Rhizosphere soil bacterial communities and nitrogen cycling affected by deciduous and evergreen tree species

Deciduous and evergreen trees differ in their responses to drought and nitrogen (N) demand. Whether or not these functional types affect the role of the bacterial community in the N cycle during drought remains uncertain. Two deciduous tree species (Alnus cremastogyne, an N₂‐fixing species, and Liquidambar formosana) and two evergreen trees (Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana) were used to assess factors in controlling rhizosphere soil bacterial community and N cycling functions. Photosynthetic rates and biomass production of plants, 16S rRNA sequencing and N‐cycling‐related genes of rhizosphere soil were measured. The relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes was higher, and that of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimondaetes was lower in rhizosphere soil of deciduous trees than that of evergreen. Beta‐diversity of bacterial community also significantly differed between the two types of trees. Deciduous trees showed significantly higher net photosynthetic rates and biomass production than evergreen species both at well water condition and short‐term drought. Root biomass was the most important factor in driving soil bacterial community and N‐cycling functions than total biomass and aboveground biomass. Furthermore, 44 bacteria genera with a decreasing response and 46 taxa showed an increased response along the root biomass gradient. Regarding N‐cycle‐related functional genes, copy numbers of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and autotrophic ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA), N₂ fixation gene (nifH), and denitrification genes (nirK, nirS) were significantly higher in the soil of deciduous trees than in that of the evergreen. Structural equation models explained 50.2%, 47.6%, 48.6%, 49.4%, and 37.3% of the variability in copy numbers of nifH, AOB, AOA, nirK, and nirS, respectively, and revealed that root biomass had significant positive effects on copy numbers of all N‐cycle functional genes. In conclusion, root biomass played key roles in affecting bacterial community structure and soil N cycling. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of plants control over bacterial community and N‐cycling function in artificial forest ecosystems.     

Friend or Foe? Implication of the autophagy-lysosome pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19

There is increasing amount of evidence indicating the close interplays between the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells. While autophagy machinery is known to either assist or inhibit the viral replication process, the reciprocal effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on the autophagy-lysosome pathway have also been increasingly appreciated. More importantly, despite the disappointing results from the clinical trials of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in treatment of COVID-19, there is still ongoing effort in discovering new therapeutics targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. In this review, we provide an update-to-date summary of the interplays between the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells and the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 at the molecular level, to highlight the prognostic value of autophagy markers in COVID-19 patients and to discuss the potential of developing novel therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 by targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Thus, understanding the nature of such interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells is expected to provide novel strategies in battling against this global pandemic.     

冀北承德地区土壤生源要素生态化学计量与空间分异特征

土壤生源要素生态化学计量和空间分异特征对指导土地利用优化具有重要意义。以京津冀生态屏障区组成部分的承德市为研究区,采集1597件土壤样品,运用地统计学、全局Moran′s I指数、克里金插值和冗余分析等方法对承德全域主要土壤生源要素的空间分异特征及其影响因素进行了系统分析。结果表明,承德市表层土壤生源要素全钾(STK)、有机碳(SOC)、全氮(STN)、全磷(STP)和全硫(STS)平均含量分别为21.962 g/kg、18.826 g/kg、1.168 g/kg、0.587 g/kg和0.193 g/kg。垂向分布上STN、SOC和STS含量总体随深度增加而降低,STK和STP垂向分异受成土母质控制,高地质背景区STK和STP含量随深度增加逐渐升高。SOC和STN含量显著相关,空间耦合程度高,C:S与SOC含量显著正相关,C:N和C:S空间分布稳定,土壤生源要素的化学计量比主要受SOC含量控制。SOC空间自相关极显著,空间分异受结构性因素控制;STK空间自相关程度较高,分布稳定;STP空间自相关较显著,分布异质性较大;STS空间自相关相对最弱,受人为活动影响较明显。SOC和STN空间...     

风速变化对草原生态系统的影响研究进展

在全球风速呈下降趋势的大背景下,研究风速变化对生态系统的影响具有重要意义,尤其是其重要组成部分——草原生态系统。近年来大量学者开始研究风速变化对草原生态系统的影响,主要集中在以下几个方面并得出相关的结论,(1)风速变化会影响植物的生长速率和叶片形态,适当的风速能够促进植物生长发育、提高植被初级生产力,而强风或持续大风不仅会对植物产生破坏作用,还会影响其生长发育;(2)风会最先带走地表细小颗粒,从而导致土壤质地变粗、水分下降、营养成分重新分配;(3)风引起地表边界层和大气边界层物质和能量的转移和交换,热量和水汽的交换导致地表微气候发生变化,如风速降低会导致地表温度升高;(4)风力作用使得土壤水分亏缺、营养成分变化,导致草原生态系统结构变化、草地覆盖度降低、物种生活型复杂化、耐旱植物增加;(5)大气稳定性、CO2交换速率和碳排放都会随着风速的增加而增加,碳吸收则相反,碳通量也因此发生变化。综上,风速降低对于草原生态系统的影响复杂且利弊相当,未来的发展趋势会更加侧重于以下几个方面的发展:研究对象的多样化、加强控制实验的定量化研究、综合多要素的相互作用机理研究、整体结构和功能性的研究。     

生防菌Act12铁载体合成酶Ser基因的功能

【目的】通过敲除生防菌Act12铁载体合成酶Ser基因,研究该铁载体在植物防病促生中的作用。【方法】以自杀型质粒p KC1132作为基本载体,两侧为Ser基因上下游片段作为同源交换臂,两个同源臂之间为卡那霉素抗性基因,构建重组质粒p CT12;借助接合转移技术,将该质粒导入Act12,筛选突变株并进行PCR验证;研究Ser基因缺失突变体和野生型菌株Act12在生长速率、铁载体产量、甜瓜种子促生、抗苹果轮纹病菌(Macrophoma kawatsukai)等方面的差异。【结果】经PCR验证及测序均证实Ser基因缺失突变体构建成功。Ser基因突变后,铁载体合成量明显减少,抑制甜瓜种子的萌发及生长,对苹果轮纹病菌拮抗作用降低。【结论】生防菌Act12 Ser合成酶基因参与控制合成的铁载体在对甜瓜种子促生作用和拮抗苹果轮纹病菌中发挥一定作用,为进一步研究Act12防病促生机制奠定基础。     

紫外指纹图谱结合化学计量学对黄精基原植物的鉴别

运用紫外光谱技术结合化学计量学,建立快速鉴别不同基原黄精的方法。通过单因素实验确定黄精最佳提取溶剂、时间和用量,制备测试液,采用紫外光谱技术建立3种基原黄精的紫外指纹图谱,光谱数据转化后进行主成分(PCA)和系统聚类分析(HCA)。该方法重现性、精密度、稳定性较好,结果表明不同种类黄精紫外指纹图谱具有指纹特性,3种基原植物黄精紫外光谱图在210 nm、220 nm、280 nm附近差异明显;聚类分析和主成分分析三维投影图反映出不同种类黄精的化学成分积累具有差异,能较好地区分滇黄精(Polygonatumkingianum)、黄精(P.sibiricum)与多花黄精(P.cyrtonema)。紫外光谱结合化学计量学能快速鉴别不同种类黄精,可作为黄精的鉴别和质量控制新方法,为黄精临床应用、资源开发及黄精属植物分类提供辅助方法。