Air and surface soil samples – two different pairs of shoes? Comparing the pollen spectrum on different days of the pollen season

The pollen spectra of air and surface soil samples from a rooftop (at 14 m) and from ground level (at 1.6 m) in the suburbs of Vienna (Austria) were compared. Two soil samples and two air samples were taken on four different days to account for possible differences: in winter when no pollination occurred (reference day), in spring during the main flowering of Betula (birch day), in spring/summer during the main flowering of Poaceae (grass day), and in autumn during the main flowering of Ambrosia (ragweed day). Thirty-five different pollen types were used to describe the pollen spectra. Frequencies of certain pollen types reflect a seasonal impact on both the surface soil and air samples and show a similarity between air and soil samples on most of the days. However, the seasonal impact is higher in the air samples and shows a high consistency for ground and rooftop level. Kendall’s tau correlation coefficients further substantiate the similarities of the samples especially for the pollen season days. Exceptions include the winter day when pollination was low and the air samples recorded nearly no pollen at all, and the ragweed day when Ambrosia pollen was abundant in three of four samples but not in the ground surface soil sample. Thus, (1) air and surface pollen samples record similar signals during the pollen season but not during the ragweed and winter season and (2) air and surface pollen samples show the impact of local vegetation also in pollen traps located at different heights.     

Functional,structural and phylogenetic analysis of domains underlying the Al sensitivity of the aluminum‐activated malate/anion transporter,TaALMT1

Triticum aestivum aluminum‐activated malate transporter (TaALMT1) is the founding member of a unique gene family of anion transporters (ALMTs) that mediate the efflux of organic acids. A small sub‐group of root‐localized ALMTs, including TaALMT1, is physiologically associated with in planta aluminum (Al) resistance. TaALMT1 exhibits significant enhancement of transport activity in response to extracellular Al. In this study, we integrated structure–function analyses of structurally altered TaALMT1 proteins expressed in Xenopus oocytes with phylogenic analyses of the ALMT family. Our aim is to re‐examine the role of protein domains in terms of their potential involvement in the Al‐dependent enhancement (i.e. Al‐responsiveness) of TaALMT1 transport activity, as well as the roles of all its 43 negatively charged amino acid residues. Our results indicate that the N‐domain, which is predicted to form the conductive pathway, mediates ion transport even in the absence of the C‐domain. However, segments in both domains are involved in Al³⁺ sensing. We identified two regions, one at the N‐terminus and a hydrophobic region at the C‐terminus, that jointly contribute to the Al‐response phenotype. Interestingly, the characteristic motif at the N‐terminus appears to be specific for Al‐responsive ALMTs. Our study highlights the need to include a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis when drawing inferences from structure–function analyses, as a significant proportion of the functional changes observed for TaALMT1 are most likely the result of alterations in the overall structural integrity of ALMT family proteins rather than modifications of specific sites involved in Al³⁺ sensing.     

Rhamnogalacturonan II structure shows variation in the side chains monosaccharide composition and methylation status within and across different plant species

A paradigm regarding rhamnogalacturonans II (RGII) is their strictly conserved structure within a given plant. We developed and employed a fast structural characterization method based on chromatography and mass spectrometry, allowing analysis of RGII side chains from microgram amounts of cell wall. We found that RGII structures are much more diverse than so far described. In chain A of wild‐type plants, up to 45% of the l –fucose is substituted by l –galactose, a state that is seemingly uncorrelated with RGII dimerization capacity. This led us to completely reinvestigate RGII structures of the Arabidopsis thaliana fucose‐deficient mutant mur1, which provided insights into RGII chain A biosynthesis, and suggested that chain A truncation, rather than l –fucose to l –galactose substitution, is responsible for the mur1 dwarf phenotype. Mass spectrometry data for chain A coupled with NMR analysis revealed a high degree of methyl esterification of its glucuronic acid, providing a plausible explanation for the puzzling RGII antibody recognition. The β–galacturonic acid of chain A exhibits up to two methyl etherifications in an organ‐specific manner. Combined with variation in the length of side chain B, this gives rise to a family of RGII structures instead of the unique structure described up to now. These findings pave the way for studies on the physiological roles of modulation of RGII composition.     

Pan-Arctic modelling of net ecosystem exchange of CO2

Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of C varies greatly among Arctic ecosystems. Here, we show that approximately 75 per cent of this variation can be accounted for in a single regression model that predicts NEE as a function of leaf area index (LAI), air temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The model was developed in concert with a survey of the light response of NEE in Arctic and subarctic tundras in Alaska, Greenland, Svalbard and Sweden. Model parametrizations based on data collected in one part of the Arctic can be used to predict NEE in other parts of the Arctic with accuracy similar to that of predictions based on data collected in the same site where NEE is predicted. The principal requirement for the dataset is that it should contain a sufficiently wide range of measurements of NEE at both high and low values of LAI, air temperature and PAR, to properly constrain the estimates of model parameters. Canopy N content can also be substituted for leaf area in predicting NEE, with equal or greater accuracy, but substitution of soil temperature for air temperature does not improve predictions. Overall, the results suggest a remarkable convergence in regulation of NEE in diverse ecosystem types throughout the Arctic.     

