Dry Branches Research Articles

Postharvest pruning as a strategy to decrease shoot vigor and drying in a high-density pecan orchard

High-density pecan orchards may improve production and mitigate shading issues with the use of pruning. The period in which it is carried out may influence shoot vigor, branch drying, fructification and fruit quality. This study aimed at evaluating vegetative growth, production and fruit quality by conducting hedge and central pruning in a high-density pecan orchard for two cycles. The cultivar Pitol 1 was subject to the following treatments, which were evaluated in two cycles: no pruning, postharvest hedge pruning, dry hedge pruning, postharvest central pruning and dry central pruning. Variables under analysis were shoot growth, dry branches, production efficiency and fruit quality. Postharvest pruning decreased vigor and, consequently, shoot growth. The number of dry branches decreased after central pruning in both pruning periods whereas hedge pruning did not mitigate the problem. Production and production efficiency just increased after pruning in the second cycle. Fruit borne by trees that were subject to postharvest pruning got heavier but only the ones borne by trees subject to central pruning got larger. Central pruning resulted in lighter and yellowish kernels. Postharvest pruning is an alternative solution to get less vigorous shoot in high-density pecan orchards and its response is similar to the one of the winter pruning regarding reduction in dry branches. Postharvest central pruning is the treatment that increases fruit quality more than the others, in terms of size and weight.

Coexistence between Xylella fastidiosa Subsp. pauca and Susceptible Olive Plants in the Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy)

Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) associated with Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca is one of the most destructive diseases of olive trees in the Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy), particularly on the cultivars Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola Salentina. This study proposes the NuovOlivo protocol as a management strategy to permit coexistence between X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca and olive drupes and extra-virgin oil production. Thirty-two private olive orchards affected by OQDS and cultivated following the standard agronomic techniques in use in the area were surveyed during the 2019–2023 olive-growing seasons. Tested cultivars included Cellina di Nardò, Ogliarola Salentina, Coratina, Ascolana Tenera, Nociara, Leccino, and Bella di Cerignola. At the beginning of the protocol application, the susceptible plants showed OQDS symptom severity of 40–80% and did not produce olives or oil, while the resistant(?)/tolerant cultivars exhibited a 2–8% leaf scorch and a drupe production less than 1–2 kg/plant. After the removal of dry branches in January–February, plants were sprayed two times per year (preferably in March and October) with NuovOlivo®, a mixture of aqueous botanical extracts esterified in the presence of sodium hydroxide with vegetable oils and activated at the time of use with sodium bicarbonate. In all the orchards, a slow-release fertilizer was distributed, and weeds were controlled by mowing or chopping. Upon eventual appearance, the dry twigs were removed. Treated olive trees produced new vegetation, rebuilt their foliage, reduced OQDS symptoms, and turned out cluster inflorescence and drupes. The drupes yield was 6.67–51.36 kg per plant, with an average of 13.19% in extra-virgin olive oil (free acidity 0.01–0.2%). Plants used as controls showed OQDS symptoms and were unproductive, and newly formed shoots were desiccated. The proposed protocol promotes, supports, and restores new vegetation, flowers, fruits, and oil production of the treated olive plants affected by OQDS without losing susceptible olive plants. The Apulian landscape and economy, based on olive presence and production, could be also safeguarded.

Impact of Wood-Boring Larvae of Xylotrechus arvicola (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Mechanical Properties of Vitis vinifera Plants

Xylotrechus arvicola represents a significant insect pest impacting Vitis vinifera within the principal wine-producing territories of the Iberian Peninsula. The larvae of this species bore into grapevine wood, resulting in significant structural and biomechanical deterioration to the plant. Compressive and flexural tests were conducted to assess the mechanical properties of wood affected by X. arvicola. Compressive and flexural strength exhibited a decline with the escalation of the Total Damaged Surface Area (TDSA) of the samples, ranging from 0.31% to 0.73% in trunks and from 0.04 to 0.76% in branches, irrespective of the wood moisture content (fresh and dry). The most significant reduction in resistance occurred in affected dry trunks and branches. Notably, the deflection at break for dry samples was lower compared to fresh samples (65.00 and 97.85 mm, respectively). Moreover, the deflection at break for affected fresh samples (164.37 mm) significantly surpassed that of unaffected fresh samples (72.58 mm) and affected dry samples (37.50 mm). It is noteworthy that a higher percentage of TDSA coincided with diminished wood resistance. The percentage of fungal growth symptoms observed in affected wood samples was 66.66% for dry trunks, 75.00% for fresh branches, and 60.00% for dry branches. The damage inflicted by larvae facilitated the spread of grapevine diseases via emergence of holes created by insects upon exiting the wood and through the larval galleries connected to them. This damage also altered the mechanical properties of grapevine plants, with fresh branches exhibiting the most pronounced effects.

