Some preliminary results of climatic studies based on European tree-ring and vine quality time series

In this paper some aspects of palaeonclimatology are discussed. Tree-ring parameters and grape harvest values representing biospheric quantities are used as annual proxy data. They are matched with climatic time series (temperature and precipitation) on a monthly or seasonal data basis to obtain an assessment of the biosphere-climate response. The climatic variables extend from the late summer of each current year back to the spring of each previous year. The maximum annual ring density proved to be controlled mainly by the temperature of late summer, whereas the so-called Hollstein Index contains information on the precipitation of early summer; the vine quality is influenced by temperature and precipitation alike.     

Bicarbonate,the most important factor inducing iron chlorosis in vine grapes on calcareous soil

Summary In pot experiments grape vine was grown on a calcareous and on a non calcareous soil with a low and with a high water saturation. During the growing period soil solution samples were collected and analyzed for their pH and for HCO ₃ ⁻ , phosphate, Fe, and Ca. High water saturation resulted in a pH increase and in an increase of the HCO ₃ ⁻ concentration in both soils. The level in pH and HCO ₃ ⁻ , however, was much higher in the calcareous soil than in the non calcareous soil. The Fe concentration varied much throughout the experimental period, but there was no major differences between soils and water saturation treatments. The Ca concentration of the soil solution increased with time in the calcareous soil; for the non calcareous soil rather the reverse was true. The phosphate level in the soil solution of the non calcareous soil was about 10 times higher than in the calcareous soil. After 3 weeks growth all plants of the calcareous soil with the high water saturation showed first symptoms of Fe deficiency. These became more intense from day to day. Plants of the other treatments did not show any chlorotic symptoms. In the treatment with the chlorotic plants the HCO ₃ ⁻ concentration of the soil solution was the highest, the phosphate concentration the lowest from all treatments. It is therefore concluded that HCO ₃ ⁻ and not phosphate is the primary cause for lime induced Fe chlorosis. Despite the low phosphate concentration in the soil solution, the P concentration in the chlorotic leaves was more than twice as high as the P concentration in green leaves grown on the same soil. It is thus assumed that the high P content frequently found in chlorotic leaves is the result and not the cause for Fe chlorosis.     

Modeling functional data with spatially heterogeneous shape characteristics

We propose a novel class of models for functional data exhibiting skewness or other shape characteristics that vary with spatial or temporal location. We use copulas so that the marginal distributions and the dependence structure can be modeled independently. Dependence is modeled with a Gaussian or t-copula, so that there is an underlying latent Gaussian process. We model the marginal distributions using the skew t family. The mean, variance, and shape parameters are modeled nonparametrically as functions of location. A computationally tractable inferential framework for estimating heterogeneous asymmetric or heavy-tailed marginal distributions is introduced. This framework provides a new set of tools for increasingly complex data collected in medical and public health studies. Our methods were motivated by and are illustrated with a state-of-the-art study of neuronal tracts in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls. Using the tools we have developed, we were able to find those locations along the tract most affected by the disease. However, our methods are general and highly relevant to many functional data sets. In addition to the application to one-dimensional tract profiles illustrated here, higher-dimensional extensions of the methodology could have direct applications to other biological data including functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).     

Structural and immunocytochemical characterization of the adhesive tendril of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia [L.] Planch.)

