Sensitivity analyses of woody species exposed to air pollution based on ecophysiological measurements

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Air pollution has been of a major problem in the Pearl River Delta of south China, particularly during the last two decades. Emissions of air pollutants from industries have already led to damages in natural communities and environments in a wide range of the Delta area. Leaf parameters such as chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf area (LA), dry weight (DW) and leaf mass per area (LMA) had once been used as specific indexes of environmental stress. This study aims to determine in situ if the daily variation of chlorophyll fluorescence and other ecophysiological parameters in five seedlings of three woody species, Ilex rotunda, Ficus microcarpa and Machilus chinensis, could be used alone or in combination with other measurements for sensitivity indexes to make diagnoses under air pollution stress and, hence, to choose the correct tree species for urban afforestation in the Delta area. METHODS: Five seedlings of each species were transplanted in pot containers after their acclimation under shadowing conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were made in situ by a portable fluorometer (OS-30, Opti-sciences, U.S.A). Ten random samples of leaves were picked from each species for LA measurements by area-meter (CI-203, CID, Inc., U.S.A). DW was determined after the leaf samples were dried to a constant weight at 65 degrees C. LMA was calculated as the ratio of DW/LA. Leaf N content was analyzed according to the Kjeldhal method, and the extraction of pigments was carried out according Lin et al. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The daily mean Fv/Fm (Fv is the variable fluorescence and Fm is the maximum fluorescence) analysis showed that Ilex rotunda and Ficus microcarpa were more highly resistant to pollution stress, followed by Machilus chinensis, implying that the efficiency of photosystem II in I. rotunda was less affected by air pollutants than the other two species. Little difference in daily change of Fv/Fm in I. rotunda between the polluted and the clean site was also observed. However, a relatively large variation of Fv/Fm appeared in the other two species, particularly in M. chinensis, suggesting that they were more sensitive to air pollutants than I. rotunda. The mean LA was reduced for all species growing at the polluted site. The mean LMA for all species exceeded the sclerophylly threshold given by Cowling and Campbell and increased for those under pollution stress, which could be explained as one of the acclimation strategies for plants to air pollution stress. Little difference in leaf chlorophyll content was observed in F. microcarpa and M. chinensis, while remarkable differences were found in I. rotunda growing at the polluted and the clean site. Content of leaf carotenoids was largely reduced in I. rotunda growing at the polluted site, but increased in F. microcarpa and M. chinensis, compared with plants growing at the clean site. Plants growing at the clean site had a lower leaf N content than those growing at the polluted site. In addition, species with a higher resistance to pollution stress showed less difference in leaf N content than those sensitive species. CONCLUSION: Based on Fv/Fm measurements of the three woody species, I. rotunda showed the highest resistance to air pollutants from ceramic industries, followed by F. microcarpa. M. chinensis was the most sensitive species to air pollution, had lowest capacities to cope with the air pollution stress, which was consistent with visual injury symptoms observed in the crown profiles of plants at the polluted site. Fv/Fm, LAM, LA, leaf pigments and N content could be used alone or in combination to diagnose the extent of the physiological injury. The ratio of Fv/Fm, however, was the best and most effective parameter. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: Tree species which have higher air-pollutant resistance, as diagnosed by such ecophysiological parameters, should be considered first and planted widely for urban afforestation or forest regeneration in areas where the forest was seriously degraded or forest health was markedly effected by the same kind of air pollutants.     

交通污染区城市绿化植物硫含量分布

为探讨城市绿化植物对交通环境中SO2的响应，以远离城市道路的相对清洁区公园生长的植物为对照植物，采集了广东省被广泛栽种的18种园林绿化植物的不同方位的叶片和树皮样品，用硫酸钡比浊法测定了每种植物样品在交通污染区面向机动车行驶方向、面向人行道方向及相对清洁区的植物样品等不同方位的植物叶片和树皮硫含量，分析了绿化植物在同一株植物的不同生长部位和不同环境中硫含量的分布特征。结果表明，交通污染区所有样品的叶片硫和树皮硫含量均高于相对清洁区的样品。其中，远离工厂的交通污染区生长的同一株植物，离机动车道越近，硫含量越高；靠近工厂的交通污染区的同一植物，离工厂近的部位的植物树皮硫含量高于面向机动车道一侧的植物硫含量。     

