Exploring the mechanism of transformation in Acacia nilotica (Linn.) triggered by colchicine seed treatment.

BACKGROUND: Acacia nilotica Linn. is a widely distributed tree known for its applications in post-harvest and medicinal horticulture. However, its seed-based growth is relatively slow. Seed is a vital component for the propagation of A. nilotica due to its cost-effectiveness, genetic diversity, and ease of handling. Colchicine, commonly used for polyploidy induction in plants, may act as a pollutant at elevated levels. Its optimal concentration for Acacia nilotica's improved growth and development has not yet been determined, and the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been established. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of optimized colchicine (0.07%) seed treatment on A. nilotica's morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical attributes under controlled conditions, comparing it with a control. RESULTS: Colchicine seed treatment significantly improved various plant attributes compared to control. This included increased shoot length (84.6%), root length (53.5%), shoot fresh weight (59.1%), root fresh weight (42.8%), shoot dry weight (51.5%), root dry weight (40%), fresh biomass (23.6%), stomatal size (35.9%), stomatal density (41.7%), stomatal index (51.2%), leaf thickness (11 times), leaf angle (2.4 times), photosynthetic rate (40%), water use efficiency (2.2 times), substomatal CO2 (36.6%), quantum yield of photosystem II (13.1%), proton flux (3.1 times), proton conductivity (2.3 times), linear electron flow (46.7%), enzymatic activities of catalase (25%), superoxide dismutase (33%), peroxidase (13.5%), and ascorbate peroxidase (28%), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activities(23%), total antioxidant capacity (59%), total phenolic (23%), and flavonoid content (37%) with less number of days to 80% germination (57.1%), transpiration rate (53.9%), stomatal conductance (67.1%), non-photochemical quenching (82.8%), non-regulatory energy dissipation (24.3%), and H2O2 (25%) and O-2 levels (30%). CONCLUSION: These findings elucidate the intricate mechanism behind the morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical transformative effects of colchicine seed treatment on Acacia nilotica Linn. and offer valuable insights for quick production of A. nilotica's plants with modification and enhancement from seeds through an eco-friendly approach.

Chewing insects, pollinators, and predators on Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge / Insetos mastigadores, polinizadores e predadores em plantas de Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) fertilizada com lodo de esgoto desidratado

Fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge can speed up the recovery process of degraded areas due to nutrients concentration, favoring the development of pioneer plants such as Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) and the emergence of insects. This study aimed the evaluation of chewing, pollinating insects, predators, their ecological indices and relationships on A. auriculiformis plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (with and without dehydrated sewage sludge) and 24 repetitions. The prevalence of chewing insects Parasyphraea sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae), and Tropidacris collaris (Stoll, 1813) (Orthoptera: Romaleidae), defoliation, and ecological indices of abundance of Coleoptera and Orthoptera were observed on fertilized A. auriculiformis. Acacia auriculiformis plants, with a superior number of branches/tree, revealed greater abundance of Coleoptera and Orthoptera, species richness of pollinating insects, defoliation, numbers of Parasyphraea sp. and T. collaris. The ones with larger leaves/branches displayed greater abundance of species richness of Coleoptera and Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Therefore, the use of A. auriculiformis plants, fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge, is promising in the recovery of degraded areas due to the ecological indices increase of chewing and pollinators insects and spiders in the analyzed area.

