Analysis of growth during light-induced hook opening in cress

Abstract. Growth in various regions of the hypocotyls of dark-grown cress seedlings before and after exposure lo continuous white light has been analysed by time-lapse photography. In the dark, growth in the hook was minimal, the upward growth of the seedling being sustained by extension of the shank, especially the uppermost zones. Following irradiation, the hook and the remainder of the hypocotyl showed dissimilar growth responses. Previously growing regions of the shank were inhibited while zones within the hook, especially the apical end of the inner (concave) side, showed marked growth stimulation. These changes in growth rates commenced within 1 h from exposure to the light stimulus and thus considerably preceded any observable changes in hook angle.     

Relative addition rate and external concentration; Driving variables used in plant nutrition research

Abstract An increasing literature accounting for various types of experiments indicates that far lower external nutrient concentrations are required by plants than is usually thought to be the case. It is concluded that the ion uptake capacity of the roots, as described by the carrier concept, is high compared to that required for maintenance of the internal concentration. Serious errors in experimental conclusions are associated with insufficient and constant nutrient addition rates. The main errors are caused by non-steady states of the plants both with regard to the internal nutrient concentrations and the relative growth rate. A dynamic concept has been proposed for direct use as the treatment variable within the range of sub-optimum nutrition. The nutritional factor is expressed as a flow, the relative nutrient addition rate in laboratory studies and the nutrient flux density in the field. The experimental use of the relative addition rate has led to steady-state nutrient status and relative growth rate and the interpretation of plant responses which differ fundamentally from accepted views. Thus, for instance, deficiency symptoms disappear, as in natural conditions, when the internal nitrogen concentration is stable, independent of level. The nutrition/growth relationships are very different from those observed when external concentration is varied. The regression line of relative growth rate on relative addition rate passes near to the origin at an angle close to 45 to the axes, which implies that the obtained relative growth rate approximates closely the treatment variable. A striking example of observed differences is the positive effect on nitrogen fixation exerted by high relative nitrogen addition rates compared to the well-known negative effect of increasing external nitrogen concentration. The application of fertilizer on the basis of the nutrient flux density concept provides the possibility of supplying fertilizers corresponding to the consumption potential of the vegetation and to the natural flux density resulting from mineralization in the soil. Nitrogen utilization is high under such conditions and the resulting feedback of nutrition on the mineralization rate suggests that there will be a long-term increase in fertility.     

黄土高原常用造林树种水分利用特征

在适宜土壤水分、中度干旱和严重干旱3种土壤水分条件下研究了黄土高原干旱、半干旱地区常用的人工造林树种84k杨树（Populus spp．）、刺槐（Robinia pseudoacacia）、沙棘（Hippophae rhamnoides）和油松（Pinus tabulaeformis）苗木生长及水分利用特征。结果显示,干旱胁迫使各树种成活率、生长速率、光合速率均显著下降;84k杨树和刺槐单叶水分利用率（WUE）在适宜水分下最高,沙棘的在中度干旱下最高;在中度干旱下,4个树种的总水分利用率最高。而严重干旱下最低。无论干旱与否,4个树种中沙棘生长速率最高。在中度干旱条件下,4个树种均可良好生长,而严重干旱下生长均受到显著抑制,其中84k杨树受影响最大;4个树种中沙棘和油松的耐旱性较强,同时油松在各种土壤水分下其生长速度和干物质生产均显著低于其它3个树种;刺槐和84k杨树的耗水量、生物量及水分利用率在3种土壤水分下均显著高于沙棘和油松,84k杨树和刺槐均属于高耗水树种;研究结果表明。84k杨树和刺槐不适宜大面积栽植在黄土高原缺水地区,仅适合栽植在阴坡、沟道等适宜水分条件下。沙棘和油松则适宜栽植在土壤水分较低的地区,如阳坡、峁顶等立地条件上。     

