Nutritional exploitation of dead trunks: another function of cypress knees (Taxodium distichum)?

Summary In one cypress dome in the Everglades National Park, cypress knees seem to develop from vertical root loops that grow along and ramify into dead cypress stumps. Nearly all young root loops emerge close to a decaying stump. The proportion of these associations decreases as the diameter and presumed age of the loops increase. Loop density correlates with the density of dead but not of live trunks. These preliminary findings suggest that the root loops emerge primarily near dead stumps and exploit their nutrients until the stumps rot away and the loops develop into mature knees.     

土壤盐分及水分含量对落羽杉幼苗生长的影响

One year old Taxodium distichum seedlings were grown in pots with varied soil water and salt (NaC1) levels (alone and in combination) under greenhouse conditions to determine their effects on the growth and biomass allocation of the seedlings. The results showed that there were significant effects of soft salt and water contents on the relative height growth, relative stem diameter growth, biaomass increment and allocation, shoot/root ratio, seedling survival, ratio of branch to stem area, ratio of leaf mass to stem area, and ratio of leaf mass to branch area. According to the biomass increment, relative height growth and relative stem diameter growth, 20 treatments were classified into 3 groups by means of systematic cluster analysis. The first one was the treatments waterlogging, flooding, waterlogging 0.15% NaC1, flooding 0.15% NaC1, and waterlogging 0.3% NaC1, which had a high growth, the second one was the treatments flooding 0.45% NaC1, flooding 0.3% NaCl, 75% of field capacity, and 75% of field capacity 0.15% NaCl, which had a medium growth, and the last onewas the treatments 50% of field capacity, 50% of field capacity 0.15% Nat1, waterlogging 0.45% Nat1,25% of field capacity, 25% of field capacity 0.15% NaC1, 75% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 75% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, 25% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 50% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 50% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, and 25% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, which had a poor growth.     

三峡库区消落带不同水淹强度下池杉与落羽杉的光合生理特性

为探究三峡库区消落带原位人工种植的池杉(Taxodium ascendens)和落羽杉(Taxodium distichum)在该特殊生境下的适应机制,设置了浅淹(SS,海拔175m,对照)、中度水淹(MS,海拔170m)和深度水淹(DS,海拔165m)3个水淹处理组,测定了两树种在连续4个周期性水淹处理后的光合响应过程,并采用直角双曲线模型、非直角双曲线模型、直角双曲线修正模型和指数模型进行拟合,比较各模型拟合结果差异并选出最优模型,通过最优模型来分析水淹后落干期两树种的光合生理变化。结果表明:(1)不同模型间的光响应曲线拟合结果存在差异(P0.05)。综合分析可知,4种模型中,指数模型是拟合两树种光响应曲线的最优模型,更符合植物的生理学意义。(2)两树种的光响应曲线有相似的变化规律,光合速率(P_n)的表现均为DS组MS组SS组。(3)中度水淹和深度水淹两树种的最大净光合速率(P_(nmax))、表观量子效率(α)、光饱和点(LSP)均高于浅淹,而光补偿点(LCP)则显著降低。以上结果说明落干生长期两树种对强光和弱光的利用能力增强,水淹对两树种的光合潜力有一定的促进作用,这可能与其遭受水淹胁迫后的自我调节能力和光合补偿机制有关。由此表明,当生境发生不良变化时,植物的适应性变化往往表现为沿着有利于光合作用最大化的方向发展。     

Localization of a storage protein in the wood ray parenchyma cells of Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich. by immunogold labeling

Summary Ultrastructural investigations showed the occurrence of electron-dense intravacuolar aggregations in wood ray cells of Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich, during the dormant season. Such aggregations were missing in summer. By SDS-PAGE of the crude protein extract of Taxodium, a prominent protein of about 35 kDa was detected before budbreak. This protein disappeared at the time when the new shoots had fully grown out. An antibody was raised against this storage protein. In the immunoblot the antibody reacted specifically with the 35 kDa protein. At the electron-microscope level, by immunogold labeling, the electron-dense intravacuolar aggregations were identified as the specific storage sites for the 35 kDa protein. Thus, these vacuoles proved to be protein storing vacuoles.     

