Comparison of the extent of genetic variation of Vallisneria natans and its sympatric congener V. spinulosa in lakes of the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Vallisneria natans and Vallisneria spinulosa are two morphologically very similar and sympatrically dominant submerged macrophytes in lakes of the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Genetic variation was compared based on a total of 196 individuals from six V. natans populations and 201 individuals from seven V. spinulosa populations. Using eight ISSR primers, a total of 139 and 129 DNA fragments were generated with 121 being polymorphic in V. natans and 99 in V. spinulosa. The two species maintained higher genetic variation both at the species and population levels in comparison with other aquatic macrophytes. A higher level of genetic diversity among populations was found in V. natans than in V. spinulosa: the percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) in V. natans was 52-62% vs. 38-47% in V. spinulosa; gene diversity (H) was 0.21 in V. natans vs. 0.17 in V. spinulosa.Both an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and F-estimation (F_ST) showed that most of the total genetic variation resided within populations of both species (AMOVA: 85% and 80%; F_ST: 0.132 and 0.202), indicating low genetic differentiation between populations. Principal coordinates analysis (PCA) indicated evident gene flow between populations of both species. The outcrossing reproductive mode and pervasive gene flow might have played important roles in maintaining high genetic diversity and in shaping low population differentiation of the two Vallisneria species, while the extent of clonal growth might account for the different levels of population divergence between them.     

外源GA3对紫斑牡丹幼苗叶片解剖结构与光合特性及内源激素含量的影响

以1年生紫斑牡丹幼苗为试验材料,采用不同浓度(0、100、300、500 mg/L)赤霉素(GA_3)喷施叶片处理,通过透射电镜、扫描电镜、光学显微镜观察幼苗叶片解剖结构,光合仪测定幼苗光合参数并以酶联免疫吸附法测叶片内源激素含量,探究外源GA_3对紫斑牡丹幼苗叶片解剖结构、光合特性和内源激素水平的影响。结果表明:(1)低浓度GA_3处理的紫斑牡丹叶肉细胞增大,栅栏组织外层细胞中叶绿体数量增加,高浓度GA_3处理则与之相反;GA_3处理叶片的栅栏组织/海绵组织比值(P/S)、组织结构紧密度(CTR)均下降,而其组织结构疏松度(SR)增加;GA_3处理的幼苗叶片的叶肉细胞内各叶绿体大小显著大于对照,随着GA_3处理浓度增加,紫斑牡丹叶肉细胞内叶绿体的体积趋于增大,类囊体垛叠凝聚逐渐松散,叶绿体上淀粉颗粒在300 mg/L GA_3处理中较明显;叶片气孔长度、宽度、气孔器大小、气孔开度和气孔密度随着GA_3浓度升高先升高后下降,同时叶片上表皮角质层厚度随GA_3浓度的升高而增加。(2)紫斑牡丹叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(Cond)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、水分利用率(WUE)在100和300 mg/L GA_3处理下大都显著高于对照,且300 mg/L GA_3处理显著高于其余处理,而其在500 mg/L GA_3处理下显著低于对照。(3)紫斑牡丹叶片脱落酸(ABA)和吲哚乙酸(IAA)含量均在500 mg/L GA_3下显著高于对照,而在其余浓度处理下不同程度低于对照,叶片内源玉米素核苷(ZR)和GA_3含量均在300 mg/L GA_3处理下显著高于其余处理和对照,而其余处理相比对照均无显著变化;叶片的ZR/ABA、ZR/IAA、ZR/GA_3和(IAA+GA_3+ZR)/ABA比值都在300 mg/L GA_3处理下显著高于其他处理,叶片的IAA/ABA和ABA/GA_3比值均在500 mg/L GA_3处理下显著高于其他处理。研究发现,适宜浓度外源GA_3处理,能显著提高紫斑牡丹幼苗叶片光合速率、水分利用效率及蒸腾速率,调节植物体内源激素的含量及平衡,从而使叶片能合成较多有机物,促进幼苗生长。     

