vertical growth of thalassia testudinum seasonal and interannual variability

The vertical growth of shoots of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig in four meadows, along a range of exposure to waves, in the Mexican Caribbean was examined to elucidate its magnitude and its relationship to sediment dynamics. Average internodal length varied between 0.17 and 12.75 mm, and was greatest in the meadow which experienced the greatest burial by sand waves moved by Hurricane Gilbert (September 1988). Internodal length showed annual cycles, confirmed by the flower scars always preceding or coinciding with the annual minimum internodal length. These annual cycles on the shoot allowed estimation of annual leaf production, which varied, on average, between 14.2 and 19.3 leaves per shoot year-1. High vertical shoot growth was associated with long internodes and high leaf production rate, which increased with increasing vertical shoot growth to a maximum of approximately 25 leaves per shoot year-1, with vertical growth of about 30 mm year-1 or more. Average internodal length showed substantial interannual differences from perturbations derived from the passage of Hurricane Gilbert. The growth response of the plants surviving moderate burial and erosion after the hurricane involved enhanced vertical growth and increased leaf production, and reduced vertical growth, respectively, after 1988. The variability in shoot vertical growth of T testudinum can be separated into seasonal changes in plant growth, and long-term variability associated with episodic perturbations involving sediment redistribution by hurricanes.

五种红树植物光合产量模型及对环境因子的响应

以木榄（Bruguiera gymnorriza）、白骨壤（Avicennia marina）、桐花树（Aegiceras corniculata）、秋茄（Kandelia candel）和海漆（Excoecaria agallocha）为对象，以光合作用对环境因子的响应为主线，建立了从叶片水平到群体冠层水平上的光合产量模型，探讨了从器官、个体到群体的光合产量对环境因子响应的定量关系。 将Farquhar提出的单叶片光合作用生理生化模型与气孔导度B-B模型相结合，建立了光合作用－气孔导度耦合模型。模型模拟结果与实际测量结果具有较好的一致性。在温度为25.0℃，光合有效辐射为1000μmol•m-2s-1 的条件下，当外部CO2浓度倍增到720μmol•mol-1时，白骨壤、木榄、桐花树、秋茄、海漆的光合速率分别提高22.56%，17.13%，18.43%，18.63%和18.41%。在大气CO2浓度和光合有效辐射通量密度不变的条件下，光合作用速率对温度的响应呈单峰型曲线，即有一个最适温度，5种红树植物的最适温度值均为26.5℃左右。大气CO2浓度和温度固定不变（分别为350μmol•mol-1和25.0 ℃）时，光合作用对光合有效辐射的响应符合Michaelis-Menten反应曲线，模型在PAR<1800μmol•m-2s-1时模拟精度较高（P<0.01）。 在典型晴天条件下，5种红树植物的光合速率日变化都出现两个极大值（分别在11时和15时左右），中午前后光合速率较低，模型模拟光合速率日变化与实测数值日变化趋势一致。本模型能较好地模拟5种红树植物光合产量以及对环境因子的响应，模拟预测精度较高（P<0.01）。 以Ross和Nilson叶倾角分布模型为基础，分别建立了直接辐射和散射辐射在冠层内传输的子模型。冠层内的消光系数均有明显的日变化，且上午8时之前和下午16时之后随时间变化较大。在典型晴天条件下，单位土地面积日合成干物质总量（折合为CH2O）白骨壤为15.840g•m-2d-1，对于木榄、桐花树、秋茄、海漆其相应的值分别为 22.254 g•m-2d-1， 23.610 g•m-2d-1，24.525 g•m-2d-1和25.996 g•m-2d-1 。

Influence of grazing intensity on performance of perennial grass mixtures in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau

Effects of grazing intensity on leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn), specific leaf area (SLA), individual tiller density, sward leaf area index (LAI), harvested herbage DM, and species composition in grass mixtures (Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis, Elymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum and Elymus nutans + Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum) were studied in the alpine region of the Tibetan Plateau. Four grazing intensities (GI), expressed as feed utilisation rates (UR) by Tibetan lambs were imposed as follows: (1) no grazing; (2) 30% UR as light grazing; (3) 50% UR as medium grazing; and (4) 70% UR as high grazing. Leaf Pn rate and tiller density of grasses increased (P < 0.05), while sward LAI and harvested herbage DM declined (P < 0.05) with the increments of GI, although no effect of GI on SLA was observed. With increasing GI, Elymus nutans and Clinelymus nutans increased but Bromus inermis and Agropyron cristatum decreased in swards, LAI and DM contribution. Whether being grazed or not, Elymus nutans + Clinelymus nutans + Bromus inermis + Agropyron cristatum was the most productive sward among the grass mixtures. Thus, two well-performed grass species (Elymus nutans and Clinelymus nutans) and the most productive mixture of four species should be investigated further as the new feed resources in the alpine grazing system of the Tibetan Plateau. Light grazing intensity of 30% UR was recommended for these grass mixtures when swards, LAI, herbage DM harvested, and species compatibility were taken into account.

