Effects of vegetation and fertilizer on metal and Sb plant uptake in a calcareous shooting range soil

Shooting range soils frequently contain anomalous concentrations of metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Mn) and Sb coming from bullets which may be released into the environment. In a pot experiment, we investigated metal and Sb uptake by three plant species (Plantago lanceolata, Lolium perenne and Triticum aestivum) growing on a calcareous shooting range soil (pH 7.8; 500 mg kg⁻¹ Pb, 21 mg kg⁻¹ Sb) and the uptake changes when an acidic fertilizer solution was applied to the soil. Metal and Sb solubility in the soil was determined by extraction with 0.1 M NaNO₃. In addition, we measured pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon in drainage samples. The results showed significant increase over time of pH (from 7.8 to 8.3) and decrease of electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon (from 230 to ∼130 mg L⁻¹). Fertilizer application increased NaNO₃-extractable Pb and Sb and root:shoot biomass ratio but not plant metal uptake. In T. aestivum spikes accumulated more Zn, Ni and Cu than shoots and grains. Mn and Zb uptake was correlated in L. perenne shoots. P. lanceolata, a Sb-bioindicator, did not accumulate high amounts of Sb (<1 mg kg⁻¹).     

植物生长抽梢期和气候因子对株高生长影响

利用西双版纳热带植物园的热带植物物候观测资料和气候资料,通过对热带植物株高生长偏差、生长抽梢期和气候因子的分析,探讨了三者的关系。结果表明,热带植物生长抽梢期变长不一定影响株高生长,而且与株高生长偏差的关系也小于气候因子与株高生长偏差的关系。同时,热带植物生长抽梢期对气候因子和株高生长偏差之间关系的贡献很小。因此,可以认为热带植物的生长期对植被生产力的促进作用较弱。     

卡西亚松家系幼林的生长节律

为了解卡西亚松(Pinus kesiya)生长与气象因子间的关系,对17个卡西亚松家系幼林的周年生长性状进行研究。结果表明,17个卡西亚松家系的胸径、树高和抽梢次数存在显著差异(P0.05),可分为速生型(Ⅰ)和慢生型(Ⅱ),其中7、25、61、104、41家系属于速生型,其胸径和树高年均生长量分别为2.03 cm和1.46 m。两类型家系的生长趋势一致,胸径一年内出现2次生长高峰(2和8月),树高出现3次生长高峰(2-3、6和8-10月)。有3次抽梢高峰,分别在5月(春梢)、8-9月(夏梢)和11月(秋梢),一年抽1～4次新梢,以抽2次新梢的植株最多(47%),且在春(71.78%)夏(77.33%)两季抽梢的比例较高。月平均气温对卡西亚松树高的生长影响最大,在1月出现短暂的生长停滞。因此,卡西亚松幼林抚育管理宜在胸径和树高生长高峰之前进行,即5-6和12-翌年1月,1月进行幼林修枝抚育。     

吊丝单竹笋期叶片特性研究

对3种不同年龄的吊丝单竹株在不同发笋时期、不同竹冠部位的叶片比叶重、光合、呼吸性状及N、P、K含量等进行测定,结果表明:吊丝单竹在不同发笋时期、不同竹冠部位各项指标均有较大差异。比叶重发笋盛期高于初期和末期,随着竹株年龄增大而减小,随着竹冠的升高而增大;净光合速率盛期高于初期,光呼吸速率和暗呼吸速率则初期高于盛期,并且不同竹龄、不同竹冠部位之间均表现出较大的差异;N、P、K含量由发笋初期至盛期逐渐减小,N含量以1a>2a>3a,以竹冠中部最高,P、K含量则随着竹冠的升高而减小,随着竹株年龄的增大而增大。这为经营管理吊丝单竹林提供科学依据。     

