人工栽培蛹虫草的病原真菌

蛹虫草规模化栽培过程中,真菌病害普遍发生且危害严重。本研究对人工栽培蛹虫草中真菌病害进行调研,对病原真菌进行分离、纯化、鉴定及致病性检验,并分析病害发生的特点。结果发现引起蛹虫草病害的病原真菌主要有虫草生齿梗孢、产扁虫菌素单端孢、镰刀菌、裂褶菌、哈茨木霉、淡紫拟青霉、稻绿核菌、粉红枝穗霉、卵孢单端孢、扩展青霉、黄曲霉和黑曲霉。其中虫草生齿梗孢为引起蛹虫草侵染性病害的主要病原真菌。虫草生齿梗孢、产扁虫菌素单端孢、镰刀菌、裂褶菌和哈茨木霉主要为害蛹虫草子实体;淡紫拟青霉、稻绿核菌、粉红枝穗霉、卵孢单端孢、扩展青霉、黄曲霉和黑曲霉主要为害栽培料与蛹虫草菌丝体。镰刀菌、裂褶菌、哈茨木霉、淡紫拟青霉、稻绿核菌和粉红枝穗霉为引起蛹虫草病害的首次报道。本研究为蛹虫草病害防控奠定基础,以促进产业健康发展。     

针叶树病原菌异担子菌属的物种多样性及相关检疫建议

异担子菌属Heterobasidion种类是北半球针叶树最严重的森林病原菌,在世界范围内能侵染27种针叶树,对欧洲和北美洲的经营林已造成重大损失。基于传统形态学研究,认为异担子菌属有2个种,即多年异担子菌H. annosum和岛生异担子菌H. insulare,然而单孢交配实验研究证明2个种为复合种。分子系统发育分析研究表明：异担子菌属包括15个种,其中5个种为森林病原菌[冷杉异担子菌H. abietinum、多年异担子菌（狭义）H. annosum s. str.、变孔异担子菌H. irregulare、西方异担子菌H. occidentale和小孔异担子菌H. parviporum];10个种为腐生菌（淀粉孢异担子菌H. amyloideum、南洋杉异担子菌H. araucariae、阿曼德异担子菌H. armandii、南方异担子菌H. australe、岛生异担子菌H. insulare、林芝异担子菌H. linzhiense、东方异担子菌H. orientale、拟岛生异担子菌H. subinsulare、拟小孔异担子菌H. subparviporum和西藏异担子菌H. tibeticum）。多年异担子菌（狭义）H. annosum s. str.、小孔异担子菌H. parviporum和冷杉异担子菌H. abietinum分布于欧洲,分别是松属、云杉属和冷杉属林木的病原菌。变孔异担子菌H. irregulare和西方异担子菌H. occidentale分布于北美洲,前者侵染松属和柏属树木,后者侵染冷杉属、铁杉属、黄杉属和巨杉属树木。虽然广义的多年异担子菌H. annosum sensu lato曾在我国报道,但基于目前研究结果表明该种为拟小孔异担子菌H. subparviporum。目前世界上最具侵染力的5种病原菌即狭义的多年异担子菌H. annosum s. str.、小孔异担子菌H. parviporum、冷杉异担子菌H. abietinum、变孔异担子菌H. irregulare和西方异担子菌H. occidentale还未在我国发现,也未列为对外检疫对象,因此建议将其列为进境植物检疫性有害生物。RNA聚合酶II大亚基序列（RPB1）在异担子菌属种类鉴定中敏感性和特异性最高,研究证明该分子方法可应用于鉴别不同异担子菌种类的有效基因标记,在海关部门进行原木和木质产品的检疫中可运用该分子标记进行林木病原异担子菌的检测。     

