Growth and reproduction of the lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus in a suspended culture system at Guerrero Negro lagoon,Baja California Sur,Mexico

The lion's paw scallop, Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby) has considerable aquacultural potential due to its fast growth and large adductor muscle. Prior investigations throughout northwestern Mexico's littoral have reported highly variable growth rates; furthermore, no studies are available of the environment on growth and gametogenesis in this species under culture conditions. This investigation assesses the effect of food availability and temperature on the growth and gametogenesis of N. subnodosus in a suspended culture system at Guerrero Negro lagoon, Mexico. After 1 year of cultivation, N. subnodosus reached 69.13 mm in shell height (SH) (0.196 mm day^?1, 14 months old). Two significant growth spurts were observed: over the two first months of culture (August and September 2001, mean growth rate 0.4 mm day^?1) and in September 2002 (0.3 mm day^?1), both related to high temperatures and chlorophyll a concentrations. The onset of gametogenesis occurred in April 2002, with an increase in temperature (10‐month‐old scallops, 54.5 mm SH). The first spawning occurred in October and November (86.2 and 93 mm SH), with peak temperatures. These results, together with the analysis of previous reports, indicate that N. subnodosus has a higher preference for temperate areas; therefore, the Guerrero Negro lagoon appears to be a suitable site to culture this species.     

不同立地条件对川黔紫薇生长的影响

为了探索不同立地条件对川黔紫薇生长的影响,选取湖南省森林植物园、湖南城步南洞林场2个试验点研究了川黔紫薇1年生播种苗生长情况;选取湖南省森林植物园、湖南城步南洞林场和城步茅坪3个试验点研究了造林6年的川黔紫薇幼树生长情况。结果表明:(1)2个试验点的川黔紫薇1年生苗株高、地径均有极显著差异,以板页岩发育的黄壤的城步南洞林场试验点的1年生苗平均株高和地径分别为1.65 m、1.16 cm,以四纪网纹层发育的低丘红壤的湖南省森林植物园试验点的1年生苗平均株高和地径分别为1.08 m、0.82 cm。(2)3个造林试验点的6年生川黔紫薇的树高、胸径均有极显著差异,以板页岩发育的黄壤的城步南洞林场试验点的植株生长最快,平均树高和胸径分别为5.8 m和7.94 cm,以石灰岩发育的黄壤的城步茅坪试验点的植株次之,以四纪网纹层发育的低丘红壤的湖南省森林植物园试验点的植株生长最慢。结论认为川黔紫薇能在湖南省低丘至山地较大范围内栽培,但最适范围是海拔500 m左右及以上可造林山地,并且该树种是石漠化治理的优良树种。     

低温层积和SNP处理对白颖薹草种子萌发的影响

以白颖薹草种子为试验材料,通过低温层积和硝普钠(SNP)处理,测定白颖薹草种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数等指标,并对白颖薹草种子休眠原因进行了探讨.结果表明:低温层积60,90d和120 d比对照显著提高了种子的发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数;500 μmol/L SNP处理对白颖薹草种子发芽率有促进作用,对幼芽生长影响差异不显著.     

星花玉兰新品种‘粉荷’

‘粉荷’星花玉兰,成蕾早,花蕾产量高。花期2月中旬至3月下旬,花瓣形如荷花,色泽艳丽,花量大,抗性强,病害少,易管理,观赏价值高。     

Flavan-3-ols and procyanidins in grape seeds: biodiversity and relationships among wild and cultivated vines

