Response of Split-Root Sour Orange Seedlings to NaCl and Polyethylene Glycol Stresses

Soil water cotent and salinity levels are seldom uniform inthe field, particularly with the use of micro-irrigation systemsthat may water only a portion of the root zone. For studyingnon-uniform salinity, a split-root experiment was designed toevaluate growth and water relations when half of the root systemof sour orange (Citrus aurantium) seedlings was stressed withsodium chloride (NaCl) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). This studyalso determined if non-stressed portions of the root systemcompensated for the decrease in water uptake by the stressedportions. One or both halves of the root system were treated for fourmonths with nutrient solution adjusted with NaCl or PEG to osmoticpotentials of –0.10, –0.20, or –0.35 MPa.Shoot dry weight was reduced by only 9% when half of the rootsystem was irrigated with saline solution at –0.10 MPa,but with both halves of the root system at –0.10 MPa,shoot and root dry weights were reduced as much as 45%. Similarly,leaf water and osmotic potentials were also more disturbed underuniform salinity than under non-uniform salinity conditions. Plant growth, leaf water potential, osmotic potential, stomatalconductance, and evapotranspiration decreased with increasingNaCl and PEG concentrations in the nutrient solution. Turgorpotential and leaf thickness increased in response to NaCl treatments.Microscopic examination showed that the increase in leaf thicknesswas due to the development of larger cells in the spongy mesophyll. Shoot growth did not correlate with the average osmotic potentialof the two root halves. Seedlings with one stressed half-rootsystem had shoot dry weight and leaf water potential valuescloser to those of the non-stressed control than to those withthe completely stressed root system. Key words: Non-uniform salinity, water relations, citrus     

The effects of group size and host species on development and survivorship of a gregarious caterpillar Halisidota caryae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Abstract. 1. The effect on growth and survivorship of the number of Halisidota caryae (Harris) caterpillars in groups feeding on three taxonomically distinct hosts was examined experimentally in the field.
2. Caterpillars grew more rapidly and survived better in larger sized groups than in smaller sized groups.
3. Caterpilliars grew more rapidly and survived better on Carya ovata (Koch) than on Hamamelis virginiana (L) or Quercus velutina (Lam.).
4. There were equal numbers of invertebrate predators on groups of different sizes and thus larger groups had significantly fewer predators per caterpillar than did smaller groups.
5. Invertebrate predators accounted for at least a 10% daily decrease in survivorship.
6. Local movement reduced predation because moving groups had fewer predators than did stationary groups.     

Direct Test for Altered Gas Exchange Rates in Water stressed Soybean Nodules

Water stress usually lowers the nitrogenase activity of soybeanroot nodules. This loss in activity might result from an increasedbarrier to nodular gas exchange, from a general reduction inbiochemical function, or both. To test for the possibility ofan increased barrier to gas diffusion, we measured the apparentlag time for initiation of acetylene reduction by intact soybeanplants, both before and after water stress. Mild nodular waterloss (i.e. 10% of fresh weight or less) seldom altered the apparentlag time, whereas severe water stress (20–40% f. wt loss)frequently produced a small increase in apparent lag time. Severewater stress also produced a large decrease (24%) in the externaldiameter of the nodules and a loss of the white lenticel traces.Water stress usually caused a decrease in the apparent K_m foracetylene. The data do not suggest a large change in the diffusiveresistance to acetylene of nodules subjected to water stress.Thus, the observed decrease in nitrogenase activity may resultprimarily from biochemical, rather than physical, changes. However,because of the relatively greater importance of gas-phase diffusionfor oxygen entry, we cannot exclude the possibility of a largechange in a small gas pathway that affects oxygen influx morethan acetylene influx. Diffusion, Glycine max, nitrogen fixation, water stress     

First record of a spiral form of Aulacoseira,A. ambigua f. japonica (F.Meister) Tuji & D.M.Williams,in South African fresh waters

Water quality and algal populations in the Vaal River Barrage Reservoir have been monitored extensively for many decades, because of its importance as a water source for the most densely populated area in South Africa. Although Aulacoseira granulata (Ehrenberg) Simonsen is frequently found and at it times dominates algal assemblages in the Barrage, Aulacoseira ambigua (F.Meister) Tuji & D.M.Williams has never before been recorded at this locality. During a countrywide proficiency-testing scheme for algae counting, coordinated by Rand Water, spiral-shaped diatom colonies with distinctly curved cells were detected during May 2015. Upon investigation, it was found that the spiral colonies were Aulacoseira ambigua f. japonica, its presence in the fresh waters of South Africa being recorded for the first time. Since their first appearance during May 2015, colonies of Aulacoseira ambigua f. japonica have been constantly present in the surface waters of the Barrage. Their presence at this site can be linked to increasing eutrophication in the Vaal River, because the spiral form is known to prefer eutrophic conditions. Centric diatoms rarely form spiral colonies and there is some confusion in the literature as to the identity of this particular form, therefore in this paper we discuss this taxon, its nomenclature and ecological significance.     

Peculiarities of the epidermal gland system of the cotton stainer Dysdercus fasciatus Signoret (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

The epidermal gland system of adult Dysdercus fasciatus, which shows conspicuous sexual dimorphism, is described. Observations on the development of the glands and a discussion of their possible functions are included.     

Adverse effects of extracts of Artocarpus altilis Park,and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) on the reproductive physiology of the adult female tick,Boophilus microplus (Canest.)

Summary

Adverse effects of extracts from the plants Artocarpus altilis and Azadirachta indica on egg laying and hatching in the tick Boophilus microplus were quantified. A 50% inhibition of egg laying was achieved by a dose of 0.54 and 0.46 μg crude ethanol extract per tick, respectively. These doses also caused a 65% and 80% hatching failure, respectively. Extracts, particularly those of A. indica, inhibit protein and lipid sequestration by ovaries and oocytes. GC-MS analyses revealed reductions in the quantities of four methyl esters sequestered from the ovaries into the oocytes oviposited on the 12th day of engorgement by the treated ticks in the order of (A. indica effects are in parentheses): undecanoic acid 10-methyl-,methyl ester 40% (100%); tetradecanoic acid, methyl ester 100% (100%); tetradecanoic acid, 12-methyl-,methyl ester 100% (100%) and pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-,methyl ester 30% (75%).