盐分和水分胁迫对芦荟幼苗渗透调节和渗调物质积累的影响

用不同浓度NaCl和等渗聚乙二醇(PEG 6000)处理芦荟(Aloe vera L.)幼苗,10 d后测定叶片相对生长速率和厚度、叶片中主要有机溶质、无机离子含量及渗透调节能力.结果表明,-0.44、-0.88 MPa NaCl和PEG处理使芦荟叶片的相对生长速率和叶片厚度明显下降,且盐胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制和叶片含水量降低的效应明显高于等渗的水分胁迫,其叶片渗透调节能力随处理渗透势的降低而增加, -0.88 MPa PEG胁迫的芦荟幼苗的渗透调节能力高于等渗盐分胁迫.在主要渗透调节物质可溶性糖、有机酸、K 、Ca2 和Cl-中,-0.88 MPa PEG处理下含量比相同渗透势的NaCl处理下显著增加的是有机溶质,因此推断有机溶质含量高是PEG胁迫下渗透调节能力较强的主要因素.     

庐山6种树木立地土壤溶液铝形态与溶解有机碳变化

于1999年夏季,采集了庐山植物园6种树木立地的不同层次土壤样品,提取土壤溶液,分析其溶液中的溶解铝和溶解有机碳。结果表明,尽管发育于同一发生性土类,不同立地下土壤溶液溶解铝含量有明显差异,而溶解性有机碳的差异相对较小,在6种树木立地中,香柏立地表层土壤溶解铝含量达4．95mg·kg^-1,为其它针叶林立地的2倍,是阔叶林立地的3倍。溶解铝积累与土壤酸化强度有密切关系,但溶解有机碳趋向于形成抑制毒性的单核铝,供试的不同立地土壤可以按溶液铝化学特点分为不同的生态化学类型。     

Eco-physiological responses of linseed (Linum usitatissimum) to salt and alkali stresses

AimsEffects of salt and alkali stresses (NaCl-Na₂SO₄ and NaHCO₃-Na₂CO₃) were compared on growth, photosynthesis characters, ionic balance and osmotic adjustment of linseed (Linum usitatissimum), to elucidate the mechanisms of salt and alkali stress (high pH value) damage to plants, and their physiological adaptive mechanisms to the stresses. MethodsThe experiment was carried out in an artificial greenhouse. Plants grew at approximately 700 mmol·m^-2·s^-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in greenhouse under photoperiod of 15 h in light and 9 h in dark. In each plastic pot (17 cm diameter) which contained 2.5 kg of washed sand, 20 linseed seeds were sown. The seedlings were exposed to stresses lasting 14 days after 2 months.Important findingsThe inhibitory effects of alkali stress on linseed growth were more remarkable than those of salt stress, indicating that alkali and salt represent two distinct forms of stress. The alkali stress increased the Na⁺ content in shoots, damaged the photosynthetic system, and highly reduced the net photosynthetic rate and C assimilation capacity. Under salinity stress, the Na⁺ content increased, the K⁺ content decreased with increasing stress. Greater changes were observed under alkali than under salt stress. Alkali stress caused the massive influx of Na⁺, which probably explained that the harmful of alkali stress on plants was stronger than that of salt stress. Under alkali stress, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ decreased in roots, showing that high pH value around roots hindered the absorption of them. Fe²⁺ and Zn²⁺ had little effects on the osmotic adjustment, mainly because of they had a low ion content. Under salt stress, anion increased in order to balance the sharp increase of Na⁺. However, alkali stress made severe deficit of negative charge, broke the intracellular ionic balance and pH homeostasis, and caused a series of strain response. Our results showed that linseed enhanced the synthesis of soluble sugars to balance massive influx of Na⁺ under salt stress, but linseed enhanced the synthesis of organic acids to compensate for the shortage of inorganic anions, which might be a key pathway for the pH adjustment. In conclusion, the alkali stress (high pH value) clearly inhibited the growth, element absorption, ion homeostasis reconstruction of plants. Organic acid concentration is possibly a key adaptive factor for linseed to maintain intracellular ion balance and regulate high pH value under alkali stress.     

