Parent-offspring coadaptation and the dual genetic control of maternal care

In many animal species, the amount of care provided by parents is determined through a complex interaction of offspring signals and responses by parents to those signals. As predicted by honest signaling theory, we show that in the burrower bug, Sehirus cinctus, maternal provisioning responds to experimental manipulations of offspring condition. Despite this predicted environmental influence, we find evidence from two cross-foster experiments that variation in maternal care also stems from two distinct genetic sources: variation among offspring in their ability to elicit care and variation among parents in their response to offspring signals. Furthermore, as predicted by maternal-offspring coadaptation theory, offspring signaling is negatively genetically correlated with maternal provisioning.     

克隆植物表型可塑性研究若干进展

表型可塑性是克隆植物的重要特征,也是克隆植物生长发育和适应外界环境的重要机制。本文总结了克隆植物表型可塑性的意义,克隆植物对不同光照、水分和养分条件的响应特征,以及目前采用的研究方法,认为克隆植物表型可塑性已有研究多关注形态生长特征,而从生理角度研究较少。     

羊草克隆后代对刈割处理的响应

【背景】 母体放牧历史可以改变羊草（Leymus chinensis）克隆后代的形态及光合生理性状,也可以改变其对干旱环境的响应,但是母体放牧历史是否影响了羊草克隆后代对家畜啃食的响应尚不清楚。【目的】 研究母体放牧历史是否增强了羊草克隆后代对模拟家畜啃食（刈割）的适应性。【方法】 利用不同放牧历史的羊草克隆后代（1983年围封 VS 长期自由放牧）进行室内盆栽试验,从个体性状、子株数、生物量及生物量分配等角度对比了其对模拟放牧处理（刈割）的响应。【结果】 （1）母体放牧历史与刈割处理对羊草单株株高、单株生物量交互作用极显著,放牧羊草克隆后代（GZ）单株株高、单株生物量对刈割处理的抵抗力较围封羊草克隆后代（NG）强;但是,母体放牧历史并没有明显改变羊草克隆后代子株数对刈割处理的响应。（2）母体放牧历史与刈割处理对羊草根茎生物量交互作用显著,对地上、根系及总生物量交互作用不显著,但是NG地上、根系及总生物量在刈割处理下的表型可塑性指数及绝对减少量均明显大于GZ。因此,母体放牧经历增强了羊草克隆后代对刈割处理的适应性。（3）NG在刈割处理下被刈割掉的地上部分生物量显著小于GZ,但是NG的被刈割程度（被刈割生物量/总生物量）显著高于GZ。（4）GZ生物量分配对刈割处理响应不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了NG的根茎生物量分配。【结论】 羊草母体经历放牧干扰后,其克隆后代对家畜啃食的适应性增强;母体放牧历史并不通过改变生物量分配增强羊草克隆后代的适牧性,叶片光合生理的响应及避牧性可能是母体放牧历史增强羊草克隆后代的途径。本研究通过控制试验排除土壤等环境因子的干扰,从植物自身角度出发,研究其克隆后代表型性状对放牧的响应,这对充分认识草原生态系统放牧退化过程及退化修复过程提供了新的视角。     

The effect of artificial solar spectrum on growth of cucumber and lettuce under controlled environment

Light-emitting diodes(LEDs) have been widely applied in the controlled environment agriculture, which are characterized by relatively narrow-band spectra and energetical efficiency. Most recently, the spectrum of Sunlike LEDs has been engineered and it closely resembles solar spectrum in the range of photosynthetic active radiation(PAR, 400–700 nm). To investigate how plant growth responses to the spectrum of Sunlike LEDs, cucumber and lettuce plants were cultivated and their responses were compared with the conventional white LEDs as well as composite of red and blue LEDs(RB, R/B ratio was 9:1). We observed that although Sunlike LEDs resulted in a longer stem in cucumber, dry weight and leaf area were similar as those under RB LEDs, and significantly higher than those under white LEDs. Moreover, cucumber leaves grown under Sunlike and white LEDs showed higher photosynthetic capacity than those grown under RB LEDs. For lettuce, plants grown under Sunlike LEDs showed larger leaf area and higher dry weight than the other two treatments. However, the leaf photosynthetic capacity of lettuce grown under Sunlike LEDs was the lowest. In this context, the spectrum induced plant functions are species-dependent. Furthermore, the three types of LEDs show distinct light spectra and they are different in many aspects. Therefore, it is difficult to attribute the different plant responses to certain specific light spectra. We conclude that plants grown under Sunlike LEDs exhibit larger leaf area, which may be due to some specific spectrum distributions(such as more far-red radiation), and consequently are favorable for light interception and therefore result in greater production.     

