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.     

Alkaloids from Sarcomelicope megistophylla

Two new alkaloids were isolated from the bark of Sarcomelicope megistophylla. Cyclomegistine B (1), a new quinolone alkaloid, that possesses a rare cyclobuta[b]quinoline ring system and sarcomejine B (2) which is a quinolone alkaloid with an unusual side chain. The structure of both compounds was elucidated on the basis of MS data and extensive NMR studies.     

Sex-Reversal of Oreochromis aureus by Immersion in Mibolerone,a Synthetic Steroid1

Mibolerone (MI), a synthetic steroid, was used to sex-reverse undifferentiated Oreochromis aureus fry. Fry were exposed to 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, or 1.0 ppm MI in static-water solutions for five weeks (immersion treatments) or were fed a diet containing 1.0 ppm MI for four weeks in a flow-through system. Following hormone treatment, the fish were grown to over 60 mm total length prior to sex determination using gonadal squash examination. Fish immersed in 1.0, 0.6, or 0.3 ppm MI had average tissue MI concentrations of 14.4, 5.6, and 3.3 ppm, respectively. Immersion in either 1.0 or 0.6 ppm MI for five weeks resulted in an average of 82% males and 18% ovo-testicular fish (inter-sex fish) with no gonadal females being produced. Exposure to 0.3 ppm MI resulted in 78.7% males, 20.7% ovo-testicular fish, and 0.7% gonadal females. Feeding a diet containing 1.0 ppm MI resulted in 85% males, 11% ovo-testicular fish, and 4% gonadal females. Fry growth and survival were negatively correlated with the MI concentration of the immersion treatments. Exposing tilapia fry to static-water solutions of 0.6 ppm MI for five weeks appears to be a feasible method of eliminating the production of functional females. Immersion solutions should be changed at least weekly to maintain an effective hormone concentration.     

Thrombocytosis and central nervous system involvement in a case of canine acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

This case report presents a 14‐month‐old female Poodle mix with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia based on a marked thrombocytosis, abnormal platelet morphology, circulating dwarf megakaryocytes, and blast cells in the blood. Bone marrow abnormalities included dysmegakaryopoiesis dygranulopoiesis, and an increased number of blast cells was observed in the blood. Extensive leukemic involvement was also found in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, and brain. The cytopathologic features of the abnormal circulating cells were highly suggestive of being megakaryocytic in origin, which was supported by negative myeloperoxidase staining and positive von Willebrand factor staining on immunocytochemistry (ICC). The neoplastic cells were also CD61 positive and had variable von Willebrand factor expression on ICC. Although there were only 25% blast cells in the bone marrow, which theoretically supported myelodysplastic syndrome, the hypothesis that this case represented acute myeloid leukemia of megakaryoblastic origin was confirmed by the continuous increase in circulating blast cell numbers during follow‐up visits and the extensive leukemic involvement of parenchymal organs.     

Sudden increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration reveals strong coupling between shoot carbon uptake and root nutrient uptake in young walnut trees

We studied the short-term (i.e., a few days) effect of a sudden increase in CO2 uptake by shoots on nutrient (NO3-, P ion, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) uptake by roots during vegetative growth of young walnut (Juglans nigra x J. major L.) trees. The increase in CO2 uptake was induced by a sudden increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]). Twelve 2-year-old trees were transplanted and grown in perlite-filled pots in a greenhouse. Rates of CO2 uptake and water loss by individual trees were determined by a branch bag method from 3 days before until 6 days after [CO2] was increased. Nutrient uptake rates were measured concurrently by a hydroponic recirculating nutrient solution system that provided non-limiting supplies of water and nutrients. Six control trees were kept in ambient [CO2] (360 ppm), and [CO2] was increased to 550 ppm for one set of three trees and to 800 ppm for another set of three trees. Before imposing the elevated [CO2] treatments, all trees exhibited similar daily water loss, CO2 uptake and nutrient uptake rates when expressed per unit leaf area to account for the tree size effect. Daily water loss rates were only slightly affected by elevated [CO2]. Carbon dioxide uptake rates greatly increased with increasing atmospheric [CO2], and nutrient uptake rates were proportional to CO2 uptake rates during the study period, except for P ion. Our results show that, despite the important carbon and nitrogen storage capacities previously observed in young walnut trees, nutrient uptake by roots is strongly coupled to carbon uptake by shoots over periods of a few days.     

