Plant material features responsible for bamboo's excellent mechanical performance: a comparison of tensile properties of bamboo and spruce at the tissue,fibre and cell wall levels

MethodsThe mechanical properties of single fibres and tissue slices of stems of mature moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and spruce (Picea abies) latewood were investigated in microtensile tests. Cell parameters, cellulose microfibril angles and chemical composition were determined using light and electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and confocal Raman microscopy.ConclusionsThe superior tensile properties of bamboo fibres and fibre bundles are mainly a result of amplified cell wall formation, leading to a densely packed tissue, rather than being based on specific cell wall properties. The material optimization towards extremely compact fibres with a multi-lamellar cell wall in bamboo might be a result of a plant growth strategy that compensates for the lack of secondary thickening growth at the tissue level, which is not only favourable for the biomechanics of the plant but is also increasingly utilized in terms of engineering products made from bamboo culms.     

竹子叶绿体基因组SSR分子标记的开发及其应用

为探讨观赏竹叶片异质性的机理,根据麻竹(Dendrocalamus latiflorus)和绿竹(Bambusa oldhamii)叶绿体基因组序列开发SSR分子标记。结果表明,在麻竹和绿竹叶绿体基因组中分别存在87和86个SSR位点,其中三核苷酸重复类型最多,其次为单核苷酸重复类型。根据SSR位点设计21对引物,其中11对引物对6竹种能够扩增出稳定、清晰的条带,且具有多态性,引物有效率达到52.4%。聚类分析表明,6竹种可分为两大类群,与形态学分类结果基本一致。有4对引物在菲白竹(Pleioblastus fortunei)和白纹椎谷笹(Sasaella glabra f.albo-striata)的花叶中具有多态性,可作为区分观赏竹叶片异质性的分子标记。     

大熊猫粪便宽径与咬节平均长度的关系

粪便咬节是大熊猫数量调查中最常用的指标。然而,大熊猫在主食竹叶的季节有时在粪便中未留下咬节而使数量调查难以进行。为此,本文对大熊猫粪便宽径与咬节平均长度的关系进行了初步探讨。结果表明,大熊猫粪便宽径呈正态分布,同一个体的含咬节粪便与全由竹叶组成的粪便在宽径上无显著差异。大熊猫咬节平均长度与粪便宽径存在显著的回归关系。在不考虑年龄的情况下,粪便咬节平均长度与粪便宽径的回归方程为:Y=0.38X十14.40。成体和亚成体组的粪便咬节平均长度与粪便宽径的回归方程为:Y=0.22 X+22.79。年龄对大熊猫粪便咬节平均长度与粪便宽径的回归关系有显著影响。     

Mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 reduces the replication efficiency of Bamboo mosaic virus in Nicotiana benthamiana

In plants, the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are the central signaling pathways of the complicated defense network triggered by the perception of pathogen‐associated molecular patterns to repel pathogens. The Arabidopsis thaliana MAPK phosphatase 1 (AtMKP1) negatively regulates the activation of MAPKs. Recently, the AtMKP1 homolog of Nicotiana benthamiana (NbMKP1) was found in association with the Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) replication complex. This study aimed to investigate the role of NbMKP1 in BaMV multiplication in N. benthamiana. Silencing of NbMKP1 increased accumulations of the BaMV‐encoded proteins and the viral genomic RNA, although the same condition reduced the infectivity of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 in N. benthamiana. On the other hand, overexpression of NbMKP1 decreased the BaMV coat protein accumulation in a phosphatase activity‐dependent manner in protoplasts. NbMKP1 also negatively affected the in vitro RNA polymerase activity of the BaMV replication complex. Collectively, the activity of NbMKP1 seems to reduce BaMV multiplication, inconsistent with the negatively regulatory role of MKP1 in MAPK cascades in terms of warding off fungal and bacterial invasion. In addition, silencing of NbMKP1 increased the accumulation of Foxtail mosaic virus but decreased Potato virus X. The discrepant effects exerted by NbMKP1 on different pathogens foresee the difficulty to develop plants with broad‐spectrum resistance through genetically manipulating a single player in MAPK cascades.     

