Phenotypic plasticity blurs ecotypic divergence in the response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus coccifera</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> to water stress

The Mediterranean evergreen woody plants Quercus coccifera and Pinus halepensis grow in a range of environments where selection by drought, heat and high irradiance can drive genetic and phenotypic differentiation of populations. However, the role of these stresses in filtering out maladaptive genotypes remains unknown. We hypothesize that this filtering is an important process for woody Mediterranean species due to their low phenotypic plasticity reported in previous studies. We have studied the response of saplings of Q. coccifera and P. halepensis, originating from two contrasting populations (a rock outcrop and a garrigue formation), to water stress. Isozyme characterization of genetic diversity was done to determine whether populations were genetically distinct. Water response analysis was based on water relations, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, pigment content, antioxidant status and morphological and structural parameters. Ecotypic differentiation was found for both Q. coccifera and P. halepensis populations, with a higher population isozyme similarity and a higher frequency of dominance of a few genotypes at the rock outcrop in both the species. P. halepensis exhibited small but significant differences between populations for plastic responses to water, with lower phenotypic plasticity in saplings from the rock outcrop. Although it was not found in Q. coccifera, this pattern suggests that ecotypic differentiation rendering stress-tolerant ecotypes involves a decreased plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity was not high but it explained over 75% of the total variability among individual plants. Thus, and although evidence for ecotypic divergence was found in both the species, saplings were plastic enough to blur ecotypic differentiation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> seedlings inoculated with the edible fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactarius deliciosus</Emphasis> under nursery conditions

Inoculation with edible fungi bestows an added value on mycorrhized plants since production of mushrooms as a secondary crop can be an economically-valuable resource in forestry management. In order to establish a protocol for controlled mycorrhization of Pinus halepensis with the edible fungus Lactarius deliciosus, several factors such as fertilisation (35, 60 or 120 mg total N and 13.5, 27 or 54 mg total P), potting substrate (sphagnum peat or sphagnum peat/vermiculite) and fungal inoculum (mycelial slurry produced in a bioreactor, alginate beads or peat/vermiculite) were assessed. The most effective inoculum was mycelial slurry at a dose of 10 ml/plant. The two potting substrates assessed were compatible with mycorrhiza formation. The greatest number of mycorrhized seedlings was obtained with a moderate level of N (35 mg/plant) or P fertilisation (27 mg/plant). Inoculation did not produce a consistent growth effect on P. halepensis, but seedlings met the quality requirements, making them suitable for planting out.     

Fuel types and crown fire potential in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> forests

There is a lack of knowledge to identify and classify forest structures according to the risk of crown fires, especially in Mediterranean regions. In this study, for the first time, we use real information, obtained after a wildfire that burnt under extreme meteorological conditions, to classify forest structures of Pinus halepensis into fuel types as a function of crown fire potential. We identified fourteen forest structures which characterize many forest types in Western Mediterranean areas depending on canopy closure, number of tree layers, percent of each tree layer and overall tree density. By using the pattern of fire types that burnt the most numerous forest structures, we have identified four fire hazard groups of forest structures which are considered different fuel types. The first two had the lowest risk of active crown fires and they differed in the proportion of surface fires and passive crown fires. The third fuel type was the threshold between structures with low and high extreme fire behavior; while the fourth had a high risk of active crown fires. Firefighters and forest managers who are demanding this kind of schema, will test and upgrade this classification of fuel types in function of crown fire potential during future wildfires.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis> forest and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus</Emphasis> plantations show different post-fire resilience in Mediterranean north-western Africa

Key message

In the African rim of the Western Mediterranean Basin, cork oak forests and pine plantations coexist. Under similar fire regimes, cork oak forest is more resilient in terms of habitat structure (canopy, understory, and complexity of vegetation strata) than pine plantation. By contrast, both woodland types show similar resilience in plant species composition. Resilience in habitat structure varies between the two woodland types because of the resprouting and seeding strategies of cork oak and pine species, respectively. These differences can be relevant for the conservation of biodiversity of forested ecosystems in a future scenario of increased fire frequency and scale in the Mediterranean basin.

