CREA Journals (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria)
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Field and laboratory screening of Romanian maize landraces very resistant to low temperatures
Get PDFSubmountain and mountain areas of Romania have a wide variety of maize landraces thathave not been characterized, and landraces varieties may be a good source of new allelicdiversity for useful traits. There is possible due to studies and comprehensive measures whichcan lead to the maintenance of biodiversity and increase its efficiency. The paper presents theresults of characterization and evaluation of a total of 61 local landraces with cold test index>84%, selected from a total of 300 studied local landraces. They were characterized in thefield and laboratory from morphologic, agronomic and physiologic point of view, as a basisfor use of this maize accessions in a breeding program for creating of extra earlier hybrids.Landraces maize accessions: SVGB-1790, SVGB-7754, SVGB-8012, SVGB-14453, SVGB-5172 were identified with high yield components traits and extremely resistant to lowtemperatures (K>0,92).Utilization of these local landraces as starting material can lead to the identification of usefulgenes sources for improvement of important agronomic characters of maize (yield capacity,precocity, resistance to low temperatures and to Fusarium infection).This accessions have a good agronomic stability, could be potentials donors of genes toimprove maize tolerance to low temperature in order to create hybrids for cold and wet areas
Cultivation techniques in a 34 years old farming oak (Quercus robur L.) plantation in the Arno valley (Tuscany)
Get PDFThis report aims to provide a description of the cultivation techniques adopted at the oldest oak pure plantation (age 34) established within the environmental restoration plan of soil dumps at the Santa Barbara ENEL Company opencast mine in Cavriglia (AR). The goals of the initial plan, following which the plantation was carried out, were to (i) verify the possibility of restoring the soil dump by using tree farming plantations and produce a range of valuable timber assortments; (ii) test the growth potential of the oak species in a pure plantation. The plantation, carried out with a stem density of 1,111 trees per hectare, was managed by targeted practices (pruning up to the stem height of 4-5 m and then undertaking four thinnings). A geometric-selective thinning was applied first and, later, periodical thinning from above was implemented, releasing, as a result, about 70 crop trees per hectare. In the meanwhile, it was possible to monitor the growth parameters concerning dbh, tree height and crown diameter. The stem quality and the presence of epicormic branches were evaluated in 2013 and the relationship between the presence of epicormic branches and tree characteristics were also analyzed. The wood production was compared with other European plantations, especially from France. Today, 34 years after the plantation got started, the site is an interesting case-study of tree farming as it plays a consistent role within the environmental restoration of the area. The applied management system allowed to reach a noticeable wood production level andalso valuable timber assortments for industrial use. Crop trees (70 per hectare) reached a mean dbh of 38.1 cm, the height of 22.3 m at the age of 34.
New data on Xantholinini from the Oriental Region. XIX. New species from Nepal, India and Halmahera Island (Coleoptera Staphylinidae). 199th Contribution to the knowledge of Staphylinidae
No full textThe following species are described: Thyreocephalus moluccanus sp. n. from Halmahera island, similar to T. laticeps (Erichson); Symilla difficilis sp. n. from South India and Atopolinus palustris sp. n. from Nepal and Bengal that differs from the congeners by some external and aedeagical characters
NEW CHARIPINAE (HYMENOPTERA CYNIPOIDEA FIGITIDAE) FROM ITALY
Get PDFCharipinae material from different localities in Italy deposited in the Natural History Museum of London, Canadian National Collection of Insects and the United States National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) has been revised. 120 specimens have been examined and 16 species have been determined. 14 Charipinae species are here cited for the first time from Italy: Alloxysta arcuata (Kieffer, 1902), Alloxysta brevis (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta castanea (Hartig, 1841), Alloxysta citripes (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta fracticornis (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta consobrina (Zetterstedt, 1838), Alloxysta melanogaster (Hartig, 1840), Alloxysta mullensis (Cameron, 1883), Alloxysta pilipennis (Hartig, 1840), Alloxysta ramulifera (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta xanthocera (Thomson, 1862), Phaenoglyphis heterocera (Hartig, 1841), Phaenoglyphis salicis (Cameron, 1883) and Phaenoglyphis villosa (Hartig, 1841). Diagnoses for the new records are given; their main diagnostic features are shown in different plates. Alloxysta aphidicida (Rondani, 1848), Alloxysta musti (Rondani, 1876) and Alloxysta silvestri (Kieffer, 1908) are considered as nomina dubia. A key to identify the Charipinae present in Italy is also given
