枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组全序列测定与系统发育分析

【目的】从线粒体基因组水平上探讨枣食芽象甲Scythropus yasumatsui与近缘种的系统发育关系。【方法】利用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组进行测序,对基因组序列进行拼装、注释和特征分析;利用贝叶斯法和最大似然法构建基于象甲科13个物种的线粒体基因组13个蛋白质编码基因核苷酸序列的系统发育树。【结果】结果表明,枣食芽象甲线粒体基因组全长为16 472 bp (GenBank登录号: MF807224),包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和2个非编码控制区,37个基因的排列顺序与祖先昆虫的线粒体基因排列顺序一致。13个蛋白质编码基因的起始密码子为ATN,其中除了cob和nad1基因的完全终止密码子为TAG外,其余11个基因的完全终止密码子为TA(A)。22个tRNA基因中除了trnS1缺少DHU臂,反密码子由GCT变为TCT外,其余均能形成典型的三叶草结构。基于13个蛋白质编码基因序列构建的系统发育树结果显示,象甲科8个亚科系统发育关系为：(((隐喙象亚科(Cryptorhynchinae)+(象虫亚科(Curculioninae)+魔喙象亚科(Molytinae)))+长小蠹亚科(Platypodinae))+(粗喙象亚科(Entiminae)+Cyclominae亚科))+隐颏象亚科(Dryophthorinae)+小蠹亚科(Scolytinae))。【结论】在13种象甲科昆虫物种中,同属于粗喙象亚科的枣食芽象甲与南美果树象甲Naupactus xanthographus在系统发育树中聚为同一分支,表明基于线粒体基因组全序列的分子系统发育结果与传统的形态分类结果是一致的。     

基于微卫星标记的中国枣食芽象甲地理种群遗传多样性分析

【目的】枣食芽象甲Scythropus yasumatsui是我国北方枣树Zizyphus jujuba上的一种重要的灾害性害虫,在陕西、山西、河北、河南等枣树主产区普遍发生。本研究旨在揭示我国枣食芽象甲不同种群间的遗传分化和基因交流规律。【方法】利用枣食芽象甲转录组测序的SSR序列,使用荧光标记PCR及毛细管电泳分型方法,筛选出8个微卫星位点,对我国5个省份(山西、陕西、宁夏、河北和河南)10个地理种群共308头枣食芽象甲样本进行种群遗传多样性分析。【结果】8个SSR位点均存在无效等位基因且偏离哈迪 温伯格平衡。各位点的有效等位基因数(Ne)为2.113~8.016,多态信息含量(PIC)为0.561~0.908,期望杂合度(He)为0.476~0.865;种群间遗传分化系数(Fst)平均值为0.151;基因流(Nm)平均值为1.594。枣食芽象甲种群间遗传分化系数与地理距离之间显著正相关(r=0.596, P=0.0035),基于Nei’s遗传距离和Cavalli-Sforza & Edwards余弦遗传距离的系统进化树将10个地理种群均聚为3个相同的分支。【结论】结果说明,枣食芽象甲种群遗传多样性较高,不同地理种群间存在高度的遗传分化,且有一定的基因交流;地理隔离是影响枣食芽象甲地理种群遗传分化和基因交流的重要因素。     

淡色库蚊对四种化学物质的嗅觉反应

在室内条件下通过Y型嗅觉仪测试了淡色库蚊Culexpipiens pallens雌成虫对乳酸、丙酮、氨水、辛醇、正庚酸、对甲酚、间甲酚等7种化学物质的嗅觉反应。结果表明:与对照相比,1和10mg/L氨水,1,10和100mg/L正庚酸,1mg/L辛醇,0.1和1mg/L对甲酚对淡色库蚊雌成虫具有显著的引诱作用。比较各处理的相对引诱率,最高的为10mg/L正庚酸,达50%以上;其他处理相对引诱率均低于40%,最低的为0.1mg/L对甲酚。     

