Studies on the population frequency of insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of the sycamore maple<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Acer pseudoplatanus</Emphasis> L. in southern Poland

Species composition of galls on the leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus L. was analysed in 2002 in three localities: the Wolski Forest, near an urban agglomeration of Kraków, the Ojców National Park and the Andrychów Forest District. A total of 12,013 galls were found. The galls were caused by six insect or mite species. The species composition of the galls was identical in the three localities. Artacris cephaloneus (Nalepa) was the most abundant species. The index of occurrence frequency and Agrells index of species co-occurrence were calculated. The index of occurrence frequency (F) value was highest in the case of A. cephaloneus (1.277) and the lowest value, i.e. 0.00005—both from the Wolski Forest. The highest value for Agrells index of species co-occurrence, i.e. 0.900, was found in the case of Eriophyes pseudoplatani Corti and Drisina glutinosa Giard (Ojców National Park), and the lowest,0.050, for D. glutinosa and Coptophylla gymnaspis (Nalepa) (Wolski Forest; Andrychów FD) and for D. glutinosa and Dasineura irregularis (Bremi) (Andrychów FD).     

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Growth Suppression and Adverse Effects on Human Health Due to Air Pollution in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), Southern Poland

Air pollution emissions were not continually monitored in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), southern Poland, and data is only available for the last 20?years. Long-lasting and severe tree ring reductions in pines growing 5-20 km north of the USID area recorded particularly high levels of air pollution emissions in the period 1950-1990. Especially high amounts of reductions and many missing rings were found in the period 1964-1981. At the same time, pines growing 60?km west of the USID do not record deep ring reductions; this proves that the phenomenon is of a regional nature. Increases in infant mortality and lung, bronchial, and tracheal cancer morbidity rates among males were also recorded in the USID during periods of high air pollution. Infant mortality rates increased several years after the tree ring reductions. Therefore, it may be possible to use tree ring reductions as an early indicator of the occurrence of adverse effects on human health.     

SUITMAs as an archive of the human past: educational implications

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The relics of the industry are widely used for educational and touristic purposes. There are many examples of brownfield sites turned into tourist attractions....     

Variability of phenotypic and morphological characteristics of some Lathyrus sativus L. and Lathyrus cicera L. accessions and nutritional traits of their seeds

The object of the study comprised 54 grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) accessions originating from Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Russia together with 18 red pea (Lathyrus cicera) accessions from Greece, Spain and Italy. The plants were grown under the same conditions in Poland. Some phenological and morphological traits of plants as well as some seed morphological properties and nutritive value were investigated. Lathyrus sativus seeds contained more protein (average 300?g vs. 255?g?kg^?1 dry matter (DM)), whereas the differences in the average contents of the other basic nutrients between both these species as well as between particular accessions were not substantial. Except for a low level of methionine, the protein of both species showed fairly high concentration of other exogenic amino acids (EAAI around 63–64%). Fat of both L. sativus and L. cicera seeds was found to contain a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (66.9 and 58.6%, respectively), mainly linoleic (57.4 and 47.2%, respectively). The researched L. sativus accessions had a quite low level of β-ODAP (733?mg with a range of 0.583–1.340?mg?kg^?1 DM). Slightly higher content of this ANF (1,168?mg with 911–1,349?mg?kg ^?1 DM) in L. cicera seeds was noted. Average tannin concentration in the L. sativus and L. cicera accessions reached 3.3 and 6.4?g?kg^?1 DM, respectively. Average content of this ANF in L. sativus significantly correlated with the colour of both, flowers and seeds; with generally, a darker colour associated with higher levels of tannins.     

The importance of the gravel excavation industry for the conservation of grassland butterflies

Conservation biology often relies on the protection of (semi)natural habitat remnants. However, the ever increasing human population is taking over natural resources and habitats. Here, contrary to most other studies, we ask how human-associated severe changes in the environment can be used to enrich local biodiversity. We tested if industrial activity (gravel excavation) leads to the creation of habitats that support grassland butterflies and how these areas add to the richness of local species when compared to typical semi-natural habitats (grasslands). We also identified key factors affecting the richness, abundance, diversity and commonness of butterfly species to provide practical recommendations. Species richness, diversity index and the occurrence of rare species were higher in gravel-pit shores than in grasslands. The richness of butterfly species and their abundance were positively affected by the richness of plant species, shrub density and age of the gravel-pit but negatively by the cover of water reservoirs in the surrounding area and the isolation of gravel-pits from grasslands. Butterfly diversity was positively influenced by the richness of plant species and proximity of human settlement but negatively by area of the shore and isolation. Our study is the first one to show the high value of gravel-pits for the conservation of butterflies. We recommend the inclusion of gravel-pits in a system of ecological networks and management of their surroundings to improve the colonization rate of rare species. We suggests that directing interest to the possible positive effects of industrial development on biodiversity may support conservation efforts.     

