中国杜鹃属一新种

报道了中国贵州杜鹃属一新种——百纳杜鹃(Rhododendron bainaense Xiang Chen&Cheng H.Yang)。百纳杜鹃与红棕杜鹃(R.rubiginosum Franch.)相似,但本种的叶为长圆形至卵形,叶背鳞片大小近似、琥珀色、凹陷,花冠较小、白色带浅粉色且不具斑点,花丝基部近无毛或仅部分被微柔毛,花药淡褐色。目前该新种的资源量十分稀少,野外调查仅发现1个种群含3株,应该给予重点保护。     

Rhododendron subroseum sp. nov. and R. denudatum var. glabriovarium var. nov. (Ericaceae) from the Guizhou Province,China

One new species, Rhododendron subroseum Xiang Chen & Jiayong Huang, and one new variety, R. denudatum var. glabriovarium Xiang Chen & Xun Chen (Ericaceae), from the Guizhou Province, China are described and illustrated. Rhododendron subroseum is most similar to R. morii from which it differs mainly by having glandular branchlets, a subcordate leaf blade base and a mucronate leaf blade apex, a less floriferous inflorescence, a campanulate to broadly‐campanulate corolla, and a glandular‐hairy style. Rhododendron denudatum var. glabriovarium differs from R. denudatum var. denudatum mainly by having a glabrous ovary. Both of the new taxa are quite rare and therefore their protection is highly desired.     

中国贵州杜鹃属两新种

报道了中国贵州杜鹃属植物2新种--枇杷叶杜鹃(Rhododendron eriobotryoides Xiang Chen & Jia Y.Huang)和金波杜鹃(R.jinboense Xiang Chen & X.Chen).枇杷叶杜鹃与皱叶杜鹃(R.denudatum)相似,但本种叶背毛被较薄而稀疏,花丝基部密被微柔毛,花柱通体被腺体.金波杜鹃与短脉杜鹃(R.brevinerve)相似,但前者的叶长圆状椭圆形,叶片上卷呈U形,花序具较多花,花冠较长,花丝基部密被微柔毛,子房密被绒毛.目前,仅发现2新种各有1个含数株的种群,资源量十分稀少,依据IUCN红色名录标准均属于极危物种(CR),需要加以重点保护.     

The suitability of damaged willow leaves as food for the leaf beetle, Phgiodera versicolora

Abstract. 1. The effect of previous damage on the suitability of willow ( Mix bubylonicu and S.ulbu 'Tristis') leaves as food for the imported willow leaf beetle, Plugiodera versicoloru Laich. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was evaluated by feeding adults and larvae leaves from damaged and undamaged branchlets.
2. Females had lower fecundity when fed leaves from artificially damaged branchlets of S.ufba 'Tristis'. A similar result was obtained when beetles ate leaves from naturally damaged branchlets of S.babylonica .
3. Feeding preference tests suggest that the reductions in leaf suitability were not due to adults avoiding damaged leaves as a food source.
4. PZugiodera versicolora larvae required longer to develop and attained a lower adult weight when fed leaves from damaged branchlets.
5. Changes in leaf suitability brought about by herbivore feeding may affect the seasonal abundance of P.versicoloru on its willow hosts.     

SURFACE AREA RELATIONS OF WOODY PLANTS AND FOREST COMMUNITIES

Surface area of wood and bark is an important dimension of forests, with implications for respiration rate, energy exchange, and water and mineral budgets. Surface area of stem wood and bark can be estimated effectively from linear regressions on conic surface (one-half basal circumference times tree height) or from regressions of the logarithm of area on the logarithm of diameter at breast height. Branch surface can be estimated from a formula using branch basal diameter, length, and number of current twigs, and from logarithmic regressions of branch bark surface on basal diameter of branches and breast-height diameter of trees. In temperate deciduous forests several square meters of plant surface occur above each square meter of ground surface; these plant surfaces include 0.3–0.6 m² of stem bark, 1.2–2.2 m² of branch bark, and 3.0–6.0 m² of leaf blades. Branch bark surface increases more rapidly than leaf surface with increasing size of branches and trees. Growth and aging of trees, and maturation of forests, imply increasing ratios of bark (and wood) surface to the photosynthetic leaf surface which supports its growth and respiration.     

