Trunk Growth Research Articles

Identification of water stress conditions in olive trees through frequencies of trunk growth rate

Continuous monitoring of the tree water status will enhance irrigation performance, particularly when applying deficit schedules. The olive tree is a highly drought-resistant species and management of the water stress could increase water savings. Trunk diameter fluctuations can be displayed as daily curves representing the shrinkage and swelling, and can provide information about tree water status. In olive trees, trunk growth rate (TGR) is the most useful indicator, but the daily variability reduced the commercial applications. Recently, weekly frequencies of TGR values were associated to the water status in one seasonal experiment. The aim of this work is to study the seasonal pattern and the interannual variations of these parameters in order to integrate them in an irrigation scheduling tool. The experiment was performed during two consecutive seasons (2018 and 2019) in a superhigh density mature olive orchard at Carmona (Seville, Spain). Three different irrigation scheduling treatments were considered in a randomized complete block design. The control treatment was fully irrigated with 150–175% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) in order to ensure an optimum water status. Regulated deficit irrigation-1 (RDI-1) was scheduled using only TGR data provided through the continuous measurements from a dendrometer. In this treatment, water stress conditions were controlled during the pit hardening period. RDI-2 was similar to RDI-1, but with a more severe water stress conditions during pit hardening and a maximum seasonal amount of water that limited rehydration. Water stress was greater during the 2019 season than the 2018 season, according to the midday stem water potential (SWP). Weekly frequencies of TGR values lower than −0.3 mm day−1 (Severe FR) and values between −0.1 and 0.3 mm day−1 (Good FR) described the water status pattern in the three treatments for both seasons. Only under severe water stress conditions (SWP more negative than −4 MPa) the values of these frequencies did not identify accurately the water status. However, the use of weekly frequencies of values greater than 0.3 mm day−1 (Alert FR) and the pattern of these Severe FR and Good FR themselves identified such conditions. The use of these three weekly frequencies (Severe, Good and Alert (SGA) approach) are suggested for continuous deficit irrigation scheduling in olive trees.

HbARF2 and HbARF16.3 function as negative regulators for the radial trunk growth of rubber tree

Auxin plays pivotal roles in the regulation of plant growth mainly via the auxin response factors (ARF), pin-formed efflux carriers (PIN) and auxin influx carriers (LAX).To identify potential responses of the expression of these genes to tapping-caused repression of radial growth, the expression of 17 ARF, 4 LAX and 4 PIN genes in tapped and untapped rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) and among germplasm with differential annual increment of trunk girth from six hybrid combinations was analysed by using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). HbARF2 and HbARF16.3 were up-regulated by tapping. The transcript levels were much higher in Reyan8–79 than that in Reken525 whereas radial trunk growth was strongly reduced in Reyan8–79 in comparison with that in Reken525 after tapping. The transcript levels negatively correlated with the annual increment in trunk girth of offsprings. Overexpression of HbARF2 or HbARF16.3 inhibited the growth of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. The repressed growth caused by the HbARF2 was involved in the reduced cell sizes of pith, cell size and proliferation of the vascular bundle while the growth inhibition caused by HbARF16.3 attributed to cell proliferation within the pith of transgenic tobacco. The results suggest that HbARF2 and HbARF16.3 function as negative regulators for trunk growth and are related to the tapping-induced inhibition of trunk growth of rubber trees.

SMA – THERAPY: P.267 Minimally invasive fusionless surgery offers satisfactory early and definitive treatment for scoliosis in SMA children: Our experience over a decade

Scoliosis and pelvic obliquity are common in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). When conservative treatment is not sufficient, fusionless surgeries are advocated to avoid early definitive spine fusion and preserve trunk growth. They are however thought to be a transitory solution, before final fusion at term. To evaluate an original minimally invasive fusionless surgery in SMA scoliosis. We retrospectively reviewed data from 2011 to 2019 for all the children with early onset SMA scoliosis who underwent minimally invasive fusionless technique.

