Vitamin D deficiency is a common occurrence globally, and particularly so in pregnancy. There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of vitamin D during pregnancy in non-skeletal health outcomes for both the mother and the neonate. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of maternal total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) with neonatal anthropometrics and markers of neonatal glycaemia in the Belfast centre of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study. Serological samples (n 1585) were obtained from pregnant women in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, between 24 and 32 weeks’ gestation as part of the HAPO study. 25OHD concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem-MS. Cord blood and neonatal anthropometric measurements were obtained within 72 h of birth. Statistical analysis was performed. After adjustment for confounders, birth weight standard deviation scores (SDS) and birth length SDS were significantly associated with maternal total 25OHD. A doubling of maternal 25OHD at 28 weeks’ gestation was associated with mean birth weight SDS and mean birth length SDS higher by 0·05 and 0·07, respectively (both, P=0·03). There were no significant associations with maternal 25OHD and other measures of neonatal anthropometrics or markers of neonatal glycaemia. In conclusion, maternal total 25OHD during pregnancy was independently associated with several neonatal anthropometric measurements; however, this association was relatively weak.

The effects of 8-, 12-, and 16-h photoperiods on the growth and reproductive biology of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) were investigated over a 3-month period. Plants under the 8-h photoperiod produced the least total, shoot, root, rhizome, and tuber dry weight. Flowering occurred only at the 12-h photoperiod; thus, purple nutsedge is intermediate in flowering response to daylength. Although the total dry weight varied with photoperiod, the relative amount of dry weight (as percent of total weight) partitioned to shoots, roots, rhizomes, and tubers was constant.

Five clonal plants of three genotypes of Lotus corniculatus were grown in each of eight controlled environments under combinations of two temperature regimes (18/10°C and 25/15°C), two CO2 concentrations (ambient and 700 ppmv) and two water applications (ad libitum or 60% droughted). Plants were harvested at full flower and measurements made of plant growth and development. Of the three environmental variables studied, higher growth temperatures resulted in the largest number of significant changes to the measured variables. Reproductive capacity, growth rate, shoot biomass, water use efficiency and chlorophyll content were all enhanced by raising the growth temperature from 18 to 25°C. Doubling the CO2 concentration enhanced the growth rate, shoot biomass and water use efficiency and ameliorated some of the effects of drought, including reproductive capacity, and biomass production, but reduced flowering time, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll content of both droughted and undroughted plants. Drought alone reduced reproductive capacity, growth rate and above ground biomass but significantly increased root biomass in all environments. The agronomic effects resulting from a combined increase in growth temperature, doubled CO2 concentration and mild drought in this experiment were a shorter vegetative period and an increase in biomass, but a fall in reproductive capacity.