Antagonistic interactions between plant competition and insect herbivory

Interspecific competition between plants and herbivory by specialized insects can have synergistic effects on the growth and performance of the attacked host plant. We tested the hypothesis that competition between plants may also negatively affect the performance of herbivores as well as their top-down effect on the host plant. In such a case, the combined effects of competition and herbivory may be less than expected from a simple multiplicative response. In other words, competition and herbivory may interact antagonistically. In a greenhouse experiment, Poa annua was grown in the presence or absence of a competitor (either Plantago lanceolata or Trifolium repens), as well as with or without a Poa-specialist aphid herbivore. Both competition and herbivory negatively affected Poa growth. Competition also reduced aphid density on Poa. This effect could in part be explained by changes in the biomass and the nitrogen content of Poa shoots. In treatments with competitors, reduced aphid densities alleviated the negative effect of herbivory on above- and belowground Poa biomass. Hence, we were able to demonstrate an antagonistic interaction between plant-plant interspecific competition and herbivory. However, response indices suggested that antagonistic interactions between competition and herbivory were contingent on the identity of the competitor. We found the antagonistic effect only in treatments with T. repens as the competitor. We conclude that both competitor identity and the herbivore's ability to respond with changes in its density or activity to plant competition affect the magnitude and direction (synergistic vs. antagonistic) of the interaction between competition and herbivory on plant growth.     

Bromeliad-living spiders improve host plant nutrition and growth

Although bromeliads are believed to obtain nutrients from debris deposited by animals in their rosettes, there is little evidence to support this assumption. Using stable isotope methods, we found that the Neotropical jumping spider Psecas chapoda (Salticidae), which lives strictly associated with the terrestrial bromeliad Bromelia balansae, contributed 18% of the total nitrogen of its host plant in a greenhouse experiment. In a one-year field experiment, plants with spiders produced leaves 15% longer than plants from which the spiders were excluded. This is the first study to show nutrient provisioning in a spider-plant system. Because several animal species live strictly associated with bromeliad rosettes, this type of facultative mutualism involving the Bromeliaceae may be more common than previously thought.     

Diversification of nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene as a biomarker in different geographical soils of Western Indian Himalayas

Six soil samples (Pantnagar, Chamoli, Almora, Ranichauri, Pithoragarh and Badrinath) belonging to different geographical locations of Western Himalayas in India, were analyzed to diversify the nitrogen fixing bacterial community using nifH gene biomarker DNA from soil samples were isolated and amplified using nifH gene specific primers. Genomic DNA and PCR amplified products were then individually subjected to restriction digestion with tetra to octacutter enzymes (AluI, MspI, BgIII, XbaI, HindIII, HaeIII, AluI, MspI and PasI. Further restriction pattern was studied by preparing dendograms on the basis of similarity matrix and compared for the nifH community. It was observed that temperate region soils (Ranichauri and Pithoragarh) were negative for nifH marker while subalpine region (Badrinath) and tarai region soils (Pantnagar) documented similar nifH community. Moreover; the direct genomic DNA restriction analysis indicated that subalpine region soil (Badrinath) was most diversified.     

测定方法和植物生长对土壤呼吸的影响

2.中国科学院研究生院,北京100039摘要:植物根系活动和测定方法是研究陆地生态系统土壤呼吸的重要影响因素。文章通过动态气室-IRGA法和静态气室-GC法研究了田间受根系影响和不受根系影响土壤的呼吸速率,分析了根系活动对土壤呼吸速率的影响程度,并比较了两种测定方法间的差异。研究表明,受根系影响处理的土壤呼吸速率显著高于不受根系影响的处理;受根系活动影响处理的土壤呼吸速率为静态气室-GC法>动态气室-IRGA法;而不受根系活动影响处理的土壤呼吸速率则恰好相反,为动态气室-IRGA法>静态气室-GC法;两种方法在测土壤呼吸时存在显著差异;但两种方法所测土壤呼吸速率间呈极显著的线性相关;两种方法间所获数据可以互相转换参比。     

