X-ray microanalytic method for measurement of dry matter and elemental content of individual bacteria.

A method for the determination of dry matter and elemental content of individual bacterial cells is described. The method is based on energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis in a transmission electron microscope. A theory for area correction of intensity is developed. Escherichia coli in the late exponential phase of growth and early stationary phase (glucose limited) had an average dry matter content of 278 and 154 fg/cell, respectively. Of the elements detected, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium, and calcium together made up 15 to 17% of the dry matter content. A phosphorus content of 4.2 to 5.4% of the dry matter was found in these cells. Volume measurements of air-dried cells gave an average of 1.20 to 1.25 micron3. These results emphasize that dry matter content and elemental composition can be measured directly on single cells from complex microbial communities.     

Nutrient and energy content of freshwater fishes

The analyses of fresh total body homogenates of 2385 freshwater fishes from 17 species originating in natural waters and aquaculture facilities resulted in average values of 19.1–37.8% dry matter, 13.6–18.3% crude protein, 0.8–18.3% crude fat, 0.16–2.17% nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), 2.2–2.9% nitrogen and 0.39–1.02% phosphorus. The gross energy content ranged from 3.83 to 11.49 MJ/kg. With increasing fat content in the fishes, water content decreased and dry matter content increased. Through this interdependence, a significant correlation was found between dry matter and crude fat and energy content (r²=0.92–0.97). The values of crude protein, crude ash, NFE, nitrogen and phosphorus did not show any significant influence on dry matter content (r²=0.0005–0.46). Based on the significant correlation between dry matter and gross energy (gross energy [MJ/kg]=0.0253 dry matter [%]^1.6783), the energy content of freshwater fishes can easily be estimated by the dry matter content in the total body.     

植物多糖类复合制剂对冬小麦产量及物质转运的影响

在大田栽培条件下,采用生物质多糖(P₁)、生物质多糖和5 氨基乙酰丙酸复配(P₂),以及生物质多糖、5-氨基乙酰丙酸和缩节胺为有效成分复配(P₃)的3种不同制剂,研究在冬小麦始花期叶面喷施制剂对其产量构成、蔗糖、可溶性总糖、干物质贮运以及氮磷养分累积与转移的影响.结果表明: 喷施3种制剂使冬小麦穗粒数和千粒重增加,增产8.5%以上;喷施20 d内,小麦旗叶蔗糖含量较对照明显增加;喷施P₁和P₃使小麦籽粒可溶性糖含量分别比对照增加4.5%和11.0%.P₃增加了小麦花后干物质及氮磷养分累积量,分别较对照增加48.5%、116.9%和18.1%,P₃还显著提高了小麦花后干物质及养分累积对产量的贡献,但花前养分向籽粒转移对产量的贡献小于其他处理.小麦增产与植物多糖类复合制剂有效调控营养器官光合产物输出、籽粒可溶性糖积累,以及促进花后干物质和氮磷养分累积有关.     

Intracellular water and dry mass content as measured in bulk specimens by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis

Intracellular water content (IWC) was measured in freeze-fractured biological bulk specimens by means of energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The method is based on the concentration differences of certain elements (potassium and phosphorus) between frozen-hydrated and frozen-dried states of the tissues as applied formerly to sectioned material by others. A new mathematical formula has been derived giving rather precise figures for IWC. No elemental standards are necessary for the measurement: one has to obtain only the peak to background ratios in wet and dry states of the cells. The method is sensitive enough to reveal age-dependent as well as drug-induced changes of IWC in liver and brain cells. The values obtained are quite comparable with the theoretically expected ones. Technical problems of the application of this method are discussed in detail.     

