Physiological and biochemical effects of boron toxicity in mustard during the seedling stage

A study was conducted to determine the physiological and biochemical effects of boron in seedlings of mustard (Brassica juncea L. var Varuna). For this seeds were sown in petridishes with varying concentrations of boron (0, 0.33, 3.3, 33, 330 mM) in seed germinator. Seed germination and vigor index was found to be decreased and percentage phytotoxicity was increased in seeds with increase in the concentration of boron in germinating solution. There was accumulation of sugars and decreased starch concentration in cotyledons and embryonic axes of growing seedling with increasing boron stress. For the estimation of oxidative damage in cotyledons and embryonic axes of mustard seedlings, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), phenols and activities of antioxidative enzymes- polyphenoloxydase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were determined. Boron toxicity caused accumulation of H₂O₂, TBARS and phenols and affected the antioxidative enzyme activity in growing seedling components.     

外源水杨酸缓解低温胁迫对玉米种子萌发和早期幼苗生长伤害的生理机制

为探讨低温胁迫下外源水杨酸(SA)对植物种子萌发和早期幼苗生长影响的生理机制,本研究以先玉335玉米品种为试验材料,用0.05 mmol·L~(-1)的SA水溶液和去离子水(对照,记作CK)对种子进行浸种处理,研究外源SA对低温胁迫下种子发芽、种胚淀粉酶、氧化损伤水平、抗氧化酶、抗氧化物质和渗透调节物质等的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,SA处理玉米种子的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、幼苗干重和鲜重分别显著提高了5.57%、7.20%、23.76%、15.49%和28.52%。SA处理的玉米种胚淀粉酶活性显著提高,在种子萌发第2、第6、第8、第10天比CK提高了28.6%、15.1%、9.6%和16.9%;而超氧阴离子(O_2~)和丙二醛(MDA)含量经SA处理后显著下降。SA处理提高了种胚抗氧化酶的活性,在种子萌发第2、第4、第6和第8天时,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性比CK分别提高了36.6%、25.9%、43.6%和46.3%;过氧化物酶(POD)活性在种子萌发12 d时比CK提高了9.0%;和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在第4、第6、第8天时比CK分别提高了13.0%、5.7%和17.0%。此外,SA处理还提高了种胚抗氧化物质还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和渗透调节物质脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖的含量。综上所述,SA可以通过改善渗透调节能力和加速淀粉转化来缓解低温胁迫诱导的氧化损伤。本研究结果为探究SA调控低温胁迫下种子萌发和早期幼苗生长的机制开拓了新视野。     

Evidence for two gene pools of the Lima bean,Phaseolus lunatus L., in the Americas

Summary The lima bean,Phaseolus lunatus L., is a bean species with a broad distribution in the Americas that rivals that of common bean (P. vulgaris). In order to better understand the organization of genetic diversity and the pattern of domestication in lima bean, a review was conducted of the available information on the geographic distribution of wild and cultivated forms of this species. In addition, one-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of seed proteins was also conducted on a sample of 84 wild, 6 weedy, and 426 cultivated forms. Results show that wild forms can be divided into two groups, one with smaller seeds and a very extensive distribution that includes Mexico, Central America, and the eastern slope of the Andes, and the other with a more circumscribed distribution on the western slope of the Andes in Ecuador and northern Peru. Electrophoretic analyses of seed proteins confirmed this subdivision and, additionally, showed that the large-seeded cultivars had been domesticated from the large-seeded wild lima beans in western South America. For the small-seeded lima bean cultivars, it was not possible to determine a domestication center as the most abundant protein pattern in the cultivars also had a widespread distribution in the small-seeded wild progenitor. Electrophoretic analyses showed, however, that domestication led to a reduction of genetic diversity in the small-seeded, Mesoamerican group, but not in the large-seeded group. The latter may be due to insufficient sampling of the larger-seeded, wild germplasm.     

