Relationship between root growth potential and field performance in Aleppo pine

Commercial stocks of Aleppo pine in Spain vary in quality, but there is no accepted standard for evaluating quality. A RGP test was applied to six commercial seedling stocklots at two dates (November, February) and under two test conditions (growth-chamber, greenhouse). The RGP’s predictive ability was evaluated on two contrasting sites. There was a considerable variation in the RGP depending on application date, test conditions and stock factors. The RGP results for November were correlated with each other but they did not explain outplanting performance. The February results in the growth-chamber correlated well with survival at both sites. Regression models explained survival both in the lower (R ² = 97%) and in the higher (R ² = 92%) quality sites. RGP has a valid predictive ability for this species although it is sensitive to the test conditions. In this sense, a shorter and more intensive test performed right before planting may be more reliable.     

寄生小蜂对小青×黑杨树皮及杨圆蚧挥发油的行为反应

Four-armed airflow olfactometer was used to determining the foraging behavior ofPteroptrix longgiclava (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) andEncarsia gigas (Tshumakova) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to the essential oils which emitted from the healthy bark ofPopulus pseudo-simonii×P. nigra, the infested bark injured byQuadraspidiotus gigas (Thiem & Gerneck), the body and scale of fixed 1st-instar-nymph ofQ. gigas. The results from these experiments showed that the volatile oils produced from the injured bark and from the scale of fixed 1st-instar-nymph had a higher attractive ability to female adults of the two species of wasps. The essential oil produced from the scale of the pest at dosages of 3–7 μL and the essential oil emitted by injured bark at dosages of 5–9 μL had a stronger alluring effect on the host searching behavior ofPteroptrix longgiclava. The essential oil from the body of fixed 1st-instar-nymph ofQ. gigas also had certain effect on the host locating effort ofPteroptrix longgiclava andEncarsia gigas. Those two wasps did not shown any reaction to the essential oil produced by the healthy bark of poplar. Foundation item: This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (39970620) and the “TRAPOYT” Biography: CHI De-fu (1962-), male, Ph.D., Professor in Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P.R. China Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Selective modification of clay minerals for the adsorption of herbicides widely used in olive groves

Ground and surface water contamination by herbicides applied to olive groves in Spain and other Mediterranean countries is demanding strategies to prevent and remediate the environmental problems repeatedly caused by such herbicides. In this study, six different organic cations (L-carnitine, spermine, hexadimethrine, tyramine, phenyltrimethylammonium, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium) were incorporated into Na-rich Wyoming montmorillonite (SWy-2) and Ca-rich Arizona montmorillonite (SAz-1) at two different loadings (50% and 100% of the cation exchange capacity of the clays) as a strategy to enhance the affinity of the clay minerals for three herbicides widely used in olive groves: terbuthylazine, diuron, and MCPA. The modified montmorillonites were characterized and tested as adsorbents of the herbicides through batch adsorption tests. At the experimental conditions used, some of the modified montmorillonites removed more than 95% of the herbicide initially present in aqueous solution, whereas the unmodified clays removed less than 15%. All three herbicides displayed very strong affinities for SAz-1 exchanged with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations, particularly when these were incorporated at 100% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay mineral. Terbuthylazine and diuron also displayed very strong affinities for SWy-2 exchanged with L-carnitine and spermine, respectively. The chemical characteristics of the organic cation greatly influenced the adsorptive properties of the resultant organoclay. The herbicides were in general reversibly adsorbed by the modified clays. The results indicate that some of the tested modified clays could be suitable for the removal of the assayed herbicides from contaminated water and also as possible supports for the design of slow release formulations of such herbicides to attenuate their environmental impact when used in high-risk scenarios such as olive groves.     