Mitigating the Impact of Irrigation With Effluent Water: Mixing With Freshwater and/or Adjusting Irrigation Management and Design

AbstractThe use of treated wastewater (WW) for irrigation is steadily increasing worldwide. However, irrigation with WW requires special attention as it may alter soil hydraulic properties and, eventually, affect crop yields. The main goal of this study was to investigate two approaches that could mitigate this adverse impact: (i) mixing WW with local freshwater (FW) and (ii) adjusting the irrigation management and design to the deteriorated soil hydraulic properties. Four water qualities resulting from mixing FW and WW at different ratios for irrigation of an avocado orchard planted on a clayey soil were considered: FW, M1/3 (2/3 FW – 1/3 WW), M2/3 (1/3 FW ‐ 2/3 WW), and WW. Increasing the WW component in the irrigation water reduces the soil's saturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltrability, and this reduction is depth dependent. It also reduces the transpiration of trees and their trunk growth. This is supported by numerical simulations that showed that irrigation with WW produced the reduction in plant transpiration relative to irrigation with FW. Numerical simulations indicated that irrigation management and design could be adjusted to improve plant water uptake and reduce the differences due to water quality. The results indicate that decreasing the irrigation rate and increasing the wetted area per tree could increase the water uptake in WW‐irrigated soils to almost equal that in FW‐irrigated soils. This can be achieved by using drippers with lower discharge and by using more drippers per dripline, more driplines per tree, and more drippers per tree (concentric loops of driplines around each trunk).

Impacts of repeated glyphosate use on growth of orchard crops

AbstractGlyphosate is an important component of herbicide programs in orchard crops in California. It can be applied alone or in tank-mix combinations under the crop rows or to the entire field and often is used multiple times each year. There has been speculation about the potential impacts of repeated use of glyphosate in perennial crop systems, because of uptake from shallow root systems or indirectly because of effects on nutrient availability in soil. To address these concerns, research was conducted from 2013 to 2020 on key orchard crops to evaluate tree response to glyphosate regimens. Almond, cherry, and prune were evaluated in separate experiments. In each crop, the experimental design was a factorial arrangement of two soil types, four glyphosate rates (0, 1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 kg ae ha−1, applied three times annually), and two post-glyphosate application irrigation treatments. In the first 2 yr of the study, there was no clear impact of the glyphosate regimens on shikimate accumulation or leaf chlorophyll content, which suggested no direct effect on the crop. In the seventh year of the study, after six consecutive years of glyphosate application to the orchard floors, there were no negative impacts of glyphosate application on leaf nutrient concentration or on cumulative trunk growth in any of the three orchard crops. Lack of a negative growth impact even at the highest treatment rate, which included 18 applications of glyphosate totaling nearly 80 kg ae ha−1 glyphosate over the course of the experiment suggest there is not likely a significant risk to tree health of judicious use of the herbicide in these production systems. Given the economic importance of orchard crops in California, and grower and industry concerns about pesticides generally and specifically about glyphosate, these findings are timely contributions to weed management concerns in perennial specialty crops.

Enhancing the positive effects of ecological water conservancy engineering on desert riparian forest growth in an arid basin

In arid areas, ecological water conservancy engineering influences vegetation growth by altering river flooding dynamics in addition to the depths of groundwater. However, few studies have explored how to develop the optimal floodwater and groundwater regulation strategies that take into account both ecological water supply and vegetation growth. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to propose the suitable regulation strategies by revealing that the plant growth responses to hydrological variation (i.e., the flooding and groundwater depth). Based on two growth indicators (i.e., the time-integrated normalized difference vegetation index (TINDVI) for plant canopy growth and the tree-ring chronology for trunk growth) in the middle reaches of the Tarim River, and water consumption, water discharge from ecological sluices for flooding, and groundwater depth data, after the implementation of an scheme in ecological water conservancy engineering, the ecological water transport efficiency, tree-ring chronology in Populus euphratica, and TINDVI improved by 12.4%, 5.6% and 4.2%, respectively. Notably, the tree-ring chronology increased with a decrease in water consumption. Due to a significant correlation between tree-ring chronology and TINDVI, the tree-ring chronology could be used to reconstruct the canopy growth in the case of the unavailability of monitoring data. There were significant correlations between TINDVI and groundwater depth in June–October, between tree-ring chronology and groundwater depth in October, and between water discharge from ecological sluices and vegetation growth in September. In addition, there were high correlation and sensitivity between trunk growth and water discharge (compared to groundwater depth), and between canopy growth and groundwater depth (compared to water discharge). Based on the above results, potentially sustainable groundwater depths (-2.3 to −3.7 m) and discharge water quantities (3.53–5.90 × 108 m3) and regimes were proposed that could further promote the vegetation growth.

