Multiple plant exploiters on a shared host: testing for nonadditive effects on plant performance.

The combined impact of multiple plant parasites on plant performance can either be additive (the total damage equals the sum of the individual effects) or nonadditive (synergistic or antagonistic damage). Two statistical models are available for testing the independent (=additive) effects of two factors. Here we suggest that the natural history of the plant-parasite system should motivate the choice of a statistical model to test for additivity. Using in-field, manipulative experiments, we examined the interactions between the herbivorous mite Calacarus flagelliseta Fletchmann, De Moraes and Barbosa (Acari: Eriophyidae), the fungal pathogen Oidium caricae F. Noack (a powdery mildew), and their host plant Carica papaya L. in Hawaii. First, we found that herbivorous mites had a moderate negative effect on powdery mildew: when mites were absent, powdery mildew colonies were larger and more numerous. Second, we showed that each plant parasite, when evaluated alone, significantly reduced several measures of plant performance. Third, we found that the combined impact of mites and mildew on plant performance is mostly additive and, for a few variables, less than additive. Finally, we explored compensatory responses and found no evidence for nonlinearities in the relationship between plant performance and cumulative parasite impact. Plants are almost universally subject to attack by multiple herbivores and pathogens; thus a deeper understanding of how multiple plant parasites shape each other's population dynamics and plant performance is essential to understanding plant-parasite interactions.     

Correlations between physiological responses of four aquatic plant species and river water quality

The Jiushanwai channel is located in the Lucheng district of Wenzhou City, China. Four aquatic plant species (Canna indica, Cyperus alternifolius, Myriophyllum verticillatum, and Lythrum salicaria) were planted on floating-beds constructed in a north-south layout along this channel. Five sites were sampled during spring, summer and autumn. The physiological characteristics (content of chlorophyll and soluble protein, activity of peroxidase and catalase) of the plants and the corresponding water quality were determined and correlations between these indices were analysed. The physiological indices of the plants and water quality changed regularly at the five sampling sites. Myriophyllum verticillatum was the most sensitive species to water quality changes, whereas Lythrum salicaria was least sensitive. Of the physiological indices examined, soluble protein content was most sensitive to water quality changes. The physiological indices of M. verticillatum are deemed to be most suitable to indicate river water quality.     

Local consumers induce resistance differentially between Spartina populations in the field

Intraspecific variation in the strength of inducible plant defenses plays a central role in the interactions between plants and herbivores. Studies of this variation are typically conducted in the greenhouse or laboratory rather than the field. We simultaneously manipulated densities of local consumers in the field within Maine and South Carolina populations of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. South Carolina, but not Maine, plants induced resistance when grazed by local consumers. South Carolina populations of Littoraria snails and planthoppers colonized control more than previously grazed South Carolina plants, and Littoraria snails consumed more control than previously grazed plants. The inducible feeding deterrents in South Carolina plants appear to be water soluble, but not phenolic based. In contrast, grazed and control plants from Maine populations did not differ in attractiveness or palatability to Maine consumers. Thus, inducible plant responses by South Carolina plants had a strong effect on the South Carolina consumer community, but no analogous effect occurred in Maine. Field experiments are a powerful approach to detecting the strength of inducible plant resistance and its impacts on local consumers, which in this case were shown to vary with location.     

丛枝菌根真菌对柑橘组培苗生长和抗氧化酶的影响

在温室条件下以枳〔Poncirus trifoliata(L.)Raf.〕组培苗为试材,研究了接种Glomus versiforme和G.mosseae对其生长、碳水化合物和抗氧化酶的影响.结果表明,接种G.versiforme的组培苗和接种G.mosseae的组培苗分别在第二级侧根和第一级侧根中观察到最高的菌根侵染率、泡囊数、丛枝数和侵入点.两种丛枝菌根真菌都显著提高了茎粗、叶面积、叶片数、根系体积、地上部干重、地下部干重、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量.两种丛枝菌根真菌显著促进了叶片和根系可溶性糖以及总的非结构碳水化合物含量.丛枝菌根真菌也提高了叶片和根系中SOD、POD和CAT活性,但显著抑制了叶片和根系中可溶性蛋白含量.G.versiforme对柑橘组培苗生长和碳水化合物的促进效果较好;G.mosseae对组培苗抗氧化酶的促进效果较好.表4参26     

