Computer Based Modeling of Vegetation Propagation across a Disturbed Space Linked to GIS

The paper is focused on computer simulation of natural vegetation propagation across two selected disturbed sites. Two sites located in the different environments, the abandoned sedimentation basin of a former pyrite ore mine and the ash deposits of a power station, were selected to illustrate the proposed spatio-temporal model. Aerial images assisted in identifying and monitoring the progress in the propagation of vegetation. Analysis of the aerial images was based on varying vegetation coverage explored by classification algorithms. A new approach is proposed entailing coupling of a local dynamic model and a spatial model for vegetation propagation. The local dynamic model describes vegetation growth using a logistic growth approach based on delayed variables. Vegetation propagation is described by rules related to seed and its dispersal phenomena on a local scale and on the scale of outlying spreading. The disturbed sites are divided into a grid of microsites. Each microsite is represented by a 5 m x 5 m square. A state variable in each microsite indicates the relative vegetation density on a scale from 0 （no vegetation） to 1 （long-term maximum of vegetation density）. Growth, local vegetation propagation and the effects of outlying vegetation propagation in each cell are described by an ordinary differential equation with delayed state variables. The grid of cells forms a set of ordinary differential equations. The abandoned sedimentation basin and the ash deposits are represented by grids of 185 x 345 and 212 x 266 cells, respectively. A few case-oriented studies are provided to show various predictions of vegetation propagation across two selected disturbed sites. The first case study simulates vegetation growing without spatial propagations and delayed variables in the spatio-temporal model. The second and the third case studies extend the previous study by including local and outlying vegetation propagation, respectively. The fourth case study explores delayed impacts in the logistic growth term and the delayed outcome by vegetation propagation across the disturbed space. The performed case-oriented studies confirm the applicability of the proposed spatio-temporal model to predict vegetation propagation in short-term successions and to estimate approximate vegetation changes in long-term development. As a result, it can be concluded that remotely sensed data are a valuable source of information for estimates of model parameters and provide an effective method for monitoring the progress of vegetation propagation across the selected sites, spaces disturbed by human activities.

Vegetative propagation ofAesculus indica through stem cuttings treated with plant growth regulators

Cuttage propagation of Aesculus indica was tested by treatments with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid （IAA） @ 2000, 4000 （ppm）, indolebutyric acid （IBA） @ 2000, 4000 （ppm） and naphthlcetic acid （NAA） @ 2000, 4000 （ppm） in dry formulation in the Forest Nursery, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Shalimar. The cuttings treated with IBA @ 4000 ppm and IBA @ 2000 ppm had a sprouting rate of 75% and 50%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of control and other treatments. The highest rooting rate （50%） was recorded in the cuttings with the application of IBA @ 4000 ppm. The cuttings treated with IBA @ 2000 ppm had 25% rooting rate. All other treatments along with control （talc powder） failed to induce rooting. It was concluded that IBA @ 4000 ppm was a better-applied concentration for vegetative propagation ofA. indica under Kashmir conditions.

Vegetative propagation of Aesculus indica through stem cuttings treated with plant growth regulators

Cuttage propagation of Aesculus indica was tested by treatments with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) @ 2000, 4000(ppm), indolebutyric acid(IBA) @ 2000, 4000(ppm) and naphthlcetic acid(NAA) @ 2000, 4000(ppm) in dry formulation in the Forest Nursery, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Shalimar.The cuttings treated with IBA @ 4000 ppm and IBA @ 2000 ppm had a sprouting rate of 75% and 50%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of control and other treatments.The highest rooting rate(50%) was recorded in the cuttings with the application of IBA @ 4000 ppm.The cuttings treated with IBA @ 2000 ppm had 25% rooting rate.All other treatments along with control(talc powder) failed to induce rooting.It was concluded that IBA @ 4000 ppm was a better-applied concentration for vegetative propagation of A.indica under Kashmir conditions.

Successful vegetative propagation by stem cuttings of Tetraena mongolica Maxim.

