Sequestration of soil nitrogen as tannin-protein complexes may improve the competitive ability of sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) relative to black spruce (Picea mariana)

The role of litter tannins in controlling soil nitrogen (N) cycling may explain the competitive ability of Kalmia relative to black spruce (Picea mariana), although this has not been demonstrated experimentally. Here, the protein-precipitation capacities of purified tannins and leaf extracts from Kalmia and black spruce were compared. The resistance to degradation of tannin-protein precipitates from both species were compared by monitoring carbon (C) and N dynamics in humus amended with protein, purified tannins or protein-tannin precipitates. The purity of the precipitates was verified using solid-state (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The ability of mycorrhizal fungi associated with both species to grow on media amended with tannin-protein complexes as the principal N source was also compared. The protein precipitation capacity of Kalmia tannins was superior to those of black spruce. Humus amended with protein increased both mineral and microbial N, whereas humus amended with tannin-protein precipitates increased dissolved organic N. Mycorrhizal fungi associated with Kalmia showed better growth than those associated with black spruce when N was provided as tannin-protein precipitates. These data suggest that Kalmia litter increases the amount of soil N sequestered as tannin-protein complexes, which may improve the competitive ability of Kalmia relative to black spruce by favouring N uptake by mycorrhizas associated with the former.     

Non-radioactive in situ Hybridization Protocol Applicable for Norway Spruce and a Range of Plant Species

The high-throughput expression analysis technologies available today give scientists an overflow of expression profiles but their resolution in terms of tissue specific expression is limited because of problems in dissecting individual tissues. Expression data needs to be confirmed and complemented with expression patterns using e.g. in situ hybridization, a technique used to localize cell specific mRNA expression. The in situ hybridization method is laborious, time-consuming and often requires extensive optimization depending on species and tissue. In situ experiments are relatively more difficult to perform in woody species such as the conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies). Here we present a modified DIG in situ hybridization protocol, which is fast and applicable on a wide range of plant species including P. abies. With just a few adjustments, including altered RNase treatment and proteinase K concentration, we could use the protocol to study tissue specific expression of homologous genes in male reproductive organs of one gymnosperm and two angiosperm species; P. abies, Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus. The protocol worked equally well for the species and genes studied. AtAP3 and BnAP3 were observed in second and third whorl floral organs in A. thaliana and B. napus and DAL13 in microsporophylls of male cones from P. abies. For P. abies the proteinase K concentration, used to permeablize the tissues, had to be increased to 3 g/ml instead of 1 g/ml, possibly due to more compact tissues and higher levels of phenolics and polysaccharides. For all species the RNase treatment was removed due to reduced signal strength without a corresponding increase in specificity. By comparing tissue specific expression patterns of homologous genes from both flowering plants and a coniferous tree we demonstrate that the DIG in situ protocol presented here, with only minute adjustments, can be applied to a wide range of plant species. Hence, the protocol avoids both extensive species specific optimization and the laborious use of radioactively labeled probes in favor of DIG labeled probes. We have chosen to illustrate the technically demanding steps of the protocol in our film.Anna Karlgren and Jenny Carlsson contributed equally to this study.Corresponding authors: Anna Karlgren at Anna.Karlgren@ebc.uu.se and Jens F. Sundström at Jens.Sundstrom@vbsg.slu.se     

Enzymatic hydrolysis and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of steam-pretreated spruce using crude Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma atroviride enzymes

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the enzymes produced by Trichoderma reesei Rut C30 and the good extracellular β-glucosidase-producing mutant Trichoderma atroviride TUB F-1663 to that of commercial preparations in the enzymatic hydrolysis and the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of steam-pretreated spruce (SPS).The concentrated TUB F-1663 enzyme was found to be the most efficient in the hydrolysis of washed SPS at 50 g/L water-insoluble solids (WIS) in terms of the glucose produced (18.5 g/L), even in comparison with commercial cellulases (14.1–16.7 g/L). The enzyme preparations were studied at low enzyme loadings (5 FPU/g WIS) in SSF to produce ethanol from SPS. The enzyme supernatant and whole fermentation broth of T. atroviride as well as the whole broth of T. reesei proved to be as efficient in SSF as the commercial cellulase mixtures (ethanol yields of 61–76% of the theoretical were achieved), while low ethanol yields (<40%) were obtained with the β-glucosidase-deficient T. reesei supernatant.Therefore, it seems, that instead of using commercial cellulases, the TUB F-1663 enzymes and the whole broth of Rut C30 may be produced on-site, using a process stream as carbon source, and employed directly in the biomass-to-bioethanol process.     

Differences in photoperiod‐induced diapause plasticity among different populations of the bark beetle Ips typographus and its predator Thanasimus formicarius

相似文献   

Bursts of CO2 released during freezing offer a new perspective on avoidance of winter embolism in trees

MethodsCO₂ efflux measurements were conducted during freezing experiments for saplings of three Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and three Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees under laboratory conditions, and the magnitudes of the freezing-related bursts of CO₂ released from the stems were analysed using a previously published mechanistic model of CO₂ production, storage, diffusion and efflux from a tree stem. The freezing-related bursts of CO₂ released from a mature Scots pine tree growing in field conditions were also measured and analysed.ConclusionsAll gases dissolved in the xylem sap are not trapped within the ice in the stem during freezing, as has previously been assumed, thus adding a new dimension to the understanding of winter embolism formation. The conduit water volume not only determines the volume of bubbles formed during freezing, but also the efficiency of gas efflux out of the conduit during the freezing process.     

