James Annesley of Madras Medical Service (1800-1838) on cholera in Madras Presidency in 1825

James Annesley from Ireland spent nearly four decades in Madras, first as an assistant and later as a senior surgeon attached to the Madras Medical Establishment. During this span of service he published the book in 1825 on the most prevalent diseases of India comprising a treatise on the epidemic cholera of the East. This paper recounts the epidemiology of cholera and the efforts made to manage it in the Madras Presidency in the 1820s, keeping in view the life of Annesley and the contents of his book

‘Discovery’ of the tea plant Thea assamica (now, Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in the Indian territory in the 1830s

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae; previously Thea sinensis, Ternstrœmiaceae) is a highly sought-after beverage source today. In 2018 alone, c. 270 B L of tea was consumed throughout the world. Global recognition of green tea has enhanced majorly, especially in the later decades of the 20th century, because of the level of antioxidants (c. 450 mg of vitamin C equivalents) it includes, currently seen valuable in the general well-being of humans. In this article, I chronicle the events that steered the ‘discovery’ of Thea assamica (presently, C. sinensis var. assamica) in the wilderness of Upper Assam (the Ahôm country) and its commercial, large-scale production. William Griffith, who searched it and wrote on the T. assamica material growing in the Indian territory in the 1830s, examined the plant community in which the natural populations of T. assamica grew, in addition to writing on the soil and other related aspects vital for its large-scale cultivation. His notes shed light on an early understanding of the ‘ecosystem’ in which T. assamica grew in the wild. Griffith clarifies that they spread naturally along the river and creek beds in North-eastern India from the neighbouring Chinese territory over the last several hundreds of years. His remarks on the adaptations of the tea plant and other associated plants to specific soil types and on the top soil he found in tea-growing areas impress not only as remarkable but also as pioneering. His comments on the kinds of plants associated with the tea-plant populations and the general vegetation around the tea plant foreshadow the ecological concepts, ‘communities’ and ‘vegetation types’, which were recognized formally much later

‘Discovery’ of the tea plant Thea assamica (now, Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in the Indian territory in the 1830s

11-25The tea plant (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae; previously Thea sinensis, Ternstrœmiaceae) is a highly sought-after beverage source today. In 2018 alone, c. 270 B L of tea was consumed throughout the world. Global recognition of green tea has enhanced majorly, especially in the later decades of the 20th century, because of the level of antioxidants (c. 450 mg of vitamin C equivalents) it includes, currently seen valuable in the general well-being of humans. In this article, I chronicle the events that steered the ‘discovery’ of Thea assamica (presently, C. sinensis var. assamica) in the wilderness of Upper Assam (the Ahôm country) and its commercial, large-scale production. William Griffith, who searched it and wrote on the T. assamica material growing in the Indian territory in the 1830s, examined the plant community in which the natural populations of T. assamica grew, in addition to writing on the soil and other related aspects vital for its large-scale cultivation. His notes shed light on an early understanding of the ‘ecosystem’ in which T. assamica grew in the wild. Griffith clarifies that they spread naturally along the river and creek beds in North-eastern India from the neighbouring Chinese territory over the last several hundreds of years. His remarks on the adaptations of the tea plant and other associated plants to specific soil types and on the top soil he found in tea-growing areas impress not only as remarkable but also as pioneering. His comments on the kinds of plants associated with the tea-plant populations and the general vegetation around the tea plant foreshadow the ecological concepts, ‘communities’ and ‘vegetation types’, which were recognized formally much later

Ecological modelling of a wetland for phytoremediating Cu, Zn and Mn in a gold–copper mine site using Typha domingensis (Poales: Typhaceae) near Orange, NSW, Australia

