Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

天山云杉林冠层结构对草本物种多样性的影响

为研究天山云杉林冠层特征与林下草本物种多样性的相互关系，以新疆天格尔森林公园天山云杉林的4个龄级的林分（幼林龄、中林龄、近熟林、成熟林）为研究对象，以冠层分析仪获得的冠层结构特征和林下光环境指数等野外实际调查数据为依据，通过计算 α 多样性指数分析4个龄级的草本物种多样性，利用多元统计方法研究冠层结构对草本多样性的影响。结果表明，各个指标在不同龄级间均有一定的差异，且随着林分的生长和更新，天山云杉林呈现林冠开度逐渐减小、叶面积指数增大、林下光辐射均减弱、物种多样性指数均减小的趋势；典型模型表明林冠开度对冠层结构起到主要作用（呈极显著正相关P<0.01），叶面积指数次之（呈极显著负相关P<0.01）；在林下辐射中，林下总辐射对林内光环境起主要作用；相比冠层结构，林下光照对草本层物种多样性的作用更大，其中林冠开度和丰富度指数之间呈显著正相关，林下总辐射、林下直射辐射和多样性指数、均匀度指数之间均呈显著正相关。     

Effects of genetically modified and non‐genetically modified soybeans with different heat treatments on growth and health of Cyprinidae species with different feeding habits

An 8‐week growth trial was conducted to investigate the effects of non‐genetically modified (nGM) soybean (Youchun 06‐1) and genetically modified (GM) soybean (Roundup Ready^®) with and without a heat treatment on the growth and health of three Cyprinidae species with different feeding habits (grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus, gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio, and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus; body weight: 283.0 ± 2.0 g, 60.5 ± 0.7 g, and 261.4 ± 3.1 g). Five diets (FM, nGMS, hnGMS, GMS, and hGMS) were made with fishmeal and full‐fat soybean (Youchun 06‐1, heat‐treated Youchun 06‐1, Roundup Ready^®, and heat‐treated Roundup Ready^®). The FM diet contained fishmeal as the sole protein source. The experimental diets contained full‐fat soybean meal as 60% of dietary protein. Both temperature (60, 80, 100, and 120°C) and duration (1 and 2 hr) of heating influenced trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) and protein solubility of nGM soybean and GM soybean. The TIA in GM soybean was higher than that in nGM soybean. After heating at 120°C for 2 hr, each amino acid of soybean treatment showed a slight decline. Neither source of soybean nor heat treatment affected the growth performance, feed utilization, chemical composition of the whole fish body and muscle, and lipase or amylase activity of the three Cyprinidae species (p > 0.05). Heat treatment of soybean meal slightly increased the plasma antioxidant capacity of the three fish and plasma cholecystokinin of black carp and grass carp. The unheated soybean treatment adversely affected the height and density of black carp intestinal villi, and all the soybean treatments caused disruption of the grass carp intestinal epithelium.     

北京水系中腐霉和疫腐霉种类调查

为研究北京地区水系中腐霉和疫腐霉种类分布,采用叶饵法从北京水系中诱集菌株,共分离到腐霉、疫腐霉182株,利用Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)进行分析,筛选出不同基因型的代表菌株,并依据形态学特征及ITS序列对这些菌株进行种类鉴定。结果共发现6个已知种和3个可能的新种,其中:湖滨疫腐霉Phytopythium litorale和果胶裂解腐霉Pythium pectinolyticum为国内新记录种;旋柄疫腐霉Pp.helicoides、异丝腐霉P.diclinum、簇囊腐霉P.torulosum和袋囊腐霉P.marsipium为北京地区新记录种。研究结果可为未来监测北京地区水系中病原菌的分布情况提供基础数据。     

不同水肥浓度对涌泉根灌枣树叶面积和产量的影响

以陕西榆林山地矮化密植梨枣树为研究对象,分析了不同水肥浓度对涌泉根灌枣树生育期内叶面积指数、果实发育和产量的影响。结果表明,不同水肥处理叶面积指数在枣树果实膨大期达到高峰,且稳定持续至果实成熟期末期,随后叶面积指数开始下降。叶面积指数随着萌芽展叶期灌水量的增加而增加,所有水肥处理下,枣数叶面积指数最大的是高水中肥处理(W1N2)；所有处理中,高水、低水处理与低肥相组合,果实体积最大,中灌水处理为不施肥时果实的体积最大。单位枝长的果实数目最高的是中水中肥处理(W2N2),最低的是低水处理(W3),在一定范围内,适当施肥能促进枣果单位枝长的果实数目的增加,但肥液浓度过大,反而会抑制其增加。在一定条件下,所有处理中产量最高的是中水中肥处理(W2N2),产量超过2000kg/亩,最低的是低水高肥处理(W3N1),产量不到1000kg/亩。因此可以选择中水中肥处理(W2N2),能获得最高的产量。     

Exploring the characteristics of successful volunteer-led urban forest tree committees in Massachusetts

Citizen engagement through urban forest tree committee volunteer service may aid in providing essential experience, ideas, and skills that support municipal tree management. Using semi-structured, research interviews with tree committee (TC) representatives from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this study addresses current knowledge gaps concerning the general composition, processes, and relationships of volunteer-led urban forest tree committees. Our findings indicate that TC representatives are typically motivated, passionate volunteers who generally desire to work cooperatively with the many associations, organizations, and agencies that comprise the local socio-political landscape. Our findings also indicate it is important that TC representatives make a sustained, concerted effort to work collaboratively with their local tree warden to advance the care of their community’s urban trees. Furthermore, it is also essential that municipal managers and decision-makers attempt to provide TC volunteers with appropriate training opportunities, resources, as well as demonstrate appreciation, to further encourage and solidify volunteer-engagement in urban forestry at the local level.     

