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.     

Allochrony as a potential driver for reproductive isolation in adaptive radiations of European whitefish ecomorphs

In northern Fennoscandian lakes, monophylogenetic lineages of postglacial fishes are radiating into several adaptive forms, but the speciation process is still at an incipient stage. The speciation process has received increased attention over the years, but the underlying mechanisms and drivers are still debated and poorly understood. European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus [L.]) is the most abundant fish species in these lakes and has evolved into several ecomorphs adapted to different trophic niches and habitats. Genetic divergence has been observed among these ecomorphs, but the mechanism(s) responsible for the ongoing build-up of reproductive isolation has still to be revealed. As these systems are young in evolutionary time (<10 kyr), prezygotic and postzygotic extrinsic isolation mechanisms are thought to be more likely to contribute to the reproductive isolation than intrinsic isolation mechanisms. We determined the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of three ecomorphs in two replicated lake systems and used GSI as a proxy to investigate the prezygotic isolation mechanism, allochrony, as a driving factor of divergence in this adaptive radiation of whitefish. We found that the three ecomorphs differed in GSI values within and between lakes, suggesting different spawning times of the ecomorphs. We also show that males of one ecomorph had equal onset of maturity as another ecomorph, giving novel insights into the ongoing gene flow observed between ecomorphs. The result supports allochrony as a driver for the divergence process of whitefish ecomorphs, but more evidence is still needed to rule out that the three ecomorphs make use of different spawning grounds.     

Basal internode elongation of rice as affected by light intensity and leaf area

Short basal internodes are important for lodging resistance of rice(Oryza sativa L.).Several canopy indices affect the elongation of basal internodes,but uncertainty as to the key factors determining elongation of basal internodes persists.The objectives of this study were(1)to identify key factors affecting the elongation of basal internodes and(2)to establish a quantitative relationship between basal internode length and canopy indices.An inbred rice cultivar,Yinjingruanzhan,was grown in two split-plot field experiments with three N rates(0,75,and 150 kg N ha−1 in early season and 0,90,and 180 kg N ha−1 in late season)as main plots,three seedling densities(16.7,75.0,and 187.5 seedlings m−2)as subplots,and three replications in the 2015 early and late seasons in Guangzhou,China.Light intensity at base of canopy(Lb),light quality as determined from red/far-red light ratio(R/FR),light transmission ratio(LTR),leaf area index(LAI),leaf N concentration(NLV)and final length of second internode(counted from soil surface upward)(FIL)were recorded.Higher N rate and seedling density resulted in significantly longer FIL.FIL was negatively correlated with Lb,LTR,and R/FR(P<0.01)and positively correlated with LAI(P<0.01),but not correlated with NLV(P>0.05).Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that FIL was strongly associated with Lb and LAI(R2=0.82).Heavy N application to pot-grown rice at the beginning of first internode elongation did not change FIL.We conclude that FIL is determined mainly by Lb and LAI at jointing stage.NLV has no direct effect on the elongation of basal internodes.N application indirectly affects FIL by changing LAI and light conditions in the rice canopy.Reducing LAI and improving canopy light transmission at jointing stage can shorten the basal internodes and increase the lodging resistance of rice.     

Analysis and Assessment on Heavy Metal Contamination in Cotton Seeds of Hunan Province

[Objective] In order to guarantee the quality and safety of cotton products and to explore the feasibility of alternative planting, the contamination condition of the heavy metals in cotton seeds in Hunan province was investigated and evaluated. [Method] Fifty-six cotton seed samples, collected in 6 counties of Hunan province, were collected to determine 6 indicators including cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, mercury and inorganic arsenic contents. This was followed by pollution index calculation, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis. [Results] The range of comprehensive pollution indexes of Junshan district, Anxiang county, Nanxian county, Wangcheng and Dingcheng districts varied between 0.366 5–0.577 0, which belonged to a secure level. However, the single pollution indexes of Hengyang county are relatively high. The comprehensive pollution index of Hengyang county was 0.801 6, meaning a mild pollution level. [Conclusion] The pollution status of cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, mercury and arsenic in Hunan cottonseed samples are generally acceptable. Cotton could be a substitute for rice on contaminated soil.     

我国蔬菜作物耐低温性研究进展

低温胁迫是蔬菜生产过程中的主要逆境因子，对蔬菜作物的生长发育、商品产量形成影响极大。本文综述了蔬菜作物耐低温性的遗传模型、生理调节和分子机制，展望了蔬菜作物耐低温性的研究前景。     

Assessing the utility of topographic variables in predicting structural complexity of tree stands in a reforested urban landscape

The transformation of natural landscapes into impervious built-up surfaces through urbanization is known to significantly interfere with the ecological integrity of urban landscapes and accelerate climate change and associated impacts. Although urban reforestation is widely recognised as an ideal mitigation practice against these impacts, it often has to compete with other lucrative land uses within an urban area. The often limited urban space provided for reforestation therefore necessitates the optimization of the ecological benefits, which demands spatially explicit information. The recent proliferation of tree stands structural complexity (SSC) and topographic data offer great potential for determining the ecological performance of reforested areas across an urban landscape. This study explores the potential of using topographic datasets to predict SSC in a reforested urban landscape and ranks the value of these topographic variables in determining SSC. Tree structural data from a reforested urban area was collected and fed into a tree stand structural complexity index, which was used to indicate ecological performance. Topographic variables (Topographic Wetness Index, slope, Area Solar Radiation and elevation)- were derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and used to predict SSC using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression technique. Results show that SSC varied significantly between the topographic variables. Results also show that the topographic variables could be used to reliably predict SSC. As expected, the Topographic Wetness Index and slope were the most important topographic determinants of SSC while elevation was the least valuable. These results provide valuable spatially explicit information about the ecological performance of the reforested areas within an urban landscape. Specifically, the study demonstrates the value of topographic data as aids to urban reforestation planning.     

河北省玉米小斑病菌优势生理小种鉴定及ITS序列分析

2007~2016年在河北各地采集玉米小斑病标样,对分离出的356株玉米小斑病菌菌株进行生理小种鉴定。结果表明,在鉴定的年度范围内,玉米小斑病菌T小种、C小种、S生理型、O小种的分离频率在年度间存有差异,O小种的平均分离频率94.94%,是河北省玉米小斑病菌的优势小种;O小种对主栽品种郑单958和自交系C103的致病力呈下降趋势,在C103上致病力下降幅度小于郑单958。对河北省石家庄、保定、衡水、沧州邯郸、邢台采集的45株菌株进行ITS序列分析构建UPGMA进化树,分析表明,河北省内玉米小斑病菌株的遗传进化与地域有一定关系,差异不明显。     

玉米自交系耐荫性鉴定与评价

以41个玉米自交系为材料,采用大田试验方法,在植株形态建成期设置15%遮荫和不遮荫两种处理方式,研究不同处理下玉米自交系植株形态、物质生产、产量等11个指标以及各指标耐荫系数的变化,并对自交系的耐荫性进行评价。结果表明,遮荫不仅会增加玉米自交系的株高和穗位高,延缓生育进程,而且会降低植株叶面积指数及叶绿素含量,最终影响玉米物质积累及产量的提升。进一步对各指标的耐荫性进行数学统计分析,表明茎干物质、叶面积指数和产量的耐荫系数可作为评价玉米自交系耐荫性指标。筛选出M173、豫82、DH382、618B、P6874、昌7-2、8612A、M753、ZY608、豫1122、PH6WC和M109高度耐荫型玉米自交系;ZY602、ZY606、658、HT60、ZY601、C70、外引-2、四-144、KW7M14、NS501和PH4CV是弱光敏感型玉米自交系。     

灌溉量对玉米生育后期脱水阶段子粒水分的影响

以玉米品种先玉335、九圣禾2468为试验材料,测定不同灌溉量处理的玉米生理成熟至田间收获期间子粒含水率的变化。结果表明,生育期等量灌溉和分配灌溉量试验,在9.0×10~4株/hm^2、12.0×10~4株/hm^2种植密度下,灌溉量增加使子粒含水量呈增加趋势,且脱水速率减慢。灌溉量从3 600 m^3/hm^2增至7 200 m^3/hm^2,子粒含水率分别增加0.94~2.87个百分点,差异达显著水平。灌溉量与种植密度双因素辅助试验,在种植密度6.0×10~4株/hm^2至13.5×10~4株/hm^2时,灌溉量从3 000 m^3/hm^2增至6 000 m^3/hm^2,子粒含水率分别增加1.60~5.00个百分点;在灌溉量3 000 m^3/hm^2和6 000 m^3/hm^2条件下,种植密度从6.0×10~4株/hm^2增至13.5×10~4株/hm^2,子粒含水率有差异,无明显增加或降低趋势;4 500 m3/hm^2灌溉量下各种植密度处理间的子粒含水率未表现出显著差异。     

玉米穗轴对穗腐病抗性鉴定体系与优异抗源的研究

穗轴作为拟轮枝镰孢菌侵染果穗引发玉米穗腐病的重要途径之一，能够影响病原菌的侵染和扩散。为了深入开展玉米穗轴对拟轮枝镰孢菌抗性的研究以及了解玉米穗腐病子粒与穗轴抗性的差异，进行抗性鉴定体系的优化，利用164份国内外玉米骨干自交系进行两年两点的接种鉴定筛选优异抗源，对发病边长、发病芯长、发病面积、发病相对面积等4个抗性指标进行研究。结果表明，发病边长能较大程度地区分不同自交系间的抗感差异且又在材料内具有较好的重演性。把发病边长确定为玉米穗腐病穗轴抗性鉴定指标，对参试自交系进行抗性评价，鉴定出CML27、BT-1、CML274等58份穗轴高抗自交系，筛选出BT-1、CML173、CML193等8份子粒与穗轴均抗穗腐病的优异抗源。