Interactive Effects of Salinity and Ozone Pollution on Photosynthesis,Stomatal Conductance,Growth, and Assimilate Partitioning of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Plants of an Egyptian cultivar of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Giza 63) were exposed in open-top chambers (OTCs) for 8 h d^–1 for up to 75 d to a factorial combination of two levels of salinity (0 and 50 mM NaCl) and two levels of O₃ (filtered air and 50 mm³ m^–3). Exposure to 50 mm³ m^–3 O₃ significantly decreased stomatal conductance (g _s), net photosynthetic rate (P _N), and chlorophyll (Chl) content by 20, 25, and 21 %, respectively. This reduction resulted in a change in assimilate allocation in favour of shoot growth leading to a decrease in root to shoot ratio and eventually to a decrease in relative growth rate (RGR) of both root and shoot. There was a very large reduction in yield parameters, especially in the number of ears/plant and 1 000-grain mass. Soil salinity significantly reduced P _N and g _s by 17 and 15 %, respectively, while Chl content was increased by 17 %. Root growth was decreased leading to an increase in root/shoot ratio. Yield parameters were decreased due to salt stress. There was antagonistic interaction between salinity (50 mM NaCl) and O₃ (50 mm³ m^–3) showing that salinity effectively protects against the adverse effects of O₃ by increasing g _s during O₃ fumigation.     

Effects of Exogenously Supplied Ammonium on Root Development of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Seedlings

The effect of potentially toxic concentrations of ammonium on root development of Scots pine seedlings raised on Perlite was investigated during growth periods of 3 or 10 weeks after sowing. It was shown that imbalanced ammonium nutrition led to conspicuous changes of root morphology provided the pH value in the medium was allowed to decrease to 3.9 due to the NH⁺₄-dependent proton excretion into the rhizosphere. Ammonium toxicity could not be observed with seedlings treated either with ammonium nitrate or with ammonium chloride at pH 5.3 ? 6.8. While the supply of NH⁺₄ considerably inhibited root development the biomass production of the shoot was increased. Determination of the endogenous level of ammonium in roots and the leaf whorl exclude a simple causal correlation between ammonium toxicity and accumulated ammonium as has been postulated for herbaceous plants.     

Differences in developmental plasticity and growth rate among drought-resistant and susceptible cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum)

Understanding how growth and development of durum wheat cultivars respond to drought could provide a basis to develop crop improvement programmes in drought-affected tropical and subtropical countries. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the responses of five durum wheat cultivars to moisture stress at different developmental phases. Phenology, total dry matter (TDM), relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area ratio (LAR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf weight ratio (LWR), specific leaf area (SLA) and shoot:root ratio were compared. Pre-anthesis moisture stress delayed phenological development, whereas post-anthesis moisture stress accelerated it. TDM accumulation rate was different between drought-resistant and susceptible cultivars. RGR and its components changed with age and moisture availability. Drought-resistant cultivars had a high RGR in favourable periods of the growing season and a low RGR during moisture stress. In contrast, the drought-susceptible cultivar (Po) showed an opposite trend. LAR explained the differences in RGR (r=0.788) best, whereas the relationship between NAR and RGR was not significant. Even though both LWR and SLA were important factors determining the potential growth rate, LWR was of major importance to describe cultivar differences in LAR, and consequently in RGR. The drought-resistant cultivars Omrabi-5 and Boohai showed vigorous root development and/or a low shoot:root ratio. It is concluded that biomass allocation is the major factor explaining variation in RGR among the investigated durum wheat cultivars.     

Effect of Radiation Quality on Growth and Photosynthesis of Acacia mangium Seedlings

Radiation quality was an important environmental cue to stimulate seed germination in Acacia mangium. The photo-synthetic CO₂ assimilation rate, dark respiration rate, total biomass, and relative growth rate of seedlings grown under monochromatic radiation were significantly lower than those of seedlings grown under full spectrum radiation. Blue and red radiation induced shade-avoidance and shade-tolerant responses of A. mangium seedlings, respectively.     

