荷木对干湿季土壤水分的利用和适应性调节

为了解荷木对土壤水分利用的干湿季差异,利用热消散探针法(TDP)连续监测荷木(Schima superba)液流密度(Js),基于测定的叶片水势(Ψ_L)、叶面积指数(LAI)及胡伯尔值(A_S∶A_L)等参数,结合同步监测的环境因子,分析整树水力导度(K_L)、冠层气孔导度(GS)和蒸腾有效储存水量(Q)的干湿季变化。结果表明,干季荷木林出现土壤水分亏缺,使荷木对水分吸收和传输的阻力增加。但G_S对水汽压亏缺(VPD)的敏感性较高,使干湿季正午叶片水势(Ψ_(L-mid))、土壤-叶片水势差(ΔΨ_(S-L))保持相对稳定;干季荷木通过降低LAI、K_L和G_S有效调控蒸腾;增加Q对日蒸腾的贡献率及单位叶面积的Q以部分补偿水分胁迫。这些适应性调节使荷木在光热资源仍然充足的干季保持旺盛的蒸腾活动,维持与湿季相似的单位叶面积蒸腾量。因此,K_L和G_S的调节作用、Q的水力补偿效应以及自身水力特征在一定程度上解释了荷木干湿季单位叶面积的水分利用呈常数状态,并且SWC对蒸腾无明显的限制作用的原因。     

基于树干液流和土壤-叶片水势梯度分析荷木干湿季整树水分利用特征

运用Granier热消散探针连续监测荷木的树干液流,于2009年的湿季(8月)和干季(11月)选择天气晴朗的3d测定叶片水势,同步连续监测林冠上方光合有效辐射、土壤含水量、气温和空气相对湿度.结果表明:干湿季下荷木树干液流存在显著差异,此外,土壤水势和液流有较好的相关性,且干季时的相关性更好;荷木的叶面积/边材面积比值平均为(0.416±0.033)m2·cm-2,并与树高呈指数函数下降关系;随着11月土壤水势下降,荷木的整树水力导度和午间叶片水势也有所下降,但不明显;对叶片水势和整树蒸腾进行回归分析,二者之间呈二次多项式关系(P＜0.01),叶片水势并非无限制下降;结果还表明,大气水汽压亏缺(D)和叶片水势呈负相关,这是否空气温度和相对湿度或共同作用影响叶片水势,需要进一步研究.     

荷木整树蒸腾对干湿季土壤水分的水力响应

降雨在时间上的非均匀分配导致森林土壤含水量呈现明显的干、湿季变化,并可能在干季形成水分胁迫,引起植物蒸腾变化。在监测环境因子的同时,利用Granier热消散探针连续监测荷木(Schima superba)的树干液流,以液流密度值计算整树蒸腾,并结合水力导度与叶片/土壤的水势差,探讨环境因子和水力导度对荷木整树蒸腾的协同控制。结果表明,华南地区的季节性降雨形成的干、湿季并未引起荷木蒸腾在季节上的显著差异,但对产生蒸腾的水力生理产生了显著影响。荷木蒸腾在干、湿季均与主要驱动环境因子(光合有效辐射PAR和水汽压亏缺VPD)呈显著正相关。在水热充足的湿季,荷木蒸腾主要受气孔导度调节;在干季,当空气水汽压亏缺达2.132 MPa时,水力导度与气孔导度协同控制蒸腾。整树水力导度对整树蒸腾的水力补偿出现在15:00—17:00,平均补偿值为0.08 g/s。利用蒸腾的估测值与实测值之间的差值量化荷木的水力补偿效应,是对水力导度与气孔导度协同控制树木蒸腾机理的深入探索。研究结果对于掌握季节性降雨不均背景下华南地区主要造林树种需水和耗水规律,有效发挥森林保水功能具有重要意义。     

润楠属植物叶片和枝条水力特征的协同关系

以润楠属(Machilus) 7种植物成年个体为材料,对其进行生理指标测定,并对它们的叶片水分供需关系以及木质部纹孔特征和导水效率之间的关联进行分析。结果显示,润楠属7种植物相比原始被子植物具有更高的叶脉密度(VD),叶脉密度为9.8～14.1 mm/mm~2;气孔密度(SD)与叶脉密度呈显著正相关,说明叶片水分供需存在协同关系;气孔密度与气孔大小(GLC)呈负相关;气孔越大的叶片其膨压丧失点(TLP)的绝对值越低。枝条边材比导率(Ks)较低,为0.13～1.87 kg·m~(-1)·s~(-1)·MPa~(-1),且种间差异较大。叶脉和气孔密度均与边材比导率呈正相关。边材比导率与纹孔膜面积、纹孔口面积以及纹孔口长短轴比例相关性不显著。研究结果表明润楠属植物虽然叶脉密度较高,且木质部水分供应和叶片结构具有协同关系,但木质部解剖结构较为原始,导管多具梯形穿孔板,导水效率低,只能适应比较湿润的生境。     

