Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

Cortical monoterpene variation in natural populations of Pinus sylvestris in Sweden

Cortical oleoresins were obtained from 10 natural populations of Pinus sylvestris L. from different geographical localities. Gas chromatography was used to determine quantities of individual monoterpenes. Considerable variation was found in monoterpene composition among different populations. High proportions of limonene occurred in greater percentages in trees of northern origins, while high sabinene was frequently found in southern trees. Mean proportions of limonene and sabinene in the populations were clinal with latitude. For some monoterpenes, variation coefficients as a measure of variability within populations appeared to be clinal with latitude. 85.4% of the variance in monoterpene composition was found within populations and 14.6 between populations. Discriminant analysis differentiates populations from different geographical localities into different groups. The differences in monoterpene patterns between adjacent populations were statistically nonsignificant. It is recommended that monoterpene composition be used for more general study of genetic variation, geographical distinction between different populations and seed certification purposes.     

Multifunctionality and agrarian transition in alternative agro‐food production in the global South: The case of organic shrimp certification in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

Processes of globalisation in the conventional food provision system have had widespread negative impacts on small‐scale farmers. Yet, alternative food networks, which are characterised by more sustainable production/consumption practices and fairer trade relations, have increasingly been ‘going global’ and, in the process, have been integrating small‐scale farms in the South. One such high‐value export‐led commodity is certified organic shrimp. International third‐party certification schemes are becoming popular as a tool to verify the intangible attributes of such commodities. Using concepts of multifunctionality and agrarian change, this paper examines the implications of introducing an international environmental certification programme to a site where the ‘peasantry’ has been preserved and has limited integration in the global agro‐food system. Drawing on a case study that examines the first certified organic shrimp production project in Vietnam, this paper concludes that the current movement towards post‐productivism in the global North has potential to keep local farming practices in the global South by justifying the value of peasant‐like production methods through international certification. As a result, the development path of agrarian transition might be reshaped into a form not necessarily pursuing industrialisation. This leads to the new interpretation of pre‐ and post‐productivism beyond the North and South divide.     

FSC标准与中国法规之间的冲突分析

森林管理委员会(FSC)认证体系是目前市场认可度最高的, 受到非政府环保组织和贸易组织支持的全球森林认证体系。近年来, 由于市场作用和政策支持等因素, FSC认证在中国迅速发展。然而各个认证机构在中国开展森林经营认证过程中, 发现FSC标准与中国的法规之间存在着几个方面的冲突。这些冲突是导致国内部分森林经营企业难以通过FSC认证的重要原因。作者通过参与和调查国内多个森林经营企业的FSC认证工作, 将具有普遍性的冲突进行了归纳和分析, 为中国森林企业获得FSC认证提供借鉴。     

寒地黑土绿色物产证明商标的法律保护

寒地黑土绿色物产证明商标既是一种产地标志、也是一种质量标志,就像农产品的“保护伞”,具有了质量显示功能和商业标志作用,是具有巨大商业价值的财产权。只有强化产权意识,适时注册,规范使用,全程监督,才能加强对寒地黑土绿色物产证明商标的法律保护,才能保证和促进寒地黑土经济的竞争优势,保障消费者的合法权益。     

中国开展人工林FSC认证面临的潜在障碍

人工林在中国林业发展中占据了重要地位, 但由于其带来的各种问题迫切要求实现可持续经营。FSC森林可持续经营认证充分考虑了经济效益、生态效益和社会效益的协调, 有助于人工林经营向着可持续的方向发展, 对于解决人工林经营中存在的问题有积极意义。但中国的人工林经营在遵守FSC认证的要求时可能存在一些障碍。针对FSC森林经营认证的具体标准或指标, 列出了中国人工林经营存在的一些潜在的不符合项, 并提出了建议。     

真的是一剂良药？——评“鲶鱼效应”在应对图书馆职业懈怠中的作用

为应对图书馆界存在的职业懈怠,业界有人主张引进“鲶鱼效应”。然图书馆固有的铁饭碗制度、无生存之忧,领导的行政任命等现象却造成我国图书馆界形不成“鲶鱼效应”。图书馆可引进它的一些思想,改善目前存在的弊端。     

我国木材防腐行业产品质量控制途径探讨

随着我国经济的飞速发展,天然林资源已远不能满足日益增长的对木质材料的需求。木材经防腐处理后,可以显著延长使用寿命,是节约木质资源的有效途径。在我国,虽然木材防腐工业发展迅速,但却面临着一系列的问题,如企业规模偏小、产品单一、技术工艺落后、潜在环境污染风险高、缺乏国家政策及相关市场监管体系等。借鉴国外先进经验,文中探讨了适合我国木材防腐行业产品质量控制的有效途径。     

Environmental improvement of seafood through certification and ecolabelling: theory and analysis

The study of environmental impacts of seafood production as a result of ecolabelling and certification is a young yet rapidly growing discipline that lacks theoretical models. Pieces of the model have been suggested in the literature, and these pieces are formalized here realizing the current operating parameters of the global seafood industry. The derived pull‐threshold model assumes that if producers exceed the threshold, there is no incentive to improve while if too far below, improvement is most likely beyond technical or financial means. Thus, a single certification is only a marginal solution to the larger picture. Those producers immediately below the certification threshold are within range or ‘pull’ of the threshold to improve as a result of certification. Results from a single threshold model applied to compliance data indicated that a maximum improvement of 12.5%, achieved when the pull was the greatest and the threshold was at the lower end of the impact distribution. When impacts were continuous (e.g. escapes in aquaculture), greater improvement was observed with thresholds targeting the producers at the higher end of the impact distribution. In all cases, improvement was maximized with a triple threshold model, indicating that single threshold scenario will not drive the greatest movement towards environmental improvement throughout the industry. Innovation is potentially more important in reducing environmental impacts of seafood production and needs to be accounted for as the seafood certification or ecolabelling continues to mature.     

森林认证对生物多样性影响研究进展

维护森林生态系统的完整性,尤其是保护生物多样性是开展森林认证的重要目的之一。文中概述2大国际森林认证体系（FSC和PEFC）认证标准中有关生物多样性保护的要求,分析森林认证对生物多样性的影响,探讨现有认证标准与实现生物多样性保护之间的差距。分析表明,森林认证对生物多样性的保护具有积极作用,森林认证可作为促进生物多样性保护的有力工具;由于受到诸多因素的影响,在全球认证体系中生物多样性保护标准和指标的确立普遍缺乏科学数据支撑,不同区域差异较大,且生物多样性的监测和评估相对滞后。森林认证对全球森林资源的可持续发展具有重要的意义,生物多样性保护工作将成为推动森林认证持续发展的重要力量。