Predicting the Effectiveness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites</Emphasis> Control Measures using a Rhizome Growth Potential Bioassay

In the last century, Phragmites australis (common reed) has expanded from a minor component of the mid-Atlantic tidal wetlands to a dominant species in many locations. Expansion of Phragmites results in decreased plant diversity and alterations to the tidal characteristics of the marsh, resulting in decreased wetland value. Management efforts have used a variety of strategies in an attempt to control its expansion. We tested a greenhouse bioassay that provided insight into the rhizome vitality of six herbicide-treated sites in the Alloway Creek Watershed, NJ well in advance of the growing season. At three sites, rhizomes were exhumed and classified by depth (0–25 cm and 25–75 cm) and appearance (color and firmness). Concurrently, the same protocol was followed, but conducted on an areal basis at three additional sites. Material was grown in sand under greenhouse conditions void of nutrient supplements for 70 days, after which shoots were removed and the rhizomes replanted for 30 days. Effectiveness of control strategies was quantified by examining rhizome color, vitality, and shoot densities in the field. Color was indicative of quality of rhizome reserves. Less than 0.2% of the firm, brown rhizomes produced shoots upon initial planting and none produced shoots upon replanting, whereas 50.9% of white rhizomes produced shoots on initial planting. Rhizome vitality was quantified by examining shoot emergence and the morphology of the shoots. Coupling rhizome vitality with observed field densities resulted in a predictive capability, and shoot density and biomass predictions were compared to field measurements in July 2001. We tested and accurately predicted the relative shoot densities and shoot biomass of the three sites for which we collected rhizome material on an areal basis. The result is a rapid, valuable, and cost-effective monitoring tool that can quickly quantify the effects of past control methods and predict future growth potential.     

Effects of moisture availability on clonal growth in bamboo Pleioblastus maculata

The effects of moisture availability on clonal growth and biomass investment in the bamboo Pleioblastus maculata were investigated over a four-year period by transplanting Pleioblastus maculata clones into soils with different levels of moisture availability in the field. The results showed that: (1) The higher the moisture availability, the greater the total biomass of P. maculata clones. Although fewer culms are produced at the higher moisture levels, mean tiller biomass is greater. (2) Under different levels of moisture availability, obvious differences in the total rhizome length (p < 0.01), spacer length (p < 0.05) and the sizes of bamboo culms (height, p < 0.01; diameter, p < 0.01) were observed. Thus, the higher the moisture availability, the shorter the rhizomes and the larger ramets. (3) In microhabitats with low moisture availability, bamboo allocated more biomass to underground organs, which promotes elongation of rhizomes and increases root production, thereby helping to capture underground resources essential to growth. In microhabitats of high moisture availability, the biomass is primarily allocated to the aboveground growth of ramets. (4) We suggest that soil moisture availability effects the foraging strategies of bamboo, that bamboo plants growing with low moisture availability produce longer rhizomes (that is, more, although shorter, spacers) with more biomass allocation than plants in high moisture and have a better ability to forage to increase the probability of locating adequate moisture patches. Also, longer length distance between shoots (that is, longer spacers) in high soil moisture than in low is adapted to avoid intense competition from faster growing aboveground growth in high moisture patches.     

Ecological correlates of invasion by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arundo donax</Emphasis> in three southern California riparian habitats

Arundo donax L. (Poaceae) is an aggressive invader in California’s riparian habitats. Field experiments were conducted to examine invader and site attributes important in early invasion. One hundred A. donax rhizomes were planted along five transects into each of three southern California riparian habitats. Pre-planting rhizome weight was recorded, along with site variables including percent bare ground, litter depth, PAR, soil moisture, soil temperature, incidence of herbivory, native canopy cover, and plant community richness and diversity. A. donax shoot emergence, survival time, and shoot height were recorded for approximately 10 months. The experiment was repeated over three years in different locations within each site. When years and sites were pooled to reveal large-scale patterns, A. donax performance was explained by rhizome weight, soil moisture, bare ground, soil temperature, and herbivory. When each site was considered singly, A. donax was positively correlated with different variables in each location. Species richness was correlated with A. donax performance in only one site. Our results indicate that A. donax establishment in riparian habitats is promoted by both vegetative reproduction and favorable abiotic environmental factors and relatively unaffected by the composition of the native community. The positive response of A. donax to disturbance (bare ground) and high resource availability (soil moisture), combined with a competitive perennial habit suggest that this species takes advantage of a competitive-ruderal life history. The ability of A. donax to respond to different conditions in each site combined with low genetic and phenotypic variation seen in other studies also suggests that a high degree of environmental tolerance contributes to invasion success.     

