Some effects of Plasmodiophora brassicae Woron. on the growth of the young cabbage plant

When clubroot galls developed on cabbage inoculated with Plasmodiophorabrassicae Woron., the distribution of dry matter in the plantwas altered. As soon as clubbed roots were visible the stem:root ratio diminished with time until the clubs rotted. Afterclubs appeared the increase in root weight was nearly all fromgrowth of the clubroot gall and the rate of growth of tops correspondinglydiminished. Succulence of the shoot, water content per unitdry weight, was unaffected. Increase in total leaf area closely paralleled that of totaldry weight. It was slower in diseased plants and attained alower limit than in healthy ones. From the 35 th day after inoculation,onwards, diseased plants had fewer and smaller leaves and theirleaves opened more slowly, one new leaf unfolding every 9 dayson diseased plants against one every 4 days on healthy plants.Leaves of diseased plants were both smaller and thinner thanthose in corresponding positions on healthy plants. The relationship between the absorbing system on the one hand,and the assimilating and transpiring system on the other, wasgreatly altered; the dry weight of fibrous root per unit leafarea was decreased after infection from 1.20 to 0.79 mg./cm.²20 days after inoculation and from 1.64 to 0.38 mg./cm.² 82days after inoculation. Though infection consistently lowered net assimilation rate,on the average by about 15 per cent, of the control value, thisdecrease was never statistically significant. Increases in the number of spores in the inoculum progressivelydecreased the dry weights of tops and fibrous roots, and sometimesincreased the dry weight of clubs. Delaying inoculation increased the initial growth rate of thegalls, and sometimes their final size. The extent to which plantswere damaged depended more on how long they had been infectedthan on age at inoculation.     

Effects of Temperature Variation at Different Times on Growth and Yield of Sugar Beet and Barley

Sugar-beet and barley were grown in pots outdoors (environmentN) and, for five successive 4-week periods starting at sowing,batches of plants were transferred to three growth rooms whosetemperatures were either similar to the outdoor mean (environment^M), or 3° C hotter (environment H) or 3° C colder (environmentC). Some plants were harvested immediately after treatment;others were returned to environment N and harvested when mature. At the end of period 1, sugar-beet plants from environment Mhad more dry weight and leaf area than those outdoors. Immediatelyafter spending later periods in environment M, plants had smallerleaves and similar dry weight to those continuously outdoors.These differences disappeared by maturity. Warmth in the growthrooms (i.e. the difference H—C) during periods 1, 2, and3, while leaf area was increasing, increased the number andsize of leaves and usually also dry weight; in later periodsit had no effect. The effects induced during periods 2 and 3,but not period 1, persisted to maturity to give greater totaland root dry weight and yield of sugar. The final effects ondry weight were much larger than those immediately after treatment,and were the result of differences in growth outdoors aftertreatment which depended on differences in leaf area; the efficiencyof the leaves was not affected by previous treatment. Transferring barley to environment M from N had inconsistentimmediate effects on leaf area and dry weight which disappearedby the final harvest. Transfer during periods 2 and 3, beforethe ears had started emerging, increased shoot number and delayeddevelopment. The proportion of the ears that ripened and theyield of grain were usually less for plants that had spent aperiod in environment M than for plants permanently outdoors,which also had some green ears. Warmth in the growth rooms duringperiods 1 and 2 increased dry weight and leaf area immediately,but had negligible effects at maturity because the increasesin leaf area did not persist after ear emergence. Warmth laterhastened death of leaves, decreased total dry weight immediatelyand also at maturity, but increased the proportion of ears thatripened and hence usually grain weight. Variation in leaf areaduration after ear emergence (D), determined by effects on thetime the ears emerged and the rate the leaves died, accountedfor most of the variation in grain yield, but warmth after theears emerged decreased grain yield less than proportionallyto the decrease in D. Net assimilation rate (E) of sugar-beet was greater than ofbarley, and decreased less with age. E of both species was usuallygreater in environment M than outdoors in spite of less radiation.It was only slightly affected by temperature. Nitrogen and potassium uptake were increased by treatments thatincreased dry weight. The percentage contents suggest that extrauptake was a consequence and not a cause of the increase indry weight.     

