Nursery Cultivation Research Articles

Abiotic triggers for maximising germling numbers in Asparagopsis taxiformis (Rhodophyta, Bonnemaisoniales) via tetrasporogenesis

AbstractThere is global interest in cultivating the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis due to its efficacy as a potent anti-methanogenic feed supplement and as a biofilter for the bioremediation of nutrient-enriched waters. However, the development of A. taxiformis cultivation is currently hindered by a lack of information about the conditions required to maximise tetraspore release and thus secure a reliable source of germlings for out-planting. In this study, we examined the effects of temperature, irradiance, and standard nutrient supplementation (F/8, potassium iodide (KI) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3)) on the number of germlings produced per tetrasporophyte, using a strain of A. taxiformis widespread within the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Temperature, irradiance and nutrient supplementation played a pivotal role in germling numbers, which was optimised at 22 °C under 7 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and with supplementation of F/8 nutrient media, arsenic trioxide (As2O3; 98 µg L−1) and potassium iodide (KI; 166 µg L−1). Once tetrasporophytes were removed from these inducing conditions, tetrasporogenesis ceased within 12 days. In a further five-week experiment investigating the effect of separate supplementation of As2O3 and KI, germling numbers were maximised under supplementation with either As2O3 or As2O3 + KI, with the relative growth rate of tetrasporophytes maximised under supplementation with F/8 + As2O3 + KI. Under optimum conditions, an average of 3,261 ± 826 (SD) germlings were produced per tetrasporophyte over a five-week period. Our results provide a strong starting point for developing hatchery protocols for generating a reliable supply of germlings for nursery cultivation in tropical settings.

Production and evaluation of new microbic strains on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants and control of Powdery mildew and Cladosporiosis

Research objective: The main objective of this article is to report the results obtained from the use of new microbial strains on vegetable plants. In particular, the article will deal with two important topics: i) the study of the effect of microorganisms on the biomass of vegetable plants; ii) the possible control of mortality due to diseases such as powdery mildew and Cladosporiosis. The information reported in this research work can support the design of cropping systems in which agricultural sustainability is fundamental due to the presence of microorganisms with biostimulating activity and as a possible alternative to synthetic plant protection products. Materials and Methods: The plants were grown in pots under controlled conditions; 30 seedlings per thesis, divided into 3 replications of 10 plants each, were planted in early February 2024. The plants used in the trial were Cucurbita pepo L.. The six experimental groups in cultivation were: i) group without microorganisms, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate; ii) group with Paecilomyces lilacinus, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (4.5 x 106 spores/ml), 5ml of product sprayed per kg of substrate; iii) group with Azospirillum sp., irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (4 x 108 spores/g), 1g of mixed product per kg of substrate; iv) group with Glomus sp., irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 x 109 spores/g), 1g of mixed product per kg of substrate; v) group with Trichoderma viride, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3.6 x 108 spores/ml), 5ml of product sprayed per kg of substrate; vi) group with mix Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas sp. and Trichoderma viride, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (2.3 x 108 spores/ml) 5 ml of product sprayed per kg of substrate. On 5 June 2024, plant height, number of leaves, total leaf area per plant (mm2), primary root length (mm), biomass of the aerial and root system, number and weight of fruits, flowers number and the number of plants dead from powdery mildew and cladosporiosis attacks were recorded. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of of different types of probiotic and plant defence microorganisms can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Cucurbita pepo L.. All treatments showed a significant improvement over the untreated control for the agronomic parameters analysed. The Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas sp. and Trichoderma viride treatment with a mix of microorganisms was significantly the best in terms of increasing vegetative and root biomass. Improvements were also found in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and root length. In addition, significant effects were found on the number of flowers and fruits as well as fruit weight. The trial also revealed the significant effect of the products on the control of powdery mildew and Cladosporiosis, in which case the product PL (Paecilomyces lilacinus) was the best on the two diseases. Conclusions: Experiments have shown that the use of microorganisms can significantly improve the growth, vegetative and root biomass of Cucurbita pepo L.. The treatment also offers increased resistance to mortality that can occur in nursery cultivation. A variety of horticultural and ornamental species have already been tested with microorganisms in previous trials, which highlight other interesting and innovative aspects of the use of microorganisms. Due to the importance of using microbial inoculums in plants, the new agricultural experiments are extremely important as they may allow the development of new products for organic and sustainable farming systems and lead to better results.