Production of Pharmaceuticals from Papaver Cultivars in Vitro

Iranian (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) and opium poppy (P. somniferum L.) plantlets obtained from germinated seeds grown on a Murashige and Skoog basal medium (BM) readily manifest alkaloids. Temperature had a profound effect on growth and alkaloid production after 8 weeks in culture. Plantlets of poppy cultivars (cvs.) grew best at 18.5 and 20°C compared to 15 or 25°C. An alkaloid survey study with 24 Iranian and 21 opium poppy cvs. revealed that total morphinan alkaloids ranged from 0 to 6.55 mg/g dw. Prolific axillary branching was achieved from poppy cvs. by maintaining shoots on BM containing 1.0 mg/L N⁶‐benzyladenine and 0.01 mg/L α‐naphthalene acetic acid for an additional 16 weeks. The influence of vessel size on the growth response of established shoot clumps was determined by subculture in a variety of culture vessels for 8 weeks. The tested culture vessels included culture tubes (55 mm³ capacity (cap.)), babyfood jars (143 mm³ cap.), Magenta GA‐7 containers (365 mm³ cap.), and polycarbonate jars (1890 mm³ cap.) employing an in vitro hydroponics system (i.e. an automated plant culture system (APCS)). Highest growth rates occurred employing the APCS. The culture vessel capacity had a significant positive correlation on shoot length, fresh weight, number of leaves, and number of shoots. Shoot length, fresh weight, leaves, and shoots grown in the APCS exhibited increases of 1‐, 21.5‐, 7.8‐, and 8.3‐fold, respectively, compared to shoots grown in culture tubes. Higher culture growth rates that occurred in the larger‐size vessels were correlated with lower alkaloid production (mg alkaloids/g dw). However, the overall total alkaloids/vessel [(mg alkaloid/g dw)×g culture dw] increased because of greater biomass production per vessel. The alkaloid content was found to remain stable for shoots grown over a 6–month evaluation period.     

Effects of foot orthoses on dynamic balance and basketball free-throw accuracy before and after physical fatigue

While it is not uncommon for athletes to use foot orthoses to relieve pain and improve sports performance, little has been known about their effects on basketball performance. Free-throw basketball shooting is very important. However, fatigue deteriorates postural balance which might decrease free-throw shooting performance. This study investigated the effects of foot orthoses on dynamic balance and accuracy performance during free-throw shooting before and after physical fatigue was induced. Thirteen male recreational basketball players were tested with two foot orthoses (medial-arch support versus flat control) and fatigue conditions (before and after fatigue), when they performed standard free-throw shooting on a force platform. Results revealed that fatigue significantly increased coefficient of variance of medial-lateral center of pressure (CoP) excursion when participants worn flat control orthoses (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, foot orthoses improved dynamic balance during shooting as they significantly reduced total resultant and anterior-posterior sway excursions as well as resultant and anterior-posterior CoP velocities, and base of support area. Although this study found that fatigue and orthoses did not significantly affect the scores gained by free-throw shooting, the significant improvements in dynamic balance during shooting with the use of foot orthoses could have considerable impact on motor control during basketball shooting.     

不同群落冠层环境下紫耳箭竹笋期生长发育研究

对金佛山国家级自然保护区内3个不同类型群落(落叶阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、常绿阔叶林)下紫耳箭竹(Fargesia decurvata J. L. Lu)幼笋的生长发育进行研究。结果显示:(1)落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林下的紫耳箭竹出笋期早而长,历时110 d,出笋量大,出笋率高;常绿阔叶林下的出笋期晚而短,历时88 d,出笋量少,出笋率低;常绿落叶阔叶混交林中出笋量最大。(2)出笋期分为3个阶段:初期、盛期和末期,各群落中的紫耳箭竹进入每个时期的时间有所差异,常绿落叶阔叶混交林中最早进入出笋盛期,落叶阔叶林次之,常绿阔叶林最迟。出笋盛期也是退笋的高峰期,退笋率的大小为:常绿落叶阔叶混交林落叶阔叶林常绿阔叶林。(3)同一群落冠层环境下,紫耳箭竹不同时期出土的幼笋地径无显著差异。在落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林林冠环境中,各时期出土的幼笋地径间无显著差异,但均显著大于常绿阔叶林(P 0.05)。(4)紫耳箭竹幼笋出土后80 d左右完成高生长过程,且符合Logistic方程,呈"慢-快-慢"的生长趋势。高生长速率为:常绿落叶阔叶混交林落叶阔叶林常绿阔叶林,且差异显著(P 0.05)。(5)紫耳箭竹的克隆繁殖与分株密度间有密切关系。随着分株密度的增加,出笋数量增加,成竹数量降低。本研究表明不同群落冠层环境下紫耳箭竹生长发育存在显著差异,在常绿落叶阔叶混交林中发育最好,常绿阔叶林中发育最差,种群密度对竹类的更新发展起重要调节作用。     

