Dynamics of growth and seed production in the Siberian stone pine: The level and pattern of variation in characters

A statistical analysis of interannual variation in a set of vegetative and generative characters over 13 years has been performed to characterize the growth and seed production dynamics of the Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) in the southeast of the forest zone in western Siberia. The results have shown that the range of fluctuations in most of vegetative characters is ordinary and their distribution is close to normal. The range of fluctuations in many generative characters is enormous (from 0 to +∞), and the distribution of their values is usually skewed, with low values being recorded several times more frequently than high values. Most variable are the proportion of abortive cones and other characters that are determined mainly in the spring of the pollination year. These characters account for a very high level of variation in the total seed production.     

Hunting Increases Dispersal Limitation in the Tree Carapa procera, a Nontimber Forest Product

Abstract:  The sustainability of seed extraction from natural populations has been questioned recently. Increased recruitment failure under intense seed harvesting suggests that seed extraction intensifies source limitation. Nevertheless, areas where more seeds are collected tend to also have more intense hunting of seed-dispersing animals. We studied whether such hunting, by limiting disperser activity, could cause quantitative dispersal limitation, especially for large crops and for crops in years of high seed abundance. In each of four Carapa procera (Meliaceae) populations in French Guiana and Surinam, two with hunting and two without, we compared seed fate for individual trees varying in crop size in years of high and low population-level seed abundance. Carapa seeds are a nontimber forest product and depend on dispersal by scatter-hoarding rodents for survival and seedling establishment. Hunting negatively affected the proportion of seeds dispersed and caused greater numbers of seeds to germinate or be infested by moths below parent trees, where they would likely die. Hunting of seed-dispersing animals disproportionally affected large seed crops, but we found no additional effect of population-level seed abundance on dispersal rates. Consistently lower rates of seed dispersal, especially for large seed crops, may translate to lower levels of seedling recruitment under hunting. Our results therefore suggest that the subsistence hunting that usually accompanies seed collection is at the cost of seed dispersal and may contribute to recruitment failure of these nontimber forest products. Seed extraction from natural populations may affect seedling recruitment less if accompanied by measures adequately incorporating and protecting seed dispersers.     

Assessing the Effects of Atmospheric Ethylene on Epinasty and Tuber Yield of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Near Polyethylene Manufacturing Plants

A multi-year programme was performed to assess the effects of atmospheric ethylene on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the vicinity of polyethylene manufacturing plants. There was a strong temporal variation of the hourly ethylene concentrations measured close to the sources from 1982 through 1991. Growing seasonal means exceeded 12 g m^–3 ethylene, the threshold for phytotoxic effects under laboratory conditions. Young test plants of potato showed an epinastic response to enhanced levels of ethylene. This response was reversible and did not occur when atmospheric ethylene was not detected. Based on hourly observations for the growing seasons of 1984 through 1991, epinasty occurred on average during circa 5% of the growing season and varied from circa 1% in 1985 to circa 18% in 1991. At night, ethylene concentrations were higher and epinasty was more frequent than during daylight hours. The intermittent exposures to ethylene did not affect tuber yield for the growing seasons of 1982 through 1990. The occurrence of epinasty indicated that ethylene exposure levels in the vicinity of the industrial sources might be sufficiently high to affect sensitive plants.     

Seed yeast cultivation for salad oil manufacturing wastewater treatment

The mixture of five yeast strains obtained from soil could remove about 85% TOC of oil-rich wastewater in batch test.While the highest MLSS was obtained at an N:C of 1:5,the oil removal decreased with the increase of N:C during yeast sludge cultivation.Ammonium chloride was the best nitrogen source for yeast cultivation from the viewpoint of yeast growth and oil utilizxation.An ammonia concentration of over 1300 mg/L led to mass death of yeast at a pH of 5.The ammonia concentration should be controlled at a level of 1000 mg/L or lower.     

The influence of source and timing of nitrogen fertilizers on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of four sweet potato cultivars

Nitrogen (N) availability is a very important determinant of crop yield. It is also one of the most expensive inputs in crop production. Thus, the efficient management of N by farmers with limited resource is a very important part of successful soil and crop management system. A field study was conducted on a Norfolk sandy loam soil at the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, Tuskegee, AL, to evaluate the influence of fertilizer source and timing on the yield of four sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.)] cultivars. Two N sources (urea, CO(NH₂)₂ and ammonium nitrate, NH₄NO₃), four sweet potato cultivars (‘Georgia Jet’, GA-Jet; ‘TU-82-155’, TU-155; ‘TU-1892’; and ‘Rojo Blanco’, Rojo-Bl) and three times (zero, single, and split applications) were used in a factorial designed experiment. Plants were harvested after 80 and 120 days and total and marketable yields determined. Nitrogen recovery efficiency, yield efficiency and physiological efficiency were also determined. Total and marketable yields of early maturing cultivars were significantly higher than of late maturing cultivars (P<0.05). The single application of N resulted in significantly higher yield in storage roots than split application (P<0.05). Physiological efficiency values were highly correlated with total marketable yields. Recovery rates increased with time. Late maturing cultivars tended to have higher N recovery and physiological efficiency than early maturing cultivars. These results suggest that cultivar maturity group should play an important part in N fertilization recommendations for sweet potato.     