中国沙棘克隆生长对灌水强度的响应规律及其激素调控机制

关于中国沙棘克隆生长调节研究目前局限于外在机制,旨在探讨其克隆生长对灌水强度的响应规律及其激素调控的内在机制。结果表明:随着灌水强度的增大,分株生长、克隆繁殖、克隆扩散能力先升后降,IAA(吲哚-3-乙酸)、ZR(玉米素核苷)、GA_3(赤霉酸)含量及其与ABA(脱落酸)的比值先升后降而ABA含量先降后升。同时,分株生长、克隆繁殖、克隆扩散能力与IAA、ZR、GA_3含量以及IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、GA_3/ABA呈极显著或显著正相关,与ABA含量呈极显著负相关。灌水强度过小或过大,IAA、ZR、GA_3含量以及IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、GA_3/ABA低而ABA含量高,克隆生长潜力受到抑制,种群以分株小、数量少(分布稀疏)、扩散(水平根延伸和分枝)能力弱为特征,克隆生长格局倾向于"游击型"、种群早衰概率高;灌水强度适宜,IAA、ZR、GA_3含量以及IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、GA_3/ABA高而ABA含量低,克隆生长潜力得以充分发挥,种群以分株大、数量多(分布密集)、扩散能力强为特征,克隆生长格局倾向于"聚集型"、种群稳定性高。随着灌水强度过小-适宜-过大的连续变化,中国沙棘通过改变激素状况调控克隆生长,从而形成与灌水强度相适应的克隆生长格局连续体"游击型-聚集型-游击型",种群稳定性呈"低-高-低"的连续变化过程。由此可见:灌水强度诱导内源激素发生改变,激素特征调控克隆生长格局,克隆生长格局决定种群稳定性。     

Seed germination of three species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vallisneria</Emphasis> (Hydrocharitaceae), and the effects of freshwater microalgae

Two experiments were conducted to investigate seed germination under natural temperature and light regimes and to evaluate the influence of freshwater microalgae on seed germination of threeVallisneria species. Seeds exposed to natural seasonal temperature and light changes for 24 months germinated only in spring, perhaps indicating an annual dormancy/non-dormancy cycle. The ecological background of the natural habitat seems to play predominant roles in seed germinability. Mean cumulative seed germination percentages of Vallisneria natans, V. denseserrulata, andV.spinulosa of the first year were 35.2, 19.2, and 11.2%, respectively, and of the second year were 80, 72, and 32.4%, respectively. Germination rates differed significantly among the three Vallisneria species exposed to natural seasonal temperature and light changes in the first year, but differed only between Vallisneria spinulosa and the other two species in the second year. The differences of germination may influence the geographical distribution and thus be related to different survival strategies of the species. Seed germination rates in culture solution inoculated with algae were significantly higher than in solution with no algae. A strong correlation occurred between total biomass of freshwater microalgae and seed germination of the three studied species. Apparently, the extracellular products of freshwater microalgae may play an important role in seed germination. These results support the hypothesis that Vallisneria colonization may be mediated by algae facilitation.     

外源赤霉素对紫斑牡丹种子萌发的影响

以紫斑牡丹种子为试验材料,研究不同浓度的赤霉素(GA_3)处理对种子生根以及生根过程中营养物质、酶活性和内源激素水平变化的影响,为探讨紫斑牡丹种子萌发机制提供依据。结果表明:(1)GA_3处理能够促进种子生根,并以300 mg/L GA_3处理对种子生根效果最好,与对照相比可提前14.67 d生根,生根率可达71.00%。(2)与对照相比,GA_3处理可以在0～15 d时促进种子淀粉水解和可溶性糖的积累,并加速可溶性蛋白的消耗,在0～30 d促进过氧化物酶(POD)活性的提高,从而促进种子萌发生根。(3)在种子沙藏生根过程中,种子脱落酸(ABA)含量呈下降趋势,赤霉素(GA)、玉米素核苷(ZR)和吲哚乙酸(IAA)含量均表现出先上升后下降的趋势,与对照相比,GA_3处理可使种子GA、ZR和IAA的含量在沙藏前期明显上升,以解除种子休眠。研究发现,外源GA_3处理可以调控紫斑牡丹种子内源激素含量和POD活性的变化,促进营养物质转化,从而提前解除种子休眠使其萌发。     