Context

Wildfires have major impacts on ecosystems globally. In fire-prone regions, plant species have developed adaptive traits (resprouting and seeding) to survive and persist due to long evolutionary coexistence with fire. In the African rim of the Western Mediterranean Basin, cork oak forest and pine plantation are the most frequently burnt woodlands. Both species have different strategies to respond fire: cork oak is a resprouter while pines are mostly seeders.

Aims

We have examined the hypothesis that pine plantations are less resilient in habitat structure (canopy, understory, diversity of vegetation strata) and plant composition than cork oak woodlands.

Methods

The habitat structure and plant species composition were measured in 30 burnt and 30 unburnt 700-m transects at 12 burnt sites from north-western Africa, where the two forest types can coexist. Habitat structure and plant species composition were compared between burnt and unburnt transects from cork oak and pine plantation woodlands with generalized linear mixed models and general linear models.

Results

The results showed significant interaction effect of fire and forest type, since cork oak forest was more resilient to fire than was pine plantation in habitat structure. By contrast, both forest types were resilient to fire in the composition of the plant communities, i.e., plant composition prior to fire did not change afterwards.

Conclusion

The higher structural resilience of cork oak forest compared to pine plantation is related to the resprouting and seeding strategies, respectively, of the dominant tree species. Differences in the responses to fire need to be considered in conservation planning for the maintenance of the Mediterranean biodiversity in a future scenario of changes in fire regime.

     

Leaf-level responses to light in two co-occurring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis>): leaf structure,chemical composition and photosynthesis

We studied morphological, biochemical and physiological leaf acclimation to incident Photon-Photosynthetic-Flux-Density (PPFD) in Quercus ilex (holm oak) and Quercus suber (cork oak) at Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands of southern Portugal. Specific leaf area (SLA) decreased exponentially with increasing PPFD in both species. Q. ilex had lower SLA values than Q. suber. Leaf nitrogen, cellulose and lignin concentration (leaf area-based) scaled positively with PPFD. Maximum rate of carboxylation (V_cmax), capacity for maximum photosynthetic electron transport (J_max), rate of triose-P utilization (V_TPU) and the rate of nonphotorespiratory light respiration (Rd) were also positively correlated with PPFD in both Quercus species, when expressed in leaf area but not on leaf mass basis. Q suber showed to have higher photosynthetic potential (V_cmax, J_max^m and V_TPU^m) and a higher nitrogen efficient nitrogen use than Q.ilex. Leaf chlorophyll concentration increased with decreasing PPFD, improving apparent quantum use efficiency (Φ) in both Quercus species. We concluded that, in Q.ilex and Q.suber, leaf structural plasticity is a stronger determinant for leaf acclimation to PPFD than biochemical and physiological plasticity.     

Influence of water-stress acclimation and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber melanosporum</Emphasis> mycorrhization on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> seedlings

Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) seedlings inoculated with black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) were grown under nursery conditions and subjected to drought hardening for 4 months in autumn and winter followed by irrigation for 10 days. Leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were monitored during the 4 months of drought. When the test was completed (March), measurements were made for each treatment (inoculated or non-inoculated), and watering regime (watered and water-stressed). Pressure–volume curves, osmotic potential at full turgor, osmotic potential at zero turgor and the tissue modulus of elasticity near full turgor were calculated. Mycorrhizal colonization and growth, and the content of the main mineral nutrients N, P, K, Ca and Mg were measured. Water stress affected plant growth, caused an elastic adjustment of the plant tissues, and decreased the P and K content, and inoculation improved the nitrogen content. Drought acclimation apparently achieved the goal of improving the drought tolerance of holm oak seedlings, without depressing ectomycorrhizal root colonization by T. melanosporum. José Antonio Rodríguez Barreal—Deceased     

Effect of seed coverings and seed pretreatments on the germination response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus glutinosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pubescens</Emphasis> seeds

