Growth,morphology and gas exchange responses of two-year-old Quercus castaneifolia seedlings to flooding stress

Tolerance to flooding is crucial when thinking in promissory species for restoration of ecosystems prone to suffer soil water excess. In this study, we tested the flooding tolerance of two-years-old seedlings of Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey.) to determine whether it can be recommended for use in wetland restoration programs. Seedlings of Q. castaneifolia were subjected to three treatments: (1) control (C), (2) flooding for 60 days followed by a 42-day recovery period (F?+?R) and (3) continuous flooding for 102 days (F). Physiological performance, plant morphological changes and biomass accumulation were assessed. Results showed that, although net photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration decreased with prolonged flooding, when flood waters were removed, plants were able to recover their physiological activity (49–80% compared to controls). By contrast, when plants were continually flooded, their physiological activity decreased as well as the leaves experienced precocious senescence and wilting. Biomass responses paralleled physiological responses: leaf and root biomass were 42–49% higher under F?+?R treatment than under continuous flooding, and all plants under the F?+?R survived. Therefore, Q. castaneifolia appears as a promising species to be further studied when thinking re-vegetation of riverine areas and other temporarily flooded wetlands.     

Dynamic response of wall-floor joints of wooden light-frame constructions under forced harmonic vibrations

Shaking table tests of the wall-floor joints of wooden light-frame constructions under forced harmonic vibrations are conducted in this study so as to observe the dynamic responsive characteristics. The principal results are as follows: The responsive characteristics of timber constructions under strong earthquakes cannot be directly correlated with their resonant frequencies under free or forced vibrations with low input accelerations, because they behave as continuous bodies when the input accelerations are less than the apparent frictional limits of structural joints. The apparent frictional limits are reduced by periodic fluctuation of the effective vertical loads as a result of the vertical motion of the specimens. The characteristic dynamic responses of wall-floor joints depend clearly upon the frequency and input accelerations of forced vibrations. These dependencies arise from the nonlinear load-slip relationship of the wall-floor joints. The equivalent stiffness in their successive transient phases decreases as joint slip increases, which gradually changes the resonant frequencies of the wall-floor joints. This indicates that the frequency components dominant to ultimate or safety-limit resistance should be distinguished from those dominant to allowable or serviceability-limit resistance.     

Inhibitory effect of Ipomoea aquatica extracts on glucose absorption using a perfused rat intestinal preparation

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the effect of Ipomoea aquatica aqueous and dichloromethane/methanol extracts on the glucose absorption using a rat intestinal preparation in situ. Extracts orally tested at the dose of 160 mg/kg exerted a significant inhibitory effect on glucose absorption when compared with control animals. The most pronounced effect was observed with the aqueous extract. Ouabain used as reference inhibitor strongly inhibited glucose absorption. On the other hand both plant extracts inhibited the gastrointestinal motility suggesting that the inhibition of glucose absorption is not due to the acceleration of intestinal transit.     

Distribution of preservatives in thermally modified Scots pine and Norway spruce sapwood

Studying the impregnation and distribution of oil-based preservative in dried wood is complicated as wood is a nonhomogeneous, hygroscopic and porous material, and especially of anisotropic nature. However, this study is important since it has influence on the durability of wood. To enhance the durability of thermally modified wood, a new method for preservative impregnation is introduced, avoiding the need for external pressure or vacuum. This article presents a study on preservative distribution in thermally treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) sapwood using computed tomography scanning, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Secondary treatment of thermally modified wood was performed on a laboratory scale by impregnation with two types of preservatives, viz. Elit Träskydd (Beckers) and pine tar (tar), to evaluate their distribution in the wood cells. Preservative solutions were impregnated in the wood using a simple and effective method. Samples were preheated to 170 °C in a drying oven and immediately submerged in preservative solutions for simultaneous impregnation and cooling. Tar penetration was found higher than Beckers, and their distribution decreased with increasing sample length. Owing to some anatomical properties, uptake of preservatives was low in spruce. Besides, dry-induced interstitial spaces, which are proven important flow paths for seasoned wood, were not observed in this species.     

Anti-acne activity of tannin-related compounds isolated from Terminalia laxiflora

In our investigation to find out new anti-acne agent, we focused on Terminalia laxiflora Engl & Diels (Combretaceae) methanolic wood extract, which has been selected during previous screening experiments for anti-acne agents, which included 29 species of Sudanese medicinal plants. Based on the biologically guided fractionation using an antibacterial assay against Propionibacterium acnes, a lipase inhibitory assay and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay; five tannin-related compounds were isolated, such as ellagic acid, flavogallonic acid dilactone, terchebulin and gallic acid. Terchebulin showed good antibacterial activity; minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 125 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 250 μg/ml. Gallic acid exhibited lipase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 149.3 μM, which showed strong inhibition compared with terchebulin, IC₅₀ 260.7 μM. However, all compounds exhibited better or equal DPPH radical scavenging activity to (+)-catechin as positive control. Ellagic acid and terchebulin showed the best DPPH radical scavenging activities, IC₅₀ 4.86 and 4.90 μM, respectively. This study demonstrated that terchebulin has potentiality as an anti-acne agent.     

