Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2001
Abstract
Adaptation to cold and freezing temperatures is crucial for survival in temperate and boreal areas. Compared with angiosperms, little is known about the mechanisms of freezing tolerance in gymnosperms. Coniferous species such as Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) have a wide distribution in boreal areas, indicating a strong ability to adapt to lasting periods of cold and freezing temperatures. Freezing-tolerant perennial plants survive subzero temperatures by forming ice in intercellular spaces and the xylem. Certain proteins associated with pathogen attack have been found to exhibit antifreeze activity, i.e. the ability to bind and modify the growth of ice. In order to study the possible role of pathogenesis-related proteins in development of freezing tolerance in Norway spruce, we looked at the accumulation of chitinases during hardening under both artificial and natural conditions. Our findings show that chitinases and other pathogenesis-related proteins, as well as antifreeze activity, are present in needles of Norway spruce, and that they increase in response to shorter daylengths and cold temperature. It is possible that pathogenesis-related proteins accumulated in conifers during cold acclimation could also exhibit antifreeze activity, and thus play an important role during development of freezing tolerance in perennial plants such as the gymnosperm Norway spruce.
Authors
Mehreteab TesfaiAbstract
No abstract has been registered
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Mehreteab TesfaiAbstract
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John Palmer Mekjell Meland A Hann J.N WünscheAbstract
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Authors
Mekjell MelandAbstract
An intensive field planting of `Edda", "Opal" and "Mallard" plum trees (Prunus domestica L.) all grafted on the semidwarf rootstock St. Julien A was established in 1993 at Ullensvang Research Centre, western Norway at 60 ° North. The objectives were to evaluate four different single row planting systems (vertical axis, free spindle, hedgerow and Y-trellis) and three planting densities ( 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 x 4 m for the Y-trellis and hedge trees and 2.0 x 4 m for the central leader trees) in a northern climate. These planting distances give a range of tree density of 1250 - 5000 trees per ha. The experiment gave a small yield in the third leaf on all canopy systems. During the first four cropping years, the yields/ha were positively correlated with tree density. Cumulative yield per hectare was highest on the Y-trellis and hedge trees with the highest density (5000 trees per ha). In the fourth leaf, the Y-trellis trees gave 15 tons per hectare. No differences in fruit size or the soluble solids content among canopies or densities were found.
Authors
I Szot Mekjell MelandAbstract
The cherry cultivars "Van", "Ulster" and "Burlat" grafted on the rootstocks seedling, `Colt" and `Gisela 5" were evaluated for important fruit quality parameters at Ullensvang Research Centre during the 1998 season. The largest fruit size was found on the cultivar/rootstock combinations `Van"/seedling, `Ulster/Colt" and `Burlat/Gisela 5". Other parameters like fruit firmness, stone weight, soluble solids, titratable acids and pH of the fruit juice were registered as well.
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Authors
Gudbrand Lien J.B. HardakerAbstract
This paper addresses the impacts of degree of risk aversion, subsidy scheme and choice of utility function on optimal farm plans in Norwegian agriculture. Data from a farm business survey (1991-1997) are combined with subjective judgements to formulate a two-stage utility-efficient programming model. Under existing policy and market conditions, the ex ante expectation was that farmers' risk attitudes are unlikely to have a large effect on choice of enterprise mix. The results tend to confirm this view, and a farmer who is hardly risk averse at all would choose the same farm plan as a very risk averse farmer. Factors such as subsidy schemes, market conditions for the products and available labour on the farm are found to be more important determinants of the optimal plans than farmers' risk attitude or the form of the utility function.