Techniques have been developed for the vegetative propagation of Tetraena mongolica,a rare and endangered species endemic to the western Ordos Plateau in the northcentral portion of China.The purpose of the study was to investigate the rooting characteris-tics of the plant species from the aspects of length and ages of cuttings,external hormone concentration,leaf retention,cutting orientations,and cutting positions.The results obtained from the experiments indicated that the rooting ratio of 2-year or 3-year old cuttings was larger than more than of 4-year old cuttings.The influence of external hormone concentration on rooting was ob-vious;the rooting ratio of cuttings was increased by external hormone treatment,especially when treated by ABT1(ABT No.1 Rooting Powder) 50 mg/L for 3 hours,in which case,the rooting ratio reached 91 percent.Leaf retention influenced rooting sig-nificantly;the rooting rate of cuttings became greater as the leaf retention increased.There was no significant difference in rooting capability between south and north orientations of the ortets.The rooting ratio of the cuttings obtained from the distal portions of shoots was significantly larger than those obtained from the middle and the basal portions of the shoots.On day three after treat-ment,calluses started appearing at the incisions of some cuttings dipped in 500 mg/L IAA(indole acetic acid).Most cuttings were healed or swelled,and 6 percent of cuttings rooted on day 6 after treatment.Higher rooting period occurred 7-10 days after the experiment was set up.

Vegetative propagation of Dalbergia sissoo:effect of growth regulators,length,position of shoot and type of cuttings on rooting potential in stem cuttings

The effect of auxins （IAA or IBA at 100, 200, 500 mg.L J） on rooting and sprouting parameters differed significantly （p 〈 0.05）. Rooting and sprouting percentages were higher in some treatments while other parameters were significantly higher in other treatments. The results of the present study revealed that rooting was significantly （p 〈 0.05） affected by the length of cuttings, as well as the position of shoots and type of cuttings. On average, 86.0 per cent rooting was observed in the 30-cm long cuttings com- pared to the other two lengths of cuttings, i.e., 20 and 25 cm, irrespective of any auxin treatment. In a control set, without any auxin treatment, a maximum of 60.0% rooting was recorded in the 30-cm long cuttings and a minimum of 40.0% of the cuttings rooted in the 20-cm long cuttings. Similarly, cuttings collected from the lower and upper portions of shoots resulted in 72.5 and 52.5 per cent rooting respectively, irrespective of auxin treatments. Maximum rooting was observed in the lower portion （40.0%） of cutting com- pared to the upper portion （30.0%） in the control set without auxin treatment. Leafless branches produced maximum （72.0%） rooting compared to the leafy cuttings （35.0%）, irrespective of the auxin treatment. The leafy cuttings produces a minimum of 15.0% sprout- ing and rooting in the control set.

Study on Tissue Culture and Rapid Propagation of Tilia amurensis

To explore the establishment of a tissue culture and rapid propagation system of Tilia amurensis,the effects of basic medium and concentrations and ratios of plant growth regulators on tissue culture and rapid propagation of T.amurensis were studied.The results showed that 1/2 MS medium was the most suitable proliferation medium,and the proliferation coefficient could reach 13.5 after adding 0.05 mg/L 6-BA and 0.03 mg/L IBA;MS medium was the most suitable medium for strong plantlets and rooting,and the best medium for strong plantlets was MS+0.1 mg/L 6-BA+0.1 mg/L IBA+0.03 mg/L GA_(3),with which the average plantlet height reached 5.15 cm;and the best rooting medium was MS+1.0 mg/L6-BA+0.05 mg/L NAA,with which the rooting rate was 93.3%and the number of roots was 5.7 roots.

Effect of Indoor and Underground Storage on Efficient Vegetative Propagation of Dwarf Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach)

Dwarf, late-heading (DL) Napier grass is suitable for both cut-and-carry and grazing management due to sufficient yield and quality potential. This species can hardly produce viable seed, and thus vegetative propagation should be essential before winter in temperate regions of southern Kyushu. The objective of this study was to determine the efficient storage methods of DL vegetative propagation. Two experiments were carried out, the first focused on indoor storage of 10-node stem sections under room or chilling (10°C) conditions and the second, on underground storage of ten-node and one-node stem sections at 10 cm, 25 cm or 40 cm depth. After both storages, both of ten-node stem sections, cut into single nodes, and one-node stem sections were transplanted into the soil and counted for the emergence every month in 3 months of planting. In indoor-storage, while storage temperature hardly affected the emergence (P > 0.05), storage period significantly reduced the emergence percentage. In underground storage, while one-node storage achieved constantly 60% emergence, ten-node storage achieved a higher emergence at 80% under 25-cm and 40-cm depths. The results of the study suggest that underground storage of longer stem sections at 25 cm depth could be applied to practical vegetative propagation in the region.

Effects of indole-3-butyric acid and age of stem cuttings on root morphology,growth,and survival of Cornus sericea

Red osier dogwood(Cornus sericea L.),widely distributed throughout North America,is essential for wildlife,thus biodiversity.It is recommended for reclamation or revegetation of sites disturbed by oil and gas extraction because it tolerates a wide range of soil types and high pH levels.Since germination of this species is extremely difficult with long stratification requirements and poor germination,cuttings facilitate propagation.In this study,to develop techniques to propagate the species from stem cuttings,four concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid(IBA)and two cutting ages previous year’s growth(PYG)and current year’s growth(CYG)were investigated for survival and growth.After 4 months,survival rate,height growth,and shoot biomass from PYG cuttings were enhanced with IB A.In contrast,IB A did not affect these parameters in CYG cuttings.Root morphology was significantly affected by IB A concentration and cutting age.IBA,at higher concentrations,increased root surface and length.Total root surface area and length of PYG cuttings were increased,which may facilitate the absorption of essential resources and consequently increase growth.The results indicate that increasing the concentration of IB A may be an effective way to have better plant survival and growth of previous year’s cuttings in red osier dogwood.

Effects of mother tree ages, different rooting mediums, light conditions and auxin treatments on rooting behaviour of Dalbergia sissoo branch cuttings

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. is one of the promising multipurpose tree species of South Asia. Most of the plantations of D. sissoo from seeds are facing severe threats due to the die-back disease, which ultimately causes death of this potential tree-species within a few months. Vegetative propagation could avoid the die-back disease. Thirty mother trees of different age-groups of D. sissoo were selected for evaluating the rooting behaviour of branch cuttings from D. sissoo as influenced by auxins （IAA or IBA at 100, 200, 500 mg·L^-1）, ages of mother trees （10, 4 and 2 years old） and different environment conditions, i.e., different mediums （soil and sand） or light conditions （in shade and open condition）. The results show that application of IAA and IBA induced more numbers of cuttings （collected from 10-year-old mother trees） to root compared to control. Branch cuttings of D. sissoo collected from 10-year-old mother trees and planted in soil bed in open conditions had 100.0% of cuttings to root in IAA （100 mg·L^-1） and IBA （200 mg·L^-1） treatments. Both rooting medium （Soil and sand） influenced significantly （p〈0.05） on rooting response of branch cuttings. Soil medium was found to achieve maximum no. of branch cuttings to root, compared to sand medium.

Research advances in genetics and breeding of Populus davidiana Dode in China

In this paper a general introduction is given to research advances in genetics improvement and breeding of Chinese aspen (Populus davidiana Dode) in China. This introduction includes natural distribution and collection, conservation, gene diversity, provenance trial, crossing breeding, vegetative propagation and disease resistant etc. Based on the current situation of forest tree breeding in China, some strategic suggestions concerning the future development of Chinese aspen genetics improvement in China are presented, taking into consideration the existing domestic demands of forestry production and international trends in forest tree breeding.

Effect of mini-cutting size on adventitious rooting and morphophysiological quality of Ilex paraguariensis plantlets

As the energizing and therapeutic effects of infusions of mate(Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil)leaves are increasingly recognized,rising global consumption is also increasing the demand for plantlets with high genetic and morphological qualities.Mini-cuttings are an alternative for clonal plantlets;however,more details are needed on factors that affect the success of this technique.Here,toward maximizing production,we evaluated adventitious rooting competence of mini-cuttings of different sizes and the morphophysiological quality of the resultant plantlets.Small(one bud;length up to 2.5 cm),medium(multiple buds;length 2.6–5.0 cm),and large(multiple buds;length 5.1–10.0 cm)mini-cuttings were planted in a mixture of commercial substrate,vermiculite,and coarse sand(1:1:1 v:v:v),grown in a humidity chamber,then evaluated after 45,60,75,and 90 days for survival,percentage of callus and shoot formation,number and length of shoots,percentage of rooted cuttings,and number and length of roots.Any rooted mini-cuttings were then cultivated in commercial substrate and subsurface soil(2:1 v:v)and evaluated after 30,60,90 and 120 days of cultivation for morphophysiology of the plantlets,percentage of survival,number of leaves,shoot height,stem diameter,and ratio of shoot height to stem diameter.After 120 days,the plantlets were evaluated for the ratio of shoot and root dry mass,total length,surface area,total volume,and mean diameter of roots and Dickson quality index.Adventitious rooting of the mini-cuttings and the morphophysiological quality of the plantlets were not influenced by the size of the vegetative propagule.Therefore,single-bud mini-cuttings have similar adventitious rooting competence,and result in plantlets with adequate morphophysiological quality,based upon leaf development,shoot height,stem diameter and length,and surface area,volume and diameter of roots.Single-bud mini-cuttings up to 2.5 cm long can thus be used to maximize production of mate plantlets by mini-cuttings.

The Origin of Flooded Rice Cultivation

Rice cultivation has long been considered to have originated from seeding of annual types of wild rice somewhere in subtropics, tropics or in the Yangtze River basin. That idea, however, contains a fatally weak point, when we consider the tremendous difficulty for primitive human to seed any cereal crop in the warm and humid climate, where weed thrives all year round, instead of the accepted theory, we have to see a reality that vegetative propagation of edible plants is a dominant form of agriculture in such regions. The possibility is discussed that Job＇s tears and rice, two cereal crops unique to the region, might have been developed via vegetative propagation to obtain materials for medicine or herb tea in backyard gardens prior to cereal production. This idea is supported by the fact that rice in temperate regions is still perennial in its growth habit and that such backyard gardens with transplanted taro can still be seen from Yunnan Province of China to Laos. Thanks to detailed survey of wild rice throughout China for 1970-1980, it is now confirmed that a set of clones of wild rice exist in shallow swamps in Jiangxi Province, an area with severe winter cold. In early summer ancient farmers may have divided the sprouting buds and spread them by transplanting into flooded shallow marsh. Such way of propagation might have faster improved less productive rice through a better genetic potential for response to human interference than quick fixation in seed propagation, because vegetative parts are heterogeneous. Obviously, such a primitive manner of rice cultivation did include the essential parts of rice farming, i.e., nursery bed, transplanting in flooded field of shallow marsh like. Transfer from the primitive nursery to true nursery by seed may have later allowed rice cultivation to be extended to northern regions. In thus devised flooded cultivation there were a series of unique advantages, i.e.; continuous cropping of rice in a same plot, no soil erosion, slow decline of soil fertility, availability of minerals, and resulting in high yield per unit area, which have collectively attained the highly productive cereal cultivation in the warm and humid region. Rice cultivation in marsh is also favorable to raise fish culture, both of which constituted a nutritionally balanced base. Development of irrigation technology to construct flooded farms gave strong bases for stable rice-cultivating society, which in the end formulated the rise of ancient kingdoms of Yue and Wu in China in BC 6th -5th centuries. They were direct descendents of those people who had developed the unique rice cultivation from the era of Hemudu culture, which is dated back to 5 000 BC. Their movement to the south is considered to have established rice-cultivating communities in South China and Southeast Asia, while to the north it transferred the rice-based technology to ancient Korea and Japan and had established there a base for a civilized society.

Effect of Growth Regulators on Rooting of Hardwood Cuttings of Lycium shawii, Nitraria retusa and Farsetia aegyptia

Utilization of native plants in urban landscaping can potentially support their conservation and safeguard endangered native species from extinction. In this study, efforts were made to standardize vegetative propagation techniques for Lycium shawiL Nitraria retusa and Farsetia aegyptia. Effects of varying concentrations of rooting hormones on the success of rooting of hardwood cuttings of these species were studied in this research. Rooting in hardwood cuttings of Lycium shawii was enhanced （100%） by treating them with 1,000 ppm IBA, Ormone radicante in polvere （5,000 ppm NAA） and hormex （1,000 ppm IBA）. Treatment with 1,000 ppm NAA was found to be effective for Nitraria retusa, while marginal success was recorded in rooting of hardwood cuttings of Farsetia aegyptia when treated with 400 ppm NAA. Rooting in untreated cuttings was 80%.

White oak (Quercus fabri Hance) regenerated stump sprouts show few senescence symptoms during 40 years of growth in a natural forest

Background:The relationship between physiological age of parental trees and lifespan of clonal offspring is unclear.White oak(Quercus fabri Hance)has a high sprouting capability after harvest,with the regenerated sprouts being typical clonal individuals.To determine whether regenerated sprouts undergo rapid senescence compared with the parent,the senescence levels of 5-,10-,20-and 40-year-old regenerated stump sprouts in a natural forest were evaluated.The antioxidative abilities and transcriptomes in these leaves and shoots were compared.Results:Older regenerated sprouts still had robust antioxidative systems,with 40-year-old sprouts having lower peroxidation product levels but similar antioxidative enzyme activity levels compared with 5-year-old sprouts.Older leaves had greater transcriptional activities in pathways related to cell growth and division than younger leaves.However,older sprouts had some unhealthy characteristics,such as increased base excision repair levels and upregulated phagosome,proteasome and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways in 40-year-old leaves,which indicates that DNA damage and tissue remodeling occurred more frequently than in younger leaves.Additionally,plant-pathogen interactions and MAPK signals pathways were upregulated in older shoots,which indicates that older shoots suffered from more pathogen-related biotic stress.Conclusions:The 40-year-old sprouts still had the same vitality level as the 5-year-old sprouts,although the former had some unhealthy characteristics.We conclude that during their first 40 years of growth,regenerated stump sprouts do not begin to senesce,and that physiological age of parental trees does not significantly affect the lifespan of its clonal offspring.

Effect of Leafy and Leafless Greenwood, Softwood and Hardwood Cuttings Success of <i>Garcinia kola</i>(Heckel)

Garcinia kola Heckel, called “petit cola” in Côte d’Ivoire and “bitter kola” in Nigeria, is a Non-Timber Forest Product of great socioeconomic importance. Unfortunately, this species is threatened due to overexploitation and deforestation. This study tested the effect of leaf area on stem cuttings to regenerate vegetatively in a non-mist poly-propagator without using exogenous hormones. Three stem cuttings types: greenwood, softwood and hardwood (12 - 15 cm in length) were collected from 24-month years old seedlings. The two top leaves of each cutting type were conserved at different leaf area: 0 cm2, 28.25 cm2, 56.5 cm2, 84.75 cm2 and 113 cm2 (entire leaf area). Observations were made on rooting, sprouting and leafing abilities of cuttings depending to treatments applied. Results showed that all cutting types have presented good ability to shooting and rooting. Cuttings with 113 cm2 leaf areas presented the best rooting (94.44% ± 2.42%) and shouting (95.55% ± 2.42%) percentage and longest primary root length (12.03 ± 0.50 cm). Hardwood, softwood and greenwood cuttings with 113 cm2 leaf area had the best rooting percentage (96.66% ± 3.33%, 96.66% ± 5.77% and 90.00% ± 5.77% respectively). The longest primary root length (13.50 ± 0.97 cm) was observed to greenwood cuttings with 113 cm2 leaf area. Regenerated plants in the forest presented well survival percentage (96.66%). This study shows that it is possible to regenerate entire plants by cuttings without using external hormones in non-mist poly-propagator.

Growth and Quality of Clonal Plantlets of Conilon Coffee(Coffea canephora Pierre ex A.Froehner)Influenced by Types of Cuttings

To achieve high crop yieldin agriculture, the production of plantlets of superior quality is one of thebasic prerequisites. For conilon coffee, the current recommendation in theproduction of clonal plantlets through vegetative propagation is to usediagonal cuttings, in bevel form. However, there are indications that othertypes of cutting have been successfully used to produce plantlets. In thiscontext, this experiment was conducted with the objective of studying thedevelopment of plantlets of conilon coffee obtained by different types ofcuttings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The cuttings wereobtained from the middle portion of orthotropic stems of standardized plants.The experiment followed a split plot in time design, with three types ofcuttings (bevel, sharp bevel and straight) and two times of evaluation, withfour repetitions. At 30 and 120 days after planting, plantlets were collectedand evaluated. The results show the increase occurred in the variables due tothe straight cut when compared to the others, except for stem diameter.Emphasizing in this context, the straight cut promoted an increase in seedlingheight, production of biomass and in the Dickson’s quality index when comparedto cuttings in bevel and sharp bevel.

Effects of light intensity and photoperiod on runner plant propagation of hydroponic strawberry transplants under LED lighting

Vegetative propagation of strawberry(Fragaria×ananassa Duch.)in the plant factory with artificial lighting is considered as an effective approach to produce high-quality transplants.In this study,mother plants of‘Benihoppe’strawberry were grown hydroponically for 50 d under eight LED lighting treatments by combining four levels of light intensity(200,250,300 and 350mmol/(m^(2)·s))and two photoperiods(12 h/d and 16 h/d).Runner development,growth of runner plants,photon yield and energy yield in runners and runner plants were investigated to evaluate the strawberry propagation efficiency.Results indicated that length of runners decreased linearly with increasing daily light integral(DLI)under each photoperiod and was significantly shorter under photoperiod of 16 h/d.Runner elongation was inhibited by high DLI.Number of runners and runner plants formed by mother plants increased by 38.9%and 33.7%,when DLI increased from 8.6 to 11.5 mol/(m^(2)·d),respectively;however,no further increase was observed when DLI was higher than 11.5 mol/(m^(2)·d).Similar trends were found in crown diameter and biomass of primary and secondary runner plants.Negative impact of high DLI(20.2 mol/(m^(2)·d))on photosynthetic capacity of runner plants was observed as a decrease in leaf net photosynthetic rate,potential maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII,and chlorophyll content.Furthermore,photon yield and energy yield in runners and runner plants decreased significantly with increasing DLI.Therefore,DLI in a range of 11.5-17.3 mol/(m^(2)·d)is beneficial to improve strawberry propagation efficiency and quality of runner plants,and 11.5 mol/(m^(2)·d)is optimal for the strawberry propagation of runner plants in the LED plant factory because of the higher photon and energy yields.