Life Sciences Commons^™

Clover Infertility Of Sheep : Continuing Problem, N R. Adams, Keith Croker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Some varieties of subterranean clover, notably Dinninup, Dwalganup and Yarloop, contain compounds which act like the female sex hormone oestrogen. These plant oestrogens, or "phyto-oestrogens", interfere with the fertility of sheep and depress the percentage of lambs born.

Over the past 10 years our understanding of clover infertility has increased, and we can now gauge the extent of this residual problem. In fact, there is a widespread but low-level incidence of infertility which does not greatly affect individial farms but which has an important impact on the State's sheep production.

Trends In Wheat Protein/Yield Relationships, G B. Crosbie, Harry Fisher, Bryan Whan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The major concern of wheat breeders in WesternAustralia has been to increase grain yield while maintaining quality at an acceptable level. There has been no concious effort to select for protein content. It is of interrest, therefore, to compare the relationship between yield and protein of varieties which have been prominent in Western Australia at various times, to see what effects yield increases have had on protein content and the extent of any variation which might exist.

Pollen Morphology Of The New Species Mimulus Shevockii And A Possibly Related Species, M. Barbatus (Scrophulariaceae), Charles L. Argue

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The pollen grains of Mimulus shevockii and M barbatus have three long, equally spaced, meridionally oriented apertures with transversely ruptured membranes, and the pollen walls are microreticulate with smooth muri. The pollen evidence (pollen size and shape, rupturing pattern and ornamentation of the aperture membrane, size and spacing of lumina, and ornamentation of muri) is applied to comparisons between the pollen of M shevockii and that of other species in section Paradanthus. These data are consistent with a proposed relationship between M shevockii and M barbatus of the M rubellus/M palmeri group.

A Survey Of The Vascular Plants Of Norway Dunes, Janet Boe

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Norway Dunes, a 320-acre preserve located in Kittson County, Minnesota, and owned by The Nature Conservancy, is named for the parabolic sand dunes found within its boundaries. These dunes are covered with oak sand savanna, a natural community that is threatened in Minnesota. This oak sand savanna harbors four plant species that are also threatened or of special concern in the state. A deciduous forest and four types of wetlands are other natural communities on the preserve. During a vascular plant survey of the tract, 207 species were collected. Some of these species represent range extensions within the state.

Additions And Confirmations To The Algal Flora Of Itasca State Park I. Desmids And Diatoms From North Deming Pond, Huan Ngo, Gerald W. Prescott, David B. Czarnecki

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The summer desmid and diatom flora of North Deming Pond in lake Itasca State Park is presented. One hundred sixty desmid taxa representing 23 genera are recorded. Of these, 15 taxa appear to be park records and 82 are apparently Minnesota records. The desmid genera, Closterium, Cosmarium, Euastrum, Micrasterias, Pleurotaenium, and Staurastrum display the most taxa. The 136 diatom taxa recorded represent 27 genera. More than half of the taxa are assignable to the genera Eunotia, Navicula, Neidium, and Pinnularia. Given the brief and cursory nature of this study, the taxomic representation of these algae indicates high species richness and …

Range Extensions For Orchis Spectabilis, Corallorhiza Trifida, And C. Striata In Minnesota, Charles I. Argue

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The Showy Orchis, the Striped Coral-root, and the Early Coral-root are reported as new additions to the orchid flora of Otter Tail County. The records for the first two species provide notable range extensions within Minnesota and represent, respectively, the most northern and southwestern localities thus far recorded for these species in the state

Growth And Mortality Of Shoots In Three Populations Of Typha Glauca Godr., John Michael Penko, Douglas C. Pratt

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

A double sampling technique and permanent quadrats were used to monitor seasonal changes in shoot density and aboveground standing crop in three Minnesota Typha glauca populations. Shoot growth began several weeks later in stands located in floating mats (Boot Lake and Cedar Creek) relative to a nonfloating stand (Lauderdale). Mortality reduced shoot density by 10.8% at Boot Lake, 6.3% at Cedar Creek, and by 53% at Lauderdale. Shoot death was largely confined to smaller than average shoots at Boot Lake and Cedar Creek. At Lauderdale many relatively large shoots were killed by a lepidopteran stem borer (Archanara oblonga Grt.) or …

The Potential For Skeleton Weed, John Dodd, F. D. Panetta

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since its introduction into Australia during the 900s skeleton weed has become one of the most economically significant weeds. Its presence in cereal crops in south-eastern Australia has caused suvere yield reductions and harvesting problems.

Skeleton weed was first found on a Western Australian farm in 963. Since then it has been the subject of an intensive eradication campaign organised by the Agricultural Protection Board and funded by an annual levy on wheat growers. Such campaigns, which rely mainly on volunteer searchers, do not exist in eastern Australia because the weed is so widespread it would be impossible to eradicate. …

Variation In Wheat Protein Content : The Effect Of Environment, G B. Crosbie, Harry Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Over the past 20 years, the average protein content of WesternAustralian wheat has ranged from 9.3 to 12.0 per cent, with a mean level of 10.4 per cent. At most grain receival points, in any one season, individual loads can often vary in protein content by as much as 5 per cent protein or more. Rainfall and soil fertility account for much of this variation.