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Athalia rosae larvae attack can lead to complete defoliation of the plant leaving untouched the main veins. Knowing these aspects, in the western part of Romania, research was carried out aiming to reduce the population of Athalia rosae using acetamiprid applied in four doses (0.04 kg/ha; 0.06 kg/ha; 0.08 kg/ha ; 0.1 kg/ha). The effectiveness of the treatments in respect of larval population reduction was determined at 3, 6 and 9 days after application. At the time of treatments spraying, the population level of Athalia rosea showed close and statistically undifferentiated values, between 0.23 and 0.4 larvae/plant. It was observed that, both, the period and the treatment, had a real influence on the number of larvae during the study. Six days after the treatment, the number of larvae was significantly reduced, followed by a increases in the next period. During the study, the treatment applied at 0.08 kg/ha exerted the highest efficiency in terms of Athalia rosea larvae control, registering values of 95.70 and 90.18% after six and nine days after application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability and variety of global satellite products and the rapid development of new algorithms has provided great potential to generate a new level of data with different spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions. However, the ability of these synthetic spatiotemporal datasets to accurately map and monitor our planet on a field or regional scale remains underexplored. This study aimed to support future research efforts in estimating crop yields by identifying the optimal spatial (10 m, 30 m, or 250 m) and temporal (8 or 16 days) resolutions on a regional scale. The current study explored and discussed the suitability of four different synthetic (Landsat (L)-MOD13Q1 (30 m, 8 and 16 days) and Sentinel-2 (S)-MOD13Q1 (10 m, 8 and 16 days)) and two real (MOD13Q1 (250 m, 8 and 16 days)) NDVI products combined separately to two widely used crop growth models (CGMs) (World Food Studies (WOFOST), and the semi-empiric Light Use Efficiency approach (LUE)) for winter wheat (WW) and oil seed rape (OSR) yield forecasts in Bavaria (70,550 km2) for the year 2019. For WW and OSR, the synthetic products' high spatial and temporal resolution resulted in higher yield accuracies using LUE and WOFOST. The observations of high temporal resolution (8-day) products of both S-MOD13Q1 and L-MOD13Q1 played a significant role in accurately measuring the yield of WW and OSR. For example, L- and S-MOD13Q1 resulted in an R2 = 0.82 and 0.85, RMSE = 5.46 and 5.01 dt/ha for WW, R2 = 0.89 and 0.82, and RMSE = 2.23 and 2.11 dt/ha for OSR using the LUE model, respectively. Similarly, for the 8- and 16-day products, the simple LUE model (R2 = 0.77 and relative RMSE (RRMSE) = 8.17%) required fewer input parameters to simulate crop yield and was highly accurate, reliable, and more precise than the complex WOFOST model (R2 = 0.66 and RRMSE = 11.35%) with higher input parameters. Conclusively, both S-MOD13Q1 and L-MOD13Q1, in combination with LUE, were more prominent for predicting crop yields on a regional scale than the 16-day products; however, L-MOD13Q1 was advantageous for generating and exploring the long-term yield time series due to the availability of Landsat data since 1982, with a maximum resolution of 30 m. In addition, this study recommended the further use of its findings for implementing and validating the long-term crop yield time series in different regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suitability of the vegetation indices of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), blue normalized difference vegetation index (BNDVI), and normalized difference yellowness index (NDYI) obtained by means of UAV at the flowering stage of oil seed rape for the prediction of seed yield and usability of these vegetation indices in the identification of anomalies in the condition of the flowering growth were verified based on the regression analysis. Correlation analysis was performed to find the degree of yield dependence on the values of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices, which revealed a strong, significant linear positive dependence of seed yield on BNDVI (R = 0.98) and NDYI (R = 0.95). The level of correlation between the NDVI index and the seed yield was weaker (R = 0.70) than the others. Regression analysis was performed for a closer determination of the functional dependence of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices and the yield of seeds. Coefficients of determination in the linear regression model of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI indices reached the following values: R2 = 0.48 (NDVI), R2 = 0.95 (BNDVI), and R2 = 0.90 (NDYI). Thus, it was shown that increased density of yellow flowers decreased the relationship between NDVI and crop yield. The NDVI index is not appropriate for assessing growth conditions and prediction of yields at the flowering stage of oil seed rape. High accuracy of yield prediction was achieved with the use of BNDVI and NDYI. The performed analysis of NDVI, BNDVI, and NDYI demonstrated that particularly the BNDVI and NDYI indices can be used to identify problems in the development of oil seed rape growth at the stage of flowering, for their precise localization, and hence to targeted and effective remedial measures in line with the principles of precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to determine the efficiency of growth regulators of retardant action “Reggie”, “VRK” (a. v. chlormequat chloride, 750 g/l) and “Kolosal”, “KE” (a. v. tebuconazole, 250 g/l), as well as their tank mixtures for the spring oil seed rape (Brassica napus oleifera D. С.) variety “Neman”. The trials were carried out in 2017-2019 on leached chernozem in the forest-steppe part of the south of the Non-blackearth (chernozem) zone. There has been identified a significant effect of the studied retardants on an increase of a number of off-shoots and seeds per plant, an improvement of 1000-seed weight, a decrease of oil seed rape lodging, which provided a yield rise from 10 to 45%, compared with the control variety. The maximum productivity of spring oil seed rape (3.78 t/h) was obtained by joint treatment of crops with “Kolosal”, “KE” at a dose of 1 l/ha and “Reggie”, “VRK” at a dose of 1 l/ha, which was on 1.25 t/ha higher than in the control variant. The profitability of production on this option was 120%, with the obtained additional income of 23 thousand rubles/ha.

Large scale exmeriment was established in one growing season (2018/2019) in Hungary, Szeged-Öthalom. Experimental field were 3-3 ha. Applications has the same general agrotechnical control and plant protection, but differed from each other the method of tillage. Our aim was to observe that field cultivator against conventional ploughing, and disc-whether has an effect to the soil physical parameters (soil moisture, mechanical resistance, soil structure),potential yield of oil seed rape and profitability of production. If we ploghed the experimental filed, mechanical resistance was much bigger under the cultivated layer, but it was not created critical soil compaction or plough pan. Because of the mechanical resistance, soil moisture content in the subsoil (30-40 cm deep) was low. Clod forming effect is also determined. For oil seed rape is essential to aggregate soil stuction in the fertile layer, which can be achieve with combinator just before sowing. Unfavorable soil condition influenced development, crop formation, and yield of oil seed rape, furthermore the profitability of production. We have got the lowest yield and profit with conventional ploughing. Primary tillage with disk to 20 cm deep in surface soil evolved enough loose soil structure. In this layer water leaked and soil moisture has better condition. Even deeper layer became harder and drier, which delayed the root development of oil seed rape. Root development has an effect on nutrient and water uptake, thus tillage with disk has a medium yield and profit. Field cultivator with clod breaking roller can be able to change cultivation depth and suitable for stubble stripping, primary tillage, and seedbed preparation too. In this time we have got the best values of physical parameters, and profit from all soil tillage process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the basic tools used in precision agriculture technology is yield monitoring and mapping. Yield maps are used to monitor the efficiency of applied inputs, to assess the variability of field and have potential to be used in farm records and farm management software. The paper deals with comparison of yield maps with information on yield obtained from hand sampling. Analyses are based on five-year data from one field with spring barley, oil seed rape, winter wheat and maize crop rotation. Results show that the correlation coefficient across the time period reached a value of 0.89 (p

Understanding beta-diversity, i.e. species turnover in space and time, is essential for informing conservation actions. Soaring cultivation of mass flowering crops (e.g. oil seed rape OSR) and loss of semi-natural habitats (SNH) can strongly affect populations of native pollinators, yet it remains unclear how OSR and SNH affect spatial and temporal turnover of pollinator communities. Here, we examined how the landscape-scale proportions of OSR and SNH affect spatial and temporal community turnover in solitary bees and hoverflies, two key provider groups of pollination and pest control services in temperate agro-ecosystems. Using a novel grid-based landscape-wide sampling approach, we quantified pollinator communities within ten 1 km × 1 km landscapes representing independent gradients in OSR and SNH availability. We sampled during and after OSR flowering, in two subsequent years, yielding app. 8800 specimens representing 160 species. Spatial community turnover, measured as the slope of the dissimilarity-distance relationship, was not influenced by the proportion of OSR at any time. In contrast, SNH decreased community turnover for bees during OSR flowering and for hoverflies after flowering, likely caused by pollinator movement between land use types. This suggests that a high availability of SNH may help to promote an even distribution of native bees and hoverflies within temperate agricultural landscapes, hereby potentially stabilizing landscape-wide pollination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental Sciences Europe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Different cruciferous weeds were drilled in autumn 2011 and 2012 in a field near Münster. Beside common species like hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale Scop.), shepherd`s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), pennycress (Thlaspiarvense), tall hedge mustard (Sisymbrium loeselii) and flixweed (Descurainia sophia), we tried to establish weeds that are