title: The kiwifruit (Actinidia sp.) vine root system: Responses to vine manipulations

authors: Black, Marykate Z.

subjects: root

abstract: The root system is a significant component of whole-plant biomass in kiwifruit vines and is likely to be a considerable carbohydrate sink. Seasonal trends in root growth were investigated to infer seasonal fluctuations in root carbohydrate demand. Root growth peaked in summer and autumn. Observations indicate that peak root demand for carbohydrates occurs when fruit demands are also high. This infers competition between fruit and root growth, disagreeing with observations in other species. Carbohydrate partitioning between fruit and roots was studied in small kiwifruit plants using the tracer 14C. Simultaneous tracer import was observed into fruit and roots. When half the root system was cut off, root system import was reduced. The fruit imported a larger proportion of the available tracer, whilst there was no change in import into the remaining root half. Simultaneous carbohydrate import into fruit and roots demonstrated competition between these sinks. However, increased carbohydrate import into fruit suggests that the fruit has higher priority. The findings of this research suggest that the root system is a more competitive sink in kiwifruit vines than in some other fruit crops.
Trunk girdling and root pruning are used to improve kiwifruit vine productivity. The effects of these practices on vine physiology, and root growth and function were investigated. Girdling reduced photosynthesis, with reductions attributed to stomatal limitation and feedback inhibition. Repeat annual girdling reduced root biomass by approximately 59%. Root growth rates were not affected, however, girdled vines produced less root tips. This suggests that new root production is more of a carbon expense than root extension. Root pruning reduced whole-vine hydraulic conductance. As treatment severity increased, reduced photosynthesis was evident, attributed to reduced sink demand. Roots in other species have demonstrated rapid changes in hydraulic conductance in response to environmental stresses. Hydraulic conductance in intact roots of kiwifruit vines did not respond when 80% of root biomass was removed. However, sap flow increased to a rate approximately 50% higher than pre-treatment. Kiwifruit roots exhibited hydraulic redundancy, which may be a stress tolerance mechanism.

text: The kiwifruit (Actinidia sp.) vine root system: Responses to vine manipulations The root system is a significant component of whole-plant biomass in kiwifruit vines and is likely to be a considerable carbohydrate sink. Seasonal trends in root growth were investigated to infer seasonal fluctuations in root carbohydrate demand. Root growth peaked in summer and autumn. Observations indicate that peak root demand for carbohydrates occurs when fruit demands are also high. This infers competition between fruit and root growth, disagreeing with observations in other species. Carbohydrate partitioning between fruit and roots was studied in small kiwifruit plants using the tracer 14C. Simultaneous tracer import was observed into fruit and roots. When half the root system was cut off, root system import was reduced. The fruit imported a larger proportion of the available tracer, whilst there was no change in import into the remaining root half. Simultaneous carbohydrate import into fruit and roots demonstrated competition between these sinks. However, increased carbohydrate import into fruit suggests that the fruit has higher priority. The findings of this research suggest that the root system is a more competitive sink in kiwifruit vines than in some other fruit crops.
Trunk girdling and root pruning are used to improve kiwifruit vine productivity. The effects of these practices on vine physiology, and root growth and function were investigated. Girdling reduced photosynthesis, with reductions attributed to stomatal limitation and feedback inhibition. Repeat annual girdling reduced root biomass by approximately 59%. Root growth rates were not affected, however, girdled vines produced less root tips. This suggests that new root production is more of a carbon expense than root extension. Root pruning reduced whole-vine hydraulic conductance. As treatment severity increased, reduced photosynthesis was evident, attributed to reduced sink demand. Roots in other species have demonstrated rapid changes in hydraulic conductance in response to environmental stresses. Hydraulic conductance in intact roots of kiwifruit vines did not respond when 80% of root biomass was removed. However, sap flow increased to a rate approximately 50% higher than pre-treatment. Kiwifruit roots exhibited hydraulic redundancy, which may be a stress tolerance mechanism.

