Comparison of litterfall and nutrient return in a Vaccinio uliginosi–Betuletum pubescentis and an Empetro nigri–Pinetum forest ecosystem in northern Poland

Litterfall abundance and composition of organic and inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus forms were studied for 34 months in two different forest ecosystems (Vaccinio uliginosi–Betuletum pubescentis (Vu–Bp) and Empetro nigri–Pinetum (En–P)) in S?owiński National Park (northern Poland). Including broadleaves, litterfall abundance in Vu–Bp was above 25% higher than in En–P. In Vu–Bp the mean litterfall abundance was equal to 4050 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ with needles (31%) and broadleaves (32%) dominating while in En–P the mean litterfall abundance was equal to 2828 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and needless made up 59% of total. Almost all litterfall fractions in both forest ecosystems followed a clear, coherent seasonal pattern with maximal values in Autumn and minimal values in the growing season. In general, inter-annual fall variation of needles, branches, broadleaves and seeds was not significant in both ecosystems, however, for the fall of needles and branches a decreasing tendency was observed. In Vu–Bp and in En–P total litterfall (Vu–Bp: T-N 97.5%, N_org 96.8%, En–P: T-N 95.6%, N_org 97.9%) as well as the needless (Vu–Bp: T-N 31.9%, N_org 46.4%; En–P: T-N 53.5%; N_org 53.6%) were the most abundant with nitrogen with the supremacy of organic forms. Besides needles fall, the highest nitrogen return in Vu–Bp was contributed by broadleaves, seeds and branches fall, while in En–P with branches and bark fall. The lowest nitrogen return was contributed by inflorescences and flower buds fall. Similar to organic nitrogen, organic phosphorus was dominant in Vu–Bp (91%) and in En–P (77%) ecosystems. In Vu–Bp total phosphorus contributed by broadleaves was comparable to deposited with needles. In the fallen needless phosphorus contribution was significantly higher in En–P than in Vu–Bp. Nearly 40% of total phosphorus return was contributed by branches, seeds and other litterfall material in Vu–Bp. Litterfall mass in Vu–Bp showed positive correlation with air humidity, total nitrogen content in the rooting zone, and negative with underground water level and air temperature indicating lower resistance towards climatic stress. At both forest ecosystems total litterfall mass, total nitrogen and organic nitrogen were positively correlated with air humidity, while neither total litterfall, nor total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) at both forest ecosystems were correlated directly with precipitation volume. This is probably because air humidity is partially related to precipitation (r_Sp = 0.31), however it could be also an effect of sea sprays contribution. Homogeneous Pinus sylvestris stand indicates higher resistance towards unfavorable climatic conditions than Betula pubescens, and this is why it should be preferably used in afforestation campaigns in seashore.     

杨树类锌指基因ZFL的功能分析

以毛果杨叶片cDNA为模板,采用PCR技术分离出杨树ZFL基因,序列分析结果表明该基因序列开放读码框315 bp,共编码104个氨基酸,推导的蛋白质分子量为11.202 kDa,理论等电点9.83,命名为PtrZFL.对ZFL基因进行实时荧光定量PCR表达分析,结果表明:甘露醇、NaCl、H202、ABA、低温胁迫都能诱导PtrZFL基因的表达,且PtrZFL表达量在ABA处理3h时达到最高,然后随处理时间延长而逐渐降低;低温(4℃)胁迫在6h后能显著诱导PtrZFL基因表达,并随着低温处理能一直保持较高水平的表达.根据毛果杨基因组信息设计引物,获得了PtrZFL基因上游1000bp的启动子序列,序列分析结果表明该启动子包含有多个与胁迫相关的元件,如抗冻、缺水、抗寒、脱落酸响应元件ABRE、MYB和WRKY.GUS活性检测发现,该启动子在转基因拟南芥整株中都有表达,但在根部和成熟叶片中表达较强,其他位置表达微弱.     

Benzyl-β-resorcylates from Cassia obtusifolia

The seed of Cassia obtusifolia Linn have yielded three new compounds, 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid (1), 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-6-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) and 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including ¹D- and ²D NMR spectroscopy, HR-ESI-MS, as well as by comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds.     

