Leaf litter decomposition in a chaparral ecosystem, Southern California

Decomposition losses from leaves of three evergreen chaparral species, scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), and manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), were quantified over a 2-y field exposure using litterbags. Changes in ash-free dry mass, C, and N were monitored at 2- to 6-month intervals at four replicate sites composed of patches of these three chaparral species. Three proximate C fractions were extracted from fresh and decomposing litter samples: polar and non-polar extractives (EXT), acid-solubles (ACID), and acid-insolubles (KLIG). The chemical structure of fresh and decomposed litter was additionally characterized using high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, while morphological properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 2 y, the litters had lost between 20.7%±1.2 (Ceanothus) and 35.2%±6.8 (Quercus) of their original ash-free dry mass. The manzanita decomposed at a significantly faster rate than the other two litter types during the first few months of field exposure. Yet, after 2 y, mass loss was greater for the oak. Differences in decomposition rates could not be accounted for based on a single litter quality index. Fresh manzanita exhibited a significantly higher N content, which could explain its initially faster decay rate. Fresh oak litter, on the other hand, had a relatively high ACID and O-alkyl C (O-ALK) content, which may have been responsible for its decay pattern. Fresh ceanothus contained a relatively low KLIG content, yet it decomposed more slowly than the two other species. The solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra of the ceanothus litter had two peaks characteristic of proanthocyanidins, which likely contributed to the recalcitrance of this litter type. SEM revealed that ceanothus leaf surfaces were left nearly unchanged after field exposure. In comparison, the oak and manzanita leaf surfaces were pitted and covered by microbial growth to the point of being unrecognizable. Taken together, our results indicate that a combination of biological, physical and chemical factors need to be examined to clarify the different decomposition rates and patterns of these three chaparral species.     

苹果浓缩汁二次混浊物的形态分析

通过苹果浓缩汁二次混浊物的形态分析以及浊度测定，初步确定混浊物的化学成分，为果汁生产、贮存中混浊的控制提供依据。将二次混浊果汁和后混浊果汁经乙酸双氧铀负染，观察其在透射式电镜下的形态并测定其浊度。结果表明：苹果浓缩汁经-18℃，冷冻8～10h处理后，苹果浓缩汁混浊减轻；再煮沸冷冻的果汁，混浊增加；二次混浊苹果浓缩汁形成的颗粒经乙酸双氧铀负染在透射式电镜下有蛋白质球状颗粒和链状的多酚类颗粒，或自身聚合或相互聚合形成大的颗粒；贮藏6个月的苹果浓缩汁后混浊比二次混浊严重。初步确定苹果浓缩汁的二次混浊物主要是蛋白质和酚类以及两者自身或相互聚合的产物。     

Experimental studies on cold survival of enchytraeid cocoons

The effect of different culture methods, cold acclimation and desiccation on the supercooling point (SCP), the melting point (MP) of fluids and the quantity of water freezing (osmotically active water) was investigated in individual cocoons of Enchytraeus crypticus and an undescribed Enchytraeus species using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Both species can be easily cultured in the laboratory in agar where the development and hatching of the worms can be observed. Culture methods (agar with nettle leaves or oats as food and wet filter paper without food supply) had a significant effect on fresh weight and SCP of E. crypticus cocoons. The water content (as a proportion of fresh weight) was slightly lower in the cocoons from the wet filter paper cultures. Acclimation at —3 °C did not affect the supercooling ability of E. crypticus cocoons, whereas the SCP of E. sp.1 cocoons was lowered from a mean of —8.7 to —12.4 °C. The supercooling ability of cocoons of E. crypticus was only slightly increased by desiccation and cold acclimation, but the quantity of frozen water was significantly reduced with acclimation and desiccation (2 and 3 min) at room temperature. The MP values of the cocoon fluids reflected these changes in both species. No cocoons of E. crypticus and E. sp.1 survived desiccation and freezing in our experiments and no worms of Enchytraeus albidus, E. crypticus and Henlea perpusilla survived freezing to —10 or —20 °C.     

The combined effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and selenium on growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and ultrastructure in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) treated in the field

