Architectural strategies of Cornus sericea, a native but invasive shrub of Southern Quebec, Canada, under an open or a closed canopy

Background and Aims

Qualitative and quantitative studies of the pattern of invasive plant development is considered a key aspect in understanding invasiveness. An architectural analysis was therefore performed in order to understand the relationship between shoot architecture and invasiveness in red-osier dogwood, Cornus sericea (Cornaceae).

Methods

The structural and ontogenic characteristics of individuals in invading and non-invading populations in the native range of the species were compared to test the implication of developmental plasticity on invasiveness.

Key Results and Conclusions

The results show that the shrub has a modular architecture governed by strong developmental rules. Cornus sericea is made up of two levels of organization, each with its own intrinsic sequence of differentiation. These intrinsic mechanisms were used as a framework for comparison and it was found that, in response to the light environment, developmental plasticity was elevated, resulting in two architectural strategies. This developmental plasticity concerns the growth direction and the size of the modules, the speed of their time-course changes, their branching and flowering. Under an open canopy, C. sericea rapidly develops large vertical structures and abundant flowering. This strategy leads the plant to be invasive by excluding competitors and disseminating in the landscape. In the understorey, C. sericea slowly develops long horizontal structures which creep across the soil surface, while assimilating structures are poorly developed. This strategy does not lead to invasiveness but may allow the plant to survive in the understorey and reach sunny patches.     

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.     

Identification of ancient Olea europaea L. and Cornus mas L. seeds by DNA barcoding

The analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) provides archaeologists and anthropologists with innovative, scientific and accurate data to study and understand the past. In this work, ancient seeds, found in the "Mora Cavorso" archaeological site (Latium, Central Italy), were analyzed to increase information about Italian Neolithic populations (plant use, agriculture, diet, trades, customs and ecology). We performed morphological and genetic techniques to identify fossil botanical species. In particular, this study also suggests and emphasizes the use of DNA barcode method for ancient plant sample analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed seed compact structure and irregular surface but they did not permit a precise nor empirical classification: so, a molecular approach was necessary. DNA was extracted from ancient seeds and then it was used, as template, for PCR amplifications of standardized barcode genes. Although aDNA could be highly degraded by the time, successful PCR products were obtained, sequenced and compared to nucleotide sequence databases. Positive outcomes (supported by morphological comparison with modern seeds, geographical distribution and historical data) indicated that seeds could be identified as belonging to two plant species: Olea europaea L. and Cornus mas L.     

山茱萸种质资源数量性状分析及核心种质库评价

对从全国收集的75份山茱萸种质资源,从叶长、叶宽、果实横径、果实纵径、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、种子含水量、枣皮灰分、枣皮水分、水溶性浸出物和马钱素含量等表型性状,通过分析其变异系数和各性状间的相关性,采用欧氏系统聚类法抽取核心种质,并对构建的核心种质库进行评价。分析结果显示,75份山茱萸种质资源在叶长、叶宽、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、枣皮灰分和马钱素含量等性状上的变异系数均高于10%,说明这些性状变化范围较大,个体间性状不稳定,易受环境因素的影响;而果实横径、果实纵径、种子含水量、枣皮水分和水溶性浸出物的变异系数均低于10%,说明这些性状变异较小,表型性状比较稳定。相关性分析结果显示,各性状间都存在一定的相关性,其中果实纵径和果实横径与鲜果百粒重呈显著正相关(0.396b和0.312b),说明果实纵横径是影响果实重量的关键因素;水溶性浸出物大小与果实横径、果实纵径、马钱素含量呈现显著性正相关(0.481b、0.280a和0.372b),表明水溶性浸出物含量的高低与山茱萸有效成分马钱素含量和果实大小及形状密切正相关,这将为种质的筛选和评价提供依据。通过最小距离逐步抽样法抽出22份种质构成核心种质库（占初始种质库的29.33%）,采用欧氏距离聚类对抽样构成的初级核心种质库进行评价,结果显示,各性状均值t检验均不显著,并且极差符合率（CR%= 90.63%）大于80%,说明抽取的初级核心种质库能够很好地代表原有种质,从而达到了提高种质保存效率的目的,这将为进一步研究山茱萸核心种质库构建和其它药用植物构建核心种质提供参考。     

山茱萸种质资源的ISSR遗传多样性分析与初级核心种质库的构建

采用ISSR 标记技术对不同来源地的48份山茱萸种质资源的遗传多样性进行了分析,并依据最小遗传距离逐步抽样法构建了该初级核心种质资源库.结果显示:筛选出的13个多态性引物共扩增出190个位点,多态性位点比率达93.16%,平均Shannon信息指数(I)为0.402 5,平均Nei's基因多样性指数(H)为0.259 4,平均有效等位基因数(NE)为1.425 0.聚类分析表明,种质间的遗传相似系数介于0.65～0.90之间,除个别种质外,48个种质聚类结果与地区来源有较高的一致性.随着抽取种质数目的减少,多态性比率明显降低,但种质库遗传多样性参数变化较小;抽样3构建的初级核心种质库最具代表性,抽样数是抽样前的30%左右,多态位点比率是抽样前的96.0%.     

