Two post thinning fertilizer trials inPinus radiata in New South Wales,Australia

Two trials inPinus radiata growing on different sites in N.S.W. allowed consideration of fertilizer applications after 2nd or 3rd thinning. The trials included factorial applications of N and P at a single thinning intensity plus a further treatment which allowed assessment of different thinning intensities. The most significant growth responses were obtained by application of N and P in combination. The largest response (additional productivity compared with the unfertilized control) occurred 4 years after application and after 7 years there was no additional absolute response for either of the two sites. The largest fertilizer response was 70 m³ ha^–1 over 7 years on one site and 36 m³ ha^–1 on the other, indicating differences in absolute responses between sites. It was concluded that in planning treatments the most responsive sites near the end of the rotation should be selected to maximise economic returns. Foliage analyses indicated differences between sites at the commencement of the study. It was concluded that either a single year of foliage analyses at study commencement is of value, or sampling every year of the study should be used to analyse responses, but a single year of analysis during or at the end of the study would not be of value.     

樟子松树皮中松多酚的提取工艺研究及提取方法比较

对樟子松树皮中的松多酚进行提取,比较有机溶剂提取法、超声波辅助提取法和超声波-复合酶法对松多酚提取效果的影响。实验结果表明,有机溶剂提取法适宜工艺条件为:乙醇浓度为60%,料液比为1∶25（g/mL）,提取时间为4h,提取温度为60℃。超声波辅助提取法适宜工艺条件为:超声功率为300W,超声时间为2.5h,超声温度为60℃,溶液pH3.0。超声波-复合酶解提取法适宜提取工艺条件为:酶解时间为40min,酶解温度为45℃,加酶量为4%,酶解pH4.0。三种提取方法在最适工艺条件下松多酚得率分别为12.56、23.01、30.12mg/g。超声波-复合酶法提取时间短、提取效率高、提取效果好,超声波辅助提取法次之,二者提取效果均好于有机溶剂提取法。      

星点设计-效应面法优化马尾松花粉总黄酮提取工艺

采用超声辅助提取法从马尾松花粉中提取总黄酮,通过单因素实验考察乙醇体积分数、提取时间、料液比以及提取次数等4个因素对马尾松花粉总黄酮得率的影响,并采用星点设计-效应面法优化总黄酮提取工艺。结果表明:马尾松花粉总黄酮的最佳提取工艺条件为乙醇体积分数62.5%,提取时间28.8 min,料液比1∶24,提取次数3次。在此优化条件下,马尾松花粉总黄酮的实际得率为1.37%,与理论值（1.32%）较为接近,表明采用星点设计-效应面法优化马尾松花粉总黄酮提取工艺的方法可行。      

Modelling the rate of secondary succession after farmland abandonment in a Mediterranean mountain area

Secondary succession after farmland abandonment has become a common process in north Mediterranean countries, especially in mountain areas. In this paper, a methodology is tested which combines Markov chains and logistic multivariate regression to model secondary succession after farmland abandonment in environments where abiotic constraints play a major role, like mountain areas. In such landscapes, a decay in the succession rate with time is usually found, as the best locations are progressively occupied. This is frequently addressed using non-stationary Markov chains. Here, we test if the combination of logistic multivariate regression with Markov chains, however, allows for spatially distributed transitions probabilities based on abiotic factors and therefore, it is able to reproduce the preferential colonization of the most favourable locations. The model is tested in the Ijuez Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees, which underwent generalized land abandonment during the 1950s. Results confirm a substantial improvement in the prediction success of the Markov-logistic model when compared to the standard Markov chain approach. As a result, the decay in the succession rate can be successfully modelled. The specific results for our study area are discussed further in an ecological context. The methodology proposed is applicable to any landscape where vegetation dynamics are constrained by environmental factors. However, the inclusion of land use as an explanatory factor would be necessary in human-managed landscapes.     

红松松仁多糖对脂多糖诱导RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的抑制作用

目的:探讨红松松仁多糖PNP40c-1对脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharides,LPS)诱导RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的抑制作用及可能机制。方法:以LPS刺激RAW264.7细胞诱导炎症模型,分别采用MTT法、比色法、酶联免疫法、RT-PCR和Western Blot等方法,比较LPS诱导前后巨噬细胞的细胞活力、吞噬能力、一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)/一氧化氮合酶(nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)和细胞因子表达的变化;同时对Nrf2/HO-1信号通路中关键蛋白核因子E2相关因子2(nuclear factor(erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 protein,Nrf2)和血红素氧化酶-1(heme oxygenase-1,HO-1)的mRNA和蛋白表达水平进行研究,以探讨PNP40c-1的具体作用机制。结果:在LPS诱导RAW264.7细胞的炎症反应中,PNP40c-1以剂量依赖性显著提高巨噬细胞的吞噬能力(P<0.05),抑制LPS诱导的NO和iNOS过量表达;PNP40c-1还可通过Nrf2/HO-1信号通路调节炎症因子如肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α),白介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)、白介素-6(IL-6)的分泌,缓解炎症反应。结论:红松松仁多糖PNP40c-1对LPS诱导的炎症反应具有一定的抑制作用,其作用机制与调节Nrf2/HO-1信号通路有关。     

Spectral sensing of foliar water conditions in two co-occurring conifer species: Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma

Many fundamental ecosystem properties and dynamics are determined by plant water stress, particularly in dryland ecosystems where water is usually limiting. Indeed, under severe drought, plant water stress and associated insect infestations can produce landscape-scale mortality. Despite the fundamental importance of plant water stress in determining properties and dynamics at ecosystem and landscape scales, approaches for remotely sensing plant water stress are largely lacking, particularly for conifers. We evaluated the remotely sensed detection of foliar drought stress in two conifer species, Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma, which are co-dominants of extensive-juniper woodlands in North America, the first of which experienced extensive mortality in association with a recent drought. Needle spectra were made on these species in the field using an integrating sphere and portable spectrometer. Two indices of foliar water condition, plant water content (% of dry mass) and plant water potential, were compared to five spectral analyses: continuum removal of the 970 and 1200 nm water absorption features, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the red edge wavelength position. For P. edulis, plant water content was significantly correlated with four of the five indices: NDVI (R²=0.71) and NDWI (R²=0.68) which exhibited stronger relationships than 970 nm continuum removal (R²=0.57) or red edge position (R²=0.45). All five indices were significantly correlated with P. edulis water content when trees undergoing mortality were included in analyses (R²=0.60-0.93). Although the correlations were weaker than for plant water content, plant water potential was significantly correlated with NDWI (R²=0.49), 970 nm (R²=0.44), NDVI (R²=0.35), and red edge (R²=0.34); again all five indices had significant relationships when trees undergoing mortality were included (R²=0.51-0.86). The relationships were weaker for J. monosperma: water content was significantly related to 970 nm (R²=0.50) and 1200 nm (R²=0.37) continuums and NDVI (R²=0.33), while water potential was related only to 1200 nm (R²=0.40). Our results demonstrate a critical link between plant physiological characteristics tied to water stress and associated spectral signatures for two extensive co-occurring conifer species.     

Methanogenic fermentation of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) sawdust: Enhancement by physicochemical pretreatment

The three major polymeric components of Scots Pine sawdust–lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose–represent potential substrates for methanogenic fermentation although, in the absence of physicochemical pretreatment, low digestibility was demonstrated even after protracted incubation (18 months). Acid (H₂SO₄) and alkali (NaOH) pretreatments mediated different effects although, in general, the rates and percent solubilisations increased with concentration, temperature, pressure and time, either singly or in combination. Individual methanogenic fermentations with the hydrolysates and residual solids showed that although 3.3% more methane resulted from the H₂SO₄ hydrolysate than the corresponding NaOH hydrolysate, in total, 7% more methane was generated from the two alkali fractions than from the corresponding acid fractions. The results thus exemplified that choice of a specific physicochemical strategy must be made in conjunction with the expected yield from the selected fraction(s).     

Fatty and resin acids of spanishpinus pinaster Ait. Subspecies

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the acid fraction of wood extractives from three SpanishPinus pinaster Ait. subspecies (Atlantic, mountain Mediterranean and plain Mediterranean) were studied. Seven samples of each subspecies were prepared according to Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Standards, extracted with petroleum ether (b.p. 40–60°C) in a Soxhlet apparatus and saponified with ethanolic 0.4N potassium hydroxide. The acid fraction was methylated with diazomethane and studied by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major constituents found were palmitic, oleic and linoleic among the fatty acids and pimaric, sandaracopimaric, levopimaric, isopimaric, abietic and dehydroabietic among the resin acids. Neoabietic and palustric acids were not found. Variations in the quantitative composition of the acid fraction enable us to distinguish the three subspecies. Main quantitative differences are found between the Atlantic subspecies and the two Mediterranean subspecies.     

Influence of mustelid scent-gland compounds on suppression of feeding by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus)

This study investigated the influence of mustelid anal-gland compounds in suppressing feeding by snowshoe hares on coniferous tree seedlings. Pen and field bioassays indicated that 3-propyl-1,2-dithiolane from the stoat (Mustela erminea), and secondarily, 2,2-dimethylthietane from the mink (M. vison) had a very negative effect on feeding behavior of hares. The major component of stoat anal gland secretions, 2-propylthietane, and the related compounds, thietane and 2-methylthietane, were not effective. 3,3-Dimethyl-1,2-dithiolane from the least weasel (M. nivalis) and ferret (M. putorius) and di-n-propyldisulfide (acyclic analog of 3-propyl-1,2-dithiolane) similarly did not affect hare feeding. 3-Propyl-1,2-dithiolane and 2,2-dimethylthietane (also found inM. erminea) may act as interspecific chemical signals which induce a fear or avoidance response in hares. Such compounds have outstanding potential as area repellents to reduce crop and livestock depredations. Our study reports one of the first practical utilizations of mammalian semiochemicals in crop protection and wildlife management.