Light Intensity: A Key Ecological Factor in Determining the Growth of Pseudolarix amabilis Seedlings

The notable absence of juvenile Pseudolarix amabilis trees in forest understories suggests their vulnerability to ecological niche competition, leading to limited survival prospects. This study examines the key factors limiting the growth of P. amabilis seedlings by investigating the effects of five ecological factors: light intensity, rainfall, groundwater level, soil type, and type of fertilization, on the growth of one-year-old P. amabilis seedlings. Our results demonstrate that increasing the light intensity promotes plant growth by augmenting the leaf count, leaf biomass, plant height, stem biomass, root biomass, and total biomass. Further analysis reveals that increased light intensity influences biomass allocation, reducing the specific leaf area and leaf–stem biomass ratio, and favoring root and stem growth over leaf investment. Rainfall, groundwater level, fertilization type, and rhizosphere soil type primarily influence root growth by impacting the soil’s physicochemical properties. Specifically, rising groundwater levels lower the soil temperature and increase the soil moisture, total potassium content, and soil pH, leading to reductions in root biomass, plant height, net height increment, leaf number, and total biomass. When groundwater levels reach 21 cm and 28 cm, submerging the surface soil layer, root biomass decreases by 1.6 g/plant (−51.6%) and 2.3 g/plant (−74.2%), respectively. Further analysis reveals a gradual decrease in the root–shoot ratio above the 14 cm groundwater level, while the specific leaf area and leaf–stem biomass ratio remains unaffected, indicating stronger belowground root stress compared to aboveground stem and leaf components. The results highlight light intensity as the key ecological factor determining the growth of P. amabilis seedlings. These findings underscore the importance of considering light intensity in the management of natural stands, the cultivation of artificial forests, and the nursery cultivation of endangered P. amabilis.

Developing causal loop diagrams for the perusal of soil health in agricultural practices – A case study of rice nursery cultivation practices in India

CONTEXTSoil is a key component of the agriculture–livestock–forestry nexus. However, it has been reported that 40% of the agricultural soil is being degraded globally; in India, 70% of the agricultural soil is undergoing degradation despite various efforts to improve soil health. Hence, the current study takes a paradigmatic shift by applying the approach of systems thinking for understanding soil health. OBJECTIVEThis study aims to present an alternative methodology to study the impact of agriculture practices on soil health with a systems approach. METHODSA practice of soil parching for rice nursery cultivation, called raab, representing the agriculture–livestock–forestry nexus, was taken as a case study. The study included field visits to rice farms in Maharashtra, India, soil sample collection at three stages of raab practice, and soil samples from non-raab fields. Thirty-one soil samples were tested for four properties: pH, electrical conductivity, available potassium, and permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) in raab and non-raab nursery fields. Further, a causal loop diagram of the soil ecosystem was developed based on farmer interactions, soil testing results, and literature to identify the key system archetype in this case study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONStatistical analysis of the results showed a significant difference in soil properties at different stages of cultivation and in comparison to the control group. The mean pH of raab fields had increased due to the raab practice from 5.76 to 7.01, and the mean electrical conductivity increased from 0.218 dS/m to 0.745 dS/m. The mean available potassium increased from 229.9 kg/ha to 1239 kg/ha in the raab fields, while direct nursery fields had a mean of 487 kg/ha at the time of sowing. The mean POXC increased from 0.02 to 0.04 mol of MnO4− reduced. The causal loop diagram developed had 17 loops, 15 of which were favorable-reinforcing loops, and two were unfavorable-balancing loops. The system archetype of “Limits to growth” was identified in this study, based on which recommendations are suggested for maintaining soil health. SIGNIFICANCEThe systemic approach aids in decision-making regarding sustainable agriculture practices considering soil ecological processes with judicious use of resources available from the forest and livestock. The direct impact of soil health on five UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the indirect impact on seven other SDGs underscores the global significance of the novel approach discussed in this study.