The germination of common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and downey birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) seeds is often poor in bare-root nurseries. The effect of a variety of seed coverings and a few seed pretreatments on seedling emergence was examined in this study in an attempt to address this problem. Seeds of each species were sown in trays containing nursery soil, covered with grit, gravel, sand, combinations of these coverings, a hydromulch or a sealed plastic cloche and then incubated for 6 weeks at 17–20°C. The grit combined with sand or gravel, the hydromulch and the cloche increased seedling emergence when compared with the standard grit. In another experiment, seeds of each species were fully imbibed (FI) (>50% moisture content, MC), as per standard practice, or adjusted to target MC (TMC) (30–35% MC) levels, and then chilled to release dormancy. Some seeds of each MC treatment were primed at 20°C for 2 days following chilling, after which all seeds were evaluated in laboratory tests and a nursery trial. Germination potential of the FI seeds declined in the lab tests by the second test date, which was reflected in low seedling emergence in the nursery in birch. The primed FI seeds of alder germinated most rapidly in the nursery, but other effects were not significant. Seedling emergence was better in the nursery in response to the TMC than the FI pretreatment in birch.

Use of waste materials as nursery growing media for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> production

Peat moss is gradually being replaced by other materials as a growing medium in forest nurseries due to economic and ecological constraints. In this study, six different mixtures were tested, mixing peat moss (P) and pine bark (B) with digested sewage sludge (S) activated sewage sludge (A) and paper mill sludge (M), as growing media for Pinus halepensis seedlings; three different waste doses were applied. Seed germination percentage, seedling growth and foliar nutrient content after 1 year in a greenhouse and percentage survival after transplanting were recorded. The influence of base substrate (P or B) on germination percentage changed in different ways according the type of waste. The order of the different applied mixtures by suitability (germination rate and seedling growth) from best to worst was as follows: activated sludge with peat, activated sludge with pine bark, sewage sludge with peat, sewage sludge with pine bark, paper mill sludge with pine bark and finally paper mill sludge with peat.     

冷湿层积法对印度冷杉(Abies pindrow)和长叶云杉(Picea smithiana）种子萌发的影响

研究赤霉素(GA3),冷湿和温度 对五个种源的印度冷杉(Abies pindrow)和长叶云杉(Picea smithiana)种子萌发的影响.种子被浸泡在GA3 (10 mg(L-1)中24小时,然后在3(5(C温度的条件下冷藏15天.设计4个温度(10(C, 15(C, 20(C 和 25(C)条件来促进种子的萌发.结果表明,浸泡和冷湿处理明显增加种子的萌发率.在10 (C时种子的萌发率最高.总体结果表明,种子被浸泡在GA3 (10 mg(L-1)中24小时,冷湿藏15天,可以有效地促进印度冷杉和长叶云杉的种子萌发.统计数据表明,浸泡处理、温度和种源以及与温度的相互作用都对种子的萌发有明显的影响.     

Short- and intermediate-term effects of site and plant preparation techniques on reforestation of a Mediterranean semiarid ecosystem with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> Mill

A 5-year study of the reforestation of a semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem with Pinus halepensis is presented. Reforestation of Mediterranean semiarid ecosystems is challenging as a result of harsh environmental conditions and historical human exploitation leading to degradation. New techniques have to be developed in order to increase survivorship and growth that integrates nursery and field treatments. A total of 60 treatments resulting from 12 site × 5 plant preparation techniques were tested. Plant preparation consists of mycorrhizing in nursery, extra fertilizing in nursery, planting in containers in the nursery, planting in the field with a polypropylene tube, and control plants (bred in plastic bags). Soil preparation consists of hole, subsoiling without amendment, subsoiling with composted organic amendment added in the surface or in the furrow of plantation and subsoiling with fresh organic amendment added in the surface or in the furrow of plantation. Each one of these treatments was tested with a hydrophilic acrylic copolymer and without it. Survivorship was very high (0.91) given the prevailing environmental conditions. Subsoiling promoted higher survival than holes, and plants bred in containers had lower levels of survivorship than control ones. Protecting seedlings with polypropylene tubes had no effect on survivorship. The most effective treatment for promoting growth was organic amendment, the effect of which increased until the fourth year. Protection with tubes was very effective in increasing height, although only in the short-term. Subsoiling also promoted faster growth than holes, although the effect was less noticeable after 3 years and was, in any case, less effective than organic amendment. Other treatments promoting faster growth were the use of fresh organic waste as opposed to composted waste and its incorporation in the plantation furrow rather than as a layer on the surface. The addition of hydrophilic acrylic copolymer reduced growth during the first months of the reforestation. The fertilization of plants in the nursery and inoculation with spores of mycorhyzal fungi did not improve seedling growth. Plants bred in containers performed worse than control plants bred in individual plastic bags. The findings suggests the importance of nutrient supply in semiarid environments, an aspect that has been previously neglected in favor of water supply. Organic amendments reinforce both and can be recommended as long as adequate environmental controls are in place.     

