Taste receptor activity and feeding behaviour reveal mechanisms of white spruce natural resistance to Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana

The pattern of feeding of Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is compared on foliage from white spruce Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. (Pinaceae) trees previously determined to be susceptible and resistant to defoliation by budworm. No differences are observed in electrophysiological responses from taste sensilla to aqueous extracts of the two foliage types, nor is there a preference for either extract type in a choice test. Acetone extracts from the two foliage types are both preferred to a control sucrose solution, although neither elicits a preference relative to the other. These results suggest that there is no difference in phagostimulatory power of internal leaf contents of the two foliage types. Longer‐term observation of feeding behaviour in a no‐choice situation shows no difference in meal duration, confirming the lack of difference in phagostimulatory power. However, on average, intermeal intervals are twice as long on the resistant foliage, leading to an overall lower food consumption during the assay. This result suggests an anti‐digestive or toxic effect of the resistant foliage that slows behaviour and limits food intake. Previous research has shown that waxes of the resistant foliage deter initiation of feeding by the spruce budworm and that this foliage contains higher levels of tannins and monoterpenes. The data suggest that the resistant foliage contains a post‐ingestive second line of defence against the spruce budworm.     

Electrical impedance of white spruce shoots in relation to pressure-volume analysis and free sugar content

Electrical impedance measurements made on white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, stems were related to shoot free sugar contents and to osmotic, turgor and water potential. During seasonal dormancy induction, there were commensurate increases in free sugar contents, osmotic potential at full turgor and impedance which resulted in linear relationships among these variables. When measured over the course of laboratory drying, impedance increased curvilinearly with decreasing relative water content. There was a linear increase in impedance with decreasing water potential, with a break point coincident with the turgor loss point, possibly attributed to disruption to current flow through broken plasmodesmatal connections between adjacent cells. This technique offers a non-destructive method to measure tissue free sugar content, and therefore, short- and long-term shifts in parameters historically derived from pressure-volume analysis.     

Non‐parametric habitat models with automatic interactions

Questions: Can a statistical model be designed to represent more directly the nature of organismal response to multiple interacting factors? Can multiplicative kernel smoothers be used for this purpose? What advantages does this approach have over more traditional habitat modelling methods? Methods: Non‐parametric multiplicative regression (NPMR) was developed from the premises that: the response variable has a minimum of zero and a physiologically‐determined maximum, species respond simultaneously to multiple ecological factors, the response to any one factor is conditioned by the values of other factors, and that if any of the factors is intolerable then the response is zero. Key features of NPMR are interactive effects of predictors, no need to specify an overall model form in advance, and built‐in controls on overfitting. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated with simulated and real data sets. Results: Empirical and theoretical relationships of species response to multiple interacting predictors can be represented effectively by multiplicative kernel smoothers. NPMR allows us to abandon simplistic assumptions about overall model form, while embracing the ecological truism that habitat factors interact.     

遮荫处理下多脉青冈和金叶含笑的叶解剖结构变化研究

运用结构植物学方法,以多脉青冈（Cyclobalanopsis multinervis)和金叶含笑(Michelia foveolata)2年生苗为材料,进行全光照处理和遮荫处理下叶结构观察比较。结果显示,长期遮荫处理下,多脉青冈和金叶含笑新生叶的表皮细胞变薄,栅栏组织变得稀疏,层数有减少趋势,海绵组织更加疏松;多脉青冈的叶角质层退化。表明长期的弱光照下,2种树种的新生叶叶结构产生了适廊性的变化,其适应程度可以推测植物对光环境变化的适应能力强弱和进化潜力,研究结果对预测园林树种的光适应能力和结构进化有一定意义。     

Effect of copper on callus growth and gene expression of in vitro-cultured pith explants of Nicotiana glauca

Abstract

Copper is a vital component of electron transfer reactions mediated by proteins such as superoxide dismutase, cytochrome c oxidase and plastocyanin, but its concentrations in the cells needs to be maintained at low levels. In fact, the same ability of this essential metal ion to transfer electrons can also make it toxic to cells when present in excess. In vitro cultured explants of Nicotiana have been extensively used as a model to analyse metal-DNA interactions. In this report, we examined the effect of copper (1, 10 and 100 μM CuSO₄) on callus growth and protein synthesis of in vitro-cultured pith explants of Nicotiana glauca. In addition, a N. glauca cDNA library from Cu-treated (100 μM CuSO₄) pith explants cultured in vitro for 24 h was analysed by mRNA differential screening. The copper treatments inhibited callus growth of pith explants. The extent of inhibition was directly correlated to metal concentration. One and 10 μM CuSO₄ induced a notable increase of proteins synthesis relative to control explants. By contrast, 100 μM CuSO₄ inhibited protein synthesis relative to control extracts. The SDS-PAGE fluorography of pith proteins revealed, in Cu-treated extracts qualitative and/or quantitative differences in the synthesis of some polypeptides compared with control explants. Copper-modulated patterns of gene expression were also analysed by mRNA differential screening. The N. glauca genes isolated from Cu-treated pith explants shared common identities with other genes known to be elicited by diverse stresses, including pathogenesis and abiotic stress. In particular, the cDNAs were homologues to genes encoding cell wall proteins (i.e., extensin, and arabinogalactan-protein) and pathogenesis-related proteins (i.e., osmotin, endochitinase and a member of the Systemic Acquired Resistance gene family). In addition, an MD-2-related lipid-recognition (ML) domain protein and the enzyme S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase appeared involved in the response to copper stress. In animal cells, AdoHcy hydrolase is a copper binding protein in vivo, which suggests that, also in plant tissues, this enzyme may play an important role in regulating the levels and intracellular distribution of copper.     

