植物类胡萝卜素生物合成及其相关基因在基因工程中的应用

近年来类胡萝卜素生物合成基因的分离与功能鉴定,为应用基因工程技术改变植物体内类胡萝卜素成份和提高类胡萝卜素含量提供了新的基因资源.有关类胡萝卜素合成的生物化学及其在体内调控研究的新进展,使通过遗传操作调控植物体内类胡萝卜素生物合成途径成为可能.该文综述了类胡萝卜素生物合成途径及其相关基因的研究现状,并结合作者的工作介绍了应用转基因技术改变植物体内类胡萝卜素成份与含量的最新成功的事例.     

菌根真菌在生态系统中的作用

 菌根是一种植物营养根与土壤真菌形成的共生体,在自然界中分布广泛。本文着重从以下几个方面介绍相关的研究进展：1) 菌根真菌作为生态系统的重要组成部分,具有不可忽视的生物量,并成为连接绿色植物和食真菌者食物链的重要一环;2) 菌根真菌通过参与凋落物的酶降解过程影响有机物的循环,通过促进生物固氮、加速土壤磷的风化、提高土壤溶液离子的有效性以及直接吸收等过程影响氮、磷、钾、钙、镁等元素的无机循环;3) 菌根真菌与土壤微生物间存在有益的或拮抗的相互作用,并可以直接或间接地影响根际生物区系的组成和数量;菌根真菌通过对宿主植物的有益作用而影响植物的种间竞争,通过菌根网络而形成的种团可以在同种或不同种植物间实现资源的重新分配和共享;由于对种间关系的作用和对食物链的影响,菌根真菌对群落的物种构成和多样性的维持具有重要的作用;菌根真菌是群落演替过程的指示者,也是这一过程的参与者和推动者,并且菌根真菌的存在也有利于提高土壤团聚体的稳定性及促进灰壤的形成;4) 菌根真菌的种类和数量可以指示生态系统中自然的或人类活动引起的变化,并可以在生态系统的保护、恢复或重建过程中发挥重要作用。文章的最后还介绍了最新的研究热点和发展趋势。     

环境条件对植物稳定碳同位素组成的影响

植物稳定碳同位素技术是近年兴起的一项快速、可靠的技术。利用稳定碳同位素技术可以揭示碳同化的过程的许多方面的信息。1 3C和1 2 C同位素效应 ,使它们在进行碳循环时发生稳定碳同位素的分馏。植物光合作用过程中CO2 经气孔扩散分差和RUBPCase及PEPCase羧化分馏是造成植物稳定碳同位素比率 (R =1 3C/ 1 2 C)不同于源CO2 中碳同位素比率的主要原因。遗传因素和环境因子同时决定植物碳同位素组成。植物稳定碳同位素技术同时还是古气候重建和预测未来环境变化的理论基础。本文综述了光照、温度、水分、二氧化碳、矿质营养、盐分和大气污染物等环境因素对植物稳定碳同位素组成影响方面的研究进展。     

环境条件对植物稳定碳同位素组成的影响

植物稳定碳同位素技术是近年兴起的一项快速、可靠的技术。利用稳定碳同位素技术可以揭示碳同化的过程的许多方面的信息。13C和12C同位素效应,使它们在进行碳循环时发生稳定碳同位素的分馏。植物光合作用过程中CO2经气孔扩散分差和RUBPCase及PEPCase羧化分馏是造成植物稳定碳同位素比率(R=13C/12C)不同于源CO2中碳同位素比率的主要原因。遗传因素和环境因子同时决定植物碳同位素组成。植物稳定碳同位素技术同时还是古气候重建和预测未来环境变化的理论基础。本文综述了光照、温度、水分、二氧化碳、矿质营养、盐分和大气污染物等环境因素对植物稳定碳同位素组成影响方面的研究进展。     

海南岛的外来植物

通过对海南岛野生或半野生外来入侵植物的调查,报道了153种外来植物,并对近年来在海南岛大面积分布而未报道过的入侵种进行简要介绍。对海南外来植物种类组成、原产地、生活型与危害程度的分析发现:(1)外来植物中有66.67%来自美洲,美洲种的96%为热带美洲成分,几乎所有来自美洲的草本植物往往成为遍布海南各地农田、果园、胶林、草地的有害杂草;(2)外来草本与藤本植物具有较强的入侵能力和较大的危害;(3)绝大多数草本与藤本植物常形成单一优势群落,破坏平地、低丘陵原有的生态系统。     

