Carbon (C-13) and nitrogen (N-15) translocation in a maize-Striga hermonthica association

The translocation of C and N in a maize-Striga hermonthica association was investigated at three rates of nitrogen application in a glasshouse experiment. The objectives were to measure the transfer of C and N from maize to S. hermonthica and to determine whether the amount of N in the growing medium affected the proportions of C and N transferred. Young plants of maize were labelled in a (CO2)-C-13 atmosphere and leaf tips were immersed in ((NH4)-N-15)(2)SO4 Solution. The Striga x N interaction was not significant for any of the responses measured. Total dry matter for infected maize was significantly smaller than for uninfected maize from 43 to 99 days after planting, but N application increased total dry matter at all sampling times. Infected maize plants partitioned 39-45 % of their total dry matter to the roots compared with 28-31 % for Uninfected maize. Dry matter of S. hermonthica was not affected by the rate of N applied. S. hermonthica derived 100 % of its carbon from maize before emergence, decreasing to 22-59 % thereafter; the corresponding values for nitrogen were up to 59 % pre-emergence and Lip to 100 % after emergence. The relative proportions of nitrogen depleted from the host (up to 10 %) were greater than those of carbon (maximum 1.2 %) at all times of sampling after emergence of the parasite. The results show that the parasite was more dependent on the host for nitrogen than for carbon.

Carbon (C-13) and nitrogen (N-15) translocation in a maize-Striga hermonthica association

The translocation of C and N in a maize-Striga hermonthica association was investigated at three rates of nitrogen application in a glasshouse experiment. The objectives were to measure the transfer of C and N from maize to S. hermonthica and to determine whether the amount of N in the growing medium affected the proportions of C and N transferred. Young plants of maize were labelled in a (CO2)-C-13 atmosphere and leaf tips were immersed in ((NH4)-N-15)(2)SO4 Solution. The Striga x N interaction was not significant for any of the responses measured. Total dry matter for infected maize was significantly smaller than for uninfected maize from 43 to 99 days after planting, but N application increased total dry matter at all sampling times. Infected maize plants partitioned 39-45 % of their total dry matter to the roots compared with 28-31 % for Uninfected maize. Dry matter of S. hermonthica was not affected by the rate of N applied. S. hermonthica derived 100 % of its carbon from maize before emergence, decreasing to 22-59 % thereafter; the corresponding values for nitrogen were up to 59 % pre-emergence and Lip to 100 % after emergence. The relative proportions of nitrogen depleted from the host (up to 10 %) were greater than those of carbon (maximum 1.2 %) at all times of sampling after emergence of the parasite. The results show that the parasite was more dependent on the host for nitrogen than for carbon.

Innovation in facilities management: from trajectories to ownership

Purpose – Innovation in facilities management (FM) is a complex process as FM is a diverse discipline. This paper aims to use innovation trajectories to explore this complex process through the introduction of a technology innovation in two FM services of security and workspace management. It also aims to consider the discourse of individuals within their trajectory to understand their positions toward the innovation. Design/methodology/approach – A two-year case study was conducted and it was based in an in-house FM department that was part of a financial institution. The specific methods used for the paper were semi-structured interviews with key participants of the project. Critical discourse analysis was used to examine the data. Findings – Individuals who were involved in introducing the technology to the FM department were both internal and external to FM as innovation in FM does not happen in isolation to the organisation. Innovation trajectories were often intertwined or occurred simultaneously during the process of a project which sometimes resulted in conflict. Tensions within the discourse of ownership of the project were particularly apparent as this discourse had a power dimension in driving the project through to implementation. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited by being a single case study so it is not possible to generalise findings but the findings may have resonances with other organisations. Originality/value – The paper presents an original idea about how to understand innovation processes in FM services.