Prediction of parental combination for introduction of stay-green associated loci in wheat

In wheat, the increase of yield and stability associated traits can be achieved by combining parents containing the stay-green trait and favorable alleles for grain yield. The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic dissimilarity between wheat lines from stay-green and synchronized maturation groups and elite cultivars. Moreover, to propose promising combinations seeking the selection of high-grain yield and high bread-making quality genotypes containing stay-green trait. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications in 2003, 2004, and 2005, using sister-lines with the presence and absence of stay-green trait and elite cultivars. Genetic variability exists among wheat strains from the synchronized stay-green maturation group and elite cultivars. Genotypes of maturation group stay-green obtained an average performance superior to the synchronized group. Crosses between stay-green lines and the CEP 29 and BRS 177 cultivars are promising in the selection of genotypes carrying the stay-green trait with high yield and bread-making quality.     

Water availability affects nectar sugar production and insect visitation of the cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asteraceae)

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered as an alternative feedstock to maize for biogas plants. Due to its ecological advantages of an extensive management and function as food resource for pollinators, it can be grown in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) since 2018. However, studies at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Braunschweig (Germany) showed that the assumed advantage of the cup plant of a high drought tolerance could not be confirmed regarding aspects of crop production and yield. We complemented this experiment by assessing how different soil moisture conditions affect the production of floral resources and insect visitation. In 2014, we sampled three irrigated and three rainfed plots of the cup plant. We quantified the nectar volume and sugar mass per inflorescence, the number of inflorescences per plant and calculated the total nectar sugar production. We further counted insect visitation on the inflorescences. Due to reduced numbers of inflorescences per plant and an earlier harvest, the estimated nectar sugar production was 58 kg/ha regarding irrigated and 20 kg/ha regarding rainfed plots. Honeybee visitation per inflorescence was about twice as high in the irrigated plots. Furthermore, the early harvest is a disadvantage for wild pollinators with a late activity period.     

Suspect West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in an imported horse in the UK

This report describes a suspect case of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis, reported for the first time in a horse in the UK. The affected gelding had been imported from the Republic of Cyprus and travelled through several WNV endemic areas in Europe before arriving at the premises in Lincolnshire. Clinical signs included muscle fasciculations, weakness of the hindlimbs and transient lip twitching that quickly progressed to depression and recumbency. West Nile virus specific antibodies were detected by serological tests in the absence of a previous history of vaccination. The horse improved clinically 10 days after the onset of disease and fully recovered in 12 weeks. Follow‐ups at 12 and 20 months post event did not reveal any sequela and the horse was performing adequately at novice level. This article refers to the same horse mentioned by Fooks et al. (2014) and it is an extension of the previous published work.     

Influence of waterlogging on carbon stock variability at hillslope scale in a beech forest (Fougères forest — West France)

The Kyoto protocol [39] directs the signatory countries including France to establish an inventory of carbon stocks in forests. Precise estimates of carbon stocks are hampered by local spatial variability, in particular in wetland areas [25]. The aims of this work are: (i) to estimate the spatial variability of carbon stocks on two hillslopes presenting respectively, a transition between a well-drained zone and a wetland area over a short-distance, and a very progressive transition; (ii) to correlate this variability with soil waterlogging and topographic variations and (iii) to evaluate carbon stock prediction by modelling waterlogging intensity as soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks increase significantly with waterlogging. However, SOC stocks in redoximorphic soils are highly variable, particularly in zones where carbon is redistributed due to erosion and sedimentation. In the litter and the vegetation, the age and density of the stand are the main explanatory factors of C variability. Topographic modelling of the waterlogging intensity could improve the spatial estimation of SOC stocks but not of the C stocks in the humus and vegetation.     

Temperate agroforestry research: considering multifunctional woody polycultures and the design of long-term field trials

The many benefits of agroforestry are well-documented, from ecological functions such as biodiversity conservation and water quality improvement, to cultural functions including aesthetic value. In North American agroforestry, however, little emphasis has been placed on production capacity of the woody plants themselves, taking into account their ability to transform portions of the landscape from annual monoculture systems to diversified perennial systems capable of producing fruits, nuts, and timber products. In this paper, we introduce the concept of multifunctional woody polycultures (MWPs) and consider the design of long-term experimental trials for supporting research on agroforestry emphasizing tree crops. Critical aspects of long-term agroforestry experiments are summarized, and two existing well-documented research sites are presented as case studies. A new long-term agroforestry trial at the University of Illinois, “Agroforestry for Food,” is introduced as an experiment designed to test the performance of increasingly complex woody plant combinations in an alley cropping system with productive tree crops. This trial intends to address important themes of food security, climate change, multifunctionality, and applied solutions. The challenges of establishing, maintaining, and funding long-term agroforestry research trials are discussed.     

