Transcriptome and degradome sequencing reveals changes in Populus × euramericana 'Neva' caused by its allelopathic response to p-hydroxybenzoic acid

Plant species produce different types of allelopathic chemicals in nature;however,little is known about the differential regulation of plant allelopathy.Because allelopathy caused by p-hydroxybenzoic acid(pHBA) is one of the main obstacles to continuous cropping of Populus × euramericana 'Neva',we examined gene expression dynamics in Neva leaves induced by pHBA.The expression of genes related to photosynthesis and respiration changed,while mRNA involved in regulating gene expression during allelopathy was degraded.Some miRNAs that are involved in plant allelopathy target crucial genes for regulating reactive oxygen species.Moreover,coexpression regulatory networks were constructed based on profiles of the identified miRNA-target interactions and the differentially expressed miRNA-target pairs.These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding allelopathy in plants.     

A novel cold-inducible promoter,PThCAP from Tamarix hispida,confers cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Our previous studies have revealed that the Th CAP gene plays a vital role in transgenic Populus(P.davidiana 9 P.bolleana) in response to cold stress.However,the regulatory mechanism of Th CAP gene expression has been unclear.In this study,the 50 flanking region of the Th CAP promoter(PTh CAP) was cloned using a genomewalking method.By analyzing cis-acting regulatory elements of PTh CAP,a DRE motif and MYC and MYB elements were found to be located in the promoter.To identify the regulatory elements that control the expression of the Th CAP gene promoter,a series of deletion derivatives ofPTh CAP,P1–P5,from the translation start code(-1538,-1190,-900,-718 and-375 bp),were fused to the GUS reporter gene,and then each deletion was stably introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana plants.Deletion analysis of the promoter suggested that only the P2 fragment had strong GUS expression in leaves and roots of A.thaliana exposed to low temperature stress.These results suggest that this290-bp region(-1190 to-900 bp),as an important part in PTh CAP,was associated with cold tolerance of A.thaliana.Our results provide evidence for the regulatory mechanism of Th CAP gene involved in the response to cold stress,and that the gene is promising candidate gene for genetic improvement of crops.     

Expression of a Carrot Antifreeze Protein Gene in Escherichia coli

The recombinant expression vectorpET43. lb-AFP, which contains full encoding region of a carrot 36 kD antifreeze protein (AFP) gene was constructed. The recombinant was transformed into expression host carrying T7 RNA polymerase gene (DE3 lysogen) and induced by 1 mmol. L-1 IPTG (isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside) to express 110 kD polypeptide of AFP fusion protein.The analysis of product solubility revealed that pET43. 1b-AFP was predominately soluble, and the expressed amount reached the maximum after the IPTG treatment for 3 h.     

农杆菌介导的SeNHX1基因转化月季愈伤组织的研究

Pink Peace’rose was used to study the optimum conditions for transferring the SeNHX1 gene into the callus. The results showed that the optimal medium was MS+2,4-D 5.0 mg·L^-1 + TDZ 0.5 mg·L^-1. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was able to take the target gene into callus and the blue spots were found. The optimum conditions for the transient expression of gusA gene are as following: bacterium density of OD was 0.5, infection time was 20 min, culture time was 3 days. Adding 100 μmol·L^-1 AS, the frequency of transient expression of GUS gene was the highest, which reached about 85% in present study.     

Cloning and expression analysis of the FvNCED3 gene and its promoter from ash(Fraxinus velutina)

The 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase(NCED)gene is rate-limiting in abscisic acid(ABA) biosynthesis.In this study, an NCED gene, designated FvNCED3(KY008746), was cloned from velvet ash(Fraxinus velutina Torr.) with a RACE method. The full length c DNA of FvNCED3 encodes a 573-amino acid polypeptide.Sequencing analysis showed that the FvNCED3 protein was highly homologous to other NCED proteins. The expression patterns of FvNCED3 in different ash organs were analyzed by real-time PCR which revealed that FvNCED3 expression levels were highest in leaves and lowest in roots. The gene expression patterns of FvNCED3 under abiotic stress indicated that its expression increased under drought, salt and ABA stress and decreased due to high and low temperatures. There were no obvious changes under ultraviolet light. The 1094-bp upstream sequence 5' flank regulation region of the FvNCED3 gene was also cloned from ash using the Genome Walking method. To assess the activity of the FvNCED3 promoter, a p FvNCED3 p::GUS plant expression vector was constructed for tobacco transformation. GUS expression of the FvNCED3 GUS enzyme activity was detected in almost all transgenic tobacco tissues, especially in the young leaves,stigma, anther, ovule and ovary. After treating the transgenic tobacco with NaCl and placing it under drought stress, GUS staining of tobacco leaves increased compared with that under normal growth conditions. This result indicates that gene expression driven by the FvNCED3 promoter can be induced by salt and drought stress.     

