Two contrasting strategies seem to underlie Gleditsia triacanthos success in Argentinean Chaco woodlands. The invasive tree might benefit by being similar to the dominant native, Prosopis alba, in regenerative features (i.e. recruitment), but differing in its combination of attributes that enhance competitive ability (i.e. persistence and eventually dominance).

Glasshouse experiments assessed growth of the weed Lippia (Phyla canescens) following damage to whole plants and plant pieces. Plants recovered from damage through growth from stem nodes. The most effective biological agents will be those that limit lippia’s vegetative growth and spread, such as shoot- or crown-feeding insects.

Predominant regeneration modes, sprouting versus non-sprouting, will result in contrasting evolutionary and ecological responses that may be traced by nuclear markers. We compared pairwise genetic patterns of the predominant sprouter N. antarctica with the mainly non-sprouter N. pumilio along their geographically concordant widespread range. The sprouter N. antarctica showed higher genetic variation than did the non-sprouter N. pumilio; therefore, predominantly sprouting, as compared with mainly non-sprouting, has favoured long-term persistence of genetic variants in relatively large populations.

Breakage of macadamia kernels into halves (cotyledons) is an important cultural issue. Electron microscopy revealed a relationship between kernel breakage and the surface morphology of its inner cuticle. Naturally occurring gaps between kernel halves were measured and gap width and gap length were positively related to kernel breakage.