昆虫护幼行为的研究进展

为了在复杂生态环境中生存和繁衍,昆虫亲代往往会对子代表现出各种护幼行为,这对提高昆虫物种的存活率和适应性具有积极意义。近年来,关于昆虫护幼行为的研究已经涉及到昆虫纲的10个目50多个科,其中,多发现在膜翅目和等翅目等社会性昆虫中,而在半社会性昆虫中成虫抚育后代的习性也日益受到关注。为了充分了解不同昆虫种类的护幼行为机制,通过对比社会性昆虫与半社会性昆虫护幼行为的特点,从昆虫护幼行为的不同表现形式、影响因素及生态策略等方面综述昆虫护幼行为的研究进展。     

入侵植物喜旱莲子草对光、氮及其互作的表型可塑性反应

为给入侵植物喜旱莲子草的管理与防控提供一定的理论参考,对其在光照和氮沉降及光氮互作的表型可塑性反应进行了研究。结果表明:喜旱莲子草通过增加株高、节长,降低根重比,提高叶重比、叶片叶绿素含量来适应较低的光照环境,其株高、节长、总生物量对光照的表型可塑性指数较大;随着土壤氮素的增加,喜旱莲子草植株的株高、节长、茎粗、叶长、叶宽、总生物量和叶绿素都显著增加,其对氮沉降的可塑性指数在株高、生物量和叶绿素上较大;氮沉降有利于喜旱莲子草对光照反应可塑性的增加,从而补偿低光环境导致的生长不利。因此,若在持续高氮沉降的情况下,喜旱莲子草种群有向贫瘠土壤和弱光环境拓展的风险。     

淀山湖不同生长型沉水植物分布及其性状研究

不同生长型植物具有不同的性状特征,而植物的性状特征又决定了其对不同生境的适应能力。淀山湖是我国典型的富营养化湖泊,通过对淀山湖不同生长型沉水植物分布现状调查,及其特征性状的测定,分析不同生长型沉水植物性状特征对生境的适应性及其响应机制,探讨了富营养化湖泊逆向演替的驱动因子和未来演替方向。结果表明：不同生长型沉水植物在相同环境条件下采取了相异的策略,进而决定了其分布。大眼子菜型植物竹叶眼子菜干物质含量高,因而组织强度高,能在受风浪影响的大水体形成优势群落;小眼子菜型植物黑藻叶面积小、比叶面积大、叶面积/地上干重高且叶片集中于上层水体,在小面积水域具有极高的竞争优势,在湖湾极易形成致密的单种群落;苦草型植物苦草叶面积大,叶生物量主要分布于下层水体,在透明度低的水体中无法获得足够光资源,因而其群落在淀山湖消失。富营养化水体中具生存优势的沉水植物均具有叶面积小、叶片集中分布于上层水体等特征,这均有助于更好地获得上层水体光资源,表明水下可利用光源是水生植被演替的关键驱动因子。     

Genetic Analysis of Embryo, Cytoplasm and Maternal Effects and Their Environment Interactions for Isoflavone Content in Soybean [Glycine max （L.） Merr.]

Soybean seed products contain isoflavones （genistein, daidzein, and glycitein） that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals. These effects are species, dose and age dependent. Therefore, the content and quality of isoflavones in soybeans is a key factor to the biological effect. Our objective was to identify the genetic effects that underlie the isoflavone content in soybean seeds. A genetic model for quantitative traits of seeds in diploid plants was applied to estimate the genetic main effects and genotype x environment （GE） interaction effects for the isoflavone content （IC） of soybean seeds by using two years experimental data with an incomplete diallel mating design of six parents. Results showed that the IC of soybean seeds was simultaneously controlled by the genetic effects of maternal, embryo, and cytoplasm, of which maternal genetic effects were most important, followed by embryo and cytoplasmic genetic effects. The main effects of different genetic systems on IC trait were more important than environment interaction effects. The strong dominance effects on isoflavone from residual was made easily by environment conditions. Therefore, the improvement of the IC of soybean seeds would be more efficient when selection is based on maternal plants than that on the single seed. Maternal heritability （65.73%） was most important for IC, followed by embryo heritability （25.87%） and cytoplasmic heritability （8.39%）. Based on predicated genetic effects, Yudou 29 and Zheng 90007 were better than other parents for increasing IC in the progeny and improving the quality of soybean, The significant effects of maternal and embryo dominance effects in variance show that the embryo heterosis and maternal heterosis are existent and uninfluenced by environment interaction effects.     

