Silvicultural treatments enhance growth rates of future crop trees in a tropical dry forest

Silvicultural treatments are often needed in selectively logged tropical forest to enhance the growth rates of many commercial tree species and, consequently, for recovering a larger proportion of the initial volume harvested over the next cutting cycle. The available data in the literature suggest, however, that the effect of silvicultural treatments on tree growth is smaller in dry forests than in humid forest tree species. In this study, we analyze the effect of logging and application of additional silvicultural treatments (liana cutting and girdling of competing trees) on the growth rates of future crop trees (FCTs; i.e., trees of current and potentially commercial timber species with adequate form and apparent growth potential). The study was carried out in a tropical dry forest in Bolivia where a set of 21.25-ha plots were monitored for 4 years post-logging. Plots received one of four treatments that varied in intensity of both logging and silvicultural treatments as follows: normal (reduced-impact) logging; normal logging and low-intensity silviculture; increased logging intensity and high-intensity silviculture; and, unlogged controls. The silvicultural treatments applied to FCTs involved liberation from lianas and overtopping trees. Results showed that rates of FCT stem diameter growth increased with light availability, logging intensity, and intensity of silvicultural treatments, and decrease with liana infestation degree. Growth rate increment was larger in the light and intensive silvicultural treatment (22–27%). Long-lived pioneer species showed the strongest response to intensive silviculture (50% increase) followed by total shade-tolerant species (24%) and partial shade-tolerant species (10%). While reduced-impact logging is often not sufficient to guarantee the sustainability of timber yields, application of silvicultural treatments that substantially enhanced the growth rates of FCTs will help move the management of these forests closer to the goal of sustained yield.     

Fast molecular detection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi in diseased horse chestnut trees

A molecular technique was used to detect the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi in horse chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum), affected by the recently recognized European ‘Pseudomonas horse chestnut bark disease’. The technique helped identify the pathogen within 6 h of sample preparation including DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis until gel documentation. PCR primer pairs derived from the gyrase B gene sequence were used. Because of the great similarity in the gyrase B gene sequences of the numerous closely related P. syringae pathovars, the primers were not only totally specific to the pathovar aesculi, but also detected a few other pathovars. The assumption that other bacteria should not occur at least near to a necrotic lesion of a horse chestnut tree was corroborated by sequence identity of the PCR products obtained with the gyrase B gene sequence of P. syringae pv. aesculi. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled for an isolate of P. syringae pv. aesculi obtained from a diseased horse chestnut tree sampled in Hamburg in 2007.     

The barley mutant emr2 shows enhanced resistance against several fungal leaf pathogens

Homozygous mlo -barley plants are resistant to barley powdery mildew but hypersusceptible to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae . A mutational analysis was performed in the barley back-cross line BCIngrid mlo5 which led to the identification of two mutants with enhanced capacity to resist infections by M. oryzae , referred to as enhanced M. oryzae resistance mutants emr1 and emr2 . Here, we report on the characterization of emr2 mutant plants which not only show an almost complete reduction in disease severity after inoculation with M. oryzae but are also resistant to the necrotrophic fungi Drechslera teres and Rhynchosporium secalis . Histological analysis revealed that resistance to M. oryzae was based mainly on the formation of papillae at sites of attempted penetration into epidermal cells. There was no progression of fungal growth into the mesophyll. Additionally, because of the presence of the mlo -allele, emr2 -plants retained resistance to powdery mildew. The emr2 -conditioned broad spectrum resistance was inherited as in a recessive manner. Monitoring of PR -gene expression and enzymatic activity of peroxidases revealed a constitutively activated defence in emr2 .     

Explaining recreational angling catch rates of Eurasian perch,Perca fluviatilis: the role of natural and fishing‐related environmental factors

Angling catch records are frequently used to reveal fish population developments. It is therefore important to understand the determinants of angling catches. This study focused on angler‐related, biotic and abiotic factors influencing catchability of Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis L. A multi‐lake (21 lakes) study based on angling diaries collected in Mecklenburg‐Vorpommern, Germany (2006/2007), found that angler‐related factors such as fishing experience, species preference and bait/lure type had a large impact on perch catch rates. Additionally, environmental conditions (nutritional status and water transparency) affected either the size or the number of perch caught by anglers. Catch rates varied seasonally, which was confirmed by an experimental fishery on a gravel pit (2008). This portion of the study showed that altered food availabilities in the course of the year caused food limitation in perch, which in turn facilitated high catch rates and female‐biased exploitation in autumn. It is concluded that both angler‐related and abiotic factors interact affecting perch catch rates and size of perch captured in recreational angling.     

