GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR JUVENILE CHARACTERS OF Cedrela fissilis VELL. PROGENIES: A SUBSIDY FOR DEFINITION OF SEED COLLECTION ZONE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic differences among three matrix groups of Cedrela fissilis based on quantitative juvenile variables on a progeny test to define seed collecting zones and use of seeds of this species in the study region as well as to evaluate genetic variability of the sampled material. A progeny test was established in a nursery with seeds from 48 seed trees collected in the municipalities of Rio Negrinho, Mafra and Sao Bento do Sul, state of Santa Catarina, and in the municipalities of Lapa, Rio Negro, Campo do Tenente and Antonio Olinto, state of Parana. Of the collected seed trees, 33 sampled trees were distributed in three sites and 15 trees were dispersed in the studied region. It was used a complete random block design, with 8 replicates and 20 plants per plot. Evaluated data included: emergency rate; seedling base diameter and height (61, 102 and 145 days after the seeds were sowed); seedling survival; number of leaves per seedling; aerial section dry mass and root dry mass; and the foliar area of the third fully expanded leaf measured from the apical meristem. The Maximum Restricted Likelihood Method (REML) was used, using the software SELEGEN for analysis. It was found that the juvenile characters are strongly genetically controlled and they can be used to estimate genetic variability of population samples of Cedrela fissilis. The three groups of trees spatially limited did not significantly differ among each other, allowing to conclude that the three areas are part of the same tree seed transfer zone.

Variabilidade genética para caracteres juvenis de progênies de Cedrela fissilis Vell.: subsídio para definição de zonas de coleta e uso de sementes

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar diferenças genéticas entre três grupos de matrizes de Cedrela fissilis a partir de variáveis quantitativas juvenis em teste de progênies, para delinear zonas de coleta e uso de sementes da espécie na região de estudo, bem como avaliar a variabilidade genética do material amostrado. Instalou-se um teste de progênies, em viveiro, a partir de sementes de 48 matrizes amostradas nos Municípios de Rio Negrinho, Mafra e São Bento do Sul, no Estado de Santa Catarina; e em Lapa, Rio Negro, Campo do Tenente e Antonio Olinto, no Estado do Paraná. Das matrizes coletadas, 33 encontravam-se distribuídas em três grupos espaciais e 15 dispersas na região. O delineamento em blocos casualizados com oito repetições e 20 plantas por parcela foi empregado. Os dados avaliados incluíram: índice de velocidade de emergência, diâmetro do colo e altura das mudas (aos 61, 102 e 145 dias após a semeadura); sobrevivência, número de folhas por muda, massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz e área foliar da terceira folha totalmente expandida a contar do ápice. A metodologia de máxima verossimilhança restrita foi utilizada para a análise estatística, com o auxílio do software SELEGEN. Verificou-se que os caracteres juvenis apresentam elevado controle genético, podendo ser utilizados para avaliação da variabilidade genética de amostras de populações da espécie. Os três grupos de matrizes delimitados espacialmente não apresentam diferenças genéticas significativas, sendo possível inferir que as três áreas pertencem a uma mesma zona de coleta e uso de sementes

Evaluation of fruit and seed diversity and characterization of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivars in Algarve region

The genetic diversity of 15 carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivars located in an experimental field from Algarve (Portugal) was evaluated over 7 years using 12 fruit and seed phenotypic characters, in order to characterize carob cultivars. The values of morphological traits obtained by cultiv ar were compared with those from other countries of the Mediterranean basin. Statistically significant differences were found between cultivars for al l characters which were examined, what indicates a high genetic diversity. The relationship among these characters was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) resulting in the separation of these cultivars classed in four groups (clusters I–IV) and in four ungrouped cultivars. A three dimension of the model was found to be significant and explained 74.5% of the total variation, in which the first component accounting for 34.6% of the total variation is dominated by fruit characters, while the second component is dominated by seed characters. Cultivars plotted on the left-lower quadrant on the space determined by principal components 1 and 2 are characterized by fruits with high seed yield more appropriated for industrial rentability. The correlation analyses established by cultivar provided a specific understanding about the way how fruit and seed characteristics correlate within each cultivar. This approach can be useful for the development of a breeding programme, aiming to increase the seed yield, seed thickness, individual and total seed weight by fruit, characteristics that are determinant to improve the industrial exploitation of carob.

