Control of potato aphids by the addition of barley strips in potato fields: a successful example of vegetation management

The densities of barley and potato aphids, their natural enemies and hyperparasitoids were assessed in three experimental potato fields as a case study to investigate the effectiveness of the addition of barley strips in potato fields for conservation biological control. These fields were located in a low plant-diversity landscape, but common aphid species and their natural enemies were present. The barley strips in the potato fields were found to support different species of aphids of potato, but these different sets of aphids shared a common set of natural enemies. The amount of time between peak aphid densities and peaks of their natural enemies' populations was shorter in the potato fields than in the barley strips. The levels of winged aphids in a potato monoculture field were significantly higher than those in a field with barley strips. The wingless and winged aphid populations in the field without barley strips was almost three times higher than in the fields with the barley strips, as measured at the peak aphid density. This result is one of few examples of the application of the conservation effect of greenhouse banker plants on outdoor crops.     

Latitudinal cline of requirement for far‐red light for the photoperiodic control of budset and extension growth in Picea abies (Norway spruce)

To test for the effects of far‐red light on preventing budset in Picea abies , seedlings of six populations originating from latitudes between 67°N and 47°N were grown for 4–8 weeks in continuous incandescent (metal halogen) light at 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 20°C and then transferred, at the same temperature, to a daily regime of 8 h incandescent light (300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) followed by 16 h cool white fluorescent light (40 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). (Cool white lamps are deficient in far‐red light, with a R/FR ratio of 7.5 compared with 2.0 for the incandescent lamps.) All the seedlings from 67° and 80% of those from 64° stopped extension growth and set terminal buds within 28 days of the change of regime. The seedlings from 61° and further south continued growing, as did control seedlings from 67° grown as above but with incandescent light at 20 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ replacing cool white illumination. To distinguish between a clinal and ecotypic pattern of variation, the interval between 64° and 59° was investigated by growing populations originating from that area in the same regimes as before. After 28 days in the cool white day‐extension regime, the percentage budset was 86 for the population from 64°, 0 for the population from 59° and 25–50 for the intermediate populations; i.e. the populations showed a clinal variation in requirement for far‐red light according to latitude. Thus northern populations of Picea abies appear to behave as 'light‐dominant' plants for the photoperiodic control of extension growth and budset, whereas the more southern populations behave as 'dark‐dominant' plants.     

广西热带稀有濒危植物迁地保护地域探讨

对广西热带稀有濒危植物在广西及邻近省份植物园的引种保育进行对比研究。结果表明:大部分树种在热带和南亚热带可以正常生长,通过适当的保护措施,部分树种在中亚热带的桂林可以保存。低温和霜冻是广西热带稀有濒危树种能否成功保存的主要限制因素,因此,在引种保存过程中要注意防寒和树种的选择,以提高迁地保护的有效性。     

中国水韭属两个四倍体新种

水韭属(Isoëtes)是起源最为古老的水生维管植物,全属物种均被列为国家一级重点保护植物。通过对全国水韭属植物的调查和研究发现,不同产地的四倍体植株在形态上存在显著差异。基于形态学、孢粉学和细胞学证据,将分布于中国湖南省长沙地区和怀化地区的四倍体居群分别命名为隆平水韭(Isoëtes longpingii)和湘妃水韭(I. xiangfei),并详细描述了其形态特征。隆平水韭形态上与中华水韭(I. sinensis)相似,不同之处在于其大孢子具小的瘤状或冠状纹饰,叶细长而柔弱,长达60 cm; 该种也与六倍体东方水韭(I. orientalis)相似,不同之处在于其染色体44条,大孢子具瘤状或冠状纹饰。湘妃水韭的大孢子纹饰虽与二倍体云贵水韭(I. yunguiensis)相似,但在小孢子纹饰、孢子囊形状和染色体数目方面却不同。隆平水韭仅少数植株生长于湖南省宁乡市一处池塘,完全沉水生长,而湘妃水韭则分布于怀化市通道县和会同县的湿地。由于这两个新种的分布区狭窄,野生居群数量和个体数较少,栖息地环境受到人为干扰,因此根据IUCN红色名录评估标准,将隆平水韭评为极危(CR)等级,湘妃水韭评为易危(VU)等级。所编制的中国已知水韭属物种的分种检索表,为本属物种的鉴定和保护工作提供了重要参考。     

观赏植物分子育种研究进展

分子育种技术在跨越种间隔离障碍、加速育种进程和获得新奇特变异方面具有传统育种技术无法比拟的优势。将其用于观赏植物育种将会极大地提升产品品质并可增强产业竞争力。该文综述了近10年来观赏植物分子育种的研究进展,希望能为国内观赏植物研究者提供一份参考资料。     

天津市种子植物区系成分分析

天津市共有种子植物1 471种（含种下等级）,隶属于720属140科,其中裸子植物7科、10属、16种;被子植物133科、710属、1 455种。另外,具有中国特有属11属。通过对天津种子植物区系的组成、地理成分、区系特征进行分析,得出主要结论如下：种子植物较丰富;植物区系起源古老,但也具有年轻性;区系成分复杂,特别是北温带成分占优势,但是在温带地区内有大比例的热带、亚热带属种的出现,说明本植物区系有着更为喜暖的祖先;多种区系成分汇集,与周邻联系广泛,地理成分以华北成分为主。     