Effect of Herbicide on Root Nodules, Phytotoxicity and Economics of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The field experiment was done during Rabi season of 2011-12 at Agronomy Research Farm of NDUA&T, Kumarganj, Faizabad, UP. The fresh biomass and dry biomass nodules plant-1 (mg), branches numbers and grain yield significantly supreme was noted in weed free plot. Fresh and dry biomass, branches number was obtained statically at par with treatments pendimethalin 1000 g ha-1 PE, or fb quizalofop 60 g ha-1 PoE or clodinafop 60 g ha-1 PoE at 45 and 60 DAS, 60 DAS and at 90 DAS. The minimum Fresh and dry biomass, branches number was noted with rest all the treatments. Whereas drastic toxicity was detected tracked by oxyfluorfen 200 g + fb clodinafop 60 g ha-1 PoE and pendimethalin 1000 g PE fb imazethapyr 75 g + quizalofop 60 g ha-1 PoE, separately. The greatest drop in grain yield of chickpea were noted in PE application of pendimethalin 750 g tracked by mutual PoE application of quizalofop-ethyl 60 g + oxyfluorfen 200 g ha-1 at 35 DAS. The utmost net economic returns and B-C ratio were noted in PE application of pendimethalin 1000 g and PoE application of clodinafop 60 g ha-1 and PE application of pendimethalin1000 g and PoE application of quizalofop-ethyl 60 g ha-1 at 35 DAS and the net monetary returns and B-C ratio were in negative with application of pendimethalin 750 g PE followed by mutual PoE application of quizalofop-ethyl 60 g + oxyfluorfen 200 g ha-1at 35 DAS and PoE application of oxyfluorfen200 g + quizalofop-ethyl 60 g ha-1 PoE.

Запасы углерода в 40-летних культурах сосны обыкновенной

The paper presents an assessment of carbon stocks in components of above-ground phytomass of the tree layer of 40-year Scots pine crops (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in different forest conditions of the Baltic-Belozersky taiga region of the European North of Russia. The studied pine crops were created on fresh, unsodded clearings with a low degree of litter in lichen, lingonberry and bilberry types of forest growth conditions, which are characterized by significant differences in bioproductive potential. It was found that the smallest carbon pool is formed in the stand of a 40-year pine stand of lichen-type culture-phytocenosis (16.59 t/ha), the largest – in the blueberry type of habitat conditions (69.41 t/ha). In artificially created 40-year lingonberry pine forest, carbon stocks in the above-ground phytomass of the tree layer have an intermediate position (44.40 t/ha). The highest relative value of bound carbon is reached in such component of aboveground phytomass as trunk wood. The share of carbon stocks in this fraction of the total aboveground phytomass of the forest stand of the studied pine cenoses varies from 59.5 % in lichen type of habitat conditions to 75.6 % in blueberry one. Branches and needles have close quantitative values of carbon stocks and similar structure of differentiation along the forest typological gradient, occupying a secondary position in the carbon pool of the forest stand of the studied artificial pine forests after stem wood. The proportion of carbon bound by these fractions of aboveground phytomass of the stand decreases from the least productive lichen pine forest to the more productive blueberry pine forest. The share of carbon accumulated by stem bark in the total carbon pool of aboveground phytomass of the stand of the studied artificial pine forests tends to decrease from lichen pine forest to blueberry pine forest. The fraction of dry branches has the smallest percentage of carbon stocks in the tree stand in all studied forest conditions (2.3–5.9 %). For citation: Klevtsov D.N., Tyukavina O.N. Carbon Stocks in 40-year Scots Pine Crops. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 5, pp. 195–203. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-5-195-203

Establishment of Sinoxylon anale Lesne (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae) in Brazil: Identification, Host Plants, Distribution, and Damage.