落羽杉与墨西哥落羽杉3个杂交后代品系的生长和杂种优势分析

以落羽杉〔Taxodium distichum(Linn.)Rich.〕和墨西哥落羽杉(T.mucronatum Tenore)及其3个杂交后代品系'中山杉405'('Zhongshansha 405')、'中山杉406'('Zhongshansha 406')和'中山杉407'('Zhongshansha 407')2年生盆栽扦插苗为研究对象,对株高和地径的年增长量、总叶面积、株高和地径的增长量动态变化、株高和地径的生长期进行了比较分析,并根据地径增长量分析了3个杂交后代品系的杂种优势.结果表明:3个杂交后代品系的年株高增长量介于父本与母本之间但无显著差异,而三者的年地径增长量和总叶面积则明显高于父本和母本.墨西哥落羽杉与3个杂交后代品系的株高和地径生长期均一致,分别为5月11日至10月5日和6月1日至11月9日;而落羽杉的株高和地径生长期分别为5月11日至8月10日和6月8日至11月16日.5月份至10月份,墨西哥落羽杉的株高持续增长,而3个杂交后代品系的株高不连续增长,落羽杉的株高则在8月10日之后停止生长;生长初期和生长末期,3个杂交后代品系的地径增长量均高于父本和母本;秋季3个杂交后代品系均能快速进行地径生长,而此时父本和母本的地径增长量均下降.除夏季的少数时间段外,'中山杉405'在整个生长季都表现出明显的杂种优势,而'中山杉406'和'中山杉407'在整个生长季总体上表现出杂种优势,且它们的杂种优势最大值均出现在生长后期,说明供试的3个杂交后代品系在秋季也能快速生长.研究结果显示:供试的3个杂交后代品系均遗传了落羽杉地径生长迅速和墨西哥落羽杉株高生长期长的特性,秋季3个杂交后代品系的地径和株高增长量总体上均高于父本和母本,表现出明显的杂种优势.     

Effects of salt stress on the growth,ion content,stomatal behaviour and photosynthetic capacity of a salt-sensitive species,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Phaseolus vulgaris (cv. Hawkesbury Wonder) was grown over a range of NaCl concentrations (0–150 mM), and the effects on growth, ion relations and photosynthetic performance were examined. Dry and fresh weight decreased with increasing external NaCl concentration while the root/shoot ratio increased. The Cl^- concentration of leaf tissue increased linearly with increasing external NaCl concentration, as did K⁺ concentration, although to a lesser degree. Increases in leaf Na⁺ concentration occurred only at the higher external NaCl concentrations (100 mM). Increases in leaf Cl^- were primarily balanced by increases in K⁺ and Na⁺. X-ray microanalysis of leaf cells from salinized plants showed that Cl^- concentration was high in both the cell vacuole and chloroplast-cytoplasm (250–300 mM in both compartments for the most stressed plants), indicating a lack of effective intracellular ion compartmentation in this species. Salinity had little effect on the total nitrogen and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) content per unit leaf area. Chlorophyll per unit leaf area was reduced considerably by salt stress, however. Stomatal conductance declined substantially with salt stress such that the intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) was reduced by up to 30%. Salinization of plants was found to alter the ¹³C value of leaves of Phaseolus by up to 5 and this change agreed quantitatively with that predicted by the theory relating carbon-isotope fractionation to the corresponding measured intercellular CO₂ concentration. Salt stress also brought about a reduction in photosynthetic CO₂ fixation independent of altered diffusional limitations. The initial slope of the photosynthesis versus C _i response declined with salinity stress, indicating that the apparent in-vivo activity of RuBP carboxylase was decreased by up to 40% at high leaf Cl^- concentrations. The quantum yield for net CO₂ uptake was also reduced by salt stress.Abbreviations and symbols A net CO₂ assimilation rate - C _a ambient CO₂ concentration - C _i intercellular CO₂ concentration - RuBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - ¹³C ratio of ¹³C to ¹²C relative to standard limestone     