Summary. The tendrils of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) do not coil around their supports. Rather, they adhere to supporting objects by flattening against the support surface and secreting an adhesive compound which firmly glues the tendril to the support. In this study, microscopic and immunocytochemical techniques were utilized to determine the nature of this adhesive. Following touch stimulation, epidermal cells of the tendril elongate toward the support substrate, becoming papillate in morphology. Following contact with the support surface, an adhesive is produced at the base of the papillate cells. The adhesive appears as a highly heterogeneous, raftlike structure and consists of pectinaceous, rhamnogalacturonan (RG) I-reactive components surrounding a callosic core. In addition, more mobile components, composed of arabinogalactans and mucilaginous pectins, intercalate both the support and the tendril, penetrating the tendril to the proximal ends of the papillate cells. Following adherence to the support, the anticlinal walls of the papillate cells are devoid of RG I side-chain reactivity, indicating that extensive debranching of RG I molecules has taken place. Furthermore, a large amount of RG I backbone reactivity was observed in the contact area. These results may indicate that the debranched RG I molecules diffuse into and permeate the contact region, forming an integral part of the adhesive compound. These results indicate that Virginia creeper adheres to objects by a composite adhesive structure consisting of debranched RG I, callose, and other, less-well characterized mucilaginous pectins and that this structure subsequently becomes lignified and very weather-resistant upon the ultimate senescence of the tendril. Correspondence: Kevin C. Vaughn, USDA-ARS-SWSRU, P.O. Box 350, Stoneville, MS 38776, U.S.A.     

Phenolic and heterocyclic metabolite profiles of the grapevine pathogen Eutypa lata

The ascomycete Eutypa lata is the causative agent of eutypa dieback in grapevines, a serious economic problem in major wine grape producing areas. In order to develop a predictive, non-destructive assay for early detection of fungal infection, the phenolic metabolite profiles of 11 strains of E. lata grown on four different artificial growth media were analyzed by HPLC and their variability compared with growth on Cabernet Sauvignon grapevine wood and wood extracts. Six compounds were generally produced in significant amounts, namely eutypinol, eulatachromene, and eutypine and its benzofuran cyclization product, together with siccayne and eulatinol. The two most widely distributed and abundant metabolites were eutypinol and eulatachromene, which were present in 8 of the strains grown on grapewood aqueous extract fortified with sucrose. Metabolite production on grapevine extract was greatly enhanced relative to the artificial media, indicating that this native substrate provides optimal conditions and a more representative profile of the metabolites produced in the natural disease state. The primary metabolites were tested in a grapeleaf disc bioassay to establish their relative toxicity. Neither eutypinol nor siccayne were phytotoxic; eulatachromene, eulatinol, eutypine, and the benzofuran exhibited necrotic effects in the bioassay. The results indicate that eutypa dieback may be caused by several E. lata metabolites rather than a single compound.     

异军突起的藤本植物

对藤本植物(以热带为主)研究的动态与发展进行了综述,其中包括:(1)藤本植物的概念及重要性;(2)藤本植物区系和分布;(3)藤本植物的生物学特性;(4)藤本植物的生态学特性;(5)藤本在森林中的多度(密度)及种的丰富度;(6)藤本在空地上聚生的生态意义以及它们在森林演进过程中的消长;(7)藤本与树木的相互关系;(8)藤本对森林正面和负面的影响;(9)藤本的攀援方式类别及其竞争优势;(10)全球气候变化(CO₂浓度增高)促进藤本优势度增长并导致不良的生态后果。     

Assessment of pesticide susceptibility for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhlodromus exhilaratus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhlodromus phialatus</Emphasis> strains (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from vineyards in the south of France

Two species of Phytoseiidae predominated in and around vineyards in an experimental site in the south of France: Typhlodromus exhilaratus is the dominant species on grapes, whereas T. phialatus occurs in the uncultivated areas surrounding these crops. To help understand their distribution, this study aims to determine their susceptibility to a fungicide (dimethomorph + mancozeb) and an insecticide (chlorpyriphos-ethyl), which have been widely used at the experimental site for at least four years. The hypothesis tested is that the effects of these two pesticides differ between T. exhilaratus and T. phialatus. Two populations of T. exhilaratus, one collected on a vine crop where the two pesticides were applied and the other in an unsprayed orchard of Sorbus domestica, and one population of T. phialatus collected on Viburnum tinus from uncultivated areas adjacent to the vine crop, were tested under laboratory conditions. The fungicide seems to affect the females of T. phialatus more than those of T. exhilaratus from vine. However, at the recommended field concentration the female mortality rates of the three strains were low and female fecundities were not significantly different. Conversely, mortality rates were very high for the three strains at the recommended field concentration of chlorpyrifos-ethyl. The strain of T. exhilaratus from vine seems to be more tolerant and 20% of females survived the recommended field rate. This suggests better survival after insecticide application than females of T. phialatus (100% mortality at a lower concentration than the recommended rate). As extrapolation of laboratory results to the field is often irrelevant, these differences could be just one of several factors affecting the spatial segregation of the two species in the agrosystem considered. Possible explanations other than pesticides for the poor settlement of T. phialatus in vine plots are discussed.     

