Christianization of the Philippines

This paper aims to contribute to discussion on how the Catholic religion took root, spread, survived, and progressed in the Philippines. It seeks to address the Christianization of the pre-Hispanic Filipinos and the subsequent embedded-ment of the Church in indigenous culture. It also discusses on H. Richard Niehbur’s typology of the gospel-culture relationship as discussed by De Mesa (2007). From the fundamental congruencies between Filipino traditional religion and Catholic Christianity, this paper asserts that the lack of tension between the traditional religion of the native Filipinos and Catholicism allowed Christianity to take root, develop, and dominate in the Philippines. In addition, the entrenchment of the Church in indigenous culture and its expression in church architecture, religious art, and popular devotions specifically in the Church of Saint James the Great at Paete, Laguna and San Pedro de Alcantara Church at Pakil, Laguna are discussed. This is to correlate the important contributions of Baroque churches and religious art in the Christianization of the people in the Philippines.

Effects of Irrigation Frequency during Establishment on Growth of Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’

Irrigation for establishing landscape plants is restricted to the first 60 days after planting by most water management districts in Florida, yet woody plants may require between 6 and 12 months to become established. Survival and growth of shrubs planted into landscapes depend on adequate irrigation until shrubs develop a root system capable of compensating for evapotranspiration losses. This study examined the effect of irrigation frequency on survival, quality, and growth of Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxt. ‘Burfordii Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira [Dryand] ‘Variegata’ planted in north (Citra, FL; USDA hardiness zone 8b) and central (Balm, FL; USDA hardiness zone 9b) Florida. Shrubs were planted into the landscape from 11.4-L (#3) containers at 3-month intervals for a total of eight planting dates over 2 years and irrigated every 2, 4, or 8 days with 3 L of water at each irrigation event. Scheduled irrigation was discontinued once roots grew to the canopy edge [12 to 22 weeks after planting (WAP)] and survival, quality, and growth were evaluated from that point through 104 WAP. Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii Nana’ irrigated every 2 days had greater canopy growth index (52 through 88 WAP), canopy dry mass (52 and 104 WAP), and maximum root spread (20 through 64 and 88 WAP) when compared with shrubs irrigated every 8d in hardiness zone 8b. Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ irrigated every 2 days had greater canopy growth index (12 through 104 WAP), maximum root spread (20 through 28 and 64 through 88 WAP), and canopy dry mass (52 and 104 WAP) when compared with shrubs irrigated every 8 days in hardiness zone 8b. However, there were no differences in shoot or root growth resulting from irrigation frequency for these shrubs planted in hardiness zone 9a. Irrigation frequency did not affect shrub survival or aesthetic quality at either location. Although more frequent irrigation (every 2 days) resulted in greater plant growth in zone 8b, the two shrub species tested survived and grew after planting in hardiness zones 8b and 9a on natural rainfall alone provided they were irrigated during establishment with 3 L every 4 to 8 days until roots reached the canopy edge. Subsequent supplemental irrigation was only needed in the following 18 months when plants showed visible signs of drought stress, which occurred when there was no measurable rainfall for 30 consecutive days.

Problems and options in modelling fine-root biomass of single mature Norway spruce trees at given points from stand data

In a 75-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand, three different single-tree models were tested to predict the fine-root biomass of root samples. This approach is based on the assumption that the fine-root biomass at a given point determines the availability of belowground resources as, for example, soil water. All models assume a monotonously decreasing function describing the distribution of the fine-root biomass of a subject tree depending on the distance to the trunk of the tree. To the contrary, the models differ in the maximum distance from the stem where roots can be found. There were high correlations between the observed and the predicted fine-root biomasses for all models in a part of the stand where the trees are distributed less uniformly and where root biomasses are most heterogeneous. In a section with medium stand density, the model of diameter at breast height dependent root spread yields higher correlation coefficients compared with the fixed-distance approach of the two other models. Significant correlations between model predictions of root distributions and measured soil water potential supported the validity of the models. The results of the model estimations imply differences in the maximum distance of lateral root spread dependent on stand density.

Temporal Dynamics of Phytophthora Blight on Bell Pepper in Relation to the Mechanisms of Dispersal of Primary Inoculum of Phytophthora capsici in Soil

The effect of components of primary inoculum dispersal in soil on the temporal dynamics of Phytophthora blight epidemics in bell pepper was evaluated in field and growth-chamber experiments. Phytophthora capsici may potentially be dispersed by one of several mechanisms in the soil, including inoculum movement to roots, root growth to inoculum, and root-to-root spread. Individual components of primary inoculum dispersal were manipulated in field plots by introducing (i) sporangia and mycelia directly in soil so that all three mechanisms of dispersal were possible, (ii) a plant with sporulating lesions on the soil surface in a plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube so inoculum movement to roots was possible, (iii) a wax-encased peat pot containing sporangia and mycelia in soil so root growth to inoculum was possible, (iv) a wax-encased peat pot containing infected roots in soil so root-to-root spread was possible, (v) noninfested V8 vermiculite media into soil directly as a control, or (vi) wax-encased noninfested soil as a control. In 1995 and 1996, final incidence of disease was highest in plots where sporangia and mycelia were buried directly in soil and all mechanisms of dispersal were operative (60 and 32%) and where infected plants were placed in PVC tubes on the soil surface and inoculum movement to roots occurred with rainfall (89 and 23%). Disease onset was delayed in 1995 and 1996, and final incidence was lower in plants in plots where wax-encased sporangia (6 and 22%) or wax-encased infected roots (22%) were buried in soil and root growth to inoculum or root-to-root spread occurred. Incidence of root infections was higher over time in plots where inoculum moved to roots or all mechanisms of dispersal were possible. In growth-chamber studies, ultimately all plants became diseased regardless of the dispersal mechanism of primary inoculum, but disease onset was delayed when plant roots had to grow through a wax layer to inoculum or infected roots in tension funnels that contained small volumes of soil. Our data from both field and growth-chamber studies demonstrate that the mechanism of dispersal of the primary inoculum in soil can have large effects on the temporal dynamics of disease.

Nursery Production Method Affects Root Growth

This study compared growth and biomass distribution on two commonly grown trees produced in plastic containers with those in fabric containers and in the field. Shoot: root ratio on field-grown and fabric container-grown laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia Michx.) was higher than on holly (Ilex × attenuata Ashe. ‘East Palatka’). Ratios were similar for trees grown in plastic containers. Compared to oaks, a larger portion of holly root balls was comprised of small diameter roots. Root spread of field-grown laurel oak was similar to those produced in fabric containers. Trees of both species growing in plastic containers had several times more fine root mass (roots 2 mm or less diameter) within the root ball than those dug from the field or fabric containers. Total root ball root weight in plastic containers was less than in field-and fabric container grown trees. Root weight inside the root balls for field-grown and fabric container-grown trees was similar but field-grown root balls were twice the volume. Only 17% (field) and 26% (fabric containers) of holly root weight within the root ball was from roots 10 mm or less in diameter. However, 48% percent of root weight on trees grown in plastic containers was in this diameter class. Between 68 and 84%, depending on species and production method, of total-tree root weight was inside the root ball. Between 10% and 18.1%, depending on species and production method, of roots 2 mm or less in diameter was inside the root ball.