Annual rainfall in Chile at 30°S decreased from 170 to 70 mm in the last century, forcing a search for new low‐rain adapted crops. Chenopodium quinoa Willd. was cultivated by pre‐Hispanic cultures, but it disappeared in this region since the Spanish conquest. Two quínoa landraces (Don Javi and Palmilla) were re‐introduced from lowlands of central Chile (34°S) evaluating seed saponin content and grain yields under low irrigation. Replicated assays were conducted in two sites with distinct microclimates after august (end of the rains in 2004 and 2005). Treatments included low (40–75 mm) and high (150–250 mm) irrigation and were distributed along the five cultivation months. Fertilization, with the humus of the worms, was carried out in the second season, as soils are poor in organic matter. Results showed significantly higher saponin content in the seeds of Don Javi landrace (1.2 %) with respect to Palmilla seeds (0.3 %). However, grain yields were not different between landraces under the same treatments. Yields were instead affected by microclimate, irrigation and fertilization. Although higher yields corresponded with higher irrigation, 2.6 tons ha−1 was obtained under high irrigation, but surprisingly, also under low irrigation in the more humid site. Yields of 2006 harvesting season (ca. 7 tons ha−1) were higher than that of the previous season (ca. 5.5 tons ha−1), mainly because of the addition of organic matter. We suggest that re‐introduction of Quinoa in arid Chile is feasible even under the prevailing conditions of low rainfall and deficient soils, but better yields will need some irrigation and addition of organic matter.
Rotaviruses were detected in 163 of 916 (17.8%) specimens collected from children under 3 years of age with gastroenteritis in Vellore, South India, between August 1983 and July 1985. Rotaviruses were detected throughout the study period, with a peak prevalence in December to February (winter) and June to August (southwest monsoon season). A total of 117 rotavirus strains were tested for subgroup, serotype, and rotavirus double-stranded RNA electrophoretic migration pattern; 24.8% of the strains tested were subgroup I, 69.2% were subgroup II, and 6.0% were neither subgroup I nor subgroup Il. Subgroup I and Il strains were circulating concurrently throughout the study. Of the 117 rotavirus strains, 32 (27.4%) were serotyped; 15 were serotype 1, 3 were serotype 2, 2 were serotype 3, and 12 were serotype 4. Three serotypes were circulating concurrently during the periods of peak rotavirus prevalence. In 100 of the 117 strains (85.4%) an RNA pattern was detected. One unusual subgroup I group A rotavirus with a long migration pattern and four atypical rotaviruses serologically related to group C were also detected. * Corresponding author. km inland from Madras at a height of 900 ft (274.32 m) above sea level; the climate is notable for its extreme dry heat in summer and two unreliable monsoons. Samples were tested for group, subgroup, and serotype antigens by ELISA, examined by EM, and analyzed by PAGE.
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