Floral traits and pollination system of Zygophyllum xanthoxylum in the managed and wild populations in an arid region of Northwest China

Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, which belongs to Sarcozygium of Zygophyllaceae, is one of the ecologically important species in Northwest China. In order to understand the pollination system of Z. xanthoxylum, we investigated the following characteristics of this species in the Urat Desert-grassland Research Station in western Inner Mongolia of China: flowering dynamics, pollen viability, pollen limitation, floral visitors and breeding system. The results showed that the flowering period and flowering peak were different between the wild and managed populations, being longer in the managed population. Z. xanthoxylum was pollen-limited, and pollen limitation was more intense in the wild population than in the managed population. Chalicodoma deserticola(Hymenoptera) was found to be the most frequent pollinator in the wild population, while Anthophora fulvitarsis(Hymenoptera) was the most frequent and effective visitor in the managed population. Out-crossing was dominant in the breeding system and self-pollination just played an assistant role to assure the reproduction of Z. xanthoxylum.     

Evidence of low levels of genetic diversity for the Phytophthora austrocedrae population in Patagonia,Argentina

Phytophthora austrocedrae is a recently discovered pathogen that causes severe mortality of Austrocedrus chilensis in Patagonia. The high level of susceptibility of the host tree, together with the distribution pattern of the pathogen, have led to the hypothesis that P. austrocedrae was introduced into Argentina. The aim of this study was to assess the population structure of P. austrocedrae isolates from Argentina in order to gain an understanding of the origin and spread of the pathogen. Genetic diversity was determined based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). In total, 48 isolates of P. austrocedrae were obtained from infected A. chilensis trees, representing the geographical range of the host. Four primer combinations were used for the AFLP analysis. Of the 332 scored bands, 12% were polymorphic. Gene diversity (h) ranged from 0·01 to 0·03; the Shannon index (I) ranged from 0·01 to 0·04. A high degree of genetic similarity was observed among the isolates (pairwise S values = 0·958–1; 0·993 ± 0·009, mean ± SD). A frequency histogram showed that most of the isolate pairs were identical. Principal coordinate analysis using three‐dimensional plots did not group any of the isolates based on their geographical origin. The low genetic diversity (within and between sites) and absence of population structure linked to geographic origin, together with the aggressiveness of the pathogen and the disease progression pattern, suggest that P. austrocedrae might have been introduced into Argentina.     

Genetic diversity of the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica and development of a species‐specific SCAR marker for its diagnosis

Meloidogyne ethiopica is an important nematode pathogen causing serious economic damage to grapevine in Chile. In Brazil, M. ethiopica has been detected with low frequency in kiwifruit and other crops. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the intraspecific genetic variability of M. ethiopica isolates from Brazil and Chile using AFLP and RAPD markers and to develop a species‐specific SCAR‐PCR assay for its diagnosis. Fourteen isolates were obtained from different geographic regions or host plants. Three isolates of an undescribed Meloidogyne species and one isolate of M. ethiopica from Kenya were included in the analysis. The results showed a low level of diversity among the M. ethiopica isolates, regardless of their geographical distribution or host plant origin. The three isolates of Meloidogyne sp. showed a high homogeneity and clustered separately from M. ethiopica (100% bootstrap). RAPD screenings of M. ethiopica allowed the identification of a differential DNA fragment that was converted into a SCAR marker. Using genomic DNA from pooled nematodes as a template, PCR amplification with primers designed from this species‐specific SCAR produced a fragment of 350 bp in all 14 isolates of M. ethiopica tested, in contrast with other species tested. This primer pair also allowed successful amplification of DNA from single nematodes, either juveniles or females and when used in multiplex PCR reactions containing mixtures of other root‐knot nematode species, thus showing the sensitivity of the assay. Therefore, the method developed here has potential for application in routine diagnostic procedures.     

Impacts of mowing and bud destruction on Centaurea solstitialis growth,flowering, root dynamics and soil moisture

Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle) has invaded rangelands and natural areas in the western USA. There is evidence that mowing is a more effective method of reducing growth and seed production, compared with the well‐established and distributed bioagents. To test this hypothesis we measured C. solstitialis's growth and reproduction following two treatments (late spring and early summer bud/capitula destruction and shoot mowing) and measured C. solstitialis's growth and reproduction. We measured changes in soil moisture content to test the hypothesis that these manipulations differentially affect water usage by the invasive plant. Mowing produced shorter plants that weighed less. Bud damaged plants were not statistically different from untreated controls. The number of developed capitula was reduced 67% by mowing but was unaffected by bud damage. Mowed plants redistributed resources from root to flower production. Both treatments reduced mean capitulum diameter. This resulted in reductions of 76% and 21% in estimated seed number for mowed and bud damaged plants respectively. Root abundance decreased and root life‐span was reduced by both treatments. Soil moisture depletion was greatest from mid‐May to mid‐July (from 21% to 9%) and occurred after maximum root abundance. Mowing resulted in a delay in soil moisture depletion compared with the bud damaged plants or the untreated controls. Bud/capitula damage did not affect C. solstitialis's requirement for soil water. Overall, this study supported the hypothesis that mowing reduced C. solstitialis growth and reproduction more than bud damage alone. This information will aid managers in selecting a strategy for managing C. solstitialis in a particular habitat.     

