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[An analysis of cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) pollen grain development in cultural plantings].

A cytological study of the Cedrus libani mature pollen from 3 culture areas (Italy, France, USSR) has shown that 69-71% of pollen grains have two-celled protallium and antheridial cell. About 5% of pollen grains are characterized by accelerated of delayed development, otherwise apparently normal. The pollen sterility (up to 30% of grains) is due to the abortive spore development. Anomalous cenocyte and multinuclear pollen grains were found thus suggesting that multicellular haploid structures capable of further growth and development may arise in the course of natural anther development.

France↗

Effects of sarcoptic mange and its control with oil of Cedrus deodara, Pongamia glabra, Jatropha curcas and benzyl benzoate, both with and without ascorbic acid on growing sheep: epidemiology; assessment of clinical, haematological, cell-mediated humoral immune responses and pathology.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of commonly used acaricidal drugs in India and also to assess the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) as adjunct therapy in 72 growing sheep with sarcoptic mange, aged 5-6 months and weighing 20.4-31.7 kg. Eight replicates of nine animals were formed based on sex, and day 0 body weight. Another set of 12 healthy sheep (5-6 months old) constituted the healthy control group. Drugs were applied locally on the affected parts daily and recovery changes in skin lesions were observed at the time of every application. L-Ascorbic acid was administered intramuscularly. Skin scrapings were collected daily from each group and examined for the presence of mites. Blood samples from each group were collected and analysed for total erythrocytes, leucocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin and lymphocytes on 0, 14th and 28th day post-treatment (PT). Cell-mediated (CMI) and humoral immune (HI) responses were assessed on 0 and 28 days PT. Within groups treated with the drug alone, recovery in oil of Jatropha curcas group was faster and lesions were free from mites after the eighth application. For each drug, the recovery was faster with AA as an adjunct therapy when compared with the group treated with the drug alone. Within all groups, recovery in oil of J. curcas plus ascorbic acid (OJC-AA) group was fastest and the lesions were mite-free after three applications. The overall mean values were higher for all haematological parameters in OJC-AA group. Recovery with respect to suppressed CMI and HI responses during infection was also faster in this group. Gross and microscopic pathological studies revealed a marked adverse effect of infection on skin, kidney, spleen and liver. The OJC-AA group indicated faster recovery. It is concluded from this study that oil of J. curcas was found more efficacious in controlling sarcoptic mange in sheep and AA might be beneficial as adjunct in case of sarcoptic mange to get quick recovery with lesser applications of main therapy. However, the pharmacology of AA with reference to health of skin needs to be investigated.

Animals↗

Effects of sarcoptic mange and its control with oil of Cedrus deodara, Pongamia glabra, Jatropha curcas and benzyl benzoate, both with and without ascorbic acid on growing sheep: assessment of weight gain, liver function, nutrient digestibility, wool production and meat quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of commonly used acaricidal drugs in India and also to assess the effect of ascorbic acid as adjunct therapy in 72 growing sheep with sarcoptic mange, aged 5-6 months and weighing 20.4-31.7 kg. Eight replicates of nine animals were formed based on sex, and day 0 body weight. Drugs were applied locally on the affected parts daily and recovery changes in skin lesions were observed at the time of every application. L-ascorbic acid was administered intramuscularly. Skin scrapings were collected daily from each group and examined for the presence of mites. Body weights were measured every 10th day from day 0 to 60. Nutrient digestiblity was evaluated by studying digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract, total carbohydrates and nutrient balance (nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus) for a 30-day period. The liver function was evaluated by bromosulphophthalein (BSP) dye retention time. The animals were shorn on day 60 post-treatment (PT). Meat quality assesment was carried out by killing sheep at 60 days PT and estimating pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), tenderness, muscle colour, rib eye area and fat thickness. The lambs treated with oil of Jatropha curcas ascorbic acid had significantly (P < 0.05) greater mean daily body weight gains (63.29 g) than the infected untreated control (41.10 g). This was also higher than the mean daily weight gain in other treated groups. Infected untreated sheep showed significantly (P < 0.01) reduced digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and total carbohydrate, but no significant differences for nitrogen-free extract. Treated sheep had significantly higher positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances compared with infested untreated sheep. Oil of J. curcas plus ascorbic acid (OJC-AA) treated group was better over all other treated groups with respect to nutrient digestibility. The BSP test revealed significant (P < 0.05) increase in BSP retention time in sheep with sarcoptic mange. Post -treatment, the BSP retention time decreased in all treated groups and the decrease was maximum in OJC-AA treated group. The carcasses of sheep treated with OJC-AA had significantly (P < 0.01) higher water holding capacity, rib eye area and back fat thickness than the untreated infected control group. The muscle pH and tenderness values were significantly lower in OJC-AA treated group post-slaughter than infested untreated control group. Muscle colour of OJC-AA treated group was maximum bright red. The lambs treated with OJC-AA had significantly (P < 0.05) greater clean fleece weight and fleece yield than the untreated infected group. It is concluded that OJC was the better therapy for sarcoptic mange of sheep and ascorbic acid as adjunct therapy is advisable. OJC-AA therapy may be better from the point of view of improving two most important production parameters in sheep, that is, wool yield and meat production.