不同干旱胁迫强度下白刺花幼苗叶片的生理生化反应

植物代谢产物和抗氧化酶活性与干旱胁迫强度的定量关系是评估植物适应干旱能力的重要科学问题.本文采用盆栽试验设计,设置土壤田间持水量(FC)80%、60%、40%、20%4个干旱胁迫处理.研究了不同强度的干旱胁迫梯度上2 a生白刺花(Sophora davidii)幼苗叶片内丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性蛋白质、光合色素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的变化特点.发现:(1)MDA与Pro含量随着干旱胁迫强度的增加呈线性增加趋势.(2)蛋白质和光合色素含量在干旱胁迫梯度上呈"钟型"抛物线变化趋势,在60%～40%FC下含量最高.(3)4种抗氧化酶活性的变化趋势不尽相同.其中SOD与APX的活性在干旱胁迫梯度上的反应均表现为多项式变化规律,即在中度干旱下的活性显著升高.而重度胁迫下降低;CAT活性变化规律与SOD和APX活性的变化正好相反;POD活性则表现为倒钟型趋势.60%FCT活性最低.综合分析表明,可溶性蛋白质和光合色素的含量、SOD、APX、CAT以及POD不仅能够较好地指示干旱胁迫对幼苗叶片的生理生化伤害程度,并且可反应叶片开始受胁迫伤害的土壤干旱水平.但是MDA和Pro含量则无法指示;60%FC左右的土壤含水量是白刺花2 a生幼苗叶片生理生化代谢受到伤害的干旱强度的阈值.图3参26     

Species-specific responses of herbivores to within-plant and environmentally mediated between-plant variability in plant chemistry

Allocation of resources to growth and defense against herbivores crucially affects plant competitiveness and survival, resulting in a specific distribution of assimilates and defense compounds within plant individuals. Additionally, plants rarely experience stable environmental conditions, and adaptations to abiotic and biotic stresses may involve shifts in resistance to herbivores. We studied the allocation of phytochemicals in Brassica oleracea (Brussels sprouts) due to leaf age, drought stress and herbivore damage and assessed effects on two lepidopteran herbivores differing in diet breadth: the generalist Spodoptera littoralis and the specialist Pieris brassicae. Glucosinolates as secondary defense compounds and total nitrogen and carbon were quantified and linked to plant palatability, i.e., herbivore feeding preference. Herbivore responses were highly species-specific and partially related to changes in phytochemicals. Spodoptera littoralis preferred middle-aged leaves with intermediate levels of glucosinolates and nitrogen over young, glucosinolate and nitrogen rich leaves, as well as over old leaves, poor in glucosinolates and nitrogen. In contrast, P. brassicae preferred young leaves. Both species preferred severely drought-stressed plants to the well-watered control, although analyzed glucosinolate concentrations did not differ. Both S. littoralis and P. brassicae feeding induced an increase of indole glucosinolate levels, which may explain a reduced consumption of damaged plants detected for S. littoralis but not for P. brassicae. By revealing distinct, sometimes contrasting responses of two insect herbivores to within-plant and stress-mediated intraspecific variation in phytochemistry of B. oleracea, this study emphasizes the need to consider specific herbivore responses to understand and predict the interactions between herbivores and variable plants.     

The effect of oxytetracycline on physiological and enzymatic defense responses in aquatic plant species Egeria densa,Azolla caroliniana,and Taxiphyllum barbieri

Oxytetracycline is an antibiotic widely employed in aquaculture to control and treat bacterial diseases of fish. Due to ineffective wastewater treatment, antibiotic residues from fish ponds are directly released into surface and groundwater affecting the environment. The Green Liver System® is a sustainable and cost-effective water treatment based on the ability of aquatic plants to biotransformation xenobiotics. To expand the application range of this system, Egeria densa, Azolla caroliniana, and Taxiphyllum barbieri were tested in response to oxytetracycline exposure. The aquatic plants were exposed to 0.5, 2.0, 5.0, and 25 μg/L oxytetracycline (n = 4) for 24 h in order to analyze the physiological responses (photosynthetic pigment contents and hydrogen peroxide formation -- H₂O₂), the biotransformation process (activity of glutathione S-transferase), and the antioxidant defense (glutathione reductase; peroxidase; and catalase) responses. There were no statistical differences in the photosynthetic pigment contents and H₂O₂ level between the treatment and control groups in the three aquatic plant species. It can be concluded that oxytetracycline does not provoke physiological damage to the tested species within 24 h of exposure. Nevertheless, the antioxidant defense mechanism was activated. Peroxidase and catalase were the most prominent antioxidant enzymes in the three plant species, whereas glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly increased in A. caroliniana and T. barbieri.     

