Growth and respiration in two mangrove species at a range of salinities

Growth and dark respiration rates were measured in leaves and roots of seedlings of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh, (grey mangrove), and Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco (river mangrove). Plants were grown in a soil mixture at ambient temperatures and watered with 0.25 and 100% sea-water. Oxygen uptake was measured in excised root and leaf samples. In both species growth was maximal in 25% sea-water, and root respiration was lowest in 100% sea-water. Differences were found between the two species in the responses of leaf respiration to salinity. In A. corniculatum leaf respiration was raised in both 25 and 100% sea-water, while in A. marina only leaves in 100% sea-water showed higher rates of respiration. These results are consistent with the view that A. marina is the more salt-tolerant of the two species. In A. corniculatum the respiration rates of the hypocotyl were also measured, and were much higher in 100% sea-water than in the other two treatments. The results suggest that at high salinities there is a high metabolic cost in the shoots of both species, and that at such salinities rates of root respiration may be limited by the supply of substrate from the shoots.     

Seasonal changes in the pigments, carbohydrates and growth of red spruce as affected by ozone

Two-year-old red spruce seedlings were exposed to various levels ot ozone, from 0.4 to 3 times ambient levels, in open-top chambers in Ithaca, NY, USA. Exposures, which varied with changes in day length, commenced on May 30, 1987 and continued until December 14, 1987. Seedling biomass, carbohydrate contents, pigment contents, and rate of electron transport were assessed twice monthly during the fumigation period. Orthogonal quadratic or cubic polynomials were used to model the response through time each variable measured. A one-way analysis of variance model was fitted to every regression coefficient in each polynomial model to test for ozone effects on seasonal physiological patterns. Ozone did not influence growth, foliar pigment content, foliar starch content, root carbohydrate content, or rate of electron transport. The seasonal change of needle raffinose content differed between exposed to low (0.4 ×, 1×) and high (2×, 3×) ozone levels. There was also a trend towards reduced total soluble sugar content foliage during late autumn in higher ozone treatments.     

Host plant resistance in Brachiaria grasses to the spittlebug Zulia colombiana

Twelve forage grass accessions including 11 accessions of Brachiaria Griseb, were evaluated in a glasshouse for host plant resistance to nymphs and tolerance to feeding damage caused by adults of Zulia colombiana (Lallemand) (Homoptera: Cercopidae). Resistance to nymphs was evaluated with a technique that provided uniform environmental conditions and abundant feeding sites. B. brizantha Stapf (cv. Marandú) was the most resistant of the accessions tested based on nymphal mortality, duration of nymphal stadia, and weight of adult females. Andropogon gayanus Kunth, resistant to spittlebug attack in the field, was susceptible under the conditions of this study. While growth habit and rooting characteristics may contribute to field resistance, other resistance factors are present within the genus Brachiaria, particularly in the case of B. brizantha cv. Marandú. The number of insect-days causing severe damage in the most tolerant species (B. dictyoneura Stapf and B. humidicola Schweick) was approximately six times greater than that necessary to cause the same level of damage to the most susceptible species (B. ruziziensis Germain & Evrard and B. decumbens Stapf). No difference was found in regrowth capacity between infested and noninfested plants within accessions. There was a significant positive correlation between number of insect-days causing severe damage (tolerance) and regrowth of infested plants.

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Résumé Brachiaria est une graminée fourragère prometteuse pour les sols tropicaux acides, saturés d'aluminium. Z. colombiana est un Cercopidae très répandu, limitant l'utilisation de Brachiaria en Amérique Latine. La résistance (antibiose et tolérance) à Z. colombiana, de Brachiaria d'origines diverses a été examinée. B. brizantha cv. Marandù s'est révélé le plus résistant d'après la forte mortalité larvaire, la prolongation du développement larvaire, et le poids réduit des femelles adultes de Z. colombiana. Andropogon gayanus, résistant dans la nature, s'est révélé sensible. Ces résultats suggèrent que cette résistance de A. gayanus dans la nature pourrait être due à la structure du végétal et à son mode de croissance. Dans le cas de B. brizantha cv. Marandù, des facteurs supplémentaires de résistance, mis en évidence à partir de différents modes de croissance, ont été éliminés, de façon à identifier les mécanismes de l'antibiose présents chez Brachiaria. Une grande gamme de résistance aux attaques alimentaires a été observée chez Brachiaria. Les plus résistants ont besoin de 6 fois plus de jours d'attaque par Z. colombiana pour provoquer les dégâts observés sur individus sensibles.

     

Tolerance ofFestuca rubra L. to zinc in relation to mycorrhizal infection

Summary Plant yield of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizalFestuca rubra L. was linearly decreased with increasing zinc concentrations in nutrient solution. In all cases, non-mycorrhizal plant growth was significantly greater than that of mycorrhizal plants. Zinc and phosphorus concentrations of root and shoot of mycorrhizal plants were greater in all zinc treatments while mycorrhizal plants showed equal or lower tolerance indices to zinc than non-mycorrhizal plants. Yield depressions of mycorrhizal plants may be the result of enhanced zinc and phosphorus concentrations combined with the cost for growth and maintenance of the mycorrhizal fungi.     

