Critical point relascope sampling for unbiased volume estimation of downed coarse woody debris

Critical point relascope sampling is developed and shown tobe design-unbiased for the estimation of log volume when usedwith point relascope sampling for downed coarse woody debris.The method is closely related to critical height sampling forstanding trees when trees are first sampled with a wedge prism.Three alternative protocols for determining the critical samplingpoints on a log are presented and simulations are employed tosuggest the most efficient protocol to use in practice.     

Three year performance of international provenance trials of Acacia auriculiformis

The performance of 25 provenances in international trials on seven sites in four countries was assessed for survival and growth at 3 years. Of these provenances, seven were from Queensland, 12 from Northern Territory, Australia, and six from Papua New Guinea. Significant growth differences were found: (a) among provenances at four sites, (b) among the sites, and (c) between provenance regions. The interaction between sites and provenances as well as between sites and provenance regions was also significant. The poorest growth was recorded in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, while the best growth was in Banjarbaru, Indonesia. Stability analyses of the provenance x site interaction revealed eight provenances with high vigour and good tree form that were relatively stable across sites. These included Archer River, South Coen, Coen River and Wenlock River provenances from Queensland; Noogoo Swamp and Mann River provenances from Northern Territory; and North Bensbach and Old Tonda Village provenances from Papua New Guinea.     

Laboratory testing of wood mouse and common vole sensitivity to bromadiolone,sodium selenite,and cellulose

Maintaining the numbers of wood mice and common voles at an acceptable economic level, especially during years of massive outbreaks, is a major challenge in plant protection. Efforts to reduce the negative effects of rodenticides on the environment, to improve the integrated pest control system, and to minimize risks for human and animal health require investigation of the potentials of cellulose, as a natural product, and sodium selenite as rodenticides. The present study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of these rodent species to bromadiolone (a.i. 0.005 %), sodium selenite (a.i. 0.1 and 0.05 %), and cellulose (a.i. 45 %) baits. All experiments were done using no-choice and choice feeding trials. A low acceptance of cellulose baits was found in the choice feeding trial, and the time of first deaths indicate that stress and hunger increase the death rate in both species. The taste had a negative impact on the acceptability of baits containing sodium selenite. Low bait acceptance of cellulose and sodium selenite resulted in lower mortality of both species. The acquired results indicate that bromadiolone remains a more effective solution than cellulose and sodium selenite for control of wood mice and common voles.     

Freezability of equine semen after glass beads column separation

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The success rate of artificial insemination following the freezing of stallion semen is limited; therefore, improving the stallion semen quality after the freezing and thawing process is a necessary objective. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of glass bead column separation on the freezability of stallion semen. HYPOTHESIS: Glass beads in a column separator remove damaged and dead spermatozoa in the ejaculate during centrifugation. METHODS: In total, 50 ejaculates from 6 Lipizzaner stallions were studied. Each ejaculate was divided into 2 parts, one half processed following standard procedure and the second half used for the column separation procedure. After freezing, semen quality was evaluated using standard tests for motility, morphology and viability of semen. RESULTS: Motility and progressive motility of the column-separated (CS) semen were significantly higher (P < 0.001) before freezing and immediately, 24 and 48 h after thawing. A significant increase (P < 0.001) in the percentage of hypoosmotic positive spermatozoa was observed in CS samples. The percentage of total morphological changes in the separated samples before and after freezing was significantly lower (P < 0.001) compared with samples prepared using the standard procedure. A substantial decrease (P < 0.001) was found in the percentage of spermatozoa with damaged acrosomes. However, the percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tails was increased in the separated samples (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Column separation before freezing has a positive effect on the quality of thawed equine semen. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The quality of CS frozen/thawed samples indicates their potential use for increasing insemination success in mares.     

In vitro Germination of Early Ripening Sweet Cherry Varieties (Prunus avium L.) at Different Fruit Ripening Stages

In vitro embryo culture enabled satisfactory germination of immature seeds produced in crosses from early ripening sweet cherry varieties (Prunus avium L.). Three varieties —‘Rita’, ‘Bigarreau Burlat’ and ‘Carmen’— were crossed with ‘Early Star’ as male parent. Germination rate was affected by the developmental stage of both fruit and embryo. Fruit ripening stage was a critical factor for culture infection rate that increased with maturity. In-ovule embryo culture on Murashige and Skoog medium without hormones improved the embryo size but did not increase the germination rate due to a further increase in infection rate. Ex-ovule embryo culture on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with BA 1 mg L^?1, NAA 0.5 mg L^?1, 20 g L^?1sucrose, 10 g L^?1 sorbitol and 6 g L^?1agar during the stratification time increased embryo length. Germination was performed on Brooks and Hough medium at the 22?±?1?°C with 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod. The highest germination rate (75?%) was reached in embryos that were 3?4 mm in length, after 30-days stratification at 4?°C. Embryos in fruits at green-yellow stage that were 3?4 mm long were morpho-physiologically developed to produce bipolar seedlings, without combined application of embryo culture and micropropagation.     

Grapevine rupestris stem pitting virus: a new pathogen of grapevine in Serbia

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), a member of the genus Foveavirus, is a commonly detected grapevine virus around the world....     

Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, free-radical-scavenging, and antimicrobial activities of hawthorn berries ethanol extract

Hawthorn [Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Crataegus oxyacantha L.; sin. Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC., Rosaceae] leaves, flowers, and berries are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and various digestive ailments, as well as geriatric and antiarteriosclerosis remedies. According to European Pharmacopoeia 6.0, hawthorn berries consist of the dried false fruits of these two species or their mixture. The present study was carried out to test free-radical-scavenging, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and antimicrobial activities of hawthorn berries ethanol extract. Phenolic compounds represented 3.54%, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Determination of total flavonoid aglycones content yielded 0.18%. The percentage of hyperoside, as the main flavonol component, was 0.14%. With respect to procyanidins content, the obtained value was 0.44%. DPPH radical-scavenging capacity of the extract was concentration-dependent, with EC50 value of 52.04 microg/mL (calculation based on the total phenolic compounds content in the extract). Oral administration of investigated extract caused dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in a model of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The obtained anti-inflammatory effect was 20.8, 23.0, and 36.3% for the extract doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively. In comparison to indomethacin, given in a dose producing 50% reduction of rat paw edema, the extract given in the highest tested dose (200 mg/kg) showed 72.4% of its activity. Gastroprotective activity of the extract was investigated using an ethanol-induced acute stress ulcer in rats with ranitidine as a reference drug. Hawthorn extract produced dose-dependent gastroprotective activity (3.8 +/- 2.1, 1.9 +/- 1.7, and 0.7 +/- 0.5 for doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively), with the efficacy comparable to that of the reference drug. Antimicrobial testing of the extract revealed its moderate bactericidal activity, especially against gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, and Lysteria monocytogenes, with no effect on Candida albicans. All active components identified in the extract might be responsible for activities observed.