scholarly journals Flowering, pollen characteristics and insect foraging on Campanula bononiensis (Campanulaceae), a protected species in Poland

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bożena Denisow ◽  
Małgorzata Wrzesień ◽  
Małgorzata Bożek ◽  
Anna Jeżak ◽  
Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek

This study investigated the floral biology and pollen quantity and quality of <em>Campanula bononiensis </em>L. (Campanulaceae), a protected species in Poland. Observations and measurements were made during the years 2007–2009 in natural phytocoenoses from the Festuco-Brometea class situated within the Lublin area, SE Poland. A considerable decrease (approx. 87%) in population density was observed. Significant variations both in the amount of pollen (18.5%–34.8% of pollen in the total anther dry weight, i.e. 0.5–1.5 mg per 10 anthers) and in pollen viability (38.8–97.0%) were noted. Both a low amount of pollen and low pollen viability may reduce the reproductive success of individuals. The most frequent visiting insects were bees (<em>Apoidea</em>), including solitary bees 45.7%, honeybees 20.4%, and bumblebees 11.4%. Dipterans, coleopterans (weevils), lepidopterans and ants were also recorded, implying a strong impact of <em>C. bononiensis </em>on insect biodiversity within grasslands.

Author(s):  
Valérie Godefroy ◽  
Richard Levy ◽  
Arabella Bouzigues ◽  
Armelle Rametti-Lacroux ◽  
Raffaella Migliaccio ◽  
...  

Apathy, a common neuropsychiatric symptom associated with dementia, has a strong impact on patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life. However, it is still poorly understood and hard to define. The main objective of the ECOCAPTURE programme is to define a behavioural signature of apathy using an ecological approach. Within this program, ECOCAPTURE@HOME is an observational study which aims to validate a method based on new technologies for the remote monitoring of apathy in real life. For this study, we plan to recruit 60 couples: 20 patient-caregiver dyads in which patients suffer from behavioral variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia, 20 patient-caregiver dyads in which patients suffer from Alzheimer Disease and 20 healthy control couples. These dyads will be followed for 28 consecutive days via multi-sensor bracelets collecting passive data (acceleration, electrodermal activity, blood volume pulse). Active data will also be collected by questionnaires on a smartphone application. Using a pool of metrics extracted from these passive and active data, we will validate a measurement model for three behavioural markers of apathy (i.e., daytime activity, quality of sleep, and emotional arousal). The final purpose is to facilitate the follow-up and precise diagnosis of apathy, towards a personalised treatment of this condition within everyday life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Preti ◽  
Roberto Demontis ◽  
Giulia Cossu ◽  
Goce Kalcev ◽  
Federico Cabras ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most reported diagnoses in psychiatry, but there is some discrepancy between the cases identified in community studies and those identified in tertiary care. This study set out to evaluate whether the use of clinicians as interviewers may provide estimates in a community survey close to those observed in primary or specialized care. Methods This is a community survey on a randomly selected sample of 2338 adult subjects. The Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS) was administered by clinicians, providing lifetime diagnosis based on the DSM-IV-TR. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) was measured with the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results Overall, 55 (2.3%) subjects met the criteria for GAD, with greater prevalence in women (3.6%) than in men (0.9%): OR = 4.02; 95%CI: 1.96–8.26. Up to 40% of those with GAD had at least another diagnosis of mood, anxiety, or eating disorders. The mean score of SF-12 in people with GAD was 32.33 ± 6.8, with a higher attributable burden than in other conditions except for major depressive disorder. Conclusions We found a relatively lower lifetime prevalence of GAD than in community surveys based on lay interviewers and a structured interview. The identified cases of GAD showed a strong impact on the quality of life regardless of co-morbidity and high risk in women, suggesting a profile similar to the one identified from studies in primary and specialized care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Lorena Marotta ◽  
Andrea Pesce ◽  
Andrea Guazzini

COVID-19 (Corona-Virus Disease 2019) in Italy and the measures that were adopted to contain its diffusion had a strong impact on people’s quality of life and mental health. The objective of the study was to quantify the psychological impact of the lockdown period on the general Italian population during the two weeks when the COVID-19 emergency in Italy was at its peak. The study (1556 adults) was conducted from April 6th to April 12th, 2020. A survey was developed through Google Forms in order to assess different psychological measures (Self Efficacy, Locus of Control, Social Connectedness, Sense of Virtual Community, Flourishing, Positive and Negative Affect, Life Satisfaction, and Risk Propensity). The results were then compared to reference data. Thelockdown period increased arousal mainly for negative emotions, but also for positive emotions, and quality of life seemed to be reduced. From a psychosocial point of view, while social connectedness has decreased during lockdown, probably because of isolation and social distancing, the virtual social community seemed to increase in the same period. Interestingly, we revealed how self efficacy increased during the lockdown period, and, at the same time, the Locus of control appeared as externalized, and the risk propensity as reduced. The results are discussed considering previous literature, and a coherent theoretical framework is proposed in order to refine the forecasting model for the psychological impact of the lockdown.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Deissy Giovanna Quintero-Arias ◽  
John Fabio Acuña-Caita ◽  
Carlos Asensio ◽  
Juan Luis Valenzuela

