Carbon accumulation and distribution in Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata mixed forest ecosystem in Daqingshan, Guangxi, China

Carbon accumulation and distribution were studied at three sampling plots in a 13-year-old mixed planatation of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata in Daqingshan, Guangxi, China. The results showed that carbon content varied with tissues and tree species, but the total carbon content of Pinus massoniana was higher than that of Cunninghamia lanceolata. The average tissue carbon contents of Pinus massoniana were: wood (58.6%) > root (56.3%) > branch (51.2%) > bark (49.8%) > leaf (46.8%), while those of Cunninghamia lanceolata were: bark (52.2%) > leaf (51.8%) > wood (50.2%) > root (47.5%) > branch (46.7%). The carbon contents of the soil (at a depth of 60cm) ranged from 1.45% to 1.84% with an average of 1.70%. Carbon contents were higher in the surface soil (0–20cm) than in the deep layer (below 20cm). The average carbon contents were the highest for trees (51.1%), followed by litter (48.3%), shrubs (44.1%), and herbs (33.0%). The biomass of the trees in the three plots ranged from 85.35 t hm^-2 to 101.35 t hm^-2 with an average of 93.83 t hm^-2, in which 75.7%–82.6% was Pinus massoniana. The biomass of the understory was 2.10–3.95 t hm^-2 with an average of 2.72 t hm^-2, while the standing stock of ground litter was 5.49–7.91 t hm^-2 with an average of 6.75 t hm^-2. The carbon storage in the mixed plantation reached the maximum in the soil layer (69.02%), followed by vegetation (29.03%), and standing litter (1.82%). The carbon storage in the tree layer occupied 23.90% of the total ecosystem and 97.7% of the vegetation layer. Pinus massoniana accounted for 65.39% of the total carbon storage in the tree layer. Tissue carbon storage was directly related to the corresponding amount of biomass. Trunks had the highest carbon storage, accounting for 53.23% of the trees in Pinus massoniana and 55.57% in Cunninghamia lanceolata, respectively. Roots accounted for about 19.22% of the total tree carbon. The annual net productivity of the mixed plantation was 11.46 t hm^-2a^-1, and that of sequestered carbon was 5.96 t hm^-2a^-1, which was equivalent to fixing CO₂ of 21.88 t hm^-2a^-1. The plantation was found to be an important sink of atmospheric CO₂.     

四川长宁毛竹林碳储量与碳汇能力估测

利用生物量法研究了四川长宁毛竹林(Phyllostachys edulis)碳密度、碳储量及其空间分配格局,并对毛竹林碳汇能力进行了估算。结果表明:(1)毛竹立竹各器官的平均含碳率波动范围为462.37—480.68 g/kg,不同龄级毛竹各器官含碳率差异不显著。土壤有机碳含量为15.77 g/kg,不同土层差异极显著;(2)毛竹立竹碳储量为40.92 t/hm2,其中竹竿碳储量所占比例为51.49%,竹杆、竹枝、竹叶地上部分碳储量为26.76 t/hm2,占立竹碳储量的65.39%,地上碳储量为地下碳储量的1.89倍;(3)毛竹林总碳储量为156.57 t/hm2,其中土壤是其最大的碳库,为113.54 t/hm2,占总碳储量的72.52%,立竹碳储量所占比例为26.14%,林下植被碳库最小,为0.52 t/hm2,只占总碳储量的0.33%,可忽略不计;(4)毛竹林年生产量为20.28 t/hm2,年固碳量为9.43 t/hm2,相当于每年固定CO2量34.57 t/hm2,固碳能力较强。     

(8R,14S)-8-angeloyloxythapsan-14-ol,a sesquiterpene with a novel carbon skeleton,from Thapsia villosa

The roots of Thapsia villosa afforded in addition to other terpenoids, a sesquiterpene, with a new carbon skeleton. The structure, including the relative configuration, was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, a few chemical transformations and by X-ray analysis. The absolute configuration was determined by means of the method of Horeau. The trivial name thapsan is suggested for the parent structure [2aR,2bR,6aS,7aS]-2b,3,3,6a-tetramethylperhydroindeno[2,3-c]-furan.     

Iridoid glucosides in Griselinia, Aralidium and Toricellia

From three of five investigated species of Griselinia a new iridoid glucoside, griselinoside, was isolated. It was found to be present also in foliage of Aralidium pinnatifidum and Toricellia angulata, accompanied in the former by aralidioside another novel iridoid glucoside. The structures and absolute configurations of the two iridoids were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and chemical conversions. From G. littoralis and T. angulata the glucosides magnolioside and syringoside respectively were isolated. ¹³C NMR spectra are given for thirteen iridoid derivatives.     