Strain Rate-Dependent Compressive Deformation Behavior of Nd-Based Bulk Metallic Glass

Compressive deformation behavior of the Nd60Fe20Co10Al10 bulk metallic glass was characterized over a wide strain rate range (6.0 x 10(-4) to 1.0x10(3) s(-1)) at room temperature. Fracture stress was found to increase and fracture strain decrease with increasing applied strain rate. Serrated flow and a large number of shear bands were observed at the quasi-static strain rate (6.0 x 10(-4)s(-1)). The results suggest that the appearance of a large number of shear bands is probably associated with flow serration observed during compression; and both shear banding and flow serration are a strain accommodation and stress relaxation process. At dynamic strain rates (1.0 x 10(3) s(-1)), the rate of shear band nucleation is not sufficient to accommodate the applied strain rate and thus causes an early fracture of the test sample. The fracture behavior of the Nd60Fe20Co10Al10 bulk metallic glass is sensitive to strain rate.

Periodic bubble emission and appearance of an ordered bubble sequence (train) during condensation in a single microchannel

Condensation of steam in a single microchannel, silicon test section was investigated visually at low flow rates. The microchannel was rectangular in cross-section with a depth of 30 pm, a width of 800 mu m and a length of 5.0 mm, covered with a Pyrex glass to allow for visualization of the bubble formation process. By varying the cooling rate during condensation of the saturated water vapor, it was possible to control the shape, size and frequency of the bubbles formed. At low cooling rates using only natural air convection from the ambient environment, the flow pattern in the microchannel consisted of a nearly stable elongated bubble attached upstream (near the inlet) that pinched off into a train of elliptical bubbles downstream of the elongated bubble. It was observed that these elliptical bubbles were emitted periodically from the tip of the elongated bubble at a high frequency, with smaller size than the channel width. The shape of the emitted bubbles underwent modifications shortly after their generation until finally becoming a stable vertical ellipse, maintaining its shape and size as it flowed downstream at a constant speed. These periodically emitted elliptical bubbles thus formed an ordered bubble sequence (train). At higher cooling rates using chilled water in a copper heat sink attached to the test section, the bubble formation frequency increased significantly while the bubble size decreased, all the while forming a perfect bubble train flowing downstream of the microchannel. The emitted bubbles in this case immediately formed into a circular shape without any further modification after their separation from the elongated bubble upstream. The present study suggests that a method for controlling the size and generation frequency of microbubbles could be so developed, which may be of interest for microfluidic applications. The breakup of the elongated bubble is caused by the large Weber number at the tip of the elongated bubble induced by the maximum vapor velocity at the centerline of the microchannel inside the elongated bubble and the smaller surface tension force of water at the tip of the elongated bubble.