year: 2012

title: The evolution of hog production and potential sources for future growth in China

authors: Xiao, Hongbo

subjects: China

abstract: Following reforms to the market, China’s hog industry has developed rapidly, however, with social and economic transitions, China’s hog industry is facing challenges which might restrict long-term growth in production. This paper analyzes the changes in regional scale, organization, input factors, and technological progress for China’s hog production over the last few decades. The paper seeks to reveal the sources of hog production growth and provide some suggestions for future development of the hog industry. To achieve these aims, the paper uses stochastic frontier production functions and the Malmquist index to measure total factor productivity (TFP) in the hog industry and decompose TFP into technical efficiency; technological progress; scale efficiency; and allocative efficiency using data for 25 provinces from 1980 to 2008. The results show firstly that; the TFP of hog production increased by 64.3% from 1980 to 2008, and allocative efficiency and scale efficiency improvements played a key role in this TFP growth. In contrast, technical efficiency and technical progress have changed little over this period. Secondly, TFP’s contribution to output was 39.7%, it being less than that of factor inputs to output. Thirdly, the results suggest that the growth of China’s pork production depends mostly on the increase in the quantity of factor inputs, especially feed. As a consequence, the key to ensuring long-term and stable development of China’s hog production would seem to involve focusing on enhancing total factor productivity and changing the pattern of production growth.

text: The evolution of hog production and potential sources for future growth in China Following reforms to the market, China’s hog industry has developed rapidly, however, with social and economic transitions, China’s hog industry is facing challenges which might restrict long-term growth in production. This paper analyzes the changes in regional scale, organization, input factors, and technological progress for China’s hog production over the last few decades. The paper seeks to reveal the sources of hog production growth and provide some suggestions for future development of the hog industry. To achieve these aims, the paper uses stochastic frontier production functions and the Malmquist index to measure total factor productivity (TFP) in the hog industry and decompose TFP into technical efficiency; technological progress; scale efficiency; and allocative efficiency using data for 25 provinces from 1980 to 2008. The results show firstly that; the TFP of hog production increased by 64.3% from 1980 to 2008, and allocative efficiency and scale efficiency improvements played a key role in this TFP growth. In contrast, technical efficiency and technical progress have changed little over this period. Secondly, TFP’s contribution to output was 39.7%, it being less than that of factor inputs to output. Thirdly, the results suggest that the growth of China’s pork production depends mostly on the increase in the quantity of factor inputs, especially feed. As a consequence, the key to ensuring long-term and stable development of China’s hog production would seem to involve focusing on enhancing total factor productivity and changing the pattern of production growth.

year: 2012

title: Investigating Māori approaches to trauma informed care

authors: Pihama, Leonie

subjects: Māori health and wellbeing

abstract: This article gives an overview of a three-year Health Research Council funded research project “He Oranga Ngākau: Māori approaches to trauma-informed care”. The study is informed by Kaupapa Māori which provides both the theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding the world, exploring and conceptualising issues. The need for contextualised and culturally safe health and social services is well recognised within Aotearoa and particularly within Mental Health and Addiction Services. While trauma is an experience that can impact on all people, Māori experience trauma in distinct ways that are linked to the experience of colonisation, racism and discrimination, negative stereotyping and subsequent unequal rates of violence, poverty and ill health. Given that Māori are impacted by trauma in specific ways, it is important to explore and identify practice principles that contribute to the development of a framework that supports Māori Providers, counsellors, clinicians and healers in working with Māori. (Authors' abstract).

text: Investigating Māori approaches to trauma informed care This article gives an overview of a three-year Health Research Council funded research project “He Oranga Ngākau: Māori approaches to trauma-informed care”. The study is informed by Kaupapa Māori which provides both the theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding the world, exploring and conceptualising issues. The need for contextualised and culturally safe health and social services is well recognised within Aotearoa and particularly within Mental Health and Addiction Services. While trauma is an experience that can impact on all people, Māori experience trauma in distinct ways that are linked to the experience of colonisation, racism and discrimination, negative stereotyping and subsequent unequal rates of violence, poverty and ill health. Given that Māori are impacted by trauma in specific ways, it is important to explore and identify practice principles that contribute to the development of a framework that supports Māori Providers, counsellors, clinicians and healers in working with Māori. (Authors' abstract).

year: 2017