福建闽南地区汉族与畲族的指长比

本文旨在研究福建闽南地区汉族和畲族指长比(R)的特点。随机选择福建闽南地区汉族506例（男性173例,女性333例）,畲族450例（男性231例,女性219例）,采用体质测量法,测量并计算左右侧6项指长比（R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5、R_3/4、R_3/5、R_4/5）。福建闽南地区汉族和畲族左、右侧指长比均呈R_2/3<R_2/4<R_3/4<R_2/5<R_4/5<R_3/5的趋势;汉族女性指长比左侧R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5、R_3/4、R_3/5和右侧R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5高于汉族男性（P<0.05）;畲族女性指长比左侧的R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5和右侧R_2/3、R_2/4高于畲族男性（P<0.05）;畲族男性指长比左、右侧R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5、R_3/5、R_4/5高于汉族男性（P<0.05）;畲族女性指长比左侧R_2/3、R_2/4和右侧R_2/3、R_2/4、R_2/5、R_4/5高于汉族女性（P<0.05）。同民族不同性别两侧R_2/4百分比分布差异有统计学意义,不同民族同性别右侧R_2/4百分比分布差异有统计学意义。福建闽南地区汉族和畲族指长比存在性别、侧别的不同,与其他地区、族群也存在差异。     

Biological activity, identification and quantification of gibberellins in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies) grown under different photoperiods

Short photoperiod induces growth cessation in seedlings of Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.] Karst.). Application of different gibberellins (GAS) to seedlings growing under a short photoperiod show that GA₉ and GA₂₀ can not induce growth. In contrast application of GA, and GA₄ induced shoot elongation. The results indicate that 3β-hydroxylation of GA₉ to GA₄ and of GA₂₀ to GA₁ is under photoperiodic control. To confirm that conclusion, both qualitative and quantitative analyses of endogenous GAs were performed. GA₁, GA₃, GA₄, GA₇, GA₉, GA₁₂, GA₁₅, GA₁₅, GA₂₀, GA₂₉, GA₃₄ and GA₅₁ were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in shoots of Norway spruce seedlings. The effect of photoperiod on GA levels was determined by using deuterated and ¹⁴C-labelled GAs as intermal standards. In short days, the amounts of GA₉, GA₄ and GA₁ are less than in plants grown in continuous light. There is no significant difference in the amounts of GA₃, GA₁₂, and GA₂₀ between the different photoperiods. The lack of accumulation of GA₉ and GA₂₀ under short days is discussed.     

Metabolism of C19- and C20-gibberellins by cell-free preparations from immature Phaseolus coccineus seed

Gibberellin biosynthesis pathways were investigated using isotopically-labelled C₁₉- and C₂₀-gibberellins and cell-free preparations from immature seed of Phaseous coccineus cv. Prizewinner. The initial steps in an early 13-hydroxylation pathway involved the conversion gibberellin A₁₂-aldehyde (GA₁₂-aldehyde) to GA₁₂ which was 13-hydroxylated to yield GA₅₃, Metabolism of GA₅₃ yielded GA₄₄. In contrast to other cell-free systems, GA₄₄ was not further converted, either as a δ-lactone or an open-lactone structure, to the C-20 aldehyde GA₁₉. GA₁₉ was, however, metabolised to GA₂₀, GA₅ and GA₁. GA₂₀ represented a branch point in the pathway as it was converted both to GA₁, which was an end product, and GA₅ which was further converted to GA₆. Like GA₁, GA₆ was also an end-product of the early 13-hydroxylation pathway.
A non-13-hydroxylation pathway involving GA₄, GA₁₅, GA₂₄ GA₃₇ and GA₃₆ also originated from GA₁₂. The terminal product of this pathway was the 3β-hydroxy C₁₉-gibberellin, GA₄.     

Proton pumping pyrophosphatase from higher plant mitochondria

In higher plant cells, there are some enzymes capable of utilizing pyrophosphate (PP_i) as an energy donor. Among these, membrane-bound proton pumping pyrophosphatases (H⁺-PP_iase) have been identified. In addition to the well-known vacuolar H⁺-PP_iase (V-PP_iase), there is evidence for the presence of a mitochondrial H⁺-PP_iase. This enzyme is localized on the inner surface of the inner membrane and catalyzes the specific hydrolysis of PP_i, coupled to proton transport, with a H⁺/PP_i stoichiometry of ca 2. This activity is Mg²⁺-requiring, is stimulated by monovalent cations, and is inhibited by Ca²⁺, F⁻ and diphosphonates. The H⁺-PP_iase contains a catalytic head which is constituted by a 35-kDa protein which is loosely bound to the inner membrane. This protein exhibits a PP_iase activity, stimulated by phospholipids, with characteristics very similar to the membrane-bound enzyme. The mitochondrial PP_iase is distinct from the V-PP_iase, because an antibody raised against the 35-kDa protein does not react with tonoplast membranes. The mitochondrial H⁺-PP_iase seems to have an F-type structure, similar to the F-ATP synthase and the membrane-bound PP_iases from mammalian and yeast mitochondria. It is suggested that, beside synthesizing PP_i, this enzyme may act as a buffer for the electrochemical proton gradient, by hydrolyzing PP_i, during conditions of oxygen deprivation.     

