Scanning electron microscopy studies of cuticle micromorphology in Cycas L. (Cycadaceae)

Abstract

A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of Cycas cuticle characteristics was undertaken in order to expand our knowledge of microscopic characters not observable under light microscopy and to clarify unresolved affinitites among some species within the genus. Whole leaf and isolated cuticle specimens from the middle region of leaflets of greenhouse-grown plants of Cycas revoluta, Cycas rumphii, Cycas circinalis, Cycas media, and Cycas normanbyana were examined using SEM for interior and exterior features. Characteristics in common include hypostomy, hair bases on abaxial and adaxial surfaces, adaxial cells randomly arranged, adaxial exterior cuticle smooth, and stomata sunken to various degrees but stomatal pit always formed by two layers of epidermal cells. Stomatal complex is of the polyperigenous type. Stomata randomly dispersed and oriented, and except C. revoluta, are not contiguous. Stomata deeply sunken in C. revoluta, intermediate in C. rumphii and C. normanbyana, and less sunken in C. circinalis and C. media. Aperture between guard cells extends the entire stomatal length in C. rumphii and C. normanbyana, ～80% in C. circinalis and C. media, and ～50% in C. revoluta. Cuticular features of C. revoluta show the greatest difference from the other species in complex relief of exterior cuticle and interior cuticular structure of subsidiary cells; C. media and C. circinalis show close similarity to each other and their stomatal complex dimensions fall within the same unique cluster using principal component analysis under normalized variables. C. normanbyana and C. rumphii show the most similarity to each other in cuticular micromorphology. Stomatal complex dimensions of these two species fall into a second cluster that also includes C. revoluta. These data contrast with current taxonomy placing C. normanbyana synonymous to C. media.     

叉孢苏铁ISSR反应条件的优化及初步应用

利用ISSR 技术对叉孢苏铁(Cycas segmentifida)遗传多样性进行研究,对影响PCR 反应的DNA 模板浓度、dNTP 浓度、Taq 酶含量、引物浓度、Mg2 浓度和退火温度等进行了条件优化。叉孢苏铁的ISSR 最佳反应扩增体系为20μl 反应体积2μl 10 ×PCR buffer,模板DNA20ng,1UTaq 酶,1.5～2.75mmol/L MgCl2,0.1mmol/L 4 ×dNTP,0.22μmol/L 引物,2%甲酰胺。适宜的退火温度为50～52℃。从103 条引物中筛选出12 条用于所有样品的扩增,共扩增出122 条带,其中多态性条带为86 条,占总条带数的70.49%。POPGENE分析结果表明,种级水平上,叉孢苏铁具有中等稍高的遗传多样性水平,且各居群间有着很高的遗传分化度。     

贵州苏铁根的解剖学研究

对贵州苏铁（Cycas guizhouensis K.M.Lan et R.F.Zou）的根进行了解剖学研究,结果表明：（1）据外部形态和内部结构不同,贵州苏铁的根可分为正常根、珊瑚状根和肉质根三种类型。（2）正常根与肉质根的木栓形成层起源于表皮内方第1～2层皮层薄壁细胞,珊瑚状根的木栓形成层则起源于外方皮层的第2～3层细胞,而非中柱鞘。（3）首次发现肉质根一种新的增粗方式,是由周皮内方的皮层薄壁细胞恢复分裂能力,持续或周期性产生新的皮层薄壁细胞,引起根的增粗。     

温度对2个地理种群莲草直胸跳甲成虫产卵量及存活率的影响

【背景】温度对莲草直胸跳甲种群增长具有重要作用,了解引进的莲草直胸跳甲泰国种群的温度适应性,同时与福州本地种群相比较,可以有效地利用其防治空心莲子草。【方法】采用室内继代饲养的方法,设置3个温度,对莲草直胸跳甲福州本地种群和泰国热带种群的成虫产卵量及存活率进行了研究。【结果】在相同温度条件下,泰国热带种群的繁殖力显著高于福州本地种群。随着温度的升高,泰国热带种群和福州本地种群的产卵量均有显著下降,但泰国热带种群的产卵量均稍高于福州本地种群。在3个试验温度下,莲草直胸跳甲泰国热带种群的成虫寿命较福州本地种群的寿命长。【结论与意义】莲草直胸跳甲泰国热带种群对温度的适应性和繁殖力强,更容易构建种群,有利于对空心莲子草的生物防治。     

Genetic Variation in the Endangered Endemic Species Cycas fairylakea (Cycadaceae) in China and Implications for Conservation

Cycas fairylakea is an endangered endemic species in China. Genetic diversity within and among four natural populations of this species in China was investigated using amplified fragments length polymorphism (AFLP). A moderate to low level of intraspecific genetic diversity was detected in this species (at population level: P = 39.57 %, H₀ = 0.244; at species level: P = 60.22%, H₀ = 0.356). The among-population component accounted for, respectively, 25.7 and 31.5% of the genetic variation, according to AMOVA and Shannon’s index, indicating most of the genetic variation was found between individuals within populations. All four populations have opposite pyramid age structure, and few coning individuals, which is still decreasing. Possibly because of habitat degradation and environmental pollution, plant diseases and insect pests in the populations were extremely serious, suggesting that the main factors threatening the survival of C. fairylakea populations were not genetic variation, but human activities and the breeding system of this species.     

苏铁Cycas revoluta珊瑚根内生真菌的多样性

苏铁类植物是目前发现的唯一一类具有珊瑚根结构的裸子植物,是探究植物-微生物互作的理想材料。本研究通过高通量测序技术对中国13个地区栽培苏铁Cycas revoluta珊瑚根中的内生真菌组成及多样性进行分析,结果表明苏铁内生真菌多样性较高,但各地区间内生真菌的组成及多样性差异不显著,显示苏铁和珊瑚根内生真菌的共生与栽培地无关。