黄帚橐吾种子生产的花序位置效应及其对幼苗建植的影响

关于开花植物花序内变异原因的研究有很多,而关于花序内资源分配的位置效应产生影响的研究并不常见。通过对青藏高原高寒草甸退化草地一种花序轴基向发育的优势毒杂草黄帚橐吾(Ligularia virgaurea)的野外调查和方差分析发现,其种子生产存在显著的位置效应。结实率和种子平均重表现出顶部头状花序基部头状花序的变化趋势,胚珠平均数则基部顶部,而中部种子平均数最多。通过室内萌发实验和野外盆栽实验研究了位置效应对幼苗建植能力的影响,发现基部种子的萌发开始时间比顶部种子早,萌发率和出苗率在部位间的差异不显著,而部位间幼苗存活率表现一致;幼苗的根冠比和光合速率表现出顶部基部的变化趋势,而幼苗总生物量的差异不显著,这些幼苗特性在两种肥力条件下表现一致,这说明不同花序部位种子的差异是该种植物所固有的特征,且部位间种子的萌发和幼苗生长对策不同。但相对于基部种子,顶部种子扩散距离更远,拓展到新生境的能力更强,相对较高的幼苗根冠比和净光合速率增强了其幼苗建植能力,对自然种群的更新补充有着更重要的生态学意义,对扩大种群和植被更新有更大的贡献。     

枇杷属植物4个种的花序性状多样性研究

在相同的种植和管理条件下,对普通枇杷、栎叶枇杷、大瑶山枇杷和南亚枇杷等4个种210份种质资源的8个花序性状多样性进行鉴定,旨在为进一步的分类鉴定、利用研究提供参考依据。结果表明:(1)枇杷属种质资源的花序支轴姿态、花序支轴密度、花序支轴数、花序形状、花序长度、花序宽度、花瓣颜色、花冠直径Shannon-Weaver多样性指数1.352～2.951,存在丰富的多样性。(2)不同来源地的种质资源花序性状多样性水平差异较大,多样性指数最高的为云南(2.108),其次是贵州(1.962)、四川(1.953)、福建(1.900),美国的最低(1.137)。(3)云南、贵州的枇杷种质资源花序长度、宽度显著或极显著地大于其他地区;野生资源的花序长度、花序宽度和花冠直径均极显著地大于地方品种、选育品种。     

大巴山自然保护区种子植物中国特有属的初步研究

大巴山自然保护区分布中国特有属45属,占本区的种子植物总属的4.98%。本区分布的中国种子植物特有属中均为少种属或单种属,单种属22属,少种属23属,分别占本区中国特有属总属数的48.9% 和51.1%。木本属22属,草本属23属,分别占本区中国特有属总属数的48.9% 和51.1%。本区的中国特有属植物主要分布在低山和中山,其中分布在低山的有6属,占总属数的13.3%, 分布在中山的有39属,占总属数的86.7%。其特点表现为众多的古特有属、较明显的过渡性质和丰富的珍稀物种,与四川和湖北的共有成分最多,是中国特有属川东鄂西特有现象中心的重要组成部分。     

三种甘草属植物的种间杂交亲和性及杂交种子活力

通过新疆分布的3种甘草属植物——乌拉尔甘草（Glycyrrhiza uralensis）、光果甘草（G．glabra）和黄甘草（G．eurycarpa）的人工杂交试验,比较了杂交结果率、杂交种子的萌发参数、幼苗成活率等指标,并对杂交授粉后花粉管萌发、生长过程进行荧光观察,旨在探讨3种甘草属植物的种间杂交亲和性及杂交后代种子活力。结果表明：（1）种间杂交结果率最高为96．67％,最低为55．62％,说明3种甘草种间杂交配子亲和性较高;（2）荧光显微观察表明,各杂交组合在授粉后0．5～2h内花粉均可在柱头上大量萌发,在授粉后48h内花粉管均可到达子房与胚珠受精,说明三种甘草种间杂交不存在配子隔离障碍;（3）杂交种子萌发率、发芽指数、平均萌发时间和幼苗成活率与自然结实种子无显著差异,种间杂交种子活力较高,幼苗成活率均为75％以上。以上结果表明3种甘草属植物的同域分布区,在相同传粉途径下,这三种甘草属植物的种间隔离机制不完善。有发生自然杂交并形成杂交区的可能。     

