Aerial seed bank in a cold desert annual-ephemeral species: Role of anatomical structure of stem and delayed fruit dehiscence in timing of seed dispersal

Why the fruits are retained on dead upright herbaceous plants and how this relates to seed dispersal and timing of germination remain unclear. Stems of the annual Euclidium syriacum (Brassicaceae) with infructescences bearing indehiscent silicles remain upright after plants die in the spring. We investigated the effect of anatomical structures of stem and pedicle and delayed silicle dehiscence on seed dispersal phenology of this species. For comparison, sections were made of the stem of the annual Goldbachia laevigata (Brassicaceae), which has stems that fall over when plants die. Compared to G. laevigata, the stem of E. syriacum has vascular bundles that are closer together, a thicker xylem and phloem, more fibers, a thicker perimedullary zone and a smaller pith diameter:stem diameter ratio. The thickened pedicle did not form an abcission layer. By late October, 5–20% of seeds were dispersed, depending on the position of infructescences on the plant. Snow covered the plants in late autumn and when it melted in mid-April many of the plants had fallen over, with a high number of seeds germinating in attached silicles; seedlings became rooted in soil. After snowmelt, 14–15% of the silicles on the remaining upright plants contained seeds; all seeds were dispersed by early July. The anatomical structures of the stem and pedicle plus the delayed dehiscence of silicles explain the presence of an aerial seed bank in E. syriacum and delay of germination of many of seeds until spring. Further, pieces of upright plants are broken off and dispersed by wind, which helps to explain the wide distribution of E. syriacum in the cold desert.     

Overexpression of the persimmon abscisic acid β‐glucosidase gene (DkBG1) alters fruit ripening in transgenic tomato

β‐Glucosidases (BG) are present in many plant tissues. Among these, abscisic acid (ABA) β‐glucosidases are thought to take part in the adjustment of cellular ABA levels, however the role of ABA‐BG in fruits is still unclear. In this study, through RNA‐seq analysis of persimmon fruit, 10 full‐length DkBG genes were isolated and were all found to be expressed. In particular, DkBG1 was highly expressed in persimmon fruits with a maximum expression 95 days after full bloom (DAFD). We verified that, in vitro, DkBG1 protein can hydrolyze ABA‐glucose ester (ABA‐GE) to release free ABA. Compared with wild‐type, tomato plants that overexpressed DkBG1 significantly upregulated the expression of ABA receptor PYL3/7 genes and showed typical symptoms of ABA hypersensitivity in fruits. DkBG1 overexpression (DkBG1‐OE) accelerated fruit ripening onset by 3–4 days by increasing ABA levels at the pre‐breaker stage and induced early ethylene release compared with wild‐type fruits. DkBG1‐OE altered the expression of ripening regulator NON‐RIPENING (NOR) and its target genes; this in turn altered fruit quality traits such as coloration. Our results demonstrated that DkBG1 plays an important role in fruit ripening and quality by adjusting ABA levels via hydrolysis of ABA‐GE.     

施硼和赤霉素对‘李广杏’坐果率及果实品质的影响

该研究以8年生盛果期的‘李广杏’植株为试材,于花蕾膨大期喷施0.1%(P1)、0.3%(P2)和0.5%(P3)硼砂和盛花初期喷施50(C1)、100(C2)和150 mg/L(C3)赤霉素,测定不同处理下李广杏的坐果率、果实品质及营养生长指标的变化,并用主成分分析不同处理的效果进行综合评价,为敦煌寒旱区‘李广杏’的栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)‘李广杏’叶面积增长量在C1浓度处理下显著高于CK,不同浓度的硼处理对其均具有抑制作用,但C1、P2浓度下新稍生长量高于其他处理。(2)适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素处理可一定程度减少‘李广杏’花的败育率,从而有效提高果树的坐果率,其中硼处理以P3浓度下最优,但P3与P2处理下坐果率无显著差异,赤霉素处理以C2浓度下最优。(3)适宜浓度硼和赤霉素能够明显提高‘李广杏’果实品质,C1浓度处理下的果实糖酸比、可溶性固形物含量显著高于CK,P2处理下的果实维生素C、可滴定酸含量显著高于其他处理;适宜浓度赤霉素和硼对果实的单果重、果形指数、侧径有明显的促进作用。(4)主成分分析结果显示,各处理效果的综合得分由高到低依次为P2(1.20)>C2(0.91)>P1(0.13)>C1(-1.01)>CK(-1.68)>P3(-2.13)>C3(-7.76);果实可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、糖酸比等主成分占比较高,可作为评价‘李广杏’果实品质的重要依据。研究发现,花期喷施适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素可有效提高‘李广杏’果树的生长状况、坐果率及果实品质,且甘肃敦煌地区以花蕾膨大期喷施0.3%硼和盛花初期喷施100 mg/L赤霉素效果最佳。     