Effect of N, P, K and Mg fertilizers on some vegetative and generative parameters of a sweet cherry cultivar

This two-year-study was aimed to provide results on the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium fertilizer treatments (control, NP, NPK, NPKMg) on vegetative and generative features of the sweet cherry cultivar ‘Carmen’. Examinations were performed in an orchard planted in 2012 on Prunus mahaleb rootstock with spacing of 5 x 2.5 m. All treatments improved the vegetative features of the sweet cherry trees in both years of 2016 and 2017. Fertilizer treated trees increased trunk cross section area (TCSA) with 51.3-63.1%, while control trees showed 48.3% trunk growth increase. Yields of control trees were lower in both years (5.9-7.2 kg/tree), than that of the fertilized trees (7.8-11.3 kg/tree). Treatments also increased the phosphorus (16-22%), magnesium (12-20%) and potassium content (3.5-18%) of the fruits compared to control treatments.

Comparison between surgical fusion and the growing-rod technique for early-onset neurofibromatosis type-1 dystrophic scoliosis

BackgroundSpinal deformities constitute one of the most common types of manifestations of neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1), which can lead to either dystrophic or non-dystrophic early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Surgical treatment for EOS with NF-1 is challenging, and the outcomes have rarely been reported. The anterior-posterior procedure is widely used, but posterior-only fusion is theoretically easier and safer to perform. Is it possible that a new surgery that accommodates growth is a better choice? A direct comparison between posterior fusion and growth-friendly surgery in terms of surgical outcomes has not yet been conducted in dystrophic EOS with NF-1 patients.MethodsBaseline information was extracted from the NF-1 database at our institute with approval from the local ethics committee. All enrolled patients were diagnosed with NF-1. Clinical and radiographic data were recorded preoperatively, after the initial surgery, and at the final follow-up. Implant-related, alignment, neurological complication and unplanned revision surgery data were recorded. We compared the outcomes of these two groups in terms of curve correction, growth parameters, complications and unplanned revision surgeries.ResultsThere were eight patients in the PF group and eight patients in the GR group, with a mean follow-up of 51.0 ± 17.5 months. The main curve size was similar (PF 67.38° ± 17.43° versus GR 75.1° ± 26.43°, P = 0.501), and there were no significant differences in the initial surgery correction rate or the rate of correction. However, the patients in the GR group exhibited more T1-S1 growth during the follow-up overall and per year than did those in the PF group. The operative time was significantly longer for the PF group than for the GR group (PF, 4.39 ± 1.38 vs. GR, 3.00 ± 0.42 h; p = 0.008). Significantly fewer segments were involved in the PF group (8.25 ± 3.20) than in the GR group (13.00 ± 1.60).ConclusionFor the initial treatment of dystrophic EOS in patients with NF-1, the GR technique is possibly a more appropriate treatment than is the PF technique in terms of trunk growth. However, the repeated procedures required for GR may be a considerable disadvantage. More studies with direct measurement of pulmonary function must be conducted to determine the effect of GR on pulmonary development. More studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to fully assess the treatment strategies.

Tree growth patterns and diagnosis of water status based on trunk diameter fluctuations in fast-growing Populus tomentosa plantations

High resolution measurements of trunk diameter fluctuations (TDF) provide a means to study short-term and long-term stem radial variations and response to water stress of fruit trees. There is a lack of information, however, on the performance of TDF measurements on fast-growing poplar trees. To both clarify the intra-annual and inter-annual growth patterns and to diagnose water status of young poplar trees, we monitored TDF, leaf area index, soil matric potential, midday stem water potential (Ψstem) and main meteorological variables in a plantation with 3- and 4-year-old Populus tomentosa trees over two growing seasons (2016 and 2017). We had two irrigation treatments, well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS). For the first time for this species, we identified accurately and quantitatively the seasonal growth pattern and associated parameters (growth initiation and cessation time, growing season duration, maximum growth rate, etc.) of young P. tomentosa with four clear stages, based on the growth rate for both treatments. We identified that stage II (mid-April to mid-June), when trees showed the most active growth rate and less rainfall was recorded, is the most crucial stage for irrigation management, especially as trees grow larger and have a greater water demand. In the two experimental years, irrigation did not affect the timing of growth initiation and cessation. However, maximum growth rate was significantly higher and occurred earlier in the WW trees than in the WS trees. From the tested trunk diameter fluctuation indicators, trunk growth rate (TGR) showed a greater potential for assessing tree water stress than both maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and daily growth (DG), being even more sensitive to the onset of water stress than midday Ψstem. We conclude that high resolution trunk dendrometers are useful to track growth and determine water stress, which make them a good candidate to schedule irrigation in fast-growing poplar plantations.