Growth, morphogenesis, and essential oil production in Mentha spicata L. plantlets in vitro

To date, plantlet culture has not been explored as a means to obtain secondary metabolites in vitro. However, plantlets readily produce desirable secondary metabolites, which may not be produced in cell suspension or callus cultures. To optimize plantlet growth in vitro, the influences of various physical environments on the growth (fresh weight), morphogenesis (leaf, root, and shoot number), and volatile carbon metabolites (i.e. monoterpene, (−)-carvone) of Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) plants were studied. The carvone content in different portions of sterile plantlets was analyzed. Carvone was only produced from the foliar regions of cultured plantlets and was absent in the callus and roots. The influence of physical support (e.g., agar, glass gravel, liquid, platform or sponge), frequency of media replacement, and culture vessel capacity on spearmint plantlets growth and carvone production was tested. A comparative study was conducted testing the growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism occurring with three different spearmint cultivars grown in either culture tubes containing 25 ml agar medium or in an automated plant culture system (APCS; a sterile hydroponics system) employing a 1-l medium reservoir. Increasing the number of media immersions (4, 8, 12 or 16 immersions d⁻¹) of plantlets growing in the APCS increased growth and morphogenesis responses. Generally, higher culture growth rates resulted in lower carvone treatment⁻¹ (mg carvone g-FW⁻¹); however, overall total carvone ((mg carvone g-FW⁻¹) × g culture FW) increased because of the production of greater biomass obtained per vessel.     

Factors affecting changes in grey partridge population dynamics in a French arable farmland over an eleven-year period

The grey partridge Perdix perdix is of conservation concern owing to habitat heterogeneity losses and the negative impact of other environmental factors, e.g., pesticide use, predators, weather or shooting pressure, which are known to be associated with population decline. By an 11-year-period study in an intensively cultivated farmland located in the Paris basin, we aimed to relate the changes in grey partridge population dynamics with the changes in agriculture, monthly rainfall and shooting pressure. Summer drought occurred at the middle time of the study period. At the start of our study, a new cultivation, winter-wheat broadcast in maize-stubble fields, was introduced that probably improved the habitat. But in the next years, there was a loss in habitat diversity due to the disappearance of pastures dedicated to sheep rearing, removal of non-cropped areas and field boundaries and increase in the mean field size. Shooting was annually adjusted to what the owner believed to be a wise harvest. In post-breeding coveys, both percentages of hens with young among total hens and young-to-successful hens ratios first increased and then decreased. The mean brood size was rather weak during the dryness incident. The number of pairs in a more heterogeneous sector was always greater than in a less one. In both sectors, spring abundance first increased and then decreased. In the second half of the study period, the shooting quotas were reduced, especially when the mean brood size fell down. Low hatching rates of clutches and low chick survival rates explain the population decline, as the results are convincing. To stop the population decline in intensive arable farmland, good breeding success is needed. This can be provided by favourable habitats for hens to nest and for chicks to feed.     

Ethnomycological notes. II. Meteorites and fungus lore

We have found a connection between outer space phenomenon (such as meteors and meteorites) and fungus lore revered by ancestral cultures. This is useful to ethnomycology, studying the range of complexity and conditions in which a fungus myth was developed.