Variations in response to induced stem bending in seedlings of Pinus radiata

Summary The occurrence of stem deformation in Pinus radiata plantations has been examined previously in terms of the factors leading to the onset of bending symptoms. In this study the influence of seedling family and nitrogen availability on the ability of seedlings to recover from deformation was investigated under glasshouse conditions. Seedlings from four families ranging from resistant to susceptible to stem deformation were used. Stem deformation was induced by loading stems with a known weight and comparing bending moments and rates of recovery. Significant differences between families were found with more susceptible families exhibiting greater initial magnitudes of stem lean. Similarly these families also exhibited greater rates of apical elongation following bending despite the larger stem leans. This resulted in more exaggerated stem bends as a consequence of the recovery of the lower stem pushing the upper stem away from the vertical. The strength characteristics of the stems could not explain differences between families. Susceptibility to stem deformation was explained more by stem slenderness expressed as stem height to root collar diameter.     

Strength and structure of stems from fast grown Pinus radiata

Summary Segments of living stems from 2-year-old, fast growing Pinus radiata, established on a fertile ex-pasture, were examined in terms of their bending strength parallel to the grain. Stem anatomical and structural variables were examined to identify variables that could explain variation in bending strength. Half of the seedlings were physically supported to minimise the confounding effects of compression wood production in response to environmental stresses. Differences between seedlings and cuttings were examined. Variation in microfibril angle and lignin content was sufficient to account for 81% of the variation in bending strength. A positive correlation between both of these variables and elasticity was evident. Few differences were found to be caused by the support treatment or between seedlings and cuttings. The support treatment resulted in significantly fewer branches in the top most whorl, while cuttings had less branches in this whorl than seedlings.     

Stem anatomy and relative growth rate in seedlings of a wide range of woody plant species and types

Stem traits were analysed in laboratory-grown seedlings of 80 European woody and semiwoody species of known potential relative growth rate (RGR) and of similar ontogenetic phase. The objectives were, firstly, to assess the relation between stem structure and plant growth potential and, secondly, to explore how stem structure varies among species differing in life form and leaf habit. Hydraulic conductance was represented by the mean diameter of the widest xylem conduits (Dmax), and structural strength by the percentage of xylem tissue occupied by cell wall material (CWx) or stem tissue density (SD). Across all species RGR showed a weak positive correlation with Dmax and weak negative ones with CWx and SD, with slow-growers showing great dispersion of stem trait values. In the RGR-Dmax relationship this dispersion disappeared when trees were removed from the analysis. None of the relationships were significant among tree species alone. It was suggested that fast-growers require a xylem with wide conduits (high Dmax) to achieve high hydraulic conductivity, and “cheaply” constructed stems (low CWx and SD) to maximise allocation to leaves. However, the possession of such traits does not guarantee fast growth, as other factors may constrain RGR elsewhere in the plant. Deciduous seedlings showed higher Dmax and lower CWx than evergreens. Higher Dmax could reflect an innate higher tolerance of conductivity loss by freeze-induced embolism in deciduous plants, which are not burdened by the maintenance of foliage in winter. In contrast, life forms were differentiated most clearly by SD. For instance, shrub seedlings had less dense stem tissues than tree seedlings, possibly because they need less investment in long-term strength and stature. Received: 3 January 1998 / Accepted: 9 April 1998     

Effects of bending stress on taper and growth of stems of youngEucalyptus regnans trees

A glasshouse experiment investigated the effect of bending stress on stem radial and height growth and stem taper ofEucalyptus regnans seedlings. Eighteen-week-old, potted seedlings were bent continuously for 8 weeks with a static bending stress. The bending treatment was then removed and the seedlings grown for another 12 weeks. Other seedlings were stayed vertically throughout the experiment whilst control seedlings were neither bent nor stayed. Seedlings were rotated every 2 days to prevent reaction wood developing asymmetrically in the stems of bent trees. Bent trees had higher radial growth rates, developed more tapered stems and had higher safety factors (the ratio of stem radius to the minimum radius required to prevent the tree toppling over) than unbent seedlings. They produced a band of tension wood in their stems and ceased height growth whilst bent. When bending ceased, they resumed normal radial and height growth. Unbent trees developed more cylindrical stems. There were no differences in growth behaviour between stayed and control trees. Bent and unbent trees all developed a butt swell, the taper of which was not affected by treatment. It was concluded that bending stress has substantial effects on both the size and taper of tree stems. However, the development of butt swell is independent of the bending stress applied. The results were considered in relation to biomechanical theories of tree stem development.     

