A study on plant preferences of red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the wild habitat: foundation for the conservation of the species

The red panda is a lesser carnivore that has adapted to the herbivore diet and is distributed in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountain ranges. The study conducted on red panda in Singalila National Park recorded the highest encounter of the species within the altitude of 2800 to 3200 meters in the broad leaf deciduous and broad leaf coniferous forest. 22.22% of direct sightings of red pandas occurred on plant species belonging to the family Fagaceae and were followed by the family Ericaceae (18.52%). The plant species mostly preferred by the red panda in Singalila National Park were Lithocarpus pachyphyllus, Rhododendron arboreum, Abies densa, and Betulia utilis. During all seasons, the dominant plants found in the red panda pellets were Arundinaria maling and Arundinaria aristata.  The distribution of the red panda is influenced by the presence of the preferred plant species, therefore, through this studies effort has been made to document the plant species used by the red panda in the wild habitat.

Non-flooded riparian Amazon trees are a regionally significant methane source

Inundation-adapted trees were recently established as the dominant egress pathway for soil-produced methane (CH 4 ) in forested wetlands. This raises the possibility that CH 4 produced deep within the soil column can vent to the atmosphere via tree roots even when the water table (WT) is below the surface. If correct, this would challenge modelling efforts where inundation often defines the spatial extent of ecosystem CH 4 production and emission. Here, we examine CH 4 exchange on tree, soil and aquatic surfaces in forest experiencing a dynamic WT at three floodplain locations spanning the Amazon basin at four hydrologically distinct times from April 2017 to January 2018. Tree stem emissions were orders of magnitude larger than from soil or aquatic surface emissions and exhibited a strong relationship to WT depth below the surface (less than 0). We estimate that Amazon riparian floodplain margins with a WT < 0 contribute 2.2–3.6 Tg CH 4 yr −1 to the atmosphere in addition to inundated tree emissions of approximately 12.7–21.1 Tg CH 4 yr −1 . Applying our approach to all tropical wetland broad-leaf trees yields an estimated non-flooded floodplain tree flux of 6.4 Tg CH 4 yr −1 which, at 17% of the flooded tropical tree flux of approximately 37.1 Tg CH 4 yr −1 , demonstrates the importance of these ecosystems in extending the effective CH 4 emitting area beyond flooded lands. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Rising methane: is warming feeding warming? (part 2)'.

Leaf Vein Morphological Variation in Four Endangered Neotropical Magnolia Species along an Elevation Gradient in the Mexican Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

Climatic variations influence the adaptive capacity of trees within tropical montane cloud forests species. Phenology studies have dominated current studies on tree species. Leaf vein morphology has been related to specific climatic oscillations and varies within species along altitudinal gradients. We tested that certain Neotropical broad leaf Magnolia species might be more vulnerable to leaf vein adaptation to moisture than others, as they would be more resilient to the hydric deficit. We assessed that leaf vein trait variations (vein density, primary vein size, vein length, and leaf base angle) among four Magnolia species (Magnolia nuevoleonensis, M. alejandrae, M. rzedowskiana, and Magnolia vovidesii) through the Mexican Tropical montane cloud forest with different elevation gradient and specific climatic factors. The temperature, precipitation, and potential evaporation differed significantly among Magnolia species. We detected that M. rzedowskiana and M. vovidesii with longer leaves at higher altitude sites are adapted to higher humidity conditions, and that M. nuevoleonensis and M. alejandrae inhabiting lower altitude sites are better adjusted to the hydric deficit. Our results advance efforts to identify the Magnolia species most vulnerable to climate change effects, which must focus priorities for conservation of this ecosystem, particularly in the Mexican tropical montane cloud forests.

Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis) Competition and Control in Rain-Fed Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) is a weed that frequently infests spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields in Moscow province, Russia. It is an annual broad leaf weed, which is indigenous throughout most parts of the globe and one of the most competitive weeds of spring cereal crops. In southern Russia it is emerging as an important crop competitor. Field trials focusing on herbicide timing and efficacy on wild mustard control and spring wheat yield in the Moscow region, Kashira and Baribino districts. A PRE glyphosate application to wheat regardless of fall or spring application timing favorably suppressed wild mustard in 2018. Weeds were not controlled in 2019 with the earliest application timings of glyphosate because weeds emerged late. In comparing fall and spring application timings, the formulated combination of (iodosulfuron/mesosulfuron/antidote mefenpyr-diethyl) at both field rates provided 80% weed control for all application timings and locations, and also resulting in the greatest spring wheat grain yield. Overall, herbicide treatments performed greater when they were in the fall than during the spring. Based on POST herbicide application, tribenuron-methyl provided the greatest wild mustard suppression (75%) and also caused the highest reduction in wild mustard biomass (3.3 g), stem number (6), seed number (880) and germination percentage (33%). When wild mustard was approximately 32 weeds/m2 causedtotal wheat yield loss.

