https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:45106 99% d.e. for larger alkyl groups. The expected preference for endo-alkylation is supported by NMR (chemical shift, coupling constant and NOE) data and was confirmed by acidic hydrolysis of the pentylated 3-imino lactone to afford the known acid. Computer modelling, with the software package HYPERCHEM®, was used to explore the conformational properties of the alkylated products and their enolate precursors. Exploratory work on the enantiomeric beneficiation of racemic amino acids, using alkylated imino lactone derivatives, revealed preferential exo-protonation of the enolate intermediates. Asymmetric Baylis-Hillman reactions between a novel camphor-derived acrylic ester and a range of aldehydes afforded the corresponding 2-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylates in up to 59% d.e., the observed stereoselectivities being sensitive to both steric and electronic factors. Attempts to prepare imino lactone derivatives from ketopinic acid, although unsuccessful, led to the isolation of two novel W-(carbobenzyloxy)glycinates, whose structures were established by 1- and 2-D NMR spectroscopy. Attempts to prepare "BINAP" analogues from dibomyl ether's also proved unsuccessful, but the investigation led to the discovery of a third, novel dibomyl ether.]]> Tue 09 Nov 2021 15:33:35 SAST ]]> https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:70539 Sun 10 Dec 2023 14:06:16 SAST ]]> https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:71955 Sat 06 Apr 2024 12:42:05 SAST ]]> https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:28557 60 cm in well-prepared soils, microbial enzyme activities in the soil depth intervals corresponding to the lower rootzone, were also investigated. This research was carried out in a randomized field trial. Finally, to gain a broader understanding of the effects of contrasting soil management systems on soil microbiology under a greater variety of environmental conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal dynamics were explored in a survey of commercial apple orchards. These orchards were selected to span the range of environmental conditions that occur in the apple production areas of the Western Cape. Orchard soils under ORG management promoted richer microbial ecosystems, and appeared to be better able to sustain community metabolic diversity and, by inference, the functions mediated by soil microbial communities, than those under CON management. This implies that ORG approaches possibly afford a better option to sustain critical ecosystem functions than CON management. This possibly explains why use of straw mulches and compost in accordance with ORG practices, compared with CON practices, promoted β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and urease activities rather than affecting the abundance of the micro-organisms that produce these enzymes. Enzyme activities in the 0–30 cm soil intervals were also more effectively promoted by ORG than CON practices, although no differences were observed at lower depth intervals. ORG practices promoted functional AM associations more effectively than CON practices, but the abundance of glomalin, a beneficial by-product of AM fungi, was unaffected. The greater enzyme activities and higher root colonisation levels in the ORG treatments probably contributed to improved nutritional effects that caused greater vegetative growth, but lower yields, in the ORG treatments. Yield suppression was conceivably due to excessive vegetative growth induced by oversupply of compost and the mineral nutrients contained therein. The survey of Western Cape apple orchards suggested that neither glomalin nor root colonisation bore any specific relationship to production area, cultivation practice, scion x rootstock combination, or, in the case of root colonisation, with any chemical parameters. However, the effect of season on glomalin was conclusively shown, being higher in summer than in spring, as was the lack of any effect of year on glomalin and root colonisation. Collectively, these results showed that ORG soil management promote soil microbiology, soil nutrient status, and apple tree performance compared to CON management.]]> Mon 24 Apr 2023 10:18:55 SAST ]]> https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:45051 Fri 18 Feb 2022 11:43:00 SAST ]]> https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:50187 Fri 02 Sep 2022 08:33:41 SAST ]]>