Structural and environmental characterization of old-growth temperate rainforests of northern Chiloé Island,Chile: Regional and global relevance

Old-growth forests are ecologically relevant reservoirs of biodiversity and provide valuable and unique ecosystem functions in the landscape. However, what constitutes an old-growth stand is confusing because the definition depends largely on the forest type under study. Despite the ecological importance of old-growth temperate rainforests in southern Chile in comparison to other global forests, no attempts have been made to characterize them as a way to assess their structural variability. Here, we characterized old-growth stands of Valdivian and North Patagonian rain forest types located in Chiloé Island (Chile, 42°30′S) using inventory data from 23 permanent plots (0.1 ha each) located in rural landscapes and protected areas of northern Chiloé Island. For each stand, its age (average age of the oldest trees present in each stand) and disturbance regimes (evidence of recent human impact, e.g. cuttings or fires, and tree growth rates) were used as defining old-growth criteria. We characterized the structure (tree species richness, size-density distributions, vertical stratification and presence of snags) and floristic composition of each stand. Environmental variables (i.e. temperature, distance to coastline and elevation) were related to stand structure using multivariate constrained correspondence analysis. Old-growth forests were commonly characterized by (a) tree basal areas >80 m²/ha; (b) density of shade-tolerant tree species in the emergent and dominant canopy layer >36%; (c) higher tree species richness (>7 tree species) than successional stands; (d) presence of large canopy emergents (>80 cm dbh, >25 m tall); (e) high vertical heterogeneity; and (f) minimum stand ages older than 200 years. Old-growth forests showed a distinctive structural variability and floristic diversity influenced both by stand age and disturbance history of the stands. Structural variability was also related to environmental differences among sites (e.g. air temperature, distance to coastline, soil types). Old-growth forest features described here can offer a baseline for managers interested in maintaining and restoring old-growth forest structure in southern temperate rain forests.     

Variability of total flavonoids in Crataegus--factor evaluation for the monitored production of industrial starting material

European Hawthorn species (Crataegus spp.) are traditionally used for their demonstrated cardioprotective benefits. Most products are based on the compendial leaf and flower drug (LFD), which is standardised on the total flavonoid content (TF). In order to reduce variability associated with the wild plant origin and to ease product standardisation, we set out to develop a sustainable source of high quality raw material. Firstly, the LFD of wild trees in Germany was screened in terms of TF content (spectrophotometric analysis, calculated as hyperoside) according to the current pharmacopoeia requirements. Secondly, eleven high value provenances were selected, propagated, cultivated and the grafted clones were reanalysed. Thirdly, major environmental and sourcing influences were assessed: the year of harvest, the growing location, exposure to sunlight, the harvest time and the portion of leaf, flower and wood within the LFD. We found the TF in LFD of 150 wild grown Crataegus ranged between 0.28% and 1.92% (average 1.15%). Pure single styled Crataegus monogyna and hybrid trees represented the major portion (57%) of all screened trees. The hybrids with mainly two-styled flowers (pure Crataegus laevigata and hybrids) showed slightly higher TF values. The selected clones proved to maintain a high TF profile in cultivation, although superiority was attenuated when not only O-glycosides, but also C-glycosides were covered by the assay. Environmental influence surpassed in part the genetic variation of the selection in this study. In conclusion, cultivated high performance trees under central European conditions produced LFD exceeding the Pharmacopoeia standards. Careful monitoring of production - particularly in terms of the harvest time and actual LFD location and composition - has decisive impact to guarantee consistent high TF values.     

Limnological effects on a first order stream after wood ash application to a boreal forest catchment in Bispgården,Sweden

