美洲黑杨不同径级木材纤维、导管形态及其基本密度的差异

通过对美洲黑杨林分内不同径阶木材解剖特性和基本密度的差异分析,结果表明:(1)株内径向年轮宽度先增加,第3轮达最大宽度,之后逐渐减小,10轮后年轮宽度仅2.3mm。纤维、导管形态中的长度、宽度及长宽比径向表现为递增模式,前5轮迅速增加,5轮之后缓慢增加,8轮之后趋于稳定;壁厚径向上总的趋势稍微增加,壁腔比因宽度增大而表现出稍微降低,呈起伏状。树木基本密度径向趋势是随着树龄增加而增大,浸提物含量径向为递减模式;(2)林分内不同径阶个体间同一年轮宽度和木材基本密度随着径阶增加而增大,两者径阶间的差异达到显著性水平。不同径级同一轮纤维形态、导管形态特征株间差异均不显著。这反映了杨树林分内生长量与木材基本密度间为正相关,与纤维形态、导管形态特征值之间没有相关性。基本密度随着径阶增加而增大,可能与木材组织比量中的纤维比例增加有关。     

人工林尾巨桉株内、株间纤维形态变异的研究

对5株13年生的尾巨桉纤维形态的径向变异进行研究,在显微镜下观察木材解剖构造,同时对纤维长、纤维宽、胞壁厚和纤维长宽比进行了测量.结果表明:尾巨桉属阔叶散孔材,纤维形态指标径向上具有增大的趋势,株内径向上各纤维形态指标差异显著,株间略有差异.尾巨桉木材平均纤维长0.73~1.01 mm,胞壁厚4.36~5.09μm,纤维长宽比42~51,能满足纤维工业原料的要求,属较好的纸浆工业用材.     

欧美杨107杨生长应变与木材解剖特征和干缩性质之间的关系

选取正常生长和偏心生长欧美杨107杨为研究材料,测试其表面轴向生长应变,并测定应变测试位置处木材的纤维形态和干缩性质,分析应变与木材性质之间的关系.结果表明:1)随着生长应变数值的增加,正常生长立木纤维长度、胞腔径、长宽比、径向全干干缩率、弦向全干干缩率出现微弱的下降趋势,而纤维宽度、双壁厚、壁腔比、轴向全干干缩率出现微弱的上升趋势,正常生长立木生长应变与所有纤维形态指标和干缩性指标之间的相关系数均不显著;2)随着生长应变数值的增加,偏心生长立木双壁厚、长宽比、径向全干干缩率、弦向全干干缩率、轴向全干干缩率出现较快的下降趋势,而纤维宽度、胞腔径同时出现较快的上升趋势,纤维长度出现微弱的上升趋势,偏心生长立木生长应变与双壁厚、轴向全干干缩率、径向全干干缩率、弦向全干干缩率、壁腔比、弦向全干干缩率、长宽比的负相关关系显著,与腔径、纤维宽度的正相关关系显著,与纤维长度之间相关系数不显著;3)对于不含应拉木正常生长的立木,其生长应力与木材纤维形态和木材干缩性质之间关系较为微弱;对于含应拉木偏心生长的立木,由于应拉木材性与正常木之间的差别,其生长应力与多数木材纤维形态指标和木材干缩性质指标之间关系较为紧密.     

尾巨桉东门27号纤维形态特征的研究

以广西南宁市尧坡林场尾巨桉东门27号为研究对象,对木材纤维形态进行了研究。结果表明:尾巨桉东门27号的纤维长度平均值为857.2μm,纤维宽度平均值为12.5μm,纤维长宽比平均值为68.6,纤维双壁厚平均值为1.7μm,纤维壁腔比的平均值为0.2。尾巨桉东门27号的纤维长度、宽度、长宽比、双壁厚及壁腔比的径向变异总体规律相似,均随树龄增加逐渐增大,到一定年限达到最大值以后趋于稳定。     

中山杉和落羽杉木材解剖性质研究

以12年生中山杉和落羽杉胸高处木材为研究对象,利用纤维测定仪测定其管胞长度、宽度,采用图像分析仪测定其管胞壁厚、壁腔比和各种组织比量,利用双因素方差分析方法分析树种因素、距髓心生长轮数对管胞形态和组织比量等特征的影响.中山杉木材的管胞长度、宽度、长宽比均值分别为2 737.84μm、44.84 μm和60.86,落羽杉木材的管胞长度、宽度、长宽比的均值分别为2 698.52 μm、43.44μm和61.51;中山杉木材的早材和晚材管胞弦向壁厚均值分别为5.91 μm和7.57 μm,落羽杉木材的早材和晚材管胞弦向壁厚均值分别为5.89 μm和6.54 μm;中山杉早材和晚材管胞壁腔比均值分别为0.15和0.35,落羽杉的早材和晚材壁腔比均值与中山杉的一致.双因素方差分析的结果表明:除了中山杉晚材的管胞壁厚显著大于落羽杉晚材的管胞壁厚之外,这两个树种其它管胞形态特征、各种组织比量的差异在0.05水平不显著,该结果表明这两种木材的解剖特征很接近;中山杉、落羽杉幼龄木材除了管胞旱材的壁腔比、薄壁细胞组织比量在不同生长轮之间的差异在0.05水平不显著之外,测试的其它特征在不同生长轮之间的差异在0.05水平具有显著性.中山杉、落羽杉木材的解剖特征的径向变异具有相同的规律:管胞长度、管胞宽度、弦向壁厚、管胞组织比量从髓心向树皮都有逐渐增加的趋势,而射线组织比量从髓心向树皮有逐渐降低的趋势,薄壁细胞比量较小,径向变异也较小、没有明显的规律.     