Physiological differences in Rhododendron calophytum seedlings regenerated in mineral soil or on fallen dead wood of different decaying stages

Regeneration substrates may differ in water and nutrient availability, and that may lead to differences in physiological traits among seedlings. This assumption was tested by investigating the effects of different regeneration substrates (fallen dead wood and soil) on physiological traits in seedlings of Rhododendron calophytum Franch. in a subalpine conifer forest, southwest China. The seedlings were divided into three groups according to their regeneration substrates: moderately decayed dead wood (DW_m); severely decayed dead wood (DW_s) and soil (S). The results showed that there were significant differences in leaf mass per area (LMA), photosynthetic capacity, non-structural carbohydrate composition (NSC), leaf phosphorus (P) concentration, carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) and ultrastructural morphology, not only between the seedlings regenerated in soil and on dead wood, but also between the seedlings regenerated on dead wood of different decaying stages. Overall, the photosynthetic capacity of the seedlings increased in the order of DW_m <?S < DW_s, and the long-term water use efficiency (WUE) of the seedlings increased in the order of DW_m < DW_s < S. Different nutrient and water availability in the substrates might be responsible for these differences. We suggest that severely decomposed fallen dead wood is the most suitable substrate for the regeneration of R. calophytum.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

光柱长鳞杜鹃——四川杜鹃花属一新变种

描述了四川杜鹃花属一新变种——光柱长鳞杜鹃 Rhododendron　longesquamatumSchneid. var. glabristylum　Y. Y. Geng et Z. L. Zhao。该变种与原变种长鳞杜鹃R. longesquamatum　Schneid. var. longesquamatum的主要区别是叶片和花较小,叶片及叶脉成熟后无毛或仅见零星残存毛,花萼仅有绒毛而无腺毛,花柱光滑。     

The release of primordia of marginal buds onbryophyllum crenatum leaves from growth inhibition in relationship to the level of endogenous IAA

The growth of primordia of marginal buds (marginals) which differentiate on leaf margins is correlatively inhibited on intactBryophyllum crenatum plants. Following leaf isolation, the marginals are released from this correlative inhibition, which process is accompanied within 2 to 10 h after leaf isolation with a decrease in the content of endogenous IAA in the leaf blade. This decrease can be enhanced by transversal cutting of the leaf blade into three parts which also results in enhanced subsequent growth of the marginals. The growth which follows after the release of the marginals from correlative inhibition is accompanied in cut leaf blades with an increased content of endogenous IAA in the period from 12 h to 7 d after leaf isolation when compared with uncut leaf blades. The highest content of endogenous IAA was recorded in the middle section, and the lowest IAA content in the basal section of the leaf blade.     

杜鹃属的系统发育与进化

本文以形态学为基础,结合一些新的有关资料,如解剖学、细胞学、化学等方面的证据讨论了杜鹃属的系统发育与进化问题,认为常绿杜鹃亚属在本属系统发育中处于原始地位,其中的云锦杜鹃亚组、耳叶杜鹃亚组、大叶杜鹃亚组和杯毛杜鹃亚组等4个亚组是原始类群,也即是其祖先的直接后裔。本属的原始祖先是具常绿习性,各部无毛(也无鳞片),花部不定数,具复合三叶隙构造的乔木,即类似现存原始类群的植物,它们生长于白垩纪至早第三纪古北大陆南缘,大约在我国西南部的热带山区森林环境中。随着地史的变迁,杜鹃属在漫长的进化过程中平行进化和发展为两个进化枝,一枝分化成各部被鳞片的热带附生类群或高山类群(包括4个亚属),另一枝演变为多少被毛的温带林下的半常绿至落叶类群(3个亚属),有鳞的髯花杜鹃组及落叶的日本马银组和落叶杜鹃组是两个进化枝演化上的高级类群。     

