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World food and nutrition: the scientific and technological base.

Alleviation of world hunger and poverty will require the accelerated development and application in each low-income country of a broad spectrum of technologies based on advances in the biological, social, and physical sciences. They will range from improved cropping systems for farmers or small labor-intensive enterprises (small and beautiful) to nationwide transportation and communications systems, power grids, and other distribution and marketing capabilities (big and beautiful). Concerted action through a combination of commodity production campaigns, area development efforts, and overhaul of outdated national agencies offers the best prospect for overcoming both hunger and poverty.

Agriculture↗

Microbial communities of continuously cropped, irrigated rice fields.

In continuously cropped, irrigated rice fields, soil microbial biomass as measured by total phospholipid fatty acid concentrations declined during the second half of the crop cycle. This decline was also observed in other components of the microbial community assessed by viable counts, including denitrifiers and sporeformers. Simultaneous with total biomass decline was the increase in potential indicators of nutrient stress--such as ratios of cyclopropanol ((Sigma)[cy/(omega)7c]) and trans ((Sigma)[(omega)7t/(omega)7c]) phospholipid fatty acids--in plain crop soil but not in the rhizosphere. Polyhydroxyalkanoate levels were enhanced in the root environment of mature rice. Polyunsaturated eukaryotic biomarkers accounted for only 13 to 16 mol% of the total phospholipids, including 2 mol% of 18:2(omega)6, which is considered a fungal biomarker. Single biomarkers for defined physiological groups of bacteria did not follow the declining trend of total microbial biomass. Signature compounds for gram-positive and gram-negative fermenters (plasmalogen phospholipids), methanogenic bacteria (diether lipids), and methanotrophs (18:1(omega)8c) increased as the crop approached maturity. Methanotrophs were not particularly enriched in the rhizosphere. Methanogenic biomarkers were, however, most abundant in root extracts from mature rice plants. Assuming that soil microbial biomass plays a significant role as a passive nutrient pool, its reduction during the second half of the cropping season suggests a mechanism that may ultimately contribute to declining productivity in irrigated, continuous rice cropping systems.

Journal Article↗

Examination of the F2 screen for rare resistance alleles to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

A synthetic laboratory population of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), was used to test the F2 screen developed for detecting the frequency of rare resistance alleles to Cry1Ac and Cry1C toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Of the 120 single-pair matings set up, 106 produced enough F2 families for screening of Cry1Ac or Cry1C resistance alleles using both transgenic broccoli and an artificial diet overlay assay with a diagnostic dose. When using Bt broccoli plants as the F2 screen method, only one F2 family was detected for Cry1Ac resistance and no family was detected for Cry1C resistance. Six families were detected for either Cry1Ac or Cry1C resistance using the diet assay. The survivors in the diagnostic diet assay were crossed with the resistant individuals to confirm their resistance genotypes. Four F2 families were confirmed to contain one copy of an allele resistant to Cry1Ac in the original single-pairs and four other F2 families contained an allele resistant to Cry1C. Our results suggest that using transgenic plants expressing a high level of a Bt toxin in an F2 screen may underestimate the frequency of resistance alleles with high false negatives, or fail to detect true resistance alleles. The diagnostic diet assay was a better F2 screen method to detect alleles, especially for the Cry1Ac resistance with monogenic inheritance in the diamondback moth. The estimated probabilities of false positives and false negatives were 33 and 1%, respectively, for detecting Cry1Ac resistance at the allele frequency of 0.012 using the diagnostic diet assay. Careful validation of the screening method for each insect-crop system is necessary before the F2 screen can be used to detect rare Bt resistance alleles in field populations.

Alleles↗

Plant-incorporated Bacillus thuringiensis resistance for control of fall armyworm and corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in corn.

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), perennially cause leaf and ear damage to corn, Zea mays L., in the southeastern United States. Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) hybrids with the Bt11, MON810, or 176 events expressing the Cry1Ab insecticidal endotoxin from were evaluated for control fall armyworm and corn earworm at seven locations in Georgia during 1999 and 2000. Corn was planted at the recommended time for each location and 1 and 2 mo later in the southern locations. All Bt events consistently reduced whorl infestation and damage, although event 176 did not prevent whorl damage in the later plantings in the southern locations in both years. All events also reduced seedling damage by the lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller), in one trial and stalk infestations and tunnel length by southwestern corn borers, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, in another trial. Hybrids containing Bt11 and MON810 events reduced ear infestations in all trials, although reductions were small in later plantings. Nevertheless, both events reduced grain damage from earworms and armyworms by an average +/- SE of 52.5 +/- 5.1% in all trials. The hybrid containing event 176 did not reduce ear infestations and damage. Total grain aflatoxin concentrations were not significantly affected by Bt resistance in any trial (N = 17). Yield responses were variable with the prevention of yield loss being proportional to the severity of insect damage. Although plantings made after the recommended time did not consistently benefit from Bt resistance, Bt11 and MON810 events were effective in reducing damage to field corn when large infestations occurred. The Bt11 and MON810 events mitigated the risk of severe lepidopteran damage to corn, thereby making later plantings of corn feasible in double-cropping systems.

