Morphological plasticity of cotton roots in response to interspecific competition with pecan in an alleycropping system in the southern United States

A study was conducted in northwest Florida, USA, to investigate root development and morphology of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under pecan (Carya illinoensis K. Koch) trees in an alleycropping experiment. Root:shoot ratio, root biomass, total root length and root length density were examined under three treatments: (1) barrier (separating belowground interspecific competition by trenching to a depth of 120 cm and installing polyethylene barrier), (2) non-barrier (root systems were free to interact), and (3) monoculture of cotton (without above and belowground interspecific competition with trees). Results indicated that plants in the barrier and non-barrier treatments had lower root:shoot ratios compared to the monoculture treatment. Belowground competition for resources between pecan and cotton in the non-barrier treatment resulted in 25 and 33% reduction of total root length (359 cm) when compared to that of the barrier (477 cm) and monoculture (539 cm) treatments, respectively. The non-barrier plants also exhibited the lowest root length density. Specific root length was highest for the monoculture (179 cm g⁻¹) and lowest for the non-barrier treatment (146 cm g⁻¹) with the barrier treatment being intermediate (165 cm g⁻¹). Interspecific competition with pecan significantly altered root development and morphology of cotton plants. Research in agroforestry should take into account the developmental differences in root systems of the associated crop species so that better models incorporating nutrient and water uptake can be developed.     

大、小兴安岭落叶松球果花蝇种类及生物学特性的研究

1988年和1989年,我们分别对大、小兴安岭危害落叶松的球果花蝇(Strob-ilomyia spp.)种群进行了定点观察研究。在大兴安岭,种群由S.laricicola(Ka-rl)、S.baicalensis(Elberg)、S.infrequens(Ackland)和S.melaniola(Fan)组成,其中S.melaniola为优势种。在小兴安岭,种群由S.luteoforceps(Fan ＆ Fang)S.batcalensis(Elberg)、S.infrequens(Ackland)和S.melaniola(Fan)组成,其中S.infrequens为优势种。利用黄色胶纸诱捕成蝇,发现各种类羽化期不同,进而幼虫的发育期也不同,并与落叶松球果的物候同步。各种球果花蝇在球果上产卵位置不同,因而其为害状也不相同。     

Insights into the differences in leaf functional traits of heterophyllous Syringa oblata under different light intensities

Many plants exhibit heterophylly; the spatially and temporally remarkable ontogenetic differences in leaf morphology may play an adaptative role in their success under diverse habitats. Thus, this stud...     

Nonphytotoxic copper oxide nanoparticles are powerful “nanoweapons” that trigger resistance in tobacco against the soil-borne fungal pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae

Investigations into the potential application of nanoparticles acting as nanofungicides in sustainable agriculture are rapidly expanding due to the high antimicrobial properties of these compounds, which do not risk inducing pathogen resistance to fungicides.  A detailed understanding of the impact of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi is yet to be obtained.  This study aimed to explore the in vitro antifungal activity and control efficacy of CuO NPs applied via irrigation with respect to tobacco black shank (TBS) disease caused by Phytophthora nicotianae.  The results revealed that CuO NPs greatly interfered with the reproductive growth process of this fungus, repressing hyphal growth, spore germination and sporangium production.  Additionally, morphological damage, intracellular ROS accumulation and increased SOD enzyme activity in hyphae were the antifungicidal mechanisms of these NPs.  In pot experiments, treatment with CuO NPs at 100 mg L^–1 significantly suppressed TBS development, compared with the effect on control plants, and the control efficacy reached 33.69% without inducing phytotoxicity.  Exposure to CuO NPs significantly activated a series of defense enzymes, and resistance genes in tobacco can further explain the mechanisms by which CuO NPs suppressed fungal infection.  The Cu content in both the leaves and roots of P. nicotianae-infested plants increased by 50.03 and 27.25%, respectively, after treatment with 100 mg L^–1 CuO NPs, compared with that of healthy plants.  In particular, a higher Cu content was observed in infected roots than in leaves.  Therefore, this study showed the potential of CuO NPs applied as nanofungicides and as nanoinducers of fungus resistance genes for the management of TBS through inhibition of pathogen infection and stimulation of plant defenses.     

强还原土壤灭菌处理对人参连作土壤细菌群落结构及土壤酶活的影响

强还原土壤灭菌（reductive soil disinfestation,RSD）和土壤熏蒸（soil fumigation,SF）是缓解人参连作障碍的常用方法。为研究2种方法对土壤细菌群落和土壤酶活性的影响,采用高通量测序技术和化学分析方法对强还原土壤灭菌加氯化苦熏蒸（RSD+SF）、强还原土壤灭菌加复合菌（RSD+F）、氯化苦熏蒸加复合菌（SF+F）3种方式改良的土壤细菌群落和土壤酶活性进行分析。结果表明,RSD+F组细菌群落多样性与丰富度均最高,SF+F组均最低,3组拥有相同细菌菌属431个。RSD+SF组中,丰富度最高的细菌为Gemmatimonas,其丰富度为9.17%;RSD+F组中丰富度最高的细菌为norank_f_noranko_Gaiellales,其丰富度为8.72%;RSD+F组中丰富度最高的细菌为Bacillus,其丰富度为9.16%;Bacillus为3种方式改良土壤前10种优势菌群中共有的优势菌群。土壤酶活性与土壤细菌群落结构存在显著性关系,随着生长时间的增加,不同方式改良后的连作人参土壤酶活性均具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。由此可知,3种土壤改良方式均能在不同程度地增加有益细菌属的丰富度并提高土壤酶活性,其中RSD+SF组和RSD+F组的有益细菌属数量及土壤酶活性均高于SF+F组。     

