Regulation of Light Energy Utilization and Distribution of Photosynthesis in Five Subtropical Woody Plants

The adaptations and responses of photosynthesis to long- and short-term growth light gradient treatments were investigated in five subtropical forest plants, namely Pinus massoniana Lamb., Schima superba Gardn. et Champ., Castanopsis flssa （Champ. ex Benth.） Rehd. et Wils., Acmena acuminatissima （BI.） Merr et Perry, and Cryptocarya concinna Hance. With diurnal changes in sunlight and air temperature, the de-epoxidation state and lutein content in the five woody plants under three light Intensities first increased and then decreased during the day. However, maximal photochemical efficiency （FvFm; where Fm is the maximum fluorescence yield and Fv Is variable fluorescence） and the photochemical quantum yields of photosystem （PS）Ⅱ （φPSⅡ） of the species examined changed in the opposite manner, with those in plants grown under 100% natural light changing the most. After long-term treatment （21 months）, anti-oxidant capacity （1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical （DPPH.）-scavenging capacity） and utilization of excitation energy showed differences in modulation by different light intensities. It was shown that A. acuminatissima and C. concinna, as dominant species in the late succession stage of a subtropical forest in Dinghu mountain, South China, were better able to adapt to different light environments. However, P. massonlana, the pioneer species of this forest, exhibited less adaptation to low light intensity and was definitely eliminated by the forest succession process.     

Ramet Population Structure of Fargesia nitida （Mitford） Keng f. et Yi in Different Successional Stands of the Subalpine Coniferous Forest in Wolong Nature Reserve

Forest structure and succession in Wolong Nature Reserve is influenced by the understory dwarf bamboo population. However, less is known about how the forest succession affects the dwarf bamboo population. To examine the bamboo ramet population growth of Fargesla nitida （Mltford） Keng f. et Yi and to determine how ramet population structure varies along the succession of coniferous forest, we sampled ramet populations of F. nitida from the following three successional stages： （i） a deciduous broad-leaved （BL） stand; （ii） a mixed broad-leaved coniferous （MI） stand; and （ill） a coniferous （CF） stand. We investigated the population structure, biomass allocation, and morphological characteristics of the bamboo ramet among the three stand types. Clonal ramets, constituting the bamboo population, tended to become short and small with succession. The ramet changed towards having a greater mass investment in leaves, branches and underground roots and rhizomes rather than in the culm. With respect to leaf traits, individual leaf mass and area in the BL stand were markedly bigger than those In both the MI and CF stands, except for no significant difference in specific leaf area. The age distribution showed that the bamboo population approached an older age with succession. The results demonstrate that the ramet population structure of F. nitida is unstable and its growth performance is inhibited by succession.     

Effects of Different Levels of Water Stress on Leaf Water Potential, Stomatal Resistance, Protein and Chlorophyll Content and Certain Anti-oxidative Enzymes in Tomato Plants

A greenhouse experlment was performed In order to Investigate the effects of dlfferent levels of water stress on leaf water potentlal （ψw）, stomatal resistance （rs）, protein content and chlorophyll （Chl） content of tomato plants （Lycoperslcon esculentum Mill. cv. Nlkita）. Water stress was Induced by addlng polyethylene glycol （PEG 6 000） to the nutrlent solution to reduce the osmotlc potential （ψs）. We Investlgated the behavlor of antl-oxldant enzymes, such as catalase （CAT） and superoxide dlsmutase （SOD）, durlng the development of water stress. Moderate and severe water stress （i.e. ψs= -0.51 and -1.22 MPa, respectlvely） caused a decrease In ψw for all treated （water-stressed） plants compared with control plants, wlth the reductlon belng more pronounced for severely stressed plants. In addltion, rs was slgnlflcantly affected by the Induced water stress and a decrease in leaf soluble protelns and Chl content was observed. Whereas CAT actlvlty remained constant, SOD actlvlty was increased in water-stressed plants compared wlth unstressed plants. These results Indicate the possible role of SOD as an anti-oxidant protector system for plants under water stress condltlons. Moreover, It suggests the possibllity of using this enzyme as an addltional screening crlterlon for detecting water stress in plants.     