In Sweden, whole tree harvest is common practice, possibly leading to the depletion of mineral nutrients. Furthermore, the increased use of forestry residues for heat production has caused an increasingly growing amount of by-product consisting of wood ash. Therefore, the Swedish Forest Agency has recommended wood ash application (WAA) to replace the mineral nutrients removed by whole tree harvesting, as well as a means to mitigate the acidification of boreal forests and surface waters. In a multidisciplinary study during 2003–2006 in Bispgården (Sweden), we have investigated the limnological effects on a first order stream after WAA (conducted in 2004; 3000 kg ha⁻¹) to a 50-ha forested catchment. In general, no significant effects on an annual basis were found for acidification parameters, such as pH, alkalinity and toxic forms of aluminum (Al). There was, however, evidence of an increased pH during the spring flood, accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in the frequency of low pH-values (<5.6). Moreover, alkalinity increased in the years 2005 and 2006 compared to that of 2003, although the increase in 2006 was not statistically different from that in 2005 or 2003. High concentrations of Al repeatedly occurred in the stream, and the WAA did not affect the frequencies of high concentrations of toxic Al forms (>50 μg l⁻¹). The benthic diatom community did not change as a result of the wood ash treatment and the diatom-based index IPS (Indice de PulluoSensibilité) indicated no nutrient enrichment or organic pollution of the stream water. There were, however, indices of elevated concentrations of potassium (K) in the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica and in leaves from Alder (Alnus incana). We conclude that wood ash treatment of a forested catchment with the dose and form of ash applied in this study did not modify the freshwater ecosystem of a first order stream.     

Re-examining the glomalin-purity of glomalin-related soil protein fractions through immunochemical,lectin-affinity and soil labelling experiments

Due to analytical similarities with the mycorrhizal glycoprotein glomalin, ubiquitous citrate and heat-extractable soil protein fractions have been assumed to be predominantly glomalin-stabilised within soil. Often termed glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), little however is actually known of the “glomalin-purity” of these soil fractions. We undertook western and lectin blots and crossed immuno/lectin affinity electrophoresis (CIE/CLAE) analysis of “easily extractible” GRSP fractions, as well as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) of “total” GRSP fractions. To further test whether soil saprobes contribute to GRSP production, we amended soil with ¹⁴C-sucrose and examined whether ¹⁴C could be traced in the GRSP pool over a 500-day incubation period.While only four of six bands on SDS–PAGE profiles of easily extracted GRSP reacted with anti-glomalin MAb32B11 and the lectin Con A under our blotting conditions, CIE/CLAE indicated the presence of a single protein moiety in the easily extractible GRSP pool. LC–MS/MS analysis of total GRSP pooled from various soils also showed that although traces of protein tentatively assignable to soil bacteria were present in GRSP, their concentrations were low. Additionally, specific activity of total GRSP in ¹⁴C-labelled soil was relatively depleted compared to the bulk soil and soil microbial biomass. This suggests that little GRSP of heterotrophic origin was laid down over the incubation period, although the potential presence of a pre-existing ¹⁴C-free GRSP background, as well as of low microbial dynamics in the absence of any further substrate inputs to the soil warrant caution with this inference.     

Genetic diversity of Swiss maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L. ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mays</Emphasis>) assessed with individuals and bulks on agarose gels

About 65 years ago, more than 150 Swiss maize landraces (Zea mays L. ssp. mays) of the flint type were collected and conserved ex situ. Due to the climatically and culturally diverse environment of the Alps, a considerable genetic diversity of this material was assumed. To prove this, an efficient method was required to carry out genetic profiling of all the accessions in the Swiss Gene Bank. Simple sequence repeat marker (SSR) profiling in combination with the visualization of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products on agarose gels was chosen. Here a set of 19 different landrace accessions was analyzed to: (i) investigate their genetic diversity, (ii) investigate and display the population structure and (iii) determine whether DNA bulks rather than single plants can be used for such analyses. Four repeated samples of one accession were found to be much closer to one another than to the rest of accessions. Furthermore, specific alleles were identified for several accessions. The PCR products of the bulked DNA samples represented only a small part of the variation revealed by the analysis of individuals. Loci with four base repeat motifs performed better in the analysis of bulks than loci with other repeat motifs. The correlation between genetic distance matrices, based on the analysis of individuals and bulks, respectively, was significant. Thus, the single plant approach allowed for sufficient differentiation of accessions, and DNA bulks visualized on agarose gels led to correlated genetic distances although a limited number of alleles were detected. Although the limited resolution of agarose gels likely causes some bias, profiling of larger sets with the individual plant approach appears feasible and more informative compared to the bulk analysis we conducted.     