LED红、蓝、白组合光对茄子幼苗质量和果皮品质的影响

本试验采用发光二极管(LED)精准调控光源环境,以‘改良大龙茄’为试材,在前期探明红/蓝组合光(R/B)=3/1有利于培育茄子壮苗基础上,以R/B=3/1(9/3,CK₁)和LED白光(W,CK₂)为对照,分别设定LED红蓝白组合光为: R/B/W=3/1/1(9/3/3,T₁)、R/B/W=9/3/8(T₂)、R/B/W=3/1/6(9/3/18,T₃)和R/B/W=3/1/16(9/3/48,T₄),研究其对茄子幼苗生长、根系发育及定植后茄子产量和品质的影响,以期为茄子集约化高效育苗和设施生产补光提供理论依据和技术指导.结果表明: R/B/W=9/3/8组合光处理下,茄子幼苗株高、茎粗、壮苗指数、地上部干重、根干重、根系发育,以及定植后茄皮花青素、类黄酮含量和前期产量均较高;R/B/W=3/1/1组合光处理下,幼苗根冠比、定植后茄皮总酚和果肉中可溶性糖含量较高;而R/B/W=3/1/6组合光处理下,全株叶面积及定植后茄子果肉中游离氨基酸含量较高;R/B/W=3/1/16组合光处理下,定植后茄子果肉中可溶性蛋白含量较高.不同红蓝白组合光可不同程度提高茄子幼苗质量及定植后茄子前期产量和品质,以R/B/W=9/3/8组合光效果最显著.     

Relative stability of chlorophyll complexes in vivo

The time course of aerobic photobleaching of various chlorophyll-protein complexes in vivo at high light intensities was studied with isolated Aspidistra elatior chloroplasts.

1. 1. C_a680 bleaching starts with the onset of irradiation and, initially, proceeds linearly with time. Washing the chloroplasts causes a nearly constant increase of the bleaching rate throughout the experiment.

2. 2. C_a670 does not appreciably, if at all, bleach initially; subsequently, bleaching proceeds linearly with time and at a slightly higher rate than that for C_a680. Washing makes C_a670 bleach concomitantly with the onset of illumination, and at a nearly constant rate.

3. 3. Bleaching at 665 nm is likely to start only after a relatively long period of illumination. Washing shows no effects during this period. Once bleaching has started, washing causes its rate to increase.

4. 4. No indication of the occurrence of “short-wave” chlorophyll a forms other than C_a670 and C_a665 was obtained.

5. 5. C_b bleaching starts concomitantly with illumination at a low rate. The rate increases more or less exponentially with time. Washing enhances bleaching in two steps.

6. 6. The importance of the results is discussed.

沙地樟子松带状混交林土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

探究不同沙地樟子松混交林土壤碳氮磷化学计量变化规律,为其混交经营提供科学依据.以沙地樟子松纯林为对照,在沙地樟子松×榆树及沙地樟子松×怀槐带状混交林中,沿沙地樟子松和伴生树种两个方向在距离混交中心0、1、2、3和4 m处的不同土层采集土样,分析土壤有机C、全N、全P、速效N、速效P含量及其计量比的特征.结果表明: 沙地樟子松混交林土壤有机C、全N和速效N含量高于纯林, 沙地樟子松与榆树混交主要增加了深层土壤有机C和全N含量,以及C/N和C/P, 沙地樟子松与怀槐混交提高了土壤N含量, 降低了P含量.随着远离混交林中心,沙地樟子松×榆树混交林中沙地樟子松林带的土壤C/N先升高后降低,全P和速效P含量下降,N/P增加;榆树林带土壤C/N下降,速效P含量先升高后降低.沙地樟子松×怀槐混交林土壤全N含量在沙地樟子松林带先降低后升高,在怀槐林带先升高后降低.沙地樟子松混交林提高了土壤C、N储量,沙地樟子松应与榆树行间混交,与怀槐间隔2行混交.     