Animals↗

Molecular variability of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations associated to maize and cotton crops in Brazil.

The molecular variability among 10 populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), collected from maize, Zea mays L., or cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. crops located at distinctive geographical regions in Brazil, was assessed through random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In total, 208 RAPD markers were evaluated, and 98% of them were polymorphic. The mean genetic similarity was 0.6621 and 0.2499 by the Simple Matching and Jaccard matrices, respectively. In general, the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average dendrograms separated the populations into clusters related to the geographical origin of the samples. No branch of the dendrograms underpinning a molecular association of S. frugiperda has been identified to either of the two host plants. The molecular variance analysis showed that 18 and 82% of the genetic variation was distributed among and within the groups of populations, respectively. The principal coordinate analysis reinforced the pattern of population clustering found with the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average method. These results suggest the occurrence of considerable gene flow between S. frugiperda populations from maize and cotton fields located in the same region in Brazil. Therefore, for an effective management of this pest, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the gene flow of S. frugiperda populations associated to different host plants along the distribution range of this pest over time in a specific cropping system.

Animals↗

Nutrient and sediment losses under simulated rainfall following manure incorporation by different methods.

Incorporation of manure into cultivated soils is generally recommended to minimize nutrient losses. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate sediment and nutrient losses with different tillage methods (moldboard plow, heavy-duty cultivator, double disk, and no-incorporation) for incorporation of beef cattle manure in a silage barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cropping system. Runoff depths, sediment losses, and surface and subsurface nutrient transfers were determined from manured and unmanured field plots at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. A Guelph rainfall simulator was used to generate 30 min of runoff. Sediment losses among our tillage treatments (137.4-203.6 kg ha(-1)) were not significantly different due to compensating differences in runoff depths. Mass losses of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) in surface runoff were greatest from the no-incorporation (NI) treatments, with reductions in TP loads of 14% for double disk (DD), 43% for cultivator (CU), and 79% for moldboard plow (MP) treatments. Total N load reductions in 2002 were 26% for DD, 70% for CU, and 95% for MP treatments compared to the NI treatments. Nutrient losses following incorporation of manure with the DD or CU methods were not significantly different from the NI treatments. Manure treatments generally had lower runoff depths and sediment losses, and higher phosphorus and nitrogen losses than the control treatments. Subsurface concentrations of NH4-N, NO3-N, and TN were greatest from the MP treatments, whereas subsurface phosphorus concentrations were not affected by tillage method. Tillage with a cultivator or double disk minimized combined surface and subsurface nutrient losses immediately after annual manure applications.

Agriculture↗

Characterization of iron, manganese, and copper synthetic hydroxyapatites by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The incorporation of micronutrients (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu) into synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA) is proposed for slow release of these nutrients to crops in NASA's Advanced Life Support (ALS) program for long-duration space missions. Separate Fe3+ (Fe-SHA), Mn2+ (Mn-SHA), and Cu2+ (Cu-SHA) containing SHA materials were synthesized by a precipitation method. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to determine the location of Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ ions in the SHA structure and to identify other Fe(3+)-, Mn(2+)-, and Cu(2+)-containing phases that formed during precipitation. The EPR parameters for Fe3+ (g=4.20 and 8.93) and for Mn2+ (g=2.01, A=9.4 mT, D=39.0 mT and E=10.5 mT) indicated that Fe3+ and Mn2+ possessed rhombic ion crystal fields within the SHA structure. The Cu2+ EPR parameters (g(z)=2.488, A(z)=5.2 mT) indicated that Cu2+ was coordinated to more than six oxygens. The rhombic environments of Fe3+ and Mn2+ along with the unique Cu2+ environment suggested that these metals substituted for the 7 or 9 coordinate Ca2+ in SHA. The EPR analyses also detected poorly crystalline metal oxyhydroxides or metal-phosphates associated with SHA. The Fe-, Mn-, and Cu-SHA materials are potential slow release sources of Fe, Mn, and Cu for ALS and terrestrial cropping systems.

