Effects of temperature and CO2 enrichment on kinetic properties of NADP+-malate dehydrogenase in two ecotypes of Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) from contrasting climates

Summary The apparent energy of activation (E _a), Michaelis-Menten constant (K _mfor oxaloacetate), V _max/K _mratios and specific activities of NADP⁺-malate dehydrogenase (NADP⁺-MDH; EC 1.1.1.82) were analyzed in plants of Barnyard grass from Québec (QUE) and Mississippi (MISS) acclimated to two thermoperiods 28/22°C, 21/15°C, and grown under two CO₂ concentrations, 350 l l^-1 and 675 l l^-1. E _avalues of NADP⁺-MDH extracted from QUE plants were significantly lower than those of MISS plants. K _mvalues and V _max/K _mratios of the enzyme from both ecotypes were similar over the range of 10–30°C but reduced V _max/K _mratios were found for the enzyme of QUE plants at 30 and 40°C assays. MISS plants had higher enzyme activities when measured on a chlorophyll basis but this trend was reversed when activities were expressed per fresh weight leaf or per leaf surface area. Activities were significantly higher in plants of both populations acclimated to 22/28°C. CO₂ enrichment did not modify appreciably the catalytic properties of NADP⁺-MDH and did not have a compensatory effect upon catalysis or enzyme activity under cool acclimatory conditions. NADP⁺-MDH activities were always in excess of the amount required to support observed rates of CO₂ assimilation and these two parameters were significantly correlated. The enhanced photosynthetic performance of QUE plants under cold temperature conditions, as compared to that of MISS plants, cannot be attributed to kinetic differences of NADP⁺-malate dehydrogenase among these ecotypes.     

Primary productivity of natural grass ecosystems of the tropics: A reappraisal

Studies of net primary production in four contrasting tropical grasslands show that when full account is taken of losses of plant organs above- and below-ground these ecosystems are far more productive than earlier suggested. Previous values have mainly been provided by the International Biological Programme (IBP), where estimates of production were based on a change in vegetation mass alone and would not necessarily have taken full account of organ losses and turnover. Calculation at three of our sites based on estblished methodology using changes in plant mass alone (i.e. that used by the International Biological Programme, IBP) proved to be serious underestimates of when acount was taken of losses simultaneously with measurement of change in plant mass. Accounting for the turnover of material at these three sites resulted in productivities up to five times higher than were obtained using the standard IBP procedure. An emergent C₄ grass stand at a fourth site in the Amazon achieved a productivity which approached the maximum recorded for agricultural crops. In this case, productivity values, when organ losses were taken into account, only slightly exceeded that obtained with IBP methods. The findings reported here have wider implications, in prediction of global carbon cycling, remote sensing of plant productivity and impact assessment of conversion to arable cropping systems.     

Heterodera graminophila n. sp. (Nematoda Heteroderae) from Grass with a Key to Closely Related Species

Heterodera graminophila n. sp., a member of the H. goettingiana group, is described and illustrated from roots of barnyard grass, Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link, in Baton Rouge, La. This new abullate species, having second-stage larvae with only three lines in the lateral field, is most closely related to H. cyperi Golden, Rau &Cobb, 1962, and H. graminis Stynes, 1971, but differs particularly in having a small, inconspicuous anus without a circum-anal pattern and located about 20% of the cyst length from the vulval cone terminus, and a longer vulval slit averaging 45 μ in length. A key, based on cyst and larval characters, is presented for identification of the 10 Heterodera species in the H. goettingiana group.     

Mobility and Translocation of Heavy Metals from Mine Tailings in Three Plant Species after Amendment with Compost and Biosurfactant

An experiment was performed to determine the effects of mine tailings alone mixed with compost or with compost plus crude biosurfactant on the accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Ni) in Acacia retinodes, Nicotiana glauca, and Echinochloa polystachya. The plants were grown in soil, mine tailings, and mine tailings containing compost over a period of seven and five months for shrubs or grass, respectively. The plants Acacia retinodes and Nicotiana glauca grown in mine tailings containing compost showed increases in dry biomass (from 62 to 79%) compared with plants in only tailings. Heavy metals accumulated in the roots and leaves showed high translocation rates of Cr in N. glauca, Cd in A. retinodes, and Ni in E. polystachya. Concentrations of heavy metals in the three plants irrigated with crude biosurfactant were not significantly different from those irrigated with water. Zn and Cd fractions within mine tailings containing compost were bound to carbonate, Pb was bound to residues, and Cu was bound to Fe-oxides. Cd had the highest mobility factor followed in order by Zn, Pb, and Cu. The elevated concentrations of Pb in roots and the low translocation rate for N. glauca and A. retinodes indicate that they are suitable for phytostabilizing Pb and Zn.     

A large-scale field study of transgene flow from cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) to common wild rice (O. rufipogon) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli)

The introgression of transgenes into wild relatives or weeds through pollen-mediated gene flow is a major concern in environmental risk assessment of transgenic crops. A large-scale (1.3–1.8 ha) rice gene flow study was conducted using transgenic rice containing the bar gene as a pollen donor and Oryza rufipogon as a recipient. There was a high frequency of transgene flow (11%−18%) at 0–1 m, with a steep decline with increasing distance to a detection limit of 0.01% by 250 m. To our knowledge, this is the highest frequency and longest distance of gene flow from transgenic rice to O. rufipogon reported so far. On the basis of these data, an adequate isolation distance from both conventional and transgenic rice should be taken for in situ conservation of common wild rice. Meanwhile, there is no evidence of transgene introgression into barnyard grass, even when it has coexisted with transgenic rice containing the bar gene for five successive years. Thus, the environmental risk of gene flow to this weedy species is of little concern.     

