Glyphosate in waters and soils from genetically modified canola cultivation in Parkes, NSW, Australia

Investigations were conducted of farmland from the Parkes region of New South Wales, Australia, cultivated with genetically modified canola, involving the determination of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) concentrations in water and soils, and its sorption. The soils are classified as loam under the USDA system (clay 13.8-15.8%, silt 39-43%, sand 41.2-47.2%). Firstly, a low-cost fluorometric method was developed for the analysis of glyphosate in waters and soils, calibrated against analytical standards and spectrophotometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Soil and water samples were then collected using the NEPM sampling protocol into glass containers, chilled and analysed within two weeks. The samples were collected in multiple episodes, taking account of glyphosate and pesticide crop applications. The soil and water physical and chemical properties were characterised, and glyphosate levels were determined. Field concentrations of glyphosate ranged between 0.01 - 0.067 mg/L in water and 0.10 - 0.575 mg/kg in soil. The aqueous levels lie below Australian and international drinking water guidelines, but reach a Canadian freshwater guideline. Glyphosate levels varied with time of application and rainfall events. Glyphosate sorption isotherms were also constructed by batch tests on several soils, and were fitted with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Desorption tests indicated 25% to 58% of soil glyphosate is extractable by 0.1M KH2PO4

Effect of selected factors on the effectiveness of conditioning of China aster seeds

Sposób i efektywność kondycjonowania nasion zależą od gatunku rośliny, celu jego stosowania oraz szeregu warunków, w jakich jest ono wykonywane. Podczas kondycjonowania nasion bezpośrednio przed siewem korzystne jest maksymalne zaawansowanie procesów metabolicznych warunkujących kiełkowanie. Natomiast w nasionach przeznaczonych do przechowywania przed wysiewem lub w celu poprawy ich zdolności przechowalniczej wymagana jest inicjacja takich procesów metabolicznych, które powodują poprawę kiełkowania i jednocześnie nie zwiększają wrażliwości na desykację oraz umożliwiają przechowywanie nasion. Efektywność kondycjonowania nasion jest uzależniona od metody oraz ich wilgotności wyjściowej, sposobu imbibicji i inkubacji, temperatury w trakcie zabiegu, początkowej żywotności, a także od możliwości suszenia kondycjonowanych nasion i warunków ich przechowywania. Dla wielu roślin ogrodniczych kondycjonowanie jest korzystne dla kiełkowania i przechowywania nasion, pod warunkiem, że nie są one porażone przez patogeny. Przydatność matrykondycjonowania jest ograniczona w przypadku kondycjonowania dużej masy nasion.The method and effectiveness of seed conditioning depend on plant species, the purpose of treatment and the conditions under which it is performed. When the seeds are sown directly after conditioning, the high advancement of metabolic processes affecting germination, is profitable. However, for seeds stored before sowing, or in order to improve their longevity, the initiation of metabolic processes will be necessary which improve the germination and storability without decreasing desiccation tolerance. The effectiveness of conditioning depends on the method used, initial moisture content, procedures of imbibition, incubation of imbibed seeds, temperature during treatment, initial germinability, as well as on seed tolerance to drying and storage conditions. For several horticultural plant species, the conditioning is advantageous for germination and storage if the seeds are not contaminated with pathogens

Caratterizzazione della qualità tecnologica e nutrizionale di frumento tenero coltivato a concentrazione elevata di CO2

La concentrazione atmosferica di anidride carbonica (CO2) \ue8 in continuo aumento a causa dell'utilizzo dei carburanti fossili, delle emissioni prodotte dalle attivit\ue0 industriali e dei cambiamenti nell'utilizzo del suolo. Si stima che si raggiunger\ue0 una concentrazione di 550 ppm a met\ue0 del secolo (IPCC, 2013). Al fine di studiare il comportamento del frumento tenero in tale contesto, \ue8 stato effettuato un esperimento in pieno campo applicando la tecnica FACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment) presso l\u2019impianto allestito presso il CREA di Fiorenzuola d\u2019Arda. L\u2019ibrido Hystar, i due parentali, Apache e QH529, e la cv Bologna sono stati coltivati in parcelle replicate da 3 m2, in condizioni di CO2 ambientale (A) ed elevata (E: 570 ppm). Sul raccolto, oltre al peso ettolitrico e dei semi, sono state valutate le seguenti caratteristiche qualitative: contenuto proteico, attivit\ue0 antiossidante totale, durezza della cariosside, volume di sedimentazione in SDS. Lo sfarinato integrale \ue8 stato inoltre sottoposto ad analisi mediante Glutopeak test. Dalle analisi \ue8 emersa la diminuzione di circa il 5% del contenuto proteico (in media 13.6 % ss in A e 12.9% ss in E), che non ha portato per\uf2 a diminuzione del volume di sedimentazione, attestatosi in media sul valore di 56 mL. Per quanto riguarda le propriet\ue0 di aggregazione del glutine, in condizioni di CO2 elevata si osserva un ritardo nel tempo di formazione del complesso proteico. Il reticolo glutinico sembra, inoltre, essere caratterizzato da una minore forza rispetto a quanto si osserva nei campioni ottenuti in concentrazioni ambientali di CO2, come evidenziato dai valori di consistenza massima e di area sottesa al picco. IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1535 pp

Photoreduction of Sm(3+) in nanocrystalline BaFCl

We demonstrate that exposure of nanocrystalline BaFCl:Sm3+ X-ray storage phosphor to blue laser pulses with peak power densities on the order of 10 GW/cm2 results in conversion of Sm3+ to Sm2+. This photoreduction is found to be strongly power-dependent with an initial fast rate, followed by a slower rate. The photoreduction appears to be orders of magnitude more efficient than that for previously reported systems, and it is estimated that up to 50% of the samarium ions can be photoreduced to the divalent state. The main mechanism is most likely based on multiphoton electron–hole creation, followed by subsequent trapping of the electrons in the conduction band at the Sm3+ centers. Nanocrystalline BaFCl:Sm3+ is an efficient photoluminescent X-ray storage phosphor with possible applications as dosimetry probes, and the present study shows for the first time that the power levels of the blue light have to be kept relatively low to avoid the generation of Sm2+ in the readout process. A system comprising the BaFCl:Sm3+ nanocrystallites embedded into a glass is also envisioned for 3D memory applications.Nicolas Riesen, Alexandre François, Kate Badek, Tanya M. Monro, and Hans Riese