Uptake and distribution of macro-nutrients in trees of Coffea arabica L. in Kenya as affected by seasonal climatic differences and the presence of fruits

Young to mature, conventionally managed, single-stem, deblossomed and fruiting Arabica coffee trees growing in a fertile lateritic clay loam at Ruiru, were uprooted at 2- to 3-monthly intervals between February 1967 and June 1968. Each was divided into ten parts which were dried, weighed, completely ground, and analysed for organic-N, and total P, K, Ca and Mg. Mature trees took up about 100 g N, 6 g P, 100 g K, 35 g Ca and 10 g Mg each per annum, of which 8-29 % (depending on the element) would be removed in an average crop of fruits, and 50-81 % returned to the soil in prunings and fallen leaves. About half the P and K in senescing leaves was returned to the tree. N, K, Ca and Mg uptake by deblossomed trees was relatively rapid when they produced a large post-drought ‘flush’ of shoot growth in February-April 1967. Thereafter uptake kept pace with changes in dry weight, and the concentration of N, K, Ca and Mg in the tree parts changed relatively little. By contrast, P-uptake was relatively rapid over the cool, dry season 1967 (June-September), when the roots < 1 mm diameter grew rapidly, and during the subsequent Short Rains, but was slow during the hot, dry season 1968 (December-March) when the surface 2-3 ft of soil dried out. The concentration of P in the trees changed accordingly, especially in the branches. The flower buds took 39 % of the small total P-uptake during the hot, dry season 1968. Trees bearing a light or moderate crop of fruits absorbed all the minerals determined more rapidly than deblossomed trees. The fruits on heavily fruiting trees took 89,95,98 and 99 % of the net current increment in Mg, K, organic-N and P, respectively, but only 39 % of the Ca. All leaves on the fruiting trees became rich in Ca, and most of their woody parts were depleted of P. Mineral uptake in a coffee plantation is compared with that in plantations of other woody perennial crops, and some practical implications are noted in relation to soil and plant factors affecting the mineral nutrition of coffee in Kenya, with special reference to phosphates.     

Seasonal differences in the pattern of assimilate movement in branches of Coffea arabica L

At Ruiru, Kenya, ¹⁴CO₂ was fed to single leaves at different distances from the apex on branches of mature fruiting and non-fruiting trees of Coffea arabica on six occasions from the Short Rains (November) 1966 to the Long Rains (April-May) 1967. The location of ¹⁴C-labelled assimilates in the treated branches was determined 26 h later by autoradiography. The direction of movement of labelled assimilates indicated large seasonal differences in the relative sink strengths of the shoot tip, fruit and trunk-root systems. On vegetative trees the sink strength of trunk-roots was much smaller, as compared with the shoots, at the beginning of the Long Rains than at the end of the previous Short Rains or in the intervening dry season. Assimilate use by growing fruits did not alter the pattern of distribution of assimilates to the other sinks at the end of the Short Rains, but it did restrict assimilate movement to both shoot tips and trunk-roots at the_ beginning of the Long Rains. In the dry season, virtually all assimilates were utilized by growing fruits when these were present. Vegetative secondary shoots provided assimilates to growing fruits and trunk-roots at the end of the Short Rains and in the dry season. Some practical implications are noted.     

Effects of shading and of seasonal differences in weather on the growth, sugar content and sugar yield of sugar-beet crops

