Developments and prospects for biological control of Prosopis (Leguminosae) in South Africa

South Africa was the first country to deploy biological control (biocontrol) against invasive Prosopis populations. Developments in this regard have been ongoing, and have been reviewed, at approximately 10-year intervals, since 1991. This review spans the period 2011-2020, a timespan globally characterised by increased awareness of the impacts of invasive Prosopis populations, and recognition of the need for improved management. Concerted international collaboration has resulted in enhanced clarity on phylogenetic relationships within the Leguminosae and the phylogenetic placement of Prosopis. These advances have improved the framework for interpreting the host range of potential agents and for evaluating risk. At the outset of the biocontrol programme, in the 1980s, only agents that consumed mature seeds were considered. The intention was to reduce the invasiveness of Prosopis while simultaneously retaining it as a usable resource. The programme was subsequently expanded to investigate agents that prevent pod set or maturation of seed. More recently, potential agents that damage the vegetative growth of the plants have been included in response to recognition in South Africa, that there is no other route to successful management of Prosopis. There is a wealth of largely unexplored potential in this regard

Efeito da incorporação de chamote no processamento e microestrutura de cerâmica vermelha Effect of grog incorporation in the processing and microstructure of red ceramic

Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar o efeito da incorporação de chamote, obtido de rejeitos de tijolos queimados em baixas temperaturas, em massa de cerâmica vermelha visando à obtenção de telhas. Inicialmente o chamote foi submetido a ensaios de caracterização química, física e mineralógica. Em seguida, foram feitas adições de chamote a uma argila caulinítica nas proporções de 0, 5, 10, e 20% em peso. Foram preparados corpos-de-prova por extrusão para queima em forno industrial a 970 ºC. As propriedades tecnológicas avaliadas foram: absorção de água, retração linear e tensão de ruptura à flexão. A microestrutura das composições foi avaliada através de ensaios de porosimetria de mercúrio e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados indicaram que a incorporação de chamote melhorou os parâmetros de secagem da cerâmica. Após queima, a porosidade praticamente não sofreu variações significativas com a incorporação de chamote. Isto indica que a queima de chamote em temperaturas superiores àquela em que ele foi obtido, propicia sua própria sinterização e não ocasiona alterações degenerativas na microestrutura das cerâmicas queimadas.<br>This work has for objective to evaluate the incorporation of grog, obtained from wastes of bricks fired at low temperatures, in a red ceramic body aiming at the production of roofing tiles. Initially the grog was chemical, physical and mineralogical characterized. Extruded samples were prepared for firing in an industrial furnace at 970 °C. The technological properties evaluated were: linear shrinkage, water absorption and flexural rupture strength. The microstructure of fired samples was evaluated by pore-size distribution and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that grog addition enhanced the drying parameters of the ceramic. After firing, the porosity practically did not changed with grog addition. This indicates that the firing of grog at temperatures above the one it was obtained makes possible its own sintering and does not introduce negative changes in the microstructure of the fired ceramics