Changes in photosynthetic electron transfer and state transitions in an herbicide-resistant D1 mutant from soybean cell cultures

Anomalies in photosynthetic activity of the soybean cell line STR7, carrying a single mutation (S268P) in the chloroplastic gene psbA that codes for the D1 protein of the photosystem II, have been examined using different spectroscopic techniques. Thermoluminescence emission experiments have shown important differences between STR7 mutant and wild type cells. The afterglow band induced by both white light flashes and far-red continuous illumination was downshifted by about 4 °C and the Q band was upshifted by 5 °C. High temperature thermoluminescence measurements suggested a higher level of lipid peroxidation in mutant thylakoid membranes. In addition, the reduction rate of P700⁺ was significantly accelerated in STR7 suggesting that the mutation led to an activation of the photosystem I cyclic electron flow. Modulated fluorescence measurements performed at room temperature as well as fluorescence emission spectra at 77 K revealed that the STR7 mutant is defective in state transitions. Here, we discuss the hypothesis that activation of the cyclic electron flow in STR7 cells may be a mechanism to compensate the reduced activity of photosystem II caused by the mutation. We also propose that the impaired state transitions in the STR7 cells may be due to alterations in thylakoid membrane properties induced by a low content of unsaturated lipids.     

Phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin containing an elaidoyl fatty acid can form cholesterol-rich lateral domains in bilayer membranes

Elaidic acid is a trans-fatty acid found in many food products and implicated for having potentially health hazardous effects in humans. Elaidic acid is readily incorporated into membrane lipids in vivo and therefore affects processes regulating membrane physical properties. In this study the membrane properties of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine containing elaidic acid (N-E-SM and PEPC) were determined in bilayer membranes with special emphasis on their interaction with cholesterol and participation in ordered domain formation. In agreement with previous studies the melting temperatures were found to be about 20 °C lower for the elaidoyl than for the corresponding saturated lipids. The trans-unsaturation increased the polarity at the membrane-water interface as reported by Laurdan fluorescence. Fluorescence quenching experiments using cholestatrienol as a probe showed that both N-E-SM and PEPC were incorporated in lateral membrane domains with sterol and saturated lipids. At low temperatures the elaidoyl lipids were even able to form sterol-rich domains without any saturated lipids present in the bilayer. We conclude from this study that the ability of N-E-SM and PEPC to form ordered domains together with cholesterol and saturated phospho- and sphingolipids in model membranes indicates that they might have an influence on raft formation in biological membranes.     

Effects of circadian rhythms of fluctuating temperature on growth and biochemical composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulva pertusa</Emphasis>

The marcoalga Ulva pertusa was cultured under (20 ± 2)°C, (20 ± 4)°C, (20 ± 6)°C, (20 ± 8)°C and (20 ± 10)°C circadian rhythms of fluctuating temperature conditions, and constant temperature of 20°C was used as the control. The growth rate of macroalga at (20 ± 2)°C, (20 ± 4)°C and (20 ± 6)°C were significantly higher than that at constant temperature of 20°C, while growth rate at (20 ± 8)°C and (20 ± 10)°C were significantly lower than that at constant temperature of 20°C. The growth rate of macroalga was a quadratic function of the thermal amplitude. Such a growth model can be described by G = β ₀ + β ₁(TA) + β ₂(TA)², where G represents the relative growth rate, TA is thermal amplitude in degree Celsius, β ₀ is the intercept on the G axis, and β ₁ and β ₂ are the regression coefficients. The optimal thermal amplitude for the growth of thallus at mean temperature of 20°C was estimated to be ± 3.69°C. Analysis of biochemical composition at the final stages of thaulls growth revealed that diel fluctuating temperature caused various influences (P < 0.05). The content of chlorophyll, protein and total solute carbohydrate at (20 ± 2)°C and (20 ± 4)°C were slightly higher than those at constant temperature of 20°C, however no statistically significant differences were found among them (P > 0.05). While osmolytes (total solute carbohydrate and free proline) at (20 ± 10)°C were significantly higher than that at 20°C (P < 0.05). Therefore, more chlorophyll and carbohydrate production might account for the enhancement in the growth of macroalga at the diel fluctuating temperatures in the present study. Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic studies of dicyanamide bridged two new 1D copper(II) complexes

