A study of a population of birches in Glen Gairn

Summary

A small population of birches was studied with a view to measuring the rangeof morphological variation in Betula pendula Roth, and B. pubescens Ehrh. The general morphological features of crown and bark of trees in the area indicated that both species were present. A more detailed study was made of leaf and fruit characters, accepted by other investigators as being useful in discriminating between the species. It was shown that such characters varied continuously throughout the population and no tree was wholly pubescens- like or pendula-like in all characters.

The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the situation in Glen Gairn and to the general taxonomic situation of the British birches.     

Phenetic studies in Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae):variation in sect. Nuphar

Previous taxonomic assessments of the hydrophytic genus Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae) have inadequately considered the range of morphological variation existing in the genus. A comprehensive statistical analysis of morphological features among the recognized taxa of Nuphar is presented here, first using 10 fruit characters to delimit the separation of two infrageneric groups of taxa, and secondly using 31 characters to quantify the morphological variation found within sect. Nuphar. Results from combined phenetic analyses provided empirical support for recognition of two infrageneric groups of species in the genus (largely by fruit, stigmatic disk margin, neck, and stigmatic disk size) and for separation of taxa within sect. Nuphar (by leaf size, and fruit disk and neck size). Statistical analyses demonstrate that extensive variation in ranges of character states exists among sect. Nuphar taxa. However, a suite of qualitative and quantitative characters can be used to recognize five species and three subspecies within this predominantly Old World assemblage.     

Two new species ofPhyllagathis related toP. tuberculata (Melastomataceae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Phyllagathis tuberculata King and two closely allied new species,P. magnifica A. Weber andP. stonei A. Weber, are described and illustrated. Within the genus, these species form a distinct and isolated group which is restricted to Peninsular Malaysia.P. tuberculata occurs in Perak (probably confined to G. Bujang Melaka),P. magnifica andP. stonei are found in the mountains on the Pahang/Selangor border (Genting Highlands, Gombak valley). The distinctive characters of the three species are listed and some general information relating to inflorescence morphology, tubercle anatomy, fruit structure and seed dispersal is provided.     

Capparis dongvanensis sp. nov. (Capparaceae) from Vietnam

Capparis dongvanensis (Capparaceae) is described as a new species and illustrated from Ha Giang Province of Vietnam. It is morphologically similar to C. lanceolaris and C. fengii, but differs in the number of flowers on peduncles, length of spine and petiole, apex of the leaf, type of inflorescence, petal color, cylindrical ovary without any beak, fruit shape and number of seeds per fruit. Diagnostic morphological characters along with pollen and seed SEM images of C. dongvanensis and allied species are provided. Its ecology, habitat and conservation status are also described.     

Functional analysis of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">iaaM</Emphasis> gene in parthenocarpic fruit development in transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physalis pubescens</Emphasis> L. plants

An efficient somatic embryogenesis system for Physalis pubescens L. (husk tomato) was developed prior to transformation. Subsequently, cotyledonary explants of P. pubescens were transformed with a chimeric construct containing an iaaM gene from driven by the fruit-specific promoter 2A12 to develop parthenocarpic fruits. Following selection of explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing containing 75 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin (Km), 36 km-resistant callus clusters were recovered, and these were regenerated into whole plants. Expression of the iaaM gene was detected in confirmed transgenic fruits. The 0.9-kb 2A12 promoter was capable of directing expression of the introduced iaaM gene in transgenic P. pubescens fruits, but iaaM expression was absent from both leaves and flowers. Quantitative measurements of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content during fruit development indicated that the IAA levels in transgenic lines increased from anthesis through young fruits and peaked at fruit maturity. On average, IAA contents in transgenic fruits were two-fold higher than those in control fruits. Under greenhouse condition, vegetative growth, morphology, and the flowering of transgenic plants were comparable to those of control plants. However, the fruits of transgenic lines ripened earlier and had fewer seeds per fruit than did control plants.     

Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Carbon Fixation by Moso Bamboo (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis>) in Subtropical China

To study the temporal and spatial dynamics of carbon fixation by Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) in subtropical China, carbon fixation of leaves within the canopy of P. pubescens was measured with a LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system. The results showed that the capability of carbon fixation of P. pubescens leaves had obvious temporal and spatial dynamic variations. It was revealed that there were two peak periods and two low periods in the season variation of carbon fixation capability. Data also revealed that the capability of carbon fixation by five-year-old P. pubescens was more than that of one-year-old and three-year-old. Daily and seasonal carbon fixation showed a negative correlation with the CO₂ concentration. The temporal and spatial dynamics of carbon fixation by P. pubescens described above provided a scientific basis for development of technologies in bamboo timber production.     