Changes in the Growth and Development of Adolescents in a Country in Socio-Economic Transition 1993-2013.

IntroductionChanges in human growth and development depend on genetic and environmental factors. In the case of Slovenia, the environmental factors changed as a result of the period of socio-economic transition that the country underwent between 1991 and 2013. The authors used anthropometric techniques to evaluate differences in body height, proportions and sexual maturity in 1,221 adolescents aged 14 in 1993, 2003 and 2013.MethodsData was collected as a part of the ACDSi study, which has monitored children’s somatic growth and motor development every decade over the last 40 years.ResultsBetween 1993 and 2013, a trend (p=0.08) towards increased body height was observed in males. The comparison of age at peak height velocity (PHV) between generations demonstrated a trend (p=0.07) of earlier entry into puberty in adolescents in 2013 compared to those in 1993. The leg-to-body height ratio increased (p<0.05) with every decade in males, while in females it decreased (p<0.05) in 2013. Similar trends were observed in the leg-to-trunk ratio. Contemporary generations experienced PHV at a younger age (p<0.05), which is true for both genders even in adolescents born no more than two decades (1993 (2013) apart. In both generations, females experienced PHV sooner than their male peers.ConclusionThe authors assume that females of the 2013 generation reached puberty earlier than females of older generations. It is most likely that, unlike females from older generations and unlike males, they were already at the stage of trunk growth at the time of the measurements, which explains the observed changes in their trunk length, leg-to-body height and leg-to-trunk ratios in comparison to earlier generations.

Productivity and heat-stress tolerance in Canadian poplar (Populus × canadensis Moench) clones with different ecological optimum

Cultivation of fast growing poplar (Populus sp.) clones represents an effective means for reaching the 2020 target of the EU-28 renewable energy production. However, considering the continuous climate change, their growth can be markedly affected by summer heat stress episodes in Slovakia. Therefore, in this work two Canadian poplar (Populus × canadensis Moench) clones of different ecological optimum, ‘Gigant' and ‘Pannonia', were investigated in respect of productivity and heat stress tolerance. After three-year cultivation, tree height in the clone ‘Gigant' was 8.9 m, breast trunk diameter 9.3 cm and trunk volume 0.021 m3 compared to 7.9 m, 7.0 cm and 0.012 m3 in clone ‘Pannonia' (despite of relatively more stable trunk growth rate in summer). Trunks of the latter clone contained 12% bark (vs. 10% in ‘Gigant'), 1.5% ash in the wood (vs. 3%) and showed significantly larger wood density (440 vs. 380 kg m−3) but lower wood free energy content (14.5 vs. 16 MJ kg−1). Both of clones were proved to be diploids (2x). Clone ‘Pannonia' exhibited larger heat stress tolerance, as tested in leaves of different developmental stage exposed to 40 °C using chlorophyll fluorescence technique (decreasing from mature to juvenile leaves), lower specific leaf area and higher leaf carotenoid and cytokinin (particularly BAP derivatives) concentration. In spite of lower heat stress tolerance and higher ash content, clone ‘Gigant' showed larger productivity than clone ‘Pannonia', suggesting potential of the latter for cultivation in much more stressful conditions.

