Shade tolerance plasticity in response to neutral vs green shade cues in Polygonum species of contrasting ecological breadth

Here we examined species differences in perception and response to two distinct types of shade cue, reduced photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) with and without reduced red : far red ratio (R : FR), in Polygonum persicaria and Polygonum hydropiper, two closely related annuals of contrasting ecological breadth. We compared plasticity data for light-gathering traits from glasshouse experiments at equivalently reduced PAR under neutral shade (R : FR 1.03) and green shade (R : FR 0.702). Species shared the ability to distinguish between the two types of shade, as shown by the ability of each to respond differently to neutral vs green shade for one or more traits. However, the species' responses to these cues differed significantly. Polygonum persicaria expressed stronger shade-tolerance responses (increased leaf allocation and leaf area ratio) to reduced PAR alone than to green shade. By contrast, P. hydropiper expressed slightly less plasticity for these traits in neutral than in green shade. The pronounced plastic response of P. persicaria to neutral shade may contribute to the range of habitats this widespread species can occupy, which includes neutral-shade environments such as urban settings.     

N availability does not modify plant-mediated responses of Trichoplusia ni to elevated CO2

Aims Elevated CO₂ and increased N availability can alter a variety of plant physiological processes leading to changes in the nutritional quality of leaf tissue for herbivores. Numerous experiments have examined the responses of herbivores to environmental change; however the potential effects of simultaneous change in multiple factors on leaf-chewing insect herbivores are less well understood. The plant-mediated effects of elevated CO₂ and high N on the performance of a generalist leaf-chewing insect herbivore, Trichoplusia ni, were investigated.Methods Newly hatched T. ni larvae were introduced to Amaranthus viridis and Polygonum persicaria plants grown under ambient and elevated CO₂ and low and high N conditions. Insect performance was assessed by measuring larvae weight after ten days of feeding. Plant photosynthesis, biomass, leaf area and specific leaf weight were measured to determine the effects of elevated CO₂, N and insect feeding on plant performance.Important findings Elevated CO₂ did not have strong effects on plant or insect performance, only affecting a few responses under low or high N conditions, but not both. Growth under high nitrogen improved almost all measures of plant performance. Trichoplusia ni performed significantly better on Amaranthus viridis (C 4) compared to Polygonum persicaria (C 3), despite similar leaf C:N ratios in both species. The performance of T. ni caterpillars was only improved by the high nitrogen treatment when they were feeding on P. persicaria, the host they performed poorly on. The only interactions between N and CO₂ affecting plant performance were seen for leaf photosynthesis of P. persicaria and leaf area of A. viridis. Contrary to the predictions, there were no significant CO₂ by N interactions affecting T. ni performance.     

New taxa and combinations in Calceolaria (Scrophulariaceae) from Peru and Bolivia

As a result of field work in Peru and Bolivia 1982–83, and herbarium studies, 21 new taxa are described and two new combinations are made in Calceolaria. The following species are described as new: C. sclerophylla, C. arbuscula , and C. crassa of sect. Sa–licifoliae; C. rupestris of sect. Revolutae; C. micans, C. laevis, C. rariflora , and C. concava of sect. Teucriifoliae; C. bullata and C. neglecta of sect. Parvifoliae; C. amoena and C. ramosa of sect. Polyclada; C. pilosa, C. incana, C. hirsuta , and C. cordifolia of sect. Urticopsis; C. cumbemayensis of sect. Lobatae; and C. caespitosa of sect. Scapiflorae. Three new subspecies are described: C. deflexa R. & P. ssp. cuneata and C. salicifolia R. & P. ssp. nigricans of sect. Salicifoliae , and C. hispida Benth. ssp. acaulis of sect. Lobatae. Two new combinations are proposed: C. melissifolia Benth. ssp. pseudoscabra (Edwin) Molau of sect. Teucriifoliae , and C. llamaensis (Edwin) Molau of sect. Anacyrta. The taxon Revolutae is raised to the sectional level, and the sections Polyclada and Parvifoliae are emendated. Chromosome numbers are reported for C. sclerophylla (2n = 36), C. micans (2n = 72), C. laevis (2n = 72), C. melissifolia ssp. pseudoscabra (2n = 36), C. neglecta (2n = 36), C. cumbemayensis (2n = 36), and C. hispida ssp. acaulis (2n = 36).     

The efficiency of adjuvants combined with flupyrsulfuron-methyl plus metsulfuron-methyl (Lexus XPE) on weed control

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests on a selection of weeds (Viola arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Chamomilla recutita, Chenopodium album, Veronica persicaria, Alopecurus myosusroides) to investigate the efficiency of flupyrsulfuron-methyl plus metsutfuronmethyl (Lexus XPE) in combination with different adjuvants. The efficiency of the herbicide improved in combination of adjuvants. The level of phytotoxicity of the adjuvants-herbicide treatments appllied varied among the different weed species.     

Occurrence of polygodial in plant organs and tissue culture of Polygonum hydropiper

Shoots of Polygonum hydropiper L. (waterpepper), especially in the leaves and flower-heads, contain significant amounts of the sesquiterpenoid polygodial, a compound with a potential use as a natural pesticide. The polygodial content of the tepals is particularly high: up to 8.5% of the dry weight. Roots and seeds do not contain detectable amounts of polygodial. Polygodial containing organs e.g. leaves and tepals, were found to contain cavities. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) microspectroscopy demonstrated that polygodial or its congeners are found in these cavities but not in other tissues or cells. Comparable cavities containing polygodial-like compounds were absent in the closely related species Polygonum persicaria L.
Callus cultures and cell suspensions as well as root- and shoot cultures were initiated from mature P. hydropiper plants. Polygodial could be detected only in shoot cultures. Our results indicate that functioning plastids may be essential for polygodial production and cavities for its accumulation.     

Pollination Ecology and Endemic Trends in Pedicularis bracteosa var. atrosanguinea Pennell & Thompson (Scrophulariaceae) in North America

Abstract Pedicularis bracteosa var. atrosanguinea occurs locally in association with P. racemosa or P. groenlandica in the Olympic Mountains in Washington. Other plant species, e.g., Polygonum bistortoides, Lupinus argenteus var. parviflorus and Valeriana sitchensis compete for space and bumblebee pollinators within the study area. Pollinator sharing, resulting from such competition, may increase the frequency of unvisited flowers of P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea. P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea , with blood purple nectariferous flowers, is presumed to lack intense reflections of blue spectral components from its corollas in attracting bumblebees compared to those of P. racemosa and P. groenlandica . Six species of bumblebees ( Bombus ) and cuckoo bees ( Psithyrus ) pollinate P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea . Of these, Bombus mixtus and B. occidentalis occur in higher frequencies and are the major pollinators of P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea . Queen and larger worker bumblebees pollinate nototribically as they probe for nectar, while smaller worker bumblebees pollinate sternotribically while scraping pollen from anthers deeply hidden in the dome-shaped galea. Corbicular pollen loads of bumblebees collected in the study area contain Pedicularis pollen alone/in combination of Polygonum, Valeriana, Lupinus, Erigeron and Bidens , or exclusively of Polygonum or Valeriana. P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea does not suffer seriously from deficient pollination but seedlings resulting from pollinated flowers may be subjected to natural selection pressure exerted by colonial plant species for space. P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea does not propagate asexually but resumes aerial growth seasonally from the self-same underground root stocks. If seedlings are under continuous selection pressure for lack of space, P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea is presumed to regenerate primarily by perennial root stocks. This behavior may favor endemism in P. bracteosa var. atrosanguinea .     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of the dominant plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization was observed on four plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji. The AM colonization of the dominant species, Polygonum cuspidatum, contradicts the conclusion that Polygonaceae are often regarded as being non-mycorrhizal species. The secondary dominant species, Polygonum weyrichii var. alpinum, formed no mycorrhizas. The roots of Cirsium purpuratum, Clematis stans and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis, showed a higher percentage of AM colonization than P. cuspidatum. AM colonization and spore density in the rhizosphere soil of P. cuspidatum significantly decreased as elevation increased. AM colonization in roots of Cirsium purpuratum and Clematis stans also tended to decrease with increased altitudes. Cirsium purpuratum and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis formed single structural types of Arum- and Paris-type, respectively, whereas P. cuspidatum and Clematis stans formed both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies.     

AN ANALYSIS OF COMPETITION BETWEEN BARLEY AND WHITE PERSICARIA: I. THE EFFECTS ON GROWTH

Barley and white persicaria ( Polygonum lapathifolium L.) were grown in pure and mixed populations of varying density in sand culture in a glasshouse. The leaf areas and dry weights of leaves, stems and roots were determined at intervals. During the phase of vegetative growth the addition of dry matter by barley was unaffected, although tillering was reduced, by competition from dense stands of white persicaria, whereas the growth of white persicaria was reduced by low densities of barley. The decline in leaf area and reduction in root growth of barley with the onset of flowering was accompanied by increased growth of white persicaria with the production of branches from the upper axillary buds. These flowered and set abundant seed. This behaviour probably accounts for the persistence of this weed in arable rotations.
The greater competitive ability of barley may be attributed to its larger embryo, giving much larger plants at emergence. The intrinsic relative growth rate of white persicaria is as high as, or higher than, that of barley and falls more slowly with time. This advantage is not sufficient to offset the initial differences in size while barley is vegetative. The larger embryo size of barley also determines the more intense competition that exists between plants of this species than between plants of white persicaria at similar densities and times from germination. With equal weights of produce per pot (or unit area) the intensity of competition within each species appears to be similar.
It is emphasized that the course of growth with time, rather than weight-density relationships at given points of time, must be followed in order to understand the influence of density. Two functions of the relative growth rate with time are examined.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 27. Miscellaneous new taxa and combinations

One new form of Fuirena Rottb., one new subspecies of Schoenoplectus Palla and one new variety of Carex L. are described from East Africa, viz. Fuirena leptostachya Oliv. f. nudiflora Lye, Schoenoplectus lateriflorus (Gmel.) Lye ssp. laevinux Lye and Carex bequaertii De Wild. var. maxima Lye. In addition, the following new combinations are made: Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb. f. apetala (Wingfield) Lye, F. stricta Steudel ssp. chlorocarpa (Ridley) Lye, Schoenoplectus rhodesicus (Podlech) Lye, 5. corymbosus (Roem. & Schult.) J. Rayn. var. brachyceras (A. Rich.) Lye, S. confusus (N.E. Br.) Lye var. rogersii (N.E. Br.) Lye, S. erectus (Poiret) J. Rayn, ssp. raynalii (Schuyler) Lye, S. erectus (Poiret) J. Rayn. ssp. sinuatus (Schuyler) Lye, Eleocharis retroflexa (Poiret) Urban ssp. subtilissima (Nelmes) Lye, Machaerina Vahl subgen. Baumea (Gaud.) Lye, Machaerina flexuosa (Bock.) Kern ssp. laevinux (J. Rayn.) Lye, M. montana (J. Rayn.) Lye, M. flexuosa (Böck.) Kern ssp. polyanthemum (Kük.) Lye, Scleria lagoënsis Böck. ssp. canaliculato–triquetra (Böck.) Lye, 5. distans Poiret var. glomerulata (Oliv.) Lye, S. distans Poiret var. chondrocarpa (Nelmes) Lye, S. melanotricha A. Rich. var. grata (Nelmes) Lye, Carex echinochloë Kunze ssp. nyasensis (C. B. Clarke) Lye, C. conferta A. Rich. var. lycurus (K. Schum.) Lye, C. cognata Kunth var. abyssinica (Chiov.) Lye and C. cognata Kunth var. congolensis (Turrill) Lye.     

中国蓼属春蓼组植物果实形态及果皮微形态的研究

应用解剖镜和扫描电镜对中国产蓼属春蓼组（Polygonum sect. Persicaria）19种3变种植物的果实形态和果皮微形态特征进行了观察和研究。结果表明,蓼属春蓼组植物的果实形态为卵形或椭圆状卵形,具三棱、双凹或双凸,顶端渐狭,有喙或无喙;果皮微形态可分为7种类型： 洼点、浅洼点,脑纹状纹饰,拟脑纹状纹饰,网状纹饰,不规则褶皱,不规则小疣状颗粒以及密浅网状纹饰。观察结果支持将绵毛酸模叶蓼（P. lapathifolium L. var. salicifolium Sibth.）合并到酸模叶蓼（P. lapathifolium L.）,做为酸模叶蓼的异名处理;支持将长鬃蓼（P. longisetum De Br.）作为丛枝蓼（P. posumbu Buch. Ham. ex D.Don）的变种处理的意见;认为密毛酸模叶蓼（P. lapathifolium L. var. lanatum (Roxb.) Stew.）应恢复种级,圆基长鬃蓼（P. longisetum De Br. var. rotunatum A.J.Li）应升为种级;支持平武蓼（Polygonum pingwuense F. Z. Li et Y. T. Hou et S. J. Fan, sp. nov.）新种的成立。     

17种桤木属植物的亲缘关系研究及模糊种鉴定

利用AFLP分子标记结合形态学指标,采用UPGMA法进行聚类分析,对桤木属17个种57份材料进行了亲缘关系研究及一个模糊种鉴定。结果表明：7对引物扩增出369条带,其中346个多态位点,多态位点百分率为93.77%;根据AFLP标记位点聚类分析,在相似系数为0.782时,17种桤木属植物可分为4类,第一类为日本桤木(Alnus japonica);第二类为绿桤木(A.viridis)、意大利桤木(A.cordata)、欧洲桤木(A.glutinosa)、模糊种、四川桤木(A.cremastogyne)、江南桤木(A.trabeculosa)、斑点桤木(A.incana ssp.rugosa)、东北亚灰桤木(A.hirsuta)、台湾桤木(A.formosana)、日本特有桤木(A.firma)和裂叶桤木(A.sinuata);第三类为灰桤木(A.incana)、红桤木(A.rubra)及薄叶桤木(A.tenifolia);第四类喜马拉雅灰桤(A.nitida)和尼泊尔桤木(A.nepalensis)。根据形态学聚类分析,在距离为1.4时可分为三类,意大利桤木(A.cordata)单独为一类;日本桤木(A.japonica)、台湾桤木(A.formosana)、喜马拉雅灰桤木(A.nitida)、江南桤木(A.trabeculosa)和东北亚灰桤木(A.hirsuta);第三类包括模糊种、灰桤木(A.incana)、斑点桤木(A.incana ssp.rugosa)、裂叶桤木(A.sinuata)、红桤木(A.rubra)、欧洲桤木(A.glutinosa)、绿桤木(A.viridis)、四川桤木(A.cremastogyne)、薄叶桤木(A.tenuifolia)和尼泊尔桤木(A.nepalensis)。经形态特征和AFLP分析鉴定模糊种为欧洲桤木。形态学聚类与AFLP聚类结果基本一致,但仍存在一定的差异,说明桤木属植物遗传背景丰富,种的分子分类地位和形态学分类地位具有一定的差异。     

Field-based insights to the evolution of specialization: plasticity and fitness across habitats in a specialist/generalist species pair

