Germination of an obligate seeder (Ulex parviflorus) and consequences for wildfire management

In fire-prone ecosystems, reducing the risk of wildfire is generally attempted through vegetation clearing using controlled fires or, less often, mechanical techniques. Management practices, however, can be poorly efficient when the disturbances they introduce install environmental conditions that are similar to the ones under which the undesirable species evolved. Ulex parviflorus is a Mediterranean obligate seeder with physical dormancy forming large amounts of highly combustible standing necromass. In the present study, combining field and laboratory experiments, we determined the seedling recruitment of this species under different management practices (burning, mechanical clearing, slash/no slash on soil surface), we measured the environmental conditions (temperature, light, and moisture) enforced by these practices and we tested their individual and combined impact on germination in order to determine the most appropriate control method for this species. Germination is low under intact canopies, but it is strongly stimulated by both brush-chipping and fire. This is partly related to the inhibiting effect of the low red:far-red ratio of the light filtered by the canopy which is removed by brush-chipping and fire. The other factor involved is moderate heat, either fire-generated or resulting from solar radiation on bare soil, which breaks seed coat impermeability. Indeed exposing seeds on bare soil in summer resulted in a significant increase in their germination capacity and germination was reduced when the brush chips remained on the soil. Moisture fluctuations did not enhance germination. The summer heat impact affects management practices. When the brush-chipping treatment occurred before summer, the germination flush appeared the following autumn, but when the treatment occurred after summer, the germination flush did not appear until the autumn of the subsequent year, when interspecific competition with regenerating vegetation is likely to be more intense. We demonstrated that brush-chipping, especially when done after summer, is a better technique than fire for controlling U. parviflorus because it creates environmental conditions that are less favourable for its germination. This technique also has the potential to favour late-successional species less vulnerable to fire. By combining fuel reduction and land restoration, this technique is useful to the sustainable management policies that need to be developed.     

Optimal numbers of environments to assess slopes of joint regression for grain yield,grain protein yield and grain protein concentration under nitrogen constraint in winter wheat

Plant breeders are interested in rationally reducing the number of testing environments for breeding new genotypes adapted to diverse conditions. One way to characterize the adaptation of a genotype is to use the joint regression model. Our objectives were to estimate the stability for grain yield (GY), grain protein yield (GPY) and grain protein content (GPC) of a set of wheat genotypes grown under varying nitrogen conditions and then to determine optimal numbers of environments for assessing the slopes of joint regression.     

Modelling binary mixtures of herbicides in populations resistant to one of the components: evaluation for resistance management

BACKGROUND: Herbicide mixtures are commonly proposed to delay the selection of herbicide resistance in susceptible populations (called the SM strategy). However, in practice, herbicide mixtures are often used when resistance to one of the two active ingredients has already been detected in the targeted population (called the RM strategy). It is doubtful whether such a practice can select against resistance, as the corresponding selection pressure is still exerted. As a consequence, the effect of mixtures on the evolution of an already detected resistance to one of the herbicides in the combination remains largely unexplored. In the present work, a simple model was developed to explore further the necessary and sufficient conditions under which a binary RM strategy might stabilise or even reduce resistance frequency. RESULTS: Covering the hypothetical largest range of parameters, 39% of 9000 random simulations attest that the RM strategy might theoretically reduce resistance frequency. When strong enough, high genetic cost of resistance, negative cross‐resistance between the herbicides associated in the mixture and reduced selection differential between resistant and susceptible plants can counterbalance the resistance advantage to one of the two applied herbicides. However, the required conditions for an RM strategy to ensure resistance containment in natural conditions seldom overlap with experimental parameter estimates given in the literature. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the sufficient conditions for an RM strategy to be effective would rarely be encountered. As a consequence, the strategy of formulating mixtures with herbicides for which resistance has already been detected should be avoided. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

How to substantiate eradication of bovine brucellosis when aspecific serological reactions occur in the course of brucellosis testing

Collaborative work was financed by the EU to develop and assess new diagnostic tools that can differentiate between bovine brucellosis and bovine infections due to Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 either in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the classical serological, bacteriological or allergic skin tests. Sixteen heifers were experimentally infected with Brucella abortus biovar 1 (five heifers), Brucella suis biovar 2 (two heifers), Y. enterocolitica O:9 (six heifers) and Y. enterocolitica O:3 (three heifers). Four heifers, naturally infected with Y. enterocolitica O:9 that presented aspecific brucellosis serological reactions were also included in the experiment. A self-limited infection was induced in cattle by B. suis biovar 2. All the brucellosis serological tests used, i.e. the slow agglutination test (SAW), the Rose Bengal test (RB), the complement fixation test (CFT), indirect and competitive ELISA’s, lacked specificity when used to analyze sera from Y. enterocolitica O:9 infected animals. A Yersinia outer membrane proteins (YOPs)-ELISA was also used and although the test is able to detect a Yersinia group infection, it provided no evidence of whether or not there is a possible brucellosis infection when dual infections are present. The brucellergen IFN-γ test showed a lack of specificity also. The only test that was proven to be specific is the brucellergen skin test. All brucellosis serological tests, except the indirect ELISA, were limited in their ability to detect B. abortus persistently infected animals.

Based on these experimental studies, a strategy was implemented as part of the year 2001 Belgian Brucellosis Eradication Program to substantiate the eradication of bovine brucellosis. Epidemiological inquiries have identified risk factors associated with aspecific serological reactions, possible transmission and infection of cattle by B. suis biovar 2 from infected wild boars; and both legal and administrative measures taken by the veterinary services. No cases of bovine brucellosis have been confirmed in Belgium since March 2000.     

Comparison of Multistage Versus One-Stage Destabilization of a Type II External Fixator Used to Stabilize an Oblique Tibial Osteotomy in Dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical effects of multistage versus one-stage destabilization of a type II external skeletal fixator (ESF) used to stabilize an oblique unstable tibial osteotomy in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experimental study. ANIMAL POPULATION: Twelve healthy adult dogs. METHODS: The biomechanical characteristics of the type II ESF used in this study were determined. This fixator was applied to both tibiae of two groups of 6 dogs to stabilize a 2-mm-wide oblique osteotomy. One fixator on each dog remained unchanged throughout the 11-week study (control group). The fixator on the opposite limb was destabilized late and acutely in one group of dogs (single-stage) and early and progressively in the other (multistage). Clinical examination, radiographic examination, and force-plate analysis were used to evaluate the results. All dogs were euthanatized at 11 weeks. All tibiae were scanned to determine the cross-sectional area of the callus in the center of the osteotomy and subjected to biomechanical tests to determine mean pull-out strength of pins and callus strength and stiffness. RESULTS: Stiffness of the type II ESF used in this study was 578 N/mm in axial compression, 0.767 Nm/deg in torsion, 261 N/mm in medio-lateral bending, and 25 N/mm in cranio-caudal bending. Peak vertical forces of the hindlimbs were significantly lower at 2.5 and 5 weeks than before surgery. Peak vertical forces of the hindlimbs did not change before and after destabilization. No significant differences could be detected between the two destabilization sequences or between all control tibiae and pooled destabilized tibiae with regards to radiographic evaluation of the healing osteotomy, cross-sectional periosteal callus area, mean pull-out strength of transfixation pins, callus strength, and callus stiffness. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bone healing of unstable osteotomies stabilized with a type II ESF is not significantly enhanced by staged destabilization of the fixation as performed in this study.