科尔沁沙地不同密度(小面积)樟子松人工林生长状况

在内蒙古科尔沁沙地丘间片林中选择不同密度的樟子松样地,对樟子松在不同栽植密度条件下的生长情况进行了研究.由于受多年降水偏少的影响,科尔沁沙地的樟子松出现了大量枯梢继而死亡的现象,而这种现象与林地的密度存在很强的相关性.样地林木的死亡率随林地密度的加大呈幂函数关系增加,原先最高密度情况下的林地,保存到现在的活木数量反而最少;林木的平均死亡年龄、最早死亡年龄、冠幅、树高和胸径随林地密度的增加而减小.虽然在其它一些区域的研究结果表明,树高较少受竞争的影响,但是在半干旱区,树高仍然与密度相关.枯梢林木的比例在高密度的样地大于低密度的样地,枯梢对低密度样地的林木基本上没有大的影响.各样地的冠幅和胸径比相差不大,平均只有0.297,以此指标衡量,该地可能更适合单一樟子松林的种植.综合来看,科尔沁沙地的气候和土壤条件适合栽植樟子松,但初始密度应控制在2800株/hm2以下,并应根据生长情况在进入生长高峰期后对林木进行适时间伐,20a龄期的林木其密度保持在2100株/hm2左右比较适宜.     

Amino group modification inhibits ristocetin cofactor activity of human von Willebrand factor

Purified von Willebrand factor rapidly loses activity when treated under mild conditions with the highly specific amino group reagent trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Greater than 90 percent inhibition of activity is achieved by modification of only 7 percent of the amino groups. Other modifications such as acetylation and succinylation also abolish activity. It is unlikely that the essential rapidly reacting amino groups function simply in an electrostatic manner since modifications such as amidination and methylation which produce derivatives which retain positive charge are also inactive or nearly so.     

Circumnutation in Phaseolus vulgaris. I. Growth, osmotic potential and cell ultrastructure in the free-moving part of the shoot

Circumnutation of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Blanc de Juillet twining shoots was examined at the cellular level. Cell growth was monitored inside the free-moving part of the shoot as a function of time and position with respect to the terminal bud. Complete elongation of epidermal cells required >7 days. A 60% increase in length of the cells in the bending zone was observed. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies showed the elasticity of cell walls, the extent of plasmodesmata and endoplasmic reticulum of epidermal cells. The osmotic potential in epidermal cells of the bending zone displayed significant differences only between the concave and convex sides. The pattern of cell growth in twining shoots is discussed. Circumnutation could be seen as a consequence of periodic turgor changes inducing periodic growth.     

The German wildlife information system: population densities and development of European Hare (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepus europaeus</Emphasis> PALLAS) during 2002–2005 in Germany

The German Wildlife Information System, founded in 2001, is a long-term monitoring program documenting occurrence, number, and development of game populations throughout Germany. Population numbers are recorded by standardized counting methods in so-called reference areas. The population densities of the European hare are calculated by spotlight strip censuses in the reference areas each spring and autumn all across Germany. From 2002 to 2005, the censuses were carried out by local hunters in 510 to 676 reference areas each year. During these years, the calculated spring densities increased significantly from 11.0 (2002) to 14.5 hares/km² (2005) nationwide. The overall increase in spring densities was primarily caused by the population rise from spring 2003 to 2004, which correlates with the high net growth rate in 2003. In 2005, the number of counted hares varied between less than 1 and more than 107 hares/km² in spring and between 0 and more than 170 hares/km² in autumn. Because of differing landscapes in Germany, three regions were differentiated. In spring 2005, the average population densities (median) in East Germany (5.4 hares/km²) and Southwest Germany (14.6 hares/km²) were significantly lower than in Northwest Germany (23.9 hares/km²). These regional differences had been similarly distinct in former years.     

微波辐射菘蓝种子的生物学效应研究

以菘蓝(Isatis indigotica Fort)为实验材料,研究了微波辐照中药菘蓝种子对幼苗光合色素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度与水分利用率、可溶性糖含量及幼苗生长发育的影响。研究结果表明：与对照相比,4种处理均能不同程度提高菘蓝幼苗光合色素含量、净光合速率水平、气孔导度与水分利用率,可溶性糖含量以及促进幼苗生长发育,比较而言8s微波预处理效果最好。并在此基础上讨论了微波的作用机理及影响幼苗光合作用的机理。