Effect of Growth Regulators and Ethanol on Termination of Dormancy in Potato Tubers

The main objective of this study was to find the best practice of inducing the sprouting of dormant potato tubers. We compared two protocols of breakage of dormancy, which are based on dipping excised potato eyes in an aqueous solution of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and kinetin (standard 1) or in the aqueous solution of GA₃, thiourea, and daminozide (standard 2), with a newly reported approach based on ethanol. We tested the effect of ethanol alone or in combination with GA₃ and/or kinetin on dormancy release and sprouting of the potato tubers. As a model, we used two potato genotypes (cultivars Pasat and Dorota), with long dormancy of 5 and 10 weeks respectively. We showed that the standard 2 was the most effective treatment both for dormancy breaking and in promoting sprout growth, especially for cv. Dorota, for which the treatment induced 82.3% of tuber eye-plugs to sprout 28 days after treatment and to produce 93.2% of emerged plants after subsequent 28 days of cultivation in the greenhouse. For this cultivar, similar efficacy was observed for the combination of 4% ethanol with GA₃ and kinetin. The same concentration of ethanol combined with GA₃ but without kinetin was the most efficient treatment for breaking dormancy of cultivar Pasat. However, the difference between the various treatment combinations was statistically insignificant. Ethanol alone or in combination with kinetin poorly induced breakage of dormancy, confirming the main role of GA₃ in artificial dormancy breaking. Thus our study showed that the standard 2 is the most effective approach for breakage of dormancy at least with long term-dormancy cultivars.     

Functional response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> L. to taproot pruning: a 5-year case study

Key message

Quercus robur seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. Root pruning enhanced stem biomass at the expense of roots in later growth stages. Alteration of biomass allocation due to nursery practices may result in greater susceptibility to injury and death of the seedlings under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Context

Plants adjust their growth and modulate the resource allocation in response to applied treatments and environmental conditions.

Aims

The aim was to examine how taproot pruning in seedlings grown at different densities affected long-term growth of Quercus robur.

Methods

Seedlings, sown as acorns at two planting densities, with or without pruned roots were harvested in the second, fourth, and fifth years of growth. The effect of root pruning on biomass allocation was determined by measuring leaf, stem, and root mass fractions; carbohydrate concentrations in the roots; and C/N ratios. Specific leaf area and root length were also determined to assess morphological adaptations to growth conditions.

Results

Total seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. After 4 years of growth, root mass fractions were lower and stem mass fractions were greater in seedlings planted at a higher density. Five-year old root-pruned seedlings also had a lower root mass fraction and higher stem mass fractions than unpruned seedlings. Specific root length was not affected by root pruning or planting density.

Conclusion

Decrease of relative root biomass with simultaneous increase of stem biomass may be a long-term consequence of taproot pruning of Q. robur, and the effects may manifest years after the seedling stage.

     

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity of soil microbial properties in a conventionally managed arable field

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Knowledge about the spatio-temporal variability of soil microbial properties is crucial in evaluating their structure-function relationship and their impact on...     

Diminished vessel diameter as a possible factor in the decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)

? The aim of this work was to examine the anatomy and functioning of secondary xylem in stems in relation to the decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.).

? We tested the hypothesis that declining trees show changes in the structure of wood, which result in impaired water transport.

? Anatomical analyses were carried out on wood samples (comprising all annual rings formed during the 30 years life of the analysed trees) collected at breast height from the main stem of healthy, weakened and dead ash trees. The width of annual wood increments, the diameter and density of earlywood vessels were measured and the theoretical hydraulic conductivity index through the secondary xylem calculated by application of Hagen-Poisseuille’s formula.

? Anatomical characteristics changed both with the age of trees and in response to unfavorable factors. The largest vessels were observed in healthy trees, which implied that they had the highest hydraulic conductivity index, whereas trees considered to be in decline produce smaller vessels and hence had reduced conductivity.

     

Combined effects of water temperature and daily food availability period on the growth and survival of tench (Tinca tinca) larvae

A 16‐day experiment was designed to find the best combination of water temperature (27, 30, 33°C) and daily duration of food availability (12, 18, 24 h) for larval tench (Tinca tinca) growth and survival. Larvae with an initial mean size of 5.7 mm total length (TL) and 0.7 mg wet body weight (BW) were stocked at 15 L^?1. Larvae were fed in excess with live Artemia nauplii with the period of food availability lasting 12, 18 or 24 h daily. The largest final larval size was recorded at 27 and 30°C in groups fed for 24 h a day (17.7 and 17.9 mm TL, 76.1 and 77.7 mg BW, respectively). The combination of the highest temperature and the longest daily food availability was the only set of conditions under which final larval survival was affected (95.4% survival; 98.7–99.9% under all other conditions). The combination of water temperature of about 28.6°C and continuous food availability is recommended as the optimum combination for rearing T. tinca larvae under controlled conditions. Providing continuous food supply to fish larvae under aquaculture conditions was also advantageous in helping to mitigate the effects of slower growth relative to developmental progress, which can occur at high water temperatures. However, should one wish to limit the daily feeding period to 12 h per day, the use of a water temperature between 27.4 and 27.9°C would be the best solution.     

Changes in ide Leuciscus idus (L.) females’ reproductive parameters after stimulation with carp pituitary homogenate (CPH) and Ovopel: the effect of domestication?

