Herbivore damage, resource richness and putative defences in juvenile versus adult Eucalyptus leaves

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma K. Gras ◽  
Jennifer Read ◽  
Chantal T. Mach ◽  
Gordon D. Sanson ◽  
Fiona J. Clissold

Eucalyptus species often show marked differences in morphology and ecophysiology between adult and juvenile leaves. Given these differences, it was hypothesised that juvenile and adult leaves would present different levels of resources to a herbivore, and potentially different levels of putative anti-herbivore defences. This hypothesis was tested in some eucalypts growing in native forest in south-eastern Australia. There were no significant differences in levels of water, protein or carbohydrates (per unit dry weight) between mature adult and juvenile leaves. No difference was recorded in concentration of total phenolics between leaf forms, but more protein was precipitated (an estimate of tannin activity) in extracts from juvenile leaves. Cyanogenic glycosides were absent from mature leaves, but present in young leaves of both leaf forms in E. polyanthemos. No significant difference in concentration of any terpene was recorded between adult and juvenile leaves in E. nitens and E. regnans. Specific leaf area was lower in adult leaves, and fibre concentration was higher in adult leaves of some species, suggesting that resources in the adult leaf may be less accessible to a herbivore. However, there was no difference in leaf toughness between leaf forms, even though toughness per unit leaf thickness was higher in juvenile leaves. Hence, no major trends in resource concentration were apparent between the leaf forms, and of the defences investigated, only tannin activity varied significantly between the leaf forms.

2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skye McPherson ◽  
Derek Eamus ◽  
Brad R. Murray

Patterns of leaf attributes were examined for six woody species growing in a eucalypt woodland, a mangrove, or a heathland in coastal New South Wales, Australia, during winter and summer. It was found that the rate of assimilation per unit leaf dry mass (Amass) of the mangrove species was largest, woodland species exhibiting an intermediate rate and heathland species the smallest values of Amass. Mean habitat Amass did not change from winter to summer in the woodland or mangrove species but increased significantly in the heathland species. Average specific leaf area (SLA) was largest for the mangrove species and smallest for the heathland species, with woodland species showing intermediate values. SLA of all species within a habitat did not change from winter to summer. Mean foliar nitrogen (Nmass) of the mangrove species was highest, intermediate for woodland species and lowest for heathland species. Nmass was significantly related to Amass in both summer and winter and the individual slopes for this relationship in the summer and winter differed. In contrast, a common slope was fitted to the relationship between SLA and Amass for the two seasons. A common slope between seasons was also shown for the relationship between SLA and Nmass. There was no significant difference in slope elevation between summer and winter for the SLA v. Nmass relationship. Trends within relationships among leaf attributes were the same as those found for a wide range of plant species worldwide, but the absolute values were lower than those found elsewhere. Therefore, the 'global relationships' in terms of trends (positive or negative) that have been determined overseas apply in Australia but the elevation of the slope and the magnitude of the slope are reduced (Amass v. Nmass) or increased (Amass v. SLA and Nmass v. SLA) compared with global trends.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-596

Technology plays a crucial role in the self-guided learning of a second language in general and English in particular. Nevertheless, many students in different contexts still ignore the application of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) tools in enhancing their foreign language proficiency. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the attitudes towards the use of TELL tools in English-language learning (ELL) among English majors at one university in Vietnam. To collect data, 197 English majors participated in finishing the questionnaire, and 20 students were invited to join the interviews. The findings are that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of TELL tools and the frequency of using these tools is very high. In addition, the results also reveal that there is no significant difference in attitudes towards and frequency of using TELL tools in learning English in terms of the year of study. However, students of different levels of academic achievements have different attitudes towards using TELL tools and use TELL tools to learn English differently. Received 2nd May 2019; Revised 16th July 2019, Accepted 20th October 2019


1967 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Jacob Koed ◽  
Christian Hamburger

ABSTRACT Comparison of the dose-response curves for LH of ovine origin (NIH-LH-S8) and of human origin (IRP-HMG-2) using the OAAD test showed a small, though statistically significant difference, the dose-response curve for LH of human origin being a little flatter. Two standard curves for ovine LH obtained with 14 months' interval, were parallel but at different levels of ovarian ascorbic acid. When the mean ascorbic acid depletions were calculated as percentages of the control levels, the two curves for NIH-LH-S8 were identical. The use of standards of human origin in the OAAD test for LH activity of human preparations is recommended.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Rahim Mohammadian ◽  
Behnam Tahmasebpour ◽  
Peyvand Samimifar

