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Knowledge of phosphorus (P) behavior in long-term fertilized soils is essential for better fertilization practices and protection of environmental quality. Therefore, we evaluated the various forms of P contents, fraction, and distribution of soil inorganic P in a greenhouse under continuous fertilization since 1988. Continuous fertilization increased total and available P contents at the 0- to 20-cm soil layer. Applied organic manure and chemical fertilizer increased the contents of total, available, organic, and inorganic P (Pi) significantly. In the soil fertilized with organic manure, the greatest fraction of the Pi was occluded P (O-P), whereas in the soil not fertilized with organic manure, the greatest fraction of the Pi was calcium-bound P (Ca-P). All fractions of the Pi in both soils treated with organic manure and inorganic manure decreased gradually with soil depth. Thus, the long-term fertilization of organic fertilizer increases the accumulation of various soil P forms and causes deeper Pi translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out in a naturally ventilated greenhouse to study the relationship between banana ( Musa sp.) plant transpiration (Tr) measured with load cells, reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) calculated with five widely used models (i.e. the Priestley-Taylor, FAO radiation, Hargreaves, FAO Penman and FAO Penman-Monteith models) and pan evaporation (Epan) measured with a standard Chinese 20 cm pan. Microclimatic conditions were measured inside the greenhouse. Results show that vapor pressure deficit and air temperature had good linear correlations to banana Tr with R2 of 0.67 and 0.62, respectively. Among the five models tested, banana Tr and ETo calculated with the FAO-Penman model yielded the highest determination coefficient (R2 = 0.67), followed by the FAO-PM model (R2=0.63), the FAO radiation model (R2=0.52), the Hargreaves model (R2=0.49) and the Priestley-Taylor model (R2=0.47). Banana transpiration Tr vs. Epan yielded an R2 of 0.83, which is higher than the five models tested. In conclusion, the 20 cm pan can be useful for estimating banana Tr in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banana ( Musa sp.) plant is one of the largest monocotyledoneous terrestrial herbaceous plants in the world. The measurement of transpiration (Tr) for a whole banana plant is always difficult to perform due to its size. However, the sap flow (SF) of the plant has been successfully measured by using the thermal dissipation probe (TDP) or ‘Granier’ method in the corm of the banana plant (Lu et al. J Exp Bot 53:1771–1779, ). The present study aimed to validate their method using a sizable number of banana plants in a greenhouse in Israel. The SF data was compared to the gravimetric measurement of transpiration. The lag time of SF behind Tr was also analyzed. Results showed that the daily SF agreed with the daily Tr when the effective radius for sap flow in the corm was taken as 0.63 R, where R is the radius of the corm. The SF lagged 45 min behind the Tr from 0630 to 1040 hours. Whereas the Tr was not statistically ( P>0.05) different from the SF between 1330 and 1700 hours. The reduction in water capacity of banana plant due to SF lag was about 10.5% of the daily Tr, and it recovered gradually in the afternoon. Using more plants can reduce the measurement error of the TDP method. The measured daily SF can be considered as an accurate estimation of the daily Tr for banana plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium chilense, a deciduous perennial shrub, is one of the endangered native species of Patagonia due to sheep overgrazing. Chances of recolonization by seeds are scarce due to the limited density of propagules in the soil and very specific requirements for germination. The objective was to develop an in vitro propagation protocol that would help to perform reestablishment of this species in degraded areas of the Patagonian steppe. Seeds came from two provenances with different somatic number due to differences in ploidy level. Defoliated microcuttings were planted in test tubes with different growing media and taken to a growth chamber. Rooting percentage did not differ between origins, but higher values were encountered for medium without hormones. Subcultures increased significantly rooting percentage and reduced time to rooting. The leaves from micropropagated plants were thinner, did not exhibit hairs, and had poorly developed palisade parenchyma and less epicuticular waxes. In vitro leaves had lower stomatal density and their stomata were less functional when compared to acclimated leaves. A repopulation program of Lycium chilense based on microcutting culture, specially using subcultures, is feasible.