Outcomes of growing rods in a series of early-onset scoliosis patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is not uncommon in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Despite conservative treatment, spinal deformities progress and require early surgical intervention. To avoid potential interference with chest and trunk growth, growing rods (GRs) have been used effectively in EOS of various etiologies. In this study the authors sought to analyze the outcomes of GRs in EOS patients with NF1. This was a retrospective single-center cohort study that included consecutive EOS patients with NF1 who were treated with GRs and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Clinical and radiological analyses were performed preoperatively and until the last follow-up. From to 2008 to 2017, 18 patients (6 male, 12 female) underwent GR surgery (14 single GRs, 4 dual GRs) at a mean age of 8 ± 2.1 years. Mean follow-up was 5 ± 2.4 years. Fifty-five lengthenings were performed at a mean rate of 3 lengthenings per patient (range 0-7). Ten of 14 single GRs (71%) were converted into dual GRs during treatment. No patient underwent definitive posterior spinal fusion (PSF) at GR treatment completion. The mean initial and last follow-up major curves were 57° and 36°, respectively (p < 0.001, 37% correction). The average T1-S1 increase was 13 mm/yr. Six of 9 hyperkyphotic patients had normal kyphosis at last follow-up. There were 26 complications involving 13 patients (72%), with 1 patient who required unplanned revision. The primary complications were instrumentation related, consisting of 17 proximal hook dislodgments, 6 distal pedicle screw pullouts, and 2 rod fractures. Only 1 patient experienced a mechanical complication after dual GR implantation. There were no wound infections. The GR technique provided satisfactory spinal deformity control in EOS patients with NF1 while allowing substantial spinal growth. Adequately contoured dual GRs with proximal hooks placed in nondystrophic regions should be used to minimize implant-related complications. Surgeons should not attempt to correct kyphosis at GR implantation.

Mitigating negative effects of long-term treated wastewater application via soil and irrigation manipulations: Sap flow and water relations of avocado trees (Persea americana Mill.)

Recent studies have shown significant negative effects of long-term irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) on performance of orchards planted on clay soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate water use and water relations of different mitigation measures to remedy the declining performance of a mature commercial fruit-bearing 'Hass' avocado orchard (Persea americana Mill.) growing in a clay soil irrigated with TWW since 2009. The mitigation measures, each in 6 replicates, included freshwater (FW), blended TWW:FW in a 1:1 ratio (MIX), low-frequency TWW irrigation (LFI), TWW irrigated tuff trenches (TUF) and TWW as the control treatment. The Penman-Monteith equation was used to determine reference evapotranspiration (mm day−1) and canopy conductance (mm s−1). A variety of climatic variables and tree physiological responses were monitored on continuous and seasonal bases. Measurements included sap flow (mm day−1), carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C), and trunk growth (cm). Whole plant hydraulic conductance (mm s−1 MPa−1) was estimated using the water potential gradient and sap flow. In summer when water use was highest sap flow values measured in 10 trees per treatment in FW, TUF and MIX were higher than TWW by up to 31 %, 26 %, and 24 %, respectively (p < 0.05). Treatment ranking based on sap flow (F), canopy conductance (gc), and whole plant hydraulic conductance (Kp) was FW> TUF > MIX > LFI > TWW. δ13C rankings were the same from low to high values, but with MIX > TUF. Most of the physiological parameters determined using different techniques have synergistically shown that using tuff trenches and mixing poor quality water (TWW) with fresh water are promising mitigating measures. Monitoring and evaluation should continue to determine if the alternatives contribute to sustainable yield increases in orchards on long-term bases.

Heliocyclical Factors in Interdecadal Variability of Climate and Natural Processes on the Example of Yakutia

The natural systems of Yakutia (Eurasian north-east) serve as example in examining the problem of interdecadal variability of climate and natural processes. The work explores the response of heat and moisture supply of the climate and of tree trunk growth for the pines of aufeis valleys of Central Yakutia over the modulation of odd and even 11-year solar cycles. The climatic forecasting for slowing down of winter warming and enhancing the role of summer drought seasons within the next decade is substantiated. In the aufeis valleys we can expect the recovery of aufeis formation, forest fires and slowing down of forest stand trunk growth. The most consequential natural process abnormalities (extremal cooling and warming, droughts, flood waves, forest fires, etc.) are to develop in the segments of rise and fall of the 11-year cycles, in proximity to the periods of solar activity extremums (the maximums and the minimums). Today we have one of such extremums (the minimum of 11-year cycle №25).