not common on arable land in Germany until now. These were: Yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris), hoary cress (Lepidium draba) and Turkish rocket (Bunias orientalis). In autumn 2011 emergence of the sown weeds was poor. In the second year of experiment we got good emergence of the named weeds excluding hoary cress (Lepidium draba). In autumn 2011 and 2012 different herbicidecombinations were applied across the stripes. The best results were achieved with Colzor Trio (clomazone + dimethachlor + napropamid) which was applied in pre-emergence state, a spray sequence Butisan Gold (metazachlor + quinmerac + dimethenamid-P) applied in pre-emergence followed by Salsa (ethametsulfuronmethyl) + Trend (adjuvant) in post-emergence and Clearfield-Vantiga (metazachlor + quinmerac + imazamox) + Dash (adjuvant), also applied in post-emergence state of the weeds.

Simplification has been a clear trend in the composition of French crop rotations in the past decades, whereas agronomic knowledge proves the interest of diversification in order to benefit from the so called “preceding effects” and “cumulative effects”. It is needed to study the possible input of crops such as rape seed or pea for the cereal-based rotations in agronomic terms but also in economic and environmental terms. The first step is to quantify the impacts specifically due to the change in crop succession composition, and afterwards to allocate an objective economic value to them so that they are easy to integrate into comparisons of production systems. The regional case studies of a current multi-partner project enable to illustrate the economic and environmental evaluation of alternatives to the rotation “Oilseed rape – Wheat – Barley”. In addition, the recent field experiment data of this project (farm tests or experimental trials) provide technical and scientific elements on technical feasibility and the economic performance of the innovative succession “pea before rape seed”, but also on the interest of the introduction of symbiotically fixed nitrogen in crop rotations in order to decrease the negative environmental impacts of mineral fertilisers-based systems. Diversification of crops and nitrogen fixation appear to be two key elements for (i) competitiveness, when at least the agronomic effects are taken into account, and (ii) sustainable systems, when one considers the preservation of farm potential and of the environment.

The present study reports novel data concerning Conservation Tillage (CT) in the continental sub-humid climate zone in Central Europe (Hungary), an area which has been mostly neglected in the course of previous CT studies. The results of a 10-year (2003–2013) comparative study of mouldboard ploughing tillage (PT) and CT (no inversion, using a reduced number of tillage operations and leaving min. 30% crop residues on the soil surface) types are reported. Our extensive monitoring system has provided new and detailed information concerning technologies and yields both from the first, transitional period and, over the following years, of adapted technology. Our results suggest that tillage type was a more important factor in the question of yields than either the highly variable climate of the studied years, or the diverse slope conditions of the plots. During the first three years of technological changeover to CT (2003–2006), a decrease of 8.7% was measured, respective to PT. However, the next seven years (2007–2013) brought a 12.7% increase of CT yields. Our study revealed key factors in the initial reduction of crops during the technological change, and may accordingly serve as a guideline for the shortening or avoidance of decline in the transitional period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript presents research results examining phosphorus (P) management in a soil–plant system for three variables: i) internal resources of soil available phosphorus, ii) cropping sequence, and iii) external input of phosphorus (manure, fertilizers). The research was conducted in long-term cropping sequences with oilseed rape (10 rotations) and maize (six rotations) over three consecutive growing seasons (2004/2005, 2005/2006, and 2006/2007) in a production farm on soils originated from Albic Luvisols in Poland. The soil available phosphorus pool, measured as calcium chloride extractable P (CCE-P), constituted 28% to 67% of the total phosphorus input (P TI ) to the soil–plant system in the spring. Oilseed rape and maize dominant cropping sequences showed a significant potential to utilize the CCE-P pool within the soil profile. Cropping sequences containing oilseed rape significantly affected the CCE-P pool, and in turn contributed to the P TI . The P TI uptake use efficiency was 50% on average. Therefore, the CCE-P pool should be taken into account as an important component of a sound and reliable phosphorus balance. The instability of the yield prediction, based on the P TI , was mainly due to an imbalanced management of both farmyard manure and phosphorus fertilizer. Oilseed rape plants provide a significant positive impact on the CCE-P pool after harvest, improving the productive stability of the entire cropping sequence. This phenomenon was documented by the P TI increase during wheat cultivation following oilseed rape. The Unit Phosphorus Uptake index also showed a higher stability in oilseed rape cropping systems compared to rotations based on maize. Cropping sequences are a primary factor impacting phosphorus management. Judicious implementation of crop rotations can improve soil P resources, efficiency of crop P use, and crop yield and yield stability. Use of cropping sequences can reduce the need for external P sources such as farmyard manure and chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses upon the supercritical CO 2 extraction of oil seed rape ( Brassica napus ) and the energy consumption associated with it in two different scales (1 L and 2 × 16 L). Experiments were carried out to determine the influence of pressure, temperature and flow rate on the extraction yield. The yield varied from 37 to 97% of the one for n -heptane. The energy consumption in both extraction plants allowed an analysis of the different components involved in the extraction process, namely pumping, heating and cooling. This energy consumption was analysed depending on the amount of CO 2 used, so the calculations can be extrapolated to any supercritical fluid extraction process undertaken in those plants. In the particular case of the supercritical extraction of oil seed rape, the best conditions in our experimental range were achieved at 55 MPa and 35 °C, yielding 100.3 g of oil per kW h. This yield was comparable to that obtained in the pilot plant of 97.4 g oil/kW h. An accurate energetic evaluation of the extraction process at different scales has provided further evidence to encourage the change to supercritical fluid extraction as an economically viable industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizoctonia solani is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes significant establishment and yield losses to several important food crops globally. This is the first application of high resolution X-ray micro Computed Tomography (X-ray μCT) and real-time PCR to study host–pathogen interactions in situ and elucidate the mechanism of Rhizoctonia damping-off disease over a 6-day period caused by R. solani, anastomosis group (AG) 2-1 in wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Gallant) and oil seed rape (OSR, Brassica napus cv. Marinka). Temporal, non-destructive analysis of root system architectures was performed using RooTrak and validated by the destructive method of root washing. Disease was assessed visually and related to pathogen DNA quantification in soil using real-time PCR. R. solani AG2-1 at similar initial DNA concentrations in soil was capable of causing significant damage to the developing root systems of both wheat and OSR. Disease caused reductions in primary root number, root volume, root surface area, and convex hull which were affected less in the monocotyledonous host. Wheat was more tolerant to the pathogen, exhibited fewer symptoms and developed more complex root systems. In contrast, R. solani caused earlier damage and maceration of the taproot of the dicot, OSR. Disease severity was related to pathogen DNA accumulation in soil only for OSR, however, reductions in root traits were significantly associated with both disease and pathogen DNA. The method offers the first steps in advancing current understanding of soil-borne pathogen behavior in situ at the pore scale, which may lead to the development of mitigation measures to combat disease influence in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The composition of oil seed rape straw treated by steam explosion with increasing severity was investigated before and after saccharification. Chemical changes were monitored by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Sugar contents were determined after acid hydrolysis. Discriminant analysis of the spectra before and after digestion showed the main compositional changes are losses of carbohydrates and a subsequent increase in the proportion of lignin. Construction of partial least squares (PLS) predictive models for the concentration of eight cell wall sugars indicated different fates for cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectic substances. No cellulose was lost during steam explosion and the amount digested to glucose increased linearly with severity. Pectin was partially degraded during steam explosion, but a bound fraction remained which was only released during saccharification. Hemicelluloses were gradually destroyed in the steam explosion process, and the extent of subsequent saccharification was most strongly associated with the breakdown of xylan-like hemicelluloses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Brassica napus is consider to be one of world's important oil crops which provides not only the edible oil for human consumption but also the protein rich feed for animals and raw materials for industrial processes such as biodiesel production. The aim of our study was to indentify some new resistant sources of oilseed rape with resistance to Verticillium longisporum disease. For this as biological material we used of 65 oilseeds rape cultivars. To obtain the phenotypic data regarding the V. longisporum resistance, all cultivars were artificial inoculated with the pathogen in laboratory. After the artificial infection, it was observed a large variation of resistance to V. longisporum among the tested cultivars. We obtained 15 cultivars which showed a higher resistance to the pathogen than the control variant Express which is tolerant to the disease. For the molecular studies, we used 50 SSR markers which were chosen from previous studies. Using the genotypic data obtained with the SSR analysis and the phenotypic data represented by the AUDPC values resulted after the