Nematode Community Structure in Dogwood,Maple, and Peach Nurseries in Tennessee

Nursery blocks (48 dogwood, 27 maple, 17 peach) in 20 middle Tennessee nurseries were sampled for nematodes in March,July, and October 1981. Dogwoods and maples were grouped in three age classes: 1-2, 3-5, and 10+ years. Nematodes were extracted from soil samples, counted, and assigned to trophic groups as follows: plant parasites, microbivores, fungivores, predators, and omnivores (= Dorylaimida). Total nematode numbers per 200 cm s soil ranged from 52 to 9,166 (mean = 1,785 ± 1,420). Nematodes were more abundant in dogwood and maple than in peach blocks, and their numbers were significantly correlated with percentage of weed ground cover and number of weed species. Nematode numbers in dogwood sites were also correlated with dogwood age. Microbivores were the most abundant trophic group in all sites, followed by plant parasites, fungivores, omnivores, and predators. Nematode communities in nursery sites shared characteristics of both undisturbed and agricultural habitats. Degree and diversity of plant ground cover appeared to be the most important factors determining nematode community structure.     

The fate of flowers and fruits of Cornus sanguinea L. in three contrasting Mediterranean habitats

Summary In the Mediterranean region of southern France, the fate of flowers and fruits of Cornus sanguinea, a deciduous shrub, was studied in three contrasting habitats: (1) an abandoned olive grove, (2) the edge and (3) the interior of a deciduous forest. Abundance of flowering and fruiting of C. sanguinea differed widely between the three habitats. The fate of the flowers, on the other hand, did not differ significantly between habitats. Taking all three habitats together, 77% of the flowers aborted, 23% initiated fruits, 6% developed mature fruits, and 3% produced ripe fruits that were eaten by birds. Likewise, there were for the most part no significant differences in the fate of immature and mature fruits between the habitats. On average, 58% of the immature fruits were abscised undamaged, 24% matured, 10% were damaged by insects and 8% dried up. Of the mature fruits, on average, 51% were eaten by birds, 23% damaged by insects, 20% dried up and 6% fell to the ground undamaged. Independent of habitat conditions, C. sanguinea seems to regulate the quantity of its seed crop primarily by limiting the number of flowers and secondarily by aborting surplus immature fruits, and the number of flowers is mainly controled by resource availability and genetic factors. In the case of C. sanguinea, both the fruit/flower ratio and the proportion of flowers producing mature fruits that are eaten by birds remain constant over a wide range of environmental conditions.     

山茱萸果皮的解剖学研究

本文报导了山茱萸果皮的解剖学研究结果.外果皮由一层表皮细胞构成.中果皮外方为3-4(5)层厚角组织细胞,这些细胞通常含有单宁;其内方包含薄壁细胞、单宁细胞和8束维管束.单宁细胞成团或零星分布于薄璧细胞中,前者的体积明显大于后者.单宁细胞的单宁与多糖结合在一起.维管束含有环纹、螺纹、梯纹、网纹及孔纹管胞,还有少数散生的纤维.内果皮高度木质化,主要由多种形状的石细胞组成,其间分布了肉眼可见、排列成环状的异细胞,偶见少数生活石细胞及薄壁细胞.内果皮有3束维管束.     

Inheritance of the photoperiodically induced cold acclimation response in Cornus sericea L., red-osier dogwood

Summary Cold acclimation responses of latitudinal ecotypes of Cornus sericea L. (C. stolonifera Michx.) and F₁, F₂ and BC₁ hybrid progenies were measured under natural photoperiod conditions in St. Paul, MN and artificially shortened photoperiods in the glass-house. The 65 °N and 62 °N ecotypes (Alaska and Northwest Territories, respectively) were characterized by a short night length for hardiness induction, the 42 °N ecotype (Utah A and B) by a long night length for hardiness induction, while the F₁ was intermediate to the parents. Results from reciprocal crosses indicated there was no significant unilateral maternal influence on cold acclimation. Acclimation responses of the F₂ were highly variable but generally ranged between the parental extremes. However, three individuals from the 42 ° × 62 °N crosses exhibited greater cold resistance than the northern parent on two successive freezing test dates. F₂ plants were also found with less freezing resistance than the southern parent. Backcrosses to the southern parent produced progeny with acclimation patterns resembling that of the southern parent and were significantly less hardy than the F₂ in early freezing tests.Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 12,075 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station