Considering the preferences for nitrogen forms by invasive plants: a case study from a hydroponic culture experiment

Although preference for NH₄⁺, NO₃^? or a combination of the two often differs among species, we know little about the responses of invasive plants to different inorganic N forms. Furthermore, many studies have suggested that an increase in N availability may facilitate further invasions. However, most of these studies predicted the positive feedback without considering the preference for N forms of invasive plants. Therefore, we cultivated four common invasive species (Mikania micrantha, Ipomoea cairica, Wedelia trilobata and Bidens pilosa) in South China with hydroponic media containing different forms of N (i.e. NO₃^?, NH₄NO₃ and NH₄⁺) at equimolar concentrations. Our results showed that the N forms significantly affected the growth, biomass allocation and physiological traits of the plants. All four invasive plants supplied with NO₃^? alone had better performance and greater allocation to root biomass than did plants that were supplied with NH₄⁺ alone. Moreover, the photosynthetic rate, pigment content and photosystem II activity of plants supplied with NO₃^? or NH₄NO₃ were significantly higher than those of plants supplied with NH₄⁺alone. The results suggested that all four invasive plants preferred NO₃^? rather than NH₄⁺, and changes in NO₃^? played an important role in furthering the invasions of these plants than did changes in NH₄⁺. Our results implied that decreasing NO₃^? may be a useful tool for controlling and managing invasive plants preferring NO₃^?. In addition, this study highlighted the importance of considering plant N form preference to better understand plant invasions.     

甘薯基因组NBS-LRR类抗病家族基因挖掘与分析

NBS-LRR类基因家族是植物抗病R基因(Resistance gene)数量最多的一类,具有NBS (Nucleotide-binding site)和LRR (Leucine-leucine-repeat)结构域。甘薯(Ipomoea batatas)栽培种基因组已完成测序,但尚未注释,本研究对甘薯基因组序列进行外显子预测,得到甘薯染色体组全基因组蛋白序列,在此基础上进一步对NBS-LRR家族基因鉴定和分析表明,甘薯基因组中含有379个NBS-LRR家族基因,占全基因组基因总数的0.212%,其中N型亚家族120个,NL型103个, CNL型133个, TNL型22个, PN型1个。所有染色体上均有NBS-LRR家族基因分布,但数量明显不同,其中有60.9%的NBS-LRR基因序列呈簇状分布。NBS-LRR基因序列有15个保守结构域,在N端较为保守。研究结果为甘薯进一步开展NBS-LRR家族基因的功能研究和抗性育种提供了参考。     

Inhibitory effect of Ipomoea aquatica extracts on glucose absorption using a perfused rat intestinal preparation

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the effect of Ipomoea aquatica aqueous and dichloromethane/methanol extracts on the glucose absorption using a rat intestinal preparation in situ. Extracts orally tested at the dose of 160 mg/kg exerted a significant inhibitory effect on glucose absorption when compared with control animals. The most pronounced effect was observed with the aqueous extract. Ouabain used as reference inhibitor strongly inhibited glucose absorption. On the other hand both plant extracts inhibited the gastrointestinal motility suggesting that the inhibition of glucose absorption is not due to the acceleration of intestinal transit.     

甘薯台龟甲对五爪金龙的取食力测定

试验结果表明,甘薯台龟甲幼虫对五爪金龙具有较强的取食力,取食力随着虫口密度的增加而增强。幼虫期的取食力(y)和投放1龄幼虫密度(x)的线性关系式为y=19.32+11.36x。每个叶片投放1龄幼虫2头,8d后取食力可达100%。甘薯台龟甲成虫对五爪金龙的取食力更为显著,每叶放虫1头,6d后取食量达100%,且取食力随着虫口密度的上升而提高。放虫后6d的取食力和成虫密度的对数关系式为y=51.09+120.67logx。成虫的投放密度达到1头/叶,6d后叶片就能100%被取食。     

沼泽红假单胞菌的分离鉴定及对蕹菜生长的影响

从引进的日本土壤改良剂中富集分离得到1株光合细菌,通过形态学观察及生理生化特性鉴定,鉴定为该菌株属于红假单胞菌属。以泰国柳叶蕹菜为试验材料,用GRH-507菌液稀释500倍在蕹菜幼苗期、生长期进行叶面喷施,以等量的清水作对照,在成熟期调查蕹菜的产量。结果表明,喷施500倍GRH-507菌液稀释液能提高蕹菜的产量,两次收割产量分别比对照增产31.03%、20.74%。     

Diallel analysis of sweetpotatoes for resistance to sweetpotato virus disease

Sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) is due to the dual infection and synergistic interaction of Sweetpotato feathery mottle potyvirus (SPFMV) and Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt crinivirus(SPCSV), and causes up to 98% yield loss in sweetpotato in East Africa. This study was conducted to determine the inheritance of resistance to SPVD in sweetpotato and to estimate the nature of genetic variance. Ten parental clones varying in reaction to SPVD were crossed in a half diallel mating design to generate 45 full-sib families. The families were graft-inoculated with SPCSV and SPFMV to induce SPVD and evaluated for resistance in a randomized complete block design at two sites in Namulonge, Uganda during 1998–2000. In serological assays for SPFMV and SPCSV,resistance to symptom development and recovery from initial systemic SPVD symptoms, characterised resistant genotypes. Genetic component analysis showed significant effects for both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for resistance to SPVD. GCA to SCA variance component ratios were large (0.51–0.87), hence GCA effects were more important than SCA effects. Resistant parents exhibited high GCA indicating that additive gene effects were predominant in the inheritance of resistance to SPVD and recovery. Narrow-sense heritability (31–41%) and broad-sense heritability (73–98%) were moderate to high, indicating that rapid genetic gains for SPVD resistance could be accomplished by mass selection breeding techniques. Two genotypes, New Kawogo and Sowola, had high negative GCA effects and had several families in specific crosses,which exhibited rapid recovery from SPVD,and are promising parents for enhancement of SPVD resistance and recovery. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

