CREA Journals (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria)
Not a member yet
791 research outputs found
Sort by
Growth, yields and nitrogen use of open pollinated and hybrid maize (Zea mays L) as affected by organic matter and its placement in minor seasons of Asia
Get PDFSustainable maize (Zea mays L) production in smallholder cropping systems of South Asia require combinations of organic matter and mineral fertilizers, especially nitrogen, when the crop is subjected to water stress in the minor seasons. As the cultivation of hybrid maze is being promoted in these nations, field studies over two minor seasons evaluated the impact of three types of common organic materials and their method on incorporation on root growth, seeds yields and nitrogen use patterns of an open pollinated (OPV) and a hybrid variety of maize. The growth and yields of the OPV were higher than those of the hybrid, illustrating the greater adaptability of this variety to the drier conditions of minor seasons. The least beneficial impact of organic matter on growth, yield and nitrogen use was with rice straw, a low quality organic matter, while Tithonia leaves promoted root growth. Application of Gliricidia leaves produced the highest yields followed by the use of Tithonia. N use patterns were enhanced to similar extents by the addition of Tithonia and Gliricidia leaves, and the beneficial impact was greater than when rice straw was used. Incorporation enhanced the benefits of the organic matter, especially in the hybrid, which produced lower yields, which is considered less adaptable to the environments of this season. The benefits of using good quality organic matter and its incorporation on maize growth, productivity and the utilization patterns of nitrogen in the minor dry seasons of South Asia was evident in this field study
New data on the Xantholinini of the Oriental Region. XXX. A new species and new records from Thayland (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)
Get PDFThe author describes Megalinus rougemonti sp. n. from Thailand, similar to Megalinus mon (Bordoni, 2002) from the same region and Megalinus hayashii (Bordoni, 2002) from Yunnan, but differing especially by the structure of the inner sac of the aedeagus. New records are also listed
The vertical and horizontal distribution of Mesocriconema xenoplax (Raski, 1952) in Trentino vineyards (Northern Italy)
Get PDFSpatial distribution of Mesocriconema xenoplax (Raski, 1952) was investigated in vineyards in the Trentino region (Northern Italy). Horizontal distribution showed characteristic aggregate pattern for nematodes, correlated to the symptomatology of the localized spots of infestations. The vertical distribution, in compact texture soils, revealed maximum population levels of the nematode in the top layers depending on the root occurrence that, in such conditions, is lower at the deeper levels. Higher nematode number was found at greater depths in loose soils, where roots easier penetrate. The knowledge gained from the spatial distribution of this species is fundamental to investigate the effectiveness of different sampling patterns in order to improve efficacy of control strategies
New data and records on Xantholinini of Taiwan collected by Aleš Smetana, with description of new species (Coleoptera Staphylinidae) - 225th contribution to the knowledge of the Staphylinidae
Get PDFThe author has studied plentiful material collected in Taiwan by Aleš Smetana during the years 1990-1998. Eleven new species (Metolinus liseae sp. n., Atopolinus tenchi sp. n., A. subtiliphallus sp. n., A. diaphanus sp. n., A. anma sp. n., A. ilan sp. n., A. peitawu sp. n., A. kuai sp. n., A. smetanai sp. n., A. silvanus sp. n., A. tona sp. n. ) are described. The current knowledge on the population of Xantholinini in the island is summarized. Comment on geographical distribution, particularly of the many endemic species, including those of the genus Atopolinus Coiffait, 1982, are presented. Thyreocephalus hongkongensis (Redtenbacher, 1867) and Erymus gracilis (Fauvel, 1895) are new for Taiwan
Potential of tropical maize populations for improving an elite maize hybrid
Get PDFIdentifying exotic maize (Zea mays L) populations possessing favorable new alleles lacking in local elite hybrids is an important strategy for improving maize hybrids. Selection of an appropriate breeding method will increase the chance of successfully transferring these favorable new alleles into elite inbred lines of local hybrids. The objec¬tives of this study were to: (i) evaluate 14 maize populations from CIMMYT and identify those containing favorable alleles for grain yield, ear length, ear diameter, kernel length, plant height, and ear height that are lacking in a local super hybrid [Jidan261 (W9706 × Ji853)], and to (ii) determine which inbred parent should be improved. These re¬sults showed that the populations Pob43, Pob501, and La Posta had positive and significant numbers of favorable alleles not found in hybrid W9706 × Ji853 that could be used for simultaneous improvement of its grain yield, ear length, and kernel length, and that population QPM-Y was also a good donor for improvement of ear diameter and kernel length in the hybrid. Based on allele frequencies in the two inbred lines and the donor population, when the populations Pob43, La Posta, Pob501, and QPM-Y were used as donors, inbred line W9706 would be improved by selfing the F1 of the cross W9706 × donor population. These results suggested that CIMMYT germplasm has potential to improve temperate elite hybrids. The relationship between GCA and SCA from a previous study and the parameters obtained from the Dudley method are discussed. The results showed that the values of Lplμ’ esti¬mates obtained by applying the Dudley method had the same trend as GCA effects for grain yield but a less clear trend for ear length, while the trends in the relationship value were reversed for SCA between these populations and Lancaster-derived lines
Approaches to improve the determination of eligibility for plant variety protection: II. Identification and Evaluation of a Core Set of Morphological Characteristics