Floristic changes in shallow soft waters i n relation to underlying environmental factors

SUMMARY 1. Historical and recent data on the occurrence of macrophytes in twenty-eight lentic soft waters in The Netherlands are summarized. These waters were, and a few still are, characterized by a submerged vegetation of isoetid plants. Changes in the species composition of macrophytes are visualized by means of multivariate analysis and by shifts in species-spectra.
2. Ordination of the available data shows that the pH, alkalinity, acidity, contents of heavy metals, dissolved organic matter and some important salts and nutrients in water and interstitial water are strongly related to the recent distribution of aquatic plants in waters, which were originally of low alkalinity. In addition, the available inorganic carbon and the redox potential in the sediment are also important environmental parameters in explaining differences in aquatic vegetation.
3. The recorded changes in the macrophyte species composition can be attributed to the effects of acidification and eutrophication. The most important, overall change is a reduction of the number of species.
4. Hydrology proves to be important in controlling the sensitivity of a body of water for acidifying deposition.     

Abiotic and Biotic Stresses and Changes in the Lignin Content and Composition in Plants

Lignin is a polymer of phenylpropanoid compounds formed through a complex biosynthesis route, represented by a metabolic grid for which most of the genes involved have been sequenced in several plants, mainly in the model-plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus. Plants are exposed to different stresses, which may change lignin content and composition. In many cases, particularly for plant-microbe interactions, this has been suggested as defence responses of plants to the stress. Thus, understanding how a stressor modulates expression of the genes related with lignin biosynthesis may allow us to develop study-models to increase our knowledge on the metabolic control of lignin deposition in the cell wall. This review focuses on recent literature reporting on the main types of abiotic and biotic stresses that alter the biosynthesis of lignin in plants.     

旅游干扰对九寨沟冷杉林下植物种类组成及多样性的影响

为揭示旅游活动对自然保护区生态环境的影响,作者选择九寨沟原始森林与草海两个景点,分别调查了每个景点内旅游干扰地段与未干扰地段岷江冷杉(Abiesfargesiivar.faxoniana)林林下植物种类组成的数量特征(重要值、频度、密度、盖度和高度)及物种多样性,分析了干扰对林下植物种类组成与物种多样性的影响及其差异性。结果表明:(1)旅游干扰显著改变了林下植物物种组成:耐荫喜湿的乡土植物局部消失,而喜旱耐扰动的植物种群扩大,外来和伴人植物种群侵入。(2)在原始森林景点,较重的旅游干扰明显降低了灌木与苔藓植物的频度和盖度,显著抑制了灌木与苔藓植物发育(高度、密度降低);在草海景点,较轻度的干扰只抑制了苔藓植物盖度,而灌木与草本植物没有受到显著影响,表明苔藓对旅游干扰强度更为敏感,同时也表明群落物种组成可以比频度、高度、盖度和密度更好地表达群落受干扰程度。综合分析表明,九寨沟旅游干扰与世界自然遗产保护目标即生物多样性保护有明显冲突,需要进一步强化管理,限制旅游干扰活动。     

Nutrient composition of soil and plants may predict the distribution and abundance of specialist insect herbivores: implications for agent selection in weed biological control

Abstract  Refining the process of selecting specialist herbivores that are used as biological control agents to maximise effects on the targets can diminish the risk to non-target species. While biotic factors (e.g. plant demography and agent–host interactions) have been explored for clues to improve the way we make agent selection decisions, recent ecological research indicates that abiotic factors related to the habitat (e.g. plant and soil nutrient composition, and soil characteristics) are important predictors of insect herbivore community composition. In this paper we explore the relevance of plant nutrient composition to aid in selecting agents for the invasive Eurasian perennial Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge) in Illinois, USA. We propose that an approach that compares such abiotic factors across the native and invaded ranges of plants in conjunction with the community composition of specialist herbivores in the native range may yield valuable clues in selecting agents that are most likely to establish and regulate populations of the target weed.     

