Regeneration and growth of coolibah,Eucalyptus coolabah subsp. arida,a riparian tree,in the Cooper Creek region of South Australia

Abstract Regeneration patterns of Eucalyptus coolabah Blakely & Jacobs subsp. arida (Blakely) L. Johnson & K. Hill (coolibah), a riparian tree of inland Australia, were inferred from size classes at two locations in South Australia; part of the floodplain of Cooper Creek and a swale in the Strzelecki Desert. These had contrasting water regimes; Cooper Creek floods on average once every 5–6 years whereas the swale has a continual water supply from a bore. A peak in size class distribution showed a regeneration event at each location but at different times. The one in the swale was more recent and was dated to the mid-1970s using aerial photography. Young (< 5 m tall) trees, interpreted as recent regeneration, were concentrated on specific topographic features, the top of a steep riverbank and a sand mound separate from the main dune system. Access to these features would have been difficult after flooding suggesting regeneration is dependent on protection from introduced herbivores. Field observations of reproductive status and canopy die-back showed coolibah condition was better in the swale. The relatively poorer condition of floodplain coolibahs was attributed to saline soils compounded by drier conditions rather than age.     

Body temperatures of Namib Desert tenebrionid beetles: their relationship in laboratory and field

Abstract The body temperatures of six apterous species of Namib Desert tenebrionid beetles were measured continuously with indwelling thermocouples under laboratory conditions and in the field. The range of body temperatures selected was within the upper half of their 'tolerated range', which we defined as the temperatures lying between measured critical thermal maximum and critical thermal minimum. In the field, individuals also maintained their body temperatures within the upper half of the 'tolerated range'. These beetles maintained higher body temperatures than those recorded for any other ectothermic insect. Three of the six species maintained lower body temperatures in the field than they selected in the laboratory. The other three species showed no significant difference between field and laboratory body temperatures. We conclude that these beetles are not forced by biotic or abiotic factors to adopt thermal niches which present them with physiological difficulties.     

Seed survival and periodicity of seedling emergence in twelve weedy species of Compositae

Achenes of 12 species of Compositae were collected in each of 3 years and mixed with the top 7.5 cm of sterilised soil which was confined in cylinders sunk in the ground outdoors and cultivated three times yearly. Seedling emergence was recorded for 5 yr and the numbers of viable seeds remaining then determined. Emergence of Arctium lappa, A. minus, Picris hieracioides, Taraxacum officinale, Sonchus arvensis and S. asper was mainly in spring. Seedlings of Chrysanthemum segetum, Lapsana communis, Anthemis cotula and Sonchus oleraceus were often most numerous in spring but also emerged at other times, while Matricaria matricarioides and M. recutita showed no consistent seasonal pattern of emergence. Except for C. segetum and A. cotula, in which there was evidence of innate dormancy imposed by the seed coat, the numbers of seedlings were greatest in the first year and thereafter decreased approximately exponentially from year to year. Few viable seeds of A. lappa or A. minus remained after 5 yr and those of T. officinale, P. hieracioides and S. arvensis accounted for less than 1.5% of the seeds sown. Seed survival was greatest in the annual weeds and ranged from 2.1% (S. asper) to 8.6% (M. matricarioides) after 5 yr.     

Weed competition in drilled summer cabbage

A single immunodiffusion drop test has been developed for the serological detection of lily symptomless virus in lilies. The presence of virus is demonstrated by intra-gel precipitation in drops of an antiserum-agar mixture which are contiguous with droplets of pyrrolidine-treated leaf extracts covered with paraffin oil. Single immunodiffusion drop tests require c. twelve times less antiserum than radial diffusion plate tests. The results of virus detection by this technique agree closely with those obtained by electron-microscopical screening of negatively stained leaf extracts.     

Plant species variation in bottom‐up effects across three trophic levels: a test of traits and mechanisms

1. An increasing number of studies have addressed the mechanisms by which plant inter‐specific variation influence interactions at higher trophic levels, but little is known about the underlying plant traits driving these dynamics. 2. Here we investigated the effects of host plant species on herbivore‐parasitoid interactions and the underlying traits driving such effects. For this, we measured the abundance of seed‐eating bruchids and their parasitoids across seven sympatric populations of the bean species Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus vulgaris in Central Mexico. To investigate the mechanisms underlying differences between bean species in bruchid‐parasitoid interactions, we carried out two laboratory experiments to test whether bruchid and parasitoid performance differed between plant species. We also measured seed size and phenolic compounds to investigate if seed traits mediate bruchid‐parasitoid interactions by influencing herbivore susceptibility or resistance to parasitoids. 3. Field surveys revealed that the rate of parasitoid recruitment to bruchids was significantly higher on P. vulgaris than on P. coccineus. Subsequent laboratory bioassays indicated that bruchids developed more slowly and exhibited lower fitness on P. vulgaris seeds than on P. coccineus seeds. Accordingly, we found that bean species differed in seed size, with P. vulgaris having smaller (less nutritious) seeds, which explains why bruchid development was slower on this plant species. 4. These results provide a mechanism for why bruchids exhibited higher parasitism rates on seeds of P. vulgaris in the field which could be due to Slow‐Growth/High‐Mortality effects, a smaller physical refuge provided by the seed, or both factors. The roles of these mechanisms remain inconclusive without further study.     

