Micronutrient, magnesium and phosphorus effects on biomass and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations of field grown Leucaena leucocephala

To optimize biomass and crude protein (CP) production for leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) in southern Texas, field trials were conducted with treatment combinations of three levels of phosphorus (P) , two levels of Mg and two levels of soluble trace element mixture (STEM). The P was banded in the soil while the Mg and micronutrient blend were applied to the foliage. A combination of P (22 kg ha^-1), Mg and STEM fertilizers significantly increased biomass from 2555 kg ha^-1 to 3028 kg ha^-1. This treatment was associated with an increase in leaf CP from 27.9% to 31.0%. P fertilizer had no significant effect on leaf P, but significantly increased leaf nitrogen (N) and leaf copper (Cu). A foliar spray of Mg significantly increased leaf N, P, and Cu. A foliar spray of a complete micronutrient blend increased leaf Cu. Biomass production was correlated positively (decreasing order) with leaf Cu, N, and Mg and negatively with Zn. Leaf N was positively correlated with leaf P and calcium. The critical tissue concentrations (CTC) (where 90% of predicted maximum leaf protein was obtained) were 0.18% and 4.49 mg kg^-1 for leaf P and Cu, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of seasonal changes on the population levels of some plant-parasitic nematodes in the plantations of Pinus caribaea and P. oocarpa in the savanna areas of Nigeria

The mean values of the total number of nematodes found in each of four pine plantations in Nigeria were depressed during the dry season to a minimum between March and April. A gradual increase in the population started from June–July, and the population reached its peak in August–October. The seasonal decline in nematode population coincided with the period of low soil moisture. An important ecological factor affecting population changes in the selected plantations was the vegetation cover; while a gradual decline in nematode population was observed in the 1968, 1974a and 1974b plantations, which have a full canopy, a sharp decline in nematode population was observed in the 1982 plot, which did not have a complete canopy. Populations of some nematode genera, such as Rotylenchus spp., Criconemella spp., Coslenchus spp. and Triversus spp., declined to zero in this last plantation.     

Growth responses, physiology and decay associated with pruning plantation-grown Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and E. nitens (Deane and Maiden) Maiden

Detailed studies have been undertaken to define pruning regimes for Eucalyptus nitens, but little is known of E. globulus responses to pruning although this is a more commonly planted species. This paper describes experiments that aimed to identify (a) levels of pruning that reduce E. globulus growth, (b) physiological processes contributing to those growth responses, (c) the incidence of decay and factors influencing decay incidence following pruning of E. globulus, and (d) comparative responses of E. nitens and E. globulus to live branch pruning. Results of a field experiment indicated that removal of between 30 and 50% of the crown length was appropriate for E. globulus plantations verging on canopy closure. The significant reduction in height growth associated with removal of 50 or 70% of crown length suggested pruning should remain below 50% of crown length if reduced stem growth of pruned trees was to be avoided. Stem volume was only significantly reduced over the period of the experiment by 70% pruning, but it was estimated that standing volume following removal of 50% of crown length would be reduced by 82 m³ ha⁻¹ over a 20-year rotation if there were no other silvicultural interventions. The growth responses observed were probably related to large reductions in leaf area following 50 or 70% removal of crown length. Trees responded to pruning by changing patterns of biomass partitioning to favour stem growth at the expense of branch growth. A glasshouse study determined that light-saturated net CO₂ uptake (A_max) increased following pruning. E. nitens seedlings had both a higher baseline A_max and higher A_max following pruning than did E. globulus, which could partially explain the greater effect of pruning on E. globulus growth than has been observed for E. nitens in other studies. This result, as well as apparently different patterns of foliage distribution through the crowns of E. globulus and E. nitens, suggested that models of pruning responses need to be parameterised for both species. In addition, a more conservative pruning regime may be appropriate for E. globulus than E. nitens. Pruning increased the frequency of branch traces with decay infection, and there was a trend towards increasing decay outbreaks with increasing pruning severity. Decay outbreaks were more likely to occur following pruning of high angle or larger diameter branches.     