三节臂机载式疏花机的研制与试验

为减小疏果环节繁重的用工压力、提升果园作业效率和降低用工成本,该文基于自主研发的三节臂机载式疏花机,在"Y"字棚架形翠冠梨园中进行了疏花试验研究。以达到50%的花蕾保留率为疏花目标,结合疏花绳击打力度测试,确定了疏花轴在0.44 m/s行进速度下的最佳作业转速:254 r/min。疏花机田间性能试验中,研究疏花机疏花与人工定果、手持式疏花器疏花与人工定果、人工疏花与定果3种作业方式相比于只人工疏果作业方式,对花蕾保留率、坐果率、作业效率、果实产量及品质的影响。试验结果表明:机械疏花与人工疏花在作业质量上无明显差异,但疏花机作业稳定性较其他作业方式高;疏花机可降低梨树的绝对坐果率,虽然对幼果坐果量有一定的影响,但是经过定果环节后并不影响后期果实的产量及品质;疏花机的疏花效率在所有试验组中最高,相比于单一的人工疏果方式可节约66.17%的时间,适合机械化梨园大规模作业;手持式疏花器的作业效率仅次于疏花机,相比于单一的人工疏果方式作业时间可节约37.26%,适用于中小规模梨园。该试验研究有利于提高疏花机作业质量,为梨园机械化管理提供参考。     

Hyperphosphorylation of cereal starch

Plant starch is naturally phosphorylated at a fraction of the C6 and the C3 hydroxyl groups during its biosynthesis in plastids. Starch phosphate esters are important in starch metabolism and they also generate specific industrial functionality. Cereal grains starch contains little starch bound phosphate compared with potato tuber starch and in order to investigate the effect of increased endosperm starch phosphate, the potato starch phosphorylating enzyme glucan water dikinase (StGWD) was overexpressed specifically in the developing barley endosperm. StGWD overexpressors showed wild-type phenotype. Transgenic cereal grains synthesized starch with higher starch bound phosphate content (7.5 (±0.67) nmol/mg) compared to control lines (0.8 (±0.05) nmol/mg) with starch granules showing altered morphology and lower melting enthalpy. Our data indicate specific action of GWD during starch biosynthesis and demonstrates the possibility for in planta production of highly phosphorylated cereal starch.     

Novel, binder-free fiber reinforced composites based on a renewable resource from the reed-like plant Typha sp.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate for the first time the technological potential of novel, totally bio-based, binder-free vegetable fiber-composites based on the reed-like plant Typha sp. Binder-free vegetable fiberboards based on Cattails were prepared and their mechanical (flexural modulus of elasticity, flexural strength and water absorption) and surface textural properties were determined. The influence of press time and panel density on the properties was investigated. In contrast to currently known natural fiber composites based on hemp, flax, kenaf or the like annual plants which all require up to 30 wt% of suitable bonding resins, the typha based composites were prepared completely without the addition of any extraneous glue and showed good mechanical performance that clearly exceeded the performance of other natural fiber composites containing low percentages of phenolic binder (15%). Of special interest were the superior surface properties of the typha based panels. Despite the coarse nature of the raw fiber material and the rough texture of the typha based fiber mats, binder-free typha panels showed excellent surface smoothness which makes this novel composite material highly interesting for light-weight applications with high surface quality standards, for example, as powder-coated elements for the automotive and furniture industries.     

Flea beetle (Phyllotreta undulata Kutschera) sensitivity to insecticides used in seed dressings and foliar sprays

Flea beetles of the genus Phyllotreta (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), which are severe pests in spring oilseed rape, have become increasingly difficult to control in some areas in Sweden. The current practice for plant protection is to use seed treatments followed by foliar applications of insecticide. Seed treatment with the single, currently registered neonicotinoid insecticide (active ingredient: imidacloprid) was compared to untreated controls and seed treatment with clothianidin using Phyllotreta undulata Kutschera beetles from 10 locations. Beetles from the overwintered generation and the new generation from the same 10 locations were used in bioassays to detect possible reduced sensitivity to the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin. Seed treatment with clothianidin provided better protection for seedlings than imidacloprid. Highly variable results were obtained from the pyrethroid bioassays, but tests performed on beetles collected in August indicated that most sampled beetle populations are still susceptible to lambda-cyhalothrin. It is, however, important that the need for foliar applications is minimized to avoid insecticide resistance selection pressure. This requires seed treatments with adequate efficacy against flea beetles together with cultural control measures that can reduce flea beetle damage.