Tomato growth and resistance promotion by Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii EB8D

Fusarium wilt is an economically important disease of tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent an alternative to improve plant growth and yield as well as to act as agent of biocontrol. In this study, antagonistic effects of four selected isolates (EB8D, EB20J, EB24L and EB26M) were evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici (FORL) as potential biocontrol agents in vitro and in vivo. After 30?days of culture, dry weight, length of stem and root were significantly (p?≤?.05) higher compared with the non-inoculated control. Compared with the control plate (inoculated only with pathogen), EB8D had showed efficient antagonism against FORL (48.88%). The different strains have been screened for siderophore production, solubilisation of mineral phosphates, synthesis of indolic acetic acid (IAA) to show the plant growth-promoting potential. The experimental groups were compared with a control group that did not receive any treatment by FORL, and EB8D was the best isolate in terms of growth promotion with an improvement of 73.85% of the stem length, 110.86% of the root length and 118.85% of the dry weight comparing with the non-treated controls. Compared with a control group treated by FORL, biocontrol activity has shown that EB8D strain improved the stem length with 111.85%, the root length with 118.85% and the dry weight with 452.38%. 16S rRNA analysis has confirmed that this strain belongs to the genus Enterobacter and has high similarity with Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii (99.71%). EB8D has a significant strong protective potential against FORL and lead to better tomato growth and might have biotechnological potential for controlling fusarium wilt in tomato plants.     

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici can Induce Systemic Resistance in Barley Against Powdery Mildew

Drench inoculation of the undisturbed roots of barley seedlings with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis‐lycopersici (FORL) significantly reduced the primary infection frequency of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (BGH) on the first leaves. The length of secondary hyphae and subsequent conidial production of BGH were also found to be significantly reduced by preinoculation with FORL. The reduction in infection frequency was observed as early as 48 h after inducer treatment, namely when plants were challenge‐inoculated immediately following inoculation with FORL. The induced resistance continued up to 16 days after treatment as indicated by the reduction in infection frequency, up to 22 days after treatment when evaluated as a reduction in the length of secondary hyphae, and up to 35 days after treatment when evaluated as a reduction in conidial production. Characteristics of FORL that may explain its success as an inducer of resistance against barley powdery mildew are discussed.     

风对黄花蒿水力学性状和生长的影响

吹风会影响到植物的水力学结构、光合作用、生物量分配以及植物的力学性状,研究风对植物的综合影响有助于深入了解植物应对风胁迫的响应机制。以黄花蒿为研究对象,每天吹风4h,风速为5m/s,吹风处理60d,测定了风吹条件下黄花蒿的水力学特征、光合作用、生物量分配和茎干力学特性。结果表明:在风吹条件下,黄花蒿正午水势显著低于对照,茎干导水损失率(PLC)增加了16%,最大光合速率仅为对照的62%,气孔导度为对照的55%。在试验结束时风吹植株株高仅为对照的68%,但基茎显著高于对照,同时风吹显著降低了黄花蒿的总生物量,但根冠比显著高于对照,风吹显著减小了茎导管直径和导管密度,风吹植物导管直径和导管密度分别为对照的77%和55%,同时,风吹植物茎干导水率显著低于对照,但茎干的抗弯刚度显著高于对照。以上结果表明风吹抑制了植物的水分输导能力,导致叶片水分匮缺,限制了植物的光合作用。风吹增加了茎干的力学稳定性,但同时降低了茎干的水分输导能力,这是植物茎在力学性状和水分输导之间的权衡。这种改变有利于在有风条件下维持植物的力学稳定性,但同时降低了水分输导能力。     

Impact of compost application on Fusarium wilt disease incidence and microelements contents of basil plants

Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from stem of basil plants showing symptoms of wilt, stem blight and collar root rot. Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. oxysporum f. sp. basilici is the causal agent of this disease. This is the first report of this pathogen in Egypt. The suppressive effects of six types of composts on Fusarium wilt disease incidence in basil were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The effectiveness of these composts and their relation to the microelements content in treated plants was also assessed. Soil treatments with Khaya and Eucalyptus composts significantly reduced the infection percentage and disease severity of basil wilt. Otherwise, the applications of Araucaria, Datura, Ficus and Azadirachta composts showed no effect on both infection percentage and disease severity. Moreover, the Khaya and Eucalyptus compost treatments increased the levels of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Manganese (Mn) in treated basil plants than application of Araucaria, Datura, Ficus and Azadirachta composts. In the case of Copper (Cu) content, it was significantly higher only in Eucalyptus-compost-treated plants than in other compost applications. These composts not only reduced the disease incidence but also increased both fresh and dry weight (FW and DW) and microelements contented in basil treated plants. In general, although soil amendment with either Khaya or Eucalyptus compost can reduce the disease incidence of Fusarium wilt on basil plants, microelements contented; FW and DW of these effects can be variable depending on their levels added in soil. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of compost in the soil as an organic fertiliser increased exchangeable form of microelements in the soil and also the availability of these elements by basil plants.     

Rapid Tomato Seedling Assay for Virulent Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. Radicis-lycopersici (FORL), the Tomato Crown and Root Rot Pathogen

A rapid tomato seedling assay was developed for determining the relative wilt capacity of isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lyco-persici (FORL), a virulent strain of the tomato pathogen. The procedures for the assay require that 5-day-old cv. Bonny Best tomato seedlings be dipped in 30-day cell-free concentrated culture filtrates of FORL isolates, which were grown in Czapek-Dox medium with 2% Bacto-casamino acids (CDA). The seedlings in the culture filtrates were then incubated at 30 C under artificial light (1200 ftcandles) at 28% relative humidity in a wind stream of 100–150 m min. The relative pathogenicity of the isolates was determined by inoculating the roots of 18-day-old seedlings with cultures of FORL isolates. The pattern of cell-free filtrate wilt among the isolates was the same as that for the disease caused by cultures of the isolates. The seedlings treated with the filtrate from the most virulent isolate (Harrow HRS-182) wilted in 20 min. The filtrates from less virulent isolates took progressively longer. up to 90 min. to cause comparable wilt. Isolate HRS-082 was the first isolate also to induce disease in 10-day-old seedling assay. Both assays indicate three levels of wilt and disease capacities amongthe isolates examined. The utility of the assay in research and breeding for resistance is discussed.     

Increased Growth and Yield of Hydroponically Grown Greenhouse Tomato Plants Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus monosporum, G. vesiculiferum, G. deserticola, G. intraradices, G. mosseae, and two unidentified species were tested to determine their effect on plant growth and fruit production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Trust inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) under near-commercial greenhouse conditions. Inoculation with G. monosporum and G. mosseae significantly increased fruit yield and fruit number of tomato plants grown hydroponically in sawdust. Plant height and plant dry weight increased significantly when inoculated with G. monosporum and G. mosseae. Further, plants inoculated with G. monosporum and G. mosseae showed significantly lower FORL root infection than the untreated control plants.     

Efficacy of hot water drenches of Anthurium andraeanum plants against the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis and plant thermotolerance

Hot‐water drench treatments were evaluated for disinfesting roots of potted anthurium Anthurium andraeanum of the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis. A continuous drench of roots and media in pots with 50°C water for 5 to 20 min eliminated or reduced nematode populations to < 1 g^?1 of dry root. A second hot water drench, 2 months after the first drenching, tended to increase the efficacy of the heat treatment. A few survivors persisted in the roots and/or stems of a few plants 2 to 4 months after heat treatment. Non‐treatment of the shoots and possible migration from stem to root tissues are probable causes of nematode survival. Drenching potting media and roots in pot were as effective against R. similis in the roots as hot water dipping bare‐rooted plants. Plant response to hot‐water drenching varied among cultivars, but most exhibited tolerance to the heat treatments. Visual inspection of the plants showed little difference between treated and untreated plants in the heat tolerant cultivars. However, all heat‐treated ‘Marian Seefurth’ plants, especially hot water‐dipped bare‐rooted plants, appeared to suffer some degree of growth reduction as measured by lower root and stem dry weights when compared to untreated plants 3 months after treatment. Conditioning anthurium plants with hot water or hot air prior to hot water drenching did not benefit plant quality when compared to unconditioned, heat‐treated plants.     

