Ground Bark Research Articles

Polysaccharides derived from Yamoa™ ( Funtumia elastica) prime γδ T cells in vitro and enhance innate immune responses in vivo

Yamoa™ (ground bark of Funtumia elastica tree) is marketed and sold as a dietary supplement with anecdotal therapeutic effects in the treatment of asthma and hay fever. We determined that Yamoa™ and Yamoa™-derived polysaccharides affected innate immunity, in part, by priming γδ T cells. Gene expression patterns in purified bovine γδ T cells and monocytes induced by Yamoa™ were similar to those induced by ultrapure lipopolysaccharide (uLPS). In the presence of accessory cells, Yamoa™ had priming effects that were similar to those of LPS on bovine and murine γδ T cells, but much more potent than LPS on human γδ T cells. The bioactive component of Yamoa™ was delineated to a complex polysaccharide fraction (Yam-I). Intraperitoneal injection of Yamoa™ and Yam-I in mice induced rapid increases in peritoneal neutrophils directed by changes in chemokine expression. In support of a unique agonist found in Yam-I, similar peritonitis responses were also observed in TLR4- and MyD88-deficient mice. Therapeutic treatment with Yam-I resulted in decreased bacterial counts in feces from mice with Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium (ST)-induced enterocolitis. This characterization of the immune stimulatory properties of polysaccharides derived from Yamoa™ suggests mechanisms for the anecdotal positive effects of its ingestion and that these polysaccharides show potential for application in innate protection from disease.

Distribution and ecology of the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with major vegetation types in Big Bend National Park, USA

The distribution and ecology of the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with four different microhabitats were studied in Big Bend National Park in Texas. During Mar. 2005, twelve plots (30 × 30 m) were established along an elevational gradient that extended from 564 to 1807 m. Samples of aerial bark from dead and living trees, aerial litter (dead but still attached plant parts), ground litter (fallen dead plant parts) and ground bark (fragments of fallen bark) were collected from these plots, which encompassed all of the major vegetation types found in the Park. Four hundred forty-seven moist chambers were prepared, and 95.8 % (428) produced some evidence (either fruit bodies or plasmodia) of myxomycetes. A total of 71 species were recorded, with ground litter yielding most (45 species). Aerial litter, aerial bark and ground bark yielded 44, 39 and 37 species, respectively. Species abundance distribution measures (diversity, dominance and similarities) varied among the four microhabitats as well as among the major vegetation types. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that species distribution patterns were closely related to: (1) the major environmental-complex gradients associated with differences in elevation/temperature/moisture conditions that occur from one locality to another; and (2) the different types of microhabitat.

First Records and Microhabitat Assessment of Protostelids in the Aberdare Region, Central Kenya

A rapid assessment survey on the occurrence and distribution of protosteloid amoebae was carried out in central Kenya. Samples of dead plant materials were collected from 46 study sites (each 20 x 20 m) situated along an elevation gradient (1,785-3,396 m) that encompassed five major land use/cover types. Twenty-four species and subspecific taxa were recovered and included 23 protostelids and one minute myxomycete, often included in surveys for protostelids. All of these were the first records for Kenya, and six were new for Africa. Numbers of taxa were highest in ground litter and aerial litter microhabitats (20 taxa each) and lowest on aerial bark (10) and ground bark (7). Relative species abundance was greatest in aerial litter, moderate in ground litter, and low on aerial and ground bark microhabitats. The most frequently occurring species on ground litter were Schizoplasmodiopsis pseudoendospora, Schizoplasmodiopsis amoeboidea, and Protostelium mycophaga var. mycophaga, whereas the most common species on aerial litter were P. mycophaga var. mycophaga and Soliformovum irregularis. Species richness and abundance decreased with increasing elevation.