祁连山水源区主要树种耐旱性研究

应用P-V技术对祁连山水源涵养林主要树种水分参数进行测定分析.结果表明,不同水分参数在树种上的变化规律各异,反映了植物耐旱机理的复杂性;对10项水分参数的主成分分析结果显示,以|φπ₁₀₀-φπ₀ |、RCV、ROWC₀和ε_max分析植物的耐旱性能具有可靠性.用两种几何数学方法的分析结果表明,按照耐旱性大小可将供试树种分为耐旱性强树种(青海云杉和千里香杜鹃)、耐旱性较强树种(祁连圆柏、烈香杜鹃、头花杜鹃和青海杜鹃)、耐旱性较弱树种(金露梅、绣线菊和红桦)和耐旱性弱树种(青杨).苗木清晨叶水势与土壤含水率间变化趋势可以用双曲线方程、幂函数式(或指数函数式)取得满意的拟合.通过逐步聚类分析,按照树种主要耐旱机理可分为高水势延迟脱水耐旱树种(红桦和青海杜鹃)、亚高水势延迟脱水型树种(青海云杉、千里香杜鹃和头花杜鹃)、亚低水势忍耐脱水耐旱树种(祁连圆柏)与低水势忍耐脱水型耐旱树种(金露梅、绣线菊和烈香杜鹃).     

Thermonastic leaf movements: a synthesis of research with Rhododendron

Thermonastic leaf movements in Rhododendron L. occur in response to freezing temperatures. These movements are composed of leaf curling and leaf angle changes that are distinct leaf movements with different responses to climatic factors. Leaf angle is controlled by the hydration of the petiole, as affected by soil water content, atmospheric vapour pressure, and air temperature. In contrast, leaf curling is a specific response to leaf temperature, and bulk leaf hydration has little effect. The physiological cause of leaf curling is not well understood, but the mechanism must lie in the physiology of the cell wall and/or regional changes in tissue hydration. Available evidence suggests that intercellular freezing is not a cause of leaf curling.
Manipulation experiments demonstrate that changes in leaf orientation in Rhododendron most likely serve to protect the leaves from membrane damage due to high irradiance and cold temperatures. In particular, the pendent leaves protect the chloroplast from photoinhibition. Leaf curling may serve to slow the rate of thaw following freezing, a common phenomenon in the Appalachian mountains of the U.S. The thermonastic leaf movements have a greater importance to plants in a dim environment because the potential impact to canopy carbon gain is greater than in high light environments.
These leaf movements have several implications for horticultural management. There seems to be a trade-off between water stress tolerance and freezing stress tolerance by leaf movements. Thermonastic leaf movements may be a major mechanism of cold stress tolerance in Rhododendron species. The actual physiological cause of leaf movement has not been elucidated and many more species need to be evaluated to verify the general importance of leaf movements to Rhododendron ecology and evolution.     

Shoot dieback during prolonged drought in Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae) chaparral of California: a possible case of hydraulic failure