珍稀濒危植物金花茶种子繁殖和生物学特性研究

对金花茶进行种子繁殖和生物学特性研究。结果表明:以含水6%湿沙贮藏,采用粒径大的种子(2.05cm×1.51cm×1.92cm)于3月进行播种繁殖,其发芽率最高,且幼苗长势健壮。金花茶从北热带季雨林中引种到中亚热带桂林雁山的自然环境条件下,植株能正常生长及开花结实。物候期比原产地推迟40d左右。成龄植株通常每年只有一次秋梢,于9月下旬开始展叶抽梢,10月中旬新梢停止生长。6月下旬至7月上旬开始现蕾,1月上旬至2月上旬为开花始期,2月下旬至3月中旬为开花盛期,3月下旬至4月上旬为开花末期。果实于11月下旬至12月成熟,生长期约9～10个月。17年生实生苗平均高(313.60±15.92)cm,基径(4.51±0.71)cm,平均冠幅(东西×南北)277.6cm×219.2cm。金花茶主要病害有赤叶枯病、炭疽病、白绢病等,4～6月高温湿热季节容易发病。虫害主要有蚜虫、卷叶蛾、天牛和木囊蛾等。     

中国种子植物特有属的分布区学研究

本文讨论了分布区的概念和分布区周界的划定方法,认为邻近距离平均法(mean propinquity method)对划定分布区的周界具有较大的科学性和可用性。根据247幅中国种子植物特有属的分布区图及其属内各种在属分布区范围内的分布情况,我们将中国种子植物特有属划分为5个分布区类型。本文还对中国种子植物特有属分布区与地形和气候条件的关系,以及与植被和植物区系界线的关系进行了分析,提出制约分布区形状和大小的主要决定因素,并指出种在属分布区内的分布规律的研究对次一级植物区系分区或植被区划研究具有重要意义。     

江苏分布的中国种子植物特有属研究

经调查和统计,江苏分布的中国种子植物特有属有18属,含19种,隶属于17个科,科、属、种分别占中国种子植物特有属总数的19.32%、5.61%和2.53%。根据自然地理特征将江苏分为6个地区：黄淮平原、江淮平原、滨海平原、长江三角洲、北部低山丘陵和西南低山丘陵。首次采用特有性指数(EI)研究上述地区的特有属分布,结果发现：EI值最高的是西南低山丘陵（4.83）,其次是长江三角洲（3.89）,黄淮平原和滨海平原的特有性指数最低（1.67）。因此该区的特有属植物的种类组成较贫乏,地理分布不均,并具有生活型多样,古特有属比例较高等特征。     

影响黄帚橐吾种子生产的因素Ⅰ.生境和花序结构

 通过对黄帚橐吾(Ligularia virgaurea)自然种群在不同生境和种群密度下的种子生产的研究,结果显示：1）黄帚橐吾的种子生产无论是在种群水平,还是在总花序上同一部位头状花序水平,均受到生境条件的影响,其种子数量、种子均重和种子总重量等特征在不同生境间表现出沙地＞滩地＞坡地,在同一生境内则为高密度种群＞低密度种群和植被盖度较低＞植被盖度较高的趋势（滩地例外）;2）种子生产中的种子数量和种子总重与总花序大小、头状花序数量以及无性系株大小多呈显著正相关,与个体密度无关,但种子均重与上述因素（除无性系株大小外）的关系不显著;3）在总花序内不同部位头状花序间表现出的种子生产变化趋势（顶部＞基部）不受生境条件、种群密度等因素的影响; 4）种子生产在总花序上所表现出的这种部位依赖性可能是由于不同部位头状花序间开花时序上的差异引起种子从母体获取资源上的不同所致。     

