Insect inventories in a mango‐based agroforestry area in Bangladesh: foraging behavior and performance of pollinators on fruit set

Insect species inventories along with pest prevalence, foraging behavior of pollinators and their effect on fruit set of mango were studied in a mango‐based agroforestry area in Bangladesh during January to June 2013. Of 1751 collected insects, 11 species in five orders and nine families were pests, 13 species in six orders and eight families were predators and eight species belonging to three orders and seven families were found as pollinators. The pests exerted significantly higher abundance but lower diversity than pollinator, predator and other insects. The pollinator richness was found to be lowest but showed higher as well as similar diversity to other category insects. Three pest species prevailed throughout the season and hoppers showed significant abundance. Among the predators, ants were most abundant. Sulphur butterfly and syrphid fly revealed statistically identical and higher abundance than other pollinators. During the flowering season, pests were dominant and the abundance of insects was observed to peak at 11.00 h. The pollinators differed in their landing duration on flowers and their activity led to higher levels of fruit set. This study provides baseline information on insect abundance in an agroforestry system, which stresses the importance of conservation of beneficial insects.     

Insights on the antitumor effects of kahweol on human breast cancer: Decreased survival and increased production of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity

The present study aims to identify the modulatory effects of kahweol, an antioxidant diterpene present in coffee beans, on a panel of human tumor cell lines. Kahweol inhibits tumor cell proliferation and clonogenicity and induces apoptosis in several kinds of human tumor cells. In the estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB231 human breast cancer, the mentioned effects are accompanied by caspases 3/7 and 9 activation and cytochrome c release. On the other hand, kahweol increases the production of reactive oxygen species and their cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells but not in normal cells. Taken together, our data suggest that kahweol is an antitumor compound with inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth and survival, especially against MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells.     

Inoculation of coffee plants with the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana was established in coffee seedlings after fungal spore suspensions were applied as foliar sprays, stem injections, or soil drenches. Direct injection yielded the highest post-inoculation recovery of endophytic B. bassiana. Establishment, based on percent recovery of B. bassiana, decreased as time post-inoculation increased in all treatments. Several other endophytes were isolated from the seedlings and could have negatively influenced establishment of B. bassiana. The recovery of B. bassiana from sites distant from the point of inoculation indicates that the fungus has the potential to move throughout the plant.     

Natural mortality factors of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) on Coffea arabica

The natural mortality of the coffee leafminer, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Méneville) was investigated in three strata of coffee plant canopy for three seasons through construction and analysis of ecological life tables. Mortality of the leafminer was similar on all thirds of the canopy. Total mortality of immature stages was 95%, with 38.5, 43.8 and 12.7% occurring during egg, larval, and pupal stages. Rainfall killed 39.3% of eggs and larvae, and together with egg inviability (16.3%) and Vespidae (11.3%), were the highest mortality factors. Six wasp parasitoids caused 8% of larval mortality. Egg and larva were the critical stages. Variation in mortality was primarily associated with egg inviability, rainfall, and parasitism by Horismenus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Physiological disturbances during molting and metamorphosis also contributed for fluctuations in mortality of the leafminer. Tactics of integrated pest management to enhance natural mortality of the leafminer while conserving or augmenting the action of natural enemies are discussed.     

Biodiversity conservation in cocoa production landscapes: an overview

Cocoa agroforests that retain a floristically diverse and structurally complex shade canopy have the potential to harbour significant levels of biodiversity, yet few studies have documented the plant and animal species occurring within these systems or within landscapes dominated by cocoa production. In this special issue, we bring together nine studies from Latin America, Africa and Asia that document the contribution of cocoa agroforestry systems to biodiversity conservation, and explore how the design, management and location of these systems within the broader landscape influence their value as habitats, resources and biological corridors. Tree diversity within the cocoa production systems is variable, depending on management, cultural differences, location and farm history, among other factors. Animal diversity is typically highest in those cocoa agroforests that have high plant diversity, structurally complex canopies, and abundant surrounding forest cover. In general, both plant and animal diversity within cocoa agroforests is greater than those of other agricultural land uses, but lower than in the original forest habitat. There are several emerging threats to biodiversity conservation within cocoa production landscapes, including the loss of remaining forest cover, the simplification of cocoa shade canopies and the conversion of cocoa agroforestry systems to other agricultural land uses with lower biodiversity value. To counter these threats and conserve biodiversity over the long-term, land management should focus on conserving native forest habitat within cocoa production landscapes, maintaining or restoring floristically diverse and structurally complex shade canopies within cocoa agroforests, and retaining other types of on-farm tree cover to enhance landscape connectivity and habitat availability.     

