Interactions between different genotypic tissues in citrus graft chimeras

The heritability of tolerance of wheat F₃ lines to competition from annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), and its relationship to morphological traits, were determined using crosses between wheat cultivars with good and poor competitive ability. Forty F₂-derived F₃ lines from a cross between two late flowering varieties (Machete × Spear) and 40 from a cross between early flowering varieties (Wilgoyne × Gutha) were grown in the field with and without annual ryegrass. There was significant genetic variation between lines within each of the two populations in a number of aspects of plant growth and development, including yield in monoculture. The estimates of heritability for % yield loss due to competition were 0.25 and 0.57 in the two crosses respectively, indicating that selection for high tolerance to competition in the F₃ generation or later should be effective. Fairly strong relationships between height and % yield loss and between leaf length and % yield loss suggest that these may be useful auxiliary traits when selecting for low % yield loss. However, differences between crosses in the magnitude and sign of genetic and phenotypic correlation between traits indicate that competitive ability is a complex character influenced by many factors. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

兴隆山自然保护区华北珍珠梅物候期对水热条件的响应

华北珍珠梅(Sorbaria kirilowii)为蔷薇科珍珠梅属植物,具有抗病虫害等生态价值,是兴隆山自然保护区内主要的灌木种。本研究通过对甘肃省兴隆山国家级自然保护区内华北珍珠梅2004-2007年及2012-2015年9种物候特征的观察,分析了华北珍珠梅各物候期的变化趋势以及各物候期与月平均气温和月降水量的相关关系。结果表明,华北珍珠梅的春季物候期多数呈现推迟趋势,而秋季物候期主要呈现提前趋势,整个生长季的时间每年缩短达15.49d。华北珍珠梅物候期的变化趋势与月平均气温和月降水量具有密切的相关关系,其中开花期和果实膨大期与4月份的平均气温间呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),发芽期与2月份降水量,抽枝期与5月份降水量以及果实膨大期与7月份降水量均呈显著负相关关系(P0.05),而果实成熟期与10月份降水量呈显著的正相关关系(P0.05)。因此,受水热条件影响的华北珍珠梅生长季的缩短不仅会降低其生长繁殖,也会减少灌木层的郁闭度,不利于生活在灌木层的动物,如濒危物种马麝(Moschus sifanicus)等的栖息。     

Roles of bootstrap resampling,measure of central tendency,and method for calculating thermal units when developing phenology models for pest management

The successful development of phenology models from field studies depends on many factors, some of which are entirely under the control of pest managers. For example, one such factor is the choice of method for calculating thermal units. In this study, we have demonstrated that four methods for calculating thermal units provided for acceptable predictions of one phenological event of one insect species, while another method for calculating thermal units did not. The measure of central tendency (mean or median) that is used to estimate lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. Here, we show that predictions that were made when using phenology models based on median lower developmental temperatures and median required thermal summations were superior to predictions that were made when using phenology models based on mean lower developmental temperatures and mean required thermal summations. The use of bootstrap vs. non-bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is yet another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. In this study, we found that calculating and using bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations in phenology models did not improve the predictions of one phenological event for one insect species. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.     

Germination ecology of seeds of the annual weeds Capsella bursa-pastoris and Descurainia sophia originating from high northern latitudes

Low temperatures may inhibit dormancy break in seeds of winter annuals, therefore it was hypothesized that seeds of Capsella bursa‐pastoris and Descurainia sophia that mature at high latitudes in late summer–early autumn would not germinate until they had been exposed to high summer temperatures. Consequently, germination would be delayed until the second autumn. Most freshly matured seeds of both species collected in August and September in southern Sweden were dormant. After 3 weeks of burial at simulated August (20/10°C) and September (15/6°C) temperatures, 28 and 27%, respectively, of the C. bursa‐pastoris and 56 and 59%, respectively, of the D. sophia seeds germinated in light at 15/6°C. In contrast, in germination phenology studies conducted in Sweden, only a few seeds of either species germinated during the first autumn following dispersal. However, there was a peak of germination of both species the following spring, demonstrating that dormancy was lost during exposure to the low habitat temperatures between late summer and early autumn and spring. Nearly 100% of the seeds of both species subjected to simulated annual seasonal temperature changes were viable after 30.5 months of burial. In the burial study, exhumed seeds of C. bursa‐pastoris were capable of germinating to 98–100% in light at the simulated spring–autumn temperature regime (15/6°C) in both spring and autumn, while those of D. sophia did so only in autumn. In early spring, however, seeds of D. sophia germinated to 17–50% at 15/6°C. Thus, most seeds of these two annual weeds that mature in late summer do not germinate in the first autumn, but they may do so the following spring or in some subsequent autumn or spring.     

Bird-flower interactions in an urban area: Ceiba pubiflora provides nectar and promotes biodiversity in the city

Urbanization has negative effects on plant-animal interactions by reducing plant richness and increasing resource limitations. However, it is possible to replant these areas, and plant species can be selected based on the resources they provide, as well as their relationships with animals. I observed several trees of Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) to identify the bird species interacting with their flowers in an urban area. This plant may be especially important, as it blossoms during the dry season, when the overall flower availability in the study area is low. It may also be important during a short period of decline in the fleshy fruit supply. Even though C. pubiflora was growing in the city and had a low volume of nectar accumulating in its flowers (mean of 1.73 μl; SD = 1.39 μl), it attracted a variety of birds (25 species belonging to six families), some of which are usually regarded as forest dependent. Nectarivorous birds from the family Trochilidae (hummingbirds, n = 12 species) had the highest percentage of visits (64.08%), especially during periods of relatively high nectar sugar concentration and calorie availability (c. 18% and 1.5 cal., respectively). Hummingbirds primarily acted as nectar thieves but also sometimes as potential flower pollinators. In contrast, several nonnectarivorous birds (frugivore-granivores, frugivore-insectivores and omnivores) acted only as nectar robbers or flower predators. Ceiba pubiflora flowers appear to be an important source of energy for birds in the urban area. The data of this study show that C. pubiflora has utility as management tool to promote and conserve biodiversity in cities.     

