The nature of ice-sheet damage to overwintering forage plants was studied in a controlled environment at non-injurious freezing temperatures. The soil atmosphere was analyzed in a gas-chromatograph and the plants were assessed for injury by histological examination and recovery rates in the greenhouse. Under experimental ice-covers carbon dioxide accumulated in the soil in some instances to as high as 10% while oxygen was depleted to less than 4% of the atmosphere. Plants rooted in such soils were killed after 7 weeks of ice-cover. When the soil under the ice-sheet was flushed with carbon dioxide the plants were killed after periods as short as 21 days. In both cases injury appeared to be physiological rather than mechanical. Furthermore, carbon dioxide accumulation rather than oxygen depletion was responsible for the injury since the plants were able to withstand periods of 3 weeks in a nitrogen-saturated soil. A freeze-thaw-freeze cycle, with moderate freezing temperatures and associated with an ice-sheet, did not appear to be damaging to alfalfa. Continuous ice-covers resulted in a greater accumulation of carbon dioxide and consequently more injury suffered by the plants than where the cover was temporarily broken by a thaw. High soil-moisture conditions which are usually associated with ice-sheets did not result in an increased hydration level in the tissue and consequently did not make the plants more susceptible to cold injury. A technique was developed to determine the ability of plants to withstand ice-encasement. Several varieties and species that were tested exhibited no clear-cut correlation between resistance to ice encasement and frost hardiness. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The effects of high medium temperatures on the growth and mineral nutrition of selected woody plants and on the composition of the medium solution were studied. Medium temperature profiles were established for 3.8-liter black polyethylene containers exposed to solar radiation under Virginia nursery conditions. On clear days in mid-summer, maximum recorded medium temperatures on the southwest side of containers were as high as 45°C and could exceed 40°C for 4 to 5 hours. The high medium temperatures in exposed containers reduced the shoot relative growth rate and the specific rate of nitrogen uptake for Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’ in comparison to that of plants grown in containers insulated from solar radiation. Shoot dry weights of J. crenata ‘Helleri’ , Juniperus chinensis, Buxus microphylla, and Nandina domestica were at least 20% lower in exposed containers than in insulated containers. In a pine bark medium, growth response of J. crenata, J. horizontalis, or N. domestica to increased N application rate was similar when root-zones were at 40°C for 6 hrs/day or more optimal growth temperature. In unlimed pine bark, root-zone temperature of 40°C for 6 hrs/day resulted in higher medium solution pH and NH₄- N:NO₃-N ratio than at lower temperature. Limestone addition to the medium negated these effects and alleviated growth reductions due to high root-zone temperature for N. domestica and J. horizontalis. The higher medium solution pH associated with heated root-zones resulted in lower medium solution and shoot tissue Mn concentrations for I. crenata. A limed pine bark medium periodically fertilized with ammonium N was heated to temperatures of 28°, 34°, 40°, 46°, or 52°C for daily exposure duration of 1, 2, 4, 6, or 24 hours for 20 days. Treatment temperature of at least 40°C with a daily exposure duration of 24 hours resulted in an increase in medium solution NH₄-N concentration. Similar increase in NH₄-N was found for 2 hr/day exposure to 46°C, with further increases in NH₄-N at longer exposure times. The maximum level of NH₄- N occurred after 1 hr/day exposure to 52°C or 24 hr/day exposure to 46°C. Decreases in medium solution NO₃-N concentration generally coincided with the increases in NH₄- N. Results indicate that high container temperature may increase the ratio of NH₄- N:NO₃-N in the medium solution of plants fertilized with predominately ammoniacal N. / Ph. D.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1963 T65 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1953 A7 / Master of Science

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa tomato production in greenhouses normally occurs out of season when conditions are unfavourable for production and for the pollination process. Pollination is of special importance and the backbone of production. High temperatures contribute to the formation of abnormalities in flower morphology such as splitting of the anther cone and style exsertion. Low temperatures inhibit growth of the anther cone and therefore the style is uncovered. The movement of pollen from the anther to the style is inhibited by the higher style position in relation to the anther cone. Under humid conditions the pollen tends to stick to the anther surface. Another factor contributing to the problem is the banning of European bumble bees in South Africa. Alternative methods of pollen transport have to be found. Truss vibration, honey bees and plant growth regulators (PGR) are the most popular alternatives. Truss vibration and the use of PGR's are labour intensive and honey bees tend to get disorientated inside a plastic greenhouse. During the first part of this study pollen from plants, grown at four different B-levels (0.02; 0.16; 0.32 and 0.64 mg rl) was germinated in vitro. It was kept at different temperatures and periods before incubating on different growth media. No proof was found that pollen from B-deficient plants germinated poorly. Germination of pollen decreased significantly after one week storage. Deterioration of pollen viability could be lowered by storage at 5°C. At least 10% sucrose is needed in the growth medium for in vitro germination but addition ofB had no positive effect. In a second phase of the study, the influence of the mentioned B application rates were tested. The experiment was done in a glasshouse where temperatures were mechanically regulated (22°C and 10°C day/night). Seedlings of the greenhouse tomato cultivar, Abigail, were planted in acid washed river sand. Plants were grown with the main stem trellised vertically and the side shoots removed weekly. Only the first, third and fourth cluster were used for this part of the study. The uptake of all the essential nutrient elements, fruit set, the relation of larger to smaller fruits, physical and chemical quality and fruit shelf life were evaluated. The application of B at higher rates increased the uptake of Ca and decreased K-uptake. Fruit set, fruit development, fruit color and shelf life were the best at a B-Ievel of 0.16 mg r'. At this rate the abortion of flowers was the least. The same plants were used for the second part of the study, using the third cluster. The influence of the same four B-Ievels, the relative humidity (RH) of the truss atmosphere and truss vibrations were tested. The second cluster was covered with a plastic bag. Dry {<I 0% relative humidity (RH)}, normal {60-7S% RH} and moist {8S-97% RH} air were constantly applied to the bags at ± 50 ml min-I. As a third factor, truss vibration was applied daily by means of an electric vibrator (polli-bee), The amount of flowers per cluster, fruits per cluster, fruit set, weight of the cluster (yield), fruit weight, seed production, fruit weight per amount of seeds formed and fruits with blossom-end-rot (BER) were evaluated. The application of higher B-Ievels, air with the normal RH and the vibration of the clusters positively affected fruit weight, weight of the cluster and fruit set. High RH increased the occurrence of BER, probably due to a lack of transpiration from the fruit surface and therefor a lack in Ca translocation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verbouing van kweekhuistamaties in Suid-Afrika geskied meestalonder toestande wat ongunstig is vir produksieprosesse en veral die bestuiwingsproses wat die basis van produksie is. Onder toestande van hoë temperature is die voorkoms van afwykings in die blommorfologie (gesplete meeldraadbuis en verlengde styl) algemeen. Net so, onder toestande van lae temperature, sal gebrekkige groei van die meeldraadkrans ook tot die blootstelling van die stempel lei. Die oordraging van die stuifmeel vanaf die helmknop na die stempel word hierdeur benadeel. Tydens humiede toestande mag vasklewing van stuifmeel aan die helmknoppe ook die beweging van stuifmeel belemmer. 'n Verdere faktor wat tot die probleem bydra is die verbod op die invoer van hommelbye uit Europa. Alternatiewe metodes vir oordraging van stuifmeel moet dus gevind word. Trosvibrasie, heuningbye en die gebruik van plantgroeireguleerders (PGR's) is die mees populêre alternatiewe. Trosvibrasie met 'n 'polli-bee' en die aanwending van PGR's is arbeidsintensief. Heuningbye ondervind navigasieprobleme in plastiek kweekhuise en is nie so effektief as hommelbye nie. Tydens die eerste fase van die ondersoek is stuifmeel vanaf plante, wat by vier verskillende Bvoedingspeile (0.02; 0.16; 0.32 en 0.64 mg rl) verbou is, versamel en in vitro ontkiem. Dit is by verskillende temperature en periodes opgeberg en op verskillende media vir ontkieming geïnkubeer. Geen bewyse kon gevind word dat stuifmeel vanaf B-gebrekkige plante swak ontkiem nie. Kiemkrag van stuifmeel het na sewe dae opberging betekenisvol verswak. Verswakking in kiemkrag kon beperk word deur die stuifmeel by SoC op te berg. 'n Ontkiemingsmedium met ten minste 10% sukrose is vir goeie in vitro ontkieming van stuifmeelkorrels nodig terwyl die byvoeging van B geen voordelige effek getoon het nie. Tydens die tweede gedeelte van hierdie ondersoek is die invloed van die genoemde vier B-voedingspeile ondersoek. Die ondersoek is in 'n glashuis, waarvan die temperature meganies beheer is (22°C en 10°C dag/nag), uitgevoer. Plantmateriaal van die kweekhuistamatiekultivar, Abigail, is in suurgewasde riviersand geplant. Hoofstamme is vertikaalopgelei en die sylote is een maal per week uitgebreek. Die eerste, derde en vierde bloeiwyses is vir die ondersoek gebruik. Die opname van al die essensiële voedingselemente (blaarontledings), vrugset, die verhouding van groot vrugte tot kleiner vrugte, fisiese en chemiese kwaliteite van die vrugte en die raklewe daarvan is ge-evalueer. Die toediening van B teen hoër peile het die opname van Ca ten koste van K bevoordeel. Die beste resultate ten opsigte van vrugset, vrugontwikkeling, vrugkleur en die houvermoë (raklewe) van die vrugte is verkry teen 'n B-toedieningspeil van 0.16 mg.l'. Vir die derde gedeelte van die ondersoek is die tweede tros van dieselfde aanplanting gebruik. Die invloed van die vier B-voedingspeile, relatiewe humiditeit (RH) van die omgewing rondom die tros en trosvibrasie is ondersoek. Die tweede bloeiwyse is met 'n deursigtige plastieksakkie bedek. Droë {dO% relatiewe humiditeit (RH)}, normale {60-75% RH} en vogtige {85-97% RH} lug is teen 50 ml min-1 oor die tros gestuur. Trosvibrasie is as derde faktor teen twee peile gebruik deur trosse daagliks met 'n elekriese vibreerder ("polli-bee') te vibreer. Die aantal blomme per tros, vrugte per tros, vrugset, trosmassa (opbrengs), vrugmassa, aantal sade, vrugmassa per saad en blom-end-verrotting (BER) is ge-evalueer. Die toediening van hoër B-voedingspeile, 60-75% RH lug en trosvibrasies het vrugmassa, trosmassa en vrugset bevoordeel. Hoë lugvog het die omvang van BER verhoog, waarskynlik weens 'n gebrek aan transpirasie vanaf die vrugoppervlakke wat aanleiding tot 'n beperking in translokasie van Ca kon gee.

An investigation into the flux of soil water under the influence of a thermal gradient was conducted in closed soil systems in the laboratory. A thermal gradient was imposed across the sandy loam soil columns and measured continuously for the duration of the experiment. The movement of soil water was monitored periodically using a gamna ray attenuation device until the columns reached an apparent steady state condition with no net flow. Imposition of boundary conditions enabled delineation and evaluation of the system parameters. Values of net water flux in soil columns were analyzed using the Taylor-Cary irreversible thermodynamic and the Philip-de Vries theory of water movement. Application of the Taylor-Cary equation to describe the flow reveals that for initial time periods the flow is slightly overestimated, however, this small difference may be within the realm of experimental error. The flow predicted by the Taylor-Cary equation for the succeeding time periods greatly exceeded the measured flow rates. The Philip-de Vries theory of soil-water movement predicted greater net water movement than was observed in soil columns with a temperature gradient of 2.67 ° C/cm and with an average soil water content of 10.5 to 11.5 cm³/cm³. The following conclusions were reached after analyzing the data for the sandy loam soil material. Water content and temperature influence the diffusion transfer coefficient, β*, in a closed soil system. Thus the transfer coefficient is not an independent entity. Hysteresis is present in the wetter part of the system, although the magnitude of hysteresis involved is unknown. The β* coefficient can be evaluated only in regions where hysteresis is not present. The transfer of soil water was greater in a leached soil with no air gap than in an unleached soil with no air gap. There was supporting evidence that liquid water continuity did not exist throughout the column since there was no appreciable solute transport. The observed change in soil water content distribution at 18.0 cm³/cm³ to the imposed temperature gradient was not significant for the sandy loam soil material. The observed soil water flux increased in response to the imposed temperature gradient as soil water content decreased from 18.0 to 10.5 cm³/cm³. No analytical procedure is presently available that will describe thermally induced flow under all conditions. The approach of Philip and de Vries requires that the physical properties of the soil must be known accurately so that correct estimates can be made of the individual diffusivities. This approach has been found to predict the flow with some success on relatively dry soils, however, it possibly would be in error when estimating thermally induced flow in regions where liquid continuity exists and up through to a saturated system. The Taylor and Cary equation may be adequate for describing water flow to predict trends or obtain comparative values, however, much additional work needs to be done before it will adequately describe the flow for transient conditions or steady state conditions where nonuniform water content distributions are present.