枣食芽象甲化学感受蛋白PyasCSP4的基因克隆、表达及配体结合特征

【目的】本研究为明确枣树Zizyphus jujuba主要害虫枣食芽象甲Scythropus yasumatsui化学感受蛋白4(chemosensory protein 4, CSP4)的表达特点及配体结合特性。【方法】基于枣食芽象甲成虫触角转录组数据,利用RT-PCR方法克隆了枣食芽象甲PyasCSP4 cDNA序列,并进行生物信息学分析。通过RT-qPCR方法测定PyasCSP4在枣食芽象甲成虫不同组织(触角、去除触角的头、胸、腹、足和翅)中的表 达水平。通过原核表达系统和镍柱纯化获得PyasCSP4重组蛋白,采用荧光竞争结合实验测定重组蛋白PyasCSP4与35种枣树挥发物的结合特性。【结果】克隆获得枣食芽象甲PyasCSP4的cDNA序列(GenBank 登录号: OK322362),其开放阅读框全长为366 bp,编码121个氨基酸,N末端有18个氨基酸组成的信号肽序列, PyasCSP4成熟蛋白序列具有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基。RT-qPCR结果表明, PyasCSP4基因在成虫不同组织中均有表达,在触角和翅中的表达量显著高于在其他组织中的表达量。重组蛋白PyasCSP4与25种配体具有结合活性,尤其与α-蒎烯、α-水芹烯和罗勒烯等的结合能力最强,解离常数(Ki)值分别为6.29, 6.58和6.69 μmol/L。【结论】PyasCSP4能够与多种枣树挥发物结合,推测其可能在枣食芽象甲定位寄主植物的过程中发挥重要作用。本研究的结果对阐明枣食芽象甲嗅觉机制和开展绿色防控研究具有重要意义。     

稻虱缨小蜂对水稻品种挥发物的行为反应

四臂嗅觉仪的行为试验表明、稻虱缨小蜂（Anagrus nilapareatae Pang et Wang)对不同水稻品种挥发物的行为反应存在显差异。在测试的6个未受害水稻品种中。浙852和TN1对稻虱缨小蜂的引诱作用显强于Nabeshi。受褐飞虱[Nitapareata lugens(Stal)]为害后．品种间引诱作用的差异更趋明显。在同一品种内,稻虱缨小蜂对受橱飞虱为害后的稻椿挥发物比未受害的稻株挥发物具更强的行为反应。然而．在稻椿、褐飞虱若虫复合体与稻株、褐飞虱卵,雌成虫复合体的挥发物间不存在显差异。     

两种赤眼蜂对芥兰和菜心挥发物的嗅觉反应

为探明植物挥发性化合物在卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae和拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusum寄主定向过程中的作用,本研究采用"Y"型嗅觉仪测定了这两种赤眼蜂对五种不同处理芥兰和菜心挥发物的嗅觉反应,结果表明:来自芥兰的完整植株、机械损伤植株、虫害损伤植株、虫菜复合体植株以及菜卵复合体植株的挥发物对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂有显著的吸引用,进入这些处理区的赤眼蜂数量分别占总试验蜂数的70.37%、75.0%、67.74%、68.42%和67.65%,显著高于对照;而其选择上述五种处理的菜心的数量分别占总试验蜂数的70.37%、72.73%、73.91%、70.37%和71.43%,显著高于对照,表明来自菜心各处理的挥发物对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂也具有显著的吸引作用.来自芥兰完整植株、机械损伤植株、虫害损伤植株、虫菜复合体植株及相应处理菜心的挥发物对拟澳洲赤眼蜂无显著吸引作用,进入芥兰和菜心处理区的赤眼蜂数量分别占总试验蜂数的62.5%、50.O%、50.0%、54.55%和60.O%、50.O%、54.84%、54.55%,与对照相比均差异不显著;而其选择芥兰和菜心的菜卵复合体植株的数量分别为72.97%和76.47%,均显著高于对照,表明带小菜蛾卵块的芥兰和菜心植株对拟澳洲赤眼蜂有显著吸引作用.     

枣飞象对枣树植物挥发物的EAG和行为反应

【目的】枣飞象Scythropus yasumatsui是枣树Zizyphus jujuba主要害虫。近年来,在陕西和山西枣区暴发成灾,造成了严重的经济和生态损失。本研究旨在明确枣树挥发性物质在枣飞象成虫化学通讯中的作用,为该虫植物源引诱剂开发和研制提供基础资料。【方法】利用顶空吸附法收集5个枣树品种(木枣、狗头枣、赞皇枣、骏枣和酸枣)的枣芽挥发物,采用气质联用(GC-MS)进行化学指纹谱的鉴定和分析;随后分别利用触角电位(electroantennogram, EAG)仪和Y型嗅觉仪测定枣飞象成虫对17种枣树挥发性物质的EAG和行为反应。【结果】5个品种枣树的枣芽中共鉴定出挥发性物质6类26种,包括9种萜烯类、6种酯类、4种醇类、4种烷类、2种醛类和1种酚类;不同品种枣芽挥发性物质种类和含量具有差异。EAG试验结果表明,枣飞象成虫对测试的17种枣树挥发性物质的EAG反应相对值有明显差异。枣飞象成虫对D-柠檬烯、正十三烷、正十四烷、正十五烷、壬醛、棕榈酸甲酯、油酸甲酯7种挥发性物质的EAG反应较强。当挥发性物质浓度为0.1～100μg/μL时,随着浓度增加,枣飞象成虫的EAG反应相对值...     

