Cytochemical changes in the developmental process of Nostoc sphaeroides (cyanobacterium)

There are several apparent developmental stages in the life cycle of Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing, an edible cyanobacterium found mainly in paddy fields in central China. The cytochemical changes in developmental stages such as hormogonia, aseriate stage, filamentous stage and colony in N. sphaeroides were examined using fluorescent staining and colorimetric methods. The staining of acidic and sulfated polysaccharides increased with development when hormogonia were used as the starting point. Acidic polysaccharides (AP) were most abundant at the aseriate stage and then decreased, while the sulfated polysaccharides (SP) were highest at the colony stage. Quantitatively, along the developmental process from hormogonia to colony, total carbohydrates first increased, then became stable, and then reached their highest level at the colony stage, while reducing sugars were highest at the hormogonia stage and then decreased sharply once development began. SP were not detectable in the hot water soluble polysaccharides (HWSP), and hormogonia had the lowest content of AP, while old colonies had the highest. The AP content of the aseriate stage, filamentous stage and young colony stage were very similar. The evolutionary relationships reflected in the developmental stages of N. sphaeroides are discussed.     

念珠藻葛仙米叶绿素荧光与水分胁迫的关系

在渗透系统中,念珠藻葛仙米因轻微失水而叶绿素的Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ上升,水势继续降低时Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ快速下降。衬质系统和自然失水的影响相似,藻体在失去总水分的９４％以后Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ开始下降,此前水分的丢失对Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ比值的上升稍有促进和。干燥藻体吸水后Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ的恢复速率随着贮藏时间的延长而下降,并且Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ的恢复对光和蛋白南的重新合成有依赖性。ＤＣＭＵ虽然也抑制Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ的恢复,但可逆转。     

不同水分管理方式对稻田土壤生物学特性的影响

在下辽河平原单季稻地区研究了常规浅湿干灌溉 (CK)、浅湿干灌溉薄膜阻渗 (IC)、湿润灌溉薄膜阻渗 (MC)、淹水灌溉薄膜阻渗 (FC) 4种不同水分管理方式下土壤线虫及土壤微生物量的动态变化。结果表明 ,耙耕前 ,CK、FC处理食细菌线虫数量显著高于MC、IC处理 ;薄膜阻渗在黄熟期显著降低了土壤食细菌线虫的数量 ,在耙耕前显著降低了食真菌线虫数量。潮棕壤稻田食真菌线虫与食细菌线虫相比数量较低。在耙耕前不同水分管理方式下土壤微生物量C显著低于对照。不同水分管理方式在水稻分蘖期、抽穗期对食细菌线虫数量、食真菌线虫数量、微生物量C和微生物量N没有影响。土壤食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫数量与土壤微生物量C、N没有达到显著相关。     

Root biomass distribution and soil properties of an open woodland on a duplex soil

Data on the distribution of root biomass are critical to understanding the ecophysiology of vegetation communities. This is particularly true when models are applied to describe ecohydrology and vegetation function. However, there is a paucity of such information across continental Australia. We quantified vertical and horizontal root biomass distribution in a woodland dominated by Angophora bakeri and Eucalyptus sclerophylla on the Cumberland Plains near Richmond, New South Wales. The site was characterised by a duplex (texture contrast) soil with the A horizon (to 70 cm) consisting of loamy sand and the B horizon (to > 10 m) consisting of sandy clay. The topsoil had a smaller bulk density, a smaller water holding capacity but a larger organic component and a larger hydraulic conductivity in comparison to the subsoil. Root biomass was sampled to 1.5 m depth and declined through the soil profile. Whilst total biomass in the B horizon was relatively small, its contribution to the function of the trees was highly significant. Coarse roots accounted for approximately 82% of the root mass recovered. Lateral distribution of fine roots was generally even but coarse roots were more likely to occur closer to tree stems. Variation in tree diameter explained 75% of the variation in total below-ground biomass. The trench method suggested the belowground biomass was 6.03?±?1.21 kg m^?2 but this method created bias towards sampling close to tree stems. We found that approximately 68% of root material was within a 2 m radius of tree stems and this made up 54% of the total number of samples but in reality, only approximately 5 to 10% of the site is within a 2 m radius of tree stems. Based on these proportions, our recalculated belowground biomass was 2.93?±?0.59 kg m^?2. These measurements provide valuable data for modeling of ecosystem water use and productivity.     

