Vigor-controlling rootstocks affect early shoot growth and leaf area development of kiwifruit

Patterns of shoot development and the production of different types of shoots were compared with scion leaf area index (LAI) to identify how eight clonal Actinidia rootstocks influence scion development. Rootstocks selected from seven Actinidia species (A. chrysantha Merri., A. deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson, A. eriantha Benth., A. hemsleyana Dunn, A. kolomikta (Maxim. et Rupr.) Maxim., A. kolomikta C.F. Liang and A. polygama (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim.) were grafted with the scion Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis 'Hort16A' (yellow kiwifruit). Based on an earlier architectural analysis of A. chinensis, axillary shoot types produced by the scion were classified as short, medium or long. Short and medium shoots produced a restricted number of preformed leaves before the shoot apex ceased growth and aborted, resulting in a 'terminated' shoot. The apex of long shoots continued growth and produced more nodes throughout the growing seasons. Mid-season LAI of the scion was related to the proportion of shoots that ceased growth early in the season. Scions on low-vigor rootstocks had 50% or less leaf area than scions on the most vigorous rootstocks and had a higher proportion of short and medium shoots. On low-vigor rootstocks, a higher proportion of short shoots was retained during pruning to form the parent structure of the following year. Short parent shoots produced a higher proportion of short daughter shoots than long parent shoots, thus reinforcing the effect of the low-vigor rootstocks. However, overall effects of rootstock on shoot development were consistent regardless of parent shoot type and nodal position within the parent shoot. Slower-growing shoots were more likely to terminate and scions on low-vigor rootstocks produced a higher proportion of slow-growing shoots. Shoot termination also occurred earlier on low-vigor rootstocks. The slower growth of terminating shoots was detectable from about 20 days after bud burst. Removal of a proportion of shoots at the end of bud burst increased the growth rate and decreased the frequency of termination of the remaining shoots on all rootstocks, indicating that the fate of a shoot was linked to competitive interactions among shoots during initial growth immediately after bud burst. Rootstock influenced the process of shoot termination independently of its effect on final leaf size. Scions on low-vigor rootstocks had a higher proportion of short shoots and short shoots on all rootstocks had smaller final leaf sizes at equivalent nodes than medium or long shoots. Only later in the development of long shoots was final leaf size directly related to rootstock, with smaller leaves on low-vigor rootstocks. Thus, the most important effect of these Actinidia rootstocks on scion development occurred during the initial period of shoot growth immediately after bud burst.     

Free radical scavenging activity of three Equisetum species from Fruska gora mountain

The scavenger activities of Equisetum arvense, Equisetum ramosissimum and Equisetum telmateia aboveground parts phosphate buffer (pH 7) extracts were evaluated using three different methods: DPPH assay, ESR and NO radical inhibition assay. Total reducing power was determined by FRAP assay. The E. telmateia extract demonstrated the most relevant scavenger and antioxidant properties. ESR signal of DMPO-OH radical adducts in the presence of E. telmateia phosphate buffer (pH 7) extract was reduced to 98.9% which indicated that E. telmateia could be a useful source of antioxidants with huge scavenger ability.     

Forest soils research and changing societal needs and values

The 10th North American Forest Soils Conference was held in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, 20–24 July 2003. These conferences, held at 5-year intervals since 1958, are intended to provide a forum to discuss and summarize the state of knowledge on selected topics related to forest soils. Approximately 60 papers were presented on a variety of topics related to understanding and managing soils that support forests with particular emphasis given to field research, soil carbon, and site management/classification. We discuss the topics of this conference in relation to earlier ones and conclude that advances are made unevenly and that there is a need for new approaches to investigating many of the topics. We note the change in forest management that has occurred since the first of these conferences and the resulting changes needed in our approach to research and management. The need for interaction of scientists and clientele groups is noted as necessary for development of sound management and research policy. The interaction of scientific disciplines is needed to attack problems that have been difficult to elucidate. The challenge to forest soil scientists is to mesh their scientific interests with the needs of society to obtain the resources needed to advance science and provide information that will improve forest management.     