Sap flow characteristics and physiological adjustments of two dominant tree species in pure and mixed plantations in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China

It is essential to understand the water consumption characteristics and physiological adjustments of tree species under drought conditions, as well as the effects of pure and mixed plantations on these characteristics in semi-arid regions. In this study, the normalized sap flow (SF_n), leaf water potential, stomatal conductance (g_s), and photosynthetic rate (P_r) were monitored for two dominant species, i.e., Pinus tabuliformis and Hippophae rhamnoides, in both pure and mixed plantations in a semi-arid region of Chinese Loess Plateau. A threshold-delay model showed that the lower rainfall thresholds (R^L) for P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides in pure plantations were 9.6 and 11.0 mm, respectively, and the time lags (τ) after rainfall were 1.15 and 1.76 d for corresponding species, respectively. The results indicated that P. tabuliformis was more sensitive to rainfall pulse than H. rhamnoides. In addition, strong stomatal control allowed P. tabuliformis to experience low g_s and P_r in response to drought, while maintaining a high midday leaf water potential (Ψ_m). However, H. rhamnoides maintained high g_s and P_r at a low Ψ_m expense. Therefore, P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides can be considered as isohydric and anisohydric species, respectively. In mixed plantation, the values of R^L for P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides were 6.5 and 8.9 mm, respectively; and the values of τ were 0.86 and 1.61 d for corresponding species, respectively, which implied that mixed afforestation enhanced the rainfall pulse sensitivity for both two species, especially for P. tabuliformis. In addition, mixed afforestation significantly reduced SF_n, g_s, and P_r for P. tabuliformis (P<0.05), while maintaining a high leaf water potential status. However, no significant effect of mixed afforestation of H. rhamnoides was observed at the expense of leaf water potential status in response to drought. Although inconsistent physiological responses were adopted by these species, the altered water consumption characteristics, especially for P. tabuliformis indicated that the mixed afforestation requires further investigation.     

Exploring tree diversity and stand structure of savanna woodlands in southeastern Sudan

Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in these areas is well known, up-to-date information about these woodlands' diversity is limited and changes in their woody vegetation composition, density, diversity and relative frequency are not monitored over time. This study explored tree diversity and stand stage structure in Nuara Reserved Forest, a typical savanna woodland ecosystem in southeastern Sudan. A total of 638 circular sample plots (1000 m² for each) were established using a systematic sampling grid method. The distance between plots was 200 m. In each plot, all living trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥5.00 cm were identified and counted, and their DBH values were recorded. From these data, tree composition, diversity, density and stage structure were assessed. There were 12,259 individual trees representing four species (Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia Senegal and Acacia mellifera) that belong to two families. The dominant species was Acacia seyal. Average tree density was 191 trees/hm² and the Shannon-Weiner index for trees diversity was 0.204. Overall, young trees comprised 86.30% of the forest. The state of tree richness and density in the study area was low compared to other similar environments in the region and around the world. We recommended adoption of a proper management system that includes monitoring of woody vegetation diversity in this forest, and management actions to enhance tree diversity and sustain ecosystem services to local communities. In addition to care for the dominant Acacia seyal stands, more attention and conservation should be devoted to reestablishing Acacia senegal and Acacia mellifera trees because of their high ecological and economic values for local communities.     

A new species of Malus in China,Malus shizongensis Liu sp. nov

Based on morphological, molecular biological, and molecular systematic studies, we describe here a new species of Malus from Yunnan, China. We compared the morphology of this new species, Malus shizongensis Liu sp. nov, with three Malus species, including M. hupehensis, M. baccata, and M. micromalus. Although the appearance of M. shizongensis was similar to these three species, it differed in height, branch color, branch hair, and flower color. To better identify the taxonomy of this new species, genome of M. shizongensis and that of seven Malus species, including M. prunifolia, M. sylvestris, M. sieversii, M. hupehensis, M. baccata, M. robusta, and M. micromalus were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree based on genome analysis indicated that M. shizongensis was close to M. hupehensis. Furthermore, M. shizongensis had its species-specific SNPs, and the number of species-specific SNPs was similar to that of three close species(M. hupehensis, M. baccata, and M. micromalus). Based on the above information, we named this new species as M. shizongensis Liu sp. nov.     

林木氮素吸收偏好性及其形成机制研究进展

森林土壤中可被林木吸收利用的氮（N）素主要以铵态氮（NH₄+-N）和硝态氮（NO₃--N）的形态存在。受全球气候变暖、氮沉降和人类活动等因素的影响，NH₄+和NO₃-的分布存在很大的时间波动性和空间异质性，且NH₄+-N和NO₃--N亏缺已成为限制林地生产力的主要因素。在森林土壤N亏缺和N异质分布的逆境中，在林木长期进化过程中形成了对不同形态N素的吸收偏好，且这种吸收偏好会随生长环境条件而发生改变。特别是对于NH₄+和NO₃-这2种主要形态的偏好选择性已被证明是决定林木生产力、竞争、共存和生态演替的重要因素之一。对不同树种在N异质分布环境下的N吸收偏好和形成机制的研究，是揭示林木N素营养遗传特性和提高林地N素利用效率的关键。文中从森林土壤中N的主要形态及其分布特征、林木对不同形态N素的吸收偏好和形成机制、林木N吸收偏好的影响因素3个方面进行总结阐述，并对未来研究方向进行展望，以期为我国人工林培育中不同树种的造林配置和合理N素施肥技术提供理论依据和参考。