Clostridium bifermentans and C. subterminale are associated with kiwifruit vine decline,known as moria,in Italy

Since 2012, a new pathogenic syndrome has frequently been observed in many areas of kiwifruit cultivation in Italy. The main symptoms include an initial withering of the leaves followed by a total and sudden collapse of plants, mainly occurring during summer. The withered leaves fall and the main and secondary feeder roots appear rotten, sometimes showing a reddish-brown discoloration. The disease, that affects both the green and yellow-fleshed cultivars, has been called kiwifruit vine decline and is locally known as moria. The syndrome has been found consistently associated with soil waterlogging, which frequently occurs either after the traditional agronomical practice of irrigating orchards through surface irrigation or after very heavy rainfall. So far, the role played by bacteria in this syndrome has not been investigated. In the present study, Clostridium spp. were isolated from both rotten roots and soils obtained from Italian kiwifruit orchards affected by the syndrome, indicating for the first time that anaerobic bacteria are able to cause damage to woody crops. C. bifermentans and C. subterminale incited symptoms in kiwifruit in both in vivo and in vitro pathogenicity tests. Soil waterlogging seems to potentially favour colonization of kiwifruit roots by anaerobic bacteria, probably because saturation of the soil can facilitate proliferation and persistence of these bacteria during long periods of the vegetative growth of the crop. The occurrence of anaerobic bacteria does not exclude the possibility that other microorganisms can play additional/synergic role(s) in causing the kiwifruit vine decline.     

Tree-ring response of Larix chinensis on regional climate and sea-surface temperature variations in alpine timberline in the Qinling Mountains

Tree-ring width chronologies of Larix chinensis were developed from the northern and southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province,and climatic factors affecting the tree-ring widths of L.chinensis were examined.Correlation analysis showed that similar correlations between tree-ring width chronologies and climatic factors demonstrated that radial growth responded to climate change on both slopes.The radial growth of L.chinensis was mainly limited by temperature,especially the growing season.In contrast,both chronologies were negatively correlated with precipitation in May of the previous year and April of the current year.Spatial climate-correlation analyses with gridded land-surface climate data revealed that our tree-ring width chronologies contained a strong regional temperature signal over much of northcentral and eastern China.Spatial correlation with seasurface temperature fields highlights the influence of the Pacific Ocean,Indian Ocean,and North Atlantic Ocean.Wavelet coherence analysis indicated the existence of some decadal and interannual cycles in the two tree-ring width chronologies.This may suggest the influences of El Nin˜o-Southern Oscillation and solar activity on tree growth in the Qinling Mountains.These findings will help us understand the growth response of L.chinensis to climate change in the Qinling region,and they provide critical information for future climate reconstructions based on this species in semi-humid regions.     

刈割干扰对羊草草甸草原植物功能群及多样性的影响

【目的】 刈割是草原主要利用方式之一,植物功能群和群落物种多样性是判别干扰条件下草地生态系统退化的重要生态学指标。研究不同刈割干扰下羊草草甸草原植物功能群和群落物种多样性的变化,了解刈割干扰下草原功能群与多样性变化过程和机制,为退化割草地生态恢复提供理论依据。【方法】 以呼伦贝尔羊草草甸草原时空刈割配置为试验平台,于2014—2018年植物生长最旺盛的季节（即每年8月初）,采用样方法对各个小区进行群落植被调查。分析一年一割（G1）、两年一割（G2）、漏割带10 m（G3）、漏割带5 m（G4）和对照（CK）处理下草甸草原群落功能群和物种多样性变化以及刈割时间和不同刈割处理间的交互作用,探讨植物功能群与群落物种多样性的相关关系。【结果】 研究发现羊草（Leymus chinensis）在不同刈割制度下均为优势物种,但是随着刈割频次的增加呈现出羊草重要值逐渐降低,退化指示物种星毛委陵菜（Potentilla acaulis）、披针叶黄华（Thermopsis lanceolate）等重要值增加的趋势;两年一割处理下羊草、糙隐子草（Cleistogenes squarrosa）、长柱沙参（Adenophora stenanthina）、柴胡（Bupleurum scorzonerifolium）和草地早熟禾（Poa ratensis）等植物重要值均高于其他处理。一年一割和常年不刈割处理下草地植物禾本科和豆科植物重要值所占比例减少,以退化植物居多的菊科和莎草科植物所占比例增加,在漏割带为10 m处理草地的豆科植物增加;刈割处理5年后,不同刈割制度下植物群落物种多样性指数均有增加,其中漏割带为10 m处理Shannon-Wiener多样性和Simpson优势度指数增加明显。5个刈割处理均匀度指数变化趋势不同,其中G3和G4处理草地的群落均匀度有增加的趋势,分别增加16%和5.8%,G1、G2和CK草地群落均匀度指数下降,其中G1下降最大（下降了1.8%）,其次是CK（下降1.6%）,G2草地下降最少。植物群落物种多样性指数变化分析表明经过5年不同刈割处理,漏割带10 m处理的草地植物群落物种多样性提高。群落物种多样性指数与植物功能群禾本科重要值存在极显著负相关关系,与毛茛科和菊科重要值呈现显著正相关关系。【结论】 长期高频度刈割会导致草原退化,同样对草原长期不利用也会致使草原发生逆行演替;两年一割和漏割带为10 m的连年刈割均可以缓解群落中禾本科等优势植物比例下降,促进毛茛科植物比例增加;经过5年的不同刈割处理,漏割带为10 m的刈割处理植物群落物种多样性有所提高,即对草原进行适度刈割干扰（两年一割和漏割带10 m）有利于草原的可持续发展。     