Growth and nutrient dynamics of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings in acid soils

The relative uptake rates of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Al were estimated in beech seedlings pot cultured in the field in six acid soils (treatments). The relative uptake rates were compared with the relative growth rates. The relative uptake rates of N, K and Ca agreed well with the growth rates of the seedlings irrespective of widely differing soil conditions (acid sand-clayey till, pH 4–6). The relative uptake rates of P, Fe, and Al differed from that predicted by the growth rate. The uptake rates of Fe and Al were highest at the lowest growth rates, and the P uptake rate was lower than the growth rate in these treatments. Thus the P availability probably limited growth in an eluvial (E) horizon of a podzol, and possibly in the illuvial (B) horizon of a podzol and in an acid clayey till (Dystric Cambisol). Low P uptake was associated with a tendency towards higher relative root growth rates. In terms of the concept of steady state nutrition the high relative root growth rate in some treatments may be interpreted as an acclimation to low P supply. The P limitation seemed to be related to interactions among Fe, Al and organic compounds of the soil solution.FAX no: +4646104423     

Growth and biomass partitioning of Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. and Festuca ovina (L.) at different relative addition rates of nitrogen

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm., is characteristic of productive habitats, and Festuca ovina of unproductive ones. The two species were grown at steady-state growth with either free access to all nutrients or severe nitrogen limitation. The maximum relative growth rate of the two species was similar-about 0.20 day^-1. Root:shoot partitioning at nitrogen limitation differed between the species. A. sylvestris allocated less biomass to fine-roots than at free access and F. ovina allocated more.     

Photosynthesis and Growth Responses of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch to Soil Water Availability

Photosynthesis and growth characteristics of Parthenocissus quinquefolia were measured under differing soil water availability within a pot. Decreased soil moisture significantly reduced the leaf relative water content (RWC) and the above- and below-ground biomass. However, more biomass was allocated to the root than to the leaf. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), and transpiration rate (E) were also significantly decreased but water use efficiency (WUE) was increased. Midday depressions in P _N and g _s were not evident for the well-irrigated plants. With the lower water availability, midday reductions in P _N and g _s were much more marked and the duration of the depression was longer. Additionally, the P _N-irradiance response curves also indicated that water supply affected photosynthesis capacity. The growth and photosynthetic response of P. quinquefolia to water supply indicated that this species could resilient to water availabilities and adapt to Hunshandak conditions very well.     

Root/Shoot Allocation and Root Architecture in Seedlings: Variation among Forest Sites, Microhabitats, and Ecological Groups1

I analyzed patterns of variation in root mass allocation and root morphology among seedlings of woody species in relation to environmental factors in four Neotropical forests. Among forests, I explored the response of root traits to sites varying in water or nutrient availability. Within each forest, I explored the plastic response of species to different microhabitats: gaps and understory. Additionally, I explored evidence for life history correlation of root and shoot traits by comparing species differing in their successional group (light‐demanding [22 spp.] or shade tolerant [27 spp.]) and germination type (species with photosynthetic cotyledons or species with reserve cotyledons). At each forest site, young seedlings from 10 to 20 species were excavated. A total of 55 species was collected in understory conditions and 31 of them were also collected in gaps. From each seedling, six morphological ratios were determined. Allocation to roots was higher in forest sites with the lowest soil resources. Roots were finer and longer in the most infertile site, while roots were deeper in the site with the longest dry season. Seedling traits did not differ between germination types. Shade tolerant species allocated more to roots and developed thicker roots than light‐demanding species. Light‐demanding species showed stronger plastic responses to habitat than shade tolerant species, and species with photo‐synthetic cotyledons showed lower plasticity than species with reserve cotyledons. Overall, these results suggest that among Neotropical species, root allocation and root morphology of seedlings reflect plant adjustments to water or nutrient availability at geographic and microhabitat scales. In addition, life history specialization to light environments is suggested by differences among groups of species in their allocation to roots and in their root morphology.     

Belowground Interactions in a Vine (Vitis vinifera L.)-tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) Intercropping System: Water Relations and Growth

In the Mediterranean area, the introduction of cover crops in vineyards is hampered by the risk of severe competition for water. Belowground interactions are still not very clear in this perennial-herbaceous association. This work was aimed at characterizing the development of the root systems of associated crops and the soil water dynamics. It also investigated whether water competition could be the cause of vine vigour and yield reductions. Experiments were conducted in a 4-year-old association (vine – tall fescue) and in a weed controlled vineyard. Water transfers in the soil were estimated on the basis of the soil water potential and soil hydrodynamic properties. The vine root system was concentrated in the soil under the row, whereas the intercrop highly colonized a soil compartment under the inter-row to a depth of approximately 1 m. Despite this spatial complementarity in root distribution, intercropping reduced the amount of soil water available for the vine crop. The low soil water content reduced soil water conductivity thereby limiting water transfers, despite a significant gradient in the soil water potential. This conductivity did not differ significantly between treatments but the intercrop enhanced the infiltration of winter rainwater, probably by limiting surface runoff. There was temporal complementarity in this association since the period of intense water uptake by the intercrop occurred earlier than noted for the vine under bare soil conditions. Nevertheless, the competition for water was limited by better refilling of the soil water profile during winter in the intercropped treatment. The intercrop clearly interacted with the vine and decreased its vegetative vigor. Since predawn leaf water potential and stomatal conductance did not differ among treatments, mechanism(s) other than competition for water (e.g. nutrient competition, allelopathy) may be responsible.     

Effects of Elevated Temperature on Growth and Gas Exchange in Dominant Plant Species from Maowusu Sandland,China

We compared the effect of elevated temperature on morphological development, biomass accumulation and allocation, and gas exchange of three dominant plants (Caragana intermedia Kuanget H.C. Fu, Hedysarum mongolicum Turcz., and Artemisia ordosica Krasch.) growing in Chinese Maowusu sandland. Plants were grown in two temperature chambers (25/20, 28/23 °C, day/night) during 60 d. Tree height, number of leaves, and leaf area were increased in C. intermedia and H. mongolicum seedlings, while in A. ordosica temperature only affected tree height. Elevated temperature increased biomass and reduced the root : shoot ratio in C. intermedia and H. mongolicum seedlings, but not in A. ordosica seedlings. The net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and transpiration rate (E) were increased at days 40 and 60 in C. intermedia and H. mongolicum seedlings, while in A. ordosica seedlings no significant effects on E were observed, and P _N was increased only at day 60. Water use efficiency (WUE) was reduced at days 40 and 60 in H. mongolicum seedlings, and at day 60 in C. intermedia seedlings. No temperature effect on WUE was observed in A. ordosica seedlings. These different responses indicate that climate change could alter plant communities in Maowusu sandland.     

二氢血根碱对莴苣幼苗根生长及其细胞分裂的影响

以莴苣幼苗为受体,用培养皿法检测从细果角茴香中分离得到的二氢血根碱对莴苣幼苗根生长和根毛发育的影响,并采用根尖细胞有丝分裂检测和单细胞凝胶电泳法对其可能的作用机制进行了初步研究.结果显示:较低浓度(25、50μmol/L)二氢血根碱能显著促进莴苣根的生长,较高浓度(200、300μmol/L)二氢血根碱显著抑制根的生长;二氢血根碱(10、20、30、40、50μmol/L)对莴苣幼苗根毛发育有极显著的抑制作用,且两者均表现了浓度依赖性.较低浓度(25、50μmol/L)二氢血根碱使根尖细胞有丝分裂指数显著增加,而对根尖细胞DNA没有显著影响;较高浓度(200、300μmol/L)二氢血根碱使根尖细胞有丝分裂指数显著下降,同时根尖细胞DNA受到显著性损伤.研究发现,低浓度的二氢血根碱对莴苣幼苗根生长的促进作用主要是由于根尖细胞有丝分裂活力增加所致;而高浓度二氢血根碱对莴苣幼苗根的抑制作用极可能是由于根尖细胞DNA受到损伤,使得细胞分裂活力降低,分裂期细胞数目减少,从而导致根生长受到抑制.     

