Effects of Drip Irrigation-Fertilization on Growth, Flowering, Photosynthesis and Nutrient Absorption of Containerized Seedlings of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Haeoreum)

The amount of irrigation and fertilization should be considered first for the production and standardization of high-quality H. syriacus L. seedlings using container seedlings. This study was conducted to investigate the optimal conditions suitable for container cultivation of hibiscus by analyzing growth and physiological responses according to the control of irrigation and fertilization. Therefore, in this study, H. syriacus L. for. Haeoreum (3-year-old hardwood cutting propagation), a fast-growing, was transplanted into a 40 L container. The irrigation amount per container was adjusted (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 ton/yr/tree), and the amount of fertilizer applied (0, 69.0, 138.0 and 207.0 g/yr/tree). The growth rate according to the irrigation-fertilization treatment was higher in the 0.3 ton-138.0 g/yr/tree irrigation-fertilization treatment (p < 0.001). Total biomass yield and seedling quality index (SQI) were highest in the 0.3 ton-138.0 g/yr/tree irrigation-fertilization treatment (p < 0.001). The higher the fertilization concentration, the faster the flowering and the longer the flowering. The photosynthetic capacity of H. syriacus L. was reduced in bare root seedling cultivation and container-non-fertilized treatment. The chlorophyll fluorescence response was also affected by bare root cultivation and containerized seedling cultivation fertilization. Nutrient vector diagnosis showed "nutritional suitability" in the 0.3 ton-138.0 g/yr/tree treatment. Overall, containerized seedling cultivation was superior in growth, photosynthetic performance, photochemical efficiency, and nutrient storage capacity compared to bare root cultivation. These results be expected to contribute not only to the industrial production of excellent container seedlings of H. syriacus L. but also to the production of other woody plants.

The complete chloroplast genome of a fast-growing tree Lophostemon confertus (Myrtaceae)

Lophostemon confertus (Myrtaceae), a fast-growing ornamental tree, is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. To determine its phylogenetic position within Myrtaceae, here we report its complete chloroplast (cp) genome, which is 160,297 bp long and contains two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,490 bp each, separated by a small single-copy region of 18,826 bp and a large single-copy region of 88,491 bp. The cp genome contains 123 genes, including 73 unique protein-coding genes (six duplicated in the IR regions), 29 unique tRNA genes (seven duplicated in the IR regions), and four unique rRNA genes (all located in the IR regions). Phylogenetic analysis of 18 species of Myrtaceae showed that L. confertus is sister to Xanthostemon chrysanthus. The complete cp genome of L. confertus provides a valuable genetic resource for further phylogenetic studies.

Colonization of Trees by Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Is Influenced by Duration of Flood Stress

The ambrosia beetles Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) bore into flood-stressed trees to establish colonies, but the influence of flooding duration on colonization is unknown. This relationship was examined by flooding trees for various time periods and evaluating colonization. In one experiment, X. germanus bored into 20 dogwood (Cornus florida L.) trees during a 3-d flood treatment. Ten trees dissected that season had no offspring present in tunnels; the remaining trees appeared healthy and bloomed the following spring. In another experiment, dogwood trees were flooded for 3 or 7 d and then dissected to assess colonization. The incidence of superficial (short unbranched) and healed (callus tissue in entrance) tunnels was greater in the 3-d trees, while the incidence of tunnels with X. germanus or offspring was greater in the 7-d trees. Four experiments (three in Ohio and one in Virginia) had flood treatments of 0 (nonflooded), 3, 5, 7, and 10 d. Numbers of tunnel entrances, tunnels with X. germanus, and incidence of tunnels with offspring or live foundresses tended to increase as flood duration increased on apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), dogwood, and redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) in Ohio and redbud in Virginia. Nonflooded trees in Ohio had no boring activity, but ambrosia beetles bored into three nonflooded trees in Virginia. Indicators of unsuccessful colonization, such as superficial tunnels and healing, decreased as flood duration increased. These results suggest tree crops may recover from boring by ambrosia beetles following short-duration flood events, and not necessarily require culling.

Complete chloroplast genome of Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae) and phylogenetic analysis

Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby is a popular ornamental tree as well as a traditional medical plant in Cameroon. In this study, we sequenced and annotated the complete chloroplast genome of S. spectabilis and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship of the tribe Cassieae. The length of the chloroplast genome was determined to be 162,754 bp, containing a pair of inverted repeats of 25,413 bp which separated by a small single-copy (SSC) region of 20,161 bp and a large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,767 bp. The cp genome encodes 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The percentage of total GC content of this genome was 35.7%. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that S. spectabilis with the sampled Senna species formed a well-supported monophyletic clade.

The complete chloroplast genome of Acer tutcheri Duthie (Acereae, Sapindaceae): an ornamental tree endemic to China

Acer tutcheri Duthie is a popular ornamental tree with reddish leaves and bright red fruits. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome of it. The cp genome was determined to be 156,973 bp in length, containing a large single copy (LSC) region of 85,356 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,111 bp and two separated inverted region of 26,753 bp, respectively. It encodes a total of 132 unique genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that A. tutcheri is sister to A. wilsonii Rehd.

Natural Enemy Communities and Biological Control of Parthenolecanium spp. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in the Southeastern United States

We documented the species composition, seasonal ecology, and impacts of parasitoids and predators of Parthenolecanium corni (Bouché) and P. quercifex (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in the urban landscapes of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, United States. Twenty-one parasitoid morphospecies and 12 predator species were collected through rearing, beat sheet, and sticky card trapping. Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was the most abundant parasitoid species in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, whereas Metaphycus sp. 2 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was the most abundant species in Georgia. Parasitism rates ranged from 59 to 92% in the nymphal population and 27 to 84% in the adult population in South Carolina. Blastothrix sp. 1 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), C. lycimnia, Encyrtus sp. 1 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Eunotus sp., and Pachyneuron sp. (both Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) emerged from adult scale insects and significantly reduced the fecundity of parasitized scale insects. Coccophagus lycimnia was the only parasitoid species emerged from nymphs. Hyperaspis signata (Olivier) species group, Chilocorus stigma Say (both Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were the most abundant predators in South Carolina. The majority of natural enemies (87% of parasitoids and 82% of predators) were active from late March to late August and from late April to late October, respectively.

Establishing a leaf proteome reference map for Ginkgo biloba provides insight into potential ethnobotanical uses

Although ginkgo (Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba L.) is an ancient medicinal and ornamental tree, there has not previously been any systematic proteomic study of the leaves. Herein we describe results from the initial study identifying abundant ginkgo leaf proteins and present a gel reference map. Proteins were isolated from fully developed mature leaves in biological triplicate and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis plus tandem mass spectrometry. Using this approach, we were able to reproducibly quantify 190 abundant protein spots, from which 157 proteins were identified. Most of identified proteins are associated with the energy and protein destination/storage categories. The reference map provides a basis for understanding the accumulation of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds in mature leaves (e.g., identification of chalcone synthase, the first committed enzyme in flavonoid biosynthesis). We additionally detected several proteins of as yet unknown function. These proteins comprise a pool of potential targets that might be useful in nontraditional medical applications.