Growth rate,photosynthetic activity,and leaf development of Brazil pine seedlings (Araucaria angustifolia[Bert.] O. Ktze.)

Seedlings of Brazil pine, a large-seeded South American conifer, were grown in a climate chamber to investigate vertical growth pattern and the time course of leaf development. We examined shoot growth, photosynthetic performance and markers of leaf maturation such as contents of soluble sugars and activities of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS), neutral invertase (nI) and sucrose synthase (Susy). The daily increment of shoot length showed an optimum curve during the first 70 days after germination. The low growth rate during the first 20 days of development correlated with net CO² emission of the seedling. Analyses of leaf maturation markers in older seedlings revealed low sucrose/hexose ratios and high activities of nI and Susy in the uppermost leaves. Although the SPS/Susy ratio was low in these leaves the extractable SPS activity did not change significantly among leaves of different age. The photosynthetic light compensation points of young leaves were about 2-fold higher than those of mature leaves and their photosynthetic capacity was only 50% as high. Our results indicate that a rapid maturation of leaves of Brazil pine seedlings may reduce the respiratory loss of carbohydrates and that the mobilisation of seed storage compounds supports initial shoot growth under light-limiting conditions which may occur in the forest-grassland succession zone.     

In the lack of extreme pioneers: trait relationships and ecological strategies of 66 subtropical tree species

Aims Despite the growing interest in the topic of functional ecology, there are still forest regions that have not been examined, as most work has been done in the tropics. Unresolved issues include the strength of a growth-mortality trade-off in trees (originally identified for seedlings) and the nature of the association between plant traits and vital rates, if any. Our objectives were to examine whether (i) ecological strategies in South American mixed forests are organized along the fast competitor × slow stress-tolerator and height gradients as the main strategy axes depicted in the overall trait and vital rate correlation structure, and (ii) a tentative path model we proposed can explain the patterns of covariation among traits and vital rates.Methods We studied a different habitat (subtropical mixed conifer-hardwood forests) and region (Brazilian Atlantic Forest) from the majority of related studies in forests, carried out in the Neotropical region. Data on total height, stem slenderness, crown depth, wood density, specific leaf area, leaf and seed length, seed dispersal mode, annual mortality, diameter relative growth rate and relative growth rate under favorable conditions were measured in southern Brazil for 66 tree species. Data were subjected to principal components analysis and path analysis. Restricted data on saplings and treelets were analyzed through correlation.Important findings Studied traits were reduced to four principal components. Principal components analysis produced axes that fit the resource acquisition versus resource-conservation and the height-mortality trade-offs, although the former was split into two distinct axes. Seed size and seed dispersal mode appeared independently of these axes. A path model showed that leaf length and specific leaf area caused direct changes in trunk slenderness and, indirectly through growth, affected mortality. Expected trade-offs between growth and survivorship and between wood density and stem slenderness trade-offs were not found. This may result from the lack of extreme pioneers and over-representation of slow-growing hardwood species found in Atlantic subtropical forests of South America. This suggests that the fastest growing species in the region do not grow so fast as to compromise wood density and survivorship, but grow fast enough to benefit from increased size. Relationships between traits and vital rates seem to be mediated by the assembly process of regional floras, and the relative importance of traits like SLA and wood density may vary between floristic regions.     

小叶章种群分布格局的分形特征Ⅰ计盒维数

应用分形理论(Fractal theory)中的计盒维数(Box-counting dimension)对三江平原小叶章(Deyeuxia angustifolia)种群分布格局特征进行了研究。结果表明:三江平原小叶章种群分布格局具有分形特征。其计盒维数5~9月分别为1.524、1.769、1.711、1.615、1.701,表明其占据空间能力较强。季节动态自5月始至6月达到极大值,而后逐渐下降,至9月略有回升。这与小叶章的生长发育规律相一致。     

Materials for Chinese Ainsliaea (Compositae)

The genus, Ainsliaea DC. from China is revised in this paper. Three species, A. nana Y. C. Tseng, A. pingbianensis Y. G. Tseng and A. trinervis Y. C. Tseng, are newly described; two species, A. chapaensis Merr. and A. angustifolia Hook. f. et Thoms. ex C. B. Clarke are new records for China and two new combinations, A. apteroides (Chang) Y. C. Tseng and A. macrocephala (Mattf.) Y. C. Tseng, are made. In addition, one species, A. hypoleuca Diels ex Limpr. and four varieties, A. bonatii Beauverd var. arachnoidea Beauverd, A. pteropoda DC. var. leiophylla Franch., A. elegans Hemsl. var. tomentosa Mattf. and A. glabra Hemsl. var. tenuiculis (Mattf.)Chang, are reduced to synonyms.     

Mountain invasions on the way: are there climatic constraints for the expansion of alien woody species along an elevation gradient in Argentina?

Aims Increasing evidence worldwide indicates that high mountain regions are not immune to invasion by alien plants. Here, we aimed to address whether three major woody invaders of low-mountain areas are constrained to lower altitudes due to climatic restrictions or just by low propagule pressure. We hypothesize that the increasing climatic harshness towards higher altitudes restricts seedling establishment and survival of these woody invaders and thus their potential for altitudinal expansion.Methods The study was carried out in the Sierras Grandes Mountains, Córdoba, central Argentina (32o50′S, 64o90′W). We addressed the hypothesis with an experimental approach, dissociating the effect of the environmental gradient from that of propagule pressure, by discarding the influence of seed sources. We translocated seeds of Gleditsia triacanthos L., Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton. and Pyracantha angustifolia (Franch.) C.K.Schneid. along the altitudinal gradient (from 900 to 2700 m asl). Seven sites were selected along the altitudinal gradient, spaced every 200–400 m. Three plots (4×4 m) were selected within each altitudinal site and excluded from livestock; 100 seeds of each species were sown within each plot (6300 seeds in total). Seedling emergence and survival was monitored during two growing seasons and soil temperature and moisture was recorded as well. The field experiment was complemented with lab assays.Important findings Climate along this altitudinal gradient might be least restrictive at mid elevations, as a result of the intersection between opposite soil temperature and moisture gradients. Sown seeds germinated along the whole altitudinal gradient and seedlings successfully established and over-wintered well above their current altitudinal distribution (up to 2200 m for Ligustrum and 2400 m for Gleditsia and Pyracantha). Additional lab assays confirmed field patterns and gave some insights into contrasting regeneration strategies between these invaders that might help to overcome stochastic environmental constraints in the germination stage. Overall, seedlings of three major woody invaders of low-mountain woodlands can establish and survive at higher elevations than their current distribution. In contrast to natives, they seem to be broad climate tolerators, rather than specialized stress tolerators, capable of germinating and growing across a wide elevational range. While long-term experiments might be necessary to fully address the potentials for altitudinal expansion, out results on early lifecycle stage suggest that the invaders studied here would have mostly a dispersal barrier rather than a climate barrier to establish in the upper belt of the Sierras Grandes.     

几种生物学因子对薰衣草胚性愈伤组织悬浮培养生长的影响

通过研究接种量、培养基、碳源、氮源及激素组合等生物学因子对薰衣草胚性愈伤组织悬浮培养生长的影响,建立了一种可快速生长的薰衣草胚性愈伤组织悬浮培养体系。结果表明,在添加0.05mg/L2,4-D、0.5mg/L6-BA、30g/L蔗糖及0.5g/L水解酪蛋白的MS培养液中,以50g/L的接种量进行薰衣草胚性愈伤组织的悬浮培养,其生长速率可达24.14g/(L·d)。     

湖南省假蹄盖蕨属一新种

湖南省假蹄盖蕨属一新种吴世福（上海技术师范学院生物系上海２０１４１８）关键词湖南省;假蹄盖蕨属;狭叶假蹄盖蕨ＡＮＥＷＳＰＥＣＩＥＳＯＦＡＴＨＹＲＩＯＰＳＩＳＦＲＯＭＨＵＮＡＮ￥ＷｕＳｈｉｆｕ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＢｉｏｌｏｇｙ,ＳｈａｎｇｈａｉＴ...     

丛枝菌根真菌对薰衣草耐热性的影响

于不同温度（25℃/20℃、35℃/30℃和40℃/35℃）下测定接种丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae、变形球囊霉Glomus versiforme和F. mosseae+G. versiforme 混合菌种处理对狭叶薰衣草Lavandula angustifolia耐热性的影响。结果表明,供试AMF能与狭叶薰衣草根系形成菌根共生体,以混合菌种处理的侵染率最高,达到68%。40℃/35℃下,与不接种AMF对照相比,混合菌种处理的狭叶薰衣草叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸和叶绿素等含量以及根系活力分别提高了46%、68%、65%、29%和70%;与不接种AMF对照相比,3种温度处理下接种AMF显著增加了狭叶薰衣草植株超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和硝酸还原酶活性,而降低相对电导率及丙二醛含量。表明接种AMF能增强狭叶薰衣草抗氧化酶活性,减轻高温造成的伤害,增强耐热性,与单一接种相比以混合接种摩西斗管囊霉和变形球囊霉提高狭叶薰衣草耐热性的效应最大。     

三江平原小叶章群落近30年的动态变化

由于生境的改变,三江平原沼泽湿地典型植物群落中小叶章群落内部发生了显著的变化。本文以定点观测和典型湿地植物调查为基础,分析了近30年来小叶章群落的动态变化。结果表明,小叶章群落的物种频度符合Raunkiaer频度定律,即5个频度级的关系都具有A〉B〉C≥D〈E的规律性。小叶章群落的物种构成发生了明显变化,灌木类型植物逐渐增多。植物物种多样性减少。小叶章的多度、分盖度和高度都有降低趋势。     

干旱胁迫下沙枣和孩儿拳头叶绿素荧光特性研究

以沙枣和孩儿拳头2年生盆栽苗为材料,采用称重控水的方法设置对照（土壤含水量为25.6%~27.2%）,轻度胁迫（19.2%~20.8%）,中度胁迫（12.8%~14.4%）,重度胁迫（6.4%~8.0%）4个梯度,研究了干旱胁迫对沙枣和孩儿拳头色素含量和叶绿素荧光特性的影响。结果表明：（1）随着干旱胁迫的加剧,两物种叶绿素a含量,叶绿素a/b比值,总叶绿素含量呈下降趋势,且叶绿素a对干旱胁迫的反应较叶绿素b敏感,但两物种叶绿素b含量和胡萝卜素含量变化规律不一致。（2）随着干旱胁迫的加剧,孩儿拳头F_m、F_v呈下降趋势,沙枣相反,但两物种F₀呈增加趋势,F_v/F₀、F′_v/F′_m呈下降趋势,F_v/F_m差异不显著;PhiPS2、ETR、qP先升高后降低,NPQ则先降低后升高。（3）虽然两物种表现出较强的抗旱性,但在重度干旱胁迫下（6.4%~8.0%）,光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数受到较大影响,推测此时的土壤水分含量为两物种光合色素、光系统Ⅱ的耐受极限;物种间相比,孩儿拳头更为敏感,在今后的园林管护中,要根据土壤水分状况和物种间的差异做好园林灌溉。