豆-禾混播草地中紫花苜蓿比例对其固氮效率的影响及潜在生理机制

【目的】 通过研究豆草比例对紫花苜蓿-羊草混播草地豆科植物生物固氮的影响及其生理生态机制,深化对混播群落结构和生物固氮功能关系的理解,辅助豆-禾混播草地的科学建植和管理,提高混播草地生物固氮和土壤肥力,提升草地资源生产和生态保障能力。【方法】 2017年5月,利用紫花苜蓿和羊草为试验材料,采取随机区组设计,于中国科学院长岭草地农牧生态研究站内建植不同豆草比例（紫花苜蓿占比为25%、50%、75%、100%）的紫花苜蓿-羊草混播草地,4次重复。建植一年后,通过样方取样法调查混播草地群落结构变化,测定紫花苜蓿叶片、枝条和根系生长发育、光合和水分等生理代谢特征,在测定根系结瘤特征基础上,采取¹⁵N同位素自然丰度法评估紫花苜蓿固氮效率,结合土壤水分动态监测,分析豆草比例对紫花苜蓿生物固氮的影响及其生理生态机制。【结果】 （1）混播草地建植一年后,对应25%、50%、75% 和100%设计的豆草混播比例,混播草地实际紫花苜蓿占比分别为11%、27%、53%和100%。（2）对比25%、75%和100%的初始豆草种植比例,50%的初始豆草比例下,生长季平均土壤水分含量分别增加了21.4%、36.4%和51.7%。（3）50%豆草种植比例下,紫花苜蓿植株有更大的枝条和根系生物量、叶片数量、叶片面积、叶片厚度和叶片生物量,上述指标最小值出现在100%的豆草播种比例。（4）50%豆草种植比例下,紫花苜蓿具有最大的光合速率,枝条和根系中淀粉含量最高,但枝条和根系中可溶性糖含量最低。（5）50%的初始豆草混播比例下,紫花苜蓿根瘤发育更完善,其生物固氮率较25%、75%和100%的豆草混播比例分别提高了13.5%、44.6%和79.2%。回归分析表明,随豆草比例变化,紫花苜蓿生物固氮效率与土壤含水量呈正相关。【结论】 紫花苜蓿-羊草混播草地中,紫花苜蓿生物固氮能力与豆草比例间存在非直线型变化关系。当初始豆草种植比例为50%时,紫花苜蓿生物固氮率最大。豆草比例驱动土壤水分变化,进而通过调控叶片发育和光合等途径改变了紫花苜蓿植株和根瘤发育,是其影响生物固氮的潜在机制。     

中华稻蝗Knickkopf(Knk)基因分子特性和生物学功能

基于中华稻蝗转录组数据库,采用生物信息学方法搜索获得1条OcKnk基因全长cDNA序列,采用qRT-PCR检测其组织部位表达特性和其在表皮发育过程中表达情况,明确其分子特性,采用RNAi技术结合表型观察,研究其对中华稻蝗蜕皮和生长发育的影响,以明确其生物学功能。组织部位表达结果显示其在中华稻蝗体壁、前肠和脂肪体表达最高,发育表达结果显示其在表皮不同发育日龄均有表达,且在蜕皮前期和后期表达显著高于其他日龄。生物学功能研究表明,注射dsRNA后,多数虫体难以成功蜕去旧表皮,导致死亡,少部分可蜕至下一龄期,但活动力较低,行动缓慢,最终死亡。研究结果表明OcKnk参与昆虫生长发育和蜕皮过程,可作为重要靶标基因,为下一步害虫防治提供理论基础。     

混合盐胁迫对马蔺幼苗根系构型及生长量的影响

为探讨不同种类盐胁迫对马蔺幼苗生长状况的影响,采用室内培养的方法,研究总质量浓度为0.3%的NaCl、NaHCO₃单盐溶液及其不同配比的混合盐溶液胁迫对马蔺(Iris lactea var. chinensis)幼苗生长量、地上部干鲜重比值、地下部干鲜重比值以及根系构型的影响。结果表明,随着胁迫时间的延长,0.3%NaCl溶液对叶数和株高增长量的影响最小,其次为3种混合盐溶液,各处理在第14天时株高增幅达到最大。经0.3%NaHCO₃处理后的幼苗地上部干鲜重的比值为空白对照的2.17倍,地下部干鲜重则为空白对照的56.61%,随着混合溶液中NaHCO₃浓度的上升,地上部干鲜重比值表现出上升的趋势,地下部干鲜重比值则表现出下降的趋势。经35天处理后,0.3%NaHCO₃胁迫的马蔺幼苗根系总长、根系表面积较对照均显著下降,降幅分别为39.73%、26.08%,而各处理间的根系体积却无显著差异。研究结果显示,0.3%NaHCO₃溶液对马蔺幼苗的胁迫作用最强,2种单盐对根系的胁迫作用强于混合盐胁迫,而0.3%NaCl溶液对生长量的胁迫作用最弱。     

