Response of Douglas fir seedlings to phosphorus fertilization and influence of temperature on this response

Summary Effects of P fertilizers on growth of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var.menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.) seedlings were examined in pots and nursery beds. In pot experiments levels of P equivalent to 300 kg/ha were adequate for maximum growth over 14–18 weeks and resulted in available soil P levels of 80 ppm after 15 weeks' growth. Maximum growth in pots was obtained with shoot P concentrations of 0.18%–0.20%, with higher values at lower temperatures, but the optimum concentration for one-year old (1-0) nursery seedlings was 0.16% P. Growth of seedlings was greatly restricted at a soil temperature of 5°C and an air temperature of 12°C. At a soil temperature of 10°C and an air temperature of 14°C seedling P requirement was greater than at soil and air temperatures of 20°C.Comparison showed that monammonium phosphate was more effective than calcium superphosphate in stimulating growth in pots and nursery. Triple superphosphate was also effective in the nursery. Diammonium phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and phosphoric acid had no advantages as P sources in the nursery. Available P levels of 100–130 ppm, in the loamy sand and sandy loam nurseries studied, and needle P concentrations of 0.18%, when sampled in October, were associated with maximum growth of two-year old (2-0) seedlings.P fertilization decreased root/shoot ratio, but did not alter the allometric relationship of shoot to root. Improving P status from a low level increased root growth capacity in 2-0 seedlings and P fertilization of potted seedlings increased dry weight/height ratio. Uptakes per seed bed ha of 236 kg N, 31 kg P, 81 kg K and 73 kg Ca by 2-0 seedlings were comparable with, or greater than, uptake rates of agricultural crops. Recoveries of 6–11% of P from fertilizer were recorded in the nursery.     

The correlation between bismuth and uranyl staining and phosphorus content of intracellular structures as determined by electron spectroscopic imaging

Four groups of intracellular structures can be recognized according to bismuth and uranyl staining and phosphorus content. (1) Those which contain phosphorus and stain strongly with uranyl acetate but not with bismuth (ribosomes, heterochromatin and mature ribosomal precursor granules), presumably because of their nucleic acid content. (2) Those which contain phosphorus and stain with uranyl acetate and bismuth (interchromatin granules, immature ribosomal precursor granules and mitochondrial granules), presumably because at least some of their phosphate is available to react with bismuth. (3) Those which contain little phosphorus but which stain strongly with bismuth and weakly with uranyl acetate (Golgi complex beads), perhaps because some ligand in addition to phosphate reacts with bismuth, and (4) those which do not contain phosphorus and stain with neither uranyl acetate nor bismuth (portasomes). Uranyl staining correlates strongly with the phosphorus content of nucleic acids, proteins and inorganic deposits. Bismuth will stain some phosphorylated molecules but not all. Thus only some phosphates stain with bismuth.     

High resolution microanalysis for phosphorus in Golgi complex beads of insect fat body tissue by electron spectroscopic imaging

Golgi complex beads are 10 nm particles arranged in rings on the smooth forming face of the Golgi complex that stain specifically with bismuth in arthropod cells. In vitro experiments with biological molecules spotted on to cellulose acetate strips indicated that bismuth bound to the beads through phosphate groups. We could detect a weak phosphorus signal from the beads using a new technique called electron spectroscopic imaging that is capable of very high spatial resolution (0.3–0.5 nm) and sensitivity (50 atoms of phosphorus). Detection was not obscured by tissue staining with bismuth or uranyl acetate or by using an inorganic buffer (Na cacodylate). Localization of phosphorus was greatly improved by using colour-enhanced computer pictures of the electron spectroscopic images and quantitating the images. The results indicate that the phosphorus content of the beads is large enough to account for their bismuth reactivity.     

Mild phosphorus stress in barley and a related low-phosphorus-adapted barleygrass: Phosphorus fractions and phosphate absorption in relation to growth

Barleygrass ( Hordeum leporinum ) from Australian low-P (phosphorus) soils and commercial barley ( H. vulgare ) with high fertilizer requirements were grown in solution culture at 3 levels of P supply. The high-P-adapted barley produced more biomass at all levels of P supply and was more responsive to added P in terms of rate of tillering, rate of leaf production, final leaf size, and therefore total shoot weight compared to barleygrass. In both species root: shoot ratio decreased in response to improved tissue P status, even at P levels where total biomass did not respond to P supply. Removal of endosperm reserves of barley reduced total biomass to a greater extent than it altered phosphate absorption rate, thus increasing tissue P status and making plants less responsive to added P. Similarly, barleygrass had a slower growth rate but a comparable P absorption rate to that of barley. Thus barleygrass also accumulated tissue P and was unresponsive to added P. All phosphorus chemical fractions increased in response to improved tissue P status, but to differing extents (inorganic-P > nucleic acid-P > lipid-P > ester-P), suggesting that all P fractions (particularly inorganic P) serve, in part, a storage function. Both barleygrass and barley without endosperm had higher concentrations of all P fractions (particularly inorganic P) than did unaltered barley, but this was due entirely to their higher P status (due to slow growth) rather than to any major difference in P metabolism between species. We conclude that slow growth is more important than interspecific differences in P metabolism, P absorption, or efficiency of P utilization in explaining the success of barleygrass and other low-P-adapted species on infertile soils.     

Androgen receptor complex binding in murine skeletal muscle nuclei

Examination of binding of androgen-receptor complexes from murine skeletal muscle cytosol was performed by modified nuclear retention assay and modified nuclear acceptor assay. The experiments showed the binding of androgen-receptor complexes to the nuclear acceptor sites to be a cooperative process. Hill analysis of the data obtained resulted in a Hill coefficient of 3,6. The apparent dissociation constant for binding of cytosolic [³H]-testosterone-receptor complexes to nuclei was found to be in the range of K_D = 6 ? 8 × 10^?11 M. The nuclear matrix was able to bind androgen-receptor complexes in a saturable way, too.     

Alkaline opening of imidazole ring of 7-methylguanosine. 2. Further studies on reaction mechanisms and products

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to follow the kinetics of the alkaline induced opening of the imidazole ring of 7-methylguanosine (7-meGuo). The kinetics show an initial rapid formation of a major transient intermediate and some minor products that were chromato-graphically separable into seven peaks. This phase of the reaction is followed by the formation of a dominant pyrimidine derivative whose liquid chromatography retention time in a 6% methanol, 0.01 M NH₄H₂PO₄ (pH 5.1) solvent is 6 min; during the rest of the reaction time this dominant species was progressively converted to a co-dominant species that has a 4.5-min column retention. Mass spectroscopy confirmed the existence of two species of ring opened 7-methylguanine (7-meGua), one formylated and another deformylated. Schiff's reaction demonstrated that the species in the second HPLC peak is the formylated one. The ring opened 7-methylguanine (rom⁷Gua) released by formamidopyrimidine (FAPy)-DNA glycosylase was shown to coelute with the formylated species. These results demonstrate that the enzyme excises formylated rom⁷Gua from DNA Analysis of rom⁷Guo by NMR showed that there are two signals assignable to methyl protons and two to formyl protons. These chemical shifts were interpreted as being due to the opening of the imidazole ring at two sites and to the formation of formylated and deformylated rom⁷Gua.     

The effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on starch accumulation and net photosynthesis in two variants of Panicum maximum Jacq.

Abstract. Two anatomical variants of Panicum maximum Jacq. were observed to accumulate an unusually large number of starch grains in the bundle sheath chloroplasts when grown under controlled environmental conditions in a nutrient medium containing a low level of nitrate nitrogen (20 mg N dm⁻³ as KNO₃). When these plants were placed under dark conditions the chloroplasts were destarched, but exhibited a marked distortion of the thylakoid membranes. Under a higher level of nitrate nitrogen supply (200 mg N dm⁻³ as KNO₃) the number of starch grains was markedly reduced compared to that observed above in both plant variants. When the nitrogen was supplied as ammonium nitrogen (200 mg N dm⁻³ as NH₄Cl) there was again a high level of starch in the bundle sheath chloroplasts, the level being only slightly lower than that observed at the low KNO₃ supply. An unusually large number of starch grains accumulated in the bundle sheath chloroplasts in the absence of added phosphorus in the nutrient medium, in the presence of the higher nitrate nitrogen level. It is suggested that the increased starch accumulation results from a reduced trans-location of Calvin cycle intermediates out of the chloroplasts into the cytoplasm and that both nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus may play an important role in this process. A good correlation between high net photosynthetic activity and low bundle sheath starch content was observed. Nutrient medium requirements favouring low starch content in chloroplasts also favoured high net photosynthetic rates.     