Bee diversity (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) visiting Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.) flowers in Egypt

Different bee flower visitors were observed during the flowering seasons of Broad Bean in Ismailia, eastern Egypt, the Nile Delta and Alexandria, western Egypt. Eight major bee visitors were observed: Andrena ovatula (Kirby, 1802), Andrena sp. (Andrenidae), Chalicodoma siculum (Rossi, 1792) (Megachilidae), Colletes lacunatus Dours, 1872 (Colletidae), Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, Anthophora hispanica (Fabricius, 1787), A. aegyptiaca (Dalla Torre and Friese, 1895) and Xylocopa pubescens (Spinola, 1838) (Apidae). Anthophora hispanica and A. aegyptiaca as well as Chalicodoma siculum had their peak flying period in the middle of the flowering season of the Broad Bean, while Xylocopa pubescens and Andrena sp. had their peak period in the second half of the flowering period.     

Floral Ontogeny in Bourreria (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales)

Gynoecium and fruit ontogeny is studied in eight species of Bourreria (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). The internal architecture of the bicarpellate ovary results from the development of several secondary septs, i.e., apical, basal, and false septs. Flower and fruit morphology provide additional characters for phylogenetic analyses. Apomorphies of monophyletic Bourreria are the valvate calyx lobes, an extensive disc, and an additional sterile chamber in each endocarpid (i.e., fruit part). The development of transfer cells and endosperm haustoria confirm the systematic placement of Bourreria in the Primarily Woody Boraginales (i.e., Heliotropiaceae, Cordiaceae, and Ehretiaceae including Lennoaceae). However, the precise systematic position of Bourreria within Ehretiaceae cannot be resolved on the basis of the morphological data provided here.     

Macrelmis pubescens (Grouvelle, 1889) – redescription of the species,designation of a lectotype and description of its larva (Coleoptera: Elmidae)

The adult of Macrelmis pubescens (Grouvelle, 1889) is redescribed, illustrated, a lectotype designated, and new locality information provided. The lectotype is housed in the Grouvelle’s collection in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France. The larva of M. pubescens is described, illustrated and compared with the known larvae of the genus. A diagnosis for Macrelmis Motschulsky, 1860 larvae is provided.     

The sperm structure of Embioptera (Insecta) and phylogenetic considerations

The sperm structure of two species of Embioptera, Embia savignyi Westwood 1837 and Aposthonia japonica (Okajima 1926), was studied. Spermatozoa of both species exhibit a monolayered acrosome and a layer of material surrounding the sperm cells for most of their length. The presence of a 9+9+2 axoneme provided with accessory microtubules with 16 protofilaments, two accessory bodies and two crystallized mitochondrial derivatives are characters shared with other polyneopteran taxa. The supposed close relationship between Embioptera and Phasmatodea is not supported by characters of the sperm ultrastructure.     

油棕鲜果穗产量构成因素的相关性和回归分析

为明确油棕鲜果穗产量构成因素之间的关系,利用相关性、回归和通径等分析方法,对58株油棕单株鲜果穗产量与其它性状相关性进行了研究。结果表明:油棕鲜果穗产量与鲜果穗重和每株果穗数的相关性最为密切。另外,在油棕高产品种选育过程中,应着重对平均果穗重、每株果穗数、果实大小和含油量等性状进行选择,并综合权衡这些产量性状之间的相互作用。产量性状变异和相关性分析表明,平均种壳厚度变异程度最大(88.34%),平均果长变异最小(11.99%),鲜果穗产量与鲜果穗重、每株果穗数、平均果重呈极显著正相关关系(0.882**,0.714**,0.439**),与平均果长呈显著正相关关系(0.334*)。多元线性回归和通径分析结果表明,通过比较多元线性回归方程的相关参数,建立了可实用的最优多元线性回归方程x_1=-281.511+2.787x_4+3.455x_5-2.672x_6+0.411x_7+6.690x_8+3.664x_9,平均鲜果穗重和每株果穗数对单株鲜果穗产量的直接作用最大(0.670,0.439),其它性状对单株产量的直接作用较小,平均果重和平均果长对单株鲜果穗产量的间接作用最大(0.335,0.322)。该研究结果为油棕高产品种选育提供了依据。     

