Effect of five fungicides with different modes of action on cobweb disease (Cladobotryum mycophilum) and mushroom yield

The fungicides chlorothalonil, metrafenone, prochloraz‐Mn, thiabendazole and thiophanate‐methyl were tested in vitro and in vivo for their effect on Cladobotryum mycophilum, the mycoparasite that causes cobweb disease in white button mushroom. In vitro experiments showed that metrafenone (EC₅₀= 0.025 mg L^?1) and prochloraz‐Mn (EC₅₀= 0.045 mg L^?1) were the most effective fungicides for inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. mycophilum. Selectivity indexes of the tested fungicides on both C. mycophilum and Agaricus bisporus indicated that metrafenone was also the most selective fungicide, while chlorothalonil was the most toxic fungicide against A. bisporus mycelium. The in vivo efficacy of fungicides for controlling cobweb was evaluated in three mushroom cropping trials, which were artificially inoculated with C. mycophilum (10⁶ conidia m^?2). Prochloraz‐Mn provided good control, although the surface colonised by cobweb reached 12% by the end of the crop cycles. None of the inoculated cropping trials treated with metrafenone showed any cobweb disease symptoms, and neither were any significant phytotoxic effects on mushroom yield recorded. These results indicated that metrafenone can be used as an alternative to prochloraz‐Mn in the control of cobweb disease.     

Revealing Anisotropic Spinel Formation on Pristine Li‐ and Mn‐Rich Layered Oxide Surface and Its Impact on Cathode Performance

Surface properties of cathode particles play important roles in the transport of ions and electrons and they may ultimately dominate cathode's performance and stability in lithium‐ion batteries. Through the use of carefully prepared Li_1.2Ni_0.13Mn_0.54Co_0.13O₂ crystal samples with six distinct morphologies, surface transition‐metal redox activities and crystal structural transformation are investigated as a function of surface area and surface crystalline orientation. Complementary depth‐profiled core‐level spectroscopy, namely, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, are applied in the study, presenting a fine example of combining advanced diagnostic techniques with a well‐defined model system of battery materials. The present study reports the following findings: (1) a thin layer of defective spinel with reduced transition metals, similar to what is reported on cycled conventional secondary particles in the literature, is found on pristine oxide surface even before cycling, and (2) surface crystal structure and chemical composition of both pristine and cycled particles are facet dependent. Oxide structural and cycling stabilities improve with maximum expression of surface facets stable against transition‐metal reduction. The intricate relationships among morphology, surface reactivity and structural transformation, electrochemical performance, and stability of the cathode materials are revealed.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of the platinum (II) octaethylporphyrin/tri-n-propylamine system

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of platinum (II) octaethyl-porphyrin (PtOEP) in acetonitrile:methylene chloride (CH₃CN:CH₂Cl₂, 50:50 v/v) and CH₂Cl₂ is reported. ECL was generated upon sweep to positive potentials using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as an oxidative-reductive coreactant. ECL efficiencies (?_ecl) of 0.18 in CH₃CN:CH₂Cl₂ (50:50 v/v) and 3.90 in methylene chloride were obtained using Ru(bpy)₃(PF₆)₂ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) as a relative standard (?_ecl = 1). The ECL intensity peaks at a potential corresponding to oxidation of PtOEP and TPrA, and ECL emission spectra are nearly identical to photoluminescence emission spectra, indicating that emission is from the PtOEP triplet state.     

Comparison of the nutrient ecology of coastal Banksia grandis elfinwood (windswept shrub‐like form) and low trees,Cape Leeuwin‐Naturaliste National Park,Western Australia

Abstract Trees growing along windy coasts often have canopies that are greatly reduced in size by the sculpting effects of wind and salt spray. Trees with environmentally reduced stature are called elfinwood (windswept shrub‐form or krummholz) and are ecologically important because they represent outposts growing at the limit of tree success. The purpose of this study was to assess if Banksia grandis elfinwood growing at Cape Leeuwin had a different nutrient status than normal low‐form (LF) trees growing nearby, and if nutrient deficiencies, toxicities and/or imbalances were among the limiting factors imposed on elfinwood. The concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl^–, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo and B were analysed for mature green foliage, immature foliage, foliage litter, flowers and soil. When the elfinwood and LF trees were compared, the foliar nutrient status was generally similar, except that elfinwood foliage had significantly higher mean concentrations of N, Zn and Cu, while LF trees had higher Fe and Mn contents. Many nutrients were conserved before leaves were shed in both elfinwood and LF trees, including N, P, K, Na, Cl^–, Mn and Cu (LF trees also conserved Ca and Mg). However, elfinwood and LF tree‐litter contained significantly higher Fe concentrations than green foliage (elfinwood litter also had higher levels of Mg and B). It is tempting to suggest that the translocation of Fe into leaves before they were shed is a regulation mechanism to prevent Fe toxicity, or imbalance in the Fe : Mn ratio. Proteoid roots strongly acidify the soil to mobilize P, which also chemically reduces Fe⁺³ to plant‐available Fe⁺². The increased supply of Fe⁺² in the rhizosphere, caused by the action of proteoid roots, might tend to defeat self‐regulation of Fe uptake. It is possible that excess Fe accumulation in the plant might be regulated, in part, by exporting Fe into the leaves before they are shed. The nutrient status of B. grandis elfinwood is compared with mountain elfinwood of North America. The extreme habitat of coastal elfinwood provides many theoretical pathways for nutrient limitation, but B. grandis elfinwood at Cape Leeuwin does not appear to be nutrient deficient.     