artificial infection of the each cultivar, we identified a QTL for resistance to V. longisporum. The QTL was localized on the first chromosome (LG group 1) with a LOD valued of 3,4 and a phenotypic variation (R²) of 11,4%. The results from this study are the first step in the investigation of the genetic basis of currently available resistance sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The joint research project “Generic detection and extrapolation of genetically modified oilseed rape dispersal (GenEERA)” aimed at estimating the dispersal and persistence of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in a larger region by combining a small-scale individual-based model and an up-scaling approach, for which various data sources had to be evaluated to deal with local processes and spatial heterogeneities on the regional scale. The objective of the article at hand is to give a detailed account of the spatial variability of climate in Northern Germany (German Federal States of Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Bremen, Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg). Based on this, a method was developed that includes both, the determination of representative oilseed rape fields for modelling the dispersal of GM oilseed rape at field scale, and the subsequent generalisation of the results to the landscape level on a regional scale. Accordingly, land characteristics which could be important for the dispersal and persistence of oilseed rape were regionalised within a GIS environment: The beginning of flowering was modelled by variogram analysis and kriging estimation and was used to select satellite images for the detection of rape fields and to determine the period for the individual based modelling. The monthly means (1961–1990) of precipitation (P), air temperature (T), and sunshine duration (S) were regionalised by WARD cluster analysis. The PTS-clusters were combined to four climatic regions which together with WARD clusters on wind speed and direction as well as with land use clusters (crop rotation and management), which were provided by other project partners, enabled to finally define eight regions with a maximum of internal homogeneity. A meteorological station was selected to represent each of these regions. The data on wind speed and direction (hourly means), precipitation, sunshine and air temperature (daily) measured at that location were provided for modelling growth, dispersal and persistence of genetically modified oilseed rape on selected fields on the local level. Linking each of the modelled sites with a map on ecoregions which integrates the spatial patterns of soils, elevation, vegetation and climate, the model results were considered by analogy reasoning to be valid for all those ecoregions which are represented by the modelling sites and, thus, could be spatially generalised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Seed-borne fungi on 10 widely cultivated rapeseed were detected by blotter test and DNA finger printing.The results showed that 9 fungi species belonging to 7 genera were carried by rapeseeds. The three main fungi were Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp. and Penicillium sp. There were significant differences among experimental cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient and is circulated to the food chain through crops. Brassica species are efficient in Se accumulation and thus, good species for Se biofortification purposes. The residual fraction obtained after oil processing of Brassica seeds, the meal, is an important protein source in animal diets and used in feed concentrates. The accumulation of soil or foliar applied Se in the seeds and meal of Brassica napus and B. rapa as well as its effects on growth and yield formation was studied in two field experiments. Also, a HPLC-ICP-MS based method for the identification and quantification of Se species in Brassica seeds and meal was developed. Selenium application did not affect the yield or oil content. High accumulation of Se in the seeds and meal (1.92-1.96 μg Se g) was detected. Biotransformation of inorganic Se was evaluated by using HPLC-ICP-MS previous enzymatic hydrolysis for species extraction. The Se speciation studies showed that up to 85% of the total Se was SeMet whereas other Se-species were not detected. We conclude that the agronomic biofortification of Brassica species can improve the nutritive quality of the protein rich meal fraction as it contains significant amount of SeMet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genetic map was constructed with 353 sequence-related amplified polymorphism and 34 simple sequence repeat markers in oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L.). The map consists of 19 linkage groups and covers 1,868 cM of the rapeseed genome. A recombinant doubled haploid (DH) population consisting of 150 lines segregating for oil content and other agronomic traits was produced using standard microspore culture techniques. The DH lines were phenotyped for days to flowering, oil content in the seed, and seed yield at three locations for 3 years, generating nine environments. Data from each of the environments were analyzed separately to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these three phenotypic traits. For oil content, 27 QTL were identified on 14 linkage groups; individual QTL for oil content explained 4.20–30.20% of the total phenotypic variance. For seed yield, 18 QTL on 11 linkage groups were identified, and