The light/dark cycle operation with an hour-scale period enhances caffeine production by Coffea arabica cells

The intermittent light irradiation with an hour-scale period is used for producing caffeine by Coffea arabica cells. Three factors concerning the light/dark cycle operation such as light intensity, the length of the cycle (period), and the ratio of the illumination time to the dark time (light/dark ratio) were investigated to optimize the caffeine production efficiency regarding light consumption. The light/dark ratio of 1/1 enhanced caffeine production, reaching the same level as continuous light; thus, the intermittent light irradiation improved the production efficiency twofold. The production was not influenced by the period, but was determined by light intensity regardless of intermittent or continuous light irradiation.     

In field-grown coffee trees source-sink manipulation alters photosynthetic rates, independently of carbon metabolism, via alterations in stomatal function

Perturbations of the source-sink balances were performed in field-grown coffee (Coffea arabica) trees to investigate the possible role of carbohydrates in feedback regulation of photosynthesis. Four treatments were applied at the whole-plant level: (i) complete defruiting and maintenance of the full leaf area, (ii) the half crop load and full leaf area, (iii) the full crop load and full leaf area and (iv) the full crop load and half leaf area. Sampling and measurements were performed twice during the phase of dry matter accumulation of fruits. Gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, carbon isotope labelling and steady-state metabolite measurements were assessed in source leaves. The average rate of net photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) were larger (> 50%), and carbon isotope composition ratio was lower, in trees with a full crop load and half leaf area than in defruited trees, with individuals of the other two treatments showing intermediate values. However, differences in A seem unlikely to have been caused either by photochemical impairments or a direct end-product-mediated feedback down-regulation of photosynthesis. It is proposed that the decreased A in defruited coffee trees was independent of carbon metabolism and was rather directly related to a lower CO(2) availability coupled to lower g(s).     

Immobilized Coffea arabica cell culture using a bubble-column reactor with controlled light intensity

Coffea arabica cells immobilized by calcium alginate gel were photocultured using a bubble-column reactor under controlled light intensity. This process was carried out after their alkaloid productivity was improved by increasing the cell density in the initial gel matrix and preculturing the immobilized cells in the dark prior to light irradiation. The cells were grown in the form of a biofilm on gel beads, producing 100 mg/L of purine alkaloids in a 24-day batch culture. Alkaloid production was relatively constant with respect to light intensity changes, and also cell growth was not suppressed much at high light intensity, with these behaviors being different from those obtained using suspended cells. These phenomena are explained by estimating the light intensity gradient within the cell-immobilizing particles and by measuring the viable cell distribution within them. It subsequently suggests that the subsurface cells affect both the production and growth behaviors. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

哀牢山木果柯林及退化植被下土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用

采用封顶埋管法,我们于11月21日至次年4月15日,分3个培养期共165天(包括干季初期、中期和末期),对哀牢山原生木果柯林(Lithocarpusxylocarpusforest)、栎类次生林(secondary oakforest)和人工茶叶地(teaplantation)三种群落类型的土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用进行了研究.结果表明:在3个培养期中,不同群落下土壤的氮素矿化和硝化作用都具有明显差异;而且它们均具有明显的干季动态,但变化趋势不尽相同.净氨化速率远高于净硝化速率,后者约为前者的0.5%～10%.结果表明,培养期、群落类型和样方诸因子对净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率的影响均存在不同程度的交互作用.人为干扰能导致氮素矿化和硝化速率等生态系统过程的变化,我们的研究结果为此提供了证据支持.与木果柯原始林相比,茶地和次生林的氮素转化过程更多地受物理因素的控制(如温度和水分).这意味着哀牢山地区的木果柯原始林的保护应该受到重视.     