About the presence of termites in Florence
Get PDFThis work highlights the problem of the presence of the termites Reticulitermes lucifugus and Kalotermes flavicollis, detected in an area of the historic center of Florence (Italy). Pest management was immediately undertaken by a specific monitoring program to determine the status of the infestation, identifying the critical elements and their potential impact on the structures involved, as well as outlining the necessary control measures. Analyzing the area, several colonies of both termite species were detected, some located within the wooden flooring of a gym and some others outdoor, in tree stumps and in necrosated roots at the base of some trees. Two episodes of collapsed tall trees were also reported. Termites were detected also in other areas of the city of Florence, such as the Cascine park and the Boboli garden, where many trees were clearly infested by K. flavicollis. This work allowed to realize that problems with termite infestations could be higher than expected, by seriously threatening the historical and artistic heritage of the city and by causing trees weakening in public areas, thus also threatening the people safety. Taking into account these findings, we suggest to extend the termite survey to the entire city and to establish a working group, with multidisciplinary competences, able to develop a proper prevention and control program aimed at the protection of cultural heritage and management of tree health in public parks
Morphological and molecular characterization of a Steinernema carpocapsae (Nematoda Steinernematidae) strain isolated in Veneto region (Italy)
Get PDFVeneto region (North-East Italy). This new strain was named ItS-CAO1. Molecular and morphological analyses were performed. The ITS region and the 18S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. The ITS products were then digested with six restriction enzymes in order to unequivocally identify this species. Nematode virulence was tested against last instar of Galleria mellonella (L.) using different laboratory assays. Insect mortality of this new strain is very high in penetration (100%) and sand column assay (93.3%) and the percentage of penetrating infective juveniles was 57.6 and 42.9, respectively. Larval mortality in one-on-one quality assay was 50% and in exposure time assay it was 50% at 19 minutes. With the results of infectivity assays we can evaluate the possibility to use this new strain in biological control programs
Climate change impact on a mixed lowland oak stand in Serbia
Get PDFClimatic changes and bad environmental conditions may lead to forests vitality loss and even mortality. This is the reason why increased sanitary felling operations were performed in mixed oak forests in northern Serbia in 2013 in order to solve the severe dieback which affected some Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) stands, after the very dry years 2011 and 2012.Dendrochronological techniques were applied to both these oak species collected in a stand, to examine the impact of temperature, precipitation and ground water level on forest growth and investigate the potential causes of the dieback.Differences in tree-ring patterns between surviving and dead trees were not significant according to t-value (from 5.68 to 14.20) and Gleichläufigkeit coefficient (from 76% to 82%), this meaning no distinctive responses of the two ecologically different oak species. As for radial increment, pedunculate and Turkey oak trees showed a similar response to environmental variables in this mixed stand. The Simple Pearson’s correlation analysis, which was conducted, showed that among three basic environmental variables (the mean monthly air temperature, the monthly sum of precipitation and the mean monthly water level, proxy of ground water level), the water level of Danube river in May and the temperature in April were statistically related to the growth of the four tree groups: (i) pedunculate oak vital, (ii) pedunculate oak dead, (iii) Turkey oak vital and (iv) Turkey oak dead trees, for the period 1961-2010 (p<0.05, n=60). Similar phenomena had already been observed in the Sava River basin for the growth of pure pedunculate oak forests. The long-term decline of the Danube River water level may be related to climate variations and to the changes of water management, river bed, as well as land-use. Together with the increase of temperature, this decline of the water level, and its potential unavailability in the soil, represents a serious challenge for the mixed oak forests silviculture in the Danube basin
Structural attributes of stand overstory and light under the canopy
