Phenological shifts compensate warming-induced drought stress in southern Siberian Scots pines

European Journal of Forest Research - Global climate change impacts the functioning and productivity of forest ecosystems at various spatiotemporal scales across a wide range of biomes. Although...     

Plant exposure to herbivore-induced plant volatiles: a sustainable approach through eliciting plant defenses

Journal of Pest Science - Modern agricultural policies across the globe are committed to a significant reduction in chemical pesticide dependency; however, pest management strategies are still...     

Silica-on-silicon waveguide quantum circuits

Quantum technologies based on photons will likely require an integrated optics architecture for improved performance, miniaturization, and scalability. We demonstrate high-fidelity silica-on-silicon integrated optical realizations of key quantum photonic circuits, including two-photon quantum interference with a visibility of 94.8 +/- 0.5%; a controlled-NOT gate with an average logical basis fidelity of 94.3 +/- 0.2%; and a path-entangled state of two photons with fidelity of >92%. These results show that it is possible to directly "write" sophisticated photonic quantum circuits onto a silicon chip, which will be of benefit to future quantum technologies based on photons, including information processing, communication, metrology, and lithography, as well as the fundamental science of quantum optics.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and tillage practices on yield-scaled nitrous oxide emission from a maize field in Iran

Nitrification inhibitors can effectively decrease nitrification rates and nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission while increasing crop yield under certain conditions.However,there is no information available on the effects of nitrification inhibitors and tillage practices on N₂O emissions from maize cropping in Iran.To study how tillage practices and nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor)affect N₂O emission,a split factorial experiment using a completely randomized block design with three replications was carried out in Northeast Iran,which has a cold semiarid climate.Two main plots were created with conventional tillage and minimum tillage levels,and two nitrogen(N)fertilizer(urea)management systems(with and without nitrapyrin application)were created as subplots.Tillage level did not have any significant effect on soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-)concentrations,cumulative amount and yield-scaled N₂O emission,and aboveground biomass of maize,whereas nitrapyrin application showed significant effect.Nitrapyrin application significantly reduced the cumulative amount of N₂O emission by 41%and 32%in conventional tillage and minimum tillage practices,respectively.A reduction in soil NO₃^-concentration by nitrapyrin was also observed.The average yield-scaled N₂O emission was 13.6 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake in both tillage systems without nitrapyrin application and was significantly reduced to 7.9 and 8.2 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake upon the application of nitrapyrin in minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices,respectively.Additionally,nitrapyrin application increased maize biomass yield by 4%and 13%in the minimum tillage and conventional tillage systems,respectively.Our results indicate that nitrapyrin has a potential role in reducing N₂O emission from agricultural systems where urea fertilizers are broadcasted,which is common in Iran due to the practice of traditional farming.     

Purple versus green‐leafed Ocimum basilicum: Which differences occur with regard to photosynthesis under boron toxicity?

This study was undertaken to investigate how different cultivars of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) responded to boron (B) excess. Two purple‐leafed and eight green‐leafed cultivars were hydroponically grown for 20 d with 0.2 or 20 mg L^–1 B in the nutrient solution. Leaf B concentration, gas exchanges, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and oxidative stress were determined at the end of the treatment along with the severity of leaf necrosis. A range of tolerance to B toxicity was found: the green cultivars were more susceptible than the purple‐leafed ones characterized by a higher constitutive anthocyanin concentration. In all the genotypes B excess resulted in oxidative stress as determined by accumulation of malondialdehyde by‐products (MDA), reduced photosynthesis, and the occurrence of leaf burn. A close correlation was found between leaf B accumulation and oxidative stress, as well as between oxidative stress and the severity of leaf burn. Net photosynthesis (P_n) was reduced due to both stomatal and nonstomatal limitations in the green cultivars whereas the reduction of P_n in the purple leaves was only attributable to stomatal factors. Chlorophyll a fluorescence revealed a decrease in the maximum quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) and in the electron transport rate (ETR) in plants grown with B excess although less reduction was observed in the purple genotypes. The quantum yield of PSII (Φ_PSII) decreased as a result of B toxicity only in the green cultivars. It is concluded that anthocyanins are involved in attenuation of the negative effects of B toxicity.     

