氮素形态配比对桔梗硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐动态积累及营养品质的影响

以桔梗（Platycodon grandiflorum）为试验材料,通过盆栽试验研究了等氮条件下6种氮素形态及铵硝氮配比(NH⁺₄ N/NO^-₃ N=100∶0、75∶25、50∶50、25∶75、0∶100、CO(NH₂)₂)对桔梗根中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐动态积累以及营养、药用品质的影响。结果显示：（1）桔梗根中硝酸盐及亚硝酸盐积累量以铵硝比为25∶75处理下最低;硝酸盐积累量随栽培时间的增长呈上升趋势,尤其在10月采收时显著增加,亚硝酸盐变化趋势则与之相反。（2）桔梗根中Vc含量在全硝态氮处理下最高,可溶性多糖含量在铵硝比为50∶50处理下最高,而可溶性蛋白及总游离氨基酸含量均在铵硝比为75∶25处理下达到最大值。（3）桔梗根中N、Cu、Mn、Zn积累量在酰胺态氮处理下最高,其Fe、Mg、Cu积累量在铵硝比为75∶25处理下最大。（4）桔梗根中总黄酮含量随营养液中硝态氮比例增加而呈下降趋势,并在酰胺态氮处理下达到最大;桔梗多糖及桔梗总皂苷含量均在铵硝比为25∶75处理下有最大值。研究发现,在铵硝比为25∶75处理下,桔梗根中硝酸盐及亚硝酸盐含量最低,桔梗多糖及总皂苷积累量最高,且Vc、游离氨基酸等品质指标含量也较高,有利于桔梗品质的提升;由于10月采收时桔梗根中硝酸盐含量显著增高,桔梗采收前不宜大量追施氮肥。     

不同氮素形态及其配比对盐胁迫下紫苏生理特性的影响

以60 mmol·L~(-1)NaCl处理紫苏幼苗为对象,研究不同氮素形态配比对盐胁迫下紫苏生长、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质、抗氧化酶和氮素代谢相关酶活性的影响,为进一步研究盐胁迫环境下紫苏生产中氮肥的合理调控提供理论依据。结果表明:非盐胁迫下,当NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N=25∶75时,紫苏地上部分的鲜重和干重、总叶绿素含量、硝酸还原酶(NR)和谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、可溶性蛋白含量和抗氧化酶活性都显著高于其他氮素处理;在盐胁迫下,紫苏生长受到抑制,叶绿素含量降低,可溶性蛋白和MDA含量增加,抗氧化酶活性升高,氮代谢相关酶NR和GS活性也升高; NaCl胁迫下,当NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N=25∶75时,紫苏叶片的叶绿素含量、SOD活性、CAT活性和可溶性蛋白含量最高,MDA含量最低;当NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N=50∶50时,POD活性最高;叶片中NR和GS活性都随着硝态氮比例的增加不断升高,并在NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N=0∶100达到最大值,酰胺态氮处理组的NR和GS活性均低于全硝处理,但高于全铵处理组;不同氮素形态及配比对盐胁迫下紫苏叶绿素含量、氮素代谢和抗逆调节指标、产量影响显著;研究发现,在盐胁迫下,铵硝混合配施比单独施用全硝、全铵和酰胺态氮效果好,并且NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N=25∶75处理更有利于维持抗氧化酶、氮代谢酶活性,缓解盐胁迫对紫苏幼苗生长的抑制,促进鲜重和干重的增加,从而维持较高的耐盐性。     

不同氮素形态比例对五味子幼苗生长特性的影响

以2年生五味子苗木为试验材料,在田间条件下,施以铵态氮(NH4+-N)和硝态氮(NO3--N)不同比例,分析了叶片可溶性蛋白、叶绿素含量、根系及茎叶中全氮含量、生物量等季节的动态变化规律,探讨了不同氮素形态比例对五味子苗木生长的影响。结果表明,五味子苗木在不同生长时期对不同氮素形态的吸收和利用存在明显差异,NH4+-N和NO3--N对五味子幼苗生长有显著的联合效应。在五味子生长前期,五味子主要以吸收和同化NH4+-N为主,并以铵态氮和硝态氮比例为75∶25时地上部生物量积累较多;而在五味子生长的中后期,五味子主要以NO3--N吸收和同化为主,并以铵态氮和硝态氮比例为25∶75时地上部生物量积累较多。     