食种子动物对三种锦鸡儿属植物繁殖更新的影响

锦鸡儿属(Caragana)植物是黄土高原植被的重要组分,具有固氮、耐旱的特性,对黄土丘陵沟壑区的植被恢复具有重要意义。作者于2002–2003年对该属本地种白毛锦鸡儿(C.licentiana)和甘蒙锦鸡儿(C.opulens)及外来种中间锦鸡儿(C.intermedia)种子被动物取食情况进行了比较研究。2003年白毛锦鸡儿种子散落前的虫害率为88.2%,甘蒙锦鸡儿为29.7%±1.7%,中间锦鸡儿为43.2%±4.8%。种子落地后,白毛锦鸡儿和甘蒙锦鸡儿的种子被小啮齿动物取食的比例在各种微生境下均为100%,且取食速度很快,在种子放置后4d内即全部被取食。中间锦鸡儿种子被取食率则因微生境的不同而不同:在灌丛下被取食率为100%,在半阳坡的开阔草地上为85.0%±10.0%,在种植植物未成功的水平阶地上为31.0%±8.7%,且取食速度相对较慢。研究结果表明,食种子动物的取食大大减少了白毛锦鸡儿和甘蒙锦鸡儿的种子量以及种子传播萌发的机会。但食种子动物可能充当了白毛锦鸡儿4.0%硬实种子的传播者,从而有助于白毛锦鸡儿实现种子途径的更新;中间锦鸡儿种子无论在散落前还是散落后受食种子动物的影响均很小。     

四川分布的中国种子植物特有科属研究

对传统“特有”概念作了补充说明,确认四川有中国种子植物特有类群129属,12个特有科,在国产特有类群中占有较大比例。生活型虽然以草本为主,但高比例（近1／3）的木本类型以及木本类型多为原始的古特有成分却反映出植物区系的古老性和悠久发展历史。地理分布以盆地四周山地最丰富,西部高原和盆地中部缺乏或少有特有科、属。总体上可划分为3个分布中心区,包括西南区、东南区和东北区。新特有成分以西南区较多,而古特有成分大多集中中东南区和东北区。特有属与邻近地区的相似性还反映了四川植物区系和邻近地区植物区系的整体性。丰富的特有科、属同时也反映出四川种子植物区系的多样性。     

The effect of inflorescence display size and flower position on pollination success in two deceptive and one rewarding orchid

• Inflorescence display size and flower position on the inflorescence play important roles in plant reproduction, in the formation of fruits and are primarily linked to pollinator behaviour. We used three orchids to determine how visitation rates and choice of pollinator depend on number and position of the flowers along the inflorescence.
• We measured reproductive success in (1) natural conditions, (2) hand-pollination experiments and (3) an experimental design, by modifying composition of inflorescences in populations of two deceptive orchids, Orchis anthropophora and O. italica, and one rewarding orchid, Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans.
• There were no differences in natural fruit production in relation to flower position on the inflorescence (i.e. upper versus lower part), suggesting no preference of pollinators for different parts of the inflorescence. Hand-pollination experiments highlighted low pollen limitation in A. coriophora subsp. fragrans but high limitation in O. italica and O. anthropophora. Reproductive success of deceptive orchids in experimental plots decreased significantly when flowers on the upper half of the inflorescence were removed leading to reduced floral display, while reproductive success of the nectariferous species did not differ significantly.
• Our data highlight that in the examined orchids there is no clear relationship between fruit formation and flower position along inflorescences. Thus we can affirm that, for orchids, the entire inflorescence plays a dominant role in insect attraction but the part of the flower spike does not influence the choice of the insect. This implies that all flowers have the same possibility of receiving visits from pollinators, and therefore each flower has the same opportunity to set fruit.

     

Altered resource allocation during seed development in Arabidopsis caused by the abi3 mutation

The regulation of whole-plant resource allocation during seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated by examining growth rate and partitioning of ¹⁴CO₂ in wild-type plants and those carrying the abi3 mutation. Plants carrying the abi3 mutation partitioned more resources into seed development than the wild type. The extra resources were available as a result of delayed senescence of the cauline leaves in the mutant. After supply of ¹⁴CO₂ at later stages of reproductive development differences in patterns of ¹⁴C distribution between mutant and wild type were consistent with long-term changes in growth and allocation. The role of long-distance signals in the regulation of seed yield in Arabidopsis is discussed.     

On evolution of andromonoecy and 'overproduction' of flowers: a resource allocation model

The conditions for the evolution of andromonoecy and male-function-controlled overproduction of fertile flowers in hermaphrodites are considered using the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) approach. Andromonoecy and male-function-controlled floral display are promoted if further increase in pollen amount per flower is disadvantageous and/or increase in the number of polliniferous units is advantageous; the costs of attractive organs and pollen per flower are relatively low while the cost of ovules per flower and the cost per fruit are relatively high; the probability of setting a fruit from a pistillate flower is high; male fertility increases with the resources devoted to flowering; and if selfing is relatively low. Assumptions and predictions of the model are discussed.     

