Stress related changes in the architecture of seedlings of three provenances ofEucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh

Abscisic acid (10^?4M) applied via absorbent discs bound to the stems of 6 wk oldE. camaldulensis seedlings caused changes in leaf shape and orientation similar to those induced by nutritional and water stress. Seedlings from the driest provenance, Tennant Creek, were more responsive to ABA than seedlings from the wettest provenance, Katherine, and the response of Petford seedlings was intermediate. Likewise, Tennant Creek seedlings were most, and Katherine seedlings least, responsive to water and/or nutritional stress. Seedlings that responded to the application of ABA produced prematurely strengthened, linear leaves with the lamina rotated from horizontal to vertical. The ability of Tennant Creek seedlings to readily assume this form may be a specific adaptation for the particularly difficult conditions in their natural environment.     

Changes in fruit antioxidant activity among blueberry cultivars during cold-temperature storage

Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and six other fruit characters including titratable acid concentration, soluble solids, firmness, and percentage of bruised berries were determined for nine blueberry (Vaccinium L. sp.) cultivars at harvest and at various postharvest intervals after storage at 5 degrees C. Berries from MSU-58, Brigitta, and Legacy stored successfully for 7 weeks, Bluegold stored for 3-5 weeks, Bluecrop, Elliott, and Nelson stored for 3 weeks, and Jersey and Little Giant stored for fewer than 3 weeks. During the time they retained marketable quality, one cultivar (MSU-58) demonstrated a 29% increase in antioxidant activity. None of the cultivars showed a significant decrease from the harvest antioxidant activity value during storage. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.87-0.99, P < 0.01). All three parameters were moderately correlated with soluble solids (r = 0.47, P < or =0.05; r = 0.44, P < or = 0.05; and r = 0.64, P < or = 0.01, respectively), and antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were both moderately correlated with pH (r = 0.53 and 0.49, respectively; P < or = 0.05). However, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content showed no correlation with firmness, percent severely bruised berries, or weight loss. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content at harvest both correlated with titratable acidity at harvest (r = 0.68, P < or = 0.05 and r = 0.70, P < or = 0.05, respectively) on a cultivar mean basis. Berries from Elliott were also harvested from plants at two levels of bush ripeness (30-50% and 60-80% ripe berries on plants) and separated into three fruit maturity classes on the basis of percent blue color. The level of bush ripeness had no significant effect on antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, or anthocyanin content; however, fruit maturity had a significant effect on antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content, and bush ripeness x fruit maturity interactions were significant for these three traits. Berries with 50-75% blue coloration harvested from bushes with 60-80% mature fruit showed a significant increase in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content during the first 3 weeks in storage. Our results demonstrate that increases in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content may occur in the blueberry during cold storage and are cultivar-dependent. The increases that occur in immature fruit, such as in Elliott, may be advantageous for producers who wish to delay marketing of the fruit.     

Tree plantations on farms: Evaluating growth and potential for success

Interest in native species is growing across the tropics as reforestation of degraded lands becomes more widespread. In this study four tree species native to Panama - Cedrela odorata, Pachira quinata, Samanea saman, and Tabebuia rosea - were grown on rural farms at two dry tropical sites in Panama for up to five years. Survivorship and growth data at these “on-farm” trials are compared to data recorded from nearby experimental or “species selection” trial sites and evaluated in terms of soil fertility and management. Participant farmers were also asked about their interest in planting trees in general as well as their interest in 61 species grown in the species selection trial.Although, on-farm survivorship was variable and generally lower than that found on the species selection trial, one species (S. saman) experienced high and consistent survivorship. High survivorship combined with growth data from farms at both sites for this species suggests it would be a good candidate for extension projects working with rural farmers. Survivorship of other species appears more sensitive to farmer management and/or local site conditions. Generally lower growth on the Los Santos farms as compared to the species-selection trial is attributed to the lower soil fertility (plant available P) at the on-farm sites compared to the species selection trial. In contrast, only one species - P. quinata - had a growth variable found to be significantly lower between the on-farm and species selection trial sites in Rio Hato. C. odorata, P. quinata T. rosea can all be used in on-farm conditions with consideration to specific site and management conditions.By 2009, approximately 80% of the farmers planting trees still wished to participate in tree planting activities. All of the farmers no longer wishing to continue with the project expressed slow growth rates of trees as a principal reason. All but one of these farmers had growth rates for his/her trees markedly below those of the species selection trial nearby. Some farmers wishing to continue had very high mortality rates (>70% for all species), suggesting non-tangible benefits for participating in project activities. Other species that were not tested on-farm but grew well in the species-selection trials and were of interest to local farmers are discussed.As long as specific site and management conditions are carefully considered, data from species selection trials can be useful in informing tree planting projects with rural farmers; however, care should be taken to manage expectations.     

