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Speeding the Drying of Alfalfa Hay with Fusicoccin 1
Author(s) -
Turner Neil C.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1970.00021962006200040034x
Subject(s) - fusicoccin , hay , medicago sativa , alfalfa hay , horticulture , water content , agronomy , moisture , limiting , shoot , chemistry , biology , food science , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , rumen , atpase , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , fermentation , enzyme , engineering
Fusicoccin, a wilt toxin produced by the fungus Fusicoccum amygdali Del., was sprayed onto alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) 3 hours before cutting. Under constant environmental condition in the laboratory, the shoots treated with 10 ‐5 M fusicoccin solution dried to a moisture content of 40% (dry weight basis) in half the time of the controls. In the field the drying time to a moisture content of 22% (dry weight basis) was reduced from 54 to 46 hours; thus the hay could be safely stored after 3 days instead of 4 days. The fusicoccin also reduced losses by respiration. Rainfall probabilities for Connecticut suggest that use of fusicoccin would prevent damage by rain on 15% of the days suitable for haymaking. The results also suggest that fusicoccin will be more beneficial when drying conditions are poor.