A fertilização com lodo de esgoto desidratado pode acelerar o processo de recuperação de áreas degradadas devido à concentração de nutrientes, favorecendo o desenvolvimento de plantas pioneiras tais como Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) e de seus insetos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os insetos mastigadores, polinizadores e predadores e seus índices e relações ecológicas em plantas de A. auriculiformis fertilizadas com lodo de esgoto desidratado, em área degradada, durante 24 meses. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizados com dois tratamentos (com e sem adubação com lodo de esgoto desidratado) e 24 repetições (uma repetição = uma planta). O maior número de insetos mastigadores Parasyphraea sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae) e Tropidacris collaris (Stoll, 1813) (Orthoptera: Romaleidae), de desfolha, e do índice ecológico abundância de Coleoptera e de Orthoptera foram maiores em plantas de A. auriculiformis fertilizadas do que nas não fertilizadas com lodo de esgoto desidratado. Plantas de A. auriculiformis, com maior quantidade de galhos/árvore, apresentaram maiores abundâncias de Coleoptera e Orthoptera, riqueza de espécies de insetos polinizadores, desfolha e números de Parasyphraea sp. e T. collaris, e as com maior folhas/galho os de riqueza de espécies de Coleoptera e Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Por tanto, a utilização de A. auriculiformis, adubada com lodo de esgoto desidratado, é promissora na recuperação de áreas degradadas devido ao aumento dos índices ecológicos de insetos mastigadores, polinizadores e aranhas na área.

Influence of mycorrhiza and fly ash on the survival, growth and heavy metal accumulation in three Acacia species grown in Cu-Ni mine soil.

Acacia albida, Acacia luederitzii, and Acacia tortilis are dominant acacia species in Botswana and have the potential to rehabilitate the heavy metal degraded environment. To establish this claim, experiments to assess the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation and fly ash amendments on the survival, growth and heavy metal accumulation of these species in mine tailings were conducted. A two-factor (AM inoculation × fly ash) in CRD was done on each of the three Acacia species consisting of four treatments: control (no mycorrhizal, no fly ash coded as - AM/- FA), with mycorrhizal but no fly ash (+ AM/- FA), no mycorrhizal but with fly ash (- AM/+ FA), and with mycorrhizal and with fly ash (+ AM/+ FA). After 24 weeks, results showed that the survival and dry matter yield of all Acacia species were enhanced by 10% with fly ash amendments. However, mycorrhiza inoculation alone improved the survival of A. albida and A. luederitzii but reduced that of the A. tortilis in mine tailings. Fly ash amendments increased the pH of the mine tailings, reduced the availability of Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn and Zn and consequently reduced the concentration of these metals in shoots. On the other hand, it increased the availability of As in the mine tailings. In addition, mycorrhizal inoculation reduced the concentration of these metals in shoots regardless of fly ash amendments. Overall, combined mycorrhizal inoculation and fly ash amendment enhanced the establishment of A. luederitzii in heavy metal-contaminated soils by reducing the heavy metal availability and metal uptake, thus increasing the survival and dry matter yield of plants.

Acacia from a Breeding and Biotechnological Perspective: A Review.

Members of genus Acacia comprises of trees used as fuelwood, timber and fodder. Moreover, some parts of plants are also used for their therapeutic properties. The development and applications of breeding and biotechnological tools are advancing at a significantly fast rate. Molecular markers and genomics offer vital information with regard to the inherited variation. The aim of this study to complied and discussed the developments in molecular maker technology, genomics and genetic engineering concerning genus Acacia. Overall, this information will be useful to gain awareness about the crucial trees in the genus Acacia from breeding and a biotechnological perspective.

Effect of leaf type on browse selection by free-ranging goats in a southern African savanna.

Broad- and fine-leaved woody species respond to seasonal changes from wet to dry season differently. For example, broad-leaved species shed their leaves earlier, while fine-leaved species, especially acacias retain green foliage well into the dry season. These differences are expected to result in variation in selection of broad- and fine-leaved woody species as browse by free-ranging goats. We tested the hypothesis that free-ranging goats select broad-leaved woody species more than fine-leaved species during wet (growth) season and fine-leaved woody species more than broad-leaved species during dry season. In addition, we tested if broad- and fine-leaved woody species had different foliar dry matter digestibility and chemical composition (crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, total phenolics and condensed tannins concentration). Free-ranging goats were observed foraging on broad- and fine-leaved woody species over a two-year period (2014 and 2015) during three seasons: early wet (October/November), late wet (February/March) and dry (May/June). Ivlev's selectivity or Jacob's index (Ei) was calculated for five woody species (two broad-leaved and three fine-leaved) browsed by goats during wet and dry season. Jacob's selectivity index was higher for broad-leaved (Ziziphus mucronata and Searsia (Rhus) tenuinervis) than fine-leaved woody species (Acacia nilotica, Acacia karroo and Dichrostachys cinerea) during wet season. However, the trend was reversed during dry season with fine-leaved species having higher Jacob's selectivity index than broad-leaved species. Leaf dry matter digestibility and chemical composition was similar between broad- and fine-leaved woody species throughout the year. We conclude that goats selected broad-leaved woody species during wet season when browse was plentiful and then switched to fine-leaved species which retained leaves during dry season.

