Photosynthesis of field-grown Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars in relation to root-yield

There has been limited research on measuring potential differences in leaf gas exchange of Arracacha (Peruvian parsnip, Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars, as affected by different environments, as well as its relation to storage root-yield. The present paper reports field measurements of leaf CO₂ assimilation rates (A) for five contrasting cultivars grown at two different high-altitude locations. Using a design of plots chosen at random with three repetitions, commercial root production was determined in the two locations at different altitude (1580 and 1930 m). Daily leaf gas exchange was repeatedly monitored with a portable open-mode infrared gas analyzer at different times in both locations during the growth cycle. Root-yield, leaf area and dry weight were measured. Significant differences in leaf photosynthetic rate and in specific leaf area (SLA) were observed among cultivars. Cultivars with high SLA, had high CO₂ assimilation. Mean (A_n) and total (A_tot) of CO₂ assimilation and SLA were significantly correlated with storage root-yield across cultivars and locations. The three cultivars with the greatest commercial root production also had the highest maximum values for A and the highest specific leaf area, indicating that these two parameters can be used to select for highly productive cultivars of A. xanthorriza.     

Encapsulation of shoot tips of guava (Psidium guajava L.) for short-term storage and germplasm exchange

Shoot tips obtained from in vitro grown plantlets of guava (Psidium guajava L.) were encapsulated in calcium alginate beads for short-term storage and germplasm exchange. A gelling matrix of 3% sodium alginate and 100 mM calcium chloride was found most suitable for formation of ideal calcium alginate beads. Maximum percent response for conversion of encapsulated shoot tips into plantlets was obtained on growth regulator free full strength liquid MS medium. The regrowth ability of encapsulated shoot tips was affected by medium strength and sucrose concentrations in the medium. Encapsulated shoot tips could be stored at low temperature (4 °C) up to 30 days with a survival frequency of 25%. After 60 days of storage under minimal growth conditions (sucrose lacking medium), about 75% encapsulated shoot tips were converted into plantlets when subcultured on 3% sucrose containing medium. Plantlets regenerated from encapsulated shoot tips were acclimatized successfully.     

Transgene expression for Gladiolus plants grown outdoors and in the greenhouse

Transgene expression was evaluated for Gladiolus plants transformed with either the CaMV 35S, double CaMV 35S, rolD, or Arabidopsis UBQ3 promoter controlling the uidA or bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation to determine differences in expression for plants grown in the greenhouse and outdoors for two years. There was more variability in GUS expression when plants were grown outdoors than in the greenhouse for two years. Four of the six transformed plant lines with the UBQ3, rolD, and CaMV 35S promoters grown outdoors showed significant differences in GUS expression from year to year as compared to two of the six lines with the UBQ3 and rolD promoters grown in the greenhouse. When grown the same year, two plant lines with the CaMV 35S and one line with the rolD promoter showed 2–16× higher levels of GUS expression outdoors than in the greenhouse, and one plant line with the UBQ3 promoter had 31× higher GUS expression in the greenhouse instead of outdoors. Three of six plant lines transformed with the bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation under control of the double CaMV 35S promoter showed obvious transgene expression as compared to three lines that did not show expression or negligible expression for both years when plants were grown both outdoors and in the greenhouse. This study verified long-term gene expression, rather than silencing, for Gladiolus plants when grown outdoors and in the greenhouse from year to year.     