白化菠萝蜜茎2个蛋白激酶和4个转录因子家族分析

为探究蛋白激酶(PKs)和转录因子(TFs)在白化菠萝蜜(Artocarpus heterophyllus)幼苗茎次生生长中的表达变化,基于转录组数据对其差异表达基因(DEGs)进行预测及分类,并对挑选出的2个PKs和4个TFs家族构建系统进化树。结果表明,胞质类受体激酶(RLCK)-VIII家族的DEGs上下调表达各4个,亮氨酸富集重复类受体激酶(LRR-RLK)-X家族Xa和Xb-2分支中的DEGs均下调表达,Xb-1中的均上调,TCP家族的20个DEGs中有15个上调表达,zf-HD和GRF家族中的大多数DEGs上调表达,Alfin-like家族中的DEGs均下调表达。因此,这表明6个家族可能在菠萝蜜茎的次生生长过程和应对非生物胁迫中发挥重要作用。     

Tree regeneration patterns on Mount Usu, northern Japan, since the 1977–78 eruptions

Although the summit of Mount Usu was deforested by the 1977–78 eruptions, vegetative regeneration on the caldera rim was rapid due to the erosion of thick volcanic deposits by snow and rain. To obtain the mechanisms underlying regeneration patterns after the eruptions, we monitored the growth of permanently-marked stems from 1983 to 1990. Regeneration was from resprouting-branches buried in the volcanic deposits on the caldera rim, while on the crater basin, where thick volcanic deposits accumulated, regeneration was from seedlings. The seedling regeneration lagged approximately 3 years behind vegetative regeneration. Stem densities averaged 14,000 ha^-1 in the vegetatively-regenerated community on the caldera rim, and 28,000 ha^-1 in the seedling regeneration on the crater basin. Populus maximowiczii accounted for ca. 75% of total stems on the caldera rim, while P. maximowiczii accounted for ca. 30% on the crater basin where Salix integra and Betula platyphylla var. japonica were also common. In both stands, immigration and mortality rates were very low. The growth of vegetatively regenerated stems expressed as stem height and diameter was significantly faster than that of stems grown from seedlings. Herbivory damage on the terminal shoots of tall stems was restricted on the caldera rim and was restricted for B. platyphylla var. japonica on the crater basin, perhaps due to fast growth supporting herbivore avoidance or low palatability. Height growth was restricted when neighbors established in close proximity, especially in the seedling-regenerated forest. The results suggest that vegetative regeneration is rapid due to three mechanisms: 1) faster plant growth; 2) herbivore avoidance; and 3) decreased interference by neighboring.     

Anaerobic induced ethanol synthesis in the stems of greenhouse-grown conifer seedlings

Ethanol synthesis was induced in stem segments from greenhouse-grown conifer seedlings by placing them in a N₂ atmosphere at 30 °C for 24 h. Stems from ponderosa pine,Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., sugar pine,Pinus lambertiana Dougl., Pacific silver fir,Abies amabalis Dougl. ex Forbes, and lodgepole pine,Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud, produced the highest quantities of ethanol. This group also had the smallest and slowest growing stems. Within each of these species the amount of ethanol produced was inversely related to the stem volume. Stems from western hemlock,Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., grand fir, Abies grandis Dougl. ex Forbes, Douglas-fir,Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, and western redcedar,Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don, all produced equivalent but low ethanol concentrations. These species had the largest and fastest growing stems. In this group only grand fir exhibited an inverse relationship between ethanol concentrations and stem volume. The relative amounts of ethanol synthesized by stems from Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western redcedar seedlings were not the same as subsequently observed in logs from mature trees of the same species under field conditions. Differences in the anaerobic environments for the two stem types could have affected the quantities of ethanol produced. The observed high amounts of ethanol produced by the stems from pine species were discussed in terms of their ability to handle periods of anaerobic stress or hypoxia.     

