漳州市彩叶植物种质资源及应用调查

对漳州市常色叶彩叶植物种质资源及其在园林上的应用概况进行初步调查,结果表明:漳州市现有常色叶彩叶植物种质资源近百份,归属于33科71种。其中,以灌木、草本类居多;乔木、藤本类较少。在园林上的配置方式主要有孤植、丛植、群植或片植,色块种植和模纹种植等。针对彩叶植物生产及园林应用上存在的主要问题,提出若干建议。     

三明市乡土植物物种多样性调查及园林应用分析

通过对三明市的植物物种多样性调查结果表明:三明市有野生维管植物182科748属1652种(包括亚种、变种与变型)。区系分析表明三明市维管植物区系成分复杂,属的分布类型有14个,其中热带属463个,温带属285个,植物区系偏热带特性,具热带向温带过渡的特点。在此基础上,筛选出优良乡土园林植物资源449种,包括观赏蕨类43种、乔木类124种、灌木类96种、草本类130种、藤本类47种、竹子8种及棕榈科1种,分析了其园林应用潜力。     

漳州城市园林彩叶植物种类及应用调查

彩叶植物是在园林绿化和盆栽观赏中应用极为广泛的一类景观植物，在园林绿化中扮演着其它常绿植物无可替代的重要角色。通过对漳州市现有的园林彩叶植物种类进行调查，共统计彩叶树种有23科、50种，其中彩叶植物较多的有桑科、大戟科、龙舌兰科、苋科等。     

广州公园耐湿植物及其造景分析

选取广州市有自然驳岸的城市公园进行调研，归纳整理公园耐湿植物种类，分析不同水景中的耐湿植物配置现状，并探讨滨水空间的生态建设。结果显示：调查区域内共记录耐湿植物146种(包括变种、变型和品种)，隶属66科107属，其中乔木类有65种、灌木类46种和草本类35种。按照岸线的曲折与否及其形态，把配置模式分为带状式水景、溪流式水景、绿岛式水景和建筑小品旁水景4种类型，分析其配置特点。建议广州公园滨水植物景观应注重生态与美学相结合，注重养护管理方法，达到可持续利用。     

发展彩叶树种苗圃的可行性分析

从介绍彩叶树种特性出发,阐述了发展彩叶树种苗圃的必要性,并分析了发展彩叶树种苗圃的效益,包括经济效益与社会效益等。     

海南桉树人工林林下植物多样性特征研究

为探究海南桉树人工林林下植物多样性特征,对不同区域桉树人工林进行植被调查,采用标准木法和收获法相结合的方法,测定样方内地上部分的生物量,再结合灌木层、草本层α多样性指数与地上部分生物量构建综合功能指数,并比较新指数与α多样性指数。结果显示：（1）桉树人工林林下植物共101种,其中灌木层植物共49种,隶属31科45属,草本层植物共52种,隶属28科48属。（2）不同区域桉树人工林林下灌木层多样性指数差异不显著,仅临高的草本层α多样性指数显著大于其他区域,说明灌木层多样性水平相近,而草本层多样性水平更易受环境影响。（3）不同区域桉树人工林下灌木层、草本层的地上生物量分配差异显著,灌木层大于草本层,但是分配比例波动范围较大。（4）不同区域桉树人工林灌木层综合功能指数（Yd）无显著差异,临高和定安的草本层Yd指数显著大于屯昌和东方,表明不同区域桉树林灌木层的综合功能相近,草本层的综合功能则是临高和定安明显较强。（5）灌木层Yd指数与α多样性指数的相关性很强;草本层Yd指数与α多样性指数的相关性一般,与地上生物量相关性很强。结果表明,桉树林下植物多样性特征受区域环境影响,其中草本层比灌木层更易受...     

广东陆河南万红锥林的群落特征

通过野外样方调查,对广东陆河南万红锥林群落野生维管植物进行了区系和群落物种多样性分析。结果表明：共统计维管植物58科88属122种,其中种子植物属和种的区系成分均以热带成分为主。在群落各层植物种类组成中,乔木层有40种,占该群落总种数的32.79%;灌木层有76种,占总种数的62.30%;草本层有48种,占总种数的25.93%。群落外貌常绿,物种丰富度指数表现为：整个群落>灌木层>草本层>乔木层,Shannon-Wiener指数以及Pielou均匀度指数表现为：乔木层>灌木层,自然更新良好,处于稳定增长阶段。陆河南万红锥林群落的物种多样性指数低于广西容县红锥林,高于福建华安红锥群落和广西玉林人工红锥林,且与同样为次生群落的广西容县红锥林最为接近。     

惠州市绿化树种的调查与分析

调查了惠州市绿化树种,发现绿化植物种类较为丰富,有52科104种植物,其中乔木、灌木应用较多,而藤本植物应用较少。在此基础上,分析了其绿化树种的组成及特点,指出其存在的问题,并提出其绿化树种选择与配置的建议。     

不同覆盖绿肥在云南开割胶园的生态适应性研究

开展40种覆盖绿肥在云南开割橡胶园的生长情况、繁殖能力和生物学特性观测,着重研究长势良好的绿肥产量、对雨水的截留率,并探讨绿肥产量、保水效果与盖度、长势的相关性。结果表明:线苞两型豆、毛蔓豆、距瓣豆、羽叶决明、大叶山蚂蝗、假地豆、大叶拿身草、卵叶山蚂蝗、十一叶木蓝、葛、爪哇葛藤、硬毛宿苞豆和白花灰叶豆等共13种绿肥在云南开割胶园适应性强,开发潜力较大。灌木、亚灌木植株的干物质积累量高于藤本或草本,而灌木、亚灌木植株对雨水的截留率低于藤本或草本。为取得最佳的覆盖效果,筛选绿肥时应考虑灌木、亚灌木与草本、藤本相结合。今后需开展定位试验以长期监测研究不同覆盖绿肥在开割胶园的生态适应性。     

福州市公园绿地植物的多样性

采用典型抽样法,以福州市区11个城市公园绿地植物群落为研究对象,对其植物种类组成、来源情况、群落优势成分、物种多样性进行统计和分析.结果表明：（1）植物种类较丰富,有654种,隶属于137科420属,本地种（392种）多于引进种（262）;（2）乔、灌木层的优势种不明显,草本层、层间层反之,并以本地种居多;（3）均匀度依次为：乔木层〉灌木层〉层间层〉草本层;（4）物种多样性依次为：乔木层〉灌木层〉草本层〉层间层.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.     

Recent Modifications of Chitosan for Adsorption Applications: A Critical and Systematic Review

Chitosan is considered to be one of the most promising and applicable materials in adsorption applications. The existence of amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecules contributes to many possible adsorption interactions between chitosan and pollutants (dyes, metals, ions, phenols, pharmaceuticals/drugs, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). These functional groups can help in establishing positions for modification. Based on the learning from previously published works in literature, researchers have achieved a modification of chitosan with a number of different functional groups. This work summarizes the published works of the last three years (2012–2014) regarding the modification reactions of chitosans (grafting, cross-linking, etc.) and their application to adsorption of different environmental pollutants (in liquid-phase).