N and P resorption as functions of the needle age class in two conifer trees

Aims Given the importance of resorption in nutrient conservations, nutrient resorption should change with leaf age if resorption depends on nutrient content, and if nutrient content changes with leaf age. However, no study has addressed this issue.     

专一转化人参二醇类皂苷Rb1为Rd的真菌菌株的筛选

于2009年的7－10月间在辽宁省的桓仁,吉林省的集安、靖宇、抚松等药材产区采集人参及人参根际土壤样品45份。通过真菌分离和培养,共获得真菌菌株105株,经形态学鉴定分属于15属48种。通过活性筛选,得到具有转化人参总皂苷活性的菌株25株,其中菌株SR87和SR105对人参皂苷Rb1具有专一转化活性。通过TLC和HPLC检测,其转化产物为人参皂苷Rd。经形态学鉴定,确定阳性菌株SR87为莫勒接霉Zygorhynchus moelleri,SR105为灰绿犁头霉Absidia glauca。这两株真菌均有较高的转化潜力,可以应用于制备人参皂苷Rd。     

模拟酸雨胁迫对青冈幼苗光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

选择亚热带常绿阔叶林优势树种青冈幼苗为研究对象,设置3个酸雨处理：pH 2.5、pH 4.0、pH 5.6(CK),研究不同强度的模拟酸雨对青冈幼苗光合特性、叶绿素荧光参数和叶绿素含量的影响.结果表明：经过2年酸雨处理,青冈的净光合速率随着酸雨强度的增加而显著上升.pH 2.5、pH 4.0处理的酸雨增大了青冈的气孔导度和蒸腾速率,且对pH 2.5处理的影响更为显著.胞间CO₂浓度的大小顺序是pH 2.5>pH 5.6>pH 4.0.pH 2.5、pH 4.0处理青冈的最大净光合速率、光补偿点、光饱和点、暗呼吸速率显著高于对照,表观量子效率对酸雨胁迫不敏感.pH 2.5、pH 4.0处理青冈的PSⅡ原初光能转化效率和PSⅡ的潜在活性显著高于对照.青冈的叶绿素相对含量大小顺序是pH 2.5>pH 5.6>pH 4.0,且pH 2.5与pH 4.0之间有显著差异.说明青冈幼苗的光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数指标在pH 2.5和pH 4.0的酸雨处理下有所增加,且在pH 2.5强度下增加更为明显.     

Conservation and fruit biology of Sichou oak (Quercus sichourensis,Fagaceae) – A critically endangered species in China

Several conservation programs have been started for the critically endangered Sichou oak (Quercus sichourensis) since 2007. These programs include detailed field investigations, seedling cultivation and research on the fruit biology of the species. In this study, we first report on the five mature individual trees found in our 9-year field investigation. Thus far, a total of 10 mature individuals have been recorded. All Q. sichourensis trees are healthy and most produce healthy acorns. Acorns of Q. sichourensis are large with dry masses of 8.0–14.0 g. These acorns had high moisture contents at collection and died shortly after (7–28 d) when dried with silica gel. Characteristics of Q. sichourensis acorns varied between populations. Compared with the acorns from Funing, the acorns collected from Ceheng were bigger, more viable (germination percentage was up to 96%), less sensitive to desiccation, and germinated faster. Q. sichourensis occurs in regions with a distinct 5–6 month dry season. Habitat degradation is largely responsible for the rareness of Quercus sichorensis, but desiccation sensitivity of the acorns may also limit the regeneration of the species and potentially lead to its continued rareness. As a species with extremely small populations (PSESP), Q. sichourensis is facing high risk of extinction and should be defined as a Critically Endangered species in the global IUCN Red List.     

Spruce budworm feeding and oviposition are stimulated by monoterpenes in white spruce epicuticular waxes

Monoterpenes, source of the distinctive odor of conifers, are generally considered plant defensive compounds. However, they are also known to act as long‐range insect attractants, as they are volatile and permeate forest airspaces. Moreover, they are lipid soluble and can be absorbed into plant epicuticular waxes. We test their role in short‐range host plant choice by both adult females and larvae of a folivorous forest pest (Choristoneura fumiferana). We conducted laboratory assays testing the responses of Eastern spruce budworm to an artificial monoterpene mix (α‐pinene, β‐pinene, limonene, myrcene) and to white spruce (Picea glauca) epicuticular waxes in closed arenas. Ovipositing females preferred filter paper discs treated with P. glauca waxes to controls, and preferred the waxes + monoterpenes treatment to waxes alone. However, females showed no preference between the monoterpene‐treated disc and the control when presented without waxes. Feeding larvae prefered wax discs to control discs. They also consumed discs treated with realistic monoterpene concentrations and wax preferentially over wax‐only discs, but showed no preference between extremely high monoterpene concentrations and wax‐only controls. In an insect‐free assay, P. glauca epicuticular wax decreased monoterpene volatilization. These results suggest that P. glauca waxes and realistic concentrations of monoterpenes are stimulatory to both egg‐laying females and feeding larvae, and that their effects are synergistic.