Structural characteristics of cell walls of kenaf (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hibiscus cannabinus </Emphasis>L.) and fixation of carbon dioxide

 Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) plants are widely known for their contribution to the global and regional environment because of their ability to fix CO₂. On the other hand, some scientists have doubts about CO₂ fixation by kenaf and have misgivings about the effect of kenaf on the ecosystem. We have characterized the structural characteristics of cell walls of bast fibers, cores, roots, and leaves of kenaf during the maturation of plants and investigated the rate of photosynthesis. During maturation of the kenaf plant the cellulose (bast fiber 52–59%, core 44–46%) and lignin (bast fiber 9.3–13.2%, core 18.3–23.2%) contents increased significantly. The aromatic composition of the lignin of bast fiber was significantly different from that of the core lignin and of other plants. The lignin of bast fiber appears similar to pure syringyl lignin. Fixation of CO₂ by kenaf plants and their contribution to the global environment are discussed. A significatly high rate of photosynthesis of kenaf plants was observed compared to that of woody plants in Japan, but the amount of CO₂ fixation depends on the characteristics of the plantation. If the kenaf was planted in high density, about twice as much CO₂ was fixed as was fixed by trees in a tropical rain forest. Received: April 22, 2002 / Accepted: July 24, 2002 Acknowledgments This project was supported by the Science and Technology Agency (STA) fellowship of the Japan International Science and Technology Exchange Center (JISTEC), which has been successfully applied by Dr. Shuji Hosoya, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. We thank Dr. Toshio Sumizono and Mr. Masao Sakurai, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, for their kind help in determining the rate of photosynthesis and cultivating the kenaf plants, respectively. We also express our appreciation to Dr. Quang Hung Le, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for offering information about the cultivation of kenaf at Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.     

杉木、马尾松裸根苗水分关系研究

Water relation parameters of bare-root seedlings of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hook.)and Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.)were measured and changes of root growth potential as well as field survival rate of both species were studied after the bare-root seedlings were exposed in a sunny field condition.the results showed that masson pine had a lower osmotic potential(-2.07Mpa) at turgor loss point and at full turgor(-1.29Mpa),compared with Chinese fir(-1.80Mpa and -1.08Mpa respectively).The parameter Vp/Vo(63.27%) of Masson pine was higher than that of chinese fir (58.03%).This means that Masson pine has a stronger ability to tolerate desiccation,compared to Chinese fir according to analysis of above water relation parameters.Root growth potential and field survival rate decreased with prolonging duration of exposure.The field survival rate of both species was reduced to less than 40% after the seedling being exposed only two hours.Water potentials of -1.60 Mpa and -1.70 Mpa were suggested to be critical values for Chinese fir and Masson pine respectively in successful reforestation.     

Field test of new poplar clone in Shangdong Province

Poplar is one of the dominant tree species for the establishment of fast growing plantations in Shandong Province.Eighteen poplar clones belonging to Populus aigeiros section were introduced from Italy, Turkey and domestic regions. Populus deltoides cv. ‘Lux‘ 1-69/55 (1-69), which was widely used in Shandong Province, China, was taken as control clone (1-69).Following a randomized complete block design, seedling test and controlled afforestation trials were carried out at Juxian County,Caoxian County and Laiyang City. The results showed that the poplar clone (Populus x euramericana cv. ‘102/74‘), namely 102/74, performed well both in terms of adaptability and growth rate. The mean height of 13.9 m (H), diameter at breast height of 18.0 cm (DBH) and volume growth of 0.1445 m3 (V) were 2.2 %, 21.6% and 52.9% higher than those of 1-69 (CK), respectively,at the age of 5 years at three experimental sites. Moreover, the clone can be propagated easily and showed high resistance to poplar disease, pest as well as salinity and had longer growing period. Furthermore, wood basic density and fiber length of new poplar clone (102/74) were as same as 1-69 (CK). It was concluded that the selected clone (102/74) was ideal for the estab-lishment of fast-growing poplar plantations, especially for the pulpwood plantations in Shandong Province.     

神农架地区珍衡植物沿河岸带的分布格局

Due to the importance of riparian zone in maintaining and protecting regional biodiversity, increasingly more ecologists paid their attentions to riparian zone and had been aware of the important effects of riparian zone in basic study and practical management. In this study, 42 sampling belts (10 m×100m) parallel to the bank of Xiangxi River at different elevations in Shennongjia Area were selected to investigate the riparian vegetation and rare plants. 14 species of rare plants were found distributing in riparian zone, accounting for 42.4% of the total rare plant species in Shennongjia Area. The main distribution range of the 14 rare plant species was the evergreen and deciduous mixed broadleaved forest at elevation of 1200–1800 m, where, species diversity of plant community was the maximum at the moderate elevation. The analysis of TWINSPAN divided the 14 rare species into 3 groups against the elevation, namely low elevation species group, moderate elevation species group, and high elevation species group. The analysis of DCA ordination showed similar results to that of TWINSPAN. In the paper, the authors discussed the reasons forming the distribution pattern of rare plant species, and pointed out that the important function of riparian zone on rare plant species protection. Foundation item: This project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC39970123), and Changbai Mountain Open Research Station, Chinese Acadamy of Science. Biography: JIANG Ming-xi (1965-), male, associate professor in Wuhan Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

筋骨草内昆虫蜕皮激素类似物对杨干象的杀虫作用

从不同地点、不同时间采集的多花筋骨草植株不同部位中提取出昆虫蜕皮激素类似物,通过向幼虫人工饲料中添加昆虫蜕皮激素类似物的方法,研究了筋骨草中植物源蜕皮激素对杨干象2龄幼虫的杀虫作用。实验结果表明:(1)在人工饲料中加入1-3 ml的筋骨草提取物,在24天内可以杀死 58%~100%的幼虫;(2)从开花前的筋骨草中提取出的物质的杀虫效果明显优于从花期和开花后的植物中提取出的物质的杀虫作用, 其1 mL、2 mL和3 mL剂量全株提取物的杀虫效果分别达到65.22%、85.07%和98.11%(幼虫校正死亡率);(3)植株的根部提取的昆虫蜕皮激素类似物的杀虫效果要比茎部或叶部提取的好,1 mL、2 mL、3 mL剂量提取物的杀虫效果分别达到100%、98.20%和98.32%;(4)筋骨草提取物的杀虫速度较慢,处理杨干象2龄幼虫16天后杀虫率才超过50%;(5)幼虫取食加有筋骨草提取物的饲料时间长短直接影响幼虫死亡率,16天的取食,幼虫死亡率达到80%以上。筋骨草采集地点和填加植物源蜕皮激素的方式对杀虫效果的影响较小。图3表3参21。     

中国吉林森林生态网络现状与展望

本文概要介绍了吉林省生态环境概况、林业建设成就与问题,论述了本省森林生态网络建设面临的任务及亟待解决的八个方面的问题,并对生物技术、信息技术、新材料技术及无公害森林保健技术在森林生态网络建设的应用前景进行了展望。参9。     

Hydraulic redistribution of soil water during summer drought in two contrasting Pacific Northwest coniferous forests

The magnitude of hydraulic redistribution of soil water by roots and its impact on soil water balance were estimated by monitoring time courses of soil water status at multiple depths and root sap flow under drought conditions in a dry ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) ecosystem and in a moist Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) ecosystem. The fate of deuterated water applied to small plots to create a strong horizontal soil water potential gradient was also monitored to assess the potential for horizontal redistribution of water and utilization of redistributed water by co-occurring shallow-rooted plants. In a 20-year-old Douglas-fir stand, approximately 28% of the water removed daily from the upper 2 m of soil was replaced by nocturnal hydraulic redistribution during late August. In an old-growth ponderosa pine stand, approximately 35% of the total daily water utilization from the upper 2 m of soil appeared to be replaced by hydraulic redistribution during July and August. By late September, hydraulic redistribution in the ponderosa pine stand was no longer apparent, even though total water use from the upper 2 m of soil was nearly identical to that observed earlier. Based on these results, hydraulic redistribution would allow 21 and 16 additional days of stored water to remain in the upper soil horizons in the ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stands, respectively, after a 60-day drought. At both sites, localized applications of deuterated water induced strong reversal of root sap flow and caused soil water content to cease declining or even temporarily increase at locations too distant from the site of water application to have been influenced by movement of water through the soil without facilitation by roots. Xylem water deuterium values of ponderosa pine seedlings suggested utilization of redistributed water. Therefore, hydraulic redistribution may enhance seedling survival and maintain overstory transpiration during summer drought. These first approximations of the extent of hydraulic redistribution in these ecosystems suggest that it is likely to be an important process in both wet and dry forests of the Pacific Northwest.     