Stem photosynthesis in a desert ephemeral,Eriogonum inflatum

Summary The gas exchange characteristics of photosynthetic tissues of leaves and stems of Eriogonum inflatum are described. Inflated stems were found to contain extraordinarily high internal CO₂ concentrations (to 14000 bar), but fixation of this internal CO₂ was 6–10 times slower than fixation of atmospheric CO₂ by these stems. Although the pool of CO₂ is a trivial source of CO₂ for stem photosynthesis, it may result in higher water-use efficiency of stem tissues. Leaf and stem photosynthetic activities were compared by means of CO₂ fixation in CO₂ response curves, light and temperature response curves in IRGA systems, and by means of O₂ exchange at CO₂ saturation in a leaf disc O₂ electrode system. On an area basis leaves contain about twice the chlorophyll and nitrogen as stems, and are capable of up to 4-times the absolute CO₂ and O₂ exchange rates. However, the stem shape is such that lighting of the shaded side leads to a substantial increase in overall stem photosynthesis on a projected area basis, to about half the leaf rate in air. Stem conductance is lower than leaf conductance under most conditions and is less sensitive to high temperature or high VPD. Under most conditions, the ratio C _i /C _a is lower in stems than in leaves and stems show greater water-use efficiency (higher ratio assimilation/transpiration) as a function of VPD. This potential advantage of stem photosynthesis in a water limited environment may be offset by the higher VPD conditions in the hotter, drier part of the year when stems are active after leaves have senesced. Stem and leaf photosynthesis were similarly affected by decreasing plant water potential.     

Interaction of red to far red light ratio and ethylene in regulating stem elongation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) stems showed increased elongation under two types of vegetative shade: canopy shade (low red to far red [R/FR] ratio) and neighbouring proximity shade (FR enrichment). Hypocotyls also elongated more under narrow-band FR light than under narrow-band R light. Ethylene levels were determined in actively elongating 7-day-old hypocotyls and 17-day-old internodes under three R/FR ratios. Ethylene levels were lower in both sunflower hypocotyls and internodes when the R/FR ratio was reduced. Both FR enrichment of normal R/FR ratio and narrow-band FR light with very low light irradiance resulted in reduction in ethylene levels in 7-day-old hypocotyls. Further, in application experiments, sunflower stems grown under low R/FR ratio were more sensitive to ethephon and less sensitive to aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) than stems grown under high R/FR ratio. Low R/FR ratio appears to initiate reduction in ethylene levels in sunflower seedlings, allowing maximum stem elongation. These results, and findings of other authors, suggest that various plant species may have developed different ways of regulating stem elongation and ethylene levels in response to low R/FR ratio.     

Stem turnover strategy of multiple-stemmed woody plants

We have investigated stem turnover strategy for Lindera umbellata, an understory shrub that sprouts from its rootstock under natural conditions to replace constituent stems, on the basis of the hypothesis that the multiple-stemmed form of woody species is an adaptation enabling efficient reproduction in high-stress environments. We tested the hypothesis that the timing of stem replacement maximizes sexual reproduction for the shrub. We developed a model for the time of optimum replacement of a stem by a daughter stem which maximizes the sexual reproduction of a shrub and tested the model using L. umbellata growing in the field. From the model, the optimum time of replacement of a stem with a daughter stem is when cumulative sexual reproduction per unit time for the stem is maximum. In practice, this will be the last age (t _opt) at which annual sexual reproduction in a stem can potentially exceed cumulative sexual reproduction per unit time for the stem. Half of the stems died at almost t _opt and had sexually mature daughter stems at that time. Other stems, however, died at times more remote from t _opt when daughter stems were sexually immature. It is thought that normal replacement of the latter stems was prevented by accidents such as breakage. We conclude that clumps of L. umbellata achieve efficient sexual reproduction by stem replacement at the optimum time, although accidents can, to some extent, determine when the stem actually dies.     

Susceptibility of cypress seedlings to the eriophyoid mite Trisetacus juniperinus

In Italian nurseries and young groves of evergreen cypress(Cupressus sempervirens L.), the eriophyoid miteTrisetacus juniperinus (Nal.) is considered a very serious pest. A rating system of damage symptoms was developed to investigate the susceptibility of different cypress seedling families to the mite. Based on this system, the seedlings were evaluated for three years in the nursery and in two field locations after transplanting. Data obtained in the nursery allowed the cypress families to be allocated to at least two different levels of susceptibility. These levels of susceptibility were generally also maintained in the field. However, the environmental conditions of the two transplanting localities significantly affected the susceptibility of each family. In all families, scores for each of the damage categories were strongly correlated positively to each other and negatively with the average increment in the height of plant over the duration of the field experiment. Assessment of the intensity of the symptoms peculiar to damage category A (buds enlarged, deformed, russet and/or branch apex folded) was sufficient to give the same susceptibility evaluation as if data for all damage categories were used. The evaluation of susceptibility on the basis of injury pattern may return very useful information for selection and certification of families of known susceptibility to eriophyoid mites. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同培育方式对橡胶树实生苗生理指标、养分及长势的影响

