A cDNA clone corresponding to a mRNA that rapidly accumulates during the hypersensitive-like response induced by elicitor treatment of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber was characterized. The clone encodes a polypeptide (Mr = 41,097) having 83%-85% amino acid identity with known plant alcohol dehydrogenase sequences (ADH; EC 1.1.1.1). The identity of the clone was confirmed by measuring the ADH enzyme activity in extracts of Escherichia coli transformed with the cDNA clone. In potato tuber disks, a wide range of stresses, including treatment with fatty acid elicitors, salicylic acid, UV light and anaerobiosis, was shown to induce accumulation of Adh transcripts. In stems, a high constitutive level of Adh transcripts could be detected in 4-week old plants, but not in 8-week old plants. However, the mRNA could be induced to accumulate in stems of 8-week old plants by treatment with arachidonic acid elicitor or by anaerobiosis. Induction in leaves was also obtained during anaerobiosis and after treatment with a Phytophthora infestans mycelial homogenate.

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Primates vary in their choice or avoidance of plant foods high in condensed tannins (CT). Our study focused on CT intake in two groups of Lemur catta residing in spiny forest habitat during two reproductive periods. We examined whether L. catta in this habitat avoided plant foods high in CT, and whether reproductive females ingested lower concentrations of CT compared with males, since CT consumption compromises protein absorption. Feeding data and plant food samples were collected during reproductive periods in 2006 (early/mid-lactation) and 2007 (early gestation). Food samples were assayed for CT content, and average CT intake was determined for all focal animals. No significant difference was found in CT content of the most commonly consumed foods compared with other foods in each season or between seasons. No sex differences occurred in CT consumption in either reproductive period. These L. catta did not avoid plant foods high in CT, and three strategies – ingesting small amounts of CT regularly, high amounts only over short periods, and geophagy – may assist these lemurs in coping with CT content in their highly seasonal diet. L. catta may also be somewhat physiologically adapted to cope with CT concentrations in their plant foods.

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate an interdisciplinary strategy combining both engineering- and biology-based approaches for stormwater and wastewater treatment. The work involves a novel and environmentally friendly surface material that can withstand urban load over its design service life, allows preliminary treatment through filtration, and diverts water to the subsurface to conduct secondary treatment below the surface through phytoremediation via the extensive rooting systems of trees. The present study highlights an interdisciplinary low-impact development (LID) approach developed for a polluted industrial wastewater site, for a cleaner and greener environment. The LID system involves (i) rhizofiltration and phytoremediation methods for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants using a hybrid poplar and aspen species; (ii) porous infrastructure produced using industrial waste, referred to as geopolymer pavers; and (iii) use of Silva cells as a tree-friendly and load support system. The design of the pavers over the Silva cells is innovative as it can deal with rainwater runoff and urban transportation loads simultaneously. The proposed system has the ability to extract heavy metals that are common in urban runoff or domestic and industrial effluents thus preserving the ecosystem naturally. The test site is only 15 m, but designed for a water-retention capacity of 2 m (roughly 1:100 year design volume draining a 10 × 10 m parking lot), and remediation levels for Cu and Zn are expected to reach 180 mg/kg dry weight and 1200 mg/kg dry weight, respectively.

Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a tree of high economic and ecological importance but subject to severe defoliation during episodic outbreaks of tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.). We evaluated variation in western tent caterpillar (M. californicum Packard, 1864) (WTC) resistance among and within red alder populations and clones, and investigated potential defense mechanisms. Bioassay feeding trials were conducted with WTC on 20 red alder clones from 10 provenances (two clones per provenance). Phenology and quality of red alder leaves were analyzed to determine if budburst, leaf chemical content, water content or physical traits are determinants of WTC preference. Alder clones differed in percent leaf area eaten by WTC and in leaf defense traits. The concentrations of total phenolics, condensed tannin and the diarylheptanoid oregonin negatively correlated with the percent leaf area eaten by the caterpillars, and a potential threshold was observed, above which the concentration of each of the chemicals appeared to reduce WTC feeding. Particularly, foliar concentrations of oregonin greater than 20 % of leaf dry weight were consistently associated with reduced feeding. The effects of oregonin concentration in red alder leaves on tent caterpillar feeding is a novel finding.