Study on the characteristics of natural gas hydrate crystal structures during decomposition process

Hydrate decomposition is inevitable in the process of hydrate formation, and has an important research significance. In order to study the crystal decomposition process, the formation and flow of hydrate particles in natural gas + pure water system were experimentally studied in a high-pressure visual autoclave. During the experiments, the high-speed digital camera was used to capture the micro-morphology and decomposition process of gas hydrate particles, and the high definition camera was used to capture the agglomeration state of nature gas hydrate at the visual window to connect macro-and micro-phenomena organically. By analyzing the data obtained from experiments, we find that the micro-morphology of hydrate particles can be roughly divided into two categories: planar flake particles and polyhedral solid particles. The planar flake particles are further refined into non-trunk snowflake particles and dendritic particles with trunk growth. When snowflake particles begin to decompose, they tend to decrease in area and have rounded edges. The decomposition time of dendritic particles is longer, and there is always trunk in the system. During the decomposition process, the number of particles gradually decreases to zero, but there will be a slightly increase. Meanwhile, it is found that the higher heating temperature and initial pressure will aggravate the fluctuation of particle number. Finally, according to the microscopic changes of hydrate particles in the decomposition process obtained by high-speed digital camera and other equipment, and based on the independent physical models of two types of hydrate particles, the physical model of hydrate particles decomposition is established.

Investigations of the sensitivity of ornamental, fruit, and nut plant species to driftable rates of 2,4-D and dicamba

AbstractAn experiment was conducted in 2017 and 2018 to determine the sensitivity of driftable rates of 2,4-D and dicamba with or without glyphosate on common ornamental, fruit, and nut species. Three driftable rates corresponding to ½, 1/20th, and 1/200th of the manufacturer’s labeled rate (1 × rate) of 2,4-D (1.09 kg ae ha−1), 2,4-D plus glyphosate (1.09 kg ae ha−1 plus 1.10 kg ae ha−1), dicamba (0.56 kg ae ha−1), and dicamba plus glyphosate (0.56 kg ae ha−1 plus 1.10 kg ae ha−1) were applied to apple, crabapple, dogwood, American elderberry, American elm, grapevine, hydrangea, red maple, pin oak, peach, pecan, eastern redbud, rose, red raspberry, strawberry, sweetgum, nannyberry viburnum, and black walnut plants. Visible estimates of injury were recorded 28 and 56 days after treatment (DAT). Plant measurements included leaf malformation, tree trunk growth, and shoot length. Across all species, the ½ × rate of 2,4-D plus glyphosate resulted in 61% injury 28 DAT, whereas the ½ × rate of dicamba plus glyphosate resulted in 51% injury. Across plant species and herbicides, ½ ×, 1/20 ×, and 1/200 × rates caused injury ranging from 3% to 100%, 0% to 66%, and 0% to 19%, respectively. Hydrangea was the least sensitive species; grapevine was most sensitive. Changes in plant measurements were dependent on the species and herbicide applied. Treatments at the ½ × or 1/20 × rate resulted in shoot length, leaf malformation, and trunk tree diameter differences for 11, 10, and 7 species, respectively, compared with nontreated plants. Collectively, the measurements and visual injury assessments indicated apple, red maple, peach, and pin oak were more sensitive to treatments containing dicamba, whereas black walnut, grapevine, and American elm were more sensitive to 2,4-D. Although the 1/200 × rates of 2,4-D and dicamba did not result in changes to plant measurements, obvious injury symptoms were observed, which could render these plants unsalable.

Trunk Growth in Early-Onset Idiopathic Scoliosis Measured With Biplanar Radiography

Study DesignCross-sectional and longitudinal retrospective study. ObjectivesTo measure thoracic dimensions and volume during growth in early-onset idiopathic scoliosis (EOIS) patients and to compare them to a population of asymptomatic adults and to the previous literature. Summary of Background DataData on trunk growth for scoliotic children between 6 and 14 years of age is sparse in the literature. MethodsThirty-six patients (29 girls and 7 boys, between 3 and 14 years old, average Cobb angle 33°±15°) were included, all with a minimum two-year follow-up. Sixty-one asymptomatic girls and 54 asymptomatic adults were included as control groups. All subjects underwent biplanar radiography and 3D reconstruction of the spine, pelvis, and rib cage. EOIS patients repeated their radiologic examination every six months. Cobb angle, rib cage volume, anteroposterior and transverse diameters, thoracic index, thoracic perimeter, pelvic incidence, and T1–T12 and T1–S1 distance were calculated. Reproducibility of measurement was assessed. ResultsMeasurement reliability in such young patients was comparable to previous studies in adolescents and adults. Geometrical parameters of EOIS patients increased linearly with age. For instance, rib cage volume in girls with EOIS increased from 2200 cm3 at six to seven years of age to 4100 cm3 at 13–14 years (65% of adult values, 294 cm3/y). Comparison with asymptomatic girls showed that EOIS could affect growth spurt. Longitudinal analysis on a cohort of six girls who had a follow-up of six years confirmed the cross-sectional data. ConclusionsIn this longitudinal and cross-sectional study, trunk growth between 3 and 14 years of age was characterized, for the first time, with biplanar radiography and 3D reconstruction. The results can be useful to estimate patient growth and thus have potential application in the surgical planning of EOIS patients. Level of EvidenceLevel II, retrospective study.