In 1967 and 1968 plots of sugar beet in two identically grown crops were shaded for successive four week periods starting on 13 June, 18 July and 22 August, and the growth of the plants compared with that on unshaded plots. At the beginning of each period in 1967 some shaded and unshaded plants received additional nitrogen, and in 1968 plants continuously shaded from June to September were compared with unshaded plants irrigated to equalize their water losses with those of the shaded plants. The weather in 1967 was sunny and dry and that in 1968 dull and wet, but the yields of dry matter, and particularly of sugar, of the unshaded crop in the 2 years were similar because, although net assimilation rate (E) was greater in 1967 than 1968, mean leaf area index (L) in 1968 was almost double that in the 1967 crop. Shading decreased the incoming radiation by 56%; it decreased E proportionally in 1967, increasing L slightly, but it decreased both E (by 44%) and L in 1968. The weights of dry matter and sugar in the roots of the shaded crop were consistently smaller at the end of shading and at final harvest in October in both years, and their weights, but not those of the tops or the whole plant, at final harvest over all shading treatments in both years were proportional to the amount of radiation received by the crop between June and September. Although shading greatly decreased the supply of photosynthate to the roots, it did not change the sugar content percentage of dry matter, except in the early stages of growth when the sugar content was rapidly increasing. Sugar content percentage of fresh weight of the roots was consistently decreased by shading, wholly because water content was increased relative to dry matter. Therefore the sugar yield of shaded plants was less because the dry weights of the roots were less, not because the partition of photosynthate between sugar storage and root growth changed. There appears to be a mechanism within the root operating over a wide range of photosynthate supply that maintains a nearly constant proportion of sucrose to non-sugar, contrary to the hypothesis that sugar stored in the roots is photosynthate in excess of what can be used in growth of the plant. However, in the extreme condition of continuous shading which drastically decreased the dry weights of all parts of the plant, sugar percentage of dry matter in the roots was decreased, but only from 80 to 70%. In 1967 extra nitrogen applied at the start of shading increased L and the dry weight of the tops in all periods, but had no effect on the dry weight of roots. Because 1968 was a wet year the irrigation treatment had no effect on E or L except for a slight increase in L during the first period; it had no effect on plant dry weight. Both irrigation and additional nitrogen decreased the sugar content percentage of fresh weight of the roots only by altering their water content; sugar percentage of dry matter was unaffected. None of these changes persisted until the final harvest in October.     

Influence of selected carbohydrates on rhizogenesis of shoots saucer magnolia in vitro

Nodal segements were taken from juvenile shoots of mature 100 year-old trees of saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana Soul.-Bod.) and cultured on Standardi and Catalano medium supplemented with 1.33 μmol·dm⁻³ BA, 0.54 μmol·dm⁻³ NAA, 58 μmol·dm⁻³ sucrose and 6.0 g·l⁻¹ agar-agar. After 8 weeks, separated shoots were transferred to rooting medium with half-strength macronutrients (basal medium) supplemented with 0.3% activated charcoal and one of carbohydrates: arabinose, cellulose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose, sorbose, sucrose or xylose at 20 g·dm⁻³ and 7.0 g·dm⁻³ agar-agar. After 13 weeks of culture, shoot number, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, total root length and number of roots/per shoot were recorded. Percentages of rooted shoots were calculated. Fructose, mannose and xylose were the most effective carbon source on shoot proliferation followed by sucrose. The rooting response was induced by cellulose and xylose. Arabinose, rhamnose and sorbose inhibited root formation. The number of adventitious roots produced per shoot was stimulated by cellulose and xylose. Total biomass (shoot plus roots) of the plantlets was the highest at fructose and cellulose.     

Aspects of nitrogen uptake and distribution in maize

The amount of nitrogen (N) taken up after treatment decreased by nearly 50% when either the top five or middle four leaf laminae of maize (Zea mays) plants were removed shortly after flowering, and by 70% when both the middle four and bottom six laminae were removed, but the amount of N moving from the remaining parts of the shoot to the grain did not change much. When all the laminae were removed little N was taken up and only 35% as much N as in untreated plants moved from the shoot to the grain. Removal of all the laminae increased the N content per cent of dry weight of both grain and shoot at final harvest, but the other treatments did not have much effect on the N concentration of any of the parts of the shoot. Plants bearing grain, whether intact or with alternate laminae removed (half-defoliated) at the time of flowering, took up N approximately in proportion to their increase in dry weight during the 4 wk after flowering. The N taken up went to the ear (husks, core and grain) and so did N from the stem and leaves. Intact and half-defoliated plants with no developing grains, because pollination had been prevented, took up no N during this period, though they accumulated about as much dry matter as did plants with grain; the N increment of the husks and core was supplied by the stem and leaves. At final harvest total and grain N content of plants per unit area of land increased by 20 and nearly 30%, respectively, with increase in population between 2·3 and 6·1 plants/m², but apparently fell slightly with further increase of population to 7·4 plants/m². Until shortly after flowering N uptake was rapid enough to maintain similar N contents per cent of dry weight of the parts of the shoot in all populations. Uptake continued at a steady rate, though a slower one than before flowering, until near the time of final harvest in the most widely spaced population. In the denser populations uptake slowed down progressively after flowering, and in the densest population it apparently ceased a few weeks before final harvest. The N concentration of the grain of maturing plants fell with increase of population, but not that of the other parts of the shoot. At final harvest N content of the grain decreased from 1·6% in the most widely spaced to 1·2% in the densest population. That of the rest of the shoot varied between 0·70 and 0·79%. Between 6 and 18 wk after sowing, N content per unit area of green parts of the leaf laminae decreased only slightly, changing from about 20 to 18 mg/dm² with 2·3 plants/m², 18 to 16 mg/dm² with 3·5 plants/m², and 16 to 13 mg/dm² in populations between 4·8-7·4 plants/m².     