Copper↗

Nitrate pollution in groundwater and strategies to reduce pollution.

The input-intensive rainfed tropical ecosystem, where wet season (WS) rice (Oriza sativa L.)-dry season (DS) diversified high-value upland crops like vegetables predominate, has resulted in a problem of a large leakage of N into the environment, thereby polluting the water. Excessive use of N fertilizer in high-value crops grown in DS is economically motivated. Out of twenty water sources evaluated in a watershed with a total area of 265 ha located in Magnuang, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, twelve had near or above the World Health Organization's (WHO) NO3-N limit for drinking water of 10 ppm. Soil mineral N (upper 100 cm) observed in seven rice-sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) farmers' fields ranged from 111 to 694 kg ha(-1) which decreased by 10 to 68% in plots with dry-to-wet (DTW) crops like indigo, indigo+mungo and corn. In fallow plots where mineral N was either maintained or increased, it showed movement to lower soil profiles demonstrating NO3 leaching without a crop. On average, maize (Zea mays L.) captured 176 kg N ha(-1) and indigo (Indigofera tinctoria L.) 194 kg N ha(-1). In both fallow and planted plots, mineral N declined to low levels at 100% water-filled pore spaces (WFPS) before rice transplanting. A strategy for including indigo plus maize as a N-catch crop is proposed to decrease NO3 leaching and maximize N use efficiency in a rice-sweet pepper cropping system.

Agriculture↗

Geochemical and isotopic tracing of water in nested southern Minnesota corn-belt watersheds.

Land-use changes over the last century in southern Minnesota have influenced riverine water chemistry. A nested watershed approach was used to examine hydrologic pathways of water movement in this now agriculturally intensive region. From field scale subsurface tile-drains of the Beauford ditch to the respective outlets of the Cobb River and Blue Earth River, more than 125 samples were collected for major dissolved ions and isotopes between March 1994 and June 1996 over a range of climatic conditions that included snowmelt and storm-flows. Results indicate that riverine water chemistry is dominated by subsurface tile-drained row crop agriculture. In the mid-1990s, regional ground water discharge into the Cobb and Blue Earth Rivers comprised less than 10% of the total flow based on ionic mixing calculations. Ammonia, present in manure or as anhydrous, is readily exchanged in the soil. This ion exchange releases increasing ratios of magnesium, sodium and strontium relative to calcium, the dominant cation. Soil thaw and snowmelt recharge influenced March-April tile-drain and ditch water isotopic values. Light deltaD values increased as spring infiltration-derived water was displaced from the soil zone by heavier summer precipitation. Delta15N followed a similar but opposite pattern with relatively heavy March-April tile-drain and ditch values trending to lighter delta15N through the growing season. The future of southern Minnesota riverine water quality is closely linked to the management of the landscape. To improve the riverine environment, land owners and managers will need to address cropping systems, fertilization practices and drainage.

Agriculture↗

Solid state 31phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance of iron-, manganese-, and copper-containing synthetic hydroxyapatites.

The incorporation of micronutrients into synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA) is proposed for slow release of these nutrients to crops in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Advanced Life Support (ALS) program for Lunar or Martian outposts. Solid state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was utilized to examine the paramagnetic effects of Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ to determine if they were incorporated into the SHA structure. Separate Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ containing SHA materials along with a transition metal free SHA (pure-SHA) were synthesized using a precipitation method. The proximity (<1 nm) of the transition metals to the 31P nuclei of SHA were apparent when comparing the integrated 31P signal intensities of the pure-SHA (87 arbitrary units g-1) with the Fe-, Mn-, and Cu-SHA materials (37-71 arbitrary units g-1). The lower integrated 31P signal intensities of the Fe-, Mn-, and Cu-SHA materials relative to the pure-SHA suggested that Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ were incorporated in the SHA structure. Further support for Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ incorporation was demonstrated by the reduced spin-lattice relaxation constants of the Fe-, Mn-, and Cu-SHA materials (T'=0.075-0.434s) relative to pure-SHA (T1=58.4s). Inversion recovery spectra indicated that Fe3+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ were not homogeneously distributed about the 31P nuclei in the SHA structure. Extraction with diethylene-triamine-penta-acetic acid (DTPA) suggested that between 50 and 80% of the total starting metal concentrations were incorporated in the SHA structure. Iron-, Mn-, and Cu-containing SHA are potential slow release sources of Fe, Mn, and Cu in the ALS cropping system.

Calcium↗

[Stable mechanisms of soil aggregate and effects of human activities].

