Thesis ( PhD. (Biotechnology )) --University of Limpopo, 2005 / The marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra), an indigenous, multipurpose, drought tolerant tree of Africa harbors great economic potential. Acceptance of marula-derived products internationally will directly increase the demand for marula resource. Rapid multiplication of marula trees of superior quality forms the basis of sustainable export growth. In vitro propagation and genetic improvement offer the opportunity for accelerated multiplication of selected tree material as well as to dramatically increase production, quality and efficiencies. The objectives of the study were therefore to develop a protocol for in vitro multiplication of marula and to determine the feasibility of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the marula tree. Nodal sections with axillary bud (s) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.8μM BA and 2.4μM KN and 0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to obtain on average 2.5 microshoots per responding explant. The proliferated microshoots were elongated on MS medium supplemented with 1.2μM BA and 1.0μM KN. Elongated microshoots were rooted in MS medium at half salts strength supplemented with 10μM IBA and 0.3% activated charcoal (AC). On average 82% of the shoots rooted. Survival of acclimatized plantlets was 90%. RAPD analysis confirmed intraclonal genetic stability between parent plants and their clones within the limits of the technique.Nodal sections cocultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens for 3 days on MS multiplication medium supplemented with 100μM acetosyringone resulted on average in transient expression of 52.5% of the explants with 1.6 blue stained zones per explant. Cocultivated explants on MS selection medium containing 300mgl-1 kanamycin resulted in 1.5% chimeric putative transgenic shoots. This is the first report on the micropropagation and genetic transformation of marula, Sclerocarya birrea subsp caffra. / South Africa’s National Research Foundation Institutional Research Development Program (NRF-IRDP)

Dans le contexte des changements climatiques prévisibles et d'une demande évaporative accrue vis à vis des cultures, ce travail de thèse vise à évaluer la variabilité génétique du pommier pour sa réponse à la contrainte hydrique. Cette évaluation est d'un intérêt certain pour l'amélioration future de l'espèce, qu'il s'agisse de mieux tolérer le stress pouvant résulter d'une sécheresse temporaire du sol, ou d'une efficience accrue d'utilisation de l'eau. Les méthodes de phénotypage actuellement disponibles pour l'étude de la réponse à la contrainte hydrique ne permettent pas un haut débit de mesure compatible avec les comparaisons simultanées entre de nombreux individus. En conséquence, ce travail de thèse s'est focalisé sur l'application de l'imagerie multi-spectrale aéroportée comme outil de phénotypage à haut débit en condition de plein champ et sur l'évaluation de sa pertinence pour l'analyse quantitative des réponses à la contrainte hydrique et la recherche des déterminismes génétiques associés. Les essais ont été réalisés sur une population hybride de pommiers (croisement Starkrimson x Granny Smith) âgée de 4 ans au début de l'étude, implantée dans le sud de la France. A partir d'images acquises dans les longueurs d'onde du visible, du proche infrarouge et de l'infrarouge thermique, à une résolution spatiale proche de 30cm, différents indices de végétation et de stress ont été calculés permettant d'apprécier la vigueur des arbres et leur transpiration. La prise en compte, dans des modèles linéaires mixtes, de six dates d'expérimentation, couvrant deux campagnes d'acquisitions, et de régimes d'irrigation différenciés sur la population a permis de mettre en évidence l'héritabilité des indices phénotypiques et conduit à la détection de nombreux QTLs. 18 QTLs se sont révélés indépendants de la date d'acquisition. Pour quatre de ces QTLs, dits adaptatifs, c'est-à-dire exprimés en conditions de stress, un certain nombre de gènes candidats potentiellement impliqués dans les réponses précoces responsables de la régulation stomatique ont été identifiés. / In the context of foreseen climate changes and higher evaporative demand in crops, this PhD work is aiming at assessing the apple tree variability in response to hydric constraints. This could be of great interest for future breeding programs in this species, either in respect to temporary abiotic stress tolerance, or looking at a better water use efficiency. Phenotyping methods presently available for evaluating the plant response to hydric constraints do not allow the high-throughput that could be compatible with simultaneous comparison of a high number of individuals. As a consequence, this thesis focused on the application of airborne multispectral imagery as a tool for high-throughput field phenotyping, and it assessed the relevancy of this method for quantitative analysis of response to drought and further dissection of associated genetic determinisms. Trials were realized on a segregating hybrid apple population (Starkrimson x Granny Smith cross), 4-year old at the beginning of study, installed in the South of France. Images acquired in visible, near infrared and thermal infrared, with a spatial resolution close to 30cm, were the calculation basis of various vegetation and stress indices, allowing estimation of individual tree vigor and transpiration. Linear mixed models taking account of six flight dates, covering two acquisition campaigns and including two contrasted irrigation regimes over the apple population, made it possible to highlight the heritability of phenotypic indices and to perform numerous QTLs mapping. Eighteen QTLs were revealed independently from the acquisition date. Out of this QTLs set, a further analysis on 4 of them, which were adaptative i.e. expressed in stress conditions, allowed first identification of putative candidate genes potentially involved in the early stomatal closure.

El present treball tracta de nocions fonamentals en la nutrició d’arbres fruiters: (i) estimació de les pèrdues totals de nutrients (ii) diagnòstic nutricional (iii) solucions per desordres nutricionals (iv) estudi de transport de nutrients. Els estudis s’han realitzat a la zona de l’Ebre, Saragossa, al nord d’Espanya on el presseguer s’escull com a exemple d’arbre fruiter i la clorosi fèrrica com exemple de desordre nutricional. En alguns estudis, s’han fet servir plantes model crescudes en condicions controlades. En el primer capítol dels resultats, es fa una anàlisi de l’arbre sencer a mitjançant la quantificació de les pèrdues de nutrients en cada esdeveniment del cicle anual del presseguer, i de les quantitats emmagatzemades a les estructures permanents dels tres cultivars de presseguer: Calanda, Catherina y Babygold 5. Al segon capítol, es considera la clorosi fèrrica com el típic desordre nutricional de la zona, i es presenten avenços al seu diagnòstic a través de l’estudi de materials de l’arbre en èpoques fenològiques avançades (precoces), com gemmes en dormància i flors. Els resultats obtinguts indiquen que és possible predir la clorosi fèrrica utilitzant els materials vegetals indicats. El tercer capítol, tracta sobre la utilització de fertilitzants foliars per la correcció de la clorosi fèrrica, millorant el coneixement científic en l’ús d’aquests fertilitzants foliars. S’avalua la eficàcia d’un tractament foliar d’un compost de ferro estudiant la seva capacitat de penetració i reverdiment. En el quart capítol, es realitzen estudis sobre el transport de ferro en el teixit del xilema, a través d’anàlisis de proteòmica i metabolòmica, aportant avenços en la comprensió d’aquest teixit, responsable del transport de nutrients en plantes. El cinquè capítol tracta sobre consells i aspectes a considerar per part dels investigadors a l’hora de realitzar un seguiment de l’efecte d’un fertilitzant de ferro, i que inclouen: (i) el disseny experimental (ii) el seguiment de l’evolució de la correcció de la clorosi després d’una fertilització amb ferro, controlant la concentració de clorofil•la a la fulla, i (iii) l’anàlisi de la resposta de la planta després d’una fertilització amb ferro. A més, també s’analitzen les fases de la desaparició de la clorosi a la fulla, i l’observació d’altres paràmetres nutricionals a nivell de fulla. / El presente trabajo trata sobre nociones fundamentales en la nutrición de árboles frutales: (i) estimación de las pérdidas totales de nutrientes (ii) diagnostico nutricional (iii) soluciones para desordenes nutricionales (iv) estudio del transporte de nutrientes. Los estudios se han realizado en la zona del Ebro, Zaragoza, en el norte de España dónde el melocotonero se escoge como ejemplo de árbol frutal, y la clorosis férrica como ejemplo de desorden nutricional. En algunos estudios, se han usado plantas modelo crecidas en condiciones controladas. En el primer capítulo de los resultados, se realiza un análisis del árbol entero mediante la cuantificación de las pérdidas de nutrientes en cada evento del ciclo anual del melocotonero, y de las cantidades almacenadas en las estructuras permanentes de tres cultivares de melocotonero: Calanda, Catherina y Babygold 5. En el segundo capítulo, se considera la clorosis férrica como el típico desorden nutricional de la zona, y se presentan avances en su diagnostico mediante el estudio de materiales del árbol en épocas fenológicas avanzadas (precoces), tal como yemas en dormancia y flores. Los resultados adquiridos indican que es posible predecir la clorosis férrica usando los materiales vegetales indicados. El tercer capítulo, trata sobre del uso de fertilizantes foliares para la corrección de la clorosis férrica, mejorando el conocimiento científico sobre el uso de dichos fertilizantes. Se evalúa la eficacia de un tratamiento foliar de un compuesto de hierro estudiando su capacidad de penetración y reverdecimiento. En el cuarto capítulo, se realizan estudios sobre el transporte de hierro en el tejido de xilema a través de análisis de proteomica y metabolómica, aportando avances en la comprensión de dicho tejido, responsable de transporte de nutrientes en plantas. El quinto capítulo trata sobre consejos y aspectos a considerar por parte de los investigadores a la hora de realizar un seguimiento del efecto de un fertilizante de hierro, y que incluyen: i) el diseño del experimento; ii) el seguimiento de la evolución de la corrección de la clorosis después de una fertilización con hierro, controlando la concentración de clorofila en la hoja; y iii) el análisis de la respuesta de la planta después de una fertilización con hierro. Asimismo, también se analizan las fases de la desaparición de la clorosis en la hoja, y la observación de otros parámetros nutricionales a nivel de hoja. / This work deals with fundamental aspects of fruit tree nutrition, including the following: (i) estimation of total nutrient requirements; (ii) nutritional diagnostics; (iii) remediation for nutritional disorders; and (iv) understanding of nutrient transport. Field studies were carried out in the Ebro river basin, Zaragoza, Northern Spain, were peach tree was taken as an example of fruit tree and Fe chlorosis as an example of nutritional disorder. In some studies, model plants grown in controlled environments have also been used. In the first chapter of Results part, whole tree analysis was carried out by quantifying the amounts of nutrients removed at each event of the peach tree annual cycle, as well as the amounts stored in the permanent tree structures, in three different peach tree cultivars. In the second chapter, Fe chlorosis was taken as a typical nutrient disorder in the region, and we show advances in its diagnosis