Significance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Acacia: A Review.

Microbes play a vital role in ecosystem stability. Here, microbes-Acacia association is discussed with particular reference to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) which help in the establishment of crop-plants, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The association helps to restore the structural composition of soil from the hazardous impact of agrochemicals, increase resistance against various pathogenic attack as well as several abiotic stresses. Further, a comparative account of microbes found in the rhizosphere of Acacia is illustrated. Among these, Rhizobia, Acetobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Trichoderma were described in detail. All these microbes can be regarded as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric Microbes (PGPM), some of PGPM are Phosphate Solubilizing Microbe (PSM). Both of them help AMF for infecting mycorrhizal hyphae inside the plant cell. Overall, microbes can be used as biofertilizers along with other organic compounds, that can compensate for the nutrient's availability.

Friend or Foe? Orb-Weaver Spiders Inhabiting Ant-Acacias Capture Both Herbivorous Insects and Acacia Ant Alates.

The orb-weaver spiders Eustala oblonga (Chickering) and Eustala illicita (O. Picard-Cambridge) (Araneae: Araneidae) inhabit the ant-defended acacias Vachellia melanocerus (Beurling) and Vachellia collinsii (Safford) (Fabales: Fabaceae), respectively, in Panama. These spiders do not capture patrolling Pseudomyrmex ants but exploit their plant-protection services to escape predation. What effect the spiders have on the ant-acacia mutualisms is unknown. They may provide an additional layer of plant defense by capturing flying herbivorous insects in their webs. Alternatively, the spiders may disrupt the ant-acacia mutualisms by capturing alate acacia ants during nuptial flights. We evaluated these two hypotheses by sampling insects flying through acacia foliage and by identifying prey remains in webs. The proportions of insects captured on sticky card traps and in webs varied with taxonomic order and ecological role. Herbivorous insects greatly outnumbered other groups captured on sticky cards and were captured in spiders' webs in both acacia species but made up a minority of prey remains in webs. Instead, insect predators and parasitoids made up the majority of prey remains and were comprised primarily by alate ant mutualists of the host acacias. These results provide indirect support for both hypotheses and suggest that the spiders potentially both benefit and harm their host ant-acacia mutualisms. The net effect of spider exploitation, however, is unclear and is likely based on both the effectiveness of plant protection from herbivory provided by the spiders relative to that provided by acacia ants, as well as the overall proportion of the ant reproductive caste the spiders actually capture.

Extensive Genetic Connectivity and Historical Persistence Are Features of Two Widespread Tree Species in the Ancient Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