陆生植物菜用于有机废水的生态治理研究

试验研究了陆生植物蕹菜对有机废水的治理效果,结果表明:蕹菜在水体中可有效降解COD、有机氨氮;在曝气、进料COD浓度为1300mg/L条件下,COD降解率达90%以上,而进料COD浓度为2600mg/L时,COD最大处理能力达10.56g/L.d;蕹菜对无机氨氮降解率达94%,有机氨氮降解率达73%以上。与水葫芦废水处理过程相比,蕹菜具有较广泛的水体环境适应性,对猪场废水具有一定处理效果。     

Synergistic effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and diazotrophic bacteria on nutrition and growth of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Summary Sweet potatoes were micropropagated and then transplanted from axnic conditions to fumigated soil in pots in the greenhouse. Spores of Glomus clarum were obtained from Brachiaria decumbens or from sweet potatoes grown in soil infected with this fungus and with an enrichment culture of Acetobacter diazotrophicus. Three experiments were carried out to measure the beneficial effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi-diazotroph interactions on growth, nutrition, and infection of sweet potato by A. diazotrophicus and other diazotrophs obtained from sweet potato roots. In two of these experiments the soils had been mixed with ¹⁵N-containing organic matter. The greatest effects of mycorrhizal inoculation were observed with co-inoculation of A. diazotrophicus and/or mixed cultures of diazotrophs containing A. diazotrophicus and Klebsiella sp. The tuber production was dependent on mycorrhization, and total N and P accumulation were increased when diazotrophs and G. clarum were applied together with VAM fungal spores. A. diazotrophicus infected aerial plant parts only when inoculated together with VAM fungi or when present within G. clarum spores. More pronounced effects on root colonization and intraradical sporulation of G. clarum were observed when A. diazotrophicus was co-inoculated. In non-fumigated soil, dual inoculation effects, however, were of lower magnitude. ¹⁵N analysis of the aerial parts and roots and tubers at the early growth stage (70 days) showed no statistical differences between treatments except for the VAM+Klebsiella sp. treatment. This indicates that the effects of A. diazotrophicus and other diazotrophs on sweet potato growth were caused by enhanced mycorrhization and, consequently, a more efficient assimilation of nutrients from the soil than by N₂ fixation. The possible interactions between these effects are discussed.     

Genetic diversity in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] in relationship to geographic sources as assessed with RAPD markers

Available evidence shows that sweetpotato originated from either Central or South American lowlands with subsequent dispersal to North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the pacific islands. A total of 71 polymorphic RAPD molecular markers were used to assess the genetic relationships amongst 74 sweetpotato varieties originating from a total of 23 sweetpotato producing countries within six geographical regions, namely, South America, Central America/Caribbean, United States of America (USA), East Africa, Asia and Oceania. An Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated that 93.4% of the total variance was due to the differences between genotypes within regions. The difference between regions was significant (P < 0.001) but only contributed 6.6% to the variance. Genetic distance (PhiST) calculated with AMOVA and multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed that the South American and the Central American/Caribbean genotypes formed two separate clusters. East African varieties, which have unique characteristics from other traditional varieties, were distinct from other traditional varieties from South America and Oceania. These results support the reported hypothesis of the origin and dispersal of the sweetpotato and indicate that the primary centre of diversity probably has two distinct genepools. It is proposed that the dispersal of the sweetpotato from its origin may have mainly involved varieties from Central America/Caribbean as opposed to varieties from South America. There is an indication that new genepools may be evolving in Africa and Asia due to hybridisation and adaptation to the local environments.     

Interactions of Glomus clarum with Acetobacter diazotrophicus in infection of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), and sweet sorghum (Sorghum vulgare)

Summary Spores of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus clarum obtained from sweet potatoes grown in soil inoculated with this fungus and with an enrichment culture of Acetobacter diazotrophicus contained A. diazotrophicus and several other bacteria, including a diazotrophic Klebsiella sp. Inoculation of micropropagated sweet potatoes with G. clarum and A. diazotrophicus enhanced spore formation in soil compared to VAM inoculation alone. Plants inoculated with VAM spores containing the bacteria showed additional increases in the number of spores formed within roots. A. diazotrophicus infected aerial plant parts only when inoculated together with VAM or when present within VAM spores. Micropropagated sugarcane seedlings inoculated with the same VAM spores containing the diazotrophs also contained much higher numbers of A. diazotrophicus in aerial parts than seedlings inoculated in vitro with the bacteria alone. When grown in non-sterile soil, the sugarcane seedlings again showed the greatest infection of aerial parts after inoculation with VAM spores containing the diazotrophs. This treatment also increased VAM colonization and the numbers of spores formed within roots. Similar effects were observed in sweet sorghum except that the aerial plant parts were not infected by A. diazotrophicus.