Comparison of postfire mortality in endemic Corsican black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">laricio</Emphasis>) and its direct competitor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis>)

• Introduction   

Laricio pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arn. ssp. laricio (Poiret) Maire var Corsicana Hyl.) is a form of black pine endemic to Corsica, that may now be under threat due to current fire regimes and competition with maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton).     

Factors determining enzyme activities in soils under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> plantations in Spain: a basis for establishing sustainable forest management strategies

Key message

Water availability and soil pH seem to be major constraints for enzyme activities in calcareous soils under Pinus halepensis and acidic soils under Pinus sylvestris plantations respectively. Proposals for improving enzyme activities may include the promotion of broadleaf species to increase soil pH and the modulation of stand density or the implementation of soil preparation techniques to facilitate water infiltration.

Context

Soil enzymes play a key role in nutrient turnover in forest ecosystems, as they are responsible for the transformation of organic matter into available nutrients for plants. Enzyme activities are commonly influenced by temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, pH, and organic matter content.

Aims

To assess the differences between enzyme activities in calcareous soils below Pinus halepensis and acidic soils below Pinus sylvestris plantations in Spain and to trace those differences back to edapho-climatic parameters to answer the questions: Which environmental factors drive enzyme activities in these soils? How can forest management improve them?

Methods

The differences in climatic, soil physical, chemical, and biochemical parameters and the correlations between these parameters and enzyme activities in soils were assessed.

Results

Low pH and high level of phenols in acidic soils under Pinus sylvestris and water deficit in calcareous soils under Pinus halepensis plantations appeared to be the most limiting factors for enzyme activities.

Conclusion

Options such as the promotion of native broadleaf species in the Pinus sylvestris stands and the modulation of Pinus halepensis stand density or the implementation of soil preparation techniques may improve enzyme activities and, therefore, nutrient availability.

     

Potential contribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus durata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Adenostoma fasciculatum</Emphasis> supplemented with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis> on intake and digestibility in sheep and goats

A digestion trial was conducted to estimate the potential contribution of the chaparral browse Quercus durata (leather oak) and Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise) on intake and nutrient digestion in goats and sheep. Four wether Kiko goats (avg. wt. 22.9 kg) and four wether Targhee sheep (avg. wt. 39.6 kg) were housed in metabolism cages. Alfalfa pellets were used as a dietary supplement. Digestibility of the shrubs was measured by difference and metabolizable energy (ME) and ME intake (MEI) were calculated from digestibility and plants intake values. Oak and chamise had low crude protein (CP) content (6.5 and 4.3% DM) and high content of extractable condensed tannins (17.8 and 9.8% DM). In vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) and ME for oak and chamise were 35.6 and 33.1% and 5.0 and 4.7 MJ/kg DM, respectively. In vivo OMD (calculated by difference with alfalfa) and MEI, for browse were greater (P < 0.01) for goats fed chamise compared to sheep. In oak, OMD was similar for both animal species but MEI was greater (P < 0.01) for goats. Greater (P < 0.05) DM and CP intakes (per kg BW^0.75) were observed for goats fed either oak or chamise compared with sheep. When an energy source was given as supplement, the potential contribution of chamise and oak to total ME requirements for maintenance was about 58.3 and 60.4% in goats and about 17.1 and 32.9% in sheep, respectively. In consequence, metabolizable energy supplied by these shrubs may not be adequate for maintenance when, during grazing, they are consumed in high proportions with other chaparral plants that may have lower nutritional value than the alfalfa supplemented in this study. Under an appropriate supplementation program, goats could be more effective than sheep to control fuel load in California chaparral, as they consume more chamise and leather oak and obtain more nutrients from them.     