近40年中国植物物候对气候变化的响应研究

根据中国科学院物候观测网络中26个观测网络中26个观测站点的物候资料，分析了近40年我国木本植物物候变化及其对气候变化的响应关系。并建立了不同年代物候期与地理位置之间的关系模式。分析了当前气候增暖背景下物候期地理分布规律变化对气候变化的响应关系。结果表明：温度上升，我国的木本植物春季物候期提前，20世纪80年代以后，东北，华北及长江下游等地区的物候期提前，西南东部，长江中游等地区的物候期推迟，同时物候期随纬度变化的幅度减小。     

不同浸种方法对北京工程边坡喷播常用灌木种子发芽的影响

为促进北京工程边坡喷播常用的灌木种子发芽,提高灌木种子相对草本的竞争力,尝试采用植物生长促进剂浸种、热水浸种等生产上常用的浸种方法,确定最佳浸种时长、最佳热水浸种初始温度及最优植物生长促进剂种类和浓度等,促进灌木种子发芽成活.结果表明:1)在植物生长促进剂浸种的情况下,最佳浸种时长为12h;2)对3种灌木种子发芽均有促进作用的低浓度促进剂为赤霉素100 mg/L和萘乙酸10-8 mg/L,发芽势综合约在30％;3)适宜紫穗槐、胡枝子发芽的热水浸种初始温度,分别在60 ～ 70和60 ～ 80℃,热水浸泡对荆条发芽有抑制作用.综合3个试验,发现针对具有硬实性质的种子,可先用初始温度为60 ～ 70℃的热水浸种2h,后用赤霉素100 mg/L或萘乙酸10-8 mg/L溶液浸种10h的方法,促进灌木种子发芽;对非硬实性质的种子,直接用赤霉素100 mg/L或萘乙酸10-8 mg/L溶液浸种12h.综合试验结果可用于生产,具有一定的创新性和可行性.     

Investigation of the changes in low molecular weight organic acids and other physiological parameters by nitric oxide application in two wheat cultivars exposed to boron stress

Boron (B) is one of the essential nutrients for the growth of plants, but its high concentrations are toxic for plants. Thus, B toxicity is a big challenge in crop cultivation. Nitric oxide (NO) is a small signaling molecule that has cytoprotective roles in plants. We investigated whether exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which is a NO donor, may succeed to alleviate B-induced toxicity in wheat cultivars. Seedlings were grown for 10 days in a growth chamber at 25°C with 16 hr light–8 hr dark photo cycle. After high B application, the effects of SNP on growth parameters; electrolyte leakage (EL); changes in reactive oxygen species [contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline]; the activities of antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] and nitrate reductase (NR); and low molecular weight organic acid (LMWOAs) contents and also chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents were investigated in both shoots and roots of two different wheat cultivars. All experiments were carried out in triplicate. 0.2 mM SNP application ameliorated the chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents, and growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, and fresh weight in both wheat cultivars exposed to B stress. SNP reduced the B-induced lipid peroxidation, EL, and proline and H₂O₂ content in wheat cultivars. SNP application also increased the activities of NR and antioxidant enzymes, including GSHPx, GR, and GST in wheat cultivars exposed to B toxicity. All of the tested LMWOAs including succinic, propionic, butyric, oxalic, formic, malic, malonic, and benzoic acids were increased by SNP treatment in the shoots and roots of both wheat cultivars exposed to B toxicity. In conclusion, results obtained from this study have demonstrated that interactive effects of SNP with B considerably reduced the toxic effects of B in wheat cultivars.     