Phylogeny of Celastraceae subfamily Hippocrateoideae inferred from morphological characters and nuclear and plastid loci

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Embryology and seed development of Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus (Koern.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae)

The embryology and seed structure of Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus species were studied. The embryological and structural seed characters fit well with those of the other commelinaceous families. Within the Commelinales sensu Dahlgren, Eriocaulaceae and Xyridaceae represent two embryologically close families. In Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus the ovule is orthotropus, bitegmic, and tenuicellate with a micropyle formed by the inner integument. The seeds are endotestal. The outer cell layer of the testa and the outer periclinal wall of the endotesta disintegrate during development. The endotegmen is tanniniferous. The outer layer of the tegmen becomes compressed and is no longer recognizable in the mature seed. The seeds are operculate.

Systematic position of Xyris: Flower and seed anatomy

Flower anatomy, embryology, and seed anatomy are described for some Brazilian species of Xyris section Nematopus and reviewed with respect to the systematic position of Xyris and allied taxa in Commelinanae. Apart from tenuinucellate ovules (shared with Poales, Mayaca, and Eriocaulaceae), Xyris lacks some of the synapomorphies of other genera that are sometimes included in Xyridaceae (Aratitiyopea, Achlyphila, Abolboda, and Orectanthe), such as inaperturate spinulate pollen; Xyris has monosulcate reticulate pollen. There is an unusual degree of variation among different genera of Xyridaceae for characters such as tapetum type, indicating that the monophyly of the family requires testing. However, while several characters indicate two generic groups, there is much missing critical information for embryological and seed coat characters in other Xyridaceae.

The Springfield weed and seed initiative : a process description and evaluation /

At head of title on cover: Research and program evaluation in Illinois: studies on drug abuse and violent crime.

Juvenile justice and truancy legislation : The move towards parental responsibilisation in Queensland

Much current Queensland media rhetoric, government policy and legislation on truancy and youth justice appears to be based on ideas of responsibilisation – of sheeting responsibility for children’s behaviour back onto their parents. This article examines the evidence of parental responsibility provisions in juvenile justice and truancy legislation in Queensland and the drivers behind this approach. It considers recent legislative initiatives as part of an international trend toward making parents ‘responsible’ for the wrongs of their children. It identifies the parental responsibility rhetoric appearing in recent ministerial statements and associated media reports. It then asks the questions – are these legislative provisions being enforced? And if so, are they successful? Are they simply adding to the administrative burdens placed on teachers and schools, and the socioeconomic burdens placed on already disadvantaged parents? Parental responsibility provisions have been discussed at length in the context of juvenile offending and research suggests that punishing parents for the acts of their children does not decrease delinquency. The paper asks how, as a society, we intend to evaluate these punitive measures against parents?

Lantana (Lantana camara) Seed Bank Dynamics: Seedling Emergence and Seed Survival.

Seed persistence is poorly quantified for invasive plants of subtropical and tropical environments and Lantana camara, one of the world's worst weeds, is no exception. We investigated germination, seedling emergence, and seed survival of two lantana biotypes (Pink and pink-edged red [PER]) in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Controlled experiments were undertaken in 2002 and repeated in 2004, with treatments comprising two differing environmental regimes (irrigated and natural rainfall) and sowing depths (0 and 2 cm). Seed survival and seedling emergence were significantly affected by all factors (time, biotype, environment, sowing depth, and cohort) (P < 0.001). Seed dormancy varied with treatment (environment, sowing depth, biotype, and cohort) (P < 0.001), but declined rapidly after 6 mo. Significant differential responses by the two biotypes to sowing depth and environment were detected for both seed survival and seedling emergence (P < 0.001). Seed mass was consistently lower in the PER biotype at the population level (P < 0.001), but this variation did not adequately explain the differential responses. Moreover, under natural rainfall the magnitude of the biotype effect was unlikely to result in ecologically significant differences. Seed survival after 36 mo under natural rainfall ranged from 6.8 to 21.3%. Best fit regression analysis of the decline in seed survival over time yielded a five-parameter exponential decay model with a lower asymptote approaching −0.38 (% seed survival = [( 55 − (−0.38)) • e (k • t)] + −0.38; R2 = 88.5%; 9 df). Environmental conditions and burial affected the slope parameter or k value significantly (P < 0.01). Seed survival projections from the model were greatest for buried seeds under natural rainfall (11 yr) and least under irrigation (3 yr). Experimental data and model projections suggest that lantana has a persistent seed bank and this should be considered in management programs, particularly those aimed at eradication.