Pregnancy-stimulated neurogenesis in the adult female forebrain mediated by prolactin

Neurogenesis occurs in the olfactory system of the adult brain throughout life, in both invertebrates and vertebrates, but its physiological regulation is not understood. We show that the production of neuronal progenitors is stimulated in the forebrain subventricular zone of female mice during pregnancy and that this effect is mediated by the hormone prolactin. The progenitors then migrate to produce new olfactory interneurons, a process likely to be important for maternal behavior, because olfactory discrimination is critical for recognition and rearing of offspring. Neurogenesis occurs even in females that mate with sterile males. These findings imply that forebrain olfactory neurogenesis may contribute to adaptive behaviors in mating and pregnancy.     

网室遮荫栽培对木瓜的光合作用“午休”的影响

为了研究网室遮荫栽培对两个木瓜品种光合作用的影响,我们利用便携式光合仪测定了木瓜的光合作用日变化、光响应曲线以及叶绿素荧光.结果表明①光合作用日进程中,网室内的气温(Ta)、光强(PFD)及叶内外蒸汽压差(VPD)在中午都显著低于网室外(P≤0.05).网室内栽培的木瓜的光合速率(An)、气孔导度(gs)、细胞间CO2浓度(Ci)都出现“双峰曲线”,即未出现“午休”,而网室内栽培的正好相反.②在网室外自然光照下两种木瓜gsVPD响应VPD升高时,gs下降,呈显著负相关,这也是中午光合速率受到限制的原因之一.而网室栽培gsVPD相关不显著(P≤0.05).③网室内木瓜的叶绿素荧光FvFm午间的下降幅度显著低于网室外木瓜(P≤0.05).④网室内木瓜光响应曲线中光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(LSP)低,表观量子效率()高的特征,表明木瓜在网室适度遮荫的条件下的耐荫的适度性表现.以上表明在华南地区,网室栽培有助于缓解植物在中午的强光、高温以及高湿的条件下产生的光抑制,避开“午休”,从而积累更多的有机碳,提高光合效率,具有推广的潜力.     

晋春16号小麦栽培技术研究

晋春16号是原山西省农业科学院作物研究所和高寒区作物研究所以定8654为母本,以97 F1204(特7014-5×晋春9号)为父本杂交,F1去假杂种混收,F2～F3大田点播种植,收获时选多蘖、大穗、抗病优良单株,F4～F5用系谱和混合集团相结合的方法选择而成的抗病、抗逆、丰产性好、对光照不敏感的春小麦新品种。主要农艺性状稳定,群体整齐一致,表现优异。该品种2009年通过山西省农作物品种审定委员会审定命名。文章从晋春16号春小麦栽培的播前准备、播种时期、水肥以及田间管理等方面做了简单扼要的阐述。     

Analysis of embryo, cytoplasm and maternal effects on fatty acid components in soybean (Glycine max Merill.)

The quality of oil determined by the constituents and proportion of fatty acid components, and the understanding of heredity of fatty acid components are of importance to breeding good quality soybean varieties. Embryo, cytoplasmic and maternal effects and genotype × environment interaction effects for quality traits of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill.] seeds were analyzed using a general genetic model for quantitative traits of seeds with parents, F₁ and F₂, of 20 crosses from a diallel mating design of five parents planted in the field in 2003 and 2004 in Harbin, China. The interaction effects of palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acid contents were larger than the genetic main effects, while the genetic main effects were equal to interaction effects for linolenic and oleic acid content. Among all kinds of genetic main effects, the embryo effects were the largest for palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids, while the cytoplasm effects were the largest for oleic and linolenic acids. Among all kinds of interaction effects, the embryo interaction effects were the largest for fatty acids. The sum of additive and additive × environment effects were larger than that of dominance and dominance × environment effects for the linolenic acid content, but not for other quality traits. The general heritabilities were the main parts of heritabilities for palmitic and oleic acid contents, but the interaction was more important for stearic, linoleic, and linolenic acid contents. For the general heritability, maternal and cytoplasm heritabilities were the main components for palmitic, oleic, and linolenic acid contents. It was shown for the interaction heritabilities that the embryo interaction heritabilities were more important for oleic and linolenic acid contents, while the maternal interaction heritabilities were more important for linoleic acid content. Among selection response components, the maternal and cytoplasm general responses and/or interaction responses were more important for palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid contents. The main selection response components were from the embryo general response and/or interaction response for linolenic acid content. It suggested that the selection of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid contents in offspring should be in maternal plants, while linolenic acid content should be improved by screening or selecting the single seed in higher generations. Translated from Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2006, 32(12): 1873–1877 [译自: 作物学报]     

