Benzophenone glycosides and epicatechin derivatives from Malania oleifera

A new benzophenone C-glycoside, malaferin A (1), and two new epicatechin derivatives, malaferin B (2) and malaferin C (3), together with five known compounds were isolated from Malania oleifera. In addition, (-)-epicatechin-3-O-benzoate (6) was isolated for the first time from a natural resource. Structures of 1-3 were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. All of the compounds were evaluated for anti-HIV activities.     

Protective effects of selenium and vitamin E on rats consuming maize naturally contaminated with mycotoxins

Protective effects of antioxidant additives of selenium and vitamin E on rats that consumed maize naturally contaminated with mycotoxins were explored in this paper. Thirty-two Wistar female rats were randomly divided into four groups. The control group was given the basic diet with normal maize. The contaminated maize group was given the diet in which normal maize was replaced by mycotoxin-contaminated maize. The selenium group and vitamin E group were respectively fed mycotoxincontaminated diet supplemented with 0.4mg · kg⁻¹ selenium from yeast or 100 mg · kg⁻¹ vitamin E. The trial lasted for 4 weeks. Compared with the control group, antioxidative status was decreased significantly in the contaminated maize group. However, the status in the selenium group and vitamin E group was increased significantly compared with the contaminated maize group. The activities of enzymes related to liver function were significantly higher in the contaminated maize group than those in the control group, whereas they were significantly lower in the selenium group and/or the vitamin E group compared to the contaminated maize group. It is concluded that selenium and vitamin E were able to alleviate oxidative stress and liver function damage due to the consumption of maize naturally contaminated with mycotoxins.     

Plant growth and survival of five introduced and two native/naturalized perennial grass genotypes exposed to two defoliation managements in arid Argentina

The field performance of the native Pappophorum vaginatum, the naturalized Eragrostis curvula and various cultivars of the introduced Achnatherum hymenoides and Leymus cinereus was evaluated as potential forage resources in rangelands of arid Argentina during the warm seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. Plants of these grass species, obtained from seeds, were transplanted to the field in 2006, when they were 1 year old. During the study years, there were two defoliation managements: plants of all study genotypes either remained undefoliated (controls) or were defoliated twice a year during spring at 5 cm stubble height. Despite tiller number being lower (P < 0·05) on defoliated than on undefoliated plants, and total leaf length per unit basal area being similar (P > 0·05) between defoliation managements by mid‐spring, there were no differences (P > 0·05) in dry weight production between defoliated and undefoliated plants in all genotypes at the end of the second growing season. Plants of one or more of the introduced genotypes showed a similar (P > 0·05) or greater (P < 0·05), but not lower, tiller number per plant and per square centimetre, daughter tiller production, total leaf length and dry weight production per unit basal area than the native species at the end of the first and/or second growing seasons. These morphological variables were similar (P > 0·05) or greater (P < 0·05) in the native than in the naturalized genotype. Plant survival, however, was lower (P < 0·05, overall mean = 20%) in the introduced than in the native (>70%) or naturalized (>39%) genotypes at the end of the first or second growing seasons.     

木本植物抗涝性研究进展

从植物形态结构、生理生化反应和分子生物学出发，阐述了国内外木本植物抗涝性研究的进展，在涝渍条件下植物形态结构，高生长和生物量积累变化明显，光合作用、酶促防御系统、呼吸代谢等生理反应也有相应变化，在此基础上总结了抗涝性评价指标以及抗涝性品种选育研究概况以及抗涝性育种的主要方法，提出了抗涝性育种中存在的问题以及的发展趋势。     

Seed viability determination in parasitic broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche) using fluorescein diacetate staining

Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was investigated as a potential viability stain for seeds of holoparasitic broomrapes Orobanche and Phelipanche (Orobanchaceae), using four weedy and two non-weedy taxa. FDA viabilities were compared with the currently used 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test, and in vitro germination induced by the strigolactone analogue GR-24. Viable FDA-stained seeds were characterised by bright yellow–green fluorescence under 450–490 nm blue light. These viable seeds could be discriminated from non-viable seeds, in which low levels of fluorescence, similar to non-stained control seeds were observed. FDA viabilities were not significantly different from those obtained using the TTC stain; however, viability values for both stains were consistently higher than levels of artificially induced germination. Positive TTC-staining showed continuous variation that was difficult to interpret. Nevertheless, the TTC test does not involve grinding seeds, and therefore probably remains a practical alternative to FDA for screening soil samples contaminated with Orobanche and Phelipanche seeds, which indicates different applications for the two viability tests. Interestingly, the strigolactone analogue GR-24 only induced germination in O. crenata , P. ramosa and O. minor , suggesting a high specificity towards this germination inducer among the species investigated. We suggest that FDA-staining provides a potential alternative to the currently used TTC test for seed viability assays for Orobanche and Phelipanche , and other parasitic weeds which are an obstacle to crop cultivation.     