Recent advances in the cryopreservation of shoot-derived germplasm of economically important fruit trees of Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis

This paper presents the advances made over the last decade in cryopreservation of economically important vegetatively propagated fruit trees. Cryopreservation protocols have been established using both dormant buds sampled on field-grown plants and shoot tips sampled on in vitro plantlets. In the case of dormant buds, scions are partially dehydrated by storage at − 5 °C, and then cooled slowly to − 30 °C using low cooling rates (c.a. 1 °C/h) before immersion in liquid nitrogen. After slow rewarming and rehydration of samples, regrowth takes place either through grafting of buds on rootstocks or excision of apices and inoculation in vitro. In the case of shoot tips of in vitro plantlets, the cryopreservation techniques employed are the following: controlled rate cooling procedures involving slow prefreezing followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen or vitrification-based procedures including encapsulation–dehydration, vitrification, encapsulation–vitrification and droplet-vitrification. The current status of cryopreservation for a series of fruit tree species including Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis is presented. Routine application of cryopreservation for long-term germplasm storage in genebanks is currently limited to apple and pear, for which large cryopreserved collections have been established at NCGRP, Fort Collins (USA), using dormant buds and in vitro shoot tips, respectively. However, there are a growing number of examples of pilot scale testing experiments under way for different species in various countries. Progress in the further development and application of cryopreservation techniques will be made through a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to dehydration and cryopreservation in frozen explants.     

First records of flower biology and pollination in African Annonaceae: Isolona, Piptostigma, Uvariodendron, Monodora and Uvariopsis

Seven species from five genera of Annonaceae were studied with regard to their flower biology and pollination in the Southwest Province of Cameroon, West Africa. They have protogynous hermaphroditic flowers, with exception of Uvariopsis species, which are monoecious. Fused petals of Isolona campanulata remain apically spreading and open during anthesis but form a deep basal urceolate tube around the reproductive organs. At anthesis the yellow pendent flowers emit a fruit-like scent and attracted small beetles, the likely pollinators. Piptostigma sp. flowers also emit a fruit-like scent but provide a closed pollination chamber formed by the three inner petals. Small staphylinid beetles attracted during the female stage of anthesis are released from the flowers at the end of the male stage 2-3 days later. Both species have diurnal anthesis, attracting and releasing the flower visitors during daytime. In contrast, Uvariodendron connivens and U. calophyllum have nocturnal anthesis with floral thermogenesis, produce spicy, aromatic and fruity scents and attract large Scarabaeidae beetles, the pollinators, along with many curculionid beetles, which were principally predators of the thick petals. The very large flowers of Monodora tenuifolia have yellowish petals which are spotted with dark red markings. Together with the sweetish, slightly disagreeable scent the flowers attract flies, principally dung flies. The two investigated Uvariopsis species are monoecious with pistillate and staminate flowers being functional at the same time. The violet red flowers of U. bakeriana visually seem to mimic the fruiting body of certain stinkhorn fungi (Phallaceae) although without producing their strong unpleasant carcass stench. Flower-visiting dung flies were rare. Conversely, U. congolana has a strong fungus-like scent, its flowers are presented at litter height and dung flies living in the litter were the flower visitors, albeit sporadic. The 4-5 days lasting anthesis of both Uvariopsis species appears to be an evolutionary consequence of their diffuse pollinator spectra. The studied African Annonaceae therefore have either cantharophilous or myiophilous/sapromyiophilous flowers with, in part, respectively, remarkably long anthesis, thermogenesis, and widely open, large flowers - all attributes unknown or rare in the hitherto better studied Neotropical Annonaceae.     

互花米草与短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中碳氮磷化学计量学特征

为了揭示植物枯落物分解过程中元素生态化学计量学特征,对闽江河口湿地互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程进行了测定.结果表明:整个分解期间内(2007年1-10月),在近潮沟生境和远潮沟生境,互花米草枯落物分解速率、氮磷养分含量低于短叶茳芏枯落物,但热值高于短叶茳芏枯落物;近潮沟生境,互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为70.5和34.7,2285.8和1210.7,32.8和35.4;远潮沟生境互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为72.7和33.2,2519.2和1167.0,34.0和35.9,两种生境下均表现为互花米草具有较高的C/N、C/P和较低的N/P;互花米草枯落物分解过程中具有较高的C/N和C/P,其分解速率较低.     

Comparative analysis of GT14/GT14-like gene family in Arabidopsis, Oryza, Populus, Sorghum and Vitis

Glycosyltransferase family14 (GT14) belongs to the glycosyltransferase (GT) superfamily that plays important roles in the biosynthesis of cell walls, the most abundant source of cellulosic biomass for bioethanol production. It has been hypothesized that DUF266 proteins are a new class of GTs related to GT14. In this study, we identified 62 GT14 and 106 DUF266 genes (named GT14-like herein) in Arabidopsis, Oryza, Populus, Sorghum and Vitis. Our phylogenetic analysis separated GT14 and GT14-like genes into two distinct clades, which were further divided into eight and five groups, respectively. Similarities in protein domain, 3D structure and gene expression were uncovered between the two phylogenetic clades, supporting the hypothesis that GT14 and GT14-like genes belong to one family. Therefore, we proposed a new family name, GT14/GT14-like family that combines both subfamilies. Variation in gene expression and protein subcellular localization within the GT14-like subfamily were greater than those within the GT14 subfamily. One-half of the Arabidopsis and Populus GT14/GT14-like genes were found to be preferentially expressed in stem/xylem, indicating that they are likely involved in cell wall biosynthesis. This study provided new insights into the evolution and functional diversification of the GT14/GT14-like family genes.     

Extrachromosomal DNA in Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, var. finitimus, var. sotto, and in Bacillus popilliae

Four entomopathogenic bacteria contained extrachromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules of various sizes. Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki contained twelve elements banding on agarose gels that ranged from 0.74 to > 50 × 10⁶ daltons, three of which were giant extrachromosomal DNA elements. B. thuringiensis var. sotto contained one giant extrachromosomal DNA element with a molecular size of about 23.5 × 10⁶ daltons and two lesser elements of 0.80 and 0.62 × 10⁶ daltons. B. thuringiensis var. finitimus harbored two giant DNA elements corresponding to >50 × 10⁶ daltons and two lesser bands with relative small size (0.98 and 0.97 × 10⁶ daltons). B. popilliae contained no giant extrachromosomal DNA elements but did contain two smaller elements corresponding to 4.45 and 0.58 × 10⁶ daltons. The possible use of extrachromosomal DNA elements that prove to be autonomous replicons for recombinant DNA studies is discussed.     

准噶尔盆地梭梭群落生物量和碳储量

梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)是准噶尔盆地建群种和优势种,因此,研究其群落的生物量及碳汇功能有着重要意义。以研究区内10个固定样点为研究对象,样地内每木检尺,并结合梭梭群落各组分含碳率的实测值,对准噶尔盆地梭梭群落的生物量和碳储量进行了估算,通过实测数据及模型分析,结果表明:1梭梭的生物量随树龄增加逐渐增大,从0—5龄时1.9948 kg增加到了21—25龄时61.6480 kg,进入26龄以后,梭梭枝条出现部分枯死,其中粗枝生物量是地上生物量的主体(所占比例平均为63.53%)。2不同龄级梭梭的含碳率在49.08与53.57之间变动,加权平均值为51.60,同一龄级之间各组分之间的含碳率变化以0—5龄级最小,其变异系数为1.72%,以21—25龄级最大,变异系数为6.78%。3梭梭群落其它组分的平均含碳率分别为灌木43.84%,草本39.13%,枯落物31.47%;土壤含碳率平均值为0.0310%,随土层深度增加各层次土壤碳含量逐渐减少。4准噶尔盆地梭梭群落碳密度为5815.7183kg/hm2,总碳储量为1919万tC,采用实测含碳率作为转换系数比缺省值0.5所得出的结果高1.53%。这些结果说明,准噶尔盆地梭梭群落具备明显的碳汇功能,应加强管理,使该区域森林生态系统在北疆地区碳交易中发挥更大的作用。     

Interconversion of trans, trans and cis, trans farnesol by enzymes from Andrographis

When trans, trans-farnesol [4,8,12-¹⁴C₃,1-³H₂] is isomerized to cis, trans-farnesol by soluble enzymes from Andrographis paniculata tissue cultures, 50% of the tritium label is lost. The same loss is observed when isomerization occurs in the opposite direction. This is in accordance with the proposed mechanism for isomerization via aldehydes.     