喀斯特高原峡谷优势种叶片功能性状分析

该研究对喀斯特石漠化高原峡谷地区优势种的叶片功能性状进行了分析,调查了17种植物的叶片厚度、叶面积、叶片鲜重、叶片干重、叶干物质含量、比叶面积、叶组织密度等能反映植物生存策略且易于测量的叶片功能性状,并采用逐步回归的方法探究了叶片功能性状与土壤养分之间的关系。结果表明:(1)不同优势种叶片功能性状差异明显,叶片的厚度为0.18～0.78 mm、鲜重为0.07～6.51 g、干重为0.04～3.19 g、叶面积为3.07～325.64 cm~2、叶干物质含量为318.61～573.22 mg·g~(-1)、比叶面积为60.98～236.90 cm~2·g~(-1)、叶组织密度为0.022 1～0.036 g·cm~(-3)。(2)植物通过较小的比叶面积与较大的叶干物质含量来减少水分散失、增加养分储存,以适应高温、缺水少土的环境。(3)叶片功能性状之间存在广泛的相关关系,且均达到极显著水平。叶片厚度对鲜重、干重均表现为促进效应,比叶面积与叶干物质含量及叶组织密度之间均存在极显著的抑制效应。(4)叶片功能性状随土壤养分的变化产生规律性变化。土壤全氮、全钾和有机碳对叶片功能性状产生显著影响,尤以土壤有机碳的影响更为显著。进一步分析发现,喀斯特高原峡谷地区植被恢复及重建的优势种或建群种为翅荚香槐、清香木、枇杷等;施用有机肥能够提高花椒、金银花等经济林树种的适应能力。     

Does elevated ozone have differing effects in flowering and deblossomed strawberry?

Fruiting and deblossomed plants of strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) were exposed to 92 ppb ozone or filtered air in open-top chambers for 69 d. Flower and fruit production, relative growth rate of leaf area, leaf gas exchange and plant biomass were investigated. Ozone caused an initial acceleration in inflorescence production, which was followed by a reduction in inflorescence production, fruit set, and, later, individual fruit weight, although total fruit yield was not affected before the end of the fumigation period. Ozone accelerated leaf senescence and had a greater negative effect on the rate of photosynthesis in older than in younger leaves in fruiting and deblossomed plants, but the response of net photosynthesis to ozone did not differ between the two groups of plants. Relative growth rate of leaf area was the first parameter to be reduced by ozone fumigation, with the effect being significant in fruiting, but not in deblossomed, plants. Final above-ground biomass was also significantly decreased by ozone in fruiting plants, but not in deblossomed plants. Root and crown biomass were not significantly affected by ozone fumigation in either fruiting or deblossomed plants.     

