Dendroclimatic potential of dendroanatomy in temperature-sensitive Pinus sylvestris

The most frequently and successfully used tree-ring parameters for the study of temperature variations are ring width and maximum latewood density (MXD). MXD is preferred over ring width due to a more prominent association with temperature. In this study we explore the dendroclimate potential of dendroanatomy based on the first truly well replicated dataset. Twenty-nine mature living Pinus sylvestris trees were sampled in North-eastern Finland at the cool and moist boreal forest zone, close to the latitudinal tree line, where ring width, X-ray MXD as well as the blue intensity counterpart MXBI were compared with dendroanatomical parameters. Maximum radial cell wall thickness as well as anatomical MXD and latewood density appeared to be the most promising parameters for temperature reconstruction. In fact, these parameters compare favorably to MXD derived from X-ray techniques as well as MXBI, in terms of shared variation and temperature correlations across frequencies and over time. The reasons for these results are thought to be the unprecedentedly high measurement resolution of the anatomical technique, which provide the optimal resolution – the cell – whereas X-ray techniques have a slightly lower resolution and BI techniques even lower. While the results of this study are encouraging, further tests on longer and multigenerational chronologies are required to more generally and fully assess the dendroclimate potential of anatomical parameters.     

Recent developments in mesophyll conductance in C3, C4, and crassulacean acid metabolism plants

The conductance of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the substomatal cavities to the initial sites of CO₂ fixation (g_m) can significantly reduce the availability of CO₂ for photosynthesis. There have been many recent reviews on: (i) the importance of g_m for accurately modelling net rates of CO₂ assimilation, (ii) on how leaf biochemical and anatomical factors influence g_m, (iii) the technical limitation of estimating g_m, which cannot be directly measured, and (iv) how g_m responds to long‐ and short‐term changes in growth and measurement environmental conditions. Therefore, this review will highlight these previous publications but will attempt not to repeat what has already been published. We will instead initially focus on the recent developments on the two‐resistance model of g_m that describe the potential of photorespiratory and respiratory CO₂ released within the mitochondria to diffuse directly into both the chloroplast and the cytosol. Subsequently, we summarize recent developments in the three‐dimensional (3‐D) reaction‐diffusion models and 3‐D image analysis that are providing new insights into how the complex structure and organization of the leaf influences g_m. Finally, because most of the reviews and literature on g_m have traditionally focused on C₃ plants we review in the final sections some of the recent developments, current understanding and measurement techniques of g_m in C₄ and crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants. These plants have both specialized leaf anatomy and either a spatially or temporally separated CO₂ concentrating mechanisms (C₄ and CAM, respectively) that influence how we interpret and estimate g_m compared with a C₃ plants.     

Comparison of Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of <i>Taxus chinensis</i> var. <i>mairei </i>Seedlings Root under Waterlogging Stress in Different Substrates

Four different ratios of river sand, ceramic pellets, vermiculite and perlite (1:1), and field soil were selected as the substrates in this experiment, and four gradient levels of root waterlogging, half waterlogging, full waterlogging and normal were set to investigate the effects of different gradients of waterlogging stress on the root morphology of Taxus chinensis var. mairei seedlings under different substrates. In this study, the root anatomical structure of Taxus chinensis var. mairei under different waterlogging stress was observed by the paraffin section method. The roots of T. chinensis var. mairei were diarch, with no pith and resin canals. There was a large number of tannins in the pericycle of the aerial adventitious roots of seedlings adapted to waterlogging. Also, the endodermis has obvious casparian strip thickening, and there were 4-5 layers of large parenchymatous cells in the close to the inner side of the pericycle in the vascular cylinder, which could increase the storage capacity, and transport capacity of the root. Under the treatment of root waterlogging stress, the development of plant roots in the mixed substrate of vermiculite and, perlite was the earliest. Under half waterlogging stress, T. chinensis var. mairei seedlings treated with various substrates all could better adapt to the environment of waterlogging stress. Under the stress of fully waterlogging, the roots of seedlings planted in river sand substrate developed secondary growth.     

First partial cranium of Togocetus from Kpogamé (Togo) and the protocetid diversity in the Togolese phosphate basin

Earliest cetaceans (whales) originated from the early Eocene of Indo-Pakistan, but the group dispersed through most of the oceans of the planet by the late middle to late Eocene. This late Eocene global distribution indicates that important dispersal events took place during the middle Eocene (Lutetian), a globally undersampled time interval that is well documented in the Togolese phosphate series. We report here the first discovery of a partial cetacean cranium from middle Eocene deposits of Togo (West Africa). A 3D model of the cranium and teeth was reconstructed in order to reveal hidden anatomical features. The dental and cranial characteristics of the Togolese specimen recall those of protocetid taxa described in Africa, Asia, and North America, but also display significant differences. In particular, we show that the new specimen shares a number of morphological features with the Togolese taxon Togocetus. Such a hypothesis is further supported by a cladistic analysis including 45 taxa and 167 morphological characters, which recovers the new specimen close to Togocetus as the first offshoot of protocetids. Phylogenetic analysis including all the protocetids remains of Kpogamé confirms the singular diversity of the Togolese phosphate basin, and enables to examine potential connections with faunas from contemporaneous localities in Africa.     

