Hasil untuk "Forestry"

Yuchen Li, Chi Li, Jianjun Hao et al.

ABSTRACT Potato common scab (PCS) is caused by various Streptomyces spp., which seriously affect the quality and economic value of potatoes. Different species of pathogens may affect disease control strategies due to their biological characteristics. To determine pathogen composition in the major potato production area, northern China, potato tubers with various types of PCS symptoms were collected from 18 counties. From 57 collected samples, 159 bacterial isolates of Streptomyces spp. were obtained on oatmeal agar. Pathogenicity of these isolates was examined on tuber disks and potted plants of potato, resulting in 42 isolates being confirmed as pathogenic and causing typical scabby symptoms. To confirm pathogenicity determinants, the txtAB, tomA, and nec1 genes of these pathogens were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pathogenic isolates were also identified by the combination of morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, BOX-PCR, 16S rDNA, and multilocus sequence analysis. Among the 42 pathogenic Streptomyces isolates, 36 (85.7% of total isolates) were identified as Streptomyces galilaeus, and 6 (14.3%) as Streptomyces scabies. The genome of S. galilaeus isolates from the predominant group was resequenced, yielding six distinct genetic clusters. The Shangdu population exhibited the most complex genetic structure. The dominance and genetic diversity of S. galilaeus revealed in this study provide a critical foundation for breeding resistant potato varieties and developing targeted control measures tailored to the agroecological conditions of northern China.IMPORTANCEPotato common scab (PCS) caused by pathogenic Streptomyces seriously affects the quality and economic value of potato, especially in northern China. The species of Streptomyces were closely related to their geographical distribution. We determined that Streptomyces galilaeus is dominant in this area, rather than Streptomyces scabies, which is widely distributed. This finding emphasizes the importance of developing effective prevention and control strategies for the region. In addition, genome resequencing of S. galilaeus revealed significant genetic diversity, with the Shangdu population displaying the most complex structure. These results provide important information for further understanding the population structure and distribution of PCS pathogens.

Ziqi Nie, Lin Qin, Peng Xing et al.

The pine wood nematode (PWN), one of the globally significant forest diseases, has driven the demand for precise detection methods. Recent advances in satellite remote sensing technology, particularly ultra-high-resolution optical imagery, have opened new avenues for identifying PWN-infected trees. In order to systematically evaluate the ability of ultra-high-resolution optical remote sensing and the influence of spatial and spectral resolution in detecting PWN-infected trees, this study utilized a U-Net network model to identify PWN-infected trees using three remote sensing datasets of the ultra-high-resolution multispectral imagery from Beijing 3 International Cooperative Remote Sensing Satellite (BJ3N), with a panchromatic band spatial resolution of 0.3 m and six multispectral bands at 1.2 m; the high-resolution multispectral imagery from the Beijing 3A satellite (BJ3A), with a panchromatic band resolution of 0.5 m and four multispectral bands at 2 m; and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery with five multispectral bands at 0.07 m. Comparison of the identification results demonstrated that (1) UAV multispectral imagery with 0.07 m spatial resolution achieved the highest accuracy, with an F1 score of 89.1%. Next is the fused ultra-high-resolution BJ3N satellite imagery at 0.3 m, with an F1 score of 88.9%. In contrast, BJ3A imagery with a raw spatial resolution of 2 m performed poorly, with an F1 score of only 28%. These results underscore that finer spatial resolution in remote sensing imagery directly enhances the ability to detect subtle canopy changes indicative of PWN infestation. (2) For UAV, BJ3N, and BJ3A imagery, the identification accuracy for PWN-infected trees showed no significant differences across various band combinations at equivalent spatial resolutions. This indicates that spectral resolution plays a secondary role to spatial resolution in detecting PWN-infected trees using ultra-high-resolution optical imagery. (3) The 0.3 m BJ3N satellite imagery exhibits low false-detection and omission rates, with F1 scores comparable to higher-resolution UAV imagery. This indicates that a spatial resolution of 0.3 m is sufficient for identifying PWN-infected trees and is approaching a point of saturation in a subtropical mountain monsoon climate zone. In conclusion, ultra-high-resolution satellite remote sensing, characterized by frequent data revisit cycles, broad spatial coverage, and balanced spatial-spectral performance, provides an optimal remote sensing data source for identifying PWN-infected trees. As such, it is poised to become a cornerstone of future research and practical applications in detecting and managing PWN infestations globally.

Zafar Iqbal Khan, Kafeel Ahmad, Mutiya Zafar et al.