the phenotypic variance for seed yield, as explained by a single locus, ranged from 4.61 to 24.44%. Twenty-two QTL were also detected for days to flowering, and individual loci explained 4.41–48.28% of the total phenotypic variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaching of sulfur (S) on sandy soils may limit the effectiveness of S fertilizers especially when applied at sowing. The effectiveness of S sources for canola (oil seed rape, Brassica napus L.) grown in sandy low S soils of south-western Australia is not known. This study was completed to determine the relative effectiveness of gypsum and a gypsum-based by-product from synthetic rutile processing called Canola Blue for canola grown in low S soils of the region. Canola Blue is a mixture of gypsum and elemental S, and is granulated so its effectiveness may vary from gypsum. We measured the effectiveness of the two S sources in the glasshouse for young seedling growth and for minimizing S leaching. In the four field experiments, the two S sources were evaluated for relative effects on canola seed yield and the concentration of oil in seed. Canola Blue applied at sowing was as effective as gypsum for canola growth in the glasshouse and when applied at 35 days after sowing (DAS) was as effective as gypsum for seed yield in the field. For the glasshouse study, Canola Blue when applied to the soil surface (topdressed) at 35 DAS was as effective as gypsum in achieving a rapid recovery of leaves from S deficiency symptoms and of shoot growth. Where S deficiency appears during the growing season, topdressing with Canola Blue appears to be as effective under the conditions of this experiment as was gypsum. However, the S in Canola Blue was less prone to leaching than that applied as gypsum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gesunde Pflanzen is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of ozone treatment on degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated soils and to observe the subsequent changes in soil physico-chemical properties. Furthermore, the ability of plants to grow on the ozone-treated soils was evaluated. Soils with different physico-chemical characteristics spiked with seven PCB congeners in two different time periods were chosen. Ozonation was more efficient for PCB degradation in freshly spiked soils and the removal efficiency increased with increasing ozonation time. The highest decrease was found in the soil with a lower soil organic matter (SOM) content and a coarser soil structure indicating the substantial effect of soil characteristics on the efficiency of ozonation. The composition of individual PCB congeners changed in all treatments in terms of higher accumulation rate of highly chlorinated biphenyls with a higher ozonation time. Increased mobility of several elements, changes in SOM content and in soil pH were detected after ozonation. Vulnerability of plants to these modifications was documented on rape seedlings. No inhibition in growth during any treatment and predominantly higher concentration of PCB in non-ozonated treatments were observed. Results suggest that this method can present a promising environmental friendly remediation technology for PCB contaminated soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Full greenhouse gas (GHG) life-cycle analysis of bio-energy production chains is often constrained by a lack of information on pre-harvest GHG costs and emissions during production of the energy crop. In this paper, we assessed pre-harvest GHG costs of production of short rotation coppice (SRC), Miscanthus and oil seed rape (OSR: for liquid bio-fuel production) when compared to a range of former land-use baselines. It was found that GHG costs are very low for Miscanthus and SRC but higher for OSR production, determined mainly by the need for nitrogen fertilisation. Compared to baseline land uses, SRC and Miscanthus have much lower GHG costs than arable cropping or intensively managed grasslands, with OSR production having similar GHG costs to arable cropping. Establishing broadleaved forests have low GHG costs, but 5-year GHG costs of Miscanthus and SRC are similar to forest. We show that former land use is of critical importance when determining if energy crops are a net source or sink of GHGs. Converting to SRC and Miscanthus are the most favourable energy crops in terms of GHG savings. Converting to OSR from arable cropping results in either small increases or decreases in GHG emissions, depending upon the former tillage practice on the arable land, but replacing either broadleaved woodland with OSR (mainly due to soil carbon loss and increased fertiliser-related N2O emissions), or grassland with OSR (mainly due to loss of soil carbon), greatly increases emissions. Policies to maximise GHG benefits from energy crops should encourage that they be established preferentially on croplands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on the slug control in Australian canola. It is mentioned that exotic slugs have become serious pests of canola in Southern Australia's high-rainfall cropping zones. In this study, slugs were supervised using 300 mm x 300 mm terracotta tiles acting as refuges. Relative to this, an investigation was made of the effects of the time of application of chelated iron baits on the slug species Deroceras reticulatum Müeller and Lehmania nyctelia Bourguignat. Moreover, it is identified that thistles and other vegetation were related with the increased volume of slugs.

