Control of cocklebur seed germination by nitrogenous compounds : Nitrite, nitrate, hydroxylamine, thiourea, azide and cyanide

Germination of non-dormant upper cocklebur (Xanthium pinsylvanicum Wallr.) seeds was stimulated by not only CS(NH2)2 but also NH2OH, KCN and NaN3. This stimulation was not via the enhancement of aerobic C2H4 production. NH2OH, KCN and NaN3 in certain concentrations promoted the initial growth of axial and/or cotyledonary parts, but the degree of growth promotion by NH2OH, NaN3 and KCN was slight compared with that by CS(NH2)2. As in the case of CS(NH2)2, however, the germinationstimulating effect of NH2OH disappeared rapidly as the preceding imbibition period was prolonged. In contrast, KCN and NaN3 were still effective in stimulating the germination of aged seeds maintained on a water substratum, as previously seen with anaerobiosis. Anaerobic induction was enhanced not only by NaN3 and KCN but also by NH2OH, KNO3, KNO2 CO(NH2)2 and CS(NH2)2 applied during the anaerobic treatment, but without causing an increase in anaerobic production of C2H4. Furthermore, KCN and NaN3, given prior to the anaerobic treatment acted additively with anaerobic induction. The germination-stimulating actions of nitrogenous compounds are discussed in comparison with those of C2H4 and anaerobiosis.

神农架巴山冷杉种子雨及种实特性研究

巴山冷杉主要分布于秦巴山地，是湖北神农架地区暗针叶林的建群种，构成了当地的优势群落，对神农架地区的植被景观具有决定意义。研究巴山冷杉的结实特性，种子雨时空格局，种子萌发能力和活力劣变过程，有利于进一步认识和分析这一物种的生活史特征，群落组成结构和更新动态。对这一重要物种的合理保护和有效利用具有促进作用。 在湖北神农架自然保护区选择巴山冷杉－箭竹、巴山冷杉－茵芋和巴山冷杉－陕甘花楸群落设置样地，通过布设种子收集器结合室内实验分析，对巴山冷杉种子雨的时空格局进行研究。待巴山冷杉球果成熟时，人工采集球果和种子，测量和比较巴山冷杉的结实特征，利用发芽实验研究巴山冷杉的萌发特性，并通过人工加速老化实验探讨巴山冷杉种子的劣变过程。 巴山冷杉种子雨始于10月初，持续超过2个月，不同类型的巴山冷杉种群表现出不同的种子雨时空格局。巴山冷杉－箭竹群落中巴山冷杉种子雨平均强度167.93±111.14粒/m2，有活力种子比例占22.31%，落种高峰期集中于10月27日到11月2日间，种子雨在种群中呈现聚集分布。巴山冷杉－茵芋群落种子雨强度在三个样地中最小，只有16.41±14.41粒/m2，有活力种子仅占3.05%。巴山冷杉－陕甘花楸群落，种子雨落种高峰为10月15日至10月21日，林冠内种子雨数量占到了收集总数的87.95%。扩散的种子数量与离开中心母树的距离间的关系近似正态分布。 对巴山冷杉的结实特性的分析结果表明，巴山冷杉球果近圆柱形，球果平均长5.37±0.75cm;平均宽3.01±0.32cm;重量介于5.9g～41.3g。巴山冷杉种子长1.08～8.68mm，种子宽1.16～6.42mm，种子厚0.66～3.48mm，种子千粒重7.30g。球果单果出种量在不同种群的频数分布格局不同，巴山冷杉球果和种子的各项指标在种群间和种群内存在显著差异。球果大小、出种量及单粒种子的质量间存在着极显著的正相关关系。此外，种子生活力水平在母树间差异较大，不同母树的种子发芽率和发芽势不等且随时间的萌发进程也不相同，相同种源的巴山冷杉种子在不同的培养条件下萌发能力不同，室温条件下具有最高的发芽率但在25℃，8h光照，恒温培养时的萌发最为整齐。 高温高湿条件能够加速巴山冷杉种子的老化进程，使巴山冷杉种子的含水量发生变化，种子的活力水平随着老化时间的延长而降低，40℃，100% 相对湿度处理6天后种子基本丧失活力。