氮输入和水淹对短叶茳芏生长、养分及固碳的影响

外源氮输入显著改变河口湿地植物生长和固碳能力,进而影响河口湿地生态系统碳、氮循环过程。以闽江口湿地土著种短叶茳芏(Cyperus malaccensis)为研究对象,通过15个月的中型生态系实验,分析不同氮输入水平(CK,0 g N m~(-2)a~(-1);N8,8 g N m~(-2)a~(-1);N16,16 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))和2种水淹(T1,每天水淹时长2—3 h;T2,每天水淹时长11—12 h)处理对短叶茳芏生长、养分和固碳的影响,探讨短叶茳芏在环境变化下的生长、固碳特征。结果表明:T2处理株高极显著高于T1处理,N8、N16处理的植物株高显著高于CK处理,植物成熟季节的株高也极显著最高(P0.001)。水淹状况和植物生长期对短叶茳芏的密度有显著影响:T1处理密度极显著高于T2处理,植物成熟季节的密度也极显著最高(P0.001),但是氮输入没有显著提高植物密度。植物碳含量较为稳定,T2处理地上碳含量显著高于T1处理(P0.05),但是氮输入和植物生长期对地上碳含量影响不显著。氮输入水平、水淹状况和植物生长期则对植物地上氮含量都有显著影响(P0.05)。N8处理的植物地上生物量和固碳量极显著最高,CK处理极显著最低,植物成熟期的地上生物量和固碳量也极显著最大(P0.001),但是不同水淹处理植物生物量和固碳量无显著差异。闽江口湿地短叶茳芏具有较强的环境适应能力,在持续氮输入环境下,闽江口湿地的短叶茳芏可能向高潮滩拓展。     

The effect of leaf pack composition on processing: A comparison of mixed and single species packs

The effect of leaf species composition on decomposition patterns was examined in a coastal plain stream. Red maple leaves (Acer rubrum) decomposed at the same rate separately or when mixed with cypress leaves (Taxodium distichum). Cypress addition increased structural integrity but its effects differed between sites with different hydrologic regimes. Invertebrate communities varied slightly between mixed and single species packs, however invertebrates did not appear to be the primary agent of decomposition. Mixed species packs may be an alternative method to fine mesh bags for studying processing of small, narrow leaves in a more realistic manner.     

Early spring leaf out enhances growth and survival of saplings in a temperate deciduous forest

Saplings of many canopy tree species in winter deciduous forests receive the major portion of their light budget for their growing season prior to canopy closure in the spring. This period of high light may be critical for achieving a positive carbon (C) gain, thus contributing strongly to their growth and survival. This study of saplings of Aesculus glabra and Acer saccharum in Trelease Woods, Illinois, USA, tested this hypothesis experimentally by placing tents of shade cloth over saplings during their spring period of high light prior to canopy closure in three consecutive years. Leaf senescence began 16 days (year 0) and 60 days (year 1) earlier for shaded A. glabra saplings than control saplings. No change in senescence occurred for A. saccharum. The annual absolute growth in stem diameter of both species was negligible or negative for shaded saplings, but positive for control saplings. Only 7% of the shaded A. glabra saplings were alive after 2 years, while all control saplings survived for 3 years; only 20% of the shaded A. saccharum saplings survived for 3 years, while 73% of control saplings were alive after the same period. Early spring leaf out is a critical mechanism that allows the long-term persistence of saplings of these species in this winter deciduous forest. Studies and models of C gain, growth, and survival of saplings in deciduous forests may need to take into account their spring phenology because saplings of many species are actually “sun” individuals in the spring prior to their longer period in the summer shade.     

Effects of complete plant submergence on vegetative growth,grain yield and some biochemical changes in rice plants

Summary Complete plant submergence for 6 or 9 days at 20 days after transplanting effected the same decrease in grain yield as submergence for 12 days at 40 days after transplanting. With increasing duration of submergence, tiller number, green leaves and dry weight of all varieties tested decreased. The decrease was less in the flood tolerant variety FR 13A than in other varieties. Contents of reducing sugars and amylase activity also decreased with increasing duration of submergence. The reducing sugar contents and amylase activity were higher and peroxidase activity was lower in flood tolerant variety FR 13A than in other varieties. The N contents increased and P and K contents decreased with duration of submergence.     

模拟水淹-干旱胁迫对水杉幼树实生土壤营养元素含量的影响

模拟三峡库区消落带水位变化情况,对2年生水杉幼树实生土壤p H值和主要营养元素含量进行研究。试验共设置3个处理阶段,阶段1为淹水处理阶段,包括常规供水组(C),半淹组(H)和全淹组(F);阶段2为干旱处理阶段,包括常规供水(C),半淹(H),全淹(F),常规供水-轻度干旱(CD),半淹-轻度干旱(HD)和全淹-轻度干旱(FD)6种不同水分处理组;阶段3时将所有处理组恢复到正常供水处理,每种水分处理均设置水杉幼树实生土壤与无植物空白对照土壤。测试的指标包括p H值,有机质(OM)、碱解氮(AN)、有效磷(AP)、速效钾(AK)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)和全钾(TK)含量。研究结果表明,阶段1结束时,C组和H组水杉幼树盆栽土壤的氮素及TP含量较无植物组显著下降,H组的AP含量及F组的氮素和TP含量显著升高;与正常供水组(C组)相比,淹水处理增高了水杉幼树盆栽土壤的p H值和OM含量,降低了其AP含量,而F组水杉土壤的TN、TP和AN含量分别较C组显著升高17.1%,16.9%和34.2%。阶段2结束时,前期水淹增加了水杉幼树实生土壤p H值、OM、AN和AP含量后期对干旱的敏感性;与无植物组相比,水杉幼树的栽植增加了除C组外的其他水分处理组土壤的OM含量;在水杉盆栽土壤中,与C组相比,H和F组的p H值分别升高2.6%和3.8%,OM含量却未出现显著差异。经过21 d的正常供水处理,H、HD组水杉土壤的p H值较无植物组土壤显著下降,所有水淹组土壤的OM含量则显著升高,与此同时,C组、CD组的TN和CD组的TP含量显著升高;各淹水处理组的水杉土壤在恢复生长后,其p H值及多项营养元素含量均已恢复至C组水平,HD和FD组水杉土壤的所有化学性质亦恢复至CD组水平。在对水杉幼树盆栽土壤化学性质的相关分析中发现,OM、TN、TP和AN含量两两之间存在极显著的正相关,p H值与OM、TN、TP、TN含量呈极显著负相关关系。研究证实,在三峡库区消落带适度营造水杉对于恢复库区植被、改良土壤肥力状况具有积极作用,但是在水库退水期时应及时浇水灌溉,避免将其置于干旱环境当中。     

水位变化对三峡库区消落带落羽杉营养特征的影响

三峡大坝建成蓄水后,其独特的水位调度节律对水库消落带植物的生境造成巨大干扰。为了解落羽杉在消落带特殊生境下的生理生态过程,探究其水淹耐受机制,在三峡库区消落带植被修复忠县示范基地建立3 a后,对试验样地内种植于消落带海拔175—165 m范围的落羽杉进行叶片、根系样品采集,并调查其生长情况,测定分析落羽杉营养元素含量及其与植株生长和土壤养分间的关系。结果表明:(1)水位变化对适生树种落羽杉营养元素吸收造成了明显影响。随着淹水深度和淹水时间的延长,落羽杉根系能量代谢受阻,根系功能紊乱,营养元素吸收与运输受到抑制,落羽杉N、P、K、Ca、Zn吸收减少;水淹导致土壤中Fe~(2+)、Mn~(2+)含量升高,落羽杉Fe、Mn吸收增加。(2)相关性分析表明,落羽杉株高与N、K、Mg含量呈极显著正相关关系,与P含量呈显著正相关关系,而与Fe、Cu含量呈极显著负相关关系,与Mn含量呈显著负相关关系;落羽杉冠幅与植株N、P、K、Mg含量呈极显著正相关关系,而与Fe、Cu含量呈极显著负相关关系;落羽杉营养元素含量与土壤元素含量无显著相关性。(3)消落带不同海拔落羽杉营养元素的积累量均不低于植物正常生长水平,未见严重的缺素状况。研究结果表明,落羽杉对三峡库区消落带水位变化具有很好的适应能力,能够对水位变化做出积极的响应,平衡各元素的积累量,维持植株正常生长。     

三峡库区消落带水位变化对落羽杉C、N、P 生态化学计量特征的影响

为了解落羽杉C、N、P生态化学计量特征对三峡库区消落带水位变化的响应,2016年9月测定重庆市忠县汝溪河消落带植被修复示范基地内种植于海拔165 m(重度水淹组)、170 m(中度水淹组)、175 m(对照组)的落羽杉根、枝条、叶片中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)元素含量以及植株生长指标,分析水位变化对其生长和C、N、P生态化学计量特征的影响。结果表明:(1)三峡库区消落带落羽杉通过降低生长速率来适应水位变化,植株整体生长状态良好;(2)落羽杉各器官C含量分配比较均衡,N集中在叶片中,P主要贮存在根中,未见严重缺素现象;(3)重度水淹组植株叶片C含量受到水位变化显著提高;水位变化显著降低了中度水淹组植株根P含量却显著提高了其叶片P含量,导致中度水淹组植株叶片C∶P和N∶P显著降低,根C∶P显著升高。研究结果表明,三峡库区消落带落羽杉能保持器官之间合理的元素分配来保障其生长所需,表现出对三峡库区消落带水位变化的良好适应性。     

Osmotic adjustment and ion balance traits of an alkali resistant halophyte Kochia sieversiana during adaptation to salt and alkali conditions

