Temporal and spatial change of the investment in carnivory of the tropical Utricularia foliosa

Investment by bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa L.) in carnivory, in terms of biochemical composition (carbohydrates per bladder), elemental composition (carbon and nitrogen per bladder), and morphology of the bladders (length, depth, size of the trap door, and size of antennae), was estimated in seven plants located in Yahuarcaca creek (Colombian Amazon) five times from March to May 2005. The aims were to determine whether investment in carnivory varies temporally (over the growing season of the plant) and/or spatially, and if this potential change in carnivory investment varies according to nutrient conditions. The main differences in the investment in carnivory (changes in bladder number and bladder size, and changes in the size of the antennae) were among locations and there were not important differences over the growing season of the plant. Nitrogen and not phosphorus, was the element that stimulated the investment in carnivory. In addition to changes in bladder number and bladder size, we observed a new strategy to enhance prey capture under nitrogen limitation: changes in the size of the antennae. The size of the antennae was approximately 1.3 higher in those plants located in sites with low NO₃⁻. However, we did not observed changes in the carbon/nitrogen ratio of the bladders or in the relationship between bladder length with bladder depth or size of the trap door. The amount of carbohydrates per bladder was also 1.8 higher in those plants located in sites with low NO₃⁻ (0.13 μM) than those with higher NO₃⁻ concentration (0.39 μM). However, the amount of carbohydrates in the bladder was related with the abundance of periphyton and, hence, it is not possible to conclude that carbohydrate production was a strategy of the plant to enhance the capture of prey. Therefore, our findings do not support the carbohydrate mucilage lure speculations.     

Red:far-red light conditions affect the emission of volatile organic compounds from barley (Hordeum vulgare), leading to altered biomass allocation in neighbouring plants

Background and Aims Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play various roles in plant–plant interactions, and constitutively produced VOCs might act as a cue to sense neighbouring plants. Previous studies have shown that VOCs emitted from the barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivar ‘Alva’ cause changes in biomass allocation in plants of the cultivar ‘Kara’. Other studies have shown that shading and the low red:far-red (R:FR) conditions that prevail at high plant densities can reduce the quantity and alter the composition of the VOCs emitted by Arabidopsis thaliana, but whether this affects plant–plant signalling remains unknown. This study therefore examines the effects of far-red light enrichment on VOC emissions and plant–plant signalling between ‘Alva’ and ‘Kara’.Methods The proximity of neighbouring plants was mimicked by supplemental far-red light treatment of VOC emitter plants of barley grown in growth chambers. Volatiles emitted by ‘Alva’ under control and far-red light-enriched conditions were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). ‘Kara’ plants were exposed to the VOC blend emitted by the ‘Alva’ plants that were subjected to either of the light treatments. Dry matter partitioning, leaf area, stem and total root length were determined for ‘Kara’ plants exposed to ‘Alva’ VOCs, and also for ‘Alva’ plants exposed to either control or far-red-enriched light treatments.Key Results Total VOC emissions by ‘Alva’ were reduced under low R:FR conditions compared with control light conditions, although individual volatile compounds were found to be either suppressed, induced or not affected by R:FR. The altered composition of the VOC blend emitted by ‘Alva’ plants exposed to low R:FR was found to affect carbon allocation in receiver plants of ‘Kara’.Conclusions The results indicate that changes in R:FR light conditions influence the emissions of VOCs in barley, and that these altered emissions affect VOC-mediated plant–plant interactions.     

烟粉虱对寄主植物叶背的定向行为

烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)成虫在自然条件下总是能够准确定位到寄主的叶片背面进行取食和产卵,这是一种本能的定向行为。以扶桑和油麦菜为寄主材料,通过非选择性和选择性实验,研究和评价光照、叶面物理性状和重力3个环境因子在烟粉虱成虫定向行为中的作用。结果显示,重力在定向行为中起主导作用,寄主叶片正反面的物理性状差异也能够使烟粉虱成虫定位到寄主叶片的背面,但是存在时滞效应。说明烟粉虱成虫在定向到寄主叶片背面的过程中存在2个系统,一个是以重力为线索的垂直方向感作为导航系统,另一个则是以叶面物理性状为线索的行为调节作为校正系统,二者的相互协作使得烟粉虱成虫能够精确定位到寄主叶片的背面。     

植物精油的抗菌特性及在食品工业中应用研究新进展

概述了植物精油和其单组分的来源、安全性评价、抗菌性能以及在食品工业上应用研究的新进展。并简要讨论了在食品应用中,食物中脂肪、蛋白、水、盐、pH等含量以及外在条件如包装、精油的添加形态和病菌的特性对植物精油的抗菌活性的影响。     