High-nitrogen and low-irradiance can restrict energy utilization in photosynthesis of successional tree species in low subtropical forest

Responses of photosynthesis and the partition of energy utilization to high-nitrogen importation and high-light intensity in leaves of three dominant tree species of subtropical forest,including sun plant or early-successional species Schima superba,mesophyte or intermediate-successional species Canstanopsis hystrix,and shading-tolerant plant or late-successional species Cryptocarya concinna were studied by using the CO2 exchange system and chlorophyll fluorescence method.Our results showed that,regardless of plant species,net photosynthetic rate(Pn)was higher in high-nitrogen supply and high irradiance(HNHL)plants than in low-nitrogen supply and high irradiance(LNHL)plants,implying that low-nitrogen importation would limit Pn of plants grown under high irradiance.However, high-nitrogen supply and low irradiance(HNLL)plants had a lower Pn.Insignificant change of quantum yield(Fv′/Fm′)in opened PS II was found in leaves of HNHL,LNHL or HNLL plants of S.superba and C. hystrix,while a higher Fv′/Fm′occurred in HNHL plants of C.concinna in comparison with LNHL or HNLL plants.The HNHL plants of C.concinna also had a higher photochemical quantum yield(△F/Fm′) than LNHL or HNLL plants,however no similar responses were found in plants of S.superba and C. hystrix(P<0.05).In the irradiance range of 0―2000μmol photon·m -2·s -1,the fraction of energy consumed by photochemistry(φ PSII )was 18.2%in LNHL plants of S.superba which was higher than that in HNHL plants(P>0.05)and it was significantly higher than in HNLL plants(P<0.05).C.hystrix also had a similar response inφ PSII to nitrogen supply and irradiance.Regardless of species HNLL plants had a significantφ PSII and higher heat dissipation in light,and this effect was more severe in C.concinna than in S.superba or C.hystrix.The results may mean that high-nitrogen importation by nitrogen deposit and low irradiance caused by changing climate or air pollution would more severely restrict photosynthetic processes in the late-successional species C.concinna than in the early-successional species S.superba and intermediate-successional species C.hystrix.The continuous high-nitrogen precipitation in the future and the over cast mist or pollution smoke could induce late-successional species to degrade,however,early-successional species would be more adapted to competition for more resources to keep their dominance in ecosystems.In this sense,the zonal vegetation may accelerate degradation caused by high nitrogen precipitation and low irradiance,while the early-successional and mesophytic vegetations can remain longer.Thus,nitrogen precipitation may play an important role in plant community succession.     

Seasonal Variation of δ^13C of Four Tree Species： A Biological Integrator of Environmental Variables

Foliar δ^13C values, an indicator of long-term intercellular carbon dioxide concentration and, thus, of long-term water use efficiency （WUE） in plants, were measured for Pinus massoniana Lamb., P. elliottii Engelm., Cunninghamia laceolata （Lamb.） Hook., and Schima superba Gardn. et Champ. in a restored forest ecosystem in the Jiazhu River Basin. Seasonal variation and the relationship between the foliar δ^13C values of the four species and environmental factors （monthly total precipitation, monthly average air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and monthly total solar radiation and evaporation） were investigated. The monthly δ^13C values and WUE of the four species increased with increasing precipitation, air temperature, solar radiation, and evaporation, whereas δ^13C values of the four species decreased with increasing relative humidity and atmospheric pressure. Despite significant differences in δ^13C seasonal means for the four species, our results demonstrate a significant convergence in the responses of δ^13C values and WUE to seasonal variations in environmental factors among the species investigated and that the δ^13C signature for each species gives a strong indication of environmental variables.     

A defect in the PINOID serine/threonine kinase affects leaf shape in cucumber

<正>Examining the plants in any forest or meadow reveals a remarkable diversity of leaf shape, suggesting the importance of this trait for adaptation to various environmental conditions (reviewed in Nicotra et al.2011). Indeed, leaf shape may be constrained by biomechanical factors and affects thermoregulation,     

Cotton Leaf Curl Virus： Ionic Status of Leaves and Symptom Development

In the present study, the relationship between the nutritional status of leaves and the development of symptoms of cotton leaf curl virus （CLCuV） in two cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） cuItlvars （I.e. CIM-240 and S-12） was Investigated. The incidence of disease attack was found to be 100% In the S-12 cuItlvar and 16% in the CIM-240 cuItivar. Geminivirus particles in infected leaves were confirmed by transmission electron microscope examination of highly specific geminivirus coat protein antlsera-treated cell sap. The CLCuV Impaired the accumulation of different nutrients in both cuItivars. A marked decrease in the accumulation of Ca^2＋ and K^＋ was observed in infected leaves. However, the disease had no effect on leaf concentrations of Na^＋, N, and P. It was observed that the curling of leaf margins in CLCuV-Infected plants was associated with the leaf Ca^2＋ content; leaf curling was severe in plants with a significant reduction In Ca^2＋ content. Moreover, leaf K＆＋ content was found to be associated with resistance/susceptibility to CLCuV infection.     

