High polyphenol oxidase activity and low titratable acidity in browning bamboo tissue culture

Summary Tissue browning that frequently results in the early death of bamboo shoots in vitro correlated directly with polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.10.3.1) activity and inversely with titratable acidity. It was unrelated to the level of endogenous phenols. During the course of culture, timing of PPO activity paralleled that of explant browning. Browning was highest among shoots cultured in a medium of pH 8, which was consistent with the pH optinum of the bamboo enzyme. The pH optimum was first determined with the crude enzyme, then verified with two purified isozymes. Stability of the bamboo PPO was also highest at pH 10. PPO activities of the severely browning Dendrocalamus latiflorus, the moderately browning Phyllostachys nigra, and the relatively non-browning Bambusa oldhamii were inhibited strongly by ascorbic acid, cysteine, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, and sodium sulfite. But characterization of bamboo PPO according to enzyme inhibitors was not possible because enzyme extracts of the three species gave varied responses to the traditional substances. Nutrient medium addenda of some PPO inhibitors, namely ascorbic acid, cysteine, kojic acid, and thiourea, mainly enhanced browning. However, ferulic acid at 3 mM and lower concentrations reduced the number of brown shoots per culture, although not the percentage of cultures that browned. Polyvinylpyrrolidone failed completely to suppress browning. The two purified isozymes showed different temperature optima for PPO activity: 60°C and 65°C. The purified isozymes displayed a substrate preference for dopamine, or a cathecol oxidase characteristics.     

河南玉兰属一新变种

对毛玉兰新变种Yulaniadenudata(Desr.)D.L.Fuvar.pubescensD.L.Fu,T.B.ZhaoetG.H.Tian,var.nov.进行了描述。该变种具有离生单雌蕊密被短柔毛或疏被短柔毛,果密被淡灰色细疣点特征,与玉兰原变种Y.denudata(Desr.)D.L.Fuvar.denudata具有离生单雌蕊无毛,果褐色、具白色皮孔特征相区别。     

Extensive sharing of chloroplast haplotypes among European birches indicates hybridization among Betula pendula, B. pubescens and B. nana

Extensive sharing of chloroplast haplotypes among the silver birch, Betula pendula Roth., the downy birch, B. pubescens Ehrh., and the dwarf birch, B. nana L., was discovered using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymporphism markers. The geographical component of the genetic variation was stronger than the species component: the species were not significantly different while 11% of the variation could be attributed to differentiation between the two main regions studied, Scandinavia and western Russia. All haplotypes occurring in more than 2% of the individuals were shared among the species and the introgression ratios were quite large: 0.79 between B. pubescens and B. pendula and 0.67 between B. pubescens and B. nana. The data also indicate that B. pendula individuals are more similar to sympatric B. pubescens than to B. pendula individuals from nearby forests. However, this trend is not as pronounced when B. pubescens is considered, suggesting that introgression is not symmetrical. The haplotype sharing among the three Betula species is most likely caused by hybridization and subsequent cytoplasmic introgression.     

毛竹萜类合成酶基因家族序列鉴定与表达分析

通过生物信息学方法,对毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis(Carrière)J.Houzeau)TPS基因家族的成员进行鉴定,并对其编码蛋白的理化性质、基因结构、进化关系、蛋白结构、启动子元件及表达模式进行了分析。结果表明,毛竹全基因组含有14个TPS候选基因,大小为693~2439 bp。编码蛋白等电点为5.08~8.17。系统发育分析结果显示,毛竹含有TPS-a、TPS-b、TPS-e/f、和TPS-g 4个亚家族,成员数目分别为6、5、2、1个。TPS蛋白质二级结构中,α-螺旋和无规则卷曲所占比重较大;毛竹TPS基因家族各成员蛋白三维结构比较相似。基因启动子分析共获得50个调控元件,可分为6大类,其中光响应相关元件数量最多,共包含17个顺式调控元件。基于转录组测序数据构建的基因表达谱热图分析结果表明,Pe TPS在叶、花和笋等7个组织中的表达差异明显,表现出组织特异性,其中Pe TPS9仅在早花期花序中表达,Pe TPS8仅在叶中表达。     