Animals↗

Mast cell stabilizing and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. wood oil.

Volatile oil of C. deodara, administered orally at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, significantly inhibited the pedal edema induced by compound 48/80 in rats. The oil significantly inhibited compound 48/80 induced degranulation of isolated rat peritoneal mast cells at concentrations ranging from 25-200 micrograms/ml. C. deodara wood oil also significantly inhibited the enzyme lipoxygenase at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml. Thus, the anti-inflammatory activity of C. deodara wood oil could be attributed to its mast cell stabilizing activity and the inhibition of leukotriene synthesis.

Animals↗

Quantifying carbon budgets of conifer Mediterranean forest ecosystems, Turkey.

Aboveground biomass, aboveground litterfall, and leaf litter decomposition of five indigenous tree stands (pure stands of Pinus brutia, Pinus nigra, Cedrus libani, Juniperus excelsa, and a mixed stand of Abies cilicica, P. nigra, and C. libani) were measured in an eastern Mediterranean evergreen needleleaf forest of Turkey. Measurements were converted to regional scale estimates of carbon (C) stocks and fluxes of forest ecosystems, based on general non-site-specific allometric relationships. Mean C stock of the conifer forests was estimated as 97.8 +/- 79 Mg C ha(-1) consisting of 83.0 +/- 67 Mg C ha(-1) in the aboveground and 14.8 +/- 12 Mg C ha(-1) in the belowground biomass. The forest stands had mean soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) stocks of 172.0 +/- 25.7 Mg C ha(-1) and 9.2 +/- 1.2 Mg N ha(-1), respectively. Mean total monthly litterfall was 376.2 +/- 191.3 kg C ha(-1), ranging from 641 +/- 385 kg C ha(-1) for Pinus brutia to 286 +/- 82 kg C ha(-1) for Cedrus libani. Decomposition rate constants (k) for pine needles were 0.0016 for Cedrus libani, 0.0009 for Pinus nigra, 0.0006 for the mixed stand, and 0.0005 day(-1) for Pinus brutia and Juniperus excelsa. Estimation of components of the C budgets revealed that the forest ecosystems were net C sinks, with a mean sequestration rate of 2.0 +/- 1.1 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) ranging from 3.2 +/- 2 Mg C ha(-1) for Pinus brutia to 1.6 +/- 0.6 Mg C ha(-1) for Cedrus libani. Mean net ecosystem productivity (NEP) resulted in sequestration of 98.4 +/- 54.1 Gg CO2 yr(-1) from the atmosphere when extrapolated for the entire study area of 134.2 km2 (Gg = 10(9) g). The quantitative C data from the study revealed the significance of the conifer Mediterranean forests as C sinks.

Biomass↗

Drought effects on hydraulic conductivity and xylem vulnerability to embolism in diverse species and provenances of Mediterranean cedars.

We studied hydraulic traits of young plants of the Mediterranean cedar species Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) G. Manetti ex Carrière (Luberon, France), C. brevifolia (Hook. f.) Henry (Cyprus), C. libani A. Rich (Hadeth El Jebbe, Lebanon) and C. libani (Armut Alani, Turkey). With an optimum water supply, no major differences were observed among species or provenances in either stem hydraulic conductivity (Ks) or leaf specific conductivity (Kl) measured on the main shoot. A moderate soil drought applied for 10 weeks induced marked acclimation through a reduction in Ks, particularly in the Lebanese provenance of C. libani, and a decrease in tracheid lumen size in all species. Cedrus atlantica, which had the smallest tracheids, was the species most vulnerable to embolism: a 50% loss in hydraulic conductivity (PsiPLC50) occurred at a water potential of -4.4 MPa in the well-watered treatment, and at -6.0 MPa in the moderate drought treatment. In the other species, PsiPLC50 was unaffected by moderate soil drought, and only declined sharply at water potentials between -6.4 and -7.5 MPa in both irrigation treatments. During severe drought, Ks of twigs and stomatal conductance (g(s)) were measured simultaneously as leaf water potential declined. For all species, lower vulnerability to embolism based on loss of Ks was recorded on current-year twigs. The threshold for stomatal closure (10% of maximum g(s)) was reached at a predawn water potential (Psi(pd)) of -2.5 MPa in C. atlantica (Luberon) and at -3.1 MPa in C. libani (Lebanon), whereas the other provenance and species had intermediate Psi(pd) values. Cedrus brevifolia, with a Psi(pd) (-3.0 MPa) close to that of C. libani (Lebanon), had the highest stomatal conductance of the study species. The importance of a margin of safety between water potential causing stomatal closure and that causing xylem embolism induction is discussed.

Cedrus↗

Clinico-immunologic evaluation of allergy to Himalayan tree pollen in atopic subjects in India--a new record.

Exposure to local pollen allergens has a direct bearing on the prevalence of allergic symptoms among the inhabiting atopic population. The populations in the Himalayas and around it are exposed to a variety of pollen grains from trees growing in the region, but the pollen-population interaction has not been clinically investigated. Himalayan tree pollen from five different taxa, i.e. Alnus nitida (AN), Betula utilis (BU), Cedrus deodara (CD), Mallotus phillipensis (MP) and Quercus incana (QI) were evaluated for their allergenicity in the Indian population by in vivo (skin prick test) and in vitro (ELISA) clinico-immunological methods. The presence of specific IgE against these tree pollen in the sera of skin test positive patients was taken as evidence for sensitization to these pollen. The average skin positivity in atopic populations recorded at different allergy centers in India varied from 2.2% against AN, to 4.7% against MP pollen. Significantly raised specific IgE against these pollen were observed in the sera of hypersensitive patients. The sensitization pattern to Himalayan tree pollen in these atopic populations varied. It was concluded that skin prick test positivity and raised IgE antibodies specific to AN, BU, CD, MP and QI established Himalayan tree pollen as important sensitizers in the atopic populations of India. A high incidence of skin sensitivity was observed to pollen antigens of Cedrus deodara, Mallotus phillipensis and Quercus incana in patients of Chandigarh residing in the hills and foothills of the Himalayas while Alnus nitida, Betula utilis and Cedrus deodara were important sensitizers in Delhi patients. The skin sensitization pattern against these pollen was in accordance with the level of exposure to these pollen of the subjects residing in that part of the country.

Adolescent↗

In vitro storage of cedar shoot cultures under minimal growth conditions.

We developed procedures for slow-growth storage of Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus libani microcuttings of juvenile and adult origin, noting factors favouring the extension of subculture intervals. Microcuttings could be stored effectively up to 6 months at 4 degrees C and reduced light intensity, provided that they were grown on a diluted modified MS medium. The addition of 6% mannitol to the storage media affected negatively survival and multiplication capacity of the cultures. The slow-growth storage conditions used in our experiments did not induce remarkable effects on both RAPD variability and average DNA methylation in the species.

Cedrus↗

Higher plants as bioindicators of sulphur dioxide emissions in urban environments.

The evaluation of certain vascular plants that grow in the city of Madrid as biomonitors of SO(2) air pollution in urban environments has been carried out. Total concentration of sulphur in leaves of the chosen higher plants as well as other parameters in close relation to this contaminant (visible injury symptoms, chlorophyll a- and b-content and peroxidase activity) have been determined in order to study the spatial distribution and temporal changes in SO(2) deposition. Results obtained show that coniferous species such as Pinus pinea, were more sensitive to SO(2) atmospheric concentration than leafy species as Quercux ilex subspecies ballota and, in the same way, bush species, such as Pyracantha coccinea and Nerium oleander, were more sensitive than wooded species, such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus pinea, respectively. There is a higher accumulation of sulphur in vegetable species located near highways and dense traffic incidence roads and near areas with high density of population. The minimum values for accumulation of SO(2) were registered in winter and spring seasons (from January to April) due to the vegetative stop; while maximum values are obtained during the summer season (from June to September), due to the stoma opening. The highest increments in sulphur concentration, calculated as the difference between two consecutive months, are obtained in May and June for all considered species except for Cedrus deodara and Pyracantha coccinea, both species have few seasonal changes during the whole year. Some species are more sensitive to natural washing than others, showing a decrease in sulphur concentration after rainfall periods.

Air Pollutants↗

Taxonomy of gymnospermae: multivariate analyses of leaf fatty acid composition.