The possible ameliorative effects of selenium (Se) addition to soil on the detrimental effects of enhanced UV-B radiation were tested on strawberry and barley during 4 months of field experiment in Kuopio, Central Finland. Control plants were exposed to ambient levels of UV radiation, using arrays of unenergized lamps. A control for UV-A radiation was also included in the experiment. Added Se, applied as H₂SeO₄, at the level of 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ soil (low dosage) and 1 mg kg⁻¹ soil (high dosage) increased Se concentrations in plants more than 10 and 100 times, respectively. After 4 months of exposure, strawberry and barley plants were harvested for biomass analysis. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured using the Hansatech FMS2 fluorescence monitoring system. Leaf anatomy and ultrastructure were observed by light and transmission electron microscope. Several effects of UV and Se as well as their interaction were found, mostly for strawberry, but not for barley, indicating species-specific responses. Our results provided evidence that the high Se concentration in soil had no ameliorative effect but increased the sensitivity of strawberry to enhanced UV-B radiation in the field. Under ambient radiation, Se did not alter leaf growth of strawberry, whereas under UV-B radiation, the high Se addition significantly decreased leaf growth. Strawberry runner biomass was affected by the interaction of Se and UV. Under ambient radiation Se did not change dry weight of runners, but in combination with UV-A or UV-B radiation the high Se dosage decreased dry weight of runners by about 30%. Although the high Se concentration positively influenced on quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in strawberry leaves, it reduced runner biomass, leaf number and ratio of starch to chloroplast area. This suggests that the harmful effects of the high Se dosage on photosynthetic processes occurred as a result of changes in activity or/and biosynthesis of enzymes, rather than alteration of PSII. At the low concentration, Se effects were slight and variable.Although barley leaves accumulated higher Se concentrations than strawberry, there were no apparent changes in their growth, biomass or chlorophyll fluorescence due to Se effect either alone or in combination with UV-B. However, at the ultrastructural level, an enlargement in the peroxisome area was found due to combination of UV radiation with Se, suggesting the activation of antioxidative enzymes, possibly catalase. Decrease in mitochondrial density in barley cells in response to Se might be attributed to alteration of mitochondrial division. Increase in the proportion of cells with cytoplasmic lipid bodies due to combined effect of UV-B and Se indicated the alteration of lipid metabolism and the acceleration of cell senescence in barley. Main UV-B effects were found, mostly at the tissue and ultrastructural level in strawberry, but not in barley, indicating species-specific susceptibility to enhanced UV-B radiation. UV-B-treated strawberry plants developed marginally thinner leaves with reduced ratio of starch to chloroplast area in their cells, suggesting negative influence of UV-B on photosynthetic processes.     

建兰花叶病毒检测标准方法的建立

经过2004￣2005两年对上海口岸进境和进境后种植的260个兰花品种上建兰花叶病毒(CyMV)检测方法的研究,分别建立了检测和鉴定兰花上建兰花叶病毒的DAS-ELISA、电镜观察、鉴别寄主反应、RT-PCR和IC-RT-PCR的方法。     

5种秋子梨品种的花粉形态观察

应用扫描电子显微镜,对安梨、花盖梨、尖把酸梨、南果梨和磨盘梨5种秋子梨品种的花粉进行了形态观察。结果表明,不同秋子梨品种花粉的外部形态大致相同,均为橄榄形,有3条萌发沟,不同品种的萌发沟宽度存在差异,轴面观主要为三角形与方形2种;不同品种花粉粒的大小差异不大,均为30～50μm;不同品种间花粉壁表面纹饰存在较大的差异,其主要为网脊粗细及其交叉与平行排列的程度不同,其中花盖梨与南果梨网脊主要为平行排列,安梨、尖把酸梨与磨盘梨的网脊走向以交叉为主。此外,不同品种的网孔大小与形态也存在差异。     

苜蓿中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium meliloti)的耐酸性研究

用来自酸性土壤上紫花苜蓿根瘤中分离得到的3株能在pH=4.8的YMA固体培养基上正常生长的根瘤菌进行回接试验和生长曲线测定,结果证明,菌株91532耐酸能力高于其余菌珠,并高于国内外已报道过的苜蓿根瘤菌.91532经16SrRNA分析和扫描电子显微镜分析,鉴定为苜蓿中华根瘤菌（Sinorhizobium meliloti）.pH=4.0的质子通量试验中,与酸敏感菌株相比,91532细胞膜具有较强的阻挡质子能力,细胞具有较高的存活率,耐酸能力具有遗传稳定性.     

甘薯茎线虫的扫描电镜制样方法

以甘薯茎线虫为材料,对取样、固定、干燥等制样方法进行比较研究.结果表明,以活线虫为研究试样,采用戊二醛 -锇酸双固定及临界点干燥法(或叔丁醇干燥法 )制样效果好,能获得良好的微形态结构,侧线数目清晰,虫体不皱缩,不变形.     

出眠初期甲鱼肺泡、胃、肝细胞结构的电镜观察

通过扫描和透射电镜观察，描述了出眠初期甲鱼的肺、胃、肝细胞的超微结构特征。肺呈泡囊状结构，由肺泡隔将肺内部隔开成海绵状结构，肺泡内表面覆盖一层呼吸上皮，由单层上皮细胞和毛细血管网构成。上皮细胞有两种类型：Ⅰ型上皮细胞胞质向四周延伸成极度扁平状；Ⅱ型上皮细胞近核细胞质里分布有一定数目的多层体，多层体体积较大，由Ⅰ型上皮细胞延伸的胞质薄层、融合的基底膜和毛细血管内皮细胞胞质薄层共同构成血－气屏障。胃粘膜表面有许多胃小凹，粘膜上皮细胞内有许多电子密度深的分泌颗粒，粘膜腔面被一层粘液所覆盖。肝细胞有两种不同类型，即Ｌ细胞和Ｄ细胞，Ｌ细胞胞核呈圆形，细胞质多，近核周围有一些线粒体；Ｄ细胞的核形状不规则，细胞核紧抱一巨大的脂滴，细胞质较少，细胞器不发达。     

红江橙嵌合特点的扫描电镜观察

以嫁接嵌合体红江橙为材料，在扫描电镜上观察了红江橙及其分离出来的４种变异类型的叶、果表面及其切面的结构．结果表明，红江橙的叶面与其分离出来的黄肉果和橘变果有较大差异，红江橙果皮切面海绵层介于黄肉果与橘变果之间，而从果皮的切面发现表皮层的细胞排列紧密，体积较小，呈长形方格状，与紧接其下的海绵层具有较大的、圆形蜂窝状的细胞明显可分．作为同质体的黄肉果和橘变果，则未能观察到这种结构差异