高效溶磷菌的分离、筛选及在土壤中溶磷有效性的研究

从采自全国各地130个土样中.分离出1000余菌株,从中筛选出1株代号为Ap-2号的高效溶磷菌.经鉴定为黑曲霉Aspergillus niger.对该菌株的产酸特性以及接种土壤后的溶磷有效性进行了研究.试验表明,该菌株发酵过程产草酸、柠檬酸等多种有机酸,使土壤速效磷含量增加141.94%.其溶磷作用,与土壤pH含水量有密切关系,对温度要求不严,与接种量是一定正相关.并可与磷酸铵、三料、尿素、硫酸铵等化肥混合使用.     

The sediment column as a record of trophic status: examples from Bosherston Lakes,SW Wales

Bosherston Lakes are a series of interconnected, mesotrophic to hypereutrophic, artificially-created coastal marl lakes in Dyfed, South West Wales. Progressive eutrophication of the lake system has been produced by a high external phosphorus loading which includes phosphorus-rich effluent from a sewage treatment works (STW) in the catchment of the Lakes.Cores were taken from four sites of varying eutrophic status within the Lakes. In the surface sediment layer, organic C, N and P concentrations generally correlate directly with trophic status and reflect distance from the source of P input. At one site, sediment stratigraphy records a clear transition at 20–15 cm depth, marked by a sharp upward increase in porosity, organic C, N, and P, and iron-associated-P; decreases in organic matter C/N, C/P and N/P ratios; a sharp decrease in carbonate, and a change in the subfossil diatom assemblage. Lead-210 dating indicates that this change occurred in the period 1919 to 1938.The diatom stratigraphy and sediment geochemistry suggest that this transition reflects an increase in trophic status at this site, probably as a result of the influx of nutrient-rich water. This took place when the management of the Stackpole estate surrounding the lake system, fell into decline during the period 1919–1938.     

Transport of coarse particulate organic matter in an Idaho river,USA

I investigated organic matter transport in the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho, USA, from August 1987 to November 1988. Mean discharge during the study was 15 m³ s^–1. Screens were used to sample very coarse (> 6 mm) transported aquatic macrophyte material (VCTMM). Drift nets were used to sample coarse (1–6 mm) and fine (0.25–1 mm) transported particulate organic matter (CTOM and FTOM). Mean monthly concentration of VCTMM was 0.064 mg AFDWl^–1 and was significantly higher than CTOM (0.024 mg AFDW l^–1) and FTOM (0.036 mg AFDW l^–1). VCTMM concentration was highest in December (0.163 mg AFDW l^–1) and lowest in May (0.018 mg AFDW l^–1). The sample position along a transect across the channel had a significant effect on the amount of transported organic matter collected in many months. The concentration of debris from individual species tracked the standing stock of that species during the growing season. In Fall, a dramatic increase in VCTMM corresponded to a decrease in macrophyte standing stock. FTOM and CTOM concentrations were highest in January (CTOM: 0.048; FTOM: 0.111 mg AFDW l^–1), lowest in November 1988 (<0.006 mg AFDW l^–1), were not correlated with discharge, and were inversely correlated with the standing stocks of macrophytes upstream, probably because macrophyte beds influenced the retentiveness of the channel. Standing stock of aquatic macrophytes was highest in September–October (5.2 kg wet weight m ^–2) and lowest in February (1.7 kg wet weight m^–2). Annual movement of particulate organic matter past the sampling point was about 45 000 kg AFDW, of which 21 000 kg was VCTMM, 8 000 kg was CPOM, and 16 000 kg was FPOM.