A computer-operated routine of gas exchange and optical measurements to diagnose photosynthetic apparatus in leaves

Photosynthesis is a complex process whose rate is affected by many biochemical and biophysical factors. Fortunately, it is possible to determine, or at least estimate, many of the most important parameters using a combination of optical methods and gas transient analyses. We describe here a computer‐operated routine that has been developed to make detailed assessments of photosynthesis at a comprehensive level. The routine comprised the following measurements: steady‐state light and CO₂ response curves of net CO₂ assimilation at 21 and 2 kPa O₂; transients from limiting to different saturating CO₂ concentrations at 2 kPa O₂; post‐illumination CO₂ fixation transient; dark–light induction of O₂ evolution; O₂ yield from one saturating single‐turnover flash; chlorophyll fluorescence F₀, F_s and F_m during the light and CO₂ response curves; leaf transmission at 820 nm (P700⁺) during the light and CO₂ response curves; post‐illumination re‐reduction time of P700⁺. The routine was executed on a two‐channel fast‐response gas exchange measurement system (A. Laisk and V. Oja: Dynamic Gas Exchange of Leaf Photosynthesis. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia). Thirty‐six intrinsic characteristics of the photosynthetic machinery were derived, including quantum yield of CO₂ fixation (Y_CO2), time constant of P700 re‐reduction (τ′), relative optical cross‐sections of PSII and PSI antennae (a_II, a_I), PSII and PSI density per leaf area unit, plastoquinone pool, total mesophyll resistance, mesophyll diffusion resistance, V_m, K_m(CO₂) and CO₂/O₂ specificity of Rubisco, RuBP pool at CO₂ limitation (assimilatory charge). An example of the routine and calculations are shown for one leaf and data are presented for leaves of 8‐year‐old‐trees of two birch clones growing in Suonenjoki Forest Research Station, Finland, during summer 2000. Parameters Y_CO2, basic τ′, a_II, a_I, K_m(CO₂) and K_s varied little in different leaves [relative standard deviation (RSD) < 7%], other parameters scattered widely (RSD typically 10–40%). It is concluded that the little scattered parameters are determined by basic physico‐chemical properties of the photosynthetic machinery whereas the widely scattered parameters are adjusting to growth conditions. The proposed non‐destructive routine is suitable for diagnosing the photosynthetic machinery of leaves and may be applied in plant ecophysiology and in genetic engineering of plants.     

Root discoloration and shoot symptoms in silver birch after Phytophthora infection in vitro

• There are no records of established plant pathogenic Phytophthora species in Finnish forests, but they are likely in the future. Therefore, the effects of Phytophthora inoculations on young, ca. 2‐month‐old silver birch (Betula pendula) seedling roots and shoots were investigated.
• Visual inspection of dark discoloration, direct PCR and re‐isolation, and detailed root morphology analyses were used to evaluate the effects of Phytophthora inoculation on roots. Symptoms in leaves and stems were also recorded.
• Phytophthora was successfully re‐isolated from 67% of the surface‐sterilized roots of inoculated seedlings, but not from the non‐inoculated control seedlings. Dark discolorations were found more often in the root segments of inoculated seedlings than in control seedlings. In the Phytophthora‐treated seedlings, discoloured root segments were usually linked and found primarily in the main root or lateral roots attached to it, whereas in the control seedlings a few single discoloured root segments were scattered throughout the root systems. The number of root segments was lower in the inoculated than in the control seedlings, indicating root loss after Phytophthora inoculation. In the shoots of inoculated birches, leaf and shoot wilting was observed.
• The appearance of wilting in shoots without visible dark discoloration in the base of stems indicated that symptoms originated from roots inoculated with Phytophthora.

     

Early post-fire tree regeneration in a Picea-Vaccinium forest in northern Sweden

Abstract. Age and size structure of saplings of Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris and Betula pubescens were examined in a 26-yr old forest fire area in a Picea abies-Vaccinium myrtillus forest in northern Sweden. Picea, which is a shade-tolerant species, had its maximum regeneration prior to the shade-intolerant Pinus. The shift from Picea to Pinus regeneration in the late 1970s, did not seem to be related to variations in summer temperature. Instead, it is suggested that Picea established in the shade created by dead trees, and, that increased reindeer browsing of Betula in combination with a simultaneous thinning of the tree layer, favoured Pinus recruitment. These regeneration patterns do not confirm conventional views of post-fire succession in Sweden.     

呼和浩特市大青山白桦根际土壤细菌群落结构研究

采用高通量测序技术对天然次生林生态系统演替过程中先锋树种白桦的根际土壤细菌多样性及群落结构进行了分析。研究结果表明:白桦根际土壤细菌隶属于28门、90纲、126目、213科、286属,在3个采样地中排名前8的优势细菌门的相对丰度均大于1%,分别为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。各样地中前3个门的相对丰度之和均在60%以上。对白桦根际土壤细菌的α多样性指数、门水平的聚类热图以及PCoA聚类结果的分析表明,3个采样地中,小井沟(B2)和哈达门森林公园(C2)白桦根际土壤细菌的物种组成更为接近,与井儿梁(A2)的物种组成有一定差异;且小井沟和哈达门森林公园的物种多样性及丰度(ACE指数)显著高于井儿梁,表明细菌对不同环境的适应能力有明显差异。对细菌群落结构与土壤理化性质的RDA分析及相关性分析表明,环境因子对白桦根际土壤细菌的影响顺序为:全氮TN酸碱度pH含水量WC速效钾AK硝态氮NN铵态氮AN有机质OM有效磷EP,其中,TN、pH和WC是白桦根际土壤优势细菌的主要影响因子。研究结果为深入认识森林生态系统中根际土壤细菌的群落结构和影响因子提供了理论依据。