基于CO Ⅰ 、CO Ⅱ和Cyt b基因探讨沙棘木蠹蛾和榆木蠹蛾的种间关系

沙棘木蠹蛾(Holcocerus hippophaecolust)和榆木蠹蛾(H.vicarious)为木蠹蛾科(Cossidae)线角木蠹蛾属(Holcocerus)的近缘种,二者形态相似,难于进行区分。本文基于线粒体COⅠ、COⅡ和Cyt b基因片段,对我国不同种群的沙棘木蠹蛾和榆木蠹蛾进行遗传差异分析,以探讨二者之间的亲缘关系。遗传距离分析表明,沙棘木蠹蛾和榆木蠹蛾在COⅠ、COⅡ和Cyt b 3个片段的遗传差异分别为0.009,0.001和0.062,仅相当于二者种内遗传差异均值范畴,远远低于同属的种间遗传距离均值,表明两种昆虫之间存在高度的遗传相似性。两种木蠹蛾在3个基因位点共检测到6个共享单倍型,占单倍型总数的四分之一,且共享单倍型分布不受地理距离限制,显示两个种的种群之间尚未完全分化。系统发育树分析中,沙棘木蠹蛾和榆木蠹蛾在3个基因序列均未构成独立分支,而是形成了混合集群。介于沙棘木蠹蛾和榆木蠹蛾之间极高的遗传相似性,对二者之间的亲缘进化关系进行了讨论。     

Does the mutualism between wood ants (Formica rufa group) and Cinara aphids affect Norway spruce growth?

Ant–aphid mutualisms, in which ants tend aphids, which in turn provide honeydew to the ants, are widespread and have been shown to affect plant growth. In boreal forests the effect of ant–aphid mutualism on tree growth can vary with stand age, because forest clear-cutting harms the ecologically most dominant ant partner in such mutualisms, wood ants (Formica rufa group). We studied whether the mutualism between wood ants and Cinara aphids affects the growth of boreal Norway spruces (Picea abies L. Karst.) in stands of different ages. In boreal forests, conifers, unlike deciduous trees, have only few defoliating insects, and therefore we expected the growth loss of conifers due to sap sucking by aphids not to be compensated by reduced insect herbivory due to predation by wood ants. The study was conducted in medium-fertile spruce-dominated stands in eastern Finland. We used stands of four different age classes (5, 30, 60 and 100 years) and selected ten spruces heavily visited and ten spruces lightly visited by ants around five medium-sized ant mounds in each stand age class. The access of ants was blocked on half of the trees in both groups. In the 5-year-old stands, the mean annual height growth of individual heavily visited seedlings was 16.3% greater than in the ones where ant traffic was blocked, but this difference was not significant. In the 30-year-old stands, the mean annual radial growth of the heavily visited spruces was 7.3% smaller than in trees where ant traffic was blocked, and this difference was significant. The mutualism had no significant effect on the radial growth in the 60- and 100-year-old stands. In the 60-year-old stands, however, the spruces that were visited heavily prior to the beginning of the study grew significantly less relative to their past growth than the initially lightly visited trees during the study. This suggests that the ant–aphid mutualism may have long-term effects on tree growth. The ant–aphid mutualism had no significant effect on the growth at the stand level. The results indicate that ant–aphid mutualism can have a significant effect on the growth of individual spruces, but the effect is negligible at ecosystem level.     

APETALA1基因启动子的克隆与功能分析

为了分析AP1的表达调控模式,本研究克隆了拟南芥花异常株系AFDL的AP1启动子,启动子元件预测结果表明:AP1启动子中含有3个结合MADS调控因子的CArG box(从5'依次编号为CArG1、CArG2、CArG3),通过删减AP1启动子长度以及改变CArGbox数量构建了5个GUS表达载体并转化野生型拟南芥.测序结果显示:AFDL的AP1启动子在核苷酸序列上与野生型拟南芥完全一致,这表明AP1在AFDL中的表达显著降低并不是启动子序列突变引起的;转基因植株的GUS表达模式说明了CArG1在花发育早期及后期激活基因的表达,CArG2在整个后期都对基因的表达有抑制作用,而CArG3在花发育初期就能抑制基因的表达,并且在中后期仍然保持了对下游基因的抑制作用,CArG box1、2、3对AP1的表达有显著但非决定性的影响.此外,还推测在AP1启动子0～-3 579 bp范围之外存在影响AP1在第4轮花器官表达的调控元件,-3 579 bp至-1 752 bp区域可促进AP1的表达,而AP1启动子-1759 bp至-1359 bp区域除CArG2外的其它元件对调节其表达无明显作用.     

