Consequences of Low Mate Availability in the Rare Self-Incompatible Species Brassica insularis

Abstract:  Self-incompatibility systems prevent self-fertilization in angiosperms. Although numerous S alleles are usually maintained by negative frequency-dependent selection, the number of S alleles can be low in small populations, which limits mate availability and reduces fecundity in endangered populations of self-incompatible plants. Despite the increasing evidence of the negative effect of self-incompatibility in small populations, the direct link between the number and the distribution of S alleles and their reproductive consequences has been rarely reported. Brassica insularis is a rare self-incompatible species with medium to very small populations. Results of a previous study showed that the smallest population has very few S alleles. We investigated whether reduced mate availability affects reproduction in this species. We compared the pollination success and the fruit set in 4 populations differing in population size and number of S alleles. Our results suggest that reproduction may be negatively affected by the low S-allele diversity in the smallest population. Nevertheless, other populations also had reduced fruit set that could not be attributed to self-incompatibility alone.     

Ontogenetic and spatio-temporal patterns of induced volatiles in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> in the light of the optimal defence hypothesis

Summary. Plants attacked by herbivorous insects emit a blend of volatile compounds that serve as important host location cues for parasitoid wasps. Variability in the released blend may exist on the whole-plant and withinplant level and can affect the foraging efficiency of parasitoids. We comprehensively assessed the kinetics of herbivore-induced volatiles in soybean in the context of growth stage, plant organ, leaf age, and direction of signal transport. The observed patterns were used to test the predictions of the optimal defence hypothesis (OD). We found that plants in the vegetative stage emitted 10-fold more volatiles per biomass than reproductive plants and young leaves emitted >2.6 times more volatiles than old leaves. Systemic induction in single leaves was stronger and faster by one day in acropetal than in basipetal direction while no systemic induction was found in pods. Herbivore-damaged leaves had a 200-fold higher release rate than pods. To some extent these findings support the OD: i) indirect defence levels were increased in response to herbivory and ii) young leaves, which are more valuable, emitted more volatiles. However, the fact that reproductive structures emitted no constitutive or very few inducible volatiles is in seeming contrast to the OD predictions. We argue that in case of volatile emission the OD can only partially explain the patterns of defence allocation due to the peculiarity that volatiles act as signals not as toxins or repellents.     

Biologically active secondary metabolites in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) – a review focusing on contents in the plant, plant–pest interactions and transformation

Summary.  To exploit biologically active compounds from white clover (Trifolium repens L.) for suppressing weeds and soil-borne diseases, either as isolated products (biopesticides) or through cultivars with enhanced production of these compounds, the biologically active compounds must be identified, plant content measured, and their fate in soil known. The present review summarizes the published knowledge needed for such exploitation; providing essential information on structure and concentration of flavonols, flavones, condensed tannins, isoflavones, isoflavanones, pterocarpans, coumestans, cyanogenic glucosides, and saponins in healthy and stressed white clover plants. Various stresses and particular cultivars affect the concentrations of several of the compounds. Information on biological effects and the degradation/transformation of these compounds in plants or by microorganisms is available. There is no information on the degradation pathway in soil, the mechanisms of exudation and leaching of compounds from plants, and soil sorption properties of the compounds. The clover soil fatigue problem is increasing in grasslands and causes problems especially in organic farming. Research efforts focused on biological elements of clover soil fatigue have not explained it, and the influence of secondary metabolites has not been investigated. There are few investigations into the interaction between beneficial fungi/fungal-diseases and the occurrence of biologically active secondary metabolites in white clover plants. Such studies are critical to better understand beneficial fungi and pathogens.     

具双T-DNA区的大麦黄矮病毒复制酶基因RNAi植物表达载体的构建(英文)

RNAi系双链RNA诱导同源mRNA降解,导致特定基因表达沉默的一种现象.RNAi技术是通过基因工程防治植物病毒病的最佳途径.由大麦黄矮病毒(Barely yellow dwarfvirus,简称BYDV)引起的禾谷类黄矮病发病面积和危害程度在我国呈加重趋势.BYDV-GAV是当前流行的大麦黄矮病毒株系,本文针对BYDV-GAV复制酶基因序列,构建能在细胞内转录形成发卡RNA双链结构的表达盒,并将其置于中间载体pVec8-2b的T-DNA区,pVec8-2b的另一T-DNA区含有hpt选择报告基因表达盒.具双T-DNA区的病毒复制酶基因发卡RNA高效表达载体已导入根癌农杆菌,可用于诱导植物RNAi,创制无选择标记基因的抗大麦黄矮病转基因作物.     

利用根箱法解析水稻根际土壤中氮的行为

为研究水田土壤中氮的行为,施给15NH4 或15NO3-标记的硝胺(NH415NO3或15NH4NO3)的沙壤土(Shirasu soil)添充在根箱里,对Japonica水稻(品种Hinohikari)进行温室栽培6周.收割后,水稻植株分地上部和根部,对各自的全氮,15N atom％进行测定.根箱各区域的土壤按着鲜土形态进行采取后,对此全氮,NO3-N,水溶性NH4-N,KCl抽出NH4-N和其各自的15N atom％进行测定.研究结果表明,土壤全氮含量与栽培前相比,在非根际明显降低,但在根际比非根际要高,保持了与栽培前相同的水平.土壤NO3-N浓度从非根际到根际递增,但与其栽培前相比显著地降低,在整个根箱里,施给NO3-N的79％为因脱氮而损失.土壤中NO3-N的大部分来自于土壤氮化合物,来自施肥的比例却较低,尤其是在根际.反而,施给NO3-N的残存率约仅为16％左右,但其中有机态氮所占的比率在非根际里55％～86％,在根际却达到了93％.土壤水溶性NH4-N和KCl抽出NH4-N浓度靠近根际逐渐降低,而且在非根际两者匀由1∶10的比例存在,但在根际里水溶性NH4-N没被检索到.在非根际里,土壤KCl抽出NH4-N的35％～66％为来自施肥,但其比例在根际里却降到15％左右.在土壤中残存的来自施给NH4-N的氮化合物之中,有机态氮所占的比例在非根际里约为11％～65％,但在根际却达到了92％.以上结果表明,在水稻根际,氮的无机化和有机化的活性比非根际显著.     

中国北方典型污染城市主要绿化树种的滞尘效应(英文)

为研究城市人工植被的滞尘效应及其对城市生态环境的改善作用,以中国北方典型污染城市--临汾市为例.通过野外典型采样法和室内分析,测定了不同生活型主要绿化植物的滞尘能力,讨论了植物的滞尘量与滞尘时间的关系,并且研究了污染程度及距污染源距离对植物滞尘能力的影响.结果表明,在同一降尘条件下,不同生活型植物滞尘能力差异表现为草本植物的滞尘能力显著高于其它生活型植物(落叶乔木,灌木和藤本植物),而其它生活型植物间的滞尘能力无显著差异性;对针叶林来说,圆柏和雪松的滞尘能力间亦存在显著差异.在不同的污染情况下(污染程度及和污染源的距离不同),同种植物的滞尘能力亦有明显的差异,这与植物的高度和生长特性有关.而且,随时间推移,植物叶片的滞尘量呈现周期变化.而不是一个随时间无限增长的量,也有其饱和量.因此,在进行城市绿化设计时,需要综合考虑绿化树种的滞尘能力、滞尘周期及其生长环境情况等.     

人工湿地污水处理对三种植物光合作用及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

人工湿地环境下,湿地植物的光合代谢过程与陆生自然环境有较大的不同.通过对人工湿地三种中生植物即薏米(Coixaquatica Roxb)、文殊兰(Crinum asiaticum)和蜘蛛兰(Hymenocallis Americana)进行污水处理,研究人工湿地对植物的光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果表明:(1)与陆地自然环境相比,在人工湿地环境下,薏米,文殊兰和蜘蛛兰的净光合速率(Pn),蒸腾速率(Tr),气孔导度(Gs),叶绿素含量,最大荧光(Fm)和PSII最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)均降低,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和初始荧光(Fo)升高.其中叶绿素含量,Fo和Fv/Fm在四月份生长旺盛期差异极显著(P<0.01),Gs差异显著(P<0.05).(2)在整个生长期,三种植物的光合参数和荧光参数的变化趋势不是单一的上升或下降,不同植物其变化过程和变化幅度也不一样.蜘蛛兰在生长旺盛期较薏米和文殊兰Pn,Gs,Fv/Fm,Fm,Fo大,而Ci较薏米和文殊兰低.可见人工湿地污水处理对三种植物光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性均有影响,但对各植物影响不一致.综合各项参数,蜘蛛兰耐性强于薏米和文殊兰.     

以鸟粪石的形式在污水处理厂回收磷的研究

磷既是一种不可再生的资源,也是造成水体富营养化的重要因素。近年来,随着磷资源的匮乏,从污水处理厂回收磷在世界各国逐渐兴起,而我国在这方面的研究还基本处于起始阶段。为此,在某污水处理厂进行了以鸟粪石形式回收磷的小试实验,考察了磷回收的一些控制参数,并将以此作为基础,继续深入研究。     

生物过滤氧化反应器处理焦化废水

针对钢铁厂焦化车间采用普通活性污泥工艺处理焦化废水 ,出水水质经常超标 ,且对冲击负荷适应力差的情况 ,使用生物过滤氧化反应器 (BIOFOR)工艺对废水进一步进行处理 ,运行结果表明 ,BIOFOR表现出良好的抗冲击负荷能力 ,对CODCr、NH3 N、SS、油类、酚、氰化物等主要污染物的去除率都分别为 6 4 7%、79 8%、76 6 %、5 2 1%、95 4 %、6 1 4 % ,出水水质高于GB8978 1996第二类污染物二级排放标准。     

蓬安城市污水处理工程设计

氧化沟工艺是目前城市生活污水处理的主流工艺之一,利用该工艺处理四川蓬安城市生活污水,出水达到了(GB8978-1996)《污水综合排放标准》的一级标准。本文介绍了该污水处理工程的污水水质及处理标准、处理工艺流程的选择、主要处理构筑物和设备、设计特点及处理效果、主要技术经济指标等,供污水处理工程设计人员参考。