Effects of larval age and prolonged simulated acid rain on the susceptibility of European pine sawfly to virus infection

We studied the effect of simulated acid rain treatment of host trees on the susceptibility of the European pine sawfly larvae to virus, and possible differences when larvae of two different ages were infected. Older larvae were less susceptible to virus. Most larvae treated with virus 2 days after they started feeding on experimental foliage (group A) died rapidly within 10 days after the virus treatment, and survival to the end of the larval period was only 8–25%. Larvae treated with virus 1 week later (group B) were less affected by the virus and 36–49% survived. In group A the larval survival in the pH 3 treatment was higher than in other treatments; at the end of the larval period the difference was twofold. In group B there were no clear effects of acid rain on the susceptibility of larvae to virus. The study yielded the following new information: (1) the effect of prolonged acid rain treatment on reducing the efficacy of virus on young larvae was more distinct than in a previous study with shorter exposure to acid rain, and the difference was maintained to the end of larval period; (2) the susceptibility of older larvae to virus was not affected by acid rain treatments; (3) pH inside the needles did not explain the larval mortality caused by virus.     

Waterlogging and fire impacts on nitrogen availability and utilization in a subtropical wet heathland (wallum)

Protein, amino acids and ammonium were the main forms of soluble soil nitrogen in the soil solution of a subtropical heathland (wallum). After fire, soil ammonium and nitrate increased 90- and 60-fold, respectively. Despite this increase in nitrate availability after fire, wallum species exhibited uniformly low nitrate reductase activities and low leaf and xylem nitrate. During waterlogging soil amino acids increased, particularly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which accounted for over 50% of amino nitrogen. Non-mycorrhizal wallum species were significantly (P < 0.05) ¹⁵N-enriched (0.3–4.3‰) compared to species with mycorrhizal associations (ericoid-type, ecto-, va-mycorrhizal) which were strongly depleted in ¹⁵N (-6.3 to -1.8‰). Lignotubers and roots had δ¹⁵N signatures similar to that of the leaves of respective species. The exceptions were fine roots of ecto-, ecto/va-, and ericoid type mycorrhizal species which were enriched in ¹⁵N (0.1–2.4‰). The 5¹⁵N signatures of δ¹⁵N_{total soil N} and δ¹⁵N_{soil NH4+} were in the range 3.7–4.5‰, whereas δ¹⁵N_{soil NO3?} was significantly (P < 0.05) more enriched in ¹⁵N (9.2–9.8‰). It is proposed that there is discrimination against ¹⁵N during transfer of nitrogen from fungal to plant partner. Roots of selected species incorporated nitrogen sources in the order of preference: ammonium > glycine > nitrate. The exception were proteoid roots of Hakea (Proteaceae) which incorporated equal amounts of glycine and ammonium.     

Influence of encapsulation on the survival of probiotics in food matrix under simulated stress conditions

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of encapsulation by extrusion technique using two hydrogels, namely; sodium alginate (Na-ALG) and whey protein isolate (WPI) on Bifidobacterium bifidium viability and stability of yoghurt under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Probiotic bacteria (free or encapsulated) were added to yogurt for four weeks to test their viability and stability. Physicochemical and sensory analysis of yoghurt were conducted. Viability of B. bifidium in the simulated gastrointestinal conditions pH 2 and pH 7.5 was determined. Also, the efficiency of encapsulated final yield of the microcapsules was determined. With storage time, the pH of yoghurt containing encapsulated bacteria increased more than that of yoghurt containing free probiotic bacteria, resulting in a decrease in acidity. When compared to yoghurt containing encapsulated bacteria, the lactose level of yoghurt containing free probiotic bacteria decreased over time. The viscosity of yoghurt containing encapsulated WPI remained stable over the storage period, with syneresis remaining stable. The sensory properties of yoghurt containing free probiotics deteriorated over time. Cell viability was significantly reduced in yoghurt-containing free probiotics compared to other treated yoghurts. Cell viability in free probiotics yoghurt was lower than in encapsulated ones when exposed to simulated gastric and intestinal juice. In conclusion, WPI- encapsulated probiotics showed better stability over 28 days of storage in both yoghurt and gastrointestinal conditions, followed by sodium alginate.     