Protostelids from deciduous forests: first data from southwestern Europe

The first data of Protostelids from the southwest of Europe are presented in this paper. A total of 21 species were identified from samples collected in Somiedo Biosphere Reserve (Spain). This is the highest species richness recorded to date for Europe or for a latitude this high (>40°). Seven species ( Cavostelium apophysatum, Endostelium zonatum, Microglomus paxillus, Protosporangium fragile, Protostelium okumukumu, Soliformovum expulsum and Schizoplasmodiopsis micropunctata) are new records for Europe. Approximately 65 % of the microscopic protostelid species described in the world have been found in this Reserve, a fact that increases the biological value of this protected area and suggests that Spain is an excellent location to study this group. A microhabitat study has been carried out finding differences in species composition and abundance between ground litter, aerial litter, and bark substrates. Comments on the distribution and ecology of the species, as well as illustrations of some species are included.

Antioxidant, cytotoxic and UVB-absorbing activity of Maytenus guyanensis Klotzch. (Celastraceae) bark extracts

Maytenus guyanensis Klotzch. is an Amazonian medicinal tree species known in Brazil by the common name chichuá and in Peru and Colombia by the name chuchuhuasi. It is used in traditional medicine as stimulant, tonic, and muscle relaxant, for the relief of arthritis, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, swollen kidney, skin eruptions, and skin cancer prevention, among others. Initially, different extraction solvents and methods were applied to dried, ground bark which made possible the preparation of extracts having both significant lethality to brine shrimp larvae (Artemia franciscana Leach) as well as antioxidant activity in vitro based on tests involving reactions with 2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Analysis of fractions from serial extractions with solvents of increasing polarity supports the notion that antioxidant activity is associated with compounds of intermediate polarity and cytotoxicity is associated with compounds of low to intermediate polarity. Variation of extraction time and conditions revealed that hot, continuous ethanol extraction provided good yields of bark extract in several hours. Hot extraction also provided ethanol extracts having greater lethality to brine shrimp and antioxidant activity (compared to the flavonoid rutin in semi-quantitative methods based on DPPH) than extracts obtained from maceration at room temperature. Freeze-dried ethanol extracts were prepared by: 1) maceration at room temperature and 2) hot extraction (eight hours) on several hundred gram scales and the latter extract was shown to have partial screening effects on UVB light. In this work, cytotoxic, antioxidant and potential sun-screening activity are shown for the first time in M. guyanensis.

Application of Paper Mill Biosolids, Wood Ash and Ground Bark on Wild Lowbush Blueberry Production

SUMMARY Soils in wild lowbush blueberry production are prone to wind erosion and have very low nutrient and water storage capacities. An experiment was initiated to assess paper mill biosolids (PB) mixed with wood ash and ground bark as a soil amendment/fertilizer for wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccium angustifolium Ait.) in the Lac St-Jean area, Quebec, Canada. A mixture of PB was applied during spring (mid-May) of the sprout year (1998) on 120 m2 plots at a rate of 15t ha−1 (wet basis) with wood ash (1 and 2t ha−1) and ground bark (0, 3, 6,9 and 15t ha−1, wet basis). Blueberry leaves were sampled in the first year and wet digestion and dry ashing were performed to determine foliar nutrient concentration. In 1999 and 2000, fruit yields tended to increase with PB with wood ash and ground bark application (31% in 1999 and 29% in 2000). Foliar N, P and K concentrations were increased whereas Ca and Mg were unaffected compared to control. Other nutrients were also determined and only Fe tended to increase with ...

Online determination of 2 H/ 1 H and 13 C/ 12 C isotope ratios of cinnamaldehyde from different sources using gas chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry

The combination of gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) and gas chromatography-pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-P-IRMS) is applied to the authenticity assessment of cinnamaldehyde from various sources. For that reason, cinnamon oils were self-prepared by steam distillation from three different varieties of cinnamon bark on the market, C. ceylanicum (ceylon), C. cassia (cassia) and C. burmanii (cassia vera). Furthermore, the so-called wood cinnamon was investigated, which is produced from the outer bark of older branches of cinnamon of minor quality. Self-prepared oils were analysed from commercial cinnamon powder. In addition several commercial samples of cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde, some of them declared to be natural, were investigated. δ 2ΗV-SMOW and δ 13CV-PDB values of cinnamaldehyde were determined and characteristic authenticity ranges were deduced, allowing the differentiation between synthetic and natural samples. By correlation of both the δ 2ΗV-SMOW and δ 13CV-PDB values, characteristic authenticity ranges were defined for ceylon, cassia and wood cinnamon. The δ 2ΗV-SMOW and δ 13CV-PDB values of cassia vera samples are in the range of cassia. By comparing the δ 2ΗV-SMOW values of different self-prepared samples (ground bark, distillate) of cinnamon determined by TC/EA-IRMS with the corresponding GC-IRMS values, online GC-IRMS methods are proved to be essential in the authentication of complex natural products.

Extraction methods for assessing the availability of cations for epiphytic lichens from bark

Concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in water eluates as well as in SrCl 2 and EDTA extracts of ground bark from Abies balsamea and Picea rubens were determined and related to total concentrations obtained from acid digests. SrCl 2 was most effective at extracting K, Ca and Mg, whereas EDTA had a higher extraction efficacy for Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu. Concentrations in the water eluates were generally lower. Mobility of the different metals in the bark was estimated as the percentage of the metal concentration recovered in the water eluates related to the total concentration; it decreased in the order K>Mg, Mn, Cu>Zn>Ca, Fe. Concentrations of K, Mg, Mn, and Zn in the water eluates, the SrCl 2 and EDTA extracts were correlated with total concentrations; in these cases the choice of extraction method has little impact on the detection of correlations between element concentrations and epiphytic lichen abundance. For Ca, Fe and Cu little correlation occurred between concentrations in the extracts and total concentrations; here, possible relationships between epiphytic lichen abundance and element availability can easily be overlooked due to insufficient extraction methods. Cation availability depends on the phorophyte species and its vitality; thus, ion availability has to be determined seperately for each type of substrate.

Reconstructing the late-Holocene history of a subalpine environment (Charlevoix, Québec) using fossil insects

In southern Quebec (Charlevoix, Canada), reconstructions of the subalpine insect assemblages were made in environments that were transformed by fire during the late Holocene (since 4500 BP). The ecological requirements of beetle species likely to be found as fossils were studied by collecting living beetles in pitfall traps in forest, suibalpine and alpine environments. The late-Holocene changes of insect assemblages were reconstructed by recovering fossil insects from 13 peat sections. Modem beetle assemblages are valuable indicators of tree cover. Well-developed podzol soils under peat, as well as numerous spruce charcoal remains overlaying the podzol in all sampling sites, suggest that a dense spruce cover was present before the beginning of the accumulation of peat, and was eliminated by fire (4570-800 BP). Ground beetle and bark beetle assemblages at the base of the peat sections contained a mixture of forest and open-environment species, indicating that the postfire environment was a subalpine one with a tree cover of 30-50%. The most recent fire in the area (AD 1915) increased the openness of the landscape (tree cover <30%) Forest ground beetles and bark beetles disappeared almost completely; only open-environment species remained. The late-Holocene history of the Charlevoix mountains as reconstructed using fossil insects is similar to that reconstructed using charcoal remains. However, fossil insects add significant information (tree cover, health of trees, forest composition) that is difficult to obtain using other macrofossils. This opens up new opportunities for palaeoecological studies in the boreal forest, which was formed during the Holocene epoch, and was frequently disturbed by fire and insect outbreaks.