Susceptibility to imazamox in Italian weedy rice populations and Clearfield® rice varieties

The introduction of imidazolinone‐tolerant rice varieties has made selective Oryza sativa (weedy rice) control possible. We hypothesised that Italian weedy rice populations have variable degrees of susceptibility to imazamox prior to imidazolinone‐tolerant variety introduction. To this end, 149 Italian weedy rice populations collected from fields never before cultivated with imidazolinone‐tolerant varieties were tested in a glasshouse‐based, whole‐plant response screening study. Imazamox was applied to all populations post‐emergence at a rate of 70 g a.i. ha^?1, resulting in 70–90% shoot biomass reduction in the majority of cases. The results prompted a second study of the seedling dose response of four weedy rice populations from the initial study group. Three imidazolinone‐tolerant and one conventional rice variety were also included. The seedling roots were cut six days after germination and exposed to different concentrations of imazamox. The root regrowth associated with each concentration‐exposure was then measured. Imazamox concentrations to inhibit weedy rice root growth by 50% varied by about two orders of magnitude, or between 0.0018 and 0.12 mm . Even with this result, imidazolinone‐tolerant varieties were at least 31.8 times less susceptible than weedy rice populations, suggesting that Italian weedy rice populations were not tolerant to imazamox before introduction of these varieties.     

Artificial root exudates and soil organic carbon mineralization in a degraded sandy grassland in northern China

Plant root exudates contain various organic and inorganic components that include glucose, citric and oxalic acid. These components affect rhizosphere microbial and microfaunal activities, but the mechanisms are not fully known. Studies concerned from degraded grassland ecosystems with low soil carbon（C） contents are rare, in spite of the global distribution of grasslands in need of restoration. All these have a high potential for carbon sequestration, with a reduced carbon content due to overutilization. An exudate component that rapidly decomposes will increase soil respiration and CO2 emission, while a component that reduces decomposition of native soil carbon can reduce CO2 emission and actually help sequestering carbon in soil. Therefore, to investigate root exudate effects on rhizosphere activity, citric acid, glucose and oxalic acid（0.6 g C/kg dry soil） were added to soils from three biotopes（grassland, fixed dune and mobile dune） located in Naiman, Horqin Sandy Land, Inner Mongolia, China） and subjected to a 24-day incubation experiment together with a control. The soils were also analyzed for general soil properties. The results show that total respiration without exudate addition was highest in grassland soil, intermediate in fixed dune and lowest in mobile dune soil. However, the proportion of native soil carbon mineralized was highest in mobile dune soil, reflecting the low C/N ratio found there. The exudate effects on CO2-C emissions and other variables differed somewhat between biotopes, but total respiration（including that from the added substrates） was significantly increased in all combinations compared with the control, except for oxalic acid addition to mobile dune soil, which reduced CO2-C emissions from native soil carbon. A small but statistically significant increase in pH by the exudate additions in grassland and fixed dune soil was observed, but there was a major decrease from acid additions to mobile dune soil. In contrast, electrical conductivity decreased in grassland     

Identification of a candidate gene for resistance to root‐knot nematode in a wild peach and screening of its polymorphisms

Root‐knot nematode disease, caused by Meloidogyne species, is an important soil‐borne disease of peach (Prunus persica L.) worldwide. To identify a major locus of genetic resistance to M. incognita, PkMi, in a wild peach species, we reconstructed a linkage group in a BC₁ population of 187 lines using resistance gene analogue markers surrounding the PkMi locus. A resistance gene analogue marker, ppa021062m, co‐segregated with the PkMi locus and was therefore considered a strong candidate for PkMi. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced protein sequences of ppa021062m, together with the other seven genes for nematode resistance, allowed ppa021062m to be assigned to the Toll/Interleukin1 Receptor‐Nucleotide Binding Site‐Leucine Rich Repeat class, similar to Ma in myrobalan plum (P. cerasifera). Comparative analysis of the candidate gene sequence in four genotypes that had different levels of resistance to root‐knot nematode disease showed that most non‐synonymous SNPs in the genic region were distributed in the TIR and NBS motifs. This study enhances our understanding of the genetic and molecular control of resistance to root‐knot nematode disease in peach.     

