Adaptation of herbaceous plant species in the understorey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus brutia</Emphasis>

Most of Pinus brutia (Ten.) Holmboe forests are grazed, as silvopastoralism is well adapted in the Mediterranean environment. However, little attention has been paid to the demographic dynamic of the understorey vegetation even though it is strongly affected by the absorbed radiation. The purpose of this study was to examine the adaptation of herbaceous plant species under a Pinus brutia canopy, in Northern Greece. Monocultures of four plant groups (annual and perennial grasses, annual and perennial legumes) were sown in experimental areas of 50%, 70% and 100% light intensity. The density of annual and perennial grasses and perennial legumes were decreased by the shade cast by the Pinus brutia canopy. Population density of the annual legumes was little affected by light intensity: the annual grasses Bromus mollis L. and Lolium rigidum Gaudin; the perennial grasses Dactylis glomerata L. var. palestine, Festuca arundinacea and Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn; the perennial legume Medicago sativa L. var. romana; the annual legumes Medicago lupulina L. and all the tested varieties of Trifolium subterraneum adapted well to the 50% light intensity habitat.     

Genetic variation in foliar nutrient concentration in relation to foliar carbon isotope composition and tree growth with clones of the F1 hybrid between slash pine and Caribbean pine

The objectives of this study were: (1) to quantify the genetic variation in foliar nutrient concentration in relation to foliar carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) and tree growth of 122 clones of ca. 4-year-old F₁ hybrids between slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm var. elliottii) and Caribbean pine (P. caribaea var. hondurensis Barr. et Golf.) grown at two experimental sites with different water and nutrient availability in southeast Queensland, Australia and (2) to examine the potential of using foliar nutrient concentration of the 4-year-old tree canopies for selecting elite F₁ hybrid pine clones with improved nutrient-use efficiency (NUE) and water-use efficiency (WUE), and ultimately enhanced tree growth under ambient growing conditions. There were significant differences in foliar nutrient concentrations between two canopy positions (upper outer and lower outer canopy) sampled, between summer and winter, and between the two sites. This highlights that foliar nutrient concentrations are influenced by sampling and environment. Significant genetic variations in foliar nutrient concentrations were detected between the clones, between the female parents, and between the male parents of the clones in both sampling seasons at both sites. Depending on the nutrient concerned, canopy position, season, and site sampled, the clones accounted for 4.7–33.9% of the total variation in foliar nutrient concentrations, the clone female parents for 0–25.1% and the clone male parents for 0–28.6%. The site-by-clone interactions were statistically significant for foliar N, P, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and mineral concentrations at the upper outer canopy in summer, and for foliar N concentration in winter. There were significant, positive correlations between clone means of foliar δ¹³C and N concentration at the upper outer canopy in summer for the wet site, while clone foliar δ¹³C was also positively related to clone foliar N concentration at both canopy positions in summer for the dry site. This suggests that clone WUE as reflected in foliar δ¹³C may be improved by selecting elite clones with higher foliar N concentration and increased photosynthesis, leading to enhanced tree growth when both water and N are the major growth-limiting factors. This is supported by the positive correlation detected between clone tree height and foliar N concentration at the upper outer canopy for both sites. Thus, foliar nutrient (particularly N) concentration, together with foliar δ¹³C, may be useful for assisting in selection of exotic pine clones with improved NUE and WUE, and enhanced tree growth under the nutrient- and water-limiting environments.     

Bioactivity of some formulations of neem seed extracts against the whiteflyBemisia tabaci (Genn.)

