Seasonal fluctuations of the mineral concentration of alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) from the field

Summary The seasonal fluctuation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Co, in leaves, roots and nodules of 40–50 year oldAlnus glutinosa trees growing at four different locations along the banks of the Tormes river, in the province of Salamanca, was studied. Also, the evolution of the soil organic matter under the trees sampled was evaluated. The data obtained for the various nutrient elements in the three plant parts are statistically treated at the significance levels of 99–95 per cent, and some remarks as to the nutritional status of the European alder in respect to the nutrients and its contribution to soil nutrient-cycling are provided. A positive correlation was found between N–P, N–K, N–Mg, and N–Mo, in leaves, and between N–P, N–K, N–Fe, N–Mn, and N–Mo in root nodules. In roots only, no significance at any level was obtained between N and any of the elements analyzed.     

Effects of nickel on Frankia and its symbiosis with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn

The tolerance of nickel by Frankia in culture and in symbiosis with Alnus was determined. Yield of three Frankia strains was not affected significantly by 2.25 mM nickel when cultured in propionate medium containing hydolysed casein as nitrogen source. Yield of two strains in medium without combined nitrogen, and thus reliant on fixed nitrogen, was stimulated markedly by the same nickel concentration. Utilisation of nickel for synthesis of uptake hydrogenases is presumed to be the cause of enhanced nitrogenase activity.Although growth was reduced, treatment of 2-month-old seedlings with 0.025 mM nickel for 4 weeks did not affect nodulation significantly while nitrogenase activity was doubled. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity of seedlings receiving 0.075 mM nickel were inhibited markedly, while 0.5 mM nickel was lethal to all seedlings after 4 weeks of treatment. A few small, ineffective nodules were initiated early on some of the latter seedlings, suggesting that effects of nickel on host plant processes rather than Frankia are the primary cause of inhibition of nodulation. This interpretation is supported by the retention of substantial nitrogenase activity in 10-month-old plants 1 day after the treatment with 0.59 mM nickel, when the nickel content of roots and nodules was already maximal. No nitrogenase activity was detected after 3 days, by which time the leaves were almost completely necrotic. Over a 4 day period, most nickel was retained in the roots and nodules. Supplying histidine simultaneously at concentrations equal to, or in excess of, nickel prevented wilting and leaf necrosis, but did not increase translocation of nickel to the shoot.     

Characterization of a thermo-osmotic gas transport mechanism in Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.

Summary A gas transport system based upon the physico-chemical effect of thermo-osmosis of gases in described for the black alder, Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. Air is transported through the alder's stem to the roots, thus improving O₂ supply to respiring tissues of the root system. The gas transport system is investigated by means of a tracer gas technique (11% ethane in air, v/v). Gas transport depends on any source of radiant heat generating a temperature difference between the tree's stems and the atmosphere. The amount of gas transported in leafless trees is four times higher than the amount of gas reaching the roots by gas diffusion. Two-thirds of the gas is transported in the wood, only one-third in the bark. Intercellular spaces inside the porous lenticels of the bark are responsible for this kind of gas transport. Their diameters are estimated by the effusion rates of different tracer gases to be in the range of 1 m.     

Expression of Frankia nif genes in nodules of Alnus glutinosa

Expression of Frankia genes involved in nitrogen fixation was studied in Alnus glutinosa nodules using the in situ hybridization technique. The results show that high level expression of nif genes does not occur immediately upon infection of cortical cells by Frankia. Also, only in the infected cells near the tips of the nodule lobes, nif genes are expressed at high levels. In the majority of infected cells, nif gene expression is rather low.     

Seasonal variations of the sexual reproductive growth and nitrogenase activity (C2H2) in matureAlnus glutinosa

Summary The seasonal variations of the growth of sexual reproductive organs and of the nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) of root nodules are surveyed in mature field alders (Alnus glutinosa). The growth of female catkins—pollinated in February-early March—takes place chiefly from June to August and the growth of immature male catkins from July to September. The nitrogenase activity steadily shows two periods of high rate—the first from late April to early June, the second in September–October-and a summer period of low rate when the female catkins and the seeds achieve the most part of their growth.The seasonal fluctuations of thein vitro/in vivo nitrogenase activity ratio showing the supply of metabolic factors in the root nodules as a likely cause of the variations of thein vivo nitrogenase activity, the possible competition for photosynthate allocation between the production of sexual organs and the nitrogen-fixing capacity in mature field alders is discussed.     