烟草水提物对果蝇寿命及有关基因转录的影响

探究烟草的水浸泡液对果蝇寿命与衰老情况的影响以及其中的分子机制。取羽化12 h内的新生W^1118系雄果蝇,分别培养于添加不同浓度烟草浸出液的培养基中处理,每日统计果蝇死亡情况;每7日提取对照组与最高浓度处理组果蝇全RNA,通过Real-time PCR检测过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、去泛素化酶(Rpn11)和去乙酰化酶(Sirt6)等与寿命有关基因的表达水平变化。结果显示,烟草影响使雄果蝇寿命显著缩短,且影响随烟草提取液浓度增加影响逐渐增大;烟草影响下果蝇的抗氧化基因出现显著上调,泛素化调节基因与去乙酰化基因等表达水平的变化均出现显著改变。表明烟草对果蝇的寿命情况有不利影响,可能通过引起氧化胁迫导致果蝇早衰。     

不同品种玉米对草地贪夜蛾生长发育及繁殖的影响

为评价新入侵害虫草地贪夜蛾对我国不同品种玉米的为害潜能,本文采用组建实验种群生命表的方法研究了草地贪夜蛾对3种甜质型玉米(穗甜1号、正甜68和华金甜1号)以及3种糯质型玉米(京科糯2000、广黑甜糯和广糯1号)的生存适合度,分析了草地贪夜蛾生物学指标与玉米叶片主要营养物质及粗纤维含量间的相关性。结果表明: 取食甜质型玉米的草地贪夜蛾的幼虫存活率、蛹重、雌成虫产卵量均显著高于取食糯质型玉米;取食甜质型玉米草地贪夜蛾的内禀增长率介于0.1566～0.1843,净生殖力介于187.97～353.35,也均高于取食糯质型玉米(内禀增长率介于0.0998～0.1465,净生殖力介于25.89～95.34),表明取食甜质型玉米的草地贪夜蛾具有更高的种群增长能力。甜质型玉米叶片中主要营养物质维生素C、淀粉、可溶性糖、蛋白质、脂肪、总氨基酸及粗纤维的含量普遍高于糯质型玉米,草地贪夜蛾的净生殖力与维生素C、淀粉、可溶性糖、蛋白质及粗纤维的含量均存在显著正相关关系。草地贪夜蛾在甜质型玉米上具有更高的生存适合度。     

冠层结构对梨叶片光合特性及果实品质的影响

冠层结构是影响果树生长发育及丰产优质的重要因素。该研究以20年生‘玉露香’梨大冠分层树形为对照(CK),以冠层整形修剪后的3、4和5个主枝的开心树形为处理(分别记为OCC_(3b)、OCC_(4b)和OCC_(5b)),测定了冠层截获的光合有效辐射、叶片的气体交换、叶绿素荧光和果实品质特性,探讨不同冠层结构内光环境的变化对梨树叶片光合特性及果实品质的影响,探讨果树的光合调控和结实规律,为西北黄土高原产区果树的标准化整形修剪提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)OCC_(3b)、OCC_(4b)和OCC_(5b)的冠层不同方位和不同时刻截获的光合有效辐射(PAR)均高于CK。与CK和OCC_(5b)相比,OCC_(3b)和OCC_(4b)叶片光响应的最大净光合速率(P_(nmax))和羧化效率(CE)显著提高。(2)在强光胁迫下,开心树形叶片光呼吸速率(P_r)占总光合速率(P_g)的比例(P_r/P_g)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)中可恢复组分r(qE)提高,同时不可恢复组分r(qI)降低。(3)OCC_(3b)和OCC_(4b)比OCC_(5b)和CK的单果重、果面红晕面积、果皮花青苷含量、可溶性固形物含量和可溶性总糖含量均显著提高,而可滴定酸含量显著降低。(4)PAR与果面着色面积和果皮花青苷含量呈极显著正相关关系,P_(nmax)与单果重呈极显著正相关关系,而PAR和P_(nmax)均与可滴定酸呈极显著负相关关系。研究发现,OCC_(3b)和OCC_(4b)的梨树冠层内可截获更多的光能,叶片光合能力更强,遭遇强光胁迫时能够通过更高效的热耗散和光呼吸进行自我保护,而且开心形树冠结构还能显著提升果实品质。     

