The mechanical roles of the clasping leaf sheath in cereals: Two case studies from oat and wheat plants

Stem lodging is a common problem in cereal crop production and a main constraint for grain yield improvement. The leaf sheath that surrounds and protects the hollow internodes of stem could provide the plants with a great physical support. However, this biomechanical function has been ignored for several decades in cereal crops. This study aimed to examine the biomechanical properties of basal stem internodes and lodging susceptibility of the whole plants with or without the clasping leaf sheath in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) among different genotypes and agronomic practices (including planting densities and nitrogen application rates). The main objective was to quantify the mechanical role of the leaf sheath in oat and wheat crops by a “safety factor” method. On average, the leaf sheath contributed 40%, 68% and 38% of the overall stem bending strength, flexural rigidity and safety factor, in oat, while it accounted for 11%, 24% and 10%, respectively, in wheat plants. The significant contribution of the leaf sheath is due to its vital role in enlarging the peripheral position (i.e., second moment of area) and stiffness (i.e., Young's modulus). The contribution ratios (%) were found to be higher in oat than in wheat plants, due to the greater mass density of leaf sheath and more proficient/prevailing stay-green capability in oat genotypes. This study emphasizes the important mechanical role of clasping leaf sheath on stem internodes of cereals and indicates that the stay-green trait of the leaf sheath can be exploited to design appropriate varieties with improved lodging resistance and great yield potential.     

Identification of a phytoplasma associated with pomegranate little leaf disease in Iran

During 2012–2014 surveys for the presence of phytoplasma diseases in Fars province (Iran), pomegranate little leaf symptoms were observed in several orchards in Khafr and Neyriz areas. Samples collected from symptomatic plants positively reacted in nested PCR assays using P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 primer pairs producing the expected 1,250 bp DNA fragments. Real and virtual RFLP analysis showed that the sequences of phytoplasma strains from Khafr and Neyriz (KPLL and NPLL strains, respectively) were identical to each other and belong to 16SrII phytoplasma group, subgroup D. Phylogenetic analysis of the R16F2n⁄R16R2 DNA region confirmed that KPLL and NPLL phytoplasmas were enclosed in the same clade as other 16SrII-D subgroup phytoplasmas. This is the first reported occurrence of a 16SrII phytoplasma infecting pomegranate trees.     

Rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence: seed source and spatial pattern

A programme of field trials for the study of the winter barley–Rhynchosporium commune pathosystem is reported. The associated seedborne disease rhynchosporium leaf scald is regarded as having an important impact on barley yields. The analysis in this study relates to the impact of the seed source (commercial or farm-saved seed) on disease incidence and to the spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence. Disease incidence data were calculated from field data recorded as disease severity. Mean disease incidence was higher in the crops grown from farm-saved seed than in those grown from commercial seed, although great agronomic significance cannot be attached to this result. The spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence was characterized in terms of the binary power law (BPL) and was indicative of an aggregated pattern. Programme-wide BPL results were described using a novel phytopathological application of a random coefficients model. These results have application in field sampling for rhynchosporium leaf scald disease.     

温室内赤苞花和黄虾花叶片解剖结构及光合特性研究

为研究温室内两种爵床科植物叶片解剖结构及光合特性,本试验选取青岛世界园艺博览会植物馆内的两种爵床科植物,赤苞花(Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Lindau)、黄虾花(Pachystachys lutea Nees)为研究对象,用石蜡包埋法对两种植物的叶片进行解剖分析,使用CIRAS-3便携式光合仪测定其光合特性。结果表明,爵床科的两种植物在相同的环境中,叶片的内部结构相似,上表皮均厚于下表皮,海绵组织均厚于栅栏组织。光合指标存在差异,赤苞花的蒸腾速率、气孔导度、细胞间CO₂浓度均大于黄虾花,但黄虾花的水分利用率、净光合速率大于赤苞花。     

Phenotypic plasticity of two invasive alien plant species inside a deciduous forest in a strict nature reserve in Italy

ABSTRACT

Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) represent one of the main biological threats to biodiversity worldwide. Information about their phenotypic plasticity are needed to increase awareness about their future invasive potential. A study about phenotypic plasticity in response to contrasting light regimes and its quantification by a plasticity index (PI) of two IAPs (Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia) inside a Strict Nature Reserve was conducted. R. pseudoacacia showed a 70% higher PI, with a strongly greater value at morphological leaf level, associated with a greater ability to survive and grow in forest understory, explaining its greater widespread. Otherwise, A. altissima showed its highest PI at physiological level, which was associated with the ability to colonize and grow in environments with high-light regimes. Based on these results, the conservative management has limited the presence of A. altissima by its lower ability to grow in forest understory. In fact, the small-scale gaps in the forest infrastructure, that could allow its recruitment, are originated only from the death of a single tree or small group of trees. Regarding R. pseudoacacia, it is critical to maintain this type of management because any disturbances resulting in large openings could further promote its presence inside the Reserve.     

湖南省生姜资源主要农艺性状鉴定评价

研究旨在对湖南省47份生姜种质资源的15个数量性状和10个质量性状进行分析,以期探索湖南省各地生姜资源间的亲缘关系及变异特性,为湖南省生姜种质评价与新品种创制提供理论依据。用Excel及SPSS等对调查收集的农艺性状进行分析,结果表明,湖南省生姜资源具有丰富的遗传多样性,变异系数范围为13.22%~40.13%;聚类分析中,47份生姜资源分为2类4个亚组,其中第I类群的41份资源为密苗型资源,第II类群的6份资源为疏苗型资源,亚组I和亚组IV近似纺锤状;亚组II和亚组III近似灯泡状;主成分分析中,提取出的3个主成分累计贡献率达83.078%,分别命名为高产型形态因子、低产型形态因子和产量的叶部因子;相关性分析中,根状茎、株形、地上茎、子姜、叶部等形态因子与根状茎质量呈极显著正相关,分枝数和主茎叶数与根状茎质量呈极显著负相关,表明植株高大,分枝少,地上茎粗壮,根状茎、子姜粗长的品种单株根状茎质量相对更高;通径分析中,主茎叶数、分枝数对根状茎质量的直接通径系数为负,而根状茎、地上茎粗、子姜长、株高等对根状茎质量的直接通径系数为正,表明在一定范围内,生姜植株高大、地上茎秆粗壮、分枝少、叶片较少,根状茎粗长、子姜长的生姜品种具有高产潜力。该试验解析了湖南省生姜资源各主要农艺性状对根状茎质量形成的贡献大小,为更好地指导湖南省生姜生产提供了理论依据。     

东北“三大硬阔”叶片和叶轴质量分配比较

以3个树种健康复叶为试材,研究了叶内光合构件和支撑构件的生物量投资的种内种间变化规律。结果表明:水曲柳、胡桃楸和黄檗叶轴质量占复叶质量的比例分别为0.18、0.26和0.17,胡桃楸显著大于其它2个树种。跨物种尺度上,复叶大的树种需要更多的叶内支撑结构投资。但物种水平上,水曲柳叶片投资随叶增大而增大,胡桃楸则降低,黄檗基本稳定,表现出与跨物种水平上的叶片投资随叶增大而降低的普遍规律不同。今后需要加深物种水平上叶内生物量分配的异速生长的了解。     

桃若干重要特异性状的遗传趋向分析

为了明确桃树菊花花形、窄叶形、白化与黄化叶色及盘龙形与垂枝形树形等6个性状的遗传特性,以‘粉菊花桃’ב红根甘肃桃1号’、‘红花重瓣垂枝桃’(简称‘红垂枝’)ב粉菊花桃’、‘S9’ב粉菊花桃’、‘粉菊花桃’ב瑞光2号’、‘红珊瑚’×(‘粉菊花桃’ב瑞光2号’)为组合配制F_1和F_2代,研究菊花花形、叶片白化及垂枝树形的遗传特性;以‘98-4-32’ב金蜜狭叶桃’、‘99-7-14’ב金蜜狭叶桃’及‘99-7-15’ב金蜜狭叶桃’为组合配制F_1和F_2代,研究窄叶形遗传趋向;以‘北京2-7’ב白花山碧桃’为组合配制F_1和F_2代,研究叶片黄化遗传特点;以‘红垂枝’ב帚形山桃’及‘96-7-56’ב帚形山桃’为组合配制F_1和F_2代,研究盘龙形树形的遗传。结果表明:在蔷薇花形与菊花花形组合中,"蔷薇形/菊花形"表现出2对等位基因(Ch/ch及Ch_2/ch_2)控制的遗传特性,且蔷薇形对菊花形为显性;在铃形花形与菊花花形组合中,F_1代蔷薇形表现为二者的中间类型。在‘98-4-32’ב金蜜狭叶桃’及‘99-7-14’ב金蜜狭叶桃’组合中,"宽叶/窄叶"表现出2对等位基因(Nl/nl及Nl_2/nl_2)控制的遗传特性,且宽叶对窄叶为显性;在‘99-7-15’ב金蜜狭叶桃’组合中,"宽叶/窄叶"表现出1对等位基因控制的遗传特性。叶片"正常/白化"表现出1对等位基因(Wl/wl)控制的遗传特性,且正常对白化为显性,白化基因可能来自‘粉菊花桃’;叶片"正常/黄化"表现出2对等位基因(Yl/yl及Yl_2/yl_2)控制的遗传特性,其中1对为显性时对另一对具有抑制作用,黄化基因可能来自‘白花山碧桃’。直立树形同时表现为盘龙形与垂枝形及盘龙形与开张形的中间类型;"开张形/垂枝形"表现出1对等位基因(We/we)控制的遗传特性,且开张对垂枝为显性。结论:菊花花形由2对隐性基因(chchch_2ch_2)控制;窄叶形可能由2对隐性基因(nlnlnl_2nl_2)控制;叶片白化由1对隐性基因(wlwl)控制;叶片黄化可能由2对等位基因(Yl_yl_2yl_2或Yl_2_ylyl)控制;仅盘龙形与直立形由1对等位基因(Br_2/br_2)控制,其中盘龙形基因型为br_2br_2;垂枝形由1对隐性基因(wewe)控制。     