High Level Expression of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Gene PsG6PDH from Populus suaveolens in E. coli

In order to investigate the functions of the gene PsG6PDH and the mechanisms underlying freezing tolerance of Populus suaveolens, the recombinant expression vector pET-G (pET30a-G6PDH), which contained full encoding region of PsG6PDH gene, was established. The recombinant was identified by lawn-PCR and double enzyme digestion and then transformed into expression host XA90 and induced by isopropyl-a-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to express 100 kD polypeptide of G6PDH fusion protein. The results showed that the expressed amount of the fusion protein culminated after 1 mmol·L–1 IPTG treatment for 4 h and that pET-G product was predominately soluble and not extra-cellular secreting.     

Status and Advances of Researches on GA 20—oxidases

GA 20-oxidase,the most important limiting enzyme,can catalyze a series of oxidization of GA biosynthesis pathway from GA12 to GA9 and from GA53 to GA20 in the higher plants.This paper reviews the studies on the characters of GA 20-oxidase,the gene and the protein of GA 20-oxidase and the regulation of GA 20-oxidase gene expression n recent years.At the same time,the prospects for the transformation of GA 20-oxidase in agriculture ,forestry and horticulture are also discussed.     

Browsing Damage on Pine (Pinus sylvestris and P. contorta) by a migrating moose (Alces alces) Population in Winter: Relation to Habitat Composition and Road Barriers

In Scandinavia, moose (Alces alces L.) sometimes cause severe browsing damage to economically-important pine. Moose-vehicle accidents have spurred construction of fences along roads, and these may interfere with moose migration between summer and winter ranges, or the road alone may be a barrier. If this happens and moose build up along roads, landowners may suffer economically. Therefore, this study investigated whether roads, fences or other factors influence the use of young pine stands by moose. Eighty stands along roads in northern Sweden were evaluated in which individually-browsed branches were counted on 9972 pines. Moose browsing was not significantly related to birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) density, nor did it differ between pines (Pinus contorta Douglas or P. sylvestris L.). However, increased pine density, site productivity and proximity to a highway were associated with increased browsing. Further large-scale studies are needed to understand moose habitat selection and the effects of roads.     

Effects of Root Freezing on the Physiology and Growth of Picea glauca,Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana Seedlings Under Different Soil Moisture Regimes

The root systems of 2-yr-old Picea glauca, Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana seedlings were submitted to various frost temperatures during an artificial frost to induce different levels of root damage. Frost-damaged and control seedlings were placed in a greenhouse under high and low soil moisture regimes. Seedling growth and physiology were evaluated periodically. Seedling survival was reduced when root damage reached levels of 60-80%. Root systems of all three species showed partial to total recovery by the end of the experiment. In general, root freezing damage caused reductions in seedling growth, with these reductions becoming less significant over time. Root damage had little to no effect on black spruce and jack pine seedling physiology, while white spruce CO 2 uptake decreased with increasing root damage. Shoot nitrogen content of all three species decreased slightly with increasing root damage.     

Stand Structure in Pine,Spruce and Deciduous Forests: A Comparison Between Finnish and Russian Karelia

This study investigated the stand structure in pine, spruce and deciduous forests in the border district of Finland and Russia. A total of 46 mature forest stands was selected as pairs, the members of each pair being as similar as possible with respect to their forest site type, age, moisture and topography. The stands were then compared between the two countries by means of basal areas and number of stems. The proportions of dominating tree species were 2-12% lower, and correspondingly the proportions of secondary tree species higher, in Russian forests. The density of the forest stock was also higher in each forest type in Russia. The forests in the two countries differed most radically in terms of the abundance of dead trees. The amount was two to four times higher in Russian deciduous and spruce forests, and in pine forests the difference was 10-fold. The stand structures indicated that Russian coniferous stands, in particular, were more heterogeneous than intensively managed pine and spruce stands in Finland.     

Growth and Terminal Bud Formation in Picea abies Seedlings Grown with Alternating Diurnal Temperature and Different Light Qualities

The root collar diameter and the height:diameter ratio are of particular importance in container-grown seedlings where a high density in the containers may produce spindly seedlings. Temperature regimes and light quality are known to affect plant growth. The aim of this study was to identify responses in Picea abies (L.) Karst. seedlings grown with light providing different red:far-red ratios and under temperature regimes with alternating day (DT) and night temperature (NT) from negative (DT < NT) to positive (DT > NT) difference (DIF) between DT and NT. Experiments were conducted in controlled environment chambers and in a daylight phytotron. Only limited thermoperiodic responses appeared in P . abies seedlings with respect to seedling height and dry weight accumulation. The formation of terminal buds, however, was clearly delayed in seedlings grown at negative DIF. The results indicate a requirement for day extension light that is high in far-red, to prevent terminal bud formation under natural short-day conditions. An extended study should be conducted to clarify the minimum level of light intensity and the optimal light quality needed to prevent terminal bud formation under natural short-day conditions.     