GONADAL DEVELOPMENT AND EGG-LAYING RESPONSE OF FEMALE WHITE PINE WEEVILS REARED ON ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL DIETS

AbstractReproductive processes in female Pissodes strobi (Peck) fed with a 5% ground bark artificial diet following summer emergence were studied. Females exposed to different temperature and photoperiod regimes were dissected every other week and their reproductive organs were observed to evaluate the maturation time according to the treatments. After 12 weeks, half the females were transferred onto lateral branch sections of white pine and the other half onto artificial diet supplemented with 10% ground bark of white pine, and their realized fecundity was determined. During the first 12 weeks, ovary development was detected but very few mature oocytes were found. No significant differences were observed for the maturation times between the different abiotic conditions used, but significant differences were observed in female egg-laying response on natural and artificial diets. Females that completed their sexual maturation at 24 °C and 16L: 8D laid over a 3-week period 14.4 ± 8.8 (mean ± SE) and 2.6 ± 2.6 eggs per female on white pine sections and artificial diet, respectively. Oviposition behaviour was compared with results from an earlier experiment conducted with spring-emerging white pine weevils on natural and artificial substrates. The egg-laying responses on white pine seedlings and on an artificial diet with a concentration of 15% ground white pine bark were 0.892 ± 0.124 and 0.171 ± 0.394 eggs per female per day, respectively.

Variations in Ground White Pine Bark Concentration in Artificial Diet in Relation to Egg Laying, Feeding, and Mortality of Pissodes strobi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Variations in concentrations of ground white pine bark incorporated into artificial diet were studied to determine their effect on egg laying and feeding behavior of white pine weevils, Pissodes strobe (Peck). Significant differences in feeding and egg laying responses were detected between adults fed diets containing 5 and 10% ground bark. White pine weevil larvae reared on the diet containing 1% ground bark had a higher mortality level than those reared on the diet containing 5% ground bark. Weevil females fed the diet containing 5% ground bark were significantly heavier than those reared on the diet with 1% ground bark. Insect development times did not differ significantly between the two concentrations of ground bark. Adults exposed to a natural substrate were stimulated to oviposit, and viable eggs were laid.

Evaluation of current methods to estimate pulp yield of hemp

Large-scale evaluation of hemp stems from field trials requires a rapid method for the characterization of stem quality. The large differences between bark and woody core in anatomical and chemical properties, make a quantification of these two fractions of primary importance for quality assessment. This paper evaluates accuracy and power of discernment of current procedures for the analysis of the composition of hemp stems. To reduce the amount of plant material to be analysed it was investigated if the contents of bark, bark fibre and woody core in the stem could be estimated in a representative stem segment (according to Arnoux et al., 1969). Analysis of segments, however, gave less accurate information on stem composition than analysis of entire stems. The recovery of the bark and woody core in the pulping process is referred to as the pulp yield of the two fractions. Two procedures for the estimation of potential pulp yield, one common in fibre hemp breeding (Bredemann method) the other in paper pulp technology (Tappi method 212), were compared. The Bredemann method determines the content of the economically important bark fibres, and approximates the content of woody core. The Tappi method determines, separately, the solubility of ground bark and woody core as a measure for yield of these stem fractions in the pulping process. The two methods show similarity since a boiling NaOH solution is used for fibre extraction in the first method as well as for dissolving ground components in the latter. Results of the simple and less laborious Bredemann method were compared with those of the Tappi method, which is readily interpretable in pulp technology, and also with an intermediate method. The latter determines the initial content of woody core and subjects the separated bark tissue to the Bredemann fibre extraction procedure. The initial content of woody core of the stem (intermediate method) correlated well with the content of insoluble woody core (Tappi). The measurements of bark fibre content (Bredemann) were quite similar to those of the content of insoluble bark components (Tappi).

Supercritical extraction of taxol from the bark of Taxus brevifolia

Taxol has been found to be an effective drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer. However, the only current source of this compound is from trees of the Taxus genus and methods need to be developed for its separation from the natural plant source. The extraction of taxol from the ground bark of Taxus brevifolia using supercritical carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide + ethanol mixtures was studied in this work. The extractions were preformed at 318 K and at pressures ranging from 18.07 to 25.79 MPa. It was demonstrated that supercritical carbon dioxide is able to extract taxol from the ground bark, especially at the higher pressures and with the addition of ethanol. The supercritical extractions of taxol were also found to be more selective than a conventional liquid ethanol extraction. Furthermore, a significant portion of the taxol present in the bark could be removed in the supercritical process.