Nursery Cultivation Strategies for a Widespread Mangrove (Kandelia obovata Sheue & al.): Evaluating the Influence of Salinity, Growth Media, and Genealogy

Mangrove plant seedling cultivation is crucial for the protection, management, and restoration of the mangrove ecosystem. In this study, we focused on Kandelia obovata Sheue & al., a typical mangrove, and evaluated nursery cultivation with different combinations of three salinity levels (S1: 0 ppt, S2: 10 ppt, and S3: 20 ppt), three genealogies (EZD, JX, and YZ), and five growth media (M1: 100% loess, M2: 100% sandy, M3: 50% loess + 50% sandy, M4: 40% loess + 40% sandy + 20% peat, and M5: 40% loess + 40% sandy + 20% coir), by measuring the growth parameters such as mortality rate, seedling height, seedling diameter, and biomass partition. These growth indexes were significantly affected by salinity and medium, and genealogies also had significant effects on mortality rate and biomass accumulation. S2 or S3 both had lower mortality and higher growth indexes than S1. M1 was the medium that increased seedling height, diameter, and biomass the most and had the lowest death rate. EZD and JX were also at higher levels than YZ in these indicators, but the difference between them was not obvious. S3, M1, and EZD consistently performed well in fuzzy evaluation and quality assessment (Dickson quality index: 1.179, 1.478, and 1.089, respectively). Furthermore, combinations involving these treatments also produced highly favorable results. This indicates that the quality of seedlings produced under these conditions was high. These results furnish both a theoretical and practical foundation for advancing nursery cultivation techniques and germplasm breeding of K. obovata in mangroves.

Feeding damage by fish to <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> during the nursery cultivation period in the Seto Inland Sea, Hyogo Prefecture, and the development of a cage to prevent feeding damage

Feeding damage by fish to <i>Undaria pinnatifida</i> during the nursery cultivation period in the Seto Inland Sea, Hyogo Prefecture, and the development of a cage to prevent feeding damage

Moderate temperature and water flow increase growth during the nursery phase of Asparagopsis armata

The red seaweed Asparagopsis armata is a target species for commercial cultivation. However, to facilitate nursery production, optimal cultivation methods for the early life stages of this species need to be developed. Therefore, this study examined the interactive effects of temperature (15 °C, 18 °C and 21 °C), irradiance (15 and 30 μmol photons m−2 s−1) and photoperiod (12 h L:12 h D and 8 h L:16 h D), and nutrient concentration (F/8 and F/4) and water flow (0.6 L min −1) on the development and growth of juvenile gametophytes of A. armata across two controlled laboratory experiments. Temperature and water flow had the greatest effect on the length of gametophytes, which was highest at 18 °C and with water flow. Gametophytes developed rapidly and were consistently largest when exposed to a 12 h L:12 h D photoperiod and growth increased when individuals were maintained at 15 μmol photons m−2 s−1 compared to 30 μmol photons m−2 s−1 under a 12 h L:12 h D photoperiod. Nutrients did not limit growth at either concentration, although contamination increased with increasing nutrient concentration and irradiance. Water flow is highly recommended during nursery cultivation of A. armata as this resulted in almost double the overall biomass productivity compared to static treatments. This work identifies critical parameters for enhancing development and growth during the early life stages of A. armata and provides fundamental information to facilitate system-specific upscaling and enable larger scale nursery production.

Effect of Short Day and Low Temperature at the Nursery Stage on the Inflorescence and Yield of Six Different Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Dutch.) Cultivars in a Soilless Culture System

In Korea, the majority of strawberry cultivation follows a forcing culture, where planting occurs in mid-September after the flower differentiation, and harvesting begins at the end of November. October and November constitute off-season, resulting in higher prices. The accelerated forcing culture involves artificially promoting flower differentiation to expedite strawberry harvest. This study aimed to identify the most suitable schedule for strawberry cultivation using the short-day and low-temperature treatments through greenhouse environmental control during the nursery stage. The selection of the most suitable cultivars for accelerated forcing culture among Korean breeding cultivars (‘Sulhyang’, ‘Kuemsil’, ‘Kingsberry’, ‘Vitaberry’, ‘Jukhyang’, and ‘Altaking’) was also part of the objectives. The nursery treatments were initiated on 4 July, 14 July, and 25 July. After approximately 5 weeks of treatment, transplanting was carried out. The control group was transplanted on 15 September. When night-chilling nursery treatment was applied on 4 July, followed by transplanting on 11 August, all six cultivars exhibited flowering earlier compared to the control group, leading to increased early yield. Particularly, the ‘Sulhyang’ cultivar showed the highest marketable yield at 68.6 g per plant in October. This research contributes to identifying the nursery cultivation schedule for off-season strawberry production and selecting suitable cultivars, and is expected to contribute to increased farm income.