Damage from Sinoxylon anale Lesne, a woodboring beetle not previously known to be established in Brazil, was observed in young jabuticaba trees (Plinia cauliflora, Myrtaceae) in a nursery in the municipality of Laranjal Paulista, state of São Paulo. We immediately advised MAPA ("Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento") and collected samples from the nursery and from different hosts in nearby areas, to identify the specimens and investigate the dynamics of the infestation in the jabuticaba trees. Sinoxylon anale was also collected in ethanol-baited and ultraviolet-light traps and in dry branches of the native species pau-jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha, Fabaceae) and inga (Inga vera, Fabaceae), and the exotic pau-d'água (Dracaena fragrans, Asparagaceae) in the municipality of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo. These collections established that S. anale larvae and adults develop in dead branches of four new host plants. Taxonomic studies using morphological parameters and DNA barcoding confirmed the identification of S. anale. An illustrated key to the three Sinoxylon species now recorded in Brazil is provided, and the COI gene sequences have been made available in a public database. Sinoxylon anale probably attacked the young jabuticaba trees after they were killed by larvae of long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). So far, S. anale has been found established only in two locations in the same area of the state of São Paulo.

The interspecific competition of tree plants in the presence of AM fungi and litter facilitates root morphological development and nutrition when compared with intraspecific competition.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can affect plant growth by regulating competition. Nutrient-deficient karst habitats contain abundant plants that compete for nutrients through interspecific or intraspecific competition, involving the nutritional transformation of litter decomposition. However, how plant competition in the presence of AM fungi and litter affects root development and nutrition remains unclear. A potted experiment was conducted, including AM fungus treatment with or without Glomus etunicatum, the competition treatment concerning intraspecific or interspecific competition through planting Broussonetia papyrifera and Carpinus pubescens seedlings, and the litter treatment with or without the mixture of B. papyrifera and C. pubescens litter leaves. The root morphological traits were analyzed, and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were measured. The results showed that AM fungus differently affected the root morphological development and nutrition of both competitive plants, significantly promoting B. papyrifera roots in the increase of dry weight, length, volume, surface area, tips, and branches as well as N, P, and K acquisitions regardless of litter addition. However, there was no apparent influence for C. pubescens roots, except for the diameter in the interspecific competition with litter. The root dry weight, length, volume, surface area, and tips of B. papyrifera under two competitive styles were significantly greater than C. pubescens regulated by AM fungus, presenting significant species differences. The responses of the relative competition intensity (RCI) on root morphological and nutritional traits indicated that AM fungus and litter both asymmetrically alleviated more competitive pressure for B. papyrifera than C. pubescens, and the interspecific competition facilitated more root morphological development and nutrition utilization by endowing B. papyrifera root superiority relative to C. pubescens compared with the intraspecific competition. In conclusion, interspecific competition is more beneficial for plant root development and nutrition than intraspecific competition in the presence of AM fungus and litter via asymmetrically alleviating competitive pressure for different plants.

Morphological, Molecular and Genomic Identification and Characterisation of Monilinia fructicola in Prunus persica from Portugal

In Portugal, the Cova da Beira region is well-known for the production of Prunus spp. and is considered the main peach production area in the country. In the spring of 2021 and 2022, field surveys in peach and nectarine orchards showed symptoms of decline such as cankers, gummosis, dry branches, abortion of flowers, mummified fruits and the partial or total death of some plants. Brown rot is caused by three species of the genus Monilinia, M. fructigena, M. laxa and M. fructicola, the last is an OEPP/EPPO A2 quarantine organism on peach trees. Brown rot disease had previously been described in the Cova da Beira region, however, the recent high mortality and severity of symptoms raised doubts as to the species involved. Symptomatic plant material was collected from thirteen orchards and used for fungal isolation and molecular detection according to the OEPP/EPPO standard. M. fructicola was confirmed morphologically and molecularly in two orchards, and molecularly (duplex real-time PCR) detected in two others. Whole genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore MinION was also carried out to confirm the identification. Pathogenicity tests were performed on peach, nectarine and sweet cherry fruit according to Koch’s postulates. Based on all the results obtained, we report the first detection of M. fructicola in P. persica in Portugal.