Bedding Plant Phytotoxicity Evaluations, Oklahoma, 1985

Abstract Phytotoxicity trials on bedding plants evaluated the effects of lx and 4x rates of Dursban 4E and Dursban 50W. Tests were conducted on 5 species of plants in duplicate trials in the greenhouse and on field plantings. Tests were conducted in a university greenhouse on the horticulture research farm at Stillwater, OK. Greenhouse plants were grown in 4 inch pots in amended Peat Lite (1:1:1 mix of peat moss, ground bark mulch and coarse vermiculite). The greenhouse and field plants were planted on 12 Apr. Each treatment rate was replicated 5 times, with 5 plants of each species per replicate. Treatments were made with a Monsanto 1-pt mist sprayer. All plants, including the checks, were treated to runoff. Check plants were treated with water. The experimental design was a randomized complete block. Greenhouse plants were placed on benches, watered as needed, and maintained at 65°F (day/night temperature). In the greenhouse, impatiens were grown under 30% shade.

Bacterial Activity Associated with the Decomposition of Woody Substrates in a Stream Sediment

Ground bark and heartwood from Alnus rubra and Pseudotsuga menziesii were added to a muddy sediment from a small Oregon stream and incubated in situ. Carbon dioxide and methane production rates were increased by all amendments, the biggest increase being shown with A. rubra wood. Except for sediment amended with A. rubra wood, nitrogen fixation rates from all treatments (including the control) were approximately 0.1 nmol/g per h throughout the 6-month study period. Contrary to expectations, neither bark had a noticeable adverse effect on microbial activity, but the A. rubra wood promoted nitrogen fixation. These results help to explain the faster rate of decomposition of A. rubra wood in water compared with that of P. menziesii described in the literature. The uptake kinetics of glucose (V(max)) did not follow the same pattern as gas evolution.

Low rate entrainment feeder for fine solids

A mechanically stirred entrainment-type feeder for fine solids has been developed which will give rates constant to +/- 5% for 1 h or more. The feeder was constructed in connection with a mini-fluidized bed flash pyrolysis project for both biomass and Canadian coals. It has been used to feed coal, sawdust and ground bark in sizes below 600 ..mu..m at rates as low as 6 g/h. Gas to solids weight ratios obtained were from about 3:1 to 1:3. The effect on feed rates of most of the operating and geometric parameters was investigated at low feed rates. A mechanism for control of the feed rate was tested and found to be satisfactory.

Effect of a Water-Soluble Guar Root Extract on Spore Germination and Mycelial Growth of Various Fungi

