Distribution of the black pecan aphid,Melanocallis caryaefoliae,on the upper and lower surface of pecan foliage

Three aphid species regularly feed on pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch (Juglandaceae)] foliage: the black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis), the yellow pecan aphid, Monelliopsis pecanis Bissell, and the blackmargined aphid, Monellia caryella (Fitch) (all Hemiptera: Aphididae). Adults of M. caryaefoliae and both the nymphs and adults of M. pecanis and M. caryella mainly feed on the lower surface of leaves. Nymphs of M. caryaefoliae appear unique by frequently feeding on the upper surface of pecan leaves. This is risky behavior given the environmental hazards (e.g., rain, solar radiation, and dislodgement) associated with the upper surface. Thus, we determined the leaf surface distribution of M. caryaefoliae on trees in an orchard and on pecan seedlings in the laboratory. A pecan orchard survey found all three aphid species and stages predominantly on the lower leaf surface, except for the nymphs of M. caryaefoliae, which were evenly distributed between upper and lower leaf surfaces. This survey also found aphidophagous lacewing (Neuroptera) larvae predominantly on the lower leaf surface, whereas ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larvae were more evenly distributed between upper and lower surfaces. Laboratory experiments using single or multiple pecan aphid species revealed M. caryaefoliae distribution on pecan seedlings similar to orchard data. Nymphal M. caryaefoliae require nearly 2 days to elicit chlorotic feeding lesions on leaves; without these lesions, nymphal development is hindered. The similar distribution of nymphs of M. caryaefoliae on both leaf surfaces likely reflects a strategy of predator avoidance allowing a proportion of the population to survive.     

安徽天堂寨大别山山核桃群落的初步研究

对安徽天堂寨山区大别山山核桃群落进行了初步研究 ,据统计 ,在 1 0块样地中 ,共存在维管植物1 2 8种 (含变种 ) ,隶属于 95属 ,5 2科。其中 ,种子植物 47科 ,88属 ,1 1 9种 ,可分为 1 1种地理分布类型 ,各类热带成分占 2 6.5 0 % ;各类温带成分占 71 .0 8% ,植物区系具有北亚热带向暖温带的过渡性质。大别山山核桃 (Caryadabieshanensis)在群落中起着建群作用 ,优势明显 ,其重要值平均达 1 89.47。大别山山核桃群落的物种多样性指数较高 ,且分布较均匀 ,其Simpson指数D、Shannon Wiener指数H和群落均匀度R均值分别为 8.8786、 3 .5 73 5和 0 .740 1 ,是一种稳定的群落类型。     

Inferring relationships between native plant diversity and Lonicera japonica in upland forests in north Mississippi,USA

Question: Do anthropogenic disturbances interact with local environmental factors to increase the abundance and frequency of invasive species, which in turn exerts a negative effect on native biodiversity? Location: Mature Quercus‐Carya and Quercus‐Carya‐Pinus (oak‐hickory‐pine) forests in north Mississippi, USA. Methods: We used partial correlation and factor analysis to investigate relationships between native ground cover plant species richness and composition, percent cover of Lonicera japonica, and local and landscape‐level environmental variables and disturbance patterns in mature upland forests. We directly measured vegetation and environmental variables within 34 sampling subplots and quantified the amount of tree cover surrounding our plots using digital color aerial photography. Results: Simple bivariate correlations revealed that high species richness and a high proportion of herbs were associated with low Lonicera japonica cover, moist and sandy uncompacted soils, low disturbance in the surrounding landscape, and periodic prescribed burning. Partial correlations and factor analysis showed that once we accounted for the environmental factors, L japonica cover was the least important predictor of composition and among the least important predictors of species richness. Hence, much of the negative correlation between native species diversity and this invasive species was explained by soil texture and local and landscape‐level land‐use practices. Conclusions: We conclude that negative correlations between the abundance of invasive species and native plant diversity can occur in landscapes with a gradient of human disturbance, regardless of whether there is any negative effect of invasive species on native species.     

不同起源时期的3种被子植物对酸雨胁迫响应的光合生理生态特征

为了验证起源时间较长的植物具有较强适应性的假设, 人工模拟酸雨胁迫, 研究了在不同酸雨处理下不同起源时期的3种被子植物乐东拟单性木兰(Parakmeria lotungensi)、石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)和山核桃(Carya cathayensis)的光合生理适应特性。实验设置了酸雨对照处理(pH 5.6)、中度酸雨胁迫处理(pH 4.0)和重度酸雨胁迫处理(pH 2.5), 并测定了这3种植物的光合特性。研究结果显示: 1)在不同强度的酸雨处理下, 乐东拟单性木兰的光合能力大小趋势为pH 2.5 > pH 4.0 > pH 5.6, 石栎则为pH 5.6 > pH 4.0 > pH 2.5, 但山核桃在酸雨处理之间差异不显著; 2)在酸雨对照处理(pH 5.6)中, 石栎的光合能力相对较高, 其次是乐东拟单性木兰, 山核桃最小。但在重度和中度酸雨胁迫下(pH ≤ 4.0), 3种植物光合能力的大小趋势为乐东拟单性木兰 > 石栎 > 山核桃, 且酸雨胁迫越严重, 上述趋势越明显。研究结果表明: 在重度酸雨胁迫下, 起源时间较早的乐东拟单性木兰表现出较高的光合与适应能力。从应用的角度出发, 建议考虑将乐东拟单性木兰作为酸雨灾害严重地区植被构建的物种之一。     

