Composés glucidiques et azotés et résistance à la sécheresse chez Ailanthus altissima

In Ailanthus altissima, carbohydrate and protein reserves are mainly localized in the tap-root. Under drought stress they are very quickly hydrolysed. Despite the water deficiency, an increase in starch synthesis is observed in the leaves and stem during the first stages of stress. Stimulation of the cambial activity of the stems and an increase in protein content have also been observed. Chemical analyses have shown a high proline content which increases markedly following drought stress, especially in the tap-root.     

臭椿花器官分化的初步研究

利用扫描电镜(SEM)和光镜(LM)对臭椿花序及花器官的分化和发育进行了初步研究,表明:1)臭椿花器官分化于当年的4月初,为圆锥花序;2)分化顺序为花萼原基、花冠原基、雄蕊原基和雌蕊原基。5个萼片原基的发生不同步,并且呈螺旋状发生;5个花瓣原基几乎同步发生且其生长要比雄蕊原基缓慢;雄蕊10枚,两轮排列,每轮5个原基的分化基本是同步的;雌蕊5,其分化速度较快;3)在两性花植株中,5个心皮顶端粘合形成柱头和花柱,而在雄株中,5个心皮退化,只有雄蕊原基分化出花药和花丝。本研究着重观察了臭椿中雄花及两性花发育的过程中两性花向单性花的转变。结果表明,臭椿两性花及单性花的形成在花器官的各原基上是一致的(尽管时间上有差异),雌雄蕊原基同时出现在每一个花器官分化过程中,但是,可育性结构部分的形成取决于其原基是否分化成所应有的结构:雄蕊原基分化形成花药与花丝,雌蕊原基分化形成花柱、柱头和子房。臭椿单性花的形成是由于两性花中雌蕊原基的退化所造成,其机理有待于进一步研究。     

宁夏灵武市沟眶象发生特点

系统调查沟眶象Eucryptorrhynchus chinensis(Olivier)在宁夏灵武市的发生情况和特点发现:沟眶象以成虫和幼虫在土壤中越冬,成虫有2个发生高峰期,越冬结束后以成虫越冬的沟眶象出土出现第1个高峰期,以幼虫越冬的沟眶象经化蛹羽化出土出现第2个高峰期;幼虫危害臭椿根部形成的瘤状物可以作为鉴别沟眶象危害的特征;沟眶象幼虫在土壤中垂直分布范围集中在0～45 cm深土层,约占80%;成虫出土孔集中在距臭椿树干基部75 cm范围内,占88%。据此建议土壤施药化学防治沟眶象时,施药深度不宜低于45 cm,施药点距树干基部水平距离不得少于75 cm,且树周各个方向均需施药。每年10月末沟眶象开始"入土"、翌年4月末开始"出土",在沟眶象"入土"结束后但未冻土之前的11中旬和土壤解冻之后但尚未"出土"前的4月中旬,这两个时期土壤施药防治效果较好;防治沟眶象的同时,还应适时采取打孔注药、熏蒸等措施防治臭椿(Ailanthus altissima(Mill.)Swingle)树干内的臭椿沟眶象Eucryptorrhynchus brandti(Harold)。     

Local and regional assessments of the impacts of plant invaders on vegetation structure and soil properties of Mediterranean islands

Aims Although biological invasions occur throughout the world, and some invaders are widespread in many habitats, few studies on the ecological impact of invaders have examined multiple sites. We tested how the impact of three widespread plant invaders changed depending on the identity of the species and the invaded island. We also tested whether relative species loss was lower in species‐rich communities than in species‐poor ones. Location We conducted floristic surveys and soil analyses in eight Mediterranean Basin islands: Crete and Lesbos (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Corsica, Bagaud and Porquerolles (France), and Mallorca and Menorca (Spain). Methods We compared native species richness and diversity, proportion of life forms, soil percentage nitrogen, percentage organic carbon, C/N, and soil pH in nearby paired plots of 2 × 2 m: one control and one invaded by either the deciduous tree Ailanthus altissima, the succulent subshrubs Carpobrotus spp. or the annual geophyte Oxalis pes‐caprae, across eight Mediterranean Basin islands. Results On average, the presence of invaders reduced species diversity, Carpobrotus spp. exhibiting the largest impact and Oxalis the least. However, the relative impact was island‐dependent, and was positively but weakly associated with the species richness of the recipient community. Therophytes were the life form that experienced the largest decrease across islands. The effects of invasion on soil properties were very variable. Total N changed (increased) only in plots invaded by Ailanthus, significantly decreasing the C/N ratio. The presence of this tree increased soil pH, whereas the opposite was found in plots invaded by the other two species. Organic C increased in plots invaded by Ailanthus and Carpobrotus species. Main conclusions By conducting an analysis at multiple sites, we found that the three plant invaders had an impact on plant community structure not entirely concordant with changes in soil properties. The impacts depended on the identity of the species and of the invaded island, suggesting that impact of invaders is context‐specific. The impact in terms of species loss was not lower in species‐rich than in species‐poor communities.     