Abstract: An artificial wetland was computationally modelled using STELLA®, a graphical programming tool for an Au–Cu mine site in Central-west NSW, the aim of which was to offer a predictive analysis of a proposed wetland for Cu, Zn and Mn removal using Typha domingensis as the agent. The model considers the important factors that impact phytoremediation of Cu, Zn and Mn. Simulations were performed to optimise the area of the wetland; concentration of Cu, Zn and Mn released from mine (AMD); and flow rates of water for maximum absorption of the metals. A scenario analysis indicates that at AMD = 0.75mg/L for Cu, Zn and Mn, 12.5, 8.6, and 357.9 kg of Cu, Zn and Mn, respectively, will be assimilated by the wetland in 35 years, which would be equivalent to 61 mg of Cu/kg, 70 mg of Zn/kg and 2,886 mg of Mn/kg of T. domingensis, respectively. However, should Cu, Zn and Mn in AMD increase to 3 mg/L, then 18.6 kg of Cu and 11.8 kg of Zn, respectively, will be assimilated in 35 years, whereas no substantial increase in absorption for Mn would occur. This indicates that 91 mg of Cu, 96 mg of Zn and 2917 mg of Mn will be assimilated for every kg of T. domingensis in the wetland. The best option for Cu storage would be to construct a wetland of 50,000 m2 area (AMD = 0.367 mg/L of Cu), which would capture 14.1 kg of Cu in 43 years, eventually releasing only 3.9 kg of Cu downstream. Simulations performed for a WA of 30,000 m2 indicate that for AMD = 0.367 mg/L of Zn, the wetland captures 6.2 kg, releasing only 3.5 kg downstream after 43 years; the concentration of Zn in the leachate would be 10.2 kg, making this the most efficient wetland amongst the options considered for phytoremediating Zn. This work will help mine managers and environmental researchers in developing an effective environmental management plan by focusing on phytoremediation, with a view at extracting Cu, Zn and Mn from the contaminated sites

Biology of leaf gall-inducing Thlibothrips manipurenis Muraleedharan, 1982 on Ardisia sp. (Myrsinaceae) in north-eastern India (Thysanoptera: Tubulifera: Phlaeothripidae).