不同光照强度下物种组合对沉水植物苦草种间关系的影响

为了解种间关系对沉水植物群落结构的影响，在不同光照(20%自然光和50%自然光)和不同物种组合下，研究了长江中下游常见优势沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria natans)与黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)和穗状狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)的相互作用。结果表明，在低光下，苦草与穗状狐尾藻混种时，苦草生物量、株高和叶数均没有明显变化，当穗状狐尾藻的比例较高时，苦草根长生长受到抑制，根叶比呈下降趋势；在高光下，穗状狐尾藻比例的增加会促进苦草单株生物量和叶生物量的增加，而对苦草株高、根长和叶数无显著影响；与黑藻混种相比，苦草与穗状狐尾藻混种时，苦草的株高、根长和叶数均无显著差异，而苦草的单株生物量和叶生物量均呈降低趋势。因此，物种组合和混种比例均会影响苦草与其他物种的相互作用关系，进而影响沉水植被的群落动态。     

不同成花量金花茶花果期果枝叶内源激素的变化

该研究采用ISSR分子标记,对黄枝油杉7个自然种群的遗传多样性进行了分析。结果表明：用12条ISSR引物对218个黄枝油杉个体进行扩增,共扩增出125个位点。在物种水平上,多态性位点百分数( PPL)为100.00％,Shannon信息多样性指数( I)为0.4177,Nei’ s基因多样性指数( H)为0.2666;在种群水平上,多态性位点百分数(PPL)在71.20％~92.00％之间,平均值为80.69％,Shannon信息多样性指数(I)在0.3273~0.3886之间,平均值为0.3548,Nei’ s基因多样性指数( H)在0.2139~0.2478之间,平均值为0.2291。这说明黄枝油杉在物种水平和种群水平上均显示出较高的遗传多样性。 Nei’ s遗传多样性分析( Gst＝0.1433)和AMOVA分析(Φst＝17.91％)表明,黄枝油杉的遗传变异主要存在于种群内,种群间的遗传分化程度较低,种群间保持一定的基因交流( Nm＝2.9890>1)。 Mantel分析显示,黄枝油杉种群间的遗传距离和地理距离之间不存在显著的相关关系( r＝0.4567, P＝0.0610>0.05)。     

水培条件下不同磷水平对毛竹实生苗生长发育的影响

以毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)实生苗为材料,采用Hoagland营养液水培方法,研究不同磷浓度下毛竹生长、根系发育、激素含量等的差异。结果表明:磷浓度较低时,可以促进毛竹实生苗根系长度及根系总表面积的增长。随着磷浓度的增加,实生苗生物量干重及根冠比呈先上升后下降趋势,磷浓度为1 mmol L-1时达到最大。无磷处理时,根中的IAA、ZR、GA3和ABA等4种内源激素含量随着处理时间的延长均先升高再降低;其他浓度磷处理根中IAA、ZR和GA3(0.5 mmol L-1磷除外)含量随着处理时间的延长大致呈先降低后升高的趋势,而ABA(0.5 mmol L-1磷除外)含量随着处理时间的延长变化不明显。不同浓度磷处理,叶片中IAA、GA3和ABA含量总体上呈下降趋势,ZR含量总体上呈上升趋势。以上结果表明不同浓度的磷处理对毛竹内源激素含量的变化有显著的影响,而内源激素含量变化与毛竹实生苗根系变化密切相关。     