Assessment of Arsenite,Arsenate, and Chromate Phytotoxicity Based on the Activity of Seed Germination and Growth (Root & Shoot) of Various Plant Seeds

Effects of different concentrations of arsenite, arsenate, and chromate on seed germination, root length (RL), and shoot length (SL) in four seed types, chosen from preliminary tests with eight seed types, were investigated to assess the toxicity of the tested metals. The sensitivities of the four different seed types toward germination, relative RL (RRL), and relative SL (RSL) varied with each metal. In a comparison, the germination of the seeds was more sensitive to the tested metals than the other chosen endpoints (RL and SL). Arsenite was generally more restrictive to all the endpoints (germination, root, and shoot growth) than arsenate and chromate. Lactuca (garden lettuce) was also generally more sensitive to the tested metals than the other seed types. The correlation between RRL and RSL varied depending on the seed type and metal tested. However, significant correlations (r² > 0.85) of these were observed with Lactuca seeds, which appeared to be an optimal plant with respect to the tolerance of the tested metals. The differences in the toxicities of metals toward different plant species should be taken into account in the bioassessment of metals-contaminated sites. Thus, this study encourages the need to combine the three endpoints of various seeds in the evaluation of toxicities of metals.     

沙埋对半灌木羊柴幼苗的存活、生长和生物量分配的影响

羊柴 (HedysarumlaeveMaxim .)是中国北方沙地飞播进行植被恢复与重建的主要植物种。在晚春与夏初的出苗期 ,羊柴幼苗经常遭受不同深度的沙埋。研究旨在探明沙埋对羊柴幼苗存活、生长和生物量分配格局的影响。6周的沙埋试验结果显示 :当沙埋深度达到其株高时 ,约有 70 %的幼苗死亡 ;沙埋深度达到其株高的 133%时 ,可使羊柴幼苗全部死亡 ;沙埋深度分别为株高的 33%和 6 7%时 ,羊柴幼苗的整株生物量、叶片生物量、根系生物量以及相对生长率都相应地高于非沙埋的对照 (即 :0 %沙埋 )。与非沙埋的对照相比 ,羊柴幼苗在 33%和 6 7%沙埋条件下并不显著地改变其生物量分配格局 ;并且羊柴幼苗的叶数和株高与对照无明显差异 ,但试验期内的新生叶数是沙埋处理 (即 :33%、6 7%和 10 0 %沙埋 )的幼苗明显地高于非沙埋的对照。     

Photosynthesis and growth of Erythrina variegata as affected by water stress and triacontanol

Erythrina variegata Lam. seedlings were grown under water stress (Ψ = -3.2 MPa) and subsequently sprayed with triacontanol (Tria). Water stress significantly reduced shoot growth rate, while roots continued to grow. Content of chlorophyll (Chl) a decreased more than that of Chl b. Water stress also reduced photosynthetic activity of chloroplasts as measured by Chl fluorescence induction. Stress effect was identified at the oxidation site of photosystem (PS) 2 prior to the hydroxylamine donating site and perhaps close to or after the diphenylcarbazide donating site. The loss of O₂ evolving thylakoid polypeptides (33, 23, 17 kDa) and the large (55 kDa) and small (15 kDa) subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) were found in water stressed seedlings. The reduction in RuBPC activity was accompanied by reduction of CO₂ fixation and stomatal conductance. All photosynthetic parameters were improved by Tria. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