RESEARCH OF THE STATE OF WOODY AND BRUSHWOOD PLANTS UNDER ANTHROPOGENIC STRESS CONDITIONS

Objective. The study of anthropogenic impact on environmental components, primarily on woody and shrub plants, which are the main medium-forming element in natural and artificial ecosystems, is relevant. The subject of this study was the ecological and biological state of plants under conditions of technogenic stress.
 Materials and methods. The article presents the results of a study of the life state of woody plants. For this, test plots were laid on the territory of sanitary protection zones of industrial enterprises and in the plantings of main plantings. The quantitative content of tannins and polyphenol oxidase in plant leaves during the active growing season was determined by spectrophotometry and titrimetric analysis.
 Results. Vitality decreases in the following order: Betula pendula Roth.> Sorbus aucuparia L.> Rosa majalis Herrn.> Acer negundo L.> Tilia cordata Mill. In plantations of technogenic territories, an increase in damage to the leaf blade is noted, a greater number of dry branches appear in the crown of a tree, compared to the control zone. Thus, in the study area, the lowest life state scores were recorded in Tilia cordata Mill., And the highest vital state scores were recorded in silver birch. In mountain ash, wild rose and American maple, the vital state is average. The increase in the activity of polyphenol oxidase was observed in plantations of technogenic territories, which is a consequence of intensive anthropogenic load on woody plants. Increased activity of polyphenol oxidase helps to decrease the content of tannins in plant leaves. Betula pendula Roth. Sorbus aucuparia L. in the SPZ of industrial enterprises in July, the accumulation of tannins is more intense than in the control plantations.
 Conclusion. Betula pendula Roth., Sorbus aucuparia L. in the SPZ of industrial enterprises in July, the accumulation of tannins is more intense than in the control plantations. Spectrophotometric determination of activity helps to understand the reasons why the content of tannins increases or decreases. This fact indicates the participation of tannins in the complex of adaptive reactions of plants, which are associated with protection from aerogenic pollutants. As a result of the study, the most resistant to anthropogenic stress plant species were identified: silver birch, cinnamon rose, and rowan tree.

Biomass allometric models for Larix rupprechtii based on Kosak's taper curve equations and nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression.

The diameter at breast height (DBH) is the most important independent variable in biomass allometry models based on metabolic scaling theory (MST) or geometric theory. However, the fixed position DBH can be misleading in its use of universal scaling laws and lead to some deviation for the biomass model. Therefore, it is still an urgent scientific problem to build a high-precision biomass model system. A dataset of 114 trees was destructively sampled to obtain dry biomass components, including stems, branches, and foliage, and taper measurements to explore the applicability of biomass components to allometric scaling laws and develop a new system of additive models with the diameter in relative height (DRH) for each component of a Larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr) plantation in northern China. The variable exponential taper equations were modelled using nonlinear regression. In addition, applying nonlinear regression and nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) enabled the development of biomass allometric models and the system of additive models with DRH for each component. The results showed that the Kozak's (II) 2004 variable exponential taper equation could accurately describe the stem shape and diameter in any height of stem. When the diameters in relative height were D0.2, D0.5, and D0.5 for branches, stems, and foliage, respectively, the allometric exponent of the stems and branches was the closest to the scaling relations predicted by the MST, and the allometric exponent of foliage was the most closely related to the scaling relations predicted by geometry theory. Compared with the nonlinear regression, the parameters of biomass components estimated by NSUR were lower, and it was close to the theoretical value and the most precise at forecasting. In the study of biomass process modelling, utilizing the DRH by a variable exponential taper equation can confirm the general biological significance more than the DBH of a fixed position.

Taxonomic Revision, Morphology and Natural History of the Stick Insect Genus Xerosoma Serville, 1831 (Insecta: Phasmatodea).