Modelling the interactions between phenology and insecticide resistance genes in the codling moth Cydia pomonella

In the codling moth Cydia pomonella (L), insecticide resistance genes have been associated with pleiotropic effects affecting phenology. In this paper, we investigated whether an increase in the frequency of insecticide resistance in field populations of C pomonella was likely to entail significant divergences in the temporal occurrence of both susceptible and insecticide-resistant individuals. For this purpose, we built a phenological model that provided suitable predictions of the distinct and diverging seasonal evolutions of populations of a susceptible and two insecticide-resistant (at two and three loci) homozygous genotypes of C pomonella. Model simulations for each genotype were further compared with pheromone trap catches recorded in a field insecticide-treated population over an 8-year period (from 1992 to 2000), which reflected the progressive annual increase in the frequency of resistance in southeastern France. We found a significant delay in field adult emergence relative to those predicted by the homozygous susceptible model, and the magnitude of such a delay was positively correlated with increasing frequencies of insecticide resistance in the sampled field population of C pomonella. Adult emergence predicted in the theoretical population that was homozygous for resistance at two loci converged with those recorded in the field during the investigated 8-year period. This suggested that the pleiotropic effects of resistance were likely to result in a significant phenological segregation of insecticide-resistant alleles in the field. The results of this study emphasized the potential for pest populations exposed to chemical selection to evolve qualitatively with respect to phenology. This may raise critical questions regarding the use of phenological modelling as a forecasting tool for appropriate resistance management strategies that would take into account the diverging seasonal evolutions of both insecticide resistance and susceptibility.     

典型草原区3种牧草生育规律及物候期气象指标

为了解典型草原区天然牧草生长发育规律,根据锡林浩特国家气候观象台多年牧草观测资料,运用统计学原理、物候学方法对典型草原区克氏针茅（Stipa kryloyii）、羊草（Leymus chinensis）、糙隐子草（Cleistogenes squarrosa）3种牧草生育规律及物候期气象指标进行了研究。结果表明,3种牧草生长季高度与盖度、产量变化趋势一致,8月末牧草高度、盖度、产量同时达最高值。返青期在4月下旬至5月初,成熟期在8月中旬至9月上旬,抽穗期牧草生长速率最快,各物候期与40 cm日平均地温存在显著的相关性。牧草生长发育有着自身的生物学特性,生态环境的变化制约着牧草的生长发育规律。     

茶树新品系“福萱”选育初报

本文介绍了“福萱”茶树新品系的来源、形态特征、春梢生育期、产量、制绿茶品质、抗逆性、生化成分及光合特性等。初步结果表明：“福萱”新品系为无性系,灌木型,中叶类,早生种;一芽一叶期、一芽二叶期、一芽三叶期3年平均比福鼎大白茶早2、2、4天;产量高于对照种福鼎大白茶15.53%;抗寒性、抗热旱害、抗假眼小绿叶蝉及其他病虫害能力与对照品种相当。其春季一芽二叶新梢含茶多酚、氨基酸高于对照种福鼎大白茶,水浸出物、咖啡碱、酚∕氨值均与对照种相近。制绿茶品质优异,外形较肥壮、毫尚显,汤色嫩黄,香显、味醇爽。适合福建福安及相似茶区推广种植。     

Evaluating Beech Tree Phenology in a Deciduous Broadleaf Forest in Northern Iran Using Ground Observation and MODIS Images

We selected 15 beech trees (Fagus orientalis) from the study area in a mountainous region from 520 to 1310 m above sea level. Ground observations of the beech tree growth process from January to December 2004 in 7- to 15-day intervals were performed both visually and by measuring leaf chlorophyll concentration (chlorophyll meter SPAD-502). Results for the regression analysis showed that the leaved period positively correlated with the air temperature (r?=?.894). Anthesis and SPAD measurements have a negative relationship with air temperature and as temperature increases they appear earlier in the year. Anthesis and SPAD measurements had correlation coefficients of r?=??.883 and r?=??.855, respectively. The anthesis and bud bursting and leaf tip appearance have a negative relationship with increasing altitude from sea level and as altitude increases they appear later in the year. To make phenological events in deciduous broadleaf forests recognizable, we used a seasonal 8-day composite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (MODIS/NDVI). Prior to leaf expansion, NDVI increased from the 109th day of the year or earlier. Existence of the evergreen plants (Ruscus hyrcanus) on the ground and snow-melting exert an influence on inconsistency of phenology monitoring of MODIS/NDVI images. Regression analysis showed that there is a positive relationship between NDVI and SPAD measurements (chlorophyll content) in beech trees.     

基于改进最大值法合成NDVI的夏玉米物候期遥感监测

利用遥感技术监测农作物物候期,能够及时有效地评估作物生长趋势、提高农情信息化管理水平。本研究利用2016年MODIS 8天合成数据,提出改进的最大值合成法,结合S-G滤波和Logistic函数拟合重构夏玉米生长曲线,最后利用曲率法提取夏玉米的拔节期和成熟期,利用动态阈值法提取夏玉米的出苗期和抽雄期。结果表明:采用本文提取的夏玉米物候期与实测物候期相比,平均误差为2.76 d,其中在抽雄期的绝对误差为1.06 d,运用改进的最大值合成提取作物NDVI时序数据可有效去除连续云雾对植被指数的影响,提高监测作物物候期的准确性,为精准农业提供技术支撑。