Root distributions and elemental accumulations of Chinese brake (Pteris vittata L.) from As-contaminated soils

A field investigation was conducted to understand the root distributions and elemental accumulations of Chinese brake (Pteris vittata L.), an As-hyperaccumulator, grown in soils with a gradient of As concentration near an arsenic sulphide mine. The root distribution was affected not only by the levels of soil As, but also by soil texture. Plants grew better in sandy loam soils than in clay soils. Increases in the ratio of frond biomass to underground biomass were correlated with decreasing soil As concentration. Root densities of the plant decreased from 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm to 20–30 cm in the soil profiles. Most of the roots were concentrated in the upper 0–10 cm layer. Under high As conditions, As concentrations in different tissues followed the trends: pinnae > rhizomes ≈ roots of 0–10 cm > roots of 10–20 cm > roots of 20–30 cm > petioles, however, As concentrations in pinnae were higher than those in rhizomes under low As conditions. The rhizomes and pinnae were the main As pools, storing 75–86% of the total As uptaken by the plants. The rhizome, a `buffer-storage' for plant As, maintained high concentrations of As under high soil As while the pinnae became the most important organ of storing the As under low soil As. Chinese brake might possess the ability of adjusting its As-storage under different soil As levels. The plant can not only hyperaccumulate As from the soils, but also enriched P and Ni from the soils and translocated them to the fronds. It is important to improve the root distribution for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils using Chinese brake.     

Forest encroachment into a Californian grassland: examining the simultaneous effects of facilitation and competition on tree seedling recruitment

Competition and facilitation are both considered major factors affecting the structure of plant assemblages, yet few studies have quantified positive, negative, and net effects simultaneously. In this study, we investigated the positive, negative, and net effects of tree saplings on the encroachment of two tree species, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflora), into a coastal California grassland. The study involved three components: sampling the spatial distributions of P. menziesii and L. densiflora in the grasslands, a field experiment examining seedling survival in different grassland environments, and a greenhouse experiment examining the effects of soil moisture on early seedling performance. The field experiment was conducted over a 2-year period, using Pseudotsuga in 2002 and both species in 2003. Seedlings were separated into four treatment groups: those planted in open grassland, in shaded grassland, under artificial (plastic) conifer saplings, and under natural Pseudotsuga saplings. Air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, incident radiation levels and fog water inputs were measured for each treatment group in 2003. In the greenhouse experiment, Pseudotsuga and Lithocarpus seedlings were grown for 13 weeks in watering treatments simulating the summer soil moisture conditions of the open grasslands and under Pseudotsuga saplings. Surveys of naturally established seedlings found that Lithocarpus occurred only under Pseudotsuga saplings, while most Pseudotsuga seedlings were located near but not directly under conspecific saplings. In the field experiment, positive effects of tree saplings were much larger than negative effects, resulting in strong net facilitation of seedling establishment. Survival for both species was always higher under the plastic and live trees than in the open or shade plots. The primary mechanism facilitating seedling survival appeared to be increased soil moisture caused by input of fog precipitation coupled with reduced microsite evaporation. The greenhouse experiment further showed that soil moisture strongly affected seedling performance, with both species having much higher photosynthetic rates in the higher moisture treatment. In the lower moisture treatment, Pseudotsuga seedlings had higher photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance than Lithocarpus, suggesting they may be able to better tolerate the environmental conditions found in the open grasslands. Our combined results suggest that rate and patterning of woody plant encroachment can be strongly influenced by facilitation and that fog precipitation may play a key role in plant interactions.     

Influence of soil depth on the decomposition of Bouteloua gracilis roots in the shortgrass steppe

The distribution and turnover of plant litter contribute to soil structure, the availability of plant nutrients, and regional budgets of greenhouse gasses. Traditionally, studies of decomposition have focused on the upper soil profile. Other work has shown that temperature, precipitation, and soil texture are important determinates of patterns of decomposition. Since these factors all vary through a soil profile, it has been suggested that decomposition rates may vary with depth in a soil profile. In this work, we examine patterns of root decomposition through a shortgrass steppe soil profile. We buried fresh root litter from Bouteloua gracilis plants in litterbags at 10, 40, 70, and 100 cm. Litterbags were retrieved six times between July 1996 and May 1999. We found that the decomposition rate for fresh root litter was approximately 50% slower at 1 m than it was at 10 cm. After 33 months, 55% of the root mass buried at 10 cm remained, while 72% of the root mass buried at 1 m was still present. This corresponds to a 19-year residence time for roots at 10 cm and a 36-year residence time for roots at 1 m. Mass loss rates decreased linearly from 10 cm to 1 m. Patterns of total carbon and cellulose loss rates followed those of mass loss rates. Roots at 1 m tended to accumulate lignin-like compounds over the course of the experiment. Differences in the stabilization of lignin may be a consequence of differences in microbial community through a shortgrass steppe soil profile.     

Effect of nucleopolyhedrovirus concentration in soil on viral transport to cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) plants

Soil-to-plant abiotic transport of a recombinant nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzSNPV.LqhIT2) was studied to quantify the proportion of different concentrations of soil virus transported to specific parts of cotton plants under controlled greenhouse conditions; these results were related to transport in the field where wind, rain, and soil type were not controlled. Under conducive precipitation conditions in the greenhouse, the estimated number of viral occlusion bodies (OB) transported ranged from 7 OB (to the top third of the plant, 40–60 cm above the soil, at the low virus concentration, 250 OB/g soil) to 629 OB (to the bottom third of the plant, 0–20 cm, at the high virus concentration, 12,500 OB/g soil). Under conducive wind conditions in the greenhouse, the estimated number of OB transported ranged from 8 OB (to the top third of the plant at the low concentration) to 94 OB (to the bottom third of the plant at the high concentration). The overall proportion of OB transported from soil to plant was greatest, ranging from 2.1–6.2  ×  10⁻⁶, from the lowest soil concentration to the lowest 40 cm of the plant. Only 5 × 10⁻⁸ of the soil OB were transported from the high-concentration soil to a height of 40–60 cm on the plants. In the field experiment, the estimated number of OB on each cotton plant depended on the concentration of OB in soil in June and July, but this effect was no longer significant in August. There were significantly more OB on the lower third of plants than on the top third in July, but not in June or August. Significantly more OB were detected on cotton leaves than on buds or squares in July, and there were more OB on leaves than on buds, squares, bracts, or bolls in August. The amount of HzSNPV.LqhIT2 naturally transported from soil to cotton plants was sufficient to infect 6–11% (low to high soil concentration) of first instar Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in June, 2–6% in July, and 1–3% in August. These results fill gaps in understanding NPV epizootiology that are important to biological control and risk assessment.     

土壤水分及其垂直分布对内蒙古草原冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响

内蒙古退化冷蒿草原围封恢复演替3-4年,植物群落更替出现半灌木冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）向禾草冰草（Agropyron cristatum）群落突然转变的现象,这对内蒙古草原植被恢复具有积极的作用,但目前关于冰草-冷蒿演替和竞争机制的研究鲜见报道。水分作为草原植被生长的主要限制因子,是影响群落演替的重要因素。气候干旱和过度放牧导致草原土壤水分垂直分布发生明显变化。由于冰草和冷蒿的根系分布深浅不同,土壤水分垂直变化可能会影响冰草-冷蒿的竞争。为探讨土壤水分及其垂直分布对冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响,本盆栽试验设置冰草、冷蒿单种以及混种处理,并进行不同土壤深度（0-30cm,30-60cm）的水分处理（上干下湿、上湿下干、上干下干）,结果表明：（1）与冷蒿相比,冰草受土壤水分变化影响显著,相对于上干下干处理,冰草在湿润（上干下湿或者上湿下干）处理的地上、地下生物量均显著增加,而冷蒿没有显著变化;（2）上干下湿和上湿下干处理间,冰草、冷蒿的地上、地下总生物量和根长差异均不显著;（3）不同水分处理,冰草和冷蒿的根系均可分布在30-60cm土壤中,且土壤30-60cm层冰草单种的根生物量和根长显著高于冷蒿单种;（4）相对竞争强度和竞争攻击力系数表明：湿润处理冰草的竞争力大于冷蒿;上干下干处理冷蒿的竞争力大于冰草。土壤水分变化引起冰草、冷蒿的明显竞争,上湿下干与上干下湿处理间冰草与冷蒿竞争力差异不显著。由于冰草和冷蒿均为多年生物种,冰草-冷蒿的竞争实验仍需在今后的研究中反复地验证。     

羊草与大针茅根系构型对水分梯度响应的比较研究

羊草(Leymus chinensis)与大针茅(Stipa grandis)是内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原的两大建群种,也是内蒙古草原的重要优良牧草。选取锡林郭勒草原以大针茅和羊草为优势种的围封草场为研究样地,通过原状土柱移栽,进行了两年的水分梯度控制实验(150、300、450、600 mm),分别模拟当地年降雨量由干旱年到是湿润年的变化情况,分析比较羊草种群和大针茅种群地上高度和根系构型对水分梯度的响应情况。结果表明:相比大针茅种群,羊草种群对水分梯度的响应更敏感,随着水分梯度的增加,羊草地上高度和根系直径显著增加,根系长度和根系深度显著减少;而大针茅的地上高度和根系特征各项指标均没有显出与水分梯度的相关性,显然大针茅比羊草更能适应干旱生境。在干旱条件(模拟年降雨量150 mm处理)下,大针茅种群地上高度达到峰值,生长状况良好;羊草种群则采用地上个体小型化,地下主根变细,分叉,向土壤深层扩展的生长策略。因此,在气候变化背景下,干旱化的气候将导致大针茅种群在群落中的优势地位逐渐增加,反之羊草种群则会随着气候湿润化而占据更大的优势。     

扎龙湿地不同生境芦苇种群根茎数量特征及动态

采用单位土体取样,计测长度和生物量的调查与统计方法,对扎龙湿地保护区4个生境芦苇种群根茎数量特征进行比较分析。结果表明,芦苇5月10日左右返青后进入营养生长期,根茎长度6—8月份缓慢增加,8—10月份显著增加,后期是前期的3.5—10.3倍,生长季中后期是种群新根茎补充和生长的主要时期,不仅实现了种群空间扩展,并为营养繁殖储备更多繁殖芽;根茎生物量和干物质贮量6—8月份逐渐减少,8—10月份又逐渐增加,均以生长季末期的10月份最大,并均显著地(P0.05)高于其他月份,种群根茎养分的消耗主要供给根茎芽的萌发和幼株生长,根茎养分的储藏又为翌年种群的更新及扩展提供物质保障,种群对地下根茎存在明显的养分"超补偿性"贮藏现象。种群根茎长度和生物量均以湿生生境最大,依次为旱生生境、水生生境,盐碱生境最小,根茎干物质贮量以旱生生境最大,依次为湿生生境、水生生境,盐碱生境最小。种群根茎长度与返青后实际生长时间之间均较好地符合直线函数关系,种群根茎生物量和干物质贮量与生长时间之间较好地符合二次曲线函数关系,R2在0.804—0.997之间,拟合方程均达到了显著或极显著(P0.01)水平。4个生境芦苇种群在根茎长度、生物量、干物质贮量等数量特征均表现出由遗传因素控制的比较稳定的季节动态规律,在生境间的差异及其差异序位又均基本稳定,均表现出明显的土壤因子环境效应,其中土壤含水量、有机质、速效氮为正向驱动,p H、速效磷为负向驱动,土壤含水量、p H对根茎数量特征的驱动作用更突出。     

长江口九段沙湿地海三棱藨草生物量分配特征及其影响因子

海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)为长江河口盐沼湿地先锋植物。以长江口九段沙湿地为主要研究区域,在江亚南沙、上沙、中下沙等不同区域设置固定站点,进行植被和环境因子的取样调研,分析研究了海三棱藨草的生物量分配特征及其主要影响因子,以期为海三棱藨草的培育与恢复、盐沼湿地生态系统的保护与利用提供科学依据。结果表明:(1)不同站点海三棱藨草的茎基高度、球茎生物量占比、根茎与球茎之比均不存在显著差异(P0.05),而植株密度、植株高度、根茎生物量占比、果实生物量占比、茎叶生物量占比、须根生物量占比、果实与根茎之比、果实与球茎之比在不同站点间存在显著差异(P0.05);(2)不同站点的沉积物电导率、盐度、容积密度(5—10、25—30 cm土层)、总碳含量(10—15、20—25、25—30 cm土层)、总氮含量(5—10 cm土层)存在显著差异(P0.05);(3)海三棱藨草的果实与根茎的生物量之比和沉积物5—10、25—30 cm总碳含量,0—5、5—10 cm总氮含量,0—5 cm容积密度,茎基高度6种因子的组合存在极显著相关(P0.01);而其他生物量分配指标与本文涉及到的环境因子、植物表形参数均不存在显著相关性(P0.05)。海三棱藨草生物量分配特征是其自身生长特征与环境因子综合作用的结果。在今后的研究中需拓展生境因子涵盖范围,深入分析多因子综合作用对海三棱藨草生物量分配特征的影响。     

色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉叶片及细根性状随海拔的变异特征

叶片和细根是植物对环境变化响应的主要功能器官,在气候变化趋势下,研究其随环境梯度的变化,对理解植物对环境的适应策略具有重要意义。本文是在色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉分布区,按海拔梯度(3800、3900、4000、4100、4200、4300、4400m)选择7个典型样地,在样地内对其叶片基本特征、叶绿素含量、比叶重和细根特征(0—60cm)等参数进行了测量。结果表明:(1)随海拔梯度升高,急尖长苞冷杉叶片叶面积减小、叶片厚度增加、叶绿素含量逐渐降低、比叶重显著增大。3900m处急尖长苞冷杉的叶片形态特征表现最好,叶片长度、宽度和面积均显著优于其他海拔,海拔4200m叶片厚度达到最大值,叶片面积、叶绿素含量随海拔升高呈下降趋势,但在4200m处出现第二峰值。(2)随海拔梯度增加,细根各性状与海拔表现出非线性关系,其中细根生物量和细根体积在3900m和4200m处出现两次峰值,3900m处细根生物量达到最大值,4200m处细根体积达到最大值,4400m处细根生物量和细根体积均显著少于其他海拔。细根根长密度在海拔3900、4200、4300m较高,三者之间差异不显著,但显著高于其余海拔,4400m海拔细根根长密度最小。细根表面积在3900m海拔处达到最大值,显著高于其他海拔,4200和4300m次之,3800、4000和4400m海拔下细根表面积相对较小。4400m处细根比根长达到最大值。各海拔上细根均主要分布在0—20cm土层。随土层厚度增加,各海拔细根生物量和根系体积在0—60cm土层范围内均逐渐减小;细根根长密度、表面积在20—40cm和40—60cm显著提高;同一海拔细根比根长随土层深度增加呈明显的增加趋势。各海拔40—60cm土层细根比根长显著高于20—40和0—20cm土层。(3)综合叶片及细根特征,海拔3900m为急尖长苞冷杉的最适宜生长区域;随海拔升高,环境因子逐渐恶劣,环境胁迫加剧,急尖长苞冷杉最终形成在4400m处为其分布上限的海拔梯度格局。     

扎龙湿地芦苇种群不同龄级根茎构件的季节动态

克隆植物根茎具有营养繁殖和扩展种群的功能,也是芽和分株生理整合的通道。根茎构件具有出生、死亡及年龄等种群统计特征,不同龄级根茎的季节动态可以反映根茎的存活和衰老过程。采用单位土体挖掘取样,对扎龙湿地4个生境芦苇种群根茎构件进行野外调查,比较不同龄级根茎长度、生物量和干物质贮量的季节动态。结果表明:7—10月份,1a根茎长度、生物量和干物质贮量均呈指数函数增加,在生长季中后期有一个持续时间较长的生长和物质积累时期。6—10月份,2a、3a根茎长度呈线性函数增加,4—6a根茎长度呈线性函数减少;2—4a根茎生物量和2—5a根茎干物质贮量呈二次函数先减少后增加,5a、6a根茎生物量和6a根茎干物质贮量呈幂函数减少。整个生长期内,根茎长度和根茎生物量均以3a最大,根茎长度以最高的6a最小,根茎生物量以最低的1a最小;根茎干物质储量以5a最大,以最低的1a最小。4个生境芦苇种群根茎长度、生物量和干物质贮量在龄级间的差异及差异序位稳定,在新根茎的产生、老根茎的存活以及根茎寿命与养分消耗和储藏上均具有稳定的生物学特性,不同龄级根茎在种群中的地位和作用以及对种群的贡献不同。     

Performance evaluation of potent phosphate solubilizing bacteria in potato rhizosphere

