密度对尖头叶藜生物量分配格局及异速生长的影响

植物器官指示植物不同的功能,而植物器官生物量分配比例的变化表征了植物对资源获取能力的调整。在植物生长发育过程中,植物各器官呈一种明显的异速生长规律。利用异速生长分析方法,通过模拟不同密度(16、44.4、100、400株/m~2)下尖头叶藜(Chenopodium acuminatum)的生长特性,研究密度对尖头叶藜器官生物量分配格局及异速生长的影响。结果表明,随密度增加,尖头叶藜地上和地下器官都存在不同程度的竞争:其中,根和主茎生物量分配增加,茎和地上生物量分配减少,而叶和繁殖生物量分配不随密度变化而变化。研究发现,尖头叶藜各器官间具有显著的异速生长关系:其中叶∶主茎、根∶地上部分、根∶茎、根∶主茎、繁殖器官∶地上部分及繁殖器官∶根生物量间的异速生长不随密度变化而变化,属于表观可塑性;而叶∶地上部分、叶∶根、叶∶茎、茎∶地上部分、主茎∶地上部分、繁殖器官∶茎、繁殖器官∶主茎生物量间具有极显著的异速生长关系,异速指数和个体大小显著受密度变化影响,属于真正可塑性,这表明密度能够影响尖头叶藜各器官的生长变化。尖头叶藜叶∶主茎、叶∶根及主茎∶地上部分生物量间的异速指数在D4-密度时与3/4差异不显著(P0.05),符合生态代谢理论,而在D1—D3密度时与3/4差异显著(P0.05),表明充分竞争的植株更符合代谢理论,而竞争不激烈的植株对资源的投入具有物种特异性。     

檵木生物量分配特征

生物量是生态系统最基本的数量特征,其在各器官间的分配反映了植物适应环境的生长策略,是物种进化、生物多样性保护和生态系统碳循环研究的核心问题。檵木(Loropetalum chinense)灌丛是中国亚热带灌丛生态系统最具优势的一种灌丛类型。该研究以该灌丛建群种檵木为研究对象,采用整株收获法在个体水平上研究了器官间的异速生长、生物量在各器官间的分配以及与个体大小、灌丛更新起源和生境因子之间的关系。研究发现:檵木地上-地下相对生长关系符合等速生长规律,但随径级增大其等速生长关系可能发生变化;较小径级檵木叶-茎、叶-根为等速生长,随径级增大转换为异速生长。不同灌丛起源间,檵木叶-茎、叶-根相对生长存在显著差异。器官间相对生长的尺度系数与生境因子无显著相关关系,灌木层盖度和坡度通过影响檵木生长初期器官间的相对生长影响其生物量在器官间的分配。檵木平均叶质比为0.11,茎质比为0.55,根质比为0.34,根冠比为0.65。随径级的增大,茎质比(0.50–0.64)逐渐增大,叶质比(0.12–0.08)、根质比(0.38–0.28)和根冠比(0.91–0.43)逐渐减小。在次生灌丛中,檵木叶质比为0.12,根质比为0.33;在原生灌丛中,檵木叶质比为0.07,根质比为0.36。生物量向地上部分的分配与灌木层盖度正相关,叶质比与坡度负相关,根质比与年平均气温正相关。研究结果表明:随个体增大,檵木器官间的相对生长关系由等速生长转换为异速生长,生物量向地上部分的分配增加,地上生物量更多地分配到茎干中;干扰通过影响器官间的相对生长影响生物量在各器官间的分配,干扰导致生物量向叶的分配增加,向根的分配减少;光照减少促进生物量向地上部分的分配,坡度增加导致生物量向叶的分配减少,年平均气温升高促进生物量向根系的分配,年降水量的变化对生物量分配无显著影响。檵木生物量分配策略在一定程度上支持了最优分配假说。     

