Spatial sap flow and xylem anatomical characteristics in olive trees under different irrigation regimes

The compensation heat pulse (CHP) method is widely used to estimate sap flow and transpiration in conducting organs of woody plants. Previous studies have reported a natural azimuthal variability in sap flow, which could have practical implications in locating the CHP probes and integrating their output. Sap flow of several olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. 'Arbequina') previously grown under different irrigation treatments were monitored by the CHP method, and their xylem anatomical characteristics were analyzed from wood samples taken at the same location in which the probes were installed. A significant azimuthal variability in the sap flow was found in a well-irrigated olive tree monitored by eight CHP probes. The azimuthal variability was well related to crown architecture, but poorly to azimuthal differences in the xylem anatomical characteristics. Well-irrigated and deficit-irrigated olive trees showed similar xylem anatomical characteristics, but they differed in xylem growth and in the ratio of nocturnal-to-diurnal sap flow (N/D index). The results of this work indicate that transpiration cannot be accurately estimated by the CHP method in olive trees if a small number of sensors are employed and that the N/D index could be used as a sensitive water status indicator.     

Effect of moisture on physical parameters of timber from Turkey oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus cerris</Emphasis> L.) coppice in Central Italy

This study aims to investigate wood density at different levels of moisture, basic density and shrinkage of timber from Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) coppice forests growing in Central Italy. We also studied the variability in density in the trees within and among sites. Density shows no significant statistical differences in the tested population. A higher variability in the shrinkage than in the density was found. Wood moisture is referred to as dry mass and fresh mass, which is related to many performance characteristics of wood, i.e., energy production. Trends in moisture and water content were studied because these physical parameters play an important role in the specific area of firewood which requires an accurate estimation of mass, volume and energy content. This work is a contribution to improve xylo-energy estimates of small and medium forestry issues.     

Differentiation and functional connection of vascular elements in compatible and incompatible pear/quince internode micrografts

Micrografts of internodes excised from in vitro grown pear plants (Pyrus communis L. cv. 'Bosc' (B) and cv. 'Butirra Hardy' (BH)) and quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill. East Malling clone C (EMC)), were cultured aseptically to test the effectiveness of their functional vascular reconnection in relation to incompatibility-compatibility relationships that these genotypes exhibit in the field. The incompatible heterograft (B/EMC) showed a marked delay in internode cohesion compared with the autografts (both B/B and BH/BH) and the compatible heterograft (BH/EMC). Even when fused, the translocation of [14C]-sorbitol from upper to lower internode was lower in B/EMC micrografts than in the other combinations. Epifluorescence studies performed with carboxyfluorescin, a specific phloem probe, indicated that the limited translocation was caused by a delay in the establishment of functional phloem continuity between the two internodes. In the B/EMC combination, new differentiated tracheary elements (TE) in the parenchyma tissue at the graft interface between the two internodes were not detected until 30 days after grafting, whereas in the BH/EMC heterograft and both autografts, new xylem connections appeared to cross the interface 20 days after grafting. Immunohistochemical detection (terminal nick-end labeling assay) of the number of cells undergoing nuclear DNA fragmentation at the graft interface confirmed that the limited and delayed TE differentiation in B/EMC heterografts was associated with a decrease in the activity of programmed cell death processes involved in the differentiation of TE.     

Suppressive activity of some glucosinolate enzyme degradation products on Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani in sterile soil

Glucosinolate degradation products (GLDPs), mainly isothiocyanates, obtained by myrosinase‐catalysed hydrolysis of glucosinolates (GLs), are an important group of natural bioactive substances. The fungitoxic activity of four GLDPs, chosen on the basis of their side‐chain structures, was assayed against Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani. The effectiveness of the degradation products (DPs) of sinigrin (alkenyl GL), epi‐progoitrin (hydroxy‐alkenyl GL), glucoiberin and glucoerucin (thiofunctionalised GLs) in inhibiting P irregulare oospore germination and R solani soil colonisation were tested in a closed system, using an artificially infected soil. The fungitoxic activity of these GLDPs varied according to their side‐chain structure. As in previous in vitro studies, the thiofunctionalised GLDPs were found the most effective, producing complete inhibition of P irregulare oospore germination (0.01 µmole g⁻¹ soil) and R solani soil colonisation (0.5 µmole g⁻¹ soil), but even sinigrin DP showed a fungitoxic activity higher than that of epi‐progoitrin DP. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessment of leaching potential of aldicarb and its metabolites using laboratory studies

The metabolites of pesticides can contaminate groundwater and pose a risk to human health when this water is used for drinking. This paper reports the results of a laboratory study on aldicarb and its main metabolites, aldicarb sulfone and aldicarb sulfoxide. Aldicarb and its metabolites showed K_oc values (6–31) which were lower than that of atrazine (55), indicating that they are very mobile in soil. They are less persistent than atrazine (DT₅₀ = 25 days), with DT₅₀ values from less than 1 day and up to 12 days. Aldicarb behaved as a non‐leacher, whereas its metabolites clearly showed the characteristics of leachers. Aged residue leaching experiments showed that aldicarb can occur at high concentrations in the leachate, together with its two metabolites. The leachate composition depends on the incubation time of the parent compound. Aldicarb and its metabolites can form various mixtures in groundwater on the basis of the time elapsing between the application of the insecticide and the first significant rainfall. This study confirms the characteristics of contaminants of aldicarb and especially its metabolites, as reported in the literature. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