生姜化感作用机理及其栽培模式研究

近年来，随着对作物重茬（连年种植）障碍原因的深入研究，植物的化感作用越来越受到国内外众多学者的重视。而作为重要调料和药用植物的生姜，其连作障碍也备受关注，系统地研究生姜化感作用将有助于理解和最终解决生姜连作障碍问题。本文通过研究生姜不同部位、不同浓度的水浸液对与其间作的两个物种（大豆和四季葱）种子的萌发及幼苗生长的影响，从而证明生姜化感作用的存在；并通过温室盆栽实验研究了生姜的自毒作用（即研究生姜不同部位、不同浓度的水浸液对其幼苗的形态、生理生化、光合作用、土壤酶、土壤微生物多样性及土壤养分的影响），从而揭示生姜退化和衰老的机制，并为生姜筛选出合适的间作物种提供科学依据，对生姜连作障碍提出科学的解决方法。主要研究结果如下： 1. 与对照相比，生姜所有部位（根茎、茎、叶）、所有浓度（10、20、40、 80 g l-1）的水浸液均抑制了大豆种子和葱籽的萌发率、幼苗生长、水分吸收和脂肪酶活性，并且其抑制程度随着水浸液浓度的增加而增强，其生姜各部位水浸液抑制效应的强弱顺序为茎＞叶＞根茎。这一结果表明生姜根茎、茎、叶含有能够抑制大豆种子和葱籽种子萌发和幼苗生长的水溶性化感物质。根茎是生姜的主要收获部位，而生姜的残株（主要是茎和叶）应该从大田中处理掉以减轻其抑制效应。生姜水浸液中主要化感成分包括：根茎水浸液中主要是丁香酸和伞花内脂；茎水浸液中主要是阿魏酸，且其含量最高为73.4 ug/g；叶水浸液中除了阿魏酸，其他六种物质均检测出来，但含量较高的主要有丁香酸、伞花内脂和香豆酸。 2. 生姜茎和叶不同浓度的水浸液均显著抑制了生姜幼苗的株高、每株叶片数和叶面积，其抑制程度随着水浸液浓度的增加而有所增强，而生姜幼苗每株分枝数差异不显著；同时生姜水浸液也极大程度地影响了生姜幼苗的生物量（包括地下生物量、地上生物量和总生物量，均为鲜重）。在同一浓度下，茎水浸液对生姜幼苗形态指标及生物量指标均显示出最强的抑制作用，叶水浸液次之，根茎水浸液最弱。与对照相比，低浓度的生姜根茎水浸液提高了生姜幼苗叶片内四种抗氧化酶（SOD、POD、CAT、APX）活性，高浓度的根茎水浸液抑制了四种抗氧化酶活性，而茎和叶水浸液均随着浓度的增加而抑制了四种抗氧化酶活性，三种水浸液均随着浓度的增加降低了生姜幼苗叶片内叶绿素的含量，而增加了生姜幼苗叶片的相对电导率和丙二醛含量。同时，三种水浸液均随着浓度的增加降低了生姜幼苗的光合参数（包括胞间CO2浓度、气孔导度、蒸腾速率及净光合速率）。 3. 三种生姜水浸液对所测六种土壤酶活性均产生了不同程度的影响，其中影响最大的是酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶，在10 g l-1 时就达到了显著水平，并且所有酶均有随着水浸液浓度增加而增大的趋势；相同部位的水浸液随着浓度的增加，细菌和真菌的数量呈增加趋势，而放线菌的数量呈减少趋势；三种生姜水浸液均随着浓度的增加降低了土壤中有机质的含量，加剧了土壤中硝态氮含量的积累，根茎水浸液对土壤有效磷、速效钾和铵态氮均显示出低浓度提高其含量而高浓度降低其含量的趋势，而茎和叶水浸液则随着浓度的增加均降低了其含量。 4. 与生姜单作相比，所有间作系统均在旺盛生长期和收获期不同程度地提高了土壤酶活性，同时也增加了土壤细菌数量及土壤微生物总数但不显著；所有间作系统在旺盛生长期和收获期均不同程度地影响了土壤真菌及放线菌数量（增加或减少），所有间作系统间的多样性指数差异不显著，除了旺盛生长期四种作物（生姜-大豆-四季葱-大蒜）的间作模式显著降低了多样性指数，其值仅为生姜单作的33.18%；生姜与大豆间作不仅提高了19.6%的生姜产量而且获得了较好的经济效益，并且，所有间作系统均显著抑制了生姜姜瘟病的发生。 5. 不同栽培模式不同程度地影响了收获期生姜的株高、分枝数、根茎产量及内在品质。其中处理2显著地促进了生姜的分枝（10.5%），同时处理2、3和4也促进了生姜的生长（株高分别增加了15.0%、11.4%和14.0%），并且这三个处理提高了生姜的产量；处理2和3能有效提高生姜块茎中维生素C（分别较单作生姜显著提高了3.29%和4.05%）、处理3显著提高了可溶性糖（8.2%）、姜辣素（4.6%）和蛋白质等有益物质的含量，降低硝酸盐有害物质的含量（处理2显著降低了14.0%），改善了姜块的外观和内在品质。并且，生姜与大豆间作具有最高的纯收入和产投比，分别较生姜单作提高了24.80%和8.8%。Recently, allelopathy has been more and more paid attentions by national and foreign scholars with profound research on reasons of crop replanted (continuous planted) obstacle. Ginger rhizome is valuable all over the world either as a spice or herbal medicine and ginger replanted obstacle is also paid attentions. Systematic research on ginger allelopathy will contribute to understanding and ultimate solving problem of ginger replanted obstacle. The effects of ginger aqueous extracts with different parts and concentrations on seed germination and early seedling growth of soybean and chive were studied in this article to testify that ginger existed allelopathy. Furthermore, ginger autotoxicity was also studied by pot experiment in greenhouse (namely research on effects of ginger aqueous extracts with different parts and concentrations on morphological indexes, physiological and biochemical indexes, photosynthesis, soil enzymes, soil microbial diversity and soil nutrients) to reveal mechanism of ginger degeneration and senescence, provide scientific basis for selecting appropriate intercropping species and put forward scientific resolvent for ginger replanted obstacle. The main results were as follows: 1. All aqueous extracts at all concentrations inhibited seed germination, seedling growth, water uptake and lipase activity of soybean and chive compared with the control, and the degree of inhibition increased with the incremental extracts concentration. The degree of toxicity of different ginger plant parts can be classified in order of decreasing inhibition as stem＞leaf＞rhizome. The results of this study suggested that rhizome, stem and leaf of ginger contained water soluble allelochemicals which could inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of soybean and chive. The rhizome is the main harvested part of ginger. The residue (mainly stems and leaves) of the ginger plant should be removed from the field so as to diminish its inhibitory effect. The main allelopathic components of three kind of aqueous extracts were as follows: Rhizome extract chiefly contained syringic acid and vmbelliferone and stem extract mainly contained frulic acid whose content was the highest (73.4 ug/g). The other six substances were detected except of frulic acid, but only contents of syringic acid, vmbelliferone and p-coumaric acid were higher. 