Rapid in vitro multiplication of jujube through mature stem explants

Stem explants obtained from a mature tree of Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk were grown on modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3800 mg l^-1 potassium nitrate, 2475 mg l^-1 ammonium nitrate, 11 M benzyladenine and 0.5 M indole-3-acetic acid. During successive subcultures 15–20 shoots per inoculum were produced. Rooting was induced by pretreatment with 50 M indolebutyric acid or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid for 24 h followed by transfer to auxin-free White's medium. Plantlets grew well in a soil and vermiculite mixture.Abbreviations IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - BA benzyladenine - MS Murashige and Skoog     

In Vitro Effects of Ginseng and the Seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa on Gut Microbiota of Rats with Spleen Deficiency

Ginseng and the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa, which are traditional Chinese medicinal materials, were often used in ancient Chinese recipes as a pair of medicines. They can replenish the primordial qi and tonify the spleen. This study investigated the effects of ginseng and the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa (GS) extract on gut microbiota diversity in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS). A total of 52 compounds (including 16 flavonoids, 35 saponins, and 1 alkaloid) were identified and analyzed from the GS extract by UPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐MS/MS. The GS extract significantly increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in rats with SDS but decreased that of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, the GS extract significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in rats with SDS but decreased that of Streptococcus, Escherichia‐Shigella, Veillonella, and Enterococcus. In addition, the GS extract influenced glucose and amino acid metabolism. In summary, the results showed that the GS extract changed the structure and diversity of gut microbiota in rats with SDS and balanced the metabolic process.     

灵武长枣果实维管束韧皮部及周围细胞的超微结构特征

为了探讨灵武长枣果实光合同化物韧皮部卸载和运输的途径,该研究采用透射电镜技术,对不同发育时期灵武长枣果实维管束韧皮部及其周围薄壁细胞的超微结构特征进行了分析.结果表明:筛管/伴胞复合体及其周围韧皮薄壁细胞间在果实膨大前期富含胞间连丝,而韧皮薄壁细胞与周围库细胞以及相邻库细胞间几乎不存在胞间连丝,形成共质体隔离;筛管/伴...     

Organic matter transformations and soil fertility in a treed pasture in semiarid NE Brazil

Planted silvo-pastoral systems are formed by sparing selected native trees when land is cleared for pasture establishment, or by planting selected species – often known agroforestry species – into the establishing pasture. Isolated trees within pastures and savannas are often associated with `resource islands', characterized by higher fertility and organic matter levels under the tree canopies. We here examine the processes underlying the differences in fertility and organic matter in a buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) pasture that contained two tree species (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., Spondias tuberosa Arruda Cam.) preserved from the native thorn forest and a planted agroforestry species (Prospois juliflora Swartz D.C). The objective is to distinguish effects of soil variability from those induced by the presence of trees or the planting of pasture. The ¹³C signatures of the original (largely C3) vegetation, the preserved and planted trees, and the planted C4 grass were used to distinguish the provenance of organic matter in the top soil (0–15 cm). This allowed the conclusion that all trees maintained C3 derived C at the original thorn forest level, while lower levels under pasture were due to mineralisation of organic matter. The net rates of forest-derived C loss under pasture varied with soil type amounting to between 25 and 50% in 13 years after pasture establishment. Only on Alfisol, C inputs from the pasture compensated for the C3-C losses. Analysis of organic and inorganic P fractions indicated Z. joazeiro and P. juliflora enriched the soil under their canopy with P, whereas S. tuberosa had no positive effect on fertility. A combination of ANOVA and spatial analysis and mapping was used to show vegetation effects.     

枣种质缩果病抗性多样性研究

为充分发掘抗缩果病枣种质资源,对保存于河北沧县（2006年~2009年,77个品种）及山西太原（2006年~2007年,53个品种）和山西太谷（2006年,231个品种）的共268个枣品种资源进行了田间缩果病抗性调查。结果表明,枣品种间缩果病抗性差异显著,其中病果率变幅为0%~66.18%、变异系数为2.01,病情指数变幅为0%~55.06%、变异系数为2.46;同一品种的发病程度因年份和地点不同而有明显差异。根据在发病严重的沧县枣资源圃连续4年（2006~2009）的观测结果,枣品种的缩果病抗性可分为高抗、抗病、中抗、感病和高感5类,相应的平均缩果率分别为5%以下、5%~10%、10%~15%、15%~25%和25%以上;在沧县的77个品种中,表现高抗、抗病、中抗、感病、高感的品种分别占调查总数的80.52%,2.60%,7.79%,6.49%和2.60%。在我国主栽枣树品种中,金丝小枣、圆铃枣、长红、冬枣等为高抗品种,婆枣、壶瓶枣为高感品种。本研究表明,我国有着非常丰富的抗缩果病枣树种质资源。     

