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Simple Summary: The digitization of herbarium collections is an important process that allows access to sometimes huge amounts of data that can be used in various natural sciences. In recent years, the collections of one of the thirty oldest herbariums in the world—the herbarium of the Jagiellonian University—have been digitized. This paper presents the resources of the economically very important Amaranthaceae family, which include 8801 herbarium sheets. They were analyzed in taxonomic, geographical, historical, and functional terms. Herbaria constitute a form of documentation, store and secure comparative material, as well as constitute an extra original gene bank. They are an invaluable database among others for the biological, ethnobotanical and agricultural sciences. The digitization of herbarium collections significantly facilitates access to archival materials; however, searching them is still time-consuming. Therefore, our work aims to analyze the herbarium collection of 8801 sheets for specimens representing the economically important family Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae clade) deposited the oldest herbarium in Poland, the herbarium of the Jagiellonian University (KRA). These specimens have been collected from almost all the continents in dozens of countries for over 200 years. The analyses conducted, including the taxonomic coverage, geographical characteristics and origin, temporal coverage and utility importance of representative species, present the discussed resources in a more accessible way and may become a more attractive form for scientists potentially interested in more advanced research work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, complete phytochemical analyses of the component composition of Petrosimonia sibirica was conducted for the first time. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of a variety of primary and secondary metabolites. The data for quantitative determination of biologically active compounds were presented. The qualitative composition of amino, fatty acids of the plant Petrosimonia sibirica has been studied by using the method of paper chromatography (PC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC), their quantitative composition of amino, fatty acids have been identified by gas chromatography. The composition of 20 amino, 8 fatty acids of Petrosimonia sibirica, family Chenopodiaceae have been established. The major amino acids in studied plant were glutamic acid (2.440%), alanine (0.618%), aspartic acid (1.254%), arginine (0.405%), tyrosine (0.340%), and proline (0.306%). The dominant fatty acids in plant with respect to quantity were oleic (48.3%) and linoleic (26.7%) acids. In order to optimize the extraction process technological parameters (extracting solvent, a ratio between solvent and solid plant material and process temperature) were selected. The most suitable solvent is 70% ethyl alcohol, solid - solvent ratio (1: 6-8), extraction time (3 days), and extraction temperature (20-25 oC). In addition, Kazakh species of Petrosimonia sibirica plant are valued as a rich source of saponins and flavonoids. Quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin) was isolated from Petrosimonia sibirica. Flavonoid glycoside was identified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS, and compared with the data in the literature. The results revealed the presence of medicinally important constituents in the studied plant. Therefore, extracts from these plants could be seen as a good source for useful drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation composition has been greatly modified by human activity since Neolithic times, providing valuable insights into the evolution of human-landscape relationships. In this paper, we integrated 26 pollen records from the Zhejiang Province of China where a Neolithic culture of rice farming existed at an early date, to examine the dynamics of agricultural development and its impact on vegetation. Firstly, we synthesized the relative abundance of Oryza pollen and charcoal (Cpeak) using generalized additive models, to produce a record of agricultural development and the intensity of human activities. We found that changes in Oryza abundance and Cpeak were positively correlated, and identified three phases as follows: agricultural initiation before 8000 cal yr BP, agricultural development between 8000 and 6000 cal yr BP and the onset of intensive rice farming after 6000 cal yr BP. Pearson correlation between each pollen taxon and Oryza indicates that arboreal taxa exhibit an overall negative correlation with Oryza , but terrestrial herbs and ferns show a positive correlation, indicating that deforestation accompanied agricultural development. Rosaceae, Castanea , Fagus and Typha display positive correlation with Oryza during the earliest stage dominated by hunter-gathering, reflecting the protection and cultivation of food-producing vegetation. During the intensive farming stage, the Liangzhu ancestors reclaimed more farmland and began to pay attention on farmland management including clearing the fields of weeds. This is the main reason for the enhanced negative correlation between Artemisia , Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae with Oryza at 6000–5000 cal yr BP. Finally, we confirm the potential of integrated Oryza abundance in pollen records as a human-impact index in the Zhejiang region, and emphasize that temporal dynamics in vegetation and human activities should be critically pre-examined when applying relevant human-impact indices. • Integrated charcoal and Oryza pollen reveal Neolithic human intensity and rice farming history. • Food-providing plants were protected during the hunter-gatherer stage. • During the intensive agriculture phase, weed taxa exhibited a strengthened negative correlation with Oryza correlation. • The application of anthropogenic pollen necessitates a critical evaluation of its temporal dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to justify the use of the universal scenario method of strategic planning and forecasting the development of the agroindustrial complex of the regional rural economy. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the application of a set of theoretical and methodological provisions for scenario planning and forecasting the development of agriculture in the regions, taking into account the assessment of their existing potential and constructing a territorial planning scheme for the priority of participation in the implementation of strategic directions of rural development in agricultural production. The paper presents a territorial model of the priority of participation of the municipal regions of the Republic of Bashkortostan in the implementation of strategic areas in the areas of development of production of grain crops, sugar beet, and oilseeds. The developed scenario method, reflecting the qualitatively heterogeneous directions of the development of enterprises, is formed taking into account the achievement of the strategic goal and potential opportunities of rural areas. This allows determining strategic decisions for the further development of rural areas and integrating them into a uniform industry development strategy. The developed approach is recommended to be used as a guideline in the development of long-term programs for the development of the crop production industry, as well as for adjusting the activities of ongoing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage systems are sequences of operations (tilling, planting, fertilization, pesticide application, harvesting and residue chopping or shredding) which affect the physical and chemical properties of the soil, which in turn affect plant growth. It is essential to develop a right tillage system in crop production, in order to achieve high yields, using machines rationally and effectively. This paper has been released to emphasize the importance of tillage and the importance of choosing the tillage system, in order to achieve qualitative and quantitative superior yields, protecting in the same time the environment. In Almos Alfons Mosel Handels Group, during 2015-2017, sugar beet crop was cultivated in two tillage systems: conventional system and conservative system. The varieties used in this two tillage systems are Magistral and Damian. Efficiency is presented only for these common varieties, to highlight the differences between two variants of tillage systems. In addition to the evolution of soil properties and the efficiency of the tillage system on the biotic factor, we followed the evolution of economic indicators that establish economic efficiency. Economic efficiency is an instrument for evaluating activity, which helps us make the best decisions. The calculation of economic efficiency, at Almos Alfons Mosel Handels Gmbh, represent an important activity because it shows the connection between the resources used and the results achieved. The indicators analysed ware: average production, total expenses, sales revenue, agricultural subsidy, turnover, gross profit, net profit, profit rate. These indicators have been calculated on the basis of the technological data, specific to each tillage system and each year in the study. The turnover, gross profit and net profit have set higher values under no-tillage system, represented by sowing directly in the crop debris of the pre-crop (mustard). Thus, we can conclude that this no-tillage system has a rate of profit that is higher than that obtained under the conventional tillage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding human impact on the vegetation of the Tibetan Plateau through the Holocene is important for developing strategies for sustainable ecosystem management in the region. In this paper, 53 pairs of surface-soil samples from inside and outside livestock enclosures were obtained from across the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the differences in pollen assemblages between grazed and ungrazed sites. This modern dataset was then applied to palynological records from four lakes in the northeast Tibetan Plateau region to investigate middle to late Holocene grazing history. Results show that modern grazing activities have a limited impact on the vegetation, although grazing activity leads to an increase in the pollen proportion of Cyperaceae, Artemisia , Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Taraxacum -type, Fabaceae, and Saxifrageceae while representatives of Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Aster -type pollen decrease. Application of these grazing indicators to the pollen spectra obtained from the four lake sites, together with other proxies, reveals that grazing activity only commenced during the last few hundred years in the northeast marginal areas of the Tibetan Plateau at c. 3000 m a.s.l, while there is no grazing signal in pollen records from above 4000 m a.s.l. Our study emphasises the importance of using multi-proxy methods in estimating signals of past human activity. • Pollen assemblage should be insensitive to grazing activities on the Tibetan Plateau. • Human impacts on vegetation at ∼3400 m a.s.l are limited to within a few centuries. • No significant pollen signal of grazing is revealed for the high-elevation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetation history of the central Tibetan Plateau over the last two millennia provides an important baseline for exploring future vegetation evolution. In this paper, we analyze high-resolution records of pollen, grain-size, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) for a 66.5 cm deep sediment core collected from Beilei Co on the central Tibetan Plateau. Between ca. 210 CE and 1988 CE, pollen spectra together with other proxies show that the Beilei Co region was covered by alpine steppe and experienced a relatively stable environment, with only slight changes in vegetation composition and minor climatic variations. However, since 1988 CE, abundances of Artemisia and Cyperaceae have begun to increase, while those of Chenopodiaceae (current accepted Latin name is Amaranthaceae) and Asteraceae have decreased sharply. Both the pollen assemblages and other proxies show that the study area is currently undergoing a major change and that the period of vegetation stability that has characterized the past two millenia has now ended. We argue that the recent changes in the vegetation may be caused by increasing precipitation and/or thawing permafrost due to global warming. In the future, the alpine steppe around Beilei Co may be replaced by alpine meadow. • High-resolution pollen spectra covering last two millennia completed for the central Tibetan Plateau. • Vegetation of the central Tibetan Plateau is stable for most of the time until the last few decades. • The central Tibetan Plateau is experiencing an unprecedented phase of wetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we undertake a high-resolution palynological analysis of a sediment core covering the last 1500 years obtained from Lake Ayakum in the northern Tibetan Plateau, to improve the understanding of regional climate fluctuations and their driving mechanisms. The pollen spectra are dominated by herbaceous species such as Artemisia , Chenopodiaceae, Cyperaceae and Poaceae, which grew in various alpine desert settings. Four pollen assemblage zones are identified using stratigraphically constrained cluster analysis, representing climate history at different stages. The Artemisia /Chenopodiaceae (A/C) ratio and axis score of the first principal component are used to infer regional moisture conditions and reveal a temporal pattern that is consistent with various records from central Asia. The source of Cyperaceae pollen is mainly from marsh wetlands distributed around the lake, which responded sensitively to the lake level fluctuations. In contrast, arboreal pollen is mainly a long-distance transported component, reflecting changes in regional vegetation. Our findings show that the northern Tibetan Plateau experienced relatively wet conditions during the Dark Age Cold Period and the Little Ice Age, while relatively dry conditions occurred during the Medieval Warm Period and the last two centuries. Fluctuations in moisture levels are broadly consistent with moisture records elsewhere