星斗山常绿落叶阔叶混交林木本植物叶功能性状及其多样性特征分析

为探究亚热带常绿落叶阔叶混交林中木本植物叶功能性状的变异特征,以及群落功能多样性在海拔梯度下的响应规律。该研究以鄂西南地区的星斗山国家级自然保护区海拔1 200～1 700 m的常绿落叶阔叶混交林为研究对象,对群落内木本植物的叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶厚度(LT)、叶氮含量(LNC)、叶磷含量(LPC)6种叶功能性状的变异特征进行了分析,并分析了群落水平下木本植物叶功能性状和功能多样性对海拔变化的响应。结果表明:(1)星斗山保护区内木本植物叶面积、比叶面积、叶干物质含量、叶厚度、叶氮含量和叶磷含量平均值分别为151.49 cm~2、247.98 cm~2/g、34.08%、0.21 mm、16.59 mg/g和0.04 mg/g,其变异幅度依次为206.96%、57.00%、28.15%、52.38%、24.83%和76.92%。(2)在植物科、叶习性、生活型和树高4个因素中,科类群对6种叶功能性状的影响最大,其次为叶习性。(3)海拔对叶面积、叶干物质含量、叶磷含量影响极显著(P0.001),但对比叶面积、叶厚度和叶氮含量无显著影响(P0.05)。(4)不同海拔梯度上群落生物承载量、功能丰富度、功能分离度和功能离散度均达到显著差异(P0.05),仅功能均匀度在海拔梯度上差异不显著。     

小麦磷素利用效率的品种差异

通过土培盆栽试验,研究了小麦不同品种在低磷水平下生物量、磷浓度、磷素干物质生产效率及磷素籽粒生产效率的差异,以筛选磷高效利用小麦品种.结果表明：分蘖期、拔节期、扬花期和成熟期,供试小麦品种单株生物量的变幅分别为0.46～1.09、0.85～2.10、3.00～7.00和3.85～12.88 g,磷浓度变幅分别为2.21～4.26、2.38～4.42、2.44～4.96和1.30～5.09 mg·g^-1.随生育时期的推进,小麦磷素累积量、磷素干物质生产效率对生物量形成的影响程度呈减小趋势.分蘖期（CV=16.3%）、拔节期（CV=15.0%）、扬花期磷素干物质生产效率（CV=13.3%）和成熟期磷素籽粒生产效率（CV=20.5%）的品种差异较大.CD1158-7和省A3宜03-4具有较高的磷素干物质生产效率和磷素籽粒生产效率,而渝02321较低;不同生育时期高效品种磷浓度极显著低于低效品种,而高效品种CD1158-7和省A3宜03-4的籽粒产量分别是低效品种渝02321的1.98和1.78倍.     

Growth Phase and Elemental Stoichiometry of Bacterial Prey Influences Ciliate Grazing Selectivity

ABSTRACT. Protozoa are known to selectively graze bacteria and can differentiate prey based on size and viability, but less is known about the effects of prey cellular composition on predator selectivity. We measured the effect of growth phase and elemental stoichiometry of Escherichia coli on grazing by two ciliates, Euplotes vannus and Cyclidium glaucoma . Bacterial cells of a single strain were transformed with green and red fluorescent protein and harvested from culture at differing growth stages. Cells in exponential growth phase had low carbon:phosphorus (39) and nitrogen:phosphorus (9) ratios, while cells from stationary phase had high carbon:phosphorus of 104 and nitrogen:phosphorus of 26. When offered an equal mixture of both types of bacteria, Cyclidium grazed stationary phase, high carbon:phosphorus, high nitrogen:phosphorus cells to 22% of initial abundance within 135 min, while Euplotes reduced these cells to 33%. Neither ciliate species decreased the abundance of the exponential phase cells, lower carbon:phosphorus and nitrogen:phosphorus, relative to control treatments. Because protozoa have higher nitrogen:phosphorus and carbon:phosphorus ratios than their prokaryotic prey, this study raises the possibility that it may be advantageous for protozoa to preferentially consume more slowly growing bacteria.     

Batch cultivation ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae with increased content of Δ5’7 — Sterols

Changes of the physiological state were studied in a batch cultivation ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, concentration of proteins and Δ5,7-sterols in yeast dry matter being taken as markers of these changes. Time variations of the markers were studied in relation to changing concentrations of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus sources. A mathematical model of the batch cultivation was set up and identified. The method of parametric sensitivity was used to evaluate the effect of different technological parameters on the content of Δ5’7-sterols in yeast dry matter.     

