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"Pennacchio, Marcello"
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Ecology of plant-derived smoke
This book focuses on the use of plant-derived smoke as a tool, used for promoting seed germination and growth. Our ancestors may have used smoke in this capacity for centuries. Only recently has the scientific community delved into understanding the ecology of smoke as a seed dormancy-breaking mechanism in fire-prone environments. Most research to date has focused on the fire-prone Mediterranean environments of the western USA, Western Australia, and South Africa. These environments are among the richest floristic regions in the world, and require ecological understanding in order to be managed properly. This includes knowledge of the role that smoke plays in these ecosystems. This book presents accounts of 1,355 species of plants, from 120 families, whose seed have been tested for their response to aerosol smoke, smoke water, and plant-derived smoke. Each account includes a short summary of research findings, along with any other relevant information.
eBook
Arabidopsis thaliana: a new test species for phytotoxic bioassays
Lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) and other crop species are often used in phytotoxic bioassays that are designed to detect allelochemicals. The seeds of these species are considered ideal because they are readily available, germinate rapidly and uniformly, and are routinely used in laboratories around the world. Despite their common use, however, the seeds of these species are often not as sensitive or responsive to some phytotoxic chemicals as are the seeds of other species. While searching for a more sensitive test species for phytotoxic bioassays, the Columbia ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana exhibited greater sensitivity to seven potent allelochemicals than did lettuce seeds, which, in some cases, did not respond at all to those substances. Sensitivity satisfies one of the criteria for selecting a test species for bioassays. We now report on the results of our study and offer additional reasons for using A. thaliana seeds.
Journal Article
Ex Situ Germination Responses of Midwestern USA Prairie Species to Plant-derived Smoke
Tallgrass prairie species often require a period of cold stratification to break seed dormancy, but not all species germinate when this occurs. Fire, which has historically played an important role in defining the prairie landscape, may also play some role in breaking dormancy by producing a variety of biologically active smoke substances. The role of smoke as a germination cue was investigated in this study, during which the ex situ germination of 37 prairie species was measured in response to aerosol smoke treatment. Overall, one third of the species responded positively, while others were either inhibited or exhibited no response at all. Smoke may therefore play a more significant role in maintaining the composition and structure of tallgrass prairie communities than was previously realized.
Journal Article
Introduction
This introductory chapter begins by discussing the historical background of smoke and fire, describing the African primitive purposes of fire such as a crop enhancement, fertility charm, and a sign for a bountiful harvest. It identifies the treatment of seeds with heat and smoke prior to sowing as a source of increased number of sprouts, good seed quality, and seed vigor as shown by the early accounts of Gabriel Sagard and Modi. It provides an exposition on certain smoke-responding seed varieties in the parts of Australia and in the Mediterranean region.
Book Chapter
List of Plants
This chapter examines the scientific experimentations aimed at identifying the germination stimulants and compounds present in certain plant forms. It surveys the effects of the different methods, namely wood charring and the bioassay-driven fractionation process, that led to the observation that germination-affecting chemicals may be water soluble, thermostable, and active in low concentrations.
Book Chapter
GREEN BLOOD & INFLUENZA
Pennacchio examines two diseases that are devastating bobtail skink populations. Based on anecdotal evidence, hyperbiliverdinaemia and influenza could be responsible for the premature deaths and decline in the numbers of this species.
Magazine Article