B. Dell

Murdoch University

Plants possess a complex signaling system that enables them to sense and adapt to various environmental stressors, including abiotic factors like extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, and toxic heavy metals. While the roles of hormones and signaling molecules in plant stress responses are well established, the involvement of neurotransmitters—tr...

This study examines the harvest and trade of wild edible Russula griseocarnosa in north Vietnam. Russula griseocarnosa is an edible forest mushroom, but there is no reliable information on harvesting practices and trade in this species in Vietnam. This study aims to provide ethnomycological and marketing knowledge for this mushroom. Semi-structured...

Keywords Edible mushroom Mycorrhiza Nutrient Russula griseocarnosa Vietnam Wild edible mushroom. This study examines the nutritional value of edible Russula griseocarnosa in Vietnam. Russula griseocarnosa is a popular edible wild mushroom in northern Vietnam, where it is consumed locally or exported to China. Future market development and increased...

Russula griseocarnosa occurs naturally in Southern China and Northeast Vietnam, where it is widely used as food. In Quang Ninh province, this edible mushroom species (Nấm chẹo/nam cheo) grows wild in forests with Engelhardia roxburghiana trees and some chestnut species. However, in these forests there is another Russula species that is toxic and cl...

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained worldwide recognition for its nutritional values, adaptability to diverse environments, and genetic diversity. This review explores the current understanding of quinoa tolerance to environmental stress, focusing on drought, salinity, heat, heavy metals, and UV-B radiation. Although drought and salinity...

Spatial distribution patterns of trees are important keys to understanding forest structure and for proposing forest management solutions. Management of rainforests in Vietnam is constrained by a shortage of spatial forest data. Therefore, research was conducted in an upland secondary forest in Tuyen Quang, Vietnam to assess spatial distributions o...

Canopy water content is a fundamental indicator for assessing the level of plant water stress. The correlation between changes in water content and the spectral reflectance of plant leaves at near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths forms the foundation for developing a new remote sensing index, the Infrared Canopy Dryness Ind...

Cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum cassia), ironwood tree (Erythrophleum fordii), African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) and kassod tree (Senna siamea) are grown in large numbers in urban areas in Vietnam. However, there is mounting concern for the viability of these tree species due to recent tree mortality. We described a new disease causing stem cankers,...

This study explores beneficial bacteria isolated from the roots and rhizosphere soil of Khao Rai Leum Pua Phetchabun rice plants. A total of 315 bacterial isolates (KK1 to KK315) were obtained. Plant growth-promoting traits (phosphate solubilization and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production), and antimicrobial activity against three rice pathogens...

Forest management relies on forest spatial structure, but studies on the spatial structure of Vietnamese forests are limited. Therefore, two one–hectare plots were established in tropical rainforest in Tuyen Quang province to evaluate the characteristics and spatial structures of plant communities. Descriptive statistics and species importance valu...

Soil water repellency (SWR) is a major problem across the globe and often occurs in sandy soils. SWR inhibits seed germination in crops and pastures, enhances surface runoff and erosion, and accelerates the movement of nutrients and pesticides into groundwater. SWR is caused by the accumulation of hydrophobic organic compounds released from plants...

Fructan 1-exohydrolase (1-FEH) is one of the major enzymes in water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) remobilisation for grains in wheat. We investigated the functional role of 1-FEH w1, w2, and w3 isoforms in WSC remobilisation under post-anthesis water deficit using mutation lines derived from the Australian wheat variety Chara. F1 seeds, developed by b...

PurposeCrop sensitivity to root zone salinity can vary over time, which can lead to severe damage when high sensitivity coincides with high soil salinity. The variation in salinity sensitivity of sunflower during its growth cycle is unknown.Methods Two pot experiments were conducted in sand culture with a complete nutrient solution. Solutions were...

Actinobacteria produce a broad spectrum of bioactive substances that are used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and biotechnology industries. This study investigates the production of bioactive substances in Streptomyces, isolated from soil under five tropical plants, focusing on their potential as natural antibacterial dyes for silk fabrics. Ou...

The stem borer Orientozeuzera rhabdota Jordan, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) is a new threat to Manglietia conifera and Michelia mediocris plantations in Vietnam. Field surveys in Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan provinces in 2023 showed that O. rhabdota frequently damaged two-year-old Manglietia conifera with damage incidence (P%) ranging from 50.3 to 52.7%...

In the context of climate change, the occurrence of water stress in forest ecosystems, which are solely dependent on precipitation, has exhibited a rising trend, even among species that are typically regarded as drought-tolerant. Remote sensing techniques offer an efficient, comprehensive, and timely approach for monitoring forests at local and reg...

