ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA FROM SEEDS OF NICOTIANA TABACUM CAN REDUCE CADMIUM PHYTOTOXICITY

Although endophytic bacteria seem to have a close association with their host plant, little is known about the influence of seed endophytic bacteria on initial plant development and on their interactions with plants under conditions of metal toxicity. In order to further elucidate this close relationship, we isolated endophytic bacteria from surface sterilized Nicotiana tabacum seeds that were collected from plants cultivated on a cadmium-(Cd) and zinc-enriched soil. Many of the isolated strains showed Cd tolerance. Sterilely grown tobacco plants were inoculated with either the endogenous microbial consortium, composed of cultivable and noncultivable strains; single strains; or defined consortia of the most representative cultivable strains. Subsequently, the effects of inoculation of endophytic bacteria on plant development and on metal and nutrient uptake were explored under conditions with and without exposure to Cd. In general, seed endophytes were found to have a positive effect on plant growth, as was illustrated by an increase in biomass production under conditions without Cd. In several cases, inoculation with endophytes resulted in improved biomass production under conditions of Cd stress, as well as in a higher plant Cd concentration and total plant Cd content compared to noninoculated plants. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of seed endophytes on metal toxicity and accumulation, and suggest practical applications using inoculated seeds as a vector for plant beneficial bacteria.     

PULSES OF PHOSPHATE PROMOTE DOMINANCE OF THE TOXIC CYANOPHYTE CYLINDROSPERMOPSIS RACIBORSKII IN A SUBTROPICAL WATER RESERVOIR1

The role of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) in promoting dominance of the toxic nitrogen (N)‐fixing cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Wo?osz.) Seenayya et Subba Raju was examined in a subtropical water reservoir, Lake Samsonvale (=North Pine reservoir). A novel in situ bioassay approach, using dialysis tubing rather than bottles or bags, was used to determine the change in C. raciborskii dominance with daily additions of DIP. A statistically significant increase in dominance of C. raciborskii was observed when DIP was added at two concentrations (0.32 μM and 16 μM) in a daily pulse over a 4 d period in three separate experiments in the summer of 2006/2007. There was an increase in both C. raciborskii cell concentrations and biovolume in two DIP treatments, but not in the ammoniacal N + DIP treatment. In addition, overall phytoplankton cell concentrations increased with DIP addition, indicating that Lake Samsonvale was DIP limited at the time of experiments. Given the bioassay response, it is likely that dominance of C. raciborskii could increase in Lake Samsonvale with periodic injections of DIP such as inflow events.     

Extraradical hyphae exhibit more plastic nutrient-acquisition strategies than roots under nitrogen enrichment in ectomycorrhiza-dominated forests

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) functional traits related to nutrient acquisition are impacted by nitrogen (N) deposition. However, less is known about whether these nutrient-acquisition traits associated with roots and hyphae differentially respond to increased N deposition in ECM-dominated forests with different initial N status. We conducted a chronic N addition experiment (25 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in two ECM-dominated forests with contrasting initial N status, that is, a Pinus armandii forest (with relatively low N availability) and a Picea asperata forest (with relatively high N availability), to assess nutrient-mining and nutrient-foraging strategies associated with roots and hyphae under N addition. We show that nutrient-acquisition strategies of roots and hyphae differently respond to increased N addition. Root nutrient-acquisition strategies showed a consistent response to N addition, regardless of initial forest nutrient status, shifting from organic N mining toward inorganic N foraging. In contrast, the hyphal nutrient-acquisition strategy showed diverse responses to N addition depending on initial forest N status. In the Pinus armandii forest, trees increased belowground carbon (C) allocation to ECM fungi thus enhancing hyphal N-mining capacity under increased N availability. By comparison, in the Picea asperata forest, ECM fungi enhanced both capacities of P foraging and P mining in response to N-induced P limitation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ECM fungal hyphae exhibit greater plasticity in nutrient-mining and nutrient-foraging strategies than roots do in response to changes of nutrient status induced by N deposition. This study highlights the importance of ECM associations in tree acclimation and forest function stability under changing environments.     

云南省自然休闲地与桤木休闲地地上部分生物量与养分蓄积量的研究

通过样方调查和采样 ,对云南省西盟县新厂乡阿莫村自然条件相似、经历了相同休闲年限的桤木休闲地和自然休闲地的地上部分植被生物量和养分蓄积量进行了比较研究 ,结果表明 ,休闲 3a后 ,桤木休闲地的休闲效果显著高于自然休闲地。表现在桤木休闲地的地上部分生物量高于自然休闲地 ,休闲 6 a后 ,桤木林的地上部分生物量干重达到 6 9,6 4 0 kg/hm2 ,是自然休闲地的 4倍 ;桤木休闲地 N、P、K三大营养元素的地上部分蓄积量 ,经过 2～ 3a超过自然休闲地 ,并在休闲 3a后显著高于自然休闲地 ,休闲 6 a后 ,N蓄积量达到 5 5 7kg/hm2 ,是自然休闲地的 3倍 ,P、K的蓄积量分别达到 4 1kg/hm2 、2 6 5 kg/hm2 ,是自然休闲地的 2倍。目前研究说明桤木种植有改进轮歇农业的明显作用 ,具有在类似地区推广应用的价值。     