Wildlife diseases in New Zealand: recent findings and future challenges

Our knowledge of diseases in New Zealand wildlife has expanded rapidly in the last two decades. Much of this is due to a greater awareness of disease as a cause of mortality in some of our highly threatened species or as a limiting factor to the successful captive rearing of intensely managed species such as hihi (Notiomystis cincta), kiwi (Apteryx spp.) and kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). An important factor contributing to the increase of our knowledge has been the development of new diagnostic techniques in the fields of molecular biology and immunohistochemistry, particularly for the diagnosis and epidemiology of viral and protozoan diseases. Although New Zealand remains free of serious exotic viruses there has been much work on understanding the taxonomy and epidemiology of local strains of avipox virus and circoviruses. Bacterial diseases such as salmonellosis, erysipelas and tuberculosis have also been closely investigated in wildlife and opportunist mycotic infections such as aspergillosis remain a major problem in many species. Nutritional diseases such as hyperplastic goitre due to iodine deficiency and metabolic bone disease due to Ca:P imbalance have made significant impacts on some captive reared birds, while lead poisoning is a problem in some localities. The increasing use of wildlife translocations to avoid the extinction of threatened species has highlighted the need for improved methods to assess the disease risks inherent in these operations and other intensive conservation management strategies such as creching young animals. We have also become more aware of the likelihood of inbreeding suppression as populations of many species decrease or pass through a genetic bottleneck. Climate change and habitat loss, however, remain the greatest threats to biodiversity and wildlife health worldwide. Temperature changes will affect our wildlife habitats, alter the distribution of disease vectors and wildlife predators, or directly harm threatened species in vulnerable localities.     

彭水县野生药用蜜粉源植物资源

位于重庆市东南部的彭水县因亚热带湿润季风气候使其生物资源丰富,种类繁多。对彭水县蜜粉源植物调查发现150余种蜜粉源植物,其中野生具有药用价值的99种,隶属于49科,84属。重要的药用蜜粉源植物有盐肤木(Rhus chinensis Mill.)、川莓(Rubus setchuenensis Bureau et Franch.)、川续断(Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M.Ai)、大叶醉鱼草(Buddleja davidii Franch.)等。     

老年猪耳成纤维细胞建立及克隆胚胎发育

为保存江苏地方猪种的种质资源,通过采集猪耳结合低温运输进行老年猪耳组织块贴壁培养,建立猪耳成纤维细胞,进而将细胞扩繁传代并冷冻保存。通过规范采样流程,结合低温运输方式,使运输时间达到8h以上,扩大了采样范围,同时,使污染风险由前期的30.77%(13头)降低到目前的8.3%(12头)。虽然老年猪耳成纤维细胞在初期游离到铺满培养瓶需要21d,远高于胎儿(怀孕24d的胚胎)成纤维细胞,但其后期的冻存与解冻培养均不受影响。随后,利用手工克隆技术生产克隆胚胎,老年猪耳成纤维细胞作为供体囊胚率(27.04±4.08)%与新生猪耳成纤维细胞作为供体囊胚率(28.8±2.37)%相比,无显著差异(P>0.05)。本试验结果证明老年猪耳成纤维细胞培养及冻存的可行性,为利用体细胞与体细胞核移植对地方猪种种质资源的保存提供支持。     

高寒草甸优势禾草-异针茅内生真菌的分离与鉴定

异针茅作为青藏高原地区重要的乡土草种之一,是高寒草甸草原主要的建群禾草种类。迄今为止,有关异针茅所感染内生真菌的种类和分类地位的研究尚未见报道。基于此,以青海高原地区两个地理种群的异针茅为研究对象,采用常规分离培养形态观测和管家基因扩增目的片段基因并与已公布的内生真菌序列构建系统发育树的方法,确定异针茅感染内生真菌的种类和分类地位。结果表明:异针茅分离出的内生真菌菌落形态、生长速度和分生孢子形态等均与Epichloё属内生真菌的形态特征相似。编码蛋白tub和肌动蛋白actin序列构建的系统发育树表明,异针茅感染的内生真菌种类分别为Epichloёgansuensis和Epichloёsylvatica,而转录延长因子tef序列构建的系统发育树发现异针茅感染的内生真菌种类分别为Epichloёinebrians和E.sylvatica。由此可见,异针茅感染的内生真菌分别为甘肃内生真菌E.gansuensis、醉马草内生真菌E.inebrians和欧洲短柄草内生真菌E.sylvatica;进一步揭示异针茅感染的内生真菌表现出多样性,异针茅与其感染的内生真菌间未形成严格的宿主特异性。     

