The effects of external electric field on the electron transport system of spinach chloroplasts

Since the thylakoid membranes of an active chloroplast are constantly exposed to the electric fields generated by the electron transport system inside the membranes, we have studied the effects of pretreating chloroplasts of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves with an external AC (alternating current) electric field on their electron transport system. It was found that a few minutes electric field pretreatment (333 V cm^-1 across chloroplast samples), especially at low frequency, irreversibly inhibited the activity of photosystem II (PSII), but under certain conditions, stimulated that of photosystem I (PSI). From the measurements of fluorescence from PSII, we ascribe the inhibition to a lesion close to its reaction center P680, leading to increased dissipation of excitation energy to heat. The effect on PSI was investigated by the reduction of its reaction center, P700 by various artificial donors. We suggest that the stimulative effect can be attributed to a positive shift of the surface charge density of thylakoid membranes that brings about an increase in the accessibility of exogenous electronegative donors.     

Chromosomal location of genes conditioning low amylose content of endosperm starches in rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary Eight dull mutants that lower the amylose content of rice endosperm as well as waxy mutant and a cultivar with common grains were crossed in a diallele manner. The amylose content of F₁ and F₂ seeds was determined on the basis of single grain analysis. It was concluded that the low amylose content of dull mutants is under monogenic recessive control. Alleles for low amylose content are located at five loci designated as du-1, du-2, du-3, du-4 and du-5. These loci are independent of wx locus located on chromosome 6. The five du loci have an additive effect in lowering the amylose content. Two loci, du-1 and du-4, were found to be located on chromosomes 7 and 4, respectively.     

The X-ray induced G2 arrest in mouse eggs: a maternal effect involving a lack of polypeptide phosphorylation

Summary In some strains of mice, eggs when X irradiated during the pronuclear stage, undergo a mitotic block in the G₂ phase of the first cell cycle and cleave when the second division takes place in controls. The importance of this effect varies considerably with the strain and depends exclusively on the maternal genotype. In previous work, two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that eggs blocked at the one-cell stage after irradiation, undergo the same modifications in polypeptide synthesis as two-cell controls of the same age, except at the time of normal first mitosis, where three polypeptide sets of 30, 35 and 45 kDa appear only in cleaving controls. In the present study, we have found phosphorylations in dividing controls, on polypeptides of 30, 35 and 45 kDa. These phosphorylations are not seen in blocked irradiated eggs.     

酸雨对翅荚木的生理反应及其机理的研究

本文指出了酸雨对翅荚木细胞透性、pH值、等电点、耐酸力均有显著的影响。其影响是随酸雨pH值的下降和浸没时间的延长而增加。发芽种子的抗坏血酸氧化酶、多酚氧化酶的活性,呼吸强度和可溶性糖、粗脂肪和蛋白质的含量,也是随酸雨pH值的下降而降低。叶绿素总量、叶绿素a,b和a/b的比值,pH 5处理与对照无差异,低于pH4以下的处理叶绿素a含量则大幅度减少。叶绿素b含量则较稳定。根系的活力也是随酸雨pH值下降而急剧减少。酸雨对翅荚木种子的发芽率、出苗率及胚和幼苗的生长,都表现有不同程度的抑制效应,酸雨对叶片的伤害,也是随酸雨pH值的降低、喷洒次数的增多和浸没时间的延长而加重。     

一种高生产力和生态协调的亚热带针阔混交林——杉木火力楠混交林的研究

 通过八年杉木针阔混交林的综合定位研究,筛选出一种高生产力和生态协调的人工林一以8杉木2火力楠为优势的混交林。林分的蓄积量和乔木层贮存的能量分别比杉木纯林高13.7%和11.3%,杉木火力楠混交林提高了林分的光能利用率,改善了林内小气候;增加了林地有机质的含量;促进了土壤中有益微生物的繁衍和土壤理化性质的改良,提高了土壤肥力和蓄水保水能力;增强了林分对害虫自我抑制能力。     

On non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination and interpretation of the matorral vegetation in lowland Murcía

The plant-environment relationships in a range of matorral communities, having different rainfall conditions in semi-arid lowland habitats in Murcía, S.E. Spain, were examined using the non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination technique. Hypotheses on floristic variations were derived based on an interpretative strategy which involved a site configuration rotation, followed by stepwise multiple regression analysis. An environmental data set was used to isolate variables associated with site co-ordinate trends. Results showed that floristic variation in these communities was mainly determined by aspect induced radiation receipt. Besides, most environmental trends in the study areas were found to be oblique to original site ordination axes and configuration rotation seemed to be a prerequisite in quantitative interpretation. The interpretative strategy introduced in this study was effective. It enhanced straightforward, quantitative and objective interpretation whereby inductive inferences on environmental trends could be readily formulated.Abbreviations ARAD radiation receipt surrogate - DEPTH soil depth - DISTURB disturbance index - NMDS non-metric multidimensional scaling - NUT nutrient scalar - SLOPE slope angle - TEXTIN texture index     

To identify impacts in variable systems using anomalous changes: a salt marsh example

A method is proposed to identify impacts of habitat modification in cases where it is difficult to site experimental and control samples. This problem occurs especially in heterogeneous systems, but may pose difficulties in any field experimental situation. The method is relevant to the situation where treated (modified) and untreated sites are spread over a range of habitat types. Types of change are identified and compared to treatments. If a specific change type is associated with a particular treatment then it is likely that the change is causally related to the treatment. There are five stages in the analysis. First, the classes or states of the sample sites, over a period of time, are identified (by numerical classification). Second, for each sample site, the sequence of states is listed. Third, transition matrices are made for each sample site to show the changes which have occurred. Fourth, the transition matrices are classified, to identify types of change. Finally, we use the Chisquared test to indicate whether the treated and untreated sites are associated with particular types of change. As an example, we refer to habitat modification to manage salt-marsh mosquitoes and we evaluate impacts on the environment mainly through changes to the vegetation. We consider that the method has potential to identify changes in heterogeneous systems even though little change was identified in the particular salt marsh studied.     

色氨酸残基在磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶催化功能中的作用

在pH7.5条件下,用NBS对PEP羧化酶中色氨酸残基进行共价修饰表明,PEP羧化酶中48个色氨酸残基均能被NBS修饰。用邹承鲁图解法求得,其中4个残基为酶表现催化活性所必需的。 PEP羧化酶的变构效应剂G6P、Gly及Mal分别与酶预保温后,再经NBS修饰,前两种处理中,同样浓度的NBS所用修饰的色氨酸残基数和处理后的残存酶活与对照相比有很大的差异,而用Mal处理的,两者与对照相差无几。     

Morphological dispersion of introduced Hawaiian finches: evidence for competition and a Narcissus effect

Summary Morphological analyses were conducted on finch species introduced to Oahu, Hawaii. As many as 25 species of finches representing four families (Emberizidae, Fringillidae, Ploecidae, Estrildidae) have been introduced to Oahu. Of these, 15 species currently have established wild populations. When compared with pools of 25 and 23 species introduced to Oahu, the 15 surviving species are morphologically overdispersed. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that competition has influenced the outcome of these introductions. We also tested the hypothesis that surviving introduced finches in one habitat (sugarcane fields) were morphologically overdispersed. When the seven surviving finch species found in sugarcane were compared with the pools of 25 and 23 species, they too were morphologically overdispersed. However, when the seven sugarcane species were compared with a species pool consisting of only the surviving 15 species found across Oahu, they were not morphologically overdispersed. This result suggests that morphological analyses of community structure based only on comparisons of assemblages of surviving species may be biased by a Narcissus effect.     

Scaling physiological measurements for individuals of different body size

This paper examines how selected physiological performance variables, such as maximal oxygen uptake, strength and power, might best be scaled for subject differences in body size. The apparent dilemma between using either ratio standards or a linear adjustment method to scale was investigated by considering how maximal oxygen uptake (l.min-1), peak and mean power output (W) might best be adjusted for differences in body mass (kg). A curvilinear power function model was shown to be theoretically, physiologically and empirically superior to the linear models. Based on the fitted power functions, the best method of scaling maximum oxygen uptake, peak and mean power output, required these variables to be divided by body mass, recorded in the units kg 2/3. Hence, the power function ratio standards (ml.kg-2/3.min-1) and (W.kg-2/3) were best able to describe a wide range of subjects in terms of their physiological capacity, i.e. their ability to utilise oxygen or record power maximally, independent of body size. The simple ratio standards (ml.kg-1.min-1) and (W.kg-1) were found to best describe the same subjects according to their performance capacities or ability to run which are highly dependent on body size. The appropriate model to explain the experimental design effects on such ratio standards was shown to be log-normal rather than normal. Simply by taking logarithms of the power function ratio standard, identical solutions for the design effects are obtained using either ANOVA or, by taking the unscaled physiological variable as the dependent variable and the body size variable as the covariate, ANCOVA methods.