大青沟自然保护区主要森林群落优势种的叶性状

植物功能性状是近年来生态学研究的热点。其中叶功能性状与植株生物量和植物对资源的获得、利用及利用效率的关系最为密切。大青沟森林植物群落分布于科尔沁沙地,生境条件非常特殊,在沙沟里存在着一片茂密的森林,与周围浩瀚无垠的沙坨景观形成极为鲜明的对照。从沟底到沟顶,虽然海拔高度仅相差六、七十米,但由于距离沟底水源不同,土壤条件差异大,形成了不同的森林植物群落类型。大果榆群落、蒙古栎群落和水曲柳群落分别分布在大青沟自然保护区的沟顶、沟中和沟底。为了对大青沟自然保护区,不同环境梯度下的森林植物群落叶片功能性状进行研究,以大青沟自然保护区大果榆、蒙古栎、水曲柳3种主要森林群落为研究对象,分别测定不同群落优势种的叶厚度、比叶面积、叶干物质含量、叶大小和叶干重等5项叶功能性状,研究叶功能性状之间的关系,并对不同生长型、不同群落叶功能性状进行比较。相关分析结果表明,叶厚度与比叶面积呈极显著负相关,与叶大小和叶干重呈极显著正相关;比叶面积与叶干物质含量、叶干重呈极显著负相关,与叶大小呈显著正相关;叶干物质含量与叶大小呈极显著负相关,与叶干重呈极显著正相关;叶大小与叶干重呈极显著正相关。不同生长型植物叶片性状的分析表明,草本植物的叶干物质含量比乔木和灌木低,而其比叶面积高于乔木和灌木;对不同群落叶功能性状进行比较发现,大果榆群落和蒙古栎群落乔木、灌木叶厚度与干物质含量显著高于水曲柳群落的叶厚度与干物质含量,二者比叶面积显著低于水曲柳群落。大果榆群落和蒙古栎群落从叶功能性状的角度,它们具有较高的叶干物质含量和较低的比叶面积,体现出适应干旱生境叶片的特征。水曲柳群落呈现出低叶干物质含量、高比叶面积的特征,体现出适应湿润、土壤水分较好生境的特征。不同群落通过调节自身的物种组成,形成不同的功能性状组合来适应环境。     

Levels of Sorbitol in Bleeding Sap and in Xylem Sap in Relation to Leaf Mass and Assimilate Demand in Apple Trees

Removal of fruits and treatment with SADH (succinic acid 2,2-dimethylhydrazide) were used to change the balance between sources and sinks for photosynthates in Malus domestica‘Golden Delicious’. Sorbitol and sugar content were measured in bleeding sap, in xylem sap prepared by suction, and in 80% methanol extracts of the roots. Concentration as well as total amount of sorbitol in bleeding sap sampled in July and September were lower in fruiting than in defruited trees, and so was the total amount of sorbitol in xylem sap from the trunk. SADH treatment tended to reduce the sorbitol content. Sorbitol in root extracts, expressed as percentage of methanol (80%) insoluble root dry matter, was highest in fruiting trees; but root dry matter was here less than half of that in defruited trees. Sorbitol content in xylem sap as well as sorbitol + sugar percentage of roots showed a distinct maximum in late winter followed by a heavy decrease during spring. It is suggested that sorbitol in xylem sap during the growth season represents a return transport from the roots, and that the level of sorbitol in this return transport reflects, to a certain degree, the ratio between leaf area and assimilate demand by the tree.     

The Regulatory Role of Inflorescence Leaves in Fruit-setting by Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

Inflorescence leaves improve fruit set on sweet orange trees. We sought an explanation for this effect in terms of carbon demand by developing fruit versus potential supply from adjacent leaves. Our assessment was based upon measurements of fruit growth, leaf photosynthesis and ¹⁴C distribution patterns in plants grown under controlled conditions. Leafy inflorescences had sufficient foliar surface (1.24 dm²) and photosynthetic capacity (CO₂ 10.1 mg · dm^-2· h^-1) to support early development of fruits on the same shoot, and to make a substantial contribution towards subsequent growth. ¹⁴C-assimilates derived from new leaves were distributed towards adjacent fruit which showed strong competition for labelled substrate. By contrast, fruit borne on leafless inflorescences had to obtain all their assimilates from older leaves whose photosynthetic capacity (CO₂ 3.5–4.6 mg · dm^-2· h^-1) and individual area (0.2 dm²) were generally insufficient to wholly sustain fruit growth, so that a large number of old-leaves were needed; these fruit would be more susceptible to competition from other sinks.     