Die Biologie der Rollgallen induzierenden Thlibothrips manipurensis wurde auf Ardisia sp. unter Labor­bedingungen untersucht. T. manipurensis legt linear Eier entlang der Ränder der jungen Blätter von Ardisia sp. Die Eier schlüpften in 6,8 d und das Larvalstadium dauerte 3,4 und 8,2 d für Larven I und II. Das Vorpuppenstadium bis zur Vollendung der Verpuppung betrug für T. manipurensis 20,2 Stunden. Nach 4 d begann das Erwachsenenstadium. Jedes Weibchen legte 34±7 Eier und die durchschnittliche Lebensdauer der Erwachsenen (adulten Tiere) betrug 10,2 d. Die Anzahl der Thripse korreliert mit dem Alter der Gallen: 15 Thripse/Galle ist bei jungen (4–10 d) Gallen gefunden, während es 28 in reifen (20 d) Gallen und 36 in alten (25 d) Gallen waren. Das Männchen/Weibchen-Verhältnis in alten Gallen war 1:5. Reife Gallen enthalten eine homogene Gewebestruktur, die aus 12–15 Schichten der Parenchym Zellen besteht, wobei es keinen Unterschied gibt zwischen Schwamm- und Palisaden-Zellen. Die Mesophyll-Zellen in den Gallen grenzen an die obere und untere Epidermis und entwickeln sich im Wesentlichen durch anticlinale Teilung der primordialen Zellen, während diejenigen in der mittleren Region sich durch periclinale Teilung ent­wickeln. Die letztere erleichtert das Einrollen. In der mitteleren Region waren die Zellen der Gallen-Lamina größer als diejenigen der angrenzenden Epidermis. Der Großteil der Zellen in der Mitte der Gallen-Lamina enthielt in Safranin–Lichtgrün-Färbung dunkel erscheinende Einschlüsse, die mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit phenolische Materialien waren. Thliobothrips ist ein Verwandter von Gynaikothrips. Thlibothrips und Gynaikothrips sind die am besten bekannten Gallen induzierenden Taxa. In Südindien sind die Roll-Gallen von Thlibothrips manipurensis in Ardisia sp. (Myrsinaceae, Asteriden, Eudikotyledonen) denen sehr ähnlich, die durch Gynaikothrips flaviantennatus in Blättern der Casearia ellipitca (Salicaceae: Samydeae, Rosiden, Eudikotyledonen) induziert werden. Die Rosiden, Eudikotyledonen sind phylogenetisch ähnlich. Die möglichen Wege von Gynaikothrips und Thlibothrips, verschiedene aber verwandte Pflan­zen­taxa zu befallen, sind bemerkenswert.Stichwörter Ardisia sp., galls, marginal-leaf rolls, Myrsinaceae, Phlaeothripidae, population patterns through development, Thlibothrips manipurensis, Thysanoptera, Tubulifera.Biology of the epiphyllous roll-gall-inducing Thlibothrips manipurensis was studied on Ardisia sp. under laboratory conditions. T. manipurensis laid eggs linearly along the margins of tender leaves. Eggs hatched in 6.8 d and the larval duration was 3.4 and 8.2 d for larvae I and II, respectively. After 20.2 h as prepupa, T. manipurensis grew into pupa; adult emergence occurred in 4 d. Each female laid 34±7 eggs and the mean longevity of the adult was 10.2 d. Increase in thrips numbers correlated with the age of the gall: 15 individuals/gall occurred in young (4–10 d) galls, whereas 28 occurred in mature (20 d) galls, and 36 in old (25 d) galls. Male–female ratio in old galls was 1:5. Mature galls included a homogeneous tissue structure, made of 12–15 layers of parenchyma cells with no distinction into spongy and palisade cells. The gall-mesophyll cells adjacent to the upper and lower epidermises developed essentially through anticlinal divisions of the primordial cells, whereas those in mid regions developed through periclinal divisions; the latter facilitates the blade to roll inwards. Cells in the mid region of the galled lamina were larger than those occurring adjacent to the epidermises. Bulk of the cells in the mid-region of the galled lamina included darkly staining inclusions, which, in high likelihood, were phenolic materials. Thliobothrips is an ally of Gynaikothrips. Thlibothrips and Gynaikothrips are the better known gall-inducing taxa. The roll galls induced by Thlibothrips manipurensis on Ardisia sp. (Myrsinaceae, Asterids, Eudicots) are highly similar to those induced by Gynaikothrips flaviantennatus on the leaves of Casearia elliptica (Salicaceae: Samydeae, Rosids, Eudicots) in southern India. Because the Rosids and Asterids are considered related phylogenetically, the possible pathways taken by species of Gynaikothrips and Thlibothrips to radiate exploring different, but related plant taxa appear striking.Keywords Ardisia sp., galls, marginal-leaf rolls, Myrsinaceae, Phlaeothripidae, population patterns through development, Thlibothrips manipurensis, Thysanoptera, Tubulifera

Effects of Tetranychus lintearius (Acari : Tetranychidae) on the structure and water potential in the foliage of the invasive Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae) in Australia

Ulex europaeus, a native of Western Europe and the Mediterranean coast, is a serious agricultural and environmental weed in many parts of the earth, including Australia. Tetranychus lintearius attacks U. europaeus in its natural range and is one of the four biological control agents introduced into Australia to regulate populations of U. europaeus. Tetranychus lintearius is specific to different species of Ulex, which enhances its status as a key biological control agent. Little is known on the physiological effects and structural changes induced by T. lintearius on U. europaeus. This article describes anatomical changes and evaluates the physiological effects in U. europaeus consequent to feeding by T. lintearius for more than 100 d. This study demonstrates that feeding by T. lintearius reduces the quantity of photosynthetic tissue in U. europaeus, as a result of feeding on mesophyll parenchyma by inserting its stylets through the stomatal aperture. Unfed parenchyma cells display signs of stress, either exhibiting deformed cell organelles aligned along the walls of vacant cells or with cells with no well-defined cell organelles. Subsequent to T. lintearius feeding, leaves externally manifest bleaching. After feeding by a population of T. lintearius, leaf water potential is decreased by 30% and tender shoots lose their turgor, indicating water-related stress. Tetranychus lintearius has the potential to decelerate vigour and retard the competitiveness of U. europaeus by inflicting stress. Our findings reinforce the use of T. lintearius in the biological management of populations of U. europaeus in temperate Australia