Jahreszeitliche Populationsschwankungen vonCeratitis capitata Wied. in Jordanien

Zusammenfassung Ceratitis capitata Wied. ist der wichtigste Schädling, der in Jordanien Citrus und Steinfrüchte befällt. Es wird ein Befall von 20–25% für Citrus, 91% für Pfirsich, 55% für Aprikose und 15% für Pflaume geschätzt.Populationsstudien wurden in den Jahren 1960 und 1961 in vier Gebieten durchgeführt. An Citrus traten vier Generationen auf, an Pfirsich, Aprikose und Pflaume zwei Generationen. Es wird das erste Erscheinen der ersten Generation an den einzelnen Fruchtarten angeführt. Das Geschlechterverhältnis war 1 : 1. Die erhaltenen Resultate werden zu den entsprechenden Faktoren in Beziehung gebracht.Der Autor dankt dem Wissenschaftlichen Direktor vielmals für alle Unterstützung während der Arbeit. Besonderer Dank gebührt meinen Kollegen Mr.A. Arafat, Mr.J. Qasim und MissC. Sudah für ihre wertvolle Hilfe. Die Direktoren und Superintendenten der Landwirtschaftlichen Stationen in Tulkarm, Fara'a, Arroub und Jubeiha gewährten jede Hilfe.     

Antifilarial activity of Azadirachta indica on cattle filarial parasite Setaria cervi

Alcohol and aqueous extracts of flowers of Azadirachta indica were tested in vitro for their potential antifilarial activity against whole worm, nerve muscle (n.m.) preparation and microfilariae of Setaria cervi. The effects of alcohol and aqueous extracts were similar in nature on the spontaneous movements of whole worm and nerve muscle preparation. On the whole worm, the response was characterized by initial increase in tone, rate and amplitude of contractions followed by reversible paralysis. The initial stimulant effect is likely to be due to irritant effect on the cuticle. Nerve muscle preparation responded to both extracts by inhibition of spontaneous movements followed by reversible paralysis; initial stimulation phase was absent. The inhibition was concentration related. Alcohol and aqueous extracts had almost similar lethal effect on the microfilariae of S. cervi, the LC50 being 15 and 18 ng/ml, respectively.     

雨豆树播种前预处理对种子发芽和种苗发育的影响

播种前对雨豆树(Albizia saman (Jacq.) F. Muell.)的种子进行了5 种预先处理,研究种子预先处理对种子发芽和苗圃种苗发育的影响。实验是在孟加拉吉大港大学林业与环境研究所的苗圃进行。研究结果表明,在种子末端修剪(处理4)提高种子发芽率50%,在冷水中浸泡24 小时(处理1)提高种子发芽率42%,在开水中浸30 秒后再在冷水中浸泡24 小时(处理2),种子发芽完全被抑制。处理4 和处理1 的种子发芽率、种苗初期形态生长和生物量都明显高于对照组。因此,这2 种播种前的种子预处理方法,可用于提高雨豆树种子发芽率和促进早期壮苗生长。图2 表3 参30。     

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata.

The methanol extracts of leaves, flowers, stem and root barks of Cassia alata showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), the dichloromethane fraction of the flower extract being the most effective. No activity was shown against tested moulds.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of the bark extract of Careya arborea Roxb

The methanol extract of the Careya arborea Roxb. bark significantly reduced castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. This effect supports the local traditional use of the plant against diarrhoea.     

Development of Melampsora ciliata rust on nursery‐grown poplars in north‐western Himalayas

Development of leaf rust (Melampsora ciliata) in different species, hybrids and cultivars of poplar (Populus spp.) was studied in nursery‐grown plants. Five different criteria were used to assess the disease development. The mean disease index on 10 August was 9.4% which increased to 70.0% on 10 October. The lowest disease index (5.5%) was recorded in P. yunnanensis whereas the maximum was recorded in P. × euramericana‘Rubra‐Poiret’ (59.5%). The apparent infection rate per unit per day was highest in P. nigra × P. trichocarpa (9.7 × 10^–2) whereas the minimum occurred in P. maximowiczii × P. berolinensis‘Oxford’ (3.3 × 10^–2). The area under the disease progress curve was a maximum in P. × euramericana‘Rubra‐Poiret’ (26.7) and a minimum in P. yunnanensis (1.6). Complete defoliation by the first half of October occurred in P. nigra × P. trichocarpa, which also had the maximum apparent infection rate and area under the disease progress curve. Inoculum production was highest in P. nigra × P. trichocarpa and lowest in P. maximowiczii × P. berolinensis‘Oxford’.     

Invasion von Vorratsschädlingen durch Verschlüsse

Journal of Pest Science - Resistance of common packages of the brands ‘Schokini’, ‘Contessa’, ‘Hausgebackeness’, ‘Florentiner’ and...