Efficiency of Bio-Fertilizing as One of the Natural Alternatives to Improve the Growth of Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni Trees and for Sustainability

A field experiment was carried out at Ismailia Research Station, Ismailia Governorate from 2020-2022 to improve the growth of Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni by using a combination of mineral fertilizer (NPK) and biological fertilizer (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium, and Bacillus circulant) as recommended dose under new sandy soils conditions. Split plot designed with four treatments (Control, (50% Mineral fertilizer (M.) + 50% Biological fertilizer (Bio.)), 100% M. and 100% Bio.) of each species. Vegetative growth, leaf area, tree biomass, stored carbon, basal area, tree volume, and in the soil both of microbial account and mineral content were determined. The experimental results showed no significant differences between studied species among the most studied parameters except for Khaya senegalensis which gave the highest significant difference in root biomass and below-stored carbon than Swietenia mahagoni. Evidently, the highest significant growth parameters were 100% mineral fertilizer followed by (50% M. + 50% Bio.) as compared with control. No significant difference between 100% M. and (50% M. + 50% Bio.) of shoot dry biomass (15.19 and 12.02 kg, respectively) and above-stored carbon (0.28 and 0.22 Mt, respectively). Microbial account and mineral content in soil were improved after cultivation of tree species compared to before planting and control, especially with 50% mineral fertilizer and 50% bio-fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, a treatment containing 50% mineral fertilizer and 50% bio-fertilizer has led to the ideal Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni growth in sandy soil for cheaper and sustainable.

Do different measures of maternal fitness affect estimation of natural selection on floral traits? A lesson from Linum pubescens (Linaceae)

Aims Floral traits in animal-pollinated plants are proposed to be selected by the behavior of pollinators,which create differential fitness.However,fitness estimation is not trivial and there is no agreed or universal measure of fitness.in plants,fitness can be measured in various ways,including the number of fruits or seeds,probability of survival,or growth rate.Methods Because each fitness measure can be associated with different pol-linator behavior,estimating pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits can differ among various fitness measures.We used the annual Mediterranean plant,Linum pubescens,as a model to assess the relative role of various fitness measures in estimating pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits.We compared four maternal fit-ness measures and estimated their relative advantage in assessing natural selection on floral traits of L.pubescens.To identify whether each trait is under pollinator-mediated selection,we used media-tional analysis.Important Findings We found that each floral trait was under natural selection assessed by a different fitness measure.The color combination of floral tube throat and stamen color was under selection when using seed mass as a fitness measure,and floral diameter was under positive direc-tional selection when the number of seeds or number of fruits was used as a fitness measure.Selection on floral color was not mediated by pollinators’visitation rates,while flower diameter showed par-tial pollinator-mediated selection.We conclude that using several fitness measures gives an insight into the mechanisms underlying phenotypic selection on a floral trait,and facilitates the understand-ing of pollinator-mediated selection.

Notes for genera:Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic,and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended.New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera.The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011,has also caused changes in fungal generic names.In order to facilitate access to all important changes,it was desirable to compile these in a single document.The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota(approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016),including those which are lichen-forming.Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of‘Ainsworth&Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’in 2008 are provided.The notes include the number of accepted species,classification,type species(with location of the type material),culture availability,life-styles,distribution,and selected publications that have appeared since 2008.This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the"Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi"published in 2013,which will be developed into a list of protected generic names.This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists,and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi(NCF).The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis,Collophora(as Collophorina),Cryomyces,Dematiopleospora,Heterospora(as Heterosporicola),Lithophila,Palmomyces(as Palmaria)and Saxomyces are validated,as are two previously invalid family names,Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae.Four species of Lalaria,which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations.Catenomycopsis Tibell&Constant.is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain.,while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces.&De Not.(Art.59).