Oviposition by butterflies on young leaves: Investigation of leaf volatiles

Summary Various butterflies select young foliage on which to lay their eggs; volatiles emitted by young and old leaves have been compared (by sorption enrichment, followed by GC-MS) to gauge possible qualitative and quantitative differences between the two age groups. The plants investigated are cabbage (Brassica oleracea), two milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca andA. curassavica), the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) and the lime (C. aurantiifolia). The chemical compounds identified belong to three classes, isoprenoids, fatty acid derivatives and benzenoids. Quantitative differences were found between young and old leaves, of which a few may be characteristic of young leaves only. Thirty-four single trials withDanaus plexippus exposed to volatiles from young and old leaves are recorded.     

Induced alkaloid defence inAtropa acuminata in response to mechanical and herbivore leaf damage

Summary Measurement of tropane alkaloid content in leaves ofAtropa acuminata after mechanical damage showed a maximum increase to 153% of the control 8 days later. There were no changes in the root or stem after similar damage. The plant responded to repeated mechanical damage by doubling its alkaloid content at 11 days after the initial wounding. But on further treatments, there was a slight decrease in alkaloid content with time. Mollusc feeding produced an increase of 164% in alkaloid content after 4 days. These results indicate that induced defence systems in angiosperms can vary considerably from plant species to plant species and that the effects of mechanical damage may differ in different parts of the same plant.     

Uptake and metabolism of [<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]rinderine and [<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]retronecine in leaf-beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic"> Platyphora</Emphasis> and alkaloid accumulation in the exocrine defensive secretions

Summary. Sequestration and processing of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) by leaf beetles of the genus Platyphora were investigated. Tracer experiments with labeled alkaloids were performed with P. eucosma feeding on Koanophyllon panamense (Asteraceae, tribe Eupatorieae). P. eucosma catalyzes the same reactions previously demonstrated for P. boucardi specialized to Prestonia portobellensis (Apocynaceae): (i) epimerization of rinderine to intermedine; (ii) esterification of retronecine yielding insect-specific PAs; (iii) efficient transport of the PAs as free bases into the defensive secretions. P. bella feeding on Tournefortia cuspidata (Boraginaceae) shows the same sequestration behavior and ability to synthesize the specific retronecine esters. P. ligata, a species phylogenetically closely related to the PA adapted species and clustering in the same clade, but feeding on a host plant devoid of PAs, feeds easily on PA treated host-plant leaves, but does not sequester or metabolize PAs. P. kollari a species clustering outside the PA clade refused to feed on its food-plant leaves painted with PAs. The results are discussed in relation to host-plant selection of the PA adapted species and the role of PAs in chemical defense. Received 20 September 2002; accepted 18 November 2002.     

宁南霉素诱导烟草酸性病程相关蛋白的研究

研究了宁南霉素对烟草酸性病程相关蛋白的诱导表达．结果表明，宁南霉素可系统性地诱导烟草叶片中酸性病程相关蛋白的高效表达．与水杨酸相比，宁南霉素诱导酸性病程相关蛋白的表达水平较高，持续时问较长．此外，在同一品种不同形态叶片烟草植株中，宁南霉素对植物酸性病程相关蛋白的诱导存在差异．图6表3参20     

钢板弹簧断裂失效行为研究

目的研究汽车钢板弹簧断裂失效的原因。方法通过化学成分分析、硬度测试、断口形貌分析、金相组织分析等手段研究汽车钢板弹簧的失效行为。结果由于表面脱碳层过深,使得表面疲劳强度及耐蚀性降低,同时因长时间腐蚀作用在表面产生腐蚀坑及腐蚀裂纹,并且在循环外力作用下,腐蚀缺陷处产生应力集中,早期裂纹萌生于表面腐蚀缺陷处并扩展,最终导致腐蚀疲劳断裂。结论通过控制热处理条件、增加加工余量并去除脱碳层、表面喷丸处理等措施,钢板弹簧表面耐蚀及抗疲劳性能大幅提高,可有效避免脱碳引起的腐蚀疲劳断裂。     