古尔班通古特沙漠南缘3种生活型草本植物生物量分配及相关生长关系

为了解古尔班通古特沙漠不同生活型草本植物的生物量分配特征,通过取样调查当地34种草本植物的生物量研究表明：（1）采集到的每个物种样本的总生物量大多小于4 g,其中多数个体（大于80%）的地上与地下生物量分别在2和0.5 g以内,根冠比主要集中在0.25以内;（2）类短命植物向地下部分分配较多生物量,根冠比较大,集中分布在1.67左右;短命和一年生长营养期草本向地下部分配的生物量远小于类短命植物,两者的根冠比较小,主要集中在0.15左右;（3）短命植物地下与地上部生物量间为等速生长关系,而类短命植物和一年生长营养期草本植物地下与地上生物量间为异速生长关系,其中类短命植物随个体增大向地下部分配生物量的比例增多,而一年生长营养期草本则相反。综上所述,短命、类短命和一年生长营养期草本植物地下与地上生物量间具有不同的分配特征,与各自独特的生活史特征相一致。     

山口红树林区互花米草有性繁殖期的生物量动态

以山口红树林保护区互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）为研究对象,对其有性繁殖期(2007年6—11月)的生物量动态变化进行了初步研究。结果表明：在繁殖初期,不同营养器官的生物量随时间呈现不同程度的增加;但在繁殖后期,根、茎和叶的生物量的增长率均出现负值,其中根生物量和叶生物量的负增长导致茎生物量出现负增长。地下部分生物量远小于地上部分生物量,生物量在各器官的分配除6月份外呈现茎>叶>根>繁殖器官。地下部分生物量占总生物量的比例随着时间呈现下降的趋势,其中根系生物量比例从6月份的28.9%下降到11月的14.0%;繁殖器官生物量的比例不大,随着时间呈现增加的趋势。     

闽楠容器苗各器官生物量的分配格局及水分特征研究

以1.5年生闽楠(Phoebe bournei)容器苗为研究对象,揭示其在不同高度阶段各器官的含水率及生物量的分配格局,为闽楠的培育及利用提供理论依据。研究表明：①随着高度的增加,闽楠容器苗的生物量及各器官生物量也随之增加,各器官生物量分配大小表现为根生物量＞叶生物量＞茎生物量＞枝生物量;其中茎生物量分配随着高度的增加而增加,叶生物量分配则是随着高度的增加呈现先增加后减少的变化曲线,根生物量分配随着高度增加而先减少后增加。苗高与基径,树高、基径与叶、干、根、茎（干+枝）生物量以及地上、地下和单株生物量都具有极显著相关关系;树高、基径与枝生物量相关关系不显著;②高度为20~25 cm的闽楠幼苗其茎、叶的含水率达到最大峰值50%,其变化曲线相对比较平稳,而幼苗高度处于35~45 cm时根部含水率的最大峰值是61%,变化曲线振幅相对较大;③植株根含水率与茎、叶、地上生物量积累呈显著正相关,而叶含水率则与植物各器官生物量呈显著负相关。     

植物光合结构与非光合结构的功能平衡：来自三种亚热带乔木树种的实验证据

植物的地上部分和地下部分存在功能性平衡现已十分清楚,但植物的地上部分是否在其光合结构（叶组织）和非光合结构（枝和茎）之间也存在功能性平衡尚不明晰,本文提出两个研究假设并检验之：1）植物地上部分在其光合与非光合结构之间存在功能性平衡;2）此功能性平衡的维持依赖于对光合和非光合结构生物量分配的调节,为验证此假设,采用枝叶修剪的方式（连续两年修剪,四个修剪强度：0,20%,50%,70%）对3种亚热带乔木树种榕（Ficus microcarpa),黄桷树（Ficus virens)和樟（Cinnamomum camphora)进行了研究。结果表明,修剪使所有树种地上部分的光合与非光合结构生物量比率（P/NP）立即下降,下降程度随修剪强度的程式高而增大,但不论是首次修剪还是第二次修剪,修剪处理一年后,修剪株地上部分的光合与非光合结构生物量比率升高,且此生物量比率不低于非修剪株的光合与非光合结构生物量比率。此研究结果证实了植物地上部分光合与非光合结构间存在功能性平衡的假设,与假设一致。植株的生物量分配在修剪后发生了改变;修剪株加大了对光合结构（叶组织）的生物量分配（大量的新生产地上部分生物量被分配到光合结构）,同时却减少了对非光合结构（枝和茎）的分配,此分析格局的改变保证了光合与非光合结构功能性平衡的恢复与维持,可以认为,通过改变生物量分配格局以维持光合与非光合结构功能平衡是植物低御外来干扰和/或损伤的一种有效策略。     