Static-dynamic superheated liquid extraction of hydroxytyrosol and other biophenols from alperujo (a semisolid residue of the olive oil industry)

Hydroxytyrosol and other olive biophenols (OBPs) such as tyrosol, verbascoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, and alpha-taxifolin have been extracted from alperujo by using static-dynamic superheated liquids. Multivariate methodology has been used to carry out a detailed optimization of the extraction. Under the optimal working conditions no further extraction of the target analytes was achieved after 27 min (up to 2800 and 1500 mg/kg of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, respectively), so complete removal of them within this interval was assumed. The extract was injected into a chromatograph-photodiode array detector assembly for individual separation-quantification. The efficacy of ethanol/water mixtures to extract OBPs from alperujo has been demonstrated and compared with that of a conventional stirring-based method. These less toxic extractant mixtures are of interest with a view to future human uses of OBPs.     

Penicillium digitatum Suppresses Production of Hydrogen Peroxide in Host Tissue During Infection of Citrus Fruit

ABSTRACT During the infection of citrus fruit by Penicillium digitatum there is little evidence of a host defense response. This suggests that P. digitatum has the ability to suppress host defenses. The current study demonstrates that P. digitatum suppresses a defense-related hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) burst in host tissue. In contrast, the nonhost pathogen, Penicillium expansum, triggers production of a significant amount of H(2)O(2) in citrus fruit exocarp. Using laser scanning confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that P. digitatum suppressed an elevation in H(2)O(2) up to 42 h after inoculation. Nevertheless, H(2)O(2) levels around wounds inoculated with P. expansum increased by 63-fold above the control. P. digitatum continued to suppress H(2)O(2) production in citrus fruit exocarp up to 66 h postinoculation and H(2)O(2) levels were actually threefold below that of noninoculated controls. In contrast, the H(2)O(2) level was still about 11-fold above the control value in wound sites inoculated with P. expansum. Studies on the effect of organic acids (as pH modulators) on the response of citrus fruit to compatible and noncompatible pathogens indicated that pathogenicity was enhanced only when host-tissue acidification was accompanied by the suppression of H(2)O(2). Additionally, pathogenicity of both P. digitatum and P. expansum on citrus fruit was significantly enhanced by the H(2)O(2)-scavenging enzyme catalase. Based on our study and previous reports regarding the potential involvement of citric acid and catalase in green mold pathogenesis, we suggest that these compounds are strongly associated with the virulence of P. digitatum.     

Nitrogen loading of Eucalyptus globulus seedlings: nutritional dynamics and influence on morphology and root growth potential

New Forests - Achieving successful outplanting of trees on increasingly harsher sites is a global concern. In Chile, for example, new Eucalyptus globulus plantations are being targeted to poorer,...     

Correction to: Silvicultural prescriptions for mixed-species forest stands. A European review and perspective

European Journal of Forest Research -     

‘Climatic factors control rodent seed predation in Pinus pinea L. stands in Central Spain’

? Context

Pinus pinea L. presents serious problems of natural regeneration in managed forest of Central Spain. The species exhibits specific traits linked to frugivore activity. Therefore, information on plant–animal interactions may be crucial to understand regeneration failure.

? Aims

Determining the spatio-temporal pattern of P. pinea seed predation by Apodemus sylvaticus L. and the factors involved. Exploring the importance of A. sylvaticus L. as a disperser of P. pinea. Identifying other frugivores and their seasonal patterns.

? Methods

An intensive 24-month seed predation trial was carried out. The probability of seeds escaping predation was modelled through a zero-inflated binomial mixed model. Experiments on seed dispersal by A. sylvaticus were conducted. Cameras were set up to identify other potential frugivores.

? Results

Decreasing rodent population in summer and masting enhances seed survival. Seeds were exploited more rapidly nearby parent trees and shelters. A. sylvaticus dispersal activity was found to be scarce. Corvids marginally preyed upon P. pinea seeds.

? Conclusions

Survival of P. pinea seeds is climate-controlled through the timing of the dry period together with masting occurrence. Should germination not take place during the survival period, establishment may be limited. A. sylvaticus-mediated dispersal does not modify the seed shadow. Seasonality of corvid activity points to a role of corvids in dispersal.