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two unisexual artificial polyploid clones constructed by genome addition of common carp (Cyprinus carp) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

A polyploid hybrid fish with natural gynogenesis can prevent segregation and maintain their hybrid vigor in their progenies. Supposing the reproduction mode of induced polyploid fish being natural gynogenesis, allopolyploid hybrid between common carp and crucian carp into allopolyploid was performed. The purpose of this paper is to describe a lineage from sexual diploid carp transforming into allotriploid and allotetraploid unisexual clones by genome addition. The diploid hybrid between common carp and crucian carp reproduces an unreduced nucleus consisting of two parental genomes. This unreduced female pronucleus will fuse with male pronucleus and form allotriploid zygote after penetration of related species sperms. Allotriploid embryos grow normally, and part of female allotriploid can produce unreduced mature ova with three genomes. Mature ova of most allotriploid females are provided with natural gynogenetic trait and their nuclei do not fuse with any entrance sperm. All female offspring are produced by gynogenesis of allotriploid egg under activation of penetrating sperms. These offspring maintain morphological traits of their allotriploid maternal and form an allotetraploid unisexual clone by gynogenetic reproduction mode. However, female nuclei of rare allotriploid female can fuse with penetrating male pronuclei and result in the appearance of allotetraploid individuals by means of genome addition. All allotetraploid females can reproduce unreduced mature eggs containing four genomes. Therefore, mature eggs of allotetraploid maintain gynogenetic trait and allotetraploid unisexual clone is produced under activation of related species sperms.

Loess magnetic properties in the Ili Basin and their correlation with the Chinese Loess Plateau

     Over the past two decades, magnetoclimatological studies of loess-paleosol sequences in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) have made outstanding achievements, which greatly promote the understanding of East Asian paleomonsoon evolution, inland aridification of Asia, and past global climate changes. Loess magnetic properties of the CLP have been well studied. In contrast, loess magnetic properties from outside the CLP in China have not been fully understood. We have little knowledge about the magnetic properties of loess in the Ili Basin, an intermontane depression of the Tianshan (or Tien Shan) Mountains. Here, we present the results of rock magnetic measurements of the Ili loess including mass magnetic susceptibility (χ) and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), high/low temperature dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and hysteresis, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) for mineral analysis. Based on the comparison with loess-paleosol sequences in the CLP (hereafter referred to as the Chinese loess), we discuss the possible magnetic susceptibility enhancement mechanism of the Ili loess. The results show that 1) the total magnetic mineral concentration of the Ili loess is far lower than that of the Chinese loess, though they have similar magnetic mineral compositions. The ferrimagnetic minerals in the Ili loess are magnetite and maghemite, and the antiferromagnetic mineral is hematite; XRD analysis also identifies the presence of ilmenite. The ratio of maghemite is lower in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess, but the ratios of magnetite and hematite are higher in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess. 2) The granularity of magnetic minerals in the Ili loess, dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) grains, is generally much coarser than that of the Chinese loess. Ultrafine pedogenically-produced magnetic grains have a very limited contribution to the susceptibility enhancement. Rather, PSD and MD particles of magnetite and maghemite are the main contributors to the enhancement of susceptibility in the Ili loess. 3) The susceptibility enhancement mechanism for the Ili loess is complicated and superimposes both a wind velocity/vigor model (Alaskan or Siberian model) and the in situ ultrafine grain pedogenic model; the former might play an important role in the Ili loess. 4) Magnetic susceptibility enhancements of the Ili loess are related not only to the eolian input of the source area, but also to the local climate, landform, and geological background. Therefore, great care should be taken when reconstructing paleoclimate using magnetic susceptibility data from the Ili loess.