哀牢山木果柯林及退化植被下土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用(英文)

采用封顶埋管法,我们于11月对21至次年4月15日,分3个培养期共165天(包括干季初期、中期和末期),对哀牢山原生本果柯林(Lithocarpus xylocarpus forest)、栎类次生林(sccondary oak forest)和人工茶叶地(tea planation)三种群落类型的土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用进行了研究。结果表明:在3个培养期中,不同群落下土壤的氮素矿化和硝化作用都具有明显差异;而且它们均具有明显的干季动态,但变化趋势不尽相同。净氨化速率远高于净硝化速率,后者约为前者的0.5％～10％。结果表明,培养期、群落类型和样方诸因子对净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率的影响均存在不同程度的交互作用。人为干扰能导致氮素矿化和硝化速率等生态系统过程的变化,我们的研究结果为此提供了证据支持。与木果柯原始林相比,茶地和次生林的氮素转化过程更多地受物理因素的控制(如温度和水分)。这意味着哀牢山地区的木果柯原始林的保护应该受到重视。     

气体交换与荧光同步测量估算植物光合电子流的分配

光合电子流分配是植物光合控制的一个重要环节。然而,传统电子流分配的计算方法存在诸多问题尚未引起人们的注意,如:(1)低估了光呼吸每释放一个CO2分子所消耗的电子数;(2)混淆了相对电子传递速率和绝对电子传递速率;(3)忽略了除碳同化和光呼吸外的其他电子流分配途径;(4)难以准确获取光下暗呼吸速率值,从而导致碳同化电子流(JC)及光呼吸速率(Rp)的不准确估算等。以小麦和大豆气体交换与荧光同步测量数据为例,结果表明大豆电子传递速率与碳同化两者对光强的响应一致性较好,同时达到最大值;而小麦的一致性相对较差,说明电子传递速率和碳同化并非完全一致,推测认为有可能与作物对同化产物输出的模式不同有关。通过光呼吸速率换算出的电子流(12×Rp)与实际测量电子流(ΔJO)之间存在较大的差异;另外,传统方法估算出的光呼吸速率(估算值)与光呼吸测量值之间也存在较大差异,分析认为这主要是由于绝对光合速率与相对电子传递速率之间差异造成。     

Optimizing the statistical estimation of the parameters of the Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry model of photosynthesis

The model of Farquhar, von Caemmerer and Berry is the standard in relating photosynthetic carbon assimilation and concentration of intercellular CO(2). The techniques used in collecting the data from which its parameters are estimated have been the object of extensive optimization, but the statistical aspects of estimation have not received the same attention. The model segments assimilation into three regions, each modeled by a distinct function. Three parameters of the model, namely the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylation (V(c max)), the rate of electron transport (J), and nonphotorespiratory CO(2) evolution (R(d)), are customarily estimated from gas exchange data through separate fitting of the component functions corresponding to the first two segments. This disjunct approach is problematic in requiring preliminary arbitrary subsetting of data into sets believed to correspond to each region. It is shown how multiple segments can be estimated simultaneously, using the entire data set, without predetermination of transitions by the investigator. Investigation of the number of parameters that can be estimated in the two-segment model suggests that, under some conditions, it is possible to estimate four or even five parameters, but that only V(c max), J, and R(d), have good statistical properties. Practical difficulties and their solutions are reviewed, and software programs are provided.     

Growth and dry-mass partitioning in tomato as affected by phosphorus nutrition and light

We studied the effects of phosphorus (P) and light on the physiological and morphological components of growth of young tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Capita). The importance of dry‐mass partitioning and starch accumulation in explaining the effects of P limitation on growth was examined more closely. Plants were grown at a wide range of exponential P supply rates (between 70 and 320 mg g^?1 d^?1) and one free‐access treatment (1 mm ). Two light levels (70 and 300 µmol m^?2 s^?1) were applied. Growth response coefficients (GRCs) were calculated to address the importance of different growth parameters in explaining relative growth rate (RGR). At both light levels, net assimilation rate (NAR) was more important than leaf area ratio (LAR) in explaining the effects of P on growth as indicated by GRCs. At less severe P limitation, LAR became more important and NAR less important. Dry‐mass partitioning to both roots and leaves played a minor role in determining the effects of P limitation on growth as indicated by low GRCs. The increase in starch at mild P limitation showed that the assimilate supply was not limiting. At severe P limitation, the rate of photosynthesis was decreased, as suggested by the decrease in starch accumulation.