Soil aggregate is the basic unit of soil structure. Its formation is a natural process but influenced severely by human activities, including land utilization, tillage disturbance, manure application, and cropping system. The improvement of soil structure is decided not only by total amount of organic C inputed into soil, but also by the composition and characteristic of organic matter. Owing to the different composition and characteristic of organic matter, there are different mechanisms for the stability of micro- and macro-aggregates.

Agriculture↗

[RAPD analysis for the genetic diversity of Brassica rapa in Tibet].

Tibet, a most beautiful place, locating in southwestern China. She has been called as the third pole of the earth. Unique geological history, complex land surface and climatic zones, various soil types, all different wild vegetations etc., all of these make Tibet a very typical area of vertical agricultural ecosystem. The ecosystem in Tibet may be the most complex in the world, which varies from place to place. Genetic differentiation of 107 accessions of Brassica rapa from Tibet plateau was studied by DNA PAPD analysis using 2210 bp random primers, the genetical distribution in 107 accession of Brassica rapa from Tibet plateau was found. The results are as follows: (1) Total 236 bands were produced from 107 Tibet oilseed accession of B. rapa germaplasm resource in Tibet, of 210 bands amplified from B. rapa germaplasm resource showed polymorphism, with the ratio 88.98%. The result showed that oilseed accession of B. rapa in Tibet has richer genetic diversity; (2) Dendrogram constructed from DNA RAPDs showed that 107 accessions of B. rapa from Tibet plateau were divided into 11 cluster by calculating genetic distance, the cluster analysis showed that the genetic variation among oilseed accessions of B. rapa was closely related with their eco-geographic distribution; extensive variation existed among the accessions from Tibet Province. Based on the analysis of unique geological history, complex land surface and climatic zones, various soil types, complex growing environments, long agricultural history, different cropping systems, and natural and artificial selection as well as plant geography, plant evolution theory, it concludes that Tibet is one of the oil seed gene centers in the word.

Brassica rapa↗

[Effects of land use change on carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystem].

Terrestrial ecosystem is an important carbon pool, which plays a crucial role in carbon biogeochemical cycle. Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and land use change have resulted in carbon fluxes from terrestrial ecosystem to the atmosphere, which increased the atmospheric CO2 concentration, and reinforced the greenhouse effect. Land use change affects the structure and function of the terrestrial ecosystem, which causes its change of carbon storage. To a great extent, the change of carbon storage lies in the type of ecosystem and the change of land use patterns. The conversion of forest to agricultural land and pasture causes a large reduction of carbon storage in vegetation and soil, and the decrease of soil carbon concentration is mainly caused by the reduction of detritus, the acceleration of soil organic matter decomposition, and the destroy of physical protection to organic matter due to agricultural practices. The loss of soil organic matter appears at the early stage after deforestation, and the loss rate is influenced by many factors and soil physical, chemical and biological processes. The conversion of agricultural land and pasture to forest and many conservative agricultural practices can sequester atmospheric carbon in vegetation and soil. Vegetation can sequester large amounts of carbon from atmosphere, while carbon accumulation in soil varies greatly because of farming history and soil spatial heterogeneity. Conservative agricultural practices such as no-tillage, reasonable cropping system, and fertilization can influence soil physical and chemical characters, plant growth, quality and quantity of stubble, and soil microbial biomass and its activity, and hence, maintain and increase soil carbon concentration.

Agriculture↗

Simulating nitrate drainage losses from a Walnut Creek watershed field.

This study was designed to evaluate the improved version of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) using 6 yr (1992-1997) of field-measured data from a field within Walnut Creek watershed located in central Iowa. Measured data included subsurface drainage flows, NO3-N concentrations and loads in subsurface drainage water, and corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine mar (L.) Merr.] yields. The dominant soil within this field was Webster (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls) and cropping system was corn-soybean rotation. The model was calibrated with 1992 data and was validated with 1993 to 1997 data. Simulations of subsurface drainage flow closely matched observed data showing model efficiency of 99% (EF = 0.99), and difference (D) of 1% between measured and predicted data. The model simulated NO3-N losses with subsurface drainage water reasonably well with EF = 0.8 and D = 13%. The simulated corn grain yields were in close agreement with measured data with D < 10%. Nitrogen-scenario simulations demonstrated that corn yield response function reached a plateau when N-application rate exceeded 90 kg ha(-1). Fraction of applied N lost with subsurface drainage water varied from 7 to 16% when N-application rate varied from 30 to 180 kg ha(-1) after accounting for the nitrate loss with no-fertilizer application. These results indicate that the RZWQM has the potential to simulate the impact of N application rates on corn yields and NO3-N losses with subsurface drainage flows for agricultural fields in central Iowa.