Nonglandular leaf trichomes as short-term inducible defense of the grey alder,Alnus incana (L.), against the chrysomelid beetle,Agelastica alni L.

Summary The grey alder compensates leaf area losses due to insect grazing by continuously producing new leaves throughout the vegetative period. Different degrees of defoliation were attained experimentally by a controlled release of the oligophagous beetle Agelastica alni on arbitrarily selected trees from a homogenous population of young alders. The reduction in leaf area per tree significantly influenced the density of leaf trichomes, assessed 10–30 days later, on newly sprouting leaves only. Cross-correlations between leaf area reduction and trichome density were strongest for leaves which completed unfolding 14–21 days after damage. Dualchoice assays suggested a negative influence of trichomes on oviposition rate of A. alni. Removal of trichomes by shaving demonstrated the highly significant effect of trichomes on feeding behavior of adults and larvae in dual-choice assays. The role of the induced increase in trichome density as a possible short-term defense reaction against herbivorous insects is discussed.     

Soil properties and actinorhizal vegetation influence nodulation of Alnus glutinosa and Elaeagnus angustifolia by Frankia

Nodulation (mean number of nodules per seedling) was 5 times greater for Elaeagnus angustifolia than for Alnus glutinosa overall when seedlings were grown in pots containing either an upland or an alluvial soil from central Illinois, USA. However, the upland Alfisol had 1.3 times greater nodulation capacity for A. glutinosa than for E. angustifolia. The presence of A. glutinosa trees on either soil was associated with a two-fold increase in nodulation capacity for E. angustifolia. Nodulation increases for soils under A. glutinosa were obtained for A. glutinosa seedlings in the Alfisol, but decreased nodulation for A. glutinosa seedlings occurred in the Mollisol. Greatest nodulation of E. angustifolia seedlings occurred near pH 6.6 for soil pH values ranging from 4.9 to 7.1, while greatest nodulation of A. glutinosa occurred at pH 4.9 over the same pH range. Nodulation was not affected by total soil nitrogen concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 0.20%. Mollisol pH was significantly lower under A. glutinosa trees than under E. angustifolia trees. For 4- to 8-year-old field-grown trees, A. glutinosa nodule weights were negatively correlated with soil pH, while for similar aged E. angustifolia trees nodulation in the acidic Alfisol was not detected.     

Nitrogen cycling in dense plantings of hybrid poplar and black alder

Summary Nitrogen cycling was studied during the third growing season in pure and mixed plantings (33×33 cm spacing) of hybrid poplar and black alder in southeastern Canada. After 3 years, hybrid poplar growth and N content of living tissues in a plot and of individual hybrid poplar plants increased with the proportion of black alder in a planting. No differences were detected among N contents of individual alder plants regardless of plot treatment. Black alder allocated a larger portion of its N to roots than hybrid poplar. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation was estimated to account for 80% of the nitrogen in aboveground alder tissues in the pure treatment using natural¹⁵N dilution. N return in leaf litter was estimated to be 70kg ha^–1 in the pure alder treatment and decreased to a minimum of 20 kg ha^–1 in the pure hybrid poplar plots. No difference was detected among treatments for throughfall N content. Nitrogen concentration in roots and leaf litterfall of black alder was higher than hybrid poplar. Significant soil N accretion occurred in mixed plantings containing two alders to one poplar and pure black alder plantings. Nitrogen availability (NO₃–N) increased with the amount of black alder in a plot. Results suggest that the early increase in nitrogen accumulation of hybrid poplar in mixed treatments can be attributed to an increase of total soil N availability resulting from the input of large amounts of N from easily mineralizable alder tissue.     