Soil water repellency (SWR) is known to be induced by hydrophobic organic compounds released from plants and soil microbiota. Associations of various plant species and the degree of SWR are often reported, however, in the field these relationships are affected by factors such as soil properties (e.g. organic carbon and clay contents) and contributi...

Wild mushrooms are extensively gathered by rural communities throughout the uplands of northern Vietnam and nearby countries for food and medicine. These non-wood forest products are important for the livelihood of numerous rural communities. Many of these fungi form symbiotic relationships with the roots of certain species of forest trees, and the...

In most agricultural fields, when soil pH is high, elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid are used to reduce soil pH and increase the availability of macro and micronutrients for optimum crop yield. However, how these inputs impact soil greenhouse gas emissions is unknown. This study aimed to measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and pH after t...

Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss produces a valuable timber but plantations are susceptible to attack by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipyla robusta Moore. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is desirable to limit the extent of damage. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the deployment of IPM measures in plantations in Vietnam. Data on t...

Payments for carbon services (C-PFES) is a mechanism used to meet national emission reduction targets via either forest protection or reforestation. However, while carbon is a unique environmental service traded in national and international markets, there are challenges in implementing C-PFES schemes at the local level. Simply put, the views of lo...

Mangroves can play a major role in efforts to mitigate climate change through two pathways. These are (1) carbon sequestration following reforestation of areas where mangroves previously existed, and (2) protection of existing carbon stores in intact mangrove forests. There is considerable international interest in carbon mitigation by governments...

The wood-borer Bacchisa medioviolacea Breuning (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is identified as a major new pest of Docynia indica (Rosales: Rosaceae) orchards in the northwest mountainous provinces of Vietnam. The life cycle extends over two years (721.7 days ± 17.6 days), with overwintering as larvae. Adults emerge and disperse in summer. Females lay...

Allometric models play an undeniable role for estimating hard-to-measure quantities such as volume, biomass and carbon stock in forests. However, so far there has been limited model development for native forests in Vietnam. Therefore, this study was conducted to build and analyze the effectiveness of nonlinear and mixed models for secondary and ol...

Anthocyanins are a group of pigments responsible for the red-blue color in plant parts, and have potential for health benefits and pharmaceutical ingredients. To evaluate whether anthocyanin concentrations in five purple rice varieties could be varied by water condition, plants were grown in waterlogged and aerobic (well-drained) soil. Grain anthoc...

Purpose Crop sensitivity to root zone salinity can vary over time during a cropping season, which can lead to severe damage when high sensitivity coincides with high soil salinity. The variation in salinity sensitivity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) during its growth cycle is not known. Methods Two pot experiments were conducted in sand cultur...

Dalbergia tonkinensis is being promoted in Vietnam for the future supply of prized wood for furniture and chemical extraction. Expansion of the plantation area requires a reliable source of quality seed. This study evaluates the field performance of progeny from mature mother trees in natural forests and urban environments. Trials were established...

There are over two million hectares of Acacia plantations in Vietnam and loss from infestations of ambrosia beetles is of increasing concern. In this study, we first determined the key taxa and the extent of damage, and then identified effective trap and lure combinations for trapping adult beetles, and finally quantified the seasonality of flight...

Episparis tortuosalis (Moore, The Lepidoptera of Ceylon, L. Reeve Company, London, 1867) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Pan-graptini) is a significant pest defoliating Chukrasia tabularis plantations in Vietnam. Since 2013 the geographic range of the pest has increased from one to nine provinces. Field surveys in 9 provinces in 2021 showed that feeding by...

Increased heat in urban environments, from the combined effects of climate change and land use/land cover change, is one of the most severe problems confronting cities and urban residents worldwide, and requires urgent resolution. While large urban green spaces such as parks and nature reserves are widely recognized for their benefits in mitigating...

Aims Organic carbon has been reported in deep regolithic profiles to depths of tens of metres, but the composition of the carbon compounds is unknown. Methods Residual carbon in the form of non-volatile low molecular weight compounds (LMWC) was characterised in three deep soil profiles to a depth of 19 m under farmland in south-western Australia f...

Deep soils are located in most continents of the world. Soil carbon measurements are invariably made from the surface horizons, whereas much larger carbon stores occur to depths of many meters, with plant roots providing the main source of carbon. This root biomass persists long after land is deforested for agricultural and other pursuits or forest...

Beneficial soil-borne bacteria and fungi are central to the performance of most plants. Knowledge of beneficial microorganisms and the processes in topsoils that favour the association of beneficial organisms with plants allows us to better manage soils for higher productivity and environment sustainability. This review describes the main groups of...

Zinc (Zn) biofortification can improve grain yield and nutritional quality in rice, but its effectiveness is subject to agronomic practices and other factors. In a previous study, the application of Zn to soil enhanced grain Zn in lowland rice in well-drained and waterlogged soil, whereas grain Zn in upland rice increased only in well-drained soil....

It has been widely accepted that soil water repellency (WR) is associated with different types of vegetation. Soil WR has been observed under different species ranging from broadleaf deciduous trees, conifers, shrubs, cereal and legume crops, and pastures (Doerr et al. 2000; Wallis and Horne 1992). Soils under heathland and grassland were reported...

Enhancing the nutrition of fruit trees and crops with chemical fertilizers is one of the most important tools to increase production and improve crop quality during the harvest stage. In East Azerbaijan, apples are grown on calcareous soils, and managing tree nutrition is a precursor to increasing fruit yield and post-harvest fruit quality. A facto...

Enhancing the nutrition of fruit trees and crops with chemical fertilizers is one of the most important tools to increase production and improve crop quality during the harvest stage. In East Azerbaijan, apples are grown on calcareous soils, and managing tree nutrition is a precursor to increasing fruit yield and post-harvest fruit quality. A facto...

Damage by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipylarobusta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) has limited the commercial cultivation of Chukrasiatabularis (Meliaceae) in many parts of the world. Recently, a number of C.tabularis families in Vietnam have shown field resistance to H.robusta. This study explores whether endophytic bacteria in C.tabularis can inhibit the de...

Invasive plant species (IPS) management in national parks is a complex problem often characterised by the involvement of various organisations with different responsibilities, legal mandates, and jurisdictions. These institutional arrangements shape the structure, function, and decision-making behaviours of organisations and influence management ef...

Aims This study identifies the contribution of leaf matter from individual plant species on water repellency with a focus on the composition of organic compounds and the role of heat in releasing these compounds to soil. Methods Leaf powder from four plant species ( Banksia menziesii , Eucalyptus marginata , Allocasuarina fraseriana , Xanthorrhoea...

There is increasing interest in the application of natural plant extracts for the post‐harvest management of food crops. This study investigates the potential for hydro‐distilled natural essential oils to inhibit the germination of potato tubers in storage. Four completely randomized design experiments were undertaken with extracts of seven medicin...

Damage by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipyla robusta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) has limited the commercial cultivation of Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae) in many parts of the world. Recently, a number of C. tabularis families in Vietnam have shown field resistance to H. robusta. This study explores whether endophytic bacteria in C. tabularis can inhibit t...

Balancing economic, environmental and social objectives usually challenges policymakers, but it is feasible. Using a unique household survey dataset with 98 households in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, we found that integrating mangroves with shrimp farming, in a mangrove-aquaculture system (MAS), can support multiple objectives. The MAS provides the hi...

Cultivation of crops in salt-affected soils is a major challenge for growers. Despite the use of multiple amendments, salinity stresses adversely affect the crops to some extent. On the other hand, imbalance in the use of boron (B) as a nutrient also creates toxicity. Mismanagement of B fertilizer application decreases the growth and yield of crops...

Pine tussock moth (Dasychira axutha Collenette (Lymantriidae)) and masson pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus punctatus Walker (Lasiocampidae)) cause serious damage to Pinus massoniana and P. merkusii plantations in Vietnam. An integrated pest management (IPM) program is required to control these pests. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify da...

Nutrient loading can improve the growth and nutrient content of nursery-grown Betula alnoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, but it is unknown whether nutrient loading enhances growth and nutrient uptake after transplanting. Plants were grown with three nutrient loading treatments (N100, N200, and N400; 100, 200, and 400 mg N per plant as 15 N-urea) in nurs...

Soft rot diseases are becoming problematic in the cultivation of epiphytic orchids in Vietnam, but the causal agents are unknown. We investigated soft rot in Dendrobium anosmum, Phalaenopsis amabilis and Paphiopedilum concolor. Leaves of diseased plants with soft rot symptoms were sampled and cultures of Dickeya were obtained. The pathogen was iden...

Sachi inchi is a useful traditional plant in South America that has recently gained notoriety as a nutritional food crop and hence is being cultivated outside its native range. In Thailand, the crop is being grown on soils where boron (B) may be limiting to growth. To determine the response of early vegetative growth of sacha inchi to B supply, to...

The recent emergence of a new cerambycid pest in Eucalyptus plantations in Vietnam is causing concern in the forest sector. This paper confirms the identity of the new pest, assesses the damage caused in the main commercial Eucalyptus clones, and explores preliminary control options for the management of outbreaks. The pest was identified as Batoce...

The planted forest area in Vietnam increased from 3.0 to 4.4 million hectares in the period 2010–2020, but the loss of productivity from pests and diseases continues to be a problem. During this period, frequent and systematic plantation forest health surveys were conducted on 12 native and 4 exotic genera of trees as well as bamboo across eight fo...