中山杉及其父母本幼苗对干旱胁迫和复水的响应

本文研究了落羽杉和墨杉及其杂交后代中山杉302(落羽杉♀×墨杉♂)、中山杉407(墨杉♀×落羽杉♂)、回交代中山杉118(中山杉302♀×墨杉♂)在自然干旱胁迫和复水过程中,光合特征、抗氧化酶系统和形态特性等的响应.结果表明:随干旱时间的延长,所有植株的净光合速率逐渐降低、脯氨酸开始积累且抗氧化酶系统逐渐清除丙二醛的毒性.胁迫至第8天,落羽杉净光合速率的下降幅度最大,而中山杉118的水分利用效率最高、丙二醛含量最少;墨杉的超氧化物歧化酶活性和脯氨酸含量增长最大.复水2 d后,所有植物的参数均有不同程度的恢复,其中,中山杉118恢复速率最快,其净光合速率和脯氨酸含量分别恢复了74.4%和60.2%.复水9 d后,所有植株的测定指标基本恢复至或接近正常水平,其中,中山杉118的生物量未受影响且根冠比显著增加.植物的耐旱能力依次为墨杉>中山杉118>中山杉407>中山杉302>落羽杉.回交品种中山杉118的杂种优势明显,较大程度地遗传了墨杉的耐旱性,该结论可为耐旱中山杉品种的杂交选育和推广应用提供科学依据.     

秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林幼苗更新特征

分析了秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林群落乔木及木本幼苗物种特征值、更新生态位宽度及不同影响因子下（包括林分密度、坡向、海拔等）乔木更新动态。结果表明,乔木层物种有25种,锐齿栎占有明显地优势,重要值为149.18%。其次为华山松(Pinus armandii)和千斤榆(Carpinus cordata)等;更新层共有木本植物41种,其中乔木种有28种,占所有木本植物总数量的68%,优势种有青蛙皮槭(Acer grosseri)、木姜子(Litsea pungens)等。林下有丰富的幼苗库,径级及龄级比较小。更新方式以实生为主;分析了10种更新优势乔木种群的生态位宽度,同种幼树种群生态位宽度均大于幼苗种群生态位宽度。幼苗种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子(Corylus heterophylla)、锐齿栎、青蛙皮槭等。幼树种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子、青蛙皮槭、锐齿栎等;林分密度对林下乔木幼苗和幼树数量影响不同。当林分密度（株?hm-2）从720增加到1460时,幼苗密度逐渐增大。随后随着林分密度的增加,又呈现出减少的趋势。而幼树密度随着林分密度增加一直呈现出减少的趋势。坡向对锐齿栎次生林林下乔木幼苗和幼树的影响各异,阳坡（南偏西3）均利于幼苗和幼树的更新。南偏西45林分内,幼苗密度急剧减少。随着坡向转为阴坡,幼苗密度又逐渐增加。而幼树密度逐渐减少。当海拔从1083 m增加到1547 m时,幼树密度逐渐增加。随后,随着海拔增加到1882 m,幼树密度则逐渐减小。而幼苗密度随着海拔的增高一直呈现减小的趋势。     

Phenotypic plasticity of a cooperative behaviour in bacteria

There is strong evidence that natural selection can favour phenotypic plasticity as a mechanism to maximize fitness in animals. Here, we aim to investigate phenotypic plasticity of a cooperative trait in bacteria – the production of an iron‐scavenging molecule (pyoverdin) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pyoverdin production is metabolically costly to the individual cell, but provides a benefit to the local group and can potentially be exploited by nonpyoverdin‐producing cheats. Here, we subject bacteria to changes in the social environment in media with different iron availabilities and test whether cells can adjust pyoverdin production in response to these changes. We found that pyoverdin production per cell significantly decreased at higher cell densities and increased in the presence of cheats. This phenotypic plasticity significantly influenced the costs and benefits of cooperation. Specifically, the investment of resources into pyoverdin production was reduced in iron‐rich environments and at high cell densities, but increased under iron limitation, and when pyoverdin was exploited by cheats. Our study demonstrates that phenotypic plasticity in a cooperative trait as a response to changes in the environment occurs in even the simplest of organisms, a bacterium.     

Mapping QTLs associated with drought resistance in rice: Progress, problems and prospects

The use of molecular markers in the mapping of traits of agronomic importance holds great promise for speeding the development of improved plant varieties and increasing our understanding of the physiological or molecular mechanisms behind biological phenomena. The technique is now being applied to drought resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Drought is important because a considerable proportion of the world rice area is not irrigated and can be prone to water deficit. A large number of people, particular some of the poorest rice farmers, stand to gain if new varieties which combine high yield and drought resistance can be developed. Rice should be particularly useful for the molecular genetic analysis of drought resistance because of its growing role as a model monocot species and the diversity of drought resistance mechanisms which are found in the germplasm. We briefly review the traits which might be considered important in improving drought resistance in rice, before explaining the molecular mapping approach. We review progress at locating quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for individual mechanisms of drought resistance in controlled environment conditions. This includes a detailed comparison of reported QTLs related to root morphological characters. The search for QTLs associated with field performance under drought stress is analysed and the problems associated with understanding the genetic control of a complex physical and physiological phenomenon under conditions of substantial environmental variation are highlighted. We emphasise that the use of near isogenic lines in overcoming some of the problems offers considerable promise for the future.(seconded from CIRAD-CA, France)     

Passive brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland regeneration fails to recover floristic composition in an agricultural landscape

Regrowth (secondary) vegetation is increasingly seen as an important conservation alternative where there is inadequate cover of intact remnant, and more recently, the focus of potential biodiversity offsets. However, little is known of the functioning and dynamics of regrowth in comparison to remnant vegetation. This research tests whether the floristic composition and stand structure of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth woodlands return to that of endangered brigalow remnant woodlands and the relationships of patterns in composition and structure to environmental drivers in the agricultural landscape of southern Queensland, Australia. Thirty‐eight sites were sampled for species composition (frequency), stand structure (foliage projected cover of strata) and environmental variables (spatial/patch characteristics), encompassing ungrazed and grazed old‐growth brigalow remnants and different aged brigalow regrowth (<20, 20–30, 30–40, >40 years since clearing). There was no difference in structure observed between grazed remnant and older regrowth (>40 years); however, ungrazed old‐growth remnants were structurally different to older regrowth. Ungrazed and grazed old‐growth remnants were compositionally different to all regrowth woodlands. The proportion of surrounding vegetation, land‐use type, patch grazing intensity and soil properties were highly correlated with patterns in composition and stand structure observed across the brigalow woodlands. While the stand structure of brigalow regrowth returns to that of remnant brigalow, the distinct floristic species composition of older regrowth may indicate a longer time period is needed for equivalence or a possible alternate stable state in these highly modified agricultural landscapes. To ensure the long‐term persistence of brigalow communities, further investigation of the development trajectory of brigalow regrowth is required; however, it is critical that intact brigalow remnant vegetation remains a priority for conservation strategy and policy.     

Ecophysiological responses to simulated canopy gaps of two tree species of contrasting shade tolerance in elevated CO2

1. One-year-old seedlings of shade tolerant Acer rubrum and intolerant Betula papyrifera were grown in ambient and twice ambient (elevated) CO₂, and in full sun and 80% shade for 90 days. The shaded seedlings received 30-min sun patches twice during the course of the day. Gas exchange and tissue–water relations were measured at midday in the sun plants and following 20 min of exposure to full sun in the shade plants to determine the effect of elevated CO₂ on constraints to sun-patch utilization in these species.
2. Elevated CO₂ had the largest stimulation of photosynthesis in B. papyrifera sun plants and A. rubrum shade plants.
3. Higher photosynthesis per unit leaf area in sun plants than in shade plants of B. papyrifera was largely owing to differences in leaf morphology. Acer rubrum exhibited sun/shade differences in photosynthesis per unit leaf mass consistent with biochemical acclimation to shade.
4. Betula papyrifera exhibited CO₂ responses that would facilitate tolerance to leaf water deficits in large sun patches, including osmotic adjustment and higher transpiration and stomatal conductance at a given leaf-water potential, whereas A. rubrum exhibited large increases in photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency.
5. Results suggest that species of contrasting successional ranks respond differently to elevated CO₂, in ways that are consistent with the habitats in which they typically occur.     

林火干扰对大兴安岭主要林分类型地上生物量预测的影响模拟研究

林火干扰是北方森林最主要的自然干扰之一,对北方森林地上生物量影响是一个长期的过程。因此,在预测地上生物量动态变化时需要考虑林火的影响。运用空间直观景观模型LANDIS PRO,模拟大兴安岭林区林火对不同树种地上生物量预测的影响。选取研究区5种主要树种林分(兴安落叶松、樟子松、云杉、白桦和山杨),以无干扰情景为参考预案,在验证模型模拟结果的基础上,模拟林火在短期(0—50a)、中期(50—150a)和长期(150—300a)对地上生物量的定量化影响,及其对不同立地类型地上生物量的动态变化。结果表明:(1)基于森林调查数据参数化的2000年森林景观模拟结果能够较好地代表2000年真实森林景观,模拟的2010年森林林分密度和胸高断面积与2010年森林调查数据无显著性差异(P0.05),当前林火干扰机制模拟结果能够较好地与样地调查数据匹配,说明林火模拟能够代表当前研究区林火发生情况;(2)与无干扰预案相比,整个模拟时期内景观水平上林火减少了1.7—5.9 t/hm2地上生物量;(3)与无干扰预案相比,林火预案下主要树种生物量在短期、中期和长期变化显著(P0.05);(4)在不同模拟时期,林火显著地改变了地上生物量空间分布,其中以亚高山区地上生物量降低最为明显。研究可为长期森林管理以及森林可持续发展提供参考。