银杏木材微纤丝角及其与生长轮密度相关模型的建立

通过对银杏木材微纤丝角的径向变化及其与生长轮密度相关性质的研究 ,结果表明 ,银杏木材平均微纤丝角为 1 8.5°,生长轮内早材微纤丝角较大 ,晚材较小 ;生长轮间沿径向呈减小趋势。木材微纤丝角与生长轮年龄、生长轮宽度、生长轮密度之间有较密切关系 ,建立了 5个相关模型 ,为银杏用材林的定向培育和木材加工利用提供依据     

人工幼龄印度黄檀木材解剖性质和结晶度的径向变异及预测模型

对元江地区幼龄印度黄檀木材各生长轮间的解剖各参数和结晶度的径向变异趋势及它们的相关性做了全面的测定和分析,结果表明:纤维长度和宽度、导管分子长度和弦径、纤维比量总体径向变化趋势是从髓心往外呈增加趋势;纤维壁厚和生长轮的径向变异趋势是先增加后减小;导管比量、胞壁率和微纤丝角的变化趋势是沿髓心向外呈递减趋势;结晶度的径向变异趋势是先增加后减小.方差分析表明:各生长轮间的解剖参数和结晶度差异均明显.相关分析表明:生长轮年龄与各解剖参数和结晶度相关性显著,据此建立了木材解剖性质和结晶度预测模型,相关系数大都达到0.88以上.     

伯乐树木材纤维形态特征及其径向变异的研究

对伯乐树(Bretschneidera sinensis)的木材纤维形态特征进行测定分析,结果表明:伯乐树木纤维长度平均值为1 140.49μm,宽度平均值为34.91μm,双壁厚平均值为16.00μm,壁腔比平均值为0.90,腔径比平均值为0.54,长宽比平均值33;纤维长度、宽度、双壁厚、壁腔比、腔径比、长宽比都不同程度地随轮龄逐渐增加,第9年后均变缓,树龄对纤维长度与宽度影响不显著。     

青钱柳解剖性质研究

以青钱柳(cyclocarya paliurus)树干1.3 m处圆盘为研究对象,通过木材解剖测定其生长轮纤维长度、宽度、长宽比、壁厚、腔径、壁腔比和导管长度、宽度、长宽比、壁厚、腔径、壁腔比,研究各个指标随生长轮龄增长的径向变异规律。结果表明:青钱柳纤维长度、纤维长宽比随生长轮龄的增长总体呈增长的径向变异规律;而纤维宽度、纤维壁厚、纤维腔径、纤维壁腔比随生长轮龄的增长没有明显的变异规律。青钱柳导管长度、导管宽度、导管壁厚、导管腔径随生长轮龄的增长总体呈增长的径向变异规律;导管长宽比、导管壁腔比随生长轮龄的增长没有明显的变异规律。     

北京地区I-214杨树木材解剖特性与基本密度的株内变异及其预测模型

对北京地区Ⅰ—214杨的纤维和导管分子长及宽度、纤维壁厚、组织比量、胞壁率与基本密度和生长轮宽度在株内不同高度上的变异模式及其之间的相关关系进行了全面的测定与分析。结果表明：纤维长、宽及壁厚，导管分子长、弦径和导管比量径向变异由髓心向外迅速递增，而后趋于平缓；而导管个数、纤维与射线比量、胞壁率的径向变异由髓心向外逐渐递减，再趋于稳定。不同高度间的解剖参数(胞壁率除外)差异不显著。基本密度的径向变化是髓心处较大，往外先略减而后快速递增，然后趋于平缓。木材幼龄期为10～12a，幼龄材比成熟材的基本密度低，纤维和导管分子均短与窄、壁薄，纤维和射线比量大、导管个数多、导管比量小，生长轮宽度窄，且两者间的基本密度、纤维和导管分子长度、导管弦径、导管和射线比量差异均达显著水平。生长速度对解剖性质影响不显著，但与木材基本密度呈显著负相关，解剖参数与基本密度关系密切。基本密度和各项解剖参数均与生长轮年龄为极显著相关，可建立模型预测。     

