Response of apple trees to boron fertilization under conditions of low soil boron availability

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of boron (B) fertilization on the vegetative and the reproductive responses of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees grown at low soil B availability. The experiment was carried out in 2005 under a greenhouse on 5-year-old ‘Jonagold’ apple trees/M.9 EMLA planted singly in 50-L containers filled with a sandy loam soil with hot water-soluble B concentration of 0.32 mg kg⁻¹. The trees were fertilized with B as foliar or soil application. Foliar B sprays were applied at the stage of pink bud, beginning of flowering, petal fall, and 10 days after flowering, at a solution concentration of 0.03%. Soil B fertilization was done at the bud break stage at a rate of 2 g per tree (27 mg B kg⁻¹ soil). The trees untreated with B served as the control. The results showed that soil B fertilization improved root development and tree vigor. Leaves of trees supplied with B to the soil had higher B concentration and chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and activity of catalase and glutathione reductase than those of the control plants. Boron fertilization, regardless of application mode, increased fruit yield; the efficiency of foliar B sprays was higher than soil B application. Apple fruits of trees fertilized with B to the soil were bigger, more colored, richer in B, and had higher soluble solids concentration, and titratable acidity compared to those of the control trees.     

The spatial distribution of diversity between disparate taxa: Spatial correspondence between mammals and ants across South Florida,USA

Gap Analysis takes a proactive landscape-level approach to conserving native species by identifying nodes of high biological diversity. It uses vertebrate species richness as an index of overall biological diversity. However, it remains unknown whether or not the spatial distribution of vertebrate diversity corresponds with the diversity of other taxa. We tested whether landscape-level diversity patterns corresponded between a vertebrate and an invertebrate taxon, mammals and ants, across the southern half of the Florida peninsula, USA. Composite digital maps with a 30-m spatial resolution were produced for each taxon. Spatial correspondence between the taxa was determined by normalizing and then subtracting the composite maps. There were large areas of spatial correspondence – indicating that richness between mammals and ants was similar over much of southern Florida. However, spatial correspondence occurred where the richness of both taxa was low or moderate, and areas with the highest species richness (highest 20%) for each taxon, the explicit focus of Gap Analyses, corresponded over only 8752 ha. Gap Analysis provides a much needed assessment of landscape-level diversity patterns and proactive reserve design, but it must be explicit that the results are applicable for vertebrate diversity, which does not necessarily correspond with diversity patterns of other taxa. The two taxa investigated differ by orders of magnitude in the scale that they perceive their environment, and it is likely that diversity hotspots vary as the scale of investigation – and the taxa mapped – vary.     

Effect of Drip Boron Fertigation on Yield and Fruit Quality in a High-Density Apple Orchard

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in 2001–2003 at the Experimental Orchard of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Skierniewice, Poland, on mature ‘Jonagold’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees (M.26 EMLA) planted at 4 × 2.5 m spacing on a sandy loam soil with low boron (B) availability. The trees were drip fertigated with B at rates of 0.5, 1, or 1.5 g tree^{? 1} over 4 weeks at 3-d intervals beginning at the stage of bud break. Plants that did not receive B via drip irrigation system served as a control. Drip B fertigation effectively increased water-soluble B concentrations in the soil and the status of this microelement in leaves of current season shoots. However, the B fertigation had no effect on tree vigor. In 2 out of 3 years, the drip B fertigation improved flower B status, fruit set, and yield. The efficiency of the drip B fertigation was not influenced by B rate. In all growing seasons, the drip B fertigation increased B level and a soluble solids concentration in the fruit flesh, but had no effect on mean fruit weight, color, titratable acidity, and fruit firmness. It was concluded that on coarse-textured soils with low B availability, the drip B fertigation of mature apple trees in high-density orchards can be recommended from the stage of bud burst to petal fall at a rate of 0.5 g tree^{? 1}.     