Kochia sieversiana (Pall.) C. A. M., a naturally alkali-resistant halophyte, was chosen as the test organism for our research. The seedlings of K. sieversiana were treated with varying (0–400 mM) salt stress (1:1 molar ratio of NaCl to Na₂SO₄) and alkali stress (1:1 molar ratio of NaHCO₃ to Na₂CO₃). The concentrations of various solutes in fresh shoots, including Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, H₂PO₃⁻, betaine, proline, soluble sugar (SS), and organic acid (OA), were determined. The water content (WC) of the shoots was calculated and the OA components were analyzed. Finally, the osmotic adjustment and ion balance traits in the shoots of K. sieversiana were explored. The results showed that the WC of K. sieversiana remained higher than 6 [g g⁻¹ Dry weight (DW)] even under the highest salt or alkali stress. At salinity levels >240 mM, proline concentrations increased dramatically, with rising salinity. We proposed that this was not a simple response to osmotic stress. The concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ all increased with increasing salinity, which implies that there was no competitive inhibition for absorption of either in K. sieversiana. Based on our results, the osmotic adjustment feature of salt stress was similar to that of alkali stress in the shoots of K. sieversiana. The shared essential features were that the shoots maintained a state of high WC, OA, Na⁺, K⁺ and other inorganic ions, accumulated largely in the vacuoles, and betaine, accumulated in cytoplasm. On the other hand, the ionic balance mechanisms under both stresses were different. Under salt stress, K. sieversiana accumulated OA and inorganic ions to maintain the intracellular ionic equilibrium, with close to equal contributions of OA and inorganic ions to anion. However, under alkali stress, OA was the dominant factor in maintaining ionic equilibrium. The contribution of OA to anion was as high as 84.2%, and the contribution of inorganic anions to anion was only 15.8%. We found that the physiological responses of K. sieversiana to salt and alkali stresses were unique, and that mechanisms existed in it that were different from other naturally alkali-resistant gramineous plants, such as Aneurolepidium chinense, Puccinellia tenuiflora. Responsible Editor: John McPherson Cheeseman.     

Effect of complete plant submergence at different growth stages on grain yield,yield components and nutrient content of rice

Summary Of the three growth stagesviz., seedling establishment, maximum tillering and flowering, complete submergence of plant at flowering stage was found to be most critical followed by seedling estabilishment and maximum tillering stages. Among the three stages of reproductive growth phase, booting stage was found to be most susceptible to complete submergence followed by flowering and post-flowering. The submergence at booting for 4 days was equally detrimental as that of 6 or 8 days at flowering. Irrespective of the growth stages, the plants subjected to complete submergence showed higher nitrogen content (in plant as well as in grain) as compared to those grown under control conditions (5±2 cm) and increased with the increase in duration of submergence. The P and K contents in the plant decreased under submergence.     

Effects of different leaf traits on growth rates of insect herbivores on willows

We examined relative effects of traits of leaf quality of ten willow species (Salix: Salicaceae) on growth rates of five species of insect herbivores found in interior Alaska (a willow sawfly, Nematus calais; the tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio canadensis; and three species of chrysomelid beetles, Gonioctena occidentalis, Calligrapha verrucosa, and Chrysomela falsa). Leaf traits examined were water content, toughness, total nitrogen contnet, pubescence, and presence or absence of phenolic glycosides. Of ten Salix species, four species contain phenolic glycosides in their leaves. We examined relative effects of water content, toughness, and nitrogen content of the Salix leaves on larval growth rates at three different levels, i.e., on a single host species, between different host species, and between herbivore species. The within-host analyses showed that effects of water content, toughness and/or nitrogen content on herbivore growth rates were generally significant in early-season herbivores but not in late-season herbivores. For each herbivore species, differences in growth rates between hosts were not explained by differences in water content, toughness, or nitrogen content. The between-herbivore analysis showed that the interspecific difference in larval growth rates were related to difference in water and nitrogen content of the hosts. Pubescence of Salix leaves had little effects on herbivore growth rates. Presence of phenolic glycosides had a positive effects on growth rates of a specialist, N. calais, but no effect on the other specialist, Ch. falsa. Presence of phenolic glycosides had, in general, negative effects on growth rates of nonspecialists, G. occidentalis, C. verrucosa, and P. canadensis.     

