bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Sowing Season and Seeding Rate on the Morphological Traits and Yields in Pea Cultivars of Differing Leaf Types
Authors: Uzun A. , Açikgöz E. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effects of three seeding rates (25, 50, and 100 seeds m−2) on several morphological traits, and dry matter, seed and protein yields were evaluated in two leafed, two semi‐leafless and two tare‐leaved pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars, with fall and spring sowing for 3 years. The experiments were conducted under rain‐fed conditions in the Bursa Region of Turkey.Sowing season, seeding rate and cultivar type had a significant effect on most of the measured traits and the yield determinants. The actual number of seedlings per unit area varied greatly among varieties, sowing seasons and climatic conditions during emergence. Fall sowings had taller plants, and more pods and seeds per plant. The number of tillers per plant usually increased with declining seeding rate. Semi‐leafless varieties had improved standing ability particularly at higher seeding rates and fall sowing conditions. The harvest index was higher for short strawed, tare‐leaved varieties than both leafed and semi‐leafless varieties. Harvest index was hardly affected by sowing season and seeding rate.In general, fall sowings and the highest seeding rate produced the highest dry matter, seed and protein yields in all pea cultivars. The yields of spring sowings varied greatly, primarily depending on the amount and distribution of the spring rainfall. In the wet spring of 1993, dry matter, seed and protein yields from spring sowing was higher than those of fall sowings for all varieties. The semi‐leafless pea varieties, Countess and Niva, presented a clear advantage in the yield determinants under Bursa rain‐fed conditions.
Seed Size and Water Potential Effects on Water Uptake, Germination and Growth of Lentil
Authors: Al‐Karaki Ghazi N. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSeed size is an important parameter for plant growth and yield. The effects of seed size and water potential on seed water uptake, germination and early growth of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. cvs. Jor‐1 and Jor‐2) were investigated. Rate of water uptake by seed size (small, medium and large) from solutions containing different water potentials (0, –0.5 and –1.0 MPa, as polyethylene gly‐col‐8000) was higher in large than in medium or small seeds of both cultivars, regardless of water potential. Rate of water taken into seeds was higher in Jor‐2 than in Jor‐1. Decreasing water potential (more stress) had adverse effects on rate of water uptake by seeds in both cultivars. In another experiment, with lentils grown in a greenhouse at different soil metric potentials (–0.03, –0.15 and –0.30 MPa), seed size or cultivar had no effects on germination percentage (GP), but GP was reduced as soil water potential decreased (more stress), in greenhouse soil, shoot dry matter (SDM), root dry matter (RDM), plant height, total root length (TRL) and number of primary branches per plant of 35‐day‐old plants from large seeds were larger than those of plants from medium and small seeds of both cultivars. Increasing soil water deficit progressively decreased each of these traits. Plants from large seeds had higher SDM, RDM and TRL than those from small seeds at intermediate soil water potential (–0.15 MPa) in comparison with the control (–0.03 MPa) or severe (–0.30 MPa) soil water potentials. Larger seeds produced larger plants than smaller seeds, and this appeared to be more pronounced under intermediate than well‐watered or more severe water‐stressed conditions. Faster early growth of plants from larger seeds may be advantageous in establishing plants under semiarid conditions.
Ein allgemeiner Ansatz zur Quantifizierung des Einflusses der Güte der Sätechnik auf den Flächenertrag
Authors: Hühn M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA general approach to determine the effect of accuracy of sowing technique on yield per areaCaused by nonperfect seed placement accuracy of sowing machines as well as by many other abiotic and biotic factors the resulting plant stands exhibit nonregular plant distributions. Based on several simplifying assumptions a stochastic approach provides a quantitative determination of the effects of accuracy of sowing technique on yield per area. In this approach, two random variables are assigned to each individual plant: single plant yield E and single plant area A, which is calculated in this paper by the construction and quadrature of the so‐called Thiessen‐polygons. The yield per area F is calculated as the expectation of the ratio E/A. By assuming a deterministic mathematical relationship between E and A, the calculation of F reduces to the calculation of the expectation of a function of only one random variable A. A simple approximation with sufficient accuracy for many applications only depends on the mean and on the variance of the areas of the individual plants. For demonstration purposes, the theoretical approaches and results have been finally applied to three data sets for drilled seeds of winter oilseed rape (plant density: 60 plants/m2 and distance between rows: 10 cm). These data sets exhibit different accuracies of the longitudinal distributions within rows which have been quantitatively measured by the coefficient of variation for the distances between plants within rows: Yield depression increases with an increasing variability of plant distances within rows.
Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels on Barley Cultivars Grown in Semi‐arid Conditions
Authors: Turk M. A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMost farmers in the rainfed parts of Jordan who use fertilizers use less than optimum rates of N and P because of the uncertainties associated with rainfall. Research results obtained by the national program indicated that the use of improved barley cultivars and fertilizers would result in substantial yield increases. The objective of the present investigation was to determine the optimum combination level of N and P for newly promising cultivars. The effect of 0–0, 5–10, 10–20 and 15–30 kg.ha−1 of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels on barley cultivas Rum, Giza, Fun, Harmel and Arta under rainfed conditions in the Mediterranean climate was studied during two cropping seasons, 1994‐95 and 1995–96. Increased grain and straw yields, total N and P uptake and RUE were recorded with increasing N and P levels for almost all cultivars. Rum was significantly (P = 0.05) the highest grain and straw producer and highest RUE at the 10 N‐ and 20 P kg.ha−1 level. The cultivar × fertility level (N–P) interactions were not significant for both grain and straw yields and for total N and P uptake.
Rapid and Synchronous Germination of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) Seed following Diurnal Temperature Priming
Authors: Stout Darryl G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractExperiments were conducted to determine if diurnal temperature variation could be used to prime cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) seed and thereby shorten the time for seed germination. For untreated cicer miikvetch seed at constant 20°C, 50% of the seeds germinated in 8.2 days and 90% of the seeds germinated in 10.5 days. In contrast, seed that was first primed for 7 days with a diurnal temperature variation (35 (8h)/5 (16h) °C) had values of 1.9 days and 3.3 days, respectively. A second experiment evaluated priming of seed in bulk to test if a procedure might be developed that could be scaled up to prime commercial quantities of seed. A bulk sample of seed was soaked in water for 5h at room temperature and then kept in a high humidity atmosphere during 7 days of priming at 35/5°C. Hydrated seed from the bulk sample had 50% germination in 2.7 days and 90% germination in 5.3 days. When the bulk sample was dried for 8 days at room temperature, the benefit of priming on shortening germination time was retained. It is likely that diurnal temperature priming could be adapted to large volumes of seed.
Methods for Comparing the Yield Stability of Cropping Systems
Authors: Piepho H.‐P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe stability of yield is an important characteristic to be considered when judging the value of a cropping system relative to others. In the context of agricultural research, the analysis of yield stability has been largely confined to multienvironment trials of crop cultivars. This review emphasizes that methods for comparing the stability of cultivars can also be used for comparing different agronomic treatments in general, of which cultivars are but a special case. Throughout the paper, different agronomic treatments are referred to as cropping systems. Some of the methods useful for stability analysis of cropping systems are discussed and a brief review of applications of these methods is given. The paper puts different stability measures into a unifying mixed model perspective.
Calculation of Optimal Fertilizer Rates: A Comparison of Three Response Models†
Authors: Olness A. , Evans S. D. , Alderfer R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDetermination of optimal N‐fertilization rates, NOR, for crop production that minimize risk of environmental degradation require accurate application of a response model. Several models are available to describe crop yield response to N fertilization. The objective of this work was to compare the relative accuracy of a quadratic, f(NQ), a modified Mitscherlich, and tanh(N) models on 48 data sets. Data were collected from a Tara silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, frigid Pachic Udic Haploboroll) over a 6‐year period using two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids and four tillage treatments, mouldboard plough, chisel plough, ridge tillage and no‐tillage. In about one‐third of the cases, all models performed about equally well. Generally, the tanh(N) and modified Mitscherlich models gave better fit between N rate and grain yield data. The NOR, ranged from about 140 to 170 kg ha−1 for the modified Mitscherlich model, 136 to 184 kg ha−1 for the tanh(N) function, and 124 to 173 kg ha−1 using the f(NQ) model. Estimated grain yields at these rates ranged between 6.58 ± 1.30 to 7.59 ± 1.69 Mg ha−1 for the 90‐day Minnesota maturity rated (MR) hybrid and between 7.52 ± 2.40 to 8.72 ± 1.70 Mg ha−1 for the 95‐day MR hybrid.