河北省长针线虫新纪录种松长针线虫Longidorus pinus Xu,Ye,Wang&Zhao的形态与分子鉴定

2018 年，在河北省保定市园林植物紫荆（Cercis chinensis）根围分离到一种长针线虫。经形态 学观察和 28S rDNA D2D3 区序列分析，将其鉴定为松长针线虫（Longidorus pinus Xu, Ye, Wang & Zhao）。 其雌虫主要形态特征为：雌虫体长 3 048~3 464 μm，唇区明显缢缩，宽 9.5~10.5 μm，侧器囊袋状，齿尖 针长 66.0~69.5 μm，导环距体前端 27.5~30.0 μm，尾长 31~33 μm，短圆锥形，尾长与肛门处体宽比值＝ 1.5~1.6。松长针线虫河北种群 28S rDNA D2D3 区与 GenBank 数据库的山西种群进行序列比对，相似性为 99.2%~99.9%。松长针线虫是河北省长针线虫新纪录种。紫荆是松长针线虫的新寄主。     

Long‐term habitat loss in a lightly‐disturbed population of the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin,Sousa chinensis

1. Coastal and estuarine waters are important ecosystems with high primary and secondary productivity, but they are prone to the impacts of habitat loss caused by anthropogenic activities. For species exclusively inhabiting coastal and estuarine waters, such as the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis , irreversible habitat loss can have dramatic implications for population viability.
2. A Landsat image database was used to determine the extent of coastal changes along the northern Beibu Gulf, where a large humpback dolphin population is found. The results were compared with the standardized sighting gradient (SPUF) determined from a questionnaire survey of fishermen and likely core habitats identified by application of a global digital elevation model.
3. Both SPUF and likely core habitat results indicated a continuous distribution of the humpback dolphin along the northern Beibu Gulf. Landsat images revealed that 129.6 km² of coastal waters were permanently lost in the past 40 years, 60 km² within the likely core habitats. Although this may be considered small, the impact of such habitat loss could be substantial in some local habitats.
4. The humpback dolphin population in the northern Beibu Gulf should be regarded as one management unit, with two or more social subunits. Immediate systematic surveys are needed to fill information gaps on true distribution range and habitat‐use patterns.
5. Habitat protection actions for dolphins in the northern Beibu Gulf should include both core and linking habitats, including enacting protected areas in core habitats, mitigating anthropogenic impacts in likely habitats, restoring both coastal waters and surrounding landscape quality, effective treatment of industrial sewage discharge, and comprehensive environmental impact assessments for the planning of coastal development projects.

     

饥饿情况下蠋蝽种内互残行为发生时期及影响

为明确饥饿情况下蠋蝽种内残杀行为的发生时期和影响因素，指导蠋蝽规模化繁育和释放，本文研究了不同发育时期和密度下的蠋蝽种内残杀行为。研究发现：蠋蝽对卵粒的种内互残行为主要发生在饥饿24 h以内，雌性蠋蝽对卵粒的取食行为显著强于雄性蠋蝽，取食比例是雄性的2.80～3.25倍、取食量是雄性的18.75～21.20倍，雌性取食下的卵粒羽化率为70.66%，显著低于雄性和对照的86.59%和87.88%。发育时期和饲养密度均显著影响蠋蝽的种内残杀行为，主要发生在饥饿后的19.63～36.00 h，并且1、2、3龄若虫没有表现出种内残杀行为，4龄以后种内残杀行为显著；低密度下蠋蝽种内互残行为不显著，但高密度会增强种内互残行为，且随密度的增加，种内互残行为显著增强。     

渤海中国对虾生态容量变化研究

基于1982年和2014~2015年渤海渔业资源与环境调查数据,采用Ecopath模型,分析了渤海生态系统的营养关系、结构及功能参数,评估了中国对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)在渤海的生态容量变化。结果显示,渤海生态系统中底栖甲壳类、软体动物等功能群处于重要的营养位置,但中国对虾不是渤海生态系统的关键种,其生物量的增加对口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)、三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)、多毛类、底栖甲壳类有负影响,花鲈(Lateolabrax japonicus)、虾虎鱼类等生物量的增加将对中国对虾产生负影响。渤海生态系统2个时期均处于发育的不稳定期,仍有较高的剩余生产量有待利用,2014~2015年渤海生态系统成熟度和稳定性较1982年有所降低,系统出现一定程度的退化。中国对虾1982年和2014~2015年在渤海的生态容量为0.810和0.702 t/km~2;与当年依据调查数据评估的生物量相比较,中国对虾有较大的增殖潜力,当生物量增长至71.68倍和585倍时,仍不会超过生态容量。