不同植物叶片臭氧伤害症状及其生理响应机制的差异

快速发展的城市化和工业化引起近地层臭氧浓度不断升高,对城市绿化植物具有很大的毒性伤害。选择城市常见的景观植物万寿菊、矮牵牛及圆叶牵牛为供试植物,利用开顶式气室,研究了不同植物臭氧伤害症状及其生理响应机制的差异。结果表明:1)臭氧暴露后,供试植物叶片均出现了不同程度的臭氧伤害,或叶脉间黄化(万寿菊和矮牵牛),或出现白色斑点(圆叶牵牛),且随臭氧浓度升高其黄化程度加剧,白色斑点亦扩张形成白色斑块,最终叶片从症状形成的地方开始干枯。2)臭氧暴露加剧了供试植物叶片膜脂过氧化程度,但对可溶性蛋白含量没有显著影响,说明植物生长后期臭氧暴露并没有造成蛋白质退化进而引起植物抗臭氧胁迫能力的下降。3)臭氧暴露后万寿菊叶片茉莉酸含量降低,矮牵牛叶片水杨酸含量显著升高,而圆叶牵牛既有水杨酸含量的升高又有茉莉酸含量的降低,说明不同植物对臭氧伤害的激素响应是不一致的,茉莉酸保护能力减弱引起了臭氧对万寿菊叶片伤害,水杨酸过度累积造成了矮牵牛叶片的臭氧直接伤害,而圆叶牵牛的臭氧伤害则是2种原因都可能存在。因此,在大气臭氧浓度尚不能有效控制的情况下,明确不同植物臭氧伤害形成的激素响应,以采取针对性保护措施维持其最大生态效益。     

Cadmium toxicity induced changes in plant water relations and oxidative metabolism of Brassica juncea L. plants

Excess of cadmium (Cd) induced changes in oxidative scenario and water status of plants viz.., total water content, specific water content, water saturation deficit (WSD) and transpiration of Brassica juncea plants grown in soil pot culture. Although lower and marginal levels of excess cadmium (100 and 250 ppm) improved growth but higher levels (500 ppm) caused significant suppression. Significant accumulation of proline, an indicator of water stress, occurred at higher level of Cd. Gradual increases in activities of certain antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and peroxidase along with increased lipid peroxidation are suggestive of disturbed oxidative metabolism. Taking together, the deleterious effects of Cd and its effects on oxidative metabolism clearly indicate enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to be instrumental in producing toxic effects of Cd. The excess levels of Cd also decreased the concentrations of soluble protein and chlorophylls and increased the ratio of chlorophyll a/b.     

Induced responses to competition and herbivory: natural selection on multi-trait phenotypic plasticity

Herbivory and competition are two of the most common biotic stressors for plants. When occurring simultaneously, responses to one interaction can constrain the induction of responses to the other interaction due to resource limitation and other interactive effects. Thus, to maximize fitness when interacting with competitors and herbivores, plants are likely to express particular combinations of plastic responses. This study reports the interactive effects of herbivory and competition on responses induced in Tithonia tubaeformis plants and describes how natural selection acts on particular plastic responses and on their different combinations. Competition induced a stem elongation response, expressed through an increase in height and mean internode length, together with a decrease in basal diameter. Interestingly, realized resistance increased in both competition and herbivory treatments, suggesting a plastic response in both constitutive and induced resistance traits. Particular combinations of plastic responses defined three plant phenotypes: vigorous, elongated, and resistant plants. The ecological context in which plants grew modified the traits and the particular combinations of plastic responses that were favored by selection. Vigorous plants were favored by selection in all environments, except when they were damaged by herbivores in the absence of neighbors. The combination of responses defining an elongated plant phenotype was favored by selection in crowded conditions. Resistance was negatively selected in the absence of competition and herbivory but favored in the presence of both interactions. In addition, contextual analyses detected that population structure in heterogeneous environments can also influence the outcomes of selection. These findings suggest that natural selection can act on particular combinations of plastic responses, which may allow plants to adjust their phenotypes to those that promote greater fitness under particular ecological conditions.     