by studying the possibility of using tree materials in early tree phonological stages. Results found indicate that it is possible to carry out the prognosis of Fe chlorosis using early materials such as buds and flowers. The third chapter deals with the correction of iron chlorosis, in an attempt to improve the scientific background for foliar fertilizer practices. We evaluated the success of treatments with a Fe compound by studying the capacity for penetration and re-greening. In the fourth chapter, studies on the transport of Fe into the xylem tissue were carried out by metabolomic and proteomic analysis, opening the way for advancing the understanding of nutrient transport in this fruit tree compartment. The fifth chapter discusses advices and aspects that researchers should take in consideration when assessing the effect of Fe fertilizers, including the following: i) design of Fe-fertilization experiments; ii) assessment of chlorosis recovery upon Fe-fertilization by monitoring leaf chlorophyll; and iii) analysis of the plant responses upon Fe-fertilization. The phases of leaf chlorosis recovery and the control of other leaf nutritional parameters were discussed.

6 pp. / Training and pruning newly-planted deciduous fruit trees is one of the most important steps in developing trees with a strong framework (scaffold branches). Trees with a good framework of branches can support heavy crops without limb breakage and will help to bring the young tree into production at an early age. Selection and arrangement of these branches determines the type of development and growth in later years. The goal of pruning and training is to balance vegetative and fruiting wood growth.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-12-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:25:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rozane_de_dr_jabo.pdf: 1210450 bytes, checksum: 4b393f7743e9c55fd14f3aff109f97b5 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de carambola do mundo, entretanto há poucas informações científicas, especialmente estudos de nutrição mineral. Objetivando-se contribuir com o conhecimento de nutrição mineral da caramboleira, desenvolveram-se estudos que permitissem avaliar o crescimento e o acúmulo de nutrientes na frutífera nas fases de hipobioto (porta-enxerto), muda e plantas em formação. Foram realizados dois experimentos em casa de vegetação em hidroponia, nas fases de hipobioto e mudas de caramboleira, na Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Câmpus Jaboticabal, Brasil, coordenadas de 210 15' 22 sul, 480 18' 58 oeste e altitude de 615 m. O experimento com hipobioto foi realizado no período de agosto a dezembro de 2005, tendo cinco tratamentos constituídos por épocas de coleta: 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125 dias após o transplantio e seis repetições, disposto em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O experimento realizado com as mudas foi desenvolvidos, no período de março a junho de 2006, em parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições, tendo como parcelas duas cultivares de caramboleira (B-10 e Golden Star) e, como subparcelas cinco épocas de coletas de plantas: 208,233,258,283 e 308 dias após o transplantio para a solução nutritiva, disposto em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Em ambos os experimentos, avaliaram-se, em todas as coletas, a altura da planta, o diâmetro do caule e a área foliar. Em seguida, as plantas foram divididas em raízes, caule e folhas, determinando-se a massa da matéria seca e o teor de nutrientes nos referidos órgãos. O experimento realizado a campo foi desenvolvido de outubro de 2006 a novembro de 2008, em área experimental da FCAV/UNESP, Câmpus Jaboticabal, em Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico típico (Eutrustox). / Brazil is one of the greatest star fruit producers in the world; however, there is little scientific information, especially mineral nutrition studies which contributesto the production. Aiming to contribute to the star fruit knowlege in the field of mineral nutrition, researches were developed to evaluate the growth and the nutrients accumulation in the 'hipobioto', seedling and orchard in formation under irrigation conditions. Two experiments were accomplished at greenhouse in hydroponics at the São Paulo State University - Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias 'Julio de MesquitaFilho', Jaboticabal Campus, with coordinates of 210 15' 22 South, 48018' 58 West and 615 m of altitude. The experiment with 'hipobioto' was accomplished in the periodfrom August to December 2005 and it was constituted by an experiment with five treatments that reffered to the collection time 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 days after the transplanting and six repetitions, deposed in an completely randomized designo The seedlings experiment was accomplished in the period from March to June 2006, in slipt plots with three replications. As a plot, it was used two star fruit cultivars ('B-10' and 'GoldenStar') and, as a slipt plot, the five collection of plants accomplished by 208, 233, 258, 283 and 308 days after the transplanting for the nutritious solution, disposed in completely randomized design with three replications. It was evaluated, in both experiments, the plant height, the stem diameter, and the leaf area in ali collections. Afterthat, the plants were divided in roots, stem and leaves, determining the mass of the dry matter and the nutrients content in the referred organs. The experiment was accomplished on the field from October 2006 to November 2008, in an experimental area of the FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal Campus, in Eutrustox.

