Comparing methods for assessing the health of regeneration in Scots pine culture

This study’s aim was to describe the health condition of Scots pine cultures of up to 10 years old using and comparing various field assessment methods. Since forest districts report on the health of stands annually, we assumed that for a proper health analysis it is necessary to develop a simple and yet reliable assessment method that allows for determining the share of fungal pathogen infection in the stand (both foliar and root pathogens) and their differentiation from symptoms of abiotic factors such as drought. Six different methods of health assessment were tested in selected Forest Districts across Poland. We found that the most reliable assessment of the health condition of young stands is obtained with the surface method “MF” (phytopathological monitoring method) and the linear “Z” method, which uses transects of 30 meters in three rows in the shape of the letter Z

Beech understoreys in pine forests as places that partly favour the functioning of forest assemblages of ground beetles (Col. Carabidae) in coniferous forest habitats

This study investigates the effect of the enrichment of Scots pine stands with a common beech understorey on changes in the species composition and selected life traits of an important zooindicator group, such as the ground beetles (Col. Carabidae). The field investigations were carried out in a fresh coniferous forest in the Myszyniec Forest District (N Poland) in stands with (P+) and without (P) beech in the understorey. Each treatment was repeated four times. In each repetition, six pitfalls were installed. The traps were replaced 13 times, every two weeks, from April to October. In total, 4412 specimens classified into 25 species of ground beetles were captured. The tree stands with the beech understorey were observed to contain a significantly higher number of species than the ones with the beech undergrowth. Also, the value of the Shannon index of species diversity (H’) and mean individual biomass (MIB) were significantly higher in the treatment with the beech understorey. Principal Component Analysis showed variations in Carabidae assemblages within the analysed types of forest. Pterostichus oblongopunctatus, Pterostichus aethiops and Pterostichus vernalis were more strongly correlated with the stands without beech understorey. The stands enriched with the beech understorey correlated with the occurrence of large zoophages: Carabus arvensis and Cychrus caraboides, and hemizoophages of the genus Amara. An in−depth ecological characterisation of the captured Carabidae showed that the dominant ground beetles in the investigated forest habitats, in terms of the number of caught individuals and species, belonged to forest zoophagous carabids characterised by moderate requirements for moisture in a habitat, and having the spring type of development. Representatives of large zoophages and species with the autumn type of development, i.e. species associated with later ecological succession stages, were more numerously caught in the pine stands without the beech understorey The study provides evidence that justifies the planting of deciduous undergowth in monoculture coniferous pine tree forests. The presence of an understorey contributes to higher: richness of Carabidae species, values of the MIB and abundance of large forest species presenting the autumn type of development, that is the species, which are characteristic for forest areas representing a highly advanced succession stage

Fungi associated with Armillaria spp. rhizomorphs on Populus tremula L.

The economic significance of aspen Populus tremula L. is only marginal, which is the main reason for its low share in the structure of stands. However, aspen can play a decisive ecological role as a pioneer tree in the succession of forest communities and may decrease the occurrence of pathogenic fungi. Aspen is also dying out and in order to determine possible biotic causes, we examined taxa of fungi using classical and mo- lecular methods in the area of the Czerwony Dwór Forest District, Subdistrict Rogale, compartments 74b and 75j. The health of aspen trees and the quantitative and qualitative structure of microorganisms associated with Armillaria spp. was evaluated. Based on our health assessment of the aspen, we conclude that the main reason for its dying out is the intensification of root rot, which is a result of Armillaria spp weakening the trees. In the general pool of Armillaria-associated microorganisms, sapro- trophs were dominating, and the fungus Fomitopsis pinicola commonly inhabited the poplar stems, whereas pathogen antagonists comprised the lowest proportion. In the quantitative and qualitative structure of fungi found in rhizomorphs, the composition of ecological groups inhabiting stumps was found to be favourable nevertheless. The increasing frequency of pathogens on the logs is a major premise for removing trees affected by Armillaria, because aspen stumps are a good food base for A. cepistipes and A. ostoyae which ultimately spread within the stand. Treatment of stumps with preparations stimulating the decomposition of wood is not recommended for logs that form the food base for pathogenic fungi

The effect of biological and chemical control agents on the health status of the very early potato cultivar Rosara