菹草附着物对营养盐浓度的响应及其与菹草衰亡的关系

在菹草衰亡阶段对5个静水水体中菹草叶片表面附着物进行野外调查,并将其与水体营养盐浓度、沉水植物衰亡程度进行相关性分析。附着物共调查Chl.a含量、干重、有机质含量和藻类数量4个指标,沉水植物衰亡程度用单位面积叶片Chl.a含量表示,水体营养盐含量测量了TP、TN和N/P 3个指标。结果显示：附着物生物量与水体营养盐状况存在一定的正相关;各个点的附着物生物量与菹草衰亡状况存在一定相关性但相关性趋势与水体污染程度有关。在污染程度较高的水体中附着物生物量与菹草衰亡程度呈正相关,在污染程度较低的水体中附着物生物量与菹草衰亡程度呈负相关。结论为富营养化湖泊中营养盐含量的增加会导致附着物生物量的增加,但附着物只在污染程度较高的水体中促进植物衰亡。     

Characteristics of settling matter and its role in nutrient cycles in a deep oligotrophic lake

The settling flux of seston (dry weight, DW), chlorophyll a (Chl a), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and particulate phosphorus (PP) was measured monthly in 1981–1983 at 10 different depths in Lake Chuzenji, Japan; an oligotrophic lake with a maximum depth of 163 m. The Ti concentration in entrapped matter was used to separate the sedimentation flux into allochthonous and autochthonous components. Inflow loads of dissolved nutrients (DN: 4.5, DP: 0.48 g m^-2a^-1) were almost sufficient to supply the autochthonous fluxes at 30 m (PON: 2.9, PP: 0.51 g m^-2a^-1 ), and this flux of POC (26.6 g m^-2a ^-1) was about one-third of primary production (84 g C M^-2a^-1). Sedimentation of particulate matter was the main path of losing nutrients from lake water, explaining more than 80% removal of inflow loads (TN, TP). Decomposition rates during sedimentation which were calculated from the vertical difference in the autochthonous flux agreed very closely with the results obtained by laboratory experiments of a 100-day incubation (content ratios from field observations were: POC 0.67, PON 0.65, PP 0.85; and from laboratory experiments they were: POC 0.68, PON 0.70, PP 0.94). These decomposition rates and those near the sediment interface were used to explain dissolved oxygen depletion and nitrate increase in the hypolimnion during stratification. The average sinking velocities were 1.82m d^-1 for seston and 1.16 m d^-1 for Chl a at 30m, they were influenced by Chl a content of seston.     

Feeding and Growth Response of Roach, Rutilus rutilus, to Alarm Substance

Feeding and growth responses of roach from three size classes to alarm substance (Schreckstoff) were quantified in laboratory experiments. Larger fish (60.0–80.0 mm in length) reacted stronger to treatment than two smaller sized groups (35.0–45.0 and 46.0–55.0 mm) lowering feeding rate by 80 and 40 and 50%, respectively. The reduction in feeding rate of larger fish caused decrease in growth rate in length and weight, while the lowered consumption of smaller fish caused only reduction in growth rate in weight. Condition factor of exposed to alarm substance small sized roach was lower than that of the control individuals and roach from other two size classes, both, treated and untreated. The difference in growth response to a danger of predation has its roots probably in different metabolism and growth rates of small and large fish. Small fish have higher metabolic rate and less lipid reserves than larger ones, therefore they are probably forced to feed to be able to grow. Also, small sized roach is more vulnerable to predation than large sized fish, thus growing fast seem to be crucial for survival in a risky environment. Study shows that small roach trade off their safety against food, feeding in risky environment to sustain fast growth. This ability of fast outgrowing of a dangerous, vulnerable to predators, size increases survival of juveniles in dangerous environment.     

大黄鱼池塘不同混养模式生态学特征比较

利用菊花江蓠、双齿围沙蚕和大黄鱼在陆基围隔中构建鱼+藻(FG)、鱼+藻+沙蚕(FGP)以及鱼+沙蚕(FP)3种复合养殖模式,以单养鱼(F)模式为对照,探讨不同模式系统的沉积物、水体环境状况、养殖效益及氮、磷元素的回收效率.结果表明:菊花江蓠主要作用于系统水体中氮和磷的净化,具藻处理中氮、磷含量均显著低于无藻处理,对于水体环境中磷的利用效率达到投入量的33.8%～34.0%;沙蚕作用主要体现在对沉积物环境的改善,具沙蚕处理中氮、磷含量低于不具沙蚕处理,且在沉积物表层(1～2 cm)和次表层(2～4 cm)差异均显著.相对于F处理,FGP及FP处理总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和无机磷(IP)分别下降了8.9%～9.2%、6.1%～6.3%和8.0%～8.1%.沙蚕对于沉积物中磷的回收达到投入量的7.5%～7.8%,有效减缓了磷在沉积物中的积累.FGP系统具有最佳的物质利用率及资源效益.     

The response of muscle protein synthesis to nutrient intake in postabsorptive rats: The role of insulin and amino acids

In 12 h fasted rats, rates of muscle protein synthesis were stimulated by refeeding for 1 h and by intragastric or intravenous infusion of an amino acid plus glucose mixture for 1 hr, but not by intravenous infusion of amino acids alone for 1 h. Intravenous injection of anti-insulin serum suppressed the response to feeding and to intragastric infusion, but not to intravenous infusion. It is concluded that the response of muscle protein synthesis to food intake is mediated by both insulin and amino acids acting in concert.