Factors affecting the adoption of agroforestry practices by farmers in Cameroon

This paper presents empirical evidence on the impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Cameroon. The analysis uses primary farm-level data collected from June to December 1996. Three major provinces of the country were covered, namely Centre, Southwest and Northwest Several agroforestry technologies have been promoted among farmers in the zone, including alley farming, improved fallow, live fencing, cut-and-carry fodder and apiculture. The status of adoption of each agroforestry practice is described and factors that affect adoption identified. These are gender of farmer, household family size, level of education, farmer’s experience, membership within farmers’ associations, contact with research and extension, security of land tenure, agroecological zone, distance of the village from nearest town, village accessibility and income from livestock. Research findings indicate that since factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices differ across techniques, generalisation is to be avoided.     

Traditional weather forecasting for sustainable agroforestry practices in Ilocos Norte Province,Philippines

People in rural communities in Ilocos Norte Province in the Philippines rely heavily on traditional knowledge, particularly for predicting weather to plan and prepare their agroforestry activities as well as disaster prevention. Farmers use this knowledge, derived from observations of atmospheric and astronomic conditions, indicator plants and behavior of animals (insects, birds, and mammals) which signal the onset of the rainy season. These indicators prompt farmers to prepare their upland farmlands for cropping to ensure that vegetative ground cover is established prior to heavy rainfall and thereby prevent erosion of upland soil and siltation of watercourses. Predictive knowledge of the timing of long or short rainy periods enables farmers to plant suitable crops.     

Echinacea alkylamides modulate induced immune responses in T-cells

The effects of Echinacea and several of its phytochemical components on NFkappaB expression by Jurkat cells (a human T-cell line) were investigated in vitro. In the absence of stimulation, Echinacea and its components exerted no significant effect on basal NFkappaB expression levels. In the presence of endotoxin (LPS), NFkappaB expression was decreased. However, this decrease was significantly reversed by treatment with cichoric acid, an Echinacea root extract (prepared from both Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea) and the alkylamide fraction derived from this combination. For the phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of Jurkat cells, effects on NFkappaB expression were mixed. Depending on the concentration, cichoric acid and a 2,4-diene alkylamide significantly induced NFkappaB levels, whereas a 2-ene alkylamide caused a significant inhibition. In contrast, both the Echinacea and the mixed alkylamide fraction exerted no effect. The alkylamide results indicate that the two basic forms of these compounds present in Echinacea may have opposing effects. These opposing effects demonstrate the importance of a knowledge, not only of the phytochemical make-up of a herbal preparation, but also of the actions of each component and the consequences of differing relative amounts in the preparation being investigated.     

Antineurotoxic activity of Galactia glaucescens against Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

Ethanolic extract of leaves of Galactia glauscescens (GGE) at concentration of 100 and 500 mug/ml prevented the neuromuscular paralysis induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation.     

Rockfall and snow avalanche impacts leave different anatomical signatures in tree rings of juvenile Larix decidua

Rockfall and snow avalanche events often cause injury to European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) trees, giving rise to the formation of callus tissue and tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts (TRDs). We analyzed and quantified anatomical reactions of juvenile trees injured before the start of the growing season by snow avalanches (15 trees, 324 cross sections) or rockfalls (18 trees, 270 cross sections). Traumatic resin ducts were observed in the growth ring formed following injury in 94.3% of the rockfall samples and 87.3% of the snow avalanche samples. Traumatic resin ducts were formed at the beginning of the new annual ring around wounds caused by rockfalls. In contrast, in trees injured by snow avalanches, TRDs were not formed until after the formation of several rows of early earlywood (EE) tracheids (mean +/- SD = 4.19 +/- 2.56 rows). The dimensions of the EE tracheids observed in the snow avalanche samples were greatly reduced in the tissues bordering the wound, with radial width reaching an average of only 50% and lumen cross-sectional area an average of only 46% of pre-event values. It is therefore possible to differentiate injuries due to past snow avalanches from injuries due to rockfall based on anatomical growth reactions in the tissues bordering scars.     

A non-destructive approach for assessing decay in preservative treated wood

This study investigated the suitability of the non-destructive vibration-impulse excitation technique to assess the attack of preservative-treated wood in contact with the ground. Small stakes (10×5×100 mm³) of treated and untreated Scots pine sapwood were exposed to decay in laboratory-scale terrestrial ecosystems. Different soils were used to prove the influence of different types of wood destroying micro-organisms. Wood decay was monitored periodically for one year by determining mass losses and changes in dynamic modulus of elasticity. The results show a large variability in resistance against attacking fungi, depending on wood preservative and soil type. The non-destructive approach using the dynamic modulus of elasticity proved to be a good and sensitive tool for assessing the attack of stakes in laboratory soil testing.