HPLC-PDA-MS and NMR characterization of C-glycosyl flavones in a hydroalcoholic extract of Citrus aurantifolia leaves with antiplatelet activity

A hydroalcoholic extract of lime ( Citrus aurantifolia) leaves has been developed in Cuba to be used as a nutritional supplement and phytomedicine in the form of tincture (TLL). A HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS/MS method has been used for the comprehensive analysis of C-glycosyl flavones in TLL. Six C-glycosyl flavones were characterized and, to confirm the proposed structures and to elucidate the nature of the sugar units, a preparative procedure was applied, and isolated compounds were characterized by NMR. Apigenin-6,8-di-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin II) (1), diosmetin-6,8-di- C-beta- d-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (3), apigenin-8-C-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin-6-C-[alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). and apigenin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isovitexin) (6) were identified in TLL and quantified by HPLC-PDA. Compounds 4 and 5 were two new arabinosyl derivatives of vitexin and isovitexin. Inhibitor effect of TLL on platelet aggregation induced by physiological agonists of platelets was evaluated in human plasma. TLL inhibited significantly ADP and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner (IC 50=0.40 and 0.32 mg/mL, respectively).     

Effects of glucosinolates and their enzymatic hydrolysis products via myrosinase on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitw

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitw. is responsible for large yield losses in several horticultural crops. Fumigation with chemicals has been efficient in fighting this soil pest, but it clearly shows a negative environmental impact. Thus, it is necessary to find an environmentally friendly alternative to control this nematode and meet the requirements imposed by world regulation to ban some chemical fumigants in the world after 2005. The glucosinolate-myrosinase system, typical of the Brassicaceae family, appears to be an important natural alternative for the control of several soilborne pests and pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the biocidal activity of 11 glucosinolates and their degradation products on second-stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode M. incognita expressed by the nematicidal (LD(50)) and immobilization effects, after 24 and 48 h. None of the intact glucosinolates had any biological effect. After myrosinase addition, their hydrolysis products (essentially isothiocyanates) resulted in highly different biocidal activities. Among the hydrolysis products of the tested glucosinolates, 2-phenylethyl, benzyl, 4-methylthiobutyl, and prop-2-enyl isothiocyanate showed the stronger activity, with an LD(50) at concentrations of 11, 15, 21, and 34 microM, respectively. On the basis of the in vitro test results, new genotypes of Brassicaceae had been selected for high content in the roots of the glucosinolates generating the more active isothiocyanates and their agronomic performances verified in view of a full-field application as catch crop plants. With this aim, the qualitative and quantitative glucosinolate contents in the roots of these potentially nematicidal plants are also reported and discussed.     

Texture and sesquioxide effects on water-stable aggregates and organic matter in some tropical soils

Many tropical soils include sesquioxides, which influence the stability of soil organic matter (OM) and aggregation to an extent that is not fully characterized. The present study was carried out on a range of 18 topsoil samples (0–10 cm) from low-activity clay (LAC) soils from sub-Saharan Africa and Brazil, and aimed: (i) at characterizing the size distributions of water-stable aggregates and organic constituents, (ii) at studying how these distributions were affected by texture and sesquioxides, and (iii) how they interacted.The distributions of stable aggregates were generally dominated by macroaggregates (> 200 μm), and those of organic constituents by fine OM (< 20 μm). Aggregation was not clearly affected by soil texture, while total soil carbon (Ct) and the amount of carbon (C) as fine OM increased with soil content in clay plus fine silts (< 20 μm). Stable macroaggregation correlated with Ct and with C amount as fine OM, but each of them correlated more closely with citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite-extractable aluminium (Al), which was not expected. Stable macroaggregation also correlated with C amounts as coarse- and medium-sized OM (> 200 and 20–200 μm, respectively), but each of them correlated more closely with oxalate-extracted Al. These results suggested that for the LAC tropical soils under study OM and aggregate stability depended closely on Al-containing sesquioxides, on Al-substituted crystalline hematite and goethite especially. These sesquioxides also seemed to play a dominant role in the relations between aggregation and OM. As far as soils rich in sesquioxides are concerned, this confirmed that OM is not the main aggregating agent, and suggested that physical protection within aggregates is not necessarily the main mechanism for OM stabilization. However, as soil sesquioxide content cannot be managed easily, the effect of land use on soil OM and aggregation was determinant at the local scale: indeed, for a given location, stable macroaggregation, Ct and C amount as fine OM generally decreased with land use intensification (i.e. cultivation, tillage, reduced surface cover).