Flavan-3-ol monomers and polymers composition of seeds from wild (17) and autochthonous (8) Vitis vinifera grapes growing in northern Tunisia were evaluated. Wild grape seeds were spherical with a small beak and relatively a high seed/berry ratio (~ 18.1%w/w). Local cultivars developed pyriform-shaped seeds with a well-developed beak representing on average 2.2% of total weight of the berry. Flavanol concentrations ranged between 40.9 and 67.5 mg/g FW in seeds from wild accessions and between 48.9 and 96.7 mg/g FW in seeds from cultivated grapes. Differences between accessions were highly significant (p < 0.01) and seeds from cultivar ‘Boukhasla’ showed the highest polyphenols content. Among flavan-3-ol monomers, (+)-catechin was predominant for all ecotypes and generally their abundance was: (+)-catechin (Cat) > (?)-epicatechin (Ec) > (?)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (EcG). The Cat/Ec ratio was approximately 1.7 for wild grapes while it was about 2.5 for cultivated grapes. Procyanidins in wild seeds differed from cultivated ones by a lower mDP and higher proportions of galloylated derivatives, likely to affect fruit bitterness and astringency. (?)-epicatechin was the main extension subunit in grape seed procyanidins, reaching on average 52% in wild and 58% in cultivated seeds. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on seeds morphometry and procyanidin profile indicated close proximity between some wild and cultivated grapes suggesting that some cultivars derived from ancestral events of local domestication or cross hybridization with native wild plants.     

Study on Expression and Preliminary Immunocompetence of CIC Protein Containing Molecular Adjuvants

To express CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) protein and evaluate its immunogenicity, CTB (as a molecular adjuvant) could be tandem linked with IsdBid-Clfais gene by the overlapping PCR method, then CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) was inserted into pET-32a(+) vector to construct recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais. The recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais were transformed into Escherichia coli (E.coli) BL21 to express the CTB-IsdBid-Clfa(CIC) protein, the CIC expression protein and its immune activity were detected by Western blotting and ELISA,respectively. The results showed that the length of CIC gene were 2 072 bp, and CIC was correctly inserted into the pET-32a(+) plasmids, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. Western blotting result confirmed that the molecular weight of CIC proteins was 95.9 ku, which were correctly expressed by E.coli BL21 with pET-32a (+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais plasmids. ELISA results showed that there was no significant difference among the CIC, IsdBid and Clfais protein groups (P>0.05), and there was extremely significant difference between CIC and BSA protein groups (P<0.01). In conclusion, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed, CIC proteins were correctly expressed, and were able to react with serum from mice immunized with IsdBid and Clfais,respectively,therefore, CIC proteins had strong immune activity.     

Effects of no‐take area size and age of marine protected areas on fisheries yields: a meta‐analytical approach

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often promoted as tools for biodiversity conservation as well as for fisheries management. Despite increasing evidence of their usefulness, questions remain regarding the optimal design of MPAs, in particular concerning their function as fisheries management tools, for which empirical studies are still lacking. Using 28 data sets from seven MPAs in Southern Europe, we developed a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the effects of protection on adjacent fisheries and asking how these effects are influenced by MPA size and age. Southern European MPAs showed clear effects on the surrounding fisheries, on the ‘catch per unit effort’ (CPUE) of target species, but especially on the CPUE of the marketable catch. These effects depended on the time of protection and on the size of the no‐take area. CPUE of both target species and the marketable catch increased gradually by 2–4% per year over a long time period (at least 30 years). The influence of the size of the no‐take area appeared to be more complex. The catch rates of the entire fishery in and around the MPA were higher when the no‐take areas were smaller. Conversely, catch rates of selected fisheries that were expected to benefit most from protection increased when the no‐take area was larger. Our results emphasize the importance of MPA size on its export functions and suggest that an adequate, often extended, time frame be used for the management and the evaluation of effectiveness of MPAs.     

Effects of soil water availability on development of suberin lamellae in the endodermis and exodermis and on cortical cell wall thickening in red bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) tree roots

The effects of soil water availability on suberin lamellae formation in the endodermis and exodermis and the occurrence of cell wall thickening in the cortex in red bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) tree roots were examined during tissue aging. For several months, red bayberry trees were grown in small baskets under dry, normal, and waterlogged soil water conditions. Transverse sections of roots from 5 mm from the tip to the basal portion were stained with several staining solutions and the cell structure was observed. Root anatomical development was significantly changed by soil water conditions. The suberin lamellae in the endodermis formed later in plants grown under dry conditions than in those grown under waterlogged conditions. Cell wall thickening in the cortex near the endodermis was promoted by drought, but apparently not by waterlogged conditions.