Herbivory-mediated pollinator limitation: negative impacts of induced volatiles on plant-pollinator interactions

Although induced plant responses to herbivory are well studied as mechanisms of resistance, how induction shapes community interactions and ultimately plant fitness is still relatively unknown. Using a wild tomato, Solanum peruvianum, native to the Peruvian Andes, we evaluated the disruption of pollination as a potential ecological cost of induced responses. More specifically, we tested the hypothesis that metabolic changes in herbivore-attacked plants, such as the herbivore-induced emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), alter pollinator behavior and consequentially affect plant fitness. We conducted a series of manipulative field experiments to evaluate the role of herbivore-induced vegetative and floral VOC emissions as mechanisms by which herbivory affects pollinator behavior. In field surveys and bioassays in the plants' native habitat, we found that real and simulated herbivory (methyl jasmonate application) reduced attractiveness of S. peruvianum flowers to their native pollinators. We show that reduced pollinator preference, not resource limitation due to leaf tissue removal, resulted in reduced seed set. Solitary bee pollinators use floral plant volatiles, emitted in response to herbivory or methyl jasmonate treatment, as cues to avoid inflorescences on damaged plants. This herbivory-induced pollinator limitation can be viewed as a general cost of induced plant responses as well as a specific cost of herbivory-induced volatile emission.     

地表臭氧增加对黄花夹竹桃和芒果叶片膜脂过氧化程度和保护酶活性的影响

以黄花夹竹桃（Thevetia peruviana（Pers.）k.Schum.）和芒果（Mangifera indica L.）苗木为材料,研究4种臭氧（O3）体积分数[环境大气NF,φ（O3）=10×10-9~20×10-9;低体积分数处理E50,φ（O3）=50×10-9;中体积分数处理E100,φ（O3）=100×10-9;高体积分数处理E200,φ（O3）=200×10-9]下两种植物叶片膜脂过氧化程度、可溶性蛋白质质量分数、可溶性糖质量分数和保护酶活性的变化情况,旨在揭示地表臭氧体积分数升高条件下2种植物生理代谢活动变化机理及响应规律。结果表明：随臭氧体积分数的增加,2种植物丙二醛含量和膜透性均逐渐上升,且与臭氧体积分数呈显著正相关关系,说明两种植物膜脂过氧化程度加剧;低体积分数O3处理时两种植物可溶性蛋白质量分数均逐渐下降,高φ（O3）处理后小幅回升;黄花夹竹桃可溶性糖质量分数逐渐下降,芒果先上升后下降;2种植物的POD活性均显著上升,但上升幅度有较大差异;2种植物的CAT活性均呈先升高再降低的趋势。研究表明,不同体积分数的臭氧暴露下,黄花夹竹桃和芒果均受到不同程度的伤害,芒果对臭氧表现出较强的抗性,黄花夹竹桃对臭氧较敏感。     

Antagonistic potential of fluorescent pseudomonads and control of charcoal rot of chickpea caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

The effectiveness of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria especially Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates were tested against charcoal rot of chickpea both in green house as well as in field conditions. Most of the isolates reduced charcoal rot disease and promoted plant growth in green house. A marked increase in shoot and root length was observed in P. fluorescens treated plants. Among all the P. fluorescens isolates Pf4-99, was found most effective in the improvement of chickpea crop in green house as well as in field. Pf4-99 effectively promoted plant growth and produced indole acetic acid in culture medium. This isolate also inhibited the mycelial growth of the M. phaseolina under in vitro conditions and reduced the disease severity Potential isolate (Pf4-99) also significantly increased the biomass of the chickpea plants, shoot length, root length and protein content of the chickpea seeds. A part from these, the total number of seeds per plant and their weight were also enhanced. The colonization of Pf4-99 reduced the incidence of seed mycoflora by which indirectly enhanced the seed germination and vigour index of seedlings. The observations revealed that isolate Pf4-99 is quite effective to reduce the charcoal rot disease both in field and greenhouse, and also increases seed yields significantly Therefore, this isolate appears to be an efficient biocontrol agent against charcoal rot disease as well as yield increasing rhizobacterium.     

Jasmonic acid treatment and mammalian herbivory differentially affect chemical defenses and growth of wild mustard (Brassica kaber)

