Clues to wood quality and production from analyzing ring width and density variabilities of fertilized Pinus taeda trees

Tree growth and wood density are influenced by forest management. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated their variability responses to fertilizer treatments at inter-annual, inter-tree and stand-production levels. Therefore, the annual ring width (RW) and density (RD) of sixty 17-year-old-Pinus taeda trees fertilized with six doses of composted pulp-mill sludge (CPMS) were analyzed. Ten trees for each treatment were felled and from which wood discs were taken at different trunk heights. The annual RW and RD were provided by X-ray microdensitometry, synchronized and the trunk basic specific gravity (SG_B) and biomass calculated. The effects of CPMS treatments were explored using interaction of variables RW and RD with cambial age, diameter, trunk SG_B and biomass production. Trees treated with CPMS grow faster, increasing their biomass (up to 108%), presenting lower wood density values (significant up to the 6th year) and reaching the mature wood later than untreated trees. Furthermore, the potential use of RW and RD in allometric equations showed good accuracy to predict trunk SG_B and biomass. Altogether, our results indicated that ring width and density revealed the impacts of fertilization treatment on wood quality and production. Our study also provides useful information for forest managers on the fertilization monitoring process.

     

Reduction in the mRNA expression of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 is associated with the selection of dominant follicle in cows

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for follicular development by promoting follicular angiogenesis, as well as for the proliferation and survival of granulosa cells. The biological effects of VEGF are regulated by two membrane receptors, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, and two soluble receptors, sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, which play an antagonistic role. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the mRNA expression pattern of total VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 in bovine preselected follicles (PRF) and post‐selected follicles (POF). The mRNA expression of these five genes in both granulosa cells (GC) and theca cells (TC) was compared between follicles classified as PRF and POF based on their diameter and on their ratio of estradiol/progesterone (E2/P4). Results showed a lower expression of mRNA of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 in POF than in PRF (p < .05). Regarding the mRNA expression of total VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, there was no difference between POF and PRF follicles (p > .05). Our results showed that the mRNA expression of VEGFR2 and sVEGFR1 was more abundant than the expression of VEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, while GC was the main source of mRNA for total VEGF. On the other hand, TC was the follicular compartment where the receptors were most expressed. Our results suggest that non‐dominant follicles maintain a greater concentration of the mRNA expression of both membrane and soluble VEGF receptors. On the other hand, follicular dominance is related to a reduction in the mRNA expression of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, which may favour VEGF binding with VEGFR2 and, hence, improve the follicular health and development.     

Effect of dietary protein content on growth rate,survival and body composition of juvenile cauque river prawn,Macrobrachium americanum (Bate 1868)

We determined the effect of four concentrations of dietary crude protein, 30.7, 37.2, 41.8 and 46.8% on growth rate, survival and body composition of the juvenile cauque river prawn (Macrobrachium americanum). The prawns were hatched in the laboratory from the spawn of one wild ovigerous female. Prawns consuming 37.2% crude protein reached a final weight of 0.58 g (feed conversion ratio of 2.15), which was significantly better than the other treatments. Survival was 100% in all treatments. Protein content in the diets had no significant effect on whole body proximate composition and amino acid profile. Juveniles consuming the 37.2% crude protein diet grew faster than those fed the other diets. Specific growth rate was adjusted to the two‐slope broken‐line regression analysis model to estimate the optimal protein requirement. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the 37.2% protein level diet is optimal for juvenile cauque river prawn M. americanum in the experimental conditions of this study.     

Energy analysis of irrigation delivery systems: monitoring and evaluation of proposed measures for improving energy efficiency

In Spain, the Ministry of Industry is implementing actions for analyzing the energy efficiency of Water User Associations (WUAs) by using energy indicators and proposing measures to improve the use of energy. The main objective of this work was to develop tools to improve energy efficiency in WUAs. These tools were validated by utilizing them in the energy analysis of 15 WUAs located in Castilla-La Mancha Region (Spain) during the 2007 irrigation season. These tools were also utilized for the proposal of measures to improve the use of energy. The proposed measures were monitored and evaluated in 7 of the 15 WUAs during the 2008 irrigation season. The developed tools were integrated into a Decision Support System for performing energy analysis and for proposing measures of energy efficiency improvement. In most of the study cases, an improvement of the energy efficiency after the implementation of the proposed measures was detected, with an average energy saving of the 10.2%.     

Spatial segregation of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) by size in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is an epipelagic fish distributed in oceanic and coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. This species is usually found in warm and coastal waters with high primary productivity. The main goal of this study was to describe the spatial segregation of striped marlin by average Eye‐Fork length (EFL) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and its relationship with environmental variables using EFL data obtained from tuna purse‐seining and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The model suggested that larger individuals of striped marlin were more likely to be found in waters with high Chlorophyll‐a concentration (>2 mg/m³) and with temperatures lower than 25°C, within a region known as the “cold tongue” and the Humboldt current system, while smaller individuals were more likely to be found in warmer and low productive areas within a region known as the “warm pool of the EPO.” We observed that set type caused a large variation on average EFL of striped marlin; larger fish were captured in sets associated with floating objects (natural and manmade), while smaller fish were captured in sets associated with dolphins. Despite this, our findings suggest that striped marlin has a latitudinal gradient in average EFL; larger individuals occurred predominantly south of 10°N, while smaller ones occurred predominantly in coastal waters between 10°N and 20°N, thus demonstrating a spatial segregation of the species affected by its maturity stage.     

Induced resistance: a tool for fungicide resistance management

Induced resistance to the apple scab fungus Venturia inaequalis was demonstrated in greenhouse tests with 12-day-old seedlings of the apple cultivar Golden Delicious treated with methyl 2,6-dichloro-isonicotinate or 3,5-dichlorosalicylic acid prior to inoculation with the causal fungus. Studies of the dose-response of flusilazole on induced resistant plants revealed synergistic effects between both crop protection principles. Therefore, the use of such resistance-inducing compounds in the field might allow a reduction in the number of fungicide applications, and possibly a reduction in dose, thus resulting in improved efficacy of fungicides. There was also evidence that induced resistance could prove to be a valid strategy for the treatment of pathogen populations with reduced sensitivity to a given fungicide. © 1998 SCI