The quality of red lettuce is based on the content of anthocyanin pigments, and the content of these pigments increases when the plant receives ultraviolet radiation. Lettuce crops are increasingly being grown in greenhouses to provide better quality fresh lettuce; however, both quality and productivity are affected by the type of cover used. The effects of UV-transparent and UV-blocking plastic films on the growth and quality of three lettuce cultivars (‘Casabella’ and ‘Vera’, which are both green leaf, and ‘Lollo Rosso’, which is red leaf) were investigated. The crop was cultivated at an altitude of 2576 m a.s.l. to naturally expose it to high ultraviolet radiation. The height and diameter of plants, fresh and dry weight, leaf area index, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf colour were determined throughout the crop cycle. Growth characteristics were not significantly influenced by the plastic film in all cultivars, probably due to the high altitude and the high solar radiation received. The UV-transparent film could increase the red colour in ‘Lollo Rosso’, and a higher commercial quality was achieved. No effect of the plastic film on the yield component was observed in the ‘Casabella’ and ‘Vera’ cultivars. The findings of this study provide guidance on what cultivar and plastic film must be used in high-altitude areas where the solar and UV radiation is high.


Author(s):  
Leandro de P. Souza ◽  
Reginaldo G. Nobre ◽  
Evandro M. da Silva ◽  
Geovani S. de Lima ◽  
Francisco W. A. Pinheiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the growth and formation of fresh and dry weight of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock irrigated with waters of different saline levels and nitrogen (N) doses, in an experiment conducted in plastic tubes under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of five levels of water electrical conductivity - ECw (0.3, 1.1, 1.9, 2.7 and 3.5 dS m-1) and four N doses (70, 100, 130 and 160% of the N dose recommended for the cultivation of guava seedlings, cv. ‘Paluma’). The dose referring to 100% corresponds to 773 mg of N dm-3. The highest growth of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock was obtained with ECw of 0.3 dS m-1 and fertilization of 541.1 mg N dm-3 of soil; increasing N doses did not reduce the deleterious effect of the salt stress on the growth and phytomass formation of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock; irrigation with water of up to 1.75 dS m-1, in the production of guava rootstocks, promotes acceptable reduction of 10% in growth and quality of the seedlings.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio S. de Lima ◽  
Antonio I. I. Cardoso ◽  
Marcelo F. Verdial

Squash seeds yield and quality can be improved by proper population plant spacing and the pollen quantity, which influences the pollination quality and fertilization. Nine experiments were conducted as a factorial combination of three spacing between plants (0.8 x 0.3, 0.8 x 0.6 and 0.8 x 0.9 m), two quantities of pollen (50% of an anther and another entire one) and natural insect pollination. Seed and fruit production parameters, and seed quality were evaluated. A randomized complete block design, five replications, with ten plants per plot was adopted. Larger plant spacing increased the average number of mature fruits and seed yield per plant. Seed yield was directly proportional to the amount of pollen used during pollination. Higher amounts of pollen resulted in higher seed yield per area, but the plant spacing did not affect this characteristic. Manual pollination, using a whole anther, did not differ from natural pollination in relation to seed yield and quality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Rigo Segalin ◽  
Caroline Huth ◽  
Thais D'Avila Rosa ◽  
Diógenes Barella Pahins ◽  
Liliane Marcia Mertz ◽  
...  

Adequate nutrients for plants are important for increasing the yield and quality of the seeds produced. The objective of this study was to evaluate foliar fertilization with silicon in wheat and its effect on seed yield and physiological quality. Treatments consisted of two silicon dosages (three and six liters silicon per hectare) and the control (no silicon) and five wheat cultivars: OR "Quartzo", OR "Ônix", Fundacep "Linhagem", Fundacep "Campo Real" and Fundacep "Horizonte". The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. After physiological maturity, harvesting and threshing of the seeds were done manually. Seed samples were evaluated for yield and physiological quality from the germination test, first germination count, seedling dry weight, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, 1000 seeds and hectoliter weights. The results showed that the foliar application of silicon at the dosages tested did not affect the yield and physiological quality of the seeds produced by the wheat cultivars.


