The assessment of dispersal potential of the wax cicada Say. (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Flatidae) in the agricultural landscape of the Krasnodar Territory vineyards

Цель исследований заключалась в уточнении перечня кормовых растений восковой (белой, цитрусовой) цикадки ( Metcalfa pruinosa Say.) в агроландшафте виноградников и анализе состояния популяции путем определения гендерной структуры в основных зонах виноградарства Краснодарского края. Исследования проводили в 2015-2020 гг. на промышленных насаждениях винограда, в лесополосах и на другой растительности в агроландшафте виноградников согласно общепринятым методикам. Уточнена гостальная пищевая специализация вредителя, к наиболее заселяемым растениям отнесены Gleditsia triacanthos L., Crataegus laevigata Poir., Rosa majalis Herrm., Prunus spinosa L., Rubus fruticosus L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; установлено отсутствие сортовых предпочтений M. pruinosa при развитии на растениях винограда. Результаты изучения гендерной структуры популяций M. pruinosa показали преобладание самок над самцами в Анапо-Таманской, Черноморской и Южно-предгорной зонах виноградарства Краснодарского края, что позволяет сделать предположение о том, что потенциал расселения восковой цикадки еще не исчерпан, вид продолжает осваивать данную территорию. The aim of the research was to adjust the list of forage plants of the wax (white, citrus) cicada ( Metcalfa pruinosa Say.) in the agricultural landscape of vineyards and to analyze the population conditions by determining the gender structure in the main viticultural zones of the Krasnodar Territory. The research was carried out in 2015-2020 in industrial grape plantings, forest belts and other vegetation in the agricultural landscape of vineyards according to generally accepted methods. The official nutrition specialization of the pest was adjusted, the most populated plants were Gleditsia triacanthos L., Crataegus laevigata Poir., Rosa majalis Herrm., Prunus spinosa L., Rubus fruticosus L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; the absence of varietal preferences of M. pruinosa when developing on grape plants was established. Results of the study of the gender structure of M. pruinosa populations showed the predominance of females over males in the Anapa-Taman, Black Sea and South-Piedmont zones of viticulture in the Krasnodar Territory, suggesting the potential for dispersal of the wax cicada has not yet been exhausted, the species continues to develop this territory.

Uporabnost lesnih ostankov tujerodnih invazivnih drevesnih vrst za proizvodnjo peletov

Na laboratorijski peletirni napravi smo izdelali pelete iz petih izbranih tujerodnih invazivnih drevesnih vrst, ki rastejo na območju Slovenije in sicer: divjega kostanja (Aesculus hippocastanum), amerikanskega javora (Acer negundo), robinije (Robinia pseudoacacia), trnate gledičevke (Gleditsia triacanthos) in velikega pajesena (Ailanthus altissima) ter mešanic surovine omenjenih tujerodnih invazivnih vrst s smrekovino (Picea abies) v razmerjih 70 : 30 in 50 : 50. Pod enakimi proizvodnimi pogoji smo skupno izdelali 15 različnih vrst peletov. Izdelanim peletom smo določili pomembnejše fizikalne in mehanske lastnosti (vsebnost vode, gostoto nasutja, mehansko obstojnost in vsebnost pepela). Rezultate smo primerjali z mejnimi vrednostmi, opredeljenimi v standardu SIST EN ISO 17225-2:2014. Vsebnost vode in gostota nasutja vseh izdelanih vrst peletov sta zadostili zahtevam standarda za razvrstitev v najvišji kakovostni razred A1. Mehanske obstojnosti izdelanih peletov niso dosegale zahtev standarda in niso presegale 96,5 % (kar je mejna vrednost za B razred). Rezultati kažejo, da imajo med izbranimi tujerodnimi invazivnimi drevesnimi vrstami največji potencial za nadaljnjo optimizacijo peletirnega postopka robinija, trnata gledičevka in visoki pajesen.

Field Response of Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) to Aminocyclopyrachlor1

Field trials were conducted to assess the impact of aminocyclopyrachlor on green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall) and honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) trees in an urban environment. Aminocyclopyrachlor is a relatively new, selective, plant-growth-regulator herbicide in the pyrimidine carboxylic acid family. Treatments were applied to Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) sod growing with and without trees present. Evaluations included determination of a safe spraying distance from target trees and the effect of application timing on tree response. This multi-year study showed that green ash was highly tolerant to aminocyclopyrachlor while honey locust developed severe injury in trees closest to applications. Honey locust trees up to 7 m (23 ft) from the tree trunk to the edge of the application displayed moderate to severe injury symptoms and fall treatment in October and November had the lowest tree injury compared to all other application timings. Honey locust trees exhibiting moderate to severe cosmetic injury would not be acceptable to landowners; recovery over time was minimal. Trees located 13 m (43 ft) away displayed no injury for any treatment timing. Soil analysis demonstrated that aminocyclopyrachlor dissipation was the same underneath green ash and honey locust trees, and that dissipation was faster in the presence of growing trees. Taken together, these results provide a basic groundwork necessary for improving aminocyclopyrachlor labels, and a better understanding of this herbicide's effect on certain woody species. Index words: Herbicide injury, aminocyclopyrachlor, herbicide fate, tree safety. Species used in this study: Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall, honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos L. Chemicals used in this study: Aminocyclopyrachlor.