Seasonal changes of fine root density in the Southern Californian chaparral

Summary Fine root extractions from soil cores of a south facing slope in the Southern Californian chaparral were used to study the dynamics of feeder root growth in a summer-dry area. The studies were concentrated on the root systems of Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glauca, Ceanothus greggii, and Rhus ovata. The total fine root biomass of Adenostoma fasciculatum increased from 0.6 g dm^-3 in early spring to 3.6 g dm^-3 in late summer. Considering the specific soil conditions at this site and earlier gained information on fine root distribution with depth, the value of 3.6 g dm^-3 converts to 1.58 kg m^-2 of ground shaded by the shrub canopy. The observed seasonal biomass increase is mainly due to the accumulation of dead root material in the soil when low soil moisture contents presumably inhibited decomposition processes. The total length of living fine roots also increased during the season, e.g. from 0.8 m dm^-3 to more than 5 m dm^-3 (0.35 km m^-2 to 2.2 km m^-2) in A. fasciculatum. Unusual summer rains in the research year stimulated vigorous fine root growth at a time when the normally low soil moisture would prohibit further fine root growth. The average fine root diameters and total lengths of fine roots beneath one square meter of ground surface allowed an estimate of root area indices (RAI) analogous to the leaf area indices (LAI). The data provide evidence for a significant fine root turnover in the chaparral.     

小兴安岭不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状变异及权衡

随着植株生长,不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状对资源的响应策略存在差异。探究不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间枝叶性状变异及其相关关系,对理解植物功能性状种内和种间变异以及植物对资源的响应策略具有重要意义。以黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林中不同径级（小树、中等树和大树）的喜光树种（白桦Betula platyphylla、枫桦Betula costata）和耐荫树种（春榆Ulmus japonica、紫椴Tilia amurensis、色木槭Acer mono）为研究对象,测定其出叶强度、枝横截面积、枝干重、单叶面积、总叶面积、总叶干重共6个枝叶性状。利用单因素方差（LSD）分析检验不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间其枝、叶性状是否存在显著差异;以标准化主轴估计（SMA）对不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状间相关关系进行分析。结果表明：除枝干重外,耐荫树种枝叶性状均大于喜光树种;不同耐荫性树种大树枝横截面积均最大,中等树叶面积均最小;喜光树种不同径级间枝干重、总叶干重和出叶强度无显著差异,而耐荫树种均存在显著差异。随径级增大,不同耐荫性树种枝横截面积与叶面积均呈正异速生长关系,且除耐荫树种枝横截面积与单叶面积外,均存在共同斜率;不同耐荫性树种出叶强度与单叶面积存在共同斜率为-0.51和0.47,小树和中等树枝横截面积与总叶面积和总叶干重的异速生长指数均与1存在显著差异,而大树与1无显著差异。结果表明：不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间对资源的获取策略存在差异,不同耐荫性树种小树阶段均表现出资源获取策略,大树阶段则表现出资源保守型策略。与耐荫树种相比,喜光树种表现为快速生长策略,而随着径级增大不同耐荫性树种这种差异逐渐消失,本研究结果为森林演替过程中种内和种间的相互作用提供了一个新的视角。     

镍离子对尖叶莴苣氮素吸收和生长生理的影响

以‘全年油麦菜’尖叶莴苣为试验材料,采用水培方式,研究3个浓度(0 mg·L^-1、0.1 mg·L^-1、1 mg·L^-1)Ni²⁺在22.4 mg·L^-1 N处理下对尖叶莴苣氮素吸收的生长及生理影响。结果显示：(1)尖叶莴苣根系和地上部生物量随处理时间的增加呈上升趋势。与对照T₁(0 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、112 mg·L^-1 N)相比,T₂处理(0 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)对尖叶莴苣根系及叶片生长具有一定抑制作用,植株鲜重、干重、根冠比、根系长度、平均直径、表面积、体积、根尖数、分根数、叶片表面积和体积在T3处理(0.1 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)下显著高于对照,T₄处理(1 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)对尖叶莴苣根系及其叶片生长具有一定促进作用,但对其根尖数和分根数表现出一定抑制性。(2)随着Ni²⁺浓度的增加,尖叶莴苣叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量呈先升后降的变化规律,且均在T₃处理下显著提高。(3)随着处理时间的增加,尖叶莴苣叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)逐渐上升,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)逐渐下降,且T₃处理叶片的G_s显著高于对照,其C_i最低,P_n最大。(4)施加Ni²⁺对尖叶莴苣有机酸、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量以及SOD和POD活性有显著影响,在T₃处理下有机酸含量降低,可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量显著增加,SOD和POD活性显著提高。(5)T₃处理尖叶莴苣根系中N及叶片中B和Ca含量较高;根系中Ni含量高于叶片,T₃处理叶片中的Ni含量较低,Mg含量较高;植株体内Cu含量随Ni²⁺浓度增加而下降。研究表明,外源Ni²⁺处理能影响低氮条件下(22.4 mg·L^-1 N)尖叶莴苣幼苗生长及生理状况,适宜浓度(0.1 mg·L^-1)Ni²⁺可有效提高尖叶莴苣根系对氮素的吸收利用效率,减少氮素施用量,促进尖叶莴苣根系和地上部叶片生长,增加光合色素含量,并提高净光合速率,进而改善植株的产量和营养品质。     