养殖条件下施氏鲟（♂）X达氏鳇（♀）杂交后代的生长特性

2008年～2011年研究了人工养殖条件下的施氏鲟Acipenserschrenckii（6）×达氏鳇Husodauncus（早）杂交后代（f谷称大杂交）的生长特性。结果表明：1～7龄大杂交体长、体重相对增长率及生长指标随年龄的增长而逐渐下降,呈“异速生长一等速生长一异速生长”的变化趋势。不同年龄大杂交的体长与体重均呈幂指数关系,R2值变幅为0．95～0．99。其中,1-3龄大杂交a值〉3,呈强异速生长。此后随年龄的增加,异速生长减弱,发育趋向均匀。5龄时a值为2．94接近3,7龄a值为2．63〈3。大杂交肥满度随年龄增加而增大,其与体重的相关性（R2＝0．94）高于与体长的相关性。采用7种生长方程对不同年龄大杂交的体长生长和体重生长进行拟合,其中Gompertz、Quadratic、VBGF和Cubic4种生长方程式对大杂交体长生长的拟合效果较好,除Cubic生长方程外,其它6种生长方程对其体重生长的拟合度均较低。7种生长模型中,均以Cubic生长方程对大杂交的体长生长和体重生长的拟合R2值最大,RSS值最小,说明Cubic生长方程对不同年龄大杂交的生长具有最好的拟合效果,拐点体重、体长和年龄分别为28．53kg、82．11cm和4．22龄。     

The Colletotrichum acutatum species complex

Colletotrichum acutatum is known as an important anthracnose pathogen of a wide range of host plants worldwide. Numerous studies have reported subgroups within the C. acutatum species complex. Multilocus molecular phylogenetic analysis (ITS, ACT, TUB2, CHS-1, GAPDH, HIS3) of 331 strains previously identified as C. acutatum and other related taxa, including strains from numerous hosts with wide geographic distributions, confirmed the molecular groups previously recognised and identified a series of novel taxa. Thirty-one species are accepted, of which 21 have not previously been recognised. Colletotrichum orchidophilum clusters basal to the C. acutatum species complex. There is a high phenotypic diversity within this complex, and some of the species appear to have preferences to specific hosts or geographical regions. Others appear to be plurivorous and are present in multiple regions. In this study, only C. salicis and C. rhombiforme formed sexual morphs in culture, although sexual morphs have been described from other taxa (especially as laboratory crosses), and there is evidence of hybridisation between different species. One species with similar morphology to C. acutatum but not belonging to this species complex was also described here as new, namely C. pseudoacutatum.

Taxonomic novelties:

New combinations - Colletotrichum limetticola (R.E. Clausen) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. lupini (Bondar) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. salicis (Fuckel) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous. New species - C. acerbum Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. australe Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. brisbanense Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. cosmi Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. costaricense Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. cuscutae Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. guajavae Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. indonesiense Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. johnstonii Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. kinghornii Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. laticiphilum Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. melonis Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. orchidophilum Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. paxtonii Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. pseudoacutatum Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous C. pyricola Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. rhombiforme Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. scovillei Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. sloanei Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. tamarilloi Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. walleri Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous. Typifications: Epitypifications - C. acutatum J.H. Simmonds, C. limetticola (R.E. Clausen) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous, C. nymphaeae (Pass.) Aa, C. phormii (Henn.) D.F. Farr & Rossman, C. salicis (Fuckel) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous. Lectotypifications - C. nymphaeae (Pass.) Aa, C. orchidearum Allesch.Key words: anthracnose, Ascomycota, Colletotrichum acutatum, Gloeosporium, Glomerella, phylogeny, systematics     

天然梨竹林地上生物量及养分分配

2005~2006年间,对印度米佐拉姆天然梨竹林的地上生物量及养分分配进行了研究。根据不同成分对该竹种的立木生物量有很重要,可排序如下:竹秆 > 竹节 > 花序 > 叶 >。在NPK养分中,N的含量最高,然后是K,最后是P。每公顷总地上生物量随秆龄的增长而增加。在研究期间,发现与其他部位相比,叶的养分积累较少。这表明由于从生竹到开花,消耗了过多的养分,导致主要竹笋的死亡。     

Comparative Performance of Four Strains of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Brackish Water Ponds in Indonesia

Four selectively bred strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were evaluated for production in brackish water ponds in Indonesia. Survival to 124 days was relatively low for all four strains (39%–48%), and growth during the later stages of the trial was poor (SGR < 1.5 %/day) due to water quality deterioration in the pond. Although the ‘Red’ tilapia strain demonstrated the best production parameters, red-colored tilapia bring lower prices in both our test markets (South Sulawesi and Aceh provinces). Of the four strains, the genetically enhanced supermale Indonesian tilapia?×?genetic improvement of farmed tilapia (GESIT×GIFT) cross provided the best economic return.     

Nutrient composition of fairy shrimp Streptocephalus sirindhornae nauplii as live food and growth performance of giant freshwater prawn postlarvae

Nutritional efficacy of fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus sirindhornae) nauplii, as a live food, was studied for growth performance and survival rate of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) postlarvae. A feeding experiment was designed with four different feeds: dry commercial feed, fairy shrimp nauplii, Artemia sp. nauplii and adult Moina macrocopa. Results from the nutritional composition revealed that fairy shrimp nauplii had protein and lipid contents of 54.58 ± 2.8 g kg^?1 and 255 ± 2.8 g kg^?1, respectively. The highest value for an individual amino acid in fairy shrimp was lysine (140.7 ± 1.6 g kg^?1). The essential amino acids content in the whole body of the larval prawns was in the range of 66.7–67.5 g kg^?1. Fairy shrimp nauplii had the highest essential amino acid ratio (A/E) of lysine, similarly, in musculature of prawn larvae. Weight gain and specific growth rate of the postlarvae fed with fairy shrimp nauplii were significantly higher than those fed with Artemia nauplii, adult Moina and dry commercial feed. The presented results suggest that S. sirindhornae nauplii can be used as a nutritionally adequate food for freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii postlarvae.