Bacterial interactions with silver

Summary This review examines interactions between bacteria and the biologically non-essential metal, silver. Aspects of silver toxicity, tolerance and accumulation (possible binding and uptake as opposed to energy-dependent transport) in bacteria are discussed. In addition, plasmid biology is examined briefly since little information is available on the exact mechanism(s) of plasmid-endoced silver resistance in bacteria.     

Tylenchulus graminis n. sp. and T. palustris n. sp. (Tylenchulidae), from Native Flora of Florida,with Notes on T. semipenetrans and T. furcus

Tylenchulus graminis n. sp. and T. palustris n. sp. are described and illustrated from broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus L.) and pop ash (Fraxinus caroliniana Mill.), respectively. T. graminis resembles T. furcus in having a distinct anus, but T. graminis second-stage juveniles (J2) do not have a bifid tail. T. semipenetrans does not have a perceptible anus. The mature female of T. graminis has a mucronate pointed terminus while T. semipenetrans has a smooth and round terminus. T. graminis males have wider stylet knobs and basal bulb and a longer tail than T. semipenetrans males. T. graminis J2 have a longer posterior body portion (without large fat globules) than T. semipenetrans J2. T. palustris resembles T. semipenetrans in having an undetectable anus but differs by the short and conoid mature female postvulval section. The male of T. palustris has larger stylet knobs and basal bulb than those of T. semipenetrans and a bluntly rounded tail terminus, which is tapered in T. semipenetrans. T. palustris differs from T. furcus and T. graminis in having an undetectable anus, by the conoid postvulval section of mature females, by the shorter and rounded tail of males, and the shorter J2 posterior body section without large fat globules. T. graminis and T. palustris are parasites of indigenous flora of Florida.     

Establishment of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L. among grass

Summary Establishment of Plantago lanceolata and P. major ssp major among grass was studied in a field experiment in which survival and selection on date of seedling emergence and plant size was investigated in relation to the vegetation structure. P. major — in contrast to P. lanceolata — was not able to establish itself in grass because of its lower competitive ability caused by later germination, smaller seedling size, and shorter leaves. In both species there was selection for early germination. For P. lanceolata a significant correlation was found between the strength of selection and the light climate, determined by the structure of the grass sward. Plants that germinated early were at an advantage because they were larger, especially the leaves, when compared with plants that germinated late. It seems likely that selection was mainly by competition for light. Contrary to expectation P. major-seedlings had a higher shade tolerance than those of P. lanceolata. The performance of both species is discussed in relation to their different life strategies.Grassland species research group publication no 142     

Salt tolerance of the reed plant Phragmites communis

Reed plants ( Phragmites communis Trinius) were grown at NaCl concentrations up to 500 m M and their growth, mineral contents and leaf blade osmotic potential were determined. Addition of NaCl up to 300 m M did not affect growth significantly. Sucrose, Cl^-and Na⁺ concentrations in the shoots increased with the salinity of the medium and the shoot water content decreased. K⁺ always contributed most to the leaf osmotic potential. Even in the presence of 250 m M NaCl in the rooting medium, the leaf blade contained only 50 mM Na⁺, suggesting that the plants have an efficient mechanism for Na⁺ exclusion. ²²Na⁺ uptake experiments suggested that the retranslo-cation of absorbed Na⁺ from shoots to the rooting medium lowered the uptake of Na⁺.     

Selection for acid tolerance inRhizobium meliloti

In the selection of acid-tolerantRhizobium meliloti, procedures for the collection and isolation of rhizobia, and the assessment of acid tolerance, have not been critically evaluated. Such procedures form the basis of this study. Root nodules were collected fromMedicago spp. found growing on acid soil in Sardinia. Their encumbent bacteria were isolated directly onto media adjusted over a range of pH values, and then assessed for acid tolerance in both the laboratory and field. Strains ofRhizobium meliloti isolated onto low pH media were, in general, more acid-tolerant than sister isolates from high pH media, when tested in both the laboratory and field. Dilution (10 or 100 fold) of the inocula used in the laboratory assessment did not greatly influence the rating derived, although there was some effect of bacterial colony type on growth rating. The link between polysaccharide production and acid tolerance was not strong. There was a poor correlation between the growth ratings derived from the laboratory screening and acid tolerance as expressed in the field.     

The moss mites of the Cheviot (Acari: Oribatei)

A faunal list of oribatid mites collected from the summit of the Cheviot, Northumberland, is given, together with notes on the taxonomy and distribution of several of the species. Special attention is paid to the Arctic-alpine and European-alpine species and the list provides further support for the view that the upland areas of Britain are characterized by a common group of oribatid species. It is suggested that these species may be cold hardy or cold tolerant with relatively high supercooling points, enabling them to survive the winter at these higher altitudes.