2. Stem and leaf aqueous extracts of ginger with different concentrations significantly inhibited plant height, leaf numbers per plant and leaf area, and the degree of inhibition increased with the incremental extracts concentration. However, tiller number per plant of ginger seedling showed no significant difference. At the same time, ginger aqueous extracts also influenced biomass including under-ground biomass, above-ground biomass and total biomass (fresh weight) to a large extent. Under the same concentration, stem aqueous extract showed the mostly inhibitory effect on morphological indexes and biomass indexes of ginger seedling. Rhizome aqueous extract showed the leastly inhibitory effect and leaf aqueous extract was intervenient. Enhanced concentration of ginger aqueous extracts significantly reduced total chlorophyll content, accompanying with increases in memberane permeability (REL) and lipid peroxidation (MDA). Compared with the control, rhizome ginger aqueous extract of lower concentration (10 g l-1) increased the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; peroxidase, POD; catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX) of ginger leaf tissue and higher concentration inhibited the activities of four antioxidant enzymes. However, stem and leaf aqueous extract inhibited the activities of four antioxidant enzymes with increase in concentration. Meanwhile, enhanced concentration of ginger aqueous extracts significantly reduced photo-parameters of ginger seedling (including CO2 concentration, stoma conductivity, net photosynthesis rate and transpiration rate). 3. Rhizome, stem and leaf ginger aqueous extract showed different effect on six soil enzyme activities, and acid phosphatase and invertase showed significant effect when aqueous extract concentration got 10 g l-1. Furthermore, six soil enzyme activities increased with increase in aqueous extract concentration. Bcterial and fungi number tended to increase while antinomyces tented to decrease with the increase in aqueous extract concentration of identical part. Ginger aqueous extracts reduced soil organic matter content with increased concentration, accompanying with NO3-—N accumulation in soil. Rhizome aqueous extract showed the same tendency for available P, available K and NH4+—N, namely lower concentration increased their contents in soil and higher concentration reduced their contents. While stem and leaf aqueous extracts reduced their contents with the increamental concentration. 4. All intercropping systems increased soil enzyme activities to different extent both at VGS and at HS compared to solo ginger. All intercropping systems increased the colony numbers of soil bacteria and total of soil microbe but not significantly either at VGS or at HS. All intercropping systems increased the colony numbers of soil fungi and actinomytes to a different extent (increase or decrease) both at VGS and at HS. For DI, difference between all cultivation patterns and S-G was not significant either at VGS or at HS except that G-S-C-G whose value was only 33.18% of S-G at VGS significantly decreased. G-S not only increased ginger yield by 19.6% but also obtained better economic benefit. Furthermore, all intercropping systems significantly inhibited occurrence of bacterial wilt of ginger. 5. Different cultivated pattern influenced plant height, tiller numbers, rhizome yields and intrinsic quality of ginger. Treatment 2 significantly facilitated tiller occurring (10.5%). Treatment 2, 3 and 4 promoted ginger growth (plant height respectively increased 15.0%、11.4% and 14.0%) and enhanced rhizome yields. Treatment 2 and 3 effectively increased vitamin C content (significantly increased 3.29% and 4.05% compared to solo ginger). Treatment 3 significantly increased contents of beneficial substances such as soluble sugar (8.2%), gingerols (4.6%) and protein. Treatment 2 significantly decreased contents of deleterious substance namely nitrate (14.0%) and improved appearance and intrinsic quality of ginger rhizome. Furthermore, treatment 2 (ginger/soybean intercropping) could obtain better economic benefit and showed the highest net income and ratio of benefit and cost whose values respectively increased by 24.80% and 8.8% compared to solo ginger.