植物光合结构与非光合结构的功能平衡:来自三种亚热带乔木树种的实验证据

来自三种亚热带乔木树种的实验证据 曾波 （1.西南师范大学生命科学学院,重庆400715;2.Department of Plant Ecology, Utrecht Unixersity, P.O.Box 80084,3508TB Utrecht,The Netherlands) 摘要： 植物的地上部分和地下部分存在功能性平衡现已十分清楚,但植物的地上部分是否在其光合结构（叶组织）和非光合结构（枝和茎）之间也存在功能性平衡尚不明晰。本文提出两个研究假设并检验之：1）植物地上部分在其光合与非光合结构之间存在功能性平衡;2）此功能性平衡的维持依赖于对光合和非光合结构生物量分配的调节。为验证此假设,采用枝叶修剪的方式（连续两年修剪,四个修剪强度：0,20%,50%,70%）对3种亚热带乔木树种榕(Ficus microcarpa）、黄桷树（Ficus uirens）和樟（Cinnamomum camphora）进行了研究。结果表明,修剪使所有树种地上部分的光合与非光合结构生物量比率（P/NP）立即下降,下降程度随修剪强度的升高而增大。但不论是首次修剪还是第二次修剪,修剪处理一年后,修剪株地上部分的光合与非光合结构生物量比率升高,且此生物量比率不低于非修剪株的光合与非光合结构生物量比率。此研究结果证实了植物地上部分光合与非光合结构间存在功能性平衡的假设。与假设一致,植株的生物量分配在修剪后发生了改变：修剪株加大了对光合结构（叶组织）的生物量分配（大量的新生产地上部分生物量被分配到光合结构）,同时却减少了对非光合结构（枝和茎）的分配。此分配格局的改变保证了光合与非光合结构功能性平衡的恢复与维持。可以认为,通过改变生物量分配格局以维持光合 与非光合结构功能平衡是植物抵御外来干扰和e 或损伤的一种有效策略。 关键词： 生物量分配;功能平衡;非光合结构;光合结构;乔木     

乌梁素海野生芦苇群落生物量及影响因子分析

 对内蒙古乌梁素海湿地野生芦苇(Phragmites australis)生物量的调查基础上,探讨了富营养化湖泊湿地水体的物理化学性质对芦苇生物量的影响。结果表明：1）由于环境因子的影响,芦苇群落生物量变化较大,介于1.73～3.00 kg·m-2之间;地下和地上生物量之比介于1.14～2.19之间;2）芦苇群落生物量受多种因素的影响,其中水深是最主要的限制因子,水上生物量和地上生物量随着水深的增加而增加,而地下与地上生物量的比值则随水深的增加而减少,这主要是由于水深改变了芦苇群落的结构（群落密度）和个体形态(株高和株茎);3）芦苇群落生物量随着水体N浓度增加而增加。芦苇各器官（叶、茎、根状茎和根）的N∶P为7.59～12.21,小于14,这也说明该水体中的N负荷是影响芦苇生长的主要限制因子;4）土壤有机质分解对芦苇生长没有产生毒害作用。     