橡胶树(Heveabrasiliensis)种子催芽生长一般使用沙床培育,沙子是不可再生资源,为了选择一种适合橡胶树种子培育方式来替代对沙子的依赖,该研究通过水培、悬空培育和传统的沙培比较橡胶树实生苗第1蓬叶稳定时,苗木的生长势、生理指标及养分含量。结果表明,水培实生苗地上部株高、茎粗、叶面积的长势最佳,壮苗指数和生物量的含量最高,但其根太长,根相对较细。水培的叶、茎、根的可溶性糖、丙二醛、游离脯氨酸、超氧化物歧化酶的含量均较低;水培和悬空培育的叶片和茎的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素及根系活力的含量没有显著性差异,均高于沙培。水培的叶、茎、根中的氮和磷含量最低,沙培的最高;而水培实生苗根和茎中钾的含量较高,叶片中含量与悬空培育、沙培均没有显著性差异;悬空培育在叶、茎、根中钾的含量最低。水培促进了苗木的生长,降低干旱胁迫,提高养分利用率,但后续还需调控根系,建设良好根团。悬空培育的苗木长势较弱,还需进一步完善方法。     

古尔班通古特沙漠白梭梭枝干光合及其影响因素

植物枝干光合（P_g）固定其自身呼吸所释放的CO₂,有效减少植物向大气的CO₂排放量。以古尔班通古特沙漠优势木本植物白梭梭（Haloxylon persicum）为研究对象,利用LI-COR 6400便携式光合仪与特制光合叶室（P-Chamber）相结合,观测白梭梭叶片、不同径级枝干的光响应及光合日变化特征;同时监测环境因子（大气温湿度、光合有效辐射、土壤温度及含水量等）与叶片/枝干性状指标（叶绿素含量、含水量、干物质含量、碳/氮含量等）,揭示叶片/枝干光合的主要影响因子;采用破坏性取样,量化个体水平上叶片与枝干的总表面积,阐明枝干光合对植株个体碳平衡的贡献。研究结果显示：（1）白梭梭叶片叶绿素含量是枝干叶绿素含量的12-16倍,各径级枝干叶绿素含量差异不显著;（2）枝干光饱和点低于叶片,枝干不同径级（由粗至细）,暗呼吸速率和枝干光合逐渐减小;（3）光合有效辐射、土壤含水量和空气温湿度是影响叶片光合的主要因子,对枝干光合无显著影响;（4）枝干光合可以固定其自身呼吸产生CO₂的73%,最高可达90%,枝干光合固定CO₂约占个体水平固碳量的15.4%。研究结果表明,忽视枝干光合的贡献来预测未来气候变化背景下荒漠生态系统碳过程,可能存在根本性缺陷,并且在估算枝干呼吸时,需要考虑枝干是否存在光合作用,以提高枝干呼吸的准确性。     

The role of seed-tuber and stem inoculum in the development of gangrene in potatoes

To determine the relative importance of seed tubers and stems as sources of inoculum for potato gangrene in progeny tubers, different levels of inoculum of Phoma exigua var. foveata were established in field experiments by planting rotting or contaminated seed tubers and by inoculating stems shortly before haulm desiccation. The pathogen was only occasionally detected by isolation from inside green stems in June and July on plants growing from contaminated but unrotted seed. The incidence of pycnidia on desiccated stems increased with increasing concentration of inoculum contaminating seed tubers and with increasing time interval between desiccation and harvest. Stem infection was probably derived from inoculum on seed tubers spreading via the soil to the stem bases. Stem inoculation of plants growing from uninoculated or uncontaminated seed greatly increased both the gangrene potential of progeny tubers (defined as % wounds with gangrene after uniformly damaging tubers and storing them at 5°C for 12 wk), and tuber contamination (defined as % wounds with gangrene after spreading tuber-borne soil onto test tuber slices and storing them at 5°C for 8 wk). However, when stems of plants growing from rotting or contaminated seed were cut at ground level and removed before desiccation, gangrene potential of progeny tubers was only slightly less than that of tubers from untreated plots. There was no evidence that soil inoculum or aerial spread played a significant role in disease development. Gangrene potential and contamination of progeny tubers were related to Contamination levels on seed tubers. Some transmission also occurred from rotted seed tubers to progeny. Inoculum levels around progeny tubers increased rapidly after desiccation even in plots where stems had previously been cut at soil level and removed to eliminate pycnidial development above ground as a source of inoculum. Both gangrene potential and contamination of progeny tubers were greater on cv. Ulster Sceptre than on cv. Pentland Crown. The results showed that the inoculum on seed tubers, whether from rots or surface contamination, contributed more to the contamination of progeny tubers at harvest than did the inoculum from pycnidia on stems following desiccation of the haulm.     