樟科幼树水分生理特征的种间差异和相关性分析

为了阐明樟科(Lauraceae)幼树的水分生理特征,比较了同质园中自然生长的5年生刨花楠(Machilus pauhoi)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)和闽楠(Phoebe bournei)幼树在生长季节叶片的水分生理特征和地径(D)、株高(H)的差异。结果表明,香樟的相对含水量(RWC)、叶片水势(Ψ)、枝条木质部比导率(Ks)都显著高于闽楠和刨花楠(P0.05),而枝条木质部导水损失率(PLC)则显著低于闽楠和刨花楠(P0.05),说明香樟具有更高的保水能力、水分传输效率,并对水分缺失具有更高的抵抗力。3物种幼树均会因枝条空穴化的加强而降低枝条水分的运输效率。刨花楠幼树通过提高水分利用效率以应对导水效率的降低,香樟幼树叶片具有较高的含水量,气孔保持膨胀,可实现较高的蒸腾速率,闽楠幼树通过提高水分运输的效率和安全性以维持叶片相对含水量。     

根源ABA参与气孔调节的数学模拟

建立了包括植物体内的水分传输,并有根源ABA参与的气孔调节模型,模拟了饱和水气压差(VPD)、气温、表层土壤含水量(θ_(s1))等环境因子对叶片水势、木质部汁液中ABA浓度([ABA]_x)及气孔导度的影响。结果显示,VPD和气温的变化能够改变叶片水势及气孔导度;[ABA]_x几乎不受VPD和气温变化的影响,却决定着叶片水势及气孔导度对VPD和气温变化的响应幅度;θ_(s1)影响[ABA]_x,并由此影响气孔导度,但相比之下对叶片水势的作用并不显著。     

亚热带森林演替树种叶片气孔导度对环境水分的水力响应

利用LI-1600稳态气孔计和PMS压力室,在田间测定了群落演替早期强阳生性树种桃金娘(Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)和三叉苦(Evodia lepta)、偏中性的阳生性树种荷木(Schima superba)、群落演替后期的耐荫树种鸭脚木(Schefllera octophylla)和九节(Psychotrie rubra)的叶片气孔导度(gs)和叶片水势(ΨL),研究不同演替阶段树种的气孔导度对环境水分的响应.结果表明,早上叶片有较高的ΨL,随着时间推移ΨL逐渐降低,与此同时比叶水力导度(KL)随ΨL降低而下降,桃金娘、三叉苦、荷木、鸭脚木和九节水力导度初始最低值时的ΨL分别为-1.6、-1.42、-1.30、-0.9MPa和-1.05MPa.随着ΨL降低,田间测定的gs开始从上午的较低值上升至约中午时的最大值,随后开始降低,此时的ΨL分别为-1.58、-1.52、-1.35、-1.02MPa和-1.0MPa.不同植物种类有不同的KL初始最低值的ΨL和gs达到最大值的ΨL.但不论何种供试树种,KL最低值时的ΨL与gs开始从最大值下降时的ΨL相近;显示KL与gs在动态变化中存在协调关系.树种间的gs和KL对ΨL的不同响应显示桃金娘和三叉苦的KL最低值时和gs开始下降时的ΨL均较鸭脚木和九节对应的ΨL低(p<0.05),意味着演替早期树种能在较强水分胁迫下保持较高的气孔导度.这一水力特性保证树种在水分胁迫下维持叶片的光合速率,有利于其在群落中的生长和优势地位的维护,而演替后期树种在较高ΨL下气孔关闭,降低了光合速率.全球变暖和环境进一步干旱可能成为限制亚热带森林植物群落的正向演替进程的潜在因素之一.     

叶片水力性状研究进展

叶片水力性状表征了叶片为适应外在环境而形成的水分传输方面的生存策略。叶片水力性状会限制整个植株的水分传输,并影响植物的气体交换及其对干旱的响应,因此关于叶片水力性状的研究已成为植物水分关系领域的研究热点之一。本文概括了叶片水力性状的基本指标(包括叶片整体水力导度(Kleaf)、叶片木质部水力导度(Kxylem)、叶片木质部外水力导度(Kout-xylem)等)和叶片水力导度的5种主要测量方法;总结了叶脉网络结构和环境因素对叶片水力性状的影响、叶片水力性状与叶片功能指标(气孔导度、叶片水势、叶片最大光合速率)的匹配与权衡关系,以及叶片水力性状与植物抗旱性关系的最新研究进展;对今后叶片水力性状的研究提出了两点建议:1)将叶片水力性状与气体交换和叶解剖结构等相结合,构建叶片碳-水耦合模型,揭示叶片应对外界环境变化而采取的生态策略,以及植物的水-碳投资机理;2)开展植株各部分(根-茎-叶)间水分传输的交互作用研究,筛选出水力系统高效安全的物种。     