耐辐射奇球菌DNA损伤响应开关蛋白PprI的研究进展

耐辐射奇球菌是迄今为止发现的最具辐射抗性的生物之一。其体内的Ppr I蛋白在整个DNA辐射损伤修复过程中起着必不可少的作用,ppr I作为一个细胞全局性的开关基因,协调控制DNA损伤响应与修复过程中众多细胞通路的基因表达。本文探讨了Ppr I在耐辐射奇球菌抗辐射和抗氧化中的生物学功能、相关结构功能以及对其他原核及真核生物抗逆性的影响,并展望了其潜在的生物学新功能与意义,旨在为进一步研究耐辐射奇球菌的辐射抗性机制提供理论依据。     

Wild-weed-crop complexes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) in the Andes of Peru and Colombia, and their implications for conservation and breeding

During germplasm explorations carried out in Peru and Colombia, interbreeding complexes of wild and cultivated common bean were observed in both countries, eight in Apurimac and Cusco departments of Peru and eight in Cundinamarca and Boyaca´ departments of Colombia. The existence of complexes was evidenced both by segregation of wild and cultivated morphological traits in certain populations, and by the presence of genetically stabilized weedy types which were assumed to have arisen from past hybridization. Observations on phaseolin seed protein confirmed that genetic exchange was occurring. Phaseolin types introduced from other regions were in incipient stages of introgression into local populations. On the other hand, local phaseolin types were observed in all phases of the complexes from totally wild to fully cultivated beans, suggesting that the complexes had undergone a long evolution. Complexes could be an effective means to generate genetic variability, introgressing genes from wild populations into cultivated types and complementing modern plant breeding programs. The conservation of such complexes depends on the continued existence of the wild, weedy and cultivated beans in close proximity; on the maintenance of a semi-domesticated environment; and on the willingness of farmers to leave weedy types in the field.     

Long-term acclimation of mesophyll conductance, carbon isotope discrimination and growth in two contrasting Picea asperata populations exposed to drought and enhanced UV-B radiation for three years

Two Picea asperata Mast. populations originating from wet and dry climate regions of China were subjected to enhanced UV-B radiation, drought and their combination in a greenhouse for 3 years. Drought treatment caused a significant decrease in photosynthesis, mesophyll conductance (g_m), carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and growth characteristics when compared with well-watered treatment. In contrast to the great effects of drought stress, enhanced UV-B radiation showed some but not as substantial negative effects on these parameters. Little interaction effect between drought and UV-B radiation was detected, and the drought effect in combination with enhanced UV-B was not more pronounced than with no enhanced UV-B radiation. These results suggest that enhanced UV-B radiation does not aggravate the drought effect on P. asperata seedlings. The results also showed that the proportional role of the intercellular CO₂ (C_i) decreased, while the role of chloroplastic concentration (C_c) became increasingly important in explaining the high values of carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C), when the water stress progressed in time. In addition, multivariate causal models proposed that there is a direct causal relationship between specific leaf area (SLA) and g_m, which is not mediated by leaf N. Besides, there are functional links between g_m and photosynthetic capacity (V_cmax). On the other hand, the study showed that net assimilation rate (NAR) is the main driving force for changes in relative growth rate (RGR), especially in low-water environments, and the degree of acclimation of respiration in the light (R_L) is of central importance to the greater role played by NAR in determining variation in RGR.     

The adverse effects of soil salinization on the growth of Trifolium alexandrinum L. and associated microbial and biochemical properties in a soil from Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of increasing concentrations of salt solutions (including 0.12, 2, 6, and 10 dS m⁻¹) on the growth of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and related soil microbial activity, biomass and enzyme activities. Results showed that the dry weights of root and shoot decreased with an increase in the concentrations of salt solutions. Soil salinization depressed the microbiological activities including soil respiration and enzyme activities. Substrate-induced respiration was consistently lower in salinized soils, whereas microbial biomass C did not vary among salinity levels. Higher metabolic quotients (qCO₂) and unaffected microbial biomass C at high EC values may indicate that salinity is a stressful factor, inducing either a shift in the microbial community with less catabolic activity or reduced efficiency of substrate utilization. Acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities decreased with increasing soil salinity. We found significant, positive correlations between the activities of phosphatase enzymes and plant's root mass, suggesting that any decrease in the activities of the two enzymes could be attributed to the reduced root biomass under saline conditions.     