软枣猕猴桃控制授粉对果实和种子的影响

为了研究软枣猕猴桃授粉规律,以11年生软枣猕猴桃紫果3号为试验材料,设置剪留花柱数量为0、2、5、8、11、14、17和23(全留对照组)共8个处理。人工授粉,收获后调查测定其单果重、坐果率、果型指数、果实可溶性固形物含量和果实内含种子数量。结果表明:随着授粉柱头数的增加,单果重等主要指标相应增加;当授粉柱头数增至为8时,其果型指数和果实可溶性固形物含量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显;当授粉柱头数增至为11时,其单果重、坐果率和果实内含种子数量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显。据此软枣猕猴桃充分授粉的数量级指标为11,当授粉柱头数小于11时,产量降低、品质下降;当授粉柱头大于11时,浪费花粉。生产上可利用猕猴桃精准充分授粉技术,节约使用花粉或减少果园雄株数量,以提高生产效率。     

以青砖茶为原料的果茶饮料制备

以青砖茶、新鲜苹果汁、西瓜汁和菠萝汁为主要原料进行果茶饮料的研制,采用单因素试验及正交分析试验对果茶饮料的配方进行工艺优化,以感官评价和吸光值为评定指标,确定果茶饮料的最佳配方。结果表明,体积比分别为8∶2的茶汤与苹果汁的混合汁、5∶5的茶汤与西瓜汁的混合汁和3∶7的茶汤与菠萝汁的混合汁混匀调配出的茶饮料的口感最佳,色泽清透,且香气较佳。本研究为黑茶果茶饮料的研 制提供了理论依据。     

Fitness consequences of redundant cues of competition in male Drosophila melanogaster

Phenotypic plasticity can allow animals to adapt their behavior, such as their mating effort, to their social and sexual environment. However, this relies on the individual receiving accurate and reliable cues of the environmental conditions. This can be achieved via the receipt of multimodal cues, which may provide redundancy and robustness. Male Drosophila melanogaster detect presence of rivals via combinations of any two or more redundant cue components (sound, smell, and touch) and respond by extending their subsequent mating duration, which is associated with higher reproductive success. Although alternative combinations of cues of rival presence have previously been found to elicit equivalent increases in mating duration and offspring production, their redundancy in securing success under sperm competition has not previously been tested. Here, we explicitly test this by exposing male D. melanogaster to alternative combinations of rival cues, and examine reproductive success in both the presence and absence of sperm competition. The results supported previous findings of redundancy of cues in terms of behavioral responses. However, there was no evidence of reproductive benefits accrued by extending mating duration in response to rivals. The lack of identifiable fitness benefits of longer mating under these conditions, both in the presence and absence of sperm competition, contrasted with some previous results, but could be explained by (a) damage sustained from aggressive interactions with rivals leading to reduced ability to increase ejaculate investment, (b) presence of features of the social environment, such as male and female mating status, that obscured the fitness benefits of longer mating, and (c) decoupling of behavioral investment with fitness benefits.     

Intrapopulation genetic variation in the level and rhythm of daily activity in Drosophila immigrans

Genetic diversity within a population, such as polymorphisms and personality, is considered to improve population performance because such intraspecific variations have the potential to alleviate the competition for a limited resource or the risk of predation and sexual harassment at a population level. Variation in the level and rhythm of daily activity in a population could also affect population performance by directly altering ecological, social, and sexual interactions among individuals. However, it remains to be elucidated whether such intra‐population variation in the level and rhythms of daily activity exists in a natural population. Here, we investigated the genetic variation in daily activity within a single natural population of Drosophila immigrans. We established 21 isofemale lines from a single natural population and measured larval activity level and the level and daily pattern of adult activity over a 24 hr period. Larval activity level significantly varied among isofemale lines. Likewise, the activity level in the adult stage significantly varied among lines. The significant variation was also found in the daily pattern of adult activity; some lines showed greater activity level in the daytime, and others showed greater activity level in the night. Our results consistently suggest that there is a genetic variation in behavioral activity in a natural population, probably contributing to shaping the population performance.