亚低温与干旱胁迫对番茄植株水分传输和形态解剖结构的影响

为探讨亚低温和干旱对植株水分传输的影响机制,以番茄幼苗为试材,利用人工气候室设置常温(昼25 ℃/夜18 ℃)和亚低温(昼15 ℃/夜8 ℃)环境,采用盆栽进行正常灌水(75%～85%田间持水量)和干旱处理(55%～65%田间持水量),分析了温度和土壤水分对番茄植株水分传输、气孔和木质部导管形态解剖结构的影响。结果表明: 与常温正常灌水处理相比,干旱处理使番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度、茎流速率、气孔长度和叶、茎、根导管直径显著减小,而使叶、茎、根导管细胞壁厚度和抗栓塞能力增强;亚低温处理下番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度和叶、茎、根导管直径显著降低,但气孔变大,叶、根导管细胞壁厚度和叶、茎、根抗栓塞能力显著升高。亚低温条件下土壤水分状况对番茄叶水势、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水力导度、气孔形态、叶、根导管结构均无显著影响。总之,干旱处理下番茄通过协同调控叶、茎、根结构使植株水分关系重新达到稳态;亚低温处理下番茄植株水分关系的调控主要通过改变叶和根导管结构实现,且受土壤水分状况的影响较小。     

华南荷木林冠层气孔导度对水汽压亏缺的响应

冠层气孔导度(Gs)是量化气孔在冠层尺度水平上表现的参数,能够表征森林冠层表面水汽和能量交换的动态.本研究利用Granier树干液流测定系统,连续监测华南地区荷木林的树干液流,通过尺度转换和扩展获得冠层蒸腾速率,结合微气象观测值,以Pen-man-Monteith公式计算了Gs,并比较不同土壤水分条件下Gs对水汽压亏缺的响应.结果显示,Gs与气孔气体交换方法实测的叶片气孔导度(gs)日变化相似,单位转换数值大小与实测gs数量级一致.Gs对水汽压亏缺的响应在干季和湿季有明显差别:(1)在土壤水分充足的湿季(土壤含水量θ ＞33％),Gs对水汽压亏缺的响应更敏感(偏相关系数-0.316),而在干季(θ＜23％)则对光合有效辐射的响应更敏感(偏相关系数0.885).(2)荷木林冠层-大气脱耦联系数(Ω)在湿季接近l,干季则较湿季小,说明湿季叶片的界面层较厚,水汽压亏缺对Gs影响较小,而光合有效辐射是控制Gs的主要环境因子.     

Apple leaf senescence: leaf disc compared to attached leaf

Attached apple leaves (Pyrus malus L., Golden Delicious) began to lose protein in early August as the first sign of senescence. Apple leaf discs prepared from samples before early August gained protein for up to 7 days after detachment. After early August, the loss of protein from leaf discs was no greater than the loss from attached leaves in 7 days. The loss of chlorophyll from leaf discs began over 2 months before attached leaves began to lose chlorophyll naturally and before leaf discs lost protein. Leaf discs from presenescent leaves did not senesce significantly faster when maintained in darkness instead of 12 hours of light. In general, the loss of protein and chlorophyll from apple leaf discs after 7 days was much less than for most other leaf types studied.     

Intraspecific variation in spring leaf phenology and duration of leaf expansion in relation to leaf habit and leaf size of temperate tree species

Plant Ecology - Spring leaf phenology has been intensively studied in temperate deciduous broad-leaved tree species, but the phenology of evergreen broad-leaved tree species has seldom been focused...     

Networks in leaf development

Shoots are characterized by indeterminate growth resulting from divisions of undifferentiated cells in the central region of the shoot apical meristem. These cells give rise to peripheral derivatives from which lateral organ initials are recruited. During initial stages of cell recruitment, the three-dimensional form of lateral organs is specified. Lateral organs such as leaves develop and differentiate along proximodistal (base-to-tip), dorsoventral (top-to bottom) and mediolateral (middle-to-margin) planes. Current findings are refining our knowledge of the genes and genetic interactions that regulate these early processes and are providing a picture of how these pathways may contribute to variation in leaf form.     