Distinguishing fossil Betula nana and B. pubescens using their wingless fruits: implications for the late-glacial vegetational history of western Norway

Principal components analysis of 7 size and shape variables measured on 154 modern fruit bodies of Betula species and hybrids shows that B. pubescens and B. nana can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their fruit bodies, and that B. pubescens ssp. tortuosa and hybrids either fall within the range of B. pubescens or have an intermediate position on PCA axes 1 and 2. Passive positioning on the modern PCA axes of fossil fruit bodies from late-glacial sediments at Eigebakken, south-west Norway, shows that only B. nana was locally present in the Allerød. This contradicts earlier inferences from pollen analyses alone of birch woodland development in the Allerød in south-west Norway. There is no macrofossil evidence for tree-birches in the Allerød near Eigebakken. The relatively large amounts of Betula pollen, including B. pubescens, at Eigebakken are thus probably derived by long-distance transport from tree-birches in Denmark, south Sweden, and Britain, whose presence is proved there by macrofossils. Consequently, earlier estimates of mean July temperature during the Allerød in southwestern Norway should be reduced to around 7.5–10°C. In contrast, the PCA shows that fruit bodies from Holocene sediments at Eigebakken and at Kråkenes, western Norway, are mostly derived from B. pubescens. Birch trees were able to spread quickly and effectively across Norway in the early Holocene.     

中国单格孢属（丝孢纲）的种

报道单格孢属的两个新种,一个新组合,5个中国新记录种和两个未定名种,同时,对所有已知在中国发现的本属真菌的种进行了归纳总结并制作了检索表。新种小黑球单格孢Monodictys nigraglobulosa的典型特征是产生黑色近球形的分生孢子,具有黑而厚的隔膜;横向单格孢Monodictys transversa的分生孢子横向生长,即孢子的横向量度大于其高度。两个未定名种具有单格孢属的特征,但目前的材料所表现的分种特征还不够充分,暂称之为Monodictys sp.1和Monodictys sp.2,供进一步研究探讨。新组合为方单格孢Monodictys quadrata(Atk.)G.Z.Zhao&T.Y.Zhang。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室(HSAUP)。     

中国单格孢属（丝孢纲）的种

报道单格孢属的两个新种,一个新组合,5个中国新记录种和两个未定名种,同时,对所有已知在中国发现的本属真菌的种进行了归纳总结并制作了检索表。新种小黑球单格孢Monodictys nigraglobulosa的典型特征是产生黑色近球形的分生孢子,具有黑而厚的隔膜;横向单格孢Monodictys transversa的分生孢子横向生长,即孢子的横向量度大于其高度。两个未定名种具有单格孢属的特征,但目前的材料所表现的分种特征还不够充分,暂称之为Monodictys sp.1和 Monodictys sp.2,供进一步研究探讨。新组合为方单格孢Monodictys quadrata (Atk.) G. Z. Zhao & T. Y. Zhang。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室（HSAUP）。     

The South Hesse Oak Project (SHOP): Species- and site-specific efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus of Mediterranean and Central European Oaks

In three experimental sites in Southern Hesse, differing in management procedures, one- to three-year-old saplings of Quercus robur, Q.pubescens, and Q.ilex were planted to study their performance under Central European climate conditions. Toward the end of the growth period (mid–late September 2011), during a very dry period, we measured JIP transients of photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves to evaluate the effects of abiotic site factors on the photosynthetic apparatus by comparing them to data from well-watered saplings measured before the onset of senescence processes. In all three sites, Q. robur saplings in September showed the strongest deviation from the measurements in August, followed by Q. pubescens. Q. ilex, in general, was nearly unaffected by September climate conditions or performed better than plants measured in August. Differences in the behavior between species and sites could be explained by the species’ different drought susceptibility and by differential induction of early leaf senescence (in Q. robur and Q. pubescens). We conclude that measurement of the JIP transient is a feasible method in forestry to compare adverse microclimatic site effects and genetically fixed reactions of the photosynthetic apparatus in the field.