Functional response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> L. to taproot pruning: a 5-year case study

Key message

Quercus robur seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. Root pruning enhanced stem biomass at the expense of roots in later growth stages. Alteration of biomass allocation due to nursery practices may result in greater susceptibility to injury and death of the seedlings under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Context

Plants adjust their growth and modulate the resource allocation in response to applied treatments and environmental conditions.

Aims

The aim was to examine how taproot pruning in seedlings grown at different densities affected long-term growth of Quercus robur.

Methods

Seedlings, sown as acorns at two planting densities, with or without pruned roots were harvested in the second, fourth, and fifth years of growth. The effect of root pruning on biomass allocation was determined by measuring leaf, stem, and root mass fractions; carbohydrate concentrations in the roots; and C/N ratios. Specific leaf area and root length were also determined to assess morphological adaptations to growth conditions.

Results

Total seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. After 4 years of growth, root mass fractions were lower and stem mass fractions were greater in seedlings planted at a higher density. Five-year old root-pruned seedlings also had a lower root mass fraction and higher stem mass fractions than unpruned seedlings. Specific root length was not affected by root pruning or planting density.

Conclusion

Decrease of relative root biomass with simultaneous increase of stem biomass may be a long-term consequence of taproot pruning of Q. robur, and the effects may manifest years after the seedling stage.

     

Accumulation of soil organic carbon during natural restoration of desertified grassland in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

China's Horqin Sandy Land,a formerly lush grassland,has experienced extensive desertification that caused considerable carbon(C) losses from the plant-soil system.Natural restoration through grazing exclusion is a widely suggested option to sequester C and to restore degraded land.In a desertified grassland,we investigated the C accumulation in the total and light fractions of the soil organic matter from 2005 to 2013 during natural restoration.To a depth of 20 cm,the light fraction organic carbon(LFOC) storage increased by 221 g C/m2(84%) and the total soil organic carbon(SOC) storage increased by 435 g C/m2(55%).The light fraction dry matter content represented a small proportion of the total soil mass(ranging from 0.74% in 2005 to 1.39% in 2013),but the proportion of total SOC storage accounted for by LFOC was remarkable(ranging from 33% to 40%).The C sequestration averaged 28 g C/(m2·a) for LFOC and 54 g C/(m2·a) for total SOC.The total SOC was strongly and significantly positively linearly related to the light fraction dry matter content and the proportions of fine sand and silt+clay.The light fraction organic matter played a major role in total SOC sequestration.Our results suggest that grazing exclusion can restore desertified grassland and has a high potential for sequestering SOC in the semiarid Horqin Sandy Land.     

Development of techniques for the cultivation of Lessonia trabeculata Villouta et Santelices (Phaeophyceae: Laminariales) in Chile

Large quantities of brown algae have traditionally been exported from Chile as a raw material, of which Lessonia spp. has amounted to over 130 000 tons annually since 1995. To the export demand has recently been added the new demand for high‐quality Lessonia spp. as a foodstuff for the expanding abalone culture industry in Chile. The present study is based on efforts to produce significant quantities of Lessonia trabeculata in long‐line culture as food for tank‐cultured Haliotis rufescens Swainson and Haliotis discus‐hannae Ino, which accept it as an excellent source of nutrition. Small sporophytes of L. trabeculata were propagated in the laboratory from reproductive blades harvested by diving near Coquimbo (30°S). The best culture substrate was polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in small pieces, inserted into the nylon cord for final culturing. Enrichment of sea water with agricultural‐grade fertilizer produced no differences in growth and development of the Lessonia compared with results obtained using Provasoli medium. Sporophytes 1–2 cm in length cultured on 12‐mm cord were transferred to outdoor tanks with circulating sea water and strong aeration where they were outgrown to 15–20 cm length; at this size, they were transferred to a 50‐m long line in the ocean. In a 1‐year period, individual plants reached up to 1.7 kg in mass, with average values per cord of about 9 kg. Total production from the long line was about 500 kg fresh weight of the alga. In comparative testing, H. discus hannae grew as well on the cultured algae as on naturally occurring L. trabeculata.     

蒙古马自然感染马鼻狂蝇蛆的细胞免疫反应研究

为了探索马鼻狂蝇蛆感染蒙古马的免疫学机制,在呼和浩特市屠宰场采集感染马鼻狂蝇蝇蛆的4头蒙古马的咽部和扁桃体组织,同时收集2头健康蒙古马作为对照组,制作常规石蜡切片,通过HE染色和免疫组化试验,对咽部和扁桃体组织T淋巴细胞(CD3^+)、B淋巴细胞(CD20^+)、巨噬细胞(CD68^+)进行分析。结果显示:感染组咽部黏膜的黏膜下层有虫卵肉芽肿形成,咽部黏膜存在大量的巨噬细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞;免疫组化显示,与对照组相比,感染组咽部组织内CD3^+细胞显著上升(P<0. 05),CD20^+、CD68^+细胞极显著上升(P<0. 01);感染组扁桃体内的CD20^+细胞显著上升(P <0. 05),CD3^+、CD68^+细胞极显著上升(P<0. 01)。结果表明:感染马鼻狂蝇蛆后蒙古马出现了Ⅰ型超敏反应和Ⅳ型超敏反应,T、B淋巴细胞及巨噬细胞增多表明机体获得性免疫反应发挥了作用,并可能产生了针对马鼻狂蝇蝇蛆的特异性免疫球蛋白。     