The bioactivity of different formulations of neem seed extracts against the whiteflyBemisia tabaci (Genn.) was assayed in semifield trials during 1992. Tomato plants variety UC-97 were cultivated in pots and left to natural infestation with whitefly in an open field and sprayed with various concentrations of each extract. The high concentrations of all the extracts tested exhibited obvious activity. Also, the different treatments reduced the population density of the adult whiteflies compared with the control. The percentage reduction in the population reached its maximum level one hour after treatment with any tested extract.With one table     

Antibacterial activity of seed proteins of Robinia pseudoacacia

A low molecular weight cationic peptide was isolated from Robinia pseudoacacia seed and tested in vitro against seven bacteria (Corynebacterium michiganense, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae, Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris, and Escherichia coli). The peptide inhibited the growth of the tested strains. The effective concentrations required for 50% inhibition of bacterial growth ranged between 20 and 120 microg ml(-1) protein. S. aureus was found to be the most sensitive strain, however, E. coli was not affected much when compared with others. Reduction of antibacterial activity of the peptide with CaCl2 addition into the growth medium was also observed.     

Zur Biologie der RaubmilbeCunaxa capreolus Berl. (Acari,Prostigmata, Cunaxidae)

Studies on the biology of the predaceous mite Cunaxa capreolus Berl. (Acari, Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) During life cycleCunaxa capreolus Berlese passes through egg, larva, three nymphal stages and adult. Each moving stage is proceeded by a quiescent one. Biological process such as hatching, moulting and mating were investigated. Female usually deposites its eggs singly in protected places. Number of deposited eggs per female, when fed on book lice (Psocoptera), was positively correlated with temperature. It averaged 24.6, 30.7, 40.7, and 43.5 eggs at 15°, 20°, 25° and 30 °C. Incubation period as well as duration of immature stages and adult longevity were negatively effected with temperature. The generation period (from egg to egg) ranged from 24.8 to 64.2 days when temperature changed from 30° to 15 °C. Within these limits of temperature, the simple regression indicated that an increase of 1 °C decreased the generation period for about 2.6 days.     

Influence of acidity on the growth of Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr. and on the inhibitory effect of its filtrates against Fomes annosus (Fr.) Cke. in artificial cultures

This work reports results of observations on mycelial dry weight yield, pH changes and the inhibitory effect of filtrates of Trichoderma viride on linear growth of the mycelium of Fomes annosus. The maximum mycelial yield of T. viride, derived from spores was obtained within the pH range 2,5–3,1. The greatest inhibitory effect of filtrates on the mycelial growth of F. annosus occurred at an initial pH of the Trichoderma cultures from 2,0-3,5. At other pH-values, no inhibition was found.     

Genetic control of fatty acid composition in seed oil of Sinapis alba L.

Summary Inheritance of fatty acid composition was studied in an F1 diallel cross in Sinapis alba. Crosses were made among accessions having contrasting amounts of oleic (C18:1) and erucic (C22:1) acid. Concentrations of oleic, linoleic (C18:2), eicosenoic (C20:1) and erucic (C22:1) acids were determined by gas-chromatography for each mating combination. Genetic analysis confirmed that the composition of the fatty acids was controlled mainly by the nuclear genes of the embryo. Additive gene action with partial dominance for the reducing alleles was noted for oleic and linoleic acids, while erucic acid showed an additive mode of inheritance with partial dominance for the enhancing alleles. Positive heterosis was demonstrated for eicosenoic acid content. Erucic acid content was strongly negatively correlated with oleic acid, suggesting a genetic interdependence between the two fatty acids. Broad-sense and narrow-sense heritability estimates for each of oleic, linoleic and erucic acids were very high, due to low between-plants non-genetic component of variance.Contribution No. 3662-E, 1992 series.     

Current status and future strategy in breeding grasspea (Lathyrus sativus)

Efforts in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) improvement have increased since the development of lines that are very low in the neurotoxin Beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta-diamino propionic acid (ODAP); also referred to as Beta-N oxalyl-amino-L-alanine (BOAA). Many programs now address several related aspects of improvement simultaneously. These include reduced ODAP concentrations, insect and disease resistance, nitrogen fixation, agronomic practices, fodder and forage production, and components for increased yielding ability. The coordinated, multidisciplinary approach now being applied to the genetic improvement of grasspea should allow the potential of this largely neglected grain legume to be fully realized.