Natural Diversity of Nodular Microsymbionts of Alnus glutinosa in the Tormes River Basin

The genetic diversity of Frankia strains nodulating Alnus glutinosa along the basin of the Tormes River was studied on DNA extracted directly from nodules. Frankia strains inhabiting root nodules at 12 different locations, ranging in altitude from 409 to 1181 m, were characterized. For that, we amplified the whole IGS region between 16S–23S rDNA and performed a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with four restriction enzymes. Two different RFLP patterns (termed A and B) were obtained with HaeIII, indicating the existence of two different groups of Frankia strains. Three different nodule extracts from each of the two RFLP groups were selected for further analyses. Sequencing of the 16S–23S rDNA IGS showed a 100% of intragroup homology and also confirmed the difference (98.4% level of similarity) between the Frankia strains in the two nodule extract groups. The phylogenetic analyses based on the two 16S–23S rDNA IGS sequences obtained in this study and other previously published sequences indicated that Frankia strains TFAg5 and TFAg23 (chosen as representative of HaeIII–RFLP group A and B, respectively) are quite similar to other strains nodulating plants of A. rhombifolia and A. viridis in California (pairwise levels of similarity including gaps ranged from 97.8% to 98.6%), together with which they form a single group. To put the Frankia strains representative of each HaeIII–RFLP group in the context of overall Frankia diversity we amplified and sequenced the 16S rDNA and glnII gene from nodular DNA. An also remarkable fact found in this study was that Frankia strains belonging to the HaeIII–RFLP group A were distributed all along the river course, from the lowest site sampled to the highest, while Frankia strains placed into RFLP group B were restricted to the upper Tormes River, being exclusively found at altitudes of 946 m or higher.     

Nitrate reductase activity in leaves and roots ofAlnus glutinosa (L) Gaertner

Summary Thein vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was determined inAlnus glutinosa plants grown nonsymbiotically on ammonium, nitrate, a combination of both, or symbiotically with atmospheric nitrogen as the only nitrogen source. Root NRA was absent when ammonium or atmospheric nitrogen was the nitrogen source. With nitrate in the culture solution the roots showed a high NRA. However, the leaf NRA behaved quite differently: with negligible activities on all nitrogen sources except atmospheric nitrogen. The foliar NRA measured, however, is likely not due to the activity of the plant but of microbial origin. Methods commonly used to facilitate produced nitrite to leak out of the tissue, such as addition of propanol and cutting the plant material, did not increase the nitrite release from the leaves. A turbidity developed when testing the samples for nitrite which was positively correlated with the NRA. Populations of microorganisms in the phyllosphere did not differ between the nutritional treatments. Bacteria, able to grow on a low-nitrogen medium, were present on the leaves. Nitrifiers could not be detected. The bacteria on the leaves appear to produce nitrite when incubated with leaf material. Grassland Species Research Group, Publication no. 106     

Impact of epidermal leaf mining by the aspen leaf miner (Phyllocnistis populiella) on the growth, physiology, and leaf longevity of quaking aspen

The aspen leaf miner, Phyllocnistis populiella, feeds on the contents of epidermal cells on both top (adaxial) and bottom (abaxial) surfaces of quaking aspen leaves, leaving the photosynthetic tissue of the mesophyll intact. This type of feeding is taxonomically restricted to a small subset of leaf mining insects but can cause widespread plant damage during outbreaks. We studied the effect of epidermal mining on aspen growth and physiology during an outbreak of P. populiella in the boreal forest of interior Alaska. Experimental reduction of leaf miner density across two sites and 3 years significantly increased annual aspen growth rates relative to naturally mined controls. Leaf mining damage was negatively related to leaf longevity. Leaves with heavy mining damage abscised 4 weeks earlier, on average, than leaves with minimal mining damage. Mining damage to the top and bottom surfaces of leaves had different effects on physiology. Mining on the top surface of the leaf had no significant effect on photosynthesis or conductance and was unrelated to leaf stable C isotope ratio (delta(13)C). Mining damage to the bottom leaf surface, where stomata are located, had significant negative effects on net photosynthesis and water vapor conductance. Percent bottom mining was positively related to leaf delta(13)C. Taken together, the data suggest that the primary mechanism for the reduction of photosynthesis by epidermal leaf mining by P. populiella is the failure of stomata to open normally on bottom-mined leaves.     

