Geographical cline of DNA variation within the F intersterility group of Heterobasidion annosum in Italy

Eighty-six Heterobasidion annosum isolates, mainly belonging to the F intersterility group and obtained from 32 different geographical localities in Italy, were subjected to genetic analysis by the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The similarity between F and S groups was higher than that between F and P. In UPGMA Cluster Analysis, the F isolates originating from the same locality usually grouped in the same cluster. The isolates also showed a tendency to group at the level of larger geographical areas. Within the F group, isolates from the south of the Italian peninsula showed the highest genetic variation and northern isolates from the Alpine regions showed the lowest. This indicates a gradual cline along the peninsula. The genetic variability in the Italian F group is discussed in relation to the past and present distribution of the host species in Italy and Europe.     

Historical patterns of fire severity and forest structure and composition in a landscape structured by frequent large fires: Pumice Plateau ecoregion,Oregon, USA

Context

Lack of quantitative observations of extent, frequency, and severity of large historical fires constrains awareness of departure of contemporary conditions from those that demonstrated resistance and resilience to frequent fire and recurring drought.

Objectives

Compare historical and contemporary fire and forest conditions for a dry forest landscape with few barriers to fire spread.

Methods

Quantify differences in (1) historical (1700–1918) and contemporary (1985–2015) fire extent, fire rotation, and stand-replacing fire and (2) historical (1914–1924) and contemporary (2012) forest structure and composition. Data include 85,750-ha tree-ring reconstruction of fire frequency and extent; >?375,000-ha timber inventory following >?78,900-ha fires in 1918; and remotely-sensed maps of contemporary fire effects and forest conditions.

Results

Historically, fires?>?20,000 ha occurred every 9.5 years; fire rotation was 14.9 years; seven fires?>?40,469 ha occurred during extreme drought (PDSI <?? 4.0); and stand-replacing fire occurred primarily in lodgepole (Pinus contorta var. murrayana). In contemporary fires, only 5% of the ecoregion burned in 30 years, and stand-replacing fire occurred primarily in ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa) and mixed-conifer. Historically, density of conifers?>?15 cm dbh exceeded 120 trees/ha on?<?5% of the area compared to 95% currently.

Conclusions

Frequent, large, low-severity fires historically maintained open-canopy ponderosa and mixed-conifer forests in which large fire- and drought-tolerant trees were prevalent. Stand-replacing patches in ponderosa and mixed-conifer were rare, even in fires >?40,469 ha (minimum size of contemporary “megafires”) during extreme drought. In this frequent-fire landscape, mixed-severity fire historically influenced lodgepole and adjacent forests. Lack of large, frequent, low-severity fires degrades contemporary forest ecosystems.

     

Epidemiology of Salmonella enterica serovars enteritidis and Typhimurium in animals and people in Scotland between 1990 and 2001

Two serovars of salmonella which are currently of particular importance in both human and animal infections are Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4) and Typhimurium definitive type 104 (DT104). This paper describes the trends in the relationships between the levels of infection of people and a range of farm animal species with these two serovars and explores some of the reasons behind them. In 1996, there was a peak of 520 reports of S Typhimurium DT104 infection in people in Scotland, but the number has decreased every year since, to 96 in 2001. In cattle the incidence of S Typhimurium DT104 also peaked in 1996, with 138 incidents, and it has similarly decreased every year to 2001 when there were 10 reported incidents. Similar declines have been observed in its incidence in sheep and pigs. In people the number of reports of S Enteritidis PT4 peaked in 1997 at 1684 and then declined to 457 in 2001. In chickens, the number of reports of S Enteritidis PT4 peaked in 1998 at 34 incidents, but no incidents were reported in the following three years.     

不同处理方法对美国截叶胡枝子种子发芽的影响

美国截叶胡枝子的硬实率很高,发芽率只有17.3%.经过种子预处理,如采用不同温度下浸种、98%浓硫酸浸泡、机械破皮和机械破皮结合热水浸种等处理,结果表明,机械破皮后用60℃热水浸种处理的效果最好,发芽势和发芽率分别达到64.0%和74.3%;其次是机械破皮,平均发芽率达到50%;浓硫酸浸种可以显著提高种子发芽势,浓硫酸浸种5min效果最好,发芽率达到44.7%;热水浸种的处理效果不佳,最好的90℃热水浸种处理发芽率也仅有26.7%.     

不同处理方法对美国截叶胡枝子种子发芽的影响

截叶胡枝子(Lespedezacunecta)是原产于亚洲东部的一种多年生的豆科植物,在我国南方地区野生分布很广。它具有耐瘠、耐旱、耐酸、耐热、固土能力强、适应性广等特性,在国外也颇受重视。我国于1983年从美国引种,通过对其生物学和生态学特性、经济性状和栽培技术研究证明,引进的美国截叶胡枝子在人工栽培条件下,表现出良好的经济性状,是南方草地改良的希望种子。但是在生产中,由于其硬实的存在,使得种子的发芽率很低,往往造成出苗困难和草地建植缓慢,甚至出现严重缺苗断垄的现象,直接影响田间产量,限制了它的进一步推广应用。试验采用不同处…     

不同处理方法对美国截叶胡枝子种子发芽的影响

美国截叶胡枝子的硬实率很高,发芽率只有17.3%。经过种子预处理,如采用不同温度下浸种、98%浓硫酸浸泡、机械破皮和机械破皮结合热水浸种等处理,结果表明,机械破皮后用60℃热水浸种处理的效果最好,发芽势和发芽率分别达到64.0%和74.3%;其次是机械破皮,平均发芽率达到50%;浓硫酸浸种可以显著提高种子发芽势,浓硫酸浸种5min效果最好,发芽率达到44.7%;热水浸种的处理效果不佳,最好的90℃热水浸种处理发芽率也仅有26.7%。