Further Evidence to Support a Nutritional Interpretation of Sclerophylly

A statistical analysis is made of published data on the leafcomposition of eighty-nine species, covering both sclerophyllousand mesophytic types of leaves, from North and Central America,Africa, and India. Expressing degree of sclerophylly by theratio crude fibre dry weight x 100/crude protein dry weight,the analysis shows: (1) that in terms of organic matter an increasein sclerophylly is associated with a decrease in percentageprotein content and with an increase in percentage fibre content,and (2) that in terms of mineral matter a decrease in phosphoruscontent below about 0.3 per cent. results in a proportionalincrease in degree of sclerophylly. These two results are consideredcomplementary. Since phosphorus is essential for protein synthesis,the observed protein deficiency of sclerophyllous leaves canbe correlated with their low phosphorus content. It is alsoreasonable to expect the observed reciprocal relationship betweenprotein content and fibre content on the basis of a common poolof intermediate metabolites. The above conclusions support the author's hypothesis, suggestedin a previous paper, that a sclerophyllous leaf is the expressionof a metabolism found in plants that can tolerate low levelsof phosphate. Strong circumstantial evidence is also providedby the fact that phosphate deficiency is characteristic of thesoils, either wet or dry, which carry sclerophyllous vegetation.The hypothesis thus provides a ready answer to the apparentparadox of why the same specialized type of leaf should occurin both wet and dry habitats.     

中亚热带樟科3种植物幼苗叶结构型性状的种间差异及其相关性

为了揭示植物叶功能性状对全球气候变化的响应和适应规律,以樟科3种植物幼苗为研究对象,将其人工采集的种子经低温沙藏并于温室培育,然后将幼苗移栽到野外同质园中自然生长,研究中亚热带樟科植物刨花楠(Machilus pauhoi)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)和闽楠(Phoebe bournei)两年生幼苗生长季节9种叶结构型性状的种间差异及其相关性。结果显示,(1)在3种植物幼苗中,香樟叶面积、叶厚度、叶体积、叶氮磷比最大,叶氮浓度最高,叶组织密度最小;闽楠叶组织密度、叶干物质含量最大,叶磷浓度最高,叶面积、叶体积、比叶面积、叶氮磷比最小,叶氮浓度最低;刨花楠比叶面积最大,叶厚度、叶干物质含量最小,叶磷浓度最低;3种植物幼苗的叶厚度之间均无显著差异。(2)Pearson相关分析和线性回归分析结果表明,樟科3种植物幼苗的叶面积与叶体积间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)、与叶干物质含量间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶组织密度间呈显著负相关(P0.05)、与叶氮浓度间呈显著正相关(P0.05);叶厚度与比叶面积间呈显著负相关(P0.05)、与叶干物质含量间呈显著正相关(P0.05);叶体积与叶组织密度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶氮浓度间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈显著负相关(P0.05);叶组织密度与叶磷浓度间呈显著正相关(P0.05);比叶面积与叶干物质含量间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01);叶干物质含量与叶磷浓度间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。这表明在同质园中生长的刨花楠、香樟和闽楠幼苗的9种叶结构型性状表现出一定的种间差异,不同物种同一叶结构型性状指标的大小顺序、种间差异及其显著性不同;3种植物幼苗不同叶结构型性状之间的相关性及其显著程度也不同。本研究结果为揭示樟科3种植物幼苗叶功能性状对全球气候变化的响应和适应规律提供了基础数据。     

Density and age of cells in the population of the methanol-assimilating yeast Candida boidinii

A population of the yeast Candida boidinii growing in the chemostat in a medium with methanol was separated in dextran solutions of different density. The density of cells was found to vary from 1.04 to 1.11 g/cm3, being 1.08 g/cm3 on the average. Changes in the cell density correlated with variations in the content of water and dry matter in the cells and its density. Cell fractions of different density contained cells which mainly belonged to a certain phase in the cell cycle. However, the fractions were not homogeneous. The authors propose a scheme to account for changes in the cell density during the cell cycle. According to this scheme, within the cycle, the density of the cell rises twice (when the cell prepares for the budding and in the budding phase II) and drops down twice (in the budding phases I and III).     