Decomposition of Eucalyptus globulus leaves and three native leaf species (Alnus glutinosa, Castanea sativa and Quercus faginea) in a Portuguese low order stream

Leaf decomposition of the exotic evergreen Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus), and three native deciduous tree species, Alnus glutinosa (alder), Castanea sativa (chestnut) and Quercus faginea (oak), was compared in a second order stream in Central Portugal. Changes in dry weight, nitrogen and polyphenolic compounds and microbial colonization were periodically assessed for three months.Negative exponential curves fit the leaf weight loss with time for all leaf species. Mass loss rate was in the order alder (K = 0.0161) > chestnut (K = 0.0079) > eucalyptus (K = 0.0068) > oak (K = 0.0037). Microbial colonization followed the same pattern as breakdown rates. Evidence of fungal colonization was observed in alder after 3 days in the stream, whereas it took 21 days in oak leaves to have fungal colonization. Fungal diversity was leaf species-dependent and increased with time. In all cases, percent nitrogen per unit leaf weight increased, at least, at the initial stages of decay while soluble polyphenolics (expressed as percentage per unit leaf weight) decreased rapidly in the first month of leaves immersion.Intrinsic factors such as nitrogen and polyphenolic content may explain differences in leaf decomposition. The possible incorporation of eucalyptus litter into secondary production in a reasonable time span is suggested, although community balance and structure might be affected by differences in allochthonous patterns determined by eucalyptus monocultures.     

N2 fixation by red alder (Alnus rubra) and scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) planted under precommerically thinned Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Summary From acetylene reduction assays over a 10-month period starting in April 1979, nodule activities averaged 18.78 (se 4.67) moles C₂H₄ g nodule dw^–1 h^–1 forAlnus rubra and 59.95 (se 12.14) moles C₂H₄ g nodule dw^–1 h^–1 forCytisus scorparius. Plant rates were 1.91 (se. 47) moles C₂H₄ plant^–1 h^–1 forA. rubra and 0.55 (se. 17) moles C₂H₄ plant^–1 h^–1 forC. Scoparius. Plant activity and total leaf N were strongly correlated with the dw of other plant parts, but nodule activity and percent leaf N were not. Plant and nodule activities were not associated with temperature, moisture stress, precipitation events or percent light for either species over the growing season nor for 54A. rubra sampled in mid-season 1979 on one replication. After 5 to 6 growing seasons, 14A. rubra on the same site ranged from 30 to 332 cm in height and showed strong correlation between nodule dw, leaf dw, plant size and total leaf N. Results from this study and others indicate logistic equations may be modified to predict the effect of adding a N₂ fixing plant to a population of non N₂ fixing trees.     

Distribution of spore-positive and spore-negative nodules in stands ofAlnus glutinosa andAlnus incana in Finland

Summary The distribution of spore positive (Sp⁺) and spore negative (Sp⁻) nodules on the two native alder species (A. incana andA. glutinosa) in Finland was investigated. Nodules were collected throughout the country from different ecosystems (forests, swamps, lake- sea- and riversides, old pastures and fields as well as from alder plantations). OnA. incana Sp⁺ nodules predominated, whereas onA. glutinosa the vast majority of the nodules were of the Sp⁻ type. Sp⁺ nodules onA. glutinosa were found only at sites where the two alder species grew close together. This distribution pattern indicates an association of nodule type with alder species, the reasons for which are discussed. Indications of saprophytic growth in the Sp⁻ strain were also found.     

Glasshouse evaluation of the growth ofAlnus rubra andAlnus glutinosa on peat and acid brown earth soils when inoculated with four sources ofFrankia

The effects of soil type (an acid peat and 2 acid brown earths) andFrankia source (3 spore-positive crushed nodule inocula and spore-negative crushed nodules containing the singleFrankia ArI5) on nodulation, N content and growth ofAlnus glutinosa andA. rubra were determined in a glasshouse pot experiment of two years duration. Plants on all soils required additional P for growth. Growth of both species was very poor on peat withA. glutinosa superior toA. rubra. The former species was also superior toA. rubra on an acid brown earth with low pH and low P content. Some plant-inoculum combinations were of notable effectivity on particular soils but soil type was the major source of variation in plant weight. Inoculation with crushed nodules containingFrankia ArI5 only gave poor infection of the host plant, suggesting that inoculation with locally-collected crushed nodules can be a preferred alternative to inoculation withFrankia isolates of untested effectivity. Evidence of adaptation ofFrankia to particular soils was obtained. Thus, while the growth of all strains was stimulated by mineral soil extracts, inhibitory effects of peat extracts were more apparent with isolates from nodules from mineral soils than from peat, suggesting that survival ofFrankia on peat may be improved by strain selection.     