长期增温对树线交错带岷江冷杉幼苗异龄叶大小与出叶强度关系的影响

全球气候变暖强烈影响树线交错带植物的生活史策略,异龄叶大小-出叶强度权衡关系是常绿植物生活史策略的重要内容。以川西树线交错带的岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）幼苗为例,研究气候变暖对异龄叶大小与出叶强度关系的影响。通过开顶箱（Open-top chamber, OTC）对川西王朗自然保护区树线交错带的岷江冷杉进行模拟增温,采用标准化主轴估计（Standardized major axis estimation, SMA）方法研究了叶大小（单叶质量、单叶面积）与出叶强度（基于茎生物量、茎体积）间异速生长关系对长期增温的响应及其年际变化。结果表明：使用不同参数表征叶大小与出叶强度得到的结果存在差异;多年生小枝上存在单叶质量-出叶强度的负等速权衡关系,共同主轴随小枝年龄增加而向下漂移;长期增温并不影响单叶质量与出叶强度的异速生长关系,不同年龄小枝的异速生长常数对增温具有差异性响应。增温处理中当年生小枝在相同单叶质量下的出叶强度更低,以换取叶片总数的增加,使小枝具有更大的可塑性而适应增温。本研究提供了岷江冷杉幼苗协调异龄叶大小与出叶强度从而适应长期增温的证据,为评估树木生长随气候变化而加速提供了理论参考。     

Carbon assimilation by tree stems: potential involvement of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase

In woody species, the photosynthesis of stems, especially young branches, occurs by refixing part of the internal respiratory CO₂. The present study aims to improve the physiological characterization of stem photosynthesis by examining enzymatic characteristics. During an entire growing season, three enzymatic activities that are linked to C₃ and C₄ metabolism were investigated in relation to the CO₂ efflux and chlorophyll content of current year stems of European beech and were compared to the corresponding characteristics of leaves. High activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and NADP malic enzyme were detected in stems (up to 13 times and 30 times higher in stems than in leaves, respectively), whereas Rubisco activity remained low in comparison with leaves. Stem maximal Rubisco and PEPC activities occurred at the beginning of the season when the total chlorophyll content and the CO₂ assimilation rate were also maximal. Stems were characterized by a PEPC:Rubisco ratio that was equal to 2.5 [an intermediate value between that of C₃-plants (about 0.1) and that of C₄-plants (about 10)], whereas it was equal to 0.1 in leaves. Eight other tree species were also measured and the PEPC:Rubisco ratio was, on average, equal to 3.6. The potential role of PEPC in stem carbon assimilation is discussed in relation to its known involvement in the anaplerotic function of C₃ plants and in the carbon metabolism of the C₄ pathway.     

Sowing density and harvest time affect fibre content in hemp (Cannabis sativa) through their effects on stem weight

Sowing density and harvest time are considered important crop management factors influencing fibre quantity and quality in hemp (Cannabis sativa). We investigated whether the effects of these factors are essentially different or that both factors affect stem weight and thereby total and long‐fibre content. The effects of all combinations of three sowing densities and three harvest times were studied for six different stem parts. Almost 500 samples consisting of stem parts from 50 plants and with a length of 50 cm were tested. Fibres were extracted by a controlled warm‐water retting procedure, followed by breaking and scutching. The initial sample weight was fractionated into retting losses, wood, tow and long fibre. In both Italy and the Netherlands, crops were successfully established with different stem densities (99–283 m^?2), plant heights (146–211 cm) and stem diameters (4.5–8.4 mm) at harvest. Stem dry matter yields (6.8–11.7 Mg ha^?1) increased with a delay in harvest time but were not affected by sowing density. Retting loss percentages were lower in lower stem parts and decreased with later harvest because maturation was associated with increasing amounts of fibre and wood. Within a certain stem part, however, the absolute retting losses were constant with harvest time. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the amount of fibre in a hemp stem is almost completely determined by the weight and the position of that stem part. When the plant grows, the increase in dry matter is split up into fibres and wood in a fixed way. This total fibre/wood ratio was highest in the middle part of the stem and lower towards both bottom and top. Sowing density and harvest time effects were indirect through stem weight. The long‐fibre weight per stem increased with the total fibre weight and hence with stem weight. Stem weight increased with harvest time; as harvest time did not affect plant density, the highest long‐fibre yields were obtained at the last harvest time. The long fibre/total fibre ratio was lowest in the bottom 5 cm of the stems but similar for all other parts. Sowing density and harvest time effects again were indirect. Fibre percentages in retted hemp decreased with increasing stem weights towards a level that is presumably a variety characteristic. The dry matter increase between harvests, however, is much more important with respect to total and long‐fibre yield.     

Ecological differentiation ofEuphorbia lasiocaula andE. sinanensis (Euphorbiaceae) I plant height,phenology and allocation to stems and leaves

Resource allocation and the seasonal change of stem length inEuphorbia lasiocaula Boiss. andE. sinanensis (Hurusawa) T. Kurosawa et H. Ohashi were examined in 10 populations on hills in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan. Differences were found in the diameter of stem, stem/leaf ratio of dry weight, vegetative dry weight/leaf area, and the beginning, end and duration of stem growth.Euphorbia lasiocaula has a thicker stem, a larger stem/ leaf ratio, a larger vegetative dry weight/leaf area, a later beginning and end of stem growth and a longer period of stem growth thanE. sinanensis. These differences support the relationships among plant height, resource allocation and phenology predicted by the mathematical models of Givnish (1982) and Sakai (1991, 1994). The tall and thick stems ofE. lasiocaula are considered to be favorable for capturing sunlight in grassy places, causing it to allocate much of its resources to the stems. On the other hand,E. sinanensis is considered to be adapted to deciduous forest floors or forest margins because it completes growing before it is shaded by canopy trees or by tall herbs, which is enabled by the larger allocation of resources to the leaves.     

Ferulic acid may prevent infection of Cicer arietinum by Sclerotium rolfsii

High performance liquid chromatography analysis of different parts of Sclerotium rolfsii-infected and healthy seedlings of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) was carried out to examine the status of phenolic compounds. Three major peaks that appeared consistently were identified as gallic, vanillic and ferulic acids. Gallic acid concentrations were increased in the leaves and stems of infected plants compared to healthy ones. Vanillic acid detected in stems and leaves of healthy seedlings was not detected in infected seedlings. There was a significant increase of ferulic acid in those stem portions located above the infected collar region compared to minimal amounts in the roots of healthy seedlings. In vitro studies of ferulic acid showed significant antifungal activity against S. rolfsii. Complete inhibition of mycelial growth was observed with 1000 g of ferulic acid/ml. Lower concentrations (250, 500 and 750 g/ml) were also inhibitory and colony growth was compact in comparison with the fluffy growth of normal mycelium. Higher amounts of phenolics were found in the stems and leaves of S. rolfsii-infected seedlings in comparison to the healthy ones. A role for ferulic acid in preventing infections by S. rolfsii in the stems and leaves of chickpea plants above the infection zone is therefore feasible.     

Stem Mortality Following Fire in Kalahari Sand Vegetation: Effects of Frost,Prior Damage,and Tree Neighbourhoods

Fire is a key factor affecting the survivorship and dynamics of woody plants in savannas, but few empirical studies in savanna vegetation have investigated correlates of mortality following fire at the level of individual stems. A study of stem mortality as a function of size, neighbourhood effects, and prior damage (mainly caused by elephants) was undertaken in an area of Kalahari sand vegetation in western Zimbabwe. Stem and whole-plant mortality were quantified for the dominant stems of 557 trees in 4 plots following dry season unplanned fires in 2001. Two plots were located in areas that had been affected by frost earlier in the season, and 2 in areas that had not. Mortality was also recorded for 1762 trees in 20 unburned reference plots, also classified according to the presence of frost damage. Mortality estimators were constructed with a maximum likelihood regression method. Whole-plant mortality was low (on the order of 1–2%) compared with stem mortality, which in burned plots approximated 100% for the smallest size classes and declined as a function of stem diameter. Fire-driven mortality was lower in stems protected by the crowns of larger trees than in stems that were in the open. There was also evidence to suggest that the effects of fire are exacerbated by the prior action of frost and elephant herbivory.