氮素形态及配比对5个种源菘蓝的生物碱类成分和多糖的影响

以5份不同种源的菘蓝为材料,采用田间小区试验,设置不施氮(CK)、硝态氮(NO3--N)、铵态氮(NH4+-N)、NH4+-N/NO3--N=75/25、NH4+-N/NO3--N=50/50、NH4+-N/NO3--N=25/75和酰胺态氮等7个处理,分析比较了不同种源植株的靛蓝、靛玉红和总生物碱含量、(R,S)-告依春及多糖含量等指标的差异,为菘蓝栽培生产中氮素的高效利用提供理论参考。结果表明:氮素处理有利于提高山西运城菘蓝和陕西商洛菘蓝叶内靛蓝含量,以及安徽亳州菘蓝和陕西商洛菘蓝叶内的总生物碱含量;NH4+-N/NO3--N=50/50处理对山西运城菘蓝,以及酰胺态氮处理对山西运城菘蓝和陕西商洛菘蓝叶内生物碱类成分的积累均有促进作用;与对照相比,氮素处理亦能有效地提高甘肃张掖菘蓝和陕西商洛菘蓝根内的(R,S)-告依春及安徽亳州菘蓝根内的多糖含量;安徽阜阳菘蓝(R,S)-告依春含量在任一氮处理下均远远高于其他种质菘蓝。研究表明,不同种源菘蓝对氮素处理的响应存在较大的差异,建议生产中综合考虑菘蓝的来源和需肥规律,采用经济有效的施氮组合,以提高其活性成分含量。     

氮素形态对黄檗幼苗生长及氮代谢相关酶类的影响

通过改变水培溶液中NH4+-N和NO3--N的比例, 研究了不同氮素形态对黄檗(Phellodendron amurense)幼苗生长及氮代谢相关酶类的影响。结果表明, 硝态氮比例较高的营养供给比铵态氮比例较高的营养供给有利于黄檗幼苗的生长, 叶片叶绿素含量和可溶性蛋白含量也高。在NH4+-N/NO3--N为25/75 时黄檗幼苗具有最大生物量。在铵态氮比例大的营养供给下, 黄檗幼苗的谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性增强,而在硝态氮比例大的营养供给下幼苗的硝酸还原酶(NR)活性则较高, 叶片中的硝态氮较低。营养液的氮素形态及其组成通过影响GS与NR的活性而调控黄檗幼苗的氮素代谢。     