Antisense-Mediated Depletion of Tomato Chloroplast Omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase Enhances Thermal Tolerance

A chloroplast-localized tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.） ω-3 fatty acid desaturase gene （LeFADT） was isolated and characterized with regard to its sequence, response to various temperatures, and function in antisense transgenic tomato plants. The deduced amino acid sequence had four histidine-rich regions, of which three regions were highly conserved throughout the whole ω-3 fatty acid desaturasegene family. Southern blotting analysis showed that LeFAD7was encoded by a single copy gene and had two homologous genes in the tomato genome. Northern blot showed that LeFAD7 was expressed in all organs and was especially abundant in leaf tissue. Meanwhile, expression of LeFAD7 was induced by chilling stress （4 ℃）, but was inhibited by high temperature （45 ℃）, in leaves. Transgenic tomato plants were produced by integration of the antisense LeFAD7DNA under the control of a CaMV35S promoter into the genome. Antisense transgenic plants with lower 18 ： 3 content could maintain a higher maximal photochemical efficiency （Fv/Fm） and O2 evolution rate than wild-type plants. These results suggested that silence of the LeFAD7 gene alleviated high-temperature stress. There was also a correlation between the low content of 18 ： 3 resulting from silence of the LeFAD7 gene and tolerance to high-temperature stress.     

Protective mechanism of desiccation tolerance in Reaumuria soongorica: Leaf abscission and sucrose accumulation in the stem

Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim., a perennial semi-shrub, is widely found in semi-arid areas in northwestern China and can survive severe desiccation of its vegetative organs. In order to study the protective mechanism of desiccation tolerance in R. soongorica, diurnal patterns of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), water use efficiency (WUE) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Photosystem II (PSII), and sugar content in the source leaf and stem were investigated in 6-year-old plants during progressive soil drought imposed by the cessation of watering. The results showed that R. soongorica was char-acterized by very low leaf water potential, high WUE, photosynthesis and high accumulation of sucrose in the stem and leaf abscission under desiccation. The maximum Pn increased at first and then de-clined during drought, but intrinsic WUE increased remarkably in the morning with increasing drought stress. The maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and the quantum efficiency of noncyclic electric transport of PSII(ΦPSII) decreased significantly under water stress and exhibited an obvious phenomenon of photoinhibition at noon. Drought stressed plants maintained a higher capacity of dis-sipation of the excitation energy (measured as NPQ) with the increasing intensity of stress. Conditions of progressive drought promoted sucrose and starch accumulation in the stems but not in the leaves. However, when leaf water potential was less than –21.3 MPa, the plant leaves died and then abscised. But the stem photosynthesis remained and, afterward the plants entered the dormant state. Upon re-watering, the shoots reactivated and the plants developed new leaves. Therefore, R. soongorica has the ability to reduce water loss through leaf abscission and maintain the vigor of the stem cells to survive desiccation.     

Shifts in plant nutrient use strategies under secondary forest succession

In evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) in Tiantong National Forest Park, Eastern China, we studied the soil chemistry and plant leaf nutrient concentration along a chronosequence of secondary forest succession. Soil total N, P and leaf N, P concentration of the most abundant plant species increased with forest succession. We further examined leaf lifespan, leaf nutrient characteristics and root–shoot attributes of Pinus massoniana Lamb, the early-successional species, Schima superba Gardn. et Champ, the mid-successional species, and Castanopsis fargesii Franch, the late-successional species. These species showed both intraspecific and interspecific variability along succession. Leaf N concentration of the three dominant species increased while N resorption tended to decrease with succession; leaf P and P resorption didn’t show a consistent trend along forest succession. Compared with the other two species, C. fargesii had the shortest leaf lifespan, largest decay rate and the highest taproot diameter to shoot base diameter ratio while P. massoniana had the highest root–shoot biomass ratio and taproot length to shoot height ratio. Overall, P. massoniana used ‘conservative consumption’ nutrient use strategy in the infertile soil conditions while C. fargesii took up nutrients in the way of ‘resource spending’ when nutrient supply increased. The attributes of S. superba were intermediate between the other two species, which may contribute to its coexistence with other species in a wide range of soil conditions.     