Complex effects of mammalian grazing on extramatrical mycelial biomass in the Scandes forest‐tundra ecotone

Mycorrhizal associations are widespread in high‐latitude ecosystems and are potentially of great importance for global carbon dynamics. Although large herbivores play a key part in shaping subarctic plant communities, their impact on mycorrhizal dynamics is largely unknown. We measured extramatrical mycelial (EMM) biomass during one growing season in 16‐year‐old herbivore exclosures and unenclosed control plots (ambient), at three mountain birch forests and two shrub heath sites, in the Scandes forest‐tundra ecotone. We also used high‐throughput amplicon sequencing for taxonomic identification to investigate differences in fungal species composition. At the birch forest sites, EMM biomass was significantly higher in exclosures (1.36 ± 0.43 g C/m²) than in ambient conditions (0.66 ± 0.17 g C/m²) and was positively influenced by soil thawing degree‐days. At the shrub heath sites, there was no significant effect on EMM biomass (exclosures: 0.72 ± 0.09 g C/m²; ambient plots: 1.43 ± 0.94). However, EMM biomass was negatively related to Betula nana abundance, which was greater in exclosures, suggesting that grazing affected EMM biomass positively. We found no significant treatment effects on fungal diversity but the most abundant ectomycorrhizal lineage/cortinarius, showed a near‐significant positive effect of herbivore exclusion (p = .08), indicating that herbivory also affects fungal community composition. These results suggest that herbivory can influence fungal biomass in highly context‐dependent ways in subarctic ecosystems. Considering the importance of root‐associated fungi for ecosystem carbon balance, these findings could have far‐reaching implications.     

异质光环境下克隆整合对白夹竹光合氮分配格局的影响

采用盆栽试验,以单轴散生型竹类植物——白夹竹(Phyllostachys bissetii)克隆片段为对象,使近端分株处于自然光照环境,远端分株处于遮荫环境中,对根状茎作切断或不切断处理,研究克隆整合对远端分株和近端分株光合氮分配格局的影响。结果表明:(1)根状茎保持连接的远端分株较根状茎切断的远端分株具有更高的最大净光合速率、叶片氮含量、光合色素含量、叶片光合氮分配系数。(2)相对根状茎切断处理,根状茎保持连接的远端分株将更多的氮分配到光合系统的羧化系统、生物力能学组分,而分配至捕光系统组分的比例较小。(3)比较处于自然光照条件的近端分株,比叶重、叶片氮含量等并没有因根状茎切断与否表现出显著性差异,根状茎连接的近端分株部分指标甚至高于根状茎切断的近端分株。研究认为,克隆整合作用影响处于遮荫环境的白夹竹远端分株的光合氮分配格局,使得处于遮荫生境中的克隆分株依旧维持较高的光合能力,保证了处于逆境条件下克隆分株的生存与生长。     

雷竹林严重低温寒害与立竹性状和林地覆盖经营的关系

为探讨雷竹林严重低温寒害特征及其影响因子,2016年1月下旬至2月上旬严重低温寒害后调查了不同林地覆盖经营年限雷竹林不同年龄和胸径立竹的受损情况。结果表明:持续低温寒害使雷竹叶片失水结冰、失绿、黄枯,严重的整株叶片枯黄脱落;竹秆干缩,颜色变黑,叶鞘枯黄,立竹死亡。严重低温寒害气候条件下,3 cm≤DBH5 cm立竹的受损类型主要为Ⅰ～Ⅲ类,较小径级(DBH 3 cm)和较大径级(DBH≥5 cm)立竹的Ⅳ类受损情况明显提高; 2年生、3年生立竹受损程度类型主要为Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类,而1年生、3年生以上立竹受损程度类型主要为Ⅲ类和Ⅳ类;短期林地覆盖(≤3 a)雷竹林立竹受损类型主要为Ⅰ～Ⅲ类,而长期林地覆盖(≥5 a)雷竹林主要为Ⅲ类和Ⅳ类,且Ⅳ类受损率明显提高,休养式覆盖雷竹林Ⅳ类受损率低于20%,显著低覆盖3 a及以上雷竹林。研究表明,严重低温寒害气候条件下,立竹年龄、立竹胸径和林地覆盖经营对雷竹林立竹受损程度均有重要影响,宜留养3～5 cm立竹,合理调控竹林立竹年龄结构,留足2～3年生立竹,采取休养式林地覆盖经营方式,连续林地覆盖年限不宜超过3 a。     