Red Light Increases Suppression of Downy Mildew in Basil by Chemical and Organic Products

Basil is an economically important herb in the United States and in the world. Recent epidemics of basil downy mildew, caused by Peronospora belbahrii, have significantly affected basil production in the United States. ProPhyt (potassium phosphite), Actigard (acibenzolar‐S‐methyl) and Organocide (sesame oil) were evaluated in the greenhouse in the presence or absence of red light for their effects on the severity of downy mildew and sporangial production by P. belbahrii. Red light at intensity of 12 μmol photons/m²/s significantly (P < 0.05) reduced severity of downy mildew in basil. ProPhyt‐treated basil plants had the lowest disease severity irrespective of red light exposure. Basil plants treated with Actigard and Organocide under red light had significantly lower disease severity compared to plants under dark conditions with the same fungicide treatments 14 and 13 days after inoculation (DAI) in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Red light significantly reduced AUDPC in the treatments of Actigard and Organocide in both experiments. Basil plants treated with Actigard and Organocide under red light had significantly reduced number of P. belbahrii sporangia than those under dark conditions receiving the same fungicide treatments. This is the first report demonstrating red light in combination with Actigard and Organocide for improved management of downy mildew in greenhouse‐grown basil.     

Influence of wind loading on root system development and architecture in oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings.

The effect of wind loading on seedlings of English oak (Quercus robur L.) was investigated. Instead of using a traditional wind tunnel, an innovative ventilation system was designed. This device was set up in the field and composed of a rotating arm supporting an electrical fan, which emitted an air current similar to that of wind loading. Oaks were sown from seed in a circle around the device. A block of control plants was situated nearby, and was not subjected to artificial wind loading. After 7 months, 16 plants from each treatment were excavated, and root architecture and morphological characteristics measured using a 3D digitiser. The resulting geometrical and topological data were then analysed using AMAPmod software. Results showed that total lateral root number and length in wind stressed plants were over two times greater than that in control trees. However, total lateral root volume did not differ significantly between treatments. In comparing lateral root characters between the two populations, it was found that mean root length, diameter and volume were similar between the two treatments. In trees subjected to wind loading, an accentuated asymmetry of root distribution and mean root length was found between the windward and leeward sides of the root system, with windward roots being significantly more numerous and longer than leeward roots. However, no differences were found when the two sectors perpendicular to the wind direction were compared. Mean tap root length was significantly higher in control samples compared to wind stressed plants, whilst mean diameter was greater in the latter. Wind loading appears to result in increased growth of lateral roots at the expense of the tap root. Development of the lateral root system may therefore ensure better anchorage of young trees subjected to wind loading under certain conditions.     

Effect of mycorrhiza and biofertilisers on reducing the incidence of Fusarium root and pod rot diseases of peanut

Pathogenicity tests of twenty-six fungal isolates were tested on peanut plants (Giza 5 cv.) and the results revealed that, Fusarium oxysporum isolate (No. I) followed by F. solani (No. II) then F. moniliforme (No III) significantly caused highest incidence of root rot disease. Also, F. moniliforme (No III) followed by F. solani (No II) then F. oxysporum (No I) gave the highest incidence of pod rot disease. The effectiveness of vescular arbuscular-mycorrhiza (VAM) at different application rates on the incidence of root rot, pod rot diseases and plant growth parameters of peanut was studied. All soil treatments with each rate of VAM significantly reduced root and pod rot diseases compared with control (rate 0%). The best reduction in the severity of both diseases with VAM was found at the rate of 3%. Application of rhizobacterin, microbin and cerialin biofertilisers at the different concentrations decreased the severity of both root rot and pod rot severity diseases compared with non-treated seeds. The greatest reduction in both diseases was achieved at a concentration of 8/100?g seeds. The highest number of pods and fresh weight (g) was achieved in seed supplemented with each biofertiliser at concentration of 8/100?g seed.     

Induced Resistance in the Biocontrol of Pythium aphanidermatum by Pseudomonas spp. on Cucumber

Plants of Cucumis sativus cv. Corona were grown in rockwool, with the root systems split into two separate pots. B pots were treated with water or a cell suspension of Pseudomonas corrugata isolate 13 or P. fluorescens biovar C isolate 15, two rhizosphere isolates effective as biocontrol agents against Pythium aphanidermatum. The P pot was treated with water or a suspension of zoospores of P. aphanidermatum applied at the same time (simultaneous treatment) or 1 week after B pot treatments. Most of the bacterial treatments reduced disease incidence and disease severity. Simultaneous treatment with isolate 15 increased shoot dry weight, leaf area, and number of fruit of inoculated plants in one trial. Some treatments with isolate 13 or 15 also increased root volume or root dry weight in B or P pots, compared to the inoculated plants where the B pot was treated with water only (Pythium control). Lower population densities of P. aphanidermatum in P pots were detected in some treatments to which bacteria were applied to the B pot, but only in the early stages of the experiment. This is the first report of systemic-induced resistance against a root pathogen in cucumber obtained by application of Pseudomonas spp. to a root system spatially separated from the pathogen-inoculated root.     

Chitosan Treatment: An Emerging Strategy for Enhancing Resistance of Greenhouse Tomato Plants to Infection by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici

The potential of chitosan, a non-toxic and biodegradable polymer of beta -1,4-glucosamine, for controlling fusarium crown and root rot of greenhouse-grown tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) was investigated. The amendment of plant growth substratum with chitosan at concentrations of 12.5 or 37.5 mg l-1 significantly reduced plant mortality, root rot symptoms and yield loss attributed to FORL. Maximum disease control was achieved with chitosan at 37.5 mg l-1, when plant mortality was reduced by more than 90% and fruit yield was comparable with that of non-infected plants. In the absence of FORL, chitosan did not adversely affect plant growth and fruit yield. Cytological observations on root samples from FORL-inoculated plants revealed that the beneficial effect of chitosan in reducing disease was associated with increased plant resistance to fungal colonization. In chitosan-treated plants, fungal growth was restricted to the epidermis and the cortex. Invading hyphae showed marked cellular disorganization, characterized by increased vacuolation and even complete loss of the protoplast. The main host reactions included the formation of structural barriers at sites of attempted fungal penetration, the deposition of an opaque material (probably enriched with phenolics according to its electron density) in intercellular spaces and the occlusion of xylem vessels with tyloses, polymorphic bubbles and osmiophilic substances. Although chitosan may also have antifungal properties, the ultrastructural observations provide evidence that chitosan sensitizes tomato plants to respond more rapidly and efficiently to FORL attack. Chitosan has the potential to become a useful agent for controlling greenhouse diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens.     

Effects of windspeed on the growth and biomass allocation of white mustard Sinapis alba L.

