The greening of the Northern Great Plains and its biogeochemical precursors

Vegetation greenness has increased across much of the global land surface over recent decades. This trend is projected to continue—particularly in northern latitudes—but future greening may be constrained by nutrient availability needed for plant carbon (C) assimilation in response to CO₂ enrichment (eCO₂). eCO₂ impacts foliar chemistry and function, yet the relative strengths of these effects versus climate in driving patterns of vegetative greening remain uncertain. Here we combine satellite measurements of greening with a 135 year record of plant C and nitrogen (N) concentrations and stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America to examine N constraints on greening. We document significant greening over the past two decades with the highest proportional increases in net greening occurring in the dries and warmest areas. In contrast to the climate dependency of greening, we find spatially uniform increases in leaf‐level intercellular CO₂ and intrinsic water use efficiency that track rising atmospheric CO₂. Despite large spatial variation in greening, we find sustained and climate‐independent declines in foliar N over the last century. Parallel declines in foliar δ¹⁵N and increases in C:N ratios point to diminished N availability as the likely cause. The simultaneous increase in greening and decline in foliar N across our study area points to increased N use efficiency (NUE) over the last two decades. However, our results suggest that plant NUE responses are likely insufficient to sustain observed greening trends in NGP grasslands in the future.     

Sequence Analysis and Comparison of 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S/23S Intergenic Spacer Region of Greening Bacterium Associated with Yellowing Disease (Huanglongbing) of Kinnow Mandarin

High incidence (up to 40%) of symptoms of yellowing and yellow mottling was observed in 5–8 years old orchards of kinnow mandarin {Citrus reticulate Balanco (‘King’ × ‘Willow mandarin’)} in the Punjab state of India during a survey in January 2007. These symptoms are often confused with nutrient deficiency and other stress related disorders. However, a greening bacterium has been attributed to cause the disease. The disease was graft transmissible and sequencing of 16S rRNA, 16S/23S intergenic spacer region and 23S rRNA of the greening bacterium associated with yellowing disease in kinnow mandarin confirmed it to be Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (‘Ca L. asiaticus’) showing maximum identity of 95.9% with ‘Ca L. asiaticus’ from USA and Brazil in 16S rRNA. The study indicates definite association of ‘Ca L. asiaticus’ with yellowing/chlorotic mottling symptoms of greening disease of kinnow mandarin in Punjab state of India.     

Plastid ultrastructure and photosynthesis in greening petaloid hypsophylls

The ultrastructural and biochemicalphysiological aspects of postfloral greening have been studied in hypsophylls of Heliconia aurantiaca Ghiesbr., Guzmania cf. x magnifica Richter and Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel. In all three species the greening of the hypsophylls is due to plastid transformation, chloroplast formation proceeding from the initially different types of plastids. The degradation process of the original plastid structures and the mode of thylakoid formation are distinct in each case. In none of the species do the transformed plastids look identical to the chloroplasts of the corresponding foliage leaves. On a chlorophyll basis, the rate of photosynthesis of the greened hypsophylls surpasses the rate of the leaves considerably in Spathiphyllum, but is much lower in Heliconia (no data for Guzmania). In all species, anatomy, plastid structure, pigments, 77° K-fluorescence emission, ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase activities and short-term photosynthesis ¹⁴CO₂-assimilation patterns prove the greened hypsophylls to be capable of providing additional carbon to the developing fruits, thus supplementing the import of organic matter from the foliage leaves.Abbreviations MDH malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) - PEPCase phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) - RuBPCase ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39)     

Herbivory by the insect diaphorina citri?induces greater change in citrus plant volatile profile than does infection by the bacterium,Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus

The volatile organic compound (VOC) profile in plant leaves often changes after biotic and abiotic stresses. Monitoring changes in VOCs in plant leaves could provide valuable information about multitrophic interactions. In the current study, we investigated the effect of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) infestation, citrus greening pathogen (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus [CLas]) infection, and simultaneous attack by ACP and CLas on the VOC content of citrus leaves. Leaf volatiles were extracted using hexane and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Although ACP is a phloem-sucking insect that causes minimal damage to plant tissues, the relative amount of 21 out of the 27 VOCs increased 2- to 10-fold in ACP-infested plants. The relative amount of d-limonene, β-phelandrene, citronellal, and undecanal were increased 4- to 20- fold in CLas-infected plants. A principle component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) showed that VOC patterns of ACP-infested and CLas-infected plants were different from each other and were also different from the controls, while the VOC pattern of double-attacked plants was more like that of the controls than that of ACP-infested or CLas-infected plants. VOC amounts from leaves were compromised when plants were attacked by ACP and CLas. The results of this study showed that a simple direct extraction of citrus leaf volatiles could be successfully used to discriminate between healthy and CLas-infected plants. Information about the effects of insect and pathogen attack on the VOC content profile of plants might contribute to a better understanding of biotic stress.     

Demographic consequences of chromatic leaf defence in tropical tree communities: do red young leaves increase growth and survival?

Background

Many tropical forest tree species delay greening their leaves until full expansion. This strategy is thought to provide newly flushing leaves with protection against damage by herbivores by keeping young leaves devoid of nutritive value. Because young leaves suffer the greatest predation from invertebrate herbivores, delayed greening could prevent costly tissue loss. Many species that delay greening also produce anthocyanin pigments in their new leaves, giving them a reddish tint. These anthocyanins may be fungicidal, protect leaves against UV damage or make leaves cryptic to herbivores blind to the red part of the spectrum.

Methods

A comprehensive survey was undertaken of seedlings, saplings and mature trees in two diverse tropical forests: a rain forest in western Amazonia (Yasuní National Park, Ecuador) and a deciduous forest in Central America (Barro Colorado Island, Panamá). A test was made of whether individuals and species with delayed greening or red-coloured young leaves showed lower mortality or higher relative growth rates than species that did not.

Key results

At both Yasuní and Barro Colorado Island, species with delayed greening or red young leaves comprised significant proportions of the seedling and tree communities. At both sites, significantly lower mortality was found in seedlings and trees with delayed greening and red-coloured young leaves. While there was little effect of leaf colour on the production of new leaves of seedlings, diameter relative growth rates of small trees were lower in species with delayed greening and red-coloured young leaves than in species with regular green leaves, and this effect remained when the trade-off between mortality and growth was accounted for.

Conclusions

Herbivores exert strong selection pressure on seedlings for the expression of defence traits. A delayed greening or red-coloured young leaf strategy in seedlings appears to be associated with higher survival for a given growth rate, and may thus influence the species composition of later life stages.     

亚热带季风区城市典型绿化屋顶的径流削减效应

屋顶绿化能够削减暴雨径流,降低城市内涝发生频率,促进可持续雨洪管理。针对亚热带季风气候区典型绿化屋顶的全年径流削减效应,以南京为研究区,以简易型、花园型两类绿化屋顶为研究对象,基于1年现场观测数据及水量平衡方程,分析屋顶雨水的滞蓄、蒸发与径流量随季节变化规律及其关键影响因子,采用SCS-CN模型计算绿化屋面的径流曲线数(CN),并估算城市尺度大面积屋顶绿化的暴雨径流削减效果。结果显示,简易型、花园型绿化屋顶全年径流削减率分别为42%和60.7%;径流削减效应的四季排序为春季冬季秋季夏季,平均径流削减率依次为78.6%、47.5%、33.2%、32.9%(简易型)及98%、84.3%、49.5%、48.1%(花园型);土壤基质层对雨水截留起主导作用,分别占径流削减总量的52%和62%;雨量和雨强是影响径流削减效应的关键因子,与径流削减率均呈显著负相关关系(P0.01),初始土壤湿度与简易型绿化屋顶的径流削减率呈显著负相关(0.01P0.05),但与花园型的径流削减率无显著相关性;基于全年77次降雨事件的降雨量-径流量数据测算得到简易型和花园型绿化屋顶的CN值分别为92和88;若南京主城区所有建筑屋顶面积的60%实施两类绿化,则其全年径流量可分别削减2.8×10~7 m~3和4.2×10~7 m~3。以上研究结果可为城市雨洪管理和海绵城市建设提供科学依据。     

Predation and functional response of the multi-coloured Asian ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis on the adult Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri

Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a vector for the citrus Huanglongbing greening disease, which can reduce crop yields. Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is known to prey on D. citri nymphs; we investigated the predation capacity and functional response of H. axyridis on adult D. citri. H. axyridis larvae exhibited Holling’s type II functional response to different densities of adult D. citri. For second, third and fourth instar H. axyridis larvae, the successful attack rates were 0.75?±?0.22, 1.06?±?0.11, and 1.04?±?0.26, respectively; the handling times were 18.08?±?5.37, 0.45?±?0.07, and 0.24?±?0.07?h, respectively; and the estimated maximum predation rates were 4, 54, and 102, respectively. Fourth instar larvae had the lowest handling time. Adult H. axyridis consumed more D. citri adults maintained at 15–20°C than at 30–35°C, with an optimal temperature of 17.28°C. More adults were consumed during the day than at night, with peak consumption between 12:00 and 14:00?h, not differing significantly differ between predator genders. Adult H. axyridis reared on the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum were tested for D. citri predation; these H. axyridis had successful attack rates, handling times, and estimated maximal predation rates of 0.66?±?0.18, 0.82?±?0.26?h, and 29, respectively. Conversely, those fed and tested on D. citri had corresponding rates of 0.99?±?0.17, 0.38?±?0.12?h, and 63, respectively. Significant H. axyridis predation on adult D. citri indicated its enhanced role in suppressing both nymph and adult D. citri.     

Host suitability and feeding preference of the African citrus triozid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae), natural vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter africanus”

African citrus greening (ACGD) and huanglongbing (HLB) diseases are the most damaging diseases of citrus worldwide. Currently, the disease has no cure and has been attributed to the collapse of the citrus industry in several countries. In Africa, the causative agent “Candidatus” Liberibacter africanus is vectored by African citrus triozid (ACT) Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae). African citrus triozid is native to Africa but has been recently reported in Asia and Europe. Apart from citrus, Murraya koenigii (L.) and Clausena anisata (Willd) Hook. F. ex Benth. are also considered as preferred host plants. At present, there is scant information on host plant suitability and preference of T. erytreae. Also, there are contradictory reports on its reproduction and survival on rutaceous and non‐rutaceous host plants. In the present study, we tested the suitability and preference of rutaceous and non‐rutaceous trees and shrubs as potential ACT host plants in choice and no‐choice bioassays. The development from egg to the adult stage was longest on Calodendrum capense (Wright & Arn.) Engl. Host plants of superior quality accordingly to several ACT's biological parameters measured also revealed significantly higher morphometric characteristics. Our findings on the host status of the five rutaceous plants imply that these plants can greatly influence the population dynamics of ACT as well as the epidemiology of ACGD, and these can be a useful guide in the area‐wide management of the pest in Kenya.     

崖爬藤的生态生物学特征及其扦插繁殖技术

崖爬藤为葡萄科常绿或半常绿藤本,具有重要园林绿化价值。该研究采用叶片离析法和石蜡切片法研究其叶片的形态结构。结果表明:崖爬藤平均叶面积(23.1 cm~2)较大,单位叶面积干重(4.4 mg·cm~(-2))较小,成熟叶厚约为195.5μm,栅栏组织不发达,胞间隙大。利用便携式LI-6400光合测定仪、PAM-2100荧光测定仪对崖爬藤光合生理生态指标进行研究。结果表明:其PSⅡ的最大光化学效率Fv/Fm(0.818)较高;叶片的净光合速率日变化呈单峰型,没有明显的光合午休现象,最大净光合速率Pn为3.691μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1),出现在14:00时,变化趋势与光合有效辐射Par、大气温度T、蒸腾速率Tr、气孔导度Gs等因子相同,与胞间CO_2浓度Ci相反,同时具有较高的水分利用效率(3.056μmol·mmol~(-1))。这都显示了崖爬藤喜阴湿环境,不耐寒且具有一定的耐旱特性,适合栽植于我国温度较高的南方地区。此外,以崖爬藤1~2年生老枝和当年生嫩枝为材料,经梯度溶液IBA处理进行扦插生根实验,结果表明,崖爬藤扦插繁殖迅速,生根率较高,以当年生嫩枝不经IBA处理直接扦插为最佳。该研究结果将为崖爬藤的栽培及开发利用提供重要的理论和技术指导。