Two new dicyanamide bridged 1D polynuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu(L¹){μ_1,5-N(CN)₂}]_n (1) [L¹H = C₆H₅C(O)NHNC(CH₃)C₅H₄N] and [Cu(L²){μ_1,5-N(CN)₂}]_n (2) [L²H=C₆H₅C(O)CHC(CH₃)NCH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂] have been synthesised and structures of both the complexes and their crystal packing arrangements have been established by X-ray crystallography. For complex 1, a tridentate hydrazone ligand (L¹H) obtained by the condensation of benzhydrazide and 2-acetylpyridine is used, whereas a tridentate Schiff base (L²H) derived from benzoylacetone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine is employed for the preparation of complex 2. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement studies indicate there are weak antiferromagnetic interactions with J values −0.10 and −1.41 cm⁻¹ for 1 and 2, respectively.     

Harvest prediction in ‘Algerie’ loquat

Plant phenology is in great measure driven by air temperature. To forecast harvest time for ‘Algerie’ loquat accurately, the growing degree days (GDD) needed from bloom to ripening were determined using data from nine seasons. The methods proposed by Zalom et al. (Zalom FG, Goodell PB, Wilson LT, Barnett WW, Bentley W, Degree-days: the calculation and use of heat units in pest management, leaflet no 21373, Division Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California 10 pp, 1983) were compared as regards their ability to estimate heat summation based on hourly records. All the methods gave remarkably similar results for our cultivation area, although the double-sine method showed higher performance when temperatures were low. A base temperature of 3°C is proposed for ‘Algerie’ loquat because it provides a coefficient of variation in GDD among seasons of below 5%, and because of its compatibility with loquat growth. Based on these determinations, ‘Algerie’ loquat requires 1,715 GDD from bloom to harvest; under our conditions this heat is accumulated over an average of 159 days. Our procedure permits the ‘Algerie’ harvest date to be estimated with a mean error of 4.4 days (<3% for the bloom-harvest period). GDD summation did not prove superior to the use of the number of calendar days for predicting ‘Algerie’ harvest under non-limiting growing conditions. However, GDD reflects the developmental rate in water-stressed trees better than calendar days. Trees under deficit irrigation during flower development required more time and more heat to ripen their fruits.     

Modelling radiation fluxes in simple and complex environments—application of the RayMan model

The most important meteorological parameter affecting the human energy balance during sunny weather conditions is the mean radiant temperature T_mrt. It considers the uniform temperature of a surrounding surface giving off blackbody radiation, which results in the same energy gain of a human body given the prevailing radiation fluxes. This energy gain usually varies considerably in open space conditions. In this paper, the model ‘RayMan’, used for the calculation of short- and long-wave radiation fluxes on the human body, is presented. The model, which takes complex urban structures into account, is suitable for several applications in urban areas such as urban planning and street design. The final output of the model is, however, the calculated T_mrt, which is required in the human energy balance model, and thus also for the assessment of the urban bioclimate, with the use of thermal indices such as predicted mean vote (PMV), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and standard effective temperature (SET*). The model has been developed based on the German VDI-Guidelines 3789, Part II (environmental meteorology, interactions between atmosphere and surfaces; calculation of short- and long-wave radiation) and VDI-3787 (environmental meteorology, methods for the human-biometeorological evaluation of climate and air quality for urban and regional planning. Part I: climate). The validation of the results of the RayMan model agrees with similar results obtained from experimental studies.     