Even though survival rates for mangrove restoration in Vietnam have often been low, there is no information on fungal pathogens associated with mangrove decline in Vietnam. Therefore, this research was undertaken to assess the overall health of mangrove afforestation in Thanh Hoa Province and fungal pathogens associated with tree decline. From a su...

Mangrove forests can ameliorate the impacts of typhoons and storms, but their extent is threatened by coastal development. The northern coast of Vietnam is especially vulnerable as typhoons frequently hit it during the monsoon season. However, temporal change information in mangrove cover distribution in this region is incomplete. Therefore, this s...

Urban forests are important for ameliorating urban heat loads and the urban microclimate may have an impact on tree phenology. Understanding these interactions is important to urban planners to select suitable trees for the urban forest. For one year we tracked leaf cover, flowers and fruit of 22 tree species in Bang Kachao Peninsula and explored c...

Infestations of invasive plants can hinder forest regeneration in biodiversity hotspots in tropical Asia. Microstegium ciliatum is a native grass in parts of tropical and subtropical Asia. To assess impacts of Microstegium on secondary forest succession in its native range, a field experiment was undertaken in abandoned agricultural settlements in...

Chukrasia tabularis is a high-value tree in the mahogany family and in Vietnam is grown in home gardens and small plantations. One to 3-year old trees are susceptible to shoot tip damage from larvae of Hypsipyla robusta which feed inside the stem. With the recent expansion of C. tabularis plantations, the forestry sector is seeking management optio...

Salinization of land is a form of desertification; salinization of rivers is a global threat to biodiversity and compromises the ecosystem goods and services of rivers, wetlands, and lakes. Salinization is caused by flooding or inundation with saline waters, breaching of dykes, storm surges, tsunamis, or the drying of large inland water bodies. Sal...

Citation: Quang, D.N.; Thu, P.Q.; Chi, N.M.; Binh, L.V.; Thong, N.Q.; Thu, N.H.; Nguyen, V.D.; Dell, B. Management of Needle-Eating Caterpillars Associated with Pinus massoniana and P. merkusii in Vietnam.

In plant tissues, sugar levels are determined by the balance between sugar import, export, and sugar synthesis. So far, water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) dynamics have not been investigated in a diurnal context in wheat stems as compared to the dynamics in flag leaves during the terminal phases of grain filling. Here, we filled this research gap and...

Chukrasia tabularis is a rare and valuable tree in the mahogany family (Meliaceae) which has been planted with fruit trees in home gardens in Vietnam more than 60 years. Recently, households have become concerned with sporadic trees wilting and dying. In this study we explore this new tree decline. The trunk of diseased trees, with cankers and wilt...

Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae) has been planted for many decades in home gardens and plantations in Vietnam. Recently, growers have become concerned with attack by stem borers. Tapinolachnus lacordairei J. Thomson 1864 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is identified as a new indigenous pest causing damage to 15 to 30 year-old stands of C. tabularis in Tu...

Over 200,000 ha of citrus are grown in Vietnam, and many orchards have been impacted by Phytophthora disease, leading to tree decline and death. Phytophthora palmivora has recently emerged as a serious problem in mandarin (Citrus reticulata) orchards in northern Vietnam, and producers are looking for management solutions. Therefore, we evaluated th...

This study examined the effect of foliar zinc (Zn) application on grain yield, Zn and phytate concentrations and its impact on the phytate:Zn molar ratio, an indicator for Zn bioavailability in human digestive tracts, in unpolished and polished rice between two rice cultivars across two cropping years. The modern improved rice cultivar CNT1 and the...

Local rice varieties with premium nutritional quality grains are beneficial to consumers, and their genetic traits may be deployed in breeding programmes for many purposes. This study explores grain quality characteristics with health implications of rice germplasm maintained and used by farmers in the highlands of Northern Thailand. Concentrations...

This study explored the response in grain yield and quality of upland and wetland rice varieties to a combination of zinc (Zn) and nitrogen (N) fertilizers under two water management regimes. A factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design composed of three factors was carried out with three independent replications. Upland and...

Dalbergia tonkinensis (Fabaceae) is one of the most valuable rosewood furniture species in the world and, although threatened in the wild, is being traded in local markets in north Vietnam. Trade in D. tonkinensis was investigated by compiling information from interviews, published and unpublished articles, and reports of forest rangers and market...

Key message Globally, mangrove forests are under threat from a range of causes. They also represent a large potential form of climate mitigation and adaptation via reforestation, and this investment may contribute to restoration efforts and reverse mangrove decline. There has been significant ( c . 200,000 ha) mangrove reforestation and restoration...

Globally, cities are growing rapidly in size and density and this has caused profound impacts on urban forest ecosystems. Urbanization requiring deforestation reduces ecosystem services that benefit both city dwellers and biodiversity. Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation changes associated with urbanization is thus a vital com...