A method to study zhizosphere processes in thin soil layers of different proximity to roots

Frankia is the diverse bacterial genus that fixes nitrogen within root nodules of actinorhizal trees and shrubs. Systematic and ecological studies of Frankia have been hindered by the lack of morphological, biochemical, or other markers to readily distinguish strains. Recently, nucleotide sequence of 16 S RNA from the small ribosomal subunit has been used to classify and identify a variety of microorganisms. We report nucleotide sequences from portions of the 16 S ribosomal RNA from Frankia strains AcnI1 isolated from Alnus viridis ssp. crispa (Ait.) Turrill and PtI1 isolated from Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. The number of nucleotide base substitutions and gaps we find more than doubles the previously reported sequence diversity for the same variable regions within other strains of Frankia.     

Seed germination,seedling inoculation and establishment ofAlnus spp. in containers in greenhouse trials

Methods for production of containerized seedlings ofAlnus species were developed which permit nitrogen-fixing nodules to form on the root systems prior to outplanting, in order to provide an early nitrogen input during seedling establishment. The methods are based on procedures for inoculating root systems with suspensions ofFrankia (Actinomycetales), applied either directly in the container cell as a soil drench at the time of seeding, or as a root dip for seedlings transplanted into the containers. Germination of dried, stored seed was enhanced by light and by presoaking for 16 h in water. Pretreatments to overcome seed dormancy or to eliminate fungal pathogens did not further enhance germination. Some loss of seedlings was recorded in the early stages of growth shortly after germination, which is a factor in calculating projected seedling yield. Nodulation and seedling growth were evaluated in terms of growth media characteristics. Seedlings performed well in peat-vermiculite, at soil pH between 5.5 and 8.0.     

Functional Diversity of Culturable Bacterial Communities in the Rhizosphere in Relation to Fine-root and Soil Parameters in Alder Stands on Forest, Abandoned Agricultural, and Oil-shale Mining Areas

Grey alder (Alnus incana) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa) stands on forest land, abandoned agricultural, and reclaimed oil-shale mining areas were investigated with the aim of analysing the functional diversity and activity of microbial communities in the soil–root interface and in the bulk soil in relation to fine-root parameters, alder species, and soil type. Biolog Ecoplates were used to determine community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) of culturable bacteria in soil–root interface and bulk soil samples. CLPP were summarized as AWCD (average well color development, OD 48 h⁻¹) and by Shannon diversity index, which varied between 4.3 and 4.6 for soil–root interface. The soil–root interface/bulk soil ratio of AWCD was estimated. Substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and basal respiration (BAS) of bulk soil samples were measured and metabolic quotient (Q = BAS/SIR) was calculated. SIR and Q varied from 0.24 to 2.89 mg C g⁻¹ and from 0.12 to 0.51, respectively. Short-root morphological studies were carried out by WinRHIZO^TM Pro 2003b; mean specific root area (SRA) varied for grey alder and black alder from 69 to 103 and from 54 to 155 m² kg⁻¹, respectively. The greatest differences between AWCD values of culturable bacterial communities in soil–root interface and bulk soil were found for the young alder stands on oil-shale mining spoil and on abandoned agricultural land. Soil–root interface/bulk soil AWCD ratio, ratio for Shannon diversity indices, and SRA were positively correlated. Foliar assimilation efficiency (FOE) was negatively correlated with soil–root interface/bulk soil AWCD ratio. The impact of soil and alder species on short-root morphology was significant; short-root tip volume and mass were greater for black alder than grey alder. For the investigated microbiological characteristics, no alder-species-related differences were revealed.     

不同树龄水曲柳半同胞家系生长性状变异研究

为筛选优质的水曲柳种质资源,以吉林省三岔子林业局国家水曲柳良种基地的16年生水曲柳子代测定林75个半同胞家系为材料,分别在第4、11和16年对其树高、地径（胸径）和材积进行测定。方差分析结果表明,不同变异来源各指标均达极显著差异水平（P<0.01）;各指标表型变异系数变化范围为22.20%~63.30%,家系遗传力变化范围为0.796~0.981;相关性分析结果表明各指标间均呈极显著正相关;以材积为评价指标,按10%入选率对家系进行评价选择,初步筛选8个优良家系,入选的家系材积平均值比总平均值高0.007 m³,遗传增益为36.03%;该研究选出的优良家系可为良种登记提供基础,也可为种子园的改建提供材料。     

氮添加和水分胁迫对红松、水曲柳幼苗生物量分配的影响

氮沉降和暖干化是我国东北地区面临的主要生态问题,它将对森林生态系统产生怎样的影响一直是生态学研究的热点.本研究以东北温带阔叶红松林中2个关键树种——红松和水曲柳为研究对象,探讨水分胁迫和氮(N)添加对其幼苗短期(55周)生长的影响.结果表明: 红松与水曲柳幼苗生长对N添加和水分胁迫的响应有明显差异.红松对水分胁迫更加敏感,在处理早期(10周)水分胁迫降低了红松幼苗叶生物量,提高了根生物量;N添加只在水分胁迫发生时显著减少了红松根和植株总生物量.水曲柳对N添加的反应更加敏感,氮添加迅速增加了水曲柳茎、根和总生物量;而只有持续的水分胁迫才对水曲柳的茎、根和总生物量有显著影响.红松和水曲柳在持续水分胁迫和N添加处理下,叶、根生物量占比和地上、地下生物量之比都趋于维持一个稳定值,说明两个树种都有很强的自我调节能力.以上结果说明,在未来干旱条件下,红松采取的是“积极”的调整策略,而水曲柳则是“被动”的适应策略,因而相比较而言,红松存活和适应能力可能更强;而在N沉降增加的环境下,水曲柳受益会更大.这些结果可为预测未来东北温带森林群落演替动态提供参考.     

Genetic Improvement in <i>Juglans mandshurica</i> and Its Uses in China: Current Status and Future Prospects

Juglans mandshurica is an economically and ecologically valuable species that is used for various construction purposes, making luxurious furniture, as food and sources of medicinal substances and landscaping because of its excellent wood, edible fruits and rich in various types of chemical compounds. In the past few decades, several genetic improvements of J. mandshurica were made, with a focus on the selection of improved varieties and on breeding technology. Many elite provenances and families were selected based on growth traits or wood properties. In recent years, with the increasing demand for high-quality seedlings in Chinese forestry production, the breeding goals of genetic improvement for J. mandshurica were redefined to include other traits, such as fruit yield and contents of medicinal component. However, the improvement processes were still slow due to the long breeding cycle and the limited use of advanced breeding technologies, resulting in the selection of fewer improved varieties. In this review, we summarized the research progresses on genetic improvements of J. mandshurica and other related works, and discussed research gaps and suggested future directions for genetic improvement of the species. The review provides valuable insight for the selection of improved varieties and production of excellent germplasms.     

The contribution of trees to ecosystem methane emissions in a temperate forested wetland

Wetland‐adapted trees are known to transport soil‐produced methane (CH₄), an important greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, yet seasonal variations and controls on the magnitude of tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions remain unknown for mature forests. We examined the spatial and temporal variability in stem CH₄ emissions in situ and their controls in two wetland‐adapted tree species (Alnus glutinosa and Betula pubescens) located in a temperate forested wetland. Soil and herbaceous plant‐mediated CH₄ emissions from hollows and hummocks also were measured, thus enabling an estimate of contributions from each pathway to total ecosystem flux. Stem CH₄ emissions varied significantly between the two tree species, with Alnus glutinosa displaying minimal seasonal variations, while substantial seasonal variations were observed in Betula pubescens. Trees from each species emitted similar quantities of CH₄ from their stems regardless of whether they were situated in hollows or hummocks. Soil temperature and pore‐water CH₄ concentrations best explained annual variability in stem emissions, while wood‐specific density and pore‐water CH₄ concentrations best accounted for between‐species variations in stem CH₄ emission. Our study demonstrates that tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions contribute up to 27% of seasonal ecosystem CH₄ flux in temperate forested wetland, with the largest relative contributions occurring in spring and winter. Tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions currently are not included in trace gas budgets of forested wetland. Further work is required to quantify and integrate this transport pathway into CH₄ inventories and process‐based models.     

Long-term effects on the nitrogen budget of a short-rotation grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) forest on abandoned agricultural land

Short-rotation energy forestry is one of the potential ways for management of abandoned agricultural areas. It helps sequestrate carbon and mitigate human-induced climate changes. Owing to symbiotic dinitrogen (N₂) fixation by actinomycetes and the soil fertilizing capacity and fast biomass growth of grey alders, the latter can be suitable species for short-rotation forestry. In our study of a young grey alder stand (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on abandoned arable land in Estonia we tested the following hypotheses: (1) afforestation of abandoned agricultural land by grey alder significantly affects the soil nitrogen (N) status already during the first rotation period; (2) input of symbiotic fixation covers an essential part of the plant annual N demand of the stand; (3) despite a considerable N input into the ecosystem of a young alder stand, there will occur no significant environmental hazards (N leaching or N₂O emissions). The first two hypotheses can be accepted: there was a significant increase in N and C content in the topsoil (from 0.11 to 0.14%, and from 1.4 to 1.7%, respectively), and N fixation (151.5 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) covered about 74% of the annual N demand of the stand. The third hypothesis met support as well: N₂O emissions (0.5 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) were low, while most of the annual gaseous N losses were in the form of N₂ (73.8 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Annual average NO₃-N leaching was 15 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ but the N that leached from topsoil accumulated in deeper soil layers. The soil acidifying effect of alders was clearly evident; during the 14-year period soil acidity increased 1.3 units in the upper 0-10 cm topsoil layer.     

胡桃楸提取液对肿瘤细胞增殖的抑制作用

目的考察胡桃楸提取液对肿瘤细胞Hela、K562的抑制作用和相关机制。方法用MTT方法分析胡桃楸提取液对Hela、K562细胞增殖的影响。采用端粒酶PCR ELISA试剂盒分析胡桃楸提取液对Hela、K562细胞端粒酶的影响。结果 Hela细胞24、48和72 h的LD50分别为406.18μg/mL、319.48μg/mL和112.84μg/mL。K562细胞24 h LD50为154.50μg/mL。HLF细胞LD50为918.69μg/mL。胡桃楸提取液可抑制Hela细胞和K562细胞的端粒酶活性,而对HLF细胞端粒酶活性影响不大。结论胡桃楸提取液对Hela细胞、K562细胞有抑制作用,在低浓度下对HLF细胞杀伤不大。对肿瘤细胞抑制作用可能与抑制端粒酶活性相关。     

岩溶石山台湾桤木生长表现及根瘤生物量特征

了解台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)在岩溶石山的生长表现以及根瘤生物量的特征,对石山植被的恢复与重建具有重要意义。该文采用典型样地调查方法对岩溶石山4.5年生台湾桤木与速生乡土树种任豆(Zenia insignis)、顶果木(Acrocarpus fraxinifolius)进行了调查研究,并用方差分析方法进行统计和评价。结果表明:台湾桤木平均胸径、树高、材积和冠幅分别为8.39 cm、7.72 m、0.0271 m3和3.18 m,均大于任豆和顶果木,且差异达到极显著水平;台湾桤木冠长达6.01 m,分别比任豆和顶果木增加106.53%和70.25%;台湾桤木在岩溶石山表现出速生的特性。对台湾桤木样株的根瘤生长状况进行深入调查分析发现,台湾桤木根瘤生物量平均每株达52.77 g,根瘤在水平方向分布从树干基部至树冠投影范围均有生长,离树干50 cm与离树干50～100 cm范围的根瘤生物量相近,离树干100 cm至树冠投影范围的根瘤生物量最多,三个地段的根瘤分别占整株根瘤生物量的15.7%、16.9%、67.4%;大根瘤(直径≥1 cm)在离树干100 cm至树冠投影范围分布最多;根瘤在垂直方向主要分布在0～20 cm土层,20～40 cm土层少有根瘤出现;台湾桤木在岩溶石山表现出良好的结瘤固氮特性。该研究结果可为台湾桤木在岩溶石山的推广发展提供科学依据。