Relationship of Aerial Broad Band Reflectance to Meloidogyne incognita Density in Cotton

Aerial images were obtained on 22 July 1999 and 4 August 2000 from five cotton sites infested with Meloidogyne incognita. Images contained three broad bands representing the green (500-600 nm), red (600-700 nm), and near-infrared (700-900 nm) spectrum. Soil samples were collected and assayed for nematodes in the fall at these sites. Sampling locations were identified from images, by locating the coordinates of a wide range of light intensity (measured as a digital number) for each single band, and combinations of bands. There was no single band or band combination in which reflectance consistently predicted M. incognita density. In all 10 site-year combinations, the minimum number of samples necessary to estimate M. incognita density within 25% of the population mean was greater when sampling by reflectance-based classes (3 to 4 per site) than sampling based on the entire site as one unit. Two sites were sampled at multiple times during the growing season. At these sites, there was no single time during the growing season optimal to take images for nematode sampling. Aerial infrared photography conducted during the growing season could not be used to accurately determine fall population densities of M. incognita.     

Factors affecting the extraction and the relative proportions of multiple forms of plant α-galactosidases

The extractability of α-galactosidase activity from mature Vicia faba seeds and the conversion of the low molecular weight form II to the larger oligomer I, was examined over a range of salt concentrations. Specific and total activities of the preparations were high when strong salt solutions were used. Extraction of α-galactosidase I, in comparison with II, requires solutions with a high ionic strength (e.g. 0.5 M NaCl). Interpretation of gel filtration patterns are, however, complicated by conversion of II to I which occurs under these conditions. This conversion is also enhanced by routine procedures used for enzyme purification, such as citric acid precipitation.     

蚕豆萎蔫病毒2号分离物侵染对蚕豆叶片光合活性和叶绿体超微结构的影响

研究了受蚕豆萎蔫病毒2号（Broad bean wilt virus 2,BBWV2）中国分离物B935和欧洲分离物PV131侵染的蚕豆（Vicica faba）叶片光合特性、叶绿素荧光诱导动力学参数和叶绿体超微结构变化。感病蚕豆叶绿素含量减少,叶绿素a／b比逐步降低;光合气体交换参数Pn值和Gs值降低,Ci值升高;叶绿素荧光诱导动力学参数Fv/Fm、FV＇/Fm＇、ΦPSII、qP值均有不同程度降低,NPQ值升高;光合器结构遭到不同程度的破坏,B935侵染后叶绿体发育不良,片层结构疏松,PVl31侵染后叶绿体肿胀变圆,片层结构疏松瓦解。与B935相比,PV131侵染对以上各参数的变化有更大影响,且对叶绿体的破坏更为严重。实验结果表明BBWV2不同分离物对光系统II（PSII）的抑制作用与光合器受损程度相关。     

Effects of forest types on leaf functional traits and their interrelationships of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests in the subtropical mountain,Southeastern China

Leaf functional traits are widely used to detect and explain adaptations that enable plants to live under various environmental conditions. This study aims to determine the difference in leaf functional traits among four forest types of Pinus massoniana coniferous and broad‐leaved mixed forests by leaf morphological, nutrients, and stoichiometric traits in the subtropical mountain, Southeastern China. Our study indicated that the evergreen conifer species of P. massoniana had higher leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf C content, C/N and C/P ratios, while the three deciduous broad‐leaved species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea had higher specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N, leaf P nutrient contents, and N/P ratio in the three mixed forest types. The results showed that the species of P. massoniana has adapted to the nutrient‐poor environment by increasing their leaf dry matter for higher construction costs thereby reducing water loss and reflects a resource conservation strategy. In contrast, the three species of L. formosana, Q. tissima, and P. strobilacea exhibited an optimized resource acquisition strategy rather than resource conservation strategy in the subtropical mountain of southeastern China. Regarding the four forest types, the three mixed forest types displayed increased plant leaf nutrient contents when compared to the pure P. massoniana forest, especially the P. massoniana–L. formosana mixed forest type (PLM). Overall, variation in leaf functional traits among different forest types may play an adaptive role in the successful survival of plants under diverse environments because leaf functional traits can lead to significant effects on leaf function, especially for their acquisition of nutrients and use of light. The results of this study are beneficial to reveal the changes in plant leaf functional traits at the regional scale, which will provide a foundation for predicting changes in leaf traits and adaptation in the future environment.     

The evolutionary and molecular features of the broad-host-range plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a pathogenic fungus that infects hundreds of plant species, including many of the world's most important crops. Key features of S. sclerotiorum include its extraordinary host range, preference for dicotyledonous plants, relatively slow evolution, and production of protein effectors that are active in multiple host species. Plant resistance to this pathogen is highly complex, typically involving numerous polymorphisms with infinitesimally small effects, which makes resistance breeding a major challenge. Due to its economic significance, S. sclerotiorum has been subjected to a large amount of molecular and evolutionary research. In this updated pathogen profile, we review the evolutionary and molecular features of S. sclerotiorum and discuss avenues for future research into this important species.     

广谱抗真菌转基因水稻植株化学成分与结构动态变化

【背景】种植广谱抗真菌水稻可能会带来一定的环境生物安全问题,对其植株的化学成分进行实质等同性分析是转基因水稻安全性评价的重要内容之一。【方法】以表达广谱抗真菌蛋白转基因水稻转品1和转品8及其相应非转基因水稻七丝软粘的秸秆为研究材料,采用化学法和扫描电镜技术分析外源基因的导入对水稻秸秆化学成分以及组织显微结构的影响。【结果】（1）在整个生长发育过程中,广谱抗真菌转基因水稻转品1和转品8与其非转基因水稻七丝软粘叶片、叶鞘和茎的纤维素、半纤维素、木质素以及粗蛋白含量的变化趋势基本一致,且品种间化学成分的含量不存在显著差异。（2）广谱抗真菌转基因水稻叶片表皮的硅质瘤状结构以及气孔的形状和致密程度与其非转基因水稻七丝软粘相似;茎壁、厚壁组织、薄壁组织以及大小维管束的形态和分布情况未发生明显变化。【结论与意义】表达广谱抗真菌蛋白转基因水稻秸秆的化学成分和组织显微结构与非转基因水稻基本一致。这为广谱抗真菌转基因水稻的环境安全性评估提供了依据。     

Role of extrafloral nectaries of Vicia faba in attraction of ants and herbivore exclusion by ants

We directly evaluated the role of extrafloral nectaries (EFN) in ant attraction and herbivore exclusion by experimental removal of EFN in the laboratory. When EFN of Vicia faba Linnaeus (Leguminosae) were artificially removed, the number of workers of Tetramorium tsushimae Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) visiting the plant decreased, and the efficiency of herbivore exclusion by ants also decreased. Herbivore exclusion by ants was mostly ineffective on a plant when less than four workers visited the plant, but when more than four workers visited, the time a herbivore resided on the plant decreased rapidly with increasing numbers of visiting ants. Therefore, the efficiency of herbivore exclusion from a plant is determined by the number of ants visiting, and EFN play an important role in ant attraction.     

常绿阔叶林片段中木荷凋落叶分解速率及中小型土壤节肢动物群落的结构动态

2004年6月-2006年4月,选择浙、闽、赣交界山地的4个森林片段作为研究地点,并以浙西的古田山国家级自然保护区作为连续森林对照,采用尼龙网袋法,研究了不同常绿阔叶林群落优势种木荷凋落叶的分解速率及土壤节肢动物群落的结构和动态.结果表明：5个研究地共获土壤节肢动物1050个,分属8纲23目,其中鳞翅目、膜翅目、弹尾目和双翅目占个体总数的10%以上,为该地区的优势类群.片段化对群落物种组成的影响主要体现在稀有类群的差异上.不同分解阶段各种土壤节肢动物类群优势度因其功能的不同而各异.经过2年的分解,各研究地木荷凋落叶损失量为60%～70%,研究地凋落物中土壤节肢动物的各项多样性指标均有一定的变化,且与连续森林的变化规律不一致.