Consistent performance of invasive plant species within and among islands of the Mediterranean basin

Since the success of an invasive species depends not only upon its intrinsic traits but also on particular characteristics of the recipient habitat, assessing the performance of an invader across habitats provides a more realistic analysis of risk. Such an analysis will not only provide insights into the traits related to invasiveness, but also the habitat characteristics that underpin vulnerability to invasion that, taken together, will facilitate the selection of management strategies to mitigate the invader’s effect. In the present study, we considered the Mediterranean basin islands as an excellent study region to test how the same invasive species perform in different habitats within a single island, and to scale up differences among islands with similar climate. We tested how the performance of three widespread plant invaders with clonal growth but contrasting life-history traits, a deciduous tree Ailanthus altissima, a succulent subshrub Carpobrotus spp., and an annual geophyte Oxalis pes-caprae, varied depending upon the species identity, habitat, and invaded island. The environmental parameters considered were habitat type, elevation, species diversity in the invaded plot, and several soil traits (% C, % N, C/N, pH, and relative humidity). The study documents that the performance of these three important and widespread plant invaders is dependent mainly on species identity, and less upon the invaded island’s general features. Likewise, differences in performance among habitats were only significant in the case of Ailanthus, whereas Carpobrotus and Oxalis appear to perform equally well in different environments. Ailanthus thus appears to have a broader spectrum of invasiveness, being able to invade a larger number of habitat types. On the contrary, Carpobrotus spp. have not yet invaded habitats different from those where the species have been originally introduced and where they are still commonly spread by humans. Oxalis distribution is mainly related to agricultural activities and disturbed sites, and the total area infested by this geophyte may be more reflection of the extent of suitable habitats than of invasiveness or ecological impact. Our results confirm the potential for these species to significantly alter the functioning of ecosystems in the Mediterranean islands and highlight the risk to other islands not yet invaded.     

常绿臭椿的酚类成分研究

从常绿臭椿(AilanthusfordiiNooteboom)枝条乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯萃取部分分离得到了5个酚类成分和胡萝卜苷。经波谱分析确定其结构分别为:槲皮苷(1),杨梅苷(2),阿福豆苷(3),( )-没食子儿茶素(4),3-氯-4-羟基-苯甲酸(5),胡萝卜苷(6)。其中化合物1-5为首次从该属植物中分离得到。     

Occurrence and development of Eucryptorrhynchus brandti and E. chinensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Ailanthus altissima trees subjected to different levels of mechanical damage

Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold) and E. chinensis (Oliver) are herbivores of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (tree of heaven) in China. Eucryptorrhynchus brandti has been recommended as a potential biological control agent of A. altissima in North America. In China, the majority of adults of both species were found on tree trunks 0–5 m above the ground, from May to September. In October and November, most adults were found at the base of A. altissima trees. Trees were subjected to different levels of mechanical injury: very low mechanical injury, one to two 0.015 m² bark sections were removed; low, two to four bark sections were removed; moderate, 8 to 22 bark sections removed; high, tree was girdled; and extreme, tree was felled and the remaining stump was sampled. Very low and low mechanical injury trees had very few adult emergence holes with few larvae developing beyond the first or second instar after 29 months. The health of these trees remained good. An increase in adult emergence holes occurred in moderately injured trees that appeared as healthy as very low to low mechanically injured trees. This may indicate that only a small increase in tree stress can increase the adult emergence rate and thus hasten a decline in tree health. Moderate, high and extreme mechanically injured trees had significantly more emergence holes/m than very low and low injured trees and late larval stages were present. The development of Eucryptorrhynchus species was more successful the greater the degree of mechanical injury. Based on this study both Eucryptorrhynchus species appear to be secondary pests of A. altissima in China.     

Survey of Verticillium nonalfalfae (Phyllachorales) on tree-of-heaven in the southeastern USA

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle commonly known as tree-of-heaven is an invasive tree species that has spread through much of the USA. Significant mortality of A. altissima by a highly host-specific strain of the fungus, Verticillium nonalfalfae Inderb. (formerly Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke and Bethold), has been recently documented in Pennsylvania. To detect the regional distribution of this biological control agent in the Southeast, a windshield survey was conducted in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina to locate V. nonalfalfae-infected A. altissima stands. The survey covered 26,500 km of interstate highways and primary and secondary roads. There were 90 potential sites located throughout the three states. Of those, six were found to be infested with the fungus, all in the mountain regions of Virginia. Inoculation tests suggest no difference in virulence among the six V. nonalfalfae isolates on A. altissima, which resulted in 100% mortality in 9–11 weeks post-inoculation. Tree ratings revealed differences in health among sites, but all sites had an increase in disease incidence from 2011 to 2012 (mean = 4.7 ± 3.8%), suggesting this fungus is dispersing. This survey provides evidence that biological control using this fungus may be possible in Virginia.