Water Quality in Laboratory Soil-Water Microcosms with Soils from Different Areas of Thailand

Forty-five soil samples were collected from aquaculture areas in 23 provinces of Thailand to include six soil orders and wide variation in physical and chemical properties. Soil-water microcosms were prepared containing 5 g of soil and 150 mL of distilled water. Microcosms were held on an oscillating table shaker (150 rpm) for 1 wk at 25 C in the dark. Water pH and concentrations of dissolved nutrients, total alkalinity, and total hardness were measured. Differences in properties within soil orders caused wide variation in composition of solutions and differences in concentrations of dissolved substances and pH were not related to soil order. Regression analyses revealed significant correlations between concentrations of soil nutrients extractable in dilute acid (0.05 N HCI plus O.025 N H₂SO₄) or in neutral, 1 N ammonium acetate and aqueous concentrations. Regression coefficients usually were higher for dilute-acid extractable nutrients than for ammonium acetate extractable ones. Regression coeficients based on dilute-acid extractable nutrients follow: soluble reactive phosphorus ( r = 0.816); calcium ( r = 0.685); magnesium ( r = 0.470); potassium ( r = 0.959); sodium ( r = 0.977); manganese ( r = 0.462); boron ( r = 0.399). The correlation between soil and solution iron was not significant and aqueous concentrations of copper and zinc were below detection limit. Hardness was correlated with soil carbon ( r = 0.710) and soil pH was a good predictor of alkalinity ( r = 0.877). Soil pH and aqueous pH were highly correlated (r = 0.939). Findings suggest that soil characteristics can be used to predict pH and concentrations of several dissolved substances in soil-water systems under aerobic conditions.     

Assessment of yocoboue wild oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from Côte d'Ivoire

Following a survey involving wild oil palm groves in Côte d’Ivoire as a whole in 1968, 17 parents were chosen at Yocoboué (southernCôte d’Ivoire). Agronomic performance of the 17 parents was assessed through Deli × Yocoboué hybrids in 3 trials grown at La Mé (Côte d’Ivoire), Mondoni and La Dibamba (Cameroon).When compared to the Deli × La Mé progenies used as controls, the Deli × Yocoboué hybrids produced 91% for total bunch weight and86% for oil yields. However, the genetic variability within the Deli × Yocoboué progenies allows to select individual progenies as productive as the Deli × La Mé controls, for breeding purposes. A study of major agronomic traits led to the choice of parent YO 11 T , which combines the largest number of favourable traits. On average, Deli × Yocobouéprogenies have slower vertical growth and are susceptible to Fusarium wilt, except 2 parents (YO 3 T and YO 9 T), which seem to be resistant.     

Influence of waterlogging on carbon stock variability at hillslope scale in a beech forest (Fougères forest — West France)

The Kyoto protocol [39] directs the signatory countries including France to establish an inventory of carbon stocks in forests. Precise estimates of carbon stocks are hampered by local spatial variability, in particular in wetland areas [25]. The aims of this work are: (i) to estimate the spatial variability of carbon stocks on two hillslopes presenting respectively, a transition between a well-drained zone and a wetland area over a short-distance, and a very progressive transition; (ii) to correlate this variability with soil waterlogging and topographic variations and (iii) to evaluate carbon stock prediction by modelling waterlogging intensity as soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks increase significantly with waterlogging. However, SOC stocks in redoximorphic soils are highly variable, particularly in zones where carbon is redistributed due to erosion and sedimentation. In the litter and the vegetation, the age and density of the stand are the main explanatory factors of C variability. Topographic modelling of the waterlogging intensity could improve the spatial estimation of SOC stocks but not of the C stocks in the humus and vegetation.     