Phylogeographic studies can be used as a tool to understand the evolutionary history of a landscape, including the major drivers of species distributions and diversity. Extensive research has been conducted on phylogeographic patterns of species found in northern hemisphere landscapes that were affected by glaciations, yet the body of literature for older, unaffected landscapes is still underrepresented. The Pilbara region of north-western Australia is an ancient and vast landscape that is topographically complex, consisting of plateaus, gorges, valleys, and ranges, and experiences extreme meteorological phenomena including seasonal cyclonic activity. These features are expected to influence patterns of genetic structuring throughout the landscape either by promoting or restricting the movement of pollen and seed. Whilst a growing body of literature exists for the fauna endemic to this region, less is known about the forces shaping the evolution of plant taxa. In this study we investigate the phylogeography of two iconic Pilbara tree species, the Hamersley Bloodwood (Corymbia hamersleyana) and Western Gidgee (Acacia pruinocarpa), by assessing patterns of variation and structure in several chloroplast DNA regions and nuclear microsatellite loci developed for each species. Gene flow was found to be extensive in both taxa and there was evidence of long-distance seed dispersal across the region (pollen to seed ratios of 6.67 and 2.96 for C. hamersleyana and A. pruinocarpa, respectively), which may result from flooding and strong wind gusts associated with extreme cyclonic activity. Both species possessed high levels of cpDNA genetic diversity in comparison to those from formerly glaciated landscapes (C. hamersleyana = 14 haplotypes, A. pruinocarpa = 37 haplotypes) and showed evidence of deep lineage diversification occurring from the late Miocene, a time of intensifying aridity in this landscape that appears to be a critical driver of evolution in Pilbara taxa. In contrast to another study, we did not find evidence for topographic features acting as refugia for the widely sampled C. hamersleyana.

Monitoring fine root growth to identify optimal fertilization timing in a forest plantation: A case study in Northeast Vietnam.

Fertilizer is applied widely to improve the productivity of plantations. Traditionally, fertilization is conducted in spring and/or in the early rainy season, and it is believed to support the growth of planted trees in the growing season. Little attention to date has been paid on identification of the optimal timing of fertilization and fertilizer dose. In this study, application of the fine root monitoring technique in identifying optimal fertilization timing for an Acacia plantation in Vietnam is described. The study used two fertilizer doses (100 and 200 g NPK/tree) and three fertilization timings (in spring; in the early rainy season; and based on the fine root monitoring technique to identify when the fine roots reach their growth peak). As expected fertilization timings significantly affected growth and above-ground biomass (AGB) of the plantation. Fertilization based on the fine root monitoring technique resulted in the highest growths and AGB, followed by fertilization in the early rainy season and then in spring. Applying fertilizer at 200 g NPK/tree based on the fine root monitoring technique increased diameter at breast height (DBH) by 16%, stem height by 8%, crown diameter (Dc) by 16%, and AGB by 40% as compared to early rainy season fertilization. Increases of 32% DBH, 23% stem height, 44% Dc, and 87% AGB were found in fertilization based on fine root monitoring technique compared to spring fertilization. This study concluded that forest growers should use the fine root monitoring technique to identify optimal fertilization timing for higher productivity.

Piloting restoration initiatives in subtropical scrub forest: specifying areas asserting adaptive management.

Subtropical scrub forests in Pakistan have diminished by about 75% over the last hundred years, mainly due to indiscriminate exploitation and invasion by exotics species. Lack of initiatives, awareness, and research in utilizing the techniques used for accelerating natural forest succession is resulting in further degradation of the remaining forests. To promote active restoration with local communities and governmental authorities, a restoration scheme was piloted between 2010 and 2016 to examine enrichment population effects. Over 4,000 saplings of two woody climax species, Acacia modesta and Olea ferruginea, raised from seeds of local provenance, were planted in three subjectively selected trial plots representing various stages of degradation, covering a total area of about 4 ha. The results showed an overall 46% survival rate, accompanied by natural regeneration. Comparative analyses of the trial plots have shown variations which were strongly site specific, in addition, it also helped in gauging compliance of the site coordinators in implementing restoration measures as an effective management tool. This study provided an opportunity to appreciate the differences in terms of interventions used for implementing ecological restoration across landscape in the degraded scrub forests.

Rhizobial inoculation in black wattle plantation (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) in production systems of southern Brazil.

Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) is a tree legume native to southeast Australia, but present in all continents. Today it covers about 142,400 ha in Brazil, with plantations concentrated in the southern region of the country. Black wattle may form nodules and establish rhizobial symbiosis capable of fixing N2, but rhizobial inoculation is not done in commercial plantations. About 40 kg ha-1 of urea is applied during seedling transplantation. In this review, evidences by which rhizobial inoculation affects monoculture, mixed cultivation, and agroforestry black wattle production systems were searched in literature. Previous measurements in cultivated forests have indicated that biological nitrogen fixation in black wattle may provide up to 200 kg of N ha-1 year-1 to the soil. Therefore, rhizobia inoculation may bring several opportunities to improve black wattle production systems. Black wattle is not a very selective partner in the rhizobial symbiosis, but the genus Bradyrhizobium dominates the rhizobial diversity of black wattle nodules. Investigation on rhizobial diversity in soils where the crop is cultivated may represent an opportunity to find more effective rhizobia strains for inoculants. The successful history of biological nitrogen fixation in grain legumes must inspire the history of tree legumes. Microbiology applied to forestry must overcome challenges on the lack of trained professionals and the development of new application technologies.

Epiedaphic Ground Beetle (Carabidae) Diversity in Ecosystems Transformed by Plantations of Eucalyptus pellita in the Orinoco Region of Colombia.

Patterns of land use are changing dramatically in the Orinoco region of Colombia, including extensive commercial forestation of Pinus caribaea, Acacia mangium, and Eucalyptus pellita that are replacing savannas, with unknown consequences for biodiversity. We studied the effects of E. pellita plantations on the diversity of epiedaphic carabid beetles (Carabidae) sampled with pitfall traps at El Vita (Vichada) and Villanueva (Casanare). Furthermore, we assessed stand structure data (basal area, and canopy cover), and soil physical and chemical properties to explain differences in ground beetle composition using redundancy analysis (RDA). We compared diversity and species turnover using Hill numbers and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, respectively. Low differences in richness were observed between savannas and plantations (at El Vita) and between pastures and plantations (at Villanueva). In general, carabid richness was significantly (not overlap in 95% confidence intervals) higher during the rainy season, and in young plantations than in other habitats. Variation in carabid species composition was mainly explained by a gradient of volumetric humidity, number of trees, basal area at El Vita and pH, nitrogen content of the soil, number of trees, soil clay content, and area of exposed ground at Villanueva. Thirteen carabid (which eight are commons in natural forests) species were identified as indicators of 3- and 14-year-old E. pellita plantations and pastures. Results suggest a strong response of ground beetles (Carabidae) to changes in land use, seasonality, and plantation age. Further research is needed to better understand how landscape heterogeneity, and distance to contiguous of natural habitats, influences biodiversity.

Changes in cambial activity are related to precipitation patterns in four tropical hardwood species grown in Indonesia.

PREMISE: Cambial activity in some tropical trees varies intra-annually, with the formation of xylem rings. Identification of the climatic factors that regulate cambial activity is important for understanding the growth of such species. We analyzed the relationship between climatic factors and cambial activity in four tropical hardwoods, Acacia mangium, Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla, and Neolamarckia cadamba in Yogyakarta, Java Island, Indonesia, which has a rainy season (November-June) and a dry season (July-October). METHODS: Small blocks containing phloem, cambium, and xylem were collected from main stems in January 2014, October 2015 and October 2016, and examined with light microscopy for cambial cell division, fusiform cambial cells, and expanding xylem cells as evidence of cambial activity. RESULTS: During the rainy season, when precipitation was high, cambium was active. By contrast, during the dry season in 2015, when there was no precipitation, cambium was dormant. However, in October 2016, during the so-called dry season, cambium was active, cell division was conspicuous, and a new xylem ring formation was initiated. The difference in cambial activity appeared to be related to an unusual pattern of precipitation during the typically dry months, from July to October, in 2016. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that low or absent precipitation for 3 to 4 months induces cessation of cambial activity and temporal periodicity of wood formation in the four species studied. By contrast, in the event of continuing precipitation, cambial activity in the same trees may continue throughout the year. The frequency pattern of precipitation appears to be an important determinant of wood formation in tropical trees.

Phosphate treatment alleviated acute phytotoxicity of heavy metals in sulfidic Pb-Zn mine tailings.