Toxicity of three insecticides and tobacco extract against the fungus gnat, Lycoriella auripila and the economic injury level of the gnat on button mushroom

Lycoriella auripila (Winnertz) (Diptera: Sciaridae) is one of the most frequently seen pests of cultivated mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. The effects of different concentrations of diazinon, imidacloprid and deltamethrin, and tobacco extract were tested against L. auripila on varieties 737 and A15 of button mushroom. Also, economic injury level (EIL) of fungus gnat was evaluated on variety 737. Different varieties of button mushroom were cultured and weight of harvested mushrooms was recorded to provide an estimate of yield loss. A linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between pest density and mushroom yield. Imidacloprid was the most effective insecticide against L. auripila on both varieties and caused 100 % control at the highest tested concentration. The lowest concentration of diazinon (500 ppm a.i.) increased pest emergence on 737 and A15. This is possibly due to the hormoligosis. Deltamethrin and tobacco extract were ineffective against fungus gnat between both varieties. High levels of adults of L. auripila were associated with significant reduction in mushroom yield. EIL were calculated according to the number of L. auripila required to cause the critical yield loss from the predictive model and by control costs, mushroom price, and the reduction of injury due to spraying by imidacloprid and diazinon. The lowest values of EIL were related to imidacloprid compared with diazinon. This is due to the different efficiency of these two insecticides, for it causes mortality in population of L. auripila. Based on this research, for the first time clear EILs are introduced to the button mushroom growers for treatment of L. auripila.     

Bacteria wilt of Casuarina equisetifolia in India

Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) was consistently isolated from the wilted plants of Casuarina equisetifolia. The isolate gave positive reaction to oxidase, catalase and gas production from nitrate and negative reaction for arginine dihydrolase and acid was produced from various carbohydrates. Wilt produced on tomato, egg plant and capsicum indicated that the pathogen belongs to Race I and Biovar III of P. solanacearum which is a new record from India.     

Effects of leaf area and auxin on rooting and growth of rooted stem cuttings of neem

Green stem cuttings, obtained from 2-year old managed stockplants, with 30, 50 or 100% leaf area were rooted in a non-mist propagator following treatment with 0, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8% IBA solution. The rooted cuttings were transferred to polythene pots and grown in a nursery for 12 weeks. Rooting percentages of IBA treated cuttings did not significantly differ from those of control cuttings. Likewise leaf area did not significantly influence the percentage of cuttings that rooted. The effects of leaf area and/or IBA treatment in the propagation unit were manifested on the growth of rooted cuttings in polythene pots. Number of roots increased with the increase in IBA concentration and this response was enhanced by increasing leaf area. Root biomass increased with the increase in leaf area even in the control cuttings. Root development was highly influenced by the leaf area and IBA, and hence the growth of rooted cuttings. Cuttings treated with 0.2 or 0.4% IBA at 100% leaf area yielded the best performing rooted cuttings.     

Alleviation of dormancy in walnut kernels by moist chilling is independent from storage protein mobilization

We studied the effects of moist chilling and warming on storage protein mobilization in walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernels to assess the metabolic inhibition theory, which states that dormant seeds are unable to utilize their own food reserves and that cold conditions allow germination by activating hydrolases involved in reserve mobilization. Stratifying kernels at 5 degrees C for 40 days enhanced their germination. During both cold stratification and warm incubation of kernels, storage protein mobilization occurred in cotyledons rather than axes. Kernel amino acid concentration increased during protein mobilization, with axes of warm-incubated kernels having particularly high amino acid concentrations. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) of the soluble protein fractions from both cold-stratified and warm-incubated cotyledons revealed increased band intensities of putative glutelins (19-22 and 32-35 kDa). A very high molecular weight protease was detected by gelatin SDS-PAGE that was most active at acid to neutral pHs in imbibed, cold stratified and germinated kernels suggesting the protease(s) was synthesized earlier in the mature seeds. Thus, in dormant walnut kernels there is no block to protein mobilization, and imbibition alone is sufficient to initiate proteolysis. Catalase activity was higher in warm-incubated kernels than in cold-stratified kernels, suggesting that seed aging is hastened under warm conditions and that cold stratification in walnut kernels might involve activation of cellular repair mechanisms.