Physiological Response of Three Grapevine Cultivars Grown In North-Western Poland to Mycorrhizal Fungi

West Pomerania (Poland) is located near the northern boundary of the range of viticulture (the coldest zone A). Unfavourable weather conditions can pose a serious threat to the cultivated vines. One of the treatments used to increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses is inoculation with symbiotic soil microorganisms. This paper focuses on the influence of mycorrhization on the changes in soil microbiology, the degree of colonization of roots by mycorrhizal fungi, and on selected physiologicalparameters of three grapevine cultivars (‘Pinot Noir’ on SO4 rootstock, ‘Regent’ on 5BB rootstock, and ‘Rondo’ on 125AA rootstock). The applied inoculation had a stimulating effect on the colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, as evidenced by higher mycorrhizal frequency and intensity in the mycorrhized plants. The mycorrhizal treatment increased the intensity of CO2 assimilation and transpiration. Mycorrhization reduced the efficiency of photosynthetic water use and increased stomatal conductance for water in the grapevines tested. The mycorrhizal treatment did not affect the concentration of assimilation pigments in vine leaves. The mycorrhization of grapevines had no effect on the values of initial fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, the maximum potential efficiency of photochemical reaction in PS II, the size of the pool of reduced electron acceptors in PS II, nor on the value of the PS II vitality index

Addendum to: Capillary floating and the billiard ball problem

We compare the results of our earlier paper on the floating in neutral equilibrium at arbitrary orientation in the sense of Finn-Young with the literature on its counterpart in the sense of Archimedes. We add a few remarks of personal and social-historical character.Comment: This is an addendum to my article Capillary floating and the billiard ball problem, Journal of Mathematical Fluid Mechanics 14 (2012), 363 -- 38

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of Solaris and Regent Grapevine Plants Treated with Bioproducts

The aim of this study was to identify the spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere of Solaris and Regent grapevine plants grafted onto SO4 rootstock and treated with bioproducts. The bioproducts Ausuma, Bioilsa, manure and BF Ekomix were tested and applied on their own, or combined with standard mineral fertilisation (NPK). The applied bioproducts contributed to an increase in the number of species of mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil of the grapevines. The most frequently occurring AMF species was Claroideoglomus claroideum. Biopreparation BF Ekomix was a promisingagent for increasing the number of AMF spores in the rhizosphere of Regent grapevines. In the rhizosphere of Solaris, a positive influence on the number of spores occurred after the application of Bioilsa

Wpływ bionawozów na wzrost roślin i mikrobiologię ryzosfery odmian truskawki uprawianej w szklarni

The aim of this study was to assess the growth and development of plants of three strawberry cultivars fertilized with selected biofertilizers under greenhouse conditions. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse complex of the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice from February to July in 2013 and 2014. Plants of three strawberry cultivars, ‘Elsanta’, ‘Honeoye’ and ‘Elkat’, were planted in rhizoboxes and grown under the following fertilization regimes: 0-control (no fertilization), NPK control, Micosat F (bacterial-mycorrhizal substrate), manure, Humus UP, and Vinassa. Applications of Humus UP resulted in beneficial effects on plant height, leaf surface area, leaf fresh and dry weight, the degree of mycorrhizal colonization in the roots, and on the num-ber of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of strawberry plants. Biopreparations Humus UP and Vinassa also had a positive influence on the size of the root system, the total number of bacteria, including spore-forming bacteria, and the total number of filamentous fungi in the rhizosphere soil, compared with mineral NPK fertilization under greenhouse conditions.Celem przeprowadzonych badań była ocena wzrostu i rozwoju trzech od-mian roślin truskawki nawożonych bionawozami w warunkach szklarniowych. Doświadczenie przeprowadzono w kompleksie szklarniowym Instytutu Ogrodnictwa w Skierniewicach w latach 2013 i 2014 (w okresie od lutego do lipca). Rośliny trzech odmian truskawki Elsanta, Honeoye i Elkat posadzono w rizoboksach i zastosowano następujące nawożenie: kontrola 0 (bez nawożenia), kontrola NPK, substrat bakteryjno-mikoryzowy Micosat, obornik, Humus UP i Vinassa. Aplikacja Humusu UP miała korzystny wpływ na wzrost roślin, pole powierzchni liści, ich świeżą i suchą masę, stopień kolonizacji miko-ryzowej w korzeniach oraz liczbę spor arbuskularnych grzybów mikoryzowych (AMF) w rizosferze roślin. Biopreparaty Humus UP oraz Vinassa miały również pozytywny wpływ na wielkość systemu korzeniowego, ogólną liczbę bakterii, liczbę bakterii wytwarzających formy przetrwalnikowe i ogólną liczbę grzybów strzępkowych w glebie rizosferowej roślin truskawki, w porównaniu z nawożeniem mineralnym NPK w warunkach szklarniowych

Wpływ biopreparatów na wzrost systemu korzeniowego oraz efektywność mikrobiologii ryzosfery jabłoni

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of various biopreparations on the growth of the apple root system, the number of spores of AMF, the total number of bacteria and microscopic fungi in the rhizosphere soil, and the degree of mycorrhizal association in the roots of two apple tree cultivars. The experiment was established in the spring of 2009 in the Experimental Orchard of the Institute of Horticulture in Dąbrowice. The research objects were one-year-old maidens of the apple cultivars ‘Topaz’ and ‘Ariva’ grafted on M26 rootstock. The trees were treated with the following biopreparations: control, control NPK (standard NPK fertilization), manure, Micosat F + manure, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Amin + manure, BioFeed Quality + manure, Tytanit + manure, Vinassa + manure, Florovit Eko, and Florovit Pro Natura. Treatment of ‘Topaz’ and ‘Ariva’ apple trees with the biopreparations Micosat F, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Amin, Vinassa, Florovit Eko and Florovit Pro Natura produced positive effects on the growth of apple roots and their mycorrhizal frequency, and the size of the populations of microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil.Celem badań było określenie wpływu różnych biopreparatów na wzrost systemu korzeniowego, liczbę zarodników grzybów mikoryzowych, ogólną liczbę bakterii i grzybów mikroskopowych w glebie rizosferowej oraz stopień asocjacji mikoryzowej w korzeniach dwóch odmian jabłoni. Doświadczenie założono wiosną 2009 r. w Sadzie Doświadczalnym Instytutu Ogrodnictwa w Dąbrowicach. Obiektem badań były jednoroczne okulanty jabłoni odmian Topaz i Ariva szczepione na podkładce M26. Rośliny traktowano następującymi biopreparatami: kontrola, kontrola NPK, obornik, Micosat F + obornik, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Amin + obornik, BioFeed Quality + obornik, Tytanit + obornik, Vinassa + obornik, Florovit Eco oraz preparat Florovit Pro Nature. Traktowanie drzew jabłoni ‘Topaz’ i ‘Ariva’ biopreparatami Micosat F, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Amin, Vinassa, Florovit Eco oraz Florovit Pro Nature wpłynęło korzystnie na wzrost korzeni, stopień frekwencji mikoryzowej i wielkość populacji mikroorganizmów w glebie rizosferowej

Effects of treatment of apple trees with various bioproducts on tree growth and occurrence of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots

The aim of the study was to evaluate selected bioproducts in terms of their effects on tree growth and the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots of trees of two apple cultivars, ‘Topaz’ and ‘Ariwa’, grown under greenhouse conditions. The trees were planted in rhizoboxes and grown under the following fertilization regimes: 0 – control, NPK control, manure, Micosat F, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BF Amin, BF Quality, Tytanit and Vinassa. The results showed that the biostimulants: Humus UP, Humus Active and Aktywit PM produce beneficial effects on the morphological characteristics of the root system, and Micosat F on the extent of mycorrhiza formation in the roots. The bioproducts used are a safe, effective and economically viable method of fertilizing plants, limiting the use of chemical means of production and thus helping to protect the environment

Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium in a polymer matrix as an active layer for green OLED applications

Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium with poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (Alq₃:PVK) or polystyrene sulfonate (Alq₃:PSS) were deposited by spin-coating on glass and silicon substrates. SEM measurements show that relatively smooth thin films were obtained. Fourier transform infrared measurements were performed to confirm the composition of the samples. The optical properties of thin films containing Alq₃:PVK and Alq₃:PSS were characterised using absorption spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. It was found that the absorption spectrum of Alq₃:PVK is characterised by four bands, while for Alq₃:PSS only three bands are visible. The photoluminescence of the studied thin layers shows a peak with a maximum at about 500 nm. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry of Alq₃ is also presented. Theoretical density functional theory calculations provide the insight into the interaction and nature of Alq₃:PVK and Alq₃:PSS excited states. Finally, the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure based on Alq₃:PVK was fabricated and showed strong electroluminescence with a green emission at 520 nm. The results of the device show that the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Alq₃:PVK/Ca/Al system can be useful for the production of low-cost OLEDs with Alq₃:PVK as an active layer for future lighting applications