转Xa21基因杂交水稻选育和评价

通过基因枪转基因方法和双质粒共转化体系将Xa21基因转入优良恢复系明恢63,得到转基因系M12和M22,并进一步做田间试验、新品种选育和食用安全性评价。结果显示:M12和M22对中国的所有白叶枯病小种都表现出高度抗性,但与原受体品种明恢63相比,农艺性状上有许多变异,主要表现在:结实率、千粒重等农艺性状变差,与珍汕97A的配合力显著降低;但与温敏不育系(X07S、056S)配组的F1有较好的田间表现。通过多代回交和分子标记辅助选择,成功地将Xa21基因从M12株系转到保持系80-4B和不育系80-4A中,得到抗白叶枯病的皖21B和皖21A。并利用皖21A不育系选育出优良杂交组合抗优97(皖21A×R-18),该组合在两年区域试验和一年生产试验中产量表现突出,米质优良。对不同世代和不同遗传背景的转基因品系进行白叶枯病鉴定和Southern分析表明:Xa21基因都能稳定遗传和正常表达,连续16代的种植并没使其白叶枯病的抗性减弱或丧失,而且不论Xa21基因是纯合的还是杂合的都有相同的抗性表现。对大鼠和小鼠的饲喂试验表明:转基因大米实质上等同于非转基因大米,是安全无害的。     

Determination of 2-alkylcyclobutanones with electronic impact and chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in irradiated foods

The use of a column containing 60 g of silica gel for cleanup and the use of isobutane as a reactant reagent for chemical ionization-mass spectrometric analysis of the saturated and monounsaturated alkyl side-chain 2-alkylcyclobutanones (2-ACBs; specifically induced by irradiation from fat in foods until the proof of contrary) has improved both the sensibility and the selectivity of the method when applied for the detection of irradiated foods. The quality of the chromatograms obtained was improved, allowing the detection of food samples (avocados) irradiated at low doses (0.1 kGy) or irradiated ingredients included in low proportions (less than 5%, wt/wt) in nonirradiated culinary foods. These analytical modifications for the detection of 2-ACBs on the official EN 1785 method enable an extension of its current field of application using common equipment of food quality control laboratories.     

Continuous Plant Regeneration from Established Embryogenic Cell Suspension Cultures of Italian Ryegrass and Tall Fescue

The suitability of different protocols was compared for entire plant regeneration by somatic embryogenesis, of the forage plants Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Italian ryegrass) and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue). In the first protocol, miniature embryos were used as starting material, while mature seeds were retained in the other two. Whichever the considered protocol, undifferentiated calli were produced on Murashige and Skoog MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D. The calli were subcultured in the dark on solid MS agar medium, containing 5 mg/1 2,4-D (protocol 2) or on solid MS medium followed by transfer to a rotated liquid MS medium with 2 mg/1 2,4-D (protocol 1). In these conditions, induction of somatic embryogenesis occurred, and whole plants were regenerated during a limited lapse of time, upon transfer in the light, to MS medium supplemented with BAP but devoid of 2,4-D. The simultaneous elimination of 2,4-D and transfer to light appeared essential for full regeneration of the plants. Using this characteristic, an additional step was added to a new protocol (protocol 3) in which microcalli, cultured on liquid MS medium containing 5 mg/1 2,4-D, were transferred to the same medium with 2 mg/1 2,4-D, in the dark. In these conditions, the suspensions kept their embryogenic potential for months. In all cases, plantlets were successfully transferred into the soil. An evaluation of the somaclonal variation potential of the plants issued from each protocol is now underway.     

Analysis of photoperiod sensitivity within a collection of tropical maize populations

We analyzed the variability of a large maize (Zea mays L.) collection of152 tropical populations for photoperiod sensitivity and grain productivityunder long-day conditions to investigate their potential adaptation to temperateconditions. A multilocal experimental design was used: one location withshort-day conditions (Guadeloupe), one location with medium-day conditions (latesowing in the south of France) and two locations with long-day conditions (earlysowing in both the North and South of France). The photoperiod sensitivity wasestimated by the slope of the regression of thermal time from sowing to 50%anthesis on photoperiod. We found highly significant effects of latitude andaltitude of the collecting site of the population on photoperiod sensitivity anda significant but small interaction between these two factors. Populationsoriginated from low altitudes and low latitudes are highly sensitive tophotoperiod, whereas highland populations never display a high photoperiodsensitivity, whatever the latitude of origin. Grain productivity under long-dayconditions was not highly correlated with photoperiod sensitivity. Andeanpopulations were little sensitive to photoperiod and exhibited poor grainproduction under long-day conditions. In contrast, some populations from theCaribbean such as populations from Cuban Flint and Early Caribbean racesexhibited a good grain production although sensitive to photoperiod. The goodadaptation of some Caribbean material to temperate conditions is consistent withthe hypothesis of the successful introduction of Caribbean germplasm in southernregions of the Old World.     

Range fidelity: The missing link between caribou decline and habitat alteration?

Conservation of forest-dwelling caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is of great concern across most of its range. Anthropogenic disturbances, primarily logging activities, have been identified as the most important cause of caribou decline, although the mechanisms underlying this decline are not fully understood. Caribou commonly display fidelity to calving sites or seasonal ranges, but the potential role of this life-history trait has been largely overlooked in research and conservation planning. This is surprising because sites and ranges with high inter-annual use should have high conservation value. We investigated the relationship between habitat disturbances and home-range fidelity of forest-dwelling caribou across three study sites in Québec, Canada, using a broad range of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Between 2004 and 2007, we tracked 47 adult female caribou using GPS collars. Home-range fidelity varied between seasons, being higher during calving and summer, and lower during winter. Caribou reduced fidelity following natural and anthropogenic disturbances, the latter having a stronger negative influence. Anthropogenic disturbances had a strong negative impact on home-range fidelity during annual, summer and winter periods, whereas natural disturbance was the dominant factor during calving. Despite this negative influence on fidelity, caribou tended to demonstrate range fidelity even in study sites most impacted by human activities. Habitat disturbances could produce two possible outcomes for caribou conservation: (1) a trend for females to reduce home-range fidelity which could translate into lower calf and female caribou survival through reduced familiarity with food distribution, escape cover and predation risk and (2) a global tendency to maintain range fidelity even in a drastically modified landscape which could turn into an ecological trap, particularly for calves when predation risk increases due to increased black bear density in early successional forests. Taking range fidelity behavior into consideration during forest management planning could direct conservation efforts toward the best available sites and therefore facilitate caribou persistence in managed landscapes.     

Impact of fertilization on tree-ring delta15N and delta13C in beech stands: a retrospective analysis

We studied the effects of two fertilization treatments (N and NPKCa) on wood nitrogen (N) isotope composition (delta(15)N), water-use efficiency (WUE) estimated by carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C) analyses, and ring width of trees in 80-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in the forest of Fougères, western France. Four replicates were fertilized in two successive years (1973 and 1974), 20 years before core sampling. Unfertilized control trees displayed a decreasing delta(15)N trend with time. The N and NPKCa treatments both increased delta(15)N compared with the control treatment. Wood extraction by organic solvents enhanced the delta(15)N signal. Thus, N addition to the beech ecosystem, even in moderate amounts, could be traced back in tree-ring delta(15)N, suggesting that wood N isotope analysis is a promising tool for studying the long-term effects of N deposition on forests. Although WUE decreased for about 6 years after N fertilization, WUE in NPKCa-treated trees did not differ significantly from that in control trees. Results were similar whether based on cellulose or total wood delta(13)C analysis, suggesting that extraction of cellulose is not necessary when studying fertilization impacts on WUE. The NPKCa treatment had a large impact on radial growth, causing a significant long-lasting increase of 29% compared with the control treatment. Nitrogen alone did not change radial growth significantly.     

Diversity in phosphorus mobilisation and uptake in ectomycorrhizal fungi

• Introduction   

Phosphorus (P) is often the first or second element limiting aboveground net primary productivity of forests. Besides low available inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) concentrations, soil may contain high total P contents, as insoluble mineral P or as organic P. Most plants form mycorrhizal associations that improve their P nutrition. Three main hypotheses have been proposed to explain this positive effect through an increase of (1) P mobilisation from mineral P, (2) P mobilisation from organic P and (3) soil exploration and P uptake. However, the positive effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis may be variable with the fungal species forming the association. This could be due to the different abilities of mycorrhizal fungi to mobilise P and/or to take up Pi from the soil.