A procedure for estimating the number of green mature apples in night-time orchard images using light distribution and its application to yield estimation

A procedure for estimating the number of mature apples in orchard images captured at night-time with artificial illumination was developed and its potential for estimating yield was investigated. The procedure was tested using four datasets totaling more than 800 images taken with cameras positioned at three heights. The procedure for detecting apples was based on the observation that the light distribution on apples follows a simple pattern in which the perceived light intensity decreases with the distance from a local maximum due to specular reflection. Accordingly, apple detection was achieved by detecting concentric circles (or parts of circles) in binary images obtained via threshold operations. For each dataset, after calibration of the procedure using 12 images, the estimates of the number of apples were within a few percent of the number of apples counted by visual inspection. Yield estimations were obtained via multi-linear models that used between two and six images per tree. The results obtained using all three cameras were only slightly better than those obtained using only two cameras. Using images from only one side of the tree did not worsen the results significantly. Overall, the yield estimated by the best models was within \(\pm\)10 % of the actual yield. However, the standard deviation of the yield estimation errors corresponded to ~26–37 % of the average tree yield, indicating that improvements are still needed in order to achieve accurate yield estimation at the single-tree level.     

不同豆科植物对土壤酸化的影响

以9种豆科牧草为试材,在缺磷砂土上研究施用Ca(H₂PO₄)₂后对其产酸量的影响.结果表明:Lupinus albus,Lupinus lutens和Biserrula pelecinus施磷需求量比Cicer aritimum,Vicia faba,Medicago polgmorpha,Ornithopus sativus和Trifolium subterraneum低,而Lupinus angustifolius需求量最高.当增施磷肥,使其达到中度缺磷水平时,比酸度有所增加,但进一步增施磷肥则使植株产酸量减少,在几种植物中,C.arietinum产酸量最高,B.pelecinus最低.比酸度与过量阳离子、灰碱、钙和镁等浓度有关.在不考虑施磷和植物品种的情况下,植物产酸总量与植株地上部分过量阳离子总量恰好一致;在施磷量不同的情况下,豆科植物产酸量主要由其吸收阳离子和阴离子的差异决定.     

Practical diets with essential oils of plants activate the complement system and alter the intestinal morphology of Nile tilapia

The effect of the essential oils (EOs) of peppermint, Mentha piperita L., and tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel, on the haematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters and intestinal morphology of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., was evaluated. Fish (58.09 ± 5.87 g) were fed 100 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg of each EO and sampled on days 7, 14, 30 and 60 after starting supplementation. The haematological and biochemical parameters were not altered by the supplementation of EOs compared to the control (p > .05). With regard to the immunological parameters, the activation of the complement system of fish fed 250 mg/kg peppermint and 100 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg tea tree EOs were significantly higher compared to the control after 60 days of feeding (p < .05). The complement system plays an essential role in innate immunity and contributes significantly to the acquired immune response; thus, its activation through supplementation with EOs is promising for the formulation of nutritional additives in aquaculture. Regarding intestinal morphology, fish fed 250 mg/kg tea tree EO presented higher villus size compared to all other groups (p < .05), which represents a healthier gut. These fish present a larger intestinal surface, which can result in better absorption and utilization of the nutrients. Based on the responses found in this study, both EOs were considered promising for the formulation of feed additives for Nile tilapia.     

Identification of seven haplotype-specific SFBs in European pear (Pyrus communis) and their use as molecular markers

The European pear (Pyrus communis) carries the S-RNase-mediated gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system. The S-haplotype is conferred by an S-locus, which contains the style-specific expressed S-RNase, and the pollen-specific expressed F-box genes (SFB). Both the S-RNase and the SFB genes are multi-allelic and each is characteristic of one of the S-haplotypes. Therefore, they are ideal markers for molecular S-genotyping. In this work, for the first time, seven haplotype-specific SFBs were isolated from European pears. Particular primers for each of these SFBs were generated, thus providing an additional tool for S-genotyping of European pear cultivars.     