Nitrogen-containing non-steroidal secondary metabolites of Solanum, Cyphomandra, Lycianthes and Margaranthus

Of the 49 species of Solanum studied, cuscohygrine has been detected in 25, solamine and related amines in 17 and solamine-derived amides in 16. Five species of Cyphomandra examined all contained both amines and amides. From roots of Margaranthus solanaceus cuscohygrine has been isolated which probably occurs, too, in roots of Lycianthes rantonnettii. The distribution of these compounds throughout the taxa could be of chemotaxonomic value.     

Expression profiling of the triterpene saponin biosynthesis genes FPS, SS, SE, and DS in the medicinal plant Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, an economically significant medicinal plant with hemostatic and health tonic activities, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for more than 3000 years. Triterpene saponins are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of P. notoginseng. Here, we cloned five cDNA sequences encoding the key enzymes involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis, namely, PnFPS, PnSS, PnSE1, PnSE2, and PnDS, and analyzed the conserved domains and phylogenetics of their corresponding proteins. Their organ-specific expression patterns in four-year-old P. notoginseng were detected by real-time PCR, showing that they were all most highly expressed in flowers. In addition, four of the genes, excluding PnSE2, were upregulated in leaves following stimulation with methyl jasmonate. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns of pivotal genes for triterpene saponin biosynthesis in P. notoginseng and provides a basis to further elucidate the molecular mechanism for the biosynthesis of these medically important compounds.     

Chronological expression of Wnt target genes Ccnd1, Myc, Cdkn1a, Tfrc, Plf1 and Ramp3

The canonical Wnt pathway regulates several biological processes including development, cell growth and proliferation via consecutive gene regulation. A high number of target genes of the Wnt pathway has been identified, but the chronological order of target gene expression is still elusive. This order is supposed to be crucial for the controlled course of events downstream of the activated Wnt pathway. Here we present the expression chronologies of the target genes Ccnd1 (encoding for cyclin D1), Myc (c-Myc), Cdkn1a (p21^CIP1/WAF1), Tfrc (Transferrin receptor 1), Plf1 (Proliferin-1) and Ramp3 (Receptor activity-modifying protein 3) in C57MG cells after stimulation with Wnt-3a. We discriminated between immediate (below 1 h), early (between 1 and 6 h), intermediate (between 6 and 12 h) and late (after 12 h) targets. According to this classification Myc and Tfrc belong to the immediate target genes; Ccnd1, Plf1 and Ramp3 are early target genes and Cdkn1a is an intermediate target gene.     

Unveiling Gymnosporangium corniforme, G. unicorne, and G. niitakayamense sp. nov. in Taiwan

Three rust fungi from high mountains and pear-producing areas in Taiwan were described using morphological and molecular data based on 34 specimens. Gymnosporangium corniforme was demonstrated to produce spermogonia and aecia on Sorbus randaiensis based on molecular analyses and inoculation experiments. The pear rust pathogen G. unicorne was discovered in Taiwan for the first time. Gymnosporangium niitakayamense sp. nov. was observed on the leaves of Photinia niitakayamensis. It was distinct from other species in peridial cell wall structures, i.e., smooth outer wall, rugose side wall, and coralloid projections on the inner wall, and in having echinulate aeciospores.     

Dinuclear ruthenium sawhorse-type complexes containing bridging ligands with ferrocenyl substituents in endo/endo, endo/exo and exo/exo orientations

The dinuclear ruthenium complexes Ru₂(CO)₄(OOCC₅H₄FeC₅H₅)₂L₂ (L = NC₅H₅: 1, L = PPh₃: 2) have been synthesized from Ru₃(CO)₁₂, ferrocene carboxylic acid and pyridine or triphenylphosphine, respectively. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis reveals for 1 and 2 a Ru₂(CO)₄ sawhorse backbone with the two ferrocenyl substituents of the two carboxylato bridges being endo/exo with respect to each other in the solid state. With the new pyridine derivative NC₅H₄OOCC₅H₄FeC₅H₅ (4-ferrocenoyl pyridine) (3) as axial ligand, the complex Ru₂(CO)₄(OOCC₅H₄FeC₅H₅)₂(NC₅H₄OOCC₅H₄FeC₅H₅)₂ (4) was obtained, the single crystal X-ray structure analysis showing an exo/exo orientation of the two carboxylato bridges in the solid state. The endo/endo orientation is found in the solid-state structure of Ru₂(CO)₄(HNOCC₅H₄FeC₅H₅)₂(PPh₃)₂ (5), the two OCNH bridges being transoïd with respect to each other; this complex is accessible from Ru₃(CO)₁₂, ferrocenamide and triphenylphosphine.