Effects of flooding on Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus globulus seedlings

Summary Flooding for up to 40 days induced morphological changes and reduced growth of 6-week-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus globulus seedlings. However, the specific responses to flooding varied markedly between these species and with duration of flooding. Both species produced abundant adventitious roots that originated near the tap root and original lateral roots, but only E. camaldulensis produced adventitious roots on submerged portions of the stem. Flooding induced leaf epinasty and reduced total dry weight increment of seedling of both species but growth of E. globulus was reduced more. In both species dry weight increment of shoots was reduced more than dry weight increment of roots, reflecting compensatory growth of adventitious roots. Adaptation to flooding appeared to be greater in E. camaldulensis than in E. globulus. the importance of formation of adventitious roots in flooding tolerance is emphasized.Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison; CEPEC (Cacao Research Center), Bahia, Brazil; and BMBRAPA (Brazilian Research Institute), Brasilia, Brazil     

Urban tree root systems and their survival near houses analyzed using ground penetrating radar and sap flow techniques

Root systems of two mature Field maple trees (Acer campestre L.) growing in both shaded and non-shaded sites, on clay soil in an urban environment, were analyzed by ground penetrating radar (GPR), light microscope and sap flow techniques. The ground surface above the root systems was covered by asphalt. However, a small piece of garden existed near the non-shaded tree, and root area of roots growing in this direction increased significantly, due to a presumed increase in available water and nutrients. However, no garden was present near the shaded tree, therefore roots remaining under the asphalt surface did not increase in area in any particular direction. Maximum rooting depth of shaded and exposed trees, as determined by GPR, was approximately 1.4 and 1.7 m, respectively. The trees utilized relatively large amounts of water for transpiration, i.e. 65–140 l per fine summer day and in average 10 m³ per growing season. However, transpiration expressed per root surface area (and/or whole root system enveloping area) was practically the same in both trees, i.e. 1 dm³ m^-2 d^-1 or almost 100 dm³ m^-2 per growing season. These figures represented about 50% of potential evapotranspiration when considering projected crown areas. Increased transpiration under long-term high evaporation demands may cause occasional local drying of soil around roots, associated with soil shrinking in clay, which can be followed by serious damage to buildings.     

In vitro selection and characterization of Ni-tolerant callus lines of Setaria italica L

Nickel tolerant callus lines of Setaria italica L. were developed from callus cultures grown on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg·dm⁻³ kinetin+2.0 mg·dm⁻³ 2,4-D+2.0 mg·dm⁻³ Ni⁺². Standard growth parameters such as callus fresh and dry weight, growth tolerance index were used as indicators of nickel toxicity. Measurements as early as 2 weeks after the beginning of the treatments did not yield consistent results. However, growth tolerance index at 4, and 8 weeks after the beginning of treatments yielded significant differences among the non-tolerant and tolerant calli. The tolerant calli has enhanced growth at 2.0 mg·dm⁻³ Ni⁺² while non-tolerant calli showed a reverse trend in growth in the presence of 2.0–2.5 mg·dm⁻³ of nickel. The tolerant calli differentiated into mass of embryogenic calli within 4 weeks of culture which could be maintained for prolonged period without loss of regenerative capacity.     

Responses of Melaleuca quinquenervia seedlings to flooding

Abstract Studies were conducted on effects of flooding for 15, 30, 60, and 90 days on morphological changes, stomatal aperture, water potential, and growth of seedlings of Melaleuca quinquenervia, a species often planted for reclamation of swamps. Flooding rapidly induced formation of many hair-like adventitious roots as well as a few thick adventitious roots that originated on the original root system. Some adventitious roots also formed on submerged portions of the stem. Melaleuca seedlings were very tolerant of flooding as shown by only slight reduction in dry weight increment of shoots after 30 days of flooding in stagnant water. Although flooding for 60 or 90 days significantly reduced dry weight increment of leaves, dry weight increment of roots was not inhibited by any flooding treatment, reflecting both degeneration of some of the original roots and compensatory growth of adventitious roots. On certain days flooding induced stomatal closure on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Extensive production of adventitious roots and some stomatal reopening after a critical period of flooding appeared to be important factors in the flooding tolerance of Melaleuca and are consistent with its aggressiveness and vigorous growth on wet sites.     