Accumulation of Zinc and Molar Ratio of Phytic Acid and Zinc during Maize Grain Maturation
Authors: Horvatić M. , Gačć M. , Filajdić M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDynamics of the accumulation of total ash and zinc, and their relationships with total dry matter, crude proteins and phytic acid during maize grain maturation were investigated. The investigation was carried out on normal maize hybrids grown under the same topographical and agrotechnical conditions over two consecutive vegetation years.The amount of total ash, expressed on fresh and dry matter bases, changed significantly (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01) during grain maturation depending on maturity stage and variety. The dynamics of the accumulation of ash in fresh grain matter during maturation as well as the ash amount in dry matter of mature grains were significantly affected by environmental conditions.The accumulation of zinc in fresh matter of developing grain was significantly affected (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01) by the degree of grain maturity and by variety, and correlates significantly (P = 0.001) and positively with the deposition of total dry matter, crude proteins as well as with phytic acid in both vegetation years.The molar ratio of phytic acid and zinc increased significantly during grain maturation indicating a possible decrease of zinc availability.
Osmotic Adjustment in Maize (Zea mays L.): Changes with Ontogeny and its Relationship with Phenotypic Stability
Authors: Lemcoff J. H. , Chimenti C. A. , Davezac T. A. E. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGenetic variation for osmotic adjustment was examined in a group of maize hybrids during vegetative and silking stages. Estimates of osmotic adjustment were derived from measurements of leaf relative water content (RWC) and osmotic potential (Ψo) before day‐break. The degree of adjustment was estimated from the In RWC/In Ψo relationship. All cultivars examined showed some degree of osmotic adjustment and significant differences (P < 0.05) were found among them. The utility of measurements in early vegetative stages as a mean of selection for osmotic adjustment in silking stage was established. A positive tendency was observed between osmotic adjustment and phenotypic stability.
Interactive Effects of Salinity and Biological Nitrogen Fixation on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Growth
Authors: Zurayk R. , Adlan M. , Baalbaki R. , Saxena M. C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effect of salinity on the nodulation, N‐fixation and plant growth of selected chickpea‐Rhizobium symbionts was studied‐ Eighteen chickpea rhizobial strains were evaluated for their growth in a broth culture at salinity levels of 0 to 20 dS m−1 of NaCl + Na2SO4. Variability in response was high. Salinity generally reduced the lag phase and/or slowed the log phase of multiplication of Rhizobium. Nine chickpea genotypes were also evaluated for salt tolerance during germination and early seedling growth in Petri dishes at five salinity levels (0–32 dS m−1). Chickpea genotypes ILC‐205 and ILC‐1919 were the most salt‐tolerant genotypes. The selected rhizobial strains and chickpea cultivars were combined in a pot experiment aimed at investigating the interactive effect of salinity (3, 6 and 9 dS m−1) and N source (symbiosis vs. inorganic N) on plant growth. Symbiotic plants were more sensitive to salinity than plants fed mineral N. Significant reductions in nodule dry weight (59.8 %) and N fixation (63.5 %) were evident even at the lowest salinity level of 3 dS m‐1. Although nodules were observed in inoculated plants grown at 6 dS m‐1, N‐fixation was completely inhibited. The findings indicate that symbiosis is more salt‐sensitive than both Rhizobium and the host plant, probably due to a breakdown in one of the processes involved in symbiotic‐N fixation. Improvement of salinity tolerance in field grown chickpea may be achieved by application of sufficient amounts of mineral nitrogen.