细叶百合的生物量和营养分配

 以栽培的2年生细叶百合（Lilium pumilum）为材料,于2000年的生长季从蕾期至种子成熟期进行6次取样,对其各器官生物量和氮、磷元素的配置进行了动态研究。结果表明,细叶百合虽然以种子繁殖为主,但在整个生长季用于生殖器官的生物量投资的比例并不很大,大量干物质分配到地下器官鳞茎中（平均为60.17%）;茎、叶的生物量分配比例仅次于鳞茎;雄蕊生物量分配比例明显高于雌蕊。在叶萌动及展叶初期植株全氮百分含量最高;从春季萌动至秋季果实成熟,叶中的氮呈逐渐递减的趋势;茎和生殖器官的全氮含量在蕾期最大;生殖器官与叶、鳞茎的全氮含量相关显著。磷在生殖器官的含量较高,这与磷在植物有性生殖过程中的重要作用相一致;生殖器官与茎的全磷含量相关显著。地下器官全氮、全磷随季节变化有增多的趋势;地上各器官全氮、全磷相关显著,随季节变化有明显减少的趋势。     

陆生植物生物量分配对模拟氮沉降响应的Meta分析

分析了陆生植物地上、地下各组织中生物量分配对氮沉降的响应,为研究大气氮沉降背景下陆地生态系统的碳、氮循环过程及植物生物量分配、立木收获、定向培育等相关研究和实践提供参考依据。共收集整理了国内外63篇论文的原始数据资料进行Meta分析(Meta-analysis),用以定量评估氮沉降对植物生物量分配的影响,并通过亚组分析进一步探讨了不同生态系统类型、植物种类、氮肥形式、施氮水平和持续时间对生物量分配的影响。结果表明,总体来看施氮会显著促进植物地上部分生物量分配,植物叶生物量和茎生物量在施氮条件下均显著增加;然而地下生物量所受促进作用要低于地上部分,表现为植物细根生物量和粗根生物量在氮输入下并没有显著变化;植物根冠比在氮沉降下显著降低;叶重比、茎重比和根重比在氮沉降下没有显著变化。此外,亚组分析结果表明生态系统类型和植物类型会显著影响植物总生物量和根冠比对氮沉降的响应,草本植物在氮沉降下的生物量累积明显优于木本,这说明短期氮沉降可能会增加草本的覆盖面积;施肥形式对根冠比的影响存在明显差异,相比于尿素,硝酸铵对植物根冠比的作用更显著;不同施氮水平显著影响地上生物量分配,中氮水平(本研究为60—120 kg hm-2a-1)促进作用最大,高氮水平(本研究为≥120 kg hm-2a-1)促进作用明显减弱,这与总生物量的变化一致,表明过高的氮沉降量将抑制植物生长;氮沉降处理时间长短对植物地上生物量的影响也存在显著差异,当施氮时间高于3年,氮沉降对地上生物量的促进作用几乎消失。总之,短期氮沉降会使植物分配更多生物量给地上部分,且氮沉降对草本植物生物量的累积作用明显优于木本,这些发现可为未来大气氮沉降背景下植物地上、地下部分碳存储、植物群落结构、植被动态等相关研究提供科学依据。     

Internal and external regulation of plant organ stoichiometry

Internal differences between plant organs are caused by the functional differentiation of plant tissue, whereas external supply rates of elements constrain nutrient uptake. Previous studies have concentrated on foliar or whole‐plant stoichiometric response to the environment, whereas investigation of organ‐specific comparisons is still pending. We explore C:N:P ratios of stems, leaves, diaspores and belowground organs in marsh plants, and evaluate the influence of environmental constraints using standardised major axis regression (SMA). For a pooled dataset, SMA resulted in distinct patterns of isometric and anisometric slopes between plant organs. Bivariate line‐fitting for a split dataset of four ecological groups revealed that species of the frequently inundated marsh had higher N:C ratios than those of the infrequently inundated marsh. The influence of nutrient availability was detectable in decreased P:C and increased N:P ratios in P‐poor sites. Across ecological groups, leaves and diaspores showed higher elemental homeostasis than stems and belowground organs. Any change in N:C ratios of belowground organs and diaspores in response to the environment was accompanied by an even stronger internal change in stem N:C ratios, indicating a pivotal role of stems of herbaceous plants in ecosystem processes. We found distinct patterns of C:N:P ratios in plant organs related to their internal function and external environmental constraints. Leaves and diaspores showed a higher degree of homeostasis than stems and belowground organs. We detected a clear external signal in element:element ratios of plant organs, with low soil P translating into lower tissue P:C ratio and stronger N retention in leaves as a response to salt stress.     