Get PDFWe compared the discriminational abilities of two sets of morphological characteristics among 210 inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L). One set of 62 characteristics comprised those required by UPOV and individual PVP authorities. A second core set of 28 characteristics was selected based upon an iterative process where characteristics were examined for their contribution according to three categories (Variabiity, Power, and Genotype by Environment [GxE] interaction) partitioned among nine parameters. An iterative peeling process involving cycles of 1) multivariate analysis to reveal contributions of characteristics to providing discrimination and 2) removal of characteristics to reveal underlying contributions of remaining characteristics was used to select a core set of 28 characteristics. The core set provided slightly less discrimination among inbred lines that were closely similar but was able to discriminate among inbred lines with use of less resources by removing characteristics that were duplicative, had little power of discrimination, or were particularly affected by GxE interactions
Evaluation of nitrogen use efficiency in the Maksimir 3 Synthetic maize population
Get PDFNitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has become an important trait for sustainable agriculture. Traits present in maize (Zea mays L) landraces that contribute to adaptation in nitrogen-limited environments are not easily implemented directly into modern maize breeding programs. Thus, the landraces might be improved by recurrent selection and afterwards used as source of certain traits for elite breeding material. The Maksimir 3 Synthetic (M3S) maize popu¬lation was created from landraces traditionally grown under low levels of soil fertility. The synthetic was subjected to recurrent selection for yield during three cycles and for improved NUE in the fourth cycle. In order to determine the effect of four cycles of recurrent selection, performance of populations per se (S0), population testcrosses, and populations per se selfed (S1) were evaluated in field trials under high and low nitrogen input conditions at four lo¬cations during 2010. The S0 populations had significantly higher grain yield (+20.6%), ear diameter (+2.6%), 1000 kernel weight (+3.3%) and ear leaf chlorophyll content (+31.2%) at the high nitrogen fertilization rate as compared to the low nitrogen fertilization rate. The S1 populations and testcross populations responded similarly to nitrogen fertilization. Genotype x nitrogen interaction for yield was not significant, but indication of specific adaptation to the nitrogen deficient environments was found. After the fourth cycle of recurrent selection, a significant increase in grain yield was found at both levels of nitrogen fertilization
Comparative genomics with maize and other grasses: from genes to genomes!
Get PDFOf all the major plant groups, the grasses, with the complete genomes of five species, are the best positioned to take advantage of comparative genomics to obtain insight into functional genetic elements. Of all the grasses, maize is the best characterized in terms of genetics, development, and evolution. We provide several examples of how the web-based comparative genomics system CoGe may be used to aid in the interpretation of the maize genome sequence. These examples include verifying gene models, identifying differences between genome assemblies, identifying conserved non-coding sequences, identifying syntenic regions between species and polyploidies, and identifying homeologs within maize and orthologs between maize and other grass genomes. In addition, a comprehensive list of orthologous gene sets is provided between maize and Sorghum, foxtail millet, rice, and Brachypodium
A rapid and effective method for dormancy breakage and germination of King of Bitters (Andrographis paniculata Nees.) seeds
Get PDFAndrographis paniculata is a medicinal plant of the Acanthaceae family. The plant is important for its diterpenoids obtained from the mature plants grown normally through the seeds. However, the seed germination is slow and not efficient. Here, we report an effective method for breaking the seed dormancy to improve the germination per¬centage. Among the different physical and chemical scarification methods the fastest and the highest germination percentage were obtained from the seeds scarified with sandpaper. After three days of the scarification, 72.7% of the seeds germinated and this percentage was further increased to 90.4% after 15 days with a mean germina¬tion time (MGTa15) of 4 days. Although, the other physical and chemical treatments showed moderate effects on germination (GPa15 ranged from 7% to 64%), but they failed to reduce the MGTa15. Treating the sandpaper-scarified seeds with the seeds and the seeds coat protein extracts delayed the germination but did not affect the overall germination percentage, indicating the presence of unknown germinating factor(s) which may contribute to the dormancy of the seed. Together, the germination factor(s) and the hard seed coat caused the seed dormancy of A. paniculata which could be overcome by sandpaper scarification
Entomopathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin isolated from different sources in the control of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera Curculionidae)
Get PDFThe entomopathogenicity of an indigenous Beauveria bassiana strain isolated from soil and of B. bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae strains isolated in Italy from naturally infected Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (RPW) adults, was tested against larvae and adults of RPW in laboratory bioassays. The individuals were infected via direct contact on sporulated mycelia grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar or on wheat substrata. M. anisopliae obtained from R. ferrugineus showed the highest efficacy against RPW larvae and adults particularly against individuals contaminated on sporulated wheat, which showed values of cumulative larval mortality of 100% and adult mortality of 90%; LT50 was obtained in 13.1 days in both larvae and adults. B. bassiana strain isolated from soil recorded a lower cumulative mortality on larvae (13%) and adults (13%) treated on inoculated Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. B. bassiana strain isolated from RPW showed cumulative mortality values higher than 50% against larvae treated on inoculated wheat (55%) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (53%); LT50 was obtained in 15 days and 21.8.days respectively. Results are discussed with regard to the potential employment of the virulent indigenous strain of M. anisopliae for microbiological control of R. ferrugineus as part of an integrated pest management program