Autumnal changes in tissue nitrogen of autumn olive,black alder and eastern cottonwood

Two experiments were conducted to determine patterns of N change in tissues of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa [L.] Gaertn.) during autumn in central Illinois, U.S.A. In the first study leaf nitrogen concentrations of autumn olive decreased 40% at an infertile minespoil site and 39% at a fertile prairie site throughout autumn whereas nitrogen concentrations in respective bark samples increased by 39% and 37%. Salt-extractable protein concentrations increased in bark and decreased in leaves over the sampling period. Free amino acid concentrations of autumn olive leaves decreased over the course of the experiment from peak concentrations in August. Asparagine, glutamic acid and proline were major constituents of the free amino acid pools in leaves. Total phosphorus concentrations of autumn olive leaves declined by 40–46% during autumn while bark concentrations of P did not significantly change.In the second experiment non-nodulated seedlings of alder receiving a low level of N-fertilization did not exhibit net resorption of leaf N during autumn whereas foliar N concentration of contrasting nonactinorhizal cottonwood plants (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex. Marsh) under the same fertilization regime decreased by 27% after the first frost. A gradual but significant decrease of 38% in foliar N concentration of nodulated alder seedlings grown under a low N-fertilization regime was associated with the cessation of nitrogenase activity during autumn in nodules. Compared with the low N fertilization regime, the higher level of N-fertilization resulted in smaller autumnal decreases of foliar N concentration in nodulated alder (17%) and in cottonwood (20%); but there was no decrease in foliar N concentration in non-nodulated alder. The higher level of N-fertilization promoted a greater accumulation of N in the roots than in the bark of both tree species after the first frost.Our results suggest that black alder lackingFrankia symbionts does not exhibit net leaf N resorption and that autumnal decreases in leaf N ofFrankia-nodulated black alder result primarily from declining foliar N import relative to export due to low temperature inhibition of N₂ fixation. In contrast, autumn olive exhibited greater and more precipitous autumnal declines in foliar N concentration than those of alder, and the pattern of N decline was unaffected by site fertility.     

Estimates of Frankia growth under various pH and temperature regimes

Summary The growth of Frankia isolates was monitored by dry weight, total protein and total ATP measurements under different temperature and pH regimes. Significant correlations (P<0.01) were found among all growth measures which meant that similar general conclusions were reached irrespective of the study method involved. The assessment of protein was the method of choice for regular assessments of Frankia growth due to its facility and relatively high sensitivity. The optimum temperature for growth of isolate LDAgp1 and AvcI1 was about 30°C while for CpI1 it lay between 30° and 35°C. No growth was observed at 40°C but some growth was observed at 10°C with isolate CpI1 and LDAgp1 over an extended growth period of 39 days. The range of pH favouring growth lay between 6 and 8. The optimum for LDAgp1 lay between 6.5 and 7, that for AvcI1 and CpI1 is close to 6.5. The pH response was medium dependent. Increases in biomass were observed for some isolates at 4.6 and above 8.0 on some media.     

椰子叶螨Aceria(Eriophyes)guerreronis对我国椰子产业的风险性分析

[目的]明确刺吸式害虫椰子叶螨对我国椰子产业的风险,为该虫的检验检疫和应急防控提供参考.[方法]从椰子叶螨的国内外发生现状、潜在危害性、受害作物的经济重要性、定殖扩散的可能性以及风险管理的难度等方面,对椰子叶螨危害我国椰子产业的风险性进行定性和定量评估.[结果]椰子叶螨个体较小、传播方式多样、检疫和灭除难度较大,根据有...