The effect of the cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa on the growth and yield of cassava Manihot esculenta in a seasonally dry area in Kenya

The effect of the cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa on the growth and yield of cassava Manihot esculenta was studied over a 10-month period in two field trials near Lake Victoria in Kenya. One plot was maintained free of mites by means of acaricide, while the other was artificially infested.The highest population density of M. tanajoa occurred during the dry season. A maximum leaf area index (LAI) of about 2 was reached at the onset of the dry season. The total leaf area of mite infested plants was reduced compared with uninfested plants during the dry spell. During the following rainy season infested plants recovered and attained the same leaf area as uninfested plants. A multiple regression model predicting the leaf area showed that 58% of the seasonal variation could be explained by plant age, soil water, and leaf injury.The net growth rate of infested plants was lower than that of uninfested plants. Maximum values of 21 (infested plants) and 49 (uninfested plants) g m^-2 week^-1 were attained at the onset of the second rainy season. No difference was found between uninfested and infested plants with respect to net assimilation rates per unit leaf area during the dry season. The net assimilation rates reached a maximum almost at the same time as the growth rates, but the infested plants peaked slightly earlier and at a lower level than the uninfested plants. M. tanajoa did not affect the relative allocation of dry matter into stems and storage roots, but the absolute allocation of dry matter declined with increasing mite injury. Thus, after 10 months the dry matter of infested plants was reduced by 29% and 21% for storage roots and stems, respectively, compared with the uninfested plants.     

Effect of fruiting and drought or flooding on carbon balance of apple trees

The response of fruiting or deblossomed trees to water stress such as drought or flooding was investigated in six semi open-top cuvettes each containing one apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Golden Delicious) tree. Xylem water potentials of leaves dropped from -1.2 to -4.1 MPa within 7 d of drought, the effect being enhanced by fruiting. Apple trees without fruits showed smaller reductions in net photosynthetic rate (P _N ) and dark respiration rate (R _D ) after 2 d of drought and hence more positive carbon balances relative to fruiting trees. Flooding for 4 d had a more pronounced effect on P _N than on transpiration, resulting in a reduced water use efficiency (WUE). This reduction in WUE was greater in the non-fruiting trees. Flooding reduced P _N of the whole apple canopies irrespective of fruiting; aple trees without fruits increased R _D resulting in a less positive carbon balance relative to fruiting trees. Fruiting increased the sensitivity to drought of apple trees (R _D and P _N ), but decreased their sensitivity to flooding (R _D and WUE), suggesting different adaptation mechanisms for the two forms of water stress. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nitrogen storage and remobilization in ash (Fraxinus excelsior) under field and laboratory conditions

 Storage and remobilization of nitrogen (N) were studied in ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) under both field and greenhouse conditions. Experiments in the greenhouse providing ¹⁵N labelled fertilizer to the trees showed that the major quantity of N remobilized during subsequent spring was from the roots, and only a small amount from the stem. This corresponded with a loss of soluble N (proteins and low-molecular-weight compounds) from both roots and stem. On the two field sites, which differed in water availability, there was a decrease in bark N content during leaf growth, but on the dry site net N export from the bark was sustained throughout the whole vegetation period. Remobilized N was derived from soluble proteins and low-molecular-weight compounds on the moist site, which was demonstrated by the seasonal dynamics of a 56 kDa polypeptide in bark and wood. On the dry site, lower contents of soluble proteins were associated with smaller amounts of N remobilized compared to the moist site. Uptake studies of ¹⁵N labelled fertilizer indicated a higher contribution of current uptake to leaf N increment during spring at the dry site compared to the moist site. Differential N availability during the season had a decisive effect on the nitrogen storage dynamics at the two sites. Thus the influence of current N supply on N remobilization and storage as found in the greenhouse-grown plants could be verified under field conditions. Received: 28 July 1995 / Accepted: 17 July 1996