The freshwater shortage and increased domestic effluents have led the farmers to utilize untreated sewage water for irrigation, owing to population growth and urbanization in Pakistan. Though sewage water contains essential plant nutrients, it is also a foremost source of metal contamination within the food chain. This study aimed to compare heavy metals (Cd, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cr) contamination in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) grown in soils irrigated with sewage water, tube well water, and canal water in Sillanwali and Sargodha of Punjab, Pakistan. The areas were evaluated for heavy metal contamination using soil quality indices, including contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), estimated daily intake (EDI), and hazard quotient (HQ), which were duly computed for the collected samples. The physicochemical properties of the soil and water samples were also analyzed. The results indicated that the sewage-irrigated areas are more vulnerable to risk concerning metal contamination than those located along canals. Metal concentrations in sewage-irrigated areas were significantly higher in the edible parts of the vegetables; sewage water contained and transferred more metals than canal water; hence, it poses increased health and ecological risks. Peak concentrations were observed at site SW1 (sewage water, site 1) and were the lowest at site TW2 (tube well water irrigation, site 2). Since all metal index values fell below 1, it shows that all metal concentrations were within permissible limits.

Le Van Trong, Ha Thi Phuong, Le Thi Huyen

The ability to accurately identify key growth stages is critical for proper rice management, Since management practices are directly tied to plant developmental processes, a sound understanding of rice growth is essential for effective cultivation. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield performance of seven rice varieties (BT, CUDH1, NU986, ST25, TBR225, TX111, and VNR20) during different growth stages (Root establishment and Greening up,Tillering, Panicle initiation, Flowering, and Dough stage) in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Results indicated that CUDH1 and TX111 exhibited superior performance, with greater plant height, higher leaf area index (LAI) throughout most growth stages, and enhanced dry matter accumulation. These characteristics reflect strong photosynthetic capacity and robust growth potential, ultimately leading to the highest recorded yields: CUDH1 (8.25 t ha-1) and TX111 (8.02 t ha-1). The NU986 (7.73 t ha-1) and BT (7.32 t ha-1) also achieved relatively good yields, though improvements in cultivation techniques are recommended to fully exploit their potential. Conversely, ST25 (6.97 t ha-¹), VNR20 (7.05 t ha-¹), and TBR225 (7.18 t ha-¹) exhibited lower plant height and dry matter accumulation, thus making them more suitable for high-quality rice production or areas prone to lodging. the conclusion, varietal selection tailored to specific production goals and local ecological conditions is a critical factor in improving the efficiency and sustainability of rice production systems.

Dan-Cornel Popovici, Gheorghe Dărăbuș, Ana-Maria Marin et al.

Fascioloidosis is a parasitic disease of primary wild and domestic ruminants, caused by giant liver fluke, <i>Fascioloides magna</i>. The definitive host of the liver fluke in its area of origin (North America) is the white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>). In Europe, the red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) and European fallow deer (<i>Dama dama</i>) are definitive hosts and the most sensitive hosts to <i>F. magna</i> infection, on which the parasite exerts serious pathogenic effects. In this study, we analyzed fecal samples and livers of 72 <i>D. dama</i> from 11 hunting grounds in Arad County, Romania. Of the 72 fecal samples and livers from <i>D. dama</i>, trematodes of the genus <i>Fascioloides</i> were identified in four (5.56%). Sequencing revealed that the trematodes identified in the samples were similar to the sequence of <i>F. magna</i> (GenBank no. EF534992.1, DQ683545.1, KU232369.1). The sequence obtained from the molecular analysis has been deposited in GenBank^® under accession number OQ689976.1. This study describes the first report of giant liver fluke (<i>F. magna</i>) infection in <i>D. dama</i> in Romania.

Edvinas Misiukevičius, Ingrida Mažeikienė, James Gossard et al.