Resumo: O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de carambola do mundo, entretanto há poucas informações científicas, especialmente estudos de nutrição mineral. Objetivando-se contribuir com o conhecimento de nutrição mineral da caramboleira, desenvolveram-se estudos que permitissem avaliar o crescimento e o acúmulo de nutrientes na frutífera nas fases de hipobioto (porta-enxerto), muda e plantas em formação. Foram realizados dois experimentos em casa de vegetação em hidroponia, nas fases de hipobioto e mudas de caramboleira, na Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho" - UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Câmpus Jaboticabal, Brasil, coordenadas de 210 15' 22" sul, 480 18' 58" oeste e altitude de 615 m. O experimento com hipobioto foi realizado no período de agosto a dezembro de 2005, tendo cinco tratamentos constituídos por épocas de coleta: 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125 dias após o transplantio e seis repetições, disposto em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O experimento realizado com as mudas foi desenvolvidos, no período de março a junho de 2006, em parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições, tendo como parcelas duas cultivares de caramboleira (B-10 e Golden Star) e, como subparcelas cinco épocas de coletas de plantas: 208,233,258,283 e 308 dias após o transplantio para a solução nutritiva, disposto em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Em ambos os experimentos, avaliaram-se, em todas as coletas, a altura da planta, o diâmetro do caule e a área foliar. Em seguida, as plantas foram divididas em raízes, caule e folhas, determinando-se a massa da matéria seca e o teor de nutrientes nos referidos órgãos. O experimento realizado a campo foi desenvolvido de outubro de 2006 a novembro de 2008, em área experimental da FCAV/UNESP, Câmpus Jaboticabal, em Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico típico (Eutrustox). / Abstract: Brazil is one of the greatest star fruit producers in the world; however, there is little scientific information, especially mineral nutrition studies which contributesto the production. Aiming to contribute to the star fruit knowlege in the field of mineral nutrition, researches were developed to evaluate the growth and the nutrients accumulation in the 'hipobioto', seedling and orchard in formation under irrigation conditions. Two experiments were accomplished at greenhouse in hydroponics at the São Paulo State University - Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias 'Julio de MesquitaFilho', Jaboticabal Campus, with coordinates of 210 15' 22" South, 48018' 58" West and 615 m of altitude. The experiment with 'hipobioto' was accomplished in the periodfrom August to December 2005 and it was constituted by an experiment with five treatments that reffered to the collection time 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 days after the transplanting and six repetitions, deposed in an completely randomized designo The seedlings experiment was accomplished in the period from March to June 2006, in slipt plots with three replications. As a plot, it was used two star fruit cultivars ('B-10' and 'GoldenStar') and, as a slipt plot, the five collection of plants accomplished by 208, 233, 258, 283 and 308 days after the transplanting for the nutritious solution, disposed in completely randomized design with three replications. It was evaluated, in both experiments, the plant height, the stem diameter, and the leaf area in ali collections. Afterthat, the plants were divided in roots, stem and leaves, determining the mass of the dry matter and the nutrients content in the referred organs. The experiment was accomplished on the field from October 2006 to November 2008, in an experimental area of the FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal Campus, in Eutrustox. / Orientador: Renato de Mello Prado / Coorientador: William Natale / Banca: Antonio Enedi Boaretto / Banca: Francisco Maximino Fernandes / Banca: José Carlos Barbosa / Banca: José Frederico Centurion / Doutor

TreePeople is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that uses environmental education, initiatives, and programs to engage with the greater community to work towards the goal of a sustainable future for Los Angeles. The Fruit Tree Program is one of TreePeople’s longest running programs of 29 years, which distributes free bare-root fruit trees to economically disadvantaged communities as a source of fresh fruit and the other environmental benefits that trees offer. This paper is a comprehensive report detailing the history of the program and the impacts it has had on communities across Los Angeles County. Looking at three communities in Los Angeles and interviewing key community members from these communities, I identified the impacts that the program has had on addressing important urban environmental concerns and facilitating community development.