华北低山丘陵区常用树种木质部解剖特征及水其力学抗旱性

木本植物木质部解剖特征与水分运输和干旱适应策略密切相关,但目前对华北低山丘陵区常用树种这方面的研究仍然不足。为研究这一地区植物木质部解剖特征与抗旱性的关系,研究以抗旱树种和非抗旱树种各5种为研究对象,通过测定与木质部横截面导管、薄壁组织相关的大量解剖学性状和非结构性碳浓度,比较两类树种木质部解剖特征的差异和解剖性状间的关联,以探究这些树种水力学的干旱适应策略差异。结果显示:1)10个树种的16个木质部性状均有较大变异性;2)两类树种间的平均导管直径和导管密度无显著差异,但抗旱树种导管壁厚度、最大导管直径、旁管薄壁组织比例和轴向薄壁组织比例以及非结构性碳(NSC)浓度显著大于非抗旱树种;3)抗旱树种的导管壁厚度与平均导管直径、最大导管直径和潜在最大导水率均呈显著正相关关系,最大导管直径与潜在最大导水率呈显著正相关关系,但非抗旱树种不存在这些关系。本研究抗旱树种同时具有较大的最大导管直径和较厚的导管壁,在保证较高的水分运输效率的同时又具备一定的抗栓塞能力,较多的旁管薄壁组织和NSC也为抗旱树种提供了更大的木质部水储存和栓塞修复能力。     

自然和人工生境被子植物枝木质部结构与功能差异

水是植物生存与生长的基础条件, 水分有效性影响植物木质部解剖结构、水力功能, 使之形成特定的适应特征。因此, 对比自然与人工生境中同一植物的水力功能与解剖结构差异, 有助于理解植物对水分环境的适应机理。该研究以湿润区三角槭(Acer buergerianum)、青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)和女贞(Ligustrum lucidum)为研究材料, 对比分析了自然和人工生境中各物种的栓塞抗性(导水率损失50%时的水势(P₅₀))、输水效率(比导率(K_s))和解剖结构(导管直径(D)、导管壁厚(T)、导管密度(N)、木质部密度(WD)、厚度跨度比(t/b)²)特征, 探究了同生境种内与跨生境、跨物种水平的效率-安全权衡关系, 量化分析了水力功能与解剖结构的关系。结果发现: 1) 3种被子植物在自然生境中K_s更大, P₅₀更小, 与其更大的D、更小的(t/b)²有关。2)同生境种内K_s与P₅₀不存在权衡。3)功能性状和解剖结构相关分析表明: 同生境种内D与P₅₀不存在显著的相关关系; 除自然生境女贞外, T、(t/b)²均与P₅₀正相关。相对于人工生境, 在水分有效性低或无额外浇灌的自然生境中, 植物通过增大导管直径显著提高其输水效率, 从而避免水势下降、降低潜在栓塞风险。     

Xylem traits of peatland Scots pines reveal a complex climatic signal: A study in the Eastern Italian Alps

Long-term climate reconstructions are frequently based on tree-ring high-resolution proxies extracted from subfossil peatland trees. Peatlands are peculiar ecosystems characterized by high moisture in the upper soil part which creates a harsh living environment for trees. The climate mostly indirectly influences tree growth determining seasonal variations in the water table level. Within this framework, the aim of this study was to investigate climate responses of trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing inside and outside a Southern Alpine peat bog, by using tree-ring and wood anatomical traits (e.g. tracheid number and dimension, cell-wall thickness). Our results showed differences in the xylem structure and climate signal recorded by peatland and mineral soil trees. Peatland trees were characterized by narrow rings and tracheids with thinner cell wall. Summer temperature and precipitation were the major drivers of xylem formation in peatland trees. At intra-annual level wood anatomical traits revealed a complex within-ring signal during the growing season. The multi-parameters approach together with the high-resolution gained by using tree-ring sectors allowed us to obtain new detailed information on the xylem development of peatland trees and climate drivers that influenced it.     

月季花瓣数量遗传分析

以‘窄叶藤本月季花’(Rosa chinensis‘Zhaiye Tengben Yuejihua’)ב月月粉’(R.chinensis‘Old Blush’)杂交群体为材料,分析其花瓣数量的分离特点,对单瓣花与重瓣花的花芽分化过程进行观察,并对花瓣、雄蕊及瓣化雄蕊进行表皮细胞超微结构的观察。结果显示:杂交群体的花瓣数量分离明显,出现从5~54片的连续变异;花瓣数量、瓣化雄蕊数量、雌蕊数量的遗传模型为2MG-AD(2对加性-显性-上位性主基因控制),雄蕊数量的遗传模型为0MG(无主基因控制);月季重瓣花形成的原因为雄蕊瓣化,重瓣花形成的关键时期为雄蕊原基形成后期,可见到雄蕊瓣化为花瓣的现象;月季瓣化雄蕊的表皮细胞形态、褶皱程度介于单瓣花花瓣和重瓣花外轮花瓣之间。     

Does interhemispheric communication relate to the bilateral function of muscles? A study of scapulothoracic muscles using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Interhemispheric connections have been demonstrated between the motor cortex controlling muscle pairs. However, these investigations have tended to concentrate upon hand muscles. We have extended these investigations to proximal muscles that control the scapula upon the trunk and help to move and stabilise the shoulder. Using a paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol, the interhemispheric interactions between different shoulder girdle muscle pairs, serratus anterior, upper trapezius and lower trapezius were investigated. Test motor evoked potentials were conditioned using conditioning pulse intensities of 80% and 120% of active motor threshold at three different condition-test intervals, during three different tasks. Interhemispheric inhibition was observed in upper trapezius using a conditioning intensity of 120% and condition-test interval of 8 ms (17 ± 18%, p < 0.007). A trend towards inhibition was observed in lower trapezius and serratus anterior using a conditioning intensity of 120% and a condition-test interval of 8 ms (13 ± 22%; p < 0.07 and 10 ± 19% respectively; p < 0.07). No interhemispheric facilitation was evoked. The study demonstrates that a low level of interhemispheric inhibition rather than interhemispheric facilitation could be evoked between these muscle pairs.