Effects of soil physicochemical properties and stand age on fine root biomass and vertical distribution of plantation forests in the Loess Plateau of China

The responses of aboveground parts of the forest to changes in environmental factors and stand age is well studied, but the same is not true for the belowground parts of the forest. Two plantation black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) forest sites were taken in the Loess Plateau of China, one in the drier, infertile, more sandy area of the middle Loess Plateau, and another in the wetter, fertile, more clay-filled area of the southern Loess Plateau. At each site, both a younger (8-year-old) plantation stand and an older (30-year-old) plantation stand were included to study the effects of soil physicochemical properties and stand age on the fine root (<2?mm) biomass and vertical distribution of black locust forests. Root samples were taken with soil cores to a depth of 100?cm. The fine root biomass decreased from the middle site to the southern site for both stand ages, as expected, and the decrease could be due to a higher fine root N concentration associated with a higher fine root turnover rate at the southern site. There was a similar rooting pattern, though not deeper, in the drier, sandy site as predicted based on soil water infiltration and evaporation demands. The different effects of stand characters (e.g., tree density, tree height) on the fine root distribution as compared with the environmental properties may contribute partly to the similar pattern found in the two sites. The fine root biomass increased with stand age in both sites. In contrast to the evident difference in fine root biomass, there was no clear trend in the fine root vertical distribution pattern with stand age. Our results indicate that fine roots are likely to respond to changes in soil physicochemical properties and stand age by changing fine root biomass rather than by varying rooting pattern.     

有机稻鸭共作对土壤理化性状和细菌群落空间分布的影响

为探明有机稻鸭共作对不同深度耕层土壤理化性状和细菌群落的影响,采用田间实验,研究了有机稻鸭共作(12年)和转型期稻鸭共作(3年)田在0～6、6～13和13～20 cm土层的理化性状和细菌群落结构变化规律。结果表明:有机稻鸭共作12年后,0～6和6～13 cm土壤理化性状得到较大程度改善,但13～20 cm层改变较小;与转型期稻鸭共作相比,有机稻鸭共作显著改变了细菌群落组成,使不同耕层土壤具有了更高比例的共同细菌门;同时还提高了各耕层土壤细菌群落的丰富度和多样性,减小了各耕层土壤细菌群落结构分布差异性,这在0～6 cm层土壤中表现尤为明显,使细菌群落结构整体朝着更加稳定方向发展;相关分析表明,pH值、土壤容重、全氮和硝态氮是影响有机稻鸭共作后土壤细菌群落空间分布的重要因子。综合来看,有机稻鸭共作主要通过改变土壤理化性状来影响细菌群落的空间分布,是促进农业可持续发展的一种重要模式。     

The role of surface physicochemical properties in determining the distribution of the autochthonous microflora in mineral water bottles

Investigation of the distribution of the viable autochthonous microflora in three brands of 1-2-month-old bottled mineral water showed that 1.8 x 10(4) (S.E.M. 8.9 x 10(3), n = 5) to 1.2 x 10(5) (S.E.M. 1.3 x 10(4), n = 5) cfu ml-1 were planktonic cells while 11 (S.E.M. 4, n = 5)-632 (S.E.M. 176, n = 5) cfu cm-2 were found in the biofilm. The biofilm represented between 0.03 and 1.79% of the total viable microbial population in the 1.5 litre bottles studied. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the cells adhering to the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were predominantly rod-shaped, sparsely distributed over the surface. In contrast, the cells adhering to the high density polyethylene (HDPE) caps were found to be mainly clumps of coccoid cells, suggesting that the bottle may provide different microhabitats for different microfloras. Large-scale roughness, such as that observed as lettering inside the cap (average height (z) = 93 microns) was associated with a 46-fold increase in cell numbers. Increased small-scale roughness, as measured by atomic force microscopy on PET and HDPE surfaces (average roughness (Ra) = 5-551 (nm), showed no correlation with adhesion. Investigations of surface hydrophobicity by the sessile drop technique showed that contact angles (theta) were greater on the HDPE caps (theta = 89-96 degrees) than on the PET surfaces (theta = 69-80 degrees). However, no correlation was found between contact angle and attached cell numbers. Measurements of surface electrostatic charge by streaming potential showed that the PET carried an overall negative charge, measuring -15.9 to -16.6 mV in mineral water. No significant change in charge occurred when the monomer composition of the PET was altered. It was concluded that surface roughness, in particular the scale of surface topographical features, is the most important physicochemical surface characteristic determining the distribution of the autochthonous microflora in mineral water bottles.     