Army ants in four forests: geographic variation in raid rates and species composition

1. The New World army ants are top predators in the litter of tropical forest, but no comprehensive studies exist on variation in assemblage-wide activity and species composition. We used standardized protocols to estimate foraging raid rates and species composition of army ant communities in four Neotropical forests. The study sites spanned approximately 10 degrees latitude, with two sites each in Central and South America. 2. We recorded a total of 22 species of army ants. The four sites varied in observed and estimated species richness. Species overlap was highest between the Central American sites, and lowest between the South American sites. 3. Raid activity varied significantly among sites. Raid activity per kilometre of trail walks was over four times higher at the most active site (Sta. Maria, Venezuela) than at the least active site (Barro Colorado Island, Panama). Furthermore, each site showed a different diel pattern of activity. For example, raid activity was higher during daylight hours in Costa Rica, and higher at night in Venezuela. Raid activity relationships with ambient temperature also varied significantly among sites. 4. The overall rate of army ant raids passing through 1 m(2) plots was 0.73 raids per day, but varied among sites, from 0 raids per day (Panama) to 1.2 raids per day (Venezuela). 5. Primarily subterranean species were significantly more abundant in Venezuela, and above-ground foragers that form large swarm fronts were least abundant in Panama. The site heterogeneity in species abundance and diel activity patterns has implications for army ant symbionts, including ant-following birds, and for the animals hunted by these top predators.     

Climate and body size influence nest survival in a fish with parental care

1. The current study examined the effect of broad-scale climate and individual-specific covariates on nest survival in smallmouth bass over a 20-year period. 2. Large-scale climate indices [winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and winter El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)] and body size of parental males were important covariates in nest survival along with nest age and a quadratic trend in survival. 3. We did not find an effect due to a habitat covariate (total effective fetch) or a phenology covariate (degree-days at start of nesting) on nest survival. 4. Male size in the second half of the nesting season was a more influential covariate on nest success than male size in the first half or throughout the nesting period. 5. We present evidence showing that winter NAO/ENSO indices establish limnological conditions the following spring that influence thermal stability of the lake during the nesting period. 6. The combined climate and body size covariates point to nest survival as a function of lagged climate-scale influences on limnology and the individual-scale influence of bioenergetics on the duration of parental care and nest success.     

黄土高原丘陵区不同生境小叶杨人工林物种多样性及其群落稳定性分析

通过样地调查,对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区处于阴坡、半阴坡、半阳坡、阳坡4种生境条件下,经过30年发育的小叶杨人工林物种多样性,群落结构动态和土壤水分养分效应进行了系统研究,结果表明:(1)不同生境小叶杨人工林总体上物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数均呈现出阴坡>半阴坡>半阳坡>阳坡的趋势,且林内物种多样性指数表现为:草本层>灌木层;(2)不同生境条件下的小叶杨人工林年龄结构分析表明,尽管阴坡小叶杨长势相对较好,但更新幼苗数量相当有限,很难实现种群的自我更新,不适合作为人工林培育;(3)土壤含水量和养分因坡向不同而呈现出明显的差异,尽管阴坡和半阴坡的水分、养分条件相对较好,但也出现了枯梢、病虫害等衰老特征,因此阴坡、半阴坡的生境对小叶杨来说也不合适.未来应该对现有林地在保护的前提下,间伐衰老个体,补植和引入乡土物种,进行天然化培育.     

河西走廊植物群落特征及其与气候的关系初探

对河西走廊荒漠植物的群落类型、盖度、密度、重要值、地上生物量等进行了调查,收集整理各区域的气候资料,对它们的关系进行了初步研究。结果显示:(1)物种种类组成、总密度与海拔、经度呈正相关,与纬度呈负相关,在走廊的东南→西北方向上呈递减趋势。(2)在活动积温(>10℃)>3 200℃的荒漠地区,灌木(包括半灌木)在群落中占有绝对优势,其重要值可达到100;当活动积温在3 000℃左右时,群落往往是一些过渡类型,或以草本为优势种、以半灌木或灌木为伴生种,或以半灌木为优势种、以多年生草本为伴生种。(3)在年降水量110 mm以上的荒漠地区,植物群落生活型主要为半灌木或多年生草本;在年降水量110 mm以下的地区,生活型主要为小灌木或一年生草本;在年降水量小于50 mm的极端干旱地区,只有在雨季时有一年生草本生长。表明荒漠生态系统植被稀疏,生物量小,对气候因子,特别是降水变化敏感,对其保育显得尤为重要。