Changes in individual plant traits and biomass allocation in alpine meadow with elevation variation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Plant traits and individual plant biomass allocation of 57 perennial herbaceous species, belonging to three common functional groups (forbs, grasses and sedges) at subalpine (3700 m ASL), alpine (4300 m ASL) and subnival (⩾5000 m ASL) sites were examined to test the hypothesis that at high altitudes, plants reduce the proportion of aboveground parts and allocate more biomass to belowground parts, especially storage organs, as altitude increases, so as to geminate and resist environmental stress. However, results indicate that some divergence in biomass allocation exists among organs. With increasing altitude, the mean fractions of total biomass allocated to aboveground parts decreased. The mean fractions of total biomass allocation to storage organs at the subalpine site (7%±2% S.E.) were distinct from those at the alpine (23%±6%) and subnival (21%±6%) sites, while the proportions of green leaves at all altitudes remained almost constant. At 4300 m and 5000 m, the mean fractions of flower stems decreased by 45% and 41%, respectively, while fine roots increased by 86% and 102%, respectively. Specific leaf areas and leaf areas of forbs and grasses deceased with rising elevation, while sedges showed opposite trends. For all three functional groups, leaf area ratio and leaf area root mass ratio decreased, while fine root biomass increased at higher altitudes. Biomass allocation patterns of alpine plants were characterized by a reduction in aboveground reproductive organs and enlargement of fine roots, while the proportion of leaves remained stable. It was beneficial for high altitude plants to compensate carbon gain and nutrient uptake under low temperature and limited nutrients by stabilizing biomass investment to photosynthetic structures and increasing the absorption surface area of fine roots. In contrast to forbs and grasses that had high mycorrhizal infection, sedges had higher single leaf area and more root fraction, especially fine roots.     

Variation in biomass allocation of Nitraria tangutorum during different phenological phases

植物生物量的分配模式是植物对环境适应的结果, 并伴随着植物生活史的每一个阶段, 与植物的生长和发育息息相关。目前关于植物生物量分配的大小依赖性已有相关报道, 但关于其对物候期的响应尚鲜有报道。该研究以乌兰布和沙漠地区白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)为研究对象, 通过对其2016与2017年连续2个生长季里盛花期、盛果期与营养生长期3个物候期的根、压条、新枝、老枝、叶、繁殖器官等部分的生物量测定, 采用标准化主轴回归方程的斜率和截距的显著性比较, 分别探讨了白刺在不同物候期的异速生长的大小依赖程度和相对生物量分配比例, 特别是地上与地下部分之间、支持与同化器官之间, 在不同物候期的生物量分配规律。结果表明: 白刺的繁殖生长对生物量分配模式造成的影响主要体现在相对生物量分配比例(36.00%)而不是个体大小的依赖性程度上(16.67%), 且对新枝的影响较大, 使其不同物候期的大小依赖性程度发生了改变, 但是变化趋势不一致, 同时繁殖生长增加对叶片的相对生物量分配比例, 减少对老枝的相对生物量分配比例, 但并没有改变他们的大小依赖性程度。白刺生长过程中的地下部分生物量分配率随个体生物量的累积均增大, 而繁殖分配会在一定程度内减弱这种速率。白刺随着个体生物量的增大其生物量向支持器官分配率也越大, 但随着生长时间推移, 更倾向于将生物量分配给同化吸收器官。     