枣飞象对枣树植物挥发物的EAG和行为反应

【目的】枣飞象Scythropus yasumatsui是枣树Zizyphus jujuba主要害虫。近年来,在陕西和山西枣区暴发成灾,造成了严重的经济和生态损失。本研究旨在明确枣树挥发性物质在枣飞象成虫化学通讯中的作用,为该虫植物源引诱剂开发和研制提供基础资料。【方法】利用顶空吸附法收集5个枣树品种(木枣、狗头枣、赞皇枣、骏枣和酸枣)的枣芽挥发物,采用气质联用(GC-MS)进行化学指纹谱的鉴定和分析;随后分别利用触角电位(electroantennogram, EAG)仪和Y型嗅觉仪测定枣飞象成虫对17种枣树挥发性物质的EAG和行为反应。【结果】5个品种枣树的枣芽中共鉴定出挥发性物质6类26种,包括9种萜烯类、6种酯类、4种醇类、4种烷类、2种醛类和1种酚类;不同品种枣芽挥发性物质种类和含量具有差异。EAG试验结果表明,枣飞象成虫对测试的17种枣树挥发性物质的EAG反应相对值有明显差异。枣飞象成虫对D-柠檬烯、正十三烷、正十四烷、正十五烷、壬醛、棕榈酸甲酯、油酸甲酯7种挥发性物质的EAG反应较强。当挥发性物质浓度为0.1~100 μg/μL时,随着浓度增加,枣飞象成虫的EAG反应相对值先增加后下降,刺激浓度为50 μg/μL时EAG反应相对值达到最大。50 μg/μL浓度下,枣飞象雌成虫对棕榈酸甲酯和壬醛EAG反应相对值分别为3.84和3.67,雄成虫对棕榈酸甲酯和壬醛EAG反应相对值分别为3.47和3.21,极显著高于对其他挥发性物质的EAG反应相对值。行为反应结果表明,枣飞象雌雄成虫对棕榈酸甲酯和壬醛有明显趋向性, 选择率均大于65%,雄成虫对十五烷有明显趋向性,雌雄成虫对其他供试的物质无明显趋向性。【结论】棕榈酸甲酯和壬醛对枣飞象雌雄成虫均有明显吸引作用,十五烷对雄成虫有明显吸引作用。结果提示棕榈酸甲酯和壬醛可能与枣飞象对不同品种枣树偏好性选择密切相关。     

香蕉假茎象甲对不同生理状态香蕉假茎挥发物的行为反应

采用固相微萃取技术提取新鲜假茎、腐烂未虫蛀假茎、虫蛀且腐烂假茎以及虫蛀未腐烂假茎4种生理状态的香蕉假茎挥发物,进行气质联用仪分析鉴定。结果表明:从香蕉新鲜假茎与虫蛀且腐烂假茎中分别鉴定出10种挥发性物质;腐烂未虫蛀假茎与虫蛀未腐烂假茎分别鉴定出11种挥发性物质;这些挥发物包括烃类、酯类、酮类、杂环类等,在不同生理状态的香蕉假茎中的相对含量各不相同。4种生理状态的香蕉假茎挥发性成分种类数及相对含量的变化与香蕉假茎象甲Odoiporus longicollis Olivier的为害有着密切关系,遭受香蕉徦茎象甲为害的香蕉假茎,其共同成分2,6-二甲基-2,4,6-辛三烯相对含量对应地减少。利用双重陷阱嗅觉仪测定了香蕉假茎象甲对香蕉假茎挥发物的行为反应,结果表明:4种生理状态的香蕉假茎挥发物均对香蕉假茎象甲有引诱作用,与新鲜假茎相比,香蕉假茎的虫蛀且腐烂状态可增强其对香蕉假茎象甲雌、雄虫的引诱作用。     

