A pressure chamber was used to measure matric potentials of frozen and thawed leaves. Significant matric potentials were demonstrated in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), yew (Taxus cuspidata Sieb. and Zucc.), and rhododendron (Rhododendron roseum Rehd.). Matric potentials were particularly negative in rhododendron and were correlated with the amount of cell wall present and with the volume of ...

The exceptional diversity of the genus Rhododendron has a strong potential for identification, characterization, and production of bioactive lead compounds for health purposes. A particularly relevant field of application is the search for new antibiotics. Here, we present a comparative analysis of nearly 90 Rhododendron species targeted toward the search for such candidate substances. Through ...

The aim of our study was to consider the efficiency of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to show the differences between Rhododendron mutants and control plants. The mutant plantlets were selected due to their better In vitro shoot and root regeneration relative to control in both varieties. Six mutant plantlets from Alfred and seven mutant plantlets from Paars variety were sel...

As part of the Wine Spring Creek ecosystem management project on the Nantahala National forest, North Carolina, we assessed effects of a community restoration ®re on small mammals and herpetofauna in the upper slope pitch pine (Pinus rigida) stands, neighboring midslope oak (Quercus spp.) stands and rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) dominated riparian areas during 1995 and 1996. Using drift-f...

Many rust fungi (Uredinales) that infect rhododendrons are difficult to identify because of similar spore size and overall morphology. As part of a morphological study of rusts in the genus Chrysomyxa, herbarium specimens of Asian rhododendron rusts were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. They were compared with similar taxa from Europe and North America. Revised and illustrate...

When insect activity is limited at low temperature, birds may be comparatively more important pollinators than insects for flowering plants. It has been thought that many large-flowered Rhododendron species are pollinated by local birds in the Himalayan regions because most of these species flower in spring at high elevation with cool atmospheric temperature. However, experimental evidence for ...

had major impacts on forest ecosystems around the world. Classic examples include chestnut blight in North America, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, and jarrah dieback in western Australia, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (Anagnostakis 1987; Weste and Marks 1987). Some exotic diseases, such as chestnut blight and white pine blister rust, have severely impacted populations of a single plant ...

The geographic distribution of a species is fundamental component in understanding its ecology and necessary for forming effective conservation plans. For rare elusive concern, accurate maps predicted occurrence are particularly problematic often highly subjective. Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk) populations have experienced large declines since the 1940s. Their behavior perceived ra...

1. Relationships between mycorrhizal plants and soil nitrogen (N) have led to the speculation that the chemistry of plant litter and the saprotrophy of mycorrhizal symbionts can function together to closely couple the N cycle between plants and soils. We hypothesized that a tannin-rich, ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) plant promotes the retention of protein–tannin N in soil, and that this N source is...