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Decreased Yield (decreased + yield)
Selected AbstractsEffect of Timing and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.). I. Growth Dynamics and Seed YieldJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2004P. Bar Abstract The field experiments conducted on the grey-brown podzolic soil in the four growing seasons (1998,2001) at Krzeslice Farm, central-western Poland comprised seven fertilization variants: 80NF + 80CAN; 80CAN + 80CAN; 80AN + 80AN; 80NF + 50CAN + 30CN; 80CAN + 50CAN +30CN; 80AN + 50AN + 30CN (where NF , nitrofos NPK; CAN , calcium-ammonium nitrate; AN , ammonium nitrate; CN , calcium nitrate) and control (without N) applied in split rates at the beginning of spring regrowth (80 kg N ha,1), stem elongation (80 or 50) and flower buds visible stages (30). The yielding effect of tested fertilization variants was significant in comparison with the control (2.24 t ha,1). The highest mean seed yield (3.64 t ha,1) was collected from 80AN + 80AN and 80CAN + 80CAN variants. Mean values of 4 years indicate that the second N rate division (80 + 50 + 30) decreased yield, although not significantly in comparison with these two N treatments. Plants grown on these treatments have developed different patterns of growth to yield the seeds. These patterns were characterized by very high crop growth rate during flowering (above 21 g m,2 day,1) and negative at maturation (down to ,2.5 g m,2 day,1). Plants fertilized with ammonium nitrate (80AN + 80AN) reached maximum growth rate earlier (65 days), which lasted longer (20 days) than plants fertilized with calcium-ammonium nitrate (71 days lasting 17.5 days). Plants grown on the control treatment reached the highest crop growth rate within 79 days (14.8 g m,2 day,1), which lasted 15 days. [source] ASTS Recommended Practice Guidelines for Controlled Donation after Cardiac Death Organ Procurement and TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 9 2009D. J. Reich The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) champions efforts to increase organ donation. Controlled donation after cardiac death (DCD) offers the family and the patient with a hopeless prognosis the option to donate when brain death criteria will not be met. Although DCD is increasing, this endeavor is still in the midst of development. DCD protocols, recovery techniques and organ acceptance criteria vary among organ procurement organizations and transplant centers. Growing enthusiasm for DCD has been tempered by the decreased yield of transplantable organs and less favorable posttransplant outcomes compared with donation after brain death. Logistics and ethics relevant to DCD engender discussion and debate among lay and medical communities. Regulatory oversight of the mandate to increase DCD and a recent lawsuit involving professional behavior during an attempted DCD have fueled scrutiny of this activity. Within this setting, the ASTS Council sought best-practice guidelines for controlled DCD organ donation and transplantation. The proposed guidelines are evidence based when possible. They cover many aspects of DCD kidney, liver and pancreas transplantation, including donor characteristics, consent, withdrawal of ventilatory support, operative technique, ischemia times, machine perfusion, recipient considerations and biliary issues. DCD organ transplantation involves unique challenges that these recommendations seek to address. [source] Improving water use efficiency in grapevines: potential physiological targets for biotechnological improvementAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH, Issue 2010J. FLEXAS Abstract Improving water use efficiency (WUE) in grapevines is essential for vineyard sustainability under the increasing aridity induced by global climate change. WUE reflects the ratio between the carbon assimilated by photosynthesis and the water lost in transpiration. Maintaining stomata partially closed by regulated deficit irrigation or partial root drying represents an opportunity to increase WUE, although at the expense of decreased photosynthesis and, potentially, decreased yield. It would be even better to achieve increases in WUE by improving photosynthesis without increasing water loses. Although this is not yet possible, it could potentially be achieved by genetic engineering. This review presents current knowledge and relevant results that aim to improve WUE in grapevines by biotechnology and genetic engineering. The expected benefits of these manipulations on WUE of grapevines under water stress conditions are modelled. There are two main possible approaches to achieve this goal: (i) to improve CO2 diffusion to the sites of carboxylation without increasing stomatal conductance; and (ii) to improve the carboxylation efficiency of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). The first goal could be attained by increasing mesophyll conductance to CO2, which partly depends on aquaporins. The second approach could be achieved by replacing Rubisco from grapevine with Rubiscos from other C3 species with higher specificity for CO2. In summary, the physiological bases and future prospects for improving grape yield and WUE under drought are established. [source] Use of stomatal conductance and pre-dawn water potential to classify terroir for the grape variety KékfrankosAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Zs. ZSÓFI Abstract Background and Aims:, A 3-year study was carried out in order to evaluate the ecophysiology, yield and quality characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Kékfrankos (syn. Limberger) at Eger-Nagyeged hill (steep slope) and at Eger-K,lyuktet, (flat) vineyard sites located in the Eger wine region, Hungary. The aim of this paper was to analyse the effect of ,vintage' and ,terroir' on the seasonal changes of Kékfrankos ecophysiology and its possible relationship with yield and wine composition. Methods and Results:, Grapevine physiological responses (midday- and pre-dawn water potential, pressure,volume analysis and gas-exchange), growing stages, yield and wine composition of each vineyard were studied. Lower grapevine water supply was detected at Eger-Nagyeged hill in each season due to its steep slope and soil characteristics. Pressure-volume curves indicated that there was no osmotic adjustment in the leaves of this variety. Higher osmotic concentration was measured at turgor loss and full turgor in the leaves of