Intra-specific variations of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations in Songnen Plain, northeast China

Population demography, seed production, biomassallocation, net photosynthesis and transpiration of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations and between two years in Songnenplain, northeast China were compared. Strong differences betweenthe dry 1997 and moist 1998 occurred in vegetative shoot and sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and tiller densities, aswell as in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers perinflorescence, seed weights and biomass allocation in eachpopulation respectively (P<0.01). While strong differences betweenthe two populations occurred in vegetative shoot densities, sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and seed weights in eachyear (P<0.01). The differences between the two populations intiller densities and in biomass allocation to sexual shoots were significant (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two populations in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence and biomass allocation to rhizomes and vegetative shoots (P>0.05). Excepting the transpiration rate in the early June, the differences between the two populations in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate of vegetative shoots and sexual shoots were strongly significant in the early June and July respectively (P<0.01). Relative stable variations in population demography and physiological traits between the two populations indicated that they are divergently in the Songnen Plain.     

浙产白术市售种子质量的鉴定

根据试验,浙江产白术种子的净度可分为3个等级：一级净度为95％以上,二级净度90％～95％,三级净度90％以下.其发芽率为45％～59％,与种子批次的千粒重密切相关.种子在室外阳光下晒干.含水量可控制在8％～10％,而在室内阴干则与环境的相对湿度密切相关.其千位重的差异与该种子批次内大.中、小粒种子的比例有关,一般种子千粒重为25.60～37.50g.     

Ex situ collections and their potential for the restoration of extinct plants

The alarming current and predicted species extinction rates have galvanized conservationists in their efforts to avoid future biodiversity losses, but for species extinct in the wild, few options exist. We posed the questions, can these species be restored, and, if so, what role can ex situ plant collections (i.e., botanic gardens, germplasm banks, herbaria) play in the recovery of plant genetic diversity? We reviewed the relevant literature to assess the feasibility of recovering lost plant genetic diversity with using ex situ material and the probability of survival of subsequent translocations. Thirteen attempts to recover species extinct in the wild were found, most of which used material preserved in botanic gardens (12) and seed banks (2). One case of a locally extirpated population was recovered from herbarium material. Eight (60%) of these cases were successful or partially successful translocations of the focal species or population; the other 5 failed or it was too early to determine the outcome. Limiting factors of the use of ex situ source material for the restoration of plant genetic diversity in the wild include the scarcity of source material, low viability and reduced longevity of the material, low genetic variation, lack of evolution (especially for material stored in germplasm banks and herbaria), and socioeconomic factors. However, modern collecting practices present opportunities for plant conservation, such as improved collecting protocols and improved cultivation and storage conditions. Our findings suggest that all types of ex situ collections may contribute effectively to plant species conservation if their use is informed by a thorough understanding of the aforementioned problems. We conclude that the recovery of plant species currently classified as extinct in the wild is not 100% successful, and the possibility of successful reintroduction should not be used to justify insufficient in situ conservation.     

羟基磷灰石对Cd污染土壤中马铃薯生长及品质的影响

通过温室盆栽实验研究了施用羟基磷灰石改良Cd污染土壤对马铃薯生长及品质的影响.实验设置了3个Cd污染水平(0、5、10 mg.kg-1)、6个羟基磷灰石施用量(0、4、8、10、16、30 g.kg-1)和2个马铃薯品种(中薯3号、大西洋).结果表明,土壤Cd污染导致马铃薯单株产量下降(5 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中降低24%～31%,10 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中降低41%～45%),但是施用羟基磷灰石可以提高单株产量.相对于不施用羟基磷灰石,5 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中施用10 g.kg-1的羟基磷灰石可以增产17%～39%,10 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中施用30 g.kg-1的羟基磷灰石可以增产45%～58%.由于羟基磷灰石改善了Cd污染土壤环境,因此马铃薯器官中叶绿素含量和SOD活性明显上升,而MDA含量明显下降.施用羟基磷灰石也提高了马铃薯品质,马铃薯块茎中维生素C含量、淀粉含量以及蛋白质含量也明显提高.随着羟基磷灰石施用量由0 g.kg-1增加到30 g.kg-1,在5 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中,马铃薯块茎Cd含量由0.87～0.95 mg.kg-1下降到0.13～0.21 mg.kg-1,降幅为78%～85%;在10 mg.kg-1的Cd污染土壤中,块茎Cd含量由1.86～1.93 mg.kg-1下降到0.52～0.65 mg.kg-1,降幅为66%～72%.实验表明,羟基磷灰石缓解土壤Cd毒性的主要机制是提高土壤pH值,降低土壤中有效态Cd含量,羟基磷灰石中的Ca阻碍土壤Cd向马铃薯迁移.但是羟基磷灰石对土壤Cd毒性的缓解效应是有限性的,过量施用可能对马铃薯生长和品质产生胁迫作用.在Cd污染土壤中施用适量的羟基磷灰石后中薯3号生长状况和品质好于大西洋,说明不同马铃薯品种对种植环境的改善有不同的响应.     

气候变化主要因子对马铃薯生物量积累及产量和品质的影响

利用新型开顶式气室(OTC)开展CO2浓度升高和大气增温试验,分别为模拟增温2.0℃,模拟增温2.0℃且CO2浓度增加到650μmol·mol-1,对照CO2浓度约410μmol·mol-1,对马铃薯叶片、叶柄和茎等地上生物量、根和块茎等地下生物量积累过程及其特征参数的协同影响研究,分析气候变化对马铃薯产量形成和品质的...