Effects of Vermicompost and Vermiwash on Plant,Phenolic Content,and Anti-oxidant Activity of Mexican Pepperleaf (Piper auritum Kunth) Cultivated in Phosphate Rock Potting Media

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock on plant, total phenols, flavonoids, and anti-oxidant activity in Piper auritum Kunth leaves. P. auritum plants were obtained from cuttings and were planted according to the Box-Behnken experimental design with three repetitions at the central point. The factors and levels were vermicompost (10, 20, and 30 g plant^?1), vermiwash (5, 10, and 15 mL plant^?1), and phosphate rock (1, 2, and 3 g plant^?1). Plant growth parameters (plant height, stem diameter, leaves number) and chlorophyll content were measured 1 month after treatment applications. Total phenols, total flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity was measured after 4 months. Vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock had no statistically significant effect on plant growth. Plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, chlorophyll, innermost number, fresh weight stem, fresh weight leaves, fresh weight root, dry weight stem, dry weight leaves, and dry weight root were not different among treatments. Total phenolic compounds were statistically affected for both vermiwash and phosphoric rock (p < 0.05) and the anti-oxidant activity decreased by vermicompost addition. The application of 15 mL plant^?1 vermiwash, 1 g phosphate rock, and 20 g vermicompost plant^?1 increased the total phenol content.     

Influence of storage conditions on chemical composition and sensory properties of citrus honey

Fresh citrus honey was stored at 10, 20, and 40 degrees C for 12 months. The effect of storage on the quality of honey was evaluated using physicochemical parameters, volatile compounds, mono-, di-, and trisaccharides, and sensory analysis. Diastase activity and HMF were out of the legal limit in honey stored 12 months at 40 degrees C. Volatile compounds (especially terpenes and terpene derivatives), monosaccharides, and disaccharides presented important losses during honey storage at any temperature. Honey storage at 10 or 20 degrees C maintained their floral, fresh, citric, and fresh fruit aroma, while the intensities of these attributes were diminished. Storage at 40 degrees C during 12 months resulted in the appearance of attributes such as "medicinal, smoked, toasted, cooked vegetable, and ripened fruit", associated with compounds formed during the Maillard reaction or through degradation of sugars such as volatile pyrroles, furanones, pyranones, and pyrazines, which appeared or increased in concentration during honey storage mainly at high temperature.     

Silvopastoral systems improve carbon stocks at livestock ranches in Tabasco,Mexico

Silvopastoral systems have great potential for storing carbon because of carbon assimilation in tree woody biomass, carbon input through litterfall and below-ground carbon turnover. In this study, we quantified and compared the carbon stocks at livestock ranches in Tabasco, Mexico, containing either scattered trees in grazing pastures (STP) or grass monocultures. Sampling plots were randomly established at each ranch where the above- and below-ground carbon stocks, carbon input from litterfall, grass production and arboreal biomass growth were measured. We found that silvopastoral systems stored an average of 257.45 Mg ha⁻¹ of soil organic carbon (SOC) compared to 119.17 Mg SOC ha⁻¹ at grass monoculture ranches (to 30 cm depth); silvopastoral systems also stored 44.64 Mg C ha⁻¹ in wood biomass; and, grass monocultures had greater cumulative grass biomass production. Overall, it is concluded that livestock ranches in Tabasco, Mexico, with scattered trees in grazing pastures stored 58.8% more carbon than those grass monocultures, with carbon stocks of 327.01 Mg C ha⁻¹and 134.47 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. The results are useful for land management decision making for sustainable livestock systems framed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).     

A case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> fingerprinting for breeding

• Introduction  

Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population—a reference population of 125 individuals—with 16 microsatellites (SSR).     

The toxicity of selected acaricides against five stored product mites under laboratory assay

In laboratory tests, the toxicity of acaricides targeted against house dust mites was tested on five species of stored product mites (Acarus siro, Aleuroglyphus ovatus, Carpoglyphus lactis, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Tyroborus lini). The formulations of benzyl-benzoate, benzyl-benzoate/permethrin/pyriproxyfen, and neem were diluted in water and applied to filter paper in an unventilated chamber. The mortality of mites was observed after 24 h of exposure to acaricide-impregnated filter paper. All of the tested acaricides were toxic to all of the mite species. There were significant differences in mortality among the species and the acaricides. Benzyl-benzoate/permethrin/pyriproxyfen was the most effective, followed by benzyl-benzoate and neem. L. destructor (LD₅₀ 0.01–0.11 μg) was the most sensitive mite species, followed by A. siro (LD₅₀ 0.04–0.12 μg), T. lini (LD₅₀ 2–21 μg), A. ovatus (LD₅₀ 3–18 μg), and C. lactis (LD₅₀ 4–64 μg). Based on the highly toxic effects of the tested acaricides against the stored product mites, the acaricides should be considered as a potential tool in the control of stored product mites, although next screening is necessary.     

