Sap flow of sweet cherry reveals distinct effects of humidity and wind under rain covered and netted protected cropping systems.

Protected cropping systems (PCS) alter the plant growing environment, though understanding of this in ventilated systems and how the new climate affects tree water uptake is limited. Sap flow sensors and weather stations were deployed in 16-year-old 'Lapins' on 'Colt' rootstock cherry trees under a ventilated Voen PCS and in an adjacent bird netted PCS. Average and maximum temperatures were consistently higher (14.

Orchard microclimate, tree water uptake and sweet cherry fruit quality under protected cropping.

Protected cropping systems (PCS) de-risk adverse climatic effects in intensive horticultural production but alter the growing environment. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of modern, commercial-scale PCS on sweet cherry orchard microclimate, tree water uptake and fruit quality. Sap flow sensors and weather stations were positioned at four locations under a 21 ha PCS at varying elevations (125, 114, 111, 102 m above sea level) and distances from the block boundary (105, 75, 60 or 50 m, referred to hereafter as Locations 1 to 4, respectively).

Spoilage potential of bacterial species from chilled vacuum-packed lamb.

The objective of this study was to establish whether specific organisms play important roles in the spoilage rate of vacuum-packed (VP) lamb at low storage temperatures. The spoilage potential of representative organisms (n = 13) of the spoilage community of VP lamb were investigated through a series of shelf-life challenge trials. Each isolate was individually inoculated onto sterile (irradiated) and non-sterile (i.

The effects of glucose on microbial spoilage of vacuum-packed lamb.

Vacuum-packed lamb produced in Australia has a shelf-life of 80-90 days under export conditions (-1 to 0 °C). However, access to some markets could involve >90 days transit time. Studies to understand the potential mechanisms of microbial spoilage of vacuum-packed lamb are, therefore, important to assist the development of shelf-life extension methods.

Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. I: Technology efficacy and pasture utilization.

Virtual fencing is promoted as the next advancement for rotational grazing systems. This experiment compared the capacity of conventional temporary electric versus virtual fencing to contain a herd of 30 lactating dairy cows within the boundaries of their daily pasture allocation (inclusion zone). Cows were moved each day to a new rectangular paddock that was divided crosswise into an inclusion and exclusion zone by a single linear electric (first 10 d) or virtual (second 10 d) front-fence.

Cherry damage and the spatial distribution of European earwigs, (Forficula auricularia L.) in sweet cherry trees.

Background: The European earwig, Forficula auricularia is an invasive insect pest found in many temperate regions of the world. Despite being well known predators, earwigs are considered pests in sweet cherry though this has never been empirically tested. Our aim was to quantify the relationship between damaged cherry fruit and earwig population size, cherry bunch size and earwig distribution in cherry tree canopies in the cherry varieties Ron's Seedling, Lewis, Sweet Georgia, and Lapin.

Effect of Storage Conditions on Shelf Stability of Undiluted Neutral Electrolyzed Water.

Abstract: Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) is an oxidizing sanitizer that can be made locally on-site; it is often stored in a ready-to-use format to accumulate the large volumes required for periodic or seasonal use. The shelf stability of NEW sanitizer was, therefore, assessed under various storage conditions to guide the development of protocols for its industrial application. To that end, fresh NEW with an available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 480 mg/L, pH 6.

Quantifying risk factors associated with light-induced potato tuber greening in retail stores.

Light conditions in retail stores may contribute to potato greening. In this study, we aimed to develop a potato tuber greening risk rating model for retail stores based on light quality and intensity parameters. This was achieved by firstly exposing three potato varieties (Nicola, Maranca and Kennebec) to seven specific light wavelengths (370, 420, 450, 530, 630, 660 and 735 nm) to determine the tuber greening propensity.

A synthesis of bacterial and archaeal phenotypic trait data.

A synthesis of phenotypic and quantitative genomic traits is provided for bacteria and archaea, in the form of a scripted, reproducible workflow that standardizes and merges 26 sources. The resulting unified dataset covers 14 phenotypic traits, 5 quantitative genomic traits, and 4 environmental characteristics for approximately 170,000 strain-level and 15,000 species-aggregated records. It spans all habitats including soils, marine and fresh waters and sediments, host-associated and thermal.

Sampling, extraction and incidence of redberry mites (Acalitus essigi) on blackberries in Australia.

'Redberry disease' on blackberries is hypothesised to be caused by the redberry mite (RBM), Acalitus essigi (Hassan), and results in uneven ripening of blackberry drupelets, which become bright red, hard and inedible. This damage has been reported to cause significant crop losses in commercial blackberry production in most regions where commercial blackberries are grown. However, RBM are difficult to detect and manage due to their tiny body size.

Suberin deposition in potato periderm: a novel resistance mechanism against tuber greening.

Light-induced tuber greening is one of the most important quality defects of potato. Although varietal and maturity factors are known to affect greening resistance, physiological mechanisms of resistance are poorly understood. We proposed that physiological and biochemical factors within the tuber periderm provide resistance and hypothesised that resistance is primarily related to suberin content.

The Biokinetic Spectrum for Temperature and optimal Darwinian fitness.

