Ber 1990 - 2004 Author A. Kashi, S. Hosseinzadeh, M. Babalar and H. Lessani Title Effect of black polyethylene mulch and calcium nitrate application on growth, yiel Year 2004 Source title Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources Reference 7(4): 1-10 Abstract Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) cv. Charleston Gray, one of the most important cultivars grown in Iran, has some good quantitative and qualitative characteristics but unfortunately is sensitive to blossom-end rot (BER). To solve this problem, an experiment was conducted at the Research Station and Laboratories of Department of Horticulture, University of Tehran in Iran, during 1997-98. Black polyethylene mulch was used and calcium nitrate was foliar sprayed at 0, 4, and 6 g/litre. Results indicated that mulch could increase yield by 85% over two years due to weed growth suppression and conservation of soil moisture for a longer time. Foliage fresh weight, number and average weight of fruits per plant and precocity were also significantly affected by black polyethylene mulch. Furthermore, mulch reduced the number and weight of fruits affected by BER by ~13.0 and 12.5% (average of two years), respectively. Calcium nitrate addition during both years had no significant effect on the measured fruit characteristics nor on BER. Author D. C. Cabelof, J. J. Raffoul, J. Nakamura, D. Kapoor, H. Abdalla and A. R. Heyda Title Imbalanced base excision repair in response to folate deficiency is accelerated by Year 2004 Source title Journal of Biological Chemistry Reference 279(35): 36504-36513 Abstract The mechanism by which folate deficiency influences carcinogenesis is not well established, but a phenotype of DNA strand breaks, mutations, and chromosomal instability suggests an inability to repair DNA damage. To elucidate the mechanism by which folate deficiency influences carcinogenicity, we have analyzed the effect of folate deficiency on base excision repair (BER), the pathway responsible for repairing uracil in DNA. We observe an up-regulation in initiation of BER in liver of the folate-deficient mice, as evidenced by an increase in uracil DNA glycosylase protein (30%, p<0.01) and activity (31%, p<0.05). However, no up-regulation in either BER or its rate- determining enzyme, DNA polymerase beta ( beta -pol) is observed in response to folate deficiency. Accordingly, an accumulation of repair intermediates in the form of DNA single strand breaks (37% increase, p<0.03) is observed. These data indicate that folate deficiency alters the balance and coordination of BER by stimulating initiation without subsequently stimulating the completion of repair, resulting in a functional BER deficiency. In directly establishing that the inability to induce beta -pol and mount a BER response when folate is deficient is causative in the accumulation of toxic repair intermediates, beta -pol-haploin-sufficient mice subjected to folate deficiency displayed additional increases in DNA single strand breaks (52% increase, p<0.05) as well as accumulation in aldehydic DNA lesions (38% increase, p<0.01). Since young beta -pol-haploinsufficient mice do not spontaneously exhibit increased levels of these repair intermediates, these data demonstrate that folate deficiency and beta -pol haploinsufficiency interact to increase the accumulation of DNA damage. In addition to establishing a direct role for beta -pol in the phenotype expressed by folate deficiency, these data are also consistent with the concept that repair of uracil and abasic sites is more efficient than repair of oxidized bases. Author D. K. Singh, S. Barun and S. K. Sen Title Role of pre-sowing seed treatment with different chemicals and seed sizes on the Year 2004 Source title Environment and Ecology Reference 22(2): 439-442 Abstract The effects of seed size (small, medium and large) and pre-sowing treatment (soaking in H2SO4 for 10 minutes then washing with water; soaking in H2SO4 for 10 minutes then in 1% thiourea for 12 h; mechanical cracking of seeds; chilling for 24 h in the refrigerator; and soaking in water for 24 h, control) on the seed germination and seedling growth of Z. mauritiana were studied in Kalyani, West Bengal, India, during May-September 1996 and 1997. The greatest seed germination was obtained with the use of medium seeds (50.93%) and treatment with H2SO4 for 10 minutes (54.22%). The mechanical cracking of seeds resulted in the lowest number of days to germination (23.66 days). The tallest seedlings were obtained with medium seeds (25.26 cm) and water-soaked seeds (26.33 cm). Water-soaked seeds and large seeds gave the greatest stem diameters (0.54 and 0.51 cm, respectively). Author G. Lal and M. S. Fageria Title Effect of different packages during transportation and storage of ber fruits (Ziziph Year 2004 Source title Indian Journal of Plant Physiology Reference 9(2): 199-202 Abstract The physiological loss in weight (PLW) and spoilage increased gradually during transportation and storage in all the packages (bamboo baskets, gunny bags luined with