Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potential for modifying plant volatile composition to enhance resistance to arthropod pests

Plant volatiles provide herbivorous arthropods with information that allows them to discriminate between host and non-host plants. Volatiles may also indicate plant stress status, and natural enemies can use herbivore-induced plant volatiles as cues for prey location. Neighbouring plants may also make use of volatile cues to prepare for herbivore attack. Since both constitutive and inducible plant volatile emissions can be modified by plant breeding, the possibility exists to improve plant resistance against important pests both directly and indirectly via improved biological control. So far this approach has been tested only in the realm of research, predominantly using transgenic Arabidopsis with modified composition of terpenoids or C6 green leaf compounds. However several studies have shown that it is indeed possible both to reduce herbivory and enhance natural enemy attraction simultaneously. If such effects can be translated into increased and more stable yields in important crops, this strategy might be explored by the plant breeding industry and eventually become available to plant growers in the form of resistant cultivars. There are however ecological challenges associated with this approach, and the modified plant volatile composition should preferably be inducible specifically by the target pests, or by field application of specific elicitors based on forecasts of pest attack.
Temperate intercropping of cereals for forage: a review of the potential for growth and utilization with particular reference to the UK

Cereals grown for forage are increasing in importance in the rations of ruminants in the UK and have the potential to supply high proportions of energy-rich forage in their diets. However, such diets usually require some degree of protein supplementation. Crop mixtures, generally referred to as intercrops, have the potential to boost the forage protein content of diets as well as having a number of agronomic benefits. In this paper, the growth and utilization of annual intercrops is reviewed with particular reference, where feasible, to temperate regions. General agronomic and feeding issues associated with cereal intercrops are outlined together with the practicalities of field-scale management of intercrops in highly mechanized systems. A number of cereal-based intercrop combinations are also considered, concentrating specifically on their value for forage production. The future potential for different combinations is discussed and research recommendations made.
Taxonomic notes on the genus Pseudodynerus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

The differences between Pseudodynerus auratoides (Bertoni, 1918) and Pseudodynerus serratus (Fox, 1902) are established. Lectotypes of Stenodynerus mondaiensis Bertoni, 1918 and Stenodynerus auratoides Bertoni, 1918 are designated. Pseudodynerus penicillatus (Zavattari, 1912) is redescribed and newly raised from synonymy under P. serratus (Fox, 1902).
NUTRIENT PRESERVATION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF FORAGES ENSILED WITH SODIUM METABISULPHITE AT VARYING LEVELS OF COMPACTION AND DRY MATTER

Sodium metabisulphite treatments did not reduce ensiling losses in mixed forages of various dry matter percentages at different densities.The quality and odour of low-density, low-dry matter silages were improved, but those of high-density silages were unaffected.Bisulphite increased the acceptability to heifers of forages of low to medium dry matter ensiled at medium density. Bisulphite did not increase the acceptability of low-dry matter forages ensiled at low density.
OPTIMAL PHOSPHORUS LOADING FOR A POTENTIALLY EUTROPHIC LAKE

We are concerned with the management of ecological and economic systems with threshold responses and with several time scales. Although optimal control of such systems is seldom attainable, the form of such optimal controls provides important insights for more practical schemes. Here we optimize the expected discounted net benefits of phosphorus (P) loadings for a potentially eutrophic lake. The benefits accrue to agricultural interests from activities that result in loading, and costs accrue to other interests from the resulting deterioration of water quality. We extend the 1999 results of S. R. Carpenter, D. Ludwig, and W. A. Brock to account for dependence of P recycling upon the concentration of P in sediments. We obtain optimal policies using methods of dynamic programming with two state variables. We find a strong interaction between economic and ecological parameters in determining the optimal policy: the economic discount rate determines whether the time horizon is long or short, and this in turn strongly influences the magnitude of the optimal loadings. Simple policies that neglect dynamics of P in the sediments are inadequate unless the time horizon is short and the dynamics are slow. A stochastic model is essential if there are substantial random fluctuations in loadings. Uncertainty in the determination of the critical P density that triggers recycling cannot be neglected. Our results may be interpreted as a quantitative precautionary principle that takes account of both economic and ecological aspects of the management of the lake. Our results may also be used to illustrate economic ideas such as sustainable development, natural capital, option values, and income.
Marine eutrophication and benthos: the need for new approaches and concepts

