Influence of Partial Soil Wetting on Water Relation Parameters of the Olive Tree

A drip versus pond irrigation experiment was carried out with 30-year-old ‘Manzanilla’ olive trees planted at 7 m 5 m in an orchard in Southwest Spain. At the end of the dry season of 1998, we chose two dry-land trees, D1 and D2, and two drip-irrigated trees, I1 and I2. During the experiments, the D1 and I1 trees were pond-irrigated, increasing the soil water content to around field capacity in the whole rootzone. The D2 and I2 trees were drip-irrigated, remaining part of the rootzone in drying soil. The results showed that the ratio between the transpiration of the pond-irrigated D1 tree and that of the drip-irrigated D2 tree (D1/D2 Ep) increased from an average of 0.88 before irrigation to 1.22 fourteen days after the first water supply. For the I trees, I1/I2 Ep varied from 0.76 to 1.02 nine days after the I1 tree was pond-irrigated for the first time. Transpiration, therefore, was restricted when using a drip irrigation system which, despite supplying enough water to cover the calculated crop demand, affected a part of the rootzone only. During the drip versus pond irrigation experiment, the recovery of leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rate was greater and quicker in the pond-irrigated than in the drip-irrigated trees.– Influence de l’irrigation partielle du sol sur les paramètres des relations hydriques de l’olivier. Une comparaison de l’irrigation goutte à goutte avec l’irrigation en cuvette a été conduite sur oliviers ‘Manzanilla’ âgés de 30 ans plantés à 7 m 5 m dans un verger du sud-ouest de l’Espagne. À la fin de la saison sèche de 1998, nous avons choisi deux arbres sur sol sec, D1 et D2, et deux arbres sur sol irrigué au goutte à goutte, I1 et I2. Durant les expériences, les arbres D1 et I1 ont été irrigués en cuvette, en augmentant la teneur en eau du sol jusqu’à la capacité au champ dans toute la zone racinaire. Les arbres D2 et I2 ont été irrigués au goutte à goutte, laissant une partie de la zone racinaire dans un sol se desséchant. Les résultats ont montré que le quotient entre la transpiration de l’arbre D1 irrigué en cuvette et celle de l’arbre D2 irrigué au goutte à goutte (D1/D2 Ep) a augmenté à partir d’une moyenne de 0,88 avant irrigation jusqu’à 1,22 quatorze jours après le premier apport d’eau. Pour les arbres I, I1/I2 Ep a varié entre 0,76 et 1,02 neuf jours après que l’arbre I1 ait été irrigué en cuvette pour la première fois. Par conséquent, la transpiration était réduite quand on utilisait un système d’irrigation au goutte à goutte qui, malgré l’apport d’eau suffisant pour couvrir les besoins potentiels des cultures, a affecté seulement une partie de la zone racinaire. Durant cette comparaison de l’irrigation goutte à goutte et de l’irrigation en cuvette, la récupération de la teneur en eau des feuilles, de la conductance stomatique et du taux de photosynthèse était supérieure et plus rapide pour les arbres irrigués en cuvette que pour ceux irrigués au goutte à goutte

Records of the Crowned Eagle (Urubitinga coronata) in Moxos plains of Bolivia and observations about breeding behavior