Studies on the material resistance and moisture dynamics of Common juniper,English yew,Black cherry,and Rowan

The overall aim of this study was to provide comprehensive durability characteristics of wood species underutilized but frequently occurring in Central and Northern Europe: Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.), Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), English yew (Taxus baccata L.), and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.). Decay resistance was tested against white and brown rot causing basidiomycetes and soft rot causing micro-fungi in terrestrial microcosms. Their wetting ability was determined in terms of capillary water uptake at the end-grain, the liquid water uptake during submersion, the water vapor uptake at high humidity, and the water release during drying. All tests were performed with unleached and leached specimens. Durability classes were assigned based on results from the different tests. Juniper and Yew were classified very durable (Durability class DC 1); Black cherry and Rowan were found to be less durable (DC 3–5). Leaching did not affect the durability classification significantly. Durability characteristics were completed with different indicators for the wetting ability of the four wood species. The combined effect of wetting ability and inherent decay resistance was considered for service life modeling based on a resistance model using dose–response relationships between material climate (dose) and fungal decay above ground (response).     

Relationships between biochemical attributes (non-structural carbohydrates and phenolics) and natural durability against fungi in dry teak wood (Tectona grandis L. f.)

• Introduction   

Non-structural carbohydrates and phenolic compounds are implicated in the natural durability of wood. In order to find the chemical traits of natural durability in teak wood, the radial distribution of phenolics compounds and non-structural carbohydrates were studied in trees ranked by contrasting natural durability class against Antrodia sp.     

A general framework for the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services of tree-based intercropping systems

This study provides the first complete framework for the valuation of ecosystem services of agroforestry and uses a tree-based intercropping (TBI) system in southern Québec, Canada, as a case study. Ten ecosystem services were estimated, all of which were of interest and directly applicable to most agricultural systems worldwide: nutrient mineralization, water quality, soil quality, pollination, biological control, air quality, windbreak, timber provisioning, agriculture provisioning, and climate regulation. A mix of mathematical models for the quantification and economic valuation of various ecosystem services were used. The results revealed a total annual margin of $2,645 ha^?1 y^?1 (averaged over 40 years). The economic value of combined non-market services was $1,634 ha^?1 y^?1, which was higher than the value of marketable products (i.e. timber and agricultural products). An analysis of the present value suggested that agricultural products ranked highest among the ecosystem services taken singularly, followed by water quality, air quality, climate regulation, and soil quality maintenance. Total economic value of all ecosystem services for the rotation period was $54,782 ha^?1, only one third of which was contributed by agricultural products. Although the total value of the ecosystem services provided by TBI was high, farmers only benefited from agricultural and timber products. Thus, government incentives are needed to interest farmers in adopting practices that benefit society as a whole.     

Development of cotton pests exhibiting different feeding strategy on water-stressed and kaolin-treated cotton plants

Consistent data demonstrate the positive response of sap-sucking insects to water-stressed plants, but there is a lack of information about the performance of chewing species, including whether their responses vary according to their feeding specializations. We tested the hypothesis that herbivores with distinct feeding strategies and host specialization will respond differently to two plant conditions, i.e. water deficit and kaolin treatment, where the latter is used to reduce abiotic and biotic plant stressors. We determined the development and reproduction of four major cotton pest species with different feeding strategies (chewing and sap sucking) and with specializations ranging from monophagous to polyphagous using well-watered or water-stressed cotton plants, which were treated or not treated with kaolin. Three chewing (lepidopteran) species, Alabama argillacea (Hüb.), Heliothis virescens (Fabr.) and Chrysodeixis includens (Walk), as well as one sap-sucking species, Bemisia tabaci (Gen.), were used as models. The neonate larvae of all three chewing species exhibited lower survival when fed the leaves of water-stressed plants. In addition, the neonate larvae fed leaves from water-stressed and kaolin-treated plants did not complete their development or they exhibited low survival. Older larvae also exhibited significantly lower survival on kaolin-treated plants. The effects on life history traits were more obvious in monophagous chewing species compared with polyphagous species when fed leaves from water-stressed plants. The performance of B. tabaci was superior on water-stressed and untreated kaolin plants. Thus, water-stressed and kaolin-treated plants negatively affected all chewing species, whereas water-stressed plants only positively affected the sap-sucking species.