Fine-scale analysis reveals a potential influence of forest management on the spatial genetic structure of Eremanthus erythropappus

Forest management may have significant effects on forest connectivity and natural population sizes.Harvesting old-growth single trees may also change natural patterns of genetic variation and spatial genetic structure.This study evaluated the impacts of forest management using a silvicultural system of seed trees on the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of Eremanthus erythropappus(DC.)MacLeish.A complete survey of 275 trees on four plots was undertaken out to compare the genetic variation of a managed stand with an unmanaged stand.We genotyped all adult and juvenile individuals 60 months after the management and compared the genetic diversity and the spatial genetic structure parameters.Genetic diversity was considered high because of an efficient gene flow between stands.There were no genetic differences between stands and no evidence of inbreeding.Genetic clustering identified a single population(K=1),indicating no genetic differentiation between managed and unmanaged stands.Adult and juvenile individuals of the unmanaged stand were more geographically structured than individuals from the managed one.There was a tendency of coancestry among juveniles at the first class of distance of the managed stand,suggesting a drift of genetic structure possibly caused by management.Understanding early responses to management on genetic diversity and stand structure is a first step to ensuring the effectiveness of conservation practices of tree species.The sustainability of forest management of E.erythropappus on genetic diversity,and more accurately,on spatial genetic structure needs evaluation over time to promote effective conservation of the population size and genetic variability.

Production of Pequi Powder by Drying Pulp

The pequi tree is a native plant of the Brazilian cerrado, and the scientific name is Caryocar brasiliense, whose fruits are called pequi, appreciated for its pleasant peculiarities of color, aroma and flavor. The objective of this work is to transform pequi pulp into powder, aiming at maintaining the flavor. By using the convection drying technique, the product is converted from the fluid state to the solid state in the form of a powder. Experiments were performed with drying at the following temperatures: 40&degC, 50&degC, 60&degC, 90&degC and 105&degC. Interpretations were made of the experimental drying and milling results. It was verified that for all the experimental temperatures, there was no loss of the sensory characteristics of pequi. The drying of the pequi pulp in a greenhouse at 105&degC consisted of a good result of preservation of the characteristics of the fruit: color, aroma and flavor. Using the Trojan Powder Coating scale, it is found that pequi powder, dried at 105&degC, differs little in terms of the color of the fruit in nature.

A remote sensing approach to estimate the load bearing capacity of soil

Preconsolidation pressure(σp)of soil can be considered as an indicator of the Load Bearing Capacity(LBC),which is the tolerated surface pressure before compaction,often caused by the traffic of agricultural machinery.In this pioneering study,a remote sensing approach was introduced to estimate LBC throughσp from soils of the“Rio Preto”Hydrographic Basin,Bahia State,Brazil,in a monthly time lapse from 2016 to 2019.Traditionally,σp is measured by a laborious and time demanding laboratory analysis,making it unfeasible to map large areas.The innovative methodology of this work consists of combining active–passive satellite data on soil moisture and pedotransfer functions of clay content and water matric potential to obtain geo-located estimates ofσp.Estimates were analysed under different classes of soil use,land cover and slope;95%confidence intervals were built for the time series of mean values of LBC for each class.The overall seasonal variation in LBC estimates is similar in areas with annual crops,grasslands and natural vegetation,and flat areas are less affected by soil moisture variations over the year(between seasons).LBC decreased,in general,at about 0.5%a year in flat areas.Therefore,these areas demand attention,since they occupy 86%of the Basin and are mostly subjected to agricultural soil management and surface pressure by heavy machinery.