The role of epiphytism in architecture and evolutionary constraint within mycorrhizal networks of tropical orchids

Characterizing the architecture of bipartite networks is increasingly used as a framework to study biotic interactions within their ecological context and to assess the extent to which evolutionary constraint shape them. Orchid mycorrhizal symbioses are particularly interesting as they are viewed as more beneficial for plants than for fungi, a situation expected to result in an asymmetry of biological constraint. This study addressed the architecture and phylogenetic constraint in these associations in tropical context. We identified a bipartite network including 73 orchid species and 95 taxonomic units of mycorrhizal fungi across the natural habitats of Reunion Island. Unlike some recent evidence for nestedness in mycorrhizal symbioses, we found a highly modular architecture that largely reflected an ecological barrier between epiphytic and terrestrial subnetworks. By testing for phylogenetic signal, the overall signal was stronger for both partners in the epiphytic subnetwork. Moreover, in the subnetwork of epiphytic angraecoid orchids, the signal in orchid phylogeny was stronger than the signal in fungal phylogeny. Epiphytic associations are therefore more conservative and may co‐evolve more than terrestrial ones. We suggest that such tighter phylogenetic specialization may have been driven by stressful life conditions in the epiphytic niches. In addition to paralleling recent insights into mycorrhizal networks, this study furthermore provides support for epiphytism as a major factor affecting ecological assemblage and evolutionary constraint in tropical mycorrhizal symbioses.     

Effects of local density and flower colour polymorphism on pollination and reproduction in the rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soò

The rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina shows a stable flower colour polymorphism, with both yellow- and red-flowered morphs growing sympatrically. Pollination biology and breeding system were investigated to examine the effects of density of plants, colour polymorphism, inflorescence dimension, and flower position within inflorescence on male and female reproductive success in three natural populations of D. sambucina. There were significant differences among sites in the number of pollinia removed and in fruit set per inflorescence. Number of removed pollinia and capsule production in D. sambucina were independent from flower and inflorescence size or flower position. As a whole, the red morphs showed the highest number of capsules produced, while the yellow morphs had the greatest male success. The relative male and female reproductive success were independent from plant density but were significantly correlated with the yellow morph frequency at the population level. Overall, our findings show that the contribution to the total reproductive success deriving from the two colour morphs does not conform with the predictions of negative frequency-dependent selection.     

Pollination of the orchidEpipactis thunbergii by syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The behavior of visitors to the flowers of the orchidEpipactis thunbergii was studied, with special attention to the role of the epichile in the pollination process. Only four species of syrphid flies legitimately pollinated the flower, among whichSphaerophoria macrogaster was regarded as the most effective pollinator. The movable epichile, possessing a furrow at its base, played a critical role in the pollination process: it threw the syrphid fly onto the stigmatic surface when both sides of the basal slanting surface of the furrow were presumably pressed in the direction of the hypochile by the fore (and middle) legs of the retreating syrphid fly. At this moment, the fly received a set of pollinia on the thorax.     

黑节草双受精过程及胚胎发育的研究

黑节草从传粉到受精约需１３０ｄ,精子在花粉管中形成,胚囊发育属蓼型胚囊,因反足细胞较早退化,故受精前胚囊多只由卵器和中央细胞组成。精卵核融合时,精核染色质进入卵核后凝集成颗粒状,并在原位与卵核的染色质融合,雌、雄性核仁一直维持至合子的第一次分裂期前。双受精作用正常,属于有丝分裂前配子融合类型,初生胚乳核发生２－３次分裂后逐渐退化消失,胚的发育局限于球形胚阶段。     

Use of VIRAZOLE® to eradicate odontoglossum ringspot virus from in vitro cultures of Cymbidium Sw.

Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus has been eradicated from Cymbidium Sw. through chemotherapy based on incorporation of ribavirin (VIRAZOLE^®) into the in vitro culture medium of protocorms. Applications of the virustatic agent for several consecutive subcultures freed protocorms of the virus. Acclimated plantlets regenerated from those protocorms are healthy as determinated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No resurgence of virus occurred over a period of 5 years. Besides, trueness to type was total at flowering level and the batch grown was perfectly homogeneous.To secure fast and effective eradication of the virus during the consecutive subcultures of protocorms with ribavirin, three factors proved to be of prime importance: accurate isolation of new growths from initial tissues, VIRAZOLE^® concentration and frequency of transplanting in new media.     