Direct seeding of Brazilian savanna trees: effects of plant cover and fertilization on seedling establishment and growth

Direct seeding is a promising technique for ecological restoration, but it has been poorly studied in neotropical savannas. Different types of plant cover (no cover, crops, or green manure) and fertilization (unfertilized, synthetic fertilizer, or poultry litter) were used to verify if survival and growth of different tree species after direct seeding could be enhanced by the use of any combination of these techniques. Seedling emergence, establishment, and growth were followed for 2 years for six savanna tree species sown in an agricultural field in Central Brazil. Germination was high (52%, on average) for Anacardium occidentale, Aspidosperma macrocarpon, Hymenaea stigonocarpa, Dipteryx alata, Eugenia dysenterica, and Magonia pubescens. Six additional species were planted, but less than 5% of these seeds germinated. Crops (60% shade) did not affect seedling survival and biomass compared with the control treatment, supporting the use of this strategy during the initial phase of restoration to involve farmers in the process. In contrast, the excessive shading (95%) from the green manure treatment decreased the survival of two species and the growth in biomass and diameter of five species, especially when combined with fertilization. Seedling growth was very slow throughout the experiment, requiring extended weed management. This study supports the use of direct seeding of the studied species for savanna restoration, but methods could be improved to include a larger number of species.     

Evidence for indigenous selection and distribution of the shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, and its potential significance to prevailing parkland savanna tree patterns in sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator

Aim Woody vegetation patterns in African savannas north of the equator are closely connected to human presence, but the distinctions between natural and anthropogenic landscapes have not been clear to many observers. Criteria for identifying savanna landscapes on a continuum of intensity of anthropic impact are explored. Methods A key savanna tree species, Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae), was used as model for evaluating anthropic impact. Fruits harvested from tree populations across the species range were analysed for variation in traits valued by indigenous peoples. A simple selection index was used to scale tree populations from a hypothetical wild state to a hypothetical domesticated state. Index values were compared with trait values along climate zone gradients and evaluated in the context of indigenous savanna management practices and historical species distribution reports. Results Trait values such as fruit size and shape, pulp sweetness, and kernel fat content show a significant influence of temperature and rainfall. At the same time, the mean values of groups of traits vary perpendicular to the general climatic zone gradient. Selection index values between Vitellaria populations vary up to sixfold, with highest values in central Burkina Faso. Comparison of present day Vitellaria distribution with historical range limits show range expansion by human migration. Main conclusions The prevalence of major economic tree species in the savannas of Africa north of the equator is a strong indicator of human involvement in tree dispersal. This conclusion is supported by paleobotanical evidence and by recent Vitellaria range expansion as a result of human migration. The presence of high mean values of several Vitellaria fruit traits in central Burkina Faso suggests that selection for desired characteristics has occurred. The impact of indigenous savanna peoples on woody species composition and spatial distribution is probably much greater than usually thought and is the result of a deliberate strategy of altering the landscape to provide needed human resources.     

Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Species Composition in a Primary Rain Forest and Agroforests in Central Amazonia

Termites play important roles in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure in tropical rain forests. When forests are replaced by agriculture, termite species richness, abundance, and function often decline. We compared the termite assemblage of a primary forest site with that of a low plant diversity, palm-based agroforest (five plant species) and a high plant diversity, home-garden agroforest (10 plant species) using a rapid biodiversity assessment protocol. In comparing the primary forest termite species composition to previously published studies, we found soil feeders and the Apicotermitinae to be more dominant than previously reported in Amazonia. Thirty percent of the species belonged to the Apicotermitinae, and an unusually high percentage (57%) of species were soil feeders. Unexpectedly, the palm-based agroforest, despite its lower plant diversity, was closer to primary forest in termite species composition, rate of species accumulation, and proportions of species in taxonomic and functional classes than was the home-garden agroforest. This suggests that particular plant attributes may better determine the termite assemblage than plant diversity alone in these agroecosystems. Unlike other agroecosystems reported in the literature, Apicotermitinae and soil feeders were proportionally more abundant in these agroforests than in primary forest. The ability of agroforests to support populations of soil feeders has a potentially positive effect on soil fertility in these agroecosystems; insomuch as feeding guild is a proxy for function, these closed-canopy agroforests may be able to sustain the same termite-mediated functions as primary forest.     

Changes in lignocellulolytic enzyme activites in six <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus</Emphasis> spp. strains cultivated on coffee pulp in confrontation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> spp.

Summary The antagonistic effect of six Pleurotus spp. strains was studied in confrontation with three strains of Trichoderma spp. Pleurotus strains were cultivated on sterile coffee pulp, with and without a Trichoderma inoculant. Laccase, Mn peroxidase and endoglucanase activities were determined during incubation. Laccase production was also studied by PAGE analysis to detect enzymatic isoforms. Results show that the presence of Trichoderma induced a significant increase in oxidase production by the Pleurotus strains. Nevertheless, Trichoderma was not observed to induce laccase isoforms.