烟蓟马成虫对不同植物挥发物的行为选择

【目的】评价不同植物挥发物对烟蓟马Thrips tabaci雌性成虫的行为调控作用,解析烟蓟马成虫嗅觉识别行为,为研发成虫引诱剂或驱避剂提供科学依据。【方法】利用嗅觉行为测定装置测试烟蓟马雌性成虫对不同种类、不同浓度植物挥发物的室内选择行为,筛选出具有高引诱或驱避活性的挥发物。【结果】与溶剂正己烷相比,烟蓟马雌性成虫对浓度为1μg/μL的γ-癸酸内酯、(+)α-蒎烯、芳樟醇、2-乙酸苯乙酯、(-)α-蒎烯没有显著的行为选择（P>0.05）,而壬醛、马鞭草烯酮、香茅醛、橙花醇和桉树脑对烟蓟马表现出显著的吸引作用（P<0.05）,4-乙酰吡啶、邻茴香醛、δ-癸酸内酯、顺-3-己烯醇、香叶醇和1-辛烯-3-醇的吸引作用极显著（P<0.001）;但水杨醛、香芹酚、顺茉莉醛、丁香酚和对烯丙基苯甲醚对烟蓟马表现出显著的驱避作用（P<0.05）,水杨酸甲酯、茉莉酸甲酯、百里酚和异戊醛4种挥发物具有极显著的驱避作用（P<0.001）。同时,随着测试浓度的增加,大部分挥发物对烟蓟马雌性成虫的吸引或驱避作用明显增强。【结论】δ-癸酸内酯、香叶醇、1-辛烯-3-醇、邻茴香醛和4-乙酰吡啶对烟蓟马雌性成虫具有强烈吸引作用,水杨酸甲酯、茉莉酸甲酯和百里酚则具有明显驱避效应,为开发烟蓟马行为调控剂奠定了重要基础。     

不同品种枣树对枣飞象成虫寿命和繁殖的影响

为了明确不同品种枣树对枣飞象Scythropus yasumatsui成虫寿命和繁殖的影响,筛选出枣飞象成虫适宜的枣树品种,以期为枣飞象建立人工饲养种群和综合治理奠定基础。在室内以木枣、狗头枣、赞皇枣、骏枣和酸枣分别饲养枣飞象成虫,研究不同品种枣树对枣飞象成虫寿命、产卵前期、产卵期、产卵量、卵孵化率和每雌子代数的影响。不同品种枣树对枣飞象成虫寿命有明显影响,取食木枣的雌、雄虫寿命最长,分别为36.6±1.15 d和32.3±1.61 d,取食酸枣雌、雄虫寿命最短,分别为29.8±1.55 d和25.6±1.64 d。不同品种枣树对枣飞象成虫产卵前期和产卵率没有明显影响。取食木枣和狗头枣的枣飞象成虫产卵期明显长于赞皇枣、骏枣和酸枣,取食木枣的枣飞象成虫产卵量和每雌子代数最高,分别为76.3±2.87粒和67.0±2.7头,显著高于其它4种枣树,说明木枣对枣飞象成虫产卵期、产卵量和每雌子代数有明显影响。在室内饲养枣飞象成虫,木枣是最适宜饲养枣飞象成虫的枣树品种。     

Behavioural response of alate Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) to volatiles from different cowpea cultivars

The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, is a major insect pest of cowpea in Africa. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mediate plant–arthropod interactions that could be used in the management of insect pests. In this study, we established the VOC profile involved in the interaction between A. craccivora and four cowpea cultivars, namely Ex‐Luanda, Katumani 80, Machakos 66 and Ken Kunde 1. Behavioural assays were conducted to study host preference and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for chemical analysis of volatiles. In preference assays, alate A. craccivora had no significant preference for any of the four cowpea cultivars tested. However, in the olfactometer assays, the aphids showed a significant preference for odours from cultivar Ex‐Luanda compared to Katumani 80. Machakos 66 and Ken Kunde 1 elicited neutral responses. In pairwise comparisons, alate A. craccivora did not distinguish between odours of respective cowpea cultivars. GC/MS analysis identified 23 compounds in the volatiles of the four cowpea cultivars. Not all compounds were detected in all cowpea cultivars, and the detected compounds amounts varied in each cultivar. Of these, only four compounds (hexanal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and p‐xylene) were emitted in significantly different quantities in the four cultivars. A blend of hexanal and (E)‐2‐hexenal added to cowpea cultivar Ex‐Luanda decreased its attractiveness to A. craccivora compared to the control. Our findings showed differential attractiveness of VOCs of cowpea cultivars to A. craccivora, suggesting that VOCs could be used in the management of A. craccivora.     