Summary We examined how different wind speeds and interactions between plant age and wind affect growth and biomass allocation of Sinapis alba L. (white mustard). Physiological and growth measurements were made on individuals of white mustard grown in controlled-environment wind tunnels at windspeeds of 0.3, 2.2 and 6.0 ms^–1 for 42 days. Plants were harvested at four different dates. Increasing wind speed slightly increased transpiration and stomatal conductance. We did not observe a significant decline in the photosynthetic rate per unit of leaf area. Number of leaves, stem length, leaf area and dry weights of total biomass and plant parts were significantly lower in plants exposed at high wind speed conditions. There were no significant differences in the unit leaf rate nor relative growth rates, although these were always lower in plants grown at high wind speed. Allocation and architectural parameters were also examined. After 42 days of exposure to wind, plants showed higher leaf area ratio, root and leaf weight ratios and root/shoot ratio than those grown at control treatment. Only specific leaf area declined significantly with wind speed, but stem and reproductive parts also decreased. The responses of plants to each wind speed treatment depended on the age of the plant for most of the variables. It is suggested that wind operates in logarithmic manner, with relatively small or no effect at lower wind speeds and a much greater effect at higher speeds. Since there is no evidence of a significant reduction in photosynthetic rate of Sinapis with increasing wind speed it is suggested that the effect of wind on plant growth was due to mechanical effects leading to changes in allocation and developmental patterns.     

The Effect of Artificial Wind on the Growth-rate of Plants in Water Culture: With Plate and three Figures in the Text

Young plants of Brassica napus (rape), Hordeum vulgare, andPisum sativum growing in water culture have been exposed tofour continuous wind speeds for from 4 to 5 days. The plantswere exposed to natural daylight, humidity, and temperaturein a wind tunnel in which only air movement was controlled.The wind speeds found among the plants in the four sectionsof this tunnel were approximately 0·3, 0·7, 1·7,and 4·0 m./sec. The results showed no significant changein relative growth-rate or net assinilation rate with wind speed. Previously published results, obtained with plants in soil orsand culture, have differed from those in the present experimentsin showing a fall in the amount of growth as wind speed increased.It is suggested that the reduction in growth found in theseprevious experiments was caused by partial drying out of theplants, whilst in the present experiments water-supply to theroots was abundant and this effect was considerably reduced.     

The effects of (2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4 triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol (Paclobutrazol:PP333) and root pruning on the growth,water use and response to drought of Colt Cherry rootstocks

The effect of (2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4 triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol (PP333) on the growth and transpiration of normal and root pruned colt rootstocks was measured. PP333 reduced plant height, stem diameter increment, leaf number, area and weight and stem weight. Root pruning reduced root, leaf and stem weight, and plant height in control plants. PP333 reduced both total water use and transpiration per unit leaf area and increased stomatal resistance. In control plants root pruning also reduced total water use and increased stomatal resistance. 15 days after the beginning of the experiment half the plants in all treatments were allowed to dry out. The effects of drought, i.e. reduced transpiration, growth and leaf water potentials, were smaller in PP333 treated than in control plants.     

Rice Resistance to Brown Spot Mediated by Silicon and its Interaction with Manganese

Brown spot is one of the most devasting and prevalent disease of rice and its control is mainly dependent on fungicide application. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Si and Mn on the development of brown spot on rice plants grown in hydroponic culture. Rice plants (cv. ‘Metica‐1’) were grown in plastic pots containing 0 or 2 mm Si (?Si and +Si treatments, respectively) with three Mn rates (0.5, 2.5 and 10 μm ). Plants were inoculated with B. oryzae 39 days after emergence. The following components of resistance were evaluated: incubation period (IP), number of lesions (NL) per cm² of leaf area, real disease severity (RDS) and area under brown spot progress curve (AUBSPC). The content of Si and Mn in the plant tissues was also determined. Si content was significantly higher in rice tissue of plants of the +Si treatment than of the ?Si treatment regardless of the Mn rates used. The Mn rates did not affect the Si content of the rice plants. The Mn content of the rice tissues was significantly higher in the ?Si treatment than on +Si treatment, regardless of the Mn rate used. The Mn content was significantly lower at 0.5 μm Mn in comparison to the other rates for both ?Si and +Si treatments. The IP of brown spot on rice leaves significantly increased in the +Si treatment; but the Mn rates in the presence of Si had no effect on IP. In the ?Si treatment, the IP was significantly higher only at the rate of 2.5 μm . The NL, RDS and AUBSPC were significantly reduced in the +Si treatment regardless of the Mn rates. The Mn rates in the presence of Si had no effect on these components of resistance. Overall, Si dramatically impacted the development of brown spot regardless of the presence of Mn at either low or high rates. This may be useful in regions where the soil has either toxic or deficient levels of Mn and cultivars with brown spot resistance are not commercially available.     