沙埋对半灌木羊柴幼苗的存活、生长和生物量分配的影响

羊柴(Hedysarum laeve Maxim.)是中国北方沙地飞播进行植被恢复与重建的主要植物种.在晚春与夏初的出苗期 ,羊柴幼苗经常遭受不同深度的沙埋.研究旨在探明沙埋对羊柴幼苗存活、生长和生物量分配格局的影响.6周的沙埋试验结果显示:当沙埋深度达到其株高时,约有70%的幼苗死亡 ;沙埋深度达到其株高的133%时,可使羊柴幼苗全部死亡;沙埋深度分别为株高的33%和67% 时,羊柴幼苗的整株生物量、叶片生物量、根系生物量以及相对生长率都相应地高于非沙埋的对照(即:0%沙埋).与非沙埋的对照相比,羊柴幼苗在33%和67%沙埋条件下并不显著地改变其生物量分配格局;并且羊柴幼苗的叶数和株高与对照无明显差异,但试验期内的新生叶数是沙埋处理(即:33%、67%和100%沙埋)的幼苗明显地高于非沙埋的对照.     

Root and leaf attributes accounting for the performance of fast- and slow-growing grasses at different nutrient supply

Despite their difference in potential growth rate, the slow-growing Brachypodium pinnatum and the fast-growing Dactylis glomerata co-occur in many nutrient-poor calcareous grasslands. They are known to respond differently to increasing levels of N and P. An experiment was designed to measure which characteristics are affected by nutrient supply and contribute to the ecological performance of these species. Nutrient acquisition and root and shoot traits of these grasses were studied in a garden experiment with nine nutrient treatments in a factorial design of 3 N and 3 P levels each. D. glomerata was superior to B. pinnatum in nutrient acquisition and growth in all treatments. B. pinnatum was especially poor in P acquisition. Both species responded to increasing N supply and to a lesser extent to increasing P supply by decreasing their root length and increasing their leaf area per total plant weight. D. glomerata showed a higher plasticity. In most treatments, the root length ratio (RLR) and the leaf area ratio (LAR) were higher for D. glomerata. A factorization of these parameters into components expressing biomass allocation, form (root fineness or leaf thickness) and density (dry matter content) shows that the low density of the biomass of D. glomerata was the main cause for the higher RLR and LAR. The biomass allocation to the roots showed a considerable plasticity but did not differ between the species. B. pinnatum had the highest leaf weight ratio. Root fineness was highly plastic in D. glomerata, the difference with B. pinnatum being mainly due to the thick roots of D. glomerata at high nutrient supply. The leaf area/leaf fresh weight ratio did not show any plasticity and was slightly higher for B. pinnatum. It is concluded, that the low density of the biomass of D. glomerata is the pivotal trait responsible for its faster growth at all nutrient levels. It enables simultaneously a good nutrient acquisition capacity by the roots as well as a superior carbon acquisition by the leaves. The high biomass density of B. pinnatum will then result in a lower nutrient requirement due to a slower turnover, which in the long term is advantageous under nutrient-poor conditions.     

不同营养条件下24种高寒草甸菊科植物种子重量对幼苗生长的影响

以青藏高原高寒草甸中常见的24种菊科植物为材料,在去离子水、河沙加蒸馏水、河沙加半强度霍格兰营养液和河沙加标准霍格兰营养液四种营养基质中培养幼苗,在10d、20d和30d三个幼苗生长期研究种子重量对幼苗生长的影响,结果表明：(1)在10d、20d和30d三个不同的幼苗生长期,在不同培养基质中种子重量与幼苗重量均呈显著的正相关,但R值在去离子水中变化不大,而在其它3种培养基质中持续减少。(2)种子重量与相对生长率负相关,这种负相关性在去离子水中10d和20d生长期表现较弱,在其它3种培养基质中同一生长期的幼苗相对生长率变化不明显。(3)除在10d去离子水中种子重量与幼苗根冠比率呈显著的正相关外,其余均没有显著的相关关系。     