Competitive degradation and detoxification of carbamate insecticides by membrane anodic Fenton treatment

The competitive degradation of six carbamate insecticides by membrane anodic Fenton treatment (AFT), a new Fenton treatment technology, was carried out in this study. The carbamates studied were dioxacarb, carbaryl, fenobucarb, promecarb, bendiocarb, and carbofuran. The results indicate that AFT can effectively degrade these insecticides in both single component and multicomponent systems. The carbamates compete for hydroxyl radicals, and their kinetics obey the previously developed AFT kinetic model quite well. Hydroxyl radical reaction rate constants were obtained, and they decrease in the following order: dioxacarb approximately carbaryl > fenobucarb > promecarb > bendiocarb > carbofuran. The AFT is shown to have higher treatment efficiency at higher temperature. Degradation products of the carbamates were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and it appears that degradation can be initiated by hydroxyl radical attack at different sites in the molecule, depending on the individual structure of the compound. Substituted phenols are the commonly seen degradation products. The AFT treatment can efficiently remove the chemical oxygen demand of the carbamate mixture, significantly increasing the biodegradability. Earthworm studies show that the AFT is also an effective detoxification process.     

Regulation of enzymes involved in the sulphur-assimilatory pathway

The regulation of enzymes involved in sulphate assimilation in plants has been investigated. Extractable activity of ATP sulphurylase (the first enzyme of the assimilatory pathway) has been shown to be regulated by sulphate availability and O-acctylserine (OAS) supply. OAS addition to the medium increased extractable activity and was able, at least partially, to overcome the repression of extraclable activity observed by supply of sulphate and cysteine. Cysteine synthase, the final enzyme of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, was not regulated under these conditions.     

30,000 years of hydrothermal activity at the lost city vent field

Strontium, carbon, and oxygen isotope data and radiocarbon ages document at least 30,000 years of hydrothermal activity driven by serpentinization reactions at Lost City. Serpentinization beneath this off-axis field is estimated to occur at a minimum rate of 1.2 x 10(-4) cubic kilometers per year. The access of seawater to relatively cool, fresh peridotite, coupled with faulting, volumetric expansion, and mass wasting processes, are crucial to sustain such systems. The amount of heat produced by serpentinization of peridotite massifs, typical of slow and ultraslow spreading environments, has the potential to drive Lost City-type systems for hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of years.     

土壤拮抗链霉菌R15菌株发酵产物的抑菌作用

对一株土壤拮抗链霉菌(Streptomycespp.)R15菌株发酵液的抑菌效果、热稳定性和酸碱稳定性以及作用机制进行了初步研究。结果表明,拮抗链霉菌R15发酵液对棉花枯萎病菌分生孢子萌发抑制作用强,抑制率达98.37%。烟草赤星病菌孢子萌发后芽管顶端膨大成球形,芽管停止生长;烟草炭疽病菌孢子萌发后不能产生附着胞,且芽管顶端有突起。处理烟草黑胫病菌和辣椒疫霉病菌菌丝畸变、扭曲、菌丝壁消解;R15通过菌丝缠绕、穿透、紧贴的方式重寄生于烟草黑胫病菌菌丝上,致使菌丝断裂。链霉菌R15发酵液的热稳定性和酸碱稳定性较强,在20～55℃,pH3～9范围内都具有抑菌活性。