氮素形态及配比对夏播菘蓝生长及活性成分含量的影响

以来自山西的菘蓝(Isatis indigotica Fort.)为实验对象,采用盆栽法研究铵态氮(NH4+-N)、硝态氮(NO3--N)和酰胺态氮〔CO(NH2)2〕的不同配比对夏播菘蓝生长,叶和根中的可溶性蛋白质及总氮含量,根中多糖含量,叶中叶绿素相对含量,以及叶中靛玉红和靛蓝、根中(R,S)-告依春的含量和积累量的影响.结果表明:各施氮处理组的单株叶干质量均高于对照(不施用氮素)组,但单株根干质量或高于或低于对照组,其中,T4〔n(铵态氮):n(硝态氮):n(酰胺态氮)=25:75:0〕处理组的单株叶和根干质量均最大,且总体上显著高于对照组及其他施氮处理组(P<005);而施氮处理组的根冠比均显著低于对照组.各施氮处理组叶中的可溶性蛋白质含量与对照均无显著差异,但各施氮处理组根中的可溶性蛋白质含量、叶和根中的总氮含量以及叶中的叶绿素相对含量总体上显著高于对照组,而根中的多糖含量或高于或低于对照组,其中,T6〔n(铵态氮):n(硝态氮):n(酰胺态氮)=0:75:25〕处理组根中的多糖含量和叶中的叶绿素相对含量均最高,T3〔n(铵态氮):n(硝态氮):n(酰胺态氮)=50:50:0〕处理组叶和根中的可溶性蛋白质含量均较高.各施氮处理组叶中靛玉红含量总体上显著高于对照组,多数施氮处理组叶中靛蓝含量则显著低于对照组,但各施氮处理组的单株叶中靛蓝和靛玉红积累量总体上高于对照组;其中,T2〔n(铵态氮):n(硝态氮):n(酰胺态氮)=75:25:0〕处理组叶中靛玉红含量及其单株积累量均最高,T6处理组叶中靛蓝含量最高,而单株叶中靛蓝积累量则以T3处理组最高.各施氮处理组根中(R,S)-告依春含量总体上显著低于对照组,其中,以T1〔n(铵态氮):n(硝态氮):n(酰胺态氮)=100:0:0〕处理组根中(R,S)-告依春含量最高,T4处理组单株根中(R,S)-告依春积累量最高.综合分析结果表明:按不同配比施用不同形态氮素,夏播菘蓝的生长及活性成分含量有明显差异,因此,若以收获叶为目的,结合叶中靛玉红含量,建议施用铵态氮和硝态氮物质的量比为75:25的复合氮肥;若以收获根为目的,结合根中(R,S)-告依春含量,建议施用铵态氮和硝态氮物质的量比为25:75的复合氮肥.     

氮素形态和铁营养对玉米苗期生长及体内铁分布的影响

以玉米(Zea mays)品种‘豫玉-22’为材料,采用营养液培养方法,研究了低铁和正常供铁条件下供应不同形态氮素对玉米苗期生长及体内铁分布的影响。结果表明:(1)与低铁介质相比,常铁介质增加了各氮素处理玉米幼苗的株高、地上部干重、全株干重,降低了根冠比,其中硝态氮处理表现得尤其突出;与供应硝态氮(NO3--N)相比,增施铵态氮(1/2 NO3--N 1/2 NH4 -N,NH4 -N)能明显促进低铁介质中玉米生长,但在常铁介质下作用不明显。(2)相比于低铁介质,正常供铁显著提高了相应处理玉米新叶叶绿素含量及净光合速率;2种供铁介质中,NH4 -N处理的新叶叶绿素含量以及净光合速率均高于其它氮素处理。(3)相比于低铁介质,正常供铁处理总体上增加了玉米各部分活性铁含量和全铁含量,对NO3--N处理的新叶活性铁含量增加尤其明显;2种供铁介质中,NH4 -N均有利于提高新叶活性铁含量和植株地上部全铁含量。(4)玉米新叶活性铁含量不仅与其叶绿素含量显著正相关(r=0.979**),也与叶片净光合速率显著正相关(r=0.950**)。研究发现,供铁状况显著影响玉米新叶的叶绿素含量及其净光合速率且与供氮形态存在互作;供应铵态氮有利于提高缺铁条件下玉米新叶活性铁含量,增强玉米植株的光合能力,进而促进其正常生长。     

氮素形态对黄檗幼苗三种生物碱含量的影响

通过改变水培溶液中NH 4-N和NO3--N的比例,探讨了氮素形态对黄檗幼苗主要药用成分小檗碱、药根碱及掌叶防己碱含量的影响。结果表明,小檗碱的含量与氮素形态有明显关系,在根和茎中都表现为NO3--N比例高更有利于小檗碱的积累。单纯的NO3--N供给最有利于药根碱在黄檗幼苗根中的积累,而处理46d后,NH4 -N/NO3--N为75/25和25/75时黄檗幼苗茎中的药根碱含量最高。黄檗幼苗根和茎中的掌叶防己碱含量对营养液中NH4 -N和NO3--N的比例反应类似,在处理46d后,掌叶防己碱含量由高到低所对应的NH4 -N/NO-3-N为25/75、50/50、75/25、0/100、100/0。处理33d后,黄檗幼苗根中的小檗碱、药根碱、掌叶防己碱含量随处理天数的增加呈下降趋势,而在茎中呈上升趋势。如果同时考虑氮素形态对黄檗幼苗生物量的影响,那么NH4 -N/NO3--N为0/100时其小檗碱产量(含量与生物量乘积)最高,而NH4 -N/NO-3-N为25/75时药根碱和掌叶防已碱的产量最高。     