Get PDF This paper reviews the literature relating to the relationship between light availability in the understory and the main qualitative and quantitative attributes of stand overstory usually considered in forest management and planning (species composition, density, tree sizes, etc.) as well as their changes as consequences of harvesting. The paper is divided in two sections: the first one reviews studies which investigated the influence of species composition on understory light conditions; the second part examines research on the relationships among stand parameters determined from dendrometric field data and the radiation on understory layer. The objective was to highlight which are the most significant stand traits and management features to build more practical models for predicting light regimes in any forest stand and, in more general terms, to support forest managers in planning and designing silvicultural treatments that retain structure in different way in order to meet different objectives
Forest genetic resources to support global bioeconomy
Get PDFA biobased economy implies sustainable and effective use of the biomass. This includes new products from forestry. The sustainable production, use, consumption and waste management of biomass all contribute to a bioeconomy (The European Bioeconomy in 2030). In the context of bioeconomy the conservation of forest genetic resources assumes a key significance in overcoming global challenges such as climate change. Forests are expected to play a key role in climate change mitigation, but they will only be able to fulfil that role if the trees themselves are able to survive and adapt to changing climate conditions. Genetic diversity provides the fundamental basis for the evolution of forest tree species and for their adaptation to change. The enormous range of goods and services provided by trees and forests is both a function of and testimony to the genetic variability contained within them. Conserving forest genetic resources is therefore vital, as they constitute a unique and irreplaceable resource for the future, including for sustainable economic growth and progress and environmental adaption (The State of the Worlds Forest Genetic Resources 2014).Previous research of population characteristics and the effects of natural and artificial selection on the genetic structure of populations contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the gene pool of the native tree species. The balance model of the population genetic structure reveals the new properties of the populations and requires further investigations, especially of the relations of subpopulations, half-sib families and organisms and the effect of variable factors of the environment, on the exchange of genetic material within natural and cultural populations.Being of national and international significance, these resources require intensive protection and enhancement in situ and ex situ. In this paper a general introduction is given to conservation of forest genetic resources in Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia in the context of bio-economy. Based on the current situation of conservation of forest genetic resources, some strategic suggestions concerning the future development of genetic conservation is given, taking into consideration the conservation objectives and future trends of great impact on existing forest genetic resources.
Multi-species and multifunctional smallholder tree farming systems in Southeast Asia: timber, NTFPs, plus environmental benefits
Get PDFThe rapid increase in human population, and the corresponding worldwide enhancement of social and economical conditions, are exerting a considerable pressure to convert forests to other uses. Moreover, these phenomena raise the demand for food, fuel, wood fibers and other non-wood products, contributing to a further boost of the production pressure in the surviving forests. Simultaneously, these forests are expected to provide a diverse array of environmental services.Furthermore, smallholder forestry systems are prominent components of ‘trees outside the forest’ in Southeast Asia and they are primarily ‘planted’ systems that rehabilitate or reforest marginal lands, in order to produce tree products and services. As they traditionally are a means of producing goods for home consumption, they have become significant suppliers of products for local, national and international markets.The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that smallholder forestry systems are a viable management system which is significantly contributing to global environmental goals and local economic objectives. This paper reviews global and Asian trends of human population growth, deforestation, and demand for forest and tree products.The origin, the diversity, the adaptable management and the importance of smallholder tree-based systems are here discussed and significant details are provided on the role of smallholder tree-based systems in the mitigation of deforestation, which could be obtained by expanding regional forest resources; in supplying alternative sources of forest products and environmental benefits; and in making significant contributions to local livelihoods for rural communities