美洲黑杨PdZFR基因的克隆和分析

根据美洲黑杨PdZFR部分cDNA序列,采用拟基因组文库步行法和RACE克隆了该基因全长cDNA及基因组DNA, 并对该基因的启动子、转录起始位点、内含子分布、剪切方式、编码的氨基酸序列和该基因在染色体上的分布位置进行了分析。组织或器官特异表达分析表明:该基因与植物发育相关。     

Why do Pinus species have different growth dominance patterns than Eucalyptus species? A hypothesis based on differential physiological plasticity

It has been observed that Eucalyptus stands show high growth dominance levels while Pinus stands show null or low growth dominance levels. We hypothesized that this differential behaviour is linked to a higher degree of physiological-biochemical plasticity in Eucalyptus than in Pinus species related to photosynthetic capacity. This leads to an increment in growth efficiency (GE) difference between the largest and the smallest trees of a stand, and therefore to high growth dominance levels in Eucalyptus. To test our hypothesis we carried out a bibliographical survey and reanalyzed data from Pinus ponderosa and Pinus taeda plantations in Argentina. We found that some species within the genus Eucalyptus present higher growth dominance levels, physiological plasticity and GE differentiation than Pinus species. The mean maximum values of these traits reported for any Eucalyptus species were: growth dominance coefficient, 0.48; photosynthetic capacity increment when resource availability increases, 175%; GE difference between the largest and the smallest trees of a stand, 300%. Mean maximum values for the same traits reported for any Pinus species were 0.13, no phostosynthetic plasticity as the most frequent pattern, and 51%, respectively. In Pinus species the most frequent response to an increase in resource availability is characterized by an increase in leaf area or biomass, maintaining a similar photosynthetic capacity per unit area. However, it appears that in P. ponderosa there are some situations, characterized by a high degree of intraspecific competition, leading to a very high degree of GE differentiation which deserve future research. Although we did not find any study reporting simultaneously all variables concerning our hypothesis (growth dominance, growth efficiency differentiation and physiological plasticity) any of the circumstantial evidence found in the bibliography contrasts our hypothesis.     

Are beech (Fagus sylvatica) roots territorial?

Root competition between conspecific neighbours has been notoriously difficult to determine in intact ecosystems. Here we applied microsatellite markers to genotype beech trees (Fagus sylvatica, L.) and roots in subplots in an undisturbed, old-growth monospecific forest (Hainich, Germany). Roots were quantified and assigned to individuals. As a measure for territoriality, we determined root segregation. The hypothesis was tested that intraspecific root diversity was higher in the geometric centre of a triangle formed by beech trees than at positions closer to the stem of a tree. Space exploration measured as presence of an individual was correlated with stem diameter but not soil occupation. Fine root biomass, intraspecific Shannon diversity, effective numbers of genotypes and Evenness were stable and unrelated to the distance of the target tree. We conclude that beech shows no indication for territoriality or asymmetric competition in the presence of conspecific neighbours.     

杜仲HDR基因全长cDNA克隆与序列分析

以杜仲叶片cDNA为模板,采用反转录RCR及RACE技术分离出HDR基因的cDNA克隆,命名为EuHDR。EuHDR基因cDNA全长1 653 bp,5’端非编码区长82 bp,3’端非编码区长188 bp,编码460个氨基酸,与喜树HDR基因序列相似性最高,达82%;推导EuHDR氨基酸序列中包含转运肽序列(A1-A33)及植物HDR蛋白多个保守的功能位点(A117,A208,A262,A345);EuHDR蛋白二级结构α-螺旋占35.65%,β-折叠占19.78%,螺环结构占44.57%;EuHDR蛋白三级结构为单体形式,呈不规则的三叶草形状;系统进化分析表明EuHDR蛋白与葡萄HDR蛋白的亲缘关系最为接近。     

黑杨三倍体 PtSIP3基因的克隆与功能分析

本研究以黑杨中林46三倍体为材料,依据前期表达谱芯片的分析结果,分离克隆得到三倍体材料中高表达基因PtSIP3,该基因的编码产物为钙调磷酸酶B(Calcineurin B-like Proteins,简称CBL)的靶蛋白。随后构建了双元表达载体pRI101-PtSIP3,并成功的转入拟南芥中。经qRT-PCR表达分析和表型观察,发现PtSIP3 在拟南芥中异源过表达会抑制胚和果荚的发育、促进根的快速伸长。推测该基因在黑杨三倍体中的表达升高,可能会参与黑杨三倍体的营养生长期的调控并促进根的发育。     