Mycorrhizal species differentially alter plant growth and response to herbivory

Plants simultaneously interact with multiple organisms which can both positively and negatively affect their growth. Herbivores can reduce plant growth through loss of plant biomass and photosynthetic area, while plant mutualists, such as mycorrhizal fungi, can increase plant growth through uptake of essential nutrients. This is the first study examining whether species-specific associations with mycorrhizal fungi alter plant tolerance to herbivory. We grew Plantago lanceolata plants with three species of mycorrhizal fungi previously shown to have differential impacts on plant growth and subjected them to herbivory by the specialist lepidopteran herbivore, Junonia coenia. Association with mycorrhizal fungus Glomus white provided the greatest growth benefit but did not alter plant response to herbivory. Alternatively, association with Archaeospora trappei provided less growth promotion but did lead to tolerance to herbivory in the form of an increased growth rate. Finally, an association with the fungus Scutellospora calospora led to neither plant growth promotion nor tolerance to herbivory. In fact, an association with S. calospora appeared to reduce plant tolerance to herbivory. An association with all three species of mycorrhizae resulted in a pattern of growth similar to that of plants grown only with Glomus white, suggesting that growth promotion by multiple mycorrhizal species is driven by the inclusion of a "super fungus," in this case, Glomus white. This work illustrates that plant response to herbivory depends upon the mycorrhizal fungal mutualist with which a plant is associated.     

两种富营养化水体对植物生长及光合荧光特性的影响

采用水培方法,研究水芹（Oenanthe javanica）、美人蕉（Canna indica）、菖蒲（Acorus calamus）在两种富营养化水体中生长、部分光合荧光特性的变化,结果表明：（1）营养盐对水芹、美人蕉株高、根长有显著影响,2种植物在低营养盐水体（L）中株高、根长增长率显著低于高营养盐水体（H）,生物量亦表现为L组〈H组,而菖蒲在2种水体中株高、根长,生物量等无显著差异（p〈0.05）;（2）水芹、美人蕉叶片的叶绿素a（Chla）,叶绿素b（Chlb）在L组中含量低,在H组中含量高,w（Chla）/w（Chlb）则随营养盐浓度的升高而降低。菖蒲叶片Chla,Chlb,Car、w（Chla）/w（Chlb）在两实验水体中无显著差异;（3）水芹、美人蕉叶片的Fv/Fm,Yield,qP,re,t,max值及其饱和光强随营养盐浓度的降低而显著降低,qN值变化趋势正好相反,表明在低营养盐水体中,两种植物光系统II（PS II）光能转换效率显著下降,且PS II将吸收过剩的能量通过热耗散的形式释放,以保护自身组织免受过剩光的损害,体现了两种植物在营养盐缺失下的自我保护机制,而菖蒲叶片Fv/Fm,Yield,qP,qN以及快速光响应曲线在L组、H组中均显著差异（p〉0.05）,表明在本文设定的营养盐浓度范围内,菖蒲叶片的光合作用能力未受到显著影响。     

Cellular damage of plant pathogenic fungi by antifungal compounds produced by Bacillus spp. isolates

The use of microorganisms as biological control agents (BCAs) has become an effective alternative to chemical means of controlling plant pathogens. The antagonistic and inhibitory activity of 71 Bacillus spp. strains, which were isolated from different Mexican sites, were tested against several phytopathogen fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium avenaceum, Bipolaris spp. and Alternaria spp. From the antagonism study, the strain ELI149 showed a marked inhibition of growth against all tested fungi; therefore crude metabolites from this strain were extracted using ethyl acetate and amberlite resin and probed against the same fungi as well as strains of Mucor sp., Penicillium spp. and Paecilomyces spp. The results indicated that amberlite was more suitable for extraction of secondary metabolites with antifungal activity. Finally, observation of cell damage in the tested pathogenic fungi showed marked morphological changes on reproductive structures in all tested fungi indicating that antibiosis was the mechanism of the antagonistic effect. These results suggest that metabolites from the Bacillus strains have a wide spectrum of antibiotic activities, which can be used as biocontrol agents for controlling fungal plant diseases of agricultural importance.     

果蔬中外源植物生长调节剂的快速提取和测定

建立了同时测定果蔬中11种外源植物生长调节剂的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法.果蔬样品经酸性乙腈-乙酸铵溶液,超声波辅助提取,Pro Elut NH2填料净化后直接进样分析,采用正负离子多反应监测(MRM)模式,外标法定量.结果表明,在优化后的提取方法、色谱和质谱条件下,11种外源植物生长调节剂在0.003—10 mg·L-1范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(R2)大于0.999,检出限为0.001—0.01 mg·kg-1,平均回收率范围为78.4%—100.1%,相对标准偏差(RSD)范围为2.5%—6.6%.该方法快速简便、灵敏度高、净化效果好,适合果蔬中外源植物生长调节剂的快速测定.     

