Science remains alert to a hexagonal crystal among plants with different behavior. A mystery to many experts, like the part of Spain that cooks. The phenomenon of crystal responds to a complex problem Mariana Islandswhere the legume tree Serianthes nelsonii He faces serious challenges in his recovery. One of the biggest challenges is the short lifespan of the seedlings in their natural habitat and the early loss of the trees transplanted from conservation nurseries.
It is an endemic tree of Guam j Marianas Rota. There is only one mature tree Guamthe opposite case Rotaas 121 mature trees were found in 1984. The tree is located in the limestone forests of Rota j Guam. It has double-pinnate compound leaves and brush-shaped flowers with long pink filaments. Likewise, the pods have an array of one to seven smooth brown seeds.
In 1987, Serianthes nelsonii In 1998 and 2017 the plant was declared a plant in danger of extinction and assessed as critically endangered in 1998 and 2017. To solve the problems of this tree, the University of Guam Plant Physiology Laboratory has researched and created a revolutionary solution to improve the growth and survival of your seedlings.
Hexagonal glass under plants, the solution that can save an endangered tree
A group of Guamanian scientists used mirrors under seedlings in shady areas to increase the amount of light available, improving the survival of one of the most endangered plant species on Earth. It consists of the strategic installation of mirrors under the seedlings in deep shade. In this way an increase in the available ambient light was achieved.
It should be noted that the results of this study were published in the August issue of the journal Agronomy. Thomas Marlerauthor of the study and retired professor at the University of Guamexplains: “We combine different knowledge to develop the protocols. First, the amount of sunlight that penetrates the karst forest shelter Guam is minimal and increase the available light by installing lights over the seedlings. Serianthes can extend your life. Second, colored plastic mulch has been used for decades to reflect sunlight and improve crop production systems.”
The innovative protocol found its basis in the widespread use of black plastic mulch in various crop production systems. In the 1980s, the pioneers of this technology accepted that farmers should continue using plastic mulch, so they decided to experiment with different colors to control the beneficial responses of plants.
This perspective improved various crop production systems, increasing yields and reducing damage caused by pests. “Our first idea was to imitate these vegetable production protocols by using commercial colored plastic mulch products. “We then realized that the costs associated with a reflective product were less restrictive in small-scale approaches to tree conservation than in large-scale agricultural production,” he said. marble.
This hexagonal crystal surprises with its behavior among plants
This scenario led the team to use mirrors, the most reflective item available on the market. The study found that in some cases around noon, mirrors reflected more than 70% of incoming ambient light. This increase in the amount of available light generated significant responses in the plants, achieving an improvement in seedling survival of more than 160% and increasing plant height by more than 170% in one of the experiments.
The use of underground mirrors reflecting light to the seedlings of endangered species could be a before and an after for conservation practices. This hexagonal crystal among plants would be a powerful, low-risk tool for conservationists looking to improve the recovery rate of endangered plant species. As scientists try to estimate how far this system can take them, they remain shocked that the bamboo has started to generate energy.