Ratio of erythro and threo forms of beta-O-4 structures in tension wood lignin

The ratio of erythro and threo forms of beta-O-4 structures in tension wood lignin was investigated by ozonation analysis of wood meal taken from various positions in the stem of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). The proportion of the erythro form was higher in tension wood than in opposite wood, and the methoxyl group content showed a similar trend. The proportion of the erythro form and the methoxyl group content in the 7 positions in the stem lignin was correlated (correlation coefficient R=0.98), suggesting that the type of aromatic ring, syringyl or guaiacyl, is one of the factors which stereochemically controls the ratio of erythro and threo forms of beta-O-4 structures during lignin formation.     

Structure of lignins in developing xylem of Norway spruce

The developing xylem in a Norway spruce (Picea abies) clone was investigated during a growth season and compared to lignin from sapwood of the same tree clone. Klason and acid-soluble lignin contents were determined as well as the carbohydrate monomer distribution and protein content. By analyzing lignin thioacidolysis products, it was shown that only guaiacyl units could be detected in the materials, and the relative amount of beta-O-4' bonds was assessed. Monomeric and selected dimeric lignin products were identified by mass spectrometry. The specimens were embedded and thin sections examined by microscopy to determine the state of cell differentiation in the samples. In the spring and early summer, growth was very rapid and the intention was to collect tissue in which exclusively the middle lamella/primary cell wall had begun to lignify. Combining data regarding Klason lignin, protein content and carbohydrate monomer distribution with microscopy, it was found that the developing xylem sample from mid-June contained lignin from exclusively middle lamella/primary wall. The Klason lignin content in the developing xylem during the growth season was 20%, 5% and 10% in April, June and August, respectively. Thioacidolysis showed that the lignin had more condensed structures than lignin from the reference Norway spruce clone wood. Mass spectrometry showed that the developing xylem specimens from June and August contained more lignin structures with end-groups than the reference sample. These results suggest that lignification in the cambial layer and early developing xylem may take place more in a bulk fashion during the summer.     

The relationship between lignin and morphological characteristics of the tracheary elements from cacao(Theobroma cacao L.) Hulls

Tracheary elements (TEs) were physically separated from the hulls of cacao pods(Theobroma cacao L). Their morphological features were extensively investigated with scanning electron microscopy and chemical characterization. Spiral TEs were covered with a thin layer of primary wall that had a web-like structure on its outer surface. These TEs had a spiral circularity diameter of 8.2 ± 0.6 μm and an estimated secondary wall thickness of about 2.1 ± 0.2 μm. Polarized microscopy analysis revealed that the cellulose microfibrils were aligned parallel to that thickening. Lignin content was 36.1%, with a 0.13:1.00 molar ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl units and a 1.09:1.00 molar ratio of erythronic acid and threonic acid. Total yields of the alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation and ozonation products were 324.5 and 148.8 μmol g^-1 of extract-free TEs, respectively. Based on these morphological and lignin characteristics, we conclude that fully ripened cacao hulls exhibit the same features of secondary wall thickening as those seen at an earlier stage.     

核桃凋落叶分解对小麦生长及生理特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了核桃(Juglans regia)凋落叶分解对小麦(Triticum aestivum)生长及抗氧化酶系统、渗透调节物质含量的影响。试验设置A1(30 g/盆)、A2(60 g/盆)、A3(90 g/盆)和对照(CK)4个凋落叶水平,将各处理的凋落叶分别与8 kg土壤混合后装盆。同时设置补充试验,将称好的核桃凋落叶蒸煮12 h,先后用80%丙酮和乙醇充分浸泡24 h,再蒸煮12 h,其他处理方法和条件相同,观测分析浸提蒸煮后的核桃凋落叶在施入土壤后对受体植物的影响。结果表明:核桃凋落叶分解(0—160 d)明显抑制了小麦茎秆地径、茎高、株高、地上部分干重,并随凋落叶量的增加抑制作用增强;随凋落叶量的增加,75—115 d小麦叶片超氧化物歧化酶SOD活性增强,但过氧化氢酶CAT和过氧化物酶POD活性显著低于CK但各凋落叶处理之间变化不明显;75—95 d小麦叶片丙二醛MDA含量变化不明显,115 d时随凋落叶量增加MDA含量显著增加;75—115 d随凋落叶量的增加可溶性糖含量显著增加,但可溶性蛋白含量呈现出下降的趋势;各处理凋落叶对小麦的化感综合效应CE均表现为抑制效应,0—115 d抑制效应增强,115 d后抑制效应减弱,这是由于核桃凋落叶在土壤中分解释放的有害次生代谢物质已明显减少;在补充试验中,各处理间无明显形态差别,CK、B1(30 g/盆)和B2(60 g/盆)水平下各生长指标差异不显著(P0.05),B3(90 g/盆)水平下化感效应指数RI的绝对值与A3相比明显减小,表明在一定的凋落叶施入量范围内,其对土壤物理性质的影响和对小麦根系生长的物理阻隔不会显著抑制小麦的生长。综合各项指标,表明核桃凋落叶分解过程中释放的次生代谢物质显著抑制了小麦生长和生理特性。     