Pattern of Distribution of Spatial Phenomena to Communities Prevailing in Mount Gara Using Function L(r)

The spatial pattern of species is an important feature to understand why these species coexist and remain in position or not, and using the single Ripley function and the L(r) function, we analyzed the spatial pattern of types of broad-leaf tree and tree covers and the needles for mixed brawls in the forests of Mount Gara, using PASSAGE V.2, L(r) analysis of the species under study showed a variation in the pattern distribution of trees and gave the highest percentage of random form distribution pattern with a cluster pattern of 11.25%, Through the ratios and forms of distribution of the L(r) function of the various samples of the study, we find that these stands generally tend to be regular, indicating that these species remain at the end of the life cycle in the structure of a more stable stand.

Plant-based nanoparticles prepared from protein containing tribenuron-methyl: fabrication, characterization, and application

Background Tribenuron-methyl is a registered herbicide for broad-leaf weed control in wheat, however, low solubility in water and reacting with hard water's ions could substantially decrease its efficacy. The present work aimed to enhance the dispersing and bioactivity of this herbicide by developing nanoparticles using zein as a promising nano-delivery system and to assess the effects of nanoparticles on the efficacy of tribenuron-methyl in the suppression of Convolvulus arvensis as a problematic weed in wheat fields. Results Based on SEM analyses nanoparticles sizes were 80–120 nm. DLS results showed an average size of 170 nm for tribenuron-methyl zein-based nanoparticles (TMZNP-5). The entrapment efficiency (EE%) of tribenuron-methyl inside the zein nanoparticles was ca. 81% ± 3. Five-week after application of tribenuron-methyl nanoparticles on C. arvensis, it was able to reduce the dry weight (53%), acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme activity (82%), and plant height (77%) of C. arvensis as compared with untreated plants. Additionally, tribenuron-methyl used in nanoparticles at the half rate of the recommended dose had the same efficacy as commercial tribenuron-methyl. Conclusion Based on these results, zein nanoparticles can be potentially utilized as nanocarriers for enhancing the solubility of tribenuron-methyl to further enhance its bioavailability and performance on sensitive weeds. Graphic abstract

Varietal performance of Broad leaf Mustard during winter season in plain region of eastern Nepal

The experiment was conducted in agriculture farm of Girija Prasad Koirala College of Agriculture and Research Centre Gothagaun, Morang to know the morphological and yield attributing character, disease severity and organoleptic test of Broad leaf Mustard. Four Variety of broad leaf mustard namely Khumal Chaudapat, Marpha Chaudapat, Manakamana and Mustard 101 with five replication was laid out in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) from October, 2020 to January, 2021. The length of leaf was superior in Kumal chaudapat (29.01 cm) as compare to other variety. The yield performance of Khumal chaudapat was better (27.10mtha-1) followed by Marpha Chaudapat (24.50mtha-1) and Manakamana (23.90mtha-1). Lowest disease severity was recorded in Mustard 101 (26.7%), and highest disease severity in Marpha Chaudapat (37.85%). Overall, organoleptic test was good in Marpha Chaudapat.

Deep sampling of ancestral genetic diversity reveals Saccharomyces cerevisiae pre-domestication life histories

The ecology and genetic diversity of model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae prior to human domestication remain poorly understood. Taiwan is regarded as part of this yeast’s geographic birthplace where the most divergent natural lineage was discovered. Here, we deep sampled the broad-leaf forests across this continental island to probe the ancestral species diversity. We found that S. cerevisiae is distributed ubiquitously at low abundance in the forests. Whole-genome sequencing of 121 isolates revealed nine distinct lineages, the highest known in any region. Three lineages are endemic to Taiwan and six are widespread in Asia. Molecular dating placed the divergence of the Taiwanese and Asian lineages during the Pleistocene, when a transient continental shelf land bridge connected Taiwan to other major landmasses. Extensive historical and recent admixture events were detected between natural lineages. In particular, the genetic component from a lineage associated with fruits that spanned the widest geographical range was present in most admixed isolates. Collectively, Taiwanese isolates harbor genetic diversity comparable to that of the whole Asia continent, and different lineages have coexisted at a fine spatial scale even on the same tree. Patterns of variations within each lineage revealed that S. cerevisiae is highly clonal and predominantly reproduces asexually in nature. We detected prevalent purifying selection genome-wide, with lineage-specific signals of positive or directional selection independent between lineages. This study establishes that S. cerevisiae has rich natural diversity sheltered from human influences, making it a powerful model system in microbial ecology.

Review of the genus Lemaireia Nässig & Holloway, 1988 from China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

A new species of the genus Lemaireia Nässig & Holloway, 1988 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Saturniinae: Saturniini), L. daparo sp. n., is described from evergreen broad-leaf forests in Panzhihua (Sichuan), Qujing (Yunnan) and Dali (Yunnan) of China. The new species resembles L. luteopeplus aureopeplus Nässig & Holloway, 1988 and L. hainana Nässig & Wang, 2006 from China, but can be easily separated from them by the male genitalia. In addition, the genus Lemaireia is reported here for the first time from Sichuan Province, and now its distribution range reached the northeastern extreme point. The habitus, diagnostic characters and distribution map of the three species of the genus Lemaireia from China are provided. A list of all Lemaireia species presently known worldwide is also given.