Above-ground carbon stock in rehabilitated and unrehabilitated mined areas in Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippines

Economic, social, and ecological aspects of the environment are all impacted differently by mining in different parts of the world. When mining activities end and leave the area bare, rehabilitation and revegetation are required to minimize the impacts of mining in general. By fixing carbon in tree biomass, these interventions have a positive effect on increasing carbon storage. Measuring carbon stock is essential to evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions. This study was conducted in an inactive mining area in Marinduque, Philippines. Plots for sampling were created in areas that were not yet undergoing rehabilitation as well as those that were. The above-ground carbon stock and biomass were estimated using the allometric equation provided by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and Sourcebook for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Projects as references, respectively. The results for areas undergoing rehabilitation and those that were not indicated 4.297 t/ha and 0.0509 t/ha, respectively. The former has an above-ground carbon stock of 2.1485 t/ha, and the latter has 0.2545 t/ha. This shows a successful increase in biomass and carbon stock in the area undergoing rehabilitation. This comparison suggests that rehabilitation and revegetation should be implemented in mining areas to help mitigate the impacts of mining while also sequestering carbon. Policies and activities that will protect the current rehabilitation efforts and expand this rehabilitation to other inactive mining areas should be incorporated for future research

Baseline studies on sex-disaggregated statistics of members and gender roles of officers among recognized UPLB student organizations

The sex disaggregated statistics of members of recognized UPLB students organizations for five academic years were determined. Furthermore, the prevailing gender roles in elected key positions were identified. This is the first attempt to create and profile reorganized UPLB student organizations in terms of sex-disaggregated data (SDD) that could translate to effective policies and campaign strategies to enable a harmonized and gender-sensitive culture in UPLB. It sought to identify the assess the SDD of members among recognized UPLB student organization using both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. In a preliminary study, the data submitted by an average of 170 recognized organizations by the past five years (2012-2016) was consolidated. Data from the Office of Student Affairs Management (OSAM) System was so utilized. Furthermore, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was employed for selected student organizations. Participants were either heads/officers of their respective organizations or members were also knowledgeable of their constitutions, by laws, and policies. The SDD revealed that there were 20% more female members than male members in student organizations in general. This was validated by higher enrollment frequency count of females than males for years 2012-2016. Interestingly, the female dominated membership pattern was not observed across all types of student organizations. In contrary, sports and creation and political organizations were male dominated. Campaign strategies to encourage females to be part of these organizations are highly recommended. Though there are no written rules in terms of sex preference for activity leadership and role assignment, the study revealed that student organizations lend to associate presidency and other rigorous, physically-demanding tasks to make members and the vice president (membership committee), secretary, and treasurer positions - those that require managerial skills and finesse-to female members. Student organizations are highly recommended to undergo gender sensitivity training and other gender-related activities under the facilitation of the Student Organization and Activities Division (SOAD) and supervision of the UPLB Gender Center to create awareness to gender-empowering culture

Non-mist propagation of narig (Vatica mangachapoi Blanco) and mayapis (Shorea palosapis) (Blanco) Merr.) juvenile cuttings

A non-mist propagation study was conducted to assess the rooting responses of mayapis [Shorea palosapis (Blanco) Merr.] and narig (Vatica mangachaoi (Blanco) juvenile cuttings to various concentrations of indole butyric acid (IBA), napthalene acetic acid (NAA), and Superthrive Vitamin Hormone (StVH). It aimed to develop rooting protocols for such species intended for mass propagation. Results indicated that among the plant growth regulators (PGRs) used, IBA induced the highest rooting percentage of mayapis and narig as compared with NAA and StVH. In Phase 1 of the study, 100 ppm IBA induced a high rooting percentage of mayapis at 82.29%. In Phase 2, increasing the concentration of IBA to 150 ppm slightly increased the rooting percentage to 87.45%. The difference, however, was not statistically significant. In terms of the number of roots developed, no significant differences were observed among varying IBA concentrations (50 ppm, 100 ppm, and 150 ppm). IBA treatment, however, was significantly different from the control and StVH. Root lengths did not significant differ among treatments

Effects of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and gibberellic acid (GA \u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e) on fruit morphology, parthenocarpy, alkaloid content and chlorophyll content in bittergourd (Momordica charantia L. \u27Makiling\u27)