Metabolism of Barley Leaves Inoculated with Erysiphe graminis Merat

Inoculating Proctor barley leaves with Erysiphe graminis decreasedrates of photosynthesis, after an initial lag period, and increasedrespiration. Increasing the area inoculated progressively decreased ratesof photosynthesis, but the effects cannot be attributed to asimple loss of leaf area. When less than 30 per cent of a leafwas inoculated, decreases were equivalent to area losses greaterthan those inoculated; when more than 30 per cent was inoculatedthe photo-synthetic losses were equivalent to area losses lessthan those inoculated. Although the relative effects of E. graminis on photosynthesisand respiration were of the same order, the absolute effectson photosynthesis were greater than those on respiration. Inoculating30 per cent of a leaf decreased photosynthesis by 5–6mg CO₂/dm²/hr from 12.9 in the uninoculated controls to 7.3.Respiration increased by 0.6 mg CO₂/dm/hr, from 1.7 to 2.3-     

Effect of CO2 Concentration on Growth of Sugar-beet, Barley, Kale, and Maize

Increasing the concentration of CO₂ in the air from the usual300 ppm to 1, 000 ppm in growth rooms with temperatures of 20°C during the 16-h light period and 15° C during the 8-hdark period increased the total dry weight of sugar-beet, barley,and kale by about 5o per cent. A further increase in CO, concentrationto 3, 300 ppm increased dry weight slightly more. These effectsoccurred with light intensities ranging from 3.7 to II.6 caldm–² min–¹ of visible radiation supplied by a mixtureof fluorescent and tungsten lamps, and were only slightly greaterwith the brighter light. Extra CO₂ also increased leaf area,though relatively less than dry weight, and the number of barleyshoots but not of sugar-beet or kale leaves; it decreased leaf-arearatio, specific leaf area, and the ratio of tops to roots. Maizewas taller with extra CO₂. Net assimilation rates in 1, 000 and 3, 300 ppm CO₂ were about20 and 30 per cent respectively greater than in 300 ppm. Uptakeof CO₂ in the light by complete tops and single leaves alsoincreased with increase in CO₂ concentration. Photosynthesisof leaves of plants recently transferred to a new CO₂ concentrationdepended only on that concentration and not on the originalone. Doubling the light intensity from 3.7 to 7.7 cal dm–²min–¹ affected dry weight, leaf area, net assimilationrate, etc., similarly to a tenfold increase in CO₂ concentration.     

Effects of Mildew and Nitrogen on Grain Yield of Barley Artifically Infected in the Field

Powdery mildew was artificially introduced into field plotsof barley given two amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. In Tyraand Triumph, grain dry matter and nitrogen yield of healthyplots increased in response to nitrogen fertilizer. In mildewedplots increases in response to nitrogen did not occur in Triumph,despite low levels of mildew infection. Mildew reduced grainyield and nitrogen content at both levels of nitrogen in bothvarieties. Hordewm vulgare L., barley, Erysiphe graminis, powdery mildew, nitrogen fertilizer, grain yield     

Variations with Age in Net Assimilation Rate and other Growth Attributes of Sugar-beet, Potato, and Barley in a Controlled Environment: With two Figures in the Text

Sugar-beet, potato, and barley plants were grown in a controlledenvironment, for periods of up to 10 weeks from sowing, witha light intensity of 1,8oo f.c. (4·9 cal./cm.²/hr.) anda temperature of 20° C. during the 18-hour photoperiod and15° C. during the dark period, to test whether net assimilationrate varied with age and differed between the three species. Net assimilation rate of all species based on leaf area (E_A)fell approximately linearly with time. During 5 weeks E_A ofsugar-beet decreased by only about 20 per cent. and E_A of potatodecreased by 50 per cent. E_A of barley remained approximatelyconstant for 4 weeks after sowing and was halved during thesubsequent 4 weeks. The average value of E_A for all times wasgreatest for sugarbeet and least for barley. Net assimilation rates based on leaf weight (E_W) and leaf N(E_N) decreased at about 15 per cent. of the initial value perweek for all species; this was similar to the mean rate of decreaseof E_A of potato and barley, but greater than that of E_A of sugar-beet.Mean values of E_W or E_N for potato and barley were similar andless than for sugar-beet. Relative growth rate (R_W), relative leaf growth-rate (R_A), andleaf-area ratio (F) fell with time at similar rates for allspecies. Average values of R_W decreased and of F increased inthe order sugar-beet, potato, barley. R_A was greatest for potatoand least for barley.     

The Dynamics of Leaf Growth and Photosynthetic Capacity in Capsicum frutescens L.

In Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder the specificleaf weight (dry weight per unit laminar area) at leaf unfoldingis three times higher in the eighth leaf than in the first leafproduced. Intermediate leaves exhibit a trend between the twoThe change in specific leaf weight during laminar expansionis greatest in leaf 1 and least (sometimes zero) in leaf 8.Large changes in specific leaf weight during laminar expansionare associated with a large degree of palisade cell expansion,while leaves showing smaller rates of change have less palisadecell expansion but cell division is more evident. At leaf unfoldingthe fraction I protein content per unit laminar area is higherin upper than in lower leaves. Ribulose diphosphate carboxylaseactivity per unit laminar area and ¹⁴CO₂ fixation per unit laminararea have a similar pattern of development in all leaves andshow no correlation with the changes in specific leaf weight.The peak of activity in all leaves occurs when the laminar areais 10 cm². These results are compared with previous data onlaminar expansion and are seen as in accord with current ideason leaf growth.     

Influence of Tops and Roots on Net Assimilation Rate of Sugar-beet and Spinach Beet and Grafts between them

Sugar-beet has a larger storage root and greater net assimilationrate (E) than spinach beet. To determine whether the greaterroot was a result or cause of the greater E, grafts were madebetween tops and roots of sugar-beet and spinach-beet in allfour possible combinations. Grafted plants with sugar-beet roots had greater E and rootdry weight, less leaf area and top dry weight and lower concentrationof sugar in the leaf lamina, than those with spinach-beet roots,irrespective of the type of top. Grafted plants with sugar-beettops had greater E, total and root dry weight, but less leafarea, than those with spinach-beet tops, irrespective of thetype of root. The difference in E between grafted plants withsugar-beet tops and spinach-beet tops was similar to that betweengrafted plants with sugar-beet roots and spinach-beet roots.It increased with time to 60 per cent. Increases in E probably represent increases in rate of photosynthesis.Sugar-beet roots probably increased photosynthesis by providinga better sink for assimilates than spinach-beet roots.     

Sink Activity Estimation by Sink Size and Dry Matter Increase During the Ripening Stage of Barley (Hordeum vu/gare) and Rice (Oryza sativa)

During the ripening stage of barley and rice, the sink activitywas defined as the dry matter increase per units sink size,leaf area and time, as follows: NAR = A.SinkW+NAR', where NAR is the net assimilation rate (g d.wt dm^–2d^–1);A is the sink activity [g d.wt g^–1d.wt (ear) dm^–2d^–1]; Sink W is ear wt per plant at heading (g d.wt);and NAR' is net assimilation rate excluding the assimilate ofsink organ (g d.wt dm^–2 d^–1). Plant material with 16 combinations of mutually different sink(ear) and source (leaf) size were produced at heading for eachcrop: parts of each leaf and ear were removed to produce fourgrades in barley, and also a part of each leaf was removed producingfour grades for four rice varieties showing different ear size.NAR and NAR' were determined during 26 and 21 d in barley andrice after heading, respectively. Sink activity (A), representedas the assimilation rate induced by the sink organ, was estimatedfrom the relationship between SinkW and NAR using the previousequation. The sink activity was significantly higher in ricewith a value of 0–0.028 g d.wt g^–1 d.wt (ear) dm^–2d^–1 vs. 0–0.0017 in barley, suggesting that therelative role of leaves for grain filling is considerably higherin rice than in barley. The sink activity obtained in the studymight be introduced into a model to predict the yields of barleyand rice. Hordeum vulgare L, barley, Oryza saliva L, rice, dry matter, NAR, sink, source, sink activity, model     

An Analysis of Growth of Oil Palms under Nursery Conditions: I. Establishment and Growth in the Wet Season

Growth of oil palm seedlings over the period 2–31 weeksafter planting in the nursery was studied using growth-analysistechniques. Curves of the Gompertz type were fitted to the basicdata of plant dry weight and leaf area, and from the equationsof the fitted curves, net assimilation rate (E_A), relative growth-rate(Rw), and relative leaf growth-rate (R_A) were calculated. The low values of E_A (0.16-0–31 g/dm²/week) and Rw (1.4–2.2per cent./per day) confirm earlier work on oil palm seedlings.The time trend of increasing E_A and R_W over the period studiedis associated with steadily increasing solar radiation overthe second half of the period. Leaf-area ratio is markedly affected by transplanting, and asthis unbalance of leaf area/total dry weight has been shownto be associated with low rates of EA in seedlings, it is suggestedthat the low values of E_A and R_W in the first half of the experimentalperiod are due to the effect of transplanting. These findings are discussed in relation to current nurserypractice.     

Is Partitioning of Dry Weight and Leaf Area Within Dactylis glomerata Affected by N and CO2Enrichment?

We examined changes in dry weight and leaf area within Dactylisglomerata L. plants using allometric analysis to determine whetherobserved patterns were truly affected by [CO₂] and N supplyor merely reflect ontogenetic drift. Plants were grown hydroponicallyat four concentrations of in controlled environment cabinets at ambient (360 µll^–1) or elevated (680 µl l^–1) atmospheric[CO₂]. Both CO₂and N enrichment stimulated net dry matter production.Allometric analyses revealed that [CO₂] did not affect partitioningof dry matter between shoot and root at high N supply. However,at low N supply there was a transient increase in dry matterpartitioning into the shoot at elevated compared to ambient[CO₂] during early stages of growth, which is inconsistent withpredictions based on optimal partitioning theory. In contrast,dry matter partitioning was affected by N supply throughoutontogeny, such that at low N supply dry matter was preferentiallyallocated to roots, which is in agreement with optimal partitioningtheory. Independent of N supply, atmospheric CO₂enrichment resultedin a reduction in leaf area ratio (LAR), solely due to a decreasein specific leaf area (SLA), when plants of the same age werecompared. However, [CO₂] did not affect allometric coefficientsrelating dry weight and leaf area, and effects of elevated [CO₂]on LAR and SLA were the result of an early, transient stimulationof whole plant and leaf dry weight, compared to leaf area production.We conclude that elevated [CO₂], in contrast to N supply, changesallocation patterns only transiently during early stages ofgrowth, if at all. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Allometric growth, carbon dioxide enrichment, Cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata L., dry weight partitioning, leaf area ratio, nitrogen supply, shoot:root ratio, specific leaf area     

Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation by Vicia faba L. at Low Temperature: the Importance of Concentration and Form of Applied-N

Low temperature (6 C) growth was examined in two cultivarsof Vicia faba L. supplied with 4 and 20 mol m^–3 N as nitrateor urea. Both cultivars showed similar growth responses to increasedapplied-N concentration regardless of N-form. Total leaf areaincreased, as did root, stem and leaf dry weight, total carboncontent and total nitrogen content. In contrast to findingsat higher growth temperatures, 20 mol m^–3 urea-N gavesubstantially greater growth (all parameters measured) than20 mol m^–3 nitrate-N. The increased carbon content per plant associated with increasedapplied nitrate or urea concentration, or with urea in comparisonto nitrate, was due to a greater leaf area per plant for CO₂uptake and not an increased CO₂, uptake per unit area, carbon,chlorophyll or dry weight, all of which either remained constantor decreased. Nitrate reductase activity was substantial inplants given nitrate but negligible in plants given urea. Neitherfree nitrate nor free urea contributed greatly to nitrogen levelsin plant tissues. It is concluded that there is no evidence for a restrictionin nitrate reduction at 6 C, and it is likely that urea givesgreater growth than nitrate because of greater rates of uptake. Vicia faba, broad bean, low temperature growth, carbon assimilation, nitrogen assimilation     

Effect of Nitrogen Supply on the Grass and Clover Components of Simulated Mixed Swards Grown under Favourable Environmental Conditions I. Carbon Assimilation and Utilization

Simulated mixed swards of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) cv. S23 and White clover (Trifolium repens L.) cv. S100were grown from seed under a constant 20 °C day/15 °Cnight temperature regime and their growth and carbon economyexamined. The swards received a nutrient solution daily, whichcontained either High (220 mg l^–1) or Low (10 mg l^–1)nitrate N. Rates of canopy photosynthesis and respiration, and final drymatter yields were similar in the two treatments although theproportions of grass and clover differed greatly. The Low-Nswards were made up largely of clover. The grass plants in theseswards had high root: shoot ratios and low relative photosyntheticrates – both signs of N deficiency – and were clearlyunable to compete with the vigorously growing Low-N clover plants.These had higher relative growth rates and dry matter yieldsthan their High-N counterparts. In the High-N swards clovercontributed around 50 per cent to the sward dry weight throughoutthe measurement period despite having a smaller proportion ofits dry weight in photosynthetic tissue (laminae) than grassover much of it. The latter was compensated for, initially bya higher specific leaf area than grass, and later by a higherphotosynthetic rate per unit leaf weight. The results are discussedin relation to observed declines in the clover content of swardsafter the addition of nitrogen fertilizer in the field. Trifolium repens, white clover, Lolium perenne, perennial ryegrass, nitrogen, photosynthesis, carbon balance     

Factors Affecting Uptake of Radioactive Phosphorus by Leaves and its Translocation to other Parts of the Plant

The rate of uptake of ³²P from labelled NaH₂PO₄ solutions sprayedon to one leaf of swedes (Brassica napus) or French beans (Phaseolusvulgaris) was rapid during the first few hours and fell to zeroafter 4 days. ²²P was detected in the root after 3 hours andcontinued to move out of the treated leaf for at least 6 daysafter application. A larger fraction of the applied ³²P wasabsorbed from repeated than from a single spraying. Swedes absorbed more ³²P from a single application to the lowersurface than to the upper surface of the leaf. Doubling theconcentration of the spray caused a small increase in the percentageof applied ²²P that was absorbed. Absorption by French-beanleaves decreased slightly when the area sprayed with a constantamount of ³²P was doubled, and decreased with increasing ageof leaf. Increasing the phosphorus supply to the roots of swedesaffected neither the initial rate nor the total amount of ³²Puptake by the leaves but decreased the quantity of ³²P thatwas translocated out of the treated leaf. Increasing the relative humidity of the air around the plantsalso increased³²P uptake. Shading usually decreased uptake andalways decreased translocation. Rewetting the leaf to whichthe ³²P had been applied, with water or sucrose solution, hadvariable effects. The significance of the results is discussed.     

52Fe Translocation in Barley as Monitored by a Positron-Emitting Tracer Imaging System (PETIS): Evidence for the Direct Translocation of Fe from Roots to Young Leaves via Phloem

The real-time translocation of iron (Fe) in barley (Hordeumvulgare L. cv. Ehimehadaka no. 1) was visualized using the positron-emittingtracer ⁵²Fe and a positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS).PETIS allowed us to monitor Fe translocation in barley non-destructivelyunder various conditions. In all cases, ⁵²Fe first accumulatedat the basal part of the shoot, suggesting that this regionmay play an important role in Fe distribution in graminaceousplants. Fe-deficient barley showed greater translocation of⁵²Fe from roots to shoots than did Fe-sufficient barley, demonstratingthat Fe deficiency causes enhanced ⁵²Fe uptake and translocationto shoots. In the dark, translocation of ⁵²Fe to the youngestleaf was equivalent to or higher than that under the light condition,while the translocation of ⁵²Fe to the older leaves was decreased,in both Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient barley. This suggeststhe possibility that the mechanism and/or pathway of Fe translocationto the youngest leaf may be different from that to the olderleaves. When phloem transport in the leaf was blocked by steamtreatment, ⁵²Fe translocation from the roots to older leaveswas not affected, while ⁵²Fe translocation to the youngest leafwas reduced, indicating that Fe is translocated to the youngestleaf via phloem in addition to xylem. We propose a novel modelin which root-absorbed Fe is translocated from the basal partof the shoots and/or roots to the youngest leaf via phloem ingraminaceous plants.     

Growth Analysis of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): 2. Interacting Effects of Irradiance, Temperature and Plant Age in Controlled Conditions

A growth analysis was carried out with sweet pepper plants grownin a phytotron. Irradiance conditions were: 0.84 or 3.25 MJm^–2 in 8 h, 1.67 MJ m^–2 in 16 h and 2.51 MJ m^–2in 24 h. Temperatures applied were 25 or 21 °C during thephotoperiod in combination with 25, 21 and 17 or 21, 17 and13 °C respectively during the nyctoperiod. Highest values for leaf area and total dry weight were foundwhen applying 1.67 MJ m^–2 in 16 h, followed by 3.25 MJm^–2 in 8 h, irrespective of the temperature regime. Continuousirradiance ultimately resulted in leaf drop. A reduction inthe day temperature decreased leaf area and total dry weight.At a day temperature of 25 °C the dry weight increased withdecreasing night temperature when applying 3.25 MJ m^–2in 8 h. At a day temperature of 21 °C leaf area and dryweight were reduced when 17 or 13 °C were applied duringa 16 h nyctoperiod. Values for relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leafarea ratio and leaf weight ratio strongly decreased with advancingplant age. The effects of irradiance treatment on RGR and NARwere analogous to those on total dry weight while the reversepattern was observed for the LAR. A decrease in day temperaturedecreased the RGR. The effects of night temperature exhibitedstrong interactions with day temperature and photoperiod. Theinfluence of temperature on RGR was largely mediated throughchanges in the LAR. The latter parameter was highly correlatedwith the specific leaf weight. Capsicum annuum L., sweet pepper, growth analysis, irradiance, temperature, plant age     

Growth and Photosynthesis in the First Leaf of Barley The Effect of Time of Application of Nitrogen

Using Proctor barley grown in sand under controlled-environmentconditions it was shown that when application of nitrogen, asnitrate, was delayed beyond day 4, at which time the first leafwas beginning to unfold, absolute and relative growth-ratesof seedlings were reduced so that the young plants were significantlysmaller. Delay in nitrate application led to reduction in length,breadth, area, and dry weight of the first leaf, and also toa lower photosynthetic activity on day 8, as measured by infra-redgas analysis. Measurement of the uptake of ¹⁴CO² by first leaves showed thatapplication of nitrate on days 2 or 4 led to high rates of fixationof carbon over the period days 8–12, whereas applicationon days 6 or 8 led to a substantially lower maximum rate offixation which was maintained for a shorter period. When nitratewas applied on day 8 total fixation of carbon over the perioddays 7–14 was only 60 per cent of that for leaves on plantsfor which nitrate was supplied on day 2. When amounts of carbon fixed were compared on a leaf dry-weightbasis, maximum values were found to be similar for all treatments,suggesting that the differences in fixation per leaf resultmainly from the effect of treatment on leaf area. For all treatmentsit was confirmed that a decline in photosynthetic activity occurredby day 14. This was not correlated with photosynthetic activityin the second leaf, nor with emergence of the third leaf. Analysis of different parts of the lamina of the first leafshowed all to be affected by the timing of the supply, bothin growth and in photosynthetic activity. Leaf dry weight didnot increase after day 8 for any treatment, yet when nitratewas applied on day 8 plants showed a fourfold increase in photosyntheticrate. The significance of this in relation to carboxylationand other resistances in photosynthesis is discussed.     

江西千烟洲人工针叶林下狗脊蕨群落生物量

 根据野外调查和实验分析研究了江西省千烟洲人工针叶林下狗脊蕨（Woodwardia japonica）群落的生物量、细根生物量、净初级生产力(Net primary productivity, NPP)、 比叶面积（Specific leaf area, SLA） 和叶面积指数（Leaf area index, LAI）等。通过叶片参数和地上生 物量的相关关系建立了狗脊蕨单株地上生物量估算模型,分别 为W1=0.021H^1.545（R²=0.790）和W1=2.518（D²H）^{0 .616}（R²=0.894;H为株高 ,D为地径）。人工针叶林下灌草层地上生物量为367.8 g&;#8226;m^－2（52～932 g&;#8226;m^－2）,凋落物为1 631 g&;#8226;m^－2（672～2 763 g&;#8226;m^－2）,分别占 乔木层地上生物量的4.7%（1.55%～13.2%）和20.7%（7.6%～32.1%）。狗脊蕨群落地上生物量和NPP分别为266.6 g&;#8226;m^－2和88.67 g&;#8226;m^－2&;#8226;a ^-1 ,其中狗脊蕨种群占73.7%;地下生物量为212.6 g&;#8226;m^－2。狗脊蕨的SLA和叶干物质含量（Leaves day mutter content, LDMC）分别为144.0 cm²&;#8226;g^-1和31.99%,二者之间呈显著负相关;最佳叶面积估算模型为S=21.922 6-0.152L²+0.000 9L³（9.0≤L（叶片长度）≤23.5;1.4≤W （ 叶片宽度）≤5.9）。狗脊蕨种群的LAI为1.8。土壤含水量对狗脊蕨生物量有显著影响。群落生物量与土壤有机质和全氮含量正相关     

Growth of Plants in Different Oxygen Concentrations

Dwarf french beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Canadian Wonder)were grown in chambers at 25?C with the roots aerated at 20per cent oxygen and tops variously maintained at: T₁ O₂ 0.21;CO₂ 270?10^–6: T₂; O₂ 0.05, CO₂, CO₂ 270?10^–6: T₃;O₂ 0.21; CO₂ 550?10^–6. Experiment 1 (T₁ and T₂) lasted2 weeks: Experiment 2 (T₁ T₂ and T₃) only one week. Hourly estimatesof CO₂ uptake were made by gas analysis and weekly estimatesof fresh weight, dry matter in tops and roots, and leaf area,by sampling. Light intensity was 80 W m^–2 of photosyntheticallyactive radiation. An attempt was made to explain the results in terms of a simplelight absorption model such that where dV/dt is the rate of CO₂ uptake per plant, ßis the photosynthetic efficiency, I₀ is the incident light intensity,f is the fraction of incident light absorbed by unit leaf layerand L is the leaf area index. The analysis showed that ß(T₂)was at least double ß(T₁), whilst f(T₂) was smallerthan f(T₁) at a given leaf area. The results also required thatthroughout the period of the experiment, fL(T₁)=fL(T₂) at anygiven time, i.e. the treatment with the larger leaf area (T₂)has the smaller value of f, and therefore intercepts less lightper unit leaf area. This could be advantageous for plant growth,but requires further experiments. The photosynthetic rates per unit leaf are about 40 per centgreater in T₂ than T₁. Over the relatively short period of the experiment the resultsare adequately described by U=btⁿ, where U is the accumulatedcarbon dioxide uptake, b is related to the photosynthetic efficiency(different for the differing treatments), and n is a constant(similar for all treatments). This relationship with time isbelieved to be a relationship with accumulated radiation, forthe light was constant throughout the experiments. Comparisons of carbon fixed (measured gas uptake) and dry matteraccumulation (sampling) show great scatter with an average valueof 0.43. The first week's results were generally smaller thanthis value and the second week's greater. Energy fixation as a fraction of photosynthetically active radiationon the ground area covered by the plants ranged from 3.5 to10 per cent. The results from treatment T₃ were similar to T₂ suggestingthat increasing CO₂ concentration decreases the growth inhibitionat 21 per cent O₂.     

The Effects of Silicon on Cucumber Plants Grown in Recirculating Nutrient Solution

Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) cv. Corona were grown in recirculatingnutrient solution containing either 10 mg l^–1 SiO₂ (lowSi) which was the level present in the water supply or givenan additional 100 mg l^–1 SiO₂ (high Si). Silicate wasdepleted from the solution when cucumbers were grown, but accumulatedwhen tomatoes were grown. Major effects on cucumber leaves ofadded Si were: increased rigidity of the mature leaves whichhad a rougher texture and were held more horizontally; theywere darker green and senescence was delayed. The mature highSi leaves acquired characteristics of leaves grown in a higherlight intensity, i.e. they had shorter petioles and an increasedfresh weight per unit area, dry weight per unit area, chlorophyllcontent, RuBPcarboxylase activity and soluble protein (all expressedper unit area of interveinal laminar tissue). Addition of Sidid not affect the final leaf area of the mature leaves butroot fresh weight and dry weight were increased. A pronouncedeffect of Si addition was the increased resistance to the powderymildew fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea. Despite regular applicationsof fungicide, outbreaks of the fungal disease occurred on mostof the mature leaves on the low Si plants, while the high Siplants remained almost completely free of symptoms. The additionof Si could be beneficial to cucumbers grown in areas wherethe local water supply is low in this element, especially whengrown in recirculating solution or in a medium low in Si, e.g.peat. Cucumber, silicon, fungal resistance, powdery mildew, senescence, RuBPcarboxylase