Stomatal and environmental control of transpiration in a lowland tropical forest tree

Stomatal control of crown transpiration was studied in Anacardium excelsum, a large-leaved, emergent canopy species common in the moist forests of Central and northern South America. A construction crane equipped with a gondola was used to gain access to the uppermost level in the crown of a 35-m-tall individual. Stomatal conductance at the single leaf scale, and transpiration and total vapour phase conductance (stomatal and boundary layer) at the branch scale were measured simultaneously using the independent techniques of porometry and stem heat balance, respectively. This permitted the sensitivity of transpiration to a marginal change in stomatal conductance to be evaluated using a dimensionless coupling coefficient (1-ω) ranging from zero to 1, with 1 representing maximal stomatal control of transpiration. Average stomatal conductance varied from 0.09 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the dry season to 0.3 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the wet season. Since boundary layer conductance was relatively low (0.4 mol m^?2 s^?1), 1-ω ranged from 0.46 during the dry season to only 0.25 during the wet season. A pronounced stomatal response to humidity was observed, which strongly limited transpiration as evaporative demand increased. The stomatal response to humidity was apparent only when the leaf surface was used as the reference point for measurement of external vapour pressure. Average transpiration was predicted to be nearly the same during the dry and wet seasons despite a 1 kPa difference in the prevailing leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference. The patterns of stomatal behaviour and transpiration observed were consistent with recent proposals that stomatal responses to humidity are based on sensing the transpiration rate itself.     

Première biozonation du Pléistocène Européen,principal résultat biostratigraphique de l'étude des Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia,Perissodactyla) du Miocène terminal au Pléistocène supérieur d'Europe Occidentale

For the Uppermost Miocene the already known zones MN 9 to MN 13 are used without any change; they prove to be particularly useful for the study of fossil rhinocerotids. The Plio-Villafranchian age corresponds to the zones 14 to 19, the definition of the first five being completed and the last being new. Middle to Upper Pleistocene age deals with the zones 20 to 26, all being new and defined following the same principles.     

Efficacy of some plants powder and extract in the management of Angoumois grain moth,Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae] infesting stored wheat grains

Powders and extracts prepared from part and products of four plants species indigenous to Nigeria were tested under laboratory condition at 28?±?2?°C and 75?±?5% relative humidity for their insecticidal potential against Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella. Adult S. cerealella were exposed to three concentrations at rate 0.5, 1 and 2?g of Capsicum frutescens, Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera and Anacardium occidentale powders and extracts at the rate of 1, 2 and 3%/20?g of wheat grains. Parameters evaluated were adult moth mortality, adult emergence and % hatchability in treated wheat grains after infestation. Results show that significant differences (p?<?0.05) existed among the powders and the concentrations. The powder of C. frutescens had the highest mortality rate of 100% after two?days of application at all tested concentrations. There were no adult emergence of moth in samples treated with C. frutescens and A. occidentale powders. The extracts completely killed all the adult moths introduced at all tested concentrations. The survival of the moth from egg to adult when treated with the plant powders showed that there was significantly (p?<?0.05) more adult in the control (71.3) compared to others. Extracts of all the tested plants were toxic to adult moth and also prevent hatching of the eggs of S. cerealella.     

Bioecology of some key cashew insect pests and diseases in diverse habitats and landscapes in Tanzania

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is an economically important cash crop for many rural households in Tanzania. However, its production is constrained by some insect pests and diseases. As a prerequisite for the development of a more sustainable integrated insect pest and disease management strategy for cashew, information on the biology and ecology of the key insect pests and diseases in a changing environment, and on influencing biotic and abiotic factors, is needed. Surveys were conducted in the major cashew nut‐producing areas of Tanzania for two seasons: August to December, 2009, and August to December, 2010. Data on number of infested and infected shoots by key insect pests and diseases, natural enemies and associated farmer practices, namely synthetic pesticide use and intercropping systems, were collected from different subzones within agroecological zones. Our data showed that abundance and diversity of key cashew insect pests and diseases were influenced by agroecological zones and subzones. Intercropping was more commonly practised in the northern than in the southern zone. Agrochemicals were most frequently used in the southern agroecological zone and affected the occurrence of natural enemies, notably the weaver ant that was more abundant in the northern zone. Furthermore, our findings revealed that Helopeltis sp. and the powdery mildew remained the major constraints to cashew nut production in Tanzania.     

Gastropodes sinémuriens du Monte Cucco (Apennins d’Ombrie-Marche, Italie centrale)

Recent researches carried out in the uppert part of the “Calcare Massiccio” formation of Monte Cucco allowed to recover a rich Sinemurian fauna of gastropods, bivalves, brachiopods, ammonoids and some solitary corals. The gastropod fauna is greatly dominant and includes 18 species which belong to the superfamilies Pleurotomarioidea, Fissurelloidea, Amberleyoidea, Neritoidea, Loxonematoidea, Cerithioidea, Nerineoidea, Littorinoidea and Acteonoidea. Ten species of gastropods are here described for the first time. This fauna shows a marked affinity with that of the Sinemurian of Sicily. Under a paleoecological point of view, it is indicative of free marine conditions, in photic zone but under a weak hydrodynamism, and therefore may suggests the reference to a deep infralittoral or upper circalittoral environment.     