林地覆盖经营对雷竹生物量及土壤肥力的影响

以不同覆盖栽培年限(0、3、6、9和12年)雷竹林为研究对象,分析雷竹林退化过程中林分生长与土壤养分的变化趋势.结果表明:随着覆盖年限的增加,竹林地上及地下生物量均在覆盖3年时达到最大值,与对照相比增幅分别为14.6%和146.6%,差异显著;土壤养分含量受覆盖年限和土层深度的影响而出现差异性,并逐渐表现出上层富集的现象,土壤有机碳和全氮含量随覆盖年限的增加呈上升趋势,全磷含量在不同土层中均呈先降低后升高的变化趋势,在表层(0~20 cm)和底层(40~60 cm)土壤中覆盖6年时达到最低,亚表层(20~40 cm)土壤中覆盖3年时达到最低,全钾含量在表层土壤中持续增大,在亚表层和底层土壤中则表现为在覆盖0~3年下降、3~12年上升的变化趋势,试验雷竹林间差异显著.覆盖9年后,土壤肥力综合指数总体得到较大幅度的提高,亚表层土壤肥力优于表层和底层土,但不同覆盖年限间土壤肥力综合指数与雷竹各器官生物量均没有显著的相关性,而在亚表层中,土壤氮含量与竹叶生物量,以及钾含量与竹叶和鞭根生物量呈显著负相关.这表明长期覆盖及大量施用化肥导致的土壤养分过量积累已经对雷竹林的扩繁和生物量积累产生严重的抑制作用,加剧了竹林衰退趋势.     

毛竹油菜素内酯受体激酶基因的分子特征及表达模式分析

为探究毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)油菜素内酯(brassinolide,BL)受体激酶基因的分子特征和表达模式,采用生物信息学方法对毛竹中BL受体激酶基因进行了分析,并应用实时定量PCR技术对基因的表达模式进行了研究。结果表明,在毛竹基因组中共获得8条BL受体激酶基因同源序列(PeBRLs),分别属于4个亚家族。8个PeBRLs编码858~1 224氨基酸,分子量为92~130 kDa。PeBRLs结构相对保守,激酶区均具有BL受体激酶特有的3个保守结构域;除PeBRL1-1具有2个跨膜结构域外,其余PeBRLs只有1个跨膜结构域。8个PeBRLs全部定位在细胞膜上,属于典型的膜嵌合蛋白。实时定量PCR结果显示,每个亚家族成员基因的组织特异性表达模式基本一致,但不同亚家族之间差异明显;在不同发育阶段的竹笋中,PeBRLs的表达呈现为4种变化趋势。因此,8个PeBRLs在毛竹不同组织和笋的不同发育阶段可能发挥着不同的作用。     

Differentiating pollen of Betula species from Iceland

Subfossil pollen from two co‐existing Betula species in Iceland, B. nana and B. pubescens, is frequently found in sediments and peat. Interpretation of the findings often depends on the ability to differentiate between the two species according to pollen size and structure. Fresh pollen samples were prepared from 70 individual trees/shrubs which had been identified to species by chromosome number. Grain diameters and pore depths were measured and ratios of grain diameter to pore depth (D/P ratios) were calculated. The mean grain diameters of pollen from diploid B. nana and tetraploid B. pubescens were 20.42 and 24.20?µm, whereas mean pore depths were 2.20 and 2.81?µm respectively. Mean D/P ratios were therefore 9.55 for B. nana and 8.85 for B. pubescens. The difference between species was statistically significant for all three pollen parameters. Grain diameter appeared to be the most useful parameter, as only about 20% of the samples were in the overlapping region of the species distributions. Pollen size (grain diameter) was also positively correlated to tree morphology, which was evaluated using species‐specific botanical characters. Pollen samples from different locations/populations in Iceland varied slightly in mean size and ratio. The size difference between pollen of B. nana and B. pubescens in this study is less than other papers have reported, which may be due to the effect of introgressive hybridisation between the two birch species in Iceland.