白刺不同物候期的生物量分配规律

植物生物量的分配模式是植物对环境适应的结果, 并伴随着植物生活史的每一个阶段, 与植物的生长和发育息息相关。目前关于植物生物量分配的大小依赖性已有相关报道, 但关于其对物候期的响应尚鲜有报道。该研究以乌兰布和沙漠地区白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)为研究对象, 通过对其2016与2017年连续2个生长季里盛花期、盛果期与营养生长期3个物候期的根、压条、新枝、老枝、叶、繁殖器官等部分的生物量测定, 采用标准化主轴回归方程的斜率和截距的显著性比较, 分别探讨了白刺在不同物候期的异速生长的大小依赖程度和相对生物量分配比例, 特别是地上与地下部分之间、支持与同化器官之间, 在不同物候期的生物量分配规律。结果表明: 白刺的繁殖生长对生物量分配模式造成的影响主要体现在相对生物量分配比例(36.00%)而不是个体大小的依赖性程度上(16.67%), 且对新枝的影响较大, 使其不同物候期的大小依赖性程度发生了改变, 但是变化趋势不一致, 同时繁殖生长增加对叶片的相对生物量分配比例, 减少对老枝的相对生物量分配比例, 但并没有改变他们的大小依赖性程度。白刺生长过程中的地下部分生物量分配率随个体生物量的累积均增大, 而繁殖分配会在一定程度内减弱这种速率。白刺随着个体生物量的增大其生物量向支持器官分配率也越大, 但随着生长时间推移, 更倾向于将生物量分配给同化吸收器官。     

Allocation plasticity and modular structure in clonal graminoids in response to waterlogging

Three clonal rhizomatous graminoids (Carex gracilis, C. vesicaria andCalamagrostis canescens) co-dominants of Central European marshlands, were examined for their response to waterlogging. A three-year growth study was carried with treatments where the water level was (a) below, (b) at, and (c) above the soil surface to assess the changes in allocation of plant biomass and modular structure. In waterlogged plants total biomass production was lower. The relatively greater shoot systems of waterlogged plants were characterized by the production of a greater number of tiller modules (of the order of 20%). Roots were the most supressed organs both in sedges andC. canescens. Higher leaf area ratios and specific leaf areas in stressed plants indicate the relative enlargement of photosynthetic structures where stems form a significant component of the shoot (LWR <0.5 as inCalamagrostis) in unstressed conditions; above-ground biomass in stressed plants decreased. But where leaves form a major part of the shoot (LWR>0.5 as in sedges) then above-ground biomass and rhizomes in stressed plants increased and leaf area index became higher. Variation of the mean module biomass in particular species was also associated with the LWR characteristics: modules ofCarex gracilis andC. vesicaria were stable in biomass in all the treatments and reached 0.97±0.04 g and 0.44±0.03 g, respectively; inCalamagrostis the biomass of tillers varied. The number of modules increased in all species under waterlogging regardless of the architectural and reallocation differences between species. The increase in clonal modules is regarded as a general adaptive response to the stress of waterlogging.     

Climbing strategy in herbs does not necessarily lead to lower investments into stem biomass

Herbaceous climbers (vines) represent a growth strategy in which the stem lacks most of its supporting function. This has led to the hypothesis that herbaceous climbers are structural parasites that invest less into stems than self-supporting plants. So far, the support for this idea has been ambiguous, as woody and herbaceous plants have been discussed jointly and evidence is often based on young plants in pot experiments. We collected in wild fully grown temperate herbaceous climbers and self-supporting herbs to examine the idea. We made a phylogenetically informed comparison of biomass allocation into stems and leaves of 16 climber species and 74 self-supporting herbs. Furthermore, we compared our results with those published for woody climbers to gain insight into different biomass allocation between herbaceous and woody growth forms. We found that herbaceous climbers and self-supporting herbs do not differ in their proportion of stem biomass to leaf biomass. Herbaceous climbers reach much higher in the canopy thanks to their climbing habit and in average more than seven times longer stems, but contrary to the expectation and unlike their woody counterparts, they do not save on investment into the stem. Herbaceous climbers and self-supporting herbs represent a study system which provides insight into biomass scaling with versus without supporting function where both stems as well as leaves are seasonal.

     

Get the shovel: morphological and evolutionary complexities of belowground organs in geophytes

Herbaceous plants collectively known as geophytes, which regrow from belowground buds, are distributed around the globe and throughout the land plant tree of life. The geophytic habit is an evolutionarily and ecologically important growth form in plants, permitting novel life history strategies, enabling the occupation of more seasonal climates, mediating interactions between plants and their water and nutrient resources, and influencing macroevolutionary patterns by enabling differential diversification and adaptation. These taxa are excellent study systems for understanding how convergence on a similar growth habit (i.e., geophytism) can occur via different morphological and developmental mechanisms. Despite the importance of belowground organs for characterizing whole-plant morphological diversity, the morphology and evolution of these organs have been vastly understudied with most research focusing on only a few crop systems. Here, we clarify the terminology commonly used (and sometimes misused) to describe geophytes and their underground organs and highlight key evolutionary patterns of the belowground morphology of geophytic plants. Additionally, we advocate for increasing resources for geophyte research and implementing standardized ontological definitions of geophytic organs to improve our understanding of the factors controlling, promoting, and maintaining geophyte diversity.     

Occurrence of endodermis with a casparian strip in stem and leaf

It is well known that an endodermis with casparian strip always occurs in roots, but few people are aware that it also occurs in stems and leaves of some vascular plants. The rather sparse literature on endodermis in aerial organs was last included in a review in 1943. The present compilation, which does not consider hydathodes, nectaries, or other secretory structures, emphasizes distribution of cauline and foliar endodermis with casparian strip. It occurs unevenly among major taxa: quite common in rhizomes and leaves among pteridophyte groups, with exceptions; absent in gymnosperm stems but found in leaves at least among some conifers; in stems of at least 30 mostly herbaceous angiosperm families, but far less common in leaves, where it is mostly reported from petioles. Etiolation can induce casparian strips in stems and petioles of some herbaceous plants, but results from leaf blades are questionable. There are recent reports of an endodermis with casparian strip in leaves of both woody and herbaceous taxa. The physiological function, if any, of a casparian strip in aerial organs remains unknown.     

Inherent allocation patterns and potential growth rates of herbaceous climbing plants

We tested the hypothesis that herbaceous climbing plants, unlike non-climbing herbs, maximize height growth and leaf area, with minimal expenditure in support structures. The enhanced investment in leaf area was expected to result in high relative growth rates in terms of biomass increment. Four leguminous herbaceous climbers from nutrient-poor sites and four non-leguminous herbaceous climbers from nutrient-rich sites, were compared with non-climbing, self-supporting leguminous and non-leguminous herbaceous species from similar habitats. Plants were grown in hydroponic cultures in controlled environment chambers. All climbers had inherently taller shoots than self-supporting plants when compared at an equal amount of total plant dry weight, due to longer stems per unit of support biomass. In contrast to the hypothesis, the relative growth rates of all climbers were relatively low compared to the range found for self-supporting species. The biomass allocation patterns of the non-leguminous climbers were similar to those of the self-supporting species. Leguminous climbers allocated more biomass to support tissue and less biomass to leaves than non-climbers. As a result, height growth was even more emphasized in leguminous climbers than in non-leguminous climbers. Climbing legumes had high rates of net carbon gain, which partly compensated the lower relative leaf weight. We conclude that leguminous herbaceous climbers maximize height growth by a large investment in support biomass, enabling them to keep a large proportion of their leaves in the better illuminated environment at the top of the vegetation canopy.     

浙江古田山自然保护区甜槠群落特征研究

甜槠林是古田山自然保护区常绿阔叶林主要类型之一。通过对甜槠群落特征进行分析和研究 ,结果表明 :甜槠群落中 ,甜槠的优势明显 ,呈单优势群落。群落外貌以小型和中型叶、单叶、非全缘、革质及草质的小、中高位芽植物组成为特征。群落垂直结构复杂 ,可分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层 ,并有一定数量的层间植物。乔木层物种多样性指数偏低 ,垂直结构各层次间物种多样性大小依次为灌木层 >乔木层 >草本层。