Chromosome doubling in ornamental plants, as shown by our study in daylilies (<i>Hemerocallis</i> spp.), has great potential to increase tolerance to abiotic stress. Drought is the most critical growth-limiting factor in a changing climate. Drought tolerance is one of the decisive factors for the survival, productivity, and appearance of perennial ornamental plants. Understanding and elucidating the molecular mechanisms that determine plant response to abiotic stress is essential. De novo transcriptome assembly of diploid and autotetraploid <i>Hemerocallis</i> spp. cv. Trahlyta was performed under artificially induced stress to elucidate the molecular mechanisms related to plant response to drought. In daylily mRNA, 237,886 transcripts were detected, and 42.4% of them were identified as annotated unigenes. In the experiment, diploid plants were more stressed, with 2871 upregulated or downregulated DEGs (differentially expressed genes) responding to drought, while tetraploid plants had 1599 DEGs. The proportion of upregulated DEGs differed by 1.3 times between diploid and autotetraploid genotypes, whereas the proportion of downregulated DEGs was 1.8 times greater in diploid plants. Signaling pathways related to the drought response were activated in daylilies, and key candidate genes were identified in both ploidy genotypes. In autotetraploid plants, more drought-related pathways were activated than in diploids—43 and 19, respectively. The most abundant DEGs in both cases were KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes), metabolic (ko01100), and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (ko01110) pathways. Summarizing the data, it was found that autotetraploid plants of the daylily have a wider potential for adaptation to drought stress. Therefore, they adapt faster and better to adverse drought conditions by activating alternative signaling pathways. The comparative transcriptome analysis of diploid and autotetraploid plants allows us to understand the molecular mechanisms of drought resistance and it is also essential for daylily breeding programs to develop drought-resistant genotypes in the future.

Yunrui Ji, Xuelei Wei, Fang Liu et al.

Human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) are major conservation concerns that threaten both wildlife and rural livelihoods, and can vary spatially and temporally in diverse environments. A better understanding of HWC enhances mitigation strategies and promotes human-wildlife coexistence. We gathered HWC incidents from 2012 to 2021 in Longyang District, Yunnan Province, China, to assess their spatial-temporal patterns and determinants. We found that HWC were distributed unevenly, with more occurring near the protected area and away from densely populated areas. Poisson regression indicated that forests and croplands were the key factors influencing the spatial patterns of HWC for Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), but shrubs for rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Furthermore, the HWC occurrences fluctuated across time, peaking in August-October. These conflicts intensified between 2012 and 2021, mainly involving wild boars (Sus scrofa) and rhesus monkeys, while HWC involving Asiatic black bears declined slightly. We suggest a multi-faceted strategy with compensation, prevention, and conservation awareness to mitigate HWC in this region.

Jessica R. Patterson, Travis L. DeVault, James C. Beasley

Abstract Scavenging plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and contributing to ecological functions; however, research in this sub‐discipline of ecology is underutilized in developing and implementing wildlife conservation and management strategies. We provide an examination of the literature and recommend priorities for research where improved understanding of scavenging dynamics can facilitate the development and refinement of applied wildlife conservation and management strategies. Due to the application of scavenging research broadly within ecology, scavenging studies should be implemented for informing management decisions. In particular, a more direct link should be established between scavenging dynamics and applied management programs related to informing pharmaceutical delivery and population control through bait uptake for scavenging species, prevention of unintentional poisoning of nontarget scavenging species, the epidemiological role that scavenging species play in disease dynamics, estimating wildlife mortalities, nutrient transfer facilitated by scavenging activity, and conservation of imperiled facultative scavenging species. This commentary is intended to provide information on the paucity of data in scavenging research and present recommendations for further studies that can inform decisions in wildlife conservation and management. Additionally, we provide a framework for decision‐making when determining how to apply scavenging ecology research for management practices and policies. Due to the implications that scavenging species have on ecosystem health, and their overall global decline as a result of anthropic activities, it is imperative to advance studies in the field of scavenging ecology that can inform applied conservation and management programs.

Zhiguo Li, Mengshang Hou, Yuanmei Qiu et al.

The fungus <i>Ascosphaera apis</i>, an obligate fungal pathogen of honey bee brood, causes chalkbrood disease in honey bee larvae worldwide. Biological characteristics of the fungal pathogen and the molecular interactions between <i>A. apis</i> and honey bees have been studied extensively. However, little is known about the effects of <i>A. apis</i> infection on antioxidant enzyme activities and metabolic profiles of the gut of honey bee larvae. In this study, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and LC-MS based untargeted metabolomic analysis were employed to determine the changes in the specific activities of antioxidant enzymes and the metabolomic profiles in gut tissues of <i>A. apis</i>-infected larvae (10⁵ <i>A. apis</i> spores per larva) and controls. Results showed that specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly higher in the guts of the control larvae than in the guts of the <i>A. apis</i>-infected larvae. The metabolomic data revealed that levels of 28 and 52 metabolites were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the guts of <i>A. apis</i>-infected larvae than in the guts of control larvae. The 5-oxo-ETE level in the infected larvae was two times higher than that in the control larvae. Elevated 5-oxo-ETE levels may act as a potential metabolic biomarker for chalkbrood disease diagnosis, suggesting that <i>A. apis</i> infection induced obvious oxidative stress in the honey bee larvae. The levels of metabolites such as taurine, docosahexaenoic acid, and L-carnitine involved in combating oxidative stress were significantly decreased in the gut of <i>A. apis</i>-infected larvae. Overall, our results suggest that <i>A. apis</i> infection may compromise the ability of infected larvae to cope with oxidative stress, providing new insight into changing patterns of physiological responses to <i>A. apis</i> infection in honey bee larvae by concurrent use of conventional biochemical assays and untargeted metabolomics.

