Seasonal timing of pseudoviviparous reproduction of Leiothrix (Eriocaulaceae) rupestrian species in South-eastern Brazil

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pseudovivipary is an asexual reproductive strategy. Leiothrix spiralis and L. vivipara (Eriocaulaceae) are pseudoviviparous and occur in rupestrian grasslands, a habitat that has a predominance of sandy and shallow soil, with low water retention. This study aims to investigate the seasonal variation effect of moisture availability on L. spiralis and L. vivipara pseudoviviparous reproduction, and to compare their life history attributes, on rupestrian grasslands in Southeastern Brazil. METHODS: A field study was conducted, including observations concerning pseudoviviparous reproduction and measurement of demographic variables in both L. spiralis and L. vivipara. Soil moisture measurements were also performed to study its effect on the pseudoviviparous reproduction of L. spiralis and L. vivipara. KEY RESULTS: Flower head and plantlet production in L. spiralis were highly correlated with soil moisture. All scapes split off in the drier period, indicating that this is a splitter ramet species. Plantlet mortality was positively correlated with scapes splitting off. The L. vivipara phenophases were not synchronized to the variation in soil moisture, since flower heads and plantlets were produced throughout the year. Moreover, the splitting off of scapes was not observed. In addition, plantlets were formed early, as soon as the flower heads appeared, and remained suspended. Therefore, this species was called 'canopy forming'. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal timing of pseudoviviparous reproduction can be a vital component of the successful establishment of plantlets in L. spiralis, considering that in this species the plantlets are formed only after the flower head touches the ground. In contrast, in L. vivipara, the plantlets are formed early, without touching the ground. Moreover, L. spiralis is a splitter ramet species, while L. vivipara is a canopy-forming species. The pseudoviviparous canopy-forming strategy appears to be more advantageous than the splitter ramet strategy, because even under similar soil moisture conditions, the survival of L. vivipara plantlets was greater than that of L. spiralis.     

热消散液流测定系统研究竹子蒸腾的问题和解决思路

旺盛的蒸腾是竹子迅速生长的重要代谢保障,对林区生态系统水循环和水量平衡发挥关键作用,如何准确估测竹林的蒸腾耗水是迫切需要解决的方法难题。目前研究树木水分生理和森林水文广泛采用的热消散液流测定方法(TDP)却少有在竹林中应用,而仅有的几项研究报道由于缺乏严谨的实验验证,结果误差较大而缺少说服力。作者认为,竹壁结构异质性和竹竿中央空腔造成热量的不均匀分布是基于热通量交换的液流测定系统测量竹子蒸腾不准确的主要原因,提出以自行设计的注水变压液流特性测定法和传统的整树容器称重法,验证热消散液流测定系统估测竹子水分利用的适用性。本文还结合竹子的种群结构和无次生生长的特点,提出竹株借助相互连接的地下茎进行水分再分配,异株补偿水力限制,蒸腾主要受年龄而不是竹形大小影响的观点,建议通过分析竹子蒸腾的年龄效应,研究不同种植密度竹林水分利用的变化规律,为竹林生产和集水区水源管理提供有效的林型设计和措施。     

Water relations in competitive interactions of Mediterranean grasses and shrubs

In Mediterranean ecosystems, competition between opportunistic grasses and slower-growing woody species may affect the speed and path of ecosystem recovery and the success of restoration plantings after natural or human-induced disturbance. In this experiment, competitive interactions between Mediterranean annual and perennial grass species (Avena fatua and Brachypodium retusum, respectively) and an important Mediterranean shrub (Rosmarinus offlcinalis) were examined under semi-controlled conditions simulating wet and dry Mediterranean rainfall regimes. The identity of the grass competitor and the level of water availability in the plots interacted to produce differing rates of R. offlcinalis growth but similar levels of mortality. In particular, competition with the perennial grass resulted in very low rates of R. offlcinalis growth at both irrigation levels. Measurements of soil water content showed that both grasses reduced soil moisture to low levels, though this effect was temporary in the case of the winter annual grass. Resistance to hydraulic flow in roots was highest in the perennial grass, smaller but of similar magnitude in the shrub, and much lower in the annual grass. Transpirational response to decreasing leaf water potential was a quick, sharp drop in conductance in R. offlcinalis, in contrast to a moderated decline from much lower initial transpiration rates in B. retusum. The annual grass largely maintained both leaf water potential and transpiration through leaf-tip senescence and death. Quantification of the rate of hydric recuperation of leaves after irrigation of drought-stressed plants showed that the perennial grass recovered at a rate four times that of R. offlcinalis, suggesting a strategy for making quick use of rare summer rains that may contribute to its competitive success. The appropriateness of planting or suppressing grasses in restoration of disturbed sites in Mediterranean Spain is discussed.     

