Meteorological and Salix species (S. acutifolia, S. smithiana, S. viminalis) phenological trends in central Italy

Plant phenology, through opportune observing and interpreting techniques can be useful to interpret the eventual plant vegetative and reproductive adaptation to climate changes. Some plants of Salix acutifolia Willd., S. smithiana Willd. and S. viminalis L. were considered in a phenological garden in central Italy for analysing their phenological growth stages according to the International gardens network indications during a 10-year period (2008-2017) which allowed us to realize some preliminary trend analyses. The 3 Salix species showed different behaviours in the same cultivation area. S. acutifolia manifested no trend for spring and autumnal phases, S. viminalis presented low significant trends while S. Smithiana was that with the more evident tendencies for all the considered vegetative phases during the study period. The reproductive phase (BBCH 65) showed no significant trend for any Salix species during the study period not being influenced by the different meteorological variables and suggesting that photoperiod in this case may play an important role. The more evident phenological trends were represented for 2 Salix species by the advance of the leaf development during spring and by the progressive delay of the senescence during the last part of the summer, with the fallen leaves phase that was recorded averagely 2 weeks later during the last years of the study period.

Willow phenological modelling at different altitudes in central Italy

In order to estimate the impact of climate change on the phenological parameters and to compare them with the historical record, a decision support system (DSS) has been applied employing a Phenological Modelling Platform. Biological observations of two willow species (Salix acutifolia and smithiana Willd) in 3 gardens at different altitudes located in Central Italy were utilized to identify suitable phenological models related to four main vegetative phase timings (BBCH11, BBCH91, BBCH 94, BBCH95), and male full flowering (BBCH 65) clearly identifiable in these species. The present investigation identifies the best phenological models for the main phenophases allowing their practical application as real-time monitoring and plant development prediction tools. Sigmoid model revealed high performances in simulating spring vegetative phases, BBCH11 (First leaves unfolded), and BBCH91 (Shoot and foliage growth completed). Salix acutifolia Willd. development appeared to be more related to temperature amount interpreted by phenological models in comparison to Salix smithiana Willd. above all during spring (BBCH11 and 91), probably due to a different grade of phenotypic plasticity between the 2 considered species.

Reproductive biology of four weedy Euphorbia species from Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Euphorbia heterophylla Linn., Euphorbia hirta Linn., Euphorbia hyssopifolia Linn. and Euphorbia prostrata Linn. are four noxious, yet economically important weeds, useful as phytomedicine in some parts of the world and also in Nigeria. Studies were carried out on their reproductive biology with a view to understanding the mode of their spread. Parameters investigated include number of days to seedling emergence, germinationpercentage, number of days to flowering, period to anthesis, pollinators, pollen viability, pollen size, floral structure, fruits type, seeds type, average number of fruit per plant, average number of seeds per plant and mode of seed dispersal. Results obtained showed that the seedlings of the four Euphorbia species studied emerged within 3 to 5 days; numbers of days to 50% flowering took 44 to 58 days; while flowering and fruiting continuedthroughout the remaining part of the year; thus exhibited r-strategy, expending more time and allocation of resources on their reproductive phases than their vegetative phases. Also differences existed in their stigma shape, perianth colour, perianth texture, pollen sizes, pollen viability as well as ripened colour of seed which were all significant characters that could be useful in delimiting the species. Furthermore, the study revealed that thefour species were essentially insect pollinated and their seeds dispersed by means of explosive mechanism usually characteristic of their schizocarpic fruits. This ability as well as their tendency to exhibit r-strategy could probably account for their ability to spread and invade cultivated fields, waste lands and roadsides. Keywords: Explosive mechanism, r-Strategy, Seed dispersal, Pollen viability, Seed set

Duration of the Phenological Stages of Peach Trees at Tropics

This study aims to evaluate the duration of the phenological stages and determine the adaptability and stability of reproductive and vegetative phases of peach trees under tropics with the purpose of optimizing the production system. The experiment was set up in a randomized plot design with 23 cultivars (‘Aurora-1’, ‘Biuti’, ‘Bonão’, ‘Centenário’, ‘Charme’, ‘Delicioso Precoce’, ‘Diamante’, ‘Douçura-2’, ‘Douradão’, ‘Dourado-2’, ‘Eldorado’, ‘Flordaprince’, ‘Jóia-3’, ‘Kampai’, ‘Libra’, ‘Maciel’, ‘Maravilha’, ‘Marli’, ‘Okinawa’, ‘Ouromel-4’, ‘Premier’, ‘Régis’, and ‘Tropical’) in 2014-2016. The average duration (in days) for the three years, between pruning day and each phenological stage (OS - sprouted buds had opened, onset of flowering – OF, full bloom – FB, end of flowering – EF, beginning of fruit harvest - BH, and end of harvest - EH) in each plot, was evaluated through visual observations including the chill hours accumulation(CA) of each cultivar for accumulated number of hours with temperatures (≤7.2°C), (≤12°C) and (≥25℃), the thermal demand, expressed in degree-days of development (GDD) and the adaptability and stability of OS and EH. ‘Eldorado’ was the latest-ripening cultivar and the precocious cultivars were earliest ripening ‘Aurora-1’, ‘Centenário’, ‘Flordaprince’, ‘Kampai’ when considering OS, OF, FB and EF. The cultivar ‘Eldorado’ was sooner considering BH and EH, but it has a high standard deviation; that is, high variation among the years. The latest, when considering BH and EH, was the cultivar ‘Biuti’. Overall, 2016 was the year with the highest CA (≤7.2 ℃ and ≤12 ℃) and with more hours under warm temperatures (≥25 ℃) for OS, OF and FB. Regarding GDD until OS, OF and FB the cultivar with the highest GDD was ‘Eldorado’ and the lowest were ‘Aurora-1’, ‘Centenário’, ‘Flordaprince’, ‘Jóia-3’, ‘Kampai’, ‘Okinawa’, ‘Régis’ and ‘Tropical’. ‘Biuti’ had the highest GDD for BH while the lowest was ‘Eldorado’. ‘Douçura-2’ had general adaptability for OS and EH. The most precocious cultivars, with the greatest adaptability for sprouting and flowering in the tropics, were ‘Aurora-1’, ‘Joía-3’, ‘Kampai’, and ‘Tropical’.

A study of functional traits reveals serpentinomorphoses and new taxa in populations of Mediterranean Genista (Fabaceae)

In this work we try to determine whether the modifications in the functional traits of a plant species, both morphological and phenological, and caused by the adaptive serpentinomorphoses syndrome are enough to differentiate a new taxon. For this purpose, Genista hirsuta subsp. lanuginosa, a western Mediterranean serpentinophyte (subserpentinophyte) with populations both on serpentines and outside them was selected. The study of functional types (functional traits, which link morphology with adaptations, and phenological reproductive and vegetative phases) was performed in both populations. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the two types of populations (serpentine and non-serpentine) with respect to some of the quantitative functional characters studied (plant height, crown diameter, Specific leaf area (SLA), and length of photosynthetic stems). Moreover, other differences were detected with respect to semi-quantitative and qualitative traits: location of renewal buds, branch type, morphology of aerial part, bark consistency, leaf tomentosity, morphology of the root system, and organ redness. Some of them are consistent with serpentinomorphoses syndrome, such as the existence of dwarfism (height of plants), cushion habit, macro-rooted plants and lower SLA (stenophylly) in serpentine populations, besides the presence of redness, which could be a character also linked to serpentinomorphoses. However, neither glaucescent organs nor glabrescence were observed (on the contrary, there is a greater general tomentosity in the plants of the serpentine population). In addition, phenological differences were detected, consisting of a generalized shortening of the phenophases and a certain delay in the reproductive phenophases in the serpentine populations, a characteristic trait in serpentine flora, and differences in sequencing phenophases. These facts lead to propose the use of phenology, in combination with functional traits, to detect serpentinomorphoses syndrome. The detected differences are enough to separate taxonomically the two populations of Genista hirsuta subsp. lanuginosa, proposing for the non-serpentine populations a new variety: var. silicicola nov.

Perbandingan Warna Tepung Suweg Fase Dorman dan Vegetatif Secara Instrumental dan Sensoris

The color of the flour has an important role because it will happen to the resulting derived product. This study was to compare the color of suweg flour produced from the dormant and vegetative phases in instrumental and sensory. Instruments using Chromameter. Parameters observed from L *, a *, b *, chroma, and hue degrees. Sensory testing uses a rank test of color preferences, brown color and color brightness. The results showed significant differences in L *, a *, b *, and chroma values between dormant and vegetative phase flours. The degree value of hue was not significantly different between the two treatments. Panellists stated 100% liked the color of the dormant flour stage than vegetative.Additionally, the color of the vegetative phase flour was assessed by more than 80% of the panelists claiming to be more brown and more than 90% of the panelists stated darker than dormant. Pearson correlation test results show that there are correlation in some parameter of instrument and sensory. Keywords: suweg flour, color, dormant, vegetative, chroma, hue

Synphenology of Herb Layer of Carpinion betuli Community in the Báb Forest

The submitted paper presents the results of a phenological research of herb layer of Carpinion betuli community which was realized on the locality of the Báb forest in 2012 and 2013. During 2012, there were 25 species recorded in an herbal layer and for a phenological research in 2013, I was able to document 24 taxa. In 2012, the highest number of present species in a phenological spectrum occurred. Especially, it was during March and October. In 2013, the highest number of species in a phenological spectrum was found on March and April and also later from September to October which is a period when forest species start to grow because of a temperature increase and it also occurred in the autumn period when a repeated growth of forest species took place. In 2012, species in generative phases occurred from 11th March until 1st September and after that, taxa in vegetative phases were found only. In 2013, because of low March temperatures, it was possible to observe generative phases only since 22nd March until the last date of a phenological observation – 11th December. A change in the onset, interphase duration and ending of the monitored phenophases between the years 2012 and 2013 was observed. Specifically, a shift in the onset of the vegetative and generative phenophases was noted. This distinction was caused by a different average week temperature measured in 2012 and 2013. In March 2013 a significant temperature decrease and even ground frost occurred.