Contribution to the orchid flora of South Central Africa

11 new taxa (8 new species, 3 new varieties) ofOrchidaceae are described from South Central Africa, including data on their habitat and distribution and discussions of their systematic affinities.     

Species novae generisEremostachys (Labiatae)

Five new species are described:Eremostachys codonocalyx from NE. Iran (related toE. subspicata),E. stenocalycina from NE. Afghanistan (related toE. alberti andE. hissarica),E. salangensis from NE. Afghanistan (close toE. bamianica),E. freitagii from E. Afghanistan (similar but not closely related toE. vulnerans), andE. andersii from E. Afghanistan (similar but not closely related toE. vulnerans), andE. andersii from NE. Afghanistan of isolated systematic position.

Florae Iranicae praecursores 5–9.     

Essential Elements as a Distinguishing Factor between Mycorrhizal Potentials of Two Cohabiting Truffle Species in Riparian Forest Habitat in Serbia

True truffles (Tuber sp.) that establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis (ECM) with trees in the Mediterranean and temporal regions have species specific abilities to assimilate soil born elements. Suitable habitats are usually inhabited by few truffle species, while distinguishing their symbiotic potentials appeared very difficult. Two species that commonly inhabit riparian forests in Serbia are the most prized one, Tuber magnatum Pico (Piedmont white truffle) and not so highly valued Tuber brumale Vitt . In order to assess potential differences between their assimilation and accumulation abilities, the differences between contents of elements that may be the subjects of the symbiotic trade between the host plant and fungi were evaluated in accumulation target (ascocarps) and their source (the soil). Essential (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, P, S, and Zn) and essential trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Se) in truffles and soil samples were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). Their concentrations (mg/kg) in ascocarps were in the range from 1.364±0.591 (Cr) to 10760.862±16.058 (K), while in soil ranged from 23.035±0.010 (Cr) to 20809.300±122.934 (Fe). Element accumulation potential (bioaccumulation factor) was calculated in the system truffle/soil. The statistical approaches were used for establishing the differences, while the possible differentiation between symbiotic potentials of two mycelia in the defined soil conditions was discussed.     

丛枝菌根真菌延长百合切花观赏期作用机制的初步研究

为初步探究丛枝菌根(arbuscularmycorrhizal,AM)真菌促进百合生长并延长瓶插过程中切花观赏期的作用机制,于温室盆栽条件下对百合Lilium brownii进行摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae和变形球囊霉Glomusversiforme单一接种或者共同双接种处理。结果表明,共同接种F.mosseae和G.versiforme的百合地上部干重和地下部干重均显著高于不接种对照,分别增加了60%和58%。与不接种对照相比,接种F. mosseae和G. versiforme处理的百合根尖数、根系长度、分叉数、表面积和根系体积分别比对照增加123%、128%、182%、118%和232%。切花瓶插期间,接种AM真菌处理的百合切花水分平衡值和鲜重变化率显著高于对照处理;乙烯释放速率和呼吸速率显著低于对照,瓶插5d时达到乙烯峰值5.4μL/*g·h (FW)+,共同接种F. mosseae和G. versiforme处理的百合切花乙烯释放速率比对照降低30%;呼吸速率则在瓶插1d时达到峰值0.7μL/*g·h (FW)+,共同接种比对照降低37%;百合花瓣内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、可溶性糖含量和可溶性蛋白含量比对照分别提高19%、32%、52%和26%。百合花瓣内N、P、K、Mg、Ca、Fe和Zn含量均显著高于不接种对照处理,Mn和Cr含量则低于对照;共同接种处理的百合瓶插寿命增加了3d,最佳观赏时间比对照延长2d。结论认为共同接种F. mosseae和G. versiforme处理更加有效地改善切花花枝的水分平衡、营养状况与生理代谢,控制衰老激素的合成,从而延长百合切花的瓶插寿命和最佳观赏期。     

西雅图社区花园的用地获取、功能分区和元素组成

社区花园在欧美具有悠久历史,在健康城市建设和促进社区发展方面的功效已经得到证实。目前,已针对社区花园的功能、类型、经营和科普等开展研究,但对土地获取和设计相关的研究较少。西雅图的社区花园历史悠久,并获得政府支持,是美国发展社区花园的城市典范。通过对西雅图23个典型案例进行调研,对用地获取方式、功能类型、分区和元素组成进行分类总结,为设计建造具有中国特色的社区花园提供启示。     