Lignin genetic engineering

Although lignins play important roles in plants, they often represent an obstacle to the utilization of plant biomass in different areas: pulp industry, forage digestibility. The recent characterization of different lignification genes has stimulated research programmes aimed at modifying the lignin profiles of plants through genetic engineering (antisense and sense suppression of gene expression). The first transgenic plants with a modification of monomeric composition of lignins and lignin content have been recently obtained. Down regulation of the OMT gene induces dramatic reduction of syringyl units. CAD down regulated plants exhibit a unusual red phenotype associated with the developing xylem and several chemical modifications of their lignins including an increase in cinnamaldehydes in the polymer structure. Interestingly this novel lignin is removed more easily during the pulping process. In both OMT and CAD down regulated plants no changes in phenotypic characteristics such as growth architecture and morphology were observed. More recent experiments have shown that a reduction of CCR activity determines specific changes in the coloration of the xylem area suggesting significant chemical modifications which are currently being studied.These different results show that it is possible to manipulate lignins through targeted genetic transformation of plants and that lignins exhibit a relative flexibility of their chemical structure. Future developments should probe the impact of down regulating the expression of other recently characterized lignification genes such as F5H and CCoAOMT and also of a combination of genes in order to tailor lignins more adapted to specific purposes. In addition to biotechnological applications which should provide important economical benefits for utilization of wood in the pulp industry, genetic engineering of lignins offer very promising perspectives for the understanding of lignin synthesis, structure and properties.     

Constant change: dynamic regulation of membrane transport by calcium signalling networks keeps plants in tune with their environment

Despite substantial variation and irregularities in their environment, plants must conform to spatiotemporal demands on the molecular composition of their cytosol. Cell membranes are the major interface between organisms and their environment and the basis for controlling the contents and intracellular organization of the cell. Membrane transport proteins (MTPs) govern the flow of molecules across membranes, and their activities are closely monitored and regulated by cell signalling networks. By continuously adjusting MTP activities, plants can mitigate the effects of environmental perturbations, but effective implementation of this strategy is reliant on precise coordination among transport systems that reside in distinct cell types and membranes. Here, we examine the role of calcium signalling in the coordination of membrane transport, with an emphasis on potassium transport. Potassium is an exceptionally abundant and mobile ion in plants, and plant potassium transport has been intensively studied for decades. Classic and recent studies have underscored the importance of calcium in plant environmental responses and membrane transport regulation. In reviewing recent advances in our understanding of the coding and decoding of calcium signals, we highlight established and emerging roles of calcium signalling in coordinating membrane transport among multiple subcellular locations and distinct transport systems in plants, drawing examples from the CBL‐CIPK signalling network. By synthesizing classical studies and recent findings, we aim to provide timely insights on the role of calcium signalling networks in the modulation of membrane transport and its importance in plant environmental responses.     

Strong indication of an extinction‐based saturation of the flora on the Pacific Robinson Crusoe Islands

Oceanic islands are vulnerable ecosystems and their flora has been under pressure since the arrival of the first humans. Human activities and both deliberately and inadvertently introduced biota have had and continue to have a severe impact on island endemic plants. The number of alien plants has increased nearly linearly on many islands, perhaps resulting in extinction‐based saturation of island floras. Here, we provide evidence for such a scenario in Alejandro Selkirk, Robinson Crusoe Islands (Archipelago Juan Fernández, Chile). We compared species richness and species composition of historical vegetation samples from 1917 with recent ones from 2011. Changes in species’ relative occurrence frequency were related to their taxonomic affiliation, dispersal mode, distribution status, and humidity and temperature preferences. While total species richness of vascular plants remained relatively similar, species composition changed significantly. Plants endemic to the Robinson Crusoe Islands declined, exotic species increased substantially within the period of ca. 100 years. Further, the relative occurrence frequency of plants with preferences for very warm and humid climate decreased, while the opposite was found for plants preferring drier and colder environments. Potential drivers responsible for this dramatic shift in the vegetation within only one century might have been the large goat population affecting especially small populations of endemic plants and climatic changes. Taking into account a substantial extinction debt, we expect further shifts in the vegetation of this small oceanic island toward alien plants. This would have significant negative consequences on global biodiversity, considering that island floras contribute substantially to global plant species richness due to their high proportion of endemics.     

Equivalence in the strength of deer herbivory on above and below ground communities

Herbivores exert a strong influence on the species composition and richness of plant communities, but the magnitude of their effect on belowground communities remains poorly understood. While an increasing number of studies acknowledge the importance of documenting belowground effects of herbivores, very few of these evaluate variation in the strength of the response from aboveground to belowground communities. Our study documents the long-term consequences of sustained deer herbivory for plant and arthropod communities adjacent to 15 exclosures that have been in place since 1996. We hypothesized that herbivory would alter the composition and diversity of communities, but the strength of the effects of herbivory would weaken from plants, to leaf-litter invertebrates, and to belowground microarthropod communities. First, we found that herbivory negatively impacted plant seedling and sapling abundance and performance, reduced the abundance of ants and the taxonomic richness of arthropods in the litter layer and reduced the richness of soil microarthropod communities. Second, in contrast to our hypothesis, the magnitude of effect size did not vary among trophic levels, indicating that effects of deer herbivory cascade from plants to the leaf-litter and soil arthropod communities with equal strength. While much recent research has focused on how specific traits of plants may mediate the effects of herbivory on associated species, our results suggest that indirect effects of herbivory might influence many components of belowground communities.     