Responses of four succession tree species in low subtropics to enhanced UV-B radiation in the field

The tested tree species included pioneer species Acacia mangium, early succession stage species Schima superba, mesophyte intermediate-succession species Machilus chinensis, and shade-tolerant plant or late-succession species Cryptocarya concinna which occur in the lower subtropical forest community. A comparison with the current ambient level of UV-B radiation (UV-B) showed the leaf net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (g _s) of the four species ranged from significantly decreased to no significant change. Additionally, the thickness of palisade and mesophyll in leaves of four tree species were decreased sharply by enhanced UV-B. The thickness of spongy parenchyma in leaves was also decreased except for M. chinensis. UV-B increased the leaf width of A. mangium but its leaf length, leaf thickness, and dry mass per unit area were not affected. Significantly increased stomata width was observed in A. mangium leaf epidermis in response to UV-B. Significantly decreased stomata width and significantly increased stomata density of leaf abaxial epidermis in M. chinensis were also observed. The stomata density of abaxial epidermis of C. concinna was remarkably increased by enhanced UV-B. The height and branch biomass of A. mangium and the height of S. superba were reduced visibly by enhanced UV-B. The four plant species could be classified into three groups of UV-B sensitiveness by hierarchical cluster analysis. A. mangium was sensitive to enhanced UV-B, while C. concinna showed more tolerance.     

Development and characterization of 13 microsatellite markers for Cryptocarya concinna in lower subtropical China

We report on the development and characterization of 13 microsatellite markers from repetitive DNA enriched libraries for Cryptocarya concinna from lower subtropical China. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 12. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.4286 to 0.8571, and 0.4725 to 0.8820, respectively. These markers will allow analysis of the baseline genetic variability and population structure of C. concinna to enrich our scientific understanding of forest fragmentation on genetic health of this species and provide strategies for effective conservation and management in this area.     

易分解有机碳输入量对武夷山不同林型土壤激发效应的影响

土壤有机碳库是陆地生态系统中最大的碳储量库,其微小的变化也能使大气中CO₂浓度发生巨大的改变,植物来源碳的输入能通过激发效应促进或抑制土壤有机碳（SOC）的分解,对SOC的动态平衡产生影响。以武夷山三个林型（阔叶林、马尾松林、针阔混交林）土壤为研究对象,通过向土壤中添加不同量的¹³C标记葡萄糖（0、100、200、400 mg C/kg）研究易分解有机碳输入量对不同林型土壤激发效应的影响,并在此基础上探讨易分解有机碳输入量对土壤激发效应影响的作用机理。结果表明,葡萄糖输入对土壤激发效应的影响与葡萄糖输入量和林型有关。葡萄糖的输入均抑制了三个林型SOC的分解（即,呈现负的激发效应）。阔叶林土壤和针阔混交林土壤激效应强度随着葡萄糖输入量的增加而增加,而马尾松林土壤的激发效应强度对葡萄糖输入量的响应并不明显。然而在马尾松林土壤中由葡萄糖所引起的激发效应强度显著高于其他两种林型土壤。研究结果表明,易分解有机碳的输入可以抑制SOC的矿化,形成负激发效应,阔叶林土壤的激发效应强度与土壤可利用氮、葡萄糖添加量与微生物碳量比值有关,而针阔混交林与马尾松林土壤的激发效应强度分别与土壤中的放线菌和真菌有关。     

松材线虫侵染的马尾松人工林细根形态及生物量分异特征

中龄林的马尾松受松材线虫侵染后,林木生长、生理生化指标、群落多样性等会发生异质性变化,但是,针对患病林木地下细根的响应尚不清楚。本研究以松材线虫疫区患病马尾松和健康马尾松为研究对象,采用土柱法,分0-15 cm和15-30 cm土层,对细根进行分级研究,定量分析1-5级细根的形态、生物量以及养分元素,探讨松材线虫侵染的马尾松人工林细根形态、生物量以及养分元素的分异特征。结果表明:(1)患病马尾松人工林细根的健康状态与根长密度、生物量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),低级根(如1级根)患病后,响应会更加强烈。(2)马尾松人工林患病后,细根有效磷、速效钾浓度会显著降低(P<0.05),而全氮、钙浓度会显著升高(P<0.05)。(3)松材线虫病使林分的土壤有机质含量显著高于健康林分(P<0.05),而土壤速效钾含量会显著低于健康林分(P<0.05)。以上结果表明,松材线虫侵染的马尾松人工林会在细根形态、细根养分和土壤养分上会发生特异性响应,揭示了松材线虫病对马尾松人工林地下细根的影响,旨在为松材线虫病防治提供一定参考。     