Contribution to the study of heterogeneity in the leaves of a spring wheat plant

The effect of the individual leaf blades of spring wheat on the dry matter of stalks, chaff and grain (caryopses), of spikes and total overground part, was studied. In the experimental plants the individual leaf blades were detached according to the scheme given, at the beginning of shooting, (A), at the beginning of earing (B), and at the beginning of flowering (C). The dry matter (fresh weight) of the stalk was least decreased if either the lowest or the uppermost leaf blade was severed during the developmental phase of shooting. The dry as well as the fresh weights of chaff were least affected in those plants where the leaf blade was removed during the developmental phase of flowering. Both the dry and fresh weights of caryopses were least decreased if either the lowest or the uppermost leaf blade was removed during the developmental phase of flowering. The dry weight as well as the relative water content of chaff and ear grains were most decreased following removal of leaf blades during the developmental phase of shooting. The relative water content of chaff, grains and ears was most decreased following removal of developed leaf blades during the developmental phase of earing. It was confirmed that in addition to the photosynthetic activity of leaves the photosynthesis of other parts of the stem system (stalk internodes, ear awns etc.) participated in the production of total dry matter of experimental plants. The photosynthetic activity of leaf blades was particularly high up to the earing phase, while subsequently the photosynthesis of extrafoliar area (stalk internodes and ears) predominated. In spite of this, participation of the total leaf area is very high in the formation of grain dry matter (over 50%), as well as of the total dry matter of plant (over 80%).     

异质养分环境下邻株竞争对3个木荷种源干物质积累及氮磷效率的影响

为了探究不同木荷种源混交林和纯林生产力差异原因,采用盆栽试验,模拟异质和同质性森林土壤环境,并设计木荷单植、双株纯植和与杉木混植3种栽植模式,重点研究了异质养分环境下邻株竞争对3个木荷种源(福建建瓯、江西信丰和浙江龙泉种源)干物质积累及氮磷效率的影响。结果表明:与同质养分环境相比,木荷种源在异质养分环境中具有干物质量大,氮、磷吸收效率高的特点,尤以福建建瓯种源优势最大。邻株竞争对木荷种源的干物质量和氮、磷吸收效率影响显著。在异质养分环境中,与杉木邻株竞争时,木荷福建建瓯种源干物质积累量优于单植和双株纯植模式。这与其根冠比和生理可塑性较强有关,混植时,其根冠比明显降低,将更多的干物质分配至叶片,增强了光合能力;同时氮、磷吸收效率也显著提高,进而积累了较高的干物质量,提高了竞争力。相反,混植时江西信丰和浙江龙泉种源氮和磷吸收效率却不同程度地低于其单植或与之相近,根冠比较高,结果影响了干物质积累。同种邻株竞争虽促进了浙江龙泉和江西信丰种源的氮、磷吸收,但抑制了两元素的利用效率,而福建建瓯种源氮、磷效率受影响较小,且明显高于其他种源,从而形成较高的干物质量。以上研究结果表明,福建建瓯种源较高的生物量分配和生理可塑性是其生产力高和生长竞争优势明显主要原因。     

Interferometric studies of the dynamics of hydration and dry matter content during light-dependent germination of the Anabaena variabilis Kützing akinetes]