The effects of NAA and GA3 at 0, 20 and 100 ppm on fruit morphology (including parthenocarpy), alkaloid content and chlorophyll content of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L. \u27Makiling\u27) were investigated. Results showed that exogenous application of NAA and GA3 at the 5-leaf stage induced parthenocarpy in bittergourd. Fruit length of plants treated with NAA decreased significantly compared with the control. This decrease in fruit size could be due to the absence of seeds as a result of NAA-induced parthenocarpy. In addition, fresh weight of plants treated with 20 ppm NAA significantly decreased while the diameter increased significantly in plants treated with 100 ppm NAA. GA3 treatment did not result in a significant increase in fruit length compared with the control treatment. Fresh weight and diameter significantly decreased in plants treated with 20 ppm GA3. NAA and GA3 treatments slightly increased the alkaloid content of bittergourd fruits, but slightly decreased their foliar alkaloid content. NAA treatment slightly decreased foliar chlorophyll and GA3 slightly increased foliar chlorophyll but not significantly

Morphological, growth, nodulation and membrane lipid peroxidation response of mani-mani (Arachis pintoi Krap. & Greg.) to elevated levels of cadmium and lead

The response of mani-mani (Arachis pintoi Krap. & Greg) to increasing levels of Cd (0, 10, 15, 20 and 25 μM) and Pb (0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μM) was evaluated in terms of the plant\u27s morphology, growth and membrane lipid peroxidation. Mani-mani showed greater browning of leaves under Cd treatment compared with Pb. The highest decline in root and shoot dry weights, 0.1667g and 0.5667 g, respectively, was observed at 25 μM Cd. Lead treatment, however, did not significantly affect these characters. No significant difference was also noted in the root length of Cd-and Pb-treated plants. A significant reduction in nodule number was observed under Cd treatment, but the nodule size was not significantly affected by both metals. Mani-mani showed greater accumulation of Cd in both roots and shoots compared with the lead-treated plants at all levels. Root electrolyte leakage was highest at 20 (1.1343 mS/cm2) and 50 μM (0.8167 mS/cm2) for Cd and Pb, respectively, but declined at 25 μM (0.8217 mS/cm2) and 100 μM (0.4440 mS/cm2) for Cd and Pb, respectively. Mani-mani, in general, showed better tolerance to Pb than Cd

Social acceptability of the rehabilitation efforts conducted in an inactive mined-out area in Marinduque, Philippines

The present study assessed the acceptability of the rehabilitation efforts conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Bioremediation Team in an inactive mined-out area in Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippines from 2006 to 2016. A researcher-made semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview key informants, like members of the local government unit (LGU) of Mogpog, Marinduque, head of the Provincial of Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), and selected residents of Barangay Ino and Capayang near the mining site. The selection of the respondents (n=112) was done through a stratified random probability sampling among residents ages 20 years old and above to determine their awareness and knowledge about the mined-out area before and after its rehabilitation. Interview with key informants revealed different functions towards the rehabilitation of the mined-out area. Results also showed that 59% of the respondents were aware of the rehabilitation efforts made on the site, and 98% of them strongly agreed on the presence and harmful effects of toxic chemicals in the area. They also strongly agreed that the rehabilitation efforts had a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and the community nearby. Interventions implemented by the government and other agencies are likely to succeed with the help of the nearby community and therefore, the same community can also be the best judge to determine the acceptability of the interventions.</jats:p

Coculture of Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) hairy roots with Rhizobium SPP

We have established an in vitro system for the induction and study of nodulation in Pachyrhizus erosus (jicama) via a hairy root-Rhizobium coculture. In vitro-grown P. erosus plantlets were infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes (ATCC No. 15834) and two hairy root lines were established. Hairy roots were grown in a split-plate system in which compartment I (CI) contained MS medium with nitrogen and different sucrose levels (0-6%), while CII held MS medium without nitrogen and sucrose. Nodule-like structures developed in transformed roots grown in CI with 2-3% sucrose, inoculated with Rhizobium sp. and transferred to CII. Nodule-like structures that developed from hairy roots lacked the rigid protective cover observed in nodules from plants grown in soil. Western blot analysis of nodules from hairy roots and untransformed roots (of greenhouse-grown jicama) showed expression of glutamine synthetase, leghemoglobin and nodulins. Leghemoglobin was expressed at low levels in hairy root nodules