The Neotropics have many plant species that seem to be adapted for seed dispersal by megafauna that went extinct in the late Pleistocene. Given the crucial importance of seed dispersal for plant persistence, it remains a mystery how these plants have survived more than 10,000 y without their mutualist dispersers. Here we present support for the hypothesis that secondary seed dispersal by scatte...

This study was performed to develop and evaluate a semi-automatic seed localization algorithm from magnetic resonance (MR) images for interstitial prostate brachytherapy. The computerized tomography (CT) and MR images (3 mm-slice thickness) of six patients who had received real-time MR imaging-guided interstitial prostate brachytherapy were obtained. An automatic seed localization method was pe...

The aim of the present study was to compare the growth characteristics of guinea fowl fed on Mucuna pruriens (pica-pica, cow-hitch plant, cowhage, velvet bean, devil bean) seed with a control group at both starting and growing phases in extensive production in tropical Africa country (Benin). It was also attempt at determining meat traits and ascertains meat eventual contamination by L-Dopa for...

The present investigation focused on the effects of plant and seed diffusates of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on seed germination of Raphanus sativus L. Level of glucose in germinating seeds as an indirect measure of amylase activity was estimated. About 91.66% viable seed of Raphanus sativus were treated in different concentrations of rhizospheric soil diffusates (PD) and germinating seed diffu...

The performance of canola (Brassica napus L.) was evaluated using various nitrogen levels and shoots cutting at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during Rabi 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having four replications each. Nitrogen levels @ 0, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha were allotted to...

Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the effects of different concentrations of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum Koch.) shoot and seed extracts on germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and wild barley. In this study, all wild barley shoot extract concentrations (with exception of lowest concentration) significantly reduced wheat seed germination after 7 days. Sh...

The exotic vine Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar. (Asclepiadaceae) is a major natural-areas pest throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Colonization of new areas by this herbaceous perennial occurs by comose wind-dispersed seeds. Previous experiments suggested a trade-off between seed dispersability and seed quality: smaller seeds dispersed farther but were less likely to emerge and seedlings ...

The aims of this study are to determine and compare the antioxidant levels and activities (i.e. primary and secondary) between selected seeds of Malaysian tropical fruits - guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and papaya (Carica papaya L.). Seeds are among byproducts from the processing of fruitsbased products. Instead of discarding seeds as waste, seeds with high potential as a...

PURPOSE To analyze the seed loss and displacement and their dosimetric impact in prostate low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy while utilizing the combination of loose and stranded seeds. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred and seventeen prostate cancer patients have been treated with LDR brachytherapy. Loose seeds were implanted in the prostate center and stranded seeds in the periphery of the gla...