Pemberdayaan Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Tunas Berkah Kota Blitar dengan Metode Parcipatory Rural Appraisal

Community empowerment is a way to increase and strengthen community skills to participate in development which is carried out energetically. The expected result is that the community can resolve the problems experienced in a more flexible (independent) and self-sufficient way. The community empowerment approach that is realized in development in a participatory manner (Participatory Rural Appraissal) is very suitable for business groups so that they can then overcome problems that arise. in group activities. The partner of this service is the Tunas Berkah Women's Farmers Group which operates in the field of vegetable plant breeding, which is domiciled in RW 04 Gedog Village, Sananwetan District, Blitar City. Service Objectives: to form partners who are more productive and have a high entrepreneurial spirit and values, to improve students' experience of studying outside campus as one of the implementations of MBKM. Implementation of activities includes program planning, administrative preparation and team coordination, Continuous assistance from pre-production to post-production, Activity Evaluation and Control. The results of the activities achieved are Overcoming seed production problems, overcoming business management and human resource problems, Overcoming seed marketing problems. Using the PRA method, FGD activities, PRA training/socialization, nursery cultivation training, nursery business management training, and marketing have been carried out which can increase the capacity of groups with larger business scales that have an organizational and economic impact.

BIOCLIM Modeling for Predicting Suitable Habitat for Endangered Tree Tapiscia sinensis (Tapisciaceae) in China

Climate change jeopardizes species survival, particularly for endangered species. This risk extends to the endangered Chinese endemic tree Tapiscia sinensis. The factors underpinning T. sinensis’s habitat distribution are poorly understood, and its potential response to future climate scenarios remains unclear. With six shortlisted climate factors and 117 occurrence records, we modeled T. sinensis’s potential distribution across China using the BIOCLIM model. We applied principal component analysis to examine the primary climate factors restricting its geographical range. The findings indicate that T. sinensis’ range is principally located in China’s middle subtropical climatic zone at low–mid altitudes. The principal component analysis identified two critical factors representing temperature and precipitation. Temperature was the most critical factor limiting T. sinensis distribution, especially the effect of temperature seasonality and isothermality. The habitat suitability model generated by BIOCLIM under current climate conditions demonstrated strong concordance between the predicted suitable areas and the present actual distribution range. These results verify that the model can reliably identify habitats conducive to T. sinensis growth and survival. However, under a hypothetical future climate scenario of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentrations for 2100, the model indicates a precipitous reduction and fragmentation in the areas with excellent suitability conditions. This predicted decline highlights the considerable threats posed by climate change to the long-term survival of this endangered species in China. Our habitat modeling yields critical insights that inform the development of science-based strategies and best practices to improve conservation management plans for research, protection, nursery cultivation, and sustainable planting in China. Habitat suitability knowledge could aid introduction and cultivation efforts for T. sinensis globally in places with analogous climates.

Nutrient Analysis of Different Media Used for Nursery Production

An experiment was conducted in the Soil testing laboratory PLANTICA – Indian Academy of Rural Development, Dehradun during January – July 2023, which focused on the nutrient analysis of various growing media for nursery development. Growing media is a crucial component of nursery cultivation as it aids in the growth and development of plants. Different types of growing media are used, and one of them is soil-based media, which is a mixture of different materials with soil being the primary component. In this trial, a mixture of soil, sand, vermicompost, and cocopeat was used to create growing media with different ratios. In this experiment completely randomized design (CRD) was used, in which soil and sand were mixed together to form one treatment, while cocopeat and vermicompost were mixed with soil and sand in different ratios, resulting in a total of 13 treatments with 4 replications each. The treatments for this experiment were, as follows: T1 - soil, T2 - soil + sand (1:1), T3 - soil + sand + cocopeat (1:1:1), T4 - soil + sand + cocopeat (1:1:2), T5 - soil + sand + cocopeat (1:1:3), T6 - soil + sand + vermicompost (1:1:1), T7 - soil + sand + vermicompost (1:1:2), T8 - soil + sand + vermicompost (1:1:3), T9 - soil + sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1:1), T10 - soil + sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1:3), T11 - soil + sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:2:1), and T12 - soil + sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:3:1). To analyse the nutritive value of the growing media, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), organic carbon, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and water holding capacity were measured. The most suitable treatments for nursery n cultivation were found to be T9 (soil, sand, cocopeat, and vermicompost with a ratio of 1:1:1:1) and T11 (soil, sand, cocopeat, and vermicompost with a ratio of 1:1:1:3). These treatments had the perfect balance of soil, sand, vermicompost, and cocopeat, providing all the necessary nutrients required by the plants. T9 was particularly suitable for nursery beds due to its high phosphorus content, which is beneficial for root development. On the other hand, T11 was the best choice for growing media after transplanting the saplings as it contained a high nitrogen content, which promotes foliage development.

Checklist of the genus Dendrobium Sw. (Orchidaceae) in Manipur, India

An enumeration of the genus Dendrobium Sw. (Orchidaceae) in Manipur, India was attempted. Literature review revealed the occurrence of 67 species under the genus from the state. The study was carried out through repeated field explorations in different natural forests of Manipur since 2012. Out of the total taxa reported from the state, only 42 species could be traced in the field. All these taxa are presented here with their flowering phenology and places of occurrence. Twenty-five species were untraceable in the field; however, nine species out of these 25 are represented by authentic herbarium specimens and supported by published documents. The remaining 16 species were reported only in literature, but no live plants or herbarium specimens were found. Out of the 42 species inventoried from the field, many taxa are under threat owing to habitat loss due to felling of trees, deforestation, and ‘jhum’ cultivation. So, there is an urgent need of conservation of those species through in situ and ex situ means for their sustenance. A photographic plate of some taxa is provided here which might be useful for their easy identification in the field and for taking care of their conservation. Large-scale uses of these species as cut flowers and indoor & outdoor plants may be practised through micropropagation and cultivation in nurseries which may help in revenue generation for the state.

Experimental test analysis of hydram pump flow rate using L9 Taguchi at fish pond aquaculture

Good water quality in fish nursery cultivation greatly influences the harvest quality. Temperature and Ph can be maintained properly with proper air circulation. The main problem is that the best flow rate quality in fish ponds of 0.123m3/second is only achieved through the flow from the dam. In this study, the installation of hydram pumps in fish ponds was carried out with the angle of assessing the inflow and discharge to adjust to variations in the diameter of the inlet and outlet pipes, the height of the inlet pipe, and the height of the tank. The experimental design used L9 orthogonal array Taguchi with four replicas. The result of this study was that the maximum value of the input flow rate was 305.73 cm3/second, and the discharge flow rate was 40.35 cm3/second. The maximum value was in the 8th composition; namely, the variation of the inlet pipe height was 200 in, the outlet pipe height was 350 cm, the inlet pipe diameter was 1 in, and the outlet pipe diameter was ½ in.

The Effect of Use Herbal Plus Probiotic on Nursery Stage Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) Culture

The milkfish, or Chanos chanos, is a fish that is frequently raised in brackish water ponds and is in high demand by consumers. It has a large economic value. A procedure known as nursery cultivation is used to maintain milkfish fry and produces fish that are prepared to be reared in ponds when they reach a specific size. The goal of this study is to determine how probiotics and herbs affect the growth and survival of milkfish. The materials used in this study were milkfish with an average weight of 0.018−0.01 g, commercial milkfish feed with a 20% protein content, probiotics, and a mixture of turmeric extract and curcuma. The investigation was conducted utilizing an experimental technique and a thoroughly randomized design with three replications of each treatment and one control. Data analysis used analysis of variance (One Way Anova) to compare milkfish cultivation in treatment A (milkfish with herbal feed), treatment B (milkfish with feed containing probiotics), treatment C (milkfish with feed containing herbs and probiotics), and control (milkfish nursery with feed). The analysis’s results showed that while adding herbs, probiotics, or herbs plus probiotics to the diet had no significant effects on milkfish survival (P > 0.05), they did significantly influence fish growth when compared to controls (P 0.05). When compared to controls, W herbs + probiotics in feed had a substantial impact on fish development but no significant impact (P>0.05) on milkfish survival. When compared to controls, W herbs + probiotics in feed had a substantial impact on fish development but no significant impact (P>0.05) on milkfish survival. During the maintenance period, the water quality metrics were within an acceptable range for milkfish to survive and thrive..

Cultivation Using Coir Substrate and P or K Enriched Fertilizer Provides Higher Resistance to Drought in Ecologically Diverse Quercus Species.

Nursery cultivation practices can be modified to increase resistance to water stress in forest seedlings following field establishment, which may be increasingly important under climate change. We evaluated the morphological (survival, growth) and physiological (chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf water potential) responses to water stress for three ecologically diverse Quercus species (Q. robur, Q. pubescens, and Q. ilex) with varying traits resulting from the combination of growing media (peat, coir) and fertilization (standard, P-enriched, K-enriched). For all species under water stress, seedlings grown in coir had generally higher growth than those grown in peat. Seedlings fertilized with P performed better, particularly for survival; conversely, K fertilization resulted in inconsistent findings. Such results could be explained by a combination of factors. P fertilization resulted in higher P accumulation in seedlings, while no K accumulation was observed in K fertilized seedlings. As expected, the more drought-sensitive species, Q. robur, showed the worst response, while Q. pubescens had a drought resistance equal or better to Q. ilex despite being classified as intermediate in drought resistance in Mediterranean environments.

Enhanced Root and Stem Growth and Physiological Changes in Pinus bungeana Zucc. Seedlings by Microbial Inoculant Application

Background and Objectives: As an extensively used tree species in landscaping and afforestation in China, lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana Zucc.) seedlings are in high demand. However, the small number of fine roots and the low growth rate of lacebark pine seedlings increase the risks encountered during transplant and extend the nursery time for outplanting. We aimed to find out whether a microbial inoculant would promote root growth and accordingly, shorten the nursery cultivation time. Materials and Methods: One-year-old lacebark pine seedlings were treated with the inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32 six times from June to September. At each application time, five treatments of undiluted microbial inoculants (UM), 30 times diluted microbial inoculants (30 DM), 40 times diluted microbial inoculants (40 DM), 50 times diluted microbial inoculants (50 DM), and distilled water as a control (CTRL) were administered to the seedlings. In the end, all the seedlings were harvested to measure the root growth, aboveground growth, and the physiological indices. Results: Root and stem growth was enhanced by the inoculants in terms of the increased number of root tips, the length and surface area of the roots, the biomass of the roots and stems, as well as the increase in height and basal stem diameter. The chlorophyll a/b of the needles was increased, in spite of the fact that the total chlorophyll content was decreased by the microbial inoculant treatments at the end of the growth phase. Meanwhile, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of the needles was increased by the inoculant treatments. The soluble sugar content was additionally translocated into the stems in the UM treatment, suggesting the change in carbon allocation. The content of available potassium, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrogen in the potting soil was increased in the 30 DM group, and the content of soil organic matter was increased in all the inoculant treatments. Conclusions: The microbial inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32, in appropriate concentrations, could be applied to promote root and shoot growth and improve the seedling quality of the lacebark pine during cultivation.

Seed dormancy and germination of native and invasive alien woody species of an endangered temperate forest in the Argentine Pampas

Forest restoration plans can benefit from knowledge of seed ecophysiology. Naturally, seeds respond to environmental clues to trigger germination or persist in the seed bank. Controlling dormancy and germination moment in native species will allow more efficient seed management, both for direct seeding (in situ restoration) and for native plant cultivation in nurseries (ex situ restoration). In addition, the differences in germination conditions of native and alien invasive trees can be used as control windows of the alien species in the seed bank. The aim of this study was to identify the environmental factors regulating seed dormancy and germination of native and alien trees of the Talares, an endangered temperate forest of the Argentine Pampas region. Seeds of the native trees Schinus longifolius, Jodina rhombifolia, Celtis tala and the alien trees, Ligustrum lucidum, Ligustrum sinense and Gleditsia triacanthos were collected and the presence of dormancy was determined exposing the seeds to standard germination protocols. In case of dormancy presence, a post-maturation experiment was carried out in two conditions: i) cold and wet (stratification) and ii) dry and warm (after-ripening). The native species J. rhombifolia and C. tala showed seed dormancy but S. longifolius did not. For C. tala germination it was necessary a previous post-maturing process; however, environmental conditions for J. rhombifolia germination were not attained. Alien species showed a high germination, reaching up to 100% in at least one of the evaluated conditions, and displayed different emergence windows compare to natives. Since alien species germinated at lower temperatures than natives, a temporal window for chemical or mechanical control is proposed. Ecophysiology of seed dormancy and germination facilitates strategies for decision makers, as it can make native seeds use and aliens control more efficient to meet global restoration goals.

Influence of dissolved organic matter and heavy metals on the utilization of soil-like material mined from different types of MSW landfills

Soil-like material (SLM) mined from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills can be used as nursery cultivation soil, landfill cover, and as a building material. However, SLM utilization is restrained by heavy metal (HM) contents whose speciation and migration are influenced by their dissolved organic matter (DOM) content. Therefore, the properties of aged refuse and the correlation between DOM and HM forms were studied using samples from different types of MSW landfills. The dominant components of aged refuse were SLM (18.80%–83.51%) and plastics (11.17%–65.51%). The moisture, organic matter, and pH ranged from 29.55% to 57.92%, 15.70%–57.68%, and 7.84–8.51, respectively. The Zn content was highest (455.48–1379.27 mg/kg) in the SLM, followed by Cu (96.29–428.90 mg/kg), Cr (49.10–236.21 mg/kg), Pb (53.52–222.71 mg/kg), and Ni (20.92–39.10 mg/kg). The SLM cannot be used for agriculture because the HM contamination exceeds the multiple of 0.07–7.99. Zinc in the acid-soluble state and reducible state had the highest mobility in SLM. However, Cu and Pb, mainly in the oxidizable state, and Cr and Ni, in the oxidizable and residual states, were relatively stable. In the sanitary and simple MSW landfills, the average proportion of protein-like materials decreased from 84.44% to 82.61% and from 65.58% to 55.94%, respectively, as the landfill depth increased. Both the acid-soluble and oxidizable HM states and all forms of Zn in the SLM were significantly positively correlated with tyrosine-like materials (r = 0.58*–0.87**). Protein-like materials may enhance the mobility of HMs.

Climate change threatens the conservation of one of the world’s most endangered transboundary tree species: Magnolia grandis

The Sino-Vietnamese border region is known for having unique and high levels of biodiversity. Global climate change is expected to alter the region’s climate and related changes in habitats and ecosystems will result in shifts in species’ distributions and increase the likelihood of local and global extinctions. Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) are widely used to predict the magnitude of potential species distribution shifts in response to climate change and inform conservation planning. Here, we present climate-based ENM projections of future climatically suitable habitat for the Daguo Mulian tree (Magnolia grandis), a critically endangered species of high ecological and cultural value in the Sino-Vietnamese border region. Projections of modeled climatically suitable habitat for M. grandis, both for the 2050s and 2070s, suggest significant habitat loss within conservation areas, and a defining shift in the location of suitable habitat. Future projections are conservative and do not account for dispersal limitations or species interactions or other factors, and thus may overestimate potential shifts and underestimate losses. Our results suggest that current conservation management efforts for M. grandis, which include community forest conservation monitoring combined with nursery cultivation efforts, can continue to have success if implemented in an adaptive management framework with long-term research and monitoring to inform forward-thinking decisions with future climatic suitability in mind. The results also underline how endangered species’ distributions may shift across borders as they track suitable climates, emphasizing that nations will need to cooperate to effectively manage threatened species and habitats and prevent extinctions.

Restoring oak forests through direct seeding or planting: Protocol for a continental-scale experiment.

The choice of revegetating via direct seeding or planting nursery-grown seedlings influences the potential stresses suffered by seedlings such as herbivory and drought. The outcome of the balance between both revegetation methods may ultimately depend on how species identity and traits such as seed and seedling size interact with environmental conditions. To test this, we will conduct a continental-scale experiment consisting of one mini-experiment replicated by multiple participants across Europe. Each participant will establish a site with seeded and planted individuals of one or more native, locally growing oak (Quercus) species; the selection of this genus aims to favour continental-scale participation and to allow testing the response of a widely distributed genus of broad ecological and economic relevance. At each site, participants will follow the present protocol for seed collection, seeding in the field, nursery cultivation, outplanting, protection against herbivores, site maintenance, and measurement of seedling performance and environmental variables. Each measurement on each species at each site will produce one effect size; the data will be analysed through mixed-effects meta-analysis. With this approach we will assess the main effect of revegetation method, species, plant functional traits, and the potential effect of site-specific effect moderators. Overall, we will provide a continental-scale estimate on the seeding vs. planting dilemma and analyse to what extent the differences in environmental conditions across sites, seed size, functional traits, and the phylogenetic relatedness of species can account for the differences in the effect of revegetation method on seedling performance across study sites and species.