Carbon sequestration in the total and light fraction soil organic matter along a chronosequence in grazing exclosures in a semiarid degraded sandy site in China

Horqin Sandy Land is a fragile,seriously desertified region located in Inner Mongolia of China.Overgrazing is one of the primary drivers of desertification in this region.We investigated whether the establishment of grazing exclosures in areas with active sand dunes enhances soil carbon(C) sequestration and benefits soil recovery.The results showed that soil organic C storage was 1.4,1.9,and 3.5 times,and light fraction C storage was 2.3,3.2,and 4.4 times in the 100-cm topsoil after 7,12,and 25 years of grazing exclusion,respectively,compared to the case in active sand dunes.The light fraction of soil played an important role in soil C sequestration,although it might not change rapidly to provide an early indication of how soil C is increasing in response to grazing exclusion.The results indicated that soils could potentially sequester up to 13.8 Mt C in 25 years if active sand dunes in the study area were to be protected by exclosures.This corresponds to 12.8% of the estimated carbon loss(107.53 Mt) that has been associated with desertification over the past century in the Horqin Sandy Land.Our results suggested that exclosures have the capacity to increase soil C sequestration;however,decades will be required for soil C to recover to historical grassland levels observed prior to desertification.     

Relative salinity tolerance of potato cultivars assessed byin vitro screening

One hundred and thirty European and North American potato cultivars were assayedin vitro for salinity (NaCl) tolerance. A modified single-node cutting bioassay was used in which cultivars were exposed to a range of NaCl levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM), in a Murashige and Skoog-based medium, for 1 month. Evaluations were performed twice for each cultivar at each salt level, using five single-node cuttings. Six vegetative growth parameters (shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights) were measured at the time of harvest and corrected for differences in cultivar vigor. These relative values were subjected to multivariate cluster analysis. The sum of the relative rankings at 40, 80, and 120 mM NaCl partitioned the cultivars into 8 units. The cultivars Amisk, BelRus, Bintje, Onaway, Sierra, and Tobique were in the most salinity tolerant unit and in the top cluster group for vigor with the exception of Tobique. These cultivars can be recommended for further study.     

Labdane-type diterpenes and flavones from Dodonaea viscosa

A new labdane diterpenoid, 2,18-dihydroxylabda-7,13(E)-dien-15-oic acid (1), together with two known labdane diterpenes (3, 4), a new flavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6,4'-trimethoxy-3'-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl)flavone (2) with three known flavones (5-7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Dodonaea viscosa. Their structures were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS) and by comparison with literature data. The anti-inflammatory activity of five compounds (1-5) was evaluated with a flow cytometry TNF-α secretion assay on human THP-1 cell line.     

Mycotic keratitis in a horse caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. The first reported case in Finland.

The first identified Finnish case of equine mycotic keratitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus is described. The clinical picture, the sampling method, the macro- and micromorphology of the causative fungus and the therapy applied are reported in detail. Therapy with natamycin (Pimafucin 2.5% eyedrops. Gist-Brocades) was successful.     

不同放牧强度对荒漠草原牧草微量元素和营养成分的影响

[目的]探明不同放牧强度下荒漠草原牧草和主要优势牧草的微量元素和营养成分含量的变化特征.[方法]在内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯市鄂托克旗荒漠草原不同放牧强度区域(适度放牧区、禁牧区和重度放牧区)进行连续3年野外调查和室内检测,综合分析不同放牧强度对荒漠草原牧草以及优势牧草微量元素和营养成分含量的影响.[结果]适度放牧区优势牧草...     

Cultivation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chondrus canaliculatus</Emphasis> (C. Agardh) Greville (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta) in controlled environments

Increased market demand for algal raw materials has stimulated research and development into new cultivation technologies, particularly in countries with economically important seaweed industries. Chondrus canaliculatus is a red alga endemic to the temperate Pacific coast of South America and produces a complex carrageenan. In Chile, this potential marine resource has been underutilized since the early 1990s, after it was replaced mainly by imports of Kappaphycus and Eucheum from Asia. The study of the cultivation of C. canaliculatus in outdoor tanks demonstrates the potential to produce large quantities of algal material due to the high productivity observed. The material produced may be important in Chile as feed for cultured algal herbivores such as Haliotis spp. Data were obtained on the key factors affecting the growth of this alga, including light, temperature, and nutrient concentrations. The results showed that, on a dry weight basis, productivity varied seasonally between 40 g m⁻³ wk⁻¹ in autumn and 200 g m⁻³ wk⁻¹ in spring, and the optimal stocking density in our experiments was 8 kg m⁻³. Effects of self-shading were among the most important limiting factors in the culture. Discussion is presented on the interactions between temperature, pH, salinity, enrichment with N and P, and water exchange on the maximal growth of C. canaliculatus in this culture.