竹笋期竹箨和笋体的日间蒸腾特性及其对水分运输的影响

竹子的高速生长主要发生在无枝无叶的笋期, 并对水分需求巨大。水分不仅参与植物体内各种代谢, 而且水分转运可促进光合产物、矿质元素、生长激素等物质流动。竹子夜间主要由根压驱动水分转运, 但在日间尤其是下午根压基本为负值, 明确竹笋日间蒸腾作用发生机制及其对水分运输的影响对竹林培育有重要意义。该研究以不同伸长阶段的慈竹(Bambusa emeiensis)笋为材料, 研究了茎秆和竹箨的气孔特征、气孔导度与蒸腾速率等生理特征及在离体条件下竹笋的水分转运速率。结果表明: 1)不同发育状态的竹笋茎秆及箨鞘表面均分布有大量气孔, 气孔小且凹陷, 光合速率及叶绿素a、b含量极低, 但气孔导度和蒸腾速率均显著高于成熟叶片, 表明笋体和箨鞘是竹笋主要的呼吸和蒸腾部位。2)离体条件下竹笋的番红示踪表明, 高生长阶段的竹笋茎秆中番红上升速率较快, 有着较强的蒸腾。竹箨分离后, 番红仍然能够扩散和运输, 表明笋体茎秆也存在一定的蒸腾, 但与竹箨包裹的竹笋相比, 番红在分离竹箨后的笋体中上升速度显著下降, 表明竹箨对笋体内水分运输影响较大。3)箨环处的组织解剖发现, 节间的纵向维管束在竹节处特化形成一个类板状结构, 弯曲伸入竹箨, 是竹箨影响笋体内水分运输的重要结构基础。上述结果表明, 日间竹笋水分通过茎秆和竹箨表面的气孔大量蒸散, 产生蒸腾拉力驱动笋体内水分转运。该研究也发现, 随着茎秆成熟, 竹箨松动并开始脱落, 茎秆表面的气孔宽度增加, 加大了气孔的开口大小, 增大了节间气孔与大气水气交换的有效面积, 在一定程度上弥补了竹箨脱落时减少的蒸腾拉力。     

Effects of tussock size and soil water content on whole plant gas exchange in Stipa tenacissima L.: Extrapolating from the leaf versus modelling crown architecture

In this study we evaluated daily whole plant transpiration and net photosynthetic rates in Stipa tenacissima L. (Poaceae) tussocks of different sizes subjected to three levels of soil moisture. The crown architecture of 12 tussocks was reconstructed with the 3D computer model Yplant taking into account the morphology and physiology of the leaves determined at different soil moisture levels. We also calculated whole plant transpiration by extrapolating leaf transpiration in different senescence conditions measured with a diffusion porometer. This extrapolated transpiration overestimated transpiration, particularly when the soil moisture level was high (>15% of volumetric soil water content). At this high level of soil moisture, large tussocks (>60 cm in diameter), which were sexually mature and had a large leaf surface area, were the most efficient with regard to daily water use efficiency (whole plant net photosynthesis/whole plant transpiration). Whole plant water use efficiency decreased with tussock size primarily because small tussocks exhibited high transpiration rates. Small tussocks were more sensitive to soil drying than large and intermediate ones, presenting a faster rate of leaf senescence as water deficit increased. Leaf acclimation to irradiance, which was significantly influenced by the degree of mutual shading among neighbouring leaves, along with the ontogeny of the tussock and its effect upon leaf senescence were found to be the main mechanisms involved in the different responses to water limitations found in whole plant gas exchange variables. Our results show that the size of each individual plant must be taken into account in processes of scaling-up of carbon gain and transpiration from leaf to stand, as this is a particularly relevant aspect in estimating water use by semiarid vegetation.     

