Nitrogen Mobilization from Stubble and Roots during Re-growth of Defoliated Perennial Ryegrass

Nitrogen re-mobilization during ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)re-growth was studied as a function of time. Roots and stubblecompounds were labelled with ¹⁵N before clipping. Experimentalresults clearly showed that ryegrass re-growth involves twoperiods of differing physiological significance. The first occursduring the first 6 d when nearly all the nitrogen of the newleaves comes from organic nitrogen re-mobilized from roots andstubble. At the same time, the uptake of nitrogen from the mediumis very low, no reduction of endogenous nitrate occurs and proteolysisand amino amido nitrogen re-mobilization in stubble are notfully compensated for by synthesis.Thus, the change in protein-Ncontent, expressed per plant, in stubble decreases from 998µg (uncut plant) to 866 µg and 661 µg for2 d and 4 d respectively after cutting. The second period (afterthe sixth day) may be more representative of stable behaviourof ryegrass, with assimilation of mineral nitrogen from themedium providing the predominant source of nitrogen for re-growth. Key words: Lolium perenne L., nitrogen, re-growth     

Androdioecy in the entomophilous tree Fraxinus ornus (Oleaceae)

Androdioecy (the coexistence of two genders, cosexuals and males, in a single population) is a rare breeding system. In terms of functional gamete production, androdioecy has been reported in a small number of wind-pollinated and insect-pollinated species. In this study we examine the floral biology, stability of gender, and fruit and seed production after self-pollination and outcrossing pollination in a potentially androdioecious tree, Fraxinus ornus , in southern France. Individual trees have either hermaphrodite flowers or male flowers, the latter lacking a well-developed gynoecium. The two genders produce morphologically similar pollen and were present in 1:1 or slightly male-biased ratios. Only hermaphrodites set fruit during 2–4 yr of observation at four different sites in southern France. Experimental pollinations of eight trees in two different sites showed that hermaphrodites produce viable pollen in dehiscent anthers and viable seeds. Thus, in terms of functional gamete production, F. ornus is a new case of functional androdioecy. Seven hermaphrodites were self-compatible, and such self-compatibility of hermaphrodites might improve the colonizing ability of F. ornus in a region where this species is actively expanding its range.     

Carbon balance assessment of a Belgian winter wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

The carbon balance of a winter wheat crop in Lonzée, Belgium, was assessed from measurements carried out at different spatial and temporal scales between November 2004 and August 2005. From eddy covariance measurements, the net ecosystem exchange was found to be ?0.63 kg C m^?2 and resulted from the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) (?1.58 kg C m^?2) and total ecosystem respiration (TER) (0.95 kg C m^?2). The impact of the u_* threshold value on these fluxes was assessed and found to be very small. GPP assessment was partially validated by comparison with an estimation scaled up from leaf scale assimilation measurements. Soil respiration (SR), extrapolated from chamber measurements, was 0.52 kg C m^?2. Net primary productivity, assessed from crop sampling, was ?0.83 kg C m^?2. By combining these fluxes, the autotrophic and heterotrophic components of respiration were deduced. Autotrophic respiration dominated both TER and SR. The evolution of these fluxes was analysed in relation to wheat development.     

Rôle des polyphénols dans la croissance. Définition ďun modèle expérimental chez Lycopersicum esculentum

Using young plants of Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., we attempt to define a system for a new evaluation of the physiological role of polyphenols, particularly of their regulating properties on growth and development, Exogenously supplied qoinic acid causes an important increase of the phenolic content and a reduced growth of the plants. The decrease in size is proportional to the stimulation of the phenolic pool and is equally obtained using other precursors of aromatic compounds like phenylalanine and cinnamic acid. Non-precursors of polyphenols structurally related to quinic acid are ineffective. It appears from these data that polyphenol levels and growth could be related in tomato plant and that this material would be convenient for studies on interactions between growth and polyphenols.