氮肥运筹对稻茬冬小麦土壤无机氮时空分布及氮肥利用的影响

以宁麦9号和豫麦34号为材料,研究了氮肥基追比对土壤无机氮时空变化、氮素表观盈亏和氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,施用基肥提高了越冬期0-60 cm土层NO3--N和NH4+-N含量,拔节期追肥对孕穗期各土层无机氮含量无显著影响,追施孕穗肥显著提高了开花期0-60 cm土层硝态氮含量和0-20 cm土层铵态氮含量。不施氮处理各生育阶段均表现为氮素亏缺,施氮处理氮素盈亏呈明显的阶段性,播种至孕穗阶段出现氮素盈余,孕穗至成熟阶段出现氮素亏缺;全生育期氮素表观盈余量两品种平均以5∶5处理最低,7∶3处理最高。两品种氮肥农学效率、氮肥表观回收率和产量均随基肥比例的增加呈先增后降的趋势,均以5∶5处理最高。因此,在小麦生产中应适当减少基施氮肥用量,在小麦拔节孕穗期适当增加追肥比例有利于提高产量和氮肥利用效率,并降低土壤氮素损失。     

缓/控释复合肥料对土壤氮素库的调控作用

采用小麦盆栽生物试验、实验室化学分析和仪器分析方法研究了缓/控释复合肥料(SRF)对土壤氮素养分库中不同组分(微生物量氮、固定态铵、NH4+-N、NO3--N、铵离子周转库)动态变化的影响及其与小麦吸收氮素养分的关系。结果表明,在小麦分蘖初期,SRF处理土壤微生物量氮、NH4+-N含量较普通复合肥料(CCF)低,此后整个小麦生育期的土壤微生物量氮、NH4+-N含量的总体变化趋势以SRF处理高于CCF处理,其中SRF处理的小麦土壤NH4+-N含量较CCF处理高108.1%—271.7%;在小麦生长前期,SRF处理土壤固定态铵含量较CCF低;在小麦生长中期,SRF处理土壤固定态铵含量较CCF处理高;与CCF处理比较,SRF处理小麦土壤硝态氮含量经历先升高后降低、在生育后期又升高的趋势。在小麦生育前期,CCF处理土壤"铵离子周转库"由371.3 mg/kg降至259.1 mg/kg;SRF处理土壤"铵离子周转库"由306.5 mg/kg升至324.5 mg/kg。在小麦需氮量较高的拔节期,CCF处理土壤"铵离子周转库"与前一次之差值仅为34.18 mg/kg,而SRF处理则达到77.21 mg/kg,表明小麦生育前期SRF土壤"铵离子周转库"能够固定更多的铵离子,降低铵离子的损失;在小麦需氮量较高的时期,"铵离子周转库"则释放更多的铵离子以供给小麦吸收利用。小麦生长初期CCF处理释放养分速率较快,小麦植株吸氮量高于SRF处理;生长中、后期SRF处理释放养分量较CCF处理高,此阶段小麦吸氮量以SRFCCF。不同处理对小麦吸氮量的影响与对小麦生物量变化是基本一致的,即初期以CCFSRF,中后期以SRFCCF,收获期SRF处理较CCF处理分别提高小麦生物量15.32%、吸氮量13.51%。相关分析表明,小麦生物试验中SRF处理土壤微生物量氮、固定态铵以及"铵离子周转库"的动态变化与小麦吸氮量之间达到显著或极显著负相关关系(r=-0.8728*—-0.9006**),SRF调控土壤氮素库的能力较CCF更强,能更好的协调土壤氮素养分供应与小麦氮素需求间的动态平衡和提高肥料氮素利用效率。     