In this review, using examples drawn from field observations or experimental studies, our goals are (i) to briefly summarize the major changes, in terms of species composition and functional structure, occurring in phyto and zoobenthic communities in relation to nutrient enrichment of the ecosystems; particular interest is given to the major abiotic and biotic factors occurring during the eutrophication process, (ii) to discuss the direct and indirect influences of benthic organisms on eutrophication and whether the latter can be controlled or favoured by benthos; most benthic species play a major role in the process of benthic nutrient regeneration, affecting primary production by supplying nutrients directly and enhancing rates of pelagic recycling; experimental studies have shown that the impact of benthic fauna on benthic–pelagic coupling and nutrient release is considerable. Thus, once the eutrophication process is engaged—that is, high organic matter sedimentation—it may be indirectly favoured by benthic organisms; benthos should always be considered in eutrophication studies, (iii) to evaluate the limits of our observations and data, highlighting the strong need for integrated studies leading to new concepts. Coastal ecosystems and benthic communities are potentially impacted by numerous human activities (demersal fishing, toxic contaminants, aquaculture…); in order to design strategies of ecosystem restoration or rehabilitation, we have to better understand coastal eutrophication and develop tools for quantifying the impacts; in order to achieve this goal, some possible directions proposed are: integrated studies leading to new concepts, model development based on these concepts and finally comparison of various ecosystems on a global scale.
Influence of Different Soil Moistures during the Vegetative Phase of Development of Field Bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor) on Leaf Water Status, Photosynthesis Rate and Plant Growth

The effects of exposure in the vegetative phase of growth to 10-day spells of mild (30 % of field water capacity – fwc) and severe (20 % fwc) drought on leaf water status, photosynthesis rate, plant growth and distribution of dry matter were studied in field bean. Either drought level caused similar changes of leaf water status and reduced photosynthesis rates. In older leaves these drought effects were greater. Plants exposed to mild drought quickly recovered their full photosynthetic activity and growth rate when optimum water supply was restored, but after severe drought the slower rate of these processes persisted much longer. Reduced growth caused by drought was proportionally the same in stems, leaves and roots, so that the share of dry weights of these organs in total dry matter of whole plants was similar as in control.
Understanding invasion success: life-history traits and feeding habits of the alien crayfish Orconectes immunis (Decapoda, Astacida, Cambaridae)

In the present study, the life history and diet of the highly successful North American invader Orconectes immunis was assessed for the first time in its introduced European range. In 2007, O. immunis population dynamics were monitored in a typical backwater habitat using unbaited funnel traps, and its life history was analysed using Von Bertalanffy’s growth function. Juveniles hatched as early as March and may attain sexual maturity at the end of their first summer. The adult population moulted up to four times during the summer months, with the non-breeding form (II) lasting for a remarkably short time period. The high growth rate of O. immunis was combined with a short longevity, which was estimated at 2.5 years. The fecundity ranged from 119 to 495 pleopodal eggs. The stomach contents were dominated by detritus, followed by macroinvertebrates and macrophytes, and no ontogenetic shift in diet was observed. The ability to prey on a wide array of invertebrate taxa presumably supports the sustained high growth rate of O. immunis . The presented data provide evidence that O. immunis exhibits a strongly r-selected life history and omnivorous feeding habits. These ecological properties have often been linked to successful invaders and enhance the invasiveness of O. immunis .
Chalara fraxinea associated with dieback of narrow‐leafed ash (Fraxinus angustifolia)

Chalara fraxinea associated with dieback of narrow-leafed ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) T. Kirisits*, M. Matlakova, S. Mottinger-Kroupa, E. Halmschlager and F. Lakatos Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (IFFF), Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Hasenauerstrasse 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; and Institute of Silviculture and Forest Protection, University of West Hungary, Sopron, Ady E. str. 5, H-9400 Sopron, Hungary
Internal Transcribed Spacer Phylogeny of the Asian and Eastern North American Disjunct Aralia Sect. Dimorphanthus (Araliaceae) and Its Biogeographic Implications

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA were used to generate a phylogenetic hypothesis for the Asian and eastern North American disjunct Aralia sect. Dimorphanthus. The ITS phylogeny supports the transfer of Aralia hispida of sect. Hispidae to sect. Dimorphanthus to maintain the monophyly of the latter. The north temperate series Dimorphanthus was paraphyletic, with the subtropical and tropical series Chinensis and Foliolosae nested within. This pattern of differentiation is consistent with the hypothesis of morphological stasis among the closely related disjunct taxa between eastern Asia and eastern North America in series Dimorphanthus. There is a lack of direct intercontinental sister species relationship in the section. The eastern North American taxa (Aralia spinosa and A. hispida) are cladistically basal, and the Asiatic taxa form a clade, which indicates that the formation of the intercontinental disjunction was prior to the diversification of Asiatic taxa. Fossil evidence indicated that the disjunct pattern originated during the Miocene or earlier.
Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of aromatic plants

In this paper it was studded the antimicrobial activity of essential oils of the Azerbaijan aromatic plants. The antibiotic influence of essential oils can be different depending on both species of microorganisms and kind of essential oil. It was showed that,some of essential oils exert specific influence on microorganisms. So, essential oil of Faeniculumvulgare significantly inhibited only gram-positive bacteria, essential oil of Rosmarinusofficinalisonly gram-negative bacteria, essential oil Thumustranscaucasicus both gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria, essential oils of Mentapiperifae, Saliva officinalis and Saturealaxiflora gram-negative bacteria and yeasts.
AN ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY IN THE FIELD LAYER OF ASH COPPICE II EXPERIMENTS WITH GEUM URBANUM AND CIRSIUM PALUSTRE IN DIFFERENT LIGHT INTENSITIES

SUMMARY The influence of different light intensities on the vegetative growth and CO2-exchange characteristics of Cirsium palustre and Geum urbanum were studied in order to give a possible explanation for the different behaviour of the two species in the ash coppice cycle. The shade avoiding species C. palustre showed shade tolerant characteristics, whereas the species which avoids exposed conditions, G. urbanum, grew well in full daylight. Although there were some minor differences between the two species, the influence of light intensity on vegetative growth gives no sufficient explanation for the observed phenomena in the coppice cycle.
Multicolor Karyotyping of Six Old World Monkey Species

By multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) that enables the simultaneous identification of 24 human chromosomes, we studied chromosomal homologies between humans (Homo sapiens, 2n=46) and 6 species of Old World monkey, namely, the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops, 2n=60), patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas, 2n=54), hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus, 2n=44), cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis, 2n=42), stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides, 2n=42) and hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas, 2n=42). Individual human chromosomes were found to correspond to either one or two chromosomes of each monkey species without any detectable complex translocation involving more than 2 chromosomes. Based on chromosomal correspondences among these species, we propose a hypothetical karyotype phylogeny.
Spacing Dynamics of a Tropical Rain Forest Tree: Evaluation of the Janzen-Connell Model

As a partial explanation for the maintenance of high tree diversity in wet tropical forests, Janzen (1970) and Connell (1971) independently hypothesized that natural enemies act to increase spacing within these tree populations through disproportionately high attack on progeny near adults. Both authors also hypothesized a minimum critical distance effect, because of 100% progeny mortality within a given distance of adults. We describe the necessary and sufficient conditions for testing these hypotheses, and show that attempts to evaluate them have been hampered by use of the inappropriate standard of regular spacing. Data describing the spacing dynamics of Dipteryx panamensis, a rain forest canopy tree, support both hypotheses. From 7 mo to 2 yr postgermination, seedling survival was positively correlated with distance to adult and negatively correlated with local conspecific seedling density. Partial correlation was used to separate the effects of density and distance, and it was shown that seedling density was the only significant factor in this case. Older juveniles and saplings occurred at greater distances from the nearest conspecific adult than did 1980 seedlings. No seedlings or juveniles survived within 8 m of an adult bole. A review of 24 data sets on tropical woody plants showed that most evidence indicates either density-dependence or distance-dependence in progeny mortality, as hypothesized by Janzen and Connell. Some positive evidence also exists for the minimum critical distance effect for tropical trees. In most of the cases involving seedling mortality, however, alternative causal factors such as intracohort competition or allelopathy were not ruled out. Before generalizations can be made about this process in tropical forests, carefully designed studies are needed on more populations of tropical trees.
Adubação antecipada na cultura da soja com superfosfato triplo e cloreto de potássio revestidos por polímeros

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se comparar epocas e doses de aplicacao do superfosfato triplo (SFT) cloreto de potassio (KCl) com e sem revestimento por polimero no desempenho produtivo da soja em condicoes edafoclimaticas de cerrado. O experimento foi realizado em Rio Verde, GO, em um Latossolo Vermelho distroferrico. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x2x2+1. O primeiro fator foi constituido pelos fertilizantes SFT e KCl revestidos ou nao por polimeros, o segundo por duas doses de fosforo e potassio (40 + 40 e 80 + 80 kg ha-1 P2O5 e K2O), e o terceiro, por duas epocas de aplicacao dos fertilizantes (15 dias antes da semeadura e na semeadura). Inclui-se ainda, um tratamento testemunha sem adubacao. Foi avaliada a producao de biomassa, a produtividade de graos e componentes de produtividade. Houve resposta a aplicacao da adubacao com P e K na producao de massa fresca e produtividade, sendo a ausencia de adubacao prejudicial ao desenvolvimento da cultura da soja. A aplicacao a lanco de superfosfato triplo e cloreto de potassio, revestidos por polimeros 15 dias antes da semeadura, proporcionou maior producao de massa seca, numero de vagens por planta e produtividade de graos de soja em relacao aos fertilizantes convencionais. Quando aplicados na semeadura, os fertilizantes convencionais e fertilizantes revestidos por polimeros conferiram a mesma producao de massa seca e produtividade de graos de soja.
Intracellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles by a novel alkalotolerant actinomycete, Rhodococcus species

The development of reliable, eco-friendly processes for the synthesis of nanoscale materials is an important aspect of nanotechnology. In this paper, we report on the use of an alkalotolerant actinomycete (Rhodococcus sp.) in the intracellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles of the dimension 5–15 nm. Electron microscopy analysis of thin sections of the gold actinomycete cells indicated that gold particles with good monodispersity were formed on the cell wall as well as on the cytospasmic membrane. The particles are more concentrated on the cytoplasmic membrane than on the cell wall, possibly due to reduction of the metal ions by enzymes present in the cell wall and on the cytoplasmic membrane. The metal ions were not toxic to the cells and the cells continued to multiply after biosynthesis of the gold nanoparticles.
Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of BZIP Protein in Plants

BZIP are a class of dimeric sequence specific DNA-binding proteins, is bipartite in structure containing region of enriched basic amino acids which is adjacent to leucine zippers. It is characterized by several leucine residues regularly spaced at seven amino acid intervals, basic region directly contacts with DNA. The leucine zipper mediates heterodimerization and homodimerization of protein monomers through parallel interactions which is unique to eukaryotes. The plant Arabidopsis thaliana genome shows 67 BZIP proteins. We have predicted dimeric properties of alpha helical leucine zipper and coiled coil structure of BZIP proteins in plants. In this analysis the length of leucine zippers, placement of asparagines in the hydrophobic interface and presence of interhelical electrostatic interactions were focused. Phylogenetic tree was also constructed by studying evolutionary relationship of BZIB existing among the plants.
Tree architecture in relation to leaf dimensions and tree stature in temperate and tropical rain forests

1 The architecture and leaf dimensions (petiole length, blade length and blade width) of 403 tree species were studied at six sites ranging from lowland equatorial to temperate Australian rain forest. The branching patterns of understorey saplings and exposed canopy trees were classified as orthotropic (three‐dimensional arrangements of leaves about ascending twigs) or plagiotropic (leaves arranged in planes, usually along the sides of horizontal twigs).
The Nutritive Value of Dried Tomato Pomace

Abstract DURING the past few years the commercial production of tomato juice and other pulped tomato products has increased to a considerable extent. In the manufacture of such products there is a certain amount of waste resulting from the pulping or screening process. This tomato waste or pomace consists mainly of skins, seeds, and hard tissue. Approximately 1,500,000 tons of tomatoes are grown annually in the United States. Of this total about 1,000,000 tons are used in manufactured tomato products. The waste in canning varies from I5 to 30 percent depending on the quality of the tomato. The waste material studied in the investigation consists of the dehydrated tailings of pulping machines and juice extractors. Probably 12,000 tons of dried waste similar to that examined is available annually. This represents a 4-fold increase since 1917. The waste could be dried very easily and economically if there was any sale for it.
Toxins in blast-diseased rice plants.

The occurence of tenuazonic acid (T. A.), which had been isolated from the culture broth of blast fungus, in blast-diseased rice plants was surveyed to ascertain whether or not this substance is one of the vivotoxins. T. A. was detected in four of six samples of blast-diseased rice plants, two of which had relatively high T. A. contents; 379 and 91mg per kg of the samples (dry weight). Besides T. A. , coumarin, o-coumaric acid and piricularin were also isolated from blast-diseased rice plants. The molecular formula of the last substance, which was tentatively presented in a previous paper, was corrected to C18H30N2O5 from the results of high resolution mass spectrometry.
Whale Watching, Iconography, and Marine Conservation

As our populations have grown, more of us have moved to the coast. As some of us have become richer, Boeing and Airbus have allowed us to indulge our desire to see the world. Coastal vessels have become faster and safer, so we expect gratification of our desire for novel experiences at sea. As all this has happened, large whales off some coasts have increased in number, evidence that some international protection measures of the 1970s have worked. The confluence of these unrelated historical processes has led to the spectacular rise of the vessel-based whale-watching industry. Nature-based tourism does not necessarily maintain environmental quality. Ecotourism is supposed to be that special subset of nature-based tourism that provides local economic benefit without environmental degradation (Goodwin 1996). Whale watching tends to be classified as ecotourism, but it does affect whales’ behavior in the short term (e.g., Corkeron 1995). The debate on how to manage whale watching has moved to whether this matters. Do “short-term” impacts have “long-term” consequences? Research to date demonstrates that anthropogenic noise is primarily responsible for the short-term behavioral changes observed. Analogs from marine hydrocarbon extraction can provide some answers to longer-term questions: use of habitat by bowhead whales seems altered by industrial activities (Schick & Urban 2000). But current thinking now calls for demonstrations of “biologically significant”—in other words, population-level— effects (e.g., International Whaling Commission 2001). How do we demonstrate these effects? Assessing the impact of dive tourism on coral reefs requires application of established impact-assessment techniques in community ecology (e.g., Plathong et al. 2000). Studies of the effects of terrestrial tourism on wildlife ask questions at the habitat scale (e.g., Burger 2000), requiring techniques that are logistically and financially beyond most research