Silver nanoparticles preplant bulb soaking affects tulip production

Nanomaterials and particularly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have increased great interest in many fields of science. The element may affect plant growth and development but so far research studies have been scarce and their results disparate. Tulip is one of the most important ornamental plants and its production technology is constantly being improved. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AgNPs on growth and yield attributes of tulip cv. ‘Pink Impression’. Before planting, the tulip ‘Pink Impression’ bulbs were soaked in the following concentrations of AgNPs: 25, 50, 100 and 150?mg?L^-1. Control bulbs were soaked in deionized water. The plants were forced in a greenhouse for two growing seasons. The tulips treated with 100?mg?L^?1 AgNPs flowered earlier, had longer cut-flower stem, larger petals, greater stem diameter and cut-flower fresh weight. Moreover, at this concentration of AgNPs, they showed increased leaf greenness index (SPAD), stomatal conductance, root fresh weight, root length and produced daughter bulbs of the greatest weight. The study outcomes indicate that AgNPs may be used as plant growth promoters in horticulture.     

Maize Voc Induction after Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen,Pantoea ananatis,Alters Neighbouring Plant Voc Emissions

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Plants induce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after pathogen infection and exposure to a neighbouring infected plant. In a greenhouse, we measured VOCs...     

Effect of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid and 2,4-dimethylphenol on human erythrocytes

The effects of exposure of human erythrocytes to different concentrations of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and its metabolite—2,4-dimethylphenol (2,4-DMP) were studied. The investigations concerned mainly the content of glutathione (GSH and GSSG), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione transferase (GST), and the level of adenine energy charge (AEC). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide are produced during normal processes in the cell. Under normal conditions, antioxidant systems of the cell minimize damage caused by ROS. When ROS generation increases to an extent that it overcomes the cellular antioxidant systems, the result is oxidative stress. We observed that MCPA and 2,4-DMP decreased the level of GSH in erythrocytes in comparison with control. MCPA did not affect glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activity, while 2,4-DMP increased their activity. 2,4-DMP decreased the level of ATP and increased the content of ADP and AMP, leading to the fall of the level of AEC. MCPA and 2,4-DMP transform hemoglobin into methemoglobin, thus preventing oxygen transport. Comparison of the toxicity of MCPA and 2,4-DMP revealed that the most prominent changes occurred in human erythrocytes incubated with 2,4-DMP.     

The effect of different dietary sodium levels on blood mineral concentrations and tibia mineralization in turkeys

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different dietary levels of sodium in diets with and without sodium chloride on mineral metabolism, including blood electrolyte levels and tibia mineralization parameters, in young turkeys (to six weeks of age). The influence of diets with a low (L), medium (M) and high (H) sodium content, at 0.34, 1.34 and 2.82 g/kg respectively, was compared. The content of chloride and potassium in turkey diets (1.7 - 5.9 and 11 g/kg, respectively) was above the recommended levels. The sodium-deficient diet L decreased the serum concentrations of sodium, chloride and phosphorus, and it increased the serum levels of calcium and magnesium in turkeys, compared with groups M and H. Relative to group L, different dietary sodium levels in groups M and H contributed to a similar increase in the body weights of birds (1.06 vs. 1.46 and 1.44 kg, p < 0.001) and in the absolute (4.60 vs. 6.83 and 6.62 g, p < 0.001) and relative tibia weight (0.42 vs. 0.46 and 0.46% body weight, p = 0.031). No significant differences were found between groups with respect to the content of ash, calcium and phosphorus in tibia dry matter. Supplemental sodium increased the bone density index (from 50.6 to 68.4 and 66.3 mg/mm in groups L, M and H, respectively, p < 0.001), the maximum bending moment (from 5.27 to 7.40 and 7.33 N/mm, p = 0.002) and the minimum breaking strength of tibia (from 0.136 to 0.191 and 0.189, p = 0.002). In conclusion, our study indicates that the applied dietary treatment with a moderate sodium level (1.34 g/kg) resulted in a rate of bird growth and tibia mineralization similar to those observed with the treatment with much higher Na content (2.82 g/kg).