Boron-Calcium Synergically Alleviates Aluminum Toxicity in Wheat Plants (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effects of B and Ca treatments on root growth, nutrient localization and cell wall properties in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) plants with and without Al stress were investigated. Seedlings were grown hydroponically in a complete nutrient solution for 7 d and then treated with B (0, 40 μM), Ca (0, 2,500 μM), and Al (0, 100 μM) in a 500 μM CaCl₂ solution for 8 d. The cell wall materials (CWM) were extracted with a phenol: acetic acid: water (2:1:1 w/v/v) solution and used for subsequent pectin extraction with trans -1,2-diami-nocyclohexane- N,N,N,N -tetraacetic acid (CDTA) and Na₂CO₃ solutions. Boron, Ca, and B + Ca treatments enhanced root growth by 19.5, 15.2, and 27.2%, respectively, compared to the control (pH 4.5). Calcium and B+Ca treatments enhanced root growth with Al stress by 43 and 54%, respectively, while B did not exert any effect. The amounts of CWM and pectin per unit of root fresh weight increased by Al treatment, whereas the Ca and B+Ca treatments slightly reduced the contents of these components. Seventy-four percent of total B, 69% of total Ca, and 85% of total Al were located in the cell wall in the B, Ca, and Al treatments, respectively and 32% of total B, 33% of total Ca, and 33% of total Al were located in the CDTA-soluble and Na₂CO₃-soluble pectin fractions. A more conspicuous localization of B was observed in the presence of Al. Aluminum treatment markedly decreased the Ca content in the cell wall as well as pectin fractions, mainly in the case of the CDTA-soluble pectin fraction. Boron + Ca treatment decreased the Al content in the cell wall and pectin fractions compared to the Ca treatment alone in the presence of Al. It is concluded that the B+Ca treatment enhanced root growth and, B and Ca uptake, and helped to maintain a normal B and Ca metabolism in the cell walls even in the presence of Al.     

Genetic tracking of the brown bear in northern Pakistan and implications for conservation

Asian bears face major threats due to the impact of human activities as well as a critical lack of knowledge about their status, distribution and needs for survival. Once abundant in northern Pakistan, the Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) has been exterminated in most of its former distribution range. It presently occurs sparsely, in small populations, the Deosai National Park supporting the largest isolate. This decline might imply a reduction in genetic diversity, compromising the survival of the population. Using a combination of fecal DNA analysis and field data, our study aimed at assessing the size and genetic status of the Deosai population and give guidelines for its conservation and management. Using fecal genetic analysis, we estimated the population to be 40-50 bears, which compares well with the field census of 38 bears. The northern Pakistani brown bear population may have undergone an approximate 200-300-fold decrease during the last thousand years, probably due to glaciations and the influence of growing human population. However, in spite of the presence of a bottleneck genetic signature, the Deosai population has a moderate level of genetic diversity and is not at immediate risk of inbreeding depression. Gene flow might exist with adjacent populations. We recommend careful monitoring of this population in the future both with field observations and genetic analyses, including sampling of adjacent populations to assess incoming gene flow. The connectivity with adjacent populations in Pakistan and India will be of prime importance for the long-term survival of Deosai bears.     

Toxic Effect of Certain Metals Mixture on Some Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Freshwater Algae

The toxic effect of multi metals mixture which exist simultaneously in aquatic ecosystem on natural phytoplankton assemblages (green algae, blue-green algae and diatoms) was studied. For this purpose a laboratory scale unit was designed to evaluate the effect of continuous flow metals mixture in forms if triple and penta metals in Nile water algae. Clear changes in algal biomass in terms of chlorophyll a (chl a) took place when subjected to metals combination. The rise or decline in chl a was in relation with other algal pigments (chl b, chl c, carotenoides and phenophytin), protein and carbohydrate content of algal cells. Substantial changes in phytoplankton community structure was detected and the most tolerant group was blue-green algae followed by green algae while diatoms was the most sensitive group. The most dominant species in all cases were blue-green alga Oscillatoria mougeotii and green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. In addition clear changes in morphological shape was observed for tolerant species belonging to the three algal groups. Nile water algae has ability to remove and accumulate metals in the following order therefore Zn > Cd > Ni > Cu > Cr. In addition, phytoplankton has ability to recovered from the stress of metals when eliminated from the media and the recovered biomass was nearly equivalent to that before exposing to metals stress. The overall effect of metals mixture depending on the type and number of metals, the algal community structure and ratio between different morphological forms of algae (unicellular, colonial and filamentous).     