萍乡显性核不育水稻不育基因的转育研究

利用萍乡显性核不育水稻不育株高温条件下表现部分可育的特性，在南昌夏季以萍乡显性核不育水稻杂合不育株作父本，与具有不同细胞质来源的常规水稻品种(粤香占、HR—195、85—02、中鉴100、9311、原早7号、超丰早、R402)杂交，各杂交组合及后代分别在江西南昌和海南三亚种植。结果表明，转育后代出现的不育株育性没有中间类型，败育彻底；遗传背景和环境条件不会对转育后代Ms—p基因表达产生影响，转育的不育株系育性能稳定遗传。转育成功的5个不同细胞质源的显性核不育株系在株高、分蘖力、上三叶长度和角度等农艺性状都与原萍乡显性核不育水稻不育株有明显的差异。     

不同耐光特性植物的光合速率日变化

以耐强光植物玉米掖单１３号、耐弱光植物辣椒海椒１７号、中性耐光植物水稻汕优６３为材料,对其在不同光照条件下的光合速率日变化特征与叶绿素ａ／ｂ比值、ＳＯＤ活性进行了研究,结果表明：在夏季,不同耐光特性植物的光合速率日变化均为双峰型,下午的高峰比上午的低,在自然光照下,３种植物的光合速率、ＳＯＤ活性、叶绿素ａ／ｂ比值均为玉米〉水稻〉辣椒,但午睡程度却是辣椒〉水稻〉玉米,利用弱光的能力大小为辣椒〉水稻〉     

雷公藤属植物生物学特性与生态适应性的初步研究

历时4 a,调查了我国27个县(市)雷公藤属Tripterygium种质资源,建立种质资源收集库,定期观察雷公藤母本及无性系表型性状和生态适应性。结果表明,不同种质雷公藤的萌蘖性、生长势与造林成活率均存在差异,雷公藤T.wilfordii萌蘖性能明显优于昆明山海棠T.hypoglaucum,野生植株、种质资源收集库内母本及无性系后代均表现一致;在浙江丽水低海拔地区栽培,雷公藤造林成活率和幼林生长势也明显优于昆明山海棠。浙江类似地区雷公藤药材栽培应优先选用雷公藤,良种选育重点在雷公藤分布区内进行,既可提高良种选育效率,又可保证选育的良种适合丽水地区环境条件。表4参5     

荒漠植物的适应策略

从荒漠植物对荒漠干旱、盐渍化和养分贫瘠的适应策略方面进行了阐述,并概述了荒漠植物种群延续的适应策略;同时,对荒漠植物适应策略问题的研究进行了展望。     

Responses of leaf stomatal and mesophyll conductance to abiotic stress factors

Plant photosynthesis assimilates CO₂ from the atmosphere, and CO₂ diffusion efficiency is mainly constrained by stomatal and mesophyll resistance. The stomatal and mesophyll conductance of plants are sensitive to abiotic stress factors, which affect the CO₂ concentrations at carboxylation sites to control photosynthetic rates. Early studies conducted relevant reviews on the responses of stomatal conductance to the environment and the limitations of mesophyll conductance by internal structure and biochemical factors. However, reviews on the abiotic stress factors that systematically regulate plant CO₂ diffusion are rare. Therefore, in this review, the rapid and long-term responses of stomatal and mesophyll conductance to abiotic stress factors (such as light intensity, drought, CO₂ concentration and temperature) and their physiological mechanisms are summarized. Finally, future research trends are also investigated.     