不同抗旱性青稞LEA2/LEA3蛋白基因的克隆与表达

作物的抗旱性是一个多基因控制的、极为复杂的数量性状，植物对干旱在分子水平上的差异反应通过植物组织生理和细胞生物学水平，最终表现为植物抗旱性的不同。在我国，旱地农业超过耕地面积的50%，但水资源短缺，因此培育和选育抗旱高产作物是发展节水型农业最有效的途径。 青藏高原气候恶劣、年均降雨量少，也是世界大麦初生起源中心，因而蕴藏了十分丰富的与抗逆相关的种质资源材料，从这些特殊的资源材料克隆抗旱基因，不仅对培育抗旱、优质、高产大麦新品种具有重要理论意义和经济价值，而且对整个作物抗旱基础和育种应用研究都具重大促进作用。 为了筛选青稞（裸大麦，Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare）抗旱性材料，本研究选用来自青藏高原不同地区的84份青稞为材料，在叶片失水率(water loss rate, WLR)检测分析的基础上，选择失水率值差异显著的12个品种，通过相对含水量（relative water content, RWC）和反复干旱法评价其抗旱性，并通过植株对干旱胁迫下的丙二醛（MDA）含量和游离脯氨酸（free-proline）含量变化，了解不同抗旱性材料的生理反应特性。选择抗旱性强弱不同的品种各两份进行LEA2蛋白基因(Dhn6基因)、LEA3蛋白基因(HVA1基因)的克隆，比较LEA蛋白结构差异与作物抗旱性之间的关系。同时，对抗旱性不同的青稞品种受到干旱时间不同的失水变化率（dynamics water loss rate, DWLR）进行了检测；对抗旱性不同的青稞对照材料进行2 h、4 h、8 h和12 h的快速干旱处理，通过SYBR Green实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术对Dhn6基因、Dhn11基因、Dhn13基因和HVA1基因在不同抗旱性材料受到不同干旱时间处理后的相对表达水平进行了检测。本研究对LEA蛋白基因在抗旱性不同的青稞材料中的干旱胁迫分子水平上的差异反应进行了研究，也对植物的抗旱机理进行了初步探讨。主要研究结果如下： 1. 青稞苗期进行离体叶片失水率测定结果表明，来自青藏高原的84份青稞材料的WLR在0.086~0.205gh-1g-1DW之间。选择WLR低于0.1gh-1g-1DW和WLR高于0.18gh-1g-1DW的品种各6份，并对苗期分别进行未干旱及干旱12小时的处理。相对含水量检测结果表明，低失水率青稞材料干旱后的具有更高的相对含水量，盆栽缺水试验也显示叶片失水率低的材料耐旱能力强于失水率高的材料。通过水合茚三酮法测定离体叶片游离脯氨酸的含量，结果表明，所有品种未干旱处理时，游离脯氨酸含量差异不大（17.10~25.74 µgg-1FW）；干旱12小时后，低失水率的品种游离脯氨酸含量明显增高（32.99~53.45µgg-1FW），高失水率品种的游离脯氨酸含量与干旱前变化不明显(P<0.05)。硫代巴比妥酸法测定离体叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量，结果显示，12份所选对照品种中，丙二醛的含量在0.97~2.74nmolg-1FW，干旱12小时后丙二醛的含量显著上升（1.46~4.74nmolg-1FW），高失水率的6个品种的丙二醛含量在未干旱和干旱处理时都明显高于低WLR品种。本研究结果表明青稞的低失水率、低丙二醛含量、高相对含水量和高脯氨酸含量具相关性（P<0.05）。综上研究，我们认为作物失水率的测定可以作为快速检测作物抗旱性的指标之一，因此，强抗旱品种喜玛拉10号(TR1)、品比14号(TR2)和弱抗旱品种冬青8号(TS1)、QB24 (TS2)被选作抗旱基因克隆和表达分析的研究材料。 2. 高等植物胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(late embryogenesis abundant proteins, LEA proteins)与植物耐脱水性密切相关，为了探讨青稞LEA蛋白结构差异性与植物抗旱性的关系，本研究以强抗旱品种（喜玛拉10号、品比14号）和弱抗旱品种（冬青8号、QB24）为材料，利用同源克隆法，通过RT-PCR，分别克隆了与抗旱性密切相关的Dhn6基因和HVA1基因。Dhn6基因序列分析结果表明，强抗旱品种品比14号和弱抗旱品种冬青8号Dhn6基因所克隆到的序列为1026bp，它们之间只有5个碱基的差异；喜玛拉10号和QB24克隆到的序列长963bp。在强弱不同的抗旱品种中有22个核苷酸易突变位点，相应的脱水素氨基酸序列推导结果表明，22个核苷酸突变位点中，仅有8个位点导致相应的氨基酸残基的改变，其余的位点系同义突变，另外，21个富含甘氨酸序列的缺失并没有联系作物抗旱性特征。推测这些同义突变位点的氨基酸残基对维持青稞DHN6蛋白的正常结构和功能起着非常重要的作用，也可能DHN6蛋白对青稞长期适应逆境胁迫和遗传进化的结果。对HVA1基因的序列分析结果表明，冬青8号、QB24、品比14号和喜玛拉10号的目的基因核苷酸序列全长分别为661bp、697bp、694bp和691bp，它们都包含1个完整的开放阅读框。相应的LEA3蛋白氨基酸序列结果表明，11个高度保守的氨基酸残基组成基元重复序列的拷贝数与青稞抗旱性之间没有必然关系，在强抗旱品种（喜玛拉10号、品比14号）中三个共同的氨基酸突变位点Gln32、Arg33和Ala195可能对抗旱蛋白的结构和功能有影响；另外，强抗旱青稞品种LEA3蛋白质中11-氨基酸保守基元序列拷贝数和极性氨基酸占蛋白的比例更高，推测LEA3蛋白中基元序列拷贝数和极性氨基酸占蛋白的比例对该蛋白的结构和功能影响更大。 3. LEA蛋白基因的表达水平的上调与植物的耐脱水性密切相关，我们对强抗旱性材料（喜玛拉10号、品比14号）和弱抗旱材料（冬青8号、QB24）进行干旱处理2 h、4 h、6 h、8 h和10 h的失水变化率进行测定，结果表明弱抗旱品种在2~4小时之间失水率变化最明显，而四个对照品种的失水率在8小时后和24小时的失水率值变化不大。进一步提取青稞苗期进行2 h、4 h、8 h和12 h的干旱处理后的总RNA，通过SYBR Green实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术对青稞脱水素基因(Dhn6、Dhn11和Dhn13)和LEA3蛋白基因(HVA1)的相对表达水平受干旱时间和作物抗旱性的影响进行了检测。研究发现，抗旱性不同的青稞品种随干旱处理的时间延长，Dhn6、Dhn11、Dhn13和HVA1基因的相对表达水平不同。 Dhn6基因的相对表达水平在强抗旱青稞品种干旱8小时后快速上升，但在弱抗旱青稞品种干旱处理12小时后检测到更高表达量；Dhn11基因在对照青稞抗旱品种的表达累积水平随干旱时间的延长持续下降；整个干旱过程中，Dhn13基因的相对表达水平在弱抗旱品种持续上升，在强抗旱品种中干旱处理8小时快速上升并达到最高，干旱12小时后降低。与脱水素基因相比较，强抗旱青稞品种在干旱2小时后HVA1基因的相对表达水平显著升高，相对表达量随干旱处理的时间持续上升，在干旱12小时后达到最高；与之相比较，在整个干旱过程中，弱抗旱品种的相对表达水平显著低于强抗旱品种，在干旱8小时之前弱抗旱品种的相对表达水平变化不明显；在干旱8~12小时后却显著上升。上述结果表明，不同的LEA蛋白在植物耐脱水过程中的干旱表达累积水平不同；干旱不是诱导高等植物Dhn11基因表达的主要因素；植物的抗旱性不同，不同LEA蛋白基因对干旱的反应有差异。推测某些LEA蛋白基因的干旱胁迫早期表达累积程度与植物的抗旱性直接相关；其中，Dhn11基因和Dhn12基因不同的表达模式可能与干旱调控表达顺式作用成分(dehydration responsive element, DRE)的有无或结构上的差异有关。 本研究结果认为，(1)失水率和相对含水量可作为植物抗旱性检测的指标之一；(2) DHN6同义突变位点的氨基酸残基对维持该蛋白的正常结构和功能起着重要作用；(3) 11-氨基酸保守基元序列拷贝数和极性氨基酸的比例对LEA3蛋白结构和功能有重要影响；(4)LEA蛋白表达随着干旱胁迫程度而增加，但Dhn11基因并不受干旱诱导表达；(5)作物的抗旱性不同，LEA蛋白对干旱的累积反应并不相同，干旱早期LEA蛋白的累积程度可能会影响植物的抗旱性。 Drought resistance was a complex trait which involved multiple physiological and biochemical mechanisms and regulation of numerous genes. Because its complex traits, it is difficult to understand the mechanisms of drought resistance in plants. Plants respond to water stress through multiple physiological mechanisms at the cellular, tissue, and whole-plant levels. Tibetan hulless barley, a pure line, is a selfing annual plant that has predominantly penetrated into the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and remains stable populations there. The wide ecological range of Tibetan hulless barley differs in water availability, temperature, soil type and vegetation, which makes it possess a high potential of adaptive diversity to abiotic stresses. This adaptive genetic diversity indicates that the potential of Tibetan hulless barley serves as a good source for drought resistance alleles for breeding purposes. 