Krčmářová Jana

There is a lot of promise seen in agroforestry—the deliberate keeping of trees on farmland in various forms and contexts. The Czechia, like many other European countries, experiences farmland soil degradation and erosion, climate and water regime changes, and biodiversity loss. Industrial agriculture with high inputs brings not only high yields but also numerous negative externalities. Mixed cultures on Czech lands were common just 150 years ago. However, they were left out of the new cadastral classification in the 19th century and, as this article shows, did not appear in modern agricultural (and forestry) scientific theory- represented by contemporary scholar book selection in this article. The symbolic annihilation of agroforestry cultures in the official agrarian discourse of the 19th century probably contributed to their disappearance from both land-use theory and practice.

Ali Jahani

Today, the landscape aesthetic quality assessment is more technical and quantitative in environmental management. We aimed at developing artificial neural network (ANN) modelling and multiple regression (MLR) analysis approaches to predict the perceptional aesthetic quality of forest landscapes. The methodology, followed in this paper, can be divided into six distinct parts: (i) selection of representative study sites, (ii) mapping of landscape units, (iii) quantification of naturalness indicators, (iv) visibility analysis, (v) assessment of human perceptions, (vi) ANN and MLR modelling and sensitivity analysis. The results of ANN modelling, especially its high accuracy (R2 = 0.871) in comparison with MLR results (R2 = 0.782), introduced the forest landscape aesthetic quality model (FLAQM) as a comparative model for an assessment of forest landscape aesthetic quality. According to sensitivity analysis, the values of livestock density, tree harvesting, virgin forest, animal grazing, and tree richness were identified as the most significant variables which influence FLAQM. FLAQM can be used to compare the classes of aesthetic quality of forests.

Eduardo da Silva Lopes, Pedro Caldas Britto, Carla Krulikowski Rodrigues

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the postural discomfort and health risks of workers in manual forest plantation operations of a company located in the region of Campos Gerais, Paraná State. Data was collected through interviews, using the postural diagram proposed by Corlett, in a sample of 226 workers from manual planting, fertilization and herbicide application operations. The results indicated that manual planting operations caused greater postural discomfort in the legs of 56% of workers, while the fertilization and herbicide application caused discomfort in the shoulders of 41% and 56% of workers, respectively. The perception of postural discomfort during work is important to assist managers in adopting ergonomic measures for improving the safety and health of workers.

Cheng D. Yang, Cheng D. Yang, Xie Dang et al.

The rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, infects many economically important cereal crops, particularly rice. It has emerged as an important model organism for studying the growth, development, and pathogenesis of filamentous fungi. RabGTPases are important molecular switches in regulation of intracellular membrane trafficking in all eukaryotes. MoRab5A and MoRab5B are Rab5 homologs in M. oryzae, but their functions in the fungal development and pathogenicity are unknown. In this study, we have employed a genetic approach and demonstrated that both MoRab5A and MoRab5B are crucial for vegetative growth and development, conidiogenesis, melanin synthesis, vacuole fusion, endocytosis, sexual reproduction, and plant pathogenesis in M. oryzae. Moreover, both MoRab5A and MoRab5B show similar localization in hyphae and conidia. To further investigate possible functional redundancy between MoRab5A and MoRab5B, we overexpressed MoRAB5A and MoRAB5B, respectively, in MoRab5B:RNAi and MoRab5A:RNAi strains, but neither could rescue each other’s defects caused by the RNAi. Taken together, we conclude that both MoRab5A and MoRab5B are necessary for the development and pathogenesis of the rice blast fungus, while they may function independently.

