Comparative ultrastructure and gas exchange characteristics of the C3–C4 intermediate Neurachne minor S. T. Blake (Poaceae)

Abstract Ultrastructural and physiological characteristics of the C₃-C₄ intermediate Neurachne minor S. T. Blake (Poaceae) are compared with those of C₃ and C₄ relatives, and C₃-C₄Panicum milioides Nees ex Trin. N. minor consistently exhibits very low CO₂ compensation points (τ: 1.0, usually 0.3–0.6 Pa) yet has C₃-like δ¹³C values. CO₂ assimilation rates (A) respond like those of C₃ plants to a decrease in O₂ partial pressure (2 × 104–1.9 × 103 Pa) at ambient CO₂ levels, but this response is progressively attenuated until negligible at very low CO₂. By contrast, other species of the Neurachneae are clearly either C₄ (two spp.) or C₃ (seven spp.). For plants grown and measured at different photon flux densities (PFDs), τ for N. minor and P. milioides increases from 0.5 to 1.0, and from 1.0 to 2.1 Pa, respectively, as PFD is decreased from 1860 to 460 μmol m^?2s^?1. In N. minor, the O₂ response of τ is either biphasic as in P. milioides, but much diminished and with a higher transition point, or is very C₄-like. As in C₄ relatives, inner sheath cells contain numerous chloroplasts. Their walls possess a suberized lamella, which may make them more CO₂-tight than bundle sheath cells of P. milioides, contributing to the almost C₄-like τ characteristics of N. minor. The biochemical basis of C₃-C₄ intermediacy is considered.     

井岗山区农业害虫垂直分布的考察

1962年8月,我们在以往调查庐山、大茅山、黄岗山的基础上,选定了井岗山区为据点,对其农业害虫的垂直分布,进行了考察。 井岗山是我国革命的摇篮,位于江西中部,西邻湖南,约当北纬27°以南,东经114°以东,最高山峰在海拔1,700米左右。考察时根据地势高低,将全山划分为三个地段,即山麓(海拔 200米以下)、山腰(海拔 400—500米)及大山区(海拔 800—1,200米),再依植被生长情况,分别划为松杂灌林带、松阔叶林带及杉竹混合林带,并以附近的吉安市(平原     

扁刺蛾的初步研究

扁刺蛾Thosea sinensis Walker属于鳞翅目中的刺蛾科,舆四点刺蛾同为江西果树森林方面的重要害虫。1950年春间,我们开始对它进行观察,以求除治。关于此虫的生活习性,前人缺乏系统记录,现在把二年来研究所得的结果,作一初步报告。     

Impact of invasive apple snails in Hong Kong on wetland macrophytes,nutrients, phytoplankton and filamentous algae

1. Grazing by invasive species can affect many aspects of an aquatic system, but most studies have focused on the direct effects on plants. We conducted mesocosm and laboratory experiments to examine the impact of the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata on macrophytes, filamentous algae, nutrients and phytoplankton. 2. In a freshwater pond, we confined 500 g of Myriophyllum aquaticum or Eichhornia crassipes with 0, 2, 4 or 8 apple snails in 1 m × 1 m × 1 m enclosures for approximately 1 month. Apple snails grazed heavily on both species of macrophytes, with higher overall weight losses at higher snail densities. The damage patterns differed between the two macrophytes. In M. aquaticum, both leaves and stems suffered from substantial herbivory, whereas in E. crassipes, only the roots suffered significant weight reduction. 3. In addition to grazing on macrophytes, apple snails appeared to have controlled the growth of filamentous algae, as these did not develop in the snail treatments. The ability of P. canaliculata to control filamentous algae was supported by a laboratory experiment where the consumption was as high as 0.25 g g⁻¹ snail DW d⁻¹. Because of a lack of native herbivorous snails in the pond, the growth of filamentous algae (mainly Spirogyra sp.) reached 80.3 g m⁻², forming a spongy pond scum in the no‐apple snail control. Together with previous reports that apple snails could eat the juveniles and eggs of other freshwater snails, our results indicated that P. canaliculata could have out‐competed native herbivorous snails from the pond by predation on their juveniles or eggs. Alternatively, P. canaliculata might have out‐competed them by monopolisation of food resources. 4. Nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations remained low throughout both experiments and were not correlated with apple snail density. The treatment effects on chlorophyll a (Chl a) and phytoplankton composition varied in the two experiments. In the M. aquaticum experiment, with increasing snail density, Chl a increased, and the phytoplankton community became dominated by Cryptophyceae. In the E. crassipes experiment, Chl a level was independent of snail density, but with increasing snail density, the phytoplankton community became co‐dominated by Cryptophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. 5. Given the multiple effects of P. canaliculata on wetland biodiversity and function, management strategies should be developed to prevent its further spread. In invaded wetlands, strategies should be developed to eradicate the apple snail and re‐introduce native snails which can control the development of filamentous algae.     

Zinc Effects on Growth, Pigmentation and Antibacterial Activity of Monascus purpureus

Growth, pigmentation and antibacterial activity of Monascus purpureus Went (starch fungus) were affected by zinc. Zinc at concentrations of 2 × 10^-3M and 3 × 10^-3M nearly stopped the growth, pigmentation and antibiotic production of both wild type and strain NI IS in liquid medium. Relatively vigorous growth, high pigment production, and strong antibacterial activity of NIIS still occurred on solid medium with the same zinc concentrations. Wild type was hardly affected by zinc concentrations lower than 2 × 10^-3M. The growth of strain NI IS was significantly inhibited even by 5 × 10^-5M zinc, but pigment production and antibacterial activity were highly promoted by 5 × 10^-5M zinc. Increase of glucose concentration also promoted pigment and antibiotic productions of strain NI IS. Glucose effects were intensified as 1 × 10^-3M zinc was added. Zinc may act as a growth inhibitor and concomitantly as a stimulant for glucose uptake and for the synthesis of metabolites such as pigments and antibiotics.     

Control of Ophiobolus patch in Agrostis turf using avirulent fungi and take-all suppressive soils in pot experiments

The incorporation of avirulent fungi such as Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis, an avirulent isolate of G. graminis var. tritici, a Phialophora sp. with lobed hyphopodia synonymous with Phialophora radiciola var. radicicola sensu Deacon and P. radicicola var. graminicola at the time of seeding Agrostis turf in pots of sterilised soil completely controlled Ophiobolus patch disease. The addition of a 5 mm layer of take-all suppressive (TAS) soils, artifically developed by the repeated addition of live mycelium of the varieties avenae, tritici and graminis of G. graminis to soil, controlled the disease to a lesser extent. However, a 20 mm layer of a TAS soil developed from live mycelium of G. g. avenae almost completely suppressed the disease. A survey of 66 golf and bowling greens in four states of Australia showed that P. r. graminicola was the most prevalent avirulent fungus.