CAD与建筑设计的关系

本文分析了CAD在设计中引起的正面和负面影响,并进行了系统的阐述,从而使设计者在应用中能够保持客观的态度。     

Natural Regeneration in Clear-cuts: Effects of Scarification,Slash Removal and Clear-cut Age

The effects of soil scarification (mounding), slash removal and clear-cut age on the natural regeneration in clear-cuts was evaluated using data from four sites in southern Sweden. The treatments were carried out during a good seed and establishment year for birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth). Scarification had the strongest positive effect on the density of naturally regenerated seedlings, especially in birch, but also in pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst]. Slash removal had a positive effect on birch density. No statistically significant effect of clear-cut age was found. In addition, no statistically significant interactions between clear-cut age and scarification or slash removal were found. The ingrowth of field vegetation was the fastest in areas that were not scarified, less rapid in areas scarified on old clear-cuts, and the slowest after scarification in fresh clear-cuts. In conclusion, it may be possible to control the density of birch during a good establishment year for birch. If birch is desired, the best combination of treatments is to remove the slash and scarify; otherwise, these treatments should be avoided.     

Risk Perception Among Non-industrial Private Forest Owners

Based on an enquiry, risk perception among non-industrial private forest owners is described in relation to climate change and forestry hazards. Of the respondents, 11% took action to remedy the effects of climate change. Out of a given set, hazards were ranked according to each respondent's experience of recent substantial financial loss to the estate and in relation to his or her willingness to make investments aimed at risk reduction. For each hazard, the respondent assessed the risk in four classes ranging from very high to negligible risk. Six hazards were considered most problematic in all three aspects: browsing damage, falling timber prices, damage by wind, spruce bark beetle, root rot and pine weevil. A majority of the respondents claimed to take action to reduce the risk associated with at least one hazard, while 35% did not know whether they did. Excluding climate change, the need for decision support was the largest in relation to damage by wind owing to a combination of perceived high risk and a high level of ignorance in relation to whether risk-reducing measures were taken.     

Interactions in decomposition and N mineralization between tropical legume residue components

In situ produced plant residues contain a mixture of different plant components of varying quality. To assess synergistic or antagonistic interactions occurring during the decomposition and mineralization of such mixtures, individual plant parts (stems, leaves, leaf litter and roots) or the mixture of stems, leaves and leaf litter of the agroforestry species pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) or of crop residues of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) or of the weed hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsuta) were incubated in pots for 19 weeks. Periodically, remaining plant residues were sieved out (>2 mm), weighed and N content as well as soil mineral N determined. Above- and below-ground residues of peanut decomposed fastest and showed the largest N release in agreement with their high N concentration and low-acid detergent fibre (ADF) : N ratio. Hairy indigo was hypothesized to be of lower quality than pigeonpea because of its high-polyphenol content. However, it decomposed faster than pigeonpea, largely because of the higher N and lower lignin concentration of its components. Ranking of individual plant components for N mineralization resulted in the following pattern, leaves > leaf litter > roots > stems. In mixtures of the different plant components a similar species order in decomposition was obtained, e.g. peanut > hairy indigo > pigeonpea. The amount of N released from the mixture was dominated by stem material that comprised 46–61% of the mixture. The interactions in mixtures were relatively small for peanut (generally high-quality components) as well as for pigeonpea (low proportion of high-quality components, i.e. N rich leaf material). However, a positive interaction occurred during later stages of N mineralization in the mixture of hairy indigo as it had a significant proportion of N rich components and absence of highly reactive polyphenols. Thus, for plants with low to intermediate chemical quality attributes, manipulating plant composition (e.g. by varying harvest age, affecting stem and leaf proportions) will be important to obtain significant interactions during decomposition when its components are mixed.     

Pasture production and tree growth in a young pine plantation fertilized with inorganic fertilizers and milk sewage in northwestern Spain

The use of organic waste materials such as milk sewage as an organic fertilizer could have the dual advantages of organic-waste disposal and reduced dependence on inorganic fertilizers. The effects of fertilization with (1) conventional mineral fertilization, (2) milk sewage sludge at 40 kg N ha⁻¹ target rate and (3) no fertilization on pasture production and tree growth were examined in an experiment consisting of two pasture mixtures under a one-year-old Pinus radiata plantation with a density of 2500 trees ha⁻¹. The two pasture mixtures were: (1) Dactylis glomerata L. var. saborto (25 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium repens L. group Ladino (4 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium pratense L. var. Marino (1 kg ha⁻¹); (2) Lolium perenne L. var. Tove (25 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium repens L. group Ladino (4 kg ha⁻¹) + Trifolium pratense L. var. Marino (1 kg ha⁻¹). The experiment began in the spring of 1995 using a randomized block design with three replicates in Castro Riberas de Lea (Lugo, Galicia, north-western Spain). Plot size was 12 × 8 m², with a 1 m buffer strip between plots. Two-year data showed that fertilization with either material had a positive effect on pasture production, with no significant difference between the two fertilization treatments. Tree growth in the milk sewage sludge plot was significantly higher than in the control plots. Inorganic fertilization increased pasture production, but affected tree growth negatively. The results show that milk sewage sludge could be used as a fertilizer in silvo-pastoral systems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.