The leaf-feeding geometrid Isturgia disputaria (Guenee)-A potential biological control agent for prickly acacia, Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr. (Mimosaceae) in Australia

Prickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica), a native multipurpose tree in India, is a weed of National significance, and a target for biological control in Australia. Based on plant genetic and climatic similarities, native range surveys for identifying potential biological control agents for prickly acacia were conducted in India during 2008-2011. In the survey leaf-feeding geometrid, Isturgia disputaria Guenee (syn. Tephrina pulinda), widespread in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka States, was prioritized as a potential biological control agent based on field host range, damage potential and no choice test on non target plant species. Though the field host range study exhibited that V. nilotica ssp. indica and V. nilotica ssp. tomentosa were the primary hosts for successful development of the insect, I. disputaria, replicated no - choice larval feeding and development tests conducted on cut foliage and live plants of nine non-target acacia test plant species in India revealed the larval feeding and development on three of the nine non-target acacia species, V. tortilis, V. planiferons and V. leucophloea in addition to the V. nilotica ssp. indica and V. nilotica ssp. tomentosa. However, the proportion of larvae developing into adults was higher on V. nilotica subsp. indica and V. nilotica subsp. tomentosa, with 90% and 80% of the larvae completing development, respectively. In contrast, the larval mortality was higher on V. tortilis (70%), V. leucophloea (90%) and V. planiferons (70%). The no-choice test results support the earlier host specificity test results of I. disputaria from Pakistan, Kenya and under quarantine in Australia. Contrasting results between field host range and host use pattern under no-choice conditions are discussed.

A co-evolutionary relationship exists between Endoraecium (Pucciniales) and its Acacia hosts in Australia

Endoraecium is a genus of rust fungi that infects several species of Acacia in Australia, South-East Asia and Hawaii. This study investigated the systematics of Endoraecium from 55 specimens in Australia based on a combined morphological and molecular approach. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on partitioned datasets of loci from ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA. The recovered molecular phylogeny supported a recently published taxonomy based on morphology and host range that divided Endoraecium digitatum into five species. Spore morphology is synapomorphic and there is evidence Endoraecium co-evolved with its Acacia hosts. The broad host ranges of E. digitatum, E. parvum, E. phyllodiorum and E. violae-faustiae are revised in light of this study, and nine new species of Endoraecium are described from Australia based on host taxonomy, morphology and phylogenetic concordance.

Carbon Dioxide emissions from an Acacia plantation on peatland in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Peat surface CO2 emission, groundwater table depth and peat temperature were monitored for two years along transects in an Acacia plantation on thick tropical peat (>4 m) in Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 2300 emission measurements were taken at 144 locations. The autotrophic root respiration component of the CO2 emission was separated from heterotrophic emissions caused by peat oxidation in three ways: (i) by comparing CO2 emissions within and beyond the tree rooting zone, (ii) by comparing CO2 emissions with and without peat trenching (i.e. cutting any roots remaining in the peat beyond the tree rooting zone), and (iii) by comparing CO2 emissions before and after Acacia tree harvesting. On average, the contribution of root respiration to daytime CO2 emission is 21 % along transects in mature tree stands. At locations 0.5 m from trees this is up to 80 % of the total emissions, but it is negligible at locations more than 1.3 m away. This means that CO2 emission measurements well away from trees are free of any root respiration contribution and thus represent only peat oxidation emission. We find daytime mean annual CO2 emission from peat oxidation alone of 94 t ha−1 yr−1 at a mean water table depth of 0.8 m, and a minimum emission value of 80 t ha−1 yr−1 after correction for the effect of diurnal temperature fluctuations, which resulted in a 14.5 % reduction of the daytime emission. There is a positive correlation between mean long-term water table depths and peat oxidation CO2 emission. However, no such relation is found for instantaneous emission/water table depth within transects and it is clear that factors other than water table depth also affect peat oxidation and total CO2 emissions. The increase in the temperature of the surface peat due to plantation development may explain over 50 % of peat oxidation emissions.

Uso de vaina de espino negro (Acacia pennatula) como suplemento en alimentación de ganado lechero

Con el objetivo de determinar, el mejor nivel de inclusión de vaina de espino negro (Acacia Pennatula), en la dieta alimenticia de las vacas lecheras y su efecto sobre la producción de la leche, sus cambios físicos y químicos, así como los costos de producción, se realizó el estudio el en la hacienda San Francisco ubicada en la comarca de Pueblo Nuevo a 15 kilómetros al norte del municipio de Jinotega departamento de Jinotega a los 13° 11’ 59” Latitud N y 85° 56’ 34" Longitud W. Se utilizaron 15 animales, los cuales se separaron únicamente en la suplementación alimenticia, al momento del ordeño y el pesaje de leche, el resto del manejo fue el mismo para el resto del hato en dicha finca, se realizaron dos ordeños al día 1) de 5 a 6 a.m. y 2) de 3 a 4 p.m. Se utilizó un diseño cruzado (Cross over)de 3 x 3, con 3 bloques y 3 tratamientos (a) concentrado comercial, (b) concentrado con 40% de inclusión de vaina de espino negro y (c) concentrado con 60 % de inclusión de vaina de espino negro. Los datos fueron analizados utilizando el paquete estadístico SAS (1999), con procedimiento de separación de medias por Duncan. El modelo matemático fue: Yijkl m + Bi + Cj + Pk + T1 + Eijkl. Se suministró el alimento dos veces al día durante cada ordeño (5 de la mañana y 3 de la tarde), se oferto un total de 44 libras (20 kg.), de su respectivo tratamiento alimenticio de cada grupo, el cual fue distribuido al azar por medio de un sorteo con tres papelitos para cada grupo y para cada tratamiento. El proceso de adaptación inicio con 1 semana de aceptación y 3 semanas de toma de datos para cada periodo. Se encontró diferencias altamente significativas para los tratamientos, resultando el tratamiento "b" (concentrado con 40 % de vaina de espino negro), con los mejores resultados en cuanto a producción de leche (Con un promedio de 7.16 lt/vaca/ordeño) y porcentaje de grasa en la leche (ó.9 %). Un comportamiento intermedio lo obtuvo el tratamiento el tratamiento "a" (concentrado comercial), el cual obtuvo una producción de leche (promedio de 6.28 lt/vaca/ordeño) y un porcentaje de grasa de (5.6 %), con el más bajo resultado el tratamiento "c" (concentrado con 60% de inclusión de vaina de espino negro) que obtuvo un promedio de producción (5.08 lt/vaca/ordeño); con un porcentaje de grasa de (4.8 %), todos los casos se encontró cambios físicos, químicos no así organolépticos en la leche. Cuando se utilizó 40 % de inclusión de vaina de espino negro en la dieta del animal se encontró que los costos se reducían hasta en 50 % y ia producción aumenta hasta en un 20 %.

Manual do subdito fiel [pseud.], ou, Cartas de um lavrador a sua Magestade o Imperador sobre a questão do elemento servil

A campanha abolicionista já entrava em sua reta final e um dos documentos jurídicos mais claros e esclarecedores a seu favor foi redigido pelo deputado da Bahia, Ruy Barbosa, em parecer apresentado às Comissões de Orçamento e Justiça Civil, em 4 de agosto de 1884.