The Crowned Eagle (Urubitinga coronata, Accipitridae) is a globally endangered raptor, endemic to central and southern South America. Little is known about this species in Bolivia and no nesting or prey data have been reported for the country until now. Between 2007 and 2011, we detected Crowned Eagles in four different locations in Moxos Savannahs of Beni Department, Bolivia. We observed an active nest of Crowned Eagle on 23 November 2007. The nest contained a nestling and it was placed on a living tree approximately 13 m in height and approximately 8 m above the ground. This nest was empty during September and October 2008, but contained another nestling on 15 November 2009. These represent the first breeding records for the Crowned Eagle in Bolivia. Prey remains at the nest observed included two nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and two six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus). The minimum number of individual Crowned Eagles in the surveyed area was seven. Our observations of family groups, juveniles and two nestlings confirm the breeding of Crowned Eagles in the Moxos plains. Ectoparasites and uncontrolled burns may threaten the northwestern Bolivian population of the endangered Crowned Eagle.Fil: Berkunsky, Igor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable. Grupo de Ecología Matemática; Argentina. Proyecto de conservación de la Paraba Barba Azul; BoliviaFil: Daniele, Gonzalo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Proyecto de conservación de la Paraba Barba Azul; BoliviaFil: Kacoliris, Federico Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Proyecto de conservación de la Paraba Barba Azul; BoliviaFil: Faegre, Sarah Kelly. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Gandoy, Facundo Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: González, Lyliam. Paraíso Travel; BoliviaFil: Díaz Luque, José Antonio. Proyecto de conservación de la Paraba Barba Azul; Bolivi

Socrates thematic network to enhance European teaching of operations and supply chain management: goals, tasks and preliminary results

The EurOMA-sponsored THENEXOM network has been approved by the European Commission through its Socrates community action programme. THENEXOM’s short-term goal is to analyse the present state of Operations and Supply Chain Management in European universities and to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to instigate the use of better practices. A census is being drawn up of OM teachers throughout the 24 countries (and 27 universities) making up the network. A survey can then be taken of the teaching-staff, content and methods employed. The network’s medium-term aim is to tighten links between teaching, research and business practice by reducing imbalances. In compliance with EU recommendations, strategic connections are being sought with America and Asia to expand aforesaid objectives and actions throughout the world.La red THENEXOM, promovida por EurOMA, ha sido aprobada por la Comisión Europea (programa de acción comunitaria Sócrates). Su objetivo a corto plazo es estudiar la situación de la Dirección de Operaciones y la Gestión de Cadenas de Suministro en las universidades europeas, buscando identificar fortalezas y deficiencias y promover el empleo de las mejores prácticas. Para ello se está elaborando un censo de docentes de DO en los 24 países representados en la red (por 27 instituciones universitarias); éste permitirá el desarrollo de una encuesta sobre profesorado, contenidos y metodología docente. A medio plazo, la red ha de servir para estrechar vínculos entre enseñanza, investigación y práctica empresarial, limando los posibles desfases. Siguiendo las recomendaciones de la UE, se están realizando conexiones estratégicas con América y Asia para extender los objetivos y actuaciones mencionados

Physiological and genetic response of olive leaves to water stress and recovery: implications of mesophyll conductance and genetic expression of aquaporins and carbonic anhydrase

8 páginas, 2 figuras, 18 referencias.-- XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on CLIMWATER 2010: Horticultural Use of Water in a Changing Climate. Lisboa, Portugal.Drought is considered to be the main environmental factor limiting photo-synthesis (AN) and, consequently, plant growth and yield worldwide. During photosynthesis, the pathway of CO2 from the atmosphere to the site of carboxylation in the chloroplast stroma has two main components: stomatal (gs) and mesophyll (gm) conductances. Both are finite and dynamic, responding to many abiotic factors, therefore reducing CO2 concentration. However, little is known about gm regulation in the short term, where a possible role of aquaporins (AQP) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been proposed. Five-year-old olive trees growing in 50 L pots were used to evaluate the acclimation and recovery of AN to drought and subsequent re-watering. Control trees were well-irrigated, while in stressed trees irrigation was withheld for 13 days and then resumed. We made a simultaneous analysis of the genetic expression of two AQP, OePIP1.1 and OePIP2.1, and of CA, on the one hand, and leaf water status, leaf gas exchange and shoot hydraulic conductivity on the other. This is the first time that genetic expression in olive is related to main physiological variables. Two days after withholding irrigation (a.w.i.), the gs and gm values in Stress tress were lower than in Control trees. This limited photosynthesis. Leaf water status decreased from day 4 a.w.i. Midday leaf water potential dropped from -1.2 on the day before withholding irrigation to -6.0 MPa on day 9 a.w.i. CA expression decreased during drought and there was a peak on OePIP1.1 expression on day 4 a.w.i. Leaf water status recovered in ca. 36 h after resuming irrigation. Both gm and AN did not fully recover until 46 days after rewatering. Stomatal conductance, however, did not recover in that period, probably because of an irreversible loss of shoot hydraulic conductivity. Both OePIP1.1 and OePIP2.1 peaked 36 h after rewatering. We found significant correlations between gm and both OePIP2.1 and CA expression.This work was partly supported by grants for projects AGL2005-00220/AGR and AGL-2009-11310.Peer Reviewe