The fatty acid composition of photosynthetic tissues from 137 species of gymnosperms belonging to 14 families was determined by gas chromatography. Statistical analysis clearly discriminated four groups. Ginkgoaceae, Cycadaceae, Stangeriaceae, Zamiaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Podocarpaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Taxaceae, Ephedraceae and Welwitschiaceae are in the first group, while Cupressaceae and Araucariaceae are mainly in the second one. The third and the fourth groups composed of Pinaceae species are characterized by the genera Larix, and Abies and Cedrus, respectively. Principal component and discriminant analyses and divisive hierarchical clustering analysis of the 43 Pinaceae species were also performed. A clear-cut separation of the genera Abies, Larix, and Cedrus from the other Pinaceae was evidenced. In addition, a mass analysis of the two main chloroplastic lipids from 14 gymnosperms was performed. The results point to a great originality in gymnosperms since in several species and contrary to the angiosperms, the amount of digalactosyldiacylglycerol exceeds that of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol.

Abies↗

Systematics of Juniperus section Juniperus based on leaf essential oils and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs).

The composition of the leaf essential oils of all the species of Juniperus in sect. Juniperus (=sect. Oxycedrus) are reported and compared (J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. c. var. oblonga, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. o. subsp. badia, J. o. subsp. macrocarpa, J. o. subsp. transtagana, J. rigida, J. r. subsp. conferta, J. sibirica, J. taxifolia and J. t. var. lutchuensis). In addition, DNA fingerprinting by RAPDs was utilized. Based on these data, several taxa remained at the same taxonomic level: J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. rigida, J. r. var. conferta, and J. taxifolia. However, several taxa exhibited considerable differentiation that warranted their recognition at the specific level: J. oblonga M.-Bieb. (=J. communis var. oblonga), J. badia H. Gay (=J. oxycedrus subsp. badia), J. macrocarpa Sibth. and Sm. (=J. oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa), J. navicularis Gand. (=J. oxycedrus subsp. transtagana), J. sibirica Brugsd. (=J. communis var. saxatilis in part), and J. lutchuensis Koidz. (= J. taxifolia var. lutchuensis).

Journal Article↗

Molluscicidal activity of Lawsonia inermis and its binary and tertiary combinations with other plant derived molluscicides.

Molluscicidal activity of leaf, bark and seed of Lawsonia inermis against Lymnaea acuminata and Indoplanorbis exustus was studied. Highest toxicity was observed in the seed of Lawsonia inermis. Toxicity of binary (1:1) and tertiary (1:1:1) combinations of the essential oil of cedar (Cedrus deodara Roxh) and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), powder from bulb of garlic (Allium sativum Linn), and oleoresin extracted from rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) with Lawsonia inermis and Embelia ribes fruit powder were studied against L. acuminata and I. exustus. L. inermis seed powder in combination with Cedrus deodara oil and Azadirachta indica oil was more toxic than their individual components and other combinations.

Animals↗

Aeroallergens in clinical practice of allergy in India. An overview.

Allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are dramatically increasing all over the world including developing countries like India. Today, more than 30 % of the population is known to suffer from one or other allergic ailment. Major causative agents implicated are pollen grains, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, animal epithelia, etc. Several aerobiological studies have been conducted in different parts of the country to ascertain aerial concentration and seasonality of pollen grains and fungi. Recently, an "All India Coordinated Project on Aeroallergens and Human Health" was undertaken to discover the quantitative and qualitative prevalence of aerosols at 18 different centres in the country. Predominant airborne pollen are Holoptelea, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Putanjiva, Cassia, Quercus, Cocos, Pinus, Cedrus, Ailanthus, Cheno/Amaranth, Cyperus, Argemone, Xanthium, Parthenium and others. Clinical and immunological evaluations have revealed allergenically important texa - some of them for the first time. Allergenically important pollen are Prosopis juliflora, Ricinus communis, Morus, Mallotus, Alnus, Querecus, Cedrus, Argemone, Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Holoptelea, Brassica, Cocos, Cannabis, Parthenium, Cassia and grasses. Further cross-reactivity of the IgE antibodies is a common phenomenon among various pollen allergens. Ricinus communis pollen from commonly growing weeds in India, cross-reacts with latex (Hevea brasiliensis), Mercurialis annua and also with seeds of Ricinus communis - all belonging to family Euphorbiaceae. Areca catechu cross-reacts with other members of Arecaceae such as Phoenix sylvestris, Cocos nucifera and Borassus flabelifer. Several reports on pollen and fruit syndrome have been analyzed. Experiments conducted by us revealed that pollutants (NO(2) and SO(2)) not only affect pollen morphology but also changes their allergenic potency. Immunotherapy with recombinant proteins having similar epitopes from different allergens have been advocated, besides allergen avoidance.

