QTL analysis of leaf morphology in tetraploid Gossypium (cotton)

Molecular markers were used to map and characterize quantitative trait loci (QTLs) determining cotton leaf morphology and other traits, in 180 F₂ plants from an interspecific cross between a Gossypium hirsutum genotype carrying four morphological mutants, and a wild-type Gossypium barbadense. The prominent effects of a single region of chromosome 15, presumably the classical ”Okra-leaf” locus, were modified by QTLs on several other chromosomes affecting leaf size and shape. For most traits, each parent contained some alleles with positive effects and others with negative effects, suggesting a large potential for adapting leaf size and shape to the needs of particular production regimes. Twenty one QTLs/loci were found for the morphological traits at LOD≥3.0 and P≤0.001, among which 14 (63.6%) mapped to D-subgenome chromosomes. Forty one more possible QTLs/loci were suggested with 2.0≤LOD<3.0 and 0.001<P≤0.01. Among all of the 62 possible QTLs (found at LOD≥2.0 and P≤0.01) for the 14 morphological traits in this study, 38 (61.3%) mapped to D-subgenome chromosomes. This reinforces the findings of several other studies in suggesting that the D-subgenome of tetraploid cotton has been subject to a relatively greater rate of evolution than the A-subgenome, subsequent to polyploid formation. Received: 26 April 1999 / Accepted: 30 July 1999     

The roles of geological history and colonization abilities in genetic differentiation between mammalian populations in the Philippine archipelago

Aim To test hypotheses that: (1) late Pleistocene low sea‐level shorelines (rather than current shorelines) define patterns of genetic variation among mammals on oceanic Philippine islands; (2) species‐specific ecological attributes, especially forest fidelity and vagility, determine the extent to which common genetic patterns are exhibited among a set of species; (3) populations show reduced within‐population variation on small, isolated oceanic islands; (4) populations tend to be most highly differentiated on small, isolated islands; and (5) to assess the extent to which patterns of genetic differentiation among multiple species are determined by interactions of ecological traits and geological/geographic conditions. Location The Philippine Islands, a large group of oceanic islands in Southeast (SE) Asia with unusually high levels of endemism among mammals. Methods Starch‐gel electrophoresis of protein allozymes of six species of small fruit bats (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) and one rodent (Rodentia, Muridae). Results Genetic distances between populations within all species are not correlated with distances between present‐day shorelines, but are positively correlated with distances between shorelines during the last Pleistocene period of low sea level; relatively little intraspecific variation was found within these ‘Pleistocene islands’. Island area and isolation of oceanic populations have only slight effects on standing genetic variation within populations, but populations on some isolated islands have heightened levels of genetic differentiation, and reduced levels of gene flow, relative to other islands. Species associated with disturbed habitat (all of which fly readily across open habitats) show more genetic variation within populations than species associated with primary rain forest (all of which avoid flying out from beneath forest canopy). Species associated with disturbed habitats, which tend to be widely distributed in SE Asia, also show higher rates of gene flow and less differentiation between populations than species associated with rain forest, which tend to be Philippine endemic species. One rain forest bat has levels of gene flow and heterozygosity similar to the forest‐living rodent in our study. Main conclusions The maximum limits of Philippine islands that were reached during Pleistocene periods of low sea level define areas of relative genetic homogeneity, whereas even narrow sea channels between adjacent but permanently isolated oceanic islands are associated with most genetic variation within the species. Moreover, the distance between ‘Pleistocene islands’ is correlated with the extent of genetic distances within species. The structure of genetic variation is strongly influenced by the ecology of the species, predominantly as a result of their varying levels of vagility and ability to tolerate open (non‐forested) habitat. Readily available information on ecology (habitat association and vagility) and geological circumstances (presence or absence of Pleistocene land‐bridges between islands, and distance between oceanic islands during periods of low sea level) are combined to produce a simple predictive model of likely patterns of genetic differentiation (and hence speciation) among these mammals, and probably among other organisms, in oceanic archipelagos.     