Biotechnology applied to fish reproduction: tools for conservation

This review discusses the new biotechnological tools that are arising and promising for conservation and enhancement of fish production, mainly regarding the endangered and the most economically important species. Two main techniques, in particular, are available to avoid extinction of endangered fish species and to improve the production of commercial species. Germ cell transplantation technology includes a number of approaches that have been studied, such as the transplantation of embryo-to-embryo blastomere, embryo-to-embryo differentiated PGC, larvae to larvae and embryo differentiated PGC, transplantation of spermatogonia from adult to larvae or between adults, and oogonia transplantation. However, the success of germ cell transplantation relies on the prior sterilization of fish, which can be performed at different stages of fish species development by means of several protocols that have been tested in order to achieve the best approach to produce a sterile fish. Among them, fish hybridization and triploidization, germline gene knockdown, hyperthermia, and chemical treatment deserve attention based on important results achieved thus far. This review currently used technologies and knowledge about surrogate technology and fish sterilization, discussing the stronger and the weaker points of each approach.     

奥地利两块基因资源保育林内英国紫杉生态条件与保护现状比较

在奥地利及其他多数欧洲国家英国紫杉濒临灭绝,被列为濒危树种.基于不同地理位置的自然群落的比较,调查了奥地利两块基因资源保育林内英国紫杉的空间结构、更新状况及可采取的保育方法等.每块样地圆杆材分布变化较大.林地Stiwollgraben内紫杉单位面积植株总数,平均胸径和平均株高分别为492 n·hm-2, 8.8 cm and 6.3 m;Leininger Riese仅为45 n·hm-2, 16.3 cm and 7.6 m.Stiwollgraben群落紫杉长势较好,健康植株79%以上,而Leininger Riese群落的健康植株低于49%.两块样地内紫杉更新模式差异较大,与其各自的树龄动态分布相一致.1年龄幼树相比较,Stiwollgraben林地内紫杉密度为13019株/公顷,而Leininger Riese仅为1368株/公顷.Leininger Riese林地内未发现树高51-150cm的幼树,而Stiwollgraben林地内树高30-150cm的幼树鲜能见到.这种情况下,英国紫杉林的保育需要管理完善的保护区、采伐期间采取长期轮伐,同时还要防止牲畜啃食和减轻种间竞争,以此来增强红豆杉的生存能力.图4表4参41.     

Full compatibility is superior to semi-compatibility for fruit set in Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars

Japanese plum belongs to the Rosaceae, which carry the S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility system. Therefore, these plum cultivars depend on cross-pollination for setting fruit. However, cultivar combinations may be genetically semi- or fully compatible. In apples and pears cultivated in Israel, where conditions for pollination are usually unfavorable, it was demonstrated that yields may be correlated with compatibility levels of pollinators. In the present study fruit-set of semi- and fully compatible plum couples was determined for a wide range of cultivars, in unfavorable and favorable conditions. Full compatibility was found superior to semi-compatibility, in both unfavorable and favorable conditions for pollination. These findings should be taken into consideration in determining the orchard designs of cultivars.     

Towards a better mechanistic understanding of edge effects

Context

Predicting and managing edge effects requires an understanding of the mechanisms that drive them. However, analytical methods that dominate edge effects research are not well suited to discriminating mechanisms, because they do not measure ‘indirect’ edge effects: effects that are mediated by covariates in statistical models.

Objective

To discuss the value of indirect effects for improving mechanistic understanding of edge effects.

Methods

We explain how measuring indirect effects improves mechanistic understanding, and provide guidance on how to do so. We also conduct a literature review to examine awareness of indirect effects in empirical studies of mechanisms underpinning edge effects. Finally, we use a recent paper in Villaseñor et al. (Landscape Ecol 30:229–245, 2015) as a case study to discuss how failure to measure indirect edge effects may limit mechanistic understanding.

Results

Indirect effects provide a means to translate conceptual models of edge effects into mechanistic pathways that are testable and quantifiable. Moreover, failure to measure indirect edge effects can result in impacts of habitat edges being underestimated. However, few studies that we identified in our literature review quantified indirect effects (7 %, n = 72). Worryingly, 11 % of studies did not account for indirect effects despite using statistical models that potentially contained them, possibly resulting in incorrect inference.

Conclusions

A better awareness of indirect effects will help researchers to understand the mechanisms that underpin edge effects, while ensuring that impacts of habitat edges are not underestimated.