Stick insects (Phasmatodea) are quite diverse in the Neotropical region. Among them, Xerosoma Serville belongs to Pseudophasmatidae and comprises winged, roughly brownish phasmids that resemble bark or dry branches and inhabit the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. In this study, we present a redescription and revision of the genus that include three valid species, Xerosoma canaliculatum, Xerosoma michaelis, and Xerosoma nannospinus sp. nov. Xerosoma senticosum syn. nov. was found to be a junior synonym of X. canaliculatum. We also provide an identification key and geographic records for these three species. Additionally, we present a detailed study on the morphology and natural history of X. canaliculatum with the description of its nymphal stages, egg, male genitalia, ontogeny, oviposition method, life habits, defense mechanisms, mating behavior, and other aspects regarding its biology. The study also highlights the shortcomings related to the classification of Xerosomatinae, since its tribes find themselves without proper characterization and contain heterogeneous genera. We expect to provide a basis for a proper diagnosis of Xerosomatinae and encourage future studies on this group, as there is still much to be discovered about this lineage of Neotropical stick insects.

Результаты первой попытки привлечения пары орлана-белохвоста в искусственное гнездовье

Результаты первой попытки привлечения пары орлана-белохвоста в искусственное гнездовье

A Modelling System for Dead Wood Assessment in the Forests of Northern Eurasia

Dead wood, including coarse woody debris, CWD, and fine woody debris, FWD, plays a substantial role in forest ecosystem functioning. However, the amount and dynamics of dead wood in the forests of Northern Eurasia are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop a spatially distributed modelling system (limited to the territories of the former Soviet Union) to assess the amount and structure of dead wood by its components (including snags, logs, stumps, and the dry branches of living trees) based on the most comprehensive database of field measurements to date. The system is intended to be used to assess the dead wood volume and the amount of dead wood in carbon units as part of the carbon budget calculation of forests at different scales. It is presented using multi-dimensional regression equations of dead wood expansion factors (DWEF)—the ratio of the dead wood component volume to the growing stock volume of the stands. The system can be also used for the accounting of dead wood stock and its dynamics in national greenhouse gas inventories and UNFCCC reporting. The system’s accuracy is satisfactory for the average level of disturbance regimes but it may require corrections for regions with accelerated disturbance regimes.

ОРНІТОФАУНА ДЕНДРАРІЮ БОТАНІЧНОГО САДУ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ЛІСОТЕХНІЧНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ УКРАЇНИ

The article presents data on bird observations in the Botanical Garden of the National Forestry University of Ukraine. The information was collected from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, 37 species of birds were identified. Of these, 8 species belonging to the Passeriformes series are settled. The best represented family is Muscicapadae, including 7 species. The family Fringillidae includes 6 species, the family Paridae – 5 species. As many as 7 families represent only one species of birds. Birds identified in 2021 are: The great tit (Parus major L.), The Eurasian blue tit (P. caeruleus L.), Crested tit, (P. cristatus L.), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus L.), The coal tit (P. ater L.), The marsh tit (P. palustris L.), The common blackbird (Turdus merula L.), Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris L.), The song thrush (T. philomelos Brehm), Redwing (T. iliacus L.), The mistle thrush (T. viscivorus L.), The spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata Pallas), European robin (Erithacus rubecula L.), Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus L.), common pigeon (Columba livia, Gmelin), Eurasian magpie (Pica pica L.), The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius L.), Hooded crow (Corvus cornix L.), The rook (C. frugilegus L.), Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major L.), The middle spotted woodpecker (D. medius L.), The white-backed woodpecker (D. leucotos Bechstein), Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus Gmelin), Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea L.), Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris L.), Short-toed treecreeper (C. brachydactyla Brehm), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes L.), Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs L.), European greenfinch (Chloris chloris L.), Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula L.), Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus L.), Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra L.), Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla L.), Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes L.), The goldcrest (Regulus regulus L.), Corn bunting (Emberiza calandra L.), Common buzzard (Buteo buteo L.).
 The most populated is the part of the arboretum, which is located at the top of the hill, where there are plantations of conifers, including yew, Amur cork tree grows. Ivy and mistletoe on the trees, attract birds throughout the year. The most important risk factor for birds is cats. A marten also occurs in the protected area. Care gardening has a pronounced negative effect on birds, especially during the nesting season. Such work includes pruning bushes, removing individual trees or dry branches, and removing fallen leaves. The collection of nuts, acorns and seeds is not carried out in full – for animals, there is always a significant supply of crops. No special animal protection measures have been implemented in the protected area. It would be appropriate to hang artificial nests in trees and inform people about the inadmissibility of semi-free keeping of cats that regularly hunt birds.