Association of different kinds of bacilliform particle with vein chlorosis and mosaic diseases of raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Thin sections of diseased raspberry (Rubus idaeus) were examined by electron microscopy. Plants of the cv. Baumforth's B and of an aphid (Amphorophora rubi)-resistant breeding selection (6820/54), both infected with raspberry vein chlorosis virus (RVCV) but not with other detectable viruses, contained large bacilliform particles c. 430 × 65 nm. Particles occurred in the cytoplasm and perinuclear space of a small proportion of xylem parenchyma cells. They had an inner core c. 25–30 nm in diameter with cross-banding of periodicity 4·5 nm, and were bounded by an outer membrane. They are probably the particles of RVCV. Plants of cv. Mailing Jewel and of a selection (M14) both showing symptoms of raspberry mosaic (veinbanding) disease contained smaller bacilliform particles c. 125 × 30 nm, which occurred singly or in clusters in the cytoplasm of a small proportion of vascular parenchyma cells. It is not known which, if any, of the viruses associated with raspberry mosaic are represented by the particles.     

ACUTE DIE-BACK OF CLOVE TREES IN THE ZANZIBAR PROTECTORATE

The most widespread die-back of clove trees ( Eugenia aromatica) in the Zanzibar Protectorate is caused by Cryptosporella eugeniae sp.nov. The most noticeable symptom is the death of a branch or a portion of a branch, or, in young saplings, of the entire tree; in mature trees infection eventually leads to the semi-moribund trees now common in almost every clove plantation. The fungus invariably enters through a wound, most often one resulting from harvest damage. Pycnidia, and later perithecia, develop near the point of entry. Internally the infected wood is clearly distinguishable from the healthy by a dark red-brown stain.
Experimental infections that reproduce typical symptoms can rarely be caused in plants aged 18 to 36 months, and not at all in young seedlings. Experimental infection of older plants becomes more certain with increasing age, and with saplings of 7–10 years old failure is rare.
The prevalence of Cryptosporella die-back is almost entirely attributable to the destructive methods of harvesting now practised, combined with the presence of much infected material present in the plantations. Suggested control measures are based on the removal of old sources of infection and prevention of future damage, combined with remedial treatment where possible.     

Studies in the Principles of Phytotoxicity: III. THE pH FACTOR AND THE TOXICITY OF 3:5-DINITRO-o-CRESOL, A WEAK ACID

It has previously been shown that the concentration of 3:5-dinitro-ocresolrequired in the external medium to halve (a) the growth rateof the mould Trichoderma viride or (b) the respiration rateof yeast increased same 75–100 times as the pH changedfrom 4 to 7. In the present investigation it has been foundthat when solutions or suspensions of 3:5-dinitro-o-cresol areapplied as sprays to seedlings of Brassica alba the concentrationneeded to kill half the plants changes by a factor of less than2 over the same pH range. On the other hand, when Lemma minor is grown in nutrient solutioncontaining the toxicant, the concentration required to halvethe rate of frond multiplication increases sharply as the pHis raised from 5.4 to 6.8. Moreover, when leaf disks of B. albaare vacuum infiltrated with buffered solutions of 3:5-dinitro-o-cresolthe concentration needed to halve the respiration rate rises50-fold between pH 4 and 8. It is considered that the essential condition which determinesthe similarity of the result for L. minor, the leaf disks, andmicro-organisms is that a relatively large volume of solutioncontaining the toxicant is in direct contact with the tissues.In contrast, under the conditions of spraying the volume ofspray droplets relative to that of plant tissue is small. Thusthe pH effect ie masked since the buffering capacity of thecells exceeds that of the droplets, with the result that 3:5-dinitro-o-cresollargely acts upon the cells at a pH determined by the tissues,a pH which may bear little relation to that of the originalsolution. Supporting evidence is produced that the pH factor operatesin the same way for other weak acids, such as the chlorophenoxyaceticacids.