3个枣品种的核型分析

采用酶解去壁低渗法对大荔龙枣、骏枣和冬枣3个枣品种进行了核型研究.结果表明:3个枣品种的染色体数目均为2n=24,核型公式分别为大荔龙枣(Zizphus jujuba Mill 'Dalilongzao')2n=2x=24=20m(4SAT)+4sm,骏枣(Z.jujuba Mi1l.'Junzao')2n=2x=24...     

不同甘蔗品种叶片气孔对水分胁迫的响应

干旱是甘蔗面临最主要的环境胁迫之一,为了解不同甘蔗品种在干旱胁迫时的气孔响应,该研究以F172、GT21、YT93/159和 YL6四个抗旱性有显著差异的甘蔗品种为材料,采用桶栽,在伸长期进行四种不同程度的干旱胁迫(不浇水)处理：土壤持水量在①65％~70％为轻度干旱;②45％~50％为中度干旱;③25％~30％为重度干旱;④以土壤含水量为75％为对照(CK).检测不同品种不同处理甘蔗的叶片相对持水量变化,并利用扫描电镜技术观察甘蔗叶片下表皮气孔特性.结果表明：在干旱胁迫下,四个甘蔗品种叶片气孔导度急剧下降,重度干旱时耐旱性强的 F172和 GT21的气孔导度低于耐旱性弱的 YT93/159和 YL6的;复水后3 d,F172和 GT21的气孔导度上升至82．07和88．85 mmol·m-2·s-1,而 YT93/159和 YL6的仅有18．88和33．08 mmol·m-2·s-1.干旱还导致气孔下陷、闭合,气孔器的长、宽明显减小,且品种间气孔器长度变化差异显著;干旱胁迫下气孔密度增大,尤以耐旱性最强的 F172在重度干旱时达到显著差异.重度干旱时 F172与GT21的气孔闭合百分比是 YT93/159和 YL6近3~4倍.在水分胁迫下,叶片相对含水量降低,但 F172和GT21在重度干旱时仍可以保持相对较高的含水量,其它两个品种相对较低,尤以 YT93/159的最低.在复水后叶片含水量都有所恢复.这些研究结果表明不同甘蔗品种抗旱能力与叶片气孔特性和含水量密切相关.     

Photosynthetic response of different pea cultivars to low and high temperature treatments

The thermo-sensitivity of two new pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars—Afila (mutant in the gene transforming leaves into mustaches) and Ranen (mutant for early ripening)—as compared to the control cultivar Pleven-4 to either low (4 °C, T₄) or high temperature (38 °C, T₃₈) was investigated by means of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics. The low temperature treatment decreased the photosynthetic activity, measured via a decline of the Chl fluorescence decrease ratios R_Fd690 and R_Fd735, and this was mainly due to a decline of the Chl fluorescence decrease parameter F_d and maximum Chl fluorescence F_m. In the new cv. Ranen the R_Fd ratios at first decreased and increased again after 24-h exposure to 4 °C, indicating its good acclimation ability to low temperature. The cold-induced changes in the photosynthetic performance of all cultivars were reversed after transferring plants back to 23 °C for 48 h. In the Chl and carotenoid (Car) contents no or little changes occurred during the T₄ treatment, except for a slight but clear increase of the ratio Chl a/b and a decrease in the ratio Chl/Car. In contrast to this, the T₃₈ treatment for 72 h decreased the R_Fd ratios more strongly than the T₄ exposure did. In fact, an irreversible injury of the photosynthetic apparatus was caused in the control pea cv. Pleven-4 by a 48-h T₃₈ exposure and for the new cv. Afila after a 72-h T₃₈ exposure. In contrast, the cv. Ranen was less and little sensitive to the T₃₈ exposure. In the heat-sensitive cvs. Pleven-4 and Afila, the decrease in R_Fd values at T₃₈ was associated with a strong decline of the Chl a+b and total Car contents. The Chl a+b decline could also be followed via an increase of the Chl fluorescence ratio F₆₉₀/F₇₃₅. Parallel to this, a strong decline of Chl a/b from ca. 3.0 (range 2.85–3.15) to ca. 1.9 (range 1.85–1.95) occurred indicating a preferential decline of the Chl a-pigment proteins but not of the Chl a/b-pigment protein LHC2. In the relatively heat-tolerant cv. Ranen, however, the ratio Chl a/b declined only partially. After the T₄ treatment the stress adaptation index Ap was higher in cv. Ranen than in controls and reached in heat-treated Ranen plants almost the starting value indicating a cold and heat stress hardening of the treated plants. The Chl fluorescence parameters and pigment contents were influenced by T₃₈ and T₄ treatments in various ways indicating that the mechanisms of low and high temperature injury of the photosynthetic apparatus are different. The new cv. Ranen exhibited a cross tolerance showing a fairly good acclimation ability to both T₄ and T₃₈, hence it is a very suitable plant for outdoor growth and for clarification of the acclimation mechanisms to unfavourable temperatures.     

