Photoperiodic control of growth, development and phytohormone balance in Solanum tuberosum

Some lines of Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena are strictly photoperiodic, forming tubers only in short days and flowers only in long days. We used this advantageous phenomenon to study phytohormone involvement in the development of the plants, mainly that of tuber formation. Plants grown for 2 months under short days (SD) of 14 h darkness, night break (1 h white light in the middle of the 14‐h dark period) and continuous light (LD) were compared. Short day‐grown plants formed tubers, while plants in LD flowered. Night break prevented tuber formation, but caused flowering, although it was weaker than in LD. Plants grown under night break displayed many growth characteristics intermediate between SD and LD. Under LD and night break regimes ABA levels in all organs were about one‐fourth of those under SD. An opposite trend was found for gibberellin content: it was very low in SD‐grown plants and 4‐10 times higher under both other conditions with the exception of roots and stolons in night break. Thus, the ratio of ABA/GA, known to be important for tuber formation, was high in SD and low in night break and LD. The level of free indoleacetic acid (IAA) was high in LD‐ and night break‐grown plants and it was much lower in SD‐grown plants, including tubers. Cytokinin (CK) levels were also high in LD‐ and night break‐grown plants. In SD, leaves had slightly decreased and stems and roots + stolons had more pronouncedly decreased cytokinin levels. The CK/IAA ratio was thus higher in SD in stems and roots + stolons; it was also high in tubers and no difference was found in leaves. These results indicate that the effect of photoperiod on tuber formation and development may be mediated by photoperiod‐induced changes in hormone levels.     

Light-activated,-inhibited and-independent denitrification by a denitrifying phototrophic bacterium

Effects of illumination on denitrification by a freshly isolated denitrifying phototrophic bacterium were investigated. Denitrification activity was induced when cells were grown in either light or darkness in the presence of nitrate without oxygen. Denitrification of nitrate with malate as the electron donor by cells at a phase of exponential growth occurred independently of illumination while that by cells in a stationary phase was activated. Effects of illumination on denitrification varied with electron donors. Using malate or succinate, denitrification by cells in a stationary phase was accelerated by illumination, inhibited when glucose or lactate was used, and independent of illumination when pyruvate was used. Denitrification by cells in an exponential phase was independent of illumination when succinate, malate or pyruvate was used and inhibited by it when glucose or lactate was used. Effects of illumination on the denitrification of nitrite were similar to those involving nitrate. Effects of various inhibitors on denitrification were examined in light-succinate and dark-lactate systems. Differences between the two systems are discussed.Abbreviations KCN potassium cyanide - HQNO 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide - TTFA 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone - CCCP carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone - DCCD dicyclohexylcarbodiimide     

夜间低温后日间光照对海桐和榕树叶片的光抑制以及光系统II功能的影响

夜间低温导致海桐和榕树叶片光系统II(PSII)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII光合电子传递量子效率(ΦPSII)、天线转化效率(Fv'/Fm')、非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)降低,其后日间光照先引起海桐叶片Fv/Fm、ΦPSII、Fv'/Fm'稍微降低,其后又逐渐得到恢复,但NPQ却表现出相反趋势;夜间低温及随后的日间光照并未对海桐叶片光化学猝灭系数(qP)和初始荧光强度(Fo)产生影响。夜间低温后日间光照进一步引起榕树叶片Fv/Fm、ΦPSII、Fv'/Fm'、qP、NPQ下降,在午后光照减弱后仍不能得到恢复。     

马占相思夜间树干液流的分配及其对整树蒸腾估算的影响

采用Granier热消散探针测定了马占相思(Acacia mangium)的树干液流,结合Li-6400光合测定系统测定的夜间叶片气孔导度和蒸腾,将夜间液流区分为夜间树干水分补充和叶片气孔蒸腾。叶片的蒸腾作用微弱,因此,夜间液流主要用于补充贮水部位的水分亏缺。马占相思夜间水分补充量年内和年际的变化不明显,树形特征的差异是解释夜间水分补充量变化的重要因子,夜间水分补充量对于整树蒸腾量的贡献因季节和树木径级的不同而有明显变化,但对整树总蒸腾量计算造成的误差可以忽略。     

An LCA study on sludge retreatment processes in Japan

The majority of night soil (human excrements) is source separated from other sewage water and treated at night soil treatment plants in Japan. Efforts have been made to achieve material recovery from this organic mass, together with other organic wastes such as kitchen wastes and manure, by expanding the functions at night soil treatment plants. These facilities with expanded function are called ‘sludge retreatment centers’, which are promoted by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. Potential environmental impacts of sludge retreatment using two presently available systems in Japan are analyzed for comparison. Systems compared are: 1) Mebius system, a high-speed fermentation process with methane gas recovery and compost production and 2) a comparable system with a basic composting process. The functional unit for this study is concurrent treatment of 40 t/d of kitchen waste, 40 m³/d of night soil, and 60 m³/d of private sewage treatment tank sludge. Impact assessment on Global Warming (IPCC 1996, 20 yrs.), Acidification Potential (De Leeuv — AP), Eutrophication Potential (De Leeuv- EP) and Resource Index (Fava/SETAC & Heijungs) all indicated that sludge retreatment with Mebius system provides a better environmental performance. The main reasons are: 1) production of power using recovered methane and 2) reduction of sludge volume by digestion, which leads to reduction of fuel required for sludge drying. The collection and treatment of night soil and kitchen wastes involves many economic and social factors. Therefore, more studies with different functional units on these systems should be made to obtain a more complete picture that can be used for decision-making processes. The results of this study can be used as a starting point.     

