The effect of the type of sprayer bodies on the obtained coefficient of variation of sprayed liquid deposition

In this work, the study results of retention uniformity of sprayed liquid deposition obtained from three kinds of nozzles mounted in sprayer bodies of various constructions were presented. For the tests, a five-spray body with a rotation axis of a spigot parallel to the sprayed surface, a three-spray body with a retention axis perpendicular to the sprayed surface and one-spray body were used. Changes in individual spraying nozzles were done by three operators. It was stated that the biggest differences in repeatability and reproducibility of adjustments were noted for five-spray bodies, however, minimum changes not exceeding the value of one percentage point were noted for single bodies. For triple bodies repeatability of obtained CV regardless of mounted nozzles changed maximum up to 1,5 percentage point and reproducibility of measurement changed from 0,5 to 0,8 percentage point.In this work, the study results of retention uniformity of sprayed liquid deposition obtained from three kinds of nozzles mounted in sprayer bodies of various constructions were presented. For the tests, a five-spray body with a rotation axis of a spigot parallel to the sprayed surface, a three-spray body with a retention axis perpendicular to the sprayed surface and one-spray body were used. Changes in individual spraying nozzles were done by three operators. It was stated that the biggest differences in repeatability and reproducibility of adjustments were noted for five-spray bodies, however, minimum changes not exceeding the value of one percentage point were noted for single bodies. For triple bodies repeatability of obtained CV regardless of mounted nozzles changed maximum up to 1,5 percentage point and reproducibility of measurement changed from 0,5 to 0,8 percentage point

Biological efficacy of the chemical chrysanthemums protection with the use of fine and coarse droplets

Studies of three years (2007-2009) were conducted at Czesławice in south- east of Poland .The objects of research were the plants of the one cultivar of chrysanthemum: Dark Tripoli. The following agents were used for protection: Dithane NeoTec 75 WG, Sumilex 500 SC, Amistar 250 SC. The treatment was carried out with the use of two types of nozzles: standard RS-MM 110 03 and ejector type ID 120 03 C. Observation was carried out once a year: in October. The number and health status of plants were determined and diseased plants were collected for analysis. The percentage of plants with disease symptoms was estimated for each plot. The best health status and yield were noticed for Amistar 250 SC

Defense Responses in the Interactions between Medicinal Plants from Lamiaceae Family and the Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

This study aimed to determine the effects of plant species on the biological parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch and the time of mite infestation on plant physiology in Ocimum basilicum L., Melissa officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. Mite infestation induced various levels of oxidative stress depending on plant species and the duration of infestation. Host plants affected T. urticae life table parameters. The low level of susceptibility was characteristic of S. officinalis, which appeared to be the least infected plant species and reduced mites demographic parameters. Infested leaves of S. officinalis contained elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to control. In addition, higher membrane lipid peroxidation and higher activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and lower activity of catalase (CAT) were recorded with a longer mite infestation. In contrast, O. basilicum appeared to be a suitable host on which T. urticae could develop and increase in number. In basil leaves, increasing levels of hydrogen peroxide and MDA with elevated GPX activity and strongly decreased catalase activity were recorded. Knowledge of the differences in mite susceptibility of the tested medicinal plants described in this study has the potential to be applied in breeding strategies and integrated T. urticae pest management in medicinal plant cultivations

Impact of abiotic factors on development of the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil: a review

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inhabiting soil play an important role for vascular plants. Interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plants and soil microorganisms leads to many mutual advantages. However, the effectiveness of mycorrhizal fungi depends not only on biotic, but also abiotic factors such as physico-chemical properties of the soil, availability of water and biogenic elements, agricultural practices, and climatic conditions. First of all, it is important to adapt the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species to changing environmental conditions. The compactness of the soil and its structure have a huge impact on its biological activity. Soil pH reaction has a substantial impact on the mobility of ions in soil dilutions and their uptake by plants and soil microflora. Water excess can be a factor negatively affecting arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi because these microorganisms are sensitive to a lower availability of oxygen. Mechanical cultivation of the soil has a marginal impact on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores. However, soil translocation can cause changes to the population of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance in the soil profile. The geographical location and topographic differentiation of cultivated soils, as well as the variability of climatic factors affect the population of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soils and their symbiotic activity

Assessment of Biometric Parameters and Health of Canna’s Cultivars as Plant Useful in Phytoremediation of Degraded Agrocenoses

Recently, the ecological awareness of society and the need to take care of our surroundings and the natural environment has significantly increased. There is also an urgent problem of searching for new, environmentally friendly techniques for its purification (soil, ground and surface waters, sewage sludge and air) with the use of living organisms, especially higher plants. One plant species investigated for phytoremediation is canna. Ten varieties of canna, grown on degraded and garden soil, were tested in this respect. The disease index and species composition of fungi inhabiting its organs, growth dynamics, parameters of photosynthesis and gas exchange were determined. The conducted research showed that cannas are able to satisfactorily grow even in seemingly unfavorable soil conditions with its strong degradation. Among a total of 24 species of fungi obtained from its organs, genus Fusarium, considered as pathogenic for canna, Alternaria alternata, and, less frequently, Thanatephorus cucumeris and Botrytis cinerea, dominated. The cultivars ‘Picasso’, ‘Cherry Red’, ‘President’ and ‘La Boheme’ had lower rates of photosynthesis and gas exchange than the least affected ‘Botanica’, ‘Wyoming’, ‘Robert Kemp’ and ‘Lucifer’ cultivars. Those turned out to be the most beneficial and they can be recommended for cultivation on strongly degenerated soils

Germination Energy, Germination Capacity and Microflora of <i>Allium cepa</i> L. Seeds after RF Plasma Conditioning

This paper presents the results of an experiment on the effect of the cold plasma (He+O2 or He+Air) pre-sowing stimulation of seeds of the Wolska cultivar of onion on the process of their germination. Four groups of seeds characterized by different exposure times (60, 120, 240 and 480 s) were used. Untreated seeds were used as a control. The distance between the electrode and the tested material was 50 mm. Pre-sowing plasma stimulation improved germination parameters such as germination capacity and germination energy for all the tested groups relative to the control. The highest fractions of germinated seeds were observed for an exposure time of 120 s. Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant impact of RF plasma on the seed germination parameters of the onion. SEM analysis showed that the interaction with plasma produced tension in the cells, leading to a change in their shape. No visible damage to the onion seed cells was observed, apart from the effect of depletion of the upper wax layer. The best influence on pathogenic fungi was when the group of seeds underwent 240 and 480 s of exposure to plasma fumigation, especially using the He+Air RF plasma jet

Germination Energy, Germination Capacity and Microflora of Allium cepa L. Seeds after RF Plasma Conditioning

This paper presents the results of an experiment on the effect of the cold plasma (He+O2 or He+Air) pre-sowing stimulation of seeds of the Wolska cultivar of onion on the process of their germination. Four groups of seeds characterized by different exposure times (60, 120, 240 and 480 s) were used. Untreated seeds were used as a control. The distance between the electrode and the tested material was 50 mm. Pre-sowing plasma stimulation improved germination parameters such as germination capacity and germination energy for all the tested groups relative to the control. The highest fractions of germinated seeds were observed for an exposure time of 120 s. Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant impact of RF plasma on the seed germination parameters of the onion. SEM analysis showed that the interaction with plasma produced tension in the cells, leading to a change in their shape. No visible damage to the onion seed cells was observed, apart from the effect of depletion of the upper wax layer. The best influence on pathogenic fungi was when the group of seeds underwent 240 and 480 s of exposure to plasma fumigation, especially using the He+Air RF plasma jet

Variability survey in NGC 6910, the open cluster rich in β Cephei-type stars

NGC 6910 is the northern hemisphere open cluster known to be rich in β Cephei-type stars. Using four-season photometry obtained in Białków (Poland) and Xinglong (China) observatories, we performed variability survey of NGC 6910. As the result, we found over 100 variable stars in the field of the cluster, including many stars showing variability due to pulsations and binarity. Thanks to the spectroscopic observations, we also detected changes in the profiles of spectral lines of β Cep stars, caused by pulsation