Influence of mycorrhizas, organic substrates and container volumes on the growth of Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth.

ABSTRACT: This work assessed, under nursery conditions, the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the initial growth of the woody species Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth in containers of different sizes (nursery tubes of 50 or 250 cm3) containing composted cattle manure or organic Pinus spp bark compost diluted (0 to 100%, each 9%) with low fertility soil. Plants in cattle manure grew more than plants grown in pine bark manure independent of tube size. AMF were more efficient in improving plant growth in 250 cm3 tubes than in 50 cm3 tubes independent of the substrates. Mycorrhizal plants grown in 50 cm3 tubes showed less growth than non-mycorrhizal ones irrespective of the substrates. Nevertheless, this growth depression decreased with an increase of substrates dilution with low fertility soil. In the higher dilutions, growth depression did not occur and there was a positive response to AMF inoculation. In addition, only mycorrhizal plantlets showed some growth in low fertility soil as the sole substrate. These results indicated that AMF affect plantlet growth positively or negatively depending on the combination of substrates, fertility level, and container size. RESUMO: Em condições de viveiro de mudas, foram avaliados os efeitos da inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) no crescimento inicial da espécie arbórea Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth em recipientes (tubetes) com 50 ou 250 cm 3, contendo substrato a base de esterco de gado ou composto comercial a base de casca de Pinus spp , que foram diluídos com solo de baixa fertilidade (0 para 100% e intervalo de 9%). As plântulas apresentaram maior crescimento em composto a base de esterco de gado do que no composto a base de casca de Pinus , independente do volume do recipiente. Os FMA foram mais eficientes em melhorar o crescimento das plântulas nos tubetes de 250 cm3 do que em 50 cm3 , independente do substrato utilizado. Plântulas crescidas com FMA nos tubetes de 50 cm3 apresentaram menor crescimento do que aquelas crescidas sem FMA, independente do substrato. Porem, esta depressão no crescimento das plântulas com FMA diminuiu quando a diluição dos substratos foi aumentada com solo de baixa fertilidade. A depressão não ocorreu quando os substratos foram mais diluídos e houve resposta positiva para a inoculação com FMA. Os resultados indicam que os FMA afetam o crescimento das plântulas de maneira positiva ou negativa dependendo da combinação do tipo de substrato, dos níveis de fertilidade e do volume do recipiente de cultivo

Structured Expert Consensus on Actinic Keratosis:Treatment Algorithm Focusing on Daylight PDT

BACKGROUND: A practical and up-to-date consensus among experts is paramount to further improve patient care in actinic keratosis (AK). OBJECTIVES: To develop a structured consensus statement on the diagnosis, classification, and practical management of AK based on up-to-date information. METHODS: A systematic review of AK clinical guidelines was conducted. This informed the preparation of a 3-round Delphi procedure followed by a consensus meeting, which combined the opinions of 16 clinical experts from 13 countries, to construct a structured consensus statement and a treatment algorithm positioning daylight photodynamic therapy (dl-PDT) among other AK treatment options. RESULTS: The systematic review found deficiencies in current guidelines with respect to new AK treatments such as ingenol mebutate and dl-PDT. The Delphi panel established consensus statements across definition, diagnosis, classification, and management of AK. While the diagnosis of AK essentially rests on the nature of lesions, treatment decisions are based on several clinical and nonclinical patient factors and diverse environmental attributes. Participants agreed on ranked treatment preferences for the management of AK and on classifying AK in 3 clinical situations: isolated AK lesions requiring lesion-directed treatment, multiple lesions within a small field, and multiple lesions within a large field, both requiring specific treatment approaches. Different AK treatment options were discussed for each clinical situation. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide practical recommendations for the treatment of AK, which are readily transferable to clinical practice, and incorporate the physician's clinical judgement. The structured consensus statement positioned dl-PDT as a valuable option for patients with multiple AKs in small or large fields