Influence of Different Cytokinins on the Transpiration and Senescence of Excised Oat Leaves

In order to investigate the possibility that cytokinins control transpiration indirectly through affecting leaf senescence, a direct comparison was made of the effect of different cytokinins on transpiration and senescence of oat leaves (Avena sativa L. cv. Forward). Senescence was assessed by measuring chlorophyll loss. The synthetic cytokinins N⁶ benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin delayed senescence and increased transpiration of oat leaves to a greater extent than did the naturally occurring compounds zeatin, N^b-Δ² isopentenyladenine (i⁶ Ade) and 6-ø-hydroxybenzyladenosine (hyd-BA riboside). During the early stages of the transpiration experiment zeatin showed similar or greater activity than BA. This period was longest when freshly excised leaves were used, was reduced when leaves were used after incubation in distilled water in the dark for 20 h and was eliminated by incubation in cytokinin solution in the dark. After this period the activity of zeatin declined relative to BA. The effect of cytokinins in increasing transpiration occurred only in the light; no effect was observed in the dark. BA showed higher activity than zeatin in senescence tests but both cytokinins were less effective as the tests progressed, this decrease in activity being more rapid when older leaves were used. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms by which endogenous cytokinins might control sensecence and transpiration in oat leaves and to the value of the oat leaf senscence and transpiration bioassays as tests for cytokinin activity of plant extracts.     

Basis of the Relationship between Ash Content in the Flag Leaf and Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Kernels of Durum Wheat

The relationship between ash content and carbon isotope discrimination () was studied in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grown in a Mediterranean region (Northwest Syria) under three different water regimes (hereafter referred to as environments). In two of these environments, 144 genotypes were cultivated under rain-fed conditions. In the third environment, 125 genotypes were cultivated under irrigation. Ash content was measured in the flag leaf about 3 weeks after anthesis, whereas was analysed in mature kernels. Total transpiration of the photosynthetic tissues of the culm contributing, from heading to maturity, to the filling of kernels was also estimated. Leaf ash content, expressed either on dry matter or leaf area basis or as total ash per blade, correlated positively (p< 0.001) with in the three environments. However, this relationship was not the result of a positive correlation across genotypes between and tissue water content. Moreover, only a small part of the variation in across genotypes was explained by concomitant changes in ash content. When all genotypes across the three environments were plotted, and ash content followed a non-linear relationship (r ² = 74), with tending to a plateau as the ash content increased. However, for the set of genotypes and environments combined, total ash content per leaf blade was positively and linearly related (r ² = 0.76) with the accumulated culm transpiration. The non-linear nature of the relationship between ash content and is sustained by the fact that culm transpiration also showed a non-linear relationship with kernel . Therefore, differences in leaf ash content between environments, and to a lesser extent between genotypes, seem to be brought about by variations in accumulated transpiration during grain formation.     

A Model for Estimation of Water Flow Resistance in Soil-Leaf Pathway under Dynamic Conditions

The present study was carried out to establish a model for estimatingwater flow resistance in a soil-leaf pathway under field conditions.In this model, the change in leaf water content is taken intoconsideration; the model is based on the assumption that waterflow resistance is essentially constant for relatively shortperiods. Resistance was estimated for three subtropical woodyspecies growing on shallow-soiled ridges. For the estimation,transpiration rate and leaf water potential were measured directlyin the field, and leaf water content was estimated based onthe relationship between leaf water potential and relative leafwater content as observed in the laboratory. Resistance showedlittle variation with change in leaf water potential and transpirationrate by day but was particularly high in the evening in allspecies. The reason for this is not known but was perhaps dueto inaccurate measurement for transpiration rate. It was consideredto be pertinent to compare daily values of resistance so asto assess plant adaptation to drought. The model was shown tobe useful for estimating resistance from conventional measurementsin the field. Key words: Leaf water content, leaf water potential, transpiration rate, water flow resistance     

Hydraulic redistribution in a stand of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia tridentata</Emphasis>: evaluation of benefits to transpiration assessed with a simulation model