Feedback from the wall

The ability of cells to perceive changes in the composition and mechanical properties of their cell wall is crucial for plants to achieve coordinated growth and development. Evidence is accumulating to show that the plant cell wall, like its yeast counterpart, is capable of triggering multiple signalling pathways. The components of the cell wall that are responsible for initiating these signal responses remain unknown; however, recent technological advances in cell wall analysis may now facilitate the identification of these components and accelerate the characterisation of changes that occur in cell wall mutants.     

Parasitic plants—impacts on nutrient cycling

Whilst it is widely accepted that different plant species influence ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, we are still far from understanding and predicting the effects of changes in vegetation composition on biogeochemical cycles. Ameloot E, Verlinden G, Boeckx P, Verheyen K, Hermy M. Impact of hemiparasitic Rhinanthus angustifolius and Rhinanthus minor on nitrogen availability in grassland (this issue) examine, for the first time, the impact of root hemiparasitic plants on in-situ nitrogen dynamics in intact field vegetation, using ¹⁵N techniques. This represents an important step forward in elucidating the unusual roles of parasitic plants in ecosystem function, and builds on a small set of recent studies indicating that parasitic plants have the potential to substantially alter the quantity and quality of resources returned to the soil by the plant community. These results reinforce the need to include parasitic plants in community and ecosystem theory, and emphasise that understanding the roles of parasitic plants in ecosystems is relevant for understanding ecosystem dynamics in a changing world.     

Attracting friends to feast on foes: engineering terpene emission to make crop plants more attractive to herbivore enemies

When attacked by herbivorous insects or mites, some plant species call on other arthropods for help. They emit mixtures of volatile compounds, dominated by terpenes, to attract carnivorous arthropods that prey on or parasitise herbivores and so reduce further damage. This fascinating defence strategy offers a new, environmentally friendly approach to crop protection. Using recent advances in the biochemistry and molecular genetics of terpene biosynthesis, it should now be possible to engineer crop plants that release terpenes for attracting herbivore enemies. By introducing or selectively altering the existing rate of terpene emission and composition, plant breeders could enable attacked plants to attract enemies and reduce additional herbivory, without compromising the effectiveness of other modes of defence.     

人为源微生物气溶胶的分布特征及风险研究进展

近年来,新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情全球肆虐,引起了公众对于微生物气溶胶潜在风险的极大关注,其中人为源微生物气溶胶潜在的健康危害逐步成为越来越多学者关注的热点之一。本文综述了近年来4类主要人为源微生物气溶胶的研究现状,比较了不同人为源微生物气溶胶的分布特征和微生物组成特性,并探究了影响微生物气溶胶特征的主要因素及其存在的潜在风险。结果表明,畜禽养殖场微生物气溶胶平均浓度最高,其次是污水处理厂和垃圾填埋场,医院最低。从微生物组成特性来说,不同人为源微生物气溶胶中微生物组成与其产生源密切相关;同时,其组成也受其所处环境条件影响。基于以上分析,本文进一步展望了未来人为源微生物气溶胶的主要研究方向,以期为微生物气溶胶控制标准的制定及控制技术的研发奠定基础。     

Role of LysM receptors in chitin-triggered plant innate immunity

Recent research findings clearly indicate that lysin motif (LysM)-containing cell surface receptors are involved in the recognition of specific oligosaccharide elicitors (chitin and peptidoglycan), which trigger an innate immunity response in plants. These receptors are either LysM-containing receptor-like kinases (LYKs) or LysM-containing receptor proteins (LYPs). In Arabidopsis, five LYKs (AtCERK1/AtLYK1 and AtLYK2–5) and three LYPs (AtLYP1–3) are likely expressed on the plasma membrane. In this review, we summarize recent research results on the role of these receptors in plant innate immunity, including the recent structural characterization of AtCERK1 and composition of the various receptor complexes in Arabidopsis.