Calculations following interference-microscopical measurements performed on akinetes (A), heterocyts (H), and "vegetative" cells (F) of the Cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Anabaena variabilis resulted in significant higher values of mean absolute dry matter content of the akinetes (2.06 . 10(-10) g; as compared to 0.46 . 10(-10) g and 0.31 . 10(-10) g for H and F, respectively). tthe water content of these resting cells (63%) was significantly lower than in the other two types of cells (H: 85%, F: 77%). Light exposition of the akinetes in fresh nutrition medium (i. e., conditions allowing germination within 30--50 h) resulted in a decrease of the relative dry matter content so that already in the period preceding the outgrowth of the germling the water content of the vegetative cells was achieved. Simultaneously their volume increased by the uptake of water; whereas the absolute content of dry matter remained constant or was even temporarily diminished during the first period. Only in the second period the values increased in some cases and then remained constant up to germination. The increased dry matter content, however, was not a precondition necessary for the germination of the akinetes. In darkness under otherwise unaltered conditions the values remained unchanged or, after a light period, came back to the initial level. The results demonstrate that formation and germination of the resting cells of Cyanobacteria as well are connected with an alteration in the hydratation level, i. e., in cells which continuously are kept under water saturated conditions. This increase by hydratation during the germination period is, as the germination process itself, strictly controlled by light.     

Three-dimensional elemental mapping of phosphorus by quantitative electron spectroscopic tomography (QuEST)

We describe the development of quantitative electron spectroscopic tomography (QuEST), which provides 3-D distributions of elements on a nanometer scale. Specifically, it is shown that QuEST can be applied to map the distribution of phosphorus in unstained sections of embedded cells. A series of 2-D elemental maps is derived from images recorded in the energy filtering transmission electron microscope for a range of specimen tilt angles. A quantitative 3-D elemental distribution is then reconstructed from the elemental tilt series. To obtain accurate quantitative elemental distributions it is necessary to correct for plural inelastic scattering at the phosphorus L(2,3) edge, which is achieved by acquiring unfiltered and zero-loss images at each tilt angle. The data are acquired automatically using a cross correlation technique to correct for specimen drift and focus change between successive tilt angles. An algorithm based on the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT) is implemented to obtain quantitative information about the number of phosphorus atoms associated with each voxel in the reconstructed volume. We assess the accuracy of QuEST by determining the phosphorus content of ribosomes in a eukaryotic cell, and then apply it to estimate the density of nucleic acid in chromatin of the cell's nucleus. From our experimental data, we estimate that the sensitivity for detecting phosphorus is 20 atoms in a 2.7 nm-sized voxel.     

Phosphorus nutrition of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) seedlings

Summary Effects of calcium phosphate supply on plant dry matter and phosphorus concentrations of parts of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) seedlings grown in a lateritic topsoil from the jarrah forest were examined in two glasshouse trials. Phosphorus deficiency depressed root and shoot dry weights and severely deficient leaves were smal and purple with prominent red major veins. Phosphorus deficiency severely reduced stem phosphorus levels (0.5% to 0.02%, experiment 1). Phosphorus concentrations were higher in bark than wood and the amount of phosphorus in the bark was sensitive to stem age and phosphate supply. Phosphorus adequate plants had bark phosphorus concentrations in the range 0.2–0.9% compared to <0.1% in deficient plants (experiment 2). Jarrah leaves accumulated dry matter up to 80 days after expansion and some leaves exported phosphorus during this period. Bark analysis may therefore be preferable to leaf analysis for detecting phosphorus deficiency in this species.     

水稻物质生产与氮、磷、钾、硅素积累特点及其相互关系

大田条件下研究了30个水稻基因型的干物质与N、P、K、Si积累特性及其相互关系.结果表明,水稻干物质积累总量随N、P、K和Si积累总量的增加呈直线增加,其相关系数早季和晚季均达极显著水平.同时,N、P、K、Si积累的平衡有利于干物质积累,干物质积累量随NBI(养分平衡指数)直线增加,随NDI(养分偏离指数)直线下降.30个水稻品种平均N、P、K、Si积累总量比值早季为3.76:1:4.55:7.10,晚季为2.88:1:4.54:8.09.干物质积累能力以中期最强,前期最弱,而N积累能力却以前期最强,后期最弱.水稻抽穗前积累的干物质主要分配在茎鞘中,当抽穗期茎鞘比率达到最大时,茎鞘重约为叶片重的2倍,而抽穗前积累的N主要分配在叶片中,叶片中N的分配比率全生育期均比干物质分配比率高.成熟期积累的干物质、N和P主要分配在穗部,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率分别为58.01%、66.42%和70.06%,而K主要分配在茎鞘中,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率为62.08%.早季Si在茎中的分配比率(43.11%)最大,而晚季却以穗中的分配比率(46.99%)最大.     