The significance of soil water redistribution facilitated by roots (an extension of "hydraulic lift", here termed hydraulic redistribution) was assessed for a stand of Artemisia tridentata using measurements and a simulation model. The model incorporated water movement within the soil via unsaturated flow and hydraulic redistribution and soil water loss from transpiration. The model used Buckingham-Darcy's law for unsaturated flow while hydraulic redistribution was developed as a function of the distribution of active roots, root conductance for water, and relative soil-root (rhizosphere) conductance for water. Simulations were conducted to compare model predictions with time courses of soil water potential at several depths, and to evaluate the importance of root distribution, soil hydraulic conductance and root xylem conductance on transpiration rates and the dynamics of soil water. The model was able to effectively predict soil water potential during a summer drying cycle, and the rapid redistribution of water down to 1.5 m into the soil column after rainfall events. Results of simulations indicated that hydraulic redistribution could increase whole canopy transpiration over a 100-day drying cycle. While the increase was only 3.5% over the entire 100-day period, hydraulic redistribution increased transpiration up to 20.5% for some days. The presence of high soil water content within the lower rooting zone appears to be necessary for sizeable increases in transpiration due to hydraulic redistribution. Simulation results also indicated that root distributions with roots concentrated in shallow soil layers experienced the greatest increase in transpiration due to hydraulic redistribution. This redistribution had much less effect on transpiration with more uniform root distributions, higher soil hydraulic conductivity and lower root conductivity. Simulation results indicated that redistribution of water by roots can be an important component in soil water dynamics, and the model presented here provides a useful approach to incorporating hydraulic redistribution into larger models of soil processes.     

Transpiration flow rate in a full-grown tree ofPrunus avium L. estimated by the method of heat balance in connection with some meteorological factors

The course of the transpiration flow rate (Q_w), of transpiration flow acceleration (Q_w/dt) and of the integrated transpiration flow was determined during an average summer day by repeated measurements according to the method of heat balance and the free water capacity of the tree trunk was estimated. The relations between the transpiration flow rate and the temperature and relative humidity of the air and the vapour pressure deficit measured at the same time in their diurnal course, as well as at the single diurnal terms during the whole time at which measurements were carried out were determined by correlation analysis. The problems linked with the effect of various meteorological conditions during different times of the day, of rain showers, solar radiation and soil water content are discussed. The possibilities of explaining the midday depression of transpiration on the basis of repeated measurements of the transpiration flow rate are evaluated.     

The ultrastructure of wheat leaves I. Changes due to natural senescence and the effects of kinetin and ABA on detached leaves incubated in the dark

Summary Detached wheat leaves incubated in water in darkness rapidly lose starch and are ultrastructurally degenerate by 5 days. Chloroplast ribosomes disappear before cytoplasmic ribosomes and groups of wavy membranes can be detected in both mature and degenerating chloroplasts. Large lipid bodies appear in the cytoplasm and vacuole during senescence, and osmiophilic fibrils and deposits develop in the microbodies. Treatment with kinetin via the transpiration stream markedly delays the loss of starch and maintains, but does not increase, chloroplast and cytoplasmic ribosome populations. ABA accelerates degenerative changes as compared with the water treated control leaves but does not induce any specific ultrastructural effects.     

Architectural and physiological heterogeneity within the synflorescence of the pseudoviviparous grass Poa alpina var. vivipara L

Many biotypes of the northern-hemisphere Arctic-Alpine grass Poa alpina L. reproduce asexually via prolification of the spikelet axis to produce dehiscing shoots. Although capable of photosynthesis, the source-sink characteristics of these synflorescence systems are unknown, including the degree to which plantlets from different regions of the synflorescence are capable of providing for their own carbon requirements, or contributing to other sinks. Photosynthetic rates within the paracladial zone, as determined by infrared gas analysis (IRGA), exceeded respiratory rates by 3-4-fold. (14)CO(2) tracer studies determined that the paracladial zone was not only as efficient at fixing carbon as the youngest fully expanded leaf (per unit dry weight), but that both organs exported carbon mainly basipetally (cf. extensive acropetal export from this leaf in seminiferous grasses). Distal plantlets of the paracladial zone fixed approximately 20% more (14)CO(2) than did proximal plantlets. This was by virtue of their greater dry weight. At dehiscence, 'distal' plantlets were more likely to become established, and possessed relative growth rates more than 10 times those of 'proximal' plantlets. Paracladial heterogeneity was also apparent as an increased proportion of aborted spikelets on proximal paracladia. The possible causes of this heterogeneity are discussed.     

