Photosynthetic response of Tempranillo grapevine to climate change scenarios

Photosynthesis in C₃ plants is CO₂ limited and therefore any increase in Rubisco carboxylation substrate may increase net CO₂ fixation, unless plants experience acclimation or other limitations. These aspects are largely unexplored in grapevine. Photosynthesis analysis was used to assess the stomatal, mesophyll, photochemical and biochemical contributions to the decreasing photosynthesis observed in Tempranillo grapevines (Vitis vinifera) from veraison to ripeness, modulated by CO₂, temperature and water availability. Photosynthesis and photosystem II photochemistry decreased from veraison to ripeness. The elevated CO₂ and temperature increased photosynthesis, but transiently, in both well irrigated (WI) and water‐stressed plants. Photosynthetic rates were maxima 1 week after the start of elevated CO₂ and temperature treatments, but differences with treatments of ambient conditions disappeared with time. There were not marked changes in leaf water status, leaf chlorophyll or leaf protein that could limit photosynthesis at ripeness. Leaf total soluble sugars remained at ripeness as high as 2 weeks after the start of treatments. On the other hand, and as expected, CO₂ diffusional limitations impaired photosynthesis in grapevine plants grown under water scarcity, stomatal and mesophyll conductances to CO₂ decreased and in turn low chloroplastic CO₂ concentrations limited photosynthetic CO₂ fixation. In summary, photochemistry and photosynthesis from veraison to ripeness in Tempranillo grapevine were dominated by a developmental‐related decreasing trend that was only transiently influenced by elevated CO₂ concentrations.     

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by Eucalyptus and Populus at a tertiary treated municipal wastewater sprayfield

Various progenies of Eucalyptus grandis and E. amplifolia, and clones of Populus deltoides, were evaluated for plant removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for 26 months at a municipal waste spray field in north Florida. Tertiary treated wastewater containing 2.73 mg L(-1) nitrate N and 0.30 mg L(-1) total P was applied using sprinkler irrigation (93.8 m3 ha(-1) d(-1)) to fast growing trees utilized for bioenergy. Eucalyptus amplifolia and E. grandis survived and grew very poorly as the result of severe winter injury in two successive years and were not evaluated for nutrient removal. Survival and growth of P. deltoides demonstrated suitability for phytoremediation, and selected clones were evaluated for biomass and nutrient content. Removals of total N (TN) and total P (TP) were greatest for main stem (36% and 44%, respectively) and foliage (44% and 36%, respectively). Low biomass producing clones generally had higher nutrient concentrations, but high biomass producing clones removed more TN and TP. Approximately 789 kg ha(-1) TN and 103 kg ha(-1) TP were removed by the highest biomass producing P. deltoides clone, representing 215% of N and 615% of P inputs.     

爬沙虫提取液对果蝇繁殖力及寿命的影响

本实验通过研究爬沙虫提取液对果蝇繁殖力及寿命的影响,证实爬沙虫提取液具有增强果蝇的繁殖力和提高雌性果蝇寿命的作用。采用乙醚麻醉法,收集8 h内羽化的成虫,选择个体大小相近的雌雄果蝇,在不同爬沙虫浓度的培养基中培养,统计各组第一子代(first filial generation,F1)果蝇成体的数目及果蝇体重。收集各培养基中果蝇,区分雌雄,在原浓度爬沙虫培养基中培养,每日观察果蝇死亡数,直至全部死亡。结果表明:与对照组比较,各爬沙虫处理组子代果蝇雄体数目均显著增加(P<0.05),2.500%组的子代果蝇雌体数目差异显著(P<0.05)。各爬沙虫处理组刚羽化的果蝇体重极显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。2.500%剂量组果蝇雌体平均寿命极显著增加(P<0.01)。本研究为更好地利用爬沙虫的药用价值提供了参考依据。     

濒危植物大果木莲种群格局及濒危原因分析

采用径级结构代替年龄结构以及方差均值比率法对木兰科(Magnoliaceae)木莲属(Manglietia Bl.)濒危植物大果木莲(Manglietia grandis Hu et Cheng)种群的年龄结构和种群格局进行了研究,并编制了大果木莲种群的特定时间生命表和存活曲线;结合生殖生物学特征以及遗传多样性研究结果,分析了导致大果木莲濒危的主要原因.根据株高和胸径可分别将大果木莲种群的年龄结构分为5级、高度结构分为6级;在大果木莲的5个年龄结构分级中,成年个体较多,幼年个体较少;其高度结构完整,个体高度主要在20 m以下.种群的方差均值比率为0.838 3,其空间分布格局属于随机分布.根据特定时间生命表可将大果木莲种群的发育分为3个阶段:幼树阶段(年龄级为Ⅱ～Ⅲ级)、成树阶段(年龄级为Ⅲ～Ⅳ级)、老树阶段(年龄级为Ⅳ～Ⅴ级),其中成树阶段个体死亡率最低.大果木莲种群存活曲线接近Deevey Ⅰ型,属于衰退型种群.种群自我更新能力差、种子生产力低下、有性生殖困难、生境片断化导致的基因流受限以及人为干扰是大果木莲濒危的主要原因.针对大果木莲濒危现状和致危原因,提出了相应的保护对策和建议.     

A NOVEL EPIPHYTIC CYANOBACTERIAL SPECIES FROM THE GENUS BRASILONEMA CAUSING DAMAGE TO EUCALYPTUS LEAVES1

A cyanobacterial mat colonizing the leaves of Eucalyptus grandis was determined to be responsible for serious damage affecting the growth and development of whole plants under the clonal hybrid nursery conditions. The dominant cyanobacterial species was isolated in BG‐11 medium lacking a source of combined nitrogen and identified by cell morphology characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis (16S rRNA gene and cpcBA‐IGS sequences). The isolated strain represents a novel species of the genus Brasilonema and is designated Brasilonema octagenarum strain UFV‐E1. Thin sections of E. grandis leaves analyzed by light and electron microscopy showed that the B. octagenarum UFV‐E1 filaments penetrate into the leaf mesophyll. The depth of infection and the mechanism by which the cyanobacterium invades leaf tissue were not determined. A major consequence of colonization by this cyanobacterium is a reduction in photosynthesis in the host since the cyanobacterial mats decrease the amount of light incident on leaf surfaces. Moreover, the cyanobacteria also interfere with stomatal gas exchange, decreasing CO₂ assimilation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an epiphytic cyanobacterial species causing damage to E. grandis leaves.     

光照对砀山酥梨果实发育过程中POD、PAL、PPO酶活性的影响研究

以40年生砀山酥梨为材料,用ZD-IA型照度计测定光照强度,用分光光度法测定POD、PAL、PPO等3种酶的活性;研究了光照强度对果实发育过程中POD、PAL、PPO等3种酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)光照强度对POD、PAL、PPO等3种酶活性有显著的影响;(2)在光照充足的部位,POD、PAL酶活性较高,具体表现为高光强>中光强>弱光强>极弱光强,彼此间活性差异极显著(P<0.01);(3)PPO在光照充分的情况下,活性偏低,表现为高光强<中光强<弱光强<极弱光强,差异显著。     

Characterization of microsatellite markers in mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

A dinucleotide-enriched genomic library was obtained from mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco). A subset of 101 positive clones was sequenced and primers were designed. The loci were screened for levels of variation using 26-29 wild mandarin oranges collected in Vietnam. Forty-three loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles ranging from two to 18. The observed heterozygosity (H(O) ) and expected heterozygosity (H(E) ) were from 0.03 to 0.96 and from 0.03 to 0.92, respectively.     

Boron deficiency decreases growth and photosynthesis, and increases starch and hexoses in leaves of citrus seedlings

Seedlings of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) were fertilized for 14 weeks with boron (B)-free or B-sufficient (2.5 or 10muM H(3)BO(3)) nutrient solution every other day. Boron deficiency resulted in an overall inhibition of plant growth, with a reduction in root, stem and leaf dry weight (DW). Boron-starved leaves showed decreased CO(2) assimilation and stomatal conductance, but increased intercellular CO(2) concentrations. Activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP-GAPDH) and stromal fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) were lower in B-deficient leaves than in controls. Contents of glucose, fructose and starch were increased in B-deficient leaves while sucrose was decreased. Boron-deficient leaves displayed higher or similar superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, while dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and catalase (CAT) activities were lower. Expressed on a leaf area or protein basis, B-deficient leaves showed a higher ascorbate (AsA) concentration, but a similar AsA concentration on a DW basis. For reduced glutathione (GSH), we found a similar GSH concentration on a leaf area or protein basis and an even lower content on a DW basis. Superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) generation, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and electrolyte leakage were higher in B-deficient than in control leaves. In conclusion, CO(2) assimilation may be feedback-regulated by the excessive accumulation of starch and hexoses in B-deficient leaves via direct interference with chloroplast function and/or indirect repression of photosynthetic enzymes. Although B-deficient leaves remain high in activity of antioxidant enzymes, their antioxidant system as a whole does not provide sufficient protection from oxidative damage.