Morphological and Physiological Acclimation Responses to Contrasting Light and Water Regimes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Primula sieboldii</Emphasis>

The effects of the availability of light (high, medium and low) and soil water (wet and dry) on morphological and physiological traits responsible for whole plant carbon gain and ramet biomass accumulation were examined in a splitter-type clonal herbaceous species Primula sieboldii, a spring plant inhabiting broad range of light environments including open grassland and oak forest understory. Growth experiments were conducted for three genets originated from natural microhabitats differing in light and soil water availability. Ramets of a genet from high light and wet microhabitat, which were grown in low light (relative photon flux density: R-PPFD of 5%) showed 41% less light-saturated photosynthetic rate, 50% less dark respiration rate and earlier defoliation than the ramets in high light (R-PPFD of 61%). The estimation of daily photosynthesis revealed that the light acclimation response in leaf gas exchange contributes to efficient carbon gain of whole plants, irrespective of experimental light conditions. Water stress increased root weight ratio, decreased ramet leaf area, petiole length and photosynthetic capacity. These morphological effects of water stress were larger in high and medium light regimes than in low light regime. The consequence of the above responses was recognized in the relative growth rate of the ramets. The relative growth rate of the ramets in high light with wet regime was four-fold of that in low light plus wet regime, and was 1.5-fold of that in high light plus dry regime. However, even in low light and/or dry regimes, ramets kept positive relative growth rates and produced gemma successfully. We could not detect significant variation in growth responses among genets. The high photosynthetic plasticity revealed in the present study should enable Primula sieboldii to inhabit in a broad range of light and soil water availability.     

转大肠杆菌过氧化氢酶基因棉花的抗旱生理研究

以导入大肠杆菌过氧化氢酶基因KatE的T3代转基因棉花为供试材料,经卡那霉素检测和PCR鉴定,将筛选出的阳性转基因植株与对照棉花进行整个生育期的持续水分胁迫处理直至收获,比较材料间的生理生化指标的差异,鉴定转基因植株的耐旱能力。结果显示:(1)干旱胁迫持续至初蕾期时,转基因棉花与对照植株间各项抗旱生理指标差异均未达到显著水平。(2)水分胁迫持续至盛蕾和盛花期时,转基因棉花叶片相对含水量、光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、CAT活性,以及叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)均显著或极显著高于对照植株,叶绿素含量也都明显高于对照植株。干旱胁迫持续至吐絮期时,转基因棉花的株高、果枝数和铃数均显著或极显著高于对照植株,且转基因棉花和对照的籽棉产量分别比正常灌溉处理降低57.5%和60.1%,全生育期的水分胁迫严重影响了棉花籽棉产量,但转基因棉花的籽棉产量仍显著高于对照。研究表明,在新疆石河子当地自然降水(干旱胁迫)条件下,转KatE基因棉花表现出了较好的生理和生长优势,KatE基因有助于提高棉花的抗旱性。     

Swimming with the giant: coexistence patterns of a new redfin minnow Pseudobarbus skeltoni from a global biodiversity hot spot

Ecological niche theory predicts that coexistence is facilitated by resource partitioning mechanisms that are influenced by abiotic and biotic interactions. Alternative hypotheses suggest that under certain conditions, species may become phenotypically similar and functionally equivalent, which invokes the possibility of other mechanisms, such as habitat filtering processes. To test these hypotheses, we examined the coexistence of the giant redfin Pseudobarbus skeltoni, a newly described freshwater fish, together with its congener Pseudobabus burchelli and an anabantid Sandelia capensis by assessing their scenopoetic and bionomic patterns. We found high habitat and isotope niche overlaps between the two redfins, rendering niche partitioning a less plausible sole mechanism that drives their coexistence. By comparison, environment–trait relationships revealed differences in species–environment relationships, making habitat filtering and functional equivalence less likely alternatives. Based on P. skeltoni's high habitat niche overlap with other species, and its large isotope niche width, we inferred the likelihood of differential resource utilization at trophic level as an alternative mechanism that distinguished it from its congener. In comparison, its congener P. burchelli appeared to have a relatively small trophic niche, suggesting that its trophic niche was more conserved despite being the most abundant species. By contrast, S. capensis was distinguished by occupying a higher trophic position and by having a trophic niche that had a low probability of overlapping onto those of redfins. Therefore, trophic niche partitioning appeared to influence the coexistence between S. capensis and redfins. This study suggests that coexistence of these fishes appears to be promoted by their differences in niche adaptation mechanisms that are probably shaped by historic evolutionary and ecological processes.     

沙丘稀有种准噶尔无叶豆花部综合特征与传粉适应性

植物花部特征进化与传粉适应性一直是进化生态学领域关注的核心问题之一。以古尔班通古特沙漠自然生长的准噶尔无叶豆为对象,对其花部特征和传粉特性进行了野外观察和室内的分析研究。结果表明:种群花期历时21 d,花序花期历时7-12 d,单花花期一般3 d,若遇阴雨天气,花期可延长1-2 d,整个花期龙骨瓣一直保持闭合状态。单花10枚花药在旗瓣微张时已全部完成散粉。准噶尔无叶豆主要靠分泌花蜜、鲜艳的花色以及旗瓣基部的黄色辐射状纹理结构吸引传粉者。准噶尔无叶豆花期的有效传粉者为4种蜂类昆虫,它们的平均访花频率为(7.75±0.57)次·花^-1·d^-1,访花高峰期表现为三峰型: 13:00-14:00,16:00-17:00和19:00-20:00。准噶尔无叶豆人工套袋实验表明该种为自交亲和型,主动自交少见,生殖成功依赖传粉者。胚珠成功受精至果实完全成熟阶段存在自交衰退,柱头角质层结构和花粉刷结构是准噶尔无叶豆在进化过程中形成的减少自交,倾向异交的机制。     

长期氮添加对典型草原植物多样性与初级生产力的影响及途径

氮(N)沉降对陆地生态系统的结构和功能已产生了重要的影响, N也是中国北方草原植物生长和初级生产力的主要限制性元素。物种多样性和功能多样性是揭示生物多样性对生态系统功能维持机制的关键指标, 然而, 关于长期N添加下草原物种多样性与功能多样性的关系, 及其对初级生产力的影响途径及机制, 尚不十分清楚。为此, 该研究依托在内蒙古典型草原建立的长期N添加实验平台, 实验处理包括1个完全对照(不添加任何肥料)和6个N添加水平(0、1.75、5.25、10.50、17.50和28.00 g·m^-2·a^-1), 研究了长期N添加对典型草原物种多样性、功能多样性和初级生产力的影响大小及途径。结果表明: 1) N添加显著降低了典型草原的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数, 但对功能多样性(包括功能性状多样性指数和群落加权性状值)无显著的影响。2)结构方程模型分析表明, 功能多样性主要受物种丰富度的影响, 但是物种多样性减少并没有导致功能多样性降低, 其原因主要是功能群组成发生了改变, 即群落内多年生根茎禾草所占比例显著增加, 以致群落加权性状值变化不大。3) N通过影响物种丰富度和功能群组成, 间接影响群落加权性状值, 进而影响群落净初级生产力。其中, 群落加权性状值是最重要的影响因子, 可解释48%的初级生产力变化, 表明初级生产力主要是由群落内优势物种的生物量及功能性状所决定, 因此该研究的结果很好地支持了质量比假说。     

高寒草甸不同生境粗喙薹草补偿生长研究

补偿生长反映了植物的耐牧性, 受采食和土壤养分资源获得性的共同影响。但何种条件易于引起植物发生超补偿是长期以来争论的问题。通过一项野外调查试验, 研究了高寒矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)草甸3种生境(I. 畜圈, 富养, 放牧; II. 牧道, 低养, 放牧; III. 封育草地, 低养, 不放牧)中粗喙薹草(Carex scabrirostris)的补偿生长模式与机制, 以及采食率、土壤养分和水分因子对补偿生长的相对贡献。粗喙薹草补偿生长量和分株盖度、密度及高度在生境I显著高于生境II和生境III, 在生境I和生境II均发生超补偿生长, 在生境III为低补偿。分株生物量对生长器官的分配在生境I和生境II相同, 并都高于生境II; 生物量对储藏器官的分配在生境II最高, 生境III次之, 生境I最低。储藏分配与生长分配和克隆繁殖分配间, 生长分配与有性繁殖分配间均存在负偶联(trade-offs)关系。对补偿生长贡献最大的因子是相对生长率和6月份土壤有机质含量, 其次是8月份土壤氮素营养和采食率。研究结果表明, 粗喙薹草的补偿生长和生物量分配具有可塑性, 并决定着补偿生长模式随生境条件而变化。不论在富养环境或低养环境, 储藏分配高的粗喙薹草都容易发生超补偿, 富养生境条件能降低采食的负面效应, 增加植物的耐牧性。