polyethylene, gunny bags, wooden boxes, corrugated fibre board boxes) used for Ziziphus mauritiana fruits in studies conducted during 1997-99. Fruit acidity, ascorbic acid and organoleptic acceptance decreased. TSS (total soluble solids) increased during transportation and up to 3 days of storage and then decreased on subsequent days of storage. Minimum PLW was recorded in the fruits packed in gunny bags lined with polythene. However, the performance of corrugated fiberboard (CFB) boxed was the best for transportation and storage of ber fruits. The fruits packed in CFB boxes exhibited maximum total soluble solids content, acidity, ascorbic acid content and with minimum spoilage just after transportation and at the end of storage period. These fruits were acceptable up to day 6 of storage and with the highest (6.15) organoleptic score. The fruits packed in other packages were acceptable only up to 3-4 days. Author G. Li, W. Zhang, F. Benoit and N. Ceustermans Title Effects of environment factors on the growth and incidence of blossom-end rot in Year 2004 Source title Acta Horticulturae Reference 633, 381-389 Abstract Blossom-end rot (BER), a physical disorder common in tomato and pepper fruits, is related to poor calcium translocation in the fruits. To investigate the effects of environment factors on the incidence of BER in soilless culture of Capsicum frutescens var. grossum, a series of experiments were carried out for 3 years (1998 to 2000). The comprehensive treatments included air humidity enrichment to 60% or control, slab cooling to 17 degrees C or not, slab moisture controlled by timer or set at 50 and 60%. The results showed that air humidity enrichment buffered the acute change of the air relative humidity and the air temperature in the greenhouse, especially during a hot day. The number of xylem bundles in the fruit parts was significantly increased under the humid conditions, and a greater increase was found in the distal part than that in the basal part, with 14.6 and 11.4% increase compared to the control plants, respectively. The Ca levels were significantly higher in the fruits developed under the humid conditions, with 19.9% more in the basal part and 16.6% more in the distal part. However, the K content was quite stable. Slab cooling resulted in a higher oxygen content in the root environment. Air humidity enrichment, slab cooling as well as slab moisture of 50% significantly lowered the incidence of BER. There was cumulative effect of these treatments on the occurrence of BER in soilless sweet pepper, but no significant differences of the harvested fruit number and the yield were observed among the different treatments. Author I. Syed and Y. N. Reddy Title Amelioration of soil physico-chemical properties in perennial ber-based cropping Year 2004 Source title Crop Research (Hisar) Reference 27(2/3): 214-218 Abstract Amelioration of soil physico-chemical properties in ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)-based system was studied by simultaneous planting of ber and aromatic grasses (Cymbopogon martinii and C. flexuosus) as intercrops and/or sole crops in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Changes in soil reaction (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density, organic matter content and available NPK were studied in intercropped, sole cropped and fallow plots at the beginning and end of the study (1989-93). Reduction in soil pH, EC and bulk density values was observed under intercropping treatments compared with sole cropping, while no change was recorded in fallow plots over a period of 4 years. The increase in organic matter content and soil available N and P under intercropping is attributed to tree leaf litter addition and its quick decomposition after annual pruning every year and root turn over of associated ber trees. Author J. A. Magner, G. A. Payne and L. J. Steffen Title Drainage effects on stream nitrate-N and hydrology in south-central Minnesota (U Year 2004 Source title Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Reference 91(1/3): 183-198 Abstract Excessive nitrate-N in south-central Minnesota ditches and streams is related to land-use change, and may be contributing to the development of the zone of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Intensive land- use (agricultural management) has progressively increased as subsurface drainage has improved crop productivity over the past 25 years. We have examined water at varying scales for delta 18O and, nitrate-N concentrations. Additionally, analysis of annual peak flows, and channel geomorphic features provided a measure of hydrologic change. Laboratory and field results indicate that agricultural drainage has influenced riverine source waters, concentrations of nitrate-N, channel dimensions and hydrology in the Blue Earth River (BER) Basin. At the mouth of the BER shallow ground water comprises the largest source water component. The highest nitrate-N concentrations in the BER and tributaries typically occurred in May and June and ranged from 7-34 mg L-1.