Shoot N concentration in plants decreases as they get bigger, due to the fact that N accumulates less rapidly than dry matter in plants during the plant growth process, leading to an allometric relationship between shoot N content (N(sh)) and shoot mass (W(sh)): N(sh)=a(W(sh))b. The results obtained on lucerne plants growing either under controlled low density conditions or in dense stands unde...

Transplantation of eelgrass Zostera marina has become a promising restoration tool since natural recolonisation during the last century failed after massive mortality, due to a combination of a wasting disease outbreak and a sequence of human impacts. We studied the interactive effects of planting density and hydrodynamic exposure on the survival of transplants of an annual population of intert...

In open places, plants are exposed to higher fluence rates of photosynthetically active radiation and to higher red to far-red ratios than under the shade of neighbor plants. High fluence rates are known to increase stomata density. Here we show that high, compared to low, red to far-red ratios also increase stomata density in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). High red to far-red ratios incre...

Diaprepes abbreviatus L. is a highly polyphagous root weevil that causes damage to several fruit crops, ornamental plants, and other naturally occurring plants in Florida. Haeckeliania sperata Pinto is a gregarious endoparasitoid that attacks D. abbreviatus eggs. We hypothesized that the reproductive success of H. sperata is affected by the host plant of D. abbreviatus. Six host plants with var...

Canopy photosynthesis models have predicted an optimal leaf area index (LAI; leaf area per unit surface area) and leaf nitrogen distribution at which whole-plant carbon gain per unit N is maximized. In this study we experimentally tested these models, using transgenic P(SAG12)-IPT tobacco (SAG; Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants with delayed leaf senescence and therefore a greater LAI and more unifor...

Invasive plants are sometimes considered to be more competitive than their native conspecifics, according to the prediction that the invader reallocates resources from defense to growth due to liberation of natural enemies ['Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability' (EICA) hypothesis]. However, the differences in competitive ability may depend on the identity of competitors. In order to test ...

The aim of this study was to examine the symbiosis relationshipbetween some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Salsola laricina (Chenopodiaceae), a non-mycotrophic plant speciesand its effect on improving plant growth parameters. Initially, the development of AMF density was monitored through two parameters including evaluation of mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots and density measurem...

Taro (ColocasiaesculentaL. Schott) is a perennial root crop that belongs to Araceace family. It is widely cultivated as a staple food in Africa, Asia and pacific Islands. Despite its importance, there is limited information on many aspects of the crop. In order to obtain data that can support improved and sustainable taro production, a field trial was conducted to study the effects of ...