风胁迫对三种叶菜的机械损伤及预测模型

为了研究风害对不同叶菜的影响,本研究通过模拟风洞试验,以上海青,四季小白菜,玻璃生菜3种叶菜为试验材料,分别在5,15,25 m/s风速条件下设置5,10,15 min的风胁迫处理,采用电导率法、伤口染色目测法、伤口色泽L值测定法研究风胁迫对不同种类叶菜造成的机械损伤,并对以上3种测定方法进行了综合评价,进而建立相应的数学模型。结果表明:风速和风胁迫时间两因子均对3种叶菜的相对电导率、目测等级、L值有显著性影响;两者的交互作用对上海青和四季小白菜的相对电导率有显著性影响,但对玻璃生菜的相对电导率无显著影响;另外,两者的交互作用对3种叶菜的目测等级均影响显著,但对3种叶菜的L值影响均不显著。25 m/s和15 m/s风对3种叶菜都可引起显著机械损伤,其中,在25 m/s持续15 min风处理下机械损伤最为严重,在此处理组合下,上海青、四季小白菜和玻璃生菜的相对电导率分别高于对照214.70%,228.96%,266.92%;目测等级分别高于对照2.3,2.4和3.6级;L值分别低于对照21.17%,38.91%,42.73%。显然,与上海青和四季小白菜相比,玻璃生菜更容易受到风害影响。Gauss2D拟合模型中,3种叶菜机械损伤拟合模型的决定系数R2均超过0.95,证明该拟合模型能较好地预测不同叶菜遭受风害后的机械损伤程度,可以为风害机械损伤预测提供理论基础。     

Control of nematode disease of egg plant (Solanum aethiopicum) using manure

Pot experiment was conducted in the year 2010 and repeated in 2011 to examine the effects of organic manure (poultry, cow dung and domestic waste) and inorganic manure (NPK 15:15:15) on the yield, soil and root population of Meloidogyne incognita-infected Ethiopian egg plant Solanum aethiopicum in a greenhouse at Kabba college of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba, Nigeria. Each of the organic manure was applied as soil amendment at the rate of 5t/ha and the inorganic fertiliser (NPK) was applied at the rate of 200?kg/ha, while there was an untreated control that acted as standard check. The experimental design was a completely randomised design comprising of five treatments including control and each of the treatments was replicated four times. The result of the experiment showed that all the organic manures considered and NPK fertilisers were effective in suppressing the nematode’s negative effects on the plant, as shown by the improved yield, reduced soil and root population as well as reduced gall index of the organic and inorganic manure-treated plant compared with the control. The mean fruit yield of the manure-treated plant was of the range 18?±?1 fruits and NPK fertiliser had an average of fruit number of 17, while the untreated control recorded an average fruit number of 6.5. The organic and inorganic manure-treated plants recorded bigger fruit size compared with control, and are significantly different from the control. The soil and root population as well as root gall index are reduced in all the manure treatments compared with the control and are significantly different from the control. The result of this experiment confirmed that organic manure can be utilised to manage nematode in soil endemic with root-knot nematode M. incognita.     