模拟酸雨-土壤酸化-杉木、木荷根系生长关系的研究

一、引言酸雨是当今世界重大的环境问题之一,它对生态环境的影响已引起各国政府及人们的极大关注。酸性降水对林木生长的影响目前有两种观点,即“由顶而下论”和“由底而上论”。持前一观点者认为,酸性降水淋洗树木叶子中的镁,伤害了树木的光合作用器官,影响树木的生长,导致森林的衰败。以西德学者     

Effect of sub-optimal root zone temperatures at varied nutrient supply and shoot meristem temperature on growth and nutrient concentrations in maize seedlings (Zea mays L.)

Maize seedlings were grown for 10 to 20 days in either nutrient solution or in soils with or without fertilizer supply. Air temperature was kept uniform for all treatments, while root zone temperature (RZT) was varied between 12 and 24°C. In some treatments the basal part of the shoot (with apical shoot meristem and zone of leaf elongation) was lifted up to separate the indirect effects of root zone temperature on shoot growth from the direct effects of temperature on the shoot meristem.Shoot and root growth were decreased by low RZT to a similar extent irrespective of the growth medium (i.e. nutrient solution, fertilized or unfertilized soil). In all culture media Ca concentration was similar or even higher in plants grown at 12 as compared to 24°. At lower RZT concentrations of N, P and K in the shoot dry matter decreased in unfertilized soil, whereas in nutrient solution and fertilized soil only the K concentration decreased.When direct temperature effects on the shoot meristem were reduced by lifting the basal part of the shoot above the temperature-controlled root zone, shoot growth at low RZT was significantly increased in nutrient solution and fertilized soil, but not in unfertilized soil. In fertilized soil and nutrient solution at low RZT the uptake of K increased to a similar extent as plant growth, and thus shoot K concentration was not reduced by increasing shoot growth rates. In contrast, uptake of N and P was not increased, resulting in significantly decreased shoot concentrations.It is concluded that shoot growth at suboptimal RZT was limited both by a direct temperature effect on shoot activity and by a reduced nutrient supply through the roots. Nutrient concentrations in the shoot tissue at low RZT were not only influenced by availability in the substrate and dilution by growth, but also by the internal demand for growth.     

Effects of varied soil nitrogen supply on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

During a seven-month period the effect of different nitrogen (N) availability in soil on growth and nutrient uptake was studied in three-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees. The plants were grown in pots on N-poor forest soil supplied with various amounts and forms (inorganic and organic) of N. Increasing supply of inorganic N (as NH₄NO₃) increased the formation of new shoots and shoot dry weight. The root/shoot dry weight ratio of new growth was drastically decreased from 1.6 in plants without N supply to 0.5 in plants supplied with high levels of NH₄NO₃. This decrease in root/shoot dry weight ratio was associated with distinct changes in root morphology in favour of shorter and thicker roots. The addition of keratin as organic N source did neither affect growth nor root morphology of the trees. The amount of N taken up by plants was closely related to the supply of inorganic N, and trees supplied with highest levels of NH₄NO₃ also had the highest N contents in the dry matter of needles and roots. In contrast, N contents in needles of trees grown without additional N, or with keratin supply, were in the deficiency range. Supply of NH₄NO₃ decreased the contents of phosphate (P) and potassium (K) and therefore markedly increased N/P and N/K ratios in the needles. On the other hand, the contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) in the needles were increased in the plants supplied with inorganic N, suggesting high soil availability and promotion of uptake of these divalent cations by high nitrate uptake. The observed effects on root/shoot dry weight ratio, root morphology, and mineral nutrient composition of the needles indicated that high inorganic N supply may increase above-ground productivity but at the same time decrease the tolerance of trees against soil-borne (e.g. deficiency of other mineral nutrients) stress factors. Deceased 21 September 1996 Deceased 21 September 1996