Role of leaf hydraulic conductance in the regulation of stomatal conductance in almond and olive in response to water stress

11 páginas..-- 5 figuras.-- 1 tablas.-- 55 referencias.-- We thank A. Montero for field work assistance, J. Perez Hormaeche for helping us with the VD images analysis and T. Brodribb and J.M. Torres-Ruiz for discussion.The decrease of stomatal conductance (gs) is one of the prime responses to water shortage and the main determinant of yield limitation in fruit trees. Understanding the mechanisms related to stomatal closure in response to imposed water stress is crucial for correct irrigation management. The loss of leaf hydraulic functioning is considered as one of the major factors triggering stomatal closure. Thus, we conducted an experiment to quantify the dehydration response of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) and its impact on gs in two Mediterranean fruit tree species, one deciduous (almond) and one evergreen (olive). Our hypothesis was that a higher Kleaf would be associated with a higher gs and that the reduction in Kleaf would predict the reduction in gs in both species. We measured Kleaf in olive and almond during a cycle of irrigation withholding. We also compared the results of two methods to measure Kleaf: dynamic rehydration kinetics and evaporative flux methods. In addition, determined gs, leaf water potential (Ψleaf), vein density, photosynthetic capacity and turgor loss point. Results showed that gs was higher in almond than in olive and so was Kleaf (Kmax = 4.70 and 3.42 mmol s-1 MPa-1 m-2, in almond and olive, respectively) for Ψleaf > -1.2 MPa. At greater water stress levels than -1.2 MPa, however, Kleaf decreased exponentially, being similar for both species, while gs was still higher in almond than in olive. We conclude that although the Kleaf decrease with increasing water stress does not drive unequivocally the gs response to water stress, Kleaf is the variable most strongly related to the gs response to water stress, especially in olive. Other variables such as the increase in abscisic acid (ABA) may be playing an important role in gs regulation, although in our study the gs-ABA relationship did not show a clear pattern..This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (research project AGL2009-11310/AGR). V.H.-S. benefited from a Juan de la Cierva research fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and C.M.R.-D. benefited from a FPDI research fellowship from the Junta de Andalucí

Canopy architecture and radiation interception measurements in olive

In this work we tested techniques suitable for a future validation of the RATP model to simulate transpiration and photosynthesis of mature olive trees under field conditions. Canopy architecture was characterised with an electromagnetic 3D digitiser and the software 3A. Although the capability of the software to deal with big data sets has to be improved, the system seems to meet the RATP requirements. An array of radiation sensors mounted in an aluminium bar and located at different positions within the canopy showed to be an useful tool for monitoring radiation distribution; these data can be used to validate the RATP predictions. Leaves intercepting more radiation showed greater values both of area based nitrogen content and photosynthetic capacity, and the increment of nitrogen was found to be related to the increment in leaf mass area. A method was tested for assessing plant leaf area, which could allow us to determine the leaf area of the biggest trees in the orchard, with reduced time and labour.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología AGL2002- 04048-CO3-0

El conocimiento de segundas lenguas en el marco de la enseñanza basada en competencias

