Difference of invasion behavior between two climax species,Castanopsis cuspidata var.sieboldii andMechilus thunbergii,on lava flows on Miyakejima,Japan

The invasion behavior of two climax species,Machilus thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. andCastanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky var.sieboldii (Makino) Nakai, was studied on the 1874 and 1962 lava flows on Miyakejima, Japan. On the 1962 lava, zoochorousM. thunbergii appeared almost only under crowns of pioneeringAlnus sieboldiana Matsum, while bolochorousC. cuspidata var.sieboldii occurred only along the borders of the lava. The three species,A. sieboldiana, M. thunbergii andC. cuspidata var.sieboldii, corresponded, in order, to the temporal sequence of invasion in the boundary forest and the spatial sequence from margin to center on the 1962 lava. Seed or fruit dispersion is important in primary succession in the case of large disturbances.     

Comparison of growth habits under various light conditions between two climax species, Castanopsis sieboldii and Castanopsis cuspidata, with special reference to their shade tolerance

Two experiments were conducted to examine the difference in shade tolerance between two climax species, Castanopsis sieboldii and Castanopsis cuspidata, in Aichi Prefecture in the warm-temperate climate of Japan. In the growth experiment, the seedlings of the two species were raised under five light conditions, 100%, 30%, 10%, 3% and 1% relative light intensity (RLI). The growth of C. sieboldii highly exceeded that of C. cuspidata, particularly under higher light conditions. In the heavy shading experiment, the seedlings of the two species were grown under three light conditions (0, 0.15 and 0.3% RLI). While all seedlings of C. sieboldii died within 2 years under 0.15 and 0.3% RLI, about half of the seedlings of C. cuspidata survived more than 2 years under 0.15% RLI, and about 70% survived more than 4 years under 0.3% RLI. It was concluded that C. cuspidata was more shade tolerant than C. sieboldii, and the possibility that C. sieboldii might be more tolerant of the drought stress than C. cuspidata was discussed.     

Floristic changes in the Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii-forest communities along the Pacific Ocean coast of the Japanese Islands

The forest vegetation of Japan can be classified into three major regions: (1) the Camellietea japonicae evergreen broad-leaved forest region, e.g. Laurel forest which can be compared with the sclerophyllous gorest (durilignosa sensu Rübel, 1930), in the Mediterranean region, (2) the Fagetea crenatae summergreen Broad-leaved forest region, (3) the Vaccinio-Piceetea japonicae subalpine and subboreal conifer forest region. The distribution of these forest types on the Japanese Islands is related to both the warmth index, WI, and to the coldness index, CI, after Kira (1945). The borderline between the evergreen Camellietea japonicae and the summergreen Fagetea crenatae in Japan almost coincides with the 85°C line of WI. The chorological ariation of the forest vegetation in Japan and Korea shows a close correlation with the amount of warmth in the actual vegetation season.The evergreen broad-leaved Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii forests can be classified into three major alliances; Quercion acuto-myrsinaefoliae, Maeso japonicae-Castanopsion sieboldii, and Psychotrioastanopsion sieboldii.The distribution limit of these three alliances on the Japanese Islands is again related to temperature. Changes in temperature and latitude correspond closely to changes in the Evergreen Broad-leaved Forests long the Pacific Ocean coast of the Japanese Islands. The three forest alliances differ in their number of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved woody species, secondary forest types and syndynamic processes.Contribution from the Department of Vegetation Science, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Yokohama National University, No. 154.     

Effect of streaked shearwaterCalonectris leucomelas on species composition ofPersea thunbergii forest on Kanmurijima Island,Kyoto Prefecture,Japan

The effects of trampling and burrowing by streaked shearwaters were studied on thePersea thunbergii forest in Kanmurijima Is. The vegetation data were analysed using both the phytosociological tabulation method and principal component analysis (PCA). The vegetation ordination on the first axis reflected the environmental gradient from light to heavy disturbance by the streaked shearwater, and the vegetation ordination on the second axis represented the gradient from the latter phase of forest succession to retrogressive succession. The position of the three vegetation groups in the ordination diagram successfully explained the relation between the habitat and the species composition. The disturbance caused by activities of the streaked shearwater such as burrowing and trampling causes a decrease of species, especially character species of Camellietea japonicae, and also causes retrogressive succession: patches ofMallotus japonicus develop and many heliophytes occur.     