Abstract: The peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids is mostly catalyzed by members of the lipoxygenase enzyme family. Lipoxygenase products can be metabolized further in the oxylipin pathway and are known as signalling substances that play a role in plant development as well as in plant responses to wounding and pathogen attack. Apart from accumulating data in model plants like Arabidopsis, information on the relevance of lipid peroxide metabolism in the crop plant oilseed rape is scarce. Thus we aimed to analyze lipoxygenases and oxylipin patterns in seedlings of oilseed rape. RNA isolated from 3 day etiolated seedlings contains mRNAs for at least two different lipoxygenases. These have been cloned as cDNAs and named Bn-Lox-1fl and Bn-Lox-2fl. The protein encoded by Bn-Lox-2fl was identified as a 13-lipoxygenase by expression in Escherichia coli. The Bn-Lox-1fl yielded an inactive protein when expressed in E. coli. Based on Bn-Lox-1fl active site determinants and on sequence homology the Bn-Lox-1fl is most likely a 9-lipoxygenase. Both genes are expressed in light-grown and etiolated cotyledons as well as in leaves. Bn-Lox-2fl protein is more abundant in cotyledons of etiolated seedlings than in cotyledons of green seedlings. Both 13- and 9-lipoxygenase-derived hydroperoxides can be detected during germination. Etiolated seedlings contain more lipoxygenase-derived hydroperoxides in non esterified fatty acids than green seedlings. The 13-lipoxygenase derivatives are 6-8-fold more abundant than the 9-derivatives. Lipoxygenase-derived hydroperoxides in esterified lipids are almost not present during germination. These results suggest that 13-lipoxygenases acting on free fatty acids dominate during B. napus seed germination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new selection system based on galactose as selective agent and a UDP-glucose:galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase gene as selective gene is presented. A broad range of plant species, including agronomically important crops such as maize and rice, is sensitive to low dosages of galactose. The toxicity of galactose is believed to be due to accumulation of galactose-1-phosphate, generated by endogenous galactokinase after uptake. Here, it is demonstrated that this toxicity can be sufficiently alleviated by the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated introduction of the E. coli UDP-glucose:galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (galT) gene, driven by a 35S-promoter, to allow transgenic shoots of potato and oil seed rape to regenerate on galactose containing selection media, resulting in high transformation frequencies (up to 35% for potato). Analysis of genomic DNA and UDP-glucose:galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase activity in randomly selected potato transformants confirmed the presence and active expression of the galT gene. The agricultural performance of transgenic potatoes was evaluated by monitoring the phenotype and tuber yield for two generations and these characters were found to be indistinguishable from non-transgenic controls. Thus, the galactose selection system provides a new alternative being distinct from conventional antibiotic and herbicide selection systems as well as so-called positive selection systems where the selective agent has a beneficial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorogenic probe (fliG-P), designed within a chromosomal DNA sequence, was used in a TaqMan PCR assay to identify Agrobacterium spp. The TaqMan assay detected 58 of 59 Agrobacterium strains tested, but did not detect 13 other Rhizobiaceae strains. Seedlings were grown from seven lots of surface-sterilised Brassica napus seed. Seedlings from these samples were placed in phosphate buffer and the resulting suspensions used to inoculate broth media selective for Agrobacterium biovars 1 and 2. Lysed broths (after 48 h incubation) were used as template in the fliG TaqMan PCR to detect Agrobacterium sp. in one of the seed samples. Individual Agrobacterium strains were isolated from this sample and tested by three Ti-plasmid conventional PCR assays. None of the strains possessed a plasmid. This is the first report of Agrobacterium sp. present within the seed of B. napus, a crop routinely screened for genetically modified DNA contamination using PCR assays with Agrobacterium sequences as targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2S protein napin in Brassica napus is synthesized as a proprotein from which an N-terminal and an internal propeptide are removed. In order to investigate the mechanism of 2S storage-protein processing. N-terminal sequences were determined for the light and heavy chains of all major napin isoforms isolated. Mutants of a napin gene, with deletions of different portions of the propeptides were transformed into tobacco and napin protein was isolated. Napin light and heavy chains were separated and their N-terminal amino acid sequences determined. Further, the C-terminal residues of one napin isoform isolated from B. napus and one mutant napin isolated from tobacco were deduced from molecular-mass determinations of the constituent chains. Analyses suggested that the two propeptides are exposed at the surface of the proprotein. The light chain is processed to the correct length independent of the amino acid sequence in the N-terminal propeptide and the processing site. The internal propeptide is attacked by endoproteases. Aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases then digest portions of the propeptide to the extent allowed by the primary and the three-dimensional structures, often resulting in 2S protein chains with partly frayed ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium chain hydrolase (MCH) is an enzyme which regulates the chain length of fatty acid synthesis specifically in the mammary gland of the rat. During lactation, MCH interacts with fatty acid synthase (FAS) to cause premature release of acyl chains, thus providing medium chain fatty acids for synthesis of milk fat. In this study we have investigated the ability of rat MCH to interact with the phylogenetically more distant FAS structure present in plant systems and to cause a perturbation of fatty acid synthesis. In in vitro experiments, addition of purified MCH to rapeseed homogenates was found to cause a significant perturbation of fatty acid synthesis towards medium chain length products. The rat MCH gene was expressed in transgenic oilseed rape using a seed specific rape acyl carrier protein (ACP) promoter and a rape ACP plastid targeting sequence. Western analysis showed MCH protein to be present in transgenic seed and for its expression to be developmentally regulated in concert with storage lipid synthesis. The chimaeric preprotein was correctly processed and immunogold labelling studies confirmed MCH to be localized within plastid organelles. However, fatty acid analysis of oil from MCH-expressing rape seed showed no significant differences to that from control seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Among manageable soil properties, soil pH and extractable soil P had the largest impact on Swedish crop yields. • Current recommendations on soil pH and soil P require upward adjustment. • Surprisingly, increasing soil organic matter (SOM) reduced yields, most probably due to lower pH in soils richer in SOM. This study evaluated yield statistics and data from a comprehensive national soil inventory representing 90 yield survey districts and from the Swedish long-term soil fertility experiments. The aim was to identify the most yield-limiting soil properties and best agronomic practices in order to further improve yield. Principal Component Analysis, multi-variate analysis, step-wise regression, and tree partitioning analysis identified the same variables affecting yields in the national and experimental datasets. Crop yields were significantly affected by soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), plant-available soil phosphorus (P-AL) and mean annual temperature. Contents of plant-available potassium and magnesium in soil had no significant impact on yield, except in potatoes. Soil pH was found to have the greatest potential to affect crop yields, even at values >6.5 (pH (H2O)). Soil organic matter ranging from 3 to 6% in Swedish arable soils had an indirect negative effect on crop yields by lowering soil pH values with higher SOM content. To fully exploit the known benefits of SOM, liming requires more attention. One important finding was that current Swedish agricultural recommendations require updating. High-yielding crops demand more plant-available soil P and a range of 60−100 mg P-AL kg−1 soil is needed for sufficient P supply. A new target value of pH 7 for all crops except potatoes is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]