M. Tazi¹, F. Erchiqui^1,*, F.Godard¹, H. Kaddami²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.4, pp. 258-263, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634120

Abstract This article evaluates the mechanical properties and biodegradability of wood-plastic composite materials made from sawdust and thermoplastic polymer (HDPE). For the preparation of the composites, sawdust in different proportions with Maleic Anhydride grafted Polyethylene (MAPE) as the coupling agent was used. The mechanical properties and biodegradability of the biocomposites were successively characterized. The results indicate that adding sawdust particles to a polymer matrix improves the mechanical strength and stiffness of composites. The tensile strength of a composite with 3% coupling agent was improved by 13%, 34% and 54% respectively when 20%, 30% and 40% wood… More >

Amar Boukerrou^*, Dalila Hammiche, Djidjelli Hocine, Hassina Aouat

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.4, pp. 249-257, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634119

Abstract The lack of compatibility between cellulose fi bers and some polymers, such as thermoplastics, is due on one hand to the hydrophilic nature of the vegetable fi bers and on the other hand to the hydrophobic character of the matrix. This incompatibility induces bad dispersion of the fi bers and the formation of a heterogeneous material with mechanical properties which are not very satisfactory. The scope of this article is to describe the possibility of using Olive Husk Flour (OHF) as reinforcement in the elaboration of a composite material based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In More >

Díaz-Miguel M¹, J Castro², PA García³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 423-429, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.423

Abstract The construction of a ski slope implies a strong environmental impact as a result of the removal of the vegetation cover. The need to protect the soil requires a rapid restoration of vegetation, which is often done with commercial seed mixtures that can cause a negative impact on these high mountain ecosystems. Thus, the use of seeds of native species is essential, especially in areas rich in endemic species. The compaction of snow as a result of the preparation of the ski slopes causes the soil to freeze. This hinders the germination of seeds, especially More >

Qian J^1,2, Z Wang¹, Z Liu¹, W Kuang^1,2, CA Busso³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 407-414, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.407

Abstract Understanding the changes in the total bud bank, and its contribution to community regeneration, in response to grassland enclosure to livestock grazing, is crucial for grassland management. Despite its importance, the contribution of the total bud bank and that of different bud types to community regeneration as a whole have been rarely explored. The vegetative offspring recruited from different bud types was investigated in grasslands having different enclosure durations to livestock grazing on a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Total vegetative offspring density was significantly higher (p<0.05) under continuous grazing than in fenced grasslands,… More >

Pérez Cuadra V, V Cambi

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 389-396, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.389

Abstract The halophytic community of Salitral de la Vidriera (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) has species with different morphoanatomical functional traits. The aim of this study was to compare these traits in four species, two Asteraceae (Baccharis spartioides and B. tenella) and two Frankeniaceae (Frankenia juniperoides and F. pulverulenta). Leaves and stems were treated under traditional techniques for anatomical study. Leaves the of Asteraceae and F. pulverulenta were amphistomatic while in F. juniperoides they were hypostomatic. All species showed trichomes and only the Frankeniaceae had salt glands. The mesophyll was isolateral in Asteraceae, and dorsiventral in Frankeniaceae; the number of foliar vascular bundles More >

Franchini MC¹, AC F lemmer¹, LI Lindström¹, MA David², PA Fernandez³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 379-388, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.379

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe fruit development in two high oleic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars during four growing seasons. Pericarp histogenesis, and dynamics of pericarp and seed dry weight and fruit water content were studied. The dynamics of the pericarp and seed growth was similar between cultivars and years. The pericarp completed its growth before the seed. Pericarp potential size was already set at anthesis as no cell division was observed at this time. Maximum pericarp dry weight was achieved 8 days after anthesis, when cell wall lignification concluded. At this time,… More >

Usama K Abdel-Hameed

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 363-367, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.363

Abstract In Egypt there are two different species that are commercially marketed under the same trade name of Neem: one is Azadirachta indica A. Juss., and the other is Melia azedarach L. In this paper, leaf morphological characters (e.g., lamina architecture, stomatography, petiole and blade micromorphology) of both taxa were described and illustrated to aid in the identification and differentiation between the two misidentified taxa. The obtained results concluded that leaf morpho-anatomical characters will not only provide criteria for their correct taxonomic authentication, but would also serve as future standard data for the quality assessment of the pharmaceutical More >

Hermosillo-Cereceres MA¹, E Sánchez¹, E Muñoz-Márquez¹, A Guevara-Aguilar¹, M García-Bañuelos¹, D Ojeda-Barrios²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 347-352, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.347

Abstract Selenium (Se) is an essential element for many organisms, although in high concentrations it may become toxic, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, bean plants received different application rates of Se (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µM) in the form of selenite and selenate to evaluate the activity of the detoxifying enzymes of H₂O₂. The results indicated that the activity of these enzymes in bean plants depended on the chemical form of Se: selenite at rates of 20 µM or greater diminished biomass and yield, increasing the activity More >

Morales-Pérez E¹, EJ Morales-Rosales², O Franco-Mora², D de Jesús Pérez-López², A González-Huerta², E Urbina Sánchez³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 333-340, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.333

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess different doses of gibberellic and salicylic acids for the production of flowers on Gerbera jamesonni after applications to their foliage or substrate under greenhouse conditions. The ten treatments (growth regulators) were evaluated in a 10 x 2 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications. When F values were significant, the honestly significant difference test (HSD) at the 5% level of significance was used. The principal components analysis was also used to study the interrelationship among the ten treatments and the two forms of application… More >

Espinoza Sánchez EA¹, H Silos Espino¹, S Flores Benitez¹, LL Valera Montero¹, E Rodríguez Salazar², C Gallegos Vázquez³, F Guevara Lara⁴, M González Chavira⁵, HS Guzmán Maldonado⁵

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 299-306, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.299

Abstract Dendrograms were constructed based on AFLP markers and a table was used to group fruit characters of wild and cultivated genotypes of Mexican nopal (Opuntia spp.). The AFLP dendrogram obtained using ≈57.5 markers (from primers Mse I-CAC/Eco RI-AAG) did not agree with the known taxonomic classification for this species. Additionally, a complementary table for fruit characters (morphological and °Brix) showed a wide range for wild genotypes, e.g. from 21-22 °Brix for ‘Tapón Blanco’ and ‘Guilanche’ genotypes, to 5.0-8.2 °Brix for xoconostles (acidic fruits). Even though there were some divergences with taxonomic classification, it is expected that both More >