植物法改性类Fenton反应催化剂降解甲基橙

采用银杏叶和桑叶提取液制备了改性类Fenton反应催化剂并进行了表征分析,研究了溶液初始p H、反应温度、催化剂加入量、甲基橙初始质量浓度等因素对甲基橙降解率的影响,同时考察了催化剂的重复使用效果。表征结果表明:制备出的催化剂为Fe_2O_3和Fe OOH的混合物;桑叶改性催化剂的粒径分布较银杏叶改性催化剂均匀,粒径较小,比表面积较大。实验结果表明:在初始p H为6.23、反应温度60℃、催化剂用量1 g/L、甲基橙初始质量浓度100 mg/L的条件下,银杏叶改性催化剂的甲基橙降解率为99.40%,桑叶改性催化剂的甲基橙降解率为99.96%;碱性条件下,甲基橙降解率仍接近100%,扩宽了反应的p H适用范围,为碱性条件下处理偶氮染料提供了新思路;催化剂重复使用6次之后,甲基橙降解率仍可达到99%。根据反应前后溶液的紫外-可见吸收光谱,初步探讨了降解机理。     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and pentacyclic triterpene saponins in the defensive secretions of Platyphora leaf beetles

Summary. Field collected exocrine defensive secretions of nine neotropical Platyphora species were analyzed for the presence of plant acquired pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and pentacyclic triterpene saponins. All species secrete saponins. In addition, five species feeding on Tournefortia (Boraginaceae), Koanophyllon (Asteraceae, tribe Eupatorieae) and Prestonia (Apocynaceae) were shown to sequester PAs of the lycopsamine type, which are characteristic for species of the three plant families. The PA sequestering species commonly store intermedine, lycopsamine and their O^3′-acetyl or propionyl esters as well as O⁷- and O⁹-hydroxyisovaleryl esters of retronecine. The latter as well as the O^3′-acyl esters were not found in the beetles’ host plants, suggesting the ability of the beetles to esterify plant derived retronecine and intermedine or its stereoisomers. Despite the conformity of the beetles’ PA patterns, considerable inconsistencies exist regarding the PA patterns of the respective host plants. One host plant was devoid of PAs, while another contained only simple necines. Since the previous history of the field collected beetles was unknown this discrepancy remains obscure. In contrast to the Palearctic chrysomeline leaf beetles, e.g. some Oreina species which ingest and store PAs as their non-toxic N-oxides, Platyphora leaf beetles absorb and store PAs as the toxic free base (tertiary PA), but apparently avoid to accumulate PAs in the haemolymph. This suggests that Chrysolina and Platyphora leaf beetles developed different lines of adaptations in their parallel evolution of PA mediated chemical defense. Received 30 November 2000; accepted 5 February 2001     

大叶女贞叶面结构对滞留颗粒物粒径的影响

为分析叶面微结构对滞留颗粒物粒径的影响,以分布较广的常绿植物——大叶女贞为研究对象,用激光粒度分析仪(湿法)测定叶面尘的粒径分布,用扫描电子显微镜和原子力显微镜观察叶面微结构;并用图像处理软件(图像法)分析叶面颗粒物的粒径特征,探讨不同测定方法对叶面颗粒物粒径分布的可能影响.结果表明,大叶女贞叶面滞留颗粒物粒径呈双峰分布,湿法测定的颗粒物粒径范围为0.4～ 52.6μm,粒径峰值为18.9 μm、36.2 μm,粒径均值为8.8 μm;图像法测定的颗粒物粒径范围为0.4～27.8 μm,粒径峰值为17.5μm、27.8μm,粒径均值为7.2μm.叶表面分布有大量的突起和凹陷,凹陷直径介于0.6～ 30 μm,直径小于2.5μm和10 μm的凹陷约占到总量的50％和80％.可吸入颗粒物(PM10)和细颗粒物(PM2.5)主要滞留在叶表的凹陷结构中,有少量粒径大于10 μm的颗粒物滞留在突起之上.PM2.5和PM10的体积分数仅占滞尘总量的17.9％和50.4％(湿法)、16.8％和45.9％(图像法),但数量多于大粒径颗粒物,这与小粒径的颗粒在个数上占优势、但大粒径的颗粒则对叶面滞留颗粒物的质量(或体积)贡献较大有关.叶背面颗粒物附着密度较正面小,PM2.5等颗粒物多分布在气孔周围,有少量颗粒物沉积在气孔上,从而堵塞气孔.