Summary. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a wound-related hormone found in most plants that, when applied exogenously, can induce increases in levels of chemical defenses in patterns similar to those induced by mechanical damage or insect feeding. Relative to responses to insect and pathogen attack, chemical responses of herbaceous plants to mammalian herbivore attack have been little studied. In a field experiment, we compared the effects of JA treatment and naturally occurring mammalian herbivory on the expression of trypsin inhibitors, glucosinolates, peroxidase activity and growth of wild mustard (Brassica kaber). Exogenous JA significantly increased trypsin inhibitor activity and glucosinolate concentration, and moderately increased peroxidase activity in the eighth true leaves of five-week-old plants, relative to untreated controls. In contrast, levels of these chemical defenses in the eighth true leaves or in regrowth foliage of plants that had ∼80% of their leaf area removed by groundhogs (Marmota monax) did not differ from that in undamaged and untreated controls. Although exogenous JA significantly elevated levels of chemical defenses, it did not affect height of plants through the season and only slightly reduced time to first flower. Groundhog herbivory significantly reduced height and delayed or abolished flowering, but these effects were not substantial unless coupled with apical meristem removal. We hypothesize that the lack of effect of groundhog herbivory on chemical defenses may be due in part to the speed and pattern of leaf area removal by groundhogs, or physiological constraints caused by leaf area loss. Despite having no effect on chemical defense production, leaf area loss by groundhogs was more costly to growth and fitness than the effects of JA application in this study, but only substantially so if coupled with apical meristem removal. We suggest that in general, costs of defense production in plants are likely to be minimal when compared to the risk of losing large amounts of leaf area or primary meristematic tissue. Thus, if they are effective at deterring herbivory, the benefits of inducible defense production likely outweigh the costs in most cases. Received 20 December 2000; accepted 3 May 2001     

沤肥浸渍液对3种黄瓜病害的防治作用

从１９９２ 年开始连续８ 年研究马、牛和猪厩肥沤制并浸泡提取物对黄瓜病害的防治作用．盆栽试验表明,沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜霜霉病、黄瓜枯萎病、黄瓜白粉病具有良好的防治效果,对黄瓜霜霉病的防治效果可达４６ ．５ ％６７ ．３ ％ ,对黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果可达７２ ．１ ％９２ ．５ ％ ,对黄瓜白粉病的防治效果可达７２ ．３ ％７９ ．７ ％ ．对沤肥浸渍液的防病机理的研究表明,微生物代谢产物对病原菌孢子的抑制作用、沤肥中微生物对病原菌的拮抗作用和沤肥诱导的生理生化和组织形态方面的抗病性起着重要的作用     

不同温度对沉水植物保护酶活性的影响

富营养化导致了湖泊沉水植被消亡,是我国众多湖泊存在的普遍现象.在富营养化未能有效控制的前提下,采用人工措施重建沉水植被,已被水环境工作者普遍关注.然而,受水体温度、透明度、营养盐以及适宜的物种等限制,沉水植被的有效重建面临诸多困难.本研究着眼于温度对沉水植被重建的影响,设置了5、10、15、25、30、35℃6个温度处理,在人工气候箱培养条件下,对黑藻Hydrilla verticillata和马来眼子菜Potamogeton malaianus在5 h、10h、14h和7d处理后的蛋白质含量、过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性进行了测试.同时考察了实验前后植物生物量积累的情况,比较了不同温度胁迫下,两种植物生物量的净积累与抗氧化酶活性和可溶性蛋白含量的关系,试图为沉水植被的恢复提供理论依据和经验借鉴.结果表明,25℃是两种植物生物量净积累的最佳温度,此温度下,各种酶活性和可溶性蛋白未随处理时间的延长而显著变化.高于或低于25℃的处理,生物量净积累显著下降.并且,表现为短期胁迫5～14h内,各种酶活性和可溶性蛋白随处理时间的延长呈上升或下降的趋势,7 d长期胁迫后上述指标均低于25℃处理.结果表明,25℃外,其它处理均不同程度受到了温度的胁迫.短期胁迫,各处理的酶活性和可溶性蛋白表现了激烈的响应,以清除和维持植物体内活性氧的平衡和植物细胞较低的渗透势,保持植物正常的代谢活动.随着胁迫时间的延续,抗氧化酶系统受损,可溶性蛋白降低,植物正常的代谢紊乱,最终导致实验结束时,各处理植物生物量的积累存在较大差异.     

Causes of salinity and plant manifestations to salt stress: a review

Salinity in agricultutal terms is the excess of salts above the level plant require. Most often it poses constrains in the growth hence productivity of the category of plants called glycophytes, wherein falls major crops, therefore is a serious concern. It is often recognized as excess of sodium ions (sodicity) that imparts life threatening consequences in plant due to mal-textured soil hindered porosity and aeration leads to physiological water deficit. Mingling with other edaphic/environmental factors viz. precipitation, temperature, flooding, soil profile, water table exaggerates the catastrophe synergistically. Improper irrigations system, leaching fraction added with land clearing and deforestation have been marked as the major cause. The present review underlines the different sources of salinity stress and their physiological manifestations, toxicity responses alongwith tolerance in plants and management strategies in affected landscapes.     

