Mashile SP^1,2, MP Tshisikhawe¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 473-477, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.473

Abstract This paper looked at the leaf architecture characteristics of Vachellia tortilis to determine if either there is or not an effect of the tropic line on plants. Vachellia tortilis leaves were sampled along a national road (N1) in Limpopo province. Sampling points were set 10 km apart away from the Tropic of Capricon in opposite directions. Leaf morphology revealed that leaves of V. tortilis are bipinnately compound with alternate arrangement. The venation pattern of the pinnules was eucamptodromus and brochidodromous with imperfect reticulation. Areoles were imperfect and pentagonal or irregular in shape. More >

Alomá Moreno O¹ y MJ Freuler²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 466-472, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.466

Abstract The present study of the Orchidaceae family was carried out in Guamuahaya’s mountain range, from 2000 to March 2013. Fifteen districts were explored after 33 expeditions in the Province of Cienfuegos. Ninety two plant species were identified in the studied area, taking into account the ecological parameters of the mountainous areas of Cienfuegos and Cumanayagua municipalities. More >

Müller FL^1,2, LF Cyster¹, LM Raitt¹, J Aalbers¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 461-465, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.461

Abstract An increase in bioavailable tin in the environment could result in bioaccumulation thereof in agricultural crops, and therefore, have adverse health consequences on humans that eat these crops. The aims of the current study were thus to assess the uptake of Sn by spinach plants, and the subsequent effects this will have on the uptake of Na, Zn, K, Ca, and Mg as well as the growth of spinach plants. Spinach plants were grown in sand culture and received tin at concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/L along with a nutrient solution. The uptake of tin at detectible… More >

Hernández-Cruz AE¹, E Sánchez^2*, P Preciado-Rangel¹, M L García-Bañuelos², A Palomo-Gil¹, A Espinoza-Banda¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 454-460, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.454

Abstract In the production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), nitrogen fertilization is one of the most costly crop practices, but important to reach high yields. However, high nitrogen (N) content in plants does not always translate into a high fibre production. One way of assessing the efficiency of the N fertilizer is through the enzymatic activity of the nitrate reductase (NR). This is a key enzyme in N assimilation, whose activity is regulated by a number of endogenous and exogenous factors that determine yield. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of N fertilization on yield, fibre quality,… More >

Yang FW, XQ Feng

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 444-453, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.444

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a series of significant physiology roles in higher plants including but not limited to promote bud and seed dormancy, accelerate foliage fall, induce stomatal closure, inhibit growth and enhance resistance. Recently, it has been revealed that ABA also has an important regulator role in the growth, development and ripening of fruit. In higher plants ABA is produced from an indirect pathway from the cleavage products of carotenoids. The accumulation of endogenous ABA levels in plants is a dynamic balance controlled by the processes of biosynthesis and catabolism, through the regulation of key ABA biosynthetic gene and… More >

Sabatino M^1,2, AE Rovere¹, N Maceira²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 435-443, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.435

Abstract Eryngium regnellii Malme belongs to the largest genera in the Apiaceae family, with 250 species worldwide and 65 represented in South America. It is a herbaceous species typical of hill plant communities, which, along with remnant grassland patches, are the most relevant natural habitats for the maintenance of diversity in the Southern Pampas. Eryngium regnellii is key to the maintenance of pollination mutualisms, being a generalist (displaying a diverse assemblage of pollinators) and ubiquitous species (present in all studied sierras). However, fragmentation of the Pampean landscape due to agricultural intensification has led to the loss of natural environments. Therefore, the… More >

González-Álvarez M, S Moreno-Limón^*, SM Salcedo-Martínez, EC Pérez-Rodríguez

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 427-434, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.427

Abstract The agricultural sector, and particularly the horticultural production, has a singular importance in agriculture, considering that it ranks second on agricultural products, nationally and worldwide. Fungal diseases are one of the major causes of vegetable loss during storage, reducing their nutritional value, quality and sale price. Vegetables are usually exposed to diverse treatments with chemical products before storage; as a result, fungal populations develop an increased resistance over time becoming more difficult to control. Because of this, research efforts toward finding more suitable chemicals to control fungal diseases are needed. Natural extracts may be an alternative solve this problem. In… More >

Kiehr M¹, R Delhey¹, J Lusto²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 423-426, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.423

Abstract A new disease of lettuce has been observed in the surroundings of Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The symptoms include dwarfing, general chlorosis, wilting, root rot, and leaf blight, sometimes followed by plant death. Pythium tracheiphilum Matta was found to be consistently associated with those symptoms. The morphological and morphometric characteristics of this oomycete are described. Isolates obtained from field-infected lettuce plants were inoculated to lettuce and caused similar symptoms as those found in natural infections. Seedling emergence was also severely affected following experimental inoculation. Koch’s Postulates were fulfilled by recovering the fungus from inoculated plants. The new disease shows a high… More >

Bustingorri C, K Balestrasse, RS Lavado

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 407-416, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.407

Abstract Arsenic (As) and Fluoride (F) are present in many soils, affecting crops and posing risks in the food chain. We performed pot experiments on spiked soils enriched in these elements either individually or simultaneously, over a wide range of concentrations. Soybean biomass production, grain yield, As and F accumulation and distribution within the plant, and the antioxidant response to these stresses were analyzed. Arsenic was more toxic than F. At As levels >35 mg/kg and F levels >375 mg/kg, yield loss reached 60% and 30%, respectively. At the highest dose of As plants died within 2 weeks, whereas F showed… More >

Ramírez Gerardo MG¹, MA Chávez-García², J Mejía-Carranza²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 397-406, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.397

Abstract In the floriculture region of Tenancingo in the State of Mexico, the application of stabilized organic matter, such as vermicompost and leachates, contributes to improve the quality of the soil and plant nutrition. However, it is important to know the chemical composition of a vermicompost and the mineralization process. This is because the amount and speed of nutrient release which will be available to the crop will depend on that knowledge. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the application of a vermicompost and leachates on various quantitative variables of Solidago x hybrid, and the mineralization… More >