2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 975-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. S. Nunes ◽  
A. V. Leite ◽  
C. C. Castro

Abstract Phenology and reproductive biology of cultivated species are important for the comprehension of the requirements for fruit and seed production and the management of pollinators. This study aimed to characterise the phenology, reproductive biology and growing degree days of the grapevine ‘Isabel’ (Vitis labrusca) in northeastern Brazil during January 2011 (P1), Augst 2011 (P2), April 2012 (P3) and August 2012 (P4). We recorded the duration (days) of the phenological stages, pruning (P), woolly bud (W), budburst (B), inflorescence development (ID), flowering (F), ripening (R) and harvest (H). We analysed the floral biology, the sexual system and the breeding system. We measured the growing degree days (GDD) required to reach the subperiods P-B, B-F and F-H. The periods P1, P2, P3 and P4 lasted for 116, 125, 117 and 130 days, respectively. The number of days of harvest were similar in the same dry (P1 and P3) and rainy (P2 and P4) periods. All the periods that we recorded were shorter than those observed in other regions of Brazil, which may be attributable to the mean temperature and carbohydrate metabolism. The flowers are green, hermaphroditic, with an odour of mignonette, low pollen viability and autogamous. The base temperature of 10°C was considered the most adequate for the subperiods as has been documented for other grape varieties in Brazil. Thus, temperature was also the most adequate for the cycles, presenting a smaller standard deviation (0.119, 0.147, 0.156 and 0.153 to P1, P2, P3 and P4, respectively) when compared to a base temperature of 12°C (0.122, 0.158, 0.165 and 0.160 to P1, P2, P3 and P4, respectively). The higher and the lower observed GDD were 1972.17 and 1870.05, respectively, both above the values recorded in other parts of Brazil for same variety. The phonological results, including knowledge of growing degree days, are important to the planning of cultures at the study site and in other regions that have similar climatic conditions and make it possible to pre-determine the harvest.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-106
Author(s):  
Vinícius Almeida Oliveira ◽  
Lorenxo Paradiso Martins ◽  
Rogério Cavalcante Gonçalves ◽  
Luíz Paulo Figueredo Benício ◽  
Daniella Lima da Costa ◽  
...  

The fungus are the main microorganisms present in seeds, is the main cause of deterioration and loss in production. The anthracnose caused by C. truncatum associated with soybean seeds as has main vehicle for introduction into the planting areas can be detected in all stages of crop development, from the cotyledons to the end of the cycle, being present in the stems, veins, leaflets and pods. Thus aimed to evaluate the influence of using different products fungicides as seed treatment, where the seeds were inoculated with the pathogenic fungus and treated with the chemicals They take Carbedazim + Fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M and carboxin + thiram. For each fungicide product was two tramentos done using the doses recommended by the manufacturer and 75% of dose. We evaluated health, germination and promote plant (Plant growth, fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot). This work concludes that the use of fungicide controls significantly seeds infected with C. truncatum and presents a significant improvement as the development of structures seedling.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Rafika Yuniawati ◽  
Siti Fatimah ◽  
Reni Indrayanti ◽  
Ifa Manzila ◽  
Tri Puji Priyatno ◽  
...  

<p>Red chili is a very important horticultural commodity in Indonesia having low productivity and quality. Cultivation method needs to be improved including the use of exogenous growth hormones. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the optimum concentration of IAA and GA growing hormones from isolate B6.2 in stimulating plant growth and improving the quality of large red chili fruit; (2) molecular identity of the B6.2 bacterial isolate. The growth hormone content of B6.2 isolates using HPLC obtained 0.49 ppm IAA and 64.53 ppm GA. The growth hormone potential test on the growth and quality of chili was carried out with a concentration of 1, 3, 5 ml/l, while water and synthetic hormones was used as negative and positive control, respectively. The experimental design used was a Complete Random Design with the foliar spray application to the plant canopy three times during the growth period. The results showed the best concentration in increasing plant height, fruit weight, shooth wet, and dry weight compared to controls at the age of 76 days after planting (dap) was a concentration of 5 ml/l, with the values of 71.7±0.9 cm , 94.7±0.3 g, 11.5±0.43 g, and 1.4±0.09 g, respectively. The molecular identification showed that B6.2 isolate was classified as Bacillus vallismortis with 100% homology. The growth hormone from isolate B6.2 has the potential to increase growth and production of red chili plants.</p>


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