Anhydrobiosis in Nematodes II: Carbohydrate and Lipid Analysis in Undesiccated and Desiccate Nematodes

Glycogen, trehalose, glucose, and total lipid contents of six nematode species were studied. Anhydrobiotic Anguina tritici and Ditylencbus dipsaci stored trehalose in preference to glycogen and only small amounts of glucose were detected. Glycogen content was also reduced in anhydrobiotic Aphelenchus avenae. Conversely, Panagrellus redivivus and Turbatrix aceti contained large amounts of glycogen, appreciable amounts of glucose, and minimal amounts of trehalose. Ditylenchus myceliophagous "curds" contained low amounts of glycogen and very little trehalose; total lipid was 60% of that in fresh samples. The lipid contents of fresh samples of P. redivivus, T. aceti, and A. avenae were high (23.1, 21.9, and 36.7% dry weight, respectively), but in anhydrobiotic A. avenae larvae the level was reduced by over 60%. In contrast, lipid levels remained high in anhydrobiotic A. tritici and D. dipsaci larvae (40.6 and 38.3%, respectively). Analysis of lipid composition in anhydrobiotic A. tritici and A. avenae did not indicate any specific metabolic adaptations to desiccation survival.     

Influence of Potassium and Nitrogen Fertilization on Parasitism by the Root-knot Nematode Meloidogyne javanica

The influence of various c oncentrations of K⁺, nitrogen sources, and inoculation with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica were evaluated in tomato plants. Increased potassium concentration increased top and root fresh weights of intact plants and fresh weights of excised roots. Nitrate-fertilized plants weighed more than plants receiving ammonium independent of the K level in the medium. Nematode counts on roots were not affected by nutritional differences in intact or excised roots. In intact roots a high percentage of males was recorded at low K⁺ levels, whereas in excised roots the proportion of males in the population rose as the K⁺ levels increased. Inoculated intact roots accumulated K⁺ when the level of potassium supply was low; infected excised roots contained less K⁺ than did nematode-free roots.     

BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CARBON METABOLISM OF NUTRIENT LIMITED CULTURES OF MERISMOPEDIA TENUISSIMA (CYANOPHYCEAE)1

Continuous cultures of Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmerman, limited by phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, or carbon, were compared to non limited batch cultures by two methods. The cellular content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and phycocyanin) was found to decrease in all nutrient limited cultures, except for the carbon limited culture. The ratio of carbohydrate to protein was 4- to 7-fold higher in P, N or S limited cultures than in non-limited or C limited cultures. The macromolecular products of photosynthesis were determined in samples to which NaH¹⁴CO₃ was added. Relative incorporation into protein decreased in P or N limited cultures, increased accumulation of low molecular weight compounds was found in S and P limited cultures, and little change was noted in C limited cultures as compared to non-limited cultures. Although relative incorporation into protein was significantly greater at 20μEin·m^?2·s^?1 light intensity than at 180 μEin·m^?2.s^?1 in non-limited cultures, this effect was abolished in all nutrient limited cultures. These results suggest that measurement of the cellular carbohydrate to protein ratio and the products of photosynthesis would be useful in the analysis of algal population dynamics in nature.     

A reappraisal of the concept of metabolic cold adaptation in polar marine invertebrates

The concept of 'metabolic cold adaptation', namely that polar marine ectotherms are adapted in having an elevated basal metabolic rate, has been examined in the light of recent biochemical, physiological and ecological data for Antarctic marine organisms. It is now clear that marine invertebrates from Antarctic waters are characterized by slow growth rates, low basal metabolism and reduced annual reproductive effort, and there is thus no clear evidence of the traditional view of an elevated metabolic rate. By analogy with fish, protein synthesis rates are probably also low. This suggests that the major feature of cold adaptation is a reduction in the individual total annual energy intake in comparison with ecologically similar organisms from warm water. This allows a high standing crop of suspension feeders to develop, and low temperature is thus a significant factor in the successful widespread adoption of typical K-strategies in Antarctic marine invertebrates.     

吲哚作为细菌细胞间信号分子的研究进展

吲哚广泛存在于自然界,目前已知超过145种革兰氏阳性和阴性细菌能产生吲哚,其中包括许多病原菌。随着细菌密度感应系统及其信号分子作用机制研究的深入,吲哚已被证实是肠道病原菌如致病性大肠杆菌、迟缓爱德华氏菌、霍乱弧菌等一类细胞间重要的信号分子,并参与细菌的多种生理活动,如毒力、抗药性、生物膜形成、运动性、质粒稳定性、抗酸性、孢子产生等。更为重要的是,吲哚及其衍生物还参与协调菌群竞争,有益于人体肠道菌群平衡和免疫系统。本文在吲哚作为细胞间信号分子参与迟缓爱德华氏菌的毒力、抗药性、生物膜形成和运动性的研究基础上,对近年来吲哚作为细菌细胞间信号分子的研究进展进行了综述。随着吲哚作用机制的进一步揭示,将有助于新型抗病原菌感染策略的研发和生物工程方面的应用。     

Cryptic phenology in plants: Case studies,implications, and recommendations

Plant phenology—the timing of cyclic or recurrent biological events in plants—offers insight into the ecology, evolution, and seasonality of plant‐mediated ecosystem processes. Traditionally studied phenologies are readily apparent, such as flowering events, germination timing, and season‐initiating budbreak. However, a broad range of phenologies that are fundamental to the ecology and evolution of plants, and to global biogeochemical cycles and climate change predictions, have been neglected because they are “cryptic”—that is, hidden from view (e.g., root production) or difficult to distinguish and interpret based on common measurements at typical scales of examination (e.g., leaf turnover in evergreen forests). We illustrate how capturing cryptic phenology can advance scientific understanding with two case studies: wood phenology in a deciduous forest of the northeastern USA and leaf phenology in tropical evergreen forests of Amazonia. Drawing on these case studies and other literature, we argue that conceptualizing and characterizing cryptic plant phenology is needed for understanding and accurate prediction at many scales from organisms to ecosystems. We recommend avenues of empirical and modeling research to accelerate discovery of cryptic phenological patterns, to understand their causes and consequences, and to represent these processes in terrestrial biosphere models.     

Cultivating <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> coconut palms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cocos nucifera</Emphasis>) under glasshouse conditions with natural light,improves <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> photosynthesis nursery survival and growth

Plantlets of coconut were cultured in vitro under three different ambient conditions including a standard culture room, a culture room inside a glasshouse with natural light but controlled temperature, and a standard glasshouse with natural light and natural fluctuations of temperature. Plantlets from the 3 treatments were compared in terms of growth, plant survival as well as net photosynthesis and efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) both at the end of the in vitro stage and at 3 stages of ex vitro acclimatization. At the end of the in vitro stage, plantlets cultured in vitro under glasshouse conditions showed the best performance showing the highest photosynthesis rate, dry weight and number of leaves. Plantlets from the standard culture room showed the lowest photosynthesis and growth rate. After 6 months of ex vitro acclimatization, plantlets originally grown in vitro under glasshouse conditions maintained better field survival and growth rates in terms of fresh weight, dry weight and leaf number than plantlets originally grown in vitro in the standard culture room. Although more studies are required to define the reason for this effect, it is clear that the conditions of standard culture rooms are not the best for in vitro cultivation of coconut and perhaps other tropical species.     

不同施肥水平对桢楠多胚苗生长及光合生理的影响

采用营养袋培育的方法,以苗龄45d(根茎初步木质化)的桢楠幼苗为试验材料,选取单胚苗(D)、双胚大苗(SD)和双胚小苗(SX)3种类型桢楠幼苗栽植于袋中,根据年施复合肥量标准设置对照(CK,每袋0g)、中(M,每袋0.2g)和高(H,每袋0.3g)3个施肥水平,于7月初开始施肥,每20d施1次共分4次(每次25%)施入,分别于8月、10月中旬测定幼苗生长指标和光合生理指标,探讨施肥对桢楠多胚苗生长和光合生理的影响。结果显示:(1)中量施肥(M)对3类幼苗的苗高和地径生长量有明显的促进作用,而高量施肥(H)在整个试验过程中对幼苗生长的影响表现为先促进后抑制的趋势。(2)中量施肥(M)可以促进3类幼苗叶片的叶绿素合成,延长叶片功能周期,增大净光合速率和气孔导度,进而提高幼苗在强光照、高CO_2环境下的光合作用能力。(3)中量施肥可以使幼苗的光补偿点(LCP)、CO_2补偿点(CCP)下降,光饱和点(LSP)、CO_2饱和点(CSP)上升,增强幼苗适应环境的能力,积累更多的有机物;高量施肥对幼苗的光合指标也表现为先促进后抑制的作用。研究表明,适量(每袋0.2g)施肥能促进各类桢楠幼苗光合色素合成、光合作用效率以及对环境的适应能力,从而促进幼苗的生长;适量施肥也使双胚大苗较快缩小与单胚苗生长指标间的差距,同时也对双胚小苗生长表现出一定的促进作用,这对于促进珍贵树种桢楠的种质资源保护、提高苗木出圃率和降低育苗成本有重要意义。     

《植物生理学》教学改革中的实践成效

《植物生理学》系农艺类专业的一门必修的骨干性基础课程,随着相关学科的迅猛发展,使人类对于植物生命活动规律的认识更加全面与深入,势必要求植物生理学的课程教学不断改革创新。就多年的教学改革与实践,认为在教学过程中,通过整合最新研究报道不断优化教学内容体系,借助灵活多样的教学方式强化教学内容与实践紧密结合,以制作多媒体课件为突破口并结合传统教学的优点,促进教学手段现代化,提升教学效果;通过考核方式的多样化促进学生的全面学习能动性。     

黄连木对干旱胁迫的生理响应

研究了自然干旱条件下黄连木（Pistacia chinensis Bunge）的生理变化。结果表明,随土壤含水量的减少,叶绿素b含量、光合速率、叶片相对含水量与叶水势均下降;叶绿素a和可溶性糖含量、叶绿素a和b的比值及总叶绿素含量呈现上升的趋势;超氧化物歧化酶活性先升后降;丙二醛含量干旱胁迫前期升高,后期变化不明显;净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率随土壤含水量的减少逐步降低。气孔和可溶性糖含量都是影响黄连木光合速率的关键因子,干旱胁迫前12d光合速率主要受气孔限制,之后为非气孔限制。干旱胁迫前期渗透调节物质以可溶性糖为主,干旱胁迫较重时脯氨酸含量急剧升高,与可溶性糖同时起渗透调节作用。