A virtual peach fruit model simulating changes in fruit quality during the final stage of fruit growth

A virtual fruit model simulating seasonal changes in several peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) fruit quality traits during the final growth stage is presented. The quality traits considered are fruit size, the proportion of total fruit mass consisting of fruit flesh, dry matter content of the flesh and the concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol in the flesh, which are used to calculate a sweetness index. The virtual peach fruit model was developed by adapting and integrating three existing process-based models describing fruit dry mass growth, fruit fresh mass growth and sugar accumulation in the flesh into one complex system. Data sets of peach fruit growth and quality obtained from one field site over several years were used to estimate parameters and evaluate the virtual peach fruit model. Output from the model showed good agreement with the field data. Insight into the complex nature of the virtual peach fruit model, i.e., its ability to show emergent properties, was accomplished by conducting a series of theoretical experiments. The virtual peach fruit model was shown to be sensitive to management and environmental factors (leaf:fruit ratio, stem water potential and, to a lesser extent, weather). Its ability to generate simple laws relating to physiological variables and quality parameters was also demonstrated. Finally, the virtual peach fruit model was able to reveal complex behaviors resulting from changes in water potentials or leaf:fruit ratios over time.     

Parameterization and testing of a biochemically based photosynthesis model for walnut (Juglans regia) trees and seedlings

The biochemically based leaf photosynthesis model proposed by Farquhar et al. (1980) and the stomatal conductance model proposed by Jarvis (1976) were parameterized for walnut. Responses of photosynthesis to CO(2) and irradiance were used to determine the key parameters of the photosynthesis model. Concurrently, stomatal conductance responses to leaf irradiance (Q), leaf temperature (T(l)), water vapor pressure deficit at the leaf surface (D), and air CO(2) concentration at the leaf surface (C(s)) were used to parameterize the stomatal conductance model. To test the generality of the model parameters, measurements were made on leaves from a 20-year-old tree growing in the field, and from sunlit and shaded greenhouse-grown seedlings. The three key parameters of the photosynthesis model (maximum carboxylation rate V(cmax), electron transport capacity J(max), and dark respiration rate R(d)) and the key parameter of the conductance model (reference stomatal conductance, g(sref)) were linearly correlated with the amount of leaf nitrogen per unit leaf area. Unique relationships could be used to describe nitrogen effects on these parameters for leaves from both the tree and the seedlings. Our data allowed separation of the effects of increasing total photosynthetic apparatus per unit leaf area from the effects of partitioning nitrogen among different pools of this apparatus for foliage acclimation to leaf irradiance. Strong correlations were found between stomatal conductance g(s) and Q, D and C(s), whereas the relationship between g(s) and T(l) was weak. Based on these parameterizations, the model adequately predicted leaf photosynthesis and stomatal conductance when tested with an independent set of data obtained for the tree and seedlings. Total light-driven electron flows derived from chlorophyll fluorescence data obtained at different leaf temperatures were consistent with values computed by the model. The model was also tested with branch bag data acquired from a three-year-old potted walnut tree. Despite a relatively large variance between observed and simulated values, the model predicted stomatal conductance and photosynthesis reasonably well at the branch scale. The results indicate that the photosynthesis-conductance model developed here is robust and can be applied to walnut trees and seedlings under various environmental conditions where water is non-limiting.     

Modeling annual production and carbon fluxes of a large managed temperate forest using forest inventories, satellite data and field measurements

We evaluated annual productivity and carbon fluxes over the Fontainebleau forest, a large heterogeneous forest region of 17,000 ha, in terms of species composition, canopy structure, stand age, soil type and water and mineral resources. The model is a physiological process-based forest ecosystem model coupled with an allocation model and a soil model. The simulations were done stand by stand, i.e., 2992 forest management units of simulation. Some input parameters that are spatially variable and to which the model is sensitive were calculated for each stand from forest inventory attributes, a network of 8800 soil pits, satellite data and field measurements. These parameters are: (1) vegetation attributes: species, age, height, maximal leaf area index of the year, aboveground biomass and foliar nitrogen content; and (2) soil attributes: available soil water capacity, soil depth and soil carbon content. Main outputs of the simulations are wood production and carbon fluxes on a daily to yearly basis. Results showed that the forest is a carbon sink, with a net ecosystem exchange of 371 g C m(-2) year(-1). Net primary productivity is estimated at 630 g C m(-2) year(-1) over the entire forest. Reasonably good agreement was found between simulated trunk relative growth rate (2.74%) and regional production estimated from the National Forest Inventory (IFN) (2.52%), as well as between simulated and measured annual wood production at the forest scale (about 71,000 and 68,000 m(3) year(-1), respectively). Results are discussed species by species.     

Changes in organic acids and sugars during early stages of development of acidic and acidless citrus fruit

Most of the studies on organic acids and sugars in citrus were performed during fruit maturation, and less is known before this stage of development. The aim of our study was to investigate acids and sugars in lemon, lime, and orange from fruit-set toward development. We chose to compare organic acid and sugar accumulation among acidic and acidless varieties within three species. We estimated the acidity by titrimetry and quantified the concentrations of seven organic acids and three sugars by reverse HPLC. During the first 50 days of development, quinic acid was the major organic acid whatever the variety. Afterward, citric acid predominated in acidic varieties, while in acidless, malic acid exceeded it. Fructose substituted citric acid in acidless and could be synthesized either from citric acid or directly from glucose. Our results provided the first complete report on sugar and organic acid accumulation during the early stages of fruit development in several citrus varieties.