Selection of families and parents of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) through mixed models by joint analysis of two harvests

At present, the sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs from around the world have practiced early family selection, because in the early stages of breeding the evaluated characteristics have shown low heritability. This study aimed to select through restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction also known “mixed models” the best families among the 78 that comprise the RB05 sugarcane series, stage T1, of Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Cana-de-açúcar of the Rede Interuniversitária para o Desenvolvimento do Setor Sucroalcoleiro, Brazil. The experiments, conducted during 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 in Paranavaí, PR were implemented using an incomplete-block design with five replicates of each family. Each plot was composed of two planting rows of 5 m, spaced from each other by 1.40 m and spacing between plants was of 0.50 m, containing ten seedlings for planting row, resulting in a total of 20 individuals per replicate of each family. The characteristics evaluated were Brix (°Brix), ton of stalk per hectare (TCH) and ton of °Brix per hectare (TBH). The joint analysis obtained from these three traits in both harvests favored the selection of 35–41 families. The analysis also favored the selection of the best parents. The top five families for Brix were: F41M60, F02M77, F41M82, F61M38 and F62M35; to TCH were F66M30, F35M06, F78M45, F70M30 and F57M46 and for TBH the five elites families were F66M30, F35M06, F78M45, F70M30 and F01M39. The five best sugarcane parents for Brix were RB835486, SP91-1049, SP80-3280, RB72454 and RB925211; to TCH were IAC87-3396, RB941531, RB855511, RB915141 and RB957689, and for TBH the elite were IAC87-3396, RB855511, RB957689, RB941531 and RB855563. As each harvest season had different order of the best families, the joint analysis proved to be a primordial tool for plant breeders.     

Analysis of multicriteria in the practice of environmental services in areas of watersheds

ABSTRACT

Watersheds have become strategically important for the survival of cities due to the accelerated increase in both the demand and the rapid deterioration of the water intended to supply the urban populations. The present article aims to present the applicability of the “multicriteria method” to help the Government of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil organize payment for environmental services for watershed protection using the “Delphi method” as the principal methodology. This article consists of a review of the literature and a case study of the Mina d’Água program from the State Secretary of the Environment (within the Government of São Paulo) in partnership with other municipalities (city by river basin). The article also covers the advent of pertinent climate change laws. The positive results in the use of the Delphi method represent a fruitful tool to facilitate communication between groups of experts and the public, encouraging better judgment and a more consistent decision-making process.     

Mating disruption for the control of Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) may contribute to increased effectiveness of natural enemies

BACKGROUND: New directives on sustainable use of pesticides have encouraged research on efficient alternative pest control methods. In the case of the California red scale (CRS), Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), this imperative, along with the many difficulties in controlling this pest, have led to the investigation of new approaches. Previously developed mating disruption (MD) dispensers, together with the augmentative releases of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach, are here considered as a combined strategy for use against A. aurantii. RESULTS: Efficacy of MD was demonstrated by a mean reduction of 80% in CRS male catches and a mean fruit damage reduction of 83% compared with the control. A delay in the development of A. aurantii instars was observed in the MD plot. This delay increased the period of exposure of the susceptible instars to natural enemies, which resulted in higher predation and parasitism levels in the MD plot. Under laboratory conditions, A. melinus mating behaviour and effects on A. aurantii were not significantly altered in a CRS-pheromone-saturated environment. CONCLUSION: Mating disruption pheromone did not affect the behaviour or level of parasitism by A. melinus or the incidence of other generalist predators. Therefore, A. aurantii pheromone appears to be compatible with augmentative releases and biological control, making its use a good strategy for CRS management. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry