Nursery Practices Research Articles

Influences of inorganic and organic fertilizers to morphological quality attributes of Shorea macrophylla seedlings in a tropical nursery

Abstract. Perumal M, Wasli ME, Ho SY. 2019. Influences of inorganic and organic fertilizers to morphological quality attributes of Shorea macrophylla seedlings in a tropical nursery. Biodiversitas 20: 2110-2118. Better understanding and implementation of nursery cultural regimes to improve seedling quality with high survival capability and optimal growth potential are one of the pivotal aspects of a successful forest restoration program. An experiment was set to determine the influences of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the morphological quality attributes of Shorea macrophylla (de Vriese) P.S. Ashton seedlings. For seedling production, the pots were filled with a 1:1 mixture of topsoil and sand (v:v), following the standard forest nursery practice. Either a chemical fertilizer (CF, N: P: K = 10: 26: 10) or a blend of 360-day (80% elution of the ingredients at 25°C) controlled-instant release fertilizer (CIRF, N: P: K = 10: 26: 10) or a jellyfish fertilizer (JF, N: P: K = 13.1: 1.7: 0.03) was applied at the rate of 5 g per pot. The findings revealed that the morphological quality attributes of S. macrophylla seedlings treated with JF were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the seedlings treated with CF and CIRF at the end of nursery growing season. Notwithstanding, in terms of seedling quality indicators, seedlings from all the treatments were fit to the general expectations of a balanced root to shoot ratio values (RS < 2) and the seedlings raised in the nursery were of sub-optimal quality. Consequently, stock quality evaluation requires the integration of both morphological and physiological attributes of seedlings that provides a more effective appraisal of the fitness of seedlings to become established for field planting.

A physical activity, nutrition and oral health intervention in nursery settings: process evaluation of the NAP SACC UK feasibility cluster RCT

BackgroundThe nutrition and physical activity self-assessment for childcare (NAP SACC) intervention has demonstrated effectiveness in the USA. A feasibility randomised controlled trial was conducted in England to adapt the intervention to the UK context. An embedded process evaluation focused on three key questions. 1. Was it feasible and acceptable to implement the intervention as planned? 2. How did the intervention affect staff and parent mediators? 3. Were the trial design and methods acceptable?MethodsTwelve nurseries in south-west England were recruited and randomised to intervention or control. The intervention comprised: NAP SACC UK Partner (Health Visitor) support to nurseries to review practice and policies against best practice, and then set goals to improve physical activity, nutrition and oral health; two staff training workshops; and a web-based parent support element. The process evaluation comprised: observations of Partner training (n = 1), Partner/manager meetings (n = 5) and staff workshops (n = 10); semi-structured interviews with Partners (n = 4), managers (n = 12), staff (n = 4) and parents (n = 20); analysis of self-assessment forms, goal setting forms and Partner logbooks; and assessment of staff and parent knowledge, motivation and self-efficacy mediators.ResultsOverall, NAP SACC UK was feasible to implement and acceptable to nursery staff, managers, Partners and parents. The intervention was implemented as planned in five of the six intervention nurseries. Partners and managers appreciated the opportunity to review and improve nursery practices and valued the relationship forged between them. Staff rated the training workshops highly, despite attending outside of working hours. Most goals set by nurseries were achieved. However, Partners raised concerns about Health Visitors’ capacity to deliver the intervention in any subsequent roll out. Mediator scores improved in all but two areas in intervention staff and parents, with decreases or minimal changes in the control group. The web-based parent element was not well used and should be removed from any subsequent trial. The trial methods were acceptable to managers, staff, Partners and parents.ConclusionsImplementing and evaluating a physical activity and nutrition intervention in nursery settings is feasible and acceptable. A full RCT of NAP SACC UK (with appropriate modifications) is warranted.Trial registrationISRCTN16287377 (10 Apr 2015).

Preparedness of Pregraduate Student Nurses to Practice Their Profession in Crèches

Summary Nursing degree courses in Bulgaria provide a wide range of career opportunities to graduates. These opportunities, however, do not solve the current problems of the healthcare system. This communication presents the results of a survey conducted among graduate students majoring in the nursing specialty at the Medical University in Pleven. The survey aimed to acquire information on the graduates’ willingness to practice in nurseries. A questionnaire containing 26 questions specially designed for the study was used. The data were processed with statistical software packages Statgraphics; SPSS v. 19 and Excel for Windows. Despite the sound theoretical and practical course of training, 13 (21.67%) of the students were embarrassed, and 13 said they had been cautious when they first entered a crèches during their training. Almost half of the respondents – 29 (48.33%) reported that they might work in a crèches only if it is necessary, and 16 (26.66%) – never. Only 9 (15.00%) declared they would be committed to caring for children aged one to three years. At the end of their training, student nurses did not feel sufficiently prepared for the psychological and pedagogical challenges to practice their profession in such child day care centers. The respondents had no clear idea of the role of the nurse in a crèches. Very few of the student nurses reported a willingness to work in a crèches.

Efeito da estratificação em substrato esterilizado na qualidade sanitária de sementes de <i>Ilex paraguariensis</i>

A estratificação das sementes de Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hill. (erva-mate) em areia úmida por períodos de quatro a seis meses é uma prática comum em viveiros, utilizada para a superação de dormência das mesmas. Entretanto, este processo pode apresentar difícil controle fitossanitário, devido ao elevado grau de umidade e a grande concentração de sementes no mesmo local. Assim, objetivou-se verificar a influência da estratificação em areia autoclavada na qualidade sanitária de sementes de erva-mate. Sementes de quatro lotes foram submetidas à estratificação em areia úmida autoclavada, durante três e seis meses, tendo sua sanidade avaliada em meio BDA ao final destes períodos, assim como em sementes que não passaram por estratificação. Ao final do período de estratificação, as sementes apresentaram aspecto superficial escurecido, o que pode estar ligado à ação dos fungos na degradação do endocarpo das mesmas. Foram identificados: Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. guttiforme, Paecilomyces sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. Já Aureobasidium melanogenum, Trichoderma sp., Curvularia sp., Rhizopus sp., Alternaria sp., Cladosporium sp. e Bipolaris sp. tiveram menores ocorrências. Observou-se a redução de Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. guttiforme, Aspergillus sp. e Penicillium sp. após a estratificação em areia autoclavada e o gênero Paecilomyces somente foi observado aos 180 dias de estratificação, podendo estar relacionado com a degradação do endocarpo de sementes de Ilex paraguariensis.

Responses of Taxus chinensis and Phoebe chekiangensis seedlings to controlled-release fertilizer in various formulations and application rates

Abstract: Decline of species population, low natural regeneration, and heavy competition on field sites require the planting of large seedling stocks to restore Taxus chinensis and Phoebe chekiangensis in tropical China. In this study, we examined the effects of different formulations and application rates of controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on nursery seedling growth and nutritional attributes. The objective was to determine optimum formulation (N:P2O5 ratio) and application rate to increase nutrient reserves of the seedlings before transplanting to the field. Four formulations (17-9-13 to 19-6-14 N-P2O5-K2O ratios) and four application rates (1.5 kg m-3 to 4.5 kg m-3) were used in a double-factors factorial design with 3 replications. The results showed that CRF formulation can affect nutritional attributes, while application rate modified seedling growth and nutritional attributes. The optimum seedling response occurred with the 17-6-16 formulation at the rate of 3.5kg m-3. These findings will guide nursery practice in the production of high-quality seedlings for optimum survival and growth in the field.

Entre a fralda e a lousa: A questão das identidades docentes em berçários

Neste artigo apresentamos uma pesquisa sobre identidades docentes em berçários desenvolvida em um Centro de Educação Infantil na cidade de São Paulo (Brasil). Mediante enfoque qualitativo e multidisciplinar, o estudo buscou tecer relações entre identidade, cultura, gênero e poder, aproximando a área dos estudos culturais ao campo da educação infantil. Inspirado em abordagens biográficas, o estudo empírico foi realizado através de entrevistas com sete professoras e um professor de educação infantil, que atuavam com crianças de 0 a 2 anos de idade. As análises indicaram que, embora a prática nos berçários envolvesse múltiplos saberes e culturas, produzia-se nos discursos dos professores um binarismo sobre a necessidade de cuidar e educar em que cuidar associava-se às práticas do passado e educar aproximava-se ao seu novo papel profissional, representando estratégias identitárias para valorizar a docência com bebês.
 Palavras-chave: Identidades docentes; Educação infantil; Culturas institucionais

Effects of Root Pruning on Cucumber Seedling Growth

Plant growth regulator as chemical stopper application which is the most common practice in nurseries is practical in order to regulate height control and development on seedlings. However, the problems experienced after application of chemicals and the fact that the application is not organic brought up alternative control methods. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of different types of root pruning and chemical regulator application on cucumber (cv. Murat F1) seedling quality. Cucumber seeds were sown on 25.07.2017 in peat (vermiculite was used as only the cover) in styrofoam tray with 128 holes at a commercial seedling company under polyethylene covered greenhouse. After the germination room, seedlings were put in the seedling adaptation greenhouse and growth there until transplanting. When the seedlings reached 1-2 true leaves, applications were performed. In the experiment (1) 1/3 of the root was pruned from bottom, (2) 1/3 of root was pruned from side and they were compared with (3) the chemical regulator with paclobutrazol active ingredient (Cultar, Sygenta) which used very common by commercial seedling companies. Seedlings with (4) no application were tested as control. For each treatment, 3 styrofoam trays were used, and each tray was considered as 1 repetition. 16 days after the seed sowing, when seedlings were ready for transplanting stem and root length, leaf numbers, stem diameter, leaf color, fresh and dry weight of root and shot were measured. Obtained results show that the number of leaves, L, a*/b* and h° values did not changed with treatments, however, compared with chemical regulator, root pruning decreased root length, stem diameter, root and shoot fresh and dry weights. Chemical regulator application thickened the stem and increased plant biomass. It can be concluded that root pruning can be an alternative to the use of chemical regulator, the root pruning from side part can be used as a regulator because it creates a lower seedling biomass but the root pruning from bottom can be used because of its ease of application. Keywords : Cucumis sativus, Plant Growth Regulator, Paclobutrazol, Root Pruning. DOI : 10.7176/JSTR/5-5-05

Propagation from Basal Epicormic Meristems Remediates an Aging-Related Disorder in Almond Clones

The asexual propagation of clonal crops has allowed cultivation of superior selections for thousands of years. With time, some clones deteriorate from genetic and epigenetic changes. Non-infectious bud-failure (NBF) in cultivated almond (Prunus dulcis) is a commercially important age-related disorder that results in the failure of new vegetative buds to grow in the spring, with dieback of terminal shoots, witches-brooming of surviving buds, and deformed bark (roughbark). The incidence of NBF increases with clone age, including within individual long-lived trees as well as nursery propagation lineages. It is not associated with any infectious disease agents. Consequently, nursery practices emphasize the establishment of foundation-mother blocks utilizing propagation-wood selected from proven and well-monitored propagation-lineages. Commercial propagation utilizes axillary shoot buds through traditional budding or grafting. This study examines NBF development using basal epicormic buds from individual trees of advanced age as an alternative source of foundation stock. Results show the age-related progression of NBF is suppressed in these epicormic meristems, possibly owing to their unique origins and ontogeny. NBF development in commercial orchards propagated from foundation blocks established from these sources was similarly dramatically suppressed even over the 10- to 20-year expected commercial orchard-life. Foundation-stock stability can be further maintained through appropriate management of propagation source-trees, which requires accurate knowledge of meristem origin and development.

Optimization of a Novel Vegetable Nursery Substrate Using Date Palm Wastes Peat and Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

ABSTRACTQuality of vegetable seedlings is affected by nursery management practices, essentially growing media. For sustainable greenhouse horticulture, it is important to characterize biologically based approaches to improve plantlet quality. Here, we investigate the possibility of developing a biotized growth substrate for nursery production using date palm wastes (DPWs) peat as an alternative to commercial sphagnum peat and indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A greenhouse experiment was established using different rates of DPWs peat to substitute commercial peat in both conventional and organic nursery production systems. Lettuce seedlings were inoculated or not with native AMF isolated from plots with conventional or organic production system (CM and OM respectively). When lettuce plantlets attained commercial size, a microscopic observation revealed that the establishment of mycorrhizal association was successful in all mixtures of growing media. Significant increase in growth parameters (height shoot, number and area of leaves, shoot and root biomass) were observed on plantlets inoculated with indigenous AMF isolated from organic plot compared to those isolated from conventional plot and to control (without AMF). Commercial peat partial substitution with DPWs peat in proportion of 25–50% improves better lettuce performance than complete-peat use. Consequently, these mixtures seem to be an appropriate formulation for sustainable nursery production.

NEUROBLASTOMAS OF MAXILLOFACIAL LOCALIZATION OF A NEWBORN CHILD

Neuroblastoma in newborns is a fairly rare disease and affects 6-8 children per million children. It can be combined with congenital defects, has a tendency to metastasize and to spontaneous maturation in ganglioneuritis, which can simulate various diseases and significantly complicate its diagnosis. This publication provides clinical observations of a newborn baby with a neuroblastoma located in the maxillofacial area. Attention is drawn to the difficulties encountered in establishing a clinical diagnosis, to address questions about this, it is recommended that modern, highly informative methods of examination be more widely involved in examining such children, preferably in the early stages of the disease. Against the background of an unceasing increase in the number of malignant neoplasms of the maxillofacial area among the Ukrainian population, directly among the residents of the Poltava region, this figure is 2.3% of the total number of newly diagnosed malignant formations. Asymptomatic course and "erosion" of clinical manifestations of tumors at their initial stages of development, the untimely treatment of patients with specialized assistance against the background of inadequate awareness among citizens and healthcare professionals in this section of medicine and their lack of oncological anxiety leads to the fact that a significant proportion of patients falls on treatment with abandoned forms. In particular, according to the statistical reporting of the Poltava regional oncologic dispensary at stages III and IV, the malignant process in the tissues 41.6%, of which 54% is cancer of the oral mucosa, from 28%, where the cancer of the tongue is in 10% of cases of lung cancer and 8% diagnosed salivary gland cancer. It is rather unfortunate, but in 55% of the observations, the cause of late treatment is organizational and methodological disturbances: not enough complete examination of patients, to the hospital stage (underestimation of clinical data, X-ray changes, incorrect interpretation of the results of additional methods of examination), insufficient prophylactic work among the general population or a sequence of its planning, poor quality preventive examinations, delayed patients in the grass-roots of medical institutions. In spite of the fact that a significant proportion of organs and tissues of maxillofacial area are available for objective and application of additional methods of examination, about 40% of patients have launched forms of malignant processes due to the faults of doctors [2, 3, 5, 8]. In nursery practice, the situation does not look better, since in Ukraine, 3.5% of cases of malignant tumors are diagnosed annually in Ukraine. Unfortunately, in periodicals there are isolated data on primary and metastatic lesions of maxillofacial area in children, although the recognition and treatment of oncosomatic diseases in them in the early stages of development to date present considerable difficulties due to the large variety of clinical manifestations of tumors, age-specific features, dependence of diagnosis malignant neoplasms from the dynamics of growth, localization, local and general changes [6,7]. Therefore, in our opinion, the number of diagnostic errors in children's practice is greater than in adults. The problem is of general medical significance also because, due to topographic and anatomical features of the structures of the head and neck, any pathology of maxillofacial localization is the subject of participation of doctors in various related specialties. Thus, the given clinical case indicates the possibility of a malignant effect of tissues and organs of a child already during the period of fetal development, which greatly complicates the diagnostic procedure and should alert doctors of all specialties.

Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and humic acid application on the growth of Parkinsonia aculeata L. seedlings

The study is aimed at investigating the influence of mycorrhizal fungus and humic acid (HA) on the growthof Parkinsonia aculeata L. seedlings. The experiments were carried out during the period from July, 1st, 2017to March, 1st 2018. The inoculation with mycorrhiza was applied to the seedlings at age of 2 months. Twotypes of soils were used in this study as follows: a) a mixture of sand, peat and perlite at the ratio of 1:1:1, byvolume, and b) clayey soil. Humic acid (HA) was applied just after seed sowing at the rate of 1g/L (200 mlpots). The obtained results showed that there were significant differences between the two soil types tested.However, the seedlings grown in clayey soil displayed the highest shoot height (SH) (47.44cm), the highestshoot dry weight (SDW) (2.40g), the highest total dry weight (TDW) (3.59g) and the highest shoot/ root ratio(SRR) (2.26). The inoculation with VAM has brought about the highest SH (34.66cm), SDW (1.76g), TDW(1.76g), P% (1.81) and N% (2.73) in the leaves. However, the highest TDW was obtained in the inoculatedseedlings treated with HA acid and grown on clayey soil (4.498g). The highest P% was obtained in theinoculated seedlings of P. aculeata grown on clayey soil and untreated with HA (3.94 P%). Therefore, it isrecommended to inoculate the seedlings with VAM to achieve the highest growth and performance as animportant nursery practice in afforestation and windbreaks program and in poor soils as well.

Grapevine trunk diseases under thermal and water stresses.

Heat and water stresses, individually or combined, affect both the plant (development, physiology, and production) and the pathogens (growth, morphology, dissemination, distribution, and virulence). The grapevine response to combined abiotic and biotic stresses is complex and cannot be inferred from the response to each single stress. Several factors might impact the response and the recovery of the grapevine, such as the intensity, duration, and timing of the stresses. In the heat/water stress-GTDs-grapevine interaction, the nature of the pathogens, and the host, i.e., the nature of the rootstock, the cultivar and the clone, has a great importance. This review highlights the lack of studies investigating the response to combined stresses, in particular molecular studies, and the misreading of the relationship between rootstock and scion in the relationship GTDs/abiotic stresses. Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are one of the biggest threats to vineyard sustainability in the next 30years. Although many treatments and practices are used to manage GTDs, there has been an increase in the prevalence of these diseases due to several factors such as vineyard intensification, aging vineyards, or nursery practices. The ban of efficient treatments, i.e., sodium arsenite, carbendazim, and benomyl, in the early 2000s may be partly responsible for the fast spread of these diseases. However, GTD-associated fungi can act as endophytes for several years on, or inside the vine until the appearance of the first symptoms. This prompted several researchers to hypothesise that abiotic conditions, especially thermal and water stresses, were involved in the initiation of GTD symptoms. Unfortunately, the frequency of these abiotic conditions occurring is likely to increase according to the recent consensus scenario of climate change, especially in wine-growing areas. In this article, following a review on the impact of combined thermal and water stresses on grapevine physiology, we will examine (1) how this combination of stresses might influence the lifestyle of GTD pathogens, (2) learnings from grapevine field experiments and modelling aiming at studying biotic and abiotic stresses, and (3) what mechanistic concepts can be used to explain how these stresses might affect the grapevine plant status.

Toward Sustainable Cultivation of Pinus occidentalis Swartz in Haiti: Effects of Alternative Growing Media and Containers on Seedling Growth and Foliar Chemistry

Haiti has suffered great losses from deforestation, with little forest cover remaining today. Current reforestation efforts focus on seedling quantity rather than quality. This study examined limitations to the production of high-quality seedlings of the endemic Hispaniolan pine (Pinus occidentalis Swartz). Recognizing the importance of applying sustainable development principles to pine forest restoration, the effects of growing media and container types on seedling growth were evaluated with the goal of developing a propagation protocol to produce high-quality seedlings using economically feasible nursery practices. With regard to growing media, seedlings grew best in compost-based media amended with sand. Topsoil, widely used in nurseries throughout Haiti, produced the smallest seedlings overall. Despite a low water holding capacity and limited manganese, compost-based media provided adequate levels of essential mineral nutrients (particularly nitrogen), which allowed for sufficient seedling nutrition. Seedling shoot and root growth, as well as the ratio of shoot biomass to root biomass, were greater in polybags relative to D40s. Results indicate that economically feasible improvements to existing nursery practices in Haiti can improve the early growth rates of P. occidentalis seedlings.