降水量及N添加对宁夏荒漠草原土壤C:N:P生态化学计量特征和植被群落组成的影响

为了解降水格局改变和大气氮(N)沉降增加背景下土壤碳(C)∶N∶磷(P)平衡关系的改变是否会影响到荒漠草原植被群落组成, 基于2017年在宁夏荒漠草原设立的降水量(降水量减少50%、降水量减少30%、自然降水量、降水量增加30%和降水量增加50%)、N添加(0和5 g·m^-2·yr^-1)及其交互作用的野外试验, 初步分析了土壤C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征和植物群落组成的变化趋势以及二者的关系。结果表明, 增加降水量降低了土壤有机C、全N和N∶P。N添加及其与降水量的交互作用对土壤C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征的影响较小; 适量增加降水量刺激了多数植物生长, 提高了群落多样性。过量增加降水量导致猪毛蒿种群生物量急增, 且N添加对降水量效应有促进作用, 从而降低了群落多样性; 土壤含水量、全N、有机C和N∶P与种群生物量关系较为密切, 土壤含水量、有机C、C∶P和C∶N与多样性指数存在较强的相关关系。以上结果意味着降水量会通过调控土壤水分有效性, 改变土壤与植物之间N和P的满足程度, 从而对植物生长策略和群落多样性产生影响; 短期N添加对土壤养分有效性影响较小。因此, 还需通过长期的原位试验, 对N添加及其与降水量交互作用下土壤C∶N∶P计量平衡与植物群落组成的关系进行深入探讨。     

Plant Species Composition and Forage Production 14 Yr After Biosolids Application and Grazing Exclusion

This paper examines the effects of a single surface application of biosolids (at 20 dry Mg ha^{? 1}) on plant species composition, forage quality and quantity, and C stocks after 14 yr of rest in rangelands of the Central Interior of British Columbia. More than two times the aboveground biomass of grasses and the percent cover of plant litter were found in the biosolids treatment relative to the control, along with reductions in bare soil and microbiotic crust cover. Significantly greater plant uptake of all macronutrients (C, N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg); most micronutrients (B, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Zn); and Al occurred in the biosolids treatment. P and Cu were the only two nutrients to be more concentrated in the biosolids-treated forage relative to the control forage, while N, Mg, and protein were more concentrated in the control forage. No significant difference in forage digestibility was found between biosolids and control treatments. Bluebunch wheatgrass, the late-seral native grass species, had significantly increased cover and aboveground biomass in the biosolids treatment relative to the control; however, between 2006 and 2016, non-native Kentucky bluegrass had reached > 25% cover in the biosolids plots, perhaps restricting the full recovery of bluebunch wheatgrass. Our findings indicate that biosolids application to ungrazed rangeland can increase long-term forage production and reduce bare soil. However, at our study site biosolids application also led to a long-term shift in the plant community composition away from the late-seral (i.e., bluebunch wheatgrass) trajectory, and the effects of this shift on rangeland health and productivity require further investigation.     

兰州大尾羊×小尾寒羊F1代体重和体尺的相关性研究

本研究旨在探讨兰州大尾羊×小尾寒羊F1代羔羊体重和体尺的相关关系,为通过体尺性状估计其体重提供科学的理论依据。试验随机选取80只150日龄兰小杂交F1代羔羊,公、母羔各半,测量其体重（Y）、体长（X₁）、体高（X₂）、胸围（X₃）、管围（X₄）、胸深（X₅）和胸宽（X₆）,运用SPSS 22.0软件分别对公、母羔的体重和体尺数据进行相关性分析、通径分析、逐步线性回归分析和相关系数的分解。结果表明,兰小杂交F1代羔羊的体重与体长、体高、胸围、管围、胸深、胸宽均呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,公、母羔胸围与体重的相关程度最高,相关系数分别为0.907和0.908,其次为体长,相关系数分别为0.875、0.844。各体尺性状间也呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,其中胸围和体长的相关系数最高。胸围和体长主要通过直接作用影响体重,胸深、管围、体高、胸宽主要通过间接作用影响体重,胸围对体重的直接作用最大,胸深对体重的间接作用最大。公、母羔体重与体尺的最优回归方程分别为：Y=-43.861+0.675X₃+0.394X₁（r=0.945,P<0.01）和Y=-38.378+0.590X₃+0.397X₁（r=0.948,P<0.01）。综上所述,胸围和体长是影响兰小杂交F1代羔羊体重的两个重要因素,在该品种的选育和肥羔的生产过程中,要加强对胸围和体长的选择力度,同时考虑胸深、管围、体高、胸宽的影响。