Biogeomorphic effects of woody vegetation on bedrock streams

The dynamic interactions between fluvial processes and vegetation vary in different environments and are uncertain in bedrock settings. Bedrock streams are much less studied than alluvial in all aspects, and in many respects act in qualitatively different ways. This research seeks to fill this lacuna by studying bedrock streams from a biogeomorphic perspective. It aims to identify the impacts of woody vegetation that may be common to fluvial systems and rocky hillslopes in general, or that may be unique to bedrock channels. A review of the existing literature on biogeomorphology – mostly fluvial and rocky hillslope environments – was carried out, and field examples of biogeomorphic impacts (BGIs) associated with fluvial systems of various bedrock environments were then examined to complement the review. Results indicate that bedrock streams exhibit both shared and highly concentrated BGIs in relation to alluvial streams and rocky hillslopes. Bedrock streams display a bioprotective geomorphic form – root banks (when the root itself forms the stream bank) – which is distinctive, but not exclusive to this setting. On the other hand, shared biogeomorphic impacts with alluvial streams include sediment and wood trapping, and bar and island development and stabilization (i.e. bioconstruction/modification and protection). Shared impacts with rocky hillslopes also include bioprotection, as well as displacement of bedrock due to root and trunk growth, and bedrock mining caused by tree uprooting (i.e. bioweathering and erosion). Two BGI triangles were developed to graphically display these relationships. Finally, this paper concludes that bedrock streams exhibit some BGIs that also occur in either alluvial channels or on rocky hillslopes. Therefore, no BGIs were identified that are absolutely unique to bedrock fluvial environments.

Approach using trunk growth rate data to identify water stress conditions in olive trees

Reduced water availability around the world drives the need for indicators that enable a better control of water stress at orchard level. Among the different parameters that could be used as indicators, trunk diameter fluctiations, are daily cycles suggested as tools for irrigation scheduling. These cycles can define different indicators and the trunk growth rate (TGR) was suggested as the most suitable for olive trees. Several works indicated that average TGR values are related to the tree water status even threshold values have been suggested. In addition, only daily TGR values below −0.1 mm day−1 were mentioned as water stress indicators. The aim of this work is to evaluate an irrigation scheduling approach based on those two results mentioned. To this end, an experiment was performed during the 2017 season, in a commercial, super-high-density orchard in Carmona (Seville, Spain). Four different irrigation treatments were applied based on midday stem water potential values and TGR. The Control treatment, with 100% ETc (crop evapotranspiration) and sustained deficit irrigation, was compared with two regulated deficit irrigation strategies based on TGR measurements. Severe water stress conditions were measured in the three deficit treatments. Irrigation scheduling using average TGR was not a suitable tool for the aim of the experiment because some data were lost and there were great variations in TGR values. However, it was found that average TGR values were related to midday stem water potential. The water potential and daily TGR data were grouped according to water stress levels (into values with water potential higher of −1.4 MPa and lower than −4 MPa). Daily TGR values greater than 0.3 mm day−1 were identified in response to severe water stress conditions. Weekly frequency of daily TGR values between −0.1 and 0.3 mm day−1 decreased from 60% to 25% when water stress level increased. Therefore, frequency and value of daily TGR are suggested as irrigation scheduling tools for olive trees.

Changing of body proportion during growth in hydrothermal vestimentiferan Oasisia alvinae Jones 1985 (Annelida, Siboglinidae)

During the growth of hydrothermal vestimentiferan Oasisia alvinae the trunk part of body was found to be elongated (from 51 to 83.4% of the overall body length), while the relative dimensions of all other body regions decreased. This was related to the enhanced trophosome and gonad development in the trunk part. We suppose that predominant trunk growth is a common feature of all vestimentiferans.