in western China, and show a good correlation with phase changes of the North Atlantic Oscillation. The climate changes in the northern Tibetan Plateau are supposed to be primarily triggered by the NAO phases through south-north migrations of the mid-latitude westerlies during the late Holocene. • Fossil pollen based 1500-year vegetation and climate changes on the northern Tibetan Plateau. • Major pollen species were analyzed and interpreted in terms of regional moisture variations. • Four vegetation and climate stages during the late Holocene were determined accordingly. • NAO phases affected northern TP climate through south-north migrations of the westerlies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of Atriplex canescens var. gigantea were found in Lamta, Bouficha-Enfidha (central Tunisia), and Medenine (southern Tunisia). Literature data concerning the presence of this species in Tunisia are contradictory but now our data confirm its occurrence in the country. On the other hand, this variety is reported in the present paper for the first time both in Tunisia and in North Africa in general. Morphological characters and ecological data are presented, as well as notes about patterns of infraspecific variability of A. canescens. Nomenclatural notes on infraspecific names in A. canescens, as well as on the closely related species A. garrettii, are provided. The types of the names A. canescens var. laciniata, A. canescens var. macilenta, A. garrettii, Obione occidentalis var. angustifolia, and Pterochiton occidentale, that in earlier publications were erroneously considered to be holotypes, are in fact lectotypes (for most of taxa) under Art. 9.10 of the ICN. Isolectotypes were found at CAS (A. canescens var. laciniata and A. canescens var. macilenta), GH (A. canescens var. macilenta), and YU (Atriplex nuttallii). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae are the two main pollen taxa in studies of lake sediments on the central and western Tibetan Plateau (TP). In this paper, we present Artemisia /Chenopodiaceae (A/C) ratios in pollen assemblages of surface sediments from 42 lakes on the central and western TP. Relationships between vegetation, climate and A/C ratio are investigated. The results show that the A/C ratio in the study region can distinguish desert from steppe vegetation. As a whole, the A/C ratio was higher than 1.2 in the steppe vegetation and lower than 1.2 in the desert vegetation zone. Statistical analysis revealed that the A/C ratio can be used as a moisture indicator on the TP. Based on the A/C ratio in pollen assemblages of sediment core TAN12-2 from Lake Tangra Yumco, we reconstructed the vegetation and climate history of the southern TP during the transitional period from the late glacial to the Holocene (17.5–10 cal kyr BP). From 17.5 to 16 cal kyr BP, desert vegetation occurred and climate was extremely dry. During 16–15 cal kyr BP, desert was replaced by steppe vegetation and climate became wetter. From 15 to 10 cal kyr BP, the lake basin of Tangra Yumco was covered by the steppe vegetation and climate tended to be more humid. Comparing our results with other lacustrine records on the TP, we found that the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) significantly affected the southern TP earlier than the northeastern TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships amongst modern pollen assemblages, vegetation, climate and human activity are the basis for reconstructing palaeoenvironmental changes using pollen records. It is important to determine these relationships at regional scales due to the development of vegetation under different climatic conditions and human activities. In this paper, we report on an analysis of modern pollen assemblages of 31 surface lake samples from 31 lakes (one sample per lake) on the southwestern Tibetan Plateau where the knowledge of modern pollen and their relationships with vegetation, climate and human activities is insufficient. The region includes five vegetation zones: sub-alpine shrub steppe, alpine steppe, alpine meadow and steppe ecotone, mountain desert and alpine desert. The lakes span a wide range of mean annual precipitation (50-500 mm) and mean annual temperature (−8 to 6 °C). Modern pollen assemblages from our samples mainly consist of herb taxa ( Artemisia, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, etc.) and some tree taxa ( Pinus, Fagaceae, Alnus, etc.). The results indicate that modern pollen assemblages are able to reflect the main vegetation distribution. Redundancy analysis for the main pollen types and environmental variables shows that precipitation is the leading factor that influences the pollen distribution in the study area with the first axis capturing 13.7% of the variance in the pollen data set. The Artemisia/Chenopodiaceae ratio is valid for separating the desert component (<2) from the steppe and other vegetation zones (>2) but is unable to distinguish moisture variations. The Artemisia/Cyperaceae ratio is able to identify meadows (<1) and steppes (>1) and can be used as a moisture index on the southwestern Tibetan Plateau. Our results show that an appropriate range is needed for a modern pollen data set in order to perform pollen-based quantitative climate reconstructions in one region. It is essential to perform modern studies before using pollen ratios to reconstruct palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate at a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the course of the pollen season of selected allergenic taxa (Rumex spp., Plantago spp., Urtica spp. and Chenopodiaceae) in two towns with different degrees of urbanisation (urban, the city Szczecin, and rural, the village Gudowo in Western Pomerania, northwest Poland). The study was conducted in the years 2012–2014 with the volumetric method. The pollen of allergenic herbaceous plants was present in the air from early May until the end of September. From among the taxa studied, the genusRumexis characterised by the longest pollination period, while the genusUrticaby the shortest. The highest percentage contribution of pollen grains to the total pollen count in the air reaching over 90% is from nettle. The pollen seasons determined for the majority of taxa are longer in the city, however the mean pollen grain counts in the air are higher for the rural area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data presented in this paper provide direct microbotanical evidence concerning the early use of potato (Solanum tuberosum) within its botanical locus of origin in the high south-central Andes. The data derive from Jiskairumoko, an early village site in the western Titicaca Basin dating to the Late Archaic to Early Formative periods (~3,400 cal y BC to 1,600 cal y BC). Because the site reflects the transition to sedentism and food production, these data may relate to potato domestication and early cultivation. Of 141 starch microremains recovered from 14 groundstone tools from Jiskairumoko, 50 are identified as consistent with cultivated or domesticated potato, based on reference to published materials and a study of wild and cultivated potato starch morphology. Along with macro- and