不同使用年限蔬菜大棚土壤溶质含量变化的试验研究

在石灰性褐土上分别选取种植1、3、6、9年蔬菜的大棚土壤,旨在研究不同种植年限对土壤养分、盐分、微量元素及重金属的影响。结果表明,随着种植年限的增加,大棚土壤的养分、盐分等均显著高于对照,其年度增长率表现为有机质＜氨态氮＜全盐量＜速效钾＜硝态氮＜速效磷,其中速效磷、硝态氮、全盐量依次较对照提高21.8倍、15.9倍、2.3倍。微量元素的年度增长幅度表现为Mn＜Zn＜Cu＜Fe,其中有效态Cu、Zn、Fe含量均高于临界值。重金属年度的增长幅度表现为Pb＜Cr＜Cd,虽然Cr、Cd、Pb均未超标,但大棚土壤养分、盐分、微量元素与重金属含量均随大棚利用年限的增加呈递增趋势,须引起人们的关注。     

The natural environment of Cupressus sempervirens in Greece as a basis for its use in the Mediterranean region

This paper studies the natural stands of Cupressus sempervirens L. in Greece. C. sempervirens stands are located on the islands of Crete, Samos, Rhodes, Kos, Symi, and Milos, while populations on the islands of Chios and Kalymnos were discovered recently. Stands in the Peloponnese and in the Ionian Islands are considered introduced and naturalized. Data on natural populations show that C. sempervirens is indifferent to physiographic factors, substrate material, and physicochemical soil properties. The species grows on sites ranging from the semiarid bioclimatic zone with warm winters, to the wet zone with cold and fairly harsh winters. According to the xerothermic index in the taxon's natural distribution area, all Mediterranean bioclimate characters may appear, from intense thermo‐Mediterranean to weak meso‐Mediterranean. Cypress participates in all the vegetation zones from the thermo‐Mediterranean to mountainous Mediterranean and a cluster analysis (TWINSPAN) of sixty‐two cypress relevés led to the recognition of six woodland types defined by species composition, and assigned to three alliances: Oleo‐Ceratonion, Quercion ilicis, and Acero‐Cupression. This great plasticity of the species with regard to natural environmental factors, together with its relative resistance to fire, renders cypress one of the most valuable forest species for a large part of the Mediterranean region. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of input data quality in determining areas suitable for crop growth at the global scale – a comparative analysis of two soil and climate datasets

The assessment of biophysical crop suitability requires datasets on soil and climate. In this study, we investigated the differences in topsoil properties for the dominant soil mapping units between two global soil datasets. We compared the ISRIC World Soil Information Center’s World Inventory of Soil Emissions Potential 5 by 5 arc min Soil Map of the World (ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW ) with the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) in 0.5 arc min. We also incorporated annual mean temperature and mean precipitation from two global climate datasets that were the WorldClim measurement‐based climate dataset and the Kiel Climate Model (KCM) modelled results of global climate from 1960 to 1990. We then applied a fuzzy logic approach using different combinations and resolutions of the datasets to determine the effects on the extent and distribution of suitable areas for 15 crops. We only used the spatially dominant soil class in the mapping units in the soil databases (resampled to the same resolution of 5 arc min), and we found that the estimates of topsoil properties (0–20 cm in ISRIC‐WISE and 0–30 cm in HWSD) of the seven analysed parameters were up to 40% lower in most of the HWSD than in the ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW. Results from the KCM are 0.1 °C (1%) lower in mean global annual temperature and 20% higher in average global annual precipitation compared with the WorldClim data. The HWSD‐based runs resulted in 10% less crop‐suitable land than the ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW‐based results. The KCM simulations predicted 1% less crop‐suitable land than the WorldClim model. Despite generalizations, our results demonstrate that discrepancies in crop suitable areas are largely due to the differences in the soil databases rather than to climate.