The Effects of Intermittent Flooding on Seedlings of Three Forest Species

Under greenhouse conditions, seedlings of three forest species, baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii), and swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii) were subjected to an intermittent flooding and subsequent physiological and growth responses to such conditions were evaluated. Baldcypress showed no significant reductions in stomatal conductance (g _s) or net photosynthetic rate (P _N) in response to flood pulses. In nuttall oak seedlings g _s and P _N were significantly decreased during periods of inundation, but recovered rapidly following drainage. In contrast, in swamp chestnut oak g _s was reduced by 71.8 % while P _N was reduced by 57.2 % compared to controls. Baldcypress displayed no significant changes in total mass while oak species had significantly lower leaf and total mass compared to their respective controls. Thus baldcypress and nuttall oak showed superior performance under frequent intermittent flooding regimes due to several factors including the ability for rapid recovery of gas exchange soon after soil was drained. In contrast, swamp chestnut oak seedlings failed to resume gas exchange functions after the removal of flooding.     

The influence of gelling agent purity and ion additions on in vitro tomato pollen germinability and pollen tube growth on semi-solid substrates

The physicochemical properties and inherent ion content of the gelling agents used for the preparation of semi-solid substrates significantly affect the germination of tomato pollen in vitro. The addition of Ca, K and Mg to semi-solid, agar-based, substrates improved the germination of tomato pollen when the inherent Ca content of the agar was low, but was without effect or even inhibitory when the Ca level was high. However, Κ and/or Mg addition was beneficial irrespective of the agar source. When agarose replaced agar and K, Mg and Ca were added individually or in combination, pollen germination and pollen tube growth were affected differently by each ion but were optimal only in the presence of all three ions, reflecting the absence of these ions in agarose. An involvement of Na was also implicated since reduction of the inherently high Na content of agar by washing improved germination, with or without the addition of Κ, Mg and Ca. Since >3 mM Ca in the semi-solid substrate impairs tomato pollen germination, the gelling agent must be of high purity, which in the case of agar may entail washing, followed by the addition of K, Mg and Ca. The adoption of such a medium would permit the standardization of semi-solid substrates for in vitro tomato pollen germination studies.     

Effects of magnesium availability on the activity of plasma membrane ion transporters and light-induced responses from broad bean leaf mesophyll

Considering the physiological significance of Mg homeostasis in plants, surprisingly little is known about the molecular and ionic mechanisms mediating Mg transport across the plasma membrane and the impact of Mg availability on transport processes at the plasmalemma. In this study, a non-invasive ion-selective microelectrode technique (MIFE) was used to characterize the effects of Mg availability on the activity of plasma membrane H⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ transporters in the mesophyll cells of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) plants. Based on the stoichiometry of ion-flux changes and results of pharmacological experiments, we suggest that at least two mechanisms are involved in Mg²⁺ uptake across the plasma membrane of bean mesophyll cells. One of them is a non-selective cation channel, also permeable to K⁺ and Ca²⁺. The other mechanism, operating at concentrations below 30 M, was speculated to be an H⁺/Mg⁺ exchanger. Experiments performed on leaves grown at different levels of Mg availability (from deficient to excessive) showed that Mg availability has a significant impact on the activity of plasma-membrane transporters for Ca²⁺, K⁺, and H⁺. We discuss the physiological significance of Mg-induced changes in leaf electrophysiological responses to light and the ionic mechanisms underlying this process.     

Growth rate, water relations and ion accumulation of soybean callus lines differing in salinity tolerance under salinity stress and its subsequent relief

A selected Glycine max (L.) salt-tolerant calluscell line (R100) was significantly more tolerant to salt than a salt-sensitiveline (S100) during exposure to salt stress. Growth (Fresh and Dry weights) ofthe R100 cell line declined significantly at NaCl concentrations greater than 75mM, while growth of the S100 cell line was already impaired at 25mM NaCl. Levels of Na⁺ and Cl^– inthe callus were elevated as the salt concentration increased, whileK⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ levels weremarkedly reduced. The lower s reduction and Na⁺accumulation found in the S100 callus corresponded with the higher callusdehydration during salinity. Calli grown on Miller's basal medium weresupplied with 100 mM NaCl for 12 days and then supplied with mediumwithout NaCl to relieve salinity stress. The Na⁺ andCl^– content decreased in both R100 and S100 cell lines duringthe first 24 h and reached normal levels four days after transferto the normal medium. This lower concentration was maintained until the end ofthe experiment. Concurrently, the K⁺ content andK⁺/Na⁺ ratio increased sharply and reached theirhighest levels within 24 h in both salt-sensitive and salt-tolerantcell lines. These data suggest that the inhibitory effects of salinization ongrowth and accumulation of potentially toxic ions (Na⁺,Cl^–) can be readily reversed when salinity is relieved.