不同施肥水平对旱地冬小麦水分利用效率的影响

1987—1988年,研究了旱地施肥对冬小麦(Triticum aestivum cv．Shanhe No．6)水分利用效率的影响,初步探讨了“以肥调水”的生理机制。施肥不仅提高了旱地土壤含水量,更重要的是提高了土壤水势和土壤水的有效性,从而增加了有效水分利用。施肥增大旱地冬小麦绿叶面积,延缓叶片衰老,从而降低土壤蒸发,增加蒸腾用水潜势和光合潜势,但净同化率不一定提高。施肥增加旱地冬小麦总的水分利用(ET,即蒸散量)和蒸腾(T)用水,增加地上部生物产量,提高了经济产量和水分利用效率。施肥使冬小麦同时具有耗水和节水以抵御干旱的能力,对植株具有调节作用,使之更好地适应干旱环境。     

黄土高原半干旱区柠条(Caragana korshinskii)树干液流动态及其影响因子

应用热脉冲技术在黄土高原神木县六道沟小流域于2006年6月13至25日测定了两种不同密度柠条(Caragana korshinskii)群落的树干液流动态.同时测量了土壤水分、太阳辐射、大气温度、相对湿度、风速、水汽压亏缺和作物参考蒸散等环境因子,并根据植物蒸腾的P-M公式,反推计算冠层导度.结果表明,除风速外,柠条树木液流与太阳辐射、大气温度、相对湿度、水汽压亏缺、作物参考蒸散均显著相关,且可用太阳辐射的线性表达式来估测.不同密度群落的日蒸腾量随叶面积指数增大而增加,叶面积指数为2.3的群落平均日蒸腾为3.83mm d-1m-2,而叶面积指数为1.1的林分平均日蒸腾1.64mm d-1m-2.冠层导度与气象因子关系复杂,当土壤水分不存在亏缺时,冠层导度与太阳辐射、大气温度、作物参考蒸散因子显著相关,与水汽亏缺和相对湿度因子无相关性;当土壤水分存在亏缺时,冠层导度与太阳辐射、大气温度、作物参考蒸散因子无相关关系,而与水汽亏缺和相对湿度因子显著相关.     

Inhibition of root respiration induces leaf senescence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alhagi sparsifolia</Emphasis>

Leaf senescence can be induced by numerous factors. In order to explore the relationship between root respiration and leaf senescence, we utilized different types of phloem girdling to control the root respiration of Alhagi sparsifolia and its physiological response. Our results showed that both girdling and inhibition of root respiration led to a decline of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, carotenoid (Car) content, Chl a/b, Chl/Car, water potential, and Chl a fluorescence, as well as to an increase of abscisic acid (ABA), proline, and malondialdehyde content in leaves and to upregulation of senescence-associated gene expression. Our present work implied that both inhibition of root respiration and girdling can induce leaf senescence. In comparison with phloem girdling, the leaf senescence caused by inhibition of root respiration was less significant. The reason for girdling-induced senescence was ABA and carbohydrate accumulation. Senescence induced by inhibition of root respiration occurred due to leaf water stress resulting from inhibition of water absorption.     

Decomposition and CO2 Evolution from Standing Litter of the Emergent Macrophyte Erianthus giganteus