新疆阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区树附生地衣群落物种分布与环境关系的研究

为了查明阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区树附生地衣物种组成成分,以及探讨影响该地区树附生地衣群落分布格局与环境因素之间的关系,以附生地衣覆盖度为指标,应用除趋势对应分析(DCA)对样点进行分组,运用典范对应分析(CCA)分析附生地衣分布与环境因素的关系,结果表明:1)阿尔泰山两河源自然保护区树附生地衣共有49种隶属于15科30属。2)根据DCA分析将该地区树附生地衣划分为3个样点组,样点组1共有地衣22种,总盖度为2.639%,物种多样性指数为1.603;样点组2共有地衣27种,地衣总盖度为3.717%,物种多样性最大为1.972;样点组3:共有地衣12种,地衣总覆盖度为1.036%,物种多样性最小量为0.871。3)CCA排序结果表明:低海拔区,人为干扰强度高,地衣多样性较低;中海拔区,森林郁闭度高,湿度适中,干扰较少,地衣多样性较高;高海拔区,森林郁闭度较低,树种较少,光强度较强,干扰较少,主要以壳状地衣为主,多样性较低。     

Correction to: Impact of leaf infestation by herbivorous insects on the elemental uptake of citrus trees

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In the original publication, the article title was incorrectly published as ‘Impact of leave infestation by herbivorous insects on the elemental...     

球孢白僵菌不同施用方式对玉米促生作用的研究

采用土壤施用和叶面喷施2种方式将球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)菌株Bb202接种至玉米,研究不同接种方式及处理浓度对玉米生长的影响。结果表明,2种喷施方式对玉米苗均存在促生作用,且这种促生作用与孢子接种浓度密切相关。在叶面喷施处理中,白僵菌仅对玉米地上部分生长指标有促进作用,而对玉米苗的根长无显著影响;其中1.0×10~4孢子/m L处理组对玉米苗的促生效果最佳,其株高、叶长、叶宽、鲜重指标比蒸馏水对照组分别高出7.47%、15.42%、25.70%和16.85%。在土壤喷施处理中,白僵菌对玉米苗地上与地下部分均有显著促生作用;其中1.0×106孢子/m L和1.0×10~8孢子/m L处理组,玉米株高、叶长、根长、生物量指标较蒸馏水对照组分别提高了28.66%和29.59%、30.66%和37.85%、43.08%和33.60%、28.35%和32.55%。从对玉米苗的促生作用来看,用1.0×106孢子/m L的白僵菌悬浮液处理土壤,可以取得最经济、最显著的促生效果。     

Nano-calcium carbonate reinforced polypropylene and propylene-ethylene copolymer nanocomposites: Tensile vs. impact behavior

Improvement of both the tensile and impact strength of the same polymeric material has always been a great challenge for the plastic industry. The study focuses on the effect of incorporation of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (0.3 wt% to 15 wt%) into three polypropylene (PP) based matrices viz. PP homopolymer, propylene-ethylene (PP-PE) copolymer and the blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) to improve their impact behavior without hampering the tensile strength much. A loss in both the tensile and impact properties was observed in PP based nanocomposite. However, PP-PE based nanocomposites showed a significant improvement in impact strength (47 %) at 10 wt% loading with a loss of tensile strength by 22 %. To minimize this loss a blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) was explored as a matrix. At 10 wt% loading, this matrix showed an improvement of 30 % in impact strength whereas the tensile loss was minimized to 10 %. Further, silane coupling agent which promoted good interfacial adhesion was used for best compositions. The variation of crystalline morphology of the nanocomposites with various formulations was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction.