More evidence that anaerobic oxidation of methane is prevalent in soils: Is it time to upgrade our biogeochemical models?

Estimating future fluxes of CH₄ between land and atmosphere requires well-conceived process-based biogeochemical models. Current models do not represent the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in land surface soils, in spite of increasing evidence that this process is widespread. Our objective was to determine whether AOM, or potential AOM, commonly occurs in 20 hydromorphic soils spanning a wide range of chemical properties. Bulk soil samples were collected under shallow water near the shoreline of 15 recently drained fish ponds in southern Bohemia (Czech Republic), as well as from below the water table at 3 peatland locations in northeast Scotland and 2 acid sulfate soils on the southern coast of Finland. Each soil slurry was incubated under both oxic and anoxic conditions, with or without the addition of alternative electron acceptors (SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) or H₂PO₄⁻. Here, “oxic” and “anoxic” conditions refer to anoxic soil respectively incubated in a headspace containing air or argon. Using the isotope dilution method, we determined the gross production and oxidation rates of CH₄ after 2 days incubation under oxic headspace conditions, and after 2, 21 and 60 days incubation under anoxic conditions. Large differences in net CH₄ fluxes were observed between soil types and between incubation conditions. AOM was detected in each of the 20 bulk soil samples, which spanned >6 pH units and 2 orders of magnitude in organic C content. Significant positive relationships were found between AOM and gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic conditions, resulting in AOM rates that were sometimes higher than CH₄ oxidation rates under oxic headspace conditions. There was no relationship between net and gross CH₄ production rates, such that 2 soil types could display similar low net rates, yet conceal very large differences in gross rates. The effects of alternative electron acceptors on AOM were idiosyncratic and resulted in no net trend. We did find, however, a negative effect of SO₄²⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ on gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic and oxic conditions respectively. Under oxic headspace conditions, CH₄ oxidation was related to soil organic C content. Taken collectively, our results suggest that AOM, or potential AOM, is prevalent over a wide range of soil types, that AOM may contribute substantially to CH₄ oxidation in soils, and that AOM in soils should be integrated to current process-based CH₄ cycling models.     

Histological and proteomics analysis of apple defense responses to the development of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on leaves

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. is an important fungal pathogen known to cause glomerella leaf spot (GLS). The objective of this study was to analyze the infection of C. gloeosporioides on leaves of apple cv. Fuji (resistant) and cv. Gala (susceptible) and apply proteomics techniques to study the apple defense responses 48 h after inoculation (h.a.i.). On both of cultivars, C. gloeosporioides started to germinate at 3 h.a.i. on adaxial surface and produced appressoria adhering to epidermal cell juxtapositions. Histological analysis showed more stratified parenchyma in leaves of cv. Fuji than cv. Gala associated with differences in the chemical composition of cell walls. Total and unique proteins expressed by cvs. Fuji and Gala at 3, 12, 24 and 48 h.a.i. were detected by comparative proteomes analysis. A total of 42 unique proteins expressed at 24 and 48 h.a.i. were identified by MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry, and most of these proteins were identified as directly involved in defense responses.     

棉花花铃期低温对叶片PSI和PSII光抑制的影响

选用陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.)品种新陆早45号,在室外盆栽至开花结铃期后,移至人工气候室,模拟新疆棉花花铃期易出现的低温逆境条件,设置处理T(16℃/10℃,昼/夜),以常温(30℃/18℃,昼/夜)处理作为对照,采用叶绿素荧光和P700同步测定技术,研究低温对棉花花铃期叶片光合机构PSII能量分配、PSI氧化还原状态及环式电子传递流的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,低温处理显著降低了棉花叶片PSII光适应状态下最大光化学量子产量(F_v'/F_m')、光化学猝灭系数(qP)和PSII有效光化学量子产量[Y(II)],并使PSII非调节性能量耗散[Y(NO)]和调节性能量耗散[Y(NPQ)]量子产量显著升高,诱导PSII发生光抑制。低温引起棉花叶片光合机构PSI受体侧限制[Y(NA)]显著下降和供体侧限制[Y(ND)]显著升高,但未引起有效的PSI复合体含量(P_m)显著降低,表明与PSII相比,棉花叶片PSI对低温不敏感。此外,低温引起环式电子传递量子产量[Y(CEF)]以及与PSII实际量子产量比率的[Y(CEF)/Y(II)]显著升高,进一步表明在低温下,光破坏防御机制中环式电子传递流对棉花PSI、PSII起着重要的保护作用,是主要的光破坏防御机制。非光化学热耗散(NPQ)和调节性非光化学热耗散[Y(NPQ)]与[Y(CEF)]具有显著的正相关关系,表明低温引起棉花花铃期叶片PSII反应中心过度关闭产生过剩的激发能,造成了PSII可逆的光抑制,环式电子传递流的响应及较高的调节性能量耗散共同保护了棉花叶片PSI和PSII免受光抑制的损伤,这可能是棉花叶片PSI对低温不敏感的重要原因。     

A spatially-explicit method to assess the dry deposition of air pollution by urban forests in the city of Florence,Italy

Urban forests (UF) provide a range of important ecosystem services (ES) for human well-being. Relevant ES delivered by UF include urban temperature regulation, runoff mitigation, noise reduction, recreation, and air purification. In this study the potential of air pollution removal by UF in the city of Florence (Italy) was investigated. Two main air pollutants were considered – particulate matter (PM₁₀) and tropospheric ozone (O₃) – with the aim of providing a methodological framework for mapping air pollutant removal by UF and assessing the percent removal of air pollutant.The distribution of UF was mapped by high spatial resolution remote sensing data and classified into seven forest categories. The Leaf Area Index (LAI) was estimated spatially using a regression model between in-field LAI survey and Airborne Laser Scanning data and it was found to be in good linear agreement with estimates from ground-based measurements (R² = 0.88 and RMSE% = 11%). We applied pollution deposition equations by using pollution concentrations measured at urban monitoring stations and then estimated the pollutant removal potential of the UF: annual O₃ and PM₁₀ removal accounted for 77.9 t and 171.3 t, respectively. O₃ and PM₁₀ removal rates by evergreen broadleaves (16.1 and 27.3 g/m²), conifers (10.9 and 28.5 g/m²), and mixed evergreen species (15.8 and 31.7 g/m²) were higher than by deciduous broadleaf stands (4.1 and 10 g/m²). However, deciduous forests exhibited the largest total removal due to the high percentage of tree cover within the city. The present study confirms that UF play an important role in air purification in Mediterranean cities as they can remove monthly up to 5% of O₃ and 13% of PM₁₀.     

不同固定条件对几种植物样品超微结构的影响

为比较几种固定条件对不同植物材料样品电镜超微结构图像清晰度的影响。以3个不同科属4种植物[油棕(Elaeis gineansis Jacq.)、拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana.)、花生(Arachis hypogaea Linn.)、柱花草(Stylosanthes guianensias Sw.)]为研究主体代表,探讨了2.5%戊二醛与4%戊二醛固定过夜、锇酸固定2 h及过夜的制备方法对其叶片超微结构的影响,并成功观察了柱花草接种胶苞炭疽野生型菌株CH008后的病菌侵入过程。结果表明:油棕、拟南芥、花生及柱花草叶片经4%戊二醛与1%锇酸固定液固定过夜,其组织成像的效果均较为理想,各种细胞器整体信息丰富、结构组织完好、线条清晰。表明,此制备方法能够较好的保存植物叶片和细胞组织,提高制样的成功率及观察分辨率。     

红素氧还蛋白研究进展

自然界中大多数的红素氧还蛋白(rubredoxin)集中来自严格厌氧菌,包括细菌、古菌和少数微需氧细菌,而植物中该类蛋白相对较少,它的功能主要表现在作为辅因子或电子供体参与多个生化途径。也有研究显示,无论是植物中还是微生物中的红素氧还蛋白基因在协助生物抵御氧化胁迫方面均发挥着重要的作用。本文全面介绍自然界中的红素氧还蛋白基因的分布、结构以及在微生物、植物中所发挥的作用等,希望能为今后的进一步研究提供参考。     

中原牡丹花黄酮定量方法的研究

借助于紫外扫描,通过对氯化铝显色法、硝酸铝—亚硝酸钠显色法和直接测定法3种比色方法与高效液相色谱法测定结果的对比和方法评价的研究,确定了直接测定法(测定波长为350 nm)是一种操作简单、结果较准确的方法。以芦丁为标准品,可用于中原牡丹花黄酮含量的快速测定。     

Differential Cl−/Salt Tolerance and NaCl‐Induced Alternations of Tissue and Cellular Ion Fluxes in Glycine max,Glycine soja and their Hybrid Seedlings

The salt‐sensitive Glycine max N23674 cultivar, the salt‐born Glycine soja BB52 population, and their hybrid 4076 strain (F₅) selected for salt tolerance generation by generation were used as the experimental materials in this study. First, the effects of NaCl stress on seed germination, tissue damage, and time‐course ionic absorption and transportation were compared. When qualitatively compared with seed germination appearance in culture dishes, and tissue damages on roots or leaves of seedlings, or quantitatively compared with the relative salt injury rate, the inhibition on N23674 was all the most remarkable. After the exposure of 140 mm NaCl for 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 2 days and 4 days, the content of Cl^? gradually increased in the roots and leaves of seedlings of BB52, 4076 and 23674. Interestingly, the extents of the Cl^? rise in roots of the three experimental soybean materials were BB52 > 4076 > N23674, whereas those in leaves were just on the contrary. Secondly, by using the scanning ion‐selective electrode technique (SIET), fluxes of Na⁺ and Cl^? in roots and protoplasts isolated from roots and leaves were also investigated among the three experimental soybean materials. After 140 mm NaCl stress for 2, 4 and 6 days, and when compared with N23674, slighter net Cl^? influxes were observed in root tissue and protoplasts of roots and leaves of BB52 and 4076 seedlings, especially at the cellular protoplast level. The results indicate that with regard to the ionic effect of NaCl stress, Cl^? was the main determinant salt ion for salt tolerance in G. soja, G. max and their hybrid, and the difference in their Cl^?/salt tolerance is mainly attributed to the capacity of Cl^? restriction to the plant above‐ground parts such as leaves.     

The association of culm anatomy with lodging susceptibility in modern spring wheat genotypes

Selection for lodging resistant cultivars in cereal breeding programs is difficult due to the challenge of screening for this trait under natural field conditions. The identification of easily measurable culm traits related to lodging resistance would simplify the selection process. The present study was conducted to determine if differences in culm anatomy exist among modern wheat genotypes differing in lodging susceptibility, and to determine the association between culm characters and lodging. From a 2-year field study conducted in Edmonton, Alberta, 13 spring wheat cultivars were chosen based on predetermined susceptibility to artificially induced lodging. Morphological and anatomical culm measurements were made visually and with an environmental scanning electron microscope. Genotypes differed (P < 0.05) for plant height, number of internodes per culm, basal internode length and diameter, culm wall thickness and the number of vascular bundles, but not for adventitious root frequency, lumen diameter or sclerenchyma ring thickness. Mean genotype field scores for artificially induced lodging were correlated (P < 0.05) with plant height (r= 0.51) and the length of the fourth basal internode (r= 0.51). Short, wide basal internodes and thick culm walls were characteristic of three lodging tolerant genotypes: Kohika, Sapphire and Olso. Nevertheless, despite such apparent genotype specific association between culm anatomy and field lodging, general applicable associations were not observed for most traits. The most practical and easily selectable trait for lodging resistance within a wheat breeding program remains plant height. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

成年高原藏羊精索血管分布的形态学研究

对13头成年高原藏羊的睾丸采用血管铸型、常规石蜡切片结合扫描电镜观察,研究在高寒低氧环境中,藏羊睾丸精索血管分布的形态学特点.结果表明藏羊精索睾丸动脉螺旋卷曲并发出分支分布到附睾,睾丸动脉表面覆盖蔓状静脉丛;回流睾丸血液的集合静脉纵向走行形成静脉网包裹在睾丸表面,汇集至睾丸门附近形成特殊的“束袋口”构筑,紧缩回笼汇集形成蔓状静脉丛;精索部动脉和静脉各自形成三级分枝,小静脉及静脉毛细血管网与动脉滋养血管小分支之间形成广泛的吻合支.藏羊精索部血管形成了特殊的高原适应性微形态结构.