广西瑶族藤茶化学成份的研究

从广西瑶族藤茶,即显齿蛇葡萄(Ampelopsis grossedentata)中提取分离出两种黄酮类化合物,经化学和光谱解析,鉴定为杨梅树皮素(Myricetin,C_(15)H_(10)O_8,结晶Ⅰ),双氢杨梅树皮素(DL-dihydromyricetin,C_(15)H_(12)O_8,结晶Ⅱ),其中杨梅树皮素为首次报道从该植物中获得。     

The soil quality concept as a framework to assess management practices in vulnerable agroecosystems: A case study in Mediterranean vineyards

Land management aiming to sustain ecosystem services is an important issue, especially in biodiversity hot spots such as found in Mediterranean areas. In Mediterranean areas, viticulture is an important land use. Vineyards are frequently found on inherently poor soils and are submitted to intensive management practices, which threaten soil functioning and associated ecosystem services. To encourage winegrowers and stakeholders to be reflective and adapt their vineyard practices, we evaluated the effects of three soil management practices (inter row plant cover duration, weeding and fertilization strategies) on soil functioning in 146 commercial plots distributed in Southern France, by a complementary set of biological and physico-chemical indicators. We used the concept of soil dynamic quality to evaluate some soil management practices on soil functioning. The influence of inherent soil properties derived from pedogenesis on soil dynamic indicator response was accounted for by considering the response of soil indicators for three soil groups differing in their stoniness and Ca carbonate content. The three soil management practices systematically influenced some nematode-based indicators, whereas other indicators were ascribable to a specific soil type or practice. We demonstrated that the potential of soil management practices to enhance soil functioning is restricted by soil type. In particular for calcareous soils, the soil functioning is very stable limiting effects of soil management practices. The presence of a cover crop, even temporary, in the inter row, is the only practice which benefits soil functioning whatever the soil type whereas organic fertilization and chemical weeding exhibit contrasting results on soil functioning.     

Effect of liming on EUF-nutrient fractions in the soil,on nutrient contents of grape leaves and on grape yield

Summary In pot experiments with vine, liming significantly raised EUF-Ca 20°C as well as EUF-Ca 80°C values of an acid clay soil (pH 4.2). This resulted in a marked rise in Ca contents of vine leaves (Table 2). High amounts of K fertilizers without lime raised mainly the EUF-Ca 20°C values whereas the EUF-80°C values remained at a low level (Table 3). Liming lowered the EUF-K 20°C values and as a result the ratio EUF-K 80°C C/EUF-K 20°C increased from 0.7 to 1.0.High K applications raised the K content of the leaves at flowering stage but at grape ripening a marked decrease in K content was observed (Table 5). In contrast, the application of both lime and K fertilizer raised the K content of leaves at both flowering and ripening. Grape yield increased as well (Table 11).Liming raised the EUF-P values of the soil and to a lesser extent the P contents of leaves (Tables 6 and 7).High K applications without lime raised the Mn contents of leaves (Table 9), Exchange processes due to K fertilizer addition were reflected in increased EUF-Mn values (Table 9).The highest yield (three-year average) was obtained in a high K treatment (22 g K₂O/pot) in combination with lime (40 g CaO/pot).