The southern Brazilian highland plateau is a mosaic of two contrasting plant communities, Araucaria forests and grasslands, both differing in the relative abundances and spatial patterns of soil nitrate and ammonium. However, we still do not know the inorganic N preferences of one key species in this mosaic, Araucaria angustifolia, the dominant tree species in the Araucaria forests and an impor...

The presence of high levels of Cu in soil decreases the shoot and root dry weights of Eucalyptus globulus. However, higher plant tolerance of Cu has been observed in the presence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus deserticola. The hyphal length of G. deserticola was sensitive to low Cu concentrations, and the percentage of AM root colonisation and the metabolic activity of the AM ...

In some plant species the whole shoot is occasionally removed, as a result of specialist herbivory, grazing, mowing, or other causes. The plant can adapt to defoliation by allocating more to tolerance and less to growth and defense. Plant tolerance to defoliation (TOL1) is typically measured as the ratio between the average dry weight of a group of damaged plants and a control group of undamage...

The Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF) and the Root-to-Shoot Ratio (R) are variables used to quantify carbon stock in forests. They are often considered as constant or species/area specific values in most studies. This study aimed at showing tree size and age dependence upon BEF and R and proposed equations to improve forest biomass and carbon stock. Data from 70 sample Pinus spp. grown in southern...

In order to investigate the effect of Cd and Zn on uptake, concentration and the translocation factor of the Cd and Zn in the rice plant, a factorial experiment was conducted with four factors including two rice cultivars of Vandana and Hashemi, two waterlogged and non-waterlogged conditions and three levels of Zn and Cd (0, 5 and 10 mg kg-1 soil). The experiment was carried out in a randomized...

Background Field observations and glasshouse studies have suggested links between boron (B)-deficiency and leaf damage induced by low temperature in crop plants, but causal relationships between these two stresses at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels have yet to be explored. Limited evidence at the whole-plant level suggests that chilling temperature in the root zone restricts B u...

BACKGROUND Field observations and glasshouse studies have suggested links between boron (B)-deficiency and leaf damage induced by low temperature in crop plants, but causal relationships between these two stresses at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels have yet to be explored. Limited evidence at the whole-plant level suggests that chilling temperature in the root zone restricts B u...

Due to the lack of scientific knowledge for the use of substrate and best fertilizing method in the growth of Araucaria excelsa, it is crucially important to find the most appropriate planting substrate and fertilizing method. The effect of conventional fertilizing method and the application of Fe nanofertilizer were studied on the growth of A. excelsa in which six fertilizing methods and three...

Uromyces phaseoli, the causal agent of bean rust, suppressed shoot and root growth of three bean cultivars, reducing root weight more than shoot weight. The greatest suppression of root weight was on the cultivar that appeared most susceptible by visual ratings of shoot symptoms. Meloidogyne incognita suppressed shoot and root growth of all test cultivars; root weight reductions differed among ...

The vegetative performance of four nectarine tree scion/rootstock combinations, with varying growth capacities, were analysed in the Spring after the canopy:root ratio was dramatically reduced by severe pruning in the dormant season. We anticipated that severe pruning and reduction of the shoot:root ratio would mitigate known root water supply limitations related to the various rootstocks and d...