JOHNSON, D. A., and R. REINISCH. 1980. Effect of a water-soluble guar root extract on spore germination and mycelial growth of various fungi. Plant Disease 64:932-934. A water extract from the bark of guar roots inhibited germination of conidia and growth of mycelia of several plant pathogenic fungi. Germination of conidia and growth of mycelia of other test fungi were either stimulated or not affected by the extract. Fewer sclerotia were produced by Phymatotrichum omnivorum in soil with the extract than in soil without the extract. Additional key words: antifungal substance, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, inhibition Field observations indicated that wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) double cropped with guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub) is less severely infected by common root rot than is wheat double cropped with other crops or wheat not rotated with another crop (2). In addition, water extracts from the bark of guar roots inhibit germination of conidia of Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc. in Sorokin) Shoem. and decrease the severity of infection by B. sorokiniana in crowns and subcrown internodes of This investigation was supported in part by a research grant from Celanese Plastics and Specialties Co., Louisville, KY 40232. Approved for publication as Journal Article 15850 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Current address of senior author: Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, WA 99350. 0191-2917/80/10093203/$03.00/0 01980 American Phytopathological Society wheat grown in environmental chambers (2). This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the extract from the bark of guar roots on the germination of conidia and growth of mycelia of several other fungi. MATERIALS AND METHODS The following fungi were used in this study: B. sorokiniana isolated from the subcrown internode of wheat; Cladosporium sp. Link ex Fr. isolated in the laboratory; Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) G. W. Wils isolated from sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench; a second culture of C. graminicola isolated from oats, Avena sativa L.; C. trifolii Bain isolated from alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.; Drechslera avenacea (Curt. ex Cke.) Shoem., isolated from oat; Drechslera turcica (Pass.) Subram & Jain isolated from sorghum; Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon and F. semitectum Berk & Rav. both isolated from sorghum; F. oxysporum Schlect. f. sp. vasinfectum (Atk.) Snyd. & Hans isolated from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.; Neocosmospora vasinfecta E. F. Sm. isolated from peanut, Arachis hypogaea L.; Phymatotrichum omnivorum (Shear) Dug. isolated from cotton; Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm. f. sp. tritici collected from wheat; Rhizoctonia solani Kuehn isolated from peanut; Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. isolated from guar; Septoria tritici Rob. ex Desm. isolated from wheat; Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr. collected from wheat; and Verticillium dahliae Kleb. isolated from cotton. Guar plants were collected from field plots, and the bark was stripped from the roots. Bark was air dried and then ground in a Wiley mill using a 20-mesh screen. Extracts of the bark were prepared from 35 g of ground bark stirred in 200 ml of methanol and then in 200 ml of acetone for 30 min. The mixture was passed through four layers of cheesecloth, and the methanol and acetone insoluble bark material was spread on a sheet of aluminum foil to air dry. This dried bark material was blended in 420 ml of water at low speed for 5 sec and then stirred for 1 hr. The mixture was drained and then squeezed through four layers of cheesecloth. The liquid portion was transferred to a beaker and placed in the refrigerator at 5 C for about 16 hr to allow sedimentation to occur. The upper solution was then pipetted from the beaker and flash evaporated to near dryness at 45 C; it was further dried and Table 1. Spore germination and germ tube growth of fungi exposed to two concentrations of guar root extracta Spore germination (%) Germ tube length (am)

Bird niches in a subalpine forest: An indirect ordination

Multivariate techniques that are tolerant of the curvilinearity in population responses can be used to ordinate bird species in a niche hyperspace and to quantify niche relationships. Multidimensional scaling, secondary reciprocal averaging, and reciprocal averaging followed by principal components analysis give similar results in an ordination of 20 bird species in a spruce-fir forest. The ordination represents the organization of the bird community in relation to niche axes and suggests grouping of the bird species into guilds. A group of foliage-gleaning insectivores that finely divide their resource base is central to the bird community; other groups of species (ground feeders, aerial feeders, conifer specialists, and bark probers and peckers) have broader niches.

Microbial utilization of Pinus radiata bark.

A screening program using suspensions of ground bark in mineral salts media, or extracts prepared from ground bark by treating with hot water, sulfuric acid, ammonium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide, yielded more than 200 pure cultures of fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. Only 38 of these have good growth on liquid bark media. All were filamentous fungi, although many bacteria and yeasts were among the cultures that failed to give appreciable growth. Species of Penicillium, Scopulariopsis, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Cladosporium, and Fusarium were among the most actively growing cultures. Cell biomass yields, as measured by cell nitrogen determination, were too low for economic production of single cell protein.

Microbial Utilization of Pinus radiata Bark

A screening program using suspensions of ground bark in mineral salts media, or extracts prepared from ground bark by treating with hot water, sulfuric acid, ammonium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide, yielded more than 200 pure cultures of fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. Only 38 of these have good growth on liquid bark media. All were filamentous fungi, although many bacteria and yeasts were among the cultures that failed to give appreciable growth. Species of Penicillium, Scopulariopsis, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Cladosporium, and Fusarium were among the most actively growing cultures. Cell biomass yields, as measured by cell nitrogen determination, were too low for economic production of single cell protein.