Three groups (wild—WS, semi-pond—SPS, and pond-cultured—PS) of ide Leuciscus idus (L.) were examined. Each group consisted of 30 females and 10 males, aged 5–8 years. All groups were stimulated with two agents: carp pituitary homogenate (CPH) and a synthetic hormonal preparation Ovopel. The amount of ovulating females decreased in conjunction with females’ domestication level, mainly because of very low efficacy of CPH for pond-reared ide stimulation. The percentage of ovulating females stimulated with Ovopel (97.0 %) was significantly higher comparing to CPH (63.0 %). No significant differences were found in latency time between the groups but spawning synchronization increased in conjunction with ide domestication. The positive correlation between domestication level and latency time, i.e., the higher the domestication level, the higher the latency time, was stated. No significant differences were found in PGSI as well as in total volume of obtained eggs, but groups differed significantly in the number of dry eggs and in number of swollen egg. Significant negative correlation between domestication level and number of swollen eggs, i.e., the higher the domestication level, the lower the number of eggs, was detected. The survival rate at the eyed stage was the highest in WS group (60.4 %) and PS group (57.7 %), and was significantly higher than in SPS group (51.8 %). Eggs obtained after CPH stimulation had higher survival rate at the eyed-egg stage (60.3 %) than eggs obtained from the fish stimulated with Ovopel (53.0 %). The data suggest that some form of domestication appeared in ide cultivated for several generations in carp pond.     

Diversity and abundance of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) in soil under 90-year potato monoculture in relation to crop rotation

The monoculture cropping system causes significant changes within the soil ecosystem, which constitutes a habitat for soil-dwelling springtails. Focusing on the response of soil fauna to 90 years of potato cultivation in monoculture the study investigates the abundance and diversity of soil-dwelling springtails, considering changes in the soil environment in relation to five-crop rotation. Another point was the soil quality evaluation using Collembola as bioindicators (QBS-c index). A long-term monoculture experiment was established in Poland in 1923 and has continued uninterruptedly to the present time. Soil samples were taken over a period of three years (2011–2013) to determine collembolan abundance and composition, as well as physical and chemical soil properties.

The study demonstrated that there were greater numbers of Collembola in the long-term monoculture of potatoes, especially before planting time, compared to numbers in a five-field crop rotation. At the same time apparently greater species diversity was found in potato culture within crop rotation. The biological indicator of soil quality based on the occurrence of springtails (QBS-c) has proved useful in assessing changes in soil caused by agrotechnical activities. This index indicated better biological soil quality in the five-field rotation system compared to monoculture.     

Protein recovery from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) processing byproducts via isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and its gelation properties as affected by functional additives

Solubility of rainbow trout proteins was determined between pH 1.5 and 13.0 and various ionic strengths (IS). Minimum solubility occurred at pH 5.5; however, when IS = 0.2, the minimum solubility shifted toward more acidic pH. Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation was applied to trout processing byproducts (fish meat left over on bones, head, skin, etc.), resulting in protein recovery yields (Kjeldahl, dry basis) between 77.7% and 89.0%, depending of the pH used for solubilization and precipitation. The recovered protein contained 1.4-2.1% ash (dry basis), while the trout processing byproducts (i.e., starting material) 13.9%. Typical boneless and skinless trout fillets contain 5.5% ash, and therefore, the isoelectric solubilization/precipitation effectively removed impurities such as bones, scales, skin, etc., from the trout processing byproducts. The recovered proteins retained gel-forming ability as assessed with dynamic rheology, torsion test, and texture profile analysis (TPA). However, the recovered proteins failed to gel unless beef plasma protein (BPP) was added. Even with BPP, the recovered protein showed some proteolysis between 40 and 55 degrees C. Addition of potato starch, transglutaminase, and phosphate to the recovered proteins resulted in good texture of trout gels as confirmed by torsion test and TPA. Higher ( P < 0.05) shear stress and strain were measured for gels developed from basic pH treatments than the acidic counterparts. However, proteins recovered from acidic treatments had higher ( P < 0.05) lipid content than the basic treatments. This is probably why the gels from acidic treatments were whiter ( L* - 3 b*) ( P < 0.05) than those from the basic ones. Our study demonstrates that functional proteins can be efficiently recovered from low-value fish processing byproducts using isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and subsequently be used in value-added human foods.     

Influence of Agricultural Land Use and Management on the Contents of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Selected Silty Soils

The characteristics of transport and transformation of SO₂, NO_x and O₃ in northeast Asia have been investigated by using a comprehensive regional air quality model (RAQM) driven by a meteorological model MM5. A study period of 1-15 March 2002 has been selected due to the availability of intense observation of chemical species for both ground and upper levels. Model results have been compared against observational data to provide insights into the strength and weakness of the model’s ability and the evolutionary features of chemical species. Validation shows a good skill of this model system in reproducing most of the key features in long-range transport, but apparent bias still remains due to a series of uncertainties from either emission estimates, prescribed parameters, or inherent model limitations. In general, this model shows a better skill for SO₂ and O₃ than for NO_x. Large discrepancy occurs between the observed and calculated NO_x concentration at higher levels, with the model results being much lower. A series of sensitivity tests have been conducted to investigate the potential affecting factors and it is found that the inaccuracy or incompleteness in currently used emission inventories could be a most likely cause for such discrepancy. Long-range transport from Asian continent to the western Pacific is pronounced in springtime. Substantially high concentrations of SO₂ and NO_x in or above the boundary layer (0.5～3.0 km) over the Yellow Sea suggest an important pathway for long-range transport in northeast Asia.