Isolation, characterization and effect of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria on pine seedlings (Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl.)

In this study, 10 bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of coniferous trees on Mount Tlaloc in Mexico. The strains were characterized by their capacity to produce auxins, solubilize phosphates and stimulate mycelial growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus sp. All isolates were identified at the molecular level. Moreover, an experiment was established to evaluate the response of Pinus pseudostrobus seedlings to inoculation with the rhizobacteria strains. The isolated strains belonged to the species Cupriavidus basilensis, Rhodococcus qingshengii, R. erythropolis, Pseudomonas spp., P. gessardii, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and Cohnella sp. All of the strains produced auxins; the best producer was R. erythropolis CPT9 (76.4 µg mL−1). P. gessardii CPT6 solubilized phosphate at a significant level (443 µg mL−1). The strain S. rhizophila CPT8 significantly increased the radial growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus sp. by 18.8%. Five strains increased the dry mass of the shoots; R. qingshengii CPT4 and R. erythropolis CPT9 increased growth the most, by more than 20%. Inoculation with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria can be a very useful practice in a forest nursery to produce healthy, vigorous plants.

Red bayberry – the journey to its commercialisation in Australia

Red or Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra Sieb. and Zucc.) is a fruit tree native to China where it is typically known as Yang Mei. This summer season crop has been cultivated for centuries in the warm and humid south-eastern Provinces. The ‘lychee-sized’ fruit are usually deep red in colour when ripe, have a unique flavour and impart a soft and juicy mouthfeel considered ‘refreshing’. Red bayberry is highly prized in China for its flavour and also for its perceived health benefits. However, the fruit is virtually unknown elsewhere. The crop was introduced into Australia over a decade ago. Its introduction offered the prospect of counter-seasonal production for the rapidly expanding Chinese market as well as introducing a novel fruit to Australian consumers. Trial plantings ranging from Far North Queensland to Victoria and across to Western Australia, have shown that red bayberry can be successfully cultivated in this country. These trials have supported the selection of unique high-performing cultivars. Nonetheless, commercial production of red bayberry in Australia still faces challenges. Vegetative propagation of this woody species proved difficult. Accordingly, efficient protocols that work in commercial nursery practice had to be developed. Also, refinement of agronomic practices for Australian conditions was necessary to ensure consistent yields of high quality fruit. In addition, the inherent high perishability of the fresh fruit required investigation of novel postharvest treatments to extend shelf life. This paper overviews the research undertaken by The University of Queensland to address these issues. Progress entailed close collaboration with research and industry partners. Positive outcomes to date have established the potential for Australia to become a leading producer of red bayberry outside China.

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Based Biofertilizer on Coconut Seedlings Growth in Nursery

The success of a coconut plantation, in terms of its field establishment as well as its future performance, is heavily dependent on the quality of the seedlings used. Coconut nurseries adopt different agronomic practices to produce good quality seedlings. Applying mycorrhizal inoculants is becoming an increasingly common practice in plant nurseries as it facilitates healthy seedling growth resulting in healthy and vigorous seedlings in the nursery, helps to reduce mortality rates of seedlings in the field and reduce water and fertilizer consumption. In this study effects of mycorrhizae based biofertilizer were evaluated for the growth of coconut seedlings in the nursery and field. The experiment was conducted at the Makadura Research Center in Sri Lanka. The nursery experiment treatments were, the presence of AMF based biofertilizer (50g per seedling or per bag) and absence of mycorrhizae based biofertilizer. In the field experiment, five treatments with 500g of AMF biofertilizerwith 25% recommended inorganic fertilizer mixture for young coconut palms (YPM) per seedling, 500g of AMF biofertilizer with 50% YPM per seedling, 500g of AMF biofertilizer with 75% YPM per seedling, 500g of AMF biofertilizer with 100% YPM per seedling and with only YPM per seedling. Root and shoot growth of seedlings were measured at monthly intervals in the nursery experiment. Leaf production rate and stem girth of the seedling were measured at six months interval in the field experiment. The application of bio fertilizer increased the volume and dry weight of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary roots in seedlings in the nursery significantly. A significantly higher leaf production rate and stem girth was observed in the field seedlings treatment with 500g of AMF biofertilizer with 75% YPM. The experiment concluded that application of bio fertilizer is beneficial for coconut seedlings in the nursery for the production good quality seedlings with well-developed roots resulting in better field establishment and in the field for fast and vigorous growth.

