the four diets were tested in four successive periods from January to June 1988.Total digestibility of dry and organic matter, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was measured in six wethers of each group by total faeces collection. On cannulated wethers, volatile fatty acid content and composition, pH and NH3-N in rumen liquor were determined four times a day;in saccodegradability of dry matter, ADF and NDF of the forage eaten by the wethers was estimated by the kinetics of incubation in the rumen.In vivoandin saccoresults showed that dry matter and organic matter digestibilities were not modified by the nature of concentrates. Cell wall digestibility was higher for fibre concentrates than for starchy concentrates, by 4·1 and 6·2 percentage units for NDF in maize silage and hay groups, respectively. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia concentrations were higher and pH was lower with the maize silage than with the hay diet.Lipid supply slightly increased cell wall digestibility in the group fed maize silage by 7·5 and 2·0 percentage units for starch and fibre concentrates, respectively. This surprising increase was related to an improvement inin saccodegradability. In all diets, lipid supply increased pH, but variations in VFA concentration and pattern were low. Interactions between the nature of concentrate and lipid supply were moderate, but were higher in the group fed maize silage than in the group fed hay, especially for total digestibility.
The effect of irrigation on the growth and yield components of poppies (Papaver somniferumL.)
Authors: Chung B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe effects of four irrigation treatments on the growth and yield of poppies were studied in two ‘drought’ seasons in Tasmania. Irrigation increased total dry-matter production, leaf area index and delayed leaf senescence in both seasons. Irrigation, which continued until leaf senescence, increased total morphine yield by 5–20 kg/ha compared with no irrigation. This yield increase was attributed to the increase in the number and yield of lateral heads, the yield of terminal heads and capsule morphine concentration.As the effects of irrigation on head yield reflect the effects on total dry-matter production, irrigation guidelines for poppies were developed from an analysis of plant growth during theseason. For maximum yield, one irrigation of 50 mm should be applied at the 50% hook stage, at 50% flowering, at the end of flowering and 2 weeks after the end of flowering. Growers who currently cease irrigation at 50% flowering can expect yield increases of 4–13 kg/ha ifthey apply two further irrigations thereafter.
Effects of plant type and population density on growth and yield of chickpea
Authors: Singh A. , Prasad R. , Sharma R. K. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryA field experiment was made with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during the winters of 1984–5 and 1985–6 to study the effects of plant type and population density on growth and yield of chickpea. Cultivars BG 257, BG 261, BG 268 and BG 274 produced signficantly more grain with 1000 × 103 and 660 × 103 plants/ha, whereas the cultivar BG 209 produced the most at 500 × 103 plants/ha. Among the cultivars, BG 257 and BG 268 gave highest grain yield with 660 × 103 plants/ha.
Moisture use characteristics of sugarcane genotypes under different available soil moisture regimes in alluvial entisols
Authors: Yadav R. L. , Prasad S. R. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTo study the response of three sugarcane genotypes (CO 1148, COJ 64 and CO 1158) to variations in moisture availability in sandy loam soil (entisol), field trials were conductedat Lucknow (26·5° N, 80·5° E, 120 m altitude) during 1984–5 and 1985–6. Three moisture regimes, i.e. wet (irrigation at 75% available soil moisture (ASM)), moist (irrigation at 50% ASM) and dry (irrigation at 25% ASM) were maintained during the pre-monsoon (before June) period in spring-planted (February-March) sugarcane. During the summer months (until June)the variety CO 1148 had a significantly greater sheath moisture percentage than COJ 64 and CO 1158. Under stress conditions, leaf area index was reduced most in COJ 64 and least in CO 1148.Underground shoots and roots grew faster in CO 1148, and the growth of above-ground parts was quicker in COJ 64. Compared with the 75% ASM regime the reduction in cane yield in the 25% regime was more in COJ 64 and CO 1158 (31 t/ha) than in CO 1148 (12 t/ha). The water requirement of COJ 64 was greater than that of the other varieties. Therefore, for higheryields COJ 64 needed frequent irrigation whereas CO 1148 performed well even under moderate irrigation (50% ASM).
Use of soluble glass boluses containing Cu, Co and Se in the prevention of trace-element deficiencies in goats
Authors: Zervas G. P. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwo experiments were carried out to examine the value of copper, cobalt and selenium contained in soluble glass boluses as a means of providing supplementary trace elements to goats.In the first experiment 36 purebred Toggenburg goats were used and divided into two groups. One group was treated with soluble glass boluses while the other was left as control.In the second experiment 46 Saanen half-bred goats were used, divided into three groups. The first group was treated with soluble glass boluses, the second was treated with selenium injectable compound and the third was left as control.Blood samples were collected on four occasions, during an experimental period of almost 12 months and plasma copper, serum vitamin B12 and blood selenium concentrations were determined. All those measurements showed significant increases for about a year, and were due to treatment. The advantages of glass boluses were not shared by the selenium injectable compound.
Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of growth of Peking ducklings under Egyptian conditions
Authors: El-Sayiad Gh. A. , Marai I. F. M. , Afifi E. A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPeking ducklings were classified at 6 weeks of age according to their body weights in two categories: R, below the overall mean of the flock which were considered as retarded growth; and L, those of body weight equal to the overall mean and above which were considered as large. From each group, males and females were chosen to be parents of the next generation in a ratio 1:5 at 6 months of age and four systems of matings were conducted: RR, LL, RL and LR.At all ages studied the large ducklings were significantly heavier than retarded growth ones and had significantly greater body gain, during the two successive generations.The RL and LR matings were heavier than the RR and LL groups at the different ages studied, indicating an effect of heterosis and that the retarded growth character is controlled by few pairs of genes. The differences due to mating systems were not significant either in body weight or body gain, except in body weight at 18 and 24 weeks and relative gain at 6 weeks of age in which the differences were significant (P<0·05) in the second generation.The other environmental factors studied were sex, month of hatch and 6-week body weight.Heritability estimates were 0·489, 0·509, 0·576, 0·346, 0·713, 0·809, 0·651 and 0·386 for body weight at hatch 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18 and 24 weeks of age, respectively, using the data which were adjusted for the effects of sex, month of hatch, 6-week body weight and mating system. The same estimates were 0·482, 0·554, 0·578, 0·352, 0·713, 0·808, 0·650 and 0·386, respectively, using the same data but adjusted for month of hatch and sex only.Phenotypic and genetic correlations between body weights at different ages for the two sets of data were estimated. The phenotypic correlations were negative between body weight at hatch and each of the body weights at 16 and 18 weeks of age for the two corrected sets of data. The genetic correlations were negative between hatch weight and each of the other body weights for the two adjusted sets of data and between body weight at 4 weeks of age and each of the body weights at 16, 18 and 24 weeks only for the first set of data. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between the body weights in older birds were highly positive.