Carbon pools recover more quickly than plant biodiversity in tropical secondary forests

Although increasing efforts are being made to restore tropical forests, little information is available regarding the time scales required for carbon and plant biodiversity to recover to the values associated with undisturbed forests. To address this knowledge gap, we carried out a meta-analysis comparing data from more than 600 secondary tropical forest sites with nearby undisturbed reference forests. Above-ground biomass approached equivalence to reference values within 80 years since last disturbance, whereas below-ground biomass took longer to recover. Soil carbon content showed little relationship with time since disturbance. Tree species richness recovered after about 50 years. By contrast, epiphyte richness did not reach equivalence to undisturbed forests. The proportion of undisturbed forest trees and epiphyte species found in secondary forests was low and changed little over time. Our results indicate that carbon pools and biodiversity show different recovery rates under passive, secondary succession and that colonization by undisturbed forest plant species is slow. Initiatives such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and REDD+ should therefore encourage active management to help to achieve their aims of restoring both carbon and biodiversity in tropical forests.     

InDiaMed: A Comprehensive Database of Indian Medicinal plants for Diabetes

According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), India has 62.4 million people with diabetes and by 2030 it is predicted that the number will rise to 100 million. Studies claim that there are around 410 experimentally proven Indian medicinal plants which have anti-diabetic activity, of which the mechanism of action of 109 plants has been elucidated or reported. So, the need of the hour is to explore the claims of Indian medicinal flora and open up the facets of many Indian plants which are being examined for their beneficial role in diabetes. So, we created a database (InDiaMed) of Indian medicinal plants that captures their role in anti-diabetic activity. InDiaMed''s features include chemical, pharmacological, biochemical and geographical information of the medicinal plant, scientifically relevant information of the plant, and the coherent research done on it in the field of diabetes. The database also includes the list of poly-herbal formulations which are used for treatment of diabetes in India.

Availability

http://www.indiamed.info     

小哺乳动物化石牙齿釉质碳、氧同位素测试方法简介及应用前景

探讨古环境和古气候变化与哺乳动物演化之间的关系是目前古生物学研究领域中的一个热点,而哺乳动物化石牙齿釉质的碳、氧同位素分析是恢复古环境和古气候的一个重要手段。以往的哺乳动物化石牙齿釉质稳定同位素分析多集中在大哺乳动物化石,这主要是受到技术手段的限制,所需的样品量较大所决定的。但最近几年随着激光和离子显微探针技术的应用,对小哺乳动物化石(如啮齿类和兔形类)的牙齿釉质碳、氧同位素的分析和应用日趋成熟和广泛。除了传统的化学处理方法之外,对小哺乳动物化石牙齿釉质碳、氧同位素的分析还有以下三种方法:1)激光剥蚀气相色谱/同位素比值质谱分析;2)直接激光氟化技术;3)离子显微探针技术(SHRIMPII)。这些技术需要的样品量少,对标本的破损小,准确度和精密度高,所以在小哺乳动物化石和一些珍贵标本(如古人类化石)的稳定同位素分析中起到了重要作用。相对于大哺乳动物化石,小哺乳动物化石数量多、演化速度快,更能反映多个层位长时间序列的古环境和气候变化;而且小哺乳动物通常没有长距离迁徙的行为,栖息地局限,所以更能准确反映化石埋藏地点的古环境和气候状况。     

MHO对苹果虎皮病发生和果皮活性氧代谢的影响

为研究6-甲基-5-庚烯-2酮(MHO)诱导苹果虎皮病发病以及对果皮活性氧代谢的影响,该实验将冷藏210d的红星苹果用0.5、1.0、2.0mL/L的MHO进行外源处理后,测定其内源MHO含量,在25℃下放置10d后,期间定期测定货架期果皮中的MDA、O2.-、H2O2含量,以及PPO、SOD、CAT、POD活性的变化。结果表明,随着MHO处理浓度的增加,红星苹果果皮中MDA、O2.-、H2O2的含量也随之增加;果皮中的PPO活性逐渐上升,SOD、CAT、POD的活性随着MHO的处理浓度增加而降低;随着MHO处理浓度的增加,果实虎皮病的发病率也随之升高,同时果皮内源MHO含量也随之逐渐增加。研究认为,外源MHO可能通过降低抗氧化酶活性进而参与苹果虎皮病的发病过程。     

酸雨背景下缙云山典型林分凋落物量和营养元素含量及其释放特征

选取缙云山针阔混交林、常绿阔叶林、楠竹林和灌木林作为研究对象,对4种林分的凋落物储量和营养元素释放量等进行观测,并应用室内模拟酸雨实验对4种林分凋落物进行淋溶模拟。结果表明:缙云山各林分现存凋落物厚度为1.4～4.5 cm,具有明显的分层结构;林分未分解U层、半分解S层和分解D层现存凋落物量分别为1.97～8.59、2.84～10.18和3.58～17.43 t·hm-2,林分年凋落物量为2.17～9.86 t·hm-2·a-1,凋落物总储量为14.21～32.42 t·hm-2,凋落物分解常数为0.15～0.31,林下凋落物分解95%时所需时间针阔混交林和楠竹林均在10年以上,凋落物分解速率比较缓慢;林下凋落物层营养元素含量以Ca、N为主,Fe、K、Mg次之;凋落物总的营养元素释放率表现为常绿阔叶林(0.80)>灌木林(0.72)>针阔混交林(0.50)>楠竹林(-0.17);与叶片相比,凋落物中N、K、Mn 3种营养元素含量明显降低;为探明酸雨影响营养元素循环的作用机理,对模拟酸雨的离子含量与凋落物淋滤液盐基离子含量进行了分析,其相关性大小表现为楠竹林(相关系数0.895)>针阔混交林(0.826)>灌木(0.700)>常绿阔叶林(0.699),楠竹林凋落物营养元素的淋滤受酸雨影响最大,常绿阔叶林受其影响最弱;推测在这一过程中以凋落物的吸附作用为主。