滨海盐碱地刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)混交林土壤水盐动态

以固氮树种刺槐与绒毛白蜡、榆树、臭椿三树种的混交林及其纯林为研究对象,研究了刺槐与不同树种混交对土壤水分、盐分年动态变化的影响.研究结果表明:(1)刺槐与3个树种混交,刺槐臭椿混交林生长最好,均高于各自纯林.(2)混交林一定程度改善了土壤含水量及层次分布,土壤含水量整体趋势均表现出0～60 cm表层土中含水量高于各自纯林,而深层土壤含水量低的特点,只有8月份纯林和混交林的土壤含水量没有显著差别.不同树种在具体层次上略有差异;(3)混交林降低了土壤含盐量,改变了土壤盐分层次分布和年变化规律.不同月份间土壤含盐量随土壤深度、混交树种的变化而变化.深层土壤含盐量高,表层土壤含盐量低,混交林含盐量低于纯林且存在树种差异.混交林与纯林含盐量均雨季低,旱季高;但在某一具体月份各层次含盐量差别不大;不同土层含水量、含盐量与天然降水之间有明显的相关性,天然降水是混交林及纯林土壤水分的主要来源.     

Exopolysaccharide of Nostoc muscorum (Cyanobacteria) in the aggregation of soil particles

The effects on a saline-sodic soil of exopolysaccaride isolated from Nostoc Muscorum or the addition of a cyanobacterial mass proliferation were evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. By day 180 exopolysaccharide increased soluble C by 100%, microbial activity by 366% and the amount of water-stable aggregates larger than 250μm by 12 times. Inoculation with living cyanobacterial mass increased at the end of 365 oxidizable C by 11%, soluble C by 66%, microbial activity by 73% and aggregates larger than 250 μm by66%. A slimy film 3–5 mm thick, with N. Muscorum predominating, covered all the surface of inoculated soils. The higher soil aggregate stability produced by both treatments is a consequence of increased microbial activity and concentrating the soil polysaccharide. The high percentage of clays favours the creation of firm and long-lasting slime-mineral joints. Addition of isolated exopolysaccharide produces a faster and higher increase in soil aggregate stability than cyanobacterial mass inoculation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The properties of liquid water in electric and magnetic fields

A new model of liquid water is proposed, which involves the liquid-crystalline phase, namely, the presence of linearly ordered chains of water molecules and large clusters of these molecules. The presence of linearly ordered chains and clusters in liquid water makes itself evident after the exposure of water to low-frequency electromagnetic radiation. The kinetics of the linearly ordered chains is described by nonlinear excitations (solitons). A hydrodynamic equation describing the behavior of this model system was derived. On the basis of the model, the dimensions of clusters were determined (approximately 600 A). The calculated values of dielectric permeability in the range of low frequencies appeared to be close to their experimentally obtained values. A tenfold increase in the stationary value of dielectric permeability compared with the known value of the dielectric constant in the frequency range of 10(4)-10(6) Hz was predicted. The frequency dependence of dielectric permeability in this range was studied.     

The influence of flood duration on the surface soil properties and grazing management of karst wetlands (turloughs) in Ireland

This study tested the hypothesis that lake augmentation with well water impacts the distribution and abundance of aquatic plants in lakes. Water chemistry was measured from 14 wells, 14 augmented lakes, and 14 lakes without augmentation. Nine in-lake aquatic macrophyte abundance and species distribution metrics were measured in all lakes. Net photosynthetic rate (NPR) of nine submersed species was also measured in well and lake water. Augmentation increased alkalinity in receiving lakes, but total phosphorus was significantly lower, which resulted in lower chlorophyll and greater Secchi depths. Although measured NPR was higher for all plants incubated in well water, only one (emergent species richness) in-lake aquatic macrophyte metric was different in lakes with and without augmentation. Lake augmentation significantly changed water chemistry of receiving waters, but effects on aquatic macrophytes were minimal, suggesting that other environmental factors are limiting the distribution and abundance of macrophytes in the study lakes. The lower phosphorus levels in augmented lakes were unexpected because phosphorus concentrations in well water were significantly greater than in lakes with or without augmentation. Precipitation of calcium phosphate likely accounts for the reduced phosphorus levels in augmented lakes.     

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: insights on subcellular distribution and biochemical properties of heparin-binding proteins

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease and an important public health issue. Glycosaminoglycan ligands in Leishmania parasites are potential targets for new strategies to control this disease. We report the subcellular distribution of heparin-binding proteins (HBPs) in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and specific biochemical characteristics of L. (V.) braziliensis HBPs. Promastigotes were fractionated, and flagella and membrane samples were applied to HiTrap Heparin affinity chromatography columns. Heparin-bound fractions from flagella and membrane samples were designated HBP Ff and HBP Mf, respectively. Fraction HBP Ff presented a higher concentration of HBPs relative to HBP Mf, and SDS-PAGE analyses showed 2 major protein bands in both fractions (65 and 55 kDa). The 65 kDa band showed gelatinolytic activity and was sensitive to inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline. The localization of HBPs on the promastigote surfaces was confirmed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor analysis by binding the parasites to a heparin-coated sensor chip; that was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by pre-incubating the parasites with variable concentrations of heparin, thus indicating distinct heparin-binding capacities for the two fractions. In conclusion, protein fractions isolated from either the flagella or membranes of L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes have characteristics of metallo-proteinases and are able to bind to glycosaminoglycans.     

