Effect of light period on egg-discharge of gametophyte clones of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyta)

A sporeling culture method using gametophyte clones developed in the early 1990s led to egg discharge occurring in the dark 5 min after the start of the dark period under growth under a 11:13 L-D photoperiod. The course of egg discharge could be disturbed by light, with irradiance as low as 5-6 mu mol photon m(-2) s(-1) causing 75-80% of the discharged eggs to detach from the oogonia and consequently to die within several hours. In order to enhance outgrowth rate of young sporophytes, a study was conducted to test the effect of controlling darkness in the period 2-3 h after dusk. When the slides were transferred from the standard 11:13 L-D regime to continuous light, eggs were discharged 5 min after the end of the light phase and peaked 5-l5 min later on first day after transfer, indicating that the female gametes "remember" the light-dark regime. This suggests the existence of an endogenous circadian rhythm. During the second and third days, very few eggs were discharged throughout the 11 h of the normal light phase of the L-D regime, indicating the inhibitory effect of continuous light and that the rhtyhm is easily damped by light.

Effect of imitated global warming on Delta C-13 values in seven plant species growing in Tibet alpine meadows

Open-top chambers were used to estimate the possible effects of global warming on delta C-13 of seven plant species grown in alpine meadow ecosystem. The delta C-13 values of plant species were lower after long-term growth in open-top chambers. In the course of experiment, temperature significantly increased inside the chambers by 4 degrees C. Plant species grown at a lower elevation above sea level had higher delta C-13 values as compared to those grown at a higher elevation. This was in accordance with the effect of open-top chamber on delta C-13 values in plants. Greater availability of CO2 and lower water vapor as indicated by an increase in discrimination against (CO2)-C-13, probably result in more negative delta C-13 values of plants because higher stomatal conductance increases availability of CO2 and causes greater discrimination against (CO2)-C-13. The plant species studied could be the indicator species for testing global warming by the change in carbon isotope ratios at the two growth temperatures.

Three phases of dark-recovery course from photoinhibition resolved by the chlorophyll fluorescence analysis in soybean leaves under field conditions

The chlorophyll fluorescence in soybean leaves was observed by a portable fluorometer CF-1000 under field conditions. On clear days, F-0 increased while F, and F-v/F-m decreased gradually in the morning. At midday F-O reached its maximum while F-v and F-v/F-m reached their minimum. The reverse changes occurred in the afternoon. At dusk these parameters could return to levels near those at dawn. Following exposure to a strong sunlight for more than 3 h, the dark-recovery process displayed three phases: (1) slow increases in F-0, F-v and F-v/F-m within the first hour; (2) a faster decrease in F-0 and faster increases in F-v and F-v/F-m within subsequent two hours; (3) a slow decrease in F-0 and slow increases in F-v and F-v/F-m within the fourth hour. In comparison with darkness, weak irradiance had no stimulating effect on the recovery from photoinhibition. Hence the photoinhibition in soybean leaves is mainly the reflection of reversible inactivation of some photosystem 2 reaction centres, but not the result of D1 protein loss.

Kinetic study of the accelerating effect of coal-burning additives on the combustion of graphite

The catalytic and accelerating effects of three coal-burning additives (CBA) on the burning of graphite were studied with the help of thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The kinetic study on the catalytic oxidation of the graphite doped with CBA was carried out and the results were presented. The results show that the CBA can change the carbon oxidation/combustion course by catalytic action and change the activation energy, thus improving the combustion efficiency.