春季高寒山区牧草低温保护物质变化与其脱冻适应间关系研究

为了了解牧草低温保护物质与其抗冷冻的关系,在高寒山区测定了几种多年生牧草根中低温保护物质的含量和几种蔗糖酶活力的变化。结果表明,在4月土壤解冻期间,无芒雀麦、花雀麦、垂穗披碱草和草地早熟禾根中的蔗糖含量分别下降了74．1％、66．2％、45．2％和69．6％,果糖含量分别下降了72．0％、38．0％、68．3％和84．6％,葡萄糖含量分别下降了66．7％、62．5％、42．2％和65．2％,脯氨酸含量分别下降了83．0％、51．0％、43．3％和70．6％,可溶性蛋白质变化不大;蔗糖合成酶、蔗糖磷酸合成酶活性下降,蔗糖分解酶活性增加,蔗糖分解酶活性是蔗糖合成酶活性的22～35倍,是蔗糖磷酸合成酶活性的55～80倍。研究结果说明,春季牧草萌发时,根中已糖含量的下降是蔗糖分解酶活性增加的结果,根中脯氨酸作为氮的贮藏物质被用于根的呼吸和蛋白质合成。春季牧草根的抗寒能力随着根中低温保护物质的减少而下降,这也说明牧草的低温保护物质和牧草的抗寒性密切相关。     

Grasses, olive, parietaria and cypress in Athens: Pollen sampling from 1995 to 1999

The airborne pollens can produce asthma andrhinoconjuctivitis (pollinosis). Sincegeographic and climatic factors influence thequality and quantity of pollen counts invarious countries and between seasons, the aimof the study was to record major seasonalallergenic pollens; grasses, olive, parietariaand cypress in Athens during five consecutiveseasons throughout the years 1995–1999. Thedaily pollen count was carried out every yearfrom March to October using a Burcardvolumetric weekly spore trap, which was placedabout 20 m from the ground, in Athens citycentre. Daily values were expressed as numberof pollen grains/m³ of air. The meanmonthly values of pollens/m³ were used tocompare the results of the consecutive years.Recording of the major pollen allergens inAthens area for five consecutive years led tothe assessment of the pollination period foreach of these plants and confirmed thevariations in the amount of pollen per plantper year.     

Invasive species in China — an overview

China is a vast country with rich biodiversity, which makes China especially vulnerable to invasive species. It has a long history of introduction of non-native species, especially those with perceived beneficial impacts. Its rapid economic development, including an explosive growth in international trade and transportation, has increased the potential for new introductions. Currently, alien species are widespread in the country, occur in many ecosystems, represent most major taxonomic groups, and are introduced unintentionally as well as intentionally for cultivation. The paper lists various cases of invasive species which have caused significant threats or damages to local natural or artificial ecosystems, and indicates that two example industries (fresh water fisheries and lawn grasses) have brought or tend to bring in many invasive species and hence have caused or will cause changes and loss of biodiversity in local ecosystems. Based on these studies, it is suggested that China combat the problem through enhancing awareness, development of a database on invasive species, strengthening international co-operation, preparing case studies and introducing the necessary legislation, regulations and monitoring.     

Accelerated seedling emergence in interspecific competitive neighbourhoods

Seed dormancy models suggest that evaluation of environmental conditions should influence the decision to germinate and that waiting for more favourable conditions may increase potential fitness. However, because rapid emergence is often positively correlated with performance and survival, an alternative strategy to accelerate the rate of emergence may increase the potential for site pre-emption. This response is more likely to be found in seasonal environments with greater potential for rapid resource depletion in which early emergence may confer a competitive advantage. The experiments reported here found more rapid emergence in a perennial grass species when it was planted in potentially highly competitive interspecific neighbourhoods. This response suggests an inherent ability in seeds of this species to sense and respond to the competitive nature of the immediate neighbourhood.     

Turfgrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) sod production on sandy soils: II. Effects of irrigation and fertiliser regimes on N leaching

The effects of irrigation and fertiliser regimes on N leaching from the production of couch grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) sod, on a free-draining sandy soil, were evaluated in a 22-month field study. The experimental design used a randomised-block, split-plot design with three replicates. Main plots consisted of two irrigation treatments: 70 and 140% daily replacement of pan evaporation; four subplot fertiliser types (water-soluble (predominately NH₄NO₃), control-release, pelletised poultry manure and pelletised biosolids); and three N application rates (100, 200 and 300 kg N ha⁻¹ per crop). Nitrogen leaching was assessed by measuring the leachate volumes and concentrations of N species leached from soil lysimeters (250 mm in diameter by 950 mm in length) installed in 10 m² turfgrass plots. Nitrogen leaching ranged from 33 to 167 kg N ha⁻¹ over 22 months, depending upon the irrigation and fertiliser treatment. Irrigation treatment affected N leaching more than fertiliser treatment, and increasing the irrigation from 70 to 140% replacement of daily pan evaporation increased N leaching for all fertiliser types, and by up to four times. Forty six to 76% of losses occurred from the high irrigation treatments during the first 16 weeks after the turfgrass was planted as rhizomes. By contrast, N leaching did not appear to increase following harvest of sod. At the high irrigation treatment, N leaching was greater for the pelletised biosolids than the control-release; while at the low irrigation treatment, N leaching did not vary between fertiliser types. A significant proportion of the N leached was in the organic form. Therefore, we recommend total N and mineral N be measured when assessing N leaching from turfgrass. Nitrogen leaching from turfgrass production is low from all fertiliser types when the irrigation matches turfgrass water use and N is applied at a rate and frequency that approximates turfgrass requirements. Section Editor: P. J. Randall