三峡水库长期水淹条件下耐淹植物甜根子草的资源分配特征

为研究历经三峡水库长期水淹的驯化后,不同海拔高程之间相同种源的甜根子草的生物量分配特征是否发生改变,进而探讨该物种对水淹胁迫表现出的适应性进化特征,试验于2008年初选育相同种源的甜根子草同龄幼苗栽植于三峡水库消落区甜根子草种植试验示范区,并考察了2012年、2013年不同海拔高程甜根子草植株的形态和生物量特征。试验共设置3个海拔高程,即水淹高程168、172m和不受水淹对照高程176m。试验结果表明:(1)较低高程的甜根子草植株较矮小细弱,168m高程的甜根子草植株主茎长和主茎基径显著低于对照176m高程(P0.05);平均节间长度随高程的降低而缩短;与之相反,主茎长/主茎基径随高程的降低而增大。(2)甜根子草的叶片厚度、叶片长/叶片宽、叶片长/叶鞘长均随海拔高程的降低而减小;与之相反,比叶面积随高程的降低而增大。(3)水淹前,甜根子草近端成熟节间的质量密度随高程的降低而增大;水淹后,其地上存活茎段基部成熟节间的质量密度在各高程之间无显著差异(P0.05)。以上研究结果表明,甜根子草历经三峡水库长期水淹的驯化后,生物量分配特征在不同海拔高程之间发生了改变,表现出了相应的驯化特征。相较于高高程的甜根子草植株而言,低高程的植株生长缓慢,采取低株高下的高向生物量投资策略;对叶的物质投资大部分分配到叶面积的增加、叶鞘的伸长生长和叶片的直立生长上,以加强植株的光合生产。     

Pollen transfer efficiency and its effect on inflorescence size in deceptive pollination strategies

Pollination systems differ in pollen transfer efficiency, a variable that may influence the evolution of flower number. Here we apply a comparative approach to examine the link between pollen transfer efficiency and the evolution of inflorescence size in food and sexually deceptive orchids. We examined pollination performance in nine food‐deceptive, and eight sexually deceptive orchids by recording pollen removal and deposition in the field. We calculated correlations between reproductive success and flower number (as a proxy for resources allocated during reproductive process), and directional selection differentials were estimated on flower number for four species. Results indicate that sexually deceptive species experience decreased pollen loss compared to food‐deceptive species. Despite producing fewer flowers, sexually deceptive species attained levels of overall pollination success (through male and female function) similar to food‐deceptive species. Furthermore, a positive correlation between flower number and pollination success was observed in food‐deceptive species, but this correlation was not detected in sexually deceptive species. Directional selection differentials for flower number were significantly higher in food compared to sexually deceptive species. We suggest that pollination systems with more efficient pollen transfer and no correlation between pollination success and number of flowers produced, such as sexual deception, may allow the production of inflorescences with fewer flowers that permit the plant to allocate fewer resources to floral displays and, at the same time, limit transpiration. This strategy can be particularly important for ecological success in Mediterranean water‐deprived habitats, and might explain the high frequency of sexually deceptive species in these specialised ecosystems.     

Diversity of age‐specific reproductive rates may result from ageing and optimal resource allocation

This paper reports the results of a dynamic programming model which optimizes resource allocation to growth, reproduction and repair of somatic damage, based on the disposable soma theory of ageing. Here it is shown that different age‐dependent patterns of reproductive rates are products of optimal lifetime strategies of resource partitioning. The array of different reproductive patterns generated by the model includes those in which reproduction begins at the maximum rate at maturity and then declines to the end of life, or increases up to a certain age and then drops. The observed patterns reflect optimal resource allocation shaped by the level of extrinsic mortality. A continuous decline in the reproductive rate from the start of reproduction is associated with high extrinsic mortality, and an early increase in the reproductive rate occurs under low extrinsic mortality. A long‐lived organism shows a low reproductive rate early in life, and short‐lived organisms start reproduction at the maximum rate.