A factorial experiment was conducted with a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of planting date and density on calendula herbs and peppermint. It had 3 replicates and was done in Khosroshahr research farm, Tabriz in 2006. Under studied factors were: 3 planting dates (10 May, 25 May and 10 June) in 4 densities (25, 35, 45, 55) of the plant in square meters. The results of variance a nalysis showed that there was 1% probability significant difference between the effects of planting date and bush density on the leave number, bush height and the bush dry weight. But the mutual effect of the plant date in mentioned traits density was insignificant. Regarding the traits mean comparison, the total maximum dry weight was about the 55 bush density in mm. Also, the bush high density in mm causes the bush growth and its mass reduction. When there is the density grain, the flower number will increase due to bush grain in surface unit. Overall, we can conclude that 10 June planting and 45 bush density in mm is the most suitable items and results in favored production with high essence for these crops.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 485b-485
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Barry ◽  
Michael N. Dana

Nurse crops are often recommended in prairie restoration planting. This work investigated several alternative nurse crops to determine their utility in prairie planting. Nurse crops were composed of increasing densities (900, 1800, or 2700 seeds/m2) of partridge pea, spring oats, spring barley, Canada wild rye, or equal mixtures of partridge pea and one of the grasses. The experimental design was a randomized complete-block set in two sites with three blocks per site and 48 treatments per block. Each 3 × 3-m plot contained 1 m2 planted in Dec. 1995 or Mar. 1996 with an equal mix of seven prairie species. The nurse crops were sown over each nine square meter area in April 1996. Plots lacking nurse crops served as controls. Evaluated data consisted of weed pressure rankings and weed and prairie plant dry weight. Nurse crop treatments had a significant effect on weed pressure in both sites. Barley (1800 and 2700 seeds/m2) as well as partridge pea + barley (2700 seeds/m2) were most effective at reducing weed pressure. When weed and prairie plant biomass values were compared, a significant difference was observed for site quality and planting season. Prairie plant establishment was significantly greater in the poorly drained, less-fertile site and spring-sown plots in both sites had significantly higher prairie biomass values. Overall, after two seasons, there was no advantage in using nurse crops over the control. Among nurse crop treatments, oats were most effective in reducing weed competition and enhancing prairie plant growth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 814.3-814
Author(s):  
A. Ben Tekaya ◽  
L. Ben Ammar ◽  
M. Ben Hammamia ◽  
O. Saidane ◽  
S. Bouden ◽  
...  

Background:Infectious spondylodiscitis is a therapeutic emergency and is a current problem. It can affect the different levels of the spine. Multifocal forms, touching several floors, however remain rare.Objectives:To compare the clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic aspects of unifocal versus multifocal spondylodiscitis.Methods:This is a retrospective study of 113 patients admitted to our service over a period of 20 years [1998-2018]. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical, biological, radiological and bacteriological data. We have divided our population into two groups: unifocal and multifocal spondylodiscitis.Results:Spondylodiscitis was more frequently unifocal (75.2%) than multifocal (24.8%). The average age of the patients was 55.8 years. There were 62 men and 51 women. There was no difference in age and sex between the two groups (p=0.5 and p=0.8, respectively).Diabetes was more frequent in the group of multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.4). No statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the start mode (p=0.7), the schedule (p=0.3), the presence of neurological signs (p=0.7), fever (p = 0.2), impaired general condition (p=0.6) and biological inflammatory syndrome (p=0.6).Cervical and dorsal spine involvement was more common in multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01; respectively). There were 11 spondylodiscitis involving 2 floors (cervical and dorsal: 2 cases, cervical and lumbar: 3 cases, dorsal and lumbar: 6 cases) and 3 spondylodiscitis involving 3 floors.Radiologically, the presence of vertebral fracture and involvement of the posterior arch was more frequent during the multifocal form (p=0.03 and p=0.001; respectively). The frequency of para-vertebral abscesses, epiduritis and the presence of spinal cord compression were similar in the two groups (p=0.6; p=0.7 and p=0.2, respectively).Tuberculosis was more frequent during the multifocal form (p = 0.05) and brucellosis during the unifocal form (p = 0.03). Disco-vertebral biopsy was performed in 79 cases. It was more often contributory during multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.03).The occurrence of immediate complications was more frequent in multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.2).Conclusion:Multifocal sppondylodiscitis is seen mainly in immunocompromised subjects. Our study found that diabetes is the most common factor in immunosuppression. Note also the predominance of involvement of the posterior elements, tuberculous origin and immediate complications.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-283
Author(s):  
Christoph Bartneck ◽  
Merel Keijsers