日本落叶松 UDPGDH基因的cDNA克隆和表达分析

以日本落叶松杂交Solexa转录组测序获得的数据为依据,经拼接后获得尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶(UDPGDH)原序列,以该序列两端设计引物,在落叶松亲代和子代幼嫩针叶中成功克隆了UDPGDH基因cDNA序列,序列长1 443 bp,编码480个氨基酸。qRT-PCR结果分析表明:UDPGDH基因的表达量在落叶松杂交子代中远远高于亲本,正交子代的表达比反交子代高,说明UDPGDH在形成细胞壁半纤维素前体物过程中起着非常重要的作用,暗示UDPGDH在子代的高表达有利于杂种优势的形成。     

杨树CDPK基因家族的表达分析及功能预测

为探究CDPK基因在木材形成过程中的作用,本研究在基因组水平上对杨树CDPKs基因家族的成员进行分析,找到32个CDPKs及10个CRKs成员。对CDPK基因家族成员在杨树中表达特性进行了分析,发现其家族成员在不同组织、不同发育阶段以及毛白杨次生维管发育不同时期的表达特性不同。分析杨树CDPK基因家族中3个基因Pt CPK1、Pt CPK6、Pt CPK15,其蛋白质一级结构均存在1个跨膜区,其蛋白定位在细胞膜上。     

内寄生真菌Esteya vermicola对松材线虫侵染活力的测定

从不同培养基、不同测定方法、不同菌株、不同孢子浓度4个方面测定内寄生真菌Esteya vermicola孢子对松材线虫的侵染活力,结果表明:该真菌离体分生孢子对松材线虫有侵染活力;PDA固体培养比PDB液体培养所得孢子能更有效的粘附和杀死松材线虫;在WA平板上,采用浸渍法测定孢子对线虫的侵染活力比其他处理效果好;在供试的3个菌株(CUN 120806、CBS 10082和CBS 115803)中,CBS 115803菌株对松材线虫具有较高侵染活性;4个不同浓度(1×109、1×108、1×107、1×106个·mL-1)孢子对线虫的作用中,随着孢子浓度降低,孢子对线虫侵染能力也随之降低。     

Can Eucalyptus invade native forest fragments close to commercial stands?

Some Eucalyptus species are widely used as a plantation crop in tropical and subtropical regions. One reason for this is the diversity of end uses, but the main reason is the high level of wood production obtained from commercial plantings. With the advancement of biotechnology it will be possible to expand the geographical area in which eucalypts can be used as commercial plantation crops, especially in regions with current climatic restrictions. Despite the popularity of eucalypts and their increasing range, questions still exist, in both traditional planting areas and in the new regions: Can eucalypts invade areas of native vegetation, causing damage to natural ecosystems biodiversity?The objective of this study it was to assess whether eucalypts can invade native vegetation fragments in proximity to commercial stands, and what factors promote this invasive growth. Thus, three experiments were established in forest fragments located in three different regions of Brazil. Each experiment was composed of 40 plots (1 m² each one), 20 plots located at the border between the forest fragment and eucalypts plantation, and 20 plots in the interior of the forest fragments. In each experimental site, the plots were paired by two soil exposure conditions, 10 plots in natural conditions and 10 plots with soil exposure (no plant and no litter). During the rainy season, 2 g of eucalypts seeds were sown in each plot, including Eucalyptus grandis or a hybrid of E. urophylla × E. grandis, the most common commercial eucalypt species planted in the three region. At 15, 30, 45, 90, 180, 270 and 360 days after sowing, we assessed the number of seedlings of eucalypts and the number of seedlings of native species resulting from natural regeneration. Fifteen days after sowing, the greatest number of eucalypts seedlings (37 m⁻²) was observed in the plots with lower luminosity and exposed soil. Also, for native species, it was observed that exposed soil improved natural germination reaching the highest number of 163 seedlings per square meter. Site and soil exposure were the factors that have the greatest influence on seed germination of both eucalypt and native species. However, 270 days after sowing, eucalypt seedlings were not observed at any of the three experimental sites. The result shows the inability of eucalypts to adapt to condition outside of their natural range. However, native species demonstrated their strong capacity for natural regeneration in forest fragments under the same conditions where eucalypts were seeded.     