Role of rhizomes in tussock formation byCarex thunbergii var.Appendiculata

Several types of tussock formed byCarex thunbergii var.appendiculata were compared with respect to the growth pattern of their rhizomes at various developmental stages at Benten Marsh in Yufutsu Mire, Hokkaido, Japan. The rhizomes were classified into three types based on their function: 1, very short rhizomes; 2, intermediate-length rhizomes which grow upwards to raise the shoot base; 3, long rhizomes which grow horizontaly to spread the plant. The extent of development of the tussock and the total length of rhizomes per shoot was inversely related with the number of Type 3 rhizomes, and positively related with Types 1 and 2 rhizomes. The tussock was made of dead roots, dead rhizomes and much litter, which provided a substitute for soil for the rhizomes and absorbing roots. The growth conditions of theCarex changed from aerobic and eutrophic to anoxic and oligotrophic with tussock development. It is concluded that the tussock is adaptive to anoxic conditions.     

Seedling establishment ofPolygonum cuspidatum andPolygonum weyrichii var.alpinum at high altitudes of Mt Fuji

Seedling establishment ofPolygonum cuspidatum (Seib. et Zucc.) andPolygonum weyrichii (F. Schmit) var.alpinum (Maxim.), dominant early-successional species in a volcanic gravel area on Mt Fuji, Japan, was compared for current-year seedlings at 2500 m a.s.l. The rate of survival in the first winter after germination at 2500 m was 2% and 24% forP. cuspidatum andP. weyrichii seedlings, respectively, and correlated with the upper distribution limit of each (2500–2600 m forP. cuspidatum; 3200–3300 m forP. weyrichii). The critical size for survival was 12 mg dry weight for overwintering current-year seedlings of both species. At 2500 m, the percentage of seedlings that attained the critical size for survival at the end of the first growing season was 19% and 85% forP. cuspidatum andP. weyrichii, respectively. Growth curves indicated that the larger-seeded characteristic ofP. weyrichii contributed to larger end-of-season size and resulted in higher rate of seedling survival at 2500 m, compared with smaller-seededP. cuspidatum. Current-year seedlings ofP. weyrichii, at least up to 3250 m, attained the first year annual growth critical for overwintering and therefore for successful seedling establishment, due to the large-seeded characteristic. At the top (3770 m) beyond the upper distribution limit ofP. weyrichii, most seedlings raised artificially failed to attain the critical size for survival in the first growing period due to the reduced growing period. Failure of seedling establishment would thus appear to restrict the distribution of the species at altitudes higher than 3300 m.     

Geographic occurrence of intermediate type between<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Castanopsis sieboldii</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> C. cuspidata</Emphasis> (Fagaceae) based on the structure of leaf epidermis

The number of layers of epidermis in the leaves is used as a criterion to distinguish between Castanopsis sieboldii (two layers) and C. cuspidata (one layer). An intermediate type, which has one and two layers within a single leaf, is frequently seen in the field. The origin of the intermediate type has been supposed to be a hybrid between C. sieboldii and C. cuspidata. If the intermediate type is produced by hybridization, we expect that the F₁ seedlings of the intermediate type should occur in the co-occurrence area of those two species. To clarify the geographic occurrence of the intermediate type, we collected nuts of 443 mother trees from throughout the distribution area of the genus Castanopsis in Japan. A total of 7,260 seedlings germinated from these nuts were examined as to their leaf structure. The seedlings of the intermediate type occurred not only in the area where C. sieboldii and C. cuspidata coexisted, but also in the area where only C. sieboldii grows. The leaf structure of intermediate seedlings was independent of the traits of mother trees. These findings suggest that the intermediate seedlings that occurred in the area where only C. sieboldii grows are not hybrid between C. sieboldii and C. cuspidata but are a morphological variation of C. sieboldii. The difference in the structure of leaf epidermis is not always appropriate for the identification of the hybrid.     