基于年降水、生长季降水和生长季蒸散的高寒草地水分利用效率

水分利用效率是深入理解生态系统碳、水循环间耦合关系的重要指标。以前研究青藏高原的水分利用效率多基于年降水量(AP)来分析, 但植物对水分的利用主要在生长季。该研究采用以AP、生长季降水量(GSP)和生长季蒸散量(ET_gs)分别计算的年降水利用效率(PUE_a)、生长季降水利用效率(PUE_gs)和生长季水分利用效率(WUE_gs), 分析了2000-2010年间青藏高原两种主要植被类型高寒草甸和高寒草原PUE_a、PUE_gs和WUE_gs的差异及其与降水量、蒸散量和气温的关系。结果表明: (1)高寒草甸的PUE_a、PUE_gs均大于高寒草原, 但两种草地类型的WUE_gs无显著差别, 这说明两种草地类型可能存在相似的内在的水分利用效率。(2)从年际动态来看, PUE_a和PUE_gs的波动范围相似, 而WUE_gs的波动范围更大, 说明以蒸散为依据的WUE_gs可能比PUE_a和PUE_gs更敏感, 因而可能更好地反映生态系统的水分利用能力。(3)高寒草甸和高寒草原的PUE_a、PUE_gs和WUE_gs分别与AP、GSP和ET_gs呈单调递减趋势, 表明3种水分利用效率均随降水量或蒸散量的增加而降低。高寒草原的3种水分利用效率中仅WUE_gs随着气温的增加而增加, 而高寒草甸的3种水分利用效率均与气温无显著关系, 这说明相比高寒草甸, 高寒草原的水分利用效率对气温更加敏感。     

The influences of calcium and magnesium ions on the exchange of monovalent cations in Neurospora crassa

Low-K⁺, high-Na⁺ cells of strain RL21a of Neurospora crassa , in steady state with 25 m M Na⁺, were used to study K⁺/Na⁺ exchanges in the presence or absence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. In the presence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, a low concentration of K⁺ (0.3 m M ) triggered a rapid exchange, but in the absence of the divalents, a high K⁺ concentration (30 m M ) was required to initiate the exchange at a rapid rate. In the absence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, K⁺ uptake did not occur at low K⁺ concentration, internal K⁺ did not regulate Na⁺ influx in the presence of external K⁺, and the efflux of Na⁺ proceeded at maximum activity at very low-K⁺ contents.     

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione as a building block for the synthesis of homo- and heterometallic complexes

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione (C₁₂H₆N₂O₂ (1)) reacts with V(η⁶-mesitylene)₂ and Ti(η⁶-toluene)₂ affording coordination compounds of general formula M(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₃ (M=Ti (2); M=V (3)) which further react with TiCl₄ or TiCp₂(CO)₂ yielding the tetrametallic species M(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)₃(M′L_n)₃ (M=V, M′L_n=TiCl₄ (4); M=Ti, M′L_n=TiCp₂ (5); M=V, M′L_n=TiCp₂ (6)). The complex salt [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₃][PF₆]₂ (7) has been obtained from iron(II) chloride tetrahydrate and 1 in the presence of NH₄PF₆. The reaction of 7 with TiCp₂(CO)₂ affords the tetrametallic derivative [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)₃(TiCp₂)₃][PF₆]₂ (8). TiCl₂(THF)₂ reacts with MCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂) to give MCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (M=Ti (9); M=V (10)). By reaction of TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (9) with C₁₂H₆N₂O₂, the bimetallic derivative TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂) (11) has been prepared, which readily adds to TiCl₄, to give the trimetallic titanium derivative TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₄ (12). VCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (10) reacts with the tris-chelate iron(II) cation 7 affording the heptametallic cationic complex [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)TiCl₂(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)VCp₂]₃ ⁺² isolated as the hexafluorophosphate 13.     

