Maroyi A, MT Rasethe

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 288-297, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.288

Abstract Documentation of use patterns of plants across national boundaries is of relevance in understanding the importance of plant resources to livelihood strategies of different ethnic groups. Plant resources have gained prominence as a natural asset through which families derive food, firewood, income, medicines and timber, enabling particularly poor communities to achieve self-sufficiency. The objective of this study was to investigate the trends in plant usage in South Africa and Zimbabwe. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted between January 2012 and January 2013 in the Limpopo Province, South Africa and the Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. The study used questionnaire surveys and interviews with… More >

Garay MM¹, NM Amiotti², P Zalba¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 280-287, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.280

Abstract Afforestation is a recommended practice to mitigate global warming. However, their implementation may generate undesirable impacts, mostly if exotic species are used. Plantations of Pinus radiata D Don in Ventania (Bs. As., Argentina) soils showed notorious increments of extractable P (Pe), which could affect the dynamic of this element as well as the degree of phosphorus saturation (GSP_Bray). The objectives of this study were: i) to quantify the GSP_Bray in Mollisols afforested with P. radiata comparing the results with those coming from adjacent, natural grassland areas (base line); ii) to evaluate the potential environmental risk induced by afforestation through the… More >

Yescas CP¹, MA Segura C¹, L Martínez C², VP Álvarez R¹, JA Montemayor T¹, JA Orozco V¹, JE Frías R¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 272-279, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.272

Abstract The scarcity of water in arid and semiarid regions of the world is a problem that every day increases by climate change. The subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and changes in population density of plants are alternatives that can be used to make a sustainable use of water. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the combination that allows for an increased corn performance and efficient use of water without losing the quality of forage. Three different irrigation levels were applied through a system of a SDI at three different densities of forage maize plants in an arid region.… More >

Reta-Sánchez DG¹, JS Serrato-Corona², HM Quiroga-Garza¹, A Gaytán-Mascorro¹, JA Cueto-Wong¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 262-271, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.262

Abstract Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) forage potential can be enhanced through its regrowth capacity and higher production in narrow rows. A field experiment was conducted in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico, during 2 growing seasons (2004 and 2005) to study the effects of plant height and row spacing on kenaf forage potential with multiple harvests. This study evaluated the effects of (1) 2 plant heights at cutting (1.0-1.2 m and 1.8-2.0 m) and (2) 4 inter row spacings (0.19, 0.38, 0.57 and 0.76 m) using a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized block design with 4 replications. Dry… More >

Robles-Hernández L, J Hernández-Huerta, AC González-Franco, OA Hernández-Rodríguez, A Núñez-Barrios, R Pérez-Leal

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 253-261, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.253

Abstract Chili pepper is one of the main crops of economic importance in Mexico, and Fusarium wilting is a disease that limits its production. In addition, the inappropriate use of agrochemicals in farming activities generate environmental and health problems. Therefore, in this study the effectiveness of Streptomyces sp PRIO41 was evaluated as a (1) biocontrol agent of Fusarium spp and (2) plant growth promoter bacteria. Assays of pathogenicity and virulence of Fusarium spp. in jalapeño pepper seeds, and interactions of these pathogens with Streptomyces PRIO41 were evaluated under two nutritional conditions. In the greenhouse, the effectiveness of Streptomyces sp. PRIO41 was… More >

Rubim MAL¹, PR Isolino Sampaio¹, P Parolin^2,3

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 244-251, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.244

Abstract Fish is a very important part of the human diet in Amazonia. Near the growing cities, fish populations and individual size have decreased over the past decades. Alternatives to traditional and industrial fishing arise, including fish farming. Strategies to minimize the impact of fish farms on the environment are needed to have a regular and healthy fish supply. This is to avoid a reduction of biodiversity, a depletion of natural resources, and/or the induction of significant changes in the structure and functioning of adjacent ecosystems. Very little research has been performed on management of effluents as to maintain the quality… More >

Vital López L, MA Cruz Hernández, S Fernández Dávila, A Mendoza Herrera

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 233-243, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.233

Abstract Cultivated surfaces of genetically modified (GM) crops increased year by year, becoming in 2012 more extensive in developed than in industrialized countries. Furthermore, it has been postulated that the plant is which leads to the selection of the microorganisms on its root exudates, creating specific conditions which in turn regulate the specific microbial structure of each plant. In this study, our main objective was to examine whether the introduction of transgenic maize herbicide-tolerant plants will impact the microbial structures that inhabit at the rhizosphere and rhizoplane with respect to conventional hybrid maize plants. Bacterial populations were determined (CFU/g) using four… More >

Adams RH, AL Álvarez-Ovando, G Castañón N

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 222-232, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.222

Abstract In this study, the relationship between the concentration of extra-heavy crude petroleum in a clayey material and the toxicity, field capacity, temperature, and growth of a tropical forage grass (Brachiara humidicola) was determined empirically. For this type of petroleum the acute toxicity (Microtox^®) was slight (CE₅₀ = 63200 - 76400 mg/kg) even at high hydrocarbon concentrations (29279 mg/kg). Nonetheless, serious impacts were encountered in terms of an increase in soil temperature (+ 1.3 °C), reduction in field capacity (-10.7%) and reduction in aerial biomass (-97%). The relationship between hydrocarbon concentration and biomass resulted in a typical dose-response curve (r =… More >

Hu FL^1,2, B Liu^1,3, ZM Liu^1,3, YT Fang^1,3, CA Busso⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 209-221, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.209

Abstract Grasslands are one of the most widespread landscapes worldwide, covering approximately one-fifth of the world’s land surface, where grazing is a common practice. How carbon storage responds to grazing in steppes remains poorly understood. We quantified the effects of grazing on community composition and species diversity, and carbon storage in two typical grasslands of northeastern China, one in Horqin and the other one in Hulunbeier. In both grasslands, grazing did not influence plant species diversity. However, it substantially decreased aboveground carbon by 31% and 54% in Horqin and Hulunbeier, respectively. Fenced and grazing treatments showed a similar belowground carbon at… More >

Montes B^1,2, MG Murray^1,3

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 201-208, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.201

Abstract Palynological studies contribute to understanding the taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology of the Asteraceae and other families. In this study, pollen morphology and ultrastructure of the exine of Senecio bergii Hieron. were studied using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The pollen of this species is prolate-spheroidal, it has a Senecioid pattern on the exine and an apertural system composed of three apertures (ecto-, meso- and endoapertures). This pollen type is defined as tricolpororate due to the triple apertural system. This is the first description of the ultrastructure of the apertural system of the pollen of Argentine species of Senecio. The… More >