the unstressed vineyard (Eger-K,lyuktet,) presumably due to higher photosynthetic activity. Differences in soil water content of the vineyards resulted in a slightly altered cell wall elasticity. Stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic production per unit leaf area were affected by water availability. Lower yield in Eger-Nagyeged hill was partly associated with decreased photosynthetic production of the canopy. Improved wine quality of Eger-Nagyeged hill was due to moderate water stress which induced higher concentration of anthocyanins and phenolics in the berries. The duration of the phenological stages was dependent on vintage temperature characteristics rather than on vineyard site. Conclusion:, There was a close relationship between environmental conditions, Kékfrankos gas-exchange, water relations, yield and wine composition. Water deficit plays an important role in creating a terroir effect, resulting in decreased yield, better sun exposure of leaves and clusters and thus higher concentration of phenolics and anthocyanins. Although quality is mainly influenced by vintage differences, vineyard characteristics are able to buffer unfavourable vintage effects even within a small wine region. Significance of the Study:, Stomatal conductance, pre-dawn water potential and climatic data may be reliable parameters for terroir classification, although variety,terroir interactions must always be considered. [source] Using farmer knowledge to combat low productive spots in rice fields of a Sahelian irrigation schemeLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2004P. J. A. van Asten Abstract In the oldest sections of Burkina Faso's largest irrigation scheme in the Sourou Valley (13°,10,,N, 03°,30,W) rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields dropped from about 5 to 6,t,ha,1 in the early 1990s, shortly after establishment of the scheme, to 2 to 4,t,ha,1 from 1995 onwards. Farmers blamed this yield decline on the appearance of 2 to 20,m diameter low productive spots. According to farmers and field measurements, the low productive spots decreased yields by 25,50 per cent. The low productive spots are caused by Zn deficiency. Low Zn availability is related to the very low DTPA-extractable Zn content of the soil (0·08,0·46,mg,kg,1), the alkaline-calcareous character of the soil, the non-application of Zn fertilizers, and a relatively large P fertilizer dose (21,kg,P,ha,1). Farmers were correct in relating the calcareous nature of the soil to the presence of the low productive spots. They were instrumental in identifying application of decomposed organic resources (e.g. rice straw at 5,t,ha,1) as a short-term solution that increases yields by 1·5 to 2·0,t,ha,1. Application of Zn fertilizer (10,kg,Zn,ha,1) in 29 farmer fields in the 2001 dry season eradicated the low productive spots and increased yields from 3·4 to 6·0,t,ha,1. Although application of Zn fertilizer is strongly recommended, it is not yet available in Burkina Faso. Based on a comparison of fertilizer prices on the world market and the local market, we expect that the use of Zn fertilizers will be highly profitable (cost/value ratio,,,2). Despite the relatively recent introduction of irrigated rice cropping, most farmers showed a good understanding of cropping constraints and possible solutions. Both farmers and researchers mutually benefited from each other's knowledge and observations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CP43,, the isiA Gene Product, Functions as an Excitation Energy Dissipator in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp.PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001PCC 794 ABSTRACT Under conditions of iron deficiency certain cyanobacteria induce a chlorophyll (Chl)-binding protein, CP43,, which is encoded by the isiA gene. We have previously suggested that CP43, functions as a nonradiative dissipator of light energy. To further substantiate its functional role an isiA overexpression construct was introduced into the genome of a cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 (giving isiAoe cells). The presence of functional CP43, in isiAoe cells was confirmed by Western blot as well as by the presence of a characteristic blueshift of the red Chl a absorption peak and a notable increase in the 77 K fluorescence peak at 685 nm. Compared to wild-type cells isiAoe cells, with induced CP43,, had both smaller functional antenna size and decreased yields of room temperature Chl fluorescence at various light irradiances. These observations strongly suggest that isiAoe cells, with induced CP43,, have an increased capacity for dissipating light energy as heat. In agreement with this hypothesis isiAoe cells were also more resistant to photoinhibition of photosynthesis than wild-type cells. Based on these results we have further strengthened the hypothesis that CP43, functions as a nonradiative dissipator of light energy, thus protecting photosystem II from excessive excitation under iron-deficient conditions. [source] Effects of supplementary pollination on cropping success and fruit quality in pistachioPLANT BREEDING, Issue 5 2002Y. Vaknin Abstract The effects of pollen supplementation in pistachio orchards using an electrostatic pollination device were investigated in a 3-year study (1996-98) in San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Both yield and fruit quality (per cent split fruit) were tested in several experiments. Applying smaller amounts of pollen (1.5 g per tree in early application only in 1996 or 0.5 g in two applications in 1997) resulted in higher yields than with open pollination or supplementary pollination using larger amounts of pollen (1.5 g per tree in four applications in 1996 or 1.0 g in two applications in 1997). Applying 1.0 g pollen in two applications in 1998 resulted in decreased yields compared with open pollination or non-electrostatic pollination. Pollen germinability on the stigma was greatest for open pollination suggesting that overloading the stigmas with pollen in supplementary pollination may not only reduce yield but also increase competition between pollen grains. The per cent split fruit significantly increased only once in 1996. When pollination is a limiting factor, electrostatic pollination of pistachio can increase yield and may even increase fruit quality. However, when pollination is not a limiting factor, electrostatic pollination may even reduce yield. [source] | |||||||||||||