浙江镜湖湿地3种菌根植物根部真菌群落多样性及对金属元素富集能力的研究

城市湿地（urban wetland）植物多样性水平高,并具有积极的净化和美化环境的作用。本研究以浙江绍兴镜湖城市湿地公园为研究样地,通过ICP-AES检测了人工园区和次生林土壤中几种金属元素（Al、Cr、Cu、K和Zn）的含量,比较不同类型的菌根植物——黑麦草（Lolium perenne L.）（AM）、六月霜（Monochasma sauatieri Franch）（AM）和乌饭树（Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb）（ERM）对金属元素的富集作用。通过高通量测序分析各宿主植物根部真菌群落的组成和结构,比较其对宿主植物金属富集能力的影响。结果表明：（1）人工园区土壤中5种金属元素的含量均显著高于次生林下的土壤;（2）乌饭树对Al的富集能力较强,黑麦草和六月霜富集Cr能力都较强;（3）3种植物根部真菌主要来自Ascomycota,而乌饭树根部Basidiomycota也是优势真菌,AM真菌在黑麦草和六月霜根部真菌群落结构中较少,而公认的ERM真菌Helotiales和Sebacinales在乌饭树根部真菌群落中的比例较高,且与所测金属元素无显著相关性。绍兴镜湖城市湿地公园次生林土壤环境保持良好。     

Hox genes: Downstream “effectors” of retinoic acid signaling in vertebrate embryogenesis

One of the major regulatory challenges of animal development is to precisely coordinate in space and time the formation, specification, and patterning of cells that underlie elaboration of the basic body plan. How does the vertebrate plan for the nervous and hematopoietic systems, heart, limbs, digestive, and reproductive organs derive from seemingly similar population of cells? These systems are initially established and patterned along the anteroposterior axis (AP) by opposing signaling gradients that lead to the activation of gene regulatory networks involved in axial specification, including the Hox genes. The retinoid signaling pathway is one of the key signaling gradients coupled to the establishment of axial patterning. The nested domains of Hox gene expression, which provide a combinatorial code for axial patterning, arise in part through a differential response to retinoic acid (RA) diffusing from anabolic centers established within the embryo during development. Hence, Hox genes are important direct effectors of retinoid signaling in embryogenesis. This review focuses on describing current knowledge on the complex mechanisms and regulatory processes, which govern the response of Hox genes to RA in several tissue contexts including the nervous system during vertebrate development.     

Effect of dietary chromium supplementation on meat nutritional quality and antioxidant status from broilers fed with Camelina-meal-supplemented diets

Poultry meat is a valuable source of nutrients and the enrichment with health-promoting substances such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) is an important factor for consumers’ choice. Camelina meal (Camelina sativa) is an animal feedstuff used to achieve this goal, but the administration of n-3 PUFA-enriched diets in broiler nutrition can accelerate the oxidative processes in meat leading to a decreased quality of final product. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the organic Cr as chromium picolinate (CrPic) on meat quality, fatty acid profile of fat and oxidative stability of meat from broilers fed supplemented dietary Camelina meal. An experiment was conducted on 240 Ross 308 broiler chicken aged 14 days which were assigned to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Within the treatment arrangement two concentrations of Camelina meal (0% and 3%) and three concentrations of Cr³⁺ (0, 200 and 400 μg/kg) were used. Dietary treatments were: (1) Control diet (C) containing a corn–soybean diet with no added Camelina meal or Cr³⁺; (2) a C diet containing an additional 200 μg/kg of Cr³⁺ as CrPic; (3) a C diet containing an additional 400 μg/kg of Cr³⁺ as CrPic; (4) a C diet containing an additional 3% Camelina meal; (5) diet 2 containing an additional 3% Camelina meal; (6) diet 3 containing an additional 3% Camelina meal. Chromium supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the CP concentrations and significantly (P<0.05) decreased the crude fat concentrations in breast samples. The Camelina meal groups presented higher values of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly n-3 fatty acids (P<0.05). In CrPic groups, increased retention of Zn and Fe (P < 0.05) was observed in breast samples, compared to control group, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values were significantly (P<0.05) smaller. Myoglobin fraction (metmyoglobin and oximyoglobin) concentrations differ significantly (P<0.05) from the control group, under the influence of Cr³⁺ supplements. This study found that broilers fed with CrPic supplements showed improved mineral composition and oxidative stability of breast meat, proving an effective protection of lipid molecules from oxidation in PUFA-enriched meat.     

Resorptions of 10 mineral elements in leaves of desert shrubs and their contrasting responses to aridity

Aims We aim to investigate variations in the resorption efficiencies of 10 mineral nutrients [i.e. nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu)] in leaves of desert shrubs and to explore effects of aridity on resorption efficiency of these nutrients.