Chemical Methods to Improve Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.)

The present study aimed to improve the seed germination and plantlet development of honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) using two types of edaphic substrate (peat and peat+sand) and different chemical substances. Breaking physical dormancy for some forest seeds is a challenge for researchers and forest managers in order to obtain a homogeneous germination on larger areas. Germination percentage of honey locust seeds were investigated by using different chemical treatments as follows: calcium hydroxide; concentrated solution of sodium 4-nitrophenolate; solution with a content of auxines; copper sulphate; potassium permanganate and concentrated sulfuric acid. The highest percentage of seed germination was obtained when the seeds were immersed in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid (14%), followed by 12.5% (concentrated solution of sodium 4-nitrophenolate) and 12.3% (solution with a content of auxins). The lowest values (5%) were recorded when copper sulphate was used. Regarding the different types of studied substrates, the highest percentage of germination was obtained on peat + sand. As regards to seedling development, the highest values were obtained on the peat + sand substrate, with seeds treated with sulfuric acid (15.0 cm). The concentrated solution of sodium 4-nitrophenolate and solution with auxins recorded also high values, 15.2 cm, respectively 14.9 cm. The lowest values for seedling height (11 cm) was noted when seeds were treated with potassium permanganate.

Impacts of Wire Basket Retention and Removal on Whole Tree Stability and Long-term Growth1

When balled-and-burlapped trees are planted, a decision must be made regarding whether the wire basket, burlap, and other packing materials should be removed (completely or partially) or retained. While past research has failed to show a significant impact of either approach with regard to initial growth and establishment, many professionals still question whether a decision to leave the wire basket intact at planting will have longer-term impacts to tree health and stability. In this study, we revisit two nursery trials first initiated in 2011 and 2012 to assess the impact of burlap folding, and full wire basket removal, partial removal, or retention on tree growth and root anchorage five to six growing years after planting. We found that neither stem caliper (min P = 0.249) nor twig elongation (min P = 0.297) differed among removal treatments with the Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) and ‘Skycole' honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis) trees used in this study. Similarly, we were unable to detect any differences in rooting strength among the removal treatments tested (min P = 0.154). These results serve as further evidence that wire baskets are not a cause of early tree mortality or instability. Index words: Arboriculture, biomechanics, growth and longevity, nursery production, static-pull test, transplanting, transplant shock. Species used in this study: Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.); ‘Skycole' honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis).

Valorization of Gleditsia triacanthos Invasive Plant Cellulose Microfibers and Phenolic Compounds for Obtaining Multi-Functional Wound Dressings with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties

Gleditsia triacanthos is an aggressive invasive species in Eastern Europe, producing a significant number of pods that could represent an inexhaustible resource of raw material for various applications. The aim of this study was to extract cellulose from the Gleditsia triacanthos pods, characterize it by spectrophotometric and UHPLC–DAD-ESI/MS analysis, and use it to fabricate a wound dressing that is multi-functionalized with phenolic compounds extracted from the leaves of the same species. The obtained cellulose microfibers (CM) were functionalized, lyophilized, and characterized by ATR-FTIR and SEM. The water absorption and retention capacity as well as the controlled release of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties evaluated in temporal dynamics were also determined. The antimicrobial activity against reference and clinical multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis strains occurred immediately after the contact with the tested materials and was maintained for 24 h for all tested microbial strains. In conclusion, the multi-functionalized cellulose microfibers (MFCM) obtained from the reproductive organs of an invasive species can represent a promising alternative for the development of functional wound dressings with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as being a scalable example for designing cost-effective, circular bio-economy approaches to combat the accelerated spread of invasive species.

Larvicidal activity of some selected medicinal plant extracts against the vector of filariasis

The present study assessed the role of larvicidal activities of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol dried leaf and bark extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, Gleditsia triacanthos, Eucalyptus sglobulus and Azadirachta aindica against the fourth instar larvae of filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae). Larvicidal activities of four medicinal plant extracts were studied in the range of 4.69 to 1000 mg/l in the laboratory bioassays against early 4th instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. The mortality data were subjected to probit analysis to determine the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) to kill 50 and 90 per cent of the treated larvae of the respective species. All plant extracts showed moderate effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest toxic effect of leaf methanol extract of Ocimum gratissimum, bark ethyl acetate extract of Eucalyptus globulus, methanol extract of Azadirachta indicia and methanol bark extract of Gleditsia triacanthos against the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus with LC50=43.00, 41.02, 40.12 and 20.36 mg/l; LC90=278.32, 218.72, 215.01 and 86.29 mg/l respectively. The result of findings shows that leaf and bark extract of G. tricantha, A .indica, O. gratissimum and E .globulus can be developed as ecofriendly larvicides.