旱作大豆播种密度对产量和水分利用效率的影响

为了提高旱作区大豆种植效益,充分利用当地降水资源,在甘肃东部地区开展播种密度对不同成熟期大豆品种产量及水分利用效率的影响研究。结果表明,不同类型大豆品种随播种密度增加,其主要经济性状单株荚数、单株粒数、每荚粒数和单株粒重均呈下降趋势;播种密度对不同类型品种田间耗水量影响不显著;在播种密度9.0万株/hm²~27.0万株/hm²的范围内,晚熟品种‘汾豆78’、‘晋豆23’适宜种植密度为18.0万株/hm²,早熟品种‘中黄30’、‘晋豆19’适宜种植密度为22.5万株/hm²;适宜播种密度能够明显提高旱作区大豆籽粒产量和水分利用效率。     

3种湿地植物克隆生长及其生物量对不同水淹的响应

通过人工模拟水位控制试验,研究不同水位梯度处理对3种水生植物梭鱼草、菖蒲和黄花鸢尾株高、克隆分株数、生物量积累及生物量分配格局的影响。试验设置固定水位和周期波动水位2种处理,固定水位分别为自由水面淹没苗钵的1/2 (低水位),全淹（中水位）和高出苗钵上口径12cm（高水位）3个梯度;波动水位为低水位处理14d,然后转至高水位处理7 d,以此往复循环,持续56d。结果表明：不同水位梯度对3种水生植物的株高、克隆分株数、生物量积累与分配格局等指标均有显著影响(P<005);株高、克隆分株数（黄花鸢尾除外）在波动水位处理下均显著高于固定水位（P<005）,固定水位中的高水位和波动水位处理后梭鱼草根状茎、叶和根生物量均显著高于中水位和低水位梯度。波动水位和固定水位中的高水位处理仅对菖蒲的叶质量有显著影响,且明显高于中水位和低水位。黄花鸢尾各构件生物量在各水位处理中无显著差异（P>005）。综合来看,波动水位更有利于3种水生植物种群的建立。     

The biochemical control of the cell cycle by growth regulators in higher plants

The cell cycle is an important research field in cell biology and it is genetically and developmentally regulated in animals and plants. The aim of this study was to review knowledge about the biochemical regulation of the cell cycle by plant growth regulators through molecular checkpoints that regulate the transition from G0-G1-S-phase and G2-M in higher plants.Recent research has shown that zeatin treatment led to the up-regulation of CycD3 in Arabidopsis. Benzyladenine treatment can also shorten the duration of S-phase through recruitment of latent origins of DNA replication. Kinetin is involved in the phosphoregulation of the G2-M checkpoint; the major cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) at this checkpoint has recently shown to be dephosphorylated as a result of cytokinin treatment, an effect that can also be mimicked by the fission yeast Cdc25 phosphatase. Gibberellic acid (GA) treatment induces internode elongation in deepwater rice, this response is mediated by a GA-induced up-regulation of a cyclin-Cdk at the G2-M checkpoint. Recent evidence has also linked abscisic acid to a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. A new D-type cyclin, recently discovered in Arabidopsis may have a key role in this process. A brief review on plant growth regulator-cell cycle interfacing during development and a cytokinin-induced continuum of cell cycle activation through the up-regulation of a plant D-type cyclin at the G1 checkpoint and the phosphoregulation of the Cdk at the G2/M checkpoint had been concluded. This review could be valuable to research on cell and developmental biology in plants.     

Decomposition of needle/leaf litter from Scots pine, black cherry, common oak and European beech at a conurbation forest site

Litter decomposition was studied for 2 years in a mixed forest serving as a water protection area (Rhine-Neckar conurbation, SW Germany). Two experiments differing in initial dry weight equivalent in litterbags were set up: one to compare decomposition of European beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) with common oak leaves (Quercus robur), and the other comparing decomposition of Scots pine needles (Pinus sylvestris) with black cherry leaves (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), respectively. Mass losses were greater for oak litter than for beech (75.0 versus 34.6%), and for cherry litter than for pine (94.6 versus 68.3%). In both experiments, a strong initial loss of soluble compounds occurred. The changes in litter N and P concentrations and the decrease in C-to-N ratio coincided with changes in residual mass. However, neither tannin and phenolic concentrations nor NMR could explain the pronounced variation in mass loss after 2 years. Differences in litter palatability and toughness, nutrient contents and other organic compounds may be responsible for the considerable differences in residual mass between litter types. The fast decay of black cherry leaves appears to play a major role in the present humus dynamics at the studied site. Since black cherry has a high N demand, which is mainly met by root uptake from the forest floor, this species is crucial for internal N cycling at this conurbation forest site. These effects together may significantly contribute to prevent nitrate leaching from the forest ecosystem which is subject to a continuous N deposition on an elevated level.