Gastric inflammatory pseudotumour secondary to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinomyces hordeovulneris</Emphasis> infection in a cat

Background

The authors report the first case of feline gastric actinomycosis associated with infection by Actinomyces hordeovulneris.

Case presentation

A 4-year-old, neutered male, semi-feral European cat, with a 1 year history of chronic vomiting, was referred to the clinic. Abdominal ultrasound examination identified a hypoechoic focal transmural thickening with loss of normal wall layering and hyperechoic speckles at the gastric body. Initial gastroscopic examination showed a tumour-like gastric mass with an ulcerated depression at the level of the greater curvature. Histologic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens was consistent with a severe lymphoplasmacytic gastritis. After 2 months, due to persistence of abdominal discomfort, surgical exploration and intraoperative sampling of gross abnormalities was recommended. Full thickness gastric wall biopsies, and fine needle aspiration of the gastric thickening and gastric lymph node, were performed. Histopathological examination identified a transmural pyogranulomatous gastritis. Aspirate samples of the gastric wall cultured positive, with colony morphology, biochemical testing and PCR of the 16 s rRNA gene compatible with Actinomyces hordeovulneris. After 4 months of treatment with cefovecin (8 mg/kg subcutaneously every 14 days), the vomiting completely resolved, as well as the ultrasonographic gastric alteration.

Conclusion

This case report of feline gastric actinomycosis, caused by Actinomyces hordeovulneris, suggests that gastric bacterial infection should be considered in cases of focal gastric wall thickening associated with chronic vomiting in the cat, which may otherwise closely resemble neoplastic disease. Once a diagnosis of actinomycosis was obtained, a correct treatment with antibiotic therapy can resolve it.

     

Use of serology and real time PCR to control an outbreak of bovine brucellosis at a dairy cattle farm in the Nile Delta region,Egypt

Background

Bovine brucellosis remains one of the most prevalent zoonotic infections affecting dairy cattle in developing countries where the applied control programs often fail. We analyzed the epidemiologic pattern of bovine brucellosis in a dairy cattle herd that showed several cases of abortions after regular vaccination with RB51 (B. abortus vaccine). In 2013 thirty dairy cows, from a Holstein-Friesian dairy herd with a population of 600 cattle, aborted five months post vaccination by a regular RB51 vaccine. Blood samples were drawn from milking cows and growing heifers, as well as heifers and cows pregnant up to 6 months. These samples were collected in June 2013 (n?=?257) and May 2014 (n?=?263) and were tested by real time (rt)-PCR as well as serological tests, in particular Rose Bengal Test (RBT), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and Fluorescence Polarization Assay. Tissue specimens were also collected from an aborted fetus and cultured. Isolates were subjected to bacteriological typing tests at the genus and species levels.

Results

Five months post vaccination with RB51 vaccine, Brucella (B.) DNA was detected in blood samples of cows by rt-PCR. The serological tests also revealed the spread of Brucella field strains within the herd in 2013. Four Brucella isolates were recovered from specimens collected from the aborted fetus. These isolates were typed as follows: one B. abortus RB51 vaccine strain and three isolates of B. abortus field strain. The seropositive cows with positive rt-PCR might indicate an infection by the Brucella field strain; while the positive rt-PCR results from seronegative animals may either be due to circulating RB51 vaccine DNA in vaccinated animals or to circulating field strain in infected animals before seroconversion.

Conclusion

The results herein suggest that PCR can be a good supplementary tool in an outbreak situation, if an assay is available that can differentiate vaccine and field strains with a high analytical sensitivity. We recommend using RBT and ELISA in parallel in outbreak situations, to identify as many infected animals as possible during the initial screenings. This test procedure should be repeated for at least three successive negative tests, with one month interval.