The external appearance and quality of table potatoes are determined, among other factors, by the health status of the plants during the growing season. Chemical control methods are often combined with biocontrol agents to effectively fight potato pathogens. Potatoes of the very early cultivar Rosara were grown in experimental plots. The plots were located in Tomaszkowo (NE Poland, 2007–2009). The experiment involved the following treatments: 1) biological control − mycorrhizal Glomus spp. inoculum was applied to the roots, − tubers were dressed and plants were sprayed with Polyversum three times during the growing season, 2) chemical control – at two-week intervals, plants were sprayed with the following fungicides: Infinito 687.5 SC and Tanos 50 WG, Valbon 72 WG and Tanos 50 WG. In the control treatment, potato plants were not protected against pathogens. During the growing season, the severity of late blight and early blight was evaluated on a nine-point scale. The composition of fungal communities colonising potato stems was analysed. The fungistatic properties of the fungicides used in the field experiment were evaluated in an in vitro test. The symptoms of infections caused by Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria spp. were significantly reduced in the treatment which used the integrated chemical and biological control. The least diverse fungal community was isolated from fungicide-treated plants. In the in vitro test, fungicides at all analysed concentrations inhibited the linear mycelial growth of selected pathogens

Nawożenie mineralne a grzyby zasiedlające łodygi ostropestu plamistego Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner oraz jego plonowanie

The achenes of milk thistle contain a variety of lipids, proteins and biologically active substance, which is why they are used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, as well as an ingredient of functional food and animal feed. The yield of milk thistle is determined by both agrotechnological factors (sowing date, cultivation regime, fertilization) and the health status of plants. The study was conducted over the years 2009–2011 in experimental plots located in Tomaszkowo (NE Poland). The experiment involved the following treatments: 1. N₀PK, 2. N₀PKMg, 3. N₀PKMg+microelement B, 4. N₁PK, 5. N₁PKMg, 6. N₁PKMg+B, 7. N₂PK, 8. N₂PKMg, 9. ₂N₂PKMg+B, 10. N₃PK, 11. N₃PKMg, 12. N₃PKMg+B (where: N0 – without nitrogen fertilization, N1 – 40 kg · ha⁻¹ /ammonium nitrate/, N2 – 80 kg · ha⁻¹, N3 – 120 kg · ha⁻¹, P – 40 kg · ha⁻¹ /triple superphosphate/, K – 117 kg · ha⁻¹ /60% potash salt/, Mg – 20 kg · ha⁻¹ /kieserite/ before sowing, B – foliar application/Bormax/). The structure of fungal communities colonizing the stems of milk thistle was analyzed at the laboratory. Achene yield was determined after harvest. The composition of fungal communities colonizing the stems of milk thistle was affected by weather conditions, and macronutrient and B fertilization. Potential pathogens had a 50–80% share of the fungal community. The predominant species was Alternaria alternata, fungi of the genus Fusarium were identified less frequently (six species), while Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Phoma spp. were encountered only sporadically. The abundance of A. alternata was lower in treatments without N fertilization and with N fertilization at 40 kg P · ha⁻¹. In contrast to A. alternata, fungi of the genus Fusarium were less abundant in treatments with Mg and Mg+B fertilization. The yield of milk thistle achenes increased in response to increasing rates of nitrogen fertilization.Niełupki ostropestu plamistego ze względu na zawartość cennych związków tłuszczowych, białkowych oraz substancji biologicznie czynnych znalazły się w kręgu zainteresowań producentów farmaceutyków, kosmetyków, żywności funkcjonalnej, a także specjalistów od pasz i żywienia zwierząt. O plonie niełupek tej rośliny obok czynników agrotechnicznych (terminu siewu, rodzaju uprawy, nawożenia) decyduje też stan fitosanitarny roślin. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2009–2011 na poletkach doświadczalnych zlokalizowanych w Tomaszkowie (północno-wschodnia Polska). Ostropest plamisty uprawiano na następujących obiektach nawozowych: 1. N₀PK, 2. N₀PKMg, 3. N₀PKMg + mikroelement B, 4. N₁PK, 5. N₁PKMg, 6. N₁PKMg + B, 7. N₂PK, 8. N₂PKMg, 9. N₂PKMg + B, 10. N₃PK, 11. N₃PKMg, 12. N₃PKMg + B (gdzie: N0 – bez nawożenia azotem, N1 – 40 kg · ha⁻¹ /azotan amonowy/ N2 – 80 kg · ha⁻¹, N3 – 120 kg · ha⁻¹, P – 40 kg · ha⁻¹ /superfosfat potrójny/, K – 117 kg · ha⁻¹ /60% sól potasowa/, Mg – 20 kg · ha⁻¹ /kizeryt/ przedsiewnie, B – dolistnie /Bormax/). W laboratorium analizowano strukturę zbiorowiska grzybów zasiedlających łodygi ostropestu. Po zbiorze określono plon niełupek. Warunki pogodowe oraz nawożenie makroelementami i borem wpływały na strukturę zbiorowiska grzybów zasiedlających łodygi ostropestu. Potencjalne patogeny miały 50–80% udział w zbiorowisku grzybów. Wśród nich dominował gatunek Alternaria alternata, rzadziej identyfikowano grzyby rodzaju Fusarium (6 gatunków) i Rhizoctonia, a sporadycznie Botrytis cinerea i Phoma spp. Mniejszą liczebność A. alternata otrzymano z łodyg roślin z obiektów bez nawożenia N i z nawożeniem N w dawce 40 kg P · ha⁻¹. Grzyby rodzaju Fusarium, odmiennie niż A. alternata, mniej liczebnie występowały w zbiorowisku grzybów izolowanych z łodyg z obiektów z nawożeniem magnezem oraz Mg i borem łącznie. Wraz ze zwiększającymi się dawkami N notowano wzrost plonu niełupek ostropestu

Plant growth promoting properties of Serratia fonticola ART 8 and Pseudomonas putida ART 9 and their effect on the growth of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Two bacterial strains, Serratia fonticola ART-8 and Pseudomonas putida ART-9, were isolated from soil sown with rye in a monoculture. Although the S. fonticola strain produced more chitinase than the P. putida strain, P. putida produced more cellulase, lipase, HCN, and fluorescent siderophores. P. putida also solubilized more phosphate, and was the only strain to produce pyoverdine. Neither bacteria produced indoleacetic acid (IAA), nor did they produce siderophores on the CAS medium. Neither of the strains was highly effective at inhibiting Fusarium culmorum (~5%) or F. oxysporum (~24%). Wheat plants inoculated with these bacterial strains had higher (5.7-10.0%) thousand kernel weight and there appeared to be a positive association between thousand kernel weight and ear length

Plant growth promoting properties of Serratia fonticola ART-8 and Pseudomonas putida ART-9 and their effect on the growth of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Two bacterial strains, Serratia fonticola ART-8 and Pseudomonas putida ART-9, were isolated from soil sown with rye in a monoculture. Although the S. fonticola strain produced more chitinase than the P. putida strain, P. putida produced more cellulase, lipase, HCN, and fluorescent siderophores. P. putida also solubilized more phosphate, and was the only strain to produce pyoverdine. Neither bacteria produced indoleacetic acid (IAA), nor did they produce siderophores on the CAS medium. Neither of the strains was highly effective at inhibiting Fusarium culmorum (~5%) or F. oxysporum (~24%). Wheat plants inoculated with these bacterial strains had higher (5.7-10.0%) thousand kernel weight and there appeared to be a positive association between thousand kernel weight and ear length

Probing behavior of Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae on three species of grapevines with analysis of grapevine leaf anatomy and allelochemicals

AbstractThe peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and the black bean aphid Aphis fabae Scopoli are polyphagous and cosmopolitan hemipterans, therefore they can infest grapevines in all areas of cultivation. Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique was applied to monitor the probing behavior of A. fabae and M. persicae on Vitis amurensis Rupr., Vitis riparia Michaux, and Vitis vinifera L. The content of major flavonoids and stilbenoids in grapevine leaves and epidermal thickness, distance between abaxial leaf surface and phloem, and the simulated shortest pathway from epidermis to phloem that might have affected aphid probing were also analyzed. Aphid probing was limited mainly to non-vascular tissues on the three studied grapevine species. Phloem phase occurred in 32%, 14%, and 6% of A. fabae and in 76%, 39%, and 74% of M. persicae on V. amurensis, V. riparia and V. vinifera, respectively. Phloem phase consisted of only salivation into sieve elements and lasted less than 2.5 minutes on average in all aphids. The time to reach the first phloem phase on grapevines was 5.0 hours in A. fabae and 2.6–3.6 hours in M. persicae. Of the analyzed flavonoids, catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin occurred in all grapevine species, while rutin – in V. amurensis and V. riparia and isorhamnetin only in V. amurensis. Of the analyzed stilbenoids, piceid occurred in all grapevines, resveratrol in V. amurensis and V. vinifera, and ε-viniferin only in V. vinifera. Aphid behavior demonstrated that V. amurensis, V. riparia and V. vinifera are not attractive host plants to A. fabae and M. persicae. It is likely that the content of flavonoids and stilbenoids contributes to the limited susceptibility of the three grapevine species to A. fabae and M. persicae, while the observed slight differences in the anatomical structure of the leaves seem not significant in this context