Three phosphate solubilizing bacterial isolates identified as Pantoea agglomerans strain P5, Microbacterium laevaniformans strain P7 and Pseudomonas putida strain P13 were assessed for mutual relationships among them, competitiveness with soil microorganisms and associations with plant root using luxAB reporter genes for follow-up studies. Synergism between either P. agglomerans or M. laevaniformans, as acid-producing bacteria, and P. putida, as a strong phosphatase producer, was consistently observed both in liquid culture medium and in root rhizosphere. All laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments proved that these three isolates compete well with naturally occurring soil microorganisms. Consistently, the combinations of either P. agglomerans or M. laevaniformans strains with Pseudomonas putida led to higher biomass and potato tuber in greenhouse and in field trials. It is conceivable that combinations of an acid- and a phosphatase-producing bacterium would allow simultaneous utilization of both inorganic and organic phosphorus compounds preserving the soil structure.     

Effects of rhizome age on the decomposition rate of Phragmites australis rhizomes

The change in dried rhizome samples that were left to decompose was investigated to elucidate the effects of rhizome age on the decomposition rate of Phragmites australis. Rhizomes were classified into five age categories and placed 30 cm below the soil surface of a reed stand. After 369 days of decay, new (i.e., aged less than one year) rhizomes had lost 84% of their original dry mass, compared with a loss of 41–62% for that of older rhizomes. The exponential decay rates of older rhizomes were nearly identical to that of aboveground biomass. The nitrogen (N) concentration increased to two times its original values, but the phosphorus (P) concentration remained constant after an initial loss by leaching. The carbon to nitrogen (C:N) and carbon to phosphorus ratios (C:P) leveled out at 22:1 to 38:1 and 828:1 to 1431:1, respectively, regardless of rhizome age. The results are important to understand the nutrient cycles of reed-dominant marsh ecosystems.     

Somaclonal variation in celery: screening for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii

Summary Two methods were used to screen putative Fusarium-resistant celery (Apium graveolens L.) plantlets from cell culture: placing plantlets on a mycelial mat for one month or planting them directly in Fusarium-infested soil. Resistant phenotypes were identified with both methods, but the plants grown on the mycelial mat died before they reached reproductive maturity. Four plants, K, T-2, T-3, and R-R₁ from the soil screen, survived and produced viable seed. Tests of self-pollinated progeny, in field and greenhouse conditions, showed that T-2, T-3, and R-R₁ were superior to the original cultivar, 5270R, with respect to disease resistance, as measured by vascular discoloration and plant height. Chi-square analysis of progeny scores for root and crown decay showed that the new variation was heritable and appeared to be conditioned by more than one locus.     

Experimental forest soil warming: response of autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration to a short-term 10°C temperature rise

We warmed the top soil of a mature coniferous forest stand by means of heating cables on control and trenched plots within 24 h by 10°C at 1 cm soil depth (9°C at 5 cm depth) and measured the effect on the autotrophic (R_A) and heterotrophic (R_H) component of total soil CO₂ efflux (R_S). The short time frame of warming enabled us to exclude confounding fluctuations in soil moisture and carbon (C) flow from the canopy. The results of the field study were backed up by a lab soil incubation experiment. During the first 12 h of warming, R_A strongly responded to soil warming; The Q ₁₀ values were 5.61 and 6.29 for 1 and 5 cm soil depth temperature. The Q ₁₀ values for R_A were almost twice as high as the Q ₁₀ values of R_H (3.04 and 3.53). Q ₁₀ values above 5 are above reasonable plant physiological values for root respiration. We see interactions of roots, mycorrhizae and heterotrophic microbes, combined with fast substrate supply to the rhizosphere as an explanation for the high short-term temperature response of R_A. When calculated over the whole duration (24 h) of the field soil-warming experiment, temperature sensitivities of R_A and R_H were similar (no significant difference at P < 0.05); Q ₁₀ values were 3.16 and 3.96 for R_A and 2.94 and 3.35 for R_H calculated with soil temperatures at 1 and 5 cm soil depth, respectively. Laboratory incubation showed that different soil moisture contents of trenched and control plots affected rates of R_H, but did not affect the temperature sensitivity of R_H. We conclude that a single parameter is sufficient to describe the temperature sensitivity of R_S in soil C models which operate on larger temporal and spatial scales. The strong short-term response of R_A may be of relevance in soils suspected to experience increasingly strong diurnal temperature variations.     