Growth and development of Brassica genotypes differing in endogenous gibberellin content. II. Gibberellin content, growth analyses and cell size

Three rapid cycling Brassica rapa genotypes were grown in greenhouse conditions to investigate the possible relationships between endogenous gibberellin (GA) content and shoot growth. Endogenous GA₁ GA₃ and GA₂₀ were extracted from stem samples harvested at 3 weekly intervals and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring, using [²H₂]-GA₁ and [²H₂]-GA₂₀ as quantitative internal standards. During the first 2 weeks, GA levels of the dwarf, rosette ( ros ), averaged 36% of levels in normal plants (on a per stem basis). Levels in the tall mutant, elongated internode (ein) , were consistently higher, averaging 305% of levels in normal plants.
Differences in shoot height across the genotypes resulted from varying internode length which resulted from epidermal cell length and number being increased in ein and decreased in ros relative to the normal genotype. The exogenous application of GA₃ to normal plants increased cell length while the application of paclobutrazol (PP333), a triazole plant growth retardant, reduced cell size. Thus, exogenous GA manipulations mimicked the influence of the mutant genes ros and ein. The dwarf, ros , had reduced shoot dry weights and relative growth rates compared to the other genotypes. Total dry weights were similar in ein and the normal genotype but stem weights were increased in ein , compensating for decreased leaf weights. Thus, the gibberellin-deficiency of ros resulted in generally reduced shoot growth. The overproduction of endogenous GA by ein did not result in enhanced shoot growth but rather a specific enhancement of internode elongation and stem growth at the expense of leaf size.     

Site-specific excisional recombination strategies for elimination of undesirable transgenes from crop plants

A major limitation of crop biotechnology and breeding is the lack of efficient molecular technologies for precise engineering of target genomic loci. While transformation procedures have become routine for a growing number of plant species, the random introduction of complex transgenenic DNA into the plant genome by current methods generates unpredictable effects on both transgene and homologous native gene expression. The risk of transgene transfer into related plant species and consumers is another concern associated with the conventional transformation technologies. Various approaches to avoid or eliminate undesirable transgenes, most notably selectable marker genes used in plant transformation, have recently been developed. These approaches include cotransformation with two independent T-DNAs or plasmid DNAs followed by their subsequent segregation, transposon-mediated DNA elimination, and most recently, attempts to replace bacterial T-DNA borders and selectable marker genes with functional equivalents of plant origin. The use of site-specific recombination to remove undesired DNA from the plant genome and concomitantly, via excision-mediated DNA rearrangement, switch-activate by choice transgenes of agronomical, food or feed quality traits provides a versatile “transgene maintenance and control” strategy that can significantly contribute to the transfer of transgenic laboratory developments into farming practice. This review focuses on recent reports demonstrating the elimination of undesirable transgenes (essentially selectable marker and recombinase genes) from the plant genome and concomitant activation of a silent transgene (e.g., a reporter gene) mediated by different site-specific recombinases driven by constitutive or chemically, environmentally or developmentally regulated promoters. These reports indicate major progress in excision strategies which extends application of the technology from annual, sexually propagated plants towards perennial, woody and vegetatively propagated plants. Current trends and future prospects for optimization of excision-activation machinery and its practical implementation for the generation of transgenic plants and plant products free of undesired genes are discussed.     

Mycorrhizal Limonium Sinuatum (l.) Mill. Enhances Accumulation of Lead and Cadmium

Heavy metals accumulation in soils poses a potential threat to ecosystems, which, in turn, threat human health through food chains. Therefore, remediating polluted sites is important to environment and humanity. In this investigation, statice (L. sinuatum) was exposed to Cd (0, 15, 30, 60 mg kg^?1 soil) or Pb (0, 100, 150, 300 mg kg^?1 soil) in a pot experiment to assess its tolerance to each metal and study its phytoaccumulation capability. The benefits of mycorrhization (mixture of Glomus mosseae and G. intraradices) were also studied simultaneously. Single exposure to Cd or Pb reduced the plant growth, but statice was still relatively tolerant to both metals. The plants accumulated both metals in their roots; little was translocated to the shoots. Total Pb and total Cd accumulated by the roots was approximately 2 and 3 times higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants (49 versus 147 and 595 versus 956 μg plant^?1) respectively; however, mycorrhization alleviated metal phytotoxicity. The results suggest that statice is a potential candidate to be used as an ornamental plant in lead and cadmium polluted sites, mainly inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Besides that, it would be useful as a Pb or Cd controlling agent by means of phytostabilization.     

Cellulase isoenzyme profiles in Frankia strains belonging to different cross-inoculation groups

Carboxymethyl cellulase activities were evaluated in eight strains of Frankia from diverse host specificity groups and geographical origins. Cellulase activity was detected in culture supernatants of all strains in the absence of CMC (Carboxymethylcellulose) as an inducer using both double-layer plate and reducing sugar assays, indicating a constitutive production of CM-cellulases by Frankia. CM-cellulase isoenzyme profiles were visualized using activity gel electrophoresis of concentrated culture supernatants. Different electrophoretic profiles were observed among the eight strains tested, which correlate with the host specificity and taxonomic grouping of Frankia.