Contribution to seed ecology of Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz growing in the Central European conditions

The properties of Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindley) Buchholz) seeds originating from a single cultivated Sequoia tree in the second gene strain in the Czech Republic were examined. The maximum germination level was set at 1.8%. This type is a pyrophyte, but nonetheless the short-term effects of a temperature of 100°C simulating a natural fire are still lethal. The seeds were planted with the same success in one case using a fungicide, which is routine practice in nurseries, and in another case using a “biological method” relying on the positive effect of soil microflora. Both stratified and non-stratified seeds can germinate, but stratification increases the number of germinating individual trees to at least double.

Functional response of Quercus robur L. to taproot pruning: a 5-year case study

Key messageQuercus roburseedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. Root pruning enhanced stem biomass at the expense of roots in later growth stages. Alteration of biomass allocation due to nursery practices may result in greater susceptibility to injury and death of the seedlings under unfavorable environmental conditions.ContextPlants adjust their growth and modulate the resource allocation in response to applied treatments and environmental conditions.AimsThe aim was to examine how taproot pruning in seedlings grown at different densities affected long-term growth of Quercus robur.MethodsSeedlings, sown as acorns at two planting densities, with or without pruned roots were harvested in the second, fourth, and fifth years of growth. The effect of root pruning on biomass allocation was determined by measuring leaf, stem, and root mass fractions; carbohydrate concentrations in the roots; and C/N ratios. Specific leaf area and root length were also determined to assess morphological adaptations to growth conditions.ResultsTotal seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. After 4 years of growth, root mass fractions were lower and stem mass fractions were greater in seedlings planted at a higher density. Five-year old root-pruned seedlings also had a lower root mass fraction and higher stem mass fractions than unpruned seedlings. Specific root length was not affected by root pruning or planting density.ConclusionDecrease of relative root biomass with simultaneous increase of stem biomass may be a long-term consequence of taproot pruning of Q. robur, and the effects may manifest years after the seedling stage.

Interaction between mycorrhization with Glomus intraradices and phosphorus in nursery olive plants

Abstract Mycorrhization of nursery plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has become a usual practice in olive nurseries. Mycorrhizal associations increase plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses after transplanting by improving root system structure and development. Nutrient fertilization is also desirable because roots are confined in a limited amount of soil in the nursery containers. Since the olive tree is a species with low phosphorus requirements, and AMF can affect root system development and nutrient uptake, it is of interest to study the possible interaction between both factors. Three different experiments with potted plants growing in a shade house, and one experiment under field conditions, were preformed using young olive plants to explore these questions. Inoculation with Glomus intraradices did not affect the phosphorus level in the plants but reduced shoot growth in plants growing in phosphorus-rich soil. When the substrate was a soil poor in phosphorus, shoot growth of AMF-inoculated plants was similar to the control but root development was greater. Mycorrhization also increased flower number and quality in ‘Arbequina’. Shoot growth also was reduced when a sterilized substrate was used, suggesting that the use of natural soil is preferred. Since no mycorrhization effect was observed when inoculation was performed at the moment of transplanting to the field, inoculation during the nursery-growing period is recommended to improve plant quality for orchard establishment.

Опиум в молоке и брань на языке: недоверие и страх в английских детских колониальной Индии XIX в.

Опиум в молоке и брань на языке: недоверие и страх в английских детских колониальной Индии XIX в.