Cationic vanadyl porphyrin-encapsulated mesoporous Al/V-MCM-41 as heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation of alkenes

The water soluble oxovanadium(IV) porphyrin, [meso-tetrakis (4-trimethylammoniophenyl) porphyrinato]oxovanadium(IV) tetrachloride (VOTAPP) has been encapsulated into mesoporous MCM-41 containing different amount of aluminium or vanadium. The VOTAPP encapsulated in mesoporous MCM-41 was confirmed by nitrogen adsorption isotherm and DRUV-Vis spectroscopy. The materials were also analyzed by FTIR, low-angle XRD, and scanning electron microscopy. These studies confirm that the encapsulation procedure used here not only retains the mesoporous structure, but also causes no significant demetallation, metal ion exchange or any chemical changes in VOTAPP. The catalytic activities of all the materials were tested in the epoxidation of cyclohexene and styrene using iodosylbenzene (PhIO) as oxidant and acetonitrile as solvent. The heterogeneous VOTAPP mainly produces allylic oxidation product and little epoxide with cyclohexene, whereas both epoxide and allylic oxidation product with styrene. The porphyrin loading was found to increase with increasing Al or V content, which in turn increases the catalytic activity of the heterogeneous systems. The catalytic properties of the encapsulated complexes were compared with that of the corresponding homogeneous catalyst VOTAPP, unsupported molecular sieves and VOTAPP supported onto pure Si-MCM-41. In the oxidation reactions with PhIO, the unsupported Al-MCM-41 was totally inactive, whereas V-MCM-41 shows a lower activity. However, increased activity was observed when VOTAPP was supported on Al/V-MCM-41. The supported catalysts were recycled for three times. The stability was studied by using FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy.     

天山北麓拟南芥表型特征的自然选择

本文研究了天山北麓干旱、湿润2种不同水分条件下拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合生理、形态及发育特征的自然适应特点。结果表明：分枝数、株高、相对适合度（角果质量）、莲座叶面积等特征在不同水分下差异极显著;根质量与相对适合度、莲座叶面积、水分利用效率和光合速率之间表现了正相关,胞间二氧化碳浓度与光合速率、水分利用效率之间表现了负相关;选择梯度分析得出,干湿水分条件下分枝数、株高、莲座叶面积均表现定向选择;主成分分析发现,光合生理特征整合在处理间有一定的规律性,表现出拟南芥物种特征整体协调一致性较强,对环境响应具有较大的趋同性;通径分析发现,水分利用效率、枝质量、株高、角果数对相对适合度直接产生较大影响,因而在通径模型中设置为直接路径特征,将莲座叶面积通过分枝数、花期、角果数,花期通过角果数到达相对适合度的过程设置为间接路径,这些特征通过间接路径对相对适合度间接产生较大影响。     

河西走廊西部全新世气候环境变化的元素地球化学记录

通过河西走廊西部地区条湖剖面沉积物元素地球化学分析, 结合高精度AMS-14C测年, 探讨研究区~11400-1060 cal BP期间的气候环境演变过程。研究结果显示, ~11400-9400 cal BP期间, 条湖处于高水位且流域内化学风化作用较强, 气候条件相对温暖湿润; ~9400-8100 cal BP期间, 湖泊水位下降, 化学风化作用减弱, 指示了干旱的气候条件; ~8100-5800 cal BP气候相对湿润, 其中最湿润时段出现在~8100-7200 cal BP之间; ~5800-4800 cal BP期间, 气候转干。~4800 cal BP以后人类活动增强, 导致区域荒漠化加剧。     

Molluscan shell colour

The phylum Mollusca is highly speciose, and is the largest phylum in the marine realm. The great majority of molluscs are shelled, including nearly all bivalves, most gastropods and some cephalopods. The fabulous and diverse colours and patterns of molluscan shells are widely recognised and have been appreciated for hundreds of years by collectors and scientists alike. They serve taxonomists as characters that can be used to recognise and distinguish species, however their function for the animal is sometimes less clear and has been the focus of many ecological and evolutionary studies. Despite these studies, almost nothing is known about the evolution of colour in molluscan shells. This review summarises for the first time major findings of disparate studies relevant to the evolution of shell colour in Mollusca and discusses the importance of colour, including the effects of visual and non‐visual selection, diet and abiotic factors. I also summarise the evidence for the heritability of shell colour in some taxa and recent efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning synthesis of shell colours. I describe some of the main shell pigments found in Mollusca (carotenoids, melanin and tetrapyrroles, including porphyrins and bile pigments), and their durability in the fossil record. Finally I suggest that pigments appear to be distributed in a phylogenetically relevant manner and that the synthesis of colour is likely to be energetically costly.