The effects of leaf size,leaf habit,and leaf form on leaf/stem relationships in plant twigs of temperate woody species

Question: Do thick‐twigged/large‐leaf species have an advantage in leaf display over their counterparts, and what are the effects of leaf habit and leaf form on the leaf‐stem relationship in plant twigs of temperature broadleaf woody species? Location: Gongga Mountain, southwest China. Methods: (1) We investigated stem cross‐sectional area and stem mass, leaf area and leaf/lamina mass of plant twigs (terminal branches of current‐year shoots) of 89 species belonging to 55 genera in 31 families. (2) Data were analyzed to determine leaf‐stem scaling relationships using both the Model type II regression method and the phylogenetically independent comparative (PIC) method. Results: (1) Significant, positive allometric relationships were found between twig cross‐sectional area and total leaf area supported by the twig, and between the cross‐sectional area and individual leaf area, suggesting that species with large leaves and thick twigs could support a disproportionately greater leaf area for a given twig cross‐sectional area. (2) However, the scaling relationships between twig stem mass and total leaf area and between stem mass and total lamina mass were approximately isometric, which indicates that the efficiency of deploying leaf area and lamina mass was independent of leaf size and twig size. The results of PIC were consistent with these correlations. (3) The evergreen species were usually smaller in total leaf area for a given twig stem investment in terms of both cross‐sectional area and stem mass, compared to deciduous species. Leaf mass per area (LMA) was negatively associated with the stem efficiency in deploying leaf area. (4) Compound leaf species could usually support a larger leaf area for a given twig stem mass and were usually larger in both leaf size and twig size than simple leaf species. Conclusions: Generally, thick‐twigged/large‐leaf species do not have an advantage over their counterparts in deploying photosynthetic compartments for a given twig stem investment. Leaf habit and leaf form types can modify leaf‐stem scaling relationships, possibly because of contrasting leaf properties. The leaf size‐twig size spectrum is related to the LMA‐leaf life span dimension of plant life history strategies.     

Intraspecific variability in leaf traits strongly affects alder leaf decomposition in a stream

This study assessed the intraspecific variability of senescent leaves of alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.) and the effects of this variability on leaf decomposition in streams. Leaves were collected at five geographically distant locations in Europe. We analyzed 10 batches of leaf samples for seven quantitative leaf traits as well as leaf decomposition rate in coarse and fine mesh bags exposed in a single stream. The geographic origin of leaf samples largely explained the observed variation in litter quality and decomposition rate. Phosphorus (0.034–0.187%) and lignin (3.9–18.7%) concentrations in leaves varied widely. Together, these two traits accurately predicted leaf decomposition rate (r²=84.1%). Intraspecific variation in leaf decomposition rate was within a range similar to that reported for interspecific variation among co-occurring riparian plant species in Europe. Our study demonstrates extensive intraspecific variability in leaf traits on a continental scale, which can have enormous effects on major ecosystem processes such as leaf decomposition.     

Significance of leaf orientation for leaf temperature in an amazonian sclerophyll vegetation

Summary The influence of leaf orientation on leaf temperature has been studied in an sclerophyll vegetation of the Amazon basin, which grows on white sandy soils of very low water retention capacity and variable depth of the water table.Leaf size of the species studied is mainly mesophyllous (sensu Raunkiaer). The high degree of leaf inclination in all species is very characteristic; 55% of the leaves present inclination angles (relative to the vertical) smaller than 45°.Water potential is generally high, not being lower than –14 bars. Leaf resistance increases toward noon during the course of sunny days, indicating either water stress at leaf level or the influence of low relative humidity on stomata opening.Leaf temperature under sunny conditions reflects the influence of leaf orientation on the amount of radiation absorbed by the leaf. Temperature differences recorded range from 1.8–5.4° C. The difference depends on leaf angle, leaf color and leaf diffusion resistance during the period of measurement.Analysis of the relationship between leaf angle and leaf temperature, using Gates leaf energy balance, shows that under the conditions prevailing at noon in sunny days, leaf angles smaller than 50° are effective in reducing leaf temperature within a wide range of leaf resistances to water vapor transfer.Contribution from the Venezuela MAB-1 Programm, partially supported by the National Research Council (CONICIT) and the Organization of American States (OEA)     

Tomato leaf curl geminivirus associated with cantaloupe yellow leaf disease in Thailand

Geminivirus associated with yellow leaf disease of cantaloupe plants was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with geminivirus-specific degenerate primers which anneal within the AC1 ORF (replication initiator protein gene) and the AV1 ORF (coat protein gene). A DNA fragment of 1.2 kbp was amplified, cloned and sequenced. The 32-base stem loop region was found in the amplified fragment. This included the conserved nonanucleotide sequence TAATATTAC present in all geminiviruses. The nucleotide sequence of the intergenic region (IR) was compared with 28 whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses. The geminivirus associated with yellow leaf disease of cantaloupe plants showed 96.2% sequence identity with DNA A of tomato leaf curl geminivirus from India (ToLCV-In2). These data suggest that cantaloupe yellow leaf disease was caused by ToLCV.