Short‐ and long‐term patterns of sponge diversity on a rocky tropical coast: evidence of large‐scale structuring factors
Authors: Carballo Jose Luis , Vega Cristina , Cruz‐Barraza José Antonio , Yáñez Benjamin , Nava Héctor , Ávila Enrique , Wilson Miroslava 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe importance of a long‐term ecological perspective is well documented, yet long‐term data are not widely available. This paper represents the first quantitative description of sublittoral sponge assemblages over long temporal scales (6 years) along the coast of the East Pacific Ocean (Mazatlan Bay), with the goal of describing their levels of intra‐ and inter‐annual variability, and their relationship to changing environmental conditions. It was possible to detect an apparent short‐term pattern (intra‐annual), with a highly diverse and stable structure, usually in the drought season, which was consistent most of the years. However, only a few species showed regular (predictable) seasonal cycles. The species per square meter (from 0.1 to 0.5), total species per sampling (14–21), and H’ diversity using loge (1.4–2) also fluctuated greatly between years, suggesting that although a consistent short‐term pattern was found most of the years, the inter‐annual variability was also high. The univariate and multivariate results and regression models indicated that local winds played a key role in this short‐term pattern (intra‐annual). During the rainy season, or during the transition between the drought and rainy season, the winds coming from the southwest (WSW) produced an increase in the net sediment movement, which was an important factor for diversity. The long‐term fluctuations (annual pattern of diversity) also correlated positively with wind speed (88% of the variance observed) and with sediment deposition (69% of the variance observed). In addition, the results indicated the existence of large‐scale structuring factors, as the annual pattern of diversity also was correlated positively with the Southern Oscillation (SOI) and Multivariate ENSO (MEI) indices (82% and 88% of the observed variance, for MEI and SOI, respectively). In conclusion, this study suggests that sponge assemblages in Mazatlán Bay are extremely dynamic, and changes in this community are associated with processes that occur over the short‐ and long‐time scales (several months to several years). The significant positive relationship between wind speed and sediment deposition showed that the main factors controlling the diversity in these shallow rocky ecosystems are the winds and the swell. A high proportion of coarse sand also indicated a very high energy in the environment, which, combined with the effect of silting, abraded and removed sponges and other organisms. These features contribute to the instability of the community by producing dramatic fluctuations in species abundance and preventing competitive processes from producing a more stable community.
TOPICAL OXYGEN THERAPY INDUCES VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR EXPRESSION AND IMPROVES CLOSURE OF CLINICALLY PRESENTED CHRONIC WOUNDS
Authors: Gordillo Gayle M , Roy Sashwati , Khanna Savita , Schlanger Richard , Khandelwal Sorabh , Phillips Gary , Sen Chandan K 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY

Chronic wounds, especially in diabetics, represent a serious threat to human health.
Correcting a compromised state of tissue oxygenation by the administration of supplemental O2 is known to benefit wound healing. Beyond its role as a nutrient and antibiotic, O2 supports wound healing by driving redox signaling.
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is widely used and approved by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to treat specific ulcerations. The current literature supports the notion that approaches to topically oxygenate wounds may be productive.
Here, we present the results of two simultaneous studies testing the effects of HBO and portable topical oxygen (TO) therapies. These two therapeutic approaches have several contrasting features.
In total, 1854 patients were screened in outpatient wound clinics for non‐randomized enrolments into the HBO (n = 32; 31% diabetic) and TO (n = 25; 52% diabetic) studies.
Under the conditions of the present study, HBO treatment seemed to benefit some wounds while not benefiting others. Overall, HBO did not result in statistically significant improvements in wound size in the given population over the time monitored in the present study.
However, TO significantly improved wound size. Among the three O2‐sensitive genes (VEGF, TGFb1 and COL1A1) studied in wound edge tissue biopsies, TO treatment was associated with higher VEGF165 expression in healing wounds. Expression of the other genes mentioned was not affected by TO. There was no significant change in the expression levels of any of genes studied in patients in the HBO study. This establishes a link between VEGF gene expression and healing outcome for TO therapy.
Taken together, the present study provides evidence demonstrating that TO treatment benefits wound healing in patients suffering from chronic wounds. Treatment with TO is associated with an induction of VEGF expression in wound edge tissue and an improvement in wound size.