Row Spacing in Relation to Competition for Limited Resources in Soybean （Glycine Max L. Merrill）

Growing soybeans in different row-spacings introduces competition. Competition begins when the immediate supply of a single necessary factor falls below the combined demands of all plants. This paper reviews the main competition factors of genotypes, light, water, nutrients and weed in responses to row spacings for the past four decades. It demonstrated that responses of soybean genotypes to row width differ among cultivars, which depend on seasonal rainfall and irrigation. Determinate types produce more yield in narrow-rows, and cultivars with lodging resistance should be adopted in narrow-spacings, but indeterminate soybean should also be used to optimize yields in certain system. Narrow-compared with wide-row soybean (Glycine max) cultivation increases light interception (L]) and dominant components for the increase come from LA], light extinction coefficients and branch types. Water use efficiency (WUE) and evapotranspiration are not influenced by row spacing, but seed yield could be increased if irrigationis applied. Nutrient uptake is significantly affected by row spacing, seed yields and uptake of N, P, K in plants increases with decreasing row spacing, and the effects depend on the fertilizer levels. Other factors rather than row spacing affect nitrogen fixation. Weed density, peak time and periodicity of weed emergence are not affected by row spacing, but better complementary weed control by the herbicides at the used doses can be obtained in narrow spacing due to the reduoed weed number and dry weight. More researches are required to investigate the physiological responses, nutrient and water uptake and translocation, light utilization at different layers of canopy and soil environment changes in different row-spacings.     

光照强度对青钱柳叶形态结构、光合特性和生长的影响1）

采用人工遮阴的方式设置了3个光照强度,模拟药用青钱柳在矮化及不同栽植密度下的光环境,研究其光合和荧光特性、叶片形态和解剖结构、光合器官的成分和结构以及生长和生物量积累对不同光照强度的响应。结果表明：随着光照强度的减弱,青钱柳苗的净光合速率、非光化学猝灭系数、气孔密度、叶片厚度、栅栏组织宽度、地径、生物量及比叶质量均显著下降,在叶绿体中积累的淀粉粒数量也明显减少。但随着遮阴的加强,遮阴植株具有更高的PSII量子产率、光化学猝灭系数、叶绿素总量。此外,在弱光条件下,叶绿体中含有大量发育完好的基粒内囊体、叶绿素质量分数和叶绿素b的比例更高。适度遮阴（一层遮阴）条件下,青钱柳苗的树高生长、叶面积、叶总生物量比最大,而根总生物量比和根冠生物量比最小。     

Adaptation of photosynthetic processes to stress

I have focused on examples of plant adaptations to environmental conditions that range from adjustments in the allocation of metabolic resources and modification of structural components to entirely separate mechanisms. The result of these modifications is more efficient performance under the stresses typically encountered in the plants' native habitats. Such adaptations, for reasons which are not entirely clear, often lead to poorer performance in other environmental conditions. This situation may be a fundamental basis for the tendency toward specialization among plants native to specific niches or habitats. The evolutionary mechanisms that have resulted in these specializations are very large-scale processes. It seems reasonable to suppose that the plants native to particular habitats are relatively efficient in terms of the limitations imposed by those habitats, and that the adaptive mechanisms these plants possess are, compared to those which have evolved in competing organisms, the most succesful biological means of coping with the environmental stresses encountered. I believe that we can learn from nature and utilize the adaptive mechanisms of these plants in agriculture to replace in part our present reliance on resources and energy to modify the environment for plant growth. By analogy with natural systems, improved resource utilization will require specialization and greater knowledge of the limitations of a particular environment and plant genotype. For example, the cultural conditions, plant architecture, and physiological responses necessary to achieve high water use efficiency from our crop species with C(4) photosynthesis probably differ from those required to achieve maximum total growth. Also, efforts to control water application to eliminate waste carry with them the risk that the crop could be injured by inadequate water. Thus, greater demands would be placed on the crop physiologist, the plant breeder, and the farmer. Planting and appropriate management of adapted crop genotypes could enable cultivation of many areas presently considered unusable because of environmental extremes or shortage of resources, and may lead to more efficient resource utilization on land already under cultivation. The costs or benefits of this cannot yet be estimated. However, I suspect that the greatest potential for application of such techniques will be in the developing rather than the developed regions of the world. The genetic and functional diversity of plants is a tremendous biological resource. The capacity of plants to adjust in the future to changing environmental conditions depends on this diversity and on evolutionary processes of nature. Wild plants may provide a source of genetic material to improve crop plants. Also, as advocated by McKell (22), wild plants can be utilized to a greater extent directly by man. Long-term research efforts and commitment to preserve natural habitats and their populations of wild plants will be required to maintain and more effectively utilize this resource.