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.     

What is the optimal number of leaves when measuring leaf area of tree species in a forest community?

植物形态性状叶面积简单易测, 能够反映植物对环境的适应与响应, 指示生态系统的功能与过程。在野外测定叶面积时, 叶片取样数量往往采用约定俗成的10-20片, 但到底采集多少叶片才是最优和最具代表性, 却少有探究。该研究以浙江金华山常绿落叶阔叶混交林的优势树种木荷(Schima superba)与枫香树(Liquidambar formosana)为研究对象, 通过对5个胸径等级植株和每个植株6个方位开展大批量叶片取样(>2 500个), 分析两个树种的叶面积变异特征, 探讨叶片取样数量为多少才能最代表该森林类型的叶片大小性状规律。结果表明, 常绿乔木木荷平均叶面积与变幅均小于落叶乔木枫香树。木荷叶面积与胸径无显著相关性, 而枫香树叶面积与胸径有较显著相关性, 但两个树种均在中胸径等级(15-20 cm)差异不显著; 两个树种的叶面积与采样方位无显著相关性, 但在东、西和底部的差异不显著。因此, 综合考虑代表性与野外可操作性, 叶片采集首选中胸径成树的底部叶片。随机抽样统计可知, 树木叶面积测定的最适叶片采集数量因物种而异, 木荷的最适叶片采集数量为40, 而枫香树最少为170片。因此, 在叶面积测定时, 叶片采集的数量应该不能只局限在10-20片, 在人力、物力和时间等条件允许的情况下, 应该尽可能多地测定较多叶片的叶面积。     

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.     

Morphology of the first-instar nymph and adult female of Kermes echinatus Balachowsky,with a comparison to K. vermilio Planchon (Hemiptera,?Coccoidea,?Kermesidae)

Thefirst-instar nymph and the adult female of Kermes echinatus Balachowsky (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Kermesidae) are described and illustrated. This species is compared with Kermes vermilio Planchon, a morphologically similar species known in the Palaeractic region.     

Factors influencing seasonal and monthly changes in the group size of chital or axis deer in southern India

Chital or axis deer (Axis axis) form fluid groups that change in size temporally and in relation to habitat. Predictions of hypotheses relating animal density, rainfall, habitat structure, and breeding seasonality, to changes in chital group size were assessed simultaneously using multiple regression models of monthly data collected over a 2 yr period in Guindy National Park, in southern India. Over 2,700 detections of chital groups were made during four seasons in three habitats (forest, scrubland and grassland). In scrubland and grassland, chital group size was positively related to animal density, which increased with rainfall. This suggests that in these habitats, chital density increases in relation to food availability, and group sizes increase due to higher encounter rate and fusion of groups. The density of chital in forest was inversely related to rainfall, but positively to the number of fruiting tree species and availability of fallen litter, their forage in this habitat. There was little change in mean group size in the forest, although chital density more than doubled during the dry season and summer. Dispersion of food items or the closed nature of the forest may preclude formation of larger groups. At low densities, group sizes in all three habitats were similar. Group sizes increased with chital density in scrubland and grassland, but more rapidly in the latter—leading to a positive relationship between openness and mean group size at higher densities. It is not clear, however, that this relationship is solely because of the influence of habitat structure. The rutting index (monthly percentage of adult males in hard antler) was positively related to mean group size in forest and scrubland, probably reflecting the increase in group size due to solitary males joining with females during the rut. The fission-fusion system of group formation in chital is thus interactively influenced by several factors. Aspects that need further study, such as interannual variability, are highlighted.     

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.     

浙江天童太白山不同群落植物构型比较

植物构型是植株构件在空间上的分配方式,反映了植物对环境的响应策略。通过对浙江天童太白山海拔差异很小的栲树(Castanopsis fargesii)、小叶青冈(Cyclobalanopsis gracilis)和云山青冈(Cyclobalanopsis sessilifolia)群落类型中所有植株的树高、树冠厚度、树冠面积、叶片聚集度、枝下高和距地45 cm基径等植物构型性状,以及树冠曝光指数、土壤含水率、空气温湿度、土壤p H值和风速6个环境因子的测定,分别分析乔灌木层植物构型性状及性状关系在3个群落间的变化规律。结果表明:(1)从栲树到小叶青冈至云山青冈群落,灌木层的树高、树冠厚度、枝下高和距地45 cm基径增加,叶片聚集度减小;乔木层的树高、树冠厚度、树冠面积、枝下高和距地45 cm基径均减小,叶片聚集度增大;(2)3个群落灌木层构型性状间显著相关(P0.001),而乔木层只在中低海拔群落存在相关性;(3)从栲树到小叶青冈至云山青冈群落,乔灌木层的冠层曝光指数显著增加(P0.05);(4)多元逐步回归表明,树冠曝光指数对灌木层构型性状变异的贡献最大,而风速、土壤含水率和p H值对乔木构型性状的变异起主导作用。综上得知,天童太白山乔灌木植物在不同群落间存在构型分异,植物对光资源的竞争是引起灌木构型在不同群落间变化的主要驱动因子,而对乔木植物,其构型变化更多受到风速和土壤含水量的影响。