中国各地不同枣树品种上枣疯病植原体的PCR检测及分子变异分析

摘要：【目的】检测不同地区枣树品种上的枣疯植原体侵染及保守基因序列的变异。【方法】利用植原体16S rDNA的通用引物R16mF2／R16mR1、16S-23S间区序列(SR)的通用引物SR1/SR及secY基因引物FD9f/r,通过PCR检测采自国内7个地区14个枣树品种上的32个枣疯病和4个酸枣丛枝病样品。将PCR产物进行直接或克隆测序,结合已报导的测序数据,进行序列同源性和系统进化分析。【结果】所有枣疯病样品中均检测到植原体;皆属于榆树黄化16S rV-B亚组,与我国重阳木丛枝和樱桃致死黄化遗传关系     

Composition of volatiles of banana cultivars from Madeira Island

The composition of the volatiles of banana fruit from various cultivars grown on Madeira Island has been determined. Using GC-MS, the volatiles were shown to be complex mixtures of several classes of components, mainly esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and acids. The average contents of the total volatiles from cultivars "Dwarf Cavendish", "Giant Cavendish", "Robusta" and "Williams" were 93.0, 116.5, 157.3 and 157.0 mg/kg, respectively. The ester and alcoholic fractions appear to play a decisive role in the organoleptic characteristics of banana fruit, presenting a substantial content ranging from 57.2 to 89.8 mg/ kg and 19.0 to 47.7 mg/kg, respectively, in all cultivars from Madeira Island studied. 3-Methyl butyl butanoate ester was the major constituent.     

Analysis of the response of two tall fescue cultivars of different origin to P deficiency

Soil phosphorus (P) availability commonly limits crop growth and forage production. Furthermore, there is a concern about the use of fertilizers, both because of the risk of environmental degradation and P being a non-renewable resource. Some experimental evidence would indicate that certain cultivars of tall fescue of Mediterranean origin would have a higher root:shoot ratio than temperate ones. This characteristic could improve P efficiency. Since P fertilization is a crucial issue in forage production, enabling grass crops to use the soil resources more efficiently represents an important agronomical goal. The objective of the present work was to compare the response of two tall fescues of different origin to low P availability and to analyze the interactions between morphological traits, P uptake efficiency and P use efficiency. Two cultivars of tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub (formerly Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.)), one of temperate origin, Palenque Plus INTA (PP), and the other of Mediterranean origin, Fraydo (F), subjected to three different P treatments (P1, P2 and P3 obtained by adding 0; 10 or 100 mg P kg⁻¹ soil–sand mixture 1:1 by weight) were studied in a glasshouse experiment. Four destructive harvests were performed from 24 to 54 days after emergence (dae) and the following determinations were performed: root and shoot components dry matter (DM), leaf area, tiller production, root length and diameter, root and shoot components P concentration. Tissue turnover measurements were performed from 19 to 53 dae. In general, responses to low P availability were in agreement with the literature (e.g. low DM accumulation, higher root:shoot ratio, low leaf elongation rate, low tiller production). Conversely to what was expected, PP had a higher root:shoot ratio than F under low P availability and tended to show higher values of P uptake during the whole experimental period. However, the P uptake efficiency per unit of root length was higher in F than in PP. By the end of the experimental period PP accumulated a higher amount of total biomass than F under P2 and P3. Under moderate P deficiency (P2), shoot growth was less reduced in PP than in F. Under the experimental conditions of the present study PP showed a higher growth potential and a more plastic response to P availability. Experiments at lower temperatures that would favor Mediterranean cultivars growth should be performed to study possible effects of P-temperature interactions on these cultivars.