Y-chromosome Data and Tribal Affiliations of Allenopithecus and Miopithecus

The phylogeny of Old World monkeys has remained unresolved in part because of a lack of resolution in the Cercopithecinae. Competing morphological hypotheses have had Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) and the talapoins (Miopithecus spp.) as basal branches of either the tribe Cercopithecini or the tribe Papionini. Previous molecular analyses have not adequately addressed the issue. To better understand the evolutionary history of these primates, we sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis 3.1 kb of 2 loci (TSPY and SRY) from the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome. Individuals from the genera Allenopithecus, Miopithecus, Erythrocebus, Chlorocebus, and Cercopithecus were surveyed and their sequences compared with those previously published for the Papionini and Colobinae. The results suggest Allenopithecus and Miopithecus are more closely related to the Cercopithecini than Papionini. Our data also support the hypothesis that within the Cercopithecini, Erythrocebus and Chlorocebus share a close evolutionary relationship, distinct from the other members of the tribe.     

Nystatin and killer toxin sensitivity of free and immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The inhibitory effect of nystatin and killer toxin on the growth of free and covalently-immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae cells was studied. The resistance of immobilized cells to both agents was accompanied by increased amounts of phospholipids and sterols. The possible relationship between these changes in the membrane composition and the transduction of a signal across the cytoplasmic membrane is discussed.     

The hernandez and fernandez genes of Drosophila specify eye and antenna

The formation of different structures in Drosophila depends on the combined activities of selector genes and signaling pathways. For instance, the antenna requires the selector gene homothorax, which distinguishes between the leg and the antenna and can specify distal antenna if expressed ectopically. Similarly, the eye is formed by a group of "eye-specifying" genes, among them eyeless, which can direct eye development ectopically. We report here the characterization of the hernandez and fernandez genes, expressed in the antennal and eye primordia of the eye-antenna imaginal disc. The predicted proteins encoded by these two genes have 27% common amino acids and include a Pipsqueak domain. Reduced expression of either hernandez or fernandez mildly affects antenna and eye development, while the inactivation of both genes partially transforms distal antenna into leg. Ectopic expression of either of the two genes results in two different phenotypes: it can form distal antenna, activating genes like homothorax, spineless, and spalt, and it can promote eye development and activates eyeless. Reciprocally, eyeless can induce hernandez and fernandez expression, and homothorax and spineless can activate both hernandez and fernandez when ectopically expressed. The formation of eye by these genes seems to require Notch signaling, since the induction of ectopic eyes and the activation of eyeless by the hernandez gene are suppressed when the Notch function is compromised. Our results show that the hernandez and fernandez genes are required for antennal and eye development and are also able to specify eye or antenna ectopically.     

Molecular identification and differentiation of Brevibacterium species and strains

Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction enzyme analysis (ARDRA), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotyping were used to differentiate among 24 strains of Brevibacterium linens, Brevibacterium casei and Brevibacterium epidermidis obtained from type culture collections or isolated from various smear ripened cheeses. ARDRA was applied to the 16S rDNA. B. linens was shown to be a quite heterogenic group with 2 to at least 4 copies of rrn operons per strain with aberrant nucleotide sequences. AccI gave genus specific restriction patterns and was used to separate Brevibacterium from Corynebacterium species. The expected species specificity of TaqI applied to B. linens type culture strains, but not to all strains isolated from cheese. By AvaI restriction, B. casei and B. linens were differentiated from B. epidermidis and the orange pigmented Arthrobacter casei, a new species of coryneform bacteria; by XmnI restriction, B. linens and B. epidermidis were differentiated from B. casei. One of 4 B. linens genotypes could not be distinguished from B. casei by this method. Here, the typical orange B. linens pigments were used for classification, which was confirmed by partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA.     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).     

Theoretical Study of Antagonists and Inhibitors of Mammalian Adenosine Deaminase: I. Adenosine and Its Aza- and Deazaanalogues

Aza- and deazaanalogues of adenosine, including their 1-protonated forms (except for that of 1-deazaadenosine), were studied by computer computation to find a relationship between their molecular structures and substrate properties for the mammalian adenosine deaminase. The atomic charge distribution and maps of the electrostatic potential around their van der Waals molecular surface were calculated for these compounds using the ab initio STO-3G method. The conformational studies are carried out by the MM⁺ method of molecular mechanics. The mechanism that determines the substrate selectivity of mammalian adenosine deaminase is discussed.     

