Spatial patterns of soil and ecosystem respiration regulated by biological and environmental variables along a precipitation gradient in semi-arid grasslands in China

Precipitation is a key environmental factor in determining ecosystem structure and function. Knowledge of how soil and ecosystem respiration responds to climate change (e.g., precipitation) and human activities (e.g., grazing or clipping) is crucial for assessing the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems and for improving model simulations and predictions of future global carbon (C) cycling in response to human activities. In this study, we examined the spatial patterns of soil and ecosystem respiration along a precipitation gradient from 167.7 to 398.1 mm in a semi-arid grassland. Our results showed that soil and ecosystem respiration increased linearly with increasing mean annual precipitation. The trends were similar to those of shoot biomass, litter and soil total C content along the precipitation gradient. Our results indicated that precipitation was the primary controlling factor in determining the spatial pattern of soil and ecosystem respiration in semi-arid grasslands in China. The linear/nonlinear relationships in this study describing the variations of the ecosystem carbon process with precipitation can be useful for model development, parameterization and validation at the regional scale to improve predictions of how carbon processes in grasslands respond to climate change, land use and grassland management.     

Photosynthesis,stomatal conductance and terpene emission response to water availability in dry and mesic Mediterranean forests

Key message

Warmer summer conditions result in increased terpene emissions except under severe drought, in which case they strongly decrease.

Abstract

Water stress results in a reduction of the metabolism of plants and in a reorganization of their use of resources geared to survival. In the Mediterranean region, periods of drought accompanied by high temperatures and high irradiance occur in summer. Plants have developed various mechanisms to survive in these conditions by resisting, tolerating or preventing stress. We used three typical Mediterranean tree species in Israel, Pinus halepensis L., Quercus calliprinos and Quercus ithaburensis Webb, as models for studying some of these adaptive mechanisms. We measured their photosynthetic rates (A), stomatal conductance (g _s), and terpene emission rates during spring and summer in a geophysical gradient from extremely dry to mesic from Yatir (south, arid) to Birya (north, moist) with intermediate conditions in Solelim. A and g _s of P. halepensis were threefold higher in Birya than in Yatir where they remained very low both seasons. Quercus species presented 2–3-fold higher A and g _s but with much more variability between seasons, especially for Q. ithaburensis with A and g _s that decreased 10–30-fold from spring to summer. Terpene emission rates for pine were not different regionally in spring but they were 5–8-fold higher in Birya than in Yatir in summer (P < 0.05). Higher emissions were also observed in Solelim for the drought resistant Q. ithaburensis (P < 0.001) but not for Q. calliprinos. α-Pinene followed by limonene and 3-carene were the dominant terpenes. Warmer summer conditions result in increased Terpene emission rates except under severe drought, in which case they strongly decrease.

     

小叶兜兰的果实生长和雌配子体发育

为了解濒危兰科植物小叶兜兰(Paphiopedilum barbigerum Tang et Wang)胚珠和雌配子体的发育过程,采用常规石蜡切片技术对其果实的生长动态进行了研究。结果表明,授粉后60~75 d的蒴果内种子数量迅速增加,到授粉后120 d时种子充满整个蒴果。授粉后40 d的胎座上分化形成多数由1层表皮细胞包被1列细胞的胚珠原基;授粉后60 d时位于胎座指状结构末端处紧靠表皮细胞下方的孢原细胞分化为大孢子母细胞。之后,大孢子母细胞经过减数分裂和有丝分裂最终形成成熟胚囊;授粉后135 d胚囊发育成熟,附着在胎座上的种子个体分化明显。小叶兜兰胚囊的发育类型为双孢子葱型,胚珠为倒生胚珠,薄珠心,单珠被,成熟胚囊为8核。这为小叶兜兰的生殖生物学及繁殖体系的建立提供理论依据。     

三叶木通光敏色素A基因的序列及表达分析

光敏色素( phytochrome,简称PHY)是植物体内最重要的光受体,参与调节植物种子萌发、幼苗生长、茎的伸长、子叶伸展直至开花控制等许多生理过程。该研究通过RT-PCR方法首次从三叶木通( Akebia trifoli-ata)中获得了编码光敏色素A的cDNA序列(命名为AktrPHYA1,GenBank登录号为KP864055)。结果表明：该序列由3496 bp组成,包含一个3426 bp的完整开放阅读框,编码1141个氨基酸。 AktrPHYA1编码的蛋白N端为光感受区域,包括一个GAF结构域、一个PHY结构域;C端为光调节区域,C端包括两个PAS结构域、一个组氨酸激酶A结构域和一个类似组氨酸激酶的ATP 激酶结构。同源蛋白比对显示,AktrPHYA1与耧斗菜、荷花的同源蛋白序列一致性分别为83％和82％。遗传进化树分析表明,单子叶植物和双子叶植物的光敏色素A基因分别聚为两支;在双子叶植物中,AktrPHYA1与耧斗菜、荷花PHYA聚在一起,说明三叶木通与耧斗菜、荷花遗传关系较近。 AktrPHYA1在三叶木通茎、叶片、雄花、雌花、种子中均有表达,且在种子中表达最强,在叶片中表达量最低。 AktrPHYA1的组织表达谱暗示了其在植物中可能的功能。该研究结果为三叶木通光敏色素A基因的功能研究奠定了基础。     

干旱胁迫对枇杷生理特性及生长的影响

以3年生‘大五星’枇杷嫁接苗为试验材料,通过盆栽控水试验设置4个水分处理梯度:对照(CK)、轻度胁迫(LS)、中度胁迫(MS)和重度胁迫(SS),研究不同程度土壤干旱对枇杷幼树的生长和生理特性的影响。结果显示:(1)枇杷的株高、地上和地下生物量随干旱胁迫的增强呈下降趋势。(2)在轻度和中度胁迫下叶片叶绿素含量增加,随着土壤水分的减少,叶绿素含量和叶片相对含水量(LRWC)均显著下降。(3)叶片净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和气孔导度(Gs)随着干旱胁迫的加剧均显著下降,其中Gs下降幅度最大,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)则表现为先下降后上升,重度胁迫时叶片的水分利用率(WUE)最低。(4)干旱的加重使叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)的活性呈现先增加后降低的趋势,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在轻度胁迫下最为活跃但在重度胁迫时显著降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量在中度胁迫第10天开始显著升高。(5)随干旱胁迫的加剧游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量增加且在重度胁迫第10天达到最大值,而可溶性蛋白(SP)含量在胁迫后期与对照无显著差异,可溶性糖(SS)含量在重度胁迫后期达到峰值且与对照差异显著。研究表明,在轻度和中度干旱胁迫下,枇杷叶片光合作用受到抑制,但能够积极调控抗氧化酶的活性和渗透调节物质的含量等来增强耐受性,而重度胁迫下,叶片膜系统和光合系统受到损伤,枇杷生长受到严重抑制。     

一种高效抑制Jurkat细胞表达RhoGDI2的方法

目的:RhoGDI2是RhoGTP酶的解离抑制因子,在白血病细胞内表达量很高。构建Rho GDI2短发夹RNA(sh RNA)的慢病毒载体,并鉴定该慢病毒在急性T细胞白血病细胞系Jurkat内的抑制效率。方法:针对人rho GDI2基因序列合成sh RNA序列,通过限制性内切酶Bam HⅠ和XhoⅠ、T4DNA连接酶,将该sh RNA序列插入慢病毒载体p EN_h H1c,测序正确后通过LR重组酶与p DSL_hp UGIP重组,转化感受态细菌,筛选阳性克隆,测序鉴定正确后用脂质体法将质粒与ps PAX2、p MD2共转染293T细胞、包装病毒并侵染Jurkat细胞,采用荧光显微镜观察侵染效率、West-ern印迹鉴定Rho GDI2 sh RNA在Jurkat细胞内的表达。结果:构建的Rho GDI2 sh RNA慢病毒成功侵染Jurkat细胞并抑制Rho GDI2的表达。结论:构建并鉴定了RhoGDI2 shRNA的慢病毒表达质粒,为研究RhoGDI2在白血病中的作用奠定了基础。     

Spectroscopic measurements of the parameters of the helium plasma jets generated in the plasma focus discharge at the PF-3 facility

The spectroscopic technique used to measure the parameters of the plasma jets generated in the plasma focus discharge and those of the plasma of the immobile gas through which these jets propagate is described. The time evolution of the intensities and shapes of spectral lines in experiments carried out with helium at the PF-3 facility was studied by means of electron-optical streak cameras. The plasma electron temperature, T ≈ 4–5 eV, was determined from the intensity ratio of two spectral lines, one of which (λ₁ = 5876 Å) belongs to neutral helium, while the other (λ₂ = 4686 Å), to hydrogen-like helium ions. The plasma density at different time instants was determined from the Stark broadening of these lines in the electric fields of different nature. The plasma density is found to vary from 4 × 10¹⁴ to 2 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3.     

西雅图社区花园的用地获取、功能分区和元素组成

社区花园在欧美具有悠久历史,在健康城市建设和促进社区发展方面的功效已经得到证实。目前,已针对社区花园的功能、类型、经营和科普等开展研究,但对土地获取和设计相关的研究较少。西雅图的社区花园历史悠久,并获得政府支持,是美国发展社区花园的城市典范。通过对西雅图23个典型案例进行调研,对用地获取方式、功能类型、分区和元素组成进行分类总结,为设计建造具有中国特色的社区花园提供启示。