Effects of gall induction by Epiblema strenuana on gas exchange, nutrients, and energetics in Parthenium hysterophorus

Gall induction by arthropods results in a range of morphological and physiological changes in their host plants. We examined changes in gas exchange, nutrients, and energetics related to the presence of stem galls on Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) induced by the moth, Epiblema strenuana Walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). We compared the effects of galls on P. hysterophorus in the rosette (young), pre-flowering (mature), and flowering (old) stages. Gall induction reduced the leaf-water potential, especially in flowering stage plants. In young and mature stage plants, galling reduced photosynthetic rates considerably. Gall induction reduced the transpiration rate mostly in mature plants, and this also diminished stomatal conductance. Energy levels in most galls and in shoot tissue immediately below the galls were significantly higher than the energy levels in stem tissue immediately above the galls, indicating that the gall acts as a mobilizing sink for the moth. Galling had significant effects on concentrations of minerals such as boron, chloride, magnesium, and zinc. In galled plants, reduced leaf-water potential and reduced rates of photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance may have altered mineral element levels. These observed effects demonstrate that E. strenuana has the potential to regulate P. hysterophorus.C

MEASUREMENT OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF ARTHROPODS AND RESPIRATION IN SOILS MANAGED UNDER TIME-CONTROLLED AND SET-STOCKED GRAZING PRACTICES IN CENTRAL-WEST NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

In this study we compare the effects of two contrasting grazing regimes (time-controlled grazing (TCG) vs set-stocked grazing (SSG)) on selected parameters of soil biological health. The purpose of the study was to evaluate these soil parameters as potential indicators of soil health and thence sustainable soil management. Two parameters, viz., arthropod biological diversity and soil respiration were chosen as reliable indicators of soil health. Samples of pasture cover, arthropod populations, and soil from varied depths were obtained in spring (September-November 2010) and autumn (March-May 2011). Results from the autumn showed a strong effect of time-controlled grazing with increased arthropod abundance and enhanced soil biological respiration while in spring the differences were not significant. It was concluded that a change to short-duration rotational grazing can be beneficial to soil biological health in the longer term and that the measurement of arthropods present in the litter and topsoil can be a simple yet effective indicator of the impact of grazing regime on soil health

Salivary gland structure of \u3ci\u3eCtenarytaina eucalypti\u3c/i\u3e (MASKELL, 1890) (Hemiptera) and phloem exudate in \u3ci\u3eEucalyptus globulus\u3c/i\u3e LABILLARDIÈRE, 1799 (Myrtaceae)

The structure of the salivary glands of the free-living aphalarid Ctenarytaina eucalypti, which infests multiple species of Eucalyptus in Australasia and has been introduced into many other regions of the world, is described and illustrated. The principal salivary gland is multilobed whereas the accessory gland is tubular. 1-D electrophoresis revealed proteins of approximately 58 and 64 kDa in the salivary gland extracts and proteins of similar molecular weights in the extracted plant exudates, including phloem, from infested leaves and tender shoots of E. globulus. Proteins that could fall within this range include, but are not limited to, glucosemethanol- choline-oxidoreductase (53-66 kDa), Zn-binding dehydrogenase (67 kDa) and esterase (65-96 kDa), in addition to cytochrome P-450 (50-55 kDa), trehalase (56 kDa), amylase (50-75 kDa) and lipase (48-52 kDa). Previous studies indicate that glucose-methanol-cholineoxidoreductase, Zn-binding dehydrogenase, cytochrome P-450 and trehalase suppress plantdefence mechanisms, whereas the cell-degrading enzymes such as amylase, lipase and esterase have a possible role in enabling C. eucalypti to insert its stylet into leaf and shoot tissues of E. globulus