Herders' Perceptions, Practice, and Problems of Night Grazing in the Sahel: Case Studies from Niger

A survey was conducted from February to June of 1997 among livestock herders in two villages of Niger, Kodey and Toukounous, on their perceptions, practice, and problems of night grazing. Cattle and sheep were the species that were taken out for night grazing by the herders. Small herd size and labor constraints were mentioned as the principal reasons for not practicing night grazing. Major benefits of night grazing included good body condition, herd growth, increased milk production, prevention of diseases, and reduction in herd mortality. Insecurity, difficulty in staying awake at night, labor constraints, and damage to crops by animals were given as problems of night grazing. According to the herders, grazing time (duration) during the day and night was shorter in the wet season than in the dry season. In the wet season animals were herded (followed and closely supervised by herders), whereas in the dry season, animals were mostly left to range freely in both villages. In general, children herded the animals during the day, while adults were responsible for night-time herding. Herders' perceptions on night grazing as regards animal production parameters such as weight development, water consumption, fecal output and feeding behavior are consistent with available experimental results. Therefore, future technical research needs to recognize the constraints faced by herders and determine how to overcome them to improve technical and economic efficiency.     

紫蓬山区三种鹭雏鸟的食物多样性比较

池鹭(Ａｒｄｅｏｌａｂａｃｃｈｕｓ)、白鹭(Ｅｇｒｅｔｔａｇａｒｚｅｔｔａ)和夜鹭(Ｎｙｃｔｉｃｏｒａｘｎｙｃｔｉｃｏｒａｘ)4～7月在紫蓬山区国家级森林公园集群繁殖[7]。有关三者的繁殖生态报道较多[6,10～12,23],但甚少较系统的研究雏鸟的食性,尚缺乏通过食性研究进行鹭类资源管理和生物多样性保护方面的探讨。笔者1996年4～7月在紫蓬山区国家级森林公园的圆通山对池鹭、白鹭和夜鹭雏鸟的食性进行了观察,整理报道如下。1　工作方法收集称量雏鸟吐出的食物[13],或逆向挤压嗉囊使其吐出食物,统计食物的种类、数量。食物量百分比、食物…     

营养液酸碱度及光照强度对魔芋生长的影响

研究了pH3~10的不同营养液酸碱度在不同光照强度下对魔芋的生长状况及软腐病的发生率的影响。结果表明:魔芋最适宜的营养液环境为pH6~8,光照应控制在7000 Lux以下。在实际栽培中,应根据不同的光照强度适当调节营养液的酸碱度,以控制病害的发生。     

青海省三江源区人工草地生态系统CO2通量

 了解三江源人工草地净生态系统CO₂交换(Net ecosystem CO₂ exchange, NEE)的季节变化规律和主要生物因子及环境因子对这些过程的影响将有助于认识青藏高原人工草地生态系统碳循环、生态价值、功能,以及对三江源区的生态安全的重要意义。该研究利用涡度相关技术,于2005年9月1日至2006年8月31日对位于青海腹地的垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans）人工草地的NEE及生物和环境因子进行观测, 阐明NEE及其组分的动态变化特征和影响因子。三江源区人工草地生态系统的日最大吸收量为2.38 g C·m^－2·d^－1,出 现在7月30日。日间最大吸收率和最大排放率都出现在8月,分别为-6.82和2.95μmol CO₂·m^－2·s^－1。在生长季, 白天的NEE主要受光合有效辐射(Photosynthe tically active rad iation, PAR)变化控制,同时又与叶面积指数和群落多样性交互作用,共同调节光合速率和光合效率的强度。最大光合同化速率为2.46～10.39μmol CO₂·m^－2·s^－1,表观初始光能利用率为0.013～0.070μmol CO₂·μmol^－1 PAR。 在碳交换日过程中,NEE并不完全随着 PAR的增加而增大,当PAR超过某一值（>1 200μmol ·m^－2·s^－1）时,NEE随PAR的增加而降低。受温度的影响,生长季的生态系统的呼吸商Q₁₀（1.8）小于非生长季节的 2.6）。 生态系统呼吸主要受温度的控制,同时也受到叶面积指数的显著影响。生长季昼夜温差大并不利于生态系统的碳获取。 三江源区人工草地生态系统是一个较强的碳汇,为-49.35 g C·m^－2·a^－1。     

叶绿素荧光仪饱和脉冲光作用前后温州蜜柑叶温的变化

用营养液培养的方法,研究了叶绿素荧光仪3 000 μmol·m-2·s-1饱和脉冲光对不同磷水平和光照处理的温州蜜柑(Citrus unshiu Marc.)叶温的影响.结果表明:饱和脉冲光作用前后,缺磷强光组(-P900)、缺磷中强光组(-P600)和缺磷弱光组(-P100)的叶温差(△t)依次升高,并且培养光强越弱,处理时间越长,升高幅度越大;而供磷强光组( P900)、供磷中强光组( P600)和供磷弱光组( P100)之间,△t无明显差异;用二硫苏糖醇(DTT)处理后,无论缺磷与否,各处理组之间△t差异显著;△t的日变化随光强的升高而增大;各组叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量均随培养光强的升高而下降,而蒸腾速率、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度差异不大;说明温州蜜柑叶温差与光强、磷水平、DTT处理和缺磷胁迫时间有关.