Air Pollutants↗

Preconcentration and separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) using sawdust as a sorbent.

A simple, inexpensive method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) on sawdust from Cedrus deodera has been developed for speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in environmental water samples. Because different exchange capacities were observed for the two forms of chromium at different pH-Cr(III) was selectively retained at pH 3 to 4 whereas Cr(VI) was retained at pH 1-complete separation of the two forms of chromium is possible. Retained species were eluted with 2.5 mL 0.1 mol L(-1) HCl and 0.1 mol L(-1) NaOH. Detection limits of 0.05 and 0.04 microg mL(-1) were achieved for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively, with enrichment factors of 100 and 80. Recovery was quantitative using 250 mL sample volume for Cr(III) and 200 mL for Cr(VI). Different kinetic and thermodynamic properties that affect sorption of the chromium species on the sawdust were also determined. Metal ion concentration was measured as the Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide complex by UV-visible spectroscopy. The method was successfully applied for speciation of chromium in environmental and industrial water samples.

Adsorption↗

Sawdust--a green and economical sorbent for the removal of cadmium (II) ions.

The ability of sawdust (treated and untreated) waste, a waste material derived from the commercial processing of cedrus deodar wood for furniture production, to remove/preconcentrate Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution was determined. Sorption was found to be rapid (approximately 97% within 8 min). The binding of metal ions was found to be pH dependent, optimal sorption accruing at around pH 4-8. Potentiometric titrations of sawdust revealed two distinct pK(a) values, the first having the value similar to carboxylic groups (3.3-4.8) and second comparable with that of amines (8.53-10.2) with the densities 1.99 x 10(-4) and 7.94 x 10(-5), respectively. Retained Cd(II) ions were eluted with 5 ml of 0.1 mol l(-1) HCl. Detection limit of 0.016 microg ml(-1) was achieved with enrichment factors of 120. Recovery was quantitative using sample volume of 600 ml. The Langmuir and D-R isotherm equations were used to describe partitioning behavior for the system at different temperatures. Kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of sawdust for Cd(II) ions removal was also studied.

Adsorption↗

Impact of founder population, drift and selection on the genetic diversity of a recently translocated tree population.

Recently established, temperate tree populations combine a high level of differentiation for adaptive traits, suggesting rapid genetic evolution, with a high level of genetic diversity within population, suggesting a limited impact of genetic drift and purifying selection. To study experimentally the evolutionary forces in a recently established population, we assessed the spatial and temporal patterns of genetic diversity within a disjunct population of Cedrus atlantica established 140 years ago in south-eastern France from a North African source. The population is expanding through natural regeneration. Three generations were sampled, including founder trees. We analysed 12 isozyme loci, three of which were previously found in tight association with selected genes, and quantitative traits. No bottleneck effect was detected in the founder generation, but a simple test of allelic association revealed an initial disequilibrium which disappeared in the following generations. The impact of genetic drift during secondary evolution was limited, as suggested by the weak temporal differentiation. The genetic load was not reduced after 3 generations, and the quantitative variation for adaptive traits did not change either. Thus, initial genetic changes first proceed from a rapid re-organisation of the diversity through mating and recombination, whereas genetic erosion through drift and selection is delayed due to temporal and spatial stochasticity. Two life-history traits of trees contribute to slowing down the processes of genetic erosion: perenniality and large spatial scale. Thus, one would expect recently established tree populations to have a higher diversity than older ones, which seems in accordance with experimental surveys.

Biological Evolution↗

Factors influencing axillary shoot proliferation and adventitious budding in cedar.

We developed procedures for in vitro cloning of Cedrus atlantica Manetti and C. libani A. Rich explants from juvenile and mature plants. Explant size was one determinant of the frequency of axillary bud break in both species. Shoot tips and nodal explants mainly developed calli, whereas bud sprouting occurred in defoliated microcuttings cultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium without growth regulators. Isolation and continuous subculture of sprouted buds on the same medium allowed cloning of microcuttings from C. atlantica and C. libani seedlings and bicentennial C. libani trees, thus providing a desirable alternative for multiplying mature trees that have demonstrated superior characteristics. We also report adventitious bud differentiation from isolated embryos of C. atlantica. Neither auxin treatments nor other methods tested, including infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, were effective in inducing root initiation.

Cedrus↗