The effect of litter on seedling establishment can influence species richness in plant communities. The effect of litter depends on amount, and also on litter type, but relatively little is known about the species-specific effects of litter. We conducted a factorial greenhouse experiment to examine the effect of litter type, using two woody species that commonly co-occur in boreonemoral forest-...

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of hydropriming on seed germination and seedling growth of five different flower seed species (Antirrhinum, Dahlia, Impatiens, Salvia and Zinnia). Hydropriming (20oC, 24 h), surface dried or dried back afterwards, was found to increase germination percentage, seedling emergence and fresh and dry weight. In all species, the maximum advantage i...

This research presents evidence showing that: (1) lower arthropod herbivory correlates with seedling survival, and (2) spider presence correlates with lower arthropod herbivory, seedling growth, and seedling survival of the tropical rainforest tree species Dipteryx oleifera in eastern Nicaragua. The study was conducted from January 2005 to January 2006 in a 6.37 ha permanent plot established in...

Seed production, seed dispersal and recruitment are critical processes in population dynamics, because they are almost never completely successful. We recorded the recruitment dynamics for the population of Dipteryx oleifera in a tropical rainforest in eastern Nicaragua (12 degrees 05' N., 83 degrees 55' W.) from March 2002 to August 2006. Seeds and seedlings had highly clumped distributions, w...

abstract the pythium spp. are known as the principle agents of seedling blight, damping-off and root rot of cucurbits. this study was performed for determination of pythium species involved in this diseases as well study their pathogenecity on different cucurbits. the numerous samples were taken at cultivation seasons 2006- 2007 from the fields of cucumber, tomato, egg plant, muskmelon, cucurbi...

In a test of early genetic evaluation of the growth potential of 14 families of open-pollinated Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga rnenziesii [Mirb.] Franco), measures of growth and phenology of seedlings grown in a coldframe were correlated with height of saplings in evaluation plantations at 9, 12, and 15 years. Fifteen-year height was most strongly correlated with measures of seedling budset (r = -0.5...

BACKGROUND Recent reports have established that eye changes occur in patients treated with vigabatrin. AIM To identify the eye changes associated with vigabatrin, based on a prospective study of children treated for seizures. METHODS Twenty nine children on vigabatrin (mainly as add on therapy) were followed up for 6.5 years. Ophthalmic examination was performed before starting treatment an...

Reduced seedling growth is a consequence of seed deterioration. The heterotrophic seedling growth can be considered as the product of three components: (1) initial seed weight, (2) the fraction of seed reserves which are mobilized, and (3) the conversion efficiency of mobilized seed reserves to seedling tissues. It is not clear which of these component (s) is affected by seed deterioration. To ...