Miscellaneous notes on Discomycetes of the Bonin Islands,Ani-jima Island

Cup fungi of Ani-jima Island, the Bonin Islands, were collected in November 1990 and described for the first time from Ani-jima Island. Four species,Dicephalospora rufocornea, Lachnum abnormis, Lachnum pritzelianum, andOrbilia delicatula were collected from the materials in the litter layer ofLivistona chinensis var.boninensis community around Mt. Kita-hutago in Ani-jima Island.Pulvinula globifera was collected from the soil under a camellia (Schima mertensiana) community to the southeast of Mt. Kita-hutago.Lachnum pritzelianum was new to Japan.     

First environmental isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans and var. gatti from the Gharbia Governorate,Egypt

Flowers from two Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees in the Qutur area and one tree from the Tanta area yielded three isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii. Pigeon and sparrow droppings were also investigated for the occurrence of C. neoformans within the study area. Ninety five isolates of the neoformans variety of C. neoformans were recovered from 550 samples of avian droppings. This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

核桃青皮分解对小白菜生长及生理特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了不同剂量核桃(Juglans regia L.)青皮在土壤中分解过程中对受体植物小白菜(Brassica rapa L.var.chinensis)幼苗生长及其生理特性的影响,探讨核桃青皮的化感作用机理。结果表明:(1)核桃青皮在施入土壤的75d内,显著抑制了小白菜地上部分生物量的积累。(2)各剂量青皮处理小白菜叶片的叶绿素含量在施入20d时均较CK降低,且随着处理时间延长总体呈减少趋势。(3)各剂量青皮处理小白菜叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性在施入20d和75d时大多比对照显著升高,且有随剂量增加而增强的趋势,但过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性则随添加量增大或处理时间延长多无显著变化。(4)小白菜叶片可溶性糖(SS)含量在施入20d时随青皮添加量的增加而增加,后期则表现为显著下降,而可溶性蛋白(SP)和脯氨酸(Pro)含量在整个处理期则呈减少趋势。研究认为,核桃青皮在土壤中分解可能对小白菜的生长和抗性生理指标产生了明显的化感作用,其化感作用强度随其分解时间延长呈先强后弱的变化趋势,且高添加量产生的效应比低添加量快而且强。     

Evaluation of morphological and molecular variation in Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula, with special reference to the systematic treatment of Plantago asiatica var. yakusimensis

Morphological and molecular variations in Plantago asiatica L. var. densiuscula Pilg. were analyzed to evaluate the genetic basis for recognizing the dwarf variety P. asiatica var. yakusimensis (Masam.) Ohwi. Considerable variation in the leaf size of P. asiatica var. densiuscula was observed, and no morphological discontinuities were found between the dwarf types of P. asiatica var. densiuscula and P. asiatica var. yakusimensis. Morphological analysis of plants grown under standardized conditions revealed that both environmental plasticity and genetic differentiation contributed to the dwarfisms. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the SUC1 locus encoding a sucrose transporter revealed that P. asiatica var. yakusimensis was genetically unique although the differentiation level was low. From the above results, we concluded that P. asiatica var. yakusimensis should be reduced to a form of P. asiatica var. densiuscula. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of the SUC1 genotype suggested multiple origins of dwarves, and possible hypotheses for the origins of dwarves are discussed.     

Effect of seaweed concentrate on the establishment and yield of greenhouse tomato plants

Seaweed concentrate prepared fromEcklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss, when applied as a soil drench, significantly improved the growth of tomato seedlings. Application as a foliar spray had no effect on young plants. In a second experiment SWC-treated plants exhibited early fruit ripening and a total fruit fresh weight increase of 17%. The number of harvested fruit were improved by about 10%. In this instance foliar applied SWC was more beneficial than SWC applied to the soil. The significance of these findings is discussed.author for correspondence     

Culture studies onCaulerpa (caulerpales,chlorophyceae) III. Reproduction,development and morphological variation of laboratory-culturedC. racemosa var.peltata

Reproduction, development and morphological variation of the marine green algaCaulerpa racemosa var.peltata from the southern part of Japan were studied in culture in the laboratory. Anisogamous biflagellate male and female gametes were produced monoeciously and copulated with each other. Settled zygotes became spherical and increased in volume. After five weeks, they formed two germ tubes which extended in opposite directions. Both germ tubes became elongated and branched, resulting in the formation of creeping, filamentous, protonema-like plants. These plants formed primary shoots which differentiated into creeping rhizomes and upright axes. Each upright axis successively formed ramuli and developed into an assimilator. The morphology of assimilators, i.e., shape and arrangement of ramuli, varied with culture coditions. The effects of temperature and light intensity on the formation of assimilators were investigated with 25 combinations of 5 temperatures (20.0–30.0C) and 5 light intensities (0.5–8.0 klux). The morphological plasticity of this alga is identical to that ofCaulerpa racemosa var.laetevirens, which was previously described by the present authors. Thus, apparently, the plasticity of this taxon is correlated with environmental factors. It appears, moreover, thatC. racemosa var.peltata andC. racemosa var.laetevirens are ecophenes (ecads) of a single species.     

Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart. var. boninensis Becc., an endemic palm species of the oceanic Bonin Islands, Japan

A set of microsatellites markers were developed for Livistona chinensis var. boninensis, an endemic palm tree of the Bonin Islands. We obtained 123 sequences containing unique microsatellites from an enriched library. Twelve loci were screened for their feasibility using 32 trees. They showed polymorphisms with two to nine alleles per locus. No significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was observed for 11 loci. No genotypic disequilibrium was detected between any two of the loci. Total exclusionary powers for the first and the second parents were 0.978774 and 0.998987, respectively. These markers will allow us to investigate the gene flow within/among populations of the species.     

红花檵木病害的研究进展

红花檵木为一种珍贵的彩叶园林观赏树种,被广泛应用于城市园林绿化中,近年来,红花檵木病害成为影响其观赏价值和苗木生产的重要因素之一。查阅整理了大量国内外相关研究的文献资料,从红花檵木已知的侵染性病害种类、表现症状及防治措施三个方面进行综述,指出了我国红花檵木病害研究目前存在的问题及研究发展趋势,为红花檵木致病机理、病害监测、科学防治等后续研究工作提供参考。     

Quantities and types of ectomycorrhizal and endophytic fungi associated with Betula platyphylla var. japonica seedlings during the initial stage of establishment of vegetation after disturbance

Ectomycorrhizal and endophytic fungi of Betula platyphylla Sukatchev var. japonica Hara seedlings were investigated by bioassay using soils from sites where the surface layer had been removed by destructive disturbances. Soil samples were taken from sites A, B, C and D, where 1, 2–3, 4–5, and 7–8 years, respectively had passed since disturbance. Naturally regenerated B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings grew at sites C and D, but not at sites A or B. The percentages of ectomycorrhizal formation in seedlings were significantly lower in the soils from site A (4%) and site B (13%), compared to those in the soils from site C (53%) and site D (37%). The numbers of ectomycorrhizal morphologic types in sites A, B, C, and D were eight, five, one, and seven, respectively. The same dominant type of ectomycorrhiza was found in sites C and D, and this type was different from those in sites A and B. The frequencies of colonization of seedling roots by endophytic fungi, especially Mycelium radicis atrovirens Melin (MRA) in soils from sites A and B were 31 and 33%, respectively; these frequencies were significantly higher than those for site C (0%) and site D (2%). During the initial stage of establishment of vegetation following disturbance, the quantities and types of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the field that have the potential to associate with B. platyphylla var. japonica might rapidly change after invasion of the host plant. Ectomycorrhizal fungi seemed to compete with endophytic MRA fungi for colonization of the roots of B. platyphylla var. japonica seedlings.     