霍山三种石斛与其栽培土壤中微量元素分布关系研究

本文应用灰色系统理论,对安徽霍山三种石斛与其栽培土壤中15种微量元素分布状况进行了关联分析．结果发现.其关联序为γ_根＞γ_叶＞γ_茎;γ_(-年茎)≈γ_(二年茎)≈γ_(三年茎);γ_(霍斛)＞γ_(铁斛)＞γ_(铜斛).可见霍山石斛与其栽培土壤间的微量元素相关性比其它石斛强,因而可通过增施微肥的办法来提高霍山石解中某些人体必需微量元素的含量．     

Foliar regeneration of the endangered Red Vanda,Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe (Orchidaceae)

An in vitro method was developed to regenerate large numbers of phenotypically uniform plants from the basal parts of the leaves of flowering plants of Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe. Differentiation of up to 10 shoot buds free of callus and protocorm-like bodies occurred in 10–12 weeks from the base of a single leaf implanted in Mitra et al. (1976) medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 2 g l^-1 peptone, 44.4 M benzyladenine (BA) and 10.7 M naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subculture of the tissues in medium enriched with 10% coconut water and 35 g l^-1 ripe banana pulp resulted in the production of highest average number of 40 shoots in 12 weeks. No difference in the regeneration potential was observed among the three young leaves while mature leaves did not respond. All the leaves of the regenerated shoots were easily recultured to increase shoot multiplication. Shoots readily formed roots on transfer to a medium containing 4.4 M BA, 10.7 M NAA and 1% activated charcoal. All regenerated plants examined were normal diploids with 2n=38. Foliar meristem culture appears to have great potential for ex situ conservation and propagation of this extremely endangered orchid.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid     

Fungal coil formation ofRhizoctonia repens in seedlings ofGaleola septentrionalis (orchidaceae)

Protocorms or protocorms with roots of an achlorophyllous orchidGaleola septentrionalis were inoculated with isolates ofRhizoctonia repens, R. solani, andRhizoctonia spp. The seedlings were infected with eight of twelve isolates ofR. repens. Fungal coils were formed in the cells, which was suggestive of a symbiotic association. The other isolates caused soft rot or no infection to the protocorms or the protocorms with a root. Contribution No. 97, Laboratories of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan.     

丝核菌的分类系统：现状及存在问题

以重要植物病原菌为特征的丝核菌是一类在土壤中广泛分布的丝状真菌,通常不产孢,以菌丝或菌核的形式存在,多样性非常丰富。本文基于国内外最新研究进展,对依据菌丝体的细胞核数目、菌丝融合、有性生殖和系统进化等方面的基本特征展开的丝核菌分类体系及分类现状进行了综述。基于菌丝的细胞核数目,丝核菌被分为单核、双核和多核丝核菌三大类群。自然界中单核丝核菌数量极少,多核和双核丝核菌在全球分布广泛,占丝核菌的绝大多数。基于菌丝融合试验的结果,目前多核丝核菌被分为13个菌丝融合群,双核丝核菌被分为18个菌丝融合群。部分融合群内又根据一些稳定的特征分了亚群,但亚群的建立标准并不统一。目前的分子系统学研究结果基本支持丝核菌的菌丝融合群及亚群的分类。基于部分有性世代被发现的菌株的形态特征,多核和双核丝核菌分别被鉴定为亡革菌属和角担菌属。此外,目前已有分属重要植物病原菌和兰科菌根菌类群的至少9个融合群或亚群的17个菌株完成了基因组测序,比较基因组学和线粒体组学开始在丝核菌分类和进化研究中发挥作用。丝核菌分类系统特殊且复杂,作者在文末提出了目前丝核菌分类学研究面临的问题和今后研究的趋势,期待更多的学者参与到这个重要菌...     

细叶石斛有效成分分析及其水溶性提取物的血管舒张活性

对细叶石斛(DendrobiumhancockiiRofle)茎上部、茎中部、茎下部和根中的多糖、生物碱和矿质元素含量进行了分析,并研究了其水溶性提取物对SD大鼠胸主动脉血管的舒张效应。结果表明,细叶石斛中总多糖含量较高,并含有较多的钾、钙、镁、铁、锰、锶、钛和铜等元素,与细茎石斛〔D.moniliforme(L.)Sw.〕及铁皮石斛(D.officinaleKimuraetMigo)相比,其水溶性多糖和生物碱的含量较低,而且不同部位中的含量存在差异。细叶石斛水溶性提取物强烈拮抗苯肾上腺素所致的大鼠胸主动脉血管收缩作用,对内皮完整和无内皮功能的2种样本均引起类似的浓度依赖性舒张效应,相关系数有显著意义(>r0.01),两者的IC50分别为0.309和0.404g L。