Effects of carbon concentration and carbon to nitrogen ratio on the growth and sporulation of several biocontrol fungi

Effects of carbon concentration and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio on six biocontrol fungal strains are reported in this paper. All fungal strains had extensive growth on the media supplemented with 6–12 g l⁻¹ carbon and C:N ratios from 10:1 to 80:1, and differed in nutrient requirements for sporulation. Except for the two strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus, all selected fungi attained the highest spore yields at a C:N ratio of 160:1 when the carbon concentration was 12 g l⁻¹ for Metarhizium anisopliae SQZ-1-21, 6 g l⁻¹ for M. anisopliae RS-4-1 and Trichoderma viride TV-1, and 8 g l⁻¹ for Lecanicillium lecanii CA-1-G. The optimal conditions for P. lilacinus sporulation were 8 g l⁻¹ carbon with a C:N ratio of 10:1 for M-14 and 12 g l⁻¹ carbon with a C:N ratio of 20:1 for IPC-P, respectively. The results indicated that the influence of carbon concentration and C:N ratio on fungal growth and sporulation is strain dependent; therefore, consideration for the complexity of nutrient requirements is essential for improving yields of fungal biocontrol agents.     

Pericarp structure and phylogeny of theLamiaceae-Verbenaceae-complex

Pericarp structure was investigated in 158 species of the familiesLamiaceae andVerbenaceae. Data from 221 out of 262 genera ofLamiaceae s.l. and a few ofVerbenaceae s.str. were collected in a table. A cladistic analysis was performed on the basis of pericarp characters only. The abandonment of subfam.Pogostemonoideae as a taxonomic unit is considered. Examples of groups given additional support by similarities in pericarp characters are: (1) the gynobasic-styled labiates (subfamiliesPogostemonoideae, Lamioideae, Nepetoideae); (2) aLamioideae-Pogostemonoideae-group; (3)Nepetoideae; (4) aWestringia-Hemigenia-Hemiandra-Microcorys group (in subfam.Chloranthoideae); (5) aLepechinia-Chaunostoma-group (inNepetoideae); (6) aPrunella-Cleonia-group (inNepetoideae).     

Origin and development of Tool-making behavior in Africa and Asia

Around two-and-a-half million years ago, some hominid populations in Africa began to modify stones and bones in a manner that can be recognized by prehistorians as artifacts, and, by definition, produced the earliest identifiable archaeological record. It is likely that earlier hominid groups also may have had relatively rich tool-using behavioral repertoires similar to that seen in modern chimpanzees (McGrew, 1992), such tools may have been made of perishable materials or minimally modified and thus difficult to identify. This review will focus on the earliest archaeological traces and the spread of hominids out of Africa and into Eurasia.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of morel fruiting

The biotic and abiotic factors conditioning morel fruit body production are incompletely known. We examined spatial and temporal patterns of Morchella esculenta fruiting over five years in a wooded site in Missouri, USA. Fruiting onset was inversely correlated with spring air and soil temperatures, whereas abundance was positively correlated with rain events (>10 mm) during the 30 d preceding fruiting. The two years with the greatest fruiting had the shortest fruiting seasons (6–7 d). Fruiting season length was positively correlated with soil warming, suggesting that a narrow range of optimum soil temperatures favour the explosive production of fruit bodies. All woody stems of at least 1 cm diam were mapped and stem diameter and crown condition were noted. Morel fruit bodies were significantly closer to stems of Carya spp., Tilia americana and Ulmus americana than predicted by the frequencies of these woody species or their contribution to the total basal area on the site. Although intra-annual clustering of fruit bodies was often observed, inter-annual clustering was not. The spatial pattern of M. esculenta fruiting appears to be associated with vegetation pattern, whereas the onset and abundance of fruiting are determined by the interaction of spring temperatures with availability of supporting precipitation.