Stand-replacing wildfires?: The incidence of multi-cohort and single-cohort Eucalyptus regnans and E. obliqua forests in southern Tasmania

The natural age structure of wet eucalypt forest has important implications for biodiversity conservation and the mode of wood production. Southern Tasmanian wet eucalypt forests were sampled to describe age class variation and to test the following hypotheses that relate to it: (1) Eucalyptus regnans stands are more likely to be single-cohort than Eucalyptus obliqua and mixed stands; (2) old-growth trees are associated with multi-cohort wet eucalypt forests; (3) the E. regnans stands are more multi-cohort than Victorian E. regnans stands. Data from 762 stands, all with either E. obliqua or E. regnans were analysed to determine how stand characteristics related to forest type and to the presence of old-growth trees. Over half the stands studied were multi-cohort. Stands with E. regnans had a lesser tendency towards multi-cohortness than stands lacking this species, although most old-growth stands, including those dominated by E. regnans, were multi-cohort. In contrast, most regrowth stands of all species combinations were single-cohort. The proportions of E. regnans stands that were multi-cohort were similar to some estimates from the same type of forest in Victoria. Modifications of forestry regimes in wet eucalypt forests could help to maintain the existence of these biodiverse multi-cohort forests in the landscape.     

毛竹PeAP2基因及其启动子的克隆与表达初步分析

APETALA2(AP2)基因在植物生长发育过程中发挥着重要作用.利用RT-PCR和RACE方法,从毛竹中克隆到1个AP2同源基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为PeAP2.序列分析表明:PeAP2基因全长1 750 bp,其中,5′端非编码区106bp,3′端非编码区174 bp,开放阅读框1 470 bp,编码1个489 aa的蛋白,该蛋白含有2个AP2结构域,属于AP2/EREBP家族的AP2亚家族.PeAP2蛋白与来自其它单子叶植物的AP2蛋白均有着较高同源性,其中,与二穗短柄草的AP2蛋白同源性最高,达74.85％.实时定量PCR分析显示:PeAP2基因在毛竹的根、茎、叶、鞘和节5种器官中均有表达,其中,叶片中的表达丰度最高,鞘中次之,而在根、茎、节中的表达丰度接近,均较低.利用hiTAIL-PCR方法克隆获得了PeAP2上游启动子区序列1 359 bp,分析显示其含有光、激素等多种信号应答相关的作用元件.     

杨树生物钟节律基因PtCCA1的克隆及表达模式研究

生物钟节律基因CCA1在植物的光周期反应中起着重要的调控作用.利用RT-PCR方法克隆获得了一条包含1902 bp开放阅读框的杨树CCA1基因cDNA序列,其编码633个氨基酸残基,蛋白的分子量约为68.90 kDa,等电点为6.33.分析显示含有1个Myb-like DNA结合域及2个蛋白跨膜结合域.实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,PtCCA1基因主要在杨树叶组织中表达;随着光照时间的变化,该基因在杨树中的表达量呈现白昼不断降低而夜晚逐渐升高的昼夜变化趋势.研究结果为进一步探索PtCCA1基因在调控杨树光周期响应途径中的功能以及杨树光周期敏感机制提供了科学基础.     

赤桉GAPDH家族基因的克隆及其序列分析

GAPDH is a typical structural protein in eukaryote organism, which plays an important role involved in the biosynthesis of cell composition and the expression of genetic information. In order to reveal the biological function of GAPDH in the growth and development of Eucalyptus, 3 genes were obtained and named as EC-GAP1, EC-GAP2 and EC-GAP3 by amplification with primers for GAPDH genes conserved regions and RACE method from the young leaf of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The bioinformatics analysis suggested that the proteins encoded by corresponding genes owned the typical conserved domains of GAPDH and showed high homology with those of other plant species.     

转Bt基因南林895杨抗虫性及对土壤微生物影响分析

以转Bt基因南林895杨株系B1、B4、B17、B21扦插苗为试验材料,分析其在室内和野外自然条件下对靶标害虫杨小舟蛾幼虫的抗虫性。结果表明:转Bt基因杨树4个株系均有一定的杀虫活性,其中株系B21对杨小舟蛾1龄幼虫12 d校正死亡率高达95.3%;虫试表明转Bt基因杨树各株系扦植苗在野外自然条件下的12 d幼虫校正死亡率8月份为35.0%88.8%,9月份为40.5%95.3%。用转Bt基因杨树叶片饲养杨小舟蛾,对照植株杨小舟蛾幼虫化蛹率为83.3%96.0%,而转Bt基因株系幼虫化蛹率为8.0%76.7%,二者有显著差异。转Bt基因杨树对杨小舟蛾幼虫的生长发育有抑制作用,饲喂8 d后害虫取食量、体质量增长速率显著低于对照。此外,为了解转Bt基因杨树对土壤微生物的影响,对转Bt基因杨树株系及对照进行了根际土壤微生物可培养类群的分析,初步结果显示:转Bt基因杨树根际土壤微生物中细菌、真菌、放线菌的数量与对照比较无显著差异。