The role of seed predation in the maintenance of the Cross Timbers ecotone of Oklahoma,USA

I investigated how seed predation differed among tree species and among microhabitats across the Cross Timbers and what that variation may tell us about how this ecotone is maintained. The ecotone is located in Oklahoma, USA, between the eastern deciduous forest and tallgrass prairie where seeds of eight common tree species were placed in three microhabitats (oak forest, tallgrass prairie, and sumac shrub/small-tree/grass mix). After nine days in the field, percent seeds remaining were scored for each of the 120 (8 species×3 microhabitats×5 replicates) dishes. I found for both wind-dispersed tree species, (ash, elm) there was significantly more predation in the prairie microsite, with similar small predation levels in the shrub and forest. For two of the three bird-dispersed species (dogwood, hackberry), there was significantly more predation in the prairie and shrub microsites compared to the forest. Red cedar, however, was not taken by predators very much anywhere. Finally, all three mammal-dispersed tree species (two oaks, pecan) showed significantly more predation in the shrub and forest microsites compared to the prairie. Whereas wind- and bird-dispersed species suffered less predation as microsites became more woody and dark, the dominant oaks showed the opposite trend. Consequently, seed predators are not preventing oaks from advancing across this ecotone, but yearly fluctuations in predator population density, especially in the shrub transitional zone, could be helping to maintain it.     

Total flavonoids from the Carya cathayensis Sarg. leaves inhibit HUVEC senescence through the miR-34a/SIRT1 pathway

Aging shows a significant relationship with changed vascular structure and function, and advancing age is a major nonmodifiable risk factor in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The senescence of endothelial cells is one of the hallmarks of vascular aging and can induce vascular dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the effect of total flavonoids (TFs) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) senescence and identify the potential mechanisms involved. A HUVEC senescence model was induced by angiotensin II. The senescence markers, including senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), p53, p21, and stagnate G0/G1, were measured. The effects of TFs on miR-34/ SIRT1 were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and Western blot analysis. TFs decreased the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells and resulted in G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, while the percentage of cells in the S phase increased. Furthermore, TFs reduced miR-34a expression and increased the expression of SIRT1. After treatment with TFs and a miR-34a inhibitor, the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells and the expression of miR-34a decreased, and the expression of SIRT1 increased. The TFs inhibited HUVEC senescence, and the mechanism was related to the miR-34a/Sirtuin1 pathway.     

山核桃种质资源遗传多样性的RAPD分析

运用RAPD分子标记技术对山核桃种质资源的五处天然居群遗传多样性进行了初步研究。20条10bp随机引物共检测出252个扩增位点,其中多态性位点168个,多态性位点比率为66.7%。依据Shannon’s表型多样性指数,山核桃种质资源的遗传多样性水平相对较高,群体内变异占总变异的60.32%,居群间变异率为39.68%。五处天然居群中,岛石居群遗传多样性水平最高,为0.2800,临目居群最低,为0.1992。群体内平均遗传距离为0.0914,居群间平均遗传距离为0.1188。丰富的遗传多样性可保证山核桃种质群体能够持续生存和发育,也为山核桃选优、品种改良及遗传育种工作奠定了遗传学基础。     

大别山山核桃种群遗传多样性研究

为了更有效地保护和合理开发大别山山核桃(Carya dabieshanensis)资源,该文利用RAPD分子标记技术,对3个天然大别山山核桃种群的90个单株的遗传多样性、种群内和种群间的遗传变异进行了研究,结果表明:20对10 bp随机引物共检测到238条谱带,其中多态带为162条,占68.1%。遗传多样性分析结果显示: Shannon多样性指数为0.476 1,58.18%的变异分布于群体内,而种群间变异占了41.82%;Nei指数群体总基因多样度为0.314 5,群体内平均基因多样度(H_S)为0.186 5,群体间的基因多样度(H_ST)为0.128 0,群体Nei基因分化系数(G_ST)为0.406 7,说明40.67%的变异存在于种群间,群体内的变异占了总变异的59.33%,与Shannon多样性指数相比基本一致,均表明种群内有较丰富的遗传变异,这为优良品种选育提供广阔前景;种群间的基因流(N_m)为0.730 6,证明种群间遗传交换较小,这与环境适应性和高山阻隔有一定的关系。     

安徽马兜铃属植物新分类群

本文发表了马兜铃属二新种, 即长花马兜铃Aristolochia longilinqua C.Y.Cheng et W.Yu, sp.nov.;大别山马兜铃A.dabieshanensis C.Y.Cheng et W.Yu, sp.nov.。