Diseñar las titulaciones en torno a perfiles profesionales y orientar la enseñanza hacia la adquisición de competencias son dos de los grandes retos que se plantean en el proceso de convergencia del EEES. Entre las competencias genéricas que se pretende que adquieran los alumnos se sitúa la enseñanza de una segunda lengua. En este trabajo analizamos la importancia de dicha competencia dentro del contexto de los estudios de Empresariales, análisis que apoyamos en algunos de los datos obtenidos en un estudio realizado por la red europea Thenexom, a la que pertenecen los autores. Establecida dicha importancia, mostramos las vías que la EUEE de la Universidad de Sevilla ofrece a sus alumnos para adquirir tales competencias

Variabilidad radial y acimutal del flujo de savia en olivos plantados en seto

5 páginas.-- 4 figuras.-- Comunicación oral presentada en el XI Simposio Hispano-Portugués de Relaciones Hídricas en las Plantas, Sevilla 17-20 Sep. (2012)La heterogeneidad de densidad de flujo de savia tanto alrededor del tronco como en profundidad respecto al cambium es un hecho bien conocido que requiere ser analizado para un correcto uso e interpretación de las estimas de transpiración a partir de las medidas de flujo de savia. Por ello, se hizo un experimento en olivos ‘Arbequina’ de 5 años de edad en una plantación en seto (4 m x 1.5 m) donde se instalaron cuatro sondas por árbol, en tres árboles representativos de la plantación. Los resultados han mostradoque se puede reducir el número de sondas hasta una para estimar el flujo de savia en olivos plantados en seto de esta edad. La correlación obtenida para la densidad de flujo de savia relativa entre la sección más externa del xilema conductor y las interiores frente a la conductancia estomática relativa medida en hojas jóvenes y viejas aportó evidencias sobre la hipótesis de que los vasos exteriores están preferentemente conectados a las hojas jóvenes del año.N

Stomatal control and hydraulic conductivity in 'Manzanilla' olive trees under different water regimes

Ministry of Education and Science (España) No.AGL2006-04666/AGREU, research project ref. STREP 02312

The dynamics of radial sap flux density reflects changes in stomatal conductance in response to soil and air water deficit

10 páginas.-- 7 figuras.-- 1 tabla.-- 53 referenciasWater scarcity in semiarid regions of Europe threatens the sustainability of fruit tree orchards unless irrigation water is optimized and scheduled in deficit irrigation strategies. Stomatal conductance (gs) is one of the best indicators of plant water stress, since it is placed in the crossroad between water and CO2 fluxes at the leaf level. Unfortunately, it is not possible to measure gs automatically and continuously, which reduces its potential for irrigation scheduling. In this work we examined the use of sap flux density (Js) in the outer rings of the sapwood of olive trees as a surrogate of gs. The working hypothesis was that as olive trees are well-coupled to atmosphere because of their small leaves, the ratio of Js to air vapor pressure deficit (D) should correlate well with the dynamics of gs in the canopy. It was also expected that current year, sun exposed leaves were mainly connected to the outer rings of the sapwood, and the oldest, shaded leaves to the inner rings. This was tested by measuring gs in new, sun-exposed leaves vs gs in old, shaded leaves. Both hypotheses were contrasted and our results confirmed that gs can be estimated from Js/D (R2 of the relationships were always higher than 0.8). A wide range of estimated gs values (0.350-0.025molm-2s-1) were derived from Js measurements in an olive orchard under three different irrigation regimes. Results were satisfactory and open the possibility of applying this method to estimate gs and use it either as a reliable water stress indicator or in transpiration and photosynthesis models applied to fruit tree orchards under a wide range of water stress conditions.This experiment was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, research project AGL2009-11310/AGR and by the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía (research project AGR-6456). Dr. Hernandez-Santana benefited from a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral research fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Thanks are due to the owners of Internacional Olivarera, S.A.U. (Interoliva), for allowing us to make the experiments in the Sanabria orchard.Peer reviewe