Exchange of oxygen and its role in energy dissipation during drought stress in tomato plants

To elucidate how excess light energy is dissipated during water deficit, net photosynthesis (P_N), stomatal conductance (g_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (c_i) and Chl a fluorescence were investigated in control and drought-stressed tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum ). Gross O₂ evolution (E_o) and gross O₂ uptake (U_o) were determined by a mass spectrometric ¹⁶O/¹⁸O₂ isotope technique. Under drought stress P_N, g_s, c_i and U_o decline. While photochemical fluorescence quenching decreases under water deficit, non-photochemical quenching rises. The maximal efficiency of PSII measured in the dark is not affected by drought; however, in the light, E_o decreases under water deficit. The ratio P_N/E_o falls under stress while the ratio U_o/E_o increases. We conclude that tomato plants follow a double strategy to avoid photodamage under drought stress conditions: (1) a substantial portion of light energy is emitted as heat and PSII activity is downregulated. This results in a decrease in E_o as well as P_N and U_o. Despite reduced charge separation at PSII, the decline of CO₂ assimilation because of lowered stomatal conductance and metabolic changes results in the need of degrading excessive photosynthetic electrons. (2) Oxygen is used as an alternative electron acceptor in photorespiration or Mehler reaction and U_o rises relative to E_o.     

Root ammonium transport efficiency as a determinant in forest colonization patterns: an hypothesis

Ratios of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃^–) in soils are known to increase during forest succession. Using evidence from several previous studies, we hypothesize that a malfunction in NH₄⁺ transport at the membrane level might limit the persistence of early successional tree species in later seral stages. In those studies, ¹³N radiotracing was used to determine unidirectional fluxes and pool sizes of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– in seedlings of the late-successional species white spruce ( Picea glauca ) and in the early successional species Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca ) and trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides ). At high external NH₄⁺, the two early successional species accumulated excessive NH₄⁺ in the root cytosol, and exhibited high-velocity, low-efficiency (15% to 22%), membrane fluxes of NH₄⁺. In sharp contrast, white spruce had low cytosolic NH₄⁺ accumulation, and lower-velocity but much higher-efficiency (65%), NH₄⁺ fluxes. Because these divergent responses parallel known differences in tolerance and toxicity to NH₄⁺ amongst these species, we propose that they constitute a significant driving force in forest succession, complementing the discrimination against NO₃^– documented in white spruce (Kronzucker et al. 1997).     

Further contribution to the H blood group system in pigs

The haemolytic reagent allowing direct serological detection of He homozygous pigs was obtained by the immunization of a Landrace sow. Another monospecific reagent prepared from immune serum of a Miniature pig made possible the evidence for a new factor of the H system - He. This factor is genetically controlled by the allele H ^be. Its frequency in Miniature pigs was 0.099.
The H system with alleles H ¹=H^a, H²= H^b, H³= H^ab, H⁴=H^cd, H⁵= H^bd, H⁶=H^be and H⁷= H- continues to be a genetically open system.     

Effects of Surfactant Protein-A on the Interaction of Pneumocystis murina with its Host at Different Stages of the Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT. We examined the effects of surfactant protein A (SP-A), a collectin, on the interaction of Pneumocystis murina with its host at the beginning, early to middle, and late stages of infection. Pneumocystis murina from SP-A wild-type (WT) mice inoculated intractracheally into WT mice (WT_S-WT_R) adhered well to alveolar macrophages, whereas organisms from SP-A knockout (KO) mice inoculated into KO mice (KO_S-KO_R) did not. Substitution of WT mice as the source of organisms (WT_S-KO_R) or recipient host macrophages (KO_S-WT_R) restored adherence to that found with WT_S-WT_R mice. In contrast, when immunosuppressed KO and WT mice were inoculated with P. murina from a homologous source (KO_S-KO_R, WT_S-WT_R) or heterologous source (WT_S-KO_R, KO_S-WT_R) and followed sequentially, WT_S-KO_R mice had the highest levels of infection at weeks 3 and 4; these mice also had the highest levels of the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and neutrophils in lavage fluid at week 3. Surfactant protein-A administered to immunosuppressed KO_S-KO_R mice with Pneumocystis pneumonia for 8 wk as a therapeutic agent failed to lower the organism burden. We conclude that SP-A can correct the host immune defect in the beginning of P. murina infection, but not in the middle or late stages of the infection.     