microbotanical evidence for chenopod consumption and grinding tool data reflecting intensive use of this technology throughout site occupation, the microbotanical data reported here suggest the intensive exploitation, if not cultivation, of plant resources at Jiskairumoko. Elucidating the details of the trajectory of potato domestication is necessary for an overall understanding of the development of highland Andean agriculture, as this crop is central to the autochthonous agricultural suite. A paucity of direct botanical evidence, however, has hindered research efforts. The results of the modern and archaeological starch analyses presented here underscore the utility of this method in addressing questions related to the timing, mode, and context of potato origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driselase-digestion of cell walls from suspension-cultures of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), followed by anion-exchange chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, preparative paper chromatography and preparative paper electrophoresis, yielded ten uronic acid-containing products in addition to free galacturonic acid (GalA). These included 4-O-methylglucuronic acid, α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-glucuronic acid and several oligosaccharides containing GalA residues. The structures were unambiguously determined by a combination of 1- and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques. Five of the six homogalacturonan-derived oligosaccharides purified contained 3-O-acetyl-GalA residues; however, methyl-esterified GalA residues occurred adjacent to both 2-O-acetyl-GalA and 3-O-acetyl-GalA residues. An acetylated, rhamnogalacturonan-I-derived oligosaccharide that was purified also contained 3-O-acetyl-GalA residues. Taken together with published data, our findings indicate considerable diversity in the patterns of pectin esterification. The implications for the action of pectin esterases are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents and discusses the results of the studies of pollen and micro-mammal remains associated with the human burial in El Mirón Cave, dated in the Lower Magdalenian. The sedimentological integrity of the deposit has been confirmed through its comparison with the penecontemporaneous level in other parts of the cave. From the environmental point of view, this unit, like others of the same age in northern Spain, attests a very cold and arid climate. However, the pollen study reveals that it can be differentiated by the large quantity of Chenopodiaceae pollen (occasionally in the form of aggregates of grains), exclusively in the funerary context. In the discussion, various hypotheses are considered (funerary offering, food, to hygienize the grave or medicinal use) to interpret this over-representation. Although all the possibilities remain open, the most likely is thought to be the direct deposit of flowers at the time of the burial, either as a ritual element or for a more practical and hygienic purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of pollen trapping studies designed to quantify the pollen assemblages carried in the winds of the Loess Plateau in Luochuan and Hunyuan. The one-year-collection samples analysis results show that pollen assemblages can be more sensitive to the change of climate than the vegetation composition, because of the change of pollen production. The analysis results of pollen traps in different weather regimes indicate that the pollen influx coming from dust weather contribute more to the total pollen influx than that coming from non-dust weather. The wind speed is the most important influenced factor to pollen assemblages, then the mean temperature and the mean relative humidity, the wind direction also contributes some. Strong wind coming from dust direction can make the percent and influx of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae increase obviously with averagely higher than over 2.7 times in dust weather than in non-dust samples. The influences of wind speed and wind direction are not serious to some arboreal pollen such as Rosaceae, Quercus , Betula , Pinus and Ostryopsis , which are mainly influenced by temperature or the relative humidity such as Salix , Hippophae , Carpinus , Brassicaceae, Cupressaceae, Fabaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of few-layer graphene from graphite typically uses N, N methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) or dimethylformamide (DMF) due to the strong affinity of both solvents for graphite. However, NMP and DMF are known as carcinogens and a long-time exposure to these substances may subject users to potential risk of major health issue later. Therefore, a replacement with dispersing solvent that is not only harmless but also able to exfoliate graphite at an excellent concentration yield must be outlined for a sustainable mass-production of graphene. In this work, we have successfully exfoliated graphite to few-layer graphene with a recorded yield concentration of up to 0.75°mg/ml (2.5°h) just by using extracted red spinach/water mixture as an exfoliating medium. The prepared graphene was found to possess less structural defect (I D /I G : 0.5) and high C/O ratio (6.8) and can be used further as an electrical conductive ink for smart "Sticky Note" sensor. The fabricated device was able to detect strain and temperature with gauge factor and temperature coefficient resistance of 23.5 and −32.14 × 10-4°Ω/°;C, respectively. We believe that this study would be useful for the preparation of environmental-friendly graphene that is not only strain and thermally sensitive but also producible at low -cost. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steppe and grassland ecosystems constitute important biomes that are influenced by multiple factors such as climate, human activity, and fire. Yet how these factors have influenced the plant composition of these biomes through time continues to be understudied. This paper investigates how these mechanisms have transformed the steppe landscape recorded at the mire site of Shenkani, Armenia. This highland site, located in the South Caucasus, has a long human history of permanent settlements near the core site starting at 5500 cal. BP. A variety of biological and geochemical proxies, including pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, macro-charcoal, 14C age model, X-ray fluorescence, loss-of-ignition, magnetic susceptibility, and a quantitative climate reconstruction inferred from pollen, are utilized in this paper. We find that this area has remained a steppe with small stands of trees throughout the duration of the Holocene. Changes in steppe plant composition primarily occur between semi-desert steppes (Chenopodiaceae), grassland steppes (or Poaceae dominated meadow-steppes), and mixed steppes with forest patches. In this record, two phases of local grassland expansion occurred between 9500 and 7000 cal. BP and 2500–1000 cal. BP, which covaried with local fire events. These grassland steppes were sustained until tree encroachment led to a more mixed steppe landscape around 7000 cal. BP and again at 1000 