Successful <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis> with apple <Emphasis Type="Italic">SPDS</Emphasis> gene

The problem of salinized soils has become one of the most serious constraints to agricultural and forest productivity. With the purpose of enhancing salt stress tolerance of Populus tomentosa, we transformed this tree species with spermidine synthase （SPDS） genes derived from an apple by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Four transgenic clones were confu＇med by PCR and Southern blot analysis. As well, the expression of introduced SPDS genes was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR.     

Spatial pattern of beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.) and oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus pubescens</Emphasis> Mill.) seedlings in natural pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) woodlands

Spatial pattern of recruitment is an important factor influencing population dynamics of plant communities. The spatial pattern is determined by seed dispersal and by the spatial variability of germination and initial survival. In the process of forest expansion following farmland abandonment, mid- and late-successional species are often dispersed in pioneer forests by birds. This could result in an aggregated spatial pattern of seeds that could influence the dynamics of these species in mixed pioneer forests. In the sub-Mediterranean area, mid- and late-successional species such as Quercus pubescens (downy oak) and Fagus sylvatica (European beech) are expected to replace pioneer Pinus species. Using a point sampling method we demonstrated that beech and oak seedlings (height <2 m) have a clumped distribution in the understorey of pine. This could result from an aggregated dispersal by jays (dispersal effect) or from preferential recruitment in particular habitats (habitat effect). To test these hypotheses we proposed a statistical analysis of spatial patterns of regeneration of beech and oak. Ground cover variables (i.e. cover by rock outcrops, herbs, box shrubs, mosses or pine) did not differ significantly around seedlings as compared with random sample plots. Likewise, clumped seedlings had growth similar to isolated seedlings, thus refuting the hypothesis of preferential location in the most favourable microsites. Aggregated dispersal seems to be involved in the process of regeneration. Since beech and oak seedlings have contrasting ecological demands, we discuss the implication of this pattern for the replacement dynamics of pine by these species.     

Seasonal nutrient retranslocation in reforested <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> Mill. stands in Southeast Spain

Retranslocation, resorption and relocation of nutrients are important adaptive mechanisms developed by plants to acquire the amount of the nutrients required for growth. They are usual mechanisms in deciduous and conifer trees that occur in Mediterranean regions where drought periods are usual. Soil factors, environmental characteristics and species factors are key drivers of nutrient retranslocation in conifers but is not well understood how soil fertility or intraspecific competition influences the process. We studied retranslocation in Pinus halepensis Mill. stands showing different site quality (differences in climate and intraspecific competition) occurring in Southeast Spain. We monitored reforested mature Aleppo pine forests in stands with differences in site quality, climate and intraspecific competition. Stands were characterised, the content of nutrients of soil and green samples (twigs and pine needles) were recorded, and seasonal nutrient retranslocation was obtained. Site characteristics were related to growth rate and nutrient content of foliage and soil. We evaluated whether the retranslocation of nutrients from older to younger foliage was related to the current-year growth rate and to the nutritional status of the plant as influenced by intraspecific competition. Foliar macronutrient concentrations and the amount of retranslocated macronutrients were seasonal, with differences related to site quality and tree density. As a general trend, nutrient concentrations increased after drought (autumn) and decreased during the growth period (spring). However, some micronutrients (mainly Na and Fe) decreased during both periods. The retranslocation pattern in Aleppo pine reinforced the hypothesis that pine adaptations to drought- and fire-prone habitats are linked to the resilience of these forest types. We developed scientific knowledge to assist decision making in adaptive forest management; e.g. fertilizer recommendations or reforestation programmes.     