Abstract Decomposition of standing litter of the emergent macrophyte Erianthus giganteus (plumegrass) was quantified in a small freshwater wetland in Alabama, USA. Living green shoots of E. giganteus were tagged and periodically retrieved for determination of leaf and culm mass loss, litter-associated fungal biomass (ergosterol), and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Laboratory studies were also conducted to examine the effects of plant litter moisture content and temperature on rates of CO₂ evolution from plant litter. Culm and leaf material lost 25 and 32% AFDM, respectively, during plant senescence and early litter decay. Fungal biomass, as determined by ergosterol concentrations, increased significantly in both leaf and culm litter during decomposition, with maximum biomass accounting for 3.7 and 6.7% of the total detrital weight in culm and leaf litter, respectively. Spatial differences in fungal biomass were observed along the culm axis, with upper regions of the culm accumulating significantly greater amounts of fungal mass than basal regions (p < 0.01, ANOVA). Rates of CO₂ evolution from both leaf and culm litter increased rapidly after wetting (0 to 76 μg CO₂−C g⁻¹ AFDM h⁻¹ within 5 min). In addition, rates of CO₂ evolution from water saturated culms increased exponentially as the temperature was increased from 10 to 30°C. These results provide evidence that considerable microbial colonization and mineralization of standing emergent macrophyte litter can occur before collapse of senescent shoot material to the water and sediment surface. Received: 5 December 1998; Accepted: 31 March 1999     

The influence of relative humidity on vitrification, growth and morphology of Gypsophila paniculata L.

A vitrification scoring system was devised that comprised a visual assessment of vitrification in vitro followed by transplanting of plantlets ex vitro and recording of plantlet survival rates. This proved to be a simple method of predicting survival of plantlets ex vitro and demonstrated that vitrification severity is more important than acclimitization procedures in promoting survival ex vitro. Growth of normal plantlets in liquid medium in an environment where plantlets are able to transpire made it clear that lack of transpiration as opposed to high water availability is the primary cause for induction of vitrified growth. Finally, small decreases in relative humidity in vitro were found to be sufficient to increase plantlet transpiration to the extent that vitrification is greatly reduced and survival ex vitro increased. Small differences in relative humidity also influenced plantlet morphology with plantlets grown at a higher relative humidity being larger and consisting of more shoots than plantlets grown at a lower relative humidity. It is suggested that in vitro relative humidity may be manipulated to produce plantlets of a particular morphology and should be measured in tissue culture experiments and included in the materials and methods sections of papers to ensure correct interpretation of results.     

Photosynthesis and water-relation traits of the summer annual C4 grasses, Eleusine indica and Digitaria adscendens, with contrasting trampling tolerance

Two summer annual C₄ grasses with different trampling susceptibilities were grown as potted plants, and diurnal leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential in each grass were compared. The maximum net photosynthetic rate, leaf conductance and transpiration rate were higher in the trampling-tolerant Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. than in trampling sensitive Digitaria adscendens (H. B. K.) Henr. Leaf water potential was much lower in E. indica than in D. adscendens. There were no differences in soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance and leaf osmotic potential at full turgor as obtained by pressure–volume analysis. However, the bulk modulus of elasticity in cell walls was higher in E. indica leaves than in D. adscendens leaves. This shows that the leaves of E. indica are less elastic. Therefore, the rigid cell walls of E. indica leaves reduced leaf water potential rapidly by decreasing the leaf water content, supporting a high transpiration rate with high leaf conductance. In trampled habitats, such lowering of leaf water potential in E. indica might play a role in water absorption from the compacted soil. In contrast, the ability of D. adscendens to colonize dry habitats such as coastal sand dunes appears to be due to its lower transpiration rate and its higher leaf water potential which is not strongly affected by decreasing leaf water content.     

Deriving a reduction factor for woody part of culm for bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens

We determined the reduction factor for the woody part of culm for one of the largest bamboo species, Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex Houz. The determined reduction factor enables us to convert the cross-sectional area of the whole culm into that of the culm wall. We collected 650 cross-cutting sample culms from a stand of P. pubescens in Mt. Toshima, Kumamoto Prefecture, western Japan. For the cut-end surface, the external culm diameter and culm wall thickness were measured, and then the cross-sectional area of the whole culm and the culm wall were computed. The cross-sectional area of the culm wall was strongly correlated with that of the whole culm. The regression analysis between these cross-sectional area indicated that the reduction factor for P. pubescens was 0.311, independent of the magnitude of the cross-sectional area. The independence implied that the determined reduction factor could be directly applied to convert the apparent culm volume into wood volume. Implications of the reduction factor for estimating transpiration and carbon stock of P. pubescens stands were discussed. The Monte Carlo simulation revealed that at least, but not more than, 60–70 cross-cutting culms collected from 20 culms are necessary for the reduction factor when estimating the stand level transpiration and carbon stock.