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential of cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.) in mice

Cashew apple is a tropical pseudofruit consumed as juice due to its excellent nutritional and sensory properties. In spite of being well known for its important antioxidant properties, the cashew apple has not been thoroughly investigated for its therapeutic potential. Thereby, this study evaluated the antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities of cashew apple juice. Juices from ripe and immature cashew apples were analyzed for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Those were evaluated in murine models of xylene-induced ear edema and wound excision. Swiss mice were treated with cashew juice by gavage. Edema thickness was measured and skin lesions were analyzed by planimetry and histology. Both antioxidant content and total antioxidant activity were higher in ripe cashew apple juice (RCAJ) than in unripe cashew apple juice (UNCAJ). The UNCAJ presented the main anti-inflammatory activity by a significant inhibition of ear edema (66.5%) when compared to RCAJ (10%). Moreover, UNCAJ also showed the best result for wound contraction (86.31%) compared to RCAJ (67.54%). Despite of higher antioxidant capacity, RCAJ did not promote better anti-inflammatory, and healing responses, which may be explained by the fact that treatment increased antioxidants level leading to a redox “imbalance” turning down the inflammatory response modulation exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results suggest that UNCAJ presents a greater therapeutic activity due to a synergistic effect of its phytochemical components, which improve the immunological mechanisms as well as an optimal balance between ROS and antioxidants leading to a better wound healing process.     

Glutamine Synthetase Activity, Relative Water Content and Water Potential in Maize Submitted to Drought

Primer screening and optimization for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) was investigated. Among four series (A, B, D and N) of 10-mer primers, A-series performed better amplification of fragments than other series. The maximum amplification fragments was obtained using OPA-02, OPA-03, OPA-09, OPB-06, OPB-10, OPD-03, OPD-05 and OPN-03 primers. The primers OPA-02 and OPN-03 produced maximum number of DNA fragments in Anacardium occidentale cv. H-320. Primers (OPB-08 and OPN-05 performed a least number of amplification fragments. RAPD profile also indicate that some primer did not produce good amplification. The primer OPA-02 amplified 12 number of polymorphic bands in 20 cultivars of cashew. Only one DNA fragment was produced in A. occidentale cv. Vridhachalam - 2 (M-44/3) by using the primer OPA-02. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Présence de Pleurothyrella knodi (Brachiopoda,Terebratulida dévoniens) en Guinée-bissau. Implications paléogéographiques

Pleurothyrella knodi, known only from Bolivia and Argentina, is recorded from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa). It represents a new and sure point of the faunistic Malvinokaffric Realm extension during the Early Devonian.     

Pollen vigour and composition in relation to andromonoecy in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.: Anacardiaceae)

Summary Cashew trees produce four types of pollen from the large and small stamens of the hermaphrodite and male flower (HL, HS, ML, MS). Comparative studies were made of the grain number, structure, viability, vigour, and sugar and amino acid composition of the four pollen types. Anther and pollen grain numbers and dimensions of the four pollen types were similar, as were pollen structure and staining characteristics. The fluorescein diacetate test showed that the HL pollen had the highest percent fluorescence, and viability of all pollen types had declined by 48 h after anthesis. Following controlled hand pollination, the ML pollen had the highest capacity to germinate on the stigma and penetrate the ovule, followed by the MS, HL, and HS pollens. Glucose and fructose and 19 free amino acids were present in all pollen types, with higher levels in the hermaphrodite than in the male flower pollen. The results indicate that the pollen of the male flower is specialised for pollination and fruit set, whereas that of the hermaphrodite flower may be specialised for insect attraction.     

In vitro multiplication of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) using shoot node explants of glasshouse-raised plants

Using glasshouse-raised plants (1 month, 1 year and 5 years old), factors affecting shoot development from shoot nodes of two Brazilian and one Tanzanian elite selections of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) were assessed. Sprouting of buds decreased strongly with increasing age of mother plants. Solidified media, mainly when purified agar was used, gave better results than liquid medium. Murashige and Skoog salts containing 1/2-strength macroelements were the most suitable for bud sprouting and shoot elongation. Vitamins and sucrose concentration did not have a significant effect but by replacing 20 g/l sucrose with glucose or maltose all estimated parameters were improved. Gibberellins supported bud sprouting and shoot elongation but blocked rooting. Shoots developed in the presence of cytokinins were short and produced axillary branches. Activated charcoal, cultivation of explants in darkness for the first 7 days and superoptimal temperature (35 °C) decreased bud sprouting and supported shoot elongation. Microshoots rooted in vitro at a frequency of 42% when cultured for 5 days with 100 μμ indole-3-butyric acid. Over 40% of rooted microshoots survived weaning. Received: 20 October 1996 / Revision received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted: 1 June 1997