ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate 94 Paspalum notatum genotypes over two growing seasons to estimate genetic dissimilarity through agronomic traits and the distance between genotypes. This information is used to create an ideotype from the best averages obtained for the set of characteristics evaluated. Seven apomitic, three sexual, and 81 hybrid genotypes were compared with native genotypes “André da Rocha”, “Bagual”, and cultivar “Pensacola” as controls. There is genetic variability in P. notatum for the studied characteristics, and distinct genotypes with superior characteristics can be used in new combinations between apomictic and sexual plants to obtain hybrids. The characters with the greatest relative contribution to the dissimilarity between the genotypes were tiller density, stem dry mass, and leaf dry mass yield. Thus, these characteristics are suitable criteria to infer genetic distance studies in P. notatum . The selection index based on the ideotype is an auxiliary tool in the breeding process. The ideotype must be based on characteristics of interest according to the objective of the breeding program, as well as on the breeder’s prior knowledge in relation to culture.
Abstract This chapter aims to problematize the notion that tourism and conservation are opposed to one another, by interrogating the expression of this in New Zealand's legislation which clearly states that tourism is allowed in the country's protected areas so long as it is 'not inconsistent' with the conservation of such sites. The central question guiding this chapter is how might novel nature-based experiences in New Zealand's protected areas enable a form of tourism which is not only consistent with, but also strengthens, conservation at these sites? In response to this question, three landscape design projects located at different national parks in Te Wai Pounamu, New Zealand's South Island, are examined. These individual case studies have intentionally sought, through the use of design-directed research, to explore ways in which protected areas as key sites in the nature-tourism interface could be reimagined.
Purpose This study investigates the welfare impact of microfinance on rural households in Indonesia. Its finding will bridge the gap in the Indonesian microfinance literature. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted by collecting primary data and administering a structured questionnaire to rural households in Bantul District, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. We employed the logistic model to measure welfare impacts of microcredit borrowers. Findings The research finds that purpose of loan, monthly income, monthly expenditure, interest rates, loan amount, education and marital status have significant effects on the probability of increasing borrowers' welfare after accessing microcredit. Practical implications This study will propose some policy recommendations for Indonesian policymakers that may yield better strategies to help improve the impact of their microcredit programmes on the welfare of rural households. Originality/value The authors confirm that the article has not been submitted to peer review, nor is in the process of peer reviewing and nor has been accepted for publishing in another journal. The author(s) confirms that the research in their work is original, and that all the data given in the article are real and authentic.
Tourism contributes to regional development and generates income for destinations. However, in many cases, the growth of tourist numbers does not necessarily result in an equivalent rise in economic contribution. The search for quality tourists over the quantity of tourists is certainly an important goal of regional development managers, but the efforts required to implement such an approach, especially the detailed documentation of tourist behavior while visiting the region, pose a challenge for most. This is perhaps why the analysis of quality vs quantity of tourists has been limited. This study focuses on the Great Ocean Road Region in Australia; an area that is experiencing increased visitor numbers but is not seeing commensurate economic growth. A fine-grained analysis of the international and domestic tourists is employed to determine behavior-based tourist quality, including the measurement of their traveling behavior, overnight visitation pattern, expenditure, and regional dispersal. Data was collected from 311 domestic tourists and 562 international tourists. Descriptive statistical methods were used in analyzing data. Results indicate that the domestic tourists were of a higher quality than the international tourists; they stayed longer, spent more, and were more widespread across the region than the international tourists. Hence, high-quality tourists can be a valuable resource and should be a priority for regional tourism development.