Computer Simulation↗

Occurrence and cross infectivity of granulovirus of field bean pod borer Adisura atkinsoni Moore.

A granulovirus (GV) was isolated from the field-bean pod borer, Adisura atkinsoni. Electron microscopic observation showed capsule or granular shaped occlusion bodies. The virus was highly virulent against second instar larvae when tested at 1 x 10(6) occlusions/larva through food surface (pod/seed) contamination technique. The incubation period ranged from 6-10 days in the case of second instar larvae. In contrast to green coloured healthy larvae. GV infected A. atkinsoni became brownish/pale white in colour mostly due to accumulation of large number of occlusion bodies. Study on the cross infectivity of A. atkinsoni GV to gram caterpillar, Helicoverpa armigera revealed the high susceptibility of H. armigera to A. atkinsoni GV, thereby widening the scope of controlling both the species on the same cropping system. This is the first record of GV from A. atkinsoni from India.

Animals↗

Organic carbon stock in topsoil of Jiangsu Province, China, and the recent trend of carbon sequestration.

Data collection of soil organic carbon(SOC) of 154 soil series of Jiangsu, China from the second provincial soil survey and of recent changes in SOC from a number of field pilot experiments across the province were collected. Statistical analysis of SOC contents and soil properties related to organic carbon storage were performed. The provincial total topsoil SOC stock was estimated to be 0.1 Pg with an extended pool of 0.4 Pg taking soil depth of 1 m, being relatively small compared to its total land area of 101700 km2 . One quarter of this topsoil stock was found in the soils of the Taihu Lake region that occupied 1/6 of the provincial arable area. Paddy soils accounted for over 50% of this stock in terms of SOC distribution among the soil types in the province. Experimental data from experimental farms widely distributed in the province showed that SOC storage increased consistently over the last 20 years despite a previously reported decreasing tendency during the period between 1950--1970. The evidence indicated that agricultural management practices such as irrigation, straw return and rotation of upland crops with rice or wheat crops contributed significantly to the increase in SOC storage. The annual carbon sequestration rate in the soils was in the range of 0.3-3.5 tC/(hm2 x a), depending on cropping systems and other agricultural practices. Thus, the agricultural production in the province, despite the high input, could serve as one of the practical methods to mitigate the increasing air CO2.

Agriculture↗

[Corresponding analysis on rice grain heavy metal pollution in Fujian province].

By the methods of environmental statistics and corresponding analysis, this paper collected 38 early and late rice grain samples from the middle, southern, northern, western and eastern parts of Fujian Province to detect their Hg, As, Cr, Cd and Pb contents, and to search for the main factors resulting in the difference of rice cropping type in different regions, aiming at further understanding the relationships between heavy metal pollution and rice cropping type. The results showed that among the test heavy metals in grain, Pb had the highest percentage (100%) beyond the standard level, followed by Hg (78.95%), Cd (50.5%) and Cu (2.63%), while As did not surpass the standard level. It therefore could be concluded that Pb and Cd were the main factors resulting in the difference of rice cropping type in different regions. The results also showed that 38 rice grain samples could be clustered into 7 groups, indicating that different rice cropping types would significantly cause different degrees of heavy metal pollution, which suggested that the best way in controlling and preventing rice grain heavy metal pollution could be the approach of combining site-controlling with variety selection, based on the situation of different regions and rice cropping systems.

Cadmium↗

[Dynamics of soil enzyme activity and nutrient content in intercropped cotton rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere].

The study with high yield cotton-wheat double cropping system showed that soil urease, invertase, protease and catalase activities in intercropped cotton field had the same changing trends with those in mono-cultured cotton field, but were significantly higher in intercropped than in mono-cultured cotton rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere at all development stages of cotton. During the intergrowth period of wheat and cotton, soil nutrient contents in intercropped cotton rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere were lower than or had little difference with those in mono-cultured cotton rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere, but became significantly higher after wheat harvested. The changing trends of soil nutrient contents in intercropped cotton field had little difference from those in mono-cultured cotton field, but the nutrient absorption peak appeared late. The soil enzyme activities and nutrient contents were generally higher in rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere of both intercropped and mono-cultured cotton. Soil nutrient contents had significant (P < 0.05, n = 32) or very significant (P < 0.01, n = 32) correlation with the activities of soil urease, invertase and protease, but had little correlation with soil catalase activity.

Agriculture↗