Plant material features responsible for bamboo's excellent mechanical performance: a comparison of tensile properties of bamboo and spruce at the tissue,fibre and cell wall levels

MethodsThe mechanical properties of single fibres and tissue slices of stems of mature moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and spruce (Picea abies) latewood were investigated in microtensile tests. Cell parameters, cellulose microfibril angles and chemical composition were determined using light and electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and confocal Raman microscopy.ConclusionsThe superior tensile properties of bamboo fibres and fibre bundles are mainly a result of amplified cell wall formation, leading to a densely packed tissue, rather than being based on specific cell wall properties. The material optimization towards extremely compact fibres with a multi-lamellar cell wall in bamboo might be a result of a plant growth strategy that compensates for the lack of secondary thickening growth at the tissue level, which is not only favourable for the biomechanics of the plant but is also increasingly utilized in terms of engineering products made from bamboo culms.     

青藏高原东缘亚高山针叶林和采伐迹地中藓类生长速率及其影响因子

利用红油漆标记法,对青藏高原东缘地区壤塘林业局二林场亚高山采伐迹地和云杉(Picea)原始林中的6种藓类近一个生长季的生长速率进行了研究。结合原地同时进行的微气候观测,分析了气候因子和藓类生长速率之间的相关度。这6种藓类中,有5种在原始林和采伐迹地都出现,只有绢藓(Entodon conncinus)仅在采伐迹地出现。不同物种和不同生境条件下藓类的生长速率都不相同。塔藓(Hylocomium splendens)的茎生长速率最大,而阿萨姆曲尾藓(Dicranum assamicum)生长速率最小。生境对塔藓、阿萨姆曲尾藓和细叶羽藓(Thuidium lepidoziaceum)的生长速率影响很大,它们在林内比在采伐迹地生长快。锦丝藓(Actinothuidium hookeri)和垂枝藓(Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus)的生长速率中等并且对生境不敏感。据此可以将藓类分成生境敏感型和不敏感型。微气候5~7月分析显示林内比采伐迹地的辐射通量低,并且更为干燥。但是早上林内的蒸汽压亏缺(Vapor pressure deficit, VPD)一直比采伐迹地低。林内较低的蒸汽压亏缺和较低的辐射通量使其成为更有利于藓类的生长场所。对于那些生境类型不敏感的藓类,微地形的效应也许抵消了这种大生境的效应。藓类的生理生态特征如变水(Poikilohydry)特征等对其在严酷气候条件下的生存和生长起着重要的作用。如同积温一样,藓类的生长速率同样可以指示生境的适宜度, 因为其生长和蒸汽压亏缺紧密相关,是温度和湿度的函数,而这两个因素对于川西亚高山地区森林人工更新时幼苗的建植极为关键。因此藓类的生长状况可以作为指示适宜植树生境的指标。     

Branch transpiration of pine and spruce scaled to tree and canopy using needle biomass distributions

Branch water exchange and total tree water uptake were measured in a mixed Norway spruce and Scots pine stand in central Sweden during the 1995 and 1996 growing seasons. Branch transpiration was scaled to canopy level on the basis of a branch conductance model, using vertical needle-area distributions obtained by destructive sampling. Comparison with total tree water uptake scaled to canopy level showed agreement within 10%, for periods when the canopy was not affected by climatically induced stress. Comparison of scaled fluxes on individual trees showed that measurements of transpiration at branch level provide information on the direct response of transpiration to variations in weather, and furthermore that the time-lag between transpiration and tree water uptake was as much as 3 h. The vertical needle-area distribution of Scots pine was similar to that found by other authors. Needle-area distribution on Norway spruce, which has not been described before, showed that it has its largest needle area at the top of the crown. Specific needle area varied considerably both within trees and between trees. For spruce, mean specific needle area (±SD) varied from 2.4±0.5 mm² mg^–1 at the top of the crown to 7.1±1.9 mm² mg^–1 at the base. Corresponding figures for Scots pine were 3.4±2.0 and 9.1±2.1. Received: 5 March 1999 / Accepted: 17 March 2000     

岷江上游油松与云杉人工林土壤微生物生物量及其影响因素

以立地条件和营林方式相同的约30a林龄油松与云杉人工纯林为对象,测定地表微气候、土壤理化性质以及微生物生物量C、N、P(MBC、MBN、MBP),揭示林分结构、土壤性质与微生物生物量间的关系,以及两林分间的差异性。结果表明:两个林分地表环境荫湿,土壤肥力较低,土壤微生物生物量低,林地土壤碳积累低,土壤生态服务功能不强。相对而言,云杉林比油松林相对湿度大而地表温度低、林地土壤肥力高、土壤微生物生物量高,因此更有利于林地土壤生态服务功能的恢复。综合分析发现,林分结构、土壤养分状况及地表小气候影响着土壤微生物生物量与肥力转换过程,降低乔木冠层密度可以改善地表小气候,为有机物分解与养分归还创造良好的条件,从而改善土壤肥力与林地土壤生态服务功能。