夏季南亚热带森林演替中后期优势种幼叶花色素苷的光保护作用

为探讨夏季南亚热带森林演替过程中优势树种幼叶的光保护机制,以演替中期优势树种木荷(Schima superba)、黧蒴(Castanopsis fissa)、锥栗(C.chinensis)和演替后期优势种华润楠(Machilus chinensis)、厚壳桂(Cryptocarya chinensis)、黄果厚壳桂(C.concinna)为材料,分析了2种生长光强(全光照和30%全光照)下6种优势种幼叶和成熟叶的叶片表型、光合色素含量、花色素苷含量、抗氧化能力、类黄酮含量、总酚含量和最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)恢复效率间的差异。结果表明,两个演替阶段幼叶的叶绿素含量(Chl a+b)、Chl a/b比成熟叶低,但光保护物质比成熟叶多;演替中期幼叶的花色素苷含量和总抗氧化能力比演替后期的高,而类黄酮和总酚含量比演替后期的低;全光照下幼叶的总酚、类黄酮、总抗氧化能力及Fv/Fm恢复效率都要比30%全光照的高,并且含有花色素苷的幼叶恢复得更快。因此,植物的光合能力与自身的光保护潜力成反比关系,演替中期优势种幼叶的光保护在很大程度上是因为花色素苷的积累而演替后期优势种是因为自身抗氧化物质(类黄酮、总酚)的共同作用。     

Role of Sulfur Dioxide in Acute Lung Injury Following Limb Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is naturally synthesized by glutamate‐oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) from l ‐cysteine in mammalian cells. We aim to investigate the role of SO₂ in inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) following limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Male Wistar rats were subjected to limb I/R and were injected with saline, GOT inhibitor hydroxamate (HDX, 0.47 mmol/kg), or the SO₂ donor Na₂SO₃/NaHSO₃ (0.54 mmol/kg/0.18 mmol/kg). Compared with the sham operation, the plasma SO₂ levels were significantly decreased by limb I/R treatment. In addition, SO₂ concentration and GOT activity in the lung tissue were also reduced in ALI. The occurrence of ALI following limb I/R can be prevented by Na₂SO₃/NaHSO₃ treatment, whereas it can be significantly aggravated by HDX. The plasma IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10 levels were consistent with myeloperoxidase activity and inflammation in lung tissue. In conclusion, our data suggest that downregulation of endogenous SO₂ production might be involved in pathogenesis of ALI following limb I/R in rats. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J BiochemMol Toxicol 27:389‐397, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.21492     

Effects of forest types on leaf functional traits and their interrelationships of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests in the subtropical mountain,Southeastern China

Leaf functional traits are widely used to detect and explain adaptations that enable plants to live under various environmental conditions. This study aims to determine the difference in leaf functional traits among four forest types of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests by leaf morphological, nutrients, and stoichiometric traits in the subtropical mountain, Southeastern China. Our study indicated that the evergreen conifer species of P. massoniana had higher leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf C content, C/N and C/P ratios, while the three deciduous broad‐leaved species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea had higher specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N, leaf P nutrient contents, and N/P ratio in the three mixed forest types. The results showed that the species of P. massoniana has adapted to the nutrient‐poor environment by increasing their leaf dry matter for higher construction costs thereby reducing water loss and reflects a resource conservation strategy. In contrast, the three species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea exhibited an optimized resource acquisition strategy rather than resource conservation strategy in the subtropical mountain of southeastern China. Regarding the four forest types, the three mixed forest types displayed increased plant leaf nutrient contents when compared to the pure P. massoniana forest, especially the P. massoniana–L. formosana mixed forest type (PLM). Overall, variation in leaf functional traits among different forest types may play an adaptive role in the successful survival of plants under diverse environments because leaf functional traits can lead to significant effects on leaf function, especially for their acquisition of nutrients and use of light. The results of this study are beneficial to reveal the changes in plant leaf functional traits at the regional scale, which will provide a foundation for predicting changes in leaf traits and adaptation in the future environment.     

Posters Part 1

Schima superba and Pinus massoniana distributed over large areas in southern China both are dominant species at Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve. In the present study, the changes of chlorophyll fluorescence and xanthophyll cycle in the leaves of S. superba and P. massoniana exposed to simulated acid rain (SAR) were measured. When exposed to high light, the PSII photochemistry efficiency (F _v/F _m), efficiency of energy conversion in PSII (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) of both S. superba and P. massoniana all decreased when acidity of SAR increased. Regarding non-photochemical quenching (qN), S. superba exposed to SAR had higher value than control plants, but there was no significant difference between the respective seedlings of P. massoniana. As for xanthophyll cycle of the two plant species, the leaves of S. superba exposed to SAR showed a higher content of carotenoids and a higher ability to convert violaxanthin to zeaxanthin than leaves of P. massoniana, which was consistent with S. superba exhibiting a stronger resistance to high light than P. massoniana. Although both species were susceptible to acid rain as shown by our results, P. massoniana was more susceptible compared to S. superba. These results provide an insight into how to protect the forest ecosystem at Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve.