Comparison of gum specimens from Acacia tortuosa and other Gummiferae species

Analytical data are presented for the polysaccharide of six gum specimens from Acacia tortuosa, a tropical American Gummiferae species. These data show that the gums were basically similar but differed in the sugar composition reported for most Acacia gum exudates studied so far. The presence of traces of xylose (<1%) and the absence of rhamnose in the gum specimens studied was very unusual.     

Composition and properties of Albizia lebbeck gum exudate

An analytical study has been made of six gum specimens from Albizia lebbeck, Leguminosae. Galactose, mannose, arabinose, glucuronic acid and its 4-O--metyl analogue are present in all the specimens studied. Rhamnose was not detected according to sugar analysis and spectral data. The absence of this sugar, the high acidity and the relatively low limit viscosity number contrast with the values reported previously for one African sample of A. lebbeck. The lead content is much higher than that recorded for other Albizia gums. ¹³C-NMR spectrum of this gum, in deuterium oxide, shows good resolution.     

Chemical modification of Cassia occidentalis seed gum: carbamoylethylation

The seeds of Cassia occidentalis, an annual weed occurring throughout India, is a rich source of galactomannan gum. The gum derived from seed endosperm can be potentially utilized in a number of industries to replace the conventional gums. With a view to utilize the gum for broader applications, carbamoylethylation of C. occidentalis seed gum was carried out with acrylamide in presence of sodium hydroxide under different reaction conditions. Variables studied were concentration of sodium hydroxide, acrylamide, gum–solvent ratio, reaction time and temperature. The nitrogen content, carboxyl content and total ether content were determined. The optimum condition for preparing carbamoylethyl C. occidentalis seed gum (%N=2.57) comprised concentration of acrylamide (0.070 mol), sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol), C. occidentalis seed gum (0.03 mol) at 30 °C for 3 h. Rheological properties of carbamoylethyl C. occidentalis seed gum solution showed non-Newtonian pseudo-plastic behavior, relatively high viscosity, cold water solubility and solution clarity vis-à-vis unmodified C. occidentalis seed gum.     

中国罗汉松属叶角质层微形态结构及其分类意义

利用扫描电镜对罗汉松属8种2变种植物叶角质层内外表面进行了细致观察。发现罗汉松属植物叶角质层结构具有许多相似特征,表皮细胞较为规则,长方形或多边形,边缘波状弯曲;气孔器排列成带状,长轴均与叶脉一致,气孔器具较为明显的气孔塞和伏罗林环,气孔器保卫细胞极延伸明显,通常具有2~4个副卫细胞、不具极副卫细胞。但罗汉松属叶角质层结构也具有明显的种间差异,镰叶罗汉松和洛杉矶罗汉松同其它种类差异最大,这两种植物叶两面均具气孔器,角质层内表面垂周壁直,角质层凸缘不明显;贺氏罗汉松最为显著的特征是近轴面和远轴面表皮细胞的垂周壁角质层厚且凸缘均极其发达;小叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较为规则,多数为方形,长轴与叶脉垂直,垂周壁之间的角质层突起较为显著,延伸到皮下层;兰屿罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较不规则,多边形,细胞的角端比较钝,没有棱角;大理罗汉松气孔带间隔较小,有时两条气孔带挤在一起,使副卫细胞紧连,近轴面表皮细胞较短,方形或长方形,垂周壁之间的角质层较不发达;海南罗汉松角质层气孔带间隔较宽,气孔器形状为阔椭圆形,近轴面表皮细胞均为细长方形;变种短叶罗汉松和狭叶罗汉松与罗汉松也具有明显差异,短叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列不规则,垂周壁深波状弯曲,凸缘极为明显,但原种罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较为规则,垂周壁浅波状弯曲,凸缘不明显,而狭叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞方形或长方形,比罗汉松的表皮细胞短,垂周壁直或略弯曲,角质层极厚。这些角质层微形态特征差异可以作为罗汉松属内种类分类鉴定的依据。     

Microbial polysaccharides with actual potential industrial applications

The microbial polysaccharides reviewed include xanthan gum, scleroglucan, PS-10, PS-21 and PS-53 gums, polysaccharides from Alcaligenes sp., PS-7 gum, gellan gum, curdlan, bacterial alginate, dextran, pullulan, Baker's Yeast Glycan, 6-deoxy-hexose-containing polysaccharides and bacterial cellulose. Factors limiting the commercial potential of certain microbial polysaccharides such as availability, rheological properties, and polyvalency are outlined. The polysaccharides are classified according to their uses as viscosity-increasing agents and as gelling agents. A third category includes polysaccharides with specific applications such as tailor-made dextran and pullulan and polysaccharides used as substrates for the preparation of rare sugars. The difficulties encountered in development of a polysaccharide at the industrial level are pointed out.     

Reproductive Biology of Phrynichus dhofarensis Weygoldt, Pohl & Polak, 2002 (Chelicerata, Amblypygi, Phrynichidae)

The Phrynichus deflersi species group is a well-defined group inhabiting the Arabian deserts and adjacent areas. The relationship of this group to other species of Phrynichus (the P. ceylonicus group) is obscure. The study of mating behaviour and spermatophore morphology of a member of the Phrynichus deflersi species group allows comparison with other species of Phrynichus and with Euphrynichus and evidence concerning the interrelationships of these three groups. Features of morphology, mating behaviour and spermatophore morphology of Phrynichus dhofarensis suggest that the P. deflersi species group and the P. ceylonicus species group are sister groups and that both (the genus Phrynichus) comprise the sister group of Euphrynichus. This conclusion remains tentative given that only two members of the P. ceylonicus species group and one of the P. deflersi species group have been studied. Mating success is quite variable, suggesting sexual selection.     

实验室培养条件下绒泡菌科四种黏菌个体发育比较研究

本文应用悬滴培养、燕麦-琼脂培养等方法及显微成像技术对绒泡菌科Physaraceae 4种黏菌（黄头绒泡菌Physarum flavicomum、淡黄绒泡菌Physarum melleum、垂头绒泡菌Physarum album、针箍菌Physarella oblonga）的个体发育特征进行比较研究,首次实现了垂头绒泡菌在实验室条件下的完整生活循环。4种黏菌孢子萌发均为V-型开裂,但萌发时间有所不同,黄头绒泡菌萌发所需时间最短,仅需5h,而针箍菌萌发所需时间最长,需要2d;针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌形成的黏变形体均可转变为游动胞,而相同条件下黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌并未有游动胞形成;4种黏菌原生质团的生长速率不同,在光照刺激下针箍菌、淡黄绒泡菌、黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌的原生质团分别经过2-3d、2-3d、7d和13d,发育成子实体;完成孢子到孢子的整个生活史,针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌需要25-30d,黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌需要40-45d。     

广州帽峰山次生林主要种群种间联结性研究

运用方差比率法(VR)、χ²统计量、2×2联列表和共同出现百分率对帽峰山次生林群落10000m²典型样地乔木层15个主要种群和灌木层9个主要种群进行种间联结的测定与分析,指出乔木层15个种群总体呈不显著的负联结,主要种群黄樟、三叉苦、鸭脚木和亮叶猴耳环只与极少数种群形成显著联结,与大部分种群联结关系较弱。灌木层9个种群整体为显著负联结,但主要种群三叉苦与九节、七裂叶悬钩子和假鹰爪呈显著正联结,鸭脚木与九节呈显著正联结,亮叶猴耳环与灌木层其它种群不存在显著联结关系。本文比较了多物种间总体关联性指标和3个成对物种间联结性测定指标的优缺点,并探讨了帽峰山生态公益林示范区次生林经营管理和可持续发展的基本途径。     

长柄山蚂蝗属三个种的核型分析及山蚂蝗属两个种的染色体数

长柄山蚂蝗属Podocarpium(Benth.)Yang et Huang属蝶形花科,间断分布于东亚和中北美洲,广布种分布到非洲和大洋洲。北美有4种,亚洲约有14种.我国约有该属植物11种,以西南和长江以南地区分布种类最多。国外已有人做过本属一半以上的种的染色体记数和核型。本文对本属的三个种.长柄山蚂蝗P.podocarpum(DC.)Yang et Huang,大苞长柄山蚂蝗P.williamsii(Pamp.)Yang et Huang和云南长柄山吗蝗P.du-clouxii(Pamp.)Yang et Huang进行了染色体的记数和核型描述,其中后两个种的工作属于首次。此外,本文还首次报道了山蚂蝗属两个种:Des-modium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.和D.yunnanense Franch.的染色体数目。     

Genomic insights into speciation history and local adaptation of an alpine aspen in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent highlands

Natural selection serves as an important agent to drive and maintain interspecific divergence. Populus rotundifolia Griff. is an alpine aspen species that mainly occurs in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and adjacent highlands, whereas its sister species, P. davidiana Dode, is distributed across southwest and central to northeast China in much lower altitude regions. In this study, we collected genome resequencing data of 53 P. rotundifolia and 42 P. davidiana individuals across their natural distribution regions. Our population genomic data suggest that the two species are well delimitated in the allopatric regions, but with hybrid zones in their adjacent region in the eastern QTP. Coalescent simulations suggest that P. rotundifolia diverged from P. davidiana in the middle Pleistocene with following continuous gene flow since divergence. In addition, we found numerous highly diverged genes with outlier signatures that are likely associated with high-altitude adaptation of these alpine aspens. Our finding indicate that Quaternary climatic changes and natural selection have greatly contributed to the origin and distinction maintenance of P. rotundifolia in the QTP.     

Breeding systems and phylogeny in Poa,with special attention to Northeast Asia: The problem of Poa shumushuensis and sect. Nivicolae (Poaceae)

Poa sect. Poa subsect. Nivicolae (Prob.) Tzvelev was circumscribed to include four species of the Soviet Union: Poa shumushuensis, Poa caucasica, Poa irkutica, and Poa veresczaginii. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of plastid and nuclear‐ribosomal DNA revealed that it is polyphyletic, none of these species are closely related. Poa shumushuensis, type of sect. Nivicolae, or its ancestor, likely displayed the nrDNA genotype characteristic of the higher polyploid P. sect. Malacanthae. Genotype codes are designated for each species: Hx, C c, Php, and Shp. Poa sect. Nivicolae s.s. is restricted to P. shumushuensis; P. sect. Irkuticae is restricted to P. irkutica; P. caucasica is moved to P. subg. & sect. Caucasicae nov.; and P. sect. Dschungaricae is resurrected for P. veresczaginii and two other species. Although diclinous breeding systems are known in many western hemisphere species of Poa, dicliny is infrequent and little studied in Asian Poa. Poa shumushuensis is judged to be either sequentially gynomonoecious or gynodioecious. A ratio of 2 perfect‐, to 2 mixed‐, to 1 pistillate‐flowered inflorescences from different plants in P. shumushuensis is suggestive of a recessive allele for stamen suppression, and this is associated with subtle sexual‐dimorphism. Poa irkutica is diclinous with a breeding system between simple gynomonoecy and sequential gynomonoecy; P. caucasica is perfectly flowered; and P. veresczaginii has infrequent abortive anthers, indicative of limited dicliny, or sterility for other reasons possibly related to its reticulate origin. In total, 23 Asian species are here reported to be diclinous and their breeding systems are characterized. A lectotype is designated for P. fauriei.     

Growth of the sponge Pseudosuberites (aff.) andrewsi in a closed system

Explants of the Indo-Pacific sponge Pseudosuberites aff. andrewsi were fed with the microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and Rhodomonas sp. It was microscopically observed that these algae were ingested and digested by the sponge cells, suggesting that they were consumed by the sponges. The algae were further used for two growth experiments with five explants of P. aff. andrewsi and four explants of P. andrewsi. Growth was measured as the increase in projected body area. The explants showed considerable growth (up to 730% in 54 days for P. aff. andrewsi and up to 680% in 22 days for P. andrewsi), which is much higher than previously reported growth rates for sponges. Growth started after a stationary phase of 5–20 days in which the projected body area did not increase. The growth of P. aff. andrewsi appeared to be linear and was inhibited at the end of the experiment. Two explants of P. andrewsi showed exponential growth instead of linear growth. Hence, no general statements about the growth kinetics of these sponges can be made at this time. However, the high growth rates found in this study suggest a promising future for cultivation of sponges in closed systems.     

Galagos and Gummivory

An experimental program investigating the role of gum in the diet of captiveGalago senegalensis braccatus is reviewed. One set of studies investigated the role of gum chemistry in dietary preferences. The animals showed a preference forAcacia gums over gums from other plants. If condensed or hydrolized tannins were added to theAcacia gums, such gums were consumed at a lower rate than plainAcacia gum. This effect was stronger with the condensed (quebracho) tannin. The effect of such secondary compounds on gum consumption in wild galagos needs investigation. The second set of studies examined digestion of gums, which are complex polysaccarides probably requiring fermentation in the gut. Substitution of gum for simple carbohydrate sources in the diet lead to increased gut transit time. On the gum diet, animals maintained weight without an increase in intake or a decrease in activity levels. Apparent dry matter digestibility of the two diets was equivalent. Indicators of gut bacterial action increased on the gum diet. These observations are strong indirect evidence for an increase of fermentation in the gut on the gum diet.     

Coumarins from Three Phebalium species

The twigs of Phebalium anceps yielded the common furocoumarins psoralen, bergapten and xanthotoxin whereas the leaves of P. coxii and P. ralstonii gare only 8-prenylated 7-methoxycoumarins. From R coxii murrangatin and murralongin were obtained whilst R ralstonii yielded both of these compounds and another coumarin, the novel 7-methoxy-8-(2-acetoxy-3-methyl-1oxobut-2-enyl)-coumarin. The chemotaxonomic implications of these results are discussed.     

基于DNA条形码技术对浙江省外来入侵福寿螺进行分子鉴定

外来入侵福寿螺对我国农业生产和水生生态系统平衡等造成严重危害。2010年, 种类鉴定研究首次揭示我国外来入侵福寿螺包括Pomacea canaliculata和P. maculata两个种, 而浙江省仅见P. canaliculata一种报道。P. canaliculata和P. maculata种间形态近似, 且受环境、食物源等因素影响, 同种内外壳形态特征多样, 因而基于形态特征进行种类的准确鉴定极为困难。本研究在采集浙江省7个区县的福寿螺样本的基础上, 利用DNA条形码技术扩增了101个不同个体的COI序列, 并从BOLD数据库下载了“P. canaliculata种团”的5个近缘种的55条COI序列用于分析, 其中包括P. lineata, P. dolioides和P. paludosa所有已发表序列, 以及P. canaliculata和P. maculata的南美洲样品的序列等。序列相似度比对、DNA条形码间隙和系统发育树等分析表明, COI序列可以实现近缘福寿螺的有效鉴别。待测的浙江省福寿螺样品中, 杭州江干区检测到P. canaliculata和P. maculata两种, 而舟山普陀区、绍兴上虞区和新昌县、温州瓯海区及杭州西湖区仅检测到P. canaliculata, 表明P. canaliculata在浙江省具有更广的分布范围。P. canaliculata和P. maculata分别形成4种和2种单倍型, 各区县样点分别包含1-3种单倍型, 浙江省各发生地呈现较低的遗传多样性。依据系统发育关系推测, 浙江省分布的P. canaliculata和P. maculata分别可能来源于阿根廷和巴西。     

兰州市南北两山5种典型人工林凋落物的水文功能

结合野外实地观测和室内浸水试验,对兰州市南北两山5种典型人工林(侧柏林、刺槐林、新疆杨林、侧柏+刺槐混交林、新疆杨+刺槐混交林)凋落物的持水特性进行研究。结果表明: 不同林分类型凋落物的蓄积量在13.50～47.01 t·hm^-2,依次为新疆杨+刺槐混交林＞侧柏+刺槐混交林＞侧柏林＞刺槐林＞新疆杨林。除侧柏林外,其他林分类型的半分解层蓄积量所占比例均高于未分解层。凋落物最大持水率在190.8%～262.7%,新疆杨+刺槐混交林最大,侧柏林最小。凋落物最大持水量在35.29～123.59 t·hm^-2,依次为新疆杨+刺槐混交林＞侧柏+刺槐混交林＞刺槐林＞侧柏林＞新疆杨林。凋落物的吸水速率在浸水0～1 h直线下降,1 h后降幅减缓,未分解层凋落物吸水速率小于半分解层。最大拦截量和有效拦截量(深)均为新疆杨+刺槐混交林＞侧柏+刺槐混交林＞侧柏林＞刺槐林＞新疆杨林,且新疆杨+刺槐混交林有较高的有效拦截率,表明新疆杨+刺槐混交林在兰州市南北两山有较好的保持水土和涵养水源能力。     

The amino acid composition of gum exudates from Prosopis species

The amino acid compositions of the proteinaceous components of the gum exudates from Prosopis alba, P. chilensis, P. glandulosa, P. laevigata, P. torreyana and P. velutina, and for a sample of commercial gum mesquite, are presented. In agreement with data published previously for the polysaccharide components of their gums, only minor differences in composition are shown by these species. The amino acid compositions are characterized by very high proportions of hydroxyproline and by high proportions of proline and serine; these three amino acids account for 62.5% of those present in the gum from Prosopis velutina. The amino acid compositions of these Prosopis gums are remarkably similar to that established recently for the gum from Acacia senegal (gum arabic).     

Synergistic effects of antagonistic fungi and a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, or composted cow manure on populations of Meloidogyne incognita and growth of tomato

Effects of four antagonistic fungi (Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Trichoderma harzianum and Gliocladium virens) alone and together with a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas putida, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices or with composted cow manure (CCM) were assessed on the growth of tomato and on the reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita in glasshouse experiments. Application of all antagonistic fungi (except G. virens), P. putida, G. intraradices or CCM caused a significant increase in the growth of plants without nematodes. However, use of either of these fungi, P. putida, G. intraradices and CCM against plants with nematodes caused a significant increase in tomato growth. Paecilomyces lilacinus caused a 42% increase in the growth of nematode-inoculated plants followed by P. chlamydosporia (36%), T. harzianum (18%) and G. virens (15%). CCM caused about 57% increase in the growth of nematode-inoculated plants followed by P. putida (37%) and G. intraradices (31%). Maximum increase (71%) in the growth of nematode-inoculated plants was observed when CCM was used with P. lilacinus. Moreover, P. lilacinus caused a high reduction (55%) in galling and nematode multiplication, while G. virens the least (25%). Use of P. putida also caused a 39% reduction in galling and nematode multiplication followed by CCM (34%) and G. intraradices (32%). Combined use of CCM with P. lilacinus caused maximum reduction (79%) in galling and nematode multiplication. Re-isolation of antagonistic fungi from nematodes revealed that P. lilacinus parasitised more females and eggs than other antagonistic fungi. Root colonisation by P. putida was increased with P. lilacinus, while colonisation by G. intraradices was reduced in the presence of antagonistic fungi.