黄土高原樟子松和落叶松与其他树种枯落叶混合分解对土壤的影响

通过采集树木枯落叶与土壤进行室内混合分解培养试验,研究了黄土高原常见的樟子松和落叶松与其他树种枯落叶混合分解对土壤性质的影响及存在的相互作用,从而为不同树木种间关系的探索和该地区人工纯林的混交改造提供科学指导。结果表明:12种枯落叶单一分解均明显提高了土壤脲酶(54%—110%)、脱氢酶(85%—288%)和磷酸酶(81%—301%)活性以及有机质(29%—55%)和碱解N(12%—49%)含量,但对土壤速效P含量和CEC的影响存在较大差异。综合而言,樟子松分别与白桦、刺槐、白榆、柠条和落叶松枯落叶混合分解在对土壤性质的影响中存在相互促进作用,而分别与小叶杨、沙棘、紫穗槐、侧柏和辽东栎枯落叶混合分解在对土壤性质的影响中存在相互抑制作用;落叶松分别与刺槐、白桦、小叶杨和紫穗槐枯落叶混合分解在对土壤性质的影响中存在相互促进作用,而分别与柠条、侧柏、辽东栎、沙棘、油松和白榆枯落叶混合分解在对土壤性质的影响中存在相互抑制作用。     

Chemical composition of litter affects the growth and enzyme production by the saprotrophic basidiomycete Hypholoma fasciculare

Chemical composition of litter has previously been reported to affect in situ decomposition. To identify its effects on a single species level, the saprotrophic basidiomycete Hypholoma fasciculare was grown on 11 types of litter with variable chemical composition (N content of 3.4–28.9 mg g⁻¹), and the mass loss of litter and lignin, production of extracellular enzymes and fungal biomass were followed. After 12 weeks, mass loss ranged from 16 % to 34 %. During early decomposition stages, litter mass loss, fungal biomass production (estimated by ergosterol content) as well as fungal substrate use efficiency all increased with increasing initial N content of the litter. The initial litter decomposition rate was significantly positively correlated with the activities of arylsulfatase, cellobiohydrolase, endoxylanase and phosphatase. Contrary to expectations, the lignin content did not affect litter mass loss, when covariation with N content was accounted for. The ratio of lignin loss to total mass loss depended on the litter type and did not reflect the activities of ligninolytic enzymes.     

模拟N沉降下不同林龄马尾松林凋落叶分解-土壤C、N化学计量特征

模拟N沉降对森林生态系统的影响是当今全球变化生态学研究的一个热点问题,土壤碳库对N沉降比较敏感,N沉降增加了凋落叶分解过程中外源N含量,间接影响凋落叶分解的化学过程并改变凋落叶分解速率,因此,研究模拟N沉降下凋落叶分解-土壤C-N关系对预测森林C吸存有重要意义。利用原位分解袋法研究了模拟N沉降下三峡库区不同林龄马尾松林(Pinus massoniana)凋落叶分解过程中凋落叶-土壤C、N化学计量响应及其关系;N沉降水平分对照(CK,0 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(LN,5 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(MN,10 g m~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(HN,15 g m~(-2)a~(-1))。结果表明:分解540 d后,N沉降促进20年生和30年生马尾松林凋落叶分解,46年生马尾松林中仅低氮处理促进凋落叶分解,4种处理均是30年生分解最快,说明同一树种起始N含量低的凋落叶对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降处理促进起始N含量低的凋落叶分解,起始N含量高的凋落叶分解过程中易达到"N饱和"。N沉降抑制20年生和46年生凋落叶C释放(低于对照0.62%—6.69%),促进30年生C释放(高于对照0.28%—5.55%);30年生和46年生林分N固持量均高于对照(高于对照0.15%—21.34%),20年生则低于对照(5.70%—13.87%),说明模拟N沉降处理促进起始C含量低的凋落叶C释放和起始N含量低的凋落叶N固持。N沉降处理下仅30年生马尾松林土壤有机碳较对照增加,且土壤有机质与凋落叶C、N和分解速率呈正相关,与凋落叶C/N比呈显著负相关;土壤总氮与凋落叶分解速率、凋落叶N含量呈正相关,土壤有机碳/总氮比与凋落叶C、N含量呈正相关;对照处理中凋落叶分解指标对土壤养分影响顺序是分解速率凋落物C含量凋落物C/N比凋落物N含量,低、中、高氮处理中则是凋落物C含量分解速率凋落物N含量凋落物C/N比。研究表明低土壤养分含量马尾松林对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降促进低土壤养分马尾松林凋落叶分解并提高土壤肥力;凋落叶质量和土壤养分含量低的生态系统土壤C对N沉降响应更显著。     

Comparative study of lignins isolated from Alfa grass (Stipa tenacissima L.)