Properties of antibacterial bioboard from bamboo macromolecule by hot press

Bamboo macromolecules were pretreated with bamboo vinegar, which has an antibacterial property, and processed into antibacterial bioboard (ABB) by hot pressing. The ABB was then analyzed by conducting Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. Results showed that ABB samples had average density of 1.0 g/cm³, which is appropriate for application. The physical and mechanical properties were best for the ABB sample pretreated with bamboo vinegar and hot pressed at 165 °C for 10 min. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the optimum conditions for hot pressing were a temperature of 165 °C, duration of 10 min, and the addition of bamboo vinegar. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis curves indicated that the thermal degradation of the ABB was less than that of bamboo, revealing that hot pressing increased the thermal stability of ABB samples. Analysis revealed that pretreatment with bamboo vinegar improved the antibacterial property of the ABB.     

Recent advances in polysaccharide bio-based flocculants

Natural polysaccharides, derived from biomass feedstocks, marine resources, and microorganisms, have been attracting considerable attention as benign and environmentally friendly substitutes for synthetic polymeric products. Besides many other applications, these biopolymers are rapidly emerging as viable alternatives to harmful synthetic flocculating agents for the removal of contaminants from water and wastewater. In recent years, a great deal of effort has been devoted to improve the production and performance of polysaccharide bio-based flocculants. In this review, current trends in preparation and chemical modification of polysaccharide bio-based flocculants and their flocculation performance are discussed. Aspects including mechanisms of flocculation, biosynthesis, classification, purification and characterization, chemical modification, the effect of physicochemical factors on flocculating activity, and recent applications of polysaccharide bio-based flocculants are summarized and presented.     

采用竹管蜂巢繁育苜蓿切叶蜂

对5种繁育苜蓿切叶蜂的蜂巢材料进行了筛选测定,结果表明,竹管的繁蜂效果较好,子代蜂的雌雄性比为1：1,而且竹管内的蜂茧均未被寄生蜂寄生。     

毛竹（Phyllostachys pubescens）竹笋群动态的研究

 本文从克隆植物生长的调节与适应的角度,研究了毛竹竹笋群的时空动态。竹笋的单位面积产量及个体大小在年际之间变化很大。环境有利的年份出土的竹笋要比条件恶劣的年份多得多、高得多、壮得多。而且,自始至终较早的同生群的竹笋总比较晚的同生群的要高得多、壮得多。较早的同生群的竹笋刚出土时要经历一段生长缓慢的时期,而较晚的同生群的竹笋一出土生长就十分迅速。不管竹笋何时出土,它们几乎都同时进入最快生长期。竹笋高度日增量最快时可达每天100cm左右。本文解释了亚热带竹子在春季不同时间出土的竹笋为何及如何几乎同时抵达林冠顶部。最后,提出了一些有利于竹林经营管理的建议。     

毛竹地下茎对创伤的反应

研究了在中国最为广泛栽培的毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis(Cart.)H.de Lehaie)的地下茎的创伤反应。创伤后的第1天,在伤口附近没有明显反应;2d之后,创口附近可以观察到生理反应的代谢物,在后生木质部的导管中以及在基本组织细胞的胞间隙出现粘状物质,这些粘状物质具有果胶特性;创伤后1周,创口附近的筛管及基本组织中的短细胞的细胞壁变成木质化。同时,基本组织中的长细胞的内壁出现新的次生壁的沉积;2周后,创伤反应的组织与未受创伤的组织之间的区别变得更加明显;4周后,一些导管完全充满了粘性物质,但没有观察到侵填体。由于细胞壁的木质化及酚类物质的填充,筛管完全失去了功能。对创伤后6周的材料进行观察的结果表明,其创伤反应的范围不再扩展,在创伤组织与未受伤组织之间的基本组织的细胞壁变得相当厚,从而在两者之间形成一道屏障。毛竹地下茎的这种创伤反应与毛竹竹竿的创伤反应基本上是一致的,只是略有不同。