Effects of growth differences due to geographic location and N-fertilisation on wood chemistry of Norway spruce

We studied the effect of long-term nitrogen fertilisation on wood chemistry at two boreal sites in Finland: the northern site (Kemijärvi) and the southern site (Heinola). N-fertilisation was repeated in five-year intervals from the 1960s. Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) trees that had been planted in 1938 and 1954, in the northern and the southern site, respectively, were harvested in October 2002. Altogether 20 trees, in five different size classes, either unfertilised or fertilised, were felled. Wood sections at breast height, consisting of five consecutive annual rings, from six (Kemijärvi) or five (Heinola) points with different distances from the pith were examined. Differences in growth between the northern and southern sites were marked in favour of the southern site. In the northern site fertilisation had clearly increased the diameter growth, while in the southern site fertilisation had no effect. Nitrogen fertilisation resulted in slight changes in wood chemistry that included increased nitrogen concentrations in the northern site and extractives in the southern site. Stem wood had higher concentrations of extractives, starch, and uronic acids, and lower concentration of cellulose, in the northern than in the southern site. Changes in the stem wood chemistry along radial axis were marked. The changes in wood chemistry are discussed in relation to the physiological function and also how the changes can influence the suitability of wood for different end-use purposes.     

Formation of a Tree having a Low Lignin Content

Received 30 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 26 October 2001     

Tannin,nitrogen, and cell wall composition of green vs. senescent Douglas-fir foliage

Summary Tannin, cell wall, and nitrogen composition of green foliage and needle litter of similar-aged Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) from two stands differing in density and crown closure were compared. Trees in the closed-canopy stand had a lower basal area growth rate than those in the open-canopy stand. Stands did not differ in wood basal area/ha or forest floor C/N ratios, but the closed-canopy stand had a significantly larger accumulation of forest floor biomass and significantly higher levels of field-extractable nitrogen and nitrogen mineralization rates. Green foliage from trees in the closed-canopy stand had significantly lower nitrogen, astringency, and lignin contents, but higher cellulose concentration than trees in the open-canopy stand. These trends, inconsistent with the inverse relationship often observed between nitrogen and polyphenol contents of foliage, may result from differences in relative resource availability in the two stands. In contrast to green foliage, needle litter from the two stands had comparable contents of nitrogen, cellulose, and lignin, but astringency was significantly higher in litter from the closed-canopy stand. It is suggested that, within the constraints imposed by site conditions, evergreens may alter the tannin composition of senescing foliage, potentially affecting herbivory and decomposition differently.     

Fractionation of subcellular membranes of the secretory pathway from the peroxidase-producing white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract Mycelia from the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium , producing lignin and manganese peroxidases, were homogenized and fractionated on a sucrose gradient. The main subcellular fungal membrane fractions were successfully separated. Lipid composition analyses of the isolated membranes as well as associated marker enzymes distribution gave evidence to similarities with membranes originating from plants. Lignin and manganese peroxidases were investigated by immunodetection in subcellular fractions. Our results show that lignin and manganese peroxidases are mainly associated with Golgi apparatus vesicles and, to a lesser extent, with endoplasmic reticulum and light density vesicles, but not with plasma membranes.     

Ligninolytic system of Phanerochaete chrysosporium: Inhibition by o-Phthalate

The degradation rate of [synthetic-¹⁴C]-lignin to ¹⁴CO₂ by Phanerochaete chrysosporium in cultures buffered with 0.01 M 2,2-dimethylsuccinate (DMS) was twice that in 0.01 M o-phthalate-buffered cultures. This difference could be totally accounted for by o-phthalate inhibition of the activity of the ligninolytic system. ¹⁴CO₂ production from ring-, sidechain-, and methoxyl-labeled lignins was inhibited, the degree of inhibition being dependent on o-phthalate concentration. Oxidations of ¹⁴C-glucose, ¹⁴C-acetovanillone, and ¹⁴C-apocynol were not inhibited; thus o-phthalate is not a general inhibitor, and might inhibit activities involved in attack of the lignin polymer. DMS is a suitable buffer for the ligninolytic system. Degradation rates of ring-labeled lignin to ¹⁴CO₂ of 10–15% in 24 h were obtained consistently over the pH range 3.6–4.5, with an optimum near pH 4.0.Non-Standard Abbreviations DMS dimethylsuccinate     

Effects of lignin content on the properties of lignocellulose-based biocomposites

The paper is focused on the analysis of the behaviour of biocomposites (biodegradable composites) which are reinforced with different fillers fractions, with varying lignin contents. These materials have been carried-out by extrusion and injection moulding. The matrix, an aromatic copolyester (polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate), is biodegradable. The lignocellulose fillers are a by-product of an industrial fractionation process of wheat straw. From the raw agro-material and by lignin extractions, various fillers fractions have been obtained by varying the fractionation conditions, both on the liquid media (aqueous or organic) and on the temperature. The fillers lignin contents vary from 30 to 14 wt% with a resultant increase of the cellulose content. We have analysed the impact of the different extraction conditions on the fillers surface and size distribution, and also on the final thermal and mechanical properties of the biocomposites. These materials present significant differences of behaviour which can fulfil some requirements for applications, such as non-food packaging or other short-lived applications (agriculture, sport …) where long-lasting polymers are not entirely adequate.     

橄榄果实发育过程中细胞壁物质和相关酶活性变化

为了解橄榄(Canarium album)果实质地差异形成的原因,以鲜食型橄榄‘清榄1号’和加工型橄榄‘长营’为材料,对果实发育过程中细胞壁物质含量和相关酶活性进行了测定。结果表明,随着橄榄果实的成熟,‘清榄1号’较‘长营’维持较高的果胶甲酯酶(PME)活性,促进了果胶的水解,离子型果胶(ISP)含量较高而共价型果胶(CSP)含量较低。2个橄榄品种纤维素含量均较高,‘清榄1号’果实的半纤维素含量低于‘长营’。‘清榄1号’木质素含量低于‘长营’,较高的苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性促进了木质素含量的增加。因此,ISP、CSP、半纤维素和木质素含量的不同可能是2个橄榄品种果实质地差异形成的原因。     

植物肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶基因克隆研究进展

木质素单体合成的过程中涉及了许多酶的参与,而肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶(cinnamoyl-CoA reductase,CCR)是该过程中的一个关键酶。综述了CCR基因在植物体内的克隆、基因功能及在植物组织中的表达情况,并介绍了该基因在植物的抗病虫害和抗逆性研究、饲草和能源上的应用潜力,为进一步研究CCR基因生物学功能和利用奠定了基础。     

石榴种皮总木质素含量及PgCOMT基因的克隆与表达

为探讨石榴(Punica granatumL.)籽粒硬度与种皮总木质素含量的相关性及种皮COMT基因的表达方式,利用Texture Analyser质构仪和巯基乙酸法测定6个品种的成熟籽粒硬度及种皮总木质素含量。结果表明,6个石榴品种的籽粒硬度与种皮总木质素含量呈正相关,相关系数为0.9246。采用RACE技术从石榴种皮中克隆得到1条长度为1456 bp的PgCOMT基因cDNA序列(GenBank登录号为KJ713968)。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,PgCOMT在‘红玉石籽’、‘粉皮’、‘会理软籽’、‘蒙自甜’和‘突尼斯软籽’石榴种皮中的相对表达量与石榴籽粒硬度较为一致;随着石榴种皮的发育其表达量先下降后上升。这为深入了解石榴软籽性状的产生机理奠定了基础。