The influence of local elevation on the effects of secondary salinity in remnant eucalypt woodlands: Changes in understorey communities

Increasing land salinization in Australia is predicted to lead to severe declines in species diversity in affected areas, and perhaps significant numbers of species extinctions. Much of the diversity that will be lost consists of understorey and mid-storey species, yet the overwhelming majority of research has focussed on salinity tolerance in tree species. We investigated how the presence of a shallow, saline water table affected the understorey species composition, species richness and species diversity in two remnant Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely woodlands in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Species richness and species diversity were significantly lower in areas with a shallow water table at elevations < 0.5 m above the lowest local elevation, compared with both higher elevations and with areas of low elevation without a shallow water table. Species composition (Bray-Curtis similarities) was also significantly different in low elevation, saline areas. At one site, saline areas were colonized by native and alien species that were not present in the surrounding vegetation, yet the community that has developed does not contain either the species or structural diversity of the surrounding system. At the other site, no colonisation of saline areas by new species occurred. Even though small differences in elevation (< 0.5 m) at our study sites were important in moderating the impacts of salinity in areas with a shallow water table, the loss of species diversity, species richness and structural complexity in low-lying elevations indicated that the ecological risk from secondary salinity to species associated only with drainage lines, seasonally wet flats and other low-lying areas is severe. The priority is to identify those vegetation communities that are restricted to only low relative elevations within the landscape and that only occur in remnants predicted to be at a high risk of developing a shallow and saline water table.     

Acclimation to Soil Flooding–sensing and signal-transduction

Flooding results in major changes in the soil environment. The slow diffusion rate of gases in water limits the oxygen supply, which affects aerobic root respiration as well as many (bio)geochemical processes in the soil. Plants from habitats subject to flooding have developed several ways to acclimate to these growth-inhibiting conditions, ranging from pathways that enable anaerobic metabolism to specific morphological and anatomical structures that prevent oxygen shortage. In order to acclimate in a timely manner, it is crucial that a flooding event is accurately sensed by the plant. Sensing may largely occur in two ways: by the decrease of oxygen concentration, and by an increase in ethylene. Although ethylene sensing is now well understood, progress in unraveling the sensing of oxygen has been made only recently. With respect to the signal-transduction pathways, two types of acclimation have received most attention. Aerenchyma formation, to promote gas diffusion through the roots, seems largely under control of ethylene, whereas adventitious root development appears to be induced by an interaction between ethylene and auxin. Parts of these pathways have been described for a range of species, but a complete overview is not yet available. The use of molecular-genetic approaches may fill the gaps in our knowledge, but a lack of suitable model species may hamper further progress.     

不同水分条件下氮素供应对小麦植株氮代谢及籽粒蛋白质积累的影响

土壤水分逆境是限制小麦籽粒品质形成的重要生态因子,明确土壤水分逆境下小麦籽粒品质形成的生理机制及调优技术途径,对于深化小麦品质生理生态研究和指导小麦调优栽培具有重要的理论意义和应用前景。在防雨池栽条件下,设置渍水、干旱和对照3个水分处理,每个水分处理下再设置120和240 kg.hm-2两个施氮水平,研究了花后渍水和干旱逆境下氮素对两个籽粒蛋白质含量不同的小麦品种植株氮代谢和籽粒蛋白质积累的影响。结果表明,与正常水分处理相比,花后干旱和渍水均降低旗叶硝酸还原酶活性、叶片总氮含量和游离氨基酸含量。干旱处理提高了茎鞘总氮与游离氨基酸含量以及籽粒蛋白质含量,而渍水处理则使其降低。水分逆境下增施氮肥提高旗叶硝酸还原酶活性、叶片与茎鞘总氮和游离氨基酸含量以及籽粒游离氨基酸和蛋白质含量。花后干旱和渍水均显著降低了小麦籽粒产量和蛋白质产量。增施氮肥提高适宜水分和水分亏缺条件下小麦籽粒产量,但不利于渍水下小麦产量的提高。这说明,花后渍水和干旱逆境下施用氮肥对小麦植株氮代谢和籽粒蛋白质积累有明显的调节效应。     

油菜素内酯对毛豆幼苗生长及其抗渍性的影响

试验采用不同浓度油菜素内酯对毛豆幼苗进行叶面喷施处理,测定其在渍水胁迫下对毛豆营养生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明:采用一定浓度的油菜素内酯处理可以促进苗生长、提高根系活力、叶绿素含量、脯氨酸含量和抑制丙二醛增生、降低细胞膜透性,增强了毛豆幼苗对渍水环境的抵抗能力。从叶面喷施后对毛豆的营养指标和生理指标进行综合判断可知:在试验的范围内,以1mL/L油菜素内酯的处理效果为最佳。