12 contrasting drought-tolerant genotypes were selected to measure relative water content (RWC), maldondialdehyde (MDA) and proline content, based on values of water loss rate (WLR) and repeated drought methods from Tibetan populations of cultivated hulless barley. As a result of the screening, sensitive and tolerant genotypes were identified to clarify relationships between characteristics of LEA2/LEA3 genes sequences and expression and drought-tolerant genotypes, associated with resistance to water deficit. In addition, dynamics water loss rate (DWLR) was measured to observe the changes on diffrential drought-tolerant genotypes. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was applied to detect relative expression levels of Dhn6, Dhn11, Dhn13 and HVA1 genes in sensitive and tolerant genotypes with 2 h, 4 h, 8h and 12 h of dehydration. In the present study, differential sequences and expression of LEA2/LEA3 genes were explored in Tibetan hulless barley, associated with phenotypically diverse drought-tolerant genotypes. 1. The assessments of WLR and RWC were considered as an alternative measure of plant water statues reflecting the metabolic activity in plants, and the parameters of MDA and proline contents were usually consistent with the resistance to water stress. The values of detached leaf WLR of the tested genotypes were highly variable among 84 genotypes, ranging from 0.086 to 0.205 g/h.g DW. The 12 most contrasting genotypes (6 genotypes with the lowest values of WLR and 6 genotypes with the highest values of WLR) were further validated by measuring RWC, MDA and free-proline contents, which were well watered and dehydrated for 12 h. Results of RWC indicated that the values of 12 contrasting genotypes RWC ranged from 89.94% to 93.38% under condition of well water, without significant differences, but 6 genotypes with lower WLR had higher RWC suffered from 12 h dehydration. The results indicated that lower MDA contents, lower scores of WLR and higher proline contents were associated with drought-tolerant genotypes in hulless barley. Remarkably, proline amounts were increased more notable in 6 tolerant genotypes than 6 sensitive genotypes after excised leaves were dehydrated for 12 h, with control to slight changes under condition of well water. Results of MDA contents showed that six 6 tolerant genotypes had lower MDA contents than the 6 sensitive genotypes under both stressed and non-stressed conditions. As a result of that screening, drought- resistant genotypes (Ximala 10 and Pinbi 14) and drought-sensitive genotypes (Dongqing 8 and QB 24) were chosen for comparing the differential characteristics of LEA2/LEA3 genes and their expression analysis. It was conclusion that measurements of WLR could be considered an alternative index as screening of drought-tolerant genotypes in crops. 2. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins were thought to protect against water stress in plants. To explore the relationships between configuration of LEA proteins and phenotypically diverse drought-tolerant genotypes, sequences of LEA genes and their deduced proteins were compared in Tibetan hulless barley. Results of comparing Dhn6 gene in Ximala 10 and QB24 indicated that absence of 63bp was found, except that only 5 mutant nucleotides were found. While 22 mutant sites were taken place in Dhn6 gene between sensitive and tolerant lines, 14 synonymous mutation sites appeared in the contrasting genotypes. The additional/absent polypeptide of 21 polar amino acid residues was not consistent with phenotypically drought-tolerant genotypes in hulless barley. It was deduced that synonymous mutation sites would play important roles in holding out right configurations and functions on DHN6 protein. The sequencing analysis results indicated that each cloned HVA1 gene from four selected genotypes contained an entire open reading frame. The whole sequence of HVA1 gene from Dongqing 8, QB24, Pinbi 14 and Ximala 10 was respectively 661bp, 697bp, 694bp and 691bp. Results of DNA sequence analyses showed that the differences in nucleotides of HVA1 gene in sensitive genotypes were not consistent with that of tolerant genotypes, except for absence of 33 nucleotides from +154 to +186 (numbering from ATG) in QB24. Database searches using deduced amino acid sequences showed a high homology in LEA3 proteins in the selected genotypes. Multiple sequence alignments revealed that LEA3 protein from Dongqing 8 was composed of 8 repeats of an 11 amino acid motif, less the fourth motif than Pinbi 14, Ximala 10 and QB24. Consistent mutant amino acid residues appeared in contrasting genotypes by aligning and comparing the coding sequence region, including Gln32, Arg33 and Ala195 in tolerant genotypes as compared to Asp32, Glu33 and Thr195 (Thr184 in Dongqing 8) in sensitive lines. It was concluded that consistent appearance of Gln32, Arg33 and Ala195 would contributed to functions of LEA3 protein in crops, as well as higher proportion of 11-amino-repeating motifs and polar amino acid residues. 