Historical global declines of megaherbivores from marine ecosystems have hitherto contributed to an understanding of seagrass meadow production dominated by detrital pathways — a paradigm increasingly being questioned by recent re-evaluations of the importance of herbivory. Recoveries in green turtle populations at some locations provide an ideal opportunity to examine effects of high megaherbi...

An indica variety Takanari is known as one of the most productive rice varieties in Japan and consistently produces 20-30% heavier dry matter during ripening than Japanese commercial varieties in the field. The higher rate of photosynthesis of individual leaves during ripening has been recognized in Takanari. By using pot-grown plants under conditions of minimal mutual shading, it was confirmed...

(Growth and reproduction of the understory palm Geonoma schottiana Mart. in the gallery forest in Central Brazil). To understand the growth and reproduction of the palm Geonoma schottiana in the gallery forest of Central Brazil, two hypotheses were raised: (i) production of leaves and reproductive structures are concentrated in the period of the year with high light availability; (ii) leaf prod...

Rising temperatures under climate change are projected to have negative impacts on crop growth and production. These conclusions are not based on direct observations but on projected model results. A study conducted comparing normal seasonal temperatures (1980–2010) for Ames, IA, to a normal + 4°C environment with the same water vapor deficit evaluated the impacts of temperature on maize (Zea m...

Background: Sustainable and commercial production of taxol as an anti cancer drug is a critical point to its clinical application. Nowadays, hazel because of rapid growth and wide range distribution is considered as an alternative source of Taxol. Objective: To increase taxol production the cDNA encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) from Iranian hazel (GeneBank accession num...

Using an analytical model, it was shown that for a given amount of nitrogen in the canopy of a stand (N(T)), there exists an evolutionarily stable leaf area index (ES-LAI), and therefore an evolutionarily stable average leaf nitrogen content (n(ES)(av);n(ES)(av) =N(T)/ES-LAI), at which no individual plant in the stand can increase its photosynthesis by changing its leaf area. It was also shown ...

The leaf production and senescence, formation and release of spores of Cyathea atrovirens (Langsd. & Fisch.) Domin were analysed based on the monthly monitoring of 50 plants growing in a secondary forest, in the municipality of Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, during the year 2004. The caudex height and number of mature and fertile leaves were recorded annually in 2004-09. In 2...

Leaf discs from expanding leaves of Rumex patientia L. were exposed to 7 hours of visible plus different levels of ultraviolet radiation in the 290 to 315 nm waveband (UV-B) and then placed in darkness. Leaf disc expansion was reduced and anthocyanin production was increased in discs exposed to moderate or high levels of UV-B radiation when compared to control discs. The possibility that the in...

Leaf senescence in winter deciduous species signals the transition from the active to the dormant stage. The purpose of leaf senescence is the recovery of nutrients before the leaves fall. Photoperiod and temperature are the main cues controlling leaf senescence in winter deciduous species, with water stress imposing an additional influence. Photoperiod exerts a strict control on leaf senescenc...

Increasing grain yield by the selection for optimal plant architecture has been the key focus in modern maize breeding. As a result, leaf angle, an important determinant of plant architecture, has been significantly improved to adapt to the ever-increasing plant density in maize production over the past several decades. To extend our understanding on the genetic mechanisms of leaf angle in maiz...