条带深松对不同密度玉米群体根系空间分布的调节效应

为探究条带深松耕作(SS)对密植玉米群体根系空间分布与容纳量的调节效应,本试验设置3个种植密度(低密：4.50万株 hm^-2、中密：6.75万株 hm^-2、高密：9.00万株 hm^-2),以土壤免耕(NT)为对照,利用小立方原位根土取样器,通过“3D monolith”根系空间取样方法,比较研究玉米个体与群体根系的空间分布对种植密度与土壤耕作方式的响应。结果表明,单株根长受种植密度影响显著,在0~50 cm土层中(每10 cm为一土层),高密种植的单株根长较低密种植减少110.31、43.18、15.73、10.49和17.45 m;在高密种植条件下,与土壤免耕比,条带深松耕作增加20~30 cm、30~40 cm、40~50 cm土层中的单株根长13.32%、19.80%、47.20%;单株根干重与单株根长的变化一致。种植密度对群体总根长的影响不显著,却显著影响群体根系的空间分布。与低密种植比,高密种植的植株中心根长密度在0~10 cm、10~20 cm土层中分别降低3.82 cm cm^-3、0.62 cm cm^-3,但植株之间的根长密度在0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm、30~40 cm土层中分别增加1.13 cm cm^-3、0.18 cm cm^-3、0.06 cm cm^-3、0.05 cm cm^-3;在高密种植条件下对土壤进行条带深松耕作,与土壤免耕比,植株中心的根长密度在0~10 cm土层中降低16.10%,在10~20 cm、20~30 cm土层中却分别增加47.45%和13.37%,植株之间的根长密度在20~30 cm、30~40 cm、40~50 cm土层中分别增加50.26%、30.72%和106.15%;条带深松耕作显著提高密植玉米群体下层根系的容纳量。高密条件下条带深松耕作增加了群体根干重、深层根系量、植株间根系分布及根表面积,进而增加了地上部群体叶面积指数及地上部干重,最终促进产量显著提高。说明密植群体通过条带深松耕作改善了群体的根系空间分布,减弱了上层根系的拥挤,通过增加深层土壤根系量及植株之间根系量增加了群体根系容纳量,发挥了密植群体根系功能,实现了密植群体的高产。     

硅介导稻瘟病抗性的生理机理

【目的】稻瘟病是水稻生产主要的病害之一,每年造成严重的产量损失。研究表明,施用硅肥作为一种环境友好型病害防治措施,在增强植物抗病性中起重要作用,但其作用机理还不完全清楚。本文旨在探讨硅处理对水稻稻瘟病的抗性效应及生理作用机理,为稻瘟病的有效防治提供理论依据和实践指导。【方法】选用稻瘟病广谱感病品系CO39（不含已知抗稻瘟病基因）及其近等基因系C101LAC(Pi-1)（抗病品系）为试验材料,设置（1）不加硅不接种（Si-M-）、（2）加硅不接种（Si+M-）、（3）不加硅接种（Si-M+）和（4）加硅接种（Si+M+）等4个处理,通过光照培养箱控制生长条件,用Hoagland营养液进行水培试验,研究施硅对稻瘟病的控制效果,以及对水稻根系和叶片中硅、酚类物质、水杨酸、乙烯及H2O2含量的影响。【结果】施硅显著降低两个水稻品系的稻瘟病的发病率和病情指数。抗病品系C101LAC(Pi-1)的稻瘟病的发病率和病情指数明显低于感病品系CO39。施硅后,两个水稻品系的根、茎、叶中的硅含量都显著增加,地上部的硅含量明显高于根部。稻瘟病菌侵染条件下,加硅显著降低两个材料叶片中的总酚含量,对根系中的总酚含量没有显著影响。不接种稻瘟病菌情况下,加硅对第3天叶片中总酚含量没有显著影响,而显著降低了第7天叶片中的总酚含量,两个水稻品系表现一致。对两个品系水稻品种来说,根系中的总酚含量明显低于叶片中的总酚含量。稻瘟病菌侵染条件下,加硅显著降低两个材料叶片中的木质素含量,对根系中的木质素含量没有显著影响。不接种稻瘟病菌情况下,加硅显著增高了CO39叶片中的水杨酸含量,而对于C101LAC(Pi-1),加硅只在第3天显著增高了叶片中的水杨酸含量。接种稻瘟病菌后,施硅使CO39在第3天叶片中的水杨酸含量显著增高,而对C101LAC(Pi-1)没有显著影响。在两个品系的根系中都没有检测到水杨酸。接种稻瘟病菌后,施硅显著降低了两个水稻材料叶片和根系中的乙烯含量。不接种稻瘟病菌情况下,叶片中乙烯含量极低,加硅显著降低了CO39第3天根系中乙烯含量,而对于C101LAC(Pi-1),加硅后,第3天和第7天根系中乙烯含量都显著降低。加硅显著降低两个材料叶片中H2O2的含量,而显著增加了根系中H2O2含量。对两个品系水稻品种来说,根系中的H2O2含量明显低于叶片中的。【结论】施硅能显著增加水稻对稻瘟病的抗性,改变植株体内的生理代谢状况,调节植物体内酚类物质的含量,并通过诱导信号物质如水杨酸、乙烯、H2O2等的变化来提高水稻植株对稻瘟病的抗性。