cal. BP. Climate, primarily precipitation, is the main driver of this persistent steppe landscape and the plant compositional shifts within it. However, fire and human activities contributed to steppe maintenance. • A 10,240 year-old sequence from Shenkani, Armenia documents a persistent Holocene steppe. • Changes in steppe plant composition occur between semi-desert, grassland, and mixed steppes with forest patches. • Poaceae dominated grasslands covary with fires that limit tree and shrub encroachment. • The mid- to late Holocene transition is characterized by drops in Betula and declines in distant arboreal pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of various papers related to animal feeding that were presented during the symposium held on July 28, 2005 in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was organized by the American Dairy Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science, and the Canadian Society of Animal Science. One of the papers discussed is "Ruminal and Post Ruminal Crude Protein Digestion of Halophyte Forages (Kochia scoparia, Atriplex domorphostegia) Determined by Various Procedures," by A. Riasi, M. Stem, M. Danesh Mesgaran, and M. Ruiz Moreno. Ruminal, post-ruminal and total tract crude protein digestion of two low-quality forages originating from central Iranian deserts (Kochiascoparia, Atriplex domorphostegia) were evaluated using in situ, three-step and Daisy incubator procedures. These forages are halophytic plants typically grown on salty land that are a significant part of the local flora in central Iran. Another paper discussed is "Factors Affecting the Quality of Corn Silage Grown in Hot, Humid Areas 1: Effect of Delayed Sealing, Simulated Rainfall and Ensiling Temperature," by A. Adesogan and S. Kim. This study aimed to determine how simulated rainfall, delayed sealing and high ensiling temperatures affect the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage. Half of each of four, replicated, 6 x 1.5 m plots of a corn hybrid were harvested at 350 g DM 1kg. The remaining half was harvested after it was sprinkled with sufficient water to simulate 4 mm of rainfall.

Abstract: Studies of vegetation successions related to climate changes during previous interglacial periods provide important insights into the mechanisms of climate change during the current interglacial and enable predictions of future climate impacts on ecosystems. The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), which is particularly sensitive to climate warming, presents an excellent site for such studies. However, few detailed records exist of vegetation and climate variations during interglacial periods on the CLP. This study obtained a series high resolution pollen records from the Luochuan loess-paleosol section on the CLP, and the paper discusses the vegetation and climate histories during three previous interglacial periods (MIS 9, MIS 7 and MIS 5). The Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppe vegetation that covered this area between 342 ka and 312 ka changed to Humulus-Chenopodiaceae steppe between 312 ka and 302 ka, and then reverted to Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppe after 302 ka. From 250 ka to 237 ka, the vegetation type remained Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppe, and then changed to Artemisia-Humulus steppe between 237 ka and 227 ka. Between 227 ka and 195 ka, the vegetation returned to Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae steppe. During MIS 5, vegetation of the study area changed from Pinus-Rosaceae-Chenopodiaceae forest-steppe between 129 ka and 117 ka, to Artemisia-Humulus-Ranunculaceae steppe from 117 ka to 96 ka. After 96 ka, the vegetation types changed to Pinus-Betula-Chenopodiaceae forest-steppe. Comparing these pollen records with other climatic proxies from the CLP and the oxygen isotope records from the Pacific Ocean suggests that vegetation and climate change features around the study site were synchronous with East Asian monsoon variations near 65°N. The regional tectonic uplift probably provided only a subordinate influence on vegetation and climate variation on the CLP during MIS 5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a description of the river terrace at Tangjia Village in Lhasa, Tibet. Selected types of phytolith and pollen were used as proxies to study the paleoclimate in the study area. Ancient climate and vegetation changes since 10 ka BP were examined. The results demonstrated that between 10.2 and 8.9 ka BP, the dominating phytolith was the cold type and the dominating vegetation type was grassland-forest. This indicated that the climate changed from cool-humid to cool-dry and later turned back into a cool-humid climate. Between 8.9 and 8.1 ka BP, the main types of phytoliths were tooth, dumbbell, and polyhedral. This suggests that the vegetation consisted of forest-grassland and the period's climate had become warmer. Between 8.1 and 6.7 ka BP, the warm index of phytolith assembelage gradually increased, whereas the spore and pollen assembelage revealed that the vegetation was forest with hardwood. This suggested that the paleoclimate was warmest in this period. The herbaceous vegetation increased gradually, indicating that the climate had become colder since 7.5 ka BP. Between 6.7 and 4.6 ka BP, cold type phytolith such as tooth and cap were found. Simultaneously, the pollen assembelage indicated that the vegetation shifted from grassland to forest and then turned back into grassland. This implies that the climate fluctuated from cold-dry to cool-humid. Between 4.6 and 1.9 ka BP, the dominate type of phytolith was cold type and its warm index was in the range 0.04-0.28, suggesting a herbaceous vegetation cover and indicating that the climate was cold. The phytolith warm index from 1.9 ka BP revealed that the climate was continuously decreasing, and most of the pollen assembelage consisted of Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia. This conclusion is in agreement with the phytolith result that indicates that the climate was becoming colder and colder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents taxonomic and biological analysis of weeds found in maize grown according to the organic farming principles during the period 2011-2012 on the experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, at the Backi Petrovac locality. The presence of 19 species of weed plants, grouped in 18 genera and 13 families, was established. The weed flora was dominated by representatives from the Magnoliopsida class (dicots, broadleaf weeds), with 18 identified species, whereas Liliopsida class (monocots, narrow-leaved weeds) was represented by a single species. Among the identified weeds, the most abundant were Datura stramonium L., Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium hybridum L., Solanum nigrum L., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L. According to the classification by habitat, weed-ruderal plants predominate (73.7%), whereas in the biological spectrum, terophytes were most abundant, with the same percentage participation (73.7%). Most of the identified weeds are characterized by a long flowering period, allowing them, in the absence of control measures, to successfully complete the vegetative cycle and form seeds in the maize crop. Understanding the weed biological characteristics is the main prerequisite for successful implementation of integrated weed suppression and control methods in organic crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen analysis is one of the best and possible approaches for the quantitative reconstruction of paleobotany and paleoclimate, and discrimination of human activities. In this paper, we reveal the characteristics of pollen assemblages in different agricultural units and their spatial distribution of major pollen taxa in the Anyang area where the human influences are serious, so as to get more information about climate change and human activities from pollen records. The pollen assemblages of total 122 surface soil samples from different agricultural units (farm lands, vegetable plots, wastelands, cape-lands, woodlands, etc.) indicate that herbaceous pollen dominates the pollen assemblages with an average of 73%, mainly from Poaceae, Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Cruciferae; arboreal pollen percentages reach 18%, mainly from Pinus and Ulmus; shrub pollen and fern spores have very low percentages. In general, pollen assemblages are consistent with vegetation composition, though some differences also exist in different agricultural units. In farmlands and vegetable lands, Poaceae pollen has the highest percentages (averaging 27%) compared to other agricultural units with dominant corn or wheat pollen, while in wastelands and woodlands, arboreal and Artemisia pollen percentages have higher values (averaging 20% and 19% respectively). Cruciferae has the highest pollen percentages (70%) in rape-lands. Both pollen assemblages and PCoA can generally identify the vegetable plots, farmlands, woodlands, wastelands, and rape-lands. Pinus and Artemisia pollens mainly appear in the western part of Anyang, which is consistent with the parent plants; Poaceae pollen mainly exist in the eastern part with more farmlands; Chenopodiaceae pollen mainly appear in the urban areas and near major roads where human influences are stronger, Cruciferae pollen can mainly be found in the urban area and in the northwest part of Anyang where more vegetables are planted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Beta diversity (variation of the species composition of assemblages) may reflect two different phenomena, spatial species turnover and nestedness of assemblages, which result from two antithetic processes, namely species replacement and species loss, respectively. The aim of this paper is to provide a unified framework for the assessment of beta diversity, disentangling the contribution of spatial turnover and nestedness to beta-diversity patterns. Innovation I derive an additive partitioning of beta diversity that provides the two separate components of spatial turnover and nestedness underlying the total amount of beta diversity. I propose two families of measures of beta diversity for pairwise and multiple-site situations. Each family comprises one measure accounting for all aspects of beta diversity, which is additively decomposed into two measures accounting for the pure spatial turnover and nestedness components, respectively. Finally, I provide a case study using European longhorn beetles to exemplify the relevance of disentangling spatial turnover and nestedness patterns. Main conclusion Assigning the different beta-diversity patterns to their respective biological phenomena is essential for analysing the causality of the processes underlying biodiversity. Thus, the differentiation of the spatial turnover and nestedness components of beta diversity is crucial for our understanding of central biogeographic, ecological and conservation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amino acid composition and the physicochemical and functional properties of quinoa flour proteins (QFP) were evaluated during storage (at 20, 30 and 40 °C). Quinoa flour showed a protein content of 14.2 ± 0.1 g 100 g−1 and high levels of essential amino acids as lysine. SDS–PAGE of the QFP presented ten major band, and native-PAGE of the QFP showed similar banding; there was a little variation due to time-temperature. TCA-protein solubility variation (%) was small and the values of water activity were low, a non-significant endogenous hydrolysis was observed. Differential scanning calorimetry flour analysis allowed determining two endotherms, starch and protein. Important structural changes of protein soluble fractions were not detected by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy due to temperature and time of storage. It was found during storage time loss of protein solubility and water absorption. These changes could be to influence in the manufacture of quinoa flour based products. For avoid changes in these functional properties (solubility and water holding capacity), quinoa flour can be stored at ambient temperature (between 20 and 30 °C) and packed in double kraft paper bags (2 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of metal stress, plants can resort to a series of tolerance mechanisms. Therefore field studies should be undertaken in order to evaluate the real role of these mechanisms in stress coping. The aim of this paper was to clarify the biochemical processes behind mercury tolerance in Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen (Caryophyllales: Chenopodiaceae) collected in a mercury contaminated salt marsh. Different fractions of mercury were separated: buffer-soluble (mainly cytosolic) and insoluble mercury (mainly associated with membranes and cell walls). The amounts in each fraction of metal were compared and related to metal distribution within plant organs. Protein–mercury complexes were isolated and analysed for their thiol content in order to assess wether the tolerance of this salt marsh plant was associated with the induction of metal chelation by phytochelatins. Overall, the mercury tolerance strategies of the plant are likely to involve root cell wall immobilization as a major mechanism of metal resistance, rather than metal chelation in the cytosolic fraction. Nevertheless, phytochelatins were demonstrated to chelate mercury under environmental exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the pollen assemblages from 108 surface sediment samples from 4 lakes (the Lake Daihai, Lake Hongjiannao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao) in the monsoon fringe area of China. The herb pollen taxa Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae and Compositae are the major components of pollen assemblages of the 4 lakes and Pinus, Betula, Quercus, Ulmus, Populus, Ostryopsis and Elaeagnaceae are frequently presented, which reflect regional and local vegetation well. The mean similarity coefficients for samples from the Lake Daihai, Lake Hongjiannao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao are 0.66 ± 0.17, 0.71 ± 0.11, 0.73 ± 0.12 and 0.67 ± 0.12 respectively, so pollen assemblages are relatively consistent in each lake, which shows that focusing and mixing effects have occurred before and after pollen deposition. However, pollen assemblages do differ between sampling sites in each lake. The largest difference is seen in the Lake Daihai, followed by the Lake Duikounao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Hongjiannao (The mean Euclidean distance is 20.09±11.11, 11.22±3.64, 10.67±4.03 and 8.44± 4.51 respectively). These differences are possibly caused by the differences of focusing and mixing effects, pollen source areas, drainage areas and regional vegetation compositions. The Lake Daihai and Lake Hong jiannao have water deeper than 5 m and strong re-suspension, focusing and mixing effects occur in the lakeshore and shallow water areas, where pollen concentrations are lower than in deeper lake areas. In the Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao, with depths less than 5 m, re-suspension and mixing effects are obvious across the whole lake area, so pollen assemblages and pollen concentrations are more consistent among sampling sites in each lake. Comparison between the lake samples and samples from the inflowing river reveals that wind is primary pollen transportation force in the Lake Hongjiannao, where the consistency of pollen assemblage is conspicuous, while there is greater variation in lakes where pollen input is dominated by waterborne sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atriplex tatarica is a heterocarpic annual native to a wide area of Middle and western Central Asia, Asia Minor, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. It is an early successional species of disturbed habitats, in Central Europe mostly occupying road margins and waste places. This paper deals with taxonomic status, morphology, distribution, ecology, and population biology of this species with special emphasis on its population genetics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Identify ancient flood events, which may be the reason for decline of the culture. • Pollen and heavy metals can be used to reflect the strength of human activities. • Pollen and heavy metals revealed the process of culture from prosperity to decline. • This paper defined the chronology from prosperity to decline of Shijiahe culture. • Climate change has been revealed by pollen and heavy metals since 4800 cal. yr BP. The Shijiahe Culture (ca. 4800–4100 yr BP), which originated in the middle Yangtze Basin, was a milestone of prehistoric Chinese civilization. To reveal the interactions between climatic changes and human activities during this time interval, the geochronology and multiple proxies (pollen and heavy metals) of samples from a 220-cm-deep outer wall at the Sanfangwan Site (a typical site of the Shijiahe Culture) were analyzed. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the age range of the Sanfangwan Site is ca. 4800 to 4100 cal. yr BP. From ca. 4800 to 4600 cal. yr BP (the early Shijiahe Culture), pollen assemblages were dominated by Gramineae and an anthropogenic plant community (e.g. Ranunculaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Labiatae, and Cruciferae), indicating an expansion in rice agriculture during this interval. High metal concentrations in the same interval indicate a large flux of metals from smelting and farming activities. Between ca. 4600 and 4100 cal. yr BP (the middle and late Shijiahe Culture), decreases in Gramineae and anthropogenic pollen mirrored the recession of farming. Concurrent decreases in heavy metals may be attributable to a decline in the smelting industry. Three episodes of high pollen concentrations and visible increases in hygrophyte pollen, Pinus pollen, and fern spores at 4600–4550, 4450–4350, and 4200–4100 cal. yr BP probably indicate the occurrence of several flooding events during the middle and late Shijiahe Culture, resulting in the migration of local inhabitants. This study highlights the driving effect of flood events on the collapse of the Shijiahe Culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of meteorological autocorrelation variables and pollen concentrations from previous days, coupled with classification of meteorological data according to multivariate analysis techniques, is shown to improve the predictive power of multiple regression models for daily pollen forecasts. This paper presents an investigation of the meteorological and autocorrelation variables which influence pollen counts in Cartagena, from 1995 to 1999, as a basis for the development of predictive models. The analysis of total pollen concentrations, and especially Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, was determined. Initially, forecasting models for total pollen counts were developed, using data from 1995 to 1998, and autocorrelation and meteorological variables. Secondly, predictive models were developed for different meteorological situations, which improved the results by decreasing the number of predictive parameters. Finally, data from 1999 were used to validate the predictive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The importance of density dependence, aggregation and background density of seeds on intensity of seed predation in cereal fields were examined in central Netherlands. Four sequential 1-week trials were conducted from 9 July to 8 August 2001 and lamb''s quarters (Chenopodium album) was used as the test species. C. album was offered to potential predators by lightly adhering seeds to small strips of sand paper. The interaction between spatial scale and density dependence was tested at a large (varying seed density/block) and a small (varying seed density/card) spatial scale. Three distributions (random, even, aggregated) and two background (seed cards presented in plots with none versus many C. album seeds added to the soil) treatments were tested, all experiments being conducted simultaneously but in different fields. There was no large spatial scale density effect but in Week 4, a higher proportion of seeds was removed from the low-density seed cards. In the distribution study, significantly more seeds were removed from the aggregated distribution treatment in Week 2. In the background density study, predation was highest in Week 2 of the high background density treatment. In all experiments, there was considerable temporal and spatial variation in the intensity of seed predation. The importance of seed in the diet of seed predators declined with time, whereas the presence or the absence of density dependent predation was likely to be a function of the spatial scale at which densities were enhanced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The focus of this paper is on the reconstruction of the mid-Holocene climatic changes based on the pollen records contained in a 6.2 m thick section in the southern part of the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. To understand the modern analogues of the mid-Holocene changes, modern pollen spectra across different vegetation zones from the Qilian Mountains to the lowland Tengger Desert were studied first. Four pollen combinations were identified, corresponding to four different modern ecological environments: (1) a Picea-Artemisia combination in a spruce forest and its vicinity; (2) an Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae-Gramineae-Salix combination in a mixture belt of montane grassland and poplar woodland; (3) a Chenopodiaceae-Artemisia-Nitraria combination in a desert steppe belt; and (4) an Elaeagnus-Artemisia-Chenopodiaceae-Nitraria combination in a desert riparian forest. Our study also shows that a relatively low percentage of Picea pollen (30–10%) seems to be associated with water transportation (alluvial deposits) and a very low percentage of Picea pollen (10–5%) appears to be related to long-distance air transportation. With references to the modern relationships between pollen assemblages and associated bioclimates, the pollen sequence covering the period between 8500 and 3000 cal. BP was used to infer the climatic change history. The results show that a warmer and drier climate dominated between 8500 and 7950 cal. BP. Subsequent decreases in Artemisia and warm desert forbs/shrubs taxa and contemporaneous fluctuating increases in montane coniferous and aquatics elements from 7950 to 7400 cal. BP reflect a fluctuating increase in humidity and/or a fluctuating decrease in temperature. The following period from 7400 to 5650 cal. BP was generally warm with the Holocene Climate Optimum occurring between 7400 and 6500 cal. BP. A remarkably cool spell followed between 6500 and 6300 cal. BP that was then succeeded by a warmer and more humid period between 6300 and 5650 cal. BP. The period between 5650 and 4450 cal. BP was characterized by drastic oscillations in climatic conditions with three humid and probably cold spells intervened by three relatively dry and warm spells. The period between 4450 and 3500 cal. BP was cold and humid, followed by a wet spell as indicated by a very high percentage of Typha pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved studies of past vegetation change are required to better understand the variation of alpine ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in response to future climate change. Spatial and temporal variations of past vegetation can be traced by fossil pollen data mapping. In this paper, we synthesized 57 continuous pollen records on the QTP covering the past 15 kyr to depict large-scale vegetation change and its response to climate variations. In order to minimize potential chronological biases, age-depth models were revised using a state-of-the-art and consistent method for all the records. The spatial and temporal variation of major pollen taxa were examined based on interpolated pollen maps at 1000-year intervals. The arboreal pollen (AP, mainly of Pinus , Betula and Abies / Picea) content expressed significant climate signals over a broad spatial and temporal gradient. During the late glacial period, high proportions of AP widely occurred in regions that are presently unforested owing to the sparse local vegetation coverage. For the Holocene period, AP showed relatively high contributions in records from the southeastern margin of the QTP, with a decreasing gradient in abundance towards the northwest. The transportation of AP to unforested regions corresponds closely to the intensity of monsoon wind, which can be used to track the Holocene evolution of the summer monsoon. The dominant shrub and herbaceous taxa (including Artemisia , Chenopodiaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Ephedra) generally represent developments of local vegetation responding to climate variations. In addition, the persistent increase in Poaceae pollen during the mid to late Holocene correlates possibly to regional human activities. The inferred spatial and temporal patterns of major pollen types on the QTP provide significant knowledge about long-term vegetation change and its potential response to climate variations. • An initial plateau-scale examination of fossil pollen records on the Tibetan Plateau. • Spatial and temporal patterns of major pollen types were mapped at 1000-year interval. • Arboreal pollen from unforested plateau surface represents intensity of summer monsoon. • Herbaceous pollen reveals local vegetation development in response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the distribution patterns of pollen and spore assemblages in modern surface sediments recovered from the bottom of the San Jorge Gulf (SJG) and from offshore sites, in relation to the location of different phytogeographic provinces surrounding the SJG, including the distant forest from southwestern Patagonia. Results reveal that pollen spectra are dominated by Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae subf. Asteroideae, Colliguaja integerrima and Ephedra sp.; which represents the vegetation adjacent to the SJG. Overall, the pollen distribution in surface sediments reflects the location of the different phytogeographic provinces and will be used as modern-analogues to document vegetation history around the SJG. Pollen assemblages also reveal the latitudinal variation of vegetation taxa in the Patagonian steppe, which is characterized by a slight increase in herbaceous pollen and a decrease in high shrubs (e.g. Colliguaja integerrima) towards the southern-central part of the SJG. Furthermore, we identified two pollen taxa from the southwestern Patagonian forest, Nothofagus and Podocarpus that could be used as indicators of past dynamics and variations of the Southern Westerly Wind Belt (SWWB) in the SJG during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. High pollen concentrations are recorded at the central part of the SJG (480–8080 grains/g), while low concentrations are measured in the northern and southern parts of the Gulf, as well as at offshore sites (26–1806 grains/g). The pollen distribution in the study area is most likely governed by the SWWB in combination with the marine sediment composition and surface currents flowing through the SJG. • Pollen and spore surface distribution patterns from the San Jorge Gulf. • Pollen assemblages echo different phytogeographic provinces surrounding the gulf. • Nothofagus and Podocarpus reflect long distance transport by westerly winds. • Pollen distribution results from transport by westerly winds and surface currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, natural extraction (NE) from spinach leaves is used as modifier for ZnO based electron transporting layer (ETL) in polymer solar cells (PSCs). And NE modifying decreased the work function of ZnO film, smoothed the surface of ZnO and enhanced the charge carrier extraction, resulting in much improved devices performance. The device founded on ZnO/NE ETL with PCE-10:PC 71 BM as the photoactive layer attained PCE (power conversion efficiency) = 9.41% (18.51% enhancement compared with that for device based on pure ZnO ETL), suggesting that NE is an interesting candidate as efficient modifier for ETL in PSCs. Image 1 • Natural extraction (NE) from spinach leaves is used as Zno modifier in polymer solar cells. • The ZnO/NE co-interlayer shows increased electron mobility compared to the pure ZnO interlayer. • The PCE of devices based on ZnO/NE interlayer showing 18.51% enhancement compared to that for device based on pure ZnO interlayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]