Thermal physiological ecology of Colias butterflies in flight

Summary As a comparison to the many studies of larger flying insects, we carried out an initial study of heat balance and thermal dependence of flight of a small butterfly (Colias) in a wind tunnel and in the wild.Unlike many larger, or facultatively endothermic insects, Colias do not regulate heat loss by altering hemolymph circulation between thorax and abdomen as a function of body temperature. During flight, thermal excess of the abdomen above ambient temperature is weakly but consistently coupled to that of the thorax. Total heat loss is best expressed as the sum of heat loss from the head and thorex combined plus heat loss from the abdomen because the whole body is not isothermal. Convective cooling is a simple linear function of the square root of air speed from 0.2 to 2.0 m/s in the wind tunnel. Solar heat flux is the main source of heat gain in flight, just as it is the exclusive source for warmup at rest. The balance of heat gain from sunlight versus heat loss from convection and radiation does not appear to change by more than a few percent between the wings-closed basking posture and the variable opening of wings in flight, although several aspects require further study. Heat generation by action of the flight muscles is small (on the order of 100 m W/g tissue) compared to values reported for other strongly flying insects. Colias appears to have only very limited capacity to modulate flight performance. Wing beat frequency varies from 12–19 Hz depending on body mass, air speed, and thoracic temperature. At suboptimal flight temperatures, wing beat frequency increases significantly with thoracic temperature and body mass but is independent of air speed. Within the reported thermal optimum of 35–39°C, wing beat frequency is negatively dependent on air speed at values above 1.5 m/s, but independent of mass and body temperature. Flight preference of butterflies in the wind tunnel is for air speeds of 0.5–1.5 m/s, and no flight occurs at or above 2.5 m/s. Voluntary flight initiation in the wild occurs only at air speeds 1.4 m/s.In the field, Colias fly just above the vegetation at body temperatures of 1–2°C greater than when basking at the top of the vegetation. These measurements are consistent with our findings on low heat gain from muscular activity during flight. Basking temperatures of butterflies sheltered from the wind within the vegetation were 1–2°C greater than flight temperatures at vegetation height.     

海岸抗风植物黑松对净风和风沙流的生理响应

利用野外便携式风洞仪对盆栽黑松（Pinus thunbergii Parl）幼株在不同风速（6、9、12、15、18 m/s）、不同风沙流强度（0、1.00、28.30、63.28、111.82、172.93 g cm^-1 min^-1）、不同时间（10、20、30、40、50 min）进行了净风和风沙流吹袭,通过测定其叶片相对含水量（Relative water content,RWC）、丙二醛（Malondialdehyde,MDA）、可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量,及超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、过氧化氢酶（Catalase,CAT）、过氧化物酶（Peroxidase,POD）活力等变化规律以揭示黑松抗风沙流生长的生理适应机制。结果表明,在净风吹袭下,随着风速提高至15 m/s,黑松叶片RWC相对稳定,MDA含量和细胞膜透性小幅增加且较低,而脯氨酸含量下降17.5%。同时叶片SOD、CAT、POD活力也小幅增加。在风沙流吹袭下,随着风沙流风速提高至15 m/s,黑松在短时低风速吹袭时叶片RWC就开始下降（4.4%）,叶片平均MDA含量、细胞膜透性分别较对照增加61.3%、25.6%,脯氨酸含量增加8.9%,叶片SOD、CAT、POD活力分别较对照增加21.5%、30.4%、13.9%。同风速吹袭下,风沙流处理组叶片抗逆生理指标均高于净风处理。如15 m/s风速下,风沙流处理组叶片平均MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量分别较净风处理组高4.7%、36.6%、22.1%,SOD和CAT活力较净风处理组高21.5%、36.5%。在高风速（18 m/s）净风和风沙流吹袭中,随着风吹时间延长（50 min）,叶片MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量和SOD、CAT、POD活力均下降。研究表明,风吹袭中黑松叶片较高抗脱水力与其抗风性相关。风沙流引发的叶片失水可能是黑松抗逆生理变化的诱因。风吹袭下叶片失水能快速促使脯氨酸的积累和维持可溶性糖含量,以维护细胞中水分平衡。同时,叶片失水又快速激活抗氧化保护酶系统来防御和清除氧自由基、抑制膜脂过氧化维护细胞膜的完整性使黑松在风沙流吹袭中生存。黑松较强的渗透调节能力和抗氧化防御系统在其适应风沙流吹袭中起重要的生理调控作用。