ELEVATED CATALASE AND HEME OXYGENASE‐1 MAY CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED POSTISCHAEMIC CARDIAC FUNCTION IN LONG‐TERM TYPE 1 DIABETES
Authors: Shen Wei‐Li , Zhong Mei‐Fang , Ding Wen‐Long , Wang Jian , Zheng Lin , Zhu Ping , Wang Bing‐Shun , Higashino Hideaki , Chen Hong 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY

Although increased oxidative stress has been shown repeatedly to be implicated in diabetes, the cardiovascular anti‐oxidant state and heart response to ischaemia in long‐term Type 1 diabetes remain largely unknown. The present study was designed to observe heart tolerance to ischaemia–reperfusion and endogenous anti‐oxidants in the cardiovascular system in long‐term hyperglycaemic rats.
Hearts from Sprague‐Dawley rats surviving up to 6 months with streptozocin‐induced severe hyperglycaemia (blood glucose > 20 mmol/L) were isolated and subjected to global ischaemia and reperfusion. Cardiac function, electrocardiogram and anti‐oxidants in the myocardium and aorta were examined. In addition, the morphology of the myocardial mitochondria and the in vitro function of aortic vessels were assessed.
Hearts from diabetic rats demonstrated lower baseline heart function but had higher postischaemic coronary flow and left ventricular developed pressure compared with their respective controls (P < 0.05). In addition, hearts from diabetic animals had fewer arrhythmias (P < 0.01) and lower left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure during reperfusion (P < 0.05). Higher catalase and heme oxygenase‐1 content was found in the aorta and myocardium from diabetic rats (P < 0.01). In aortas from diabetic animals, acetylcholine‐induced vasodilatation was enhanced and was approximately 15% after inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, comapred with 0% in controls. The 15% relaxation was abrogated by heme oxygenase blockade. Mitochondria from the myocardium of diabetic rats showed significant increases in both size and number (P < 0.05).
Hearts of long‐term Type 1 diabetic rats demonstrated improved recovery of postischaemic cardiac function and reduced reperfusion arrhythmia. Hyperglycaemia may enhance cardiovascular anti‐oxidant capacity and mitochondrial neogenesis, which renders the heart resistant to ischaemia and oxidative injury.
N‐ACETYLCYSTEINE PREVENTS BUT DOES NOT REVERSE DEXAMETHASONE‐INDUCED HYPERTENSION
Authors: Krug Susanne , Zhang Yi , Mori Trevor A , Croft Kevin D , Vickers Janine J , Langton Leanne K , Whitworth Judith A 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY

We have shown previously that N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) prevents the increase in blood pressure induced by adrenocorticotropin treatment. The present study investigated the effect of NAC on dexamethasone (Dex)‐induced hypertension.
Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 in each). In a prevention study, NAC (10 g/L in the drinking water) was given for 4 days prior to and 11 days during concurrent treatment with saline (0.1 mL/rat per day) or with Dex (10 mg/rat per day). In a reversal study, daily injections of Dex or saline began 8 days before NAC and cotreatment continued for 5 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured on alternate days using a tail‐cuff system.
Dexamethasone significantly increased SBP from 113 ± 4 to 139 ± 6 mmHg (n = 10; P < 0.01). N‐Acetylcysteine alone had no effect on SBP. In NAC + Dex‐treated rats, SBP was significantly lower than that of Dex‐treated rats (P¢ < 0.01). In fully established Dex‐hypertension NAC was ineffective and SBP remained high.
Both Dex and NAC treatments decreased bodyweight gain. N‐Acetylcysteine reduced food and water consumption. Dexamethasone reduced thymus weight (P¢ < 0.01) but NAC treatment did not alter this marker of glucocorticoid activity.
Dexamethasone tended to decrease plasma NOx, whereas NAC restored plasma NOx concentrations to control levels. N‐Acetylcysteine had no effect on Dex‐induced increased plasma F2‐isoprostane concentrations.
In conclusion, NAC partially prevented, but did not reverse, Dex‐induced hypertension.