Effect of increased concentration of soil CO2 on intermittent flushes of seed germination in Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli

Soil-buried seeds of barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus-galli var. crus-galli ) germinated from April to June in three intermittent flushes. The later two flushes of germination occurred after heavy rainfall. Carbon dioxide concentration in soil air transiently increased to 30 dm³ m^–3 after the rainfall, probably due to the increase in soil temperature and water potential. Germination of exhumed seeds was stimulated by exposure to CO₂ at 30 dm³ m^–3. Fluctuating temperature, light, water, ethylene, and nitrate are known to promote seed germination in many species. However, of these environmental factors, within ranges found in the field, only CO₂ was effective in enhancing the germination of barnyardgrass seeds. We conclude that soil CO₂ is responsible for causing intermittent flushes of germination. Detection of vegetation gaps may be explained by the responsiveness of buried seeds to CO₂.     

A Test of Two Annual Cover Crops for Controlling Phalaris arundinacea Invasion in Restored Sedge Meadow Wetlands

Abstract Rapid establishment by aggressive plants such as Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) often interferes with sedge meadow establishment in restored prairie pothole wetlands in the mid‐continental United States. Introducing a cover crop during community establishment might suppress P. arundinacea invasion in restored prairie potholes by reducing resource availability. We evaluated two potential cover crops, Echinochloa crusgalli (barnyardgrass) and Polygonum lapathifolium (nodding smartweed), for suppressing P. arundinacea invasion in an experimental wetland using replacement series competition experiments. Further, we assessed the effects of E. crusgalli and P. lapathifolium on sedge meadow establishment by sowing Carex hystericina, a common wetland sedge, as a third species at a constant density in the replacement experiments. Echinochloa crusgalli, compared with no cover crop, reduced P. arundinacea biomass by more than 1,000 g/m² (65%) after two growing seasons. Polygonum lapathifolium did not affect P. arundinacea biomass. Dense E. crusgalli canopies in the first year and thick E. crusgalli thatch in the second year substantially reduced light availability for P. arundinacea establishment. Echinochloa crusgalli also reduced C. hystericina biomass by more than 1,800 g/m² (99%) after two growing seasons. Carex hystericina biomass was similar in plots sown with E. crusgalli to P. arundinacea monocultures. Neither E. crusgalli nor P. lapathifolium is likely to improve sedge meadow restoration success. These trends were not sensitive to initial sowing density or elevation above water level. Without methods to suppress P. arundinacea invasions, sedge meadow restorations may often fail. Thorough site preparation to remove P. arundinacea propagule sources before restoration is essential.     

国产稗属植物的细胞学研究

对国产７种（含变种）稗属Ｅｃｈｉｎｏｃｈｌｏａ植物的细胞学进行了初步研究。９个供试材料的体细胞分别表现两种染色体数目２ｎ为３６或５４。除光头稗Ｅ．ｃｏｌｏｎｕｍＬ外,分析了其余种的核型,其结果为：稗Ｅ．ｃｒｕｓ．ｖａｒ．ｃｒｕｓｇａｌｌｉ２ｎ＝５４＝５８ｍ＋６ｓｍ;西来稗Ｅ．ｃｒｕｓ．ｖａｒ．ｚｅｌａｙｅｎｓｉｓ（Ｈ．Ｂ．Ｋ．）Ｈｉｔｃｈｃ ２ｎ＝５４＝４２ｍ（２ＳＡＴ）＋１２ｓｍ（４ＳＡＴ）;     

稗草阴蔽对大豆根瘤固氮速率的影响

 在自控人工气候室内系统研究了稗草阴蔽对大豆根瘤固氮速率的影响。结果表明,在每盆6、12和24株稗草的阴蔽作用下,播后44—101天期间大豆单株根瘤的平均固氮速率分别比无阴蔽对照下降了31.5、39.5和44.5%。稗草阴蔽引起大豆根瘤固氮速率下降的原因与其通过降低大豆植株的受光量及其叶片的CO2传导速率从而降低其叶片的净光合速率有关。播后43一75天期间在每盆6、12和24株稗草的阴蔽作用下,由于大豆植株的受光量分别比无阴蔽对照平均减少了32.1,39.1和43.4%,叶片的CO2传导速率分别比无阴蔽对照平均下降了14.0,16.7和19.3%,导致大豆叶片的净光合速率分别比无阴蔽对照降低了25.4,32.7和37.3%。     

氮素增加条件下丛枝菌根真菌对陆稻和无芒稗相互作用的调节

采用盆栽方法研究了增氮条件下丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)对无芒稗(Echinochloa crusgallivar.mitis L.)和陆稻(Oryza sativa L.)相互作用的调节.结果表明:在单种条件下,无芒稗的菌根侵染率增加,陆稻的菌根侵染率降低;无AMF和接种AMF处理陆稻的生物量分别提高13.48%和42.35%,总磷吸收分别提高2.55%和4.07%,总氮吸收分别提高62.09%和30.35%;无芒稗的生物量分别提高15.65%和20.24%,总磷吸收分别提高4.06%和3.88%,总氮吸收分别提高30.35%和15.10%.在混种条件下,无芒稗的菌根侵染率增加,而陆稻无显著变化;无AMF和接种AMF的无芒稗与陆稻的生物量比值降低,总氮吸收比值无显著变化,无AMF处理的总磷吸收比值增加,而接种AMF处理降低.表明增氮条件下AMF提高了无芒稗对陆稻的竞争.