Phytostabilization of sulfidic PbZn tailing landscapes may be one of interim options of tailings management, but which is limited by acute phytotoxicity of heavy metals in the tailings. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of soluble phosphate (i.e., K2HPO4) in immobilizing soluble Pb, Cd and Zn and lowering their acute phytotoxicity. The addition of soluble phosphate improved the growth of native plants Acacia chisholmii and survival rate of A. ligulata, where the latter exhibited 100% survival rate. This was in contrast to effects of conventional organic amendment in the tailings on metal solubility (e.g., elevated metal levels in porewater) and plant survival (e.g., only 42%). Organic amendment with mulch did not lower the levels of water-soluble Cd, Pb and Zn and their concentrations in plant tissues after 56 days of plant growth in the treatment. In contrast, the tailings amended with K2HPO4 significantly decreased metal concentrations in the porewater and plant tissues by about 80-92% and 56-88%, respectively. The metal immobilization by phosphate was due to the formation of insoluble or sparingly soluble metal (Pb, Cd and Zn)-phosphate minerals in the tailings with circumneutral pH conditions, as revealed by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microanalyses. The reduced metal concentrations in roots and shoots of Acacia species after direct root contact with the K2HPO4 amended tailings suggested that metals (i.e., Pb, Cd and Zn) were effectively immobilized by the phosphate treatment of the tailings. These findings indicate that addition of high dosage of soluble phosphate may provide a low cost option to treat sulfidic PbZn tailings for rapid phytostabilization of the tailings surface, as an interim option to manage environmental risks of sulfidic PbZn tailings.

The Functional Potential of the Rhizospheric Microbiome of an Invasive Tree Species, Acacia dealbata.

Plant-microbe interactions mediate both the invasiveness of introduced plant species and the impacts that they have in invaded ecosystems. Although the phylogenetic composition of the rhizospheric microbiome of Acacia dealbata (an invasive Australian tree species) has been investigated, little is known about the functional potential of the constituents of these altered microbial communities. We used shotgun DNA sequencing to better understand the link between bacterial community composition and functional capacity in the rhizospheric microbiomes associated with invasive A. dealbata populations in South Africa. Our analysis showed that several genes associated with plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits were significantly overrepresented in the rhizospheric metagenomes compared to neighbouring bulk soils collected away from A. dealbata stands. The majority of these genes are involved in the metabolism of nitrogen, carbohydrates and vitamins, and in various membrane transport systems. Overrepresented genes were linked to a limited number of bacterial taxa, mostly Bradyrhizobium species, the preferred N-fixing rhizobial symbiont of Australian acacias. Overall, these findings suggest that A. dealbata enriches rhizosphere soils with potentially beneficial microbial taxa, and that members of the genus Bradyrhizobium may play an integral role in mediating PGP processes that may influence the success of this invader when colonizing novel environments.

Assessing germination characteristics of Australian native plant species in metal/metalloid solution.

This study investigated tolerance of Australian native grass species Astrebla lappacea, Themeda australis, and Austrostipa scabra and a tree species Acacia harpophylla to different concentrations of arsenic As(V) (13.34-667.36 µM), Cu2+ (0.5-200 µM), Zn2+ (9-500 µM), Mn2+ (8-10240 µM) and Pb2+ (240-9600 µM) in single solutions in germination experiments. Metal/loid tolerance indicators used were maximum germination percentage (Gmax), mean germination time (MGT), radicle and shoot tolerance indexes (RTI & STI). Radicle tolerance index was the most sensitive indicator of metal tolerance in germinating seeds. All native species were highly tolerant to the metal/loids tested, however, they showed different metal toxicity thresholds and levels of tolerance based on RTI as a metal tolerance indicator during germination. Overall, all four species could be classified as metallophytes, confirming their current suitability for and established use in mine site rehabilitation. This work may also serve as a basis for future studies on metal/loid tolerance of other plant species during germination.

Modeling of stem form and volume through machine learning.