Stand biometry and leaf area distribution in an old olive grove at Andria, southern Italy

The objectives of this paper were (1) to provide general biometry data for an 80-year-old olive (Olea europea L., cv. Coratina) grove in Andria, southern Italy, and (2) to compare different methods for estimating leaf area distributions. Stand biometry was represented by a stocking density of 132 trees ha^?1, mean spacing of 8.7 m and mean social area (proportional to spacing and tree size) of about 76 m² per tree. Trunk total circumference averaged 110 cm and after subtraction of missing or dead parts of stems averaged 81 cm, projected area of crowns averaged 17.7 m² and the mean tree height was 4.9 m. Leaf distribution was evaluated using calibrated ground-based side photographs through image analysis and through using a simple canopy-layer model (considering hollow volume within tree crowns) and double-Gaussian curves. The mean leaf size was about 5 cm² (distributed in a log-normal manner over the range of 2 to 12 cm²). Considering whole tree crowns, the mean leaf density was about 2.6 m²m^?3; the maximum leaf area occurred in canopy layers between 1.5 to 3 m, tailing with a steeper slope to the crown base and a less steep slope to the tree-top. The foliated volume of olive crowns (mean 33.2 m³) contained on average 145 thousand leaves of the total area of 72.6 m². The corresponding leaf area index on the stand level (LAI _grove = 0.96), was rather low due to low stocking density. However when taking into account only the projected crown areas (and avoiding free space between trees), the mean LAI reached about 3.5 (range from 1–7). The radial pattern of leaf distribution derived from image analysis indicated peak LAI _rad values at a distance from the stem of about 60 to 70% of crown radius in trees of different size. The applicability of different approaches to the estimation of the necessary allometric parameters is discussed.     

Ontogenetic changes in stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis of two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks differing in leaf life span

A quantitative analysis was applied to the stomatal and biochemical limitations to light-saturated net photosynthesis under optimal field conditions in mature trees and seedlings of the co-occurring evergreen oak, Quercus ilex L., and the deciduous oak, Q. faginea Lam. Stomatal limitation to photosynthesis, maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate were determined from assimilation versus intercellular leaf carbon dioxide concentration response curves of leaves that were subsequently analyzed for nitrogen (N) concentration, mass per unit area, thickness and percent internal air space. In both species, seedlings had a lower leaf mass per unit area, thickness and leaf N concentration than mature trees. The root system of seedlings during their third year after planting was dominated by a taproot. A lower leaf N concentration of seedlings was associated with lower maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate and with assimilation rates similar to or lower than those of mature trees, despite the higher stomatal conductances and potential photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiencies of seedlings. Consequently, stomatal limitation to photosynthesis increased with tree age in both species. In both seedlings and mature trees, a lower assimilation rate in Q. ilex than in Q. faginea was associated with lower stomatal conductance, N allocation to photosynthetic functions, maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate, and potential photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency but greater leaf thickness and leaf mass per unit area. Tree-age-related changes differed quantitatively between species, and the characteristics of the two species were more similar in seedlings than in mature trees. Despite higher stomatal conductances, seedlings are more N limited than adult trees, which contributes to lower biochemical efficiency.     

The first records of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in the South American continent

This paper presents the first report of the occurrence of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in South America. Several samples were collected during various seasons in 2012 and 2013, and a significant number of individuals were obtained and identified. Based on the data recorded during each sampling campaign, including the locality, temperature, time of year, and number of individuals collected, several conclusions were drawn about the development of this invasion in southern Brazil.     

Radial variation in sap flow in five laurel forest tree species in Tenerife,Canary Islands

Variations in radial patterns of xylem water content and sap flow rate were measured in five laurel forest tree species (Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco, Persea indica (L.) Spreng., Myrica faya Ait., Erica arborea L. and Ilex perado Ait. ssp. platyphylla (Webb & Berth.) Tutin) growing in an experimental plot at Agua García, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Measurements were performed around midday during warm and sunny days by the heat field deformation method. In all species, water content was almost constant (around 35% by volume) over the whole xylem cross-sectional area. There were no differences in wood color over the whole cross-sectional area of the stem in most species with the exception of E. arborea, whose wood became darker in the inner layers. Radial patterns of sap flow were highly variable and did not show clear relationships with tree diameter or species. Sap flow occurred over the whole xylem cross-sectional area in some species, whereas it was limited to the outer xylem layers in others. Sap flow rate was either similar along the xylem radius or exhibited a peak in the outer part of the xylem area. Low sap flow rates with little variation in radial pattern were typical for shaded suppressed trees, whereas dominant trees exhibited high sap flow rates with a peak in the radial pattern. Stem damage resulted in a significant decrease in sap flow rate in the outer xylem layers. The outer xylem is more important for whole tree water supply than the inner xylem because of its larger size. We conclude that measurement of radial flow pattern provides a reliable method of integrating sap flow from individual measuring points to the whole tree.     

Effects of abrasive mineral, grit size and feed speed on the quality of sanded surfaces of sugar maple wood

Sanding is a common practice required in order to prepare wood surfaces for coating. Little literature is available regarding the effect of sanding parameters on the quality of surfaces. Sugar maple wood surfaces were evaluated in samples that had been sanded using two types of abrasive minerals, three grit sizes and four feed speeds. Roughness, wetting properties and cell damage were used to assess surface quality. Both abrasives decreased roughness and cell damage from 100- to 120-grit sanding stage. Addition of a 150-grit stage did not further reduce the roughness, whereas the cell damage continued to decrease. Increasing feed speed led to rougher surfaces due to higher fibrillation. Surfaces produced by silicon carbide were smoother and less damaged than those obtained with aluminum oxide. However, the surfaces sanded with aluminum oxide were more wettable and showed no significant difference in wetting time as a function of grit size. For these surfaces, the wetting time was reduced as feed speed increased.An erratum to this article is available at .An erratum to this article can be found at