Comparative studies of inorganic substances in the blood of fishes from the Scagerac Sea

The concentrations of the main plasma inorganic electrolytes Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^- and and PO₄^3- have been determined for different orders of marine fishes. For Na⁺ and Cl^- a typical decrease was found when passing from cyclostomes, holocephalans and elasmobranchs to teleosts. The concentrations of K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ showed a similar trend except that there was a rise in the teleost group, which showed a large range of variation for these three ions. In the case of PO₄^3- no significant differences between groups were found.     

不同光脉冲方案对光下最大荧光参数及其计算参数的影响

光下最大荧光(F_m′)是植物生理生态研究中的重要参数,一般采用饱和脉冲(RF)方案来估计.然而,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)受体库的反馈调节会影响RF方案对F_m′估计的准确性.为消除PSⅡ受体库反馈调节的影响,根据光脉冲强度(Q′)与叶绿素荧光(F′)的线性关系提出多相脉冲(MPF)方案,估算Q′无穷大时的F′(即F_m′).本研究采用MPF和RF方案分别对苦槠、青冈和乌桕3个树种叶片的叶绿素荧光和气体交换数据进行同步测量,并对两种方案估计的F_m′及其计算参数PSⅡ光化学效率(Φ_PSII)、PSⅡ的电子传递速率(J)、最大电子传递速率(J_max)、叶肉导度(g_m)和叶绿体内CO₂浓度(C_c)等光合参数进行比较,分析两种方案对3个树种叶片6个光合参数的影响.结果表明: 当光合有效辐射(PAR)<200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1时,两种方案对苦槠、青冈和乌桕叶片F_m′、Φ_PSII和J的估计无显著影响;当PAR>200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1时,采用MPF方案获得的苦槠、青冈和乌桕的F_m′分别比RF方案获得的F_m′高3.5%～5.2%、11.7%～18.0%和3.2%～7.1%;当PAR>200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1时,采用MPF方案获得的Φ_PSII、J和J_max分别不同程度地大于RF方案获得的参数,g_m和C_c分别不同程度地小于RF方案获得的参数.说明当PAR较低(<200μmol·m^-2·s^-1)时,MPF与RF方案对植物叶片F_m′、Φ_PSII、J的估计没有显著影响;当PAR较高(≥200μmol·m^-2·s^-1)时,MPF与RF方案对植物叶片F_m′、Φ_PSII、J、J_max、g_m和C_c的估计有显著影响,且RF方案对植物叶片的F_m′、Φ_PSII、J和J_max比MPF方案分别有不同程度的低估,对g_m和C_c则有不同程度的高估.     

Relationship between C2H2 reduction, H2 evolution and 15N2 fixation in root nodules of pea (Pisum sativum)

The quantitative relationship between C₂H₂ reduction, H₂ evolution and ¹⁵N₂ fixation was investigated in excised root nodules from pea plants ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Bodil) grown under controlled conditions. The C₂H₂/N₂ conversion factor varied from 3.31 to 5.12 between the 32nd and the 67th day after planting. After correction for H₂ evolution in air, the factor (C₂H₂-H₂)/N₂ decreased to values near the theoretical value 3, or in one case to a value significantly ( P < 0.05) below 3. The proportion of the total electron flow through nitrogenase, which is not wasted in H₂ production but used for N₂ reduction, is often stated as the relative efficiency (1-H₂/C₂H₂). This factor varied significantly ( P < 0.05) during the growth period. The actual allocation of electrons to H₂ and N₂, expressed as the H₂/N₂ ratio, was independent of plant age, however. This discrepancy and the observation that the (C₂H₂-H₂)/N₂ conversion factor tended to be lower than 3, suggests that the C₂H₂reduction assay underestimates the total electron flow through nitrogenase.