Darwinian fitness is maximised at a temperature below T, but what this temperature is remains unclear. By linking our previous work on the Biokinetic Spectrum for Temperature with a model for temperature-dependent biological growth rate we obtain a plausible value for such a temperature. We find this approach reveals considerable commonalities in how life responds to temperature with implications that follow in evolution, physiology and ecology.

The Boring Billion, a slingshot for Complex Life on Earth.

The period 1800 to 800 Ma ("Boring Billion") is believed to mark a delay in the evolution of complex life, primarily due to low levels of oxygen in the atmosphere. Earlier studies highlight the remarkably flat C, Cr isotopes and low trace element trends during the so-called stasis, caused by prolonged nutrient, climatic, atmospheric and tectonic stability. In contrast, we suggest a first-order variability of bio-essential trace element availability in the oceans by combining systematic sampling of the Proterozoic rock record with sensitive geochemical analyses of marine pyrite by LA-ICP-MS technique.

The influence of lameness and individuality on movement patterns in sheep.

We investigated how individuality and lameness altered social organisation by assessing food-directed movement patterns in sheep. One hundred and ninety-six mature Merino ewes were walked in 16 different runs around a 1.1 km track following a food source.

Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis determines association of individual potato foliage volatiles with onion thrips preference, cultivar and plant age.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes sporadic but serious disease in Australian potato crops. TSWV is naturally spread to potato by thrips of which Thrips tabaci is the most important. Prior studies indicated possible non-preference of potato cultivars to T.

Hematologic and serum biochemical changes associated with Devil Facial Tumor Disease in Tasmanian Devils.

Background: Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is an infectious tumor causing significant population declines in wild Tasmanian Devils. While clinical assessment and pathology have been well reported for DFTD, there is a lack of information on hematologic and biochemical alterations associated with DFTD.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine hematologic and serum biochemical variation in healthy, wounded, and DFTD-affected Tasmanian Devils.

Correction: The Biokinetic Spectrum for Temperature.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The Biokinetic Spectrum for Temperature.

We identify and describe the distribution of temperature-dependent specific growth rates for life on Earth, which we term the biokinetic spectrum for temperature. The spectrum has the potential to provide for more robust modeling in thermal ecology since any conclusions derived from it will be based on observed data rather than using theoretical assumptions. It may also provide constraints for systems biology model predictions and provide insights in physiology.

Hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals for wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii).

Background: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial threatened with extinction by a fatally infectious cancer known as devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Conservation efforts including captive breeding and island translocations are underway to address this threat.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals (RI) to aid in health assessment of Tasmanian devils, and to examine seasonal, sex, reproductive status and age variations.

Perception of climate change and its impact by smallholders in pastoral/agropastoral systems of Borana, South Ethiopia.

This study investigates the perception of historic changes in climate and associated impact on local agriculture among smallholders in pastoral/agropastoral systems of Borana in southern Ethiopia. We drew on empirical data obtained from farm household surveys conducted in 5 districts, 20 pastoral/agropastoral associations and 480 farm households. Using this data, this study analyses smallholders' perception of climate change and its associated impact on local agriculture, and the effect of various household and farm attributes on perception.

Modeling Pathogen DNA Content and Visual Disease Assessment in Seed Tubers to Inform Disease in Potato Progeny Root, Stolon, and Tubers.

Measurement of pathogens on seed tubers is essential for informing likelihood of subsequent potato disease. Here we utilized quantitative PCR assessment of pathogen DNA and visual assessment of disease to measure seed tuber inoculum and used this to model development of disease in potato grown in pathogen-free soil. Analysis by recursive partitioning and modeling using receiver operating curves indicated both abundance of Rhizoctonia solani AG3 and Streptomyces scabies DNA, and disease symptoms associated with these pathogens on seed tubers could predict subsequent disease in progeny tubers and for R.

Foliar treatments of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid for control of common scab in potato have beneficial effects on powdery scab control.

Prior studies have shown that applications of the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to the foliage of potato plants can reduce common scab. Here field and glasshouse trials suggest that 2,4-D foliar treatments may also reduce the biologically distinct tuber disease, powdery scab. Significant correlations between suppression of common and powdery scab from the field trials suggested an interaction between the two diseases or possible additional broad spectrum mechanisms of enhanced defence against pathogen invasion provided by 2,4-D treatment.

Protein thermodynamics can be predicted directly from biological growth rates.

Life on Earth is capable of growing from temperatures well below freezing to above the boiling point of water, with some organisms preferring cooler and others hotter conditions. The growth rate of each organism ultimately depends on its intracellular chemical reactions. Here we show that a thermodynamic model based on a single, rate-limiting, enzyme-catalysed reaction accurately describes population growth rates in 230 diverse strains of unicellular and multicellular organisms.

Whole-plant versus leaf-level regulation of photosynthetic responses after partial defoliation in Eucalyptus globulus saplings.

Increases in photosynthetic capacity (A1500) after defoliation have been attributed to changes in leaf-level biochemistry, water, and/or nutrient status. The hypothesis that transient photosynthetic responses to partial defoliation are regulated by whole-plant (e.g.

Universality of thermodynamic constants governing biological growth rates.

Background: Mathematical models exist that quantify the effect of temperature on poikilotherm growth rate. One family of such models assumes a single rate-limiting 'master reaction' using terms describing the temperature-dependent denaturation of the reaction's enzyme. We consider whether such a model can describe growth in each domain of life.