氮输入对沼泽湿地植物生长和氮吸收的影响

氮是湿地植物生长必不可少的营养元素之一,但当外源氮输入超出植物生长需要时,氮素将抑制植物生长。不同植物对氮输入的响应不同,同一植物不同器官对氮输入的响应也不一致。为了探讨氮输入对湿地植物生长和氮吸收的影响机制,本文选取滇西北典型湖泊湿地纳帕海湖滨挺水植物茭草（Zizania caduciflora）和水葱（Scirpus validus）为对象,通过控制实验,研究了3个不同氮输入水平[0 g·m-2·a-1（对照,CK）、20 g·m-2·a-1（N20）、40 g·m-2·a-1（N40）]对茭草和水葱生物量积累、根冠比、氮吸收的影响。结果表明：培养期内,茭草地上生物量始终表现为N40〉N20〉CK,即氮输入促进茭草地上生物量积累;而水葱地上生物量随培养时间不同而发生变化,培养早期N20处理促进水葱地上生物量积累,N40处理抑制水葱地上生物量积累。茭草地下生物量表现为N40〉CK〉N20,即氮输入不足抑制茭草地下生物量积累,足够氮输入促进茭草地下生物量积累;水葱地下生物量表现为CK〉N20〉N40,即氮输入抑制水葱地下生物量积累。植物地上部分和地下部分生长对氮输入的响应也不一致,导致植物根冠比发生变化,茭草根冠比表现为N20     

红树林放线菌的分离及其抗菌和抗肿瘤细胞活性

从福建漳州红树林保护区采集土壤样品中分离到163株放线菌,用5种指示菌(Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Rhizoctonia solani)测定了它们的抗菌活性,结果表明,其中42.3%的放线菌发酵液具有单一或多种抗菌活性.同时测定了它们的发酵液对肝癌细胞BEL7402、肺癌细胞A549和白血病细胞HL60三种肿瘤细胞的毒性,其中37.4%的放线菌发酵液具有单一或多种抗肿瘤细胞毒活性.对这163株放线菌的16S rDNA序列分析表明,它们分属于链霉菌属(89%)、小单孢菌属(6.1%)、糖单孢菌属(0.6%)、马杜拉放线菌属(3.7%)和拟诺卡氏菌属(0.6%).其中, 3株链霉菌与其亲缘关系最近的菌种的16S rDNA相似性低于97%,可能是3个新种.     

Regional assessment of plant growth problems for colliery spoil reclamation

The data on plant growth conditions collected for 34 sites in the Barnsley and South Yorkshire Areas of the National Coal Board are analysed using methods of ordination and numerical classification in order to display the regional variations of plant growth characteristics. The potential value of such regional analyses and the manner in which such information could be used by reclamation agencies is discussed and a detailed example is presented for one site. The complete methodology and its limitations are reviewed and the implications for planning of reclamation projects discussed.     

Regional assessment of plant growth problems for colliery spoil reclamation

Possibilities for greater variation in landscaping during the reclamation of derelict colliery spoil heaps and the potential of a regional approach to the survey of revegetation problems are introduced. A survey method for assessing plant growth problems is described which incorporates rapid measurement of physical and chemical constraints to plant growth and which uses bioassay trials as an index of plant growth potential. The use of the survey method on 34 closed and disused sites in the Barnsley and South Yorkshire areas of the National Coal Board is outlined and suggestions for the incorporation of such data in recommendations for the reclamation of individual sites are made.     

Antifeedant activity of plant extracts to an insect Helopeltis theivora

The different solvent extracts (viz Petroleum ether Ethyl acetate and Methanol) obtained from leaves and flowers of Heliotropium indicum and Spilanthes calva were screened for antifeedant activity against Helopeltis theivora. All the six different extracts showed antifeedant activity at four different concentrations. The methanolic extracts of leaves of Heliotropium indicum and Spilanthes calva exhibited significant activity at 4% concentration. The numbers of spots produced were only 18.67 and 22.67 respectively which are significantly less than the numberof spots produced in control (104.00 and 93.33 respectively). The treatment with methanolic extracts of flowers of both the plants significantly reduced the number of feeding spots to 22.33 and 23.67 respectively in comparison to the control values of 101.33. All the activities are dose dependent. The mean results with SEM (mean +/- SE) were statistically significant at 1% level (p<0.01) for three observations.     