Hedge and central pruning in a high-density pecan orchard in southern Brazil

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of two pruning methods, as well as absence of pruning, on vegetative and productive development and in the quality of pecan fruits in a high-density orchard. The experiment was conducted with the cultivar Melhorada in a commercial pecan orchard in municipality of Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The study was carried out between July 2018 and June 2020. In a randomized block design, the following treatments were applied: no pruning, hedge pruning and central pruning. Hedge pruning increased limb growth, while central pruning decreased the number of dry branches. Fruit production oscillated in the cycles. In the first, production was higher when central pruning was conducted. In the second cycle, it was higher in unpruned trees. Even though both pruning methods decreased the number of fruit with closed epicarps, they did not affect most variables of fruit quality. Therefore, results show that pruning methods promote vegetative development of pecan trees, reducing dry branches, but they are inconclusive regarding their production and have no significant effect on the main variables of their fruit quality. The evaluation and continuity of pruning for more cycles is important to obtain the most consistent results for indicating the best alternative for producers.

Protein Markers for the Identification of Cork Oak Plants Infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi by Applying an (α, β)-k-Feature Set Approach

Cork oak decline in Mediterranean forests is a complex phenomenon, observed with remarkable frequency in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, causing the weakening and death of these woody plants. The defoliation of the canopy, the presence of dry peripheral branches, and exudations on the trunk are visible symptoms used for the prognosis of decline, complemented by the presence of Phytophthora cinnamomi identified in the rhizosphere of the trees and adjacent soils. Recently, a large proteomic dataset obtained from the leaves of cork oak plants inoculated and non-inoculated with P. cinnamomi has become available. We explored it to search for an optimal set of proteins, markers of the biological pattern of interaction with the oomycete. Thus, using published data from the cork oak leaf proteome, we mathematically modelled the problem as an α, β-k-Feature Set Problem to select molecular markers. A set of proteins (features) that represent dominant effects on the host metabolism resulting from pathogen action on roots was found. These results contribute to an early diagnosis of biochemical changes occurring in cork oak associated with P. cinnamomi infection. We hypothesize that these markers may be decisive in identifying trees that go into decline due to interactions with the pathogen, assisting the management of cork oak forest ecosystems.

The environmental fate of biomass associated polybrominated diphenyl ethers

The widespread use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) inevitably leads to their occurrence in the atmosphere, soil, and sediment. Biomass, especially dry branches and fallen leaves, may act a large reservoir for PBDEs through atmospheric deposition or soil bioaccumulation. Thus, clarifying the sunlight-induced transformation behaviors of PBDEs on biomass is highly significant for our understanding on its natural self-purification process. In this work, the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of two common PBDEs congeners, decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), on biomass were systematically studied under natural and simulated sunlight irradiation conditions. The highest photodegradation rate constant of BDE-209 and BDE-47 was observed on sour cherry (SC) and zoysia matrella (ZM), respectively, which was related to their larger light receiving area and poor crystallinity. Due to the higher apparent quantum efficiency, BDE-209 degrades faster than BDE-47 (0.063–0.223 vs 0.006–0.026 h−1). The sunlight self-purification cycle of BDE-209 and BDE-47 on biomass were 6 and 14 days, respectively, with the corresponding sunlight contribution in the range of 0.12–0.51 ng mW−1. Products analysis by GC-MS and HPLC-MS/MS revealed that the main reactions involved in the photodegradation of BDE-209 and BDE-47 on biomass were debromination, hydroxylation, cyclization, and C–O bond breaking reaction. Especially, it was firstly proposed that hydroxyl H in lignin from biomass participated in the formation of primary products, which were rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and control experiments.