Progressive diebacks of outer canopy branchlets of Ceanothus crassifolius were repeatedly observed after rainless periods up to 9 mo in duration in the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. Mean xylem pressures of branchlets near the end of drought were as low as -11.2 MPa (N = 22) with a mean of about 60 dead branchlets per shrub. Inoculation (N = 15) with three species of fungi previously isolated from the same population of C. crassifolius did not promote dieback, suggesting that the observed decline was not fungal induced, as had been proposed. Further, at least 50% of healthy-appearing twigs, without symptoms of dieback, contained isolatible endophytic fungi. We used a centrifugal force method to determine the range of xylem pressure causing cavitation (vulnerability curves) for branchlets (N = 12) and roots (N = 16). We combined vulnerability curves with soil texture data (N = 6) into a water transport model that estimated the critical values (P(Lcrit)) of leaf xylem pressure associated with the loss of water from soil to foliage. Maximum P(Lcrit) was between -10 and -11 MPa and within the range of minimum measured xylem pressures of branchlets during drought and dieback. Branchlet dieback correlated with seasonal declines in xylem pressure in concert with declining safety margins from hydraulic failure. Symptoms of dieback were duplicated in the field by partially severing stem xylem that normally supplied branchlets with water. Taken together, these results indicate that loss of hydraulic conductance to foliage was the probable cause of the observed dieback in C. crassifolius. Partial dieback of peripheral branchlets, and its attendant reduction in evaporative surface area, may be a last-resort mechanism for whole-plant water conservation and drought survival in this species.     

浙江金华北山木本植物种群生态位研究

按生态位宽度,浙江金华北山38种主要木本植物可分成三类,生态位宽度大于0.2的有马尾松、格药柃、短柄抱等10种,在0.20~0.10间有黄山松、苦槠、锥栗等12种,小于0.1的有化香、马银花、樟等16种;按生态位重叠值, 38种木本植物可以区分出四群植物:类群Ⅰ为黄山松、杜鹃、白马骨等,类群Ⅱ为马尾松、短柄抱、继木等,类群Ⅲ包括樟、白栎、枫香等,类群Ⅳ包括黄檀、木半夏、乌饭树等。本文提出,计算生态位重叠值时,可首先计算调查样点的群落相似系数,以具有最小相似系数总值的样点作为始端样点,以始端样点为参照,根据与其群落相似系数的大小,再对其它样点进行排列,使排列后样点的生态条件具梯度变化,在这基础上,再计算样点间的生态距离间隔;并提出以生态位重叠值为指标,应用聚类分析中的最小生成树法,对植物进行生态学相似性比较。本文研究证实了这种方法的可行性。     

Changes in stomatal conductance along grass blades reflect changes in leaf structure

Identifying the consequences of grass blade morphology (long, narrow leaves) on the heterogeneity of gas exchange is fundamental to an understanding of the physiology of this growth form. We examined acropetal changes in anatomy, hydraulic conductivity and rates of gas exchange in five grass species (including C(3) and C(4) functional types). Both stomatal conductance and photosynthesis increased along all grass blades despite constant light availability. Hydraulic efficiency within the xylem remained constant along the leaf, but structural changes outside the xylem changed in concert with stomatal conductance. Stomatal density and stomatal pore index remained constant along grass blades but interveinal distance decreased acropetally resulting in a decreased path length for water movement from vascular bundle to stomate. The increase in stomatal conductance was correlated with the decreased path length through the leaf mesophyll. A strong correlation between the distance from vascular bundles to stomatal pores and stomatal conductance has been identified across species; our results suggest this relationship also exists within individual leaves.     

悬钩子属2中国新记录种

报道了悬钩子属植物的2个中国新记录种,分别为浅裂悬钩子(Rubus polyadenus Cardot)和滇印悬钩子(R.opulifolius Bertol)。浅裂悬钩子发现于云南省东南部的河口和个旧等地,其与黔桂悬钩子(R.feddei H.Lév.Vaniot)较为相近,区别在于该种枝条、叶柄和花序轴密被浅红色具腺长刺毛,叶柄较短,叶片长卵形或近琴形,顶端急尖或渐尖,萼片三角状披针形,顶端长尾尖。滇印悬钩子新发现于云南省西北部的高黎贡山,其与拟覆盆子(R.idaeopsis Focke)较为相近,区别后者在于其小叶3~5枚,花序极短,不足3cm长,花柄很短,整个花序密集缩短成近头状。     

The Nature of Systemic Invasion of Stem and Leaves of Sunflowers by Plasmopara helianthi Novot. var. helianthi Novot. with Mechanism of Sporulation and Zoospore Release

During the systemic development of Plasmopara helianthi Novot. var. helianthi Novot. the hyphae in the stem advance especially through the intercellular spaces of loose parenchyma forming haustoria in adjacent cells. The hyphae which reach leaf blades through petioles continue their growth along the main veins intercellularly in non-vascular tissues enclosing the vascular bundles. At the same time, the hyphae spread to intercellular spaces of spongy parenchyma where the growth is limited by the veinlets resulting in angular chlorotic lesions. Under humid conditions the sporangiophores arising from the aggregated hyphae in a substomatal cavity emerge through the stomatal pore on the lower side of the leaf and zoosporangia are borne terminally on sporangiophores. Soon after biflagellated zoospores are liberated into distilled water from the zoosporangia, they retract their flagellae and then lyse.     

Characterization and Localization of a Novel Protein (HFN 40) in Maize Genotypes Without Husk Leaf Blades

Some maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes produced husk leaves without leaf blades. However, the physiological implication of this leaf deformity is unclear. Difference in protein pattern was observed between maize with and without husk leaf blades. A clear band around 38[sim ]40 kDa in seeds of maize genotypes without husk leaf blades appeared, while it was not detected in ones with husk leaf blades. These protein might be involved in leaf blade intiation.     

Epigenetic correlates of plant phenotypic plasticity: DNA methylation differs between prickly and nonprickly leaves in heterophyllous Ilex aquifolium (Aquifoliaceae) trees

Phenotypic plasticity is central to the persistence of populations and a key element in the evolution of species and ecological interactions, but its mechanistic basis is poorly understood. This article examines the hypothesis that epigenetic variation caused by changes in DNA methylation are related to phenotypic plasticity in a heterophyllous tree producing two contrasting leaf types. The relationship between mammalian browsing and the production of prickly leaves was studied in a population of Ilex aquifolium (Aquifoliaceae). DNA methylation profiles of contiguous prickly and nonprickly leaves on heterophyllous branchlets were compared using a methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) method. Browsing and the production of prickly leaves were correlated across trees. Within heterophyllous branchlets, pairs of contiguous prickly and nonprickly leaves differed in genome‐wide DNA methylation. The mean per‐marker probability of methylation declined significantly from nonprickly to prickly leaves. Methylation differences between leaf types did not occur randomly across the genome, but affected predominantly certain specific markers. The results of this study, although correlative in nature, support the emerging three‐way link between herbivory, phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic changes in plants, and also contribute to the crystallization of the consensus that epigenetic variation can complement genetic variation as a source of phenotypic variation in natural plant populations. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on photosynthesis, growth and reproduction of branches of the tropical canopy tree species, Luehea seemannii Tr. & Planch.

Mature trees have already experienced substantial increases in CO₂ concentrations during their lifetimes, and will experience continuing increases in the future. Small open-top chambers were used to enclose branchlets that were at a height of between 20 and 25 m in the canopy of the tree species Luehea seemannii Tr. & Planch. in a tropical forest in Panamá. Elevated concentrations of CO₂ increased the rate of photosynthetic carbon fixation and decreased stomatal conductance of leaves, but did not influence the growth of leaf area per chamber, the production of flower buds and fruit nor the concentration of nonstructural carbohydrates within leaves. The production of flower buds was highly correlated with the leaf area produced in the second flush of leaves, indicating that the branchlets of mature trees of Luehea seemannii are autonomous to a considerable extent. Elevated levels of CO₂ did increase the concentration of nonstructural carbohydrates in woody stem tissue. Elevated CO₂ concentration also they increased the ratio of leaf area to total biomass of branchlets, and tended to reduce individual fruit weight. These data suggest that the biomass allocation patterns of mature trees may change under future elevated levels of CO₂. Although there were no effects on growth during the experiment, the possibility of increased growth in the season following CO₂ enrichment due to increased carbohydrate concentrations in woody tissue cannot be excluded.