Constitutive and induced defenses to herbivory in above- and belowground plant tissues

A recent surge in attention devoted to the ecology of soil biota has prompted interest in quantifying similarities and differences between interactions occurring in above- and belowground communities. Furthermore, linkages that interconnect the dynamics of these two spatially distinct ecosystems are increasingly documented. We use a similar approach in the context of understanding plant defenses to herbivory, including how they are allocated between leaves and roots (constitutive defenses), and potential cross-system linkages (induced defenses). To explore these issues we utilized three different empirical approaches. First, we manipulated foliar and root herbivory on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and measured changes in the secondary chemistry of above- and belowground tissues. Second, we reviewed published studies that compared levels of secondary chemistry between leaves and roots to determine how plants distribute putative defense chemicals across the above- and belowground systems. Last, we used meta-analysis to quantify the impact of induced responses across plant tissue types. In the tobacco system, leaf-chewing insects strongly induced higher levels of secondary metabolites in leaves but had no impact on root chemistry. Nematode root herbivores, however, elicited changes in both leaves and roots. Virtually all secondary chemicals measured were elevated in nematode-induced galls, whereas the impact of root herbivory on foliar chemistry was highly variable and depended on where chemicals were produced within the plant. Importantly, nematodes interfered with aboveground metabolites that have biosynthetic sites located in roots (e.g., nicotine) but had the opposite effect (i.e., nematodes elevated foliar expression) on chemicals produced in shoots (e.g., phenolics and terpenoids). Results from our literature review suggest that, overall, constitutive defense levels are extremely similar when comparing leaves with roots, although certain chemical classes (e.g., alkaloids, glucosinolates) are differentially allocated between above- and belowground parts. Based on a meta-analysis of induced defense studies we conclude that: (1) foliar induction generates strong responses in leaves, but much weaker responses in roots, and (2) root induction elicits responses of equal magnitude in both leaves and roots. We discuss the importance of this asymmetry and the paradox of cross-system induction in relation to optimal defense theory and interactions between above- and belowground herbivory.     

Response of ultraviolet-B induced antioxidant defense system in a medicinal plant, Acorus calamus

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation generates an oxidative stress in plant cells due to excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can denature enzymes and damage important cellular components. In the present study, an important medicinal plant Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) was subjected to two doses of supplemental UV-B radiation (sUV-B): sUV1 (+ 1.8 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) and sUV2 (+3.6 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) to evaluate the relative response of antioxidant defense potential. Stimulation of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed at initial growth period while the activities of CAT and SOD decreased at later age of sampling. sUV-B induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) was observed showing alteration of membrane properties. No definite trend of change was observed for ascorbic acid (AsA), while increments in thiol, proline, phenol and protein contents were observed due to sUV-B. Results suggested that sUV-B radiation may stimulate the enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense system of Acorus plants, showing its better adaptation at lower dose of sUV-B.     

Nitrogen cycling during seven years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment in a scrub oak woodland

Experimentally increasing atmospheric CO2 often stimulates plant growth and ecosystem carbon (C) uptake. Biogeochemical theory predicts that these initial responses will immobilize nitrogen (N) in plant biomass and soil organic matter, causing N availability to plants to decline, and reducing the long-term CO2-stimulation of C storage in N limited ecosystems. While many experiments have examined changes in N cycling in response to elevated CO2, empirical tests of this theoretical prediction are scarce. During seven years of postfire recovery in a scrub oak ecosystem, elevated CO2 initially increased plant N accumulation and plant uptake of tracer 15N, peaking after four years of CO2 enrichment. Between years four and seven, these responses to CO2 declined. Elevated CO2 also increased N and tracer 15N accumulation in the O horizon, and reduced 15N recovery in underlying mineral soil. These responses are consistent with progressive N limitation: the initial CO2 stimulation of plant growth immobilized N in plant biomass and in the O horizon, progressively reducing N availability to plants. Litterfall production (one measure of aboveground primary productivity) increased initially in response to elevated CO2, but the CO2 stimulation declined during years five through seven, concurrent with the accumulation of N in the O horizon and the apparent restriction of plant N availability. Yet, at the level of aboveground plant biomass (estimated by allometry), progressive N limitation was less apparent, initially because of increased N acquisition from soil and later because of reduced N concentration in biomass as N availability declined. Over this seven-year period, elevated CO2 caused a redistribution of N within the ecosystem, from mineral soils, to plants, to surface organic matter. In N limited ecosystems, such changes in N cycling are likely to reduce the response of plant production to elevated CO2.