Effects of exotic plant invasion on soil nitrogen availability

外来植物入侵对土壤氮循环和氮有效性的影响是入侵成功或进一步加剧的重要原因。通过对比相同研究地点入侵区域和无入侵区域的土壤原位氮状态差异, 探讨了外来植物入侵对土壤氮有效性的影响程度和生理生态学机制。基于107篇相关研究文献数据的整合, 发现植物入侵区域相对于无入侵区域土壤总氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、无机氮、微生物生物量氮含量显著增加, 增幅分别为(50 ± 14)%、(60 ± 24)%、(470 ± 115)%、(69 ± 25)%、(54 ± 20)%。土壤硝态氮含量增幅较大反映硝化作用增强, 这可能增加入侵植物硝态氮利用以及喜硝植物的共存。温带地区植物入侵后土壤的硝态氮含量增幅显著高于亚热带地区。固氮植物入侵后土壤的总氮和无机氮含量增幅均显著高于非固氮植物入侵。木本和常绿植物入侵后土壤的总氮含量增幅分别高于草本和落叶植物入侵; 而土壤铵态氮含量的增幅没有显著差异且与固氮入侵植物占比无明显关系; 然而硝态氮含量的增幅普遍较高且与固氮入侵植物占比显著正相关。外来入侵植物固氮功能以及凋落物质量和数量是影响土壤氮矿化和硝化过程的关键因素。该研究为理解外来植物入侵成功和加剧的机制以及入侵植物功能性状与土壤氮动态之间的关系提供了新的见解。     

Comparative Ploidy Studies Using Cytological and Paraffin Section Preparations

The ploidy profiles of benign and malignant tumours can be obtained using image analysis. However, the results of ploidy studies have varied according to the type of specimen used. We compared the ploidy profiles of paraffin embedded thin sections, cytospin preparations of disaggregated cells, and cytological smears from the same specimen as defined by image analysis. Ten benign breast lesions, 10 breast carcinomas and 10 malignant melanomas were investigated in this way. Preparations stained by the Feulgen technique were examined using the MD20 video image analysis densitometry system. Ploidy profiles were obtained by measuring the integrated optical density of at least 200 nuclei. By paying proper attention to the quality of fixation and presence or absence of cytoplasm around cells, comparable results were found for all preparations in each case. We therefore conclude that if careful attention is paid to the technical quality of the material, reliable ploidy results can be obtained by image analysis.     

Identification of amino compounds synthesized and translocated in symbiotic Parasponia

We investigated the synthesis and translocation of amino compounds in Parasponia, a genus of the Ulmaceae that represents the only non-legumes known to form a root nodule symbiosis with rhizohia. In the xylem sap of P. andersonii we identified asparagine. aspartate. glutamine, glutamated significant quantities of a non-protein amino acid. 4-methylglutamte(2-amino-4-methylpentanedioic acid). This identification was confirmed by two methods, capillary gas chromatography (GC) electron ionization (El) mass spectrometry (MS) and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of derivatized compounds. In leaf, root and nodule samples from P. andersonii and P. parviflora we also identified the related compounds 4-methyleneglutamate and 4-methyleneglulamine. Using ¹⁵N₂ labelling and GC-Ms analysis of root nodule extracts we followed N₂ fixation and ammonia assimilation in P. andersonii root nodules and observed Label initially in glutamine and subsequently in glutamate, suggesting operation of the glutamine synthetase/glutamine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GS/GOGAT) pathway. Importantly, we observed the incorporation of significant quantities of ¹⁵N into 4-methylglutamate in nodules, demonstrating the de nova synthesis of this non protein amino acid and suggesting a role in the translation of N in symbioticParasponia.     

Use of locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) regression to study selection signatures in Piedmontese and Italian Brown cattle breeds

Selection is the major force affecting local levels of genetic variation in species. The availability of dense marker maps offers new opportunities for a detailed understanding of genetic diversity distribution across the animal genome. Over the last 50 years, cattle breeds have been subjected to intense artificial selection. Consequently, regions controlling traits of economic importance are expected to exhibit selection signatures. The fixation index (F_st) is an estimate of population differentiation, based on genetic polymorphism data, and it is calculated using the relationship between inbreeding and heterozygosity. In the present study, locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) regression and a control chart approach were used to investigate selection signatures in two cattle breeds with different production aptitudes (dairy and beef). F_st was calculated for 42 514 SNP marker loci distributed across the genome in 749 Italian Brown and 364 Piedmontese bulls. The statistical significance of F_st values was assessed using a control chart. The LOWESS technique was efficient in removing noise from the raw data and was able to highlight selection signatures in chromosomes known to harbour genes affecting dairy and beef traits. Examples include the peaks detected for BTA2 in the region where the myostatin gene is located and for BTA6 in the region harbouring the ABCG2 locus. Moreover, several loci not previously reported in cattle studies were detected.     

Biological nitrogen fixation in grass–clover affected by animal excreta

Aiming at estimating the average N2-fixation in a pasture, ap preciating the great variability due to patchy urine and dung deposition, the in fluence of dairy cow excreta on biological N2-fixation in a perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture was studied using natural urine and dung. Application of urine as well as dung affected the N2-fixation by promoting the growth of grass and thereby the proportion of clover was significantly reduced. Also the proportion of clover-N derived from the atmosphere (pNdfa) was significantly reduced. In control plots clover dry matter constituted between 40 and 50% of the total dry matter production and the pNdfa ranged between 0.8 and 0.9. Addition of urine caused a significant increase in the grass growth rates, which was the primary reason for a decrease in proportion of clover. At the same time pNdfa decreased to 0.2–0.4 followed by an increase resulting in a total reduction of 45% in the N2-fixation in urine affected areas over a period of four months. The dung only affected the N2-fixation for a distance of up to 10 cm from the edge of the dung pats. In this border area the pNdfa decreased from 0.85 to 0.75 during one month after application followed by an increase, so that after three months there was no difference between pNdfa at 0–10 and 10–20 cm distance from the dung hill. The proportion of clover was lower in the 0–10 cm than in the 10–20 cm distance, which totally resulted in a total reduction of 20% in the N2-fixation over a period of four months in the 0–10 cm area around the dung pats. Considering the proportion of a pasture which may by affected by excreta at a stocking density of 4–6 cows ha-1, the length of the grazing period, the frequency of excretion and the area covered by individual patches, it was estimated that the N2-fixation in a grass-clover pasture would be reduced by 10–15% compared to the N2-fixation in a grass-clover sward not exposed to animal excreta.     

氮负荷增强对闽江河口芦苇残体分解及其养分释放的影响

选择闽江河口鳝鱼滩西北部的纯芦苇湿地为研究对象，基于野外氮负荷增强分解试验，探讨了氮负荷增强对芦苇残体分解及其养分释放的影响。试验设置了4个氮负荷水平，即NL0（无氮负荷处理，0 g N m^-2 a^-1）、NL1（低氮负荷处理，12.5 g N m^-2 a^-1）、NL2（中氮负荷处理，25.0 g N m^-2 a^-1）和NL3（高氮负荷处理，75.0 g N m^-2 a^-1）。结果表明，不同氮负荷处理下残体的分解速率整体表现为NL2（0.00284 d^-1）>NL1（0.00263 d^-1）>NL0（0.00257 d^-1）>NL3（0.00250 d^-1），低氮和中氮负荷总体促进了残体分解，而高氮负荷抑制了残体分解，原因主要与不同处理下残体分解过程中基质质量及pH的明显改变有关。不同氮负荷处理下，残体中的全碳（TC）含量在分解期间均呈不同波动变化特征；全氮（TN）和全磷（TP）含量均在分解初期（0-30 d）骤然降低，之后则呈不同波动变化，其中TN含量呈波动上升变化，而TP含量呈小幅波动变化。残留率是影响不同氮负荷处理下残体分解期间碳（C）、氮（N）和磷（P）净释放的共性因素，而氮负荷增强导致的残体基质质量（C/N、C/P、N/P）和主要环境因子（pH、电导率（EC））改变影响了其释放强度。研究发现，在氮负荷增强背景下残体养分的累积与释放发生了明显改变，闽江河口氮负荷水平的增加整体将抑制芦苇残体中C、N养分的释放，但其在分解中后期（90-240 d）可能对P养分释放具有较为明显的促进作用。     

Responses of nitrogen and phosphorus resorption from leaves and branches to long-term nitrogen deposition in a Chinese fir plantation

为了解森林养分内循环对全球变化的响应, 基于长期模拟氮沉降试验, 研究了杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林不同龄级(一年生、二年生和衰老)叶和枝的氮(N)、磷(P)养分分配及其再吸收特征, 并分析了不同模拟N沉降处理时间(7年和14年)杉木叶N、P养分再吸收差异。在12年生杉木中开展模拟N沉降试验, 以尿素(CO(NH₂)₂)为N源, 设N0、N1、N2和N3 4个处理水平, 施氮量分别为0、60、120和240 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1, 每个处理重复3次。结果表明: (1)叶和枝在衰老过程中碳(C)、N和P含量逐渐降低, 且叶的C、N和P含量比枝高; N含量大小依次为一年生叶>二年生叶>衰老叶>一年生枝>二年生枝>衰老枝, 且N3 > N2 > N1 > N0, 而C:N则呈现相反的趋势; 衰老器官的C:N、C:P、N:P比新鲜器官高; N沉降增加了不同龄级叶和枝(除二年生叶外)的N、N:P和C:P, 但降低了P和C:N。(2)叶和枝的N、P养分再吸收率(RE_N、RE_P)随龄级的增加至衰老有规律地递减, 且RE_P > RE_N; 受长期N沉降的影响, RE_N叶(28.12%) <枝(30.00%), 而RE_P则为叶(45.82%) >枝(30.42%); 杉木叶和枝N:P与RE_N:RE_P之间存在极显著的线性相关关系。(3)随N沉降处理时间的增加, 叶RE_N呈降低态势, 各处理(N1、N2和N3)分别降低了9.85%、3.17%和11.71%; 而RE_P则明显上升, 分别增加了71.98%、42.25%和9.60%。研究结果表明: 不同器官、不同龄级的养分再吸收率随氮沉降处理的水平、处理时间而所有不同; RE_N:RE_P与N:P之间存在紧密关系。     

Characterization of Bradyrhizobium strains indigenous to Western Australia and South Africa indicates remarkable genetic diversity and reveals putative new species

Bradyrhizobium are N₂-fixing microsymbionts of legumes with relevant applications in agricultural sustainability, and we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of conserved and symbiotic genes of 21 bradyrhizobial strains. The study included strains from Western Australia (WA), isolated from nodules of Glycine spp. the country is one genetic center for the genus and from nodules of other indigenous legumes grown in WA, and strains isolated from forage Glycine sp. grown in South Africa. The 16S rRNA phylogeny divided the strains in two superclades, of B. japonicum and B. elkanii, but with low discrimination among the species. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with four protein-coding housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) pointed out seven groups as putative new species, two within the B. japonicum, and five within the B. elkanii superclades. The remaining eleven strains showed higher similarity with six species, B. lupini, B. liaoningense, B. yuanmingense, B. subterraneum, B. brasilense and B. retamae. Phylogenetic analysis of the nodC symbiotic gene clustered 13 strains in three different symbiovars (sv. vignae, sv. genistearum and sv. retamae), while seven others might compose new symbiovars. The genetic profiles of the strains evaluated by BOX-PCR revealed high intra- and interspecific diversity. The results point out the high level of diversity still to be explored within the Bradyrhizobium genus, and further studies might confirm new species and symbiovars.