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Sunflower is the main oil crop in Russia. Broomrape (Orobanche cumana) is a parasitic plant, feeding on sunflower roots. The main method to control broomrape is a development of resistant varieties or hybrids. But broomrape constantly evolves and produces new strains. Breeders have to test all the material for resistance to broomrape every time to search for new resistance genes and to select resistant plants from segregating populations. The aim of our work is to evaluate sunflower lines and breeding material by the different testing techniques. The same set of sunflower lines was evaluated in the field, lisimeters, climatic chamber and by the simple laboratory equipment. Broomrape seeds used in all the experiments were collected in the farmer's fields of Krasnodar and Rostov regions of Russia. The field evaluation was certainly the most adequate, but the most expensive, with high risk of soil being contaminated by broomrape seeds and time-consuming also. Lisimeters are useful and have no risk. Climatic chambers and greenhouses are the most popular for testing among the breeders. We try to use also Petri dishes, paper test and small vegetation pods to screen the sunflower material as fast as possible. As a result the most resistant lines (L-2018-1-1 and L-2018-1-2) were recognized. Susceptibility of lines VK 789 and VK 934 B to the new strains of broomrape were proved. Individual plants from segregating populations (L-2018-1A x VK 920 and L-2018-1A x VK930) were identified for the future breeding. Similar results were obtained from all the methods of evaluations, so we recommend using the short laboratory test for screening and lisimetric or field method for the final evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents data on the effect of herbicide mixtures on the dynamics of weed numbers and soybean productivity in different weather conditions. Experimental variants: 1. Control – without treatment; 2–9. Mixtures of soil herbicides and vegetation – Gardo Gold, CP, Korum, ASC, Algorithm, EC, Harmony, STS, Bazagran, WS, Galaction, EC, Global, WS, Tactical, VR, Fusilad Forte, KE, Command, KE, Proponit, KE Harmonyn Classic, ADS, Pulsar, VR, Anaconda, KE, Aton, ADS, Bentus, WS, Legat, KE, Contador, ASC, Fabian, ADS. Research has shown that in the Amur region, the smallest number of weeds – 12.9 pcs./m2 conserved when treated with herbicides after sowing Gardo Gold, CP and vegetation Fabian, ADS+Bazagran, WS, and the highest yield of soybeans2.52 t/ha on the average for two years was obtained during the treatment of crops with soil herbicides Algorithm, KE – 0.6 l/ha+Anaconda, KE – 1.3 l/ha and on vegetation Aton, ADS – 0.006 kg/ha+Bentus, WS – 2.3 l/ha+Legat, KE – 0.6 l/ha+Contador, VR – 2 l/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All plants have the ability to take up and accumulate metals from soil, water, and air, although this ability varies in degree. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of iron, copper, and chromium in different parts of yellow Alyssum murale (roots, stem, leaves, and flowers), as well as to calculate the translocation factor from the roots to the stem, leaves, and flowers. We selected five sample points in rural sites in Pogradec, Albania, and analyzed the roots, stem, leaves, and flowers of one plant from each site, for a total of 20 analyses. The results showed that concentrations of heavy metals in these samples are in these ranges: Fe: 224–5487 mg/kg, Cu: 5.2–11.2 mg/kg, and Cr: 3.3–21.6 mg/kg. The presence of the analyzed metals decreases according to plant part in the following order: roots > leaves > flower > stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation types are an above-ground component that plays an important role in shaping soil community through their different life history. Plant organic material as the main source for the below-ground community is available at various time and amount based on plant growth. The objective of this study was to compare the bacteria and nematode functional diversity on soil planted with five plant types. These greenhouse experiments are selected Oryza sativa L. (grass), Amaranthus sp. (herb), Solanum lycopersicum (L.) Karst. (shrub), Citrus reticulata Blanco (tree), and Arachis hypogaea L. (legume). To create seven treatments, control and plant mixture were included. Soil samples and plants were collected after five weeks for bacteria and nematode enumerations, plant biomass and specific leaf area measurements. Plant growth was followed approximately every two weeks. The bacteria were separated into the heterotrophic or autotrophic group and nematodes were classified into their functional group after identification. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to investigate the correlation between plant types and the soil organism composition. The preliminary results showed that the plant types determined the soil bacteria and nematode composition, except for O. sativa and S. lycopersicum with the greatest similarity of composition (eigenvalue: 0.33 and 0.24, correlation: 0.80, cumulative variance: 84.1 %). This was consistent with stem growth rate, leaf growth rate, specific leaf area and plant biomass allocation. Strong to medium correlations were observed between soil organisms and aboveground plant biomass allocation (r = -0.81), plant growth rate (r = -0.59) and leaf growth rate (r = -0.46) indicating below-ground resources most likely influenced soil food web development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro activity of methanolic extract from Phyllanthus columnaris stem bark was studied against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300 and MRSA BM1 (clinical strain) using time-kill curves in conjunction with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The extract showed more markedly bactericidal activity in MRSA BM1 clinical strain within less than 4 h by 6.25-12.5 mg/mL and within 6 h by 1.56 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy of MRSA BM1 revealed distortion of cell whilst transmission electron microscopy revealed disruption in cell wall division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monte Carlo simulations of gelatin matrices with known elemental concentrations confirmed the suitability of protein standards to quantify elements of cellulose material in x-ray microanalysis. However, gelatin standards and cellulose plant cell walls differ in structure, what influences x-ray generation and emission in both specimens. The goal of the project was to establish the influence of gelatin structure on x-ray generation and its usefulness to calculate elemental concentrations in plant cell walls of different width. Roots of Medicago truncatula as well as gelatin standards with known elemental composition were prepared according to freeze-drying protocols. The thermanox polymer was chosen to establish background formation for flat and compact organic materials. All analyses were performed with the scanning electron microscope operated at 10 keV and probe current of 350 pA. The Monte Carlo code Casino was applied to calculate the intensities of the generated and the emitted x-rays from biological matrix of different width. No topography effects of gelatin structure were visible when the raster mode of electron impact was applied to the specimen. Monte Carlo simulations of gelatin of different width revealed that a significant decrease of the generated x-ray intensity appears at the width of the specimen around 3.5 μm. However, an increase of emission of low energy x-ray intensities (Na, Mg) was noted at 3.5 μm size with constant emission of higher energy x-rays (Cl, K) down to 2.5 μm width. It determines the minimal size of plant specimen useful for comparison to bulk gelatin standard when quantitative analysis is performed for biologically important elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]