THE PHYTOTOXICITY OF MINERAL OILS AND HYDROCARBONS

Mineral oils are being increasingly used as herbicides, and there is little doubt that they could be used more effectively if the phytotoxic properties of any particular fraction could be predicted from knowledge of its physical and chemical properties without the need for extensive testing in the field. This paper reviews some of the work that has been done on the correlation of toxicity with physical and chemical properties of oils, and presents some of the results obtained in an investigation into the toxicity of mineral oils and hydrocarbons to plants, being carried out by the Agricultural Research Council Unit of Experimental Agronomy.     

MINERAL CYCLING AND THE NICHE OF SPANISH MOSS,TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES L

On the southeastern coastal plain, the occurrence and abundance of the epiphyte Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides L.; Bromeliaceae) are linked to the availability of minerals in the canopy of potential host trees. Trees with high rates of foliar leaching (e.g., cypress and oaks) provide an abundant supply of minerals (Ca, Mg, K, and P) in precipitation collected beneath the canopy. In forests of these species Spanish moss is more abundant and has higher mineral concentrations than in pine forests (e.g., phosphorus 0.04–0.06% dry weight versus 0.03–0.04%). In growth-chamber experiments the growth of Spanish moss increased in response to added phosphorus in the range of concentrations observed in field precipitation collections (0–200 μg/l). In addition to the availability of minerals, the rate of bark sloughing from host trees and allelopathic effects may also control the local distribution of Spanish moss. Light and moisture appear to be less important factors. Thus, within a favorable climatic range, mineral and bark characteristics of host trees may be used to illustrate a niche hypervolume for this species.     

STIMULATION OF FUNDULUS BY HYDROCHLORIC AND FATTY ACIDS IN FRESH WATER,AND BY FATTY ACIDS,MINERAL ACIDS,AND THE SODIUM SALTS OF MINERAL ACIDS IN SEA WATER

1. Fundulus heteroclitus was found to be a reliable experimental animal for studies on chemical stimulation in either fresh or sea water. 2. The response of Fundulus to hydrochloric, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and caproic acids was determined in fresh water, while the same acids plus sulfuric and nitric, as well as the sodium salts of the mineral acids, were tested in sea water. 3. Stimulation of Fundulus by hydrochloric acid in fresh water is correlated with the effective hydrogen ion concentration. Stimulation by the n-aliphatic acids in the same environment is correlated with two factors, the effective hydrogen ion concentration and the potential of the non-polar group in the molecule. However, as the number of CH₂ groups increases the stimulating effect increases by smaller and smaller amounts, approaching a maximum value. 4. Stimulation of Fundulus by hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids in sea water is correlated with the forces of primary valence which in turn are correlated with the change in hydrogen ion concentration of the sea water. The n-aliphatic acids increase in stimulating efficiency in sea water as the length of the carbon chain increases, but a limiting value is not reached as soon as in fresh water. 5. Only a slight difference in stimulation by hydrochloric acid is found in sea water and in fresh water. However, there is a significant difference in stimulation by the fatty acids in fresh and in sea water, which is partly explained by the different buffering capacities of the two media. It is to be noted that in the same environment two different fish, Fundulus and Eupomotis, give different results, while the same fish (Fundulus) in two different environments responds similarly to mineral acids but differently to fatty acids. These results illustrate that stimulation is a function of the interaction between environment and receptors, and that each is important in determining the response. 6. Stimulation by sodium chloride, nitrate, and sulfate is correlated with equivalent concentrations of the salts added to sea water, or with the forces of primary valence. Although the threshold for stimulation by the salts is considerably higher than for the acids, the efficiency of stimulation by the salts is greater.     

人体股骨弹性模量与骨矿含量的关系

选取正常男性成人股骨18段,制成5-20mm测试块202个,用Ⅱ型γ线骨矿分析仪测得骨矿含量面密度分别为1.324-1.901g/cm2,再用WE-10(A)型液压式万能试验机和千分表测得测试块受纵向压应力时所承受的压力及相应的高度变化并计算其弹性模量。结果显示：骨矿含量在1.802g/cm2以下时,弹性模量及力学性能与骨矿含量呈正相关关系,但超出此范围后,骨矿含量的增加可能会使骨的力学性能下降。     

植物残体与泥炭和泥炭矿体分类的初步探讨

泥炭植物残体是泥炭和泥炭矿体的主要组分。泥炭的植物组成与泥炭的分解度和营养状况密切相关。在进行泥炭分类时,植物残体组成是其重要依据。各泥炭矿体特征间“质”的差异也反映在泥炭植物残体组成成分的不同上。因此,在进行泥炭矿体分类时,可将矿层的植物残体组分作其依据。本文拟将我国的泥炭矿体分为富营养、中营养、贫营养和混合四个泥炭矿体型;并续分出十一个泥炭矿体组。     

矿质营养对生长素代谢影响的研究现状与展望

植物从环境中吸收的矿质元素直接参与植物生理代谢,植物内源激素对植物生理代谢具有重要的调节作用,矿质营养与植物内源激素的相互关系一直是植物营养研究的重要内容。生长素是植物五大内源激素之一,对细胞的分裂和伸长具有重要的调节作用。本文从矿质营养对ＩＡＡ的量及分布,矿质营养对ＩＡＡ合成,矿质营养对ＩＡＡ运输,矿质营养对ＩＡＡ的转化等方面对矿质营养与生长素的关系的研究进展进行了概述,并对矿质营养与生长素的关系的进一步研究进行了展望。