Soda lignin, dioxane lignin and milled lignin were isolated from Alfa grass (Stipatenacissima L.). The physico-chemical characterization of three different lignins: one industrial lignin precipitated from soda spent liquor and two lignin preparations isolated under laboratory conditions from Alfa grass (also know as Esparto grass) was performed. The structures of lignins were studied by three non-destructive (FT-IR, solid state ¹³C NMR and UV/visible spectroscopy) and two destructive (nitrobenzene oxidation and thermogravimetric analysis) methods. Elemental analysis and the methoxyl content determination were performed in order to determine the C₉ formulae for the studied lignins. The total antioxidant capacity of the studied lignins has been determined and compared to commercial antioxidants commonly used in thermoplastic industry.     

Impact of residue quality on the C and N mineralization of leaf and root residues of three agroforestry species

A laboratory incubation experiment with ¹⁵N labeled root and leaf residues of 3 agroforestry species (Leucaena leucocephala, Dactyladenia barteri and Flemingia macrophylla) was conducted under controlled conditions (25 C) for 56 days to quantify residue C and N mineralization and its relationship with residue quality.No uniform relation was found between the chemical composition of the above and below residues. The leucaena and dactyladenia roots contained more lignin (8 and 26% respectively) and less N (2.0 and 1.0% respectively) than the respective leaves (2 and 13% lignin and 2.9 and 1.4% N, respectively), whereas the differences between the lignin and N contents of the flemingia leaves and roots were not significant (4.6 and 3.0% lignin and 2.63 and 2.68% N, respectively). The leucaena leaves contained more polyphenols than the roots (6.4 and 3.6%), while the polyphenol content of the leaves and roots of the other residues was similar (5.0 and 5.1% for dactyladenia and 4.0 and 3.5% for flemingia).Three patterns of N mineralization could be distinguished. A first pattern, followed by residues producing the highest amounts of CO₂, showed an initial immobilization of soil derived N, followed by a net release of both soil and residue derived N after 7 days of incubation. A second pattern, followed by the flemingia leaf residues which produced intermediate amounts of CO₂ and had an intermediate quality, showed no significant immobilization of soil derived N, and significant mineralization of residue N. A third pattern, followed by both low quality dactyladenia residues, showed a low release of residue derived N and a continued inmobilization of soil derived N.Residue C mineralization was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with the residue lignin content, C-to-N ratio, and polyphenol-to-N ratio. The proportion of residue N mineralized (immobilized) after 56 days of incubation was significantly correlated with the residue N content (p<0.01) and the C-to-N ratio (p<0.05). The relations were quadratic, rather than linear. The ratio of the proportion of residue N mineralized (immobilized) over the proportion of residue C mineralized after 56 days was highly significantly correlated with the lignin content (p<0.01) and C-to-N (p<0.001), lignin-to-N (p<0.01), polyphenol-to-N (p<0.01) and (lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratios (p<0.01) in a linear way. This indicates that due to the low availability of the residue C, relatively less N is immobilized for the very low quality residues ((lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratio: 29.7) than for the residues with a relatively higher quality ((lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratios between 3.3 and 12.5).     

桉-桤不同混合比例凋落物分解过程中 土壤动物群落动态

采用凋落物分解袋法研究了10:0(TⅠ)、7:3(TⅡ)5:5(TⅢ)、3:7(TⅣ)和0:10(TV)巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)和台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)混合凋落物分解过程中的土壤动物群落特征.从5种类型、3种规格的810只凋落袋中共收集土壤动物75651只,隶属2门10纲20目,其中弹尾目(Collembola)和蜱螨目(Acarina)为优势类群.土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月,大型土壤动物个体数最高是7月,中小型土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月.大型、中小型土壤动物类群数各月间均波动较小.与30目和6目相比,260目网袋中弹尾目和蜱螨目等中小型土壤动物数量更高.相对台湾桤木(TV)而言,巨桉(TⅠ)凋落物中弹尾目数量更多.啮虫目(Psocoptera)在台湾桤木(TV)凋落物中的数量远远高于其它凋落物,后孔寡毛目(Opisthopora)在混合凋落物中数量较高.不同比例的凋落物混合可改变凋落物中土壤动物的数量和组成.桤木、混合凋落物中大型土壤动物的个体数高于巨桉凋落物,而且上述凋落物的分解速率亦明显快于巨桉凋落物,这意味着大型土壤动物的活动可加速凋落物的分解.因此,在巨桉人工纯林中混栽台湾桤木,可显著提高大型土壤动物的数量,促进凋落物的分解.