Vertical distribution and seasonal changes of fine and coarse root mass in Pinus kesiya Royle Ex.Gordon forest of three different ages

Seasonal changes and vertical distribution of fine (< 2 mm diameter) and coarse (2-10 mm diameter) root mass of Pinus kesiya and fine root and rhizome mass of herbaceous species, and root production were studied in the 6-, 15- and 23-year old Pinus kesiya forest stands at Shillong, in the Meghalaya state of north-east India. Maximum fine and coarse root mass of P. kesiya, and fine root and rhizome mass of the ground vegetation were recorded during the rainy season. The contribution of the tree fine roots in 0-10 cm soil layer declined from 51% in the 6-year old stand to about 33% in the older stands. The major proportion (63-88%) of herbaceous fine root and rhizome mass was concentrated in this soil layer in all the three stands. The majority (36-57%) of tree coarse roots were present in the 10-20 cm layer in all the stands. The biomass and necromass values in the case of fine roots were more or less equal in a given stand, but the coarse roots had 5 to 9 times more live than the dead mass. The proportion of herbaceous fine root mass to the total fine root mass declined from 54% in the 6-year old stand to 30-32% in the 15- and 23-year old stands. The mean total fine root mass (pine + herbaceous species) decreased from 417 g m^–2 in the 6-year old stand to 302 in 15-year and 322 g m^–2 in the 23-year old stand. Annual fine root production showed a marked decrease from 1055 g m^–2 in the 6-year old stand to 743 g m^–2 in the 23-year old stand, but coarse root production increased from 169 g m^–2 in the 6-year to 466 g m^–2  in the 23-year old stand; the total root production thus remained approximately constant.     

Effect of growth regulator and culture conditions on shoot multiplication and rhizome formation in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in vitro

Summary Shoot multiplication of Zingiber officinale cv. V₃S₁₈ was achieved by meristem culture on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 26.6 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 8.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and 1111.1 μM adenine sulfate and 3% (w/v) sucrose. In vitro rhizome formation from in vitro-raised shoots was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 4.44 μM BA, 5.71 μM IAA, and 3–8% (w/v) sucrose after 8 wk of culture. Cultural variations such as photoperiod, carbohydrate, nutrient composition, and growth regulators were tested for the maximum yield of rhizomes. Among the different photoperiods used, a 24-h photoperiod helped in the formation of more rhizomes as compared with other photoperiods. Of the different carbohydrates used, sucrose helped to achieve rhizome formation as compared to other carbohydrates. The microrhizomes sprouted in a soil mixture within 2 wk of planting. The sprouted plantlets survived under field conditions with normal growth.     

Early season root production and zoospore infection of cultivars of flue-cured tobacco that differ in level of partial resistance to Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae

Root production of four cultivars of flue-cured tobacco was quantified in the field, greenhouse and phytotron. The cultivars ranged in level of partial resistance to the black shank pathogen, Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae, from susceptible to highly resistant. In the field, root-observation plates were installed approximately 10 cm from plants, and in greenhouse and phytotron studies, plants were grown in 4-liter containers with one sloping transparent side for root observation. Root growth was determined weekly for four weeks after transplanting in the field and daily up to 14 days after transplanting in the greenhouse and phytotron. Root tracings were made on acetate sheets placed against the sloping transparent side of the containers or against the transparent observation plates in the field following removal of soil from the outside of the observation plate. Root growth was quantified by retracing the root pattern on the acetate sheets over a digitizing tablet attached to a personal computer. Numbers of roots, root length, and mean and maximum rate of root growth were determined. Cultivars Hicks (susceptible) and K-326 (low level of resistance) had significantly larger root systems than moderately resistant G-28 or highly resistant NC 82. Differences in total root length were due to increased branching that resulted in development of significantly greater numbers of roots in Hicks and K-326. For example, between day 21 and 28, Hicks produced more than three times the number of new roots as NC 82 in the field. The mean rate of root extension observed (2.17 mm hr^–1) was similar in all four cultivars. Infection efficiency on the different cultivars was determined in the field by inoculating roots with zoospores of P. p. nicotianae. Lesions were visible as water soaked areas within 24 hr of inoculation. At 48 hr after inoculation, percentages of inoculations that resulted in lesion formation were 57, 46, 23, and 16% for Hicks, K-326, G-28 and NC 82, respectively. The possible role of rooting intensity as a mechanism of avoidance to P. p. nicotianae in tobacco cultivars is discussed.