The duality of teleost gonadotropins

The duality of salmon gonadotropins has been proved by biochemical, biological, and immunological characterization of two chemically distinc gonadotropins. GTH I and GTH II were equipotent in stimulating estradiol production, whereas GTH II appears to be more potent in stimulating maturational steroid synthesis. The ratio of plasma levels and pituitary contents of GTHs and the secretory control by a GnRH suggest that GTH I is the predominant GTH during vitellogenesis and early stages of spermatogenesis in salmonids, whereas GTH II is predominant at the time of spermiation and ovulation. GTH I and GTH II are found in distinctly separate cells. In trout, GTH I is expressed first in ontogeny, whereas GTH II cells appear coincident with the onset of spermatogenesis and vitellogenesis, and increase dramatically at the time of final reproductive maturation. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of polypeptides and the base sequences of cDNA revealed that salmon GTH I β is more similar to bovine FSHβ than bovine LHβ and salmon GTH II β shows higher homology to bovine LHβ than to bovine FSHβ. The existence of two pituitary gonadotropins in teleosts as well as tetrapods suggests that the divergence of the GTH gene took place earlier than the time of divergence of teleosts from the main line of evolution leading to tetrapods.     

中华绒螯蟹胚胎发育过程中的消化酶活力及氨基酸组成

采用生物化学方法测定了中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)胚胎发育过程中7个发育期的5种水解酶(类胰蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂酶和纤维素酶)活力和氨基酸的组成。结果表明，胚胎发育各阶段消化酶活力及氨基酸组成的变化与其发育关系密切。在整个胚胎发育过程中，类胰蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶和纤维素酶的活力呈“高-低-高”的变化趋势，脂酶则呈现逐渐上升的趋势，而淀粉酶的变化趋势不明显。但在原蚤状幼体期，5种酶的活力均显著升高，这与孵化后幼体开口摄食的自身调控机理有关。可溶性蛋白质的含量呈“低-高-低”的变化趋势，明显与相关酶的活力有关。氨基酸含量在前6期变化不大，在原蚤状幼体期显著下降。所有氨基酸中，谷氨酸的含量最高；必需氨基酸中以亮氨酸的含量最高，并且单个必需氨基酸含量与必需氨基酸总量的比值(A／E)在胚胎发育不同阶段略有差异，但基本趋于一致。     

Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area,southwestern Ethiopia

We identified the major non-timber forest products （NTFPs）, their contributions to household incomes, and the determinants influenc-ing engagement of households in using NTFPs in the Bonga forest area of Gimbo and Decha Districts of Kaffa Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Six Kebeles （the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia） were sampled from two Districts and 150 households were randomly sampled using propor-tional-to-size techniques based on the number of farm households in each Kebele. Secondary data were collected from and focus group discussions were conducted with selected individuals. The farmers diversified liveli-hood activities such as crop and livestock production, collection of NTFPs and off-farm activities. NTFPs played a significant role in household incomes. The contribution from the major NTFPs （forest coffee, honey and spices） accounted for 47% of annual household in-come. The role of NTFPs was influenced by a number of factors. Vari-ables including being native to the area （＋）, total land holding （＋）, pos-session of livestock （＋） and access to extension （＋） significantly affected forest coffee production. Age of household head （-）, land holding （＋） and distance of the market from the residence （-） significantly affected honey production. Size of landholding （＋）, distance to market （-） and distance of the forest from the residence （-） were significant variables determining the NTFP incomes derived by the households. Attention is needed in the design of policies and strategies for the well-being of households to the contribution of NTFPs to local incomes and the variables that affect the collection of NTFPs must be considered.     

宿根矮化病菌侵染后甘蔗防御酶活性变化

[目的]研究接种甘蔗宿根矮化病（Ratoon stuning disease,RSD）菌后甘蔗防御酶活性的变化,为进一步探明甘蔗与RSD病菌的互作机制提供理论依据.[方法]以温汤脱毒后的甘蔗品种桂糖1 1号（GT11）为材料,设RSD菌液浸种为处理,ddH2O浸种为对照,测定甘蔗茎、叶不同时期超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）等5种防御酶活性变化.[结果]在RSD病菌胁迫下,甘蔗茎和叶片中相关防御酶活性均有所变化,茎中除APX活性一直高于对照外,其他酶活性均表现为在90 d时低于对照,180d时高于对照;叶中除POD活性一直高于对照外,其他酶活性在90 d时高于对照,180 d时低于对照.[结论]在RSD病菌胁迫下,甘蔗茎和叶片中CAT、SOD、POD、APX及GR活性均有所提高,随着胁迫时间的延长在茎中出现逐渐高于对照的趋势,叶片则与此相反.     

干旱胁迫下Si对甘蔗叶片相对水含量和抗氧化物酶活性的影响

【目的】研究干旱胁迫下不同Si（硅）水平对不同耐旱性甘蔗品种的抗氧化物酶活性的影响,为探索Si提高甘蔗抗旱性的生理基础提供依据。【方法】采用水培法,设置3个施Si浓度（0、0.2、1.7 mmol/L）,经不同PEG-6000胁迫时间（0、18、26、30、40 h）后,测定两个耐旱性甘蔗品种（ROC16和ROC22）甘蔗叶片的相对水含量（RWC）及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）等保护酶活性。【结果】与对照处理（Si浓度0 mmol/L,PEC-6000胁迫时间0 h）相比,随着胁迫时间的延长不同浓度Si处理的叶片RWC持续下降,POD活性先降后升,CAT活性先升后降,SOD活性则表现为先降后升再降的抛物线式变化趋势。ROC22的抗氧化物酶活性均高于ROC16。【结论】施Si能提高甘蔗叶片RWC及SOD、POD和CAT的活性,且高Si浓度（1.7 mmol/L）比低Si浓度（0.2 mmol/L）效果好。