AbstractIt is not uncommon for humans to exhibit abusive behaviour towards robots. This study compares how abusive behaviour towards a human is perceived differently in comparison with identical behaviour towards a robot. We showed participants 16 video clips of unparalleled quality that depicted different levels of violence and abuse. For each video, we asked participants to rate the moral acceptability of the action, the violence depicted, the intention to harm, and how abusive the action was. The results indicate no significant difference in the perceived morality of the actions shown in the videos across the two victim agents. When the agents started to fight back, their reactive aggressive behaviour was rated differently. Humans fighting back were seen as less immoral compared with robots fighting back. A mediation analysis showed that this was predominately due to participants perceiving the robot’s response as more abusive than the human’s response.


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Korkmaz ◽  
Murat Uzunlu ◽  
Ali Riza Demirkiran

Salicylic acid (SA) is a common plant-produced signal molecule that is responsible for inducing tolerance to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. An experiment was, therefore, conducted to test whether acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) application at various concentrations through seed immersion or foliar spray would protect muskmelon [Cucumis melo L. (Reticulatus Group)] seedlings subjected to chilling stress. Twenty-one-day-old plants pre-treated with ASA (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 or 1.0 mM) were subjected to chilling stress for 72 h at 3 ± 0.5°C. ASA, applied either through seed immersion or foliar spray, was effective within the range of 0.1 to 1 mM in inducing tolerance to chilling stress in muskmelon seedlings; however, there was no significant difference between application methods. ASA significantly and curvilinearly affected all seedling growth and stress indicator variables tested except shoot dry weight. The best protection was obtained from seedlings pre-treated with 0.5 mM ASA. The highest ASA concentration used was slightly less effective in providing chilling stress protection. Even though both methods provided similar means of protection, due to its simplicity and practicality, immersion of muskmelon seeds prior to sowing in 0.5 mM ASA would be a more desirable method to induce tolerance to chilling stress. Key words: Cucumis melo, aspirin, chilling stress tolerance, gas exchange, electrolyte leakage


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Naji K. Al-Mefleh ◽  
Yahia A. Othman ◽  
Maher J. Tadros ◽  
Amani Al-Assaf ◽  
Samer Talozi

This study investigated the influence of treated greywater on growth and protein content of multipurpose (forage and ornamental) transplants, Prosopis juliflora L., Prosopis tamarugo L., and Albizia lebbeck L. Transplants of tested species were irrigated with treated greywater, diluted greywater (grey + distilled water, 1:1/by volume), and distilled water (control) for seven months. Water quality analysis showed that the concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals found in the greywater were within the acceptable range compared with Jordan Institution for Standard and Metrology (JISM) and the World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds for safe use of greywater. Escherichia coli found in the greywater were lower compared to JISM and WHO guidelines for the safe use of greywater. Irrigation with treated greywater increased shoot fresh weight by 24–39% and dry weight by 34–40% compared to diluted greywater and control. No significant difference in crude protein was noticed between water treatments. Prosopis species (P. juliflora Albizia lebbeck L. and P. tamarugo Albizia lebbeck L.) had higher shoot fresh (35%) and dry weight the same species had lower crude protein (44%) when compared to Albizia lebbeck Albizia lebbeck L. The reuse of treated greywater for landscaping or forage production alleviates the demand for water resources and reduces the pressure on wastewater treatment plants. However, considering the controversial findings of previous studies on greywater quality (especially, long-term reuse), the reuse of treated greywater needs to be considered with caution and periodic quality analyses and economic assessments are required.


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