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Exophiala jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni and Exophiala castellanii

A Japanese clinical isolate (KU-A-0094) which was identified by de Hoog et al. as Exophiala jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni with difficulty, was compared with 5 strains including the type cultures of E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni, var. jeanselmei and E. castellanii using RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) patterns of mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA). RFLP patterns of KUA-0094 were identical with those of E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni and different from those of E. castellanii with restriction enzymes of HaeIII, MspI and hindIII. Therefore, de Hoog et al.'s identification of KU-A-0094 was confirmed. Additionally, mtDNA-RFLP patterns of E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni and E. jeanselmei var. jeanselmei were also different from each other. Consequently E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni seem to be a species in its own right rather than a variant of E. jeanselmei. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

蕨受精作用的细胞学观察

为了阐明进化蕨类受精作用的特点和细胞学机制,该文采用透射电镜观察了蕨(Pteridium aquilinum var.latiusculum)受精作用的主要过程,观察结果显示:(1)蕨精子通过受精孔进入卵细胞,多数情况下,该精子的螺旋运动先在受精孔的下方产生一个受精腔,然后精子再与卵细胞质融合。(2)第一个精子的这种延迟的螺旋运动和因精子的钻入而引起的卵细胞固缩反应可能是阻止多精受精的重要因素。(3)卵发育时期产生的核外突在受精后仍能持续12 h,然后与核本体分离,逐渐在细胞质中消解。(4)合子通过其后方细胞质的液泡化而建立了水平极性,此后再进行细胞分裂。该研究观察到了进化蕨类受精作用过程中的一些新现象,包括产生受精腔、卵细胞固缩反应、核外突的命运以及合子极性建立等,这有助于理解蕨类植物的受精作用机制及有性生殖的演化。     

滇重楼种子内源抑制物质的活性研究

以滇重楼种皮和胚乳为材料,用甲醇浸提得到种皮浸提液和胚乳浸提液,配制成浓度梯度为0.02、0.04、0.06、0.08g/mL的处理液,以蒸馏水为对照,研究不同浓度种皮和胚乳浸提液对受体植物白菜(油脂类)、小麦(淀粉类)、绿豆(蛋白类)种子发芽率、幼苗苗高和根长、抗氧化酶活性的影响,探讨滇重楼种子内源抑制物质的特性,以揭示滇重楼种子休眠的生理机制。结果表明:(1)滇重楼种皮和胚乳中均含有抑制种子萌发与幼苗生长的物质,且抑制作用大小表现为胚乳大于种皮。(2)3种受体植物幼苗对滇重楼种皮、胚乳甲醇浸提液的敏感性大小为白菜(油脂类)显著高于绿豆(蛋白类)和小麦(淀粉类)。(3)滇重楼种皮、胚乳甲醇浸提液对种子萌发及幼苗生长各项指标的抑制作用强度依次为:发芽率幼苗根长幼苗苗高鲜重。(4)滇重楼种皮、胚乳中的抑制物质均能够使3种受体植物幼苗产生生理响应,启动抗氧化酶体系,其中:随着滇重楼种皮甲醇浸提液浓度的升高,受体幼苗SOD与POD活性先升后降,CAT活性持续下降;胚乳甲醇浸提液处理后,受体幼苗SOD和POD活性较对照均显著增强,而CAT活性显著下降。研究认为,滇重楼种皮及胚乳甲醇浸提液均能够抑制受体植物种子萌发及幼苗生长,影响幼苗抗氧化酶活性,但滇重楼种皮与胚乳中所含抑制物在活性上存在差异。     

关于尾尖奇蒿(菊科-春黄菊族)合格发表问题的一条简注

尾尖奇蒿(Artemisia anomala var. acuminatissima)(菊科-春黄菊族)1992年发表时未指定模式,故为不合格发表。该名称2011年得以合格发表,故2016年的再次合格发表纯属多余,是有关作者没有仔细查阅文献的结果。该名称的正确引证应为"Artemisia anomala var. acuminatissima Y. R. Ling, Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18:203. 2011",而非"Artemisia anomala var.acuminatissima Y. R. Ling, Phytotaxa 273:213. 2016"。