海岸草本植物细根、叶片功能性状及其与土壤因子的关系

植物根、叶是对环境敏感性最高的器官,探究根叶功能性状之间的相互关系以及对环境因子的响应,有助于揭示植物对资源的利用状况及其对环境的适生策略。为探讨沿海植物的适应策略,该文以平潭岛砂质海岸草本植物为研究对象,由海及陆设置了3个距离梯度,选取6个叶功能性状和5个细根功能性状指标,分析海岸植物叶片与细根功能性状及其对土壤因子的响应。结果表明:(1)根、叶功能性状变异系数幅度在潮间带最小,在距高海潮线30～60 m的梯度上最大。单叶面积、叶磷含量、根平均直径、根组织密度、根磷含量随着由海到陆的距离增加呈上升趋势; 叶干物质含量、叶组织密度、比根长、比根面积呈下降趋势。(2)植物通过性状组合,在生长与防御间进行资源分配的权衡,表现在叶性状间、根性状间以及根-叶性状间具不同程度的相关性。其中,在地上-地下对应性状中,叶厚与根平均直径、叶磷含量与根磷含量呈极显著正相关; 而比叶面积与比根面积、比根长,叶组织密度与根组织密度均未表现出显著的相关性。(3)土壤因子对海岸植物功能性状变化的解释度为52.05%,其中土壤含盐量的影响最大,其次是土壤含水量、电导率、pH值。总体而言,在恶劣的海岸环境下,由海向陆土壤含盐量、电导率、含水量及pH值逐渐下降,整体为低磷高盐碱,植物表现为不同的生存策略:距海近的植物采取“叶片资源保守型、根系资源获取型”策略; 距海远的植物则采取“叶片资源获取型、根系资源保守型”。该研究结果为了解海岸草本植物对环境梯度变化的响应机制和适应性提供了一定参考价值,同时也利于通过分析土壤等环境特性按梯度筛选栽种适宜的物种,促进海岸植物的恢复和保护。     

Studies on methods for determining varietal utilization of nutrients

Summary In pot experiments with a phosphorus-deficient soil and four barley varieties, Kenia, Maja, Bonus, and Pallas, receiving increasing amounts of phosphorus, it was found that the order of susceptibility to phosphorus deficiency of the varieties was the same for grain as for grain + straw, when the ranking was based on the percentage decrease in dry matter yield as a result of phosphorus deficiency based on the maximum obtained dry matter yield. Estimations of the maximum phosphorus utilization quotients of dry matter yield of grain + straw graduated the susceptibility to phosphorus deficiency of the varieties in the same order.     

水稻物质生产与氮、磷、钾、硅素积累特点及其相互关系

大田条件下研究了30个水稻基因型的干物质与N、P、K、Si积累特性及其相互关系．结果表明,水稻干物质积累总量随N、P、K和Si积累总量的增加呈直线增加,其相关系数早季和晚季均达极显著水平．同时,N、P、K、Si积累的平衡有利于干物质积累,干物质积累量随NBI(养分平衡指数)直线增加,随NDI(养分偏离指数)直线下降．30个水稻品种平均N、P、K、Si积累总量比值早季为3．76：1：4．55：7．10,晚季为2．88：1：4．54：8．09．干物质积累能力以中期最强,前期最弱,而N积累能力却以前期最强,后期最弱．水稻抽穗前积累的干物质主要分配在茎鞘中,当抽穗期茎鞘比率达到最大时,茎鞘重约为叶片重的2倍,而抽穗前积累的N主要分配在叶片中,叶片中N的分配比率全生育期均比干物质分配比率高．成熟期积累的干物质、N和P主要分配在穗部,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率分别为58．01％、66．42％和70．06％,而K主要分配在茎鞘中,早、晚季稻的平均分配比率为62．08％．早季Si在茎中的分配比率(43．11％)最大,而晚季却以穗中的分配比率(46．99％)最大．