Changes in physicochemical properties,enzymatic activities,and the microbial community of soil significantly influence the continuous cropping of Panax quinquefolius L. (American ginseng)

Plant and Soil - In the production of the natural medicinal plant American ginseng, replantation typically fails due to continuous cropping obstacles. However, the cause is still not clear and...     

The distribution of bacterioplankton and mesozooplankton biomass in the White and Barents Seas coastal water

The total population density and the biomass of bacterioplankton, mesozooplankton, and phosphate-accumulating bacteria (PAB) were estimated during the 2000-2001 summer-autumn seasons in the coastal waters of the White and Barents Seas, which are subjects to the action of tidal and sea currents, the inflow of riverine waters, and anthropogenic impact. In the shallow estuarine waters with salinities of 6.5-32@1000 near the Chernaya, Pesha, and Pechora River mouths, the population of PAB fluctuated from 0.1 to 9.1 million cells/ml (0-36% of the total bacterial population). In pelagic seawaters, which are low in phosphates (12-50 micrograms/l) and are characterized by an increased iron/phosphorus ratio (2.0-3.6), bacterioplankton amounted to 0.1-1.6 million cells/ml and was mainly represented by small organisms with a volume of 0.08-0.15 micron 3, commonly lacking intracellular polyphosphates. In the pelagic zone of the Barents Sea, the biomass of mesozooplankton (Bz) was comparable with that of bacterioplankton (Bb = 39-175 mg/m3), the Bb/Bz ratio being 1.4-4.6. Off the Varandeiskii, Pechora, and Kolguyev oil terminals, Bb increased to 155-300 mg/m3 and the Bb/Bz ratio rose to 1.4 to 50.3 (with an average value of 20.9), presumably due to the severe anthropogenic impact on these waters. In this case, the dense population of bacterioplankton (0.9-7.6 million cells/ml) was mainly represented by large cells (0.12-0.76 micron 3 in volume), most of which (3-43% of the total bacterioplankton population) contained polyphosphates. The chemical composition of these waters was characterized by an elevated content of the total phosphorus (65-128 micrograms/l) and by a low iron/phosphorus ratio (0.9-1.2).     

The influence of biomass and structure of the crustacean plankton on the water transparency in the Saidenbach storage reservoir

Planktonic crustacean biomass as well as structure are important factors influencing water transparency. The significant dependence of the water quality (Secchi depth) on the concentration and the share of the Daphnia biovolume and not on the total Crustacea biovolume in the Saidenbach reservoir indicates that the density of the Crustacea is only a measure of the cleaning performance, if Daphnia dominates. Using the mean size, the influence of the crustacean structure on the Secchi depth can be recorded. If big size categories prevail (like Daphnia) the water transparency is high. The mainly occurrence of little species (Mesocyclops, Bosmina) results in lower Secchi depths. However, a well defined (significant) relationship is being prevented by the different feeding behaviour of the several species.     

Distribution and ecology of the edible cyanobacterium Ge-Xian-Mi (Nostoc) in rice fields of Hefeng County in China

Ge-Xian-Mi (an edible species of Nostoc) grows insome mountain paddy fields in China during winter and forms macroscopicallyvisible subspherical colonies. The geology and climate at one of its locations,Hefeng County, were investigated, and the present-day situation of Ge-Xian-Miwas assessed in order to raise awareness that it may be endangered. There wereformerly 796 ha of rice fields suited to its growth in HefengCounty and the maximum annual yield ever reached was 25 t. Theannual mean temperature is about 12.2 °C, and the annualrainfall is 1934 mm with mean relative humidity of 78–87%.The distribution of Ge-Xian-Mi was found to be associated with the source ofwater and the pH values of water suited to its growth were 6.2–6.3. Soilsin its habitats were enriched with phosphorus and contained more microbes thanthose without its distribution. With changing agricultural techniques most ofthe habitats are endangered or already extinct. The widespread use ofherbicides, pesticides and fertilizers containing chlorine had been suggestedtobe an important factor limiting its distribution. The taxonomic identity ofGe-Xian-Mi is discussed.