应用光谱反射测定的植物、土壤及混合光谱特性

以野外采集的土壤与活体植物叶片为研究对象,采用美国生产的SVC HR-1024便携式地物光谱仪,测定了纯土壤、纯植物叶片以及不同植物叶片盖度下的土壤光谱反射率,并对混合光谱特性进行了分析研究,建立了植物叶片盖度光谱估算模型。结果表明:(1)随着植物叶片盖度的增加,土壤光谱曲线逐渐呈现"五谷四峰"的特征,但始终不会高于植被光谱曲线;(2)植物叶片盖度与原始高光谱组成的差值、比值和归一化值3种形式的指数存在着良好的相关性,差值指数的显著性最为明显,组合较好的波段为410~710 nm与700~1400 nm,能反映相关系数最大的波段为690 nm和450 nm;(3)通过一元线性回归法、多元线性逐步回归法和偏最小二乘回归法预测植物叶片盖度可知:光谱特征参数与植物叶片盖度之间具有相关性,其中光化学指数与植被衰减指数的相关系数较大,模型拟合度较高,R^2均达到0.8以上;3种光谱特征参数(植被指数、红边参数、光谱吸收特征参数)中,植被指数与植物叶片盖度建立的模型最稳定、精度最高,可以有效地估算植物叶片盖度3种方法中,多元线性逐步回归法最适宜建立植物叶片盖度预测模型。     

Density responses and spatial distribution of cotton yield and yield components in jujube (Zizyphus jujube)/cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) agroforestry

Trees are the dominant species in agroforestry systems, profoundly affecting the performance of understory crops. Proximity to trees is a key factor in crop performance, but rather little information is available on the spatial distribution of yield and yield components of crop species under the influence of trees in agroforestry systems. Also, little information is available on how crop density may be exploited to optimize the yield in such systems. Here we studied the performance of cotton in jujube/cotton agroforestry. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Hetian, Xinjiang, China. Cotton was grown at a row distance of 60 cm in three densities, 13.5, 18.0 and 22.5 plants m⁻² in six m wide paths between tree lines in a jujube plantation. Plant density affected both cotton aboveground dry matter and yield significantly. The highest yield was attained at the intermediate density of 18.0 plants m⁻² (20.0 plants m⁻² corresponding in sole cotton), lower than the optimal density in sole cotton (25.0 plants m⁻²). Yield at the lower density was constrained by the low number of bolls per m² as a direct consequence of the low density, whereas at the high plant density yield was constrained by a lower allocation of assimilates to cotton seed and lint, as a consequence of intraspecific and interspecific competitions. There were strong gradients in yield and yield components in relation to the distance from the tree rows. Leaf area and total dry matter of cotton in rows close to the tree lines were reduced, especially in the rows next to the trees. Moreover, biomass allocation to cotton fruits was reduced in these rows. Competitive influences from the trees on cotton performance extended two rows deep in a six-year old jujube stand, and even three rows deep in a seven-year old stand. Shading effects on cotton yield were compensated by increasing plant density as a result of greater boll numbers per unit ground area. Data from this study help guide the design of optimal plant density of cotton in jujube plantations and give insight in the spatial distribution and dynamics of competitive effects in agroforestry systems in general.