The effect of foliar sprays of the synthetic auxin 3-5-6 TPA, on fruit drop, fruit size and seed development in three lychee (Litchi chinensis) cultivars: Tai So, Fay Zee Sui and Kwai Mai Pink.

Fruit drop in lychee can cause major yield losses in Australia, the severity varying with cultivar and season. Research in China, South Africa and Israel has demonstrated the potential for synthetic auxins used as foliar sprays to reduce fruit drop in lychee. Trials were initiated in Australia to test the efficacy of the synthetic auxin, 3-5-6 Trichloro-2-phridyl-oxyacetic acid (3-5-6 TPA) at 50 ppm on the cultivars Tai So, Fay Zee Sui and Kwai Mai Pink. Results indicate that in most cases the TPA reduced natural fruit drop however the size of the fruit at the time of application affects the response and the ideal application time varies with cultivar; approximately 13 mm fruit length in 'Kwai Mai Pink', 20 mm in 'Fay Zee Sui' and 27 mm in 'Tai So'. If applied too early in 'Tai So', it caused an increase in fruit drop. The TPA was most effective when natural fruit drop was high, reducing fruit drop from 74.7 to 34.9% in 'Kwai Mai Pink' and least effective when natural fruit drop was low. An increase in the percentage of fruit with poorly developed (chicken tongue) seed and slightly larger fruit size was also observed in treated trees.

Emergence and seed persistence of Echinochloa colona, Urochloa panicoides and Hibiscus trionum in the sub-tropical environment of north-eastern Australia.

Better understanding of seed-bank dynamics of Echinochloa colona, Urochloa panicoides and Hibiscus trionum, major crop weeds in sub-tropical Australia, was needed to improve weed control. Emergence patterns and seed persistence were investigated, with viable seeds sown at different depths in large in-ground pots. Seedlings of all species emerged between October and March when mean soil temperatures were 21-23C. However, E. colona emerged as a series of flushes predominantly in the first year, with most seedlings emerging from 0-2 cm. Urochloa panicoides emerged mostly as a single large flush in the first two years, with most seedlings emerging from 5 cm. Hibiscus trionum emerged as a series of flushes over three seasons, initially with majority from 5 cm and then 0-2 cm in the later seasons. Longevity of the grass seed was short, with <5% remaining after burial at 0-2 cm for 24 months. In contrast, 38% of H. trionum seeds remained viable after the same period. Persistence of all species increased significantly with burial depth. These data highlight that management strategies need to be tailored for each species, particularly relating to the need for monitoring, application times for control tactics, impact of tillage, and time needed to reduce the seed-bank to low numbers.

Natural host range, thrips and seed transmission of distinct Tobacco streak virus strains in Queensland, Australia

Diseases caused by Tobacco streak virus (TSV) have resulted in significant crop losses in sunflower and mung bean crops in Australia. Two genetically distinct strains from central Queensland, TSV-parthenium and TSV-crownbeard, have been previously described. They share only 81% total-genome nucleotide sequence identity and have distinct major alternative hosts, Parthenium hysterophorus (parthenium) and Verbesina encelioides (crownbeard). We developed and used strain-specific multiplex Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for the three RNA segments of TSV-parthenium and TSV-crownbeard to accurately characterise the strains naturally infecting 41 hosts species. Hosts included species from 11 plant families, including 12 species endemic to Australia. Results from field surveys and inoculation tests indicate that parthenium is a poor host of TSV-crownbeard. By contrast, crownbeard was both a natural host of, and experimentally infected by TSV-parthenium but this infection combination resulted in non-viable seed. These differences appear to be an effective biological barrier that largely restricts these two TSV strains to their respective major alternative hosts. TSV-crownbeard was seed transmitted from naturally infected crownbeard at a rate of between 5% and 50% and was closely associated with the geographical distribution of crownbeard in central Queensland. TSV-parthenium and TSV-crownbeard were also seed transmitted in experimentally infected ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) at rates of up to 40% and 27%, respectively. The related subgroup 1 ilarvirus, Ageratum latent virus, was also seed transmitted at a rate of 18% in ageratum which is its major alternative host. Thrips species Frankliniella schultzei and Microcephalothrips abdominalis were commonly found in flowers of TSV-affected crops and nearby weed hosts. Both species readily transmitted TSV-parthenium and TSV-crownbeard. The results are discussed in terms of how two genetically and biologically distinct TSV strains have similar life cycle strategies in the same environment.