Improving the evaluation of multiple-dowel-type connection strength

Our study focuses on predicting the ultimate short-term load carrying capacity of timber-to-timber connections with dowel-type fasteners. The wide range of possible configurations in practice makes the resolution of these values by tests unrealistic. Moreover, different current regulations do not consider some specific failure mechanisms. In many countries, the reduction of resistance involved by this phenomenon is taken into account by considering an effective number of dowels (n_ef) smaller than the actual number of dowels (n) in the connection. However, these different regulations disagree on the values of n_ef and on other points (spacing, partial coefficient of security, formulas). These discrepancies in design rules invite the fundamental research on this topic and, therefore, new methods are sought in order to estimate the load carrying capacities of the connections. In the light of these, our approach consists of predicting the load carrying capacity with the neural network numerical tool. The results obtained by this analysis tool are satisfactory, although the model remains complex. Subsequently, we focus on the simplification of this numerical model with classical regression techniques in order to implement it in a design code.     

Insecticidal activity of certain medicinal plants

The methanol extracts of eight species of medicinal plants were tested for insecticidal activity in third instar larvae of Egyptian cottonworm (Spodoptera littoralis). All extracts showed a certain degree of larval toxicity. The extracts of Ocimum basilicum, Origanum majorana and Salvia officinalis appeared to be highly toxic. The extracts significantly affected the growth indexes [relative growth rate (RGR), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD)].     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Constituents of aromatic plants: carvacrol

Carvacrol is a component of numerous aromatic plants. Up to now, no toxicological data were available. Carvacrol show a weak activity in the mutagenicity studies. Moreover, in the metabolism study, carvacrol has shown to be excreted with urine after 24 h in large quantities or unchanged or as glucoronide and sulphate conjugates. The available data do not allow the assessment of the NOEL. Further toxicological studies are needed.     

Trees and shrubs as sources of fodder in Australia

Experience with browse plants in Australia is briefly reviewed in terms of their forage value to animals, their economic value to the landholder and their ecological contribution to landscape stability. Of the cultivated species only two have achieved any degree of commercial acceptance (Leucaena leucocephala and Chamaecytisus palmensis). Both of these are of sufficiently high forage value to be used as the sole source of feed during seasonal periods of nutritional shortage. Both are also leguminous shrubs that establish readily from seed. It is suggested that a limitation in their present use is the reliance on stands of single species which leaves these grazing systems vulnerable to disease and insects. Grazing systems so far developed for high production and persistence of cultivated species involve short periods of intense grazing followed by long periods of recovery. Similar management may be necessary in the arid and semi-arid rangelands where palatable browse species are in decline.     

Populations of adult fungus gnats and shore flies in British Columbia container nurseries as related to nursery environment,and incidence of fungi on the insects

Adult fungus gnat and shore fly populations were monitored in four container nurseries near Victoria, British Columbia. In general, populations of both insects were larger in summer than in winter. Also, both insects were more abundant in the nursery with a plastic-covered, soil floor, which favored moisture accumulation and build up of algae, liverworts and mosses, than in nurseries with other types of floors such as cement. Results of fungus isolations revealed that gnats and flies both harbor the seedling pathogens Botrytis cinerea and species of Fusarium and Phoma, plus several non-pathogenic fungi. The results are discussed in relation to nursery sanitation practices, their effects on gnat and fly populations, and some possible roles of these insects in seedling disease epidemiology.     

Fallow enrichment of a traditional slash/mulch system in southern Costa Rica: comparisons of biomass production and crop yield

The slash and mulch system of frijol tapado or covered bean is a pre-hispanic system of bean production found throughout much of Central America. However, land use pressures have forced farmers to shorten the traditional fallow period, thus resulting in decreasing productivity. A potential solution is to enrich the fallow by using leguminous nitrogen-fixing trees. The enriched fallow systems evaluated in this study include both single and mixed species treatments: 1) Erythrina poeppigiana; 2) Calliandra colothrysus; 3) Gliricidia sepium; 4) Inga edulis; 5) Inga edulis and Erythrina poeppigiana; 6) Inga edulis and Calliandra calothrysus; and 7) Inga edulis and Gliricidia sepium. Biomass production of the fallow vegetation is shown to be of greater quality and quantity in all fallow enrichment treatments. However, bean yields did not show a significant response to the fallow enrichment treatments.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Spatial distribution of fallen shoots of Scots pine pruned by pine shoot beetles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomicus</Emphasis> spp.), and evaluation of methods of shoot collection in central Poland

Methods of spatial distribution of fallen shoots, pruned by pine shoot beetles, and estimation of efficiency of methods based on collection of fallen shoots and used in forecasting of the occurrence of these insects, are presented in this paper. The fallen shoots were distributed in clusters. The distribution was statistically different from random. Relative errors in estimation of shoot-fall density were the smallest in study transects. Early and late autumn and the following spring, after the snow melt, are the optimum seasons for collecting fallen shoots.