Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of semi-aquatic grasses along a wide hydrologic gradient

The effect of soil flooding on arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization of wetland plants was investigated using Panicum hemitomon and Leersia hexandra , two semi-aquatic grasses (Graminaceae) that grow along a wide hydrologic gradient in Carolina bay wetlands of the southeastern US coastal plain. Three related investigations were conducted along the dry-to-wet gradient in these wetlands; a field survey of AM fungal root colonization in eight wetlands, monthly monitoring of colonization patterns in P. hemitomon over a growing season, and an inoculum potential bioassay of soils collected along the gradient. The field survey showed that AM fungal colonization was strongly negatively correlated with water depth, but colonization was present in most root samples. The monthly assessment indicated that AM fungal colonization was lowest in plots that were consistently wet but rose as some plots underwent seasonal drying. The inoculum potential assay of dry, intermediate, and wet soils performed under both dry and saturated conditions showed that soils that were wet for >1 yr had the same ability to form mycorrhizas in bait plants as those that had remained dry. These findings suggested that the lower degree of colonization in wet areas observed in the field survey was because of the presence of surface water rather than low numbers of mycorrhizal propagules in the soil. Overall, the results of these investigations show that flooding is partially but not totally inhibitory to AM fungal colonization of wetland grasses.     

Allozyme and life history variation in five northwardly colonizing North American weed species

The relationships of allozyme and life history variation in a particularly narrow ecological setting are studied. Levels of genetic variation are compared in five introduced, predominantly selfing weedy species that are undergoing rapid range expansion northward in eastern N. America, mostly in monocultures of soybean and maize. In all of these species, a low level of allozyme variation contrasts sharply with the substantial inter- and intrapopulational variation in morphological and phenological life history features. Evolutionary and historical factors, determining variability of the species examined are reviewed, including founder effects, breeding system, environmental homogeneity, polyploidy, domestication, and crop-weed interactions.     

Panicum maximum (Jacq.) density effect upon macrofauna structure in sediments of pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater

Plant density may have an impact on macrofauna structure in constructed wetlands (CW). In this study, Panicum maximum density effect on macrofauna structure in pilot-scale vertical flow CW treating domestic wastewater was estimated. Two beds were planted with P. maximum at 10 roots/m² (low density) and two others at 20 roots/m² (high density). Two unplanted beds were used as controls. After six months of wastewater treatment, macrofauna was collected by taking five cores of sediment samples at the corners and the centre of each bed following three layers in the vertical profile. Plant density seems not to impact significantly the CW performance. However, the plant density of 10 roots/m² (low density) provided higher wastewater treatment efficiency. Concerning macrofauna, 11 taxa belonging to 6 classes and 11 orders were collected. Macrofauna was significantly more diversified in the planted beds than in the control. But the two plant densities investigated do not show significant difference between macrofauna diversity of the planted beds. Macrofauna abundance was two- and three-fold higher, respectively, in the planted beds at high and low densities than in the controls. From the upper surface to the bottom of the beds, macrofauna diversity and abundance decreased, and were heavily dominated by Annelida.     

水淹对铺地黍部分生理指标的影响

研究了水淹对铺地黍幼苗的丙二醛、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量,3种抗氧化保护酶(SOD、CAT和POD)活性等生理指标的影响.结果显示:水淹胁迫下,铺地黍幼苗的丙二醛含量缓慢升高,可溶性糖含量先升高后下降,蛋白质含量逐渐下降,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先上升后下降,而过氧化物酶(POD)活性则持续...     

糜子EST-SSR分子标记的开发及种质资源遗传多样性分析

基于前期高通量测序结果设计EST-SSR引物, 用于评估国内外不同生态区144份糜子(Panicum miliaceum)种质资源的遗传差异。结果表明, 200对引物中80对呈多态性, 开发效率为40%; 引物分辨率(Rp)为0.67-4.67 (平均值为2.00), 扩增产物大小为50-500 bp。144份材料在80个位点共检测到206个等位变异, 每个位点为2-3个; 多样性指数(I)为0.659 3 (RYW108)-1.087 2 (RYW124), 平均为0.859 9; 多态性信息含量(PIC)为0.222 9 (RYW98)-0.717 2 (RYW124), 平均为0.457 3。基于UPGMA将144份资源划分为3个群组, 其中2个群组主要为北方春糜子区材料, 另一个群组主要为黄土高原春夏糜子区材料。基于Structure (K=4)将材料划分为4个类群, 即2个代表北方资源基因库以及代表黄土高原和国外资源基因库各1个。基于主成分分析将材料聚为7个类群, 划分结果与材料的地理来源一致。     

Effects of monoculture-conditioned soils on common tallgrass prairie species productivity

Aims Within biodiversity–ecosystem function experiments, it is widely understood that yields of some species rapidly decline when planted in monoculture. This effect may arise due to decreased access to soil nutrients or an increase in detrimental soil pathogens within monoculture plantings. To determine whether or not soil conditioning affects tall grass prairie species biomass production, we conducted a field experiment to assess species growth in conspecifically and heterospecifically conditioned soils and a greenhouse experiment to elucidate how conspecific soil biota affected species growth.     

Overexpression of miR156 in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) results in various morphological alterations and leads to improved biomass production

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been developed into a dedicated herbaceous bioenergy crop. Biomass yield is a major target trait for genetic improvement of switchgrass. microRNAs have emerged as a prominent class of gene regulatory factors that has the potential to improve complex traits such as biomass yield. A miR156b precursor was overexpressed in switchgrass. The effects of miR156 overexpression on SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) genes were revealed by microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. Morphological alterations, biomass yield, saccharification efficiency and forage digestibility of the transgenic plants were characterized. miR156 controls apical dominance and floral transition in switchgrass by suppressing its target SPL genes. Relatively low levels of miR156 overexpression were sufficient to increase biomass yield while producing plants with normal flowering time. Moderate levels of miR156 led to improved biomass but the plants were non-flowering. These two groups of plants produced 58%-101% more biomass yield compared with the control. However, high miR156 levels resulted in severely stunted growth. The degree of morphological alterations of the transgenic switchgrass depends on miR156 level. Compared with floral transition, a lower miR156 level is required to disrupt apical dominance. The improvement in biomass yield was mainly because of the increase in tiller number. Targeted overexpression of miR156 also improved solubilized sugar yield and forage digestibility, and offered an effective approach for transgene containment.     

糜子根系与旗叶协同衰老的生理生化机理研究

以榆糜3号糜子为试验材料,测定了拔节至成熟期糜子根系与旗叶生长指标、保护酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量等变化,初步分析了其根系与旗叶协同衰老的生理生化机制.结果表明:从拔节期到成熟期,糜子根系活性、表面积和干物质重,旗叶绿叶面积和干物质重,以及根系与旗叶的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈先升高后降低的趋势,并均在拔节后34~41 d(籽粒灌浆前期~中期)达到最大值;根系与旗叶的可溶性蛋白质含量逐渐降低,而丙二醛(MDA)含量却持续大幅度上升;糜子旗叶的保护酶(SOD、CAT、POD)活性、可溶性蛋白含量始终极显著高于同期根系,而其MDA含量却始终极显著低于同期根系.研究发现,在糜子生育后期,其光合产物分配中心转移,造成根系和旗叶中光合产物亏缺;同时其旗叶和根系中保护酶活性逐渐降低,清除活性氧的能力减弱,引起细胞内活性氧积累和膜氧化伤害逐渐加重,最终导致植株逐渐衰老;在植株衰老过程中,根系与叶片衰老密切相关,并且根系抗氧化酶的活性相对较弱.