The usefulness of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in harvest prediction in 10 genotypes of winter triticale under optimal growth conditions

The aim of the experiment was to detect differences in the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus in 10 genotypes of winter triticale. Measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were performed. Among the tested genotypes, the photosynthetic apparatus of Timbo and Piano was the most active, while the photosynthesis of both Babor and Boreas was highly reduced. Additionally, we have found significant correlations between the yield and some parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange. Parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence are useful for estimation of the functional state of the photosynthetic apparatus and could become selection criteria in plant breeding. Moreover, such parameters permit definition of the effectiveness of the utilization of chlorophyll a excitation energy and co‐operation of the light phase reactions, with reactions occurring during the dark phase of photosynthesis.     

Initiation of early breeding in a population of Microtus townsendii (Rodentia) with the secondary plant compound 6-MBOA

Summary Feeding the secondary plant compound 6-Methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) during winter to a free living population of Microtus townsendii accelerated breeding in females. Both the recruitment of young and sexual maturation of these young were advanced by four weeks in comparison with a control population. Overwintered females supplied with 6-MBOA matured at a lower body weight than control females. But there was no such weightat-maturity difference between the grids for males. During April and May 72% of all juveniles captured came from the experimental population. Winter reproduction and early recruitment of young stimulated by 6-MBOA could have important population consequences for these voles.     

Effects of the parasitic botfly Philornis carinatus on nestling house wrens,Troglodytes aedon,in Costa Rica

I studied the life cycle of a botfly (Diptera: Muscidae: Philornis carinatus) and examined the effects of botfly ectoparasitism on nestling house wrens (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae: Troglodytes aedon) during three years in Costa Rica. At three study sites, I found that nestlings were relatively unaffected by botflies, in contrast to all other studies of birds infected with philornid botflies. At Monteverde, the main study site, infected chicks grew slightly slower and had slightly shorter tarsi and wing chords than uninfected chicks, but both groups fledged at similar weights. Since weight at fledging is the only growth character associated with post-fledging survivorship, botfly infections likely cost wrens little in terms of fitness. At all sites, fledging success did not differ between infected and uninfected nests. Botfly infections were more prevalent at two lower elevation sites than at the high elevation Monteverde side. Infection prevalence increased during the nesting season at all study sites, which suggests a botfly life cycle in which adult population levels increase during the wren breeding season and then decline during a dormant period when wrens are not nesting. Finally, botflies may attack chicks throughout the period before fledging, but there is no indication they locate nests before hatching. In sum, botfly parasitism on wrens appears to be benign, perhaps because the study sites are at the edge of the botfly's range or because wrens are not a preferred host.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection in a chimpanzee

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection in a chimpanzee, estimated to be a 12-year-old and born in West Africa, is reported. The hepatic tumor appeared as a solitary firm nodule, and histological examination revealed well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with a trabecular pattern. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections were excluded by serological testing in that animal. This is the first report of hepatocellular carcinoma in the chimpanzee with schistosomiasis.     

7个冬小麦品种灌浆期抗旱性鉴定指标的综合评价

采用7个冬小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)品种,研究了不同水分处理下部分生理指标和部分农艺性状变化,以各单项指标的抗旱系数作为抗旱性衡量指标,利用主成分分析对其抗旱性进行评价,同时将综合评价值(D值)与抗旱指数(DRI)进行相关性分析。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,干旱胁迫后的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、相对电导率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、可溶性糖含量、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)均有不同程度上升;根系活力、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、株高、穗下节长度、叶面积、穗长、小穗数和穗粒数均下降;过氧化物酶(POD)活性和可溶性蛋白质含量在各品种间变化趋势不尽一致。(2)通过主成分分析综合评价值(D值),供试品种可分为3类:‘晋麦47’和‘小偃22’属于强抗旱型;‘矮抗58’、‘西农979’和‘西农509’属于中等抗旱型;‘郑麦366’和‘郑麦9023’属于弱抗旱型。(3)两种不同干旱胁迫下综合评价值(D值)与抗旱指数均显著相关(r分别为0.768和0.808,p0.05)。     

黄土旱塬冬小麦返青期断根对根冠比、水分利用及产量的影响

采用适当的农艺措施来影响根系生长以提高作物水分利用效率是节水农业研究的一项重要内容。通过田间试验研究了旱作冬小麦‘长武135’(Triticum aestivum cv. Changwu135)返青期切断部分侧生根对根冠比、水分利用效率及产量的影响。与不断根处理相比,冬小麦切断部分侧根后,极显著地减少了表层的根量,花期时断根和不断根小麦在0~20 cm土层根量分别249.70和307.52 g·m^-2,100 cm以上总根量分别为305.53和368.73 g·m^-2。断根比不断根处理根呼吸速率下降了25.57%。断根也抑制了小麦的群体数量,断根和不断根处理单位面积的穗数分别为590.33和646.33 m^-2,但断根显著增加了千粒重,断根和不断根分别为45.99和41.47 g,收获指数也有一定提高。断根对籽粒产量没有显著影响,但断根后土壤含水量显著增加,水分消耗减少。以生物量计算的水分利用效率和以产量计算的水分利用效率分别提高了32.52%和29.98%。因此,在旱地农业中,通过返青期人工断根措施削减根系降低根系对同化产物的消耗和减少耗水量来达到提高冬小麦水分利用效率的方法,是可行的。但今后还需对断根措施作进一步研究,以期实现产量和水分利用效率的同步提高。     

