Composés glucidiques et azotés et résistance à la sécheresse chez Ailanthus altissima

In Ailanthus altissima, carbohydrate and protein reserves are mainly localized in the tap-root. Under drought stress they are very quickly hydrolysed. Despite the water deficiency, an increase in starch synthesis is observed in the leaves and stem during the first stages of stress. Stimulation of the cambial activity of the stems and an increase in protein content have also been observed. Chemical analyses have shown a high proline content which increases markedly following drought stress, especially in the tap-root.     

Different effects of two exotic herbivores on the pollinator-mediated effect of an exotic plant on a native plant

Exotic plants can affect native plants indirectly through various biotic interactions. However, combinations of the multiple indirect effects of exotic plants on native plants have been rarely evaluated. Herbivory can either positively or negatively influence plant–pollinator interactions. Here, we addressed whether the pollinator-mediated plant interaction between exotic and native plants is altered through the introduction of exotic herbivores by conducting a 2-year common garden experiment. We compared the effects of pollinator-mediated indirect effects of an exotic plant, Solidago altissima, on the co-flowering native plant Aster microcephalus in geographically different populations reflecting differences in insect herbivore communities. We found a positive effect of co-flowering S. altissima on pollinator visitation of A. microcephalus, which varied between gardens and years. The co-flowering S. altissima did not significantly affect the seed set of A. microcephalus in the first year but had a negative effect in the second year. The facilitative effect of S. altissima on A. microcephalus pollination was suggested to be negatively affected by an exotic aphid, while it was not significantly affected by an exotic lace bug. Our study suggests that the phenology and feeding guilds of the herbivores may be critical for predicting the effect of exotic plants on native plants through herbivore–pollinator interactions. Integrated effects between plant interactions via multiple species interactions under different abiotic and biotic environments are necessary to understand the impact of exotic plants under complex interactions in nature.     

臭椿花器官分化的初步研究

利用扫描电镜(SEM)和光镜(LM)对臭椿花序及花器官的分化和发育进行了初步研究,表明:1)臭椿花器官分化于当年的4月初,为圆锥花序;2)分化顺序为花萼原基、花冠原基、雄蕊原基和雌蕊原基。5个萼片原基的发生不同步,并且呈螺旋状发生;5个花瓣原基几乎同步发生且其生长要比雄蕊原基缓慢;雄蕊10枚,两轮排列,每轮5个原基的分化基本是同步的;雌蕊5,其分化速度较快;3)在两性花植株中,5个心皮顶端粘合形成柱头和花柱,而在雄株中,5个心皮退化,只有雄蕊原基分化出花药和花丝。本研究着重观察了臭椿中雄花及两性花发育的过程中两性花向单性花的转变。结果表明,臭椿两性花及单性花的形成在花器官的各原基上是一致的(尽管时间上有差异),雌雄蕊原基同时出现在每一个花器官分化过程中,但是,可育性结构部分的形成取决于其原基是否分化成所应有的结构:雄蕊原基分化形成花药与花丝,雌蕊原基分化形成花柱、柱头和子房。臭椿单性花的形成是由于两性花中雌蕊原基的退化所造成,其机理有待于进一步研究。     

Functional Identification of H<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase and Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>/H<Superscript>+</Superscript> Antiporter in the Plasma Membrane Isolated from the Root Cells of Salt-Accumulating Halophyte <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda altissima</Emphasis>

A membrane fraction enriched in plasma membrane (PM) vesicles was isolated from the root cells of a salt-accumulating halophyte Suaeda altissima (L.) Pall. by means of centrifugation in discontinuous sucrose density gradient. The PM vesicles were capable of generating ΔpH at their membrane and the transmembrane electric potential difference (Δψ). These quantities were measured with optical probes, acridine orange and oxonol VI, sensitive to ΔpH and Δψ, respectively. The ATP-dependent generation of ΔpH was sensitive to vanadate, an inhibitor of P-type ATPases. The results contain evidence for the functioning of H⁺-ATPase in the PM of the root cells of S. altissima. The addition of Na⁺ and Li⁺ ions to the outer medium resulted in dissipation of ΔpH preformed by the H⁺-ATPase, which indicates the presence in PM of the functionally active Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter. The results are discussed with regard to involvement of the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter and the PM H⁺-ATPase in loading Na⁺ ions into the xylem of S. altissima roots.     

宁夏灵武市沟眶象发生特点

系统调查沟眶象Eucryptorrhynchus chinensis(Olivier)在宁夏灵武市的发生情况和特点发现:沟眶象以成虫和幼虫在土壤中越冬,成虫有2个发生高峰期,越冬结束后以成虫越冬的沟眶象出土出现第1个高峰期,以幼虫越冬的沟眶象经化蛹羽化出土出现第2个高峰期;幼虫危害臭椿根部形成的瘤状物可以作为鉴别沟眶象危害的特征;沟眶象幼虫在土壤中垂直分布范围集中在0～45 cm深土层,约占80%;成虫出土孔集中在距臭椿树干基部75 cm范围内,占88%。据此建议土壤施药化学防治沟眶象时,施药深度不宜低于45 cm,施药点距树干基部水平距离不得少于75 cm,且树周各个方向均需施药。每年10月末沟眶象开始"入土"、翌年4月末开始"出土",在沟眶象"入土"结束后但未冻土之前的11中旬和土壤解冻之后但尚未"出土"前的4月中旬,这两个时期土壤施药防治效果较好;防治沟眶象的同时,还应适时采取打孔注药、熏蒸等措施防治臭椿(Ailanthus altissima(Mill.)Swingle)树干内的臭椿沟眶象Eucryptorrhynchus brandti(Harold)。     

EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SUBMERGENCE ON SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY GROWTH OF FOUR RIPARIAN PLANT SPECIES IN THREE GORGES RESERVOIR REGION, CHINA

 地瓜藤(Ficus tikoua)、荻(Triarrhena sacchariflora)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria altissima)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)是三峡库区常见的岸生植物, 自然分布于河岸带不同垂直高程的地段。为了明确它们在成库后“三峡库区消落区”长期完全水淹条件下的存活和生长情况, 实验设置对照(不进行水淹, 常规供水管理)和完全水淹两个处理, 30、60、90、120、150和180 d 6个水淹时间水平, 研究了4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活、生物量变化和恢复生长。结果发现: 1) 4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活率与其在河岸带上的垂直分布高程密切相关。分布于距江面高程较高的河岸段的地瓜藤植株, 在全淹30 d后就全部死亡; 分布在中高程河岸段的荻在全淹150和180 d后全部死亡; 可以分布于低高程河岸段的牛鞭草和狗牙根, 淹没180 d后存活率分别为90%和100%。2)全淹抑制了荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根的生长, 总生物量增量显著低于对照植株。与水淹0 d相比, 全淹处理植株的地上部分生物量显著降低, 荻在全淹60和120 d后, 地下部分生物量显著降低, 但牛鞭草和狗牙根的地下部分生物量与水淹0 d水平相比无显著差异。3)水淹处理结束后, 存活的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株都能很好地恢复生长。在恢复生长过程中, 全淹30、60和90 d后, 荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率与对照植株无显著差异, 全淹120、150和180 d后, 牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率显著高于对照植株。全淹处理的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总叶片数相对生长速率始终显著高于对照植株。遭受长期完全水淹后, 植株在有限的营养储备条件下, 快速产生叶片以迅速积聚光合产物可能是植物更为优化的恢复生长方式。     

Involvement of Long-Distance Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> Transport in Maintaining Water Potential Gradient in the Medium-Root-Leaf System of a Halophyte <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda altissima</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to determine the range of NaCl concentrations in the nutrient solution that allow Suaeda altissima (L.) Pall., a salt-accumulating halophyte, to maintain the upward gradient of water potential in the “medium-root-leaf” system. We evaluated the contribution of Na⁺ ions in the formation of water potential gradient and demonstrated that Na⁺ loading into the xylem is involved in this process. Plants were grown in water culture at NaCl concentrations ranging from zero to 1 M. The water potential of leaf and root cells was measured with the method of isopiestic thermocouple psychrometry. When NaCl concentration in the growth medium was raised in the range of 0–500 mM (the medium water potential was lowered accordingly), the root and leaf cells of S. altissima decreased their water potential, thus promoting the maintenance of the upward water potential gradient in the medium-root-leaf system. Growing S. altissima at NaCl concentrations f 750 mM and 1 M disordered water homeostasis and abolished the upward gradient of water potential between roots and leaves. At NaCl concentrations of 0–250 mM, the detached roots of S. altissima were capable of producing the xylem exudate. The concentration of Na⁺ in the exudate was 1.3 to 1.6 times higher than in the nutrient medium; the exudate pH was acidic and was lowered from 5.5 to 4.5 with the rise in the salt concentration. The results indicate that the long-distance Na⁺ transport and, especially, the mechanism of Na⁺ loading into the xylem play a substantial role in the formation of water potential gradient in S. altissima. The accumulation of Na⁺ in the xylem and acidic pH values of the xylem sap suggest that Na⁺ loading into the xylem is carried out by the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter of the plasma membrane in parenchymal cells of the root stele.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 4, 2005, pp. 549–557.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Balnokin, Kotov, Myasoedov, Khailova, Kurkova, Lun’kov, Kotova.     

Local and regional assessments of the impacts of plant invaders on vegetation structure and soil properties of Mediterranean islands

Aims Although biological invasions occur throughout the world, and some invaders are widespread in many habitats, few studies on the ecological impact of invaders have examined multiple sites. We tested how the impact of three widespread plant invaders changed depending on the identity of the species and the invaded island. We also tested whether relative species loss was lower in species‐rich communities than in species‐poor ones. Location We conducted floristic surveys and soil analyses in eight Mediterranean Basin islands: Crete and Lesbos (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Corsica, Bagaud and Porquerolles (France), and Mallorca and Menorca (Spain). Methods We compared native species richness and diversity, proportion of life forms, soil percentage nitrogen, percentage organic carbon, C/N, and soil pH in nearby paired plots of 2 × 2 m: one control and one invaded by either the deciduous tree Ailanthus altissima, the succulent subshrubs Carpobrotus spp. or the annual geophyte Oxalis pes‐caprae, across eight Mediterranean Basin islands. Results On average, the presence of invaders reduced species diversity, Carpobrotus spp. exhibiting the largest impact and Oxalis the least. However, the relative impact was island‐dependent, and was positively but weakly associated with the species richness of the recipient community. Therophytes were the life form that experienced the largest decrease across islands. The effects of invasion on soil properties were very variable. Total N changed (increased) only in plots invaded by Ailanthus, significantly decreasing the C/N ratio. The presence of this tree increased soil pH, whereas the opposite was found in plots invaded by the other two species. Organic C increased in plots invaded by Ailanthus and Carpobrotus species. Main conclusions By conducting an analysis at multiple sites, we found that the three plant invaders had an impact on plant community structure not entirely concordant with changes in soil properties. The impacts depended on the identity of the species and of the invaded island, suggesting that impact of invaders is context‐specific. The impact in terms of species loss was not lower in species‐rich than in species‐poor communities.     

Consistent performance of invasive plant species within and among islands of the Mediterranean basin

Since the success of an invasive species depends not only upon its intrinsic traits but also on particular characteristics of the recipient habitat, assessing the performance of an invader across habitats provides a more realistic analysis of risk. Such an analysis will not only provide insights into the traits related to invasiveness, but also the habitat characteristics that underpin vulnerability to invasion that, taken together, will facilitate the selection of management strategies to mitigate the invader’s effect. In the present study, we considered the Mediterranean basin islands as an excellent study region to test how the same invasive species perform in different habitats within a single island, and to scale up differences among islands with similar climate. We tested how the performance of three widespread plant invaders with clonal growth but contrasting life-history traits, a deciduous tree Ailanthus altissima, a succulent subshrub Carpobrotus spp., and an annual geophyte Oxalis pes-caprae, varied depending upon the species identity, habitat, and invaded island. The environmental parameters considered were habitat type, elevation, species diversity in the invaded plot, and several soil traits (% C, % N, C/N, pH, and relative humidity). The study documents that the performance of these three important and widespread plant invaders is dependent mainly on species identity, and less upon the invaded island’s general features. Likewise, differences in performance among habitats were only significant in the case of Ailanthus, whereas Carpobrotus and Oxalis appear to perform equally well in different environments. Ailanthus thus appears to have a broader spectrum of invasiveness, being able to invade a larger number of habitat types. On the contrary, Carpobrotus spp. have not yet invaded habitats different from those where the species have been originally introduced and where they are still commonly spread by humans. Oxalis distribution is mainly related to agricultural activities and disturbed sites, and the total area infested by this geophyte may be more reflection of the extent of suitable habitats than of invasiveness or ecological impact. Our results confirm the potential for these species to significantly alter the functioning of ecosystems in the Mediterranean islands and highlight the risk to other islands not yet invaded.