Con‐specific neighbours may enhance compensation capacity in an invasive plant

Facilitation, both by inter‐ and intra‐specific neighbours, is known to be an important process in structuring plant communities. However, only a small number of experiments have been reported on facilitation in plant invasions, especially between invasive con‐specific individuals. Here, we focus on how con‐specific neighbours of the invasive alien plant alligator weed affect the tolerance of alligator weed to herbivory by the introduced biological control agent, Agasicles hygrophila. We conducted greenhouse and garden experiments in which invasive plant density and herbivory intensity (artificial clipping and real herbivory) were manipulated. In the greenhouse experiment, artificial clipping significantly reduced plant biomass when plants were grown individually, but when con‐specific neighbours were present in the same pot, biomass was not significantly different from control plants. Similarly, when compared to control plants, plants that were subjected to herbivory by A. hygrophila produced more biomass when grown with two con‐specific neighbours than when grown alone. Real herbivory also resulted in an increased number of vegetative buds, and again when two con‐specific neighbours were present this effect was increased (a 55.3% increase in buds when there was no neighbour, but a 111.6% increase in buds when two con‐specific neighbours were present). In the garden experiment, in which plants were grown at high density (6 plants per pot), alligator weed fully recovered from defoliation caused by insects at levels from 20–30% to 100%. Our results indicate that the con‐specific association may increase the compensatory ability to cope with intense damage in this invasive plant.     

Resprouting after disturbance in the short-lived herb Rorippa palustris (Brassicaceae): an experiment with juveniles

The impact of plant age, severity of injury and nutrient levels on the ability to resprout from roots was experimentally assessed in juveniles of the short-lived herb Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser. In a chamber experiment, six cohorts of young plants (1–6 week old) were injured to obtain data on the threshold age for the ability to resprout from roots. We found that plant age was an important factor influencing resprouting ability: injured individuals older than 5 weeks were able to resprout, but not plants younger than 3 weeks. The impact of injury severity (defoliation and removal of axillary buds) and nutrient levels on resprouting ability was assessed on juveniles in a greenhouse experiment. Injury induced growth of new shoots from root buds, while the number of adventitious buds on roots was not influenced by injury. Both injury treatments had a similar effect in this respect, and the amount of regenerated biomass and the extent of regeneration were not different among injury treatments. The number of new shoots produced after injury was higher at the high nutrient level, but the number of formed adventitious buds on roots was not influenced by nutrient level. Nutrient level also influenced the amount of regenerated biomass, but the extent of regeneration (regenerated/removed biomass) was not influenced. The short-lived monocarpic species R. palustris is able to resprout from roots relatively easily. This ability seems to be advantageous in disturbed habitats and this idea is discussed throughout the paper.     

Delivered Biomass Costs of Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) for Bioenergy Uses in the South Central USA

Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.), a multistemmed tree that grows on grasslands and rangelands in the South Central USA (Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico), may have potential as a bioenergy feedstock due to a large amount of existing standing biomass and significant regrowth potential following initial harvest. The objective of this research was to determine the cost to harvest, store, and deliver mesquite biomass feedstock to a bioelectricity plant under the assumption that the rights to harvest mesquite could be acquired in long-term leases. The advantage of mesquite and similar rangeland shrubs as bioenergy feedstocks is that they do not grow on land better suited for growing food or fiber and thus will not impact agricultural food markets as corn grain ethanol has done. In addition, there are no cultivation costs. Results indicated that mesquite biomass density (Mg?ha^?1) and harvesting costs are major factors affecting cost of delivered biomass. Annual biomass consumption by the bioelectricity plant and percent of the total system area that contains biomass density that is suitable for harvest significantly affected land- related factors including total system area needed per bioelectricity plant and transport costs. Simulation results based on actual biomass density in Texas showed that higher and more spatially consistent biomass density would be an important factor in selecting a potential location for the bioelectricity plant. Harvesting mesquite has the potential for bioenergy feedstock given certain densities and total land areas since higher harvest and transport costs are offset by essentially no production costs.     

Loss of flower bud vigour in the Mediterranean shrub,Cistus albidus L. at advanced developmental stages

To better understand aging in perennials, age‐related changes in the physiology of leaves and flower buds of the Mediterranean shrub, Cistus albidus L. were evaluated. Two groups of different ages (5 and 10 years old), both at advanced developmental stages but of similar size, were compared. Total plant biomass, biomass produced per apical meristem and levels of cytokinins, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid in leaves and flower buds, as well as flower production, were measured. No differences in plant size, vegetative growth rates and levels of phytohormones in leaves were observed between 5‐ and 10‐year‐old plants. However, they showed significant differences in flower bud development; the older plants having reduced vigour, with 29.6% of flowers reaching anthesis compared to 52.5% in the younger plants. Furthermore, endogenous concentrations of zeatin and abscisic acid in flower buds at stage I (start of flower organ formation) were 61% and 41%, respectively, smaller in 10‐ than in 5‐year‐old plants. At stage II (with all flower organs formed), zeatin and abscisic acid concentrations decreased by ca. 90% and 80%, respectively, but differences between age groups were still evident (60% and 29% for zeatin and abscisic acid, respectively). Jasmonic acid levels in flower buds decreased by 80% from stage I to II, but did not differ between age groups. Despite reductions in flower bud vigour, total number of flowers per individual was not significantly different between age groups, so that an age‐related loss in reproductive vigour at the organ level did not lead to a decrease in flower production at the whole plant level.     

Postharvest growth dynamic of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schoenoplectus californicus</Emphasis> along fluvio-estuarine and flooding gradients

The emergent wetland plant Schoenoplectus californicus is used as fiber in several American countries, but the effects of harvesting on this species have not previously been studied. We analyzed the biomass production, stem density and morphometry of this species along fluvio-estuarine and flooding gradients and evaluated the effects of harvesting on growth and recovery capacity in the Santa Lucía River (Uruguay), comparing river sections and surface elevations. Differences in biomass, length and stem density were associated with the dynamics of the hydrological regime. The mean biomass and length growth rates were 3.0 ± 2.8 g day^?1 and 0.8 ± 0.5 cm day^?1, respectively. The analysis of the postharvest growth dynamic showed variation among the stems, suggesting the existence of mechanisms of plant compensation for the harvest effect. Six months after the harvest, S. californicus had recovered, e.g., in stem length and density, while the biomass showed a slower recovery. Our results suggest that the recovery capacity of this species depends on the population structure before the harvest and on favorable conditions during the recovery period. Based on our results, we recommend strategies for sustainable harvest management.     

播期对内蒙古西部荒漠区棉花产量、品质及养分吸收利用的影响

于2014—2015年在内蒙古自治区阿拉善盟阿拉善左旗内蒙古棉花综合实验站设置大田试验,以‘中棉所50’为材料,采用“一膜三管六行”机采棉配套栽培技术种植,研究播期(4月20日、4月30日和5月10日)对棉花产量、品质及养分吸收的影响.结果表明: 随着播期推迟,棉花生育时期推迟,生育期缩短,铃期日均温降低,收获密度增加;播期显著影响棉株干物质累积、养分吸收与分配,以及产量和品质形成,4月30日播种条件下,棉株干物质和养分在经济器官中的分配比例、养分总积累量及养分的皮棉生产效率较高,籽棉和皮棉产量最高,达6505.9和2660.9 kg·hm^-2,且纤维品质较优;4月20日播期下,收获密度、生物量和养分累积量最低,虽然生物量和养分经济系数最高,但最终籽棉和皮棉产量仍较4月30日播期降低10.9%～14.0%和11.1%～14.2%;5月10日播期,虽然可以避开种子萌发期低温冷害,但棉铃发育期日均温偏低,尽管生物量和养分累积量最高,但是生物量和养分经济系数、养分的皮棉生产效率最低,最终籽棉和皮棉产量较4月30日播期降低32.5%～34.7%和35.9%～36.2%,且纤维品质最差.综合分析, 4月30日左右为内蒙古西部荒漠旱区棉花种植的最佳播期.     

Compensation of seed production after severe injury in the short-lived herb Barbarea vulgaris

A pot experiment with the common ruderal herb Barbarea vulgaris (Brassicaceae) was set up to elucidate to what extent short-lived species sprouting from roots regenerate and compensate for seed production after damage. We tested if sprouting from roots ensures survival after severe aboveground biomass damage, but the number of seeds produced declines with increasing severity of injury, decreasing nutrient availability and progress in the life cycle at the time of injury.Plants of B. vulgaris were cultivated in a 3-year garden experiment at two nutrient levels (high vs. low). During the experiment, two levels of injury severity were applied: high (removal of all aboveground biomass) and low (removal of aboveground biomass leaving basal axillary buds intact). Damage was applied at four life-cycle phases: young rosette, overwintered rosette, flowering plant and fruiting plant. All injured plants survived and resprouted irrespective of life-cycle phase, severity of injury and nutrient availability. Injury significantly affected seed production and also the plants’ life cycle. Plants injured in the second year of their life (overwintered rosette, flowering plant and fruiting plant) postponed reproduction to the third season (in the case of high injury severity) or their seed production was lower than in intact plants (in the case of low injury severity). In plants injured in the first life year, seed production and life cycle were not influenced. Nutrient level only marginally affected resprouting after injury and seed production.The experiment showed that the ability to sprout from roots enables plants to survive a 100% loss of aboveground biomass, and to keep some seed production or even compensate it. The short-lived ruderal species B. vulgaris successfully copes with severe disturbance by resprouting and does not rely only on its seed bank.     

Changes in the canopy structure of the Mediterranean shrub Lavandula stoechas after disturbance

Abstract. This study attempts to show the dynamics of the canopy structure of the Mediterranean pioneer shrub Lavandula stoechas after man-made perturbation (i.e. grazing). The development of the vertical structure of the shrub was studied by harvesting the canopy of plants of 2–6 yr old in horizontal layers. The supportive biomass of the canopy was concentrated near the base at all ages. Leaf biomass was evenly distributed all over the vertical profile in 2- and 3-yr old plants. In 4-yr old plants it presented a maximum near the top of the canopy. For 5-yr old plants a structural transition started with leaf profiles showing a bimodal distribution. Leaf biomass predominated near the base in 6-yr old plants, suggesting that the transition was completed. Three canopy stages in the growth processes of the plant were recognized after the first year of growth: in the first one (from 2 to 3 yr old) both leaf and supportive biomass increased; in the second one (from 3 to 4 yr) leaf biomass remained stable and there was an increase in supportive biomass until the plants reached a ‘mature stage’, in 4-yr old plants; finally, in 5- and 6-yr old plants there was a decrease both in leaf and supportive biomass and plant structure showed evidence of senescence. Early transitions from seedling to 1-yr old plant and from this to 2- to 3-yr old plants were less obvious. The leaf/supportive biomass ratio always decreased with plant age, from 1.88 in seedlings to 0.01 in 6-yr old plants. Biomass density followed the pattern of supportive biomass, with an increase from 1.7 g/dm³ (2-yr old plants) to 2.4 g/dm³ (4-yr old plants). Thereafter, biomass density decreased to 0.6 g/dm³ (6-yr old plants).     

Population-level compensation after loss of vegetative buds: interactions among damaged and undamaged cotton neighbours

Population-level compensation occurs when herbivore attack on one individual allows another individual to grow more rapidly. This form of compensation was investigated in high and low density cotton crops subjected to three treatments: (i) undisturbed controls, (ii) uniformly damaged, in which all plants were damaged, and (iii) non-uniformly damaged, in which every second plant was damaged. Damaged plants had their vegetative buds manually removed to simulate damage by Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera). Removal of vegetative buds did not reduce seed cotton production per unit ground area. In uniformly damaged crops, compensation was essentially the result of profuse branching after release of apical dominance and activation of axilary buds. In non-uniformly damaged crops, population level mechanisms acted that involved strong plant-plant interactions. At both plant densities, undamaged plants grown alongside damaged neighbours accumulated more root and shoot biomass and produced more seed cotton than undamaged plants in uniform crops. Different degrees of symmetry in the relationship between damaged and undamaged neighbours lead to different degrees of compensation, viz. seed cotton production of non-uniformly damaged crops ranged from 98 to 125% of that in controls. At high plant density, neighbour status also affected flowerbud initiation and/or retention. Changes in competitive relationships as well as early detection of and response to neighbour status were likely involved in these responses.     

植物种群自疏过程中构件生物量与密度的关系

不论是在对植物种群自疏规律还是在对能量守衡法则的研究中,个体大小(M)大多针对植物地上部分生物量,地下部分和构件生物量及其动态十分重要又多被忽视。以1年生植物荞麦为材料研究了自疏种群地下部分生物量、包括地下部分的个体总生物量以及各构件生物量与密度的关系。结果表明:平均地上生物量和个体总生物量与密度的异速关系指数(γabove-ground和γindividual)分别为-1.293和-1.253,与-4/3无显著性差异(P>0.05),为-4/3自疏法则提供了有力证据;平均根生物量-密度异速指数γroot(-1.128)与-1无显著性差异(P>0.05),与最终产量恒定法则一致;平均茎生物量-密度异速指数γstem(-1.263)接近-4/3(P>0.05),平均叶生物量-密度异速指数γleaf(-1.524)接近-3/2(P>0.05),分别符合-4/3自疏法则与-3/2自疏法则;而繁殖生物量与密度的异速关系指数γreproductive(-2.005)显著小于-3/2、-4/3或-1(P<0.001)。因此,不存在一个对植物不同构件普适的生物量-密度之间的关系。光合产物在地上和地下构件的生物量分配格局以及构件生物量与地上生物量之间特异的异速生长关系导致不同构件具有不同的自疏指数。无论对于地上生物量还是个体总生物量,荞麦种群能量均守衡,而对于地下生物量,荞麦种群能量不守衡。     

How plant allometry influences bud phenology and fruit yield in two Vaccinium species

Background and AimsUnderstanding how plant allometry, plant architecture and phenology contribute to fruit production can identify those plant traits that maximize fruit yield. In this study, we compared these variables and fruit yield for two shrub species, Vaccinium angustifolium and Vaccinium myrtilloides, to test the hypothesis that phenology is linked to the plants’ allometric traits, which are predictors of fruit production.MethodsWe measured leaf and flower phenology and the above-ground biomass of both Vaccinium species in a commercial wild lowbush blueberry field (Quebec, Canada) over a 2-year crop cycle; 1 year of pruning followed by 1 year of harvest. Leaf and flower phenology were measured, and the allometric traits of shoots and buds were monitored over the crop cycle. We hand-collected the fruits of each plant to determine fruit attributes and biomass.Key ResultsDuring the harvesting year, the leafing and flowering of V. angustifolium occurred earlier than that of V. myrtilloides. This difference was related to the allometric characteristics of the buds due to differences in carbon partitioning by the plants during the pruning year. Through structural equation modelling, we identified that the earlier leafing in V. angustifolium was related to a lower leaf bud number, while earlier flowering was linked to a lower number of flowers per bud. Despite differences in reproductive allometric traits, vegetative biomass still determined reproductive biomass in a log–log scale model.ConclusionsGrowing buds are competing sinks for non-structural carbohydrates. Their differences in both number and characteristics (e.g. number of flowers per bud) influence levels of fruit production and explain some of the phenological differences observed between the two Vaccinium species. For similar above-ground biomass, both Vaccinium species had similar reproductive outputs in terms of fruit biomass, despite differences in reproductive traits such as fruit size and number.     

The biomass and nutritive potential of Vallisneria americana Michx in navigation pool 9 of the upper Mississippi river

Vallisneria americana Michx (wild celery) was studied to determine the biomass and nutritive potential of all morphological structures. A 2.6-ha stand of uniform V. americana was sampled during the summer and autumn of 1980, and the spring and summer of 1981 in the southern portion of Navigation Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River.The maximum production rate of 3.2 g m^?2 day^?1 was coincident with rapid rosette production and flowering, and occurred mid- to late-July 1980. The maximum biomass of 217.3 g dry wt. m^?2 was on 1 September 1980, when fruit development was also at a maximum. Leaves composed 60–70% of the summer biomass; winter buds constituted all of the winter biomass.Winter buds and fruits had the greatest nutritive potentials. Both organs contained relatively high dry matter concentrations and were low in ash (less than 10%) and fiber content. The potentially-digestible ash-free non-cell-wall fraction (NCF) was composed of an average of 75.7 and 82.2% of the dry weight of fruits and winter buds, respectively. In contrast, the nutritive potential of leaves, rootstocks, peduncles and stolons was reduced because of high moisture (less than 8% dry matter), ash and fiber concentrations. Staminate inflorescences and pistillate flowers were high in crude protein (averaged 21.8% and 16.1% of the dry-weight, respectively) and ash-free non-cell-wall fractions, but they accounted for only 2.7% of the plant biomass. The maximum calorific content of V. americana was approximately 3200 kJ m^?2 at peak biomass on 1 September 1980.     

The effect of harvesting on biomass production and nutrient removal in phototrophic biofilm reactors for effluent polishing

An increasing number of wastewater treatment plants require post-treatment to remove residual nitrogen and phosphorus. This study investigated various harvesting regimes that would achieve consistent low effluent concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in a phototrophic biofilm reactor. Experiments were performed in a vertical biofilm reactor under continuous artificial lighting and employing artificial wastewater. Under similar conditions, experiments were performed in near-horizontal flow lanes with biofilms of variable thickness. It was possible to maintain low nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the effluent of the vertical biofilm reactor by regularly harvesting half of the biofilm. The average areal biomass production rate achieved a 7 g dry weight m^?2 day^?1 for all different harvesting frequencies tested (every 2, 4, or 7 days), corresponding to the different biofilm thicknesses. Apparently, the biomass productivity is similar for a wide range of biofilm thicknesses. The biofilm could not be maintained for more than 2 weeks as, after this period, it spontaneously detached from the carrier material. Contrary to the expectations, the biomass production doubled when the biofilm thickness was increased from 130 μm to 2 mm. This increased production was explained by the lower density and looser structure of the 2 mm biofilm. It was concluded that, concerning biomass production and labor requirement, the optimum harvesting frequency is once per week.     

Willow growth in response to nutrients and moisture on a clay landfill cap soil. I. Growth and biomass production

The growth and biomass production by willow (Salix viminalis L.) was studied in lysimeters containing Oxford clay landfill cap soil with different amendments, bulk densities and watering regimes. Three years from planting, stem biomass in well-watered plants was least (0.28 kg plant(-1)) with high bulk density soil (1480 kg m(-3)) and no nutritional amendment but was increased 10-fold (2.53 kg plant(-1)) by reducing soil bulk density (1200 kg m3) and adding amendments. In comparison, on a sandy loam soil it was 6.23 kg plant(-1). There were similar differences in number of stems plant(-1), stem basal area plant(-1) and plant leaf area which can be attributed to low nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Oxford clay. Water stress reduced stem biomass production by 26-37% and caused higher root:stem ratios. These were also higher on Oxford clay than on the sandy loam. Successful biomass production from willow on Oxford clay landfill caps will therefore require nutritional amendment.     

Competitive exclusion and the No‐Interaction model operate simultaneously in microcosm plant communities

Question: Is the relation between productivity and species richness due to an increase in plant size and hence a reduced plant density? Location: Glasshouse experiment. Methods: Productivity was manipulated with fertilizer and irrigation in a microcosm experiment. The ‘sampling effect’ was removed using rarefaction to a common density of individual plants per pot. Results: Fertility increased community biomass towards an asymptotic maximum, and reduced the light passing through plant canopies towards an asymptotic minimum. As biomass increased, so did species richness. However, this did not seem to be a direct effect of productivity on species richness, but rather one mediated by plant density, since: (1) the richness/ density relation was stronger than the richness/biomass one; (2) adding biomass to the richness/density regression did not increase its predictivity; (3) the richness/biomass relation was removed by rarefaction to 200 individuals per pot. It is therefore concluded that the richness/biomass relation observed was due to the sampling effect. Rarefaction to a small number of plants gave a quite different trend: lower richness at high biomass. This seems to be due to an increased number of subordinate species at high community biomass, and a more uneven distribution of abundance. Conclusion: The Competitive Exclusion and No‐Interaction hypotheses have been seen as alternatives. We suggest that they can operate simultaneously.     

Size-related auto-fragment production and carbohydrate storage in auto-fragment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myriophyllum spicatum</Emphasis> L. in response to sediment nutrient and plant density

Size-related asexual reproduction of submersed macrophytes is still poorly understood. Here, we investigate how size-related auto-fragmentation in Myriophyllum spicatum L. responds to sediment nutrients and plant density. An experiment was carried out with sediments containing two different nutrient levels and with two levels of plant density. The results show that sediment nutrients and plant density brought about a strong dependency of auto-fragment production and the amount of total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) storage in auto-fragments on individual plant size (total plant biomass). However, these two factors acted differently on size dependency. Sediment nutrients positively affected auto-fragment production and the amount of TNC in auto-fragments of M. spicatum. High concentrations of sediment nutrients significantly increased these two traits in absolute value and the value relative to plant size. Although the auto-fragment biomass and the amount of TNC in auto-fragments did not differ between density treatments when plant size was considered, the absolute values of these two traits were much larger in the low plant density treatment than in the high plant density treatment, which suggested an indirect negative effect of plant density on the auto-fragmentation of M. spicatum. In addition, higher percentages of large auto-fragments (>100 mg) were produced by plants that grew in nutrient poor sediment and low plant density environment than plants in nutrient rich sediment and high plant density environment. These results do not solely highlight a size-dependent effect, but also a size-independent effect of auto-fragment production and the amount of TNC in auto-fragments of M. spicatum. Furthermore, such size-independent effects can be explained by the significant biomass partitioning differences and the similar TNC-concentrations in auto-fragments under different environmental conditions.     

Tolerance of antibiotic and susceptible cereal seedlings to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi

Some cereal seedlings exhibit antibiotic and antixenotic resistance to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), because the seedlings contain hydroxamic acids or gramine. The association between tolerance to aphids and aphid antibiosis was investigated for three cereals, Dollarbird wheat Vulcan wheat and Yagan barley. The dry biomass gained by the aphids and the simultaneous reduction in the biomass of the plants (biomass conversion ratio) quantified tolerance. Biomass production and the density dependence of biomass production by the aphids quantified antibiosis more effectively than fecundity. Vulcan wheat, which has more hydroxamic acid than Dollarbird wheat showed the highest level of antibiosis, and the barley was not antibiotic for either aphid. The biomass conversion ratio was a constant; the biomass of an infested plant was reduced by 3 mg for each mg of aphid biomass gained, regardless of aphid species, plant cultivar, or aphid density. The three plants showed no differential tolerance to the aphids, and therefore tolerance is not associated with antibiosis in this case.     

How do water depth and harvest intensity affect the growth and reproduction of Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John?

Aims Both high and low densities of macrophyte vegetation can impair its ecosystem service function. Harvesting is often applied to macrophyte vegetation to maintain an appropriate density. Vegetation harvesting has occasionally gone awry and caused catastrophes, such as vegetation disappearance and cyanobacterial dominance in waterways and lakes. Because water depth influences macrophyte density at all life stages, the simultaneous influences of harvesting and water depth should be carefully examined. Thus, this study aims to quantify the effects of differently harvesting Elodea nuttallii on its growth and reproduction at different water depths in field experiments.Methods Four harvest intensities (harvesting E. nuttallii plant heights equal to 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the water depth) were applied to E. nuttallii growing at four different water depths (60, 90, 120 and 150cm). Plant length and root length were measured. The node number, root number of each plant and number of floating plants were counted before harvesting. The harvested plant were dried to a constant weight for dry weight determination.Important findings The rate of increase in the length and shoot number of E. nuttallii varied from ?0.012 to 0.440 day^-1 and from ?0.020 to 0.639 day^-1, respectively. Water depth>150cm would limit E. nuttallii growth. Elodea nuttallii responded to increasing water depths and low-intensity harvesting by increasing internodal length and decreasing shoot number. The larger internodal length of E. nuttallii observed in relatively deeper water was also induced by the physical strain generated by its buoyancy as its specific gravity was less than water's. The physical mechanism of removing the plant canopy by harvesting decreased E. nuttallii buoyancy and prevented floating. Harvesting increased plant production in shallow waters <90cm deep. Moreover, it is also necessary to perform three medium-intensity harvests at a water depth of 120cm and one low-intensity harvest or no harvesting at a water depth of 150cm to achieve longer lifetimes and less biomass near the water surface when the plants reach or approach the water surface.     

Ecology of two cytotypes ofButomus umbellatus II. Reproduction,growth and biomass production

Generative and vegetative reproduction of diploid and triploidButomus umbellatus L., and growth and biomass production of both cytotypes under two different nutrient levels were compared. Seedling survival was studied under controlled conditions in a growth chamber; the response of plants to different nutrient conditions was studied in experimental garden. Both cytotypes do not differ in seed germination and seedling survival. Triploids produce more aboveground and underground biomass, more numerous lateral rhizome buds, and have significantly higher flowering stalks. Low generative reproduction (limited seed production) in triploids is compensated for by more intensive vegetative reproduction. High nutrient level appeared to be stressful for plants of both cytotypes: it limits plant growth and causes plant mortality. Triploids are more viable than diploids in this case, which may be important for their survival under conditions of high trophic level.     

Optimisation of contained Nicotiana tabacum cultivation for the production of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals

Nicotiana tabacum is emerging as a crop of choice for production of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals. Although there is significant commercial expertise in tobacco farming, different cultivation practices are likely to be needed when the objective is to optimise protein expression, yield and extraction, rather than the traditional focus on biomass and alkaloid production. Moreover, pharmaceutical transgenic tobacco plants are likely to be grown initially within a controlled environment, the parameters for which have yet to be established. Here, the growth characteristics and functional recombinant protein yields for two separate transgenic tobacco plant lines were investigated. The impacts of temperature, day-length, compost nitrogen content, radiation and plant density were examined. Temperature was the only environmental variable to affect IgG concentration in the plants, with higher yields observed in plants grown at lower temperature. In contrast, temperature, supplementary radiation and plant density all affected the total soluble protein yield in the same plants. Transgenic plants expressing a second recombinant protein (cyanovirin-N) responded differently to IgG transgenic plants to elevated temperature, with an increase in cyanovirin-N concentration, although the effect of the environmental variables on total soluble protein yields was the same as the IgG plants. Planting density and radiation levels were important factors affecting variability of the two recombinant protein yields in transgenic plants. Phenotypic differences were observed between the two transgenic plant lines and non-transformed N. tabacum, but the effect of different growing conditions was consistent between the three lines. Temperature, day length, radiation intensity and planting density all had a significant impact on biomass production. Taken together, the data suggest that recombinant protein yield is not affected substantially by environmental factors other than growth temperature. Overall productivity is therefore correlated to biomass production, although other factors such as purification burden, extractability protein stability and quality also need to be considered in the optimal design of cultivation conditions.