‘Schattenmorelle’ Tart Cherry Response to Boron Fertilization

ABSTRACT

The objective of the experiment was to examine the effects of soil and foliar applications of boron (B) on tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) tree vigor, yield, and fruit quality. The study was conducted during 2003–2004 on mature ‘Schattenmorelle’ tart cherry trees grown at a commercial orchard in central Poland on coarse-textured soil with low B content. Trees were supplied with B as foliar sprays or via soil application. Foliar B sprays were performed: (1) in the spring, at the white bud stage, when 5%–10% of flowers were at full bloom, and 5 d after petal fall, at a rate of 0.2 kg B ha^?1 per each spray treatment; and (2) in the fall, approximately six weeks before the natural leaf fall, at a rate of 0.8 kg B ha^?1. Soil B application was made at the bud-break stage at a rate of 2 kg ha^?1. Trees untreated with B served as a control. Spring and fall B sprays increased flower B concentrations, but had no effect on summer leaf B status. Leaf B concentrations of trees with B supplied to the soil were higher than those of the control trees. However, soil B application had no influence on flower B level. Vigor and yield of tart cherry trees were not influenced by B fertilization. Also, mean fruit weight and titratable acidity of fruit did not differ among treatments. Fruit of trees with B supplied to the soil had higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) than those of the control plants. In conclusion, high yield of tart cherry can be obtained on soils with water-soluble B concentrations as low as 0.32 mg kg^?1. It is also postulated that at low soil-B availability, under conditions of low-light intensity during fruit ripening, soil-B application increases SSC in tart cherry fruit.     

Effect of Different Methods of Thermal Treatment on Starch and Bioactive Compounds of Potato

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The study examined the effects of various methods of thermal treatment of Lord cultivar potato tubers on changes in starch, polyphenols, vitamin C, antioxidant...     

Vegetative and Reproductive Responses of Apple Trees to Zinc Fertilization under Conditions of Acid Coarse-Textured Soil

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine response of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees to zinc (Zn) fertilization under conditions of acid coarse-textured soil with low 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl)-soluble Zn level. The experiment was carried out during 2004-2005 at a commercial orchard in Central Poland on mature ‘Jonagold’ apple trees/M.26 EMLA, planted at a spacing of 4 × 2.5 m. The trees were sprayed with Zn: (i) prebloom, at the stage of silver tip, and tight cluster at a rate of 140 and 100 g ha^{? 1}, respectively, (ii) postbloom, at the stage of petal fall, and 2 weeks later at a rate of 80 g ha^{? 1} in each spray treatment, and (iii) postharvest, 4–5 weeks before the natural leaf fall at a rate of 500 g ha^{? 1}. Other trees were supplied with Zn to soil at a rate of 3 kg ha^{? 1}. In all the studied treatments, Zn was used as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Trees unsupplied with Zn served as the control. Tree vigor, fruit set, yield and fruit quality at harvest (mean fruit weight, firmness, color, russeting, soluble solids concentration, and acidity) were not influenced by Zn fertilization. Postharvest Zn sprays slightly damaged leaf tissues but did not cause defoliation. Soil Zn application raised Zn concentrations in flowers, and leaves 28, 56, and 84 days after petal fall. Pre- and postbloom Zn sprays increased Zn status in flowers and leaves 28 days after flowering, respectively. The obtained results indicate that Zn fertilization of ‘Jonagold’ apple trees with Zn status in mid-summer leaves and flowers of 17 mg kg^{? 1} and 27 mg kg^{? 1}, respectively, is not successful in improving vigor and tree yield.     

Influence of Integrated Membrane Treatment on the Phytotoxicity of Wastewater from the Coke Industry

In this paper, coke wastewater that had passed through biological and integrated membrane processes (filtration on sand bed—reverse osmosis) was chosen to assess the phytotoxicity of selected industrial wastewater with regard to the test plant—Vicia faba. An innovative research technique in vitro test was conducted in a large scale phytothrone chamber on two matrices: cotton and Murashige and Skoog Basal Medium (MSBM). The toxicity of wastewater was evaluated for samples: (1) treated in the treatment plant by biological processes, (2) filtrated through a sand bed and filtrated (3) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The results showed that there is a noticeable correlation between increasing concentrations of wastewater and seed germination of the test plant. Although the wastewater collected from the coke plant was treated biologically, it showed very high levels of germination inhibition (90–98% for cotton matrix and 92–100% for MSBM matrix) and strong toxic effects. The wastewater collected from the coke plant showed a significantly greater phytotoxic effect compared with those obtained from the effluent treated on a sand bed and in RO. However, wastewater, even after treatment on a sand bed (reduction of COD—39%, TN—46%, TOC—42%, TC—47%, SS—50%, 16PAHs—53%), was still toxic and germination inhibition was in the range of 24–48% for the cotton matrix and 14–54% for the MSBM matrix. The toxicity of wastewater treated in the membrane process was the lowest (reduction of COD—85%, TN—95%, TOC—85%, TC—86%, SS—98%, 16PAHs—67%). The germination inhibition was in the range of 4–10% for the cotton matrix and 2–12% for the MSBM matrix. These samples are classified as non-toxic or slightly toxic to the model plant. The present study highlights the necessity of monitoring not only the basic physical and chemical indicators (including the level of toxic substances as PAHs), but also their effect on the test organisms in wastewater samples.