An inoculation experiment of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus</Emphasis> nematodes on Japanese black and red pine, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus thunbergii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. densiflora</Emphasis>

The pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is an invasive pathogen that was introduced from North America to Asian countries and Portugal and is devastating native pine forests. Some native European and Asian Bursaphelenchus nematodes also have weak to moderate pathogenicity to native pine species. To evaluate the potential risk of native Bursaphelenchus species, we inoculated ten Japanese Bursaphelenchus species into native pine species (the dominant forest species) in Japan, and evaluated their pathogenicity using mortality and tracheal tissue damage as indices. Inoculation was conducted on August 3, 2007, and the symptoms were observed every 2 weeks until February 1, 2008. None of the inoculated trees, excluding the pathogenic PWN inoculated control, showed external disease symptoms; however, four species [a less pathogenic PWN isolate, B. luxuriosae, Bursaphelenchus sp. NK215 (undescribed), and NK224 (undescribed)] caused tracheal tissue damage in inoculated seedlings and showed weak pathogenicity. Therefore, we conclude that there are some potentially pathogenic native species of nematodes distributed in Japan. Interestingly, two of these weakly pathogenic species, B. luxuriosae and NK215, are not associated with Pinaceae trees, suggesting that nematode pathogenicity may be a pre-adaptive character. More experimental studies under different conditions are necessary to accurately evaluate the potential risk of these pathogens.     

Insecticidal properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus persicus</Emphasis> essential oil against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis>

Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) are considered to be the major insect pests in storage. Essential oils from aromatic plants are recognized as proper alternatives to fumigants. Thymus persicus (Ronniger ex Rech. f.) is one of these plants that have medicinal properties and is indigenous to Iran. The essential oil was obtained from aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Carvacrol (44.69%) and thymol (11.05%) were the major constituents of the oil extracted. In this experiment, fumigant toxicity of the essential oil was studied against T. castaneum, S. oryzae at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 5% RH in dark condition. The adult insects were exposed to the concentrations of 51.9, 111.1, 207.4 and 370.4 μl/l air to estimate median lethal time (LT₅₀) values. The fumigant toxicity was increased in response to increased essential oil concentrations. The LT₅₀ values at the lowest and the highest concentrations tested were ranged from 28.09 to 13.47 h for T. castaneum, and 3.86 to 2.30 h for S. oryzae. It was found that S. oryzae adults were much more susceptible to the oil than T. castaneum. After 24 h of exposure, the LC₅₀ values (95% fiducial limit) for T. castaneum and S. oryzae were estimated to be 236.9 (186.27–292.81) and 3.34 (2.62–4.28) μl/l air, respectively. These results suggest that T. persicus essential oil merits further study as potential fumigant for the management of these stored-product insects.     

Field performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> planted in Mediterranean arid conditions: relative influence of seedling morphology and mineral nutrition

In Mediterranean arid regions, relatively small planting stock has traditionally been used in an attempt to reduce drought susceptibility, though few studies have examined influences of initial seedling morphology and nutrition on long-term plantation establishment. We fertilized Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings in the nursery with controlled release fertilizer (CRF) varying in formulations and rates; 9-13-18 and 17-10-10 (N-P-K) formulations at 3, 5 and 7 g l⁻¹ substrate plus an unfertilized control and we evaluated growth and survival 7 years after planting in arid conditions in Almería province, southeast Spain. Interactions between initial height and fertilizer treatments occurred during the first 3 years; initial size advantages of specific fertilizer treatments (7 g l⁻¹ of 9-13-18 and 17-10-10 at 3 g l⁻¹) persisted after 7 years. The largest and most nutrient-rich seedlings from 9-13-18 at 7 g l⁻¹ (41.0 cm tall, 4.4 mg of P per g of root tissue at time of planting) exhibited the highest survival after 7 years (79%), while survival declined to 42% for non-fertilized plants (12.9 cm tall and 0.6 mg of P per g of root tissue). Initial seedling morphological parameters were most consistently correlated with field performance. Root P concentration was the nutrient variable most closely related to survival. Our data emphasizes importance of longer-term experiments to accurately assess influences of nursery treatments on field responses, particularly in arid areas. We suggest that larger seedlings with greater nutrient reserves than are currently being used should be incorporated into Mediterranean plantations.