Insecticidal activity of the plant Phyllanthus amarus against Tribolium castaneum

The plant Phyllanthus amarus is used as folk medicine since the year 1800 and has been established for its important medicinal properties particularly for liver ailments. The present communication explores the insecticidal activity of ethanolic extract of aerial and root parts of this plant against stored grain pest Tribolium castaneum. LC 50 values of ethanolic aerial part were 895.77, 473.91, 279.89 and 260.85 microg/cm2, while 512.62, 376.96, 248.88 and 209.79 microg/cm2 for ethanolic root part at the exposure of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 days respectively. Ethanolic root extract possessed significant insecticidal activity against T. castaneum.     

Modelling plant resource allocation and growth partitioning in response to environmental heterogeneity

Plant morphological adjustment in response to spatial resource heterogeneity is an important factor that determines the outcomes of plant–plant and plant–environment interactions. In this study, a dynamic model of resource allocation and growth partitioning at the whole-plant level is presented. The aim is to suggest a mechanism by which plants are capable of modifying their resource allocation to favour the growth of their growing parts sited in resource-rich patches. In this model, an individual plant is treated as a population of relatively independent subunits competing for internal resources. The growth decision of individual shoot and root subunits depends on their local endogenous nutrient status. The allocation of nutrients to different shoot parts and root parts is determined by the structure of the vascular networks. No specific partitioning functions and driving coefficients are introduced in the model to coordinate resource allocation and growth partitioning at the whole-plant level. Vascular tissues acquire resources from the nutrient flow passing through them to grow and maintain their activities. The simulation results show that, based on simple rules of nutrient supply, transport and utilization, plants are able to integrate activities at the whole-plant level to allocate proportionally more growth to their growing parts in the most favourable positions.     

Consideration of translocation into a growth model of a plant organ

Taking account of the Bertalanffy's differential equation on animal growth, plant growth is also considered as the net result of anabolism and catabolism. When we, however, consider the growth of a plant organ, it is necessary to add a term of translocation because it plays an important role in the growth of plant organs, such as leaf and fruit. Considering translocation, therefore, a growth model of a plant organ was proposed on the basis of the compartment model for estimating the carbon balance in the organ by using the experimental data on translocation, photosynthesis and respiration of a tropical fruit of durian (Durio zibethinus Murray). The present growth model of a plant organ belongs to an extended Bertalanffy's growth equation, and was possible to be transformed into the simple Bertalanffy's growth equation on the basis of the proportionality between the growth and translocation rates. The Bertalanffy's growth equation of a plant organ was also possible to apply to that of the whole plant on the assumption of the allomeric relationship between a plant organ and the whole plant.     

Chromium in tannery industry effluent and its effect on plant metabolism and growth

Different dilution levels of tannery treated effluent and their corresponding concentration of chromium (Cr6+) were studied in a petridish culture experiment on seed germination and seedling growth in radish (Raphanus sativus L). The different concentrations of Cr6+ (2, 5 and 10 ppm) and treated tannery effluent (10, 25 and 50%) showed reduction in seedling growth and related enzymatic activities with increase in concentration of Cr6+ in treatments and effluent both. The low concentration of chromium (2 ppm) and effluent dilution (10%) showed significant growth reduction separately. At this concentration of chromium and effluent dilution chlorophyll content, amylase, catalase and protein contents remained unchanged while with increase in Cr6+ concentration (>2ppm) and effluent dilution (> 10%) in treatments showed growth inhibitory effects.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity and antagonistic effect of essential oils from plant species

Kahramanmaras, is a developing city located in the southern part of Turkey Thymus eigii (M. Zohary and RH. Davis) Jalas, Pinus nigraAm. sub sp pallasiana and Cupressus sempervirens L. are the useful plants of the Kahramanmaras province and have been understudy since 2004 for the traditional uses of plants empiric drug, spice, herbal tea industry herbal gum and fuel. The study was designed to examine the antimicrobial activities of essential oils of these plants by the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. In addition, antimicrobial activity of Thymus eigii was researched by effects when it was used together with antibiotics and even when it was combined with other essential oils. When the results of this study were compared with vancomycin (30 mcg) and erytromycin (15 mcg) standards, it was found that Thymus eigii essential oil was particularly found to possess strongerantimicrobial activity whereas other essential oils showed susceptible or moderate activity However, antimicrobial activity changed also by in vitro interactions between antibiotics and Thymus eigii essential oil, also between essential oils of these plants and that of Thymus eigii causing synergic, additive, antagonist effect.