3. Most of the LEA genes are up-regulated by dehydration, salinity, or low temperature, are also induced by application of exogenous ABA, which increases in concentration in plants under various stress conditions and acts as a mobile stress signal. Higher levels of proteins of LEA group 3 accumulated was correlated well with high level of desiccation tolerance in severely dehydrated plant seedlings. Dehydrins (DHNs), members of LEA2 protein, are an immunologically distinct protein family, and Dhn genes expression is associated with plant response to dehydration. Dynamic water loss rate was measured between sensitive genotypes and tolerant genotypes after they were dehydrated for 2 h, 4 h, 6h and 8 h. Detailed measurements of WLR at the early stage of dehydration (2, 4, 6, and 8 h) showed that WLR was stabilizing after 8 h, and there were no significant changes between these values and WLR after 24 h. Drought stress was applied to 10-day-old seedlings by draining the solution from the container for defined dehydration periods. Leaf tissues of the selected genotypes were harvested from control plants (time 0); and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 h of dehydration. Differential expression trends of Dhn6, Dhn11, Dhn13 and HVA1 genes were detected in phenotypically diverse drought-tolerant hulless barleys, related to different time of dehydration. Results of quantitative real-time PCR indicated that relative level of HVA1 expression was always higher in tolerant genotypes, rapidly increasing at the earlier stages (after 2-4 h of dehydration). However, HVA1 expressions of sensitive genotypes had a fast increase from 8 h to 12 h of stress. Significant differences in expression trends of dehydrin genes between tolerant genotypes and sensitive lines were detected, mainly in Dhn6 and Dhn13 gene, depending on the duration of the dehydration stress. The relative expression levels of Dhn6 gene were significantly higher in tolerant genotypes after 8 h dehydration, by control with notable higher expression levels after 12 h water stress in sensitive ones. The relative expression levels of Dhn13 gene tended to ascend during exposure to dehydration in drought-sensitive genotypes. However, fluctuate trends of Dhn13 expression level were detected in drought-resistant lines, including in lower expression levels of 12 h dehydration as compared to 8 h water stress. It was conclusion that (1) diverse LEA proteins would play variable roles in resisting water stress in plants; (2) expression of Dhn11 gene was not induced by dehydrated signals because of the trends of expression descended in contrasting genotypes suffered from water deficit and (3) variable accumulations on LEA proteins would be appear in diverse drought-tolerant genotypes during dehydrations. It is deduced that higher accumulations of Dhn6 and Dhn13 expression in 8 h dehydration are related to diverse drought-tolerant lines in crops. The present results indicated that different dehydrin genes would play variable functional roles in resisting water stress when plants were suffered from water deficit. The authors suggest physiologically different reactions between resistant and sensitive genotypes may be the results of differential expression of drought-resistant genes and related signal genes in plants. In addition, contrarily induced expression of Dhn11 and Dhn12 was related to dehydration responsive element (DRE) in barleys. The present study indicated that (1) measurements of WLR and RWC could be considered as one index of drought-tolerant screenings; (2) synonymous mutation sites would play important roles in holding out right configurations and functions on DHN6 protein, (3) higher proportion of 11-amino-repeating motifs and polar amino acid residues would contribute to functions on LEA3 protein, (4) the longer drought, the more accumulation on LEA proteins, except for Dhn11 gene in crops and (5) differential responses on expression of LEA protein genes would result in physiological traits of drought tolerance in plants.

