Impact of Climate and Grazing on Biomass Components of Eastern Russia Typical Steppe

Spatial and structural characteristics of plant communities in the steppe ecosystems of the Baikal region, Russian Federation have been researched in connection with climate change and grazing. The present study, based on a total of 15 typical steppe sampling plots, investigated above-ground biomass （AGB）, below-ground biomass （BGB）, total biomass （TB） and root：shoot ratios （R：S） and their relationships with climatic factors and grazing. All biomass components varied widely depending on the climatic parameters and the degree of grazing affected transformation. A strong negative correlation between mean annual temperature （MAT） and total plant biomass was revealed for all study area. Mean annual precipitation （MAP） signiifcantly affected communities productivity increasing only in the south of the region. Due to the large and mountainous territory, the inlfuence of latitude and elevation （mountain） factors on the components of the biomass were studied. Although all studied plant steppe communities were transformed by uncontrolled grazing, their productivity is signiifcantly reduced only at plots with maximum digression. Vegetation shift is an indicator of climate change, as well as providing a diagnostic tool to build predictive models. Based on the complex index of effective precipitation, it was revealed that at the end of last century in the steppes of the Baikal region the structural and production processes will be affected by an arid climate trend.     

浑善达克沙地榆树径向生长特性

以位于浑善达克沙地宝绍岱苏木和那日图苏木的天然沙地榆为材料,测定沙地榆的年轮宽度、早材宽度和晚 材宽度,分析其偏心生长状况、径向生长规律和径向生长动态,为浑善达克沙地榆树种群保护和天然更新提供依 据。结果表明:宝绍岱和那日图生长的沙地榆均存在不同程度的偏心生长,且偏心形态比较复杂,形状不规则;宝 绍岱和那日图沙地榆的径向生长过程中均出现了2 个生长高峰期,其中年轮宽度和晚材宽度的径向生长规律非常 相似,2 次高峰期出现的时间完全一致,径向累积生长曲线均呈双S 型;早材宽度在整个生长过程中的变化幅度很 小,高峰期出现的时期与年轮宽度和晚材宽度相差比较大,累积生长曲线呈线型;宝绍岱和那日图沙地榆的平均生 长量分别为2.25 和2.30 mm,无显著差异,但宝绍岱沙地榆年轮宽度和晚材宽度的变异系数达到20%以上,明显大 于那日图沙地榆;宝绍岱沙地榆径向生长第1 次高峰出现在第17 ~21 年,那日图沙地榆径向生长第1 次高峰出现 在第15 ~19 年,二者的成熟龄相差3 年。      

Comparison of direct-RT-PCR and dot-blot hybridization for the detection of Potato spindle tuber viroid in natural host plant species

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is an EPPO A2-listed quarantine pathogen and its detection in large scale surveys requires complex decision schemes. In this study, a simple and rapid application of direct-RT-PCR was evaluated together with dot blot hybridization for the detection of PSTVd in dormant potato tubers harvested from primary infected plants, as well as in tomato and solanaceous ornamental plants. In all infected dormant potato tubers tested, both direct-RT-PCR and dot blot hybridization detected two different PSTVd isolates, with direct-RT-PCR being ten times more sensitive than dot blot. Similarly, in infected tomato and Brugmansia spp., PSTVd was detected by direct-RT-PCR with higher sensitivity compared to that of dot blot hybridization. However, in Brugmansia spp., a ten-fold decrease of the typical working concentration of the sap was required for an unequivocal detection of the viroid by direct-RT-PCR. The potential to use direct-RT-PCR for routine PSTVd examination is discussed.