Factors promoting the evolution of specialists versus generalists have been little studied in ecological context. In a large-scale comparative field experiment, we studied genotypes from naturally evolved populations of a closely related generalist/specialist species pair (Polygonum persicaria and P. hydropiper), reciprocally transplanting replicates of multiple lines into open and partially shaded sites where the species naturally co-occur. We measured relative fitness, individual plasticity, herbivory, and genetic variance expressed in the contrasting light habitats at both low and high densities. Fitness data confirmed that the putative specialist out-performed the generalist in only one environment, the favorable full sun/low-density environment to which it is largely restricted in nature, while the generalist had higher lifetime reproduction in both canopy and dense neighbor shade. The generalist, P. persicaria, also expressed greater adaptive plasticity for biomass allocation and leaf size in shaded conditions than the specialist. We found no evidence that the ecological specialization of P. hydropiper reflects either genetically based fitness trade-offs or maintenance costs of plasticity, two types of genetic constraint often invoked to prevent the evolution of broadly adaptive genotypes. However, the patterns of fitness variance and herbivore damage revealed how release from herbivory in a new range can cause an introduced species to evolve as a specialist in that range, a surprising finding with important implications for invasion biology. Patterns of fitness variance between and within sites are also consistent with a possible role for the process of mutation accumulation (in this case, mutations affecting shade-expressed phenotypes) in the evolution and/or maintenance of specialization in P. hydropiper.     

浙江金衢盆地小麦—杂草群落的研究

用模糊图论中的最大树法,对金衢盆地的小麦-杂草群落进行了分类研究,结果表明,该区小麦-杂草群落分成4个类型,即潮土田上的小麦(Triticum aestivum)-野燕麦(Auena fatua)-春蓼(Polygonum persicaria)一荠菜(Caspsella bura-pas-toria)-猪殃殃(Galium aparine var.teneruml)群落,低丘岗地上的小麦-猪殃殃-野燕麦-波斯婆婆纳(Veronica persica)群落,水稻土田上的小麦-看麦娘(Alopecurusaequalis)-雀舌草(Stellaria alsine)-牛繁缕(Malachium aquaticum)-春蓼群落及烂浸田上的小麦-翅茎灯心草(Juncus alatus)-春蓼-看麦娘-扬子毛茛(Ranunculus sieboldii)群落。分析表明,土壤类型、pH、地形地貌、耕作制度、栽培措施是影响该区小麦-杂草群落结构及分布的主要因素。     

Comparative study of rhizobacterial community structure of plant species in oil-contaminated soil

In this study, the identity and distribution of plants and the structure of their associated rhizobacterial communities were examined in an oil-contaminated site. The number of plant species that formed a community or were scattered was 24. The species living in soil highly contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) (9,000-4,5000 mg/g-soil) were Cynodon dactylon, Persicaria lapathifolia, and Calystegia soldanella (a halophytic species). Among the 24 plant species, the following have been known to be effective for oil removal: C. dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Cyperus orthostachyus. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile analysis showed that the following pairs of plant species had highly similar (above 70%) rhizobacterial community structures: Artemisia princeps and Hemistepta lyrata; C. dactylon and P. lapathifolia; Carex kobomugi and Cardamine flexuosa; and Equisetum arvense and D. sanguinalis. The major groups of rhizobacteria were Betaproteobacteria, Gamma-proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, and unknown. Based on DGGE analysis, P. lapathifolia, found for the first time in this study growing in the presence of high TPH, may be a good species for phytoremediation of oil-contaminated soils and in particular, C. soldanella may be useful for soils with high TPH and salt concentrations. Overall, this study suggests that the plant roots, regardless of plant species, may have a similar influence on the bacterial community structure in oil-contaminated soil.     