No description available.

No description available.

Swimming is important to the ecology of many species of scallop but the effects of temperature upon swimming are not clear. The ecology and natural history of scallops is introduced followed by a description of the state of current knowledge of scallop swimming, muscle physiology and energetics. The effects of temperature and the mechanisms used by ectotherms to compensate for such changes over acute, seasonal and evolutionary timescales are discussed. Scallops are active molluscs, able to escape from predators using jet propelled swimming. Queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) were acclimated to 5,10 and 15°C in the laboratory and collected in Autumn (13±3°C) and Winter (8±2°C) in order to investigate seasonal acclimatisation. The first jetting cycle of escape responses in these animals was recorded using high-speed video (200-250fps). Whole-animal velocity and acceleration were determined while measurements of valve movement and jet area allowed the calculation of muscle shortening velocity, force and power output. Peak swimming speed was significantly higher at 15°C (0.37m.s⁻¹) than at 5°C (0.28m.s⁻¹). Peak acceleration was 77% higher at 15°C (7.88m.s⁻²) than at 5°C (4.44m.s⁻²). Mean cyclic power output was also higher at 15°C (31.3W.kg⁻¹) than at 5°C (23.3W.kg⁻¹). Seasonal comparison of swimming in freshly caught animals revealed significantly greater acceleration (x2 at 11°C) and velocity during jetting in Winter than in Autumn animals (ANCOVA). These were associated with significant increases in peak power output (x8 at 11 °C), force production and muscle shortening velocity. Actomyosin ATPase activity was significantly higher (31 % at 15°C) in winter animals with peptide mapping of the Myosin heavy chain showing no differences between groups. Increases in muscle power output were associated with reductions in the length of the jetting phase as a proportion of the overall cycle. As a result large changes in muscle performance resulted in large short-term whole body performance enhancement but little difference to velocity over the cycle. Measurements of the swimming performance of the Antarctic scallop were made from videos of escape responses. Animals were acclimated to +2 and -1 °C in the laboratory and compared to animals maintained at natural water temperature (0±0.5°C) at the time of experimentation. Adamussium was very sensitive to temperature change with the proportion of swimming responses being less common at higher temperatures and where an individual was exposed to temperatures above it's maintenance temperature. Analysis of the first jetting cycle of swimming was carried out as described in Chapter 2. These analyses revealed that over the small temperature range that the animals can tolerate swimming performance is strongly temperature dependent. Q₁₀s above 2 included those for thrust (3.74), mean cyclic swimming speed (2.46), mean cyclic power output (5.71) and mean muscle fibre shortening velocity (2.16). Adamussium did not demonstrate strong phenotypic plasticity with no significant differences in swimming of muscle performance between animals acclimated to different temperatures. Comparison of the relationship between swimming velocity and temperature in Adamussium and other species showed little evidence for evolutionary compensation for temperature with all data fitting to a single relationship with a Q₁₀ of 1.96 (0-20°C). Similar results were obtained for power output and the performance of in vitro muscle preparations. These results are discussed in the light of field studies revealing the low predator pressure and escape performance of wild Adamussium. In vivo ³¹P-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (MRS) was used to measure the levels of ATP, Phospho-l-arginine (PLA) and inorganic phosphorous (PI) in the adductor muscle of the Antarctic scallop, Adamussium colbecki, and two temperate species, Aequipecten opercularis and Pecten maximus. Graded exercise regimes from light (1-2 contractions) to exhausting (failing to respond to further stimulation) were imposed upon animals of each species. MRS allowed non-invasive measurement of metabolite levels and intracellular pH at high time resolution (30-120s intervals) during exercise and throughout the prolonged recovery period. Significant differences were shown between the magnitude and form of the metabolic response with increasing levels of exercise. Short-term (first 15 minutes) muscle alkalosis was followed by acidosis of up to 0.2 pH units during the recovery process. Aequipecten had significantly higher resting muscle PLA levels than either Pecten or Adamussium, used a five-fold greater proportion of this store per contraction and was able to perform only half as many claps (maximum of 24) as the other species before exhaustion. All species regenerated their PLA store at a similar rate despite widely different environmental temperatures. The major results and their impact on our knowledge of biomechanics and it's temperature dependence are discussed. Suggestions for future research based upon the experimental findings and techniques developed are presented.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1957 K38 / Master of Science