Photosynthesis and wood structure in Pinus radiata D. Don during dehydration and immediately after rewatering

Abstract. Experiments were carried out on Pinus radiata (D. Don) trees grown as cuttings from clonal parent stock. Some of these trees were about 0.4 m high while others were about 5 m high; all were grown in containers. The stem diameters at the tops and at the bottoms of the large trees, rates of photosynthesis, and needle water potentials were measured both when the trees were well watered and as they dehydrated after water was withheld. The water potentials of well-watered plants was highest in the small trees and lowest at the top of the large trees. When water was withheld, photosynthesis was in most cases unaffected by a small reduction in water potential, but the rate of photosynthesis fell as water potentials declined further. The stems of the large trees expanded at a constant rate when the trees were well watered and for part of the dehydration period, while subsequent stem shrinkage and the fall in photosynthesis both occurred at approximately the same time.
Water potentials increased little in the 24 h after rewatering, and significant rates of photosynthesis were not measured until 2 or 3 d later while renewed stem expansion was not measured until 2 d after rewatering.
Water deficits reduced the lumen diameter of newly matured stem tracheids, but increased the thickness of their walls. After 1 month of water potentials of about −2.4 MPa, tracheid lumen diameter and wall thickness were both much reduced, and this reduction continued in tracheids maturing shortly after rewatering.     

Food distribution,dominance, and aggressive behaviors in bonnet macaques

Resource availability or distribution may affect interindividual competition in species such as primates, which forage in social groups, and several field studies suggest that dominance status predicts access to restricted food sources. Increased competition due to restricted resources may result in the intensification of aggressive behaviors. The study reported here examines the impact of manipulation of the distribution of food resources in a laboratory-housed group of bonnet macaques to assess the impact of distribution on aggressive behaviors. Food was restricted to a space which allowed access to only one or two individuals at a time or was dispersed throughout the living enclosure to allow universal access in alternating periods. During periods of clumped distribution, the monkeys obtained access to the food in order of their dominance status in the group. In addition, overall levels of aggressive behaviors increased, submissive behavior increased, and play decreased during periods of clumped distribution of food. These results confirm the findings from field studies indicating increases in agonism with restriction of food resources. These findings also have implications for primate colony management, in terms of developing strategies for minimizing intragroup aggression in captive groups.     

Lipid and pigment changes during shoot initiation in cultured explants of Pinus radiata

Cotyledon explants of radiata pine contain principally lipid and protein reserve materials, which decline during shoot initiation. This process was followed phytochemically and ultrastructurally. Fatty acid and sterol analyses indicated that there were both quantitative and qualitative changes in the different classes of lipid. The most pronounced changes were an increase in the linolenic acid content of the polar lipids and the appearance of stigmasterol during shoot initiation. There was also a continued increase in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels, which paralleled chloroplast development. It appears that the changes observed were similar to those that occur in cotyledons during normal seedling development.     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Malagasy radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata)

The radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) is an endangered endemic species from Madagascar that inhabits the semiarid spiny forest of the southern part of the island. Habitat destruction and illegal harvesting greatly threaten this species, as attested by the significant reduction of its distribution area in the past 30 years. In order to undertake appropriate conservation actions, it is essential to acquire a better knowledge of its genetic structure. For this study, 145 blood samples were collected from three populations of radiated tortoises in southwestern Madagascar. Eight microsatellite loci were found to be polymorphic, and allelic diversity and observed heterozygosity were high for all markers.     

Pinus radiata invasion in Australia: Identifying key knowledge gaps and research directions

Abstract Early recognition of plant invaders has been widely identified as the key to their successful management and yet too often species are only noticed and receive adequate attention once they have become widespread and control has become difficult and costly. Slow growing species are at particular risk of being overlooked, despite their ability to cause significant ecological damage. One such species, Pinus radiata (Monterey pine), has spread from large commercial plantations into native vegetation across the southern hemisphere. Here we review the status of P. radiata invasion in Australia, a country where the species has successfully naturalized but remains an invader of only low‐level concern. Patterns of spread in Australia mirror those in New Zealand and South Africa, two countries where invasive pines are considered major threats to biodiversity. While many areas adjacent to plantations remain free from invasion, dense infestations have occurred at several sites in areas of high conservation value demanding the implementation of adequate control measures. Expansion of Australia's plantation estate and increasing human disturbance of natural areas surrounding plantations will increase the likelihood and extent of invasion. Continued monitoring of wildling populations will determine the ability of pines to dominate native eucalypt forest and will provide insight into broader ideas of community invasibility.     

长筒石蒜鳞片诱导和植株再生

采用长筒石蒜带基盘鳞片为外植体,以MS为基本培养基,附加不同种类和浓度的植物生长调节物质诱导小鳞茎,在NAA 0.1 mg·L-1 6-BA 5.0 mg·L-1及ZT 0.5 mg·L-1 6-BA 5.0 mg·L-1的培养基上,小鳞茎(芽)增殖率可达480%;以蔗糖浓度为6%的MS培养基上的小鳞茎生长量最高;小鳞茎在MS培养基上生根率可达100%;移栽成活率为90%左右.     

石蒜属植物的药用和观赏利用前景

石蒜属植物是重要的药用植物,又是一类优良观赏植物,既可用于园林配置,也可用作切花生产或盆栽。综述了石蒜属植物的药用和观赏价值并对其应用前景进行了探讨,为全面开发利用我国这一丰富的野生资源提供了一些理论基础。     

石蒜属12种植物叶片比较解剖学研究

对石蒜属（Lycoris Herb．）12种植物叶片的比较解剖学研究表明：（1）石蒜属植物叶片横切面的端部、中部及基部的轮廓基本呈浅“W”或“V”字型,有些种的表皮细胞上具有明显的尖刺状乳突;（2）石蒜属植物均为异面叶,叶肉组织有一定的栅栏组织和海绵组织分化,但二者的厚度、叶肉中所占比例及栅栏组织的细胞层数在种间有一定的差异;（3）海绵组织发达、具有大而明显的薄壁细胞或细胞裂溶后形成空腔（分泌腔或气腔）;（4）叶片中维管束数目大多为奇数,叶脉维管束鞘由薄壁细胞组成;（5）石蒜属植物横切面上叶缘的形状分为圆弧形和楔形两种类型。石蒜属植物叶的解剖结构具有许多相似特征;同时又具有一定的种间差异,可为石蒜属槽物的种间关系和开发利用提供有价值的信息。     

基于叶绿体DNA atpB-rbcL区序列探讨石蒜属种间系统发育关系

摘要：为了探讨石蒜属（Lycoris Herb.）的种间系统发育关系,对石蒜属95个材料包括15种、4变种及2个人工杂种的叶绿体 DNA atpB-rbcL间隔区进行了测序,结合花部形态和核型特征,探讨了石蒜属种间系统关系及其可能的杂交起源,结果表明：在系统发育树上亲缘关系近的材料聚在一起,其中矮小石蒜（L. radiata var. pumila）和换锦花（L. sprengeri）与2个人工杂交种（Hybrid 1、Hybrid 2）、麦秆石蒜（L. straminea）、江苏石蒜（L. houdyshelii）、短蕊石蒜（L. caldwellii）和乳白石蒜（L. albiflora）具有密切的亲缘关系。atpB-rbcL序列揭示的石蒜属种间关系与染色体核型的分类结果部分一致,主要表现在具有近端部着丝粒(A)染色体的种与具有中部(M)和端部(T)着丝粒染色体的种各成一支,与形态和染色体分类结果一致;不同之处在于具有中部、端部和近端部着丝粒染色体的种分散在两个主要分支内,进一步验证了具有中部、端部和近端部3种着丝粒类型染色体组的石蒜如麦秆石蒜、江苏石蒜、短蕊石蒜和乳白石蒜等是杂交起源的假设,结合2个人工杂交种分析,揭示了短蕊石蒜和乳白石蒜的近端部着丝粒染色体来源于换锦花;麦秆石蒜和江苏石蒜近端部着丝粒染色体来源于矮小石蒜。