贺兰山保护区冬季岩羊集群特征的初步分析

Group size and composition of blue sheep （Pseudois nayaur) were studied in the Helan Mountains, Ningxia Autonomous Region from November to December 2003. We scanned mountain slopes with binoculars and observed with 20 - 60 x spotting-scope. A total of 310 herds of blue sheep and 1 336 individuals were observed during the study period. Blue sheep were frequently seen in small herds of 2 to 8 individuals, which represent 94.8% of total herds observed. Herds consisting of 9 individuals or more represented 5.2%. The largest herd we observed numbered 51 individuals. Mean group size was 4.2 individuals. Blue sheep herds can be divided into three types: male herds （composed solely of males), female herds (consisting of females with or without juveniles of both sexes), and mixed herds （including adult males, females, and subadults). Among the 310 herds, female herds were counted 150 times (48.4%}, mixed herds 154 times (49.7%), and male berds 6 times (1.9%) . Of 1 336 blue sheep classified by sex and age, adults, subadults and juveniles composed 64.1%, 20.8%, and 15.1% respectively. The female: male ratio of adults was 1:0.73. The ratio of adult females to juveniles was 1:0.56, which is higher than the ratio recorded in spring （ 1:0.43) or summer （ 1:0.44). The results showed that the Helan Mountains State Nature Reserve has succeed in protecting blue sheep.     

西藏高原田间冬小麦旗叶光合作用研究

 西藏高原冬小麦旗叶光合速率日变化曲线为平坦或单峰型,没有明显“午睡”现象。净光合速率日最高值可与平原接近。光合日总量最高值出现在灌浆中期,其值比平原低4％～34％。净光合速率达20μmolCO2·m-2·s-1以上的环境因子组合是光合有效辐射光量子通量密度2000μmol·m-2·s-1以上,气温25～29℃,近地层大气CO2密度0.41mg·dm-3以上,0cm地温18～23℃、5cm地温15～19℃。这样的因子组合在高原同时满足的机率不高,由于CO2浓度与光温因子高值出现时间不同步,更由于CO2密度比内陆平原低1/3,严重制约了光合日总量值,高原冬小麦旗叶光合作用的特点是净光合速率日最高值可与平原接近,但光合日总量却明显低于平原。     

内蒙古地区羊草草原植被对温度变化的动态响应

 1981～1994年连续14年内蒙古羊草草原温度随时间变化结果显示,该区域温度变化具有不对称性,冬季最低均温升高明显,而最高温及平均温度无明显增加趋势。羊草草原气候的变化主要表现在冬季最低温的增加,而不是平均温度的增加。羊草群落的结构和功能对冬季最低均温变化的响应研究表明,随着冬季最低均温的升高,阿尔泰狗哇花(Heteropappus altaicus)和冰草(Agropyron michnoi)的重要值及地上初级生产力将明显增加,而寸草苔(Cares duriuscula)则呈下降趋势,作为群落主要优势种的羊草(Leymus chinensis)和大针茅(Stipa grandis)及其它优势植物对冬季最低均温变化反应不明显。同时,群落的生物多样性指数(Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数)、物种饱和度及地上初级生产力对冬季最低均温也均无显著相关,14年间冬季最低均温的变化并没有对群落的结构和功能产生明显影响。然而,因寸草苔和冰草等少数优势植物对冬季最低均温变化反应的敏感,温度变化的幅度增加或时间延续很可能造成少数优势种在群落中地位的改变,进而可能导致羊草群落结构和功能的变化。这表明在进行气候变化的模拟和模型研究时,不能仅简单地考虑平均温度增加的情况,而应确定主导影响因子,从而了解草原生态系统对全球变化的响应,选取适宜的模型参数。     

Effect of photoperiod on winter and summer diapause of the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

To understand the geographical differences between diapause systems and synchronization of adult occurrence in the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), we examined the timing of winter diapause termination and intensity of summer diapause using univoltine and potentially bivoltine individuals in Iwate, Japan. In laboratory rearing experiments of mature larvae maintained at constant temperature (20 °C), winter diapause intensity weakened by January without photoperiodic responses. Meanwhile, summer diapause was maintained by the long day length and presumably terminated with the photoperiodic transition from long to short day length. The intensity of summer diapause was stronger for cocoons that transitioned from a 16 h light to 8 h dark (LD 16:8) to a LD 15:9 photoperiod than for those that transitioned from LD 15:9 to LD 14:10. These results suggest that populations distributed in relatively low-latitude areas, with partly or potentially bivoltine individuals, would have a weaker summer diapause or none at all. Moreover, sexual differences in the number of days to emergence were not detected when individuals experienced a photoperiodic transition from long to short day length, suggesting that the summer diapause system may function to synchronize the emergence of males and females in the population examined.