A study of Sarcocornia A.J. Scott (Chenopodiaceae) from Western Mediterranean Europe

The latest publications on Sarcocornia taxonomy and phylogeny recognize six taxa in this genus on the Iberian Peninsula: S. perennis, S. fruticosa, S. alpini, S. alpini subsp. carinata, S. hispanica, and S. pruinosa. The present study represents a comprehensive revision of the different taxa in the Sarcocornia genus present in Western Mediterranean Europe by means of morphological, micromorphological and phylogenetic internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis. Morphological and micromorphological data were studied from Sarcocornia samples from 113 populations in coastal salt marshes and inland salt pans in Portugal, France, Spain and Italy. Sixteen new ITS sequences were obtained from Mediterranean Sarcocornia species and analysed together with previous reported data. Published karyological, ecological and biogeographical data from Western Mediterranean Europe were also reviewed. The results indicate the presence of a new species, S. lagascae, found growing in coastal Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The species S. fruticosa was found to be absent from the Iberian territories.     

The effect of climate conditions on inter-annual flowering variability monitored by pollen traps below the canopy in Draved Forest, Denmark

Since 1967 annual pollen deposition has been monitored in the semi-natural mixed deciduous woodland Draved Forest by the Geological Survey of Denmark. In this paper, we analyse the variability in pollen accumulation rates for the eight most common deciduous trees, and their relationships to monthly temperature and precipitation. High summer temperatures in the year before flowering have a positive effect on pollen deposition for several species. A positive correlation between temperatures during the flowering season and pollen accumulation rates is found for Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior and Corylus avellana. The amount of precipitation can have both positive and negative effects on pollen accumulation, depending on species and on time of year. Linear modelling showed that combinations of monthly climate parameters could explain between 10 and 80% of the variation observed in different species. There were marked differences in the time series of pollen accumulation and pollen/climate relationships for some species between traps within the forest related to the location of trees near the traps. This underlines the importance of using multiple traps in a region for this type of study. Time series analyses were used to test for cyclicity in pollen accumulation rates, which could be caused by resource limitations or internal biological factors. No significant autocorrelations were found, although Alnus glutinosa showed a tendency towards 3-year cyclicity. These results indicate that, with the possible exception of Alnus glutinosa, temperature and precipitation are the main factors controlling the annual variability in pollen deposition of the trees in Draved Forest.     

Autecology, distributional expansion and negative effects of Amorpha fruticosa L. on a river ecosystem: a case study in the Sendaigawa River, Tottori Prefecture

Amorpha fruticosa L., introduced from the eastern part of North and Central America as a revegetation material for artificial slopes, has escaped into riverbeds in Japan, and its negative effects are of concern. In this study, an attempt has been made to clarify the actual extent of escape and establishment of A. fruticosa, through a case study of the Sendaigawa River, Tottori Prefecture, coupled with a survey of national distribution using the National Censuses on River Environments. The autecology of A. fruticosa, including phenology, germination, allelopathy and coppicing ability, was also studied by observation and experiments. The following conclusions were drawn: A. fruticosa preferred sunny sites; the total established area in the study site was 7,500 m²; A. fruticosa showed strong coppicing ability; there was lower species diversity in and around areas populated by A. fruticosa; and A. fruticosa has been expanding its area both in the watershed of Sendaigawa River region and nationwide. The authors emphasize the importance of quick control of A. fruticosa.     

Taxon specific response of carabids (Coleoptera,Carabidae) and other soil invertebrate taxa on invasive plant Amorpha fruticosa in wetlands

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is an invasive exotic plant introduced to Europe in the early eighteenth century. Its spread has been rapid, particularly in disturbed wetland habitats, where it forms dense impermeable monospecific stands and modifies habitat conditions. The impact of A. fruticosa on native plant communities has been well analyzed, however knowledge concerning the possible effects on soil invertebrates and particularly carabid beetles is completely lacking. This study analyzed the impact of an A. fruticosa invasion on carabid beetles and other soil invertebrates. Soil fauna was sampled by pitfall traps at natural habitats, initially colonized by A. fruticosa, and habitats largely invaded by A. fruticosa. In total 2,613 carabid beetles belonging to 50 species and 72,166 soil invertebrates were collected. The invasion of A. fruticosa strongly affected the carabid beetle species composition, which clearly differed between all studied sites. Widespread euritopic carabid beetle species showed positive responses to A. fruticosa invasion, while the activity density of open habitat species strongly declined. Mean individual biomass was significantly higher at invaded sites due to increased incidence of large carabids (genus Carabus Linné, 1758). Carabid beetle activity density and abundance of soil invertebrates were considerably higher at invaded sites than in natural sites. Conversely, the impact of A. fruticosa on carabid beetle species richness and diversity was less pronounced, most likely due to immigration from adjacent habitats. Changes in carabid beetle species composition and abundance of soil invertebrates were most likely due to changes in vegetation structure and microclimate. The results suggest that A. fruticosa invasion considerably affected carabid beetles, an insect group that is only indirectly related to plant composition. Therefore, severe future changes can be expected in invertebrate groups that are closely related to plant composition, since A. fruticosa cannot be completely removed from the habitat and covers relatively large areas.     

Addition and reexamination of Japanese species belonging to the genus Cercospora and allied genera. IX. Newly recorded species from Japan (4)

Pseudocercospora cyatheae C. Nakash. & S. Inaba on Cyathea sp. as a new species is described. Three species belonging to the genus Cercospora and allied genera are newly added to the mycoflora of Japan. They are Cercospora armoraciae on Armoracia rusticana, Passalora passaloroides on Amorpha fruticosa, and Pseudocercospora nogalesii on Cytisus scoparius.     

Evaluating genetic resources of forest trees by means of life history traits – a Norwegian example

Additive variation in adaptive traits is a prerequisite for selectionand adaptation to future environmental changes, but distribution of adaptivegenetic variability between and within populations is poorly known in mostforest trees. Owing to this deficiency, life history traits such as geographicrange, pollination vector and seed dispersal capability, which significantlyaffect gene flow and thus the distribution of genetic variability, were used toevaluate the genetic resources in 23 Norwegian native forest tree species. Basedon the combination of life history traits the species' genetic resourceswere classified either as viable, potentially vulnerable or vulnerable, assuminga decrease in within-population variability in this sequence. Twelve widelydistributed species with generally effective dispersal of pollen and seeds wereconsidered viable (Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies,Juniperus communis, Betula pubescens, B. pendula,Alnus incana, A. glutinosa, Salix caprea, Populustremula, Corylus avellana, Sorbus aucuparia, Prunus padus)and have as such no particular conservation needs. Effective seed dispersal of these species, asinferred from post-glacial migration rates, may be partly responsible for theirgenerally early post-glacial appearance, and may, in combination with the wideranges and relatively large evolutionary potential, indicate that viable speciesare best able to cope with climatic change. Among species with restricted rangesand more limited gene flow eight were considered potentially vulnerable (Quercuspetraea, Q. robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides,Taxus baccata, Ilexaquifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Ulmus glabra) and threewere considered vulnerable (Tiliacordata, Malus sylvestris, P. avium). Application of differentintensities of a multiple population breeding system (MPBS) is considered the most appropriate mode of conservinggenetic resources in these species.     

六种阔叶树种叶片水浸提液对云南松种子萌发生长的化感作用

为了筛选营建云南松抗虫混交林的树种,该研究观察了云南切梢小蠹非寄主植物川滇桤木、缅桂、滇朴、樟树、麻栎和山茶六种阔叶树种叶片不同浓度的水浸提液对云南松种子萌发及幼苗生长的化感作用.结果表明:(1)川滇桤木、滇朴、麻栎和山茶四种阔叶树种叶片的水浸提液对云南松种子萌发和幼苗生长表现出低浓度促进,高浓度抑制效应.(2)在测试...     

Study of the contribution of the shoot and/or root ofAlnus sp. in the compatibility between the host and a Sp+ Frankia strain using a grafting technique

Two alder species,Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. andAlnus incana (L) Moench, were inoculated with a Sp⁺ Frankia homogenate obtained fromA. incana root nodules. This inoculum formed effective nodules on the original host plant and ineffective nodules onA. glutinosa. Grafts between the two alder species were made to determine which part of the plant is involved in this phenomenon. The results obtained indicate that the compatibility between Alnus andFrankia is restricted to the root system.     

Elsholtzia litangensis sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) endemic to China

A new species of Elsholtzia, E. litangensis C. X. Pu & W. Y. Chen, is described and illustrated from Sichuan, Tibet and Qinghai. The diagnostic features of the new species are compared with E. fruticosa (D. Don) Rehd. Elsholtzia litangensis is characterized by a secund spike and a scaly buds in the leaf axils.     

Temporal and spatial differentiation in seedling emergence may promote species coexistence in Mediterranean fire‐prone ecosystems

Mediterranean ecosystems are hotspots of species richness where fire is one of the key processes influencing their structure, composition and function. Post‐fire seedling emergence constitutes a crucial event in the life cycle of plants and species‐specific temporal and spatial patterns of seedling emergence have been hypothesized to contribute to the high diversity in these ecosystems. Here we study the temporal and spatial patterns of seedling emergence observed for the four dominant species (Cistus albidus, Ulex parviflorus, Helianthemum marifolium, Ononis fruticosa) after an experimental fire in a Mediterranean gorse shrubland. In a first analysis we compared the timing of emergence of each species using the Kaplan‐Meier method. The spatial component of seedling emergence and the spatiotemporal relationship between different cohorts of the same species were analyzed using recent techniques of spatial point pattern analyses. We found a bimodal temporal pattern of emergence. Emergence of Cistaceae species (H. marifolium and C. albidus) occurred predominantly early after the fire while Fabaceae (O. fruticosa and U. parviflorus) emerged mainly during the following autumn. Individually, all species showed an aggregated spatial pattern and, when testing for pair interactions, we found that the clusters of individual species were spatially segregated. Additionally, the clusters of individual species showed an internal spatial structure where seedlings of different cohorts were spatially segregated. Theoretical models predict that these patterns will promote species coexistence. We identified a number of mechanisms that all have the potential to contribute to the observed pattern formation. However, the potential interaction among these mechanisms are complex and not easy to predict. Our analyses take a significant step forward in studying seedling emergence in fire prone ecosystems since, to our knowledge, this is the first time that both spatial and temporal patterns of all dominant species have been studied together.     

Intraspecific variability of isozymes in Penicillium nodositatum Valla,a fungus inducing ‘myconodules’ on the root-system of Alnus sp.

A comparison of mycelial extracts of 17 isolates of Penicillium nodositatum collected from the root system of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.) and Italian alder (A. cordata Desf.) grown at different sites was made using isoenzyme analysis of esterases, acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucose isomerase. Jaccard similarity coefficient analysis demonstrated that interspecific variability existed both among and within sites. In most cases, the enzyme patterns of isolates were distinct. Comparison of these isolates and three other Penicillium species closely related to P. nodositatum showed no similarity for the enzymes tested.     

A comparison of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Scotland inAlnus glutinosa andAlnus rubra

Summary Alnus glutinosa andAlnus rubra growing in the field in Scotland show specific nitrogenase activities of the same order of magnitude. The period of maximum potential nitrogenase activity coincides with that of maximum growth in late Spring and Summer. It is suggested that the retention of nitrogenase activity into the Autumn when growth has virtually ceased may be important as a contribution to the nitrogenous reserves of the tree.Bioassay of different Scottish soils, all collected from the locality of natural stands ofAlnus glutinosa, showed wide variation in the nodulation of seedlings, although generally a soil poor for nodulation ofAlnus glutinosa generally gave poor nodulation ofAlnus rubra. Soils of pH 4.5 to 6.5, best suited for growth and nitrogen fixation of the two species, often gave nodules showing highest specific nitrogen fixing activity. Young (2 to 3 year old) plants in glasshouse or controlled environment cabinet, inoculated withAlnus glutinosa endophyte, differed from mature field grown plants, however, sinceAlnus rubra required a much larger (up to 2.5 times) mass of root nodules to fix a unit quantity of N. Microscopic comparison of the nodules of glasshouse plants showed that the proportion of cells containing the vesicular (nitrogen fixing) form of the endophyte was only slightly lower inAlnus rubra than inAlnus glutinosa and it is suggested that the differences in specific nitrogen fixing activity between the two species may reflect some incompatibility of function of theAlnus glutinosa endophyte when in symbiosis withAlnus rubra.     

毛乌素沙地优势灌丛对两种松树幼苗的保育作用

选择毛乌素沙地优势灌丛柠条(Caragana intermedia)、紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa)和沙柳(Salix psammophila)作为保育植物,选择2年生油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)和樟子松(Pinus sylvestris)幼苗作为目标植物,将其分别种植在开阔地、柠条、紫穗槐和沙柳4种微生境下,连续3a监测油松和樟子松幼苗的存活和生长动态,从而确定毛乌素沙地优势灌丛是否对植物幼苗的定居有促进作用。结果表明:柠条、紫穗槐和沙柳冠层下光照强度、大气温度和土壤温度都显著低于开阔地,致使土壤湿度增高,油松幼苗总存活率均显著高于开阔地,而樟子松幼苗总存活率仅紫穗槐冠层下显著高于开阔地(P0.05)。紫穗槐冠层下油松和樟子松幼苗总存活率均最高(P0.05),外来种紫穗槐可选为保育植物。保育灌丛下松树幼苗的主枝生长良好,并未受到抑制,但第1年主枝生长长度最小。光照强度和土壤湿度是决定主枝生长长度的重要因素。保育灌丛高度和冠幅面积与油松和樟子松幼苗存活率呈显著正相关(P0.05)。固氮灌丛(紫穗槐和柠条)对松树幼苗存活有持续的促进作用,但柠条冠幅结构紧密,可能因为对光的竞争,减弱了促进作用。沙柳灌丛下松树幼苗的存活率较低。油松幼苗具有一定程度的耐阴性,樟子松幼苗喜光性强,保育灌丛下油松幼苗存活率显著高于樟子松幼苗(P0.05)。总的来说,保育灌丛对松树幼苗的定居有促进作用,保育植物技术可作为一种有效的恢复措施,应用在毛乌素沙地的植被恢复中来。但是,保育灌丛的选择要考虑是本土种或外来种,以及灌丛的高度、冠幅大小、冠幅结构和化学效应,恢复物种的选择要考虑其自身的生物学特性及其与保育植物的相互作用。     

Combined effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and additional nutrients on growth of two Mediterranean plant species

Seedlings of two Mediterranean plants, the slow-growing, evergreen sclerophyll Ceratonia siliqua L. and the fast growing drought semi-deciduous Phlomis fruticosa L., were grown for one year in the field at ambient or ambient plus supplemental UV-B radiation (equivalent to a 15% ozone depletion) and two levels of applied fertilizers (NPK). The effects on growth, morphological, anatomical and physiological parameters were measured at final plant harvest. Additional nutrients increased leaf nitrogen, improved growth and reduced the root/shoot ratio in both plants, yet these effects were more pronounced in the fast growing P. fruticosa. A nutrient-induced increase in chlorophyll content was also observed in this plant. The growth responses to UV-B radiation were different for the two species. Growth in C. siliqua was not affected by UV-B radiation at both nutrient levels and the same was true for P. fruticosa at low nutrients. However, at the high nutrient level, supplemental UV-B radiation improved growth in P. fruticosa, indicating a strong interaction between the treatments. Photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency, methanol-extractable UV-B absorbing capacity, total phenolics and tannins were not affected by either treatment in both plants. It is concluded that nutrient levels can strongly modify the UV-B radiation effects on growth of P. fruticosa. We presume that this may be correlated to the fast growing habit of this species.     

Freshwater bryozoans (Bryozoa) of Norway III: distribution and ecology of Plumatella fruticosa

Bryozoans were investigated during field studies of 601 lakes and other surface water bodies throughout Norway from 1960 to 1978. The frequency of occurrence of Plumatella fruticosawas evaluated in relation to 12 environmental variables. Statistically significant deviations from the frequencies expected on the basis of random distribution were described using the categories preference, avoidance, and absence. According to our material P. fruticosais one of the most common bryozoan species in Norwegian fresh water, represented in samples from 251 localities. This species occurred frequently all over the country, north to 71° 06 N (the northernmost record globally). Maximum elevation above sea level was 1179 m (maximum for Northern Europe).In most studies of freshwater bryozoans from the holarctic region, Plumatella fruticosahas been reported as widely distributed, but locally rare. In Norway, however, P. fruticosa is frequently found all over the country, even far to the north. The species apparently finds an optimal climate in the cold temperate and cold regions of Norway. Plumatella fruticosapreferred lakes, avoided slow-flowing rivers and ponds, and was absent in smaller water bodies. The species preferred somewhat higher elevation (400–900 m above sea level), but avoided lakes with the lowest summer temperatures (below 11 °C). P. fruticosa also preferred oligotrophic conditions with poor aquatic vegetation, stony shores, lakes poor in calcium and magnesium (sometimes almost comparable with distilled water), where the water was clear and colourless, and slightly acidic to neutral. The species also preferred lakes surrounded by Sphagnum bogs and was absent when pH was below 5.2. P. fruticosa avoided eutrophic conditions with rich aquatic vegetation, alkaline water (pH above 7.0), lakes with a higher content of calcium and magnesium and those with strongly coloured water (above 100 mg Pt l^–1). In spite of its preference for ion-poor conditions, it was also found in a brackish water lake. For most environmental variables, the species had a wider tolerance range than reported from elsewhere.     

Novel Data on the Taxonomic Diversity,Distribution, and Host Plants of Leafmining Moths of the Family Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in Siberia,Based on DNA Barcoding

The Gracillariidae fauna of Siberia, the region that occupies almost half of the territory of the Russian Federation, remains poorly studied. During a DNA barcoding study of Gracillariidae in Siberia, based on analysis of larvae and pupae collected from their leaf mines on woody plants, we identified 41 species. Three gracillariids were identified only to genus: Caloptilia sp. (host plant Prunus padus), Parornix sp. (Malus sp.), and Phyllonorycter sp. (Crataegus sp.), representing poorly studied or undescribed species. Six species are reported here for the first time for Siberia: Callisto insperatella (from Novosibirsk and Tomsk provinces), Caloptilia alnivorella (Buryatia), Phyllonorycter ermani (Irkutsk Province), Ph. lantanella (Novosibirsk Province), Ph. pumilae (Omsk and Irkutsk provinces), and Ph. viciae (Krasnoyarsk Territory). Parornix pfaffenzelleri, found in Khakassia, is reported as a species new to Russia. Other 15 gracillariid species previously known from Siberia were recorded in new administrative regions. The invasive lime leafminer Phyllonorycter issikii was first documented in Tomsk Province and Krasnoyarsk Territory in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Seven new gracillariid-host plant associations were found: Parectopa ononidis on Lupinaster pentaphyllus, Sauterina hofmanniella on Lathyrus gmelinii, Caloptilia stigmatella on Salix kochiana, Callisto insperatella on Prunus virginiana, Parornix scoticella on Amelanchier sp., Phyllonorycter ermani on Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa, and Phyllonorycter viciae on Vicia unijuga. The Gracillariidae fauna of Siberia has 51% similarity with that of European Russia and only 38% similarity with that of the Russian Far East.

     

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Cherry Species Collected in Serbia

Genetic diversity of cherry species collected in Serbia has been investigated using 26 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in Prunus. This material consisted of 77 cherry accessions corresponding to the five following species, Prunus cerasus, Prunus avium, Prunus fruticosa, Prunus mahaleb, and Prunus serrulata. A total of 98 alleles were detected, with an average of 3.7 putative alleles per primer combination. Sixteen unique, species-specific, alleles were detected with nine primer pairs in four species, P. avium, P. cerasus, P. mahaleb, and P. serrulata. The highest number of unique alleles, 8, was observed in P. mahaleb and no species-specific alleles were detected in P. fruticosa. SSR markers generated unique fingerprints for all cherry accessions. Cluster analysis classified accessions into four groups according to their taxonomy, where P. avium and P. cerasus were grouped together, supporting P. avium as one of the progenitors of sour cherry. The highest genetic variability and potential value in rootstock breeding was observed in P. mahaleb and P. serrulata material. Principal component (PC) analysis explained more than 50 % of the total observed phenotypic variability using the first two components. The most important characteristics of PC1 were leaf length and width, fruit taste, color of leaf nectaries, fruit weight, leaf blade margin incisions, petiole length, size of vegetative buds, and length of internode. The most important characteristics of PC2 were shape of leaf blade at base, fruit skin color, and leaf blade length and tip angle. The investigated germplasm proved to be sufficiently genetically diverse for use in breeding programs and development of new cherry cultivars and rootstocks.     

Phenotypic and genotypic identification and phylogenetic characterisation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taphrina</Emphasis> fungi on alder

All Taphrina species are dimorphic with a mycelium stage biotrophic on vascular plants and a saprophytic yeast stage. European species of Taphrina on Alnus species (Betulaceae) were identified using morphological, physiological and molecular characteristics, the latter including determination of PCR fingerprints and of nucleotide sequences from selected nuclear ribosomal DNA regions. PCR fingerprinting gives a good overview of species identification, as do nucleotide sequences, which in addition, help to clarify phylogenetic relationships. Taphrina alni is a homogeneous species that exhibited more than 50% similarity in PCR fingerprinting with three different primers. Morphologically, it produces tongue-like outgrowths from female catkins of Alnus incana. Taphrina robinsoniana from A. rugosa and A. serrulata in North America is phylogenetically closely related to T. alni, but the two species could be separated by their PCR fingerprints, partial sequences of 26S rDNA (D1/D2) and ITS1/ITS2 sequences. T. epiphylla and T. sadebeckii are two phylogenetically closely related species. T. epiphylla causes witches brooms in crowns of A. incana. In addition, T. epiphylla forms slightly yellow white-grey leaf spots in midsummer on A. incana. Yellow white-grey leaf spots up to 10 mm on A. glutinosa are characteristic for T. sadebeckii. Both species can be separated well by PCR fingerprinting. Different from T. epiphylla, T. sadebeckii is genotypically more heterogeneous. Only two out of three different primers showed similarity values above 50% in different European strains of T. sadebeckii. Although genetic variability was not detected in complete sequences of the 18S ribosomal DNA of T. sadebeckii, ITS1/ITS2 sequences appeared to be more heterogeneous, too. Taphrina tosquinetii is a genotypically homogeneous species causing leaf curl on Alnus glutinosa. It was not possible to distinguish the yeast phases from different Taphrina species on Alnus using morphological and physiological characteristics only. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Hanns Kreisel on the occasion of his 70^th birthday     

DNA barcoding of Gaultheria L. in China (Ericaceae: Vaccinioideae)

Abstract Four DNA barcoding loci, chloroplast loci rbcL, matK, trnH‐psbA, and nuclear locus internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were tested for the accurate discrimination of the Chinese species of Gaultheria by using intraspecific and interspecific pairwise P‐distance, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and tree‐based analyses. This study included 186 individuals from 89 populations representing 30 species. For all individuals, single locus markers showed high levels of sequencing universality but were ineffective for species resolvability. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing were successful for all four loci. Both ITS and matK showed significantly higher levels of interspecific species delimitation than rbcL and trnH‐psbA. A combination of matK and ITS was the most efficient DNA barcode among all studied regions, however, they do not represent an appropriate candidate barcode for Chinese Gaultheria, by which only 11 out of 30 species can be separated. Loci rbcL, matK, and trnH‐psbA, which were recently proposed as universal plant barcodes, have a very poor capacity for species separation for Chinese Gaultheria. DNA barcodes may be reliable tools to identify the evolutionary units of this group, so further studies are needed to develop more efficient DNA barcodes for Gaultheria and other genera with complicated evolutionary histories.