江西信丰细迳坑自然保护区观光木群落研究

以江西省信丰县细迳坑自然保护区观光木Tsoongiodendron odorum群落为对象,开展样方调查和群落生态学分析。结果表明：(1)群落的种类组成包括维管植物146种,隶属于66科106属。其中,蕨类植物9科10属14种,种子植物57科96属132种。种子植物属的地理成分以热带分布占较大优势(77.66%)。(2)该区域的地带性植被以常绿阔叶林为主,有少部分落叶树种,使得群落秋冬季有一定的季相变化。群落垂直结构包括乔木3亚层及灌木层和草本层;乔木层以观光木、华润楠Machilus chinensis、南酸枣Choerospondias axillaris、锈叶新木姜子Neolitsea cambodiana为主要优势种,灌木层以硬壳桂Cryptocarya chingii、细枝柃Eurya loquaiana、鸭公树Neolitsea chuii为主要优势种。(3)群落各频度级分布规律为A级＞B级＞C级＞D级＞E级,从优势种群年龄结构分析看,该群落在演替上处于亚顶级状态。(4)群落的物种多样性Simpson指数和Shannon-wiener指数表现为：草本层＞乔木层＞灌木层;Pielou指数则表现为：乔木层＞灌木层＞草本层。观光木群落是该地区最重要的植被特征种和生境指示种。     

Meligethes aeneus oviposition preferences,larval parasitism rate and species composition of parasitoids on Brassica nigra,Raphanus sativus and Eruca sativa compared with on Brassica napus

The trap crop strategy is based on host plant discrimination by pests and their parasitoids, which may respond differently to various host plant cues, thus affecting their respective population distributions. We conducted a three-year study to compare the responses of the most damaging pest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus Fab.), and its hymenopteran parasitoids to various potential trap crops: Brassica nigra L., Raphanus sativus var. olifera Pers. and Eruca sativa Mill. with that to B. napus. We recorded their abundance, oviposition preferences and the species composition of the parasitoids.Our results show that oviposition rates of the pollen beetle and its parasitoids as well the species composition of the parasitoids varies with plant species. We discuss the potential of these plant species, especially B. nigra, to enhance the natural control of the beetle by fostering several parasitoid species. The species composition of the parasitoids on different host plants compared with on B. napus is presented for the first time. In addition to trapping pests, the trap crops could also act as parasitoid banks, enhancing natural control of the pest through providing suitable hosts for natural enemies, without increasing the population growth of the next generation of pests.     

福建种子植物区系地理研究

福建省地处中国东南沿海的亚热带 ,季风气候显著 ,水热条件良好 ,地貌以山地为主 ,致使种子植物成分丰富 ,自然分布的种类约有 1152属归 186科。区系地理成分分析表明 ,福建种子植物区系是典型的热带起源 ,热带成分占 56 .0 3% ,其中以泛热带成分最多 ,同时兼容了大量温带成分 ,说明温带成分并非源自本地 ,而是亚热带山区起源。区系成分中单型属和少型属以及特有属成分相当丰富 ,说明了残遗现象和个别特化现象比较明显     

羊草＋大针茅草原群落退化演替机理的研究

通过比较退化与未退化典型草原群落中主要植物种的个体数量特征和根系分布的差异 ,在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟白音锡勒牧场中国科学院草原生态系统定位研究站的实验样地上通过为期 11年 (1983～ 1993)对退化草原群落恢复演替过程中植物个体特征动态的监测 ,证明以节间缩短、叶片变短和根系分布浅层化为特征的植物个体小型化是在过度放牧所致草原退化中联系导因与结果的机理性中间环节。植物个体小型化使群落生产力水平下降 ;也使各个种群构建群落的功能衰退 ,并由此导致原来占据的资源空间被释放出来 ;释放出的资源诱使家畜不喜食的种群大量拓殖 ,从而出现优势种更替。因此 ,植物个体小型化现象及其生态学作用可以很好地揭示过牧条件下草原群落退化所表现出的生产力锐减和优势种更替特征的机理     

野生植物狮子尾营养成分的研究及应用

对野生植物狮子尾的营养成分进行了分析,结果表明,狮子尾中含有多种营养成分,丰富的矿质元素和维生素及β-胡萝卜素。狮子尾中至少含有17种氨基酸。旨在为开发利用植物资源提供科学依据。