苦草对砷的富集作用

为了探求合适的水体砷污染修复植物及砷在食物链中传递、累积的特点,以常见的沉水植物-苦草为研究对象,对受砷污染的水体进行修复,结果表明:苦草对水环境中砷的富集能在较短的时间内(3 d)达到一个较大值,到第14天,不同砷水平(2 mg/L)处理下的苦草对砷富集系数均超过200;苦草中砷浓度随处理时间及外源砷浓度的增加而增加,且与外源砷浓度之间存在极显著地正相关;苦草在不同浓度砷处理下都生长良好,对砷胁迫表现出较强的耐受性。因此,苦草对于水体的砷污染有着很好的去除效果,同时也能很好地反映出一个地区的砷污染水平。     

光质和光周期对山白兰苗木生长、生理的影响

为筛选出山白兰(Michelia baillonii)苗木培育过程中适宜的光环境，该研究以一年生山白兰幼苗为试验材料，设置12、16 h·d^-1两个光周期，配合使用红蓝复合光(8R1B、6R1B)、红蓝紫绿复合光(8R1B1P1G、6R1B1P1G)4种光质和白光(W)对照，采用双因素随机区组试验设计和隶属函数法，探讨了山白兰苗木生长、光合色素、内源激素含量对不同光质和光周期处理的响应规律。结果表明：(1)光质、光周期及其交互作用对山白兰苗高增长量、叶面积、叶绿素a、玉米素(ZR)、脱落酸(ABA)的含量、内源激素比值[IAA/ABA、(IAA+GA₃+ZR)/ABA]等均有显著影响(P<0.05)。(2)16 h·d^-1光周期有利于苗高增长量、叶面积、苗木质量指数、生物量、叶绿素a、生长素(IAA)、ZR的含量、内源激素比值的提高。(3)当光周期为16 h·d^-1时，8R1B处理下的苗高增长量、叶面积和苗木质量指数均最大，分别为21.84 cm、158.39 cm²和2...     

苦草生长对沉积物中磷迁移转化的影响

构建了不同营养盐负荷的沉积物环境"水-苦草-沉积物"生态系统,监测分析了沉积物中总磷(TP)、生物可获得磷及其环境因子的垂直分布及变化,以苦草为例,研究了沉水植物生长对沉积物中磷迁移转化的影响,结果表明:生长期的苦草通过改变沉积物环境因子或自身的生理活动,直接或间接地对沉积物中不同形态磷的迁移转化产生了影响,并随着深度的增加而出现不同的变化。具体表现在,低(L)、中(M)、高(H)营养负荷的沉积物总磷(TP),相对于初始值均有不同程度的下降,但苦草组下降的幅度大,分别比对照组多下降了11.63、18.50和46.25 mg/kg;在垂直方向上均表现出随深度的增加TP呈减少趋势,苦草对沉积物影响的深度随根系的活动范围变化而变化,根系增长最长(比试验初始增加了9.2 cm)的低营养负荷苦草组(LV),可影响到6 cm以下的沉积物;中营养负荷苦草组(MV)、高营养负荷苦草组(HV)根系增加不明显(分别为2.60和2.10 cm),影响深度主要在6 cm以内;检验发现,苦草组与对照组差异显著(P0.05)。交换态磷(Ex-P)、铝磷(Al-P)随深度增加而升高,苦草组小于对照组;铁磷(Fe-P),随深度的增加而降低,苦草组大于对照组,其中,在L、M、H中,苦草组的Ex-P分别比对照组下降了0.065、0.215和1.483 mg/kg,Al-P分别为1.198、2.040和2.390 mg/kg;LV中苦草的影响深度可达到10 cm的深,而MV、HV中主要集中在6 cm以内;苦草组中的Fe-P分别比对照组高8.135、16.689和8.598 mg/kg,在垂直方向上的变化幅度亦大于对照组。检验发现,L中苦草组Ex-P与对照组有极显著差异(P0.01),M、H苦草组与对照组无显著差异(P0.05);L、M、H中Al-P、FeP苦草组与对照组均无显著差异(P0.05)。     

沙生柽柳扦插生根过程插穗相关理化特征分析

选取沙生柽柳半木质化枝条进行苗床扦插,通过实验测定插穗生根过程中内源激素(IAA、GA3、ZR、ABA)含量、可溶性营养物质(糖、蛋白质)含量及相关氧化酶(PPO、POD、SOD、IAAO)活性的动态变化特征,探讨沙生柽柳插穗扦插生根机理。结果表明:(1)沙生柽柳插穗内源激素含量随生根进程而发生变化,其中,IAA含量在扦插35d最大,并出现较大的波动变化;ZR含量在扦插55d前后变化明显,呈现低水平向高水平转化趋势;ABA、GA3含量依次呈先升高后降低再升高的变化过程,并在扦插15d和55d(80d)呈现变化的峰值和谷值。(2)沙生柽柳扦插生根与相关氧化酶活性密切相关,其中,POD、IAAO活性在插穗扦插35d后长时间保持较高水平,直至插穗生根后POD活性明显降低,IAAO活性有所增加;PPO、SOD活性则在插穗扦插15d保持较高活性,且PPO活性的变化均匀,SOD活性的高低交替变化明显。(3)在沙生柽柳扦插生根期间,插穗可溶性糖含量呈现生根前消耗减少与生根后积累增加两大变化过程,可溶性蛋白质含量表现为扦插后逐步积累增加的变化趋势。研究表明,高水平的IAA、ZR和低水平的GA3、ABA共同调控着沙生柽柳插穗生根;IAA能够通过促进插穗POD、PPO、IAAO活性变化来影响生根,较高的POD、IAAO活性可调节插穗IAA水平,高水平的PPO活性则催化插穗IAA-酚酸复合物的形成,进而诱导插穗生根。     

Evaluation of the effect of three growth regulators in the germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">comparettia falcata</Emphasis> seeds under <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> conditions

Summary The effect of 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) on germination of the orchid Comparettia falcata was evaluated in a factorial experiment (4×4×4) with Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium. It was established that seeds of this orchid could be maintained under aseptic conditions as long as the necessary nutrients and appropriate concentrations of growth regulators were provided. Of the three growth regulators used, IAA significantly decreased seed germination of Comparettia falcata. There was a synergistic effect in the kinetin:GA₃ combination that produced a positive response in both percentage seed germination and development of seedlings. This study describes a single medium-based protocol able to achieve more than 160000 seedlings within 21 wk, starting from a single capsule, sufficient for both large-scale propagation and in vitro conservation of this threatened orchid.     

Effects of NaCl salinity on growth, morphology, photosynthesis and proline accumulation of Salvinia natans

The effects of NaCl salinity on growth, morphology and photosynthesis of Salvinia natans (L.) All. were investigated by growing plants in a growth chamber at NaCl concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM. The relative growth rates were high (ca. 0.3 d⁻¹) at salinities up to 50 mM and decreased to less than 0.2 d⁻¹ at higher salinities, but plants produced smaller and thicker leaves and had shorter stems and roots, probably imposed by the osmotic stress and lowered turgor pressure restricting cell expansion. Na⁺ concentrations in the plant tissue only increased three-fold, but uptake of K⁺ was reduced, resulting in very high Na⁺/K⁺ ratios at high salinities, indicating that S. natans lacks mechanisms to maintain ionic homeostasis in the cells. The contents of proline in the plant tissue increased at high salinity, but concentrations were very low (<0.1 μmol g⁻¹ FW), indicating a limited capacity of S. natans to synthesize proline as a compatible compound. The potential photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m) of S. natans remained unchanged at 50 mM NaCl but was reduced at higher salinities, and the photosynthetic capacity (ETR_max) was significantly reduced at 50 mM NaCl and higher. It is concluded that S. natans is a salt-sensitive species lacking physiological measures to cope with exposure to high NaCl salinity. At low salinities salts are taken up and accumulate in old leaves, and high growth rates are maintained because new leaves are produced at a higher rate than for plants not exposed to salt.     

Pleiotropic effects of the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> male sterile33</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">ms33</Emphasis>) mutation in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Arabidopsis</Emphasis> are associated with modifications in endogenous gibberellins,indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid

Earlier, we reported that mutation in the Male Sterile33 (MS33) locus in Arabidopsis thaliana causes inhibition of stamen filament growth and a defect in the maturation of pollen grains [Fei and Sawhney (1999) Physiol Plant 105:165–170; Fei and Sawhney (2001) Can J Bot 79:118–129]. Here we report that the ms33 mutant has other pleiotropic effects, including aberrant growth of all floral organs and a delay in seed germination and in flowering time. These defects could be partially or completely restored by low temperature or by exogenous gibberellin A₄ (GA₄), which in all cases was more effective than GA₃ Analysis of endogenous GAs showed that in wild type (WT) mature flowers GA₄ was the major GA, and that relative to WT the ms33 flowers had low levels of the growth active GAs, GA₁ and GA₄, and very reduced levels of GA₉, GA₂₄ and GA₁₅, precursors of GA₄. This suggests that mutation in the MS33 gene may suppress the GA biosynthetic pathway that leads to GA₄ via GA₉ and the early 13-H C₂₀ GAs. WT flowers also possessed a much higher level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and a lower level of abscisic acid (ABA), relative to ms33 flowers. Low temperature induced partial restoration of male fertility in the ms33 flowers and this was associated with partial increase in GA₄. In contrast, in WT flowers GA₁ and GA₄ were very much reduced by low temperature. Low temperature also had little effect on IAA or ABA levels of ms33 flowers, but did reduce (>2-fold) IAA levels in WT flowers. The double mutants, ms33 aba1-1 (an ABA-deficient mutant), and ms33 spy-3 (a GA signal transduction mutant) had flower phenotypes similar to ms33. Together, the data suggest that the developmental defects in the ms33 mutant are unrelated to ABA levels, but may be causally associated with reduced levels of IAA, GA₁ and GA₄, compared to WT flowers.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - GA Gibberellin - GC-MS-SIM Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - ms33 Male sterile33 mutant - PP333 Paclobutrazol - WT Wild type     

不同处理对桢楠和浙江楠裸根移栽苗成活率与生理特性的影响

为了探究保水剂和ABT联合处理对桢楠(ZN)和浙江楠(ZJN)裸根移栽苗成活率和生理特性的影响,该文使用三种不同浓度的保水剂和ABT联合处理ZN和ZJN裸根苗,测定移栽后的幼苗成活率和生理指标,并用隶属函数对各指标进行综合评价,评估不同条件处理下幼苗恢复情况。结果表明:与对照组相比,联合处理后,ZN和ZJN的成活率显著提高; ZN新叶数量显著增加,而ZJN的新叶数量没有增加; 叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量均显著提高,且ZN1或ZJN1水平更显著;(GA₃+ZR+IAA)/ABA和IAA/ABA的比值均显著提高,但ZN在不同浓度处理间无显著差异,而ZJN1显著高于ZJN2处理组; 可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖的含量均减少; 隶属函数综合评价分析表明裸根苗移栽成活率的表现分别为ZN1>ZN2>CK和ZJN1>ZJN2>CK。综上结果表明,保水剂和ABT联合处理促进ZN和ZJN裸根苗移栽成活,且ZN1或ZJN1水平更优。     

Calcium and calmodulin inhibitor effects on the growth of carrot (Daucus carota L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) in nutrient culture

Growth of carrot and radish seedlings in nutrient culture was inhibited by pretreatment with three calmodulin inhibitors. There was little selective effect on specific organs, shoots, tap root and fibrous roots over a range of concentrations. Although pretreatment with CaCl₂ (0.5 mM) did not affect growth of untreated seedlings, it partially reduced the inhibitory effects of trifluoperazine over the concentration range 0.01–0.05 mM. Trifluoperazine reduced the growth of GA₃-treated seedlings but did not overcome the modifying effect of GA₃ in favouring shoot/root ratio; ABA exacerbated its inhibitory effect on overall seedling growth and particularly on tap root development.Abbreviations GA₃ gibberellic acid - ABA abscisic acid - CaCl₂ calcium chloride - GAs gibberellins - Tfp trifluoperazine     

Sediment type and the clonal size greatly affect the asexual reproduction,productivity, and nutrient absorption of Vallisneria natans

Most aquatic vegetation restorations involve the transplantation of submerged macrophytes. Sediment type and the clonal size are of great significance as they determine the fate of submerged macrophytes. In order to ensure successful restoration, a simulation experiment was conducted using aquarium mesocosms to investigate the response of stolon propagation capacity, the morphological features and productivity of Vallisneria natans for four types of sediment (lake mud [L], lake mud + sand [L + S, 50:50, v/v mixture], sand [S], clay [C]), and three types of clonal sizes. Results showed that sediment types significantly affected V. natans biomass accumulation, stolon propagation ability, ramet morphological characteristics, and productivity, where the asexual reproduction ability and productivity ranked as L > L + S > S > C in four sediment types. Total biomass, maximum net production, number of ramets, root diameter, number of stolons, and stolon propagation rate were all highest in L. In L and L + S, the plant chlorophyll content was higher than in S and C. The root diameter and the ratio of aboveground/underground biomass in S were the smallest among the four sediments. Moreover, when more V. natans seedlings were linked, more ramets and biomass were produced. The stolon propagation rate was ranked as the stolon with single seedling greater than the stolon with two‐linked seedlings greater than the stolon with three‐linked seedlings in L and L + S. The concentration of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and NO₃^?‐N in water was remarkably reduced in four aquariums. Findings provide a scientific basis for restoring submerged macrophytes in different sediment settings.     

Changes in phytohormone contents in chickpea seeds germinating under lead or zinc stress

The present work describes the changes that take place in phytohormone contents in germinating chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Aziziye-94) seeds in response to heavy metal stress. For this aim, endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), zeatin (Z) and zeatin riboside (ZR) contents were followed for 24, 48 and 72 h in chickpea seeds germinating at the concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 mM Pb or 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mM Zn. The results showed that Pb and Zn significantly delayed and impeded the germination of chickpea seeds. The negative effect of Pb on germination was higher than that of Zn. Further, Pb increased ABA and Z contents while decreased GA₃ content in the germinating seeds. The high concentrations of Zn (1.0 and 10 mM) decreased contents of Z, ZR and GA₃ while 0.1 mM Zn increased the content of the same hormones. The ABA content was enhanced by Zn in all concentrations used.     

Pollen tube growth is affected by exogenous hormones and correlated with hormone changes in styles in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Torenia fournieri</Emphasis> L.

In the present report, we described the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (ZT), gibberellin (GA₃), and abscisic acid (ABA) on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Torenia fournieri L. The results showed that IAA and GA₃ stimulated in vitro pollen tube growth, ABA inhibited pollen tube growth, and ZT had no significant effect on the process. The stimulating effect of exogenous IAA was particularly distinct, and led to synchronous growth of straighter and more slender pollen tubes compared with the controls. However, no significant changes were found in the germination of the treated pollen. The auxin efflux inhibitor, 10 μM 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), was also found to stimulate pollen tube growth. We measured the content of hormones (free IAA, ZT, GA₃, and ABA) in the stigmas and styles before and after pollination. The hormone contents of stigmas measured 0.5 h after pollination (0.5 HAP) showed that ABA content decreased, whereas the content of IAA, ZT, or GA₃ did not change significantly. The hormone level in pollinated styles (4 HAP) when pollen tubes had grown into the middle part of style was characterized by an increase in free IAA and GA₃ and a decrease in ABA, which was in agreement with the results that IAA and GA₃ promoted but ABA inhibited pollen tube growth in vitro. Furthermore, the change of IAA level in styles was most notable, which was accordant to the fact that auxin stimulated significantly pollen tube growth in vitro. Using immunoenzyme and immunogold labeling techniques and an anti-IAA monoclonal antibody, we confirmed that free IAA was present throughout style tissues, and distributed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of style cells. All these results suggested that hormones, especially IAA, play important roles in pollen tube growth of T. fournieri. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.