M. Bylesjö, V. Segura, R. Soolanayakanahally et al.

O. V. Tarasova, I. I. Kalashnikova, V. V. Kuznecsova

The model of optimal food consumption by phytophagous insects proposed, in which the metabolic costs are presented in the form of two components – the cost of food utilization and costs for proper metabolism of the individuals. Two measures were introduced – the «price» of food conversion and the «price» of biomass synthesis of individuals to assess the effectiveness of food consumption by caterpillars. The proposed approach to the description of food consumption by insects provides the exact solutions of the equation of energy balance of food consumption and determining the effectiveness of consumption and the risk of death of the individual. Experiments on larvae’s feeding in laboratory conditions were carried out to verify the model. Caterpillars of Aporia crataegi L. (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) were the research subjects. Supply­demand balance, calculated value of the environmental price of consumption and efficiency of food consumption for each individual were determined from experimental data. It was found that the fertility of the female does not depend on the weight of food consumed by it, but is linearly dependent on the food consumption efficiency index. The greater the efficiency of food consumption by an individual, the higher its fertility. The data obtained in the course of experiments on the feeding caterpillars Aporia crataegi were compared with the data presented in the works of other authors and counted in the proposed model of consumption. Calculations allowed estimation of the critical value of food conversion price below which the energy balance is negative and the existence of an individual is not possible.

Eric Friginal

E. McPherson, P. Peper

Selecting, locating, and managing trees to provide ecosystem services are becoming increasingly important facets of municipal and consulting forestry. The science of urban tree growth modeling is fundamental to quantifying these services. This paper describes three longterm tree growth studies conducted to evaluate tree performance because repeated measurements of the same trees produce critical data for growth model calibration and validation. Several empirical and process-based approaches to modeling tree growth are reviewed. Modeling is more advanced in the fields of forestry and pomology than in urban forestry. The USDA Forest Service’s reference city research has developed over 1,800 growth equations from measurements on more than 17,000 trees in 16 cities. The database is a valuable source of information that reflects regional differences in species composition, climate, soils, site conditions, and management practices. Several examples illustrate how differences in local climate and management practices can influence growth of a single species and the resulting value of services. Further advances in urban tree growth modeling are needed to inform the design, management, and modeling of high performing landscapes.

J. Chmielewska-Badora, A. Moniuszko, W. Żukiewicz-Sobczak et al.

Linette Salvo, Rubén Ananías, Alain Cloutier

La permeabilidad específica es una propiedad de la madera que depende fundamentalmente de los espacios disponibles para el flujo del fluido a través de su estructura anatómica. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo interrelacionar los detalles de la estructura anatómica (ancho de los anillos de crecimiento, diámetro de traqueidas, frecuencia de traqueidas, frecuencia de canales resiníferos, espesor de la pared celular, diámetro de la cámara de la punteadura y canal del margo) del pino radiata (Pinus radiata D. Don.) con la permeabilidad transversal gaseosa. El diseño experimental considera como factores variables el tipo de madera: juvenil y adulta y la dirección del flujo: radial y tangencial. De acuerdo a los resultados de este trabajo, las propiedades anatómicas estiman con un coeficiente de determinación de 97 % o más los valores de permeabilidad específica transversal gaseosa de pino radiata a través de modelos de regresión múltiple. En madera adulta, la permeabilidad específica gaseosa radial y tangencial son correlacionadas linealmente con el diámetro de las traqueidas de la madera temprana (r=0.68) y la frecuencia de las traqueidas de madera tardía (r=0.75), respectivamente. Diferencias significativas en los valores de la permeabilidad específica tangencial son encontradas entre madera juvenil (0.5x10-14 m2) y adulta (1.4x10-14 m2).   The specific permeability of wood depends basically on the space available for fluid flow through its microstructure. The objective of this work was to determine the relationships between anatomical features of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) wood (growth rings width; tracheids diameterand frequency, cell wall thickness; resin canals frequency; diameter of the bordered pits chamber and Margo) and the transverse gas permeability. The type of wood (juvenile and mature wood) and the direction of flow (radial and tangential) were considered as the variables in the experimental design.   The results obtained show that the features studied result in multiple regression equations of transversal specific gas permeability of radiata pine with coefficients of determination of 97% and higher. For mature wood, the radial and tangential specific gas permeabilities are linearly correlated to earlywood tracheids diameter (r=0.68) and latewood tracheids frequency (r=0.75). Significant differences were found between tangential gas specific permeability measured in juvenile (0.5 x 10-14 m2) and mature wood (1.4 x 10-14 m2).

R. Brazee, R. Mendelsohn

Because of volatility in demand, timber prices tend to fluctuate from year to year. Timber owners know today's price but are uncertain about tomorrow's prices. Traditional Faustmann harvesting ignores these random annual price fluctuations and prescribes harvests on the basis of expected prices. In this paper, we adapt an asset sale model to forestry and solve for the optimal schedule of reservation prices. When current price is above the reservation price, owners should cut that age class, otherwise they should wait another year. This flexible price harvest policy significantly increases the present value of expected returns over the more rigid Faustmann model. For. Sci. 34(2):359-372.