Mechanical Pruning of ‘Clemenules’ Mandarins in Spain: Yield Effects and Economic Analysis

Pruning is one of the most expensive tasks in citrus production, and its mechanization could increase the productivity and competitiveness of citrus farms. The effect of mechanical pruning on yield depends on the variety, crop condition, and location; among other factors. The ‘Clemenules’ mandarin variety is one of the most important ones; therefore, the aim of this work was to study the effects of twelve pruning strategies on ‘Clemenules’ yield over four years, and to conduct an economic analysis. These strategies included fully manual pruning, annual alternation of mechanical/manual pruning, mechanical pruning with manual follow-up, and fully mechanical pruning with different types of cuttings. The results showed that pruning strategies affected the yield and fruit size in some years of the study but not when the four years overall are considered. Strategies that annually alternated mechanical pruning with manual pruning had higher yields than the fully mechanical approaches, and similar yields to the manual and control (no pruning) strategies. Furthermore, although the mechanical pruning costs per hectare were as minimum two times less than those with manual pruning, higher net value was achieved with the manual pruning approach followed by alternate annual mechanical/manual pruning. In conclusion, after four years of study, the pruning strategy with the best global results for ‘Clemenules’ mandarin was that which involved annually alternating mechanical (topping and one-sided hedging) and manual pruning. This strategy allows maintaining regular tree dimensions without dry branches inside.

Foliar application of potassium and moringa leaf extract improves growth, physiology and productivity of kabuli chickpea grown under varying sowing regimes.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is of prime importance because of vital source of protein as major food legume. Globally, it is cultivated on large area to meet dietary requirements of humans. Climatic extremes (erratic rainfall, extreme high and low temperature) are key restrains for its production. Optimum sowing time is considered as an important factor to address climatic variations and to attain maximum yield. Foliar application of potassium (K) has also been reported to increase resistance against abiotic stresses. Similarly, exogenous application of plant based growth substances (bio-stimulants) like moringa leaf extract (MLE) are extensively used to enhance productivity of field crops. Therefore, current study was planned to evaluate the impact of foliar applied K and MLE on growth, physiology and productivity of kabuli chickpea grown under varying sowing dates. There were two sowing dates (normal sown; November 15 and late sown; December 15, 2020). Experiment was comprised of treatments i.e. control, water spray, foliar application of K at 1%, foliar application of MLE at 3% and combined application of K and MLE. Foliar applied K and MLE significantly improved physiological, biochemical and yield attributes of kabuli chickpea cultivated under normal and late sown conditions. Increase in growth and yield attributes like plant height, number of nodules per plant, nodules dry weight, branches and pods per plant, 100- grain weight, biological and grain yield were recorded in case of combined foliar application of K and MLE in normal and late sown chickpea. Maximum improvement in gas exchange attributes (stomatal conductance and transpiration rate), chlorophyll contents, antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) and osmolytes (proline) were recorded with combined application of K and MLE in both sowing dates. Thus, combined applied K and MLE can be used to enhance productivity of kabuli chickpea.

Evaluation of Terminalia catappa street trees: A case study in Itanhaém – São Paulo, Brazil

Street trees are the type of urban forest which is closest to the majority of the society and in order for this relationship to remain healthy and beneficial, it is important to know the characteristics of the species having roles in it. Terminalia catappa trees are commonly used in the urban forest composition in the world and it is the most frequent species of street trees in Itanhaém, Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate individuals of the species in the municipality’s street trees in order to determine the dendrometric characteristics, practiced pruning modalities, and the main structural defects shown. The results showed that the trees are on average 7.5 m in height, with DBH of 0.30 m and crown radius of 4.5 m. Approximately 75 % of individuals were pruned, with reduction and lifting pruning being the most frequent. The main structural defects found were dry branches in the crown (89.2 %), cracks in the soil caused by the roots (70.3 %) and bacterial galls on the trunk (48.6 %). The analysis of the associations showed that there is an association linking pruning to epicormic shoots and to dry branches. The size of the trees is incompatible with urban infrastructure, showing that sidewalks are not an appropriate site for the species.