Performance and genetic variation in a provenance test of Araucaria cunninghamii

The objective of this work was to assess the genetic variability of Araucaria cunninghamii in a provenance test and to estimate the genetic gains in its wood production, based on different selection intensities. The trial was established in Luís Antônio, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using open-pollinated seed from Queensland, Australia. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block with six replicates, and four plants per plot. Diameter at breast height (DBH), stem form, and survival were measured at 29 years after planting. Significant differences were detected among provenances. The coefficient of genotypic variation between provenances was high (60%) for DBH and stem form. The mean values for DBH and stem form were 23.21 cm and 4.50, respectively. The provenances Langkelly Creek, Brooweena L.A., Yarraman, and St. Agnes showed the best performance for DBH, and Imbil Seed Orchard, Brooweena L.A, St. Agnes, St. John, and Yarraman, for stem form. Genetic gains ranged from 0.5 to 24.8% for DBH, and from 0.9 to 3.5% for stem form.

Eurhamphus pancinii, a new species of the genus Eurhamphus Shuckard, 1838 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Orthorhinini) from West Papua

Eurhamphus pancinii n. sp. is described based on a series of specimens collected in West Papua, in the Arfak Mountains and on Yapen Island. The only other species in the genus is Eurhamphus fasciculatus Shuckard known from New South Wales northwards into Queensland in Australia. The new species is distinguished from E. fasciculatus by the pronotum and elytra with the glabrous raised areas between the rows of scales very narrow, and elytra with sutural and interstria 3 low and evenly rounded throughout length, elytra in profile not humped towards base (both sexes), and in males by a shorter, less strongly dorsally granulate rostrum, front and middle tibia with inner margins with a very small subapical tooth, and inner edge of front tibia with only a few short, subapical hairs. Eurhamphus fasciculatus is associated with Hoop Pine, Araucaria cunninghamii and although no plant associations are available for specimens of the new species it is expected to be similarly associated with Araucaria.

A comparative evaluation of Kumaun Himalayan Gymnosperms for their Antifungal potential against plant pathogenic fungi

Fungicidal activity of 10 ethnobotanically known Kumaun Himalayan gymnospermous plants namely Araucaria cunninghamii, Biota orientalis, Cedrus deodara, Cephalotaxus griffithi, Cryptomeria japonica Cupressus torulosa, Ginkgo biloba, Juniperus communis, Picea smithiana and Pinus wallichiana were tested against six plant disease causing fungal pathogens by agar well-diffusion method. Forty extracts of these gymnospermic leaves in different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, chloroform and hexane) were studied by performing the 160 sets of experiments. The MIC values of each extract (where % inhibition ≥ 40%) were also determined. All the plant extracts exhibited strong antifungal activity. Results indicated that all leaves extracts of C. griffithi and G. biloba were found most effective among the tested plants extracts. Hexane extract of C. griffithi was showed highest inhibitory activity against C. falcatum (72%; MIC, 7.81µg/ml) and T. indica (70%; MIC, 15.62µg/ml). On the other hand, ethanol extract of G. biloba also showed remarkable activity against P. oryzae (66% with MIC, 7.81g/ml). While P. wallichiana leave extracts were found less active among the studied plants against all the tested fungal strains. The chloroform extracts were found the most effective against all the tested fungi (10% to 60%), followed by ethanol extract (30-50%), methanol extract (20-40%), while in hexane extracts ranged 10-30% only. The extracts of C. griffithi exhibited superior Relative Antifungal Activity (RAA, 20%), followed by G. biloba and A. cunninghamii (RAA, 19 and 12%, respectively). All data were also analyzed for determination of total activity of plant for each studied species of gymnosperm. C. griffithi had maximum activity i.e. 71 % followed by G. biloba (54%) and A. cunninghamii (33%). C. torulosa showed the least total activity and RAA i.e. 8% and 3%, respectively. All the plant species assayed possess definite antifungal properties and suggested for phytochemical analysis to identify the active principles responsible for their antifungal activity