Genetic impoverishment and cross-incompatibility in remnant genotypes of Ziziphus celata (Rhamnaceae), a rare shrub endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge, Florida

The loss of genetic diversity in fragmented populations ofself-incompatible plant species may result in sexual reproductive failure andlocal extinctions. Florida ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) is aself-incompatible clonal shrub known only from five genetically depauperatepopulations on the Lake Wales Ridge, Florida, USA. Recovery of this speciesrequires identification of cross-compatible genotypes that can be used to createviable (i.e., sexually reproducing) populations. To further development of arecovery program for this highly imperiled species, we investigated its geneticstructure and sexual reproductive viability. We used random amplifiedpolymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) to investigate genetic variability within remnantpopulations and we conducted experimental compatibility trials to determine thecross-compatibility of remnant genotypes. One hundred and ninety-nine uniquestem samples collected from one ex situ and fivein situ populations were assayed for the presence orabsence of a band for 32 RAPD markers. Based on unweighted pair-group meancluster analysis (UPGMA), only 11 multi-locus genotypes (MLGs) were identified.Eight of these MLGs correspond to MLGs identified in an earlier allozyme study.In addition, we identified three new RAPD-based MLGs. Three of the five naturalpopulations consisted of only one MLG, while the largest and most geneticallydiverse population comprised only four MLGs. Coefficients of similarity rangedfrom 96.6% for the most closely related MLGs to 20.7% for the most distantlyrelated. The compatibility trials demonstrated that most MLGs arecross-incompatible. With 69% of all possible one-way crosses tested (38/55), wehave identified only eight compatible crosses via germination trials. Based onthe results of the compatibility trials, we assigned MLGs toself-incompatibility (SI) mating types. On present evidence, the currentbreeding population of Florida ziziphus may comprise as few as two SI matingtypes. These SI mating types will be used to guide future breeding efforts andan experimental introduction.     

金丝小枣多糖ZP3c的分离纯化及其组成分析

经DEAE-SepharoseCL-6B、SepharoseCL-6B和Sephadex G-200柱层析,得到一个均一的金丝小枣多糖组分(ZP3c).ZP3c的中性单糖是由鼠李糖、阿拉伯糖和半乳糖组成,其摩尔比为1:2.13:19.3.经红外光谱测定,ZP3c的酯化度为41.85%.     

枣树干腐病病原菌的鉴定

对山西省枣树上发生的一种新病害进行了调查和病菌分离与培养研究。通过形态学特征观察和rDNA ITS序列分析,证明该病菌为葡萄座腔菌Botryosphaeria dothidea的无性阶段Fusicoccum aesculi。     

枣树离体叶片不定芽再生体系建立的研究

建立了木枣无菌试管苗快繁体系,以无菌苗叶片为外植体,对影响离体叶片不定芽直接再生的因素进行了研究.试验结果表明,TDZ比BA能更有效地诱导叶片不定芽的再生;褐化是抑制不定芽再生频率提高的关键因子,培养基中添加PVP、V c及改变生长素的种类和浓度均不能促进不定芽再生;添加A gNO3能够减轻褐化并可以大幅度提高再生频率,同时培养初期经过3周避光培养更有利于提高再生效率.因此,以附加2.0 m g/L TDZ和0.2 m g/L IBA的M S培养基,并添加5.0 m g/L A gNO3,可以高效诱导木枣离体叶片不定芽再生,再生频率最高达98.3%.不定芽在附加0.2 m g/L IBA和0.5 m g/L GA3的M S培养基上进行继代伸长培养,当不定芽长至3 cm时,转接至附加0.4 m g/L IBA的1/2 M S培养基上可以良好地诱导生根.     

An invasive tree facilitates the persistence of native rodents on an over‐grazed floodplain in tropical Australia

In an ecosystem under simultaneous threat from multiple alien species, one invader may buffer the impact of another. Our surveys on a remote floodplain in the Kimberley region of north western Australia show that invasive chinee apple trees (Ziziphus mauritiana) provide critical refuge habitat for native rodents (pale field rats, Rattus tunneyi). Feral horses (Equus caballus) have trampled most of the remaining floodplain, but are excluded from the area around each chinee apple tree by thorny foliage. Although chinee apple trees constituted <10% of trees along our transects, they represented >50% of trees that harboured rat burrows. The mean number of burrows under each chinee apple tree was twice as high as under most other tree species, and we trapped more than seven times as many rats under chinee apple trees as under other types of trees. The extensive burrow systems under chinee apple trees contained female as well as male rats, whereas we only captured males around the smaller burrow systems under other tree species. Our data suggest that this invasive tree plays a critical role in the persistence of pale field rat populations in this degraded ecosystem, and that managers should maintain these trees (despite their alien origins) at least until feral horses have been removed.