Taper functions and volume equations are essential for estimation of the individual volume, which have consolidated theory. On the other hand, mathematical innovation is dynamic, and may improve the forestry modeling. The objective was analyzing the accuracy of machine learning (ML) techniques in relation to a volumetric model and a taper function for acácia negra. We used cubing data, and fit equations with Schumacher and Hall volumetric model and with Hradetzky taper function, compared to the algorithms: k nearest neighbor (k-NN), Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for estimation of total volume and diameter to the relative height. Models were ranked according to error statistics, as well as their dispersion was verified. Schumacher and Hall model and ANN showed the best results for volume estimation as function of dap and height. Machine learning methods were more accurate than the Hradetzky polynomial for tree form estimations. ML models have proven to be appropriate as an alternative to traditional modeling applications in forestry measurement, however, its application must be careful because fit-based overtraining is likely.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Favor the Initial Growth of Acacia mangium, Sorghum bicolor, and Urochloa brizantha in Soil Contaminated with Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd.

This study evaluated the effect of inoculation with a mixture of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus macrocarpum, Paraglomus occultum, and Glomus sp.) on the initial establishment of Acacia mangium, Sorghum bicolor, and Urochloa brizantha in soil contaminated with heavy metals. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in plastic pots containing 1.8 kg of soil, which presented 7200, 1140, 480, and 72 mg of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd, respectively. The chlorophyll content (SPAD index) of inoculated plants of A. mangium and U. brizantha was higher than those of non-inoculated plants (p < 0.05). No differences were detected for the concentration of heavy metals in plant shoots, whether the plant was inoculated or not. However, inoculated plants had greater root length (S. bicolor and U. brizantha) (p < 0.05) and greater plant height (A. mangium) (p < 0.05). The present results demonstrate that the beneficial effects of AMF on plant growth and the alleviation of contaminants are imperative factors for the rehabilitation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.

Ectomycorrhizal Communities Associated with the Legume Acacia spirorbis Growing on Contrasted Edaphic Constraints in New Caledonia.

This study aims to characterize the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities associated with Acacia spirorbis, a legume tree widely spread in New Caledonia that spontaneously grows on contrasted edaphic constraints, i.e. calcareous, ferralitic and volcano-sedimentary soils. Soil geochemical parameters and diversity of ECM communities were assessed in 12 sites representative of the three mains categories of soils. The ectomycorrhizal status of Acacia spirorbis was confirmed in all studied soils, with a fungal community dominated at 92% by Basidiomycota, mostly represented by/tomentella-thelephora (27.6%), /boletus (15.8%), /sebacina (10.5%), /russula-lactarius (10.5%) and /pisolithus-scleroderma (7.9%) lineages. The diversity and the proportion of the ECM lineages were similar for the ferralitic and volcano-sedimentary soils but significantly different for the calcareous soils. These differences in the distribution of the ECM communities were statistically correlated with pH, Ca, P and Al in the calcareous soils and with Co in the ferralitic soils. Altogether, these data suggest a high capacity of A. spirorbis to form ECM symbioses with a large spectrum of fungi regardless the soil categories with contrasted edaphic parameters.

Critical analyses when modeling tree biomass to ensure additivity of its components.

It is presented the theme additivity of biomass of tree components. To evaluate and discuss this context, experimental information collected in forests of Acacia mearnsii De Wild. was used. Equations for components (stem and crown) and total biomass were fitted by means of two procedures: 1) generalized nonlinear least squares and 2) weighted-nonlinear seemingly unrelated regressions. Analyzing the performance of the estimators, it can be concluded that the two tested procedures are equivalent. On the other hand, this conclusion differs when evaluated the consistency and efficiency of the estimators. Fitting equations for the components and for the total biomass by an independent way is not realistic, because from a biological point of view the estimates of biomass are inconsistent, i.e., are not additive. The biomass estimates of the components and of the total, resulting from equations adjusted by means of systems of equations, provided narrower confidence intervals in relation to the equations adjusted independently, and is therefore more efficient. The second procedure presents better biological properties and statistics to estimate allometric equations for biomass of the components and for the total when compared with the independent estimation, thus it should be the method to be used.