Modelling field emergence patterns in arable weeds

A model was developed to simulate weed emergence patterns after soil cultivation. In the model, the consecutive processes of dormancy release, germination and pre-emergence growth were modelled in separate modules. Input variables of the model were: date of soil cultivation, soil temperature and soil penetration resistance. Output variables of the model were: seedling density and timing of seedling emergence. The model was parameterized for Polygonum persicaria , Chenopodium album and Spergula arvensis with data from previous field and laboratory experiments. The model was evaluated with data from an experiment, in which emergence of P. persicaria , C. album and S. arvensis was monitored in field plots that were cultivated once only, at one of five dates in the spring. At the same time as the field observations on seedling emergence, seasonal changes in seed dormancy of the buried weed seeds were assessed by testing the germination of seed lots that were buried in envelopes. From a comparison between field observations and simulated data, it appeared that the model overestimated the rate of dormancy release in spring, whereas germination and pre-emergence growth were simulated well. In general, therefore, both the numbers of emerging seedlings and the timing of emergence could be predicted accurately, when dormancy was not simulated but introduced from experimental data. Improvement of predictions of field emergence of weeds should mainly focus on increasing the precision of the simulation of dormancy release. Close correlations were found between seedbed temperature and both the extent and rate of seedling emergence, but analysis with the simulation model revealed that they were only partly based on causal relationships, so that they have limited predictive value.     

蓼属头状蓼组rDNA-ITS的序列扩增及分析

以贵州境内蓼属头状蓼组6种(含1变种)植物为材料,对其rDNA的内转录间隔区(ITS)序列进行PCR扩增,得到6种植物的ITS序列,分别为:赤胫散2个居群(Polygonum runcinatum var.sinense,GenBank登录号FJ606887、FJ648802),平卧蓼(P.strindbergii,GenBank登录号FJ648803 ),尼泊尔蓼(P.nepalense,GenBank登录号FJ648804),羽叶蓼(P.runcinatum,GenBank登录号FJ648805),火炭母(P.chinense,GenBank登录号FJ648806)和头花蓼(P.capitatum,GenBank登录号FJ648807).其中赤胫散与平卧蓼的ITS序列为首次报道.序列分析结果表明,蓼属头状蓼组6种植物ITS序列总长度为661～666 bp,ITS1区序列长度为243～246 bp,5.8 S rDNA区序列长度165 bp,ITS2区序列长度253～258 bp,6种植物的差异主要集中在ITS1和ITS2区.聚类分析显示,6种头状蓼组植物具有共同起源,结果支持赤胫散从羽叶蓼变种上升为独立物种.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 20. New taxa and combinations in Pycreus Beau v.

One new species, five new subspecies and one variety of the genus Pycreus , are described from East Africa, viz. Pycreus micromelas Lye, P. sanguinolenlus (Vahl) Nees ssp. nairobiensis Lye, P. longistolon Kükenthal ssp. airofusca Lye, P. lanceolatus (Poiret) C. B. Clarke ssp. ugandensis Lye, P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. ssp. laevinux Lye, P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. ssp. microglumis Lye, and P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. var. castaneus Lye.
In addition eight new combinations are made, viz. P. alms (Turrill) Lye, P. af–rozonatus Lye, P. niger (Ruiz & Pavon) Cufod. ssp. elegantulus (Steudel) Lye, P. macrostachyos (Lam.) J. Raynal ssp. tremulus (Poiret) Lye, P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. ssp.fallaciosus (Cherm.) Lye, P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. ssp. intermedius (Steudel) Lye, and P. flavescens (L.) Reichenb. ssp. tanaënsis (Kükenthal) Lye.     

UHPLC-QTOF-MSMS比较两种不同基原火炭母的化学成分

为评价不同基原火炭母药材的质量差异,本文采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱联用(UHPLC-QTOF-MSMS)技术研究火炭母原变种和硬毛火炭母(变种)的化学成分。结果表明:酚酸类、黄酮类成分是火炭母原变种及硬毛火炭母的主要成分;通过与标准品对照,没食子酸、绿原酸、鞣花酸和槲皮苷等4个成分被准确鉴定;其余21个峰通过一级质谱精确质荷比和二级质谱碎片、结合数据库匹配及参考文献等进行结构鉴定。这一分析方法快捷方便,可快速区别火炭母原变种和硬毛火炭母中的化学成分,为全面研究火炭母药材的质量标准和品质评价等提供科学依据。