Flower color chimera and abnormal leaf mutants induced by C-12(6+) heavy ions in Salvia splendens Ker-Gawl.

The effect of C-12(6+) heavy ions bombardment on mutagenesis in Salvia splendens Ker-Gawl. was studied. Dose-response studies indicated that there was a peak of malformation frequency of S. splendens at 200 Gy. Abnormal leaf mutants of the bileaf, trileaf and tetraleaf conglutination were selected. Meanwhile, a bicolor flower chimera with dark red and fresh red flower was isolated in M1 generation of S. splendens. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis demonstrated that DNA variations existed among the wild-type, fresh and dark red flower shoots of the chimera. The dark red flower shoots of the chimera were conserved and cultivated at a large-scale through micropropagation. MS supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BA and 0.3 mg/L NAA was the optimal medium in which the maximum proliferation ratio (5.2-fold) and rooting rate (88%) were achieved after 6 weeks. Our findings provide an important method to improve the ornamental quality of S. splendens.

Seed germination and seedling morphology of the seagrass, Halophila engelmannii (Hydrocharitaceae)

Seeds of Halophila engelmannii Aschers., that were collected in Redfish Bay, Texas, at weekly intervals from mid-May to mid-June 1986, began to germinate 3–4 weeks after collection. Most of the collections subsequently showed an increase in the rate of germination under increased light intensity and all had a stoppage of germination after transfer to darkness, indicating a light requirement to break endogenous seed dormancy. During the 5 weeks after seeds germinated, seedlings in soil culture produced a rosette of six leaves before the appearance of a rhizome bud in the axil of the third leaf. The first node of the rhizome produced a root and an upright shoot with a pseudowhorl of three to five leaves.

Leaf orientation, incident sunlight, and photosynthesis in the alpine species Suassurea superba and Gentiana straminea on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The extremely high level of solar radiation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may induce photoinhibition and thus limit leaf carbon gain. To assess the effect of high light, we examined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence for two species differing in light interception: the prostrate Saussurea superba and the erect-leaved Gentiana straminea. In controlled conditions with favorable water and temperature, neither species showed apparent photoinhibition in gas exchange measurements. In natural environment, however, their photosynthetic rate decreased remarkably at high light. Photosynthesis depression was aggravated under high leaf temperature or soil water stress. Relative stomatal limitation was much higher in S. superba than in G. straminea and it remarkably increased in the later species at midday when soil was dry. F-v/F-m as an indicator for photoinhibition was generally higher in S. superba than in the other species. F-v/F-m decreased significantly under high light at midday in both species, even when soil moisture was high. F-0 linearly elevated with the increment of leaf temperature in G. straminea, but remained almost constant in S. superba. Electron transport rate (ETR) increased with photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) in S. superba, but declined when PPFD was high than about 1000 mumol m(-2) s(-1) in G. straminea. Compared to favorable environment, the estimated daily leaf carbon gain at PPFD above 800 mumol m(-2) s(-1) was reduced by 32% in S. superba and by 17% in G. straminea when soil was moist, and by 43% and 53%, respectively, when soil was dry. Our results suggest that the high radiation induces photoinhibition and significantly limits photosynthetic carbon gain, and the limitation may further increase at higher temperature and in dry soil.

Deformation, Phase Transformation and Recrystallization in the Shear Bands Induced by High-Strain Rate Loading in Titanium and its Alloys

alpha-titanium and its alloys with a dual-phase structure (alpha+beta) were deformed dynamically under strain rate of about 10(4) s(-1). The formation and microstructural evolution of the localized shear bands were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that both the strain and strain rate should be considered simultaneously as the mechanical conditions for shear band formation, and twinning is an important mode of deformation. Both experimental and calculation show that the materials within the bands underwent a superhigh strain rate (9 x 10(5) s(-1)) deformation, which is two magnitudes of that of average strain rate required for shear band formation; the dislocations in the bands can be constricted and developed into cell structures; the phase transformation from alpha to alpha(2) within the bands was observed, and the transformation products (alpha(2)) had a certain crystallographic orientation relationship with their parent; the equiaxed grains with an average size of 10 mu m in diameter observed within the bands are proposed to be the results of recrystallization.

Monte-Carlo simulation of surface crack growth rate for offshore structural steel E36-Z35

The Monte- Carlo method is used to simulate the surface fatigue crack growth rate for offshore structural steel E36-Z35, and to determine the distributions and relevance of the parameters in the Paris equation. By this method, the time and cost of fatigue crack propagation testing can be reduced. The application of the method is demonstrated by use of four sets of fatigue crack propagation data for offshore structural steel E36-Z35. A comparison of the test data with the theoretical prediction for surface crack growth rate shows the application of the simulation method to the fatigue crack propagation tests is successful.

Characteristic Dimensionless Numbers in Multi-Scale and Rate-Dependent Processes

For this sake, the macroscopic equations of mechanics and the kinetic equations of the microstructural transformations should form a unified set that be solved simultaneously. As a case study of coupling length and time scales, the trans-scale formulation

Kramers Escape Rate in Nonlinear Diffusive Media

In this paper, we study nonlinear Kramers problem by investigating overdamped systems ruled by the one-dimensional nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation. We obtain an analytic expression for the Kramers escape rate under quasistationary conditions by employing