Repeated sequences as genetic markers in pooled tissue samples

We show, using the PDR1 element of pea, that dispersed repeated sequences of moderate copy number can be used simply and efficiently to generate markers linked to a trait of interest. Inspection of hybridization patterns of repeated sequences to DNA mixtures of pooled genotypes is a sensitive way of detecting such markers. The large number of bands in tracks of digests of these mixtures allows the simultaneous sampling of loci at many places in the genome, and the many unlinked loci serve as internal controls. It is also shown that intensity ratios calculated from these band differences can be used to give a rough estimate of linkage distance.

Genetic aspects of the organization of legumin genes in pea

We have compared physical and genetic maps of the region around the legJ gene in pea. In this vicinity there are four B-type legumin genes, arranged as two close pairs. The detection of a recombination event within this gene cluster allows the orientation of this group of genes within the surrounding linkage group to be determined. The relationship between physical and genetic distances in this region is discussed, as are the implications of this for relating physical and genetic maps elsewhere in the pea genome.

Mendel, 150 years on

Mendel's paper 'Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden' is the best known in a series of studies published in the late 18th and 19th centuries that built our understanding of the mechanism of inheritance. Mendel investigated the segregation of seven gene characters of pea (Pisum sativum), of which four have been identified. Here, we review what is known about the molecular nature of these genes, which encode enzymes (R and Le), a biochemical regulator (I) and a transcription factor (A). The mutations are: a transposon insertion (r), an amino acid insertion (i), a splice variant (a) and a missense mutation (le-1). The nature of the three remaining uncharacterized characters (green versus yellow pods, inflated versus constricted pods, and axial versus terminal flowers) is discussed.

Soil N2O emissions under N2-fixing legumes and N-fertilised canola: A reappraisal of emissions factor calculations

Introducing nitrogen (N)-fixing legumes into cereal-based crop rotations reduces synthetic fertiliser-N use and may mitigate soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). Current IPCC calculations assume 100% of legume biomass N as the anthropogenic N input and use 1% of this as an emission factor (EF)—the percentage of input N emitted as N2O. However, legumes also utilise soil inorganic N, so legume-fixed N is typically less than 100% of legume biomass N. In two field experiments, we measured soil N2O emissions from a black Vertosol in sub-tropical Australia for 12 months after sowing of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), and field pea (Pisum sativum L.). Cumulative N2O emissions from N-fertilised canola (624 g N2O-N ha−1) greatly exceeded those from chickpea (127 g N2O-N ha−1) in Experiment 1. Similarly, N2O emitted from canola (385 g N2O-N ha−1) in Experiment 2 was significantly greater than chickpea (166 g N2O-N ha−1), faba bean (166 g N2O-N ha−1) or field pea (135 g N2O-N ha−1). Highest losses from canola were recorded during the growing season, whereas 75% of the annual N2O losses from the legumes occurred post-harvest. Legume N2-fixation provided 37–43% (chickpea), 54% (field pea) and 64% (faba bean) of total plant biomass N. Using only fixed-N inputs, we calculated EFs for chickpea (0.13–0.31%), field pea (0.18%) and faba bean (0.04%) that were significantly less than N-fertilised canola (0.48–0.78%) (P < 0.05), suggesting legume-fixed N is a less emissive form of N input to the soil than fertiliser N. Inputs of legume-fixed N should be more accurately quantified to properly gauge the potential for legumes to mitigate soil N2O emissions. EF’s from legume crops need to be revised and should include a factor for the proportion of the legume’s N derived from the atmosphere.

Evaluating legume species as alternative trap crops to chickpea for management of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in central Queensland cotton cropping systems

Mounting levels of insecticide resistance within Australian Helicoverpa spp. populations have resulted in the adoption of non-chemical IPM control practices such as trap cropping with chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.). However, a new leaf blight disease affecting chickpea in Australia has the potential to limit its use as a trap crop. Therefore this paper evaluates the potential of a variety of winter-active legume crops for use as an alternative spring trap crop to chickpea as part of an effort to improve the area-wide management strategy for Helicoverpa spp. in central Queensland’s cotton production region. The densities of Helicoverpa eggs and larvae were compared over three seasons on replicated plantings of chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.), field pea Pisum sativum (L), vetch, Vicia sativa (L.) and faba bean, Vicia faba (L.). Of these treatments, field pea was found to harbour the highest densities of eggs. A partial life table study of the fate of eggs oviposited on field pea and chickpea suggested that large proportions of the eggs laid on field pea suffered mortality due to dislodgment from the plants after oviposition. Plantings of field pea as a replacement trap crop for chickpea under commercial conditions confirmed the high level of attractiveness of this crop to ovipositing moths. The use of field pea as a trap crop as part of an areawide management programme for Helicoverpa spp. is discussed.

Weed growth and crop yield loss in wheat as influenced by row spacing and weed emergence times

Reducing crop row spacing and delaying time of weed emergence may provide crops a competitive edge over weeds. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of crop row spacing (11, 15, and 23-cm) and weed emergence time (0, 20, 35, 45, 55, and 60 days after wheat emergence; DAWE) on Galium aparine and Lepidium sativum growth and wheat yield losses. Season-long weed-free and crop-free treatments were also established to compare wheat yield and weed growth, respectively. Row spacing and weed emergence time significantly affected the growth of both weed species and wheat grain yields. For both weed species, the maximum plant height, shoot biomass, and seed production were observed in the crop-free plots, and delayed emergence decreased these variables. In weed-crop competition plots, maximum weed growth was observed when weeds emerged simultaneously with the crop in rows spaced 23-cm apart. Less growth of both weed species was observed in narrow row spacing (11-cm) of wheat as compared with wider rows (15 and 23-cm). These weed species produced less than 5 seeds plant-1 in 11-cm wheat rows when they emerged at 60 DAWE. Presence of weeds in the crop especially at early stages was devastating for wheat yields. Therefore, maximum grain yield (4.91tha-1) was recorded in the weed-free treatment at 11-cm row spacing. Delay in time of weed emergence and narrow row spacing reduced weed growth and seed production and enhanced wheat grain yield, suggesting that these strategies could contribute to weed management in wheat.

First report of Phoma multirostrata in Australia

Dark grey leaf lesions were observed on coriander (Coriandrum sativum) commercially grown at Wanneroo, Western Australia during November 2013. A species of Phoma was consistently isolated from leaf lesions. The pathogen was identified as Phoma multirostrata using morphological characteristics, DNA sequencing comparisons and pathogenicity testing. This is the first report of Phoma multirostrata causing leaf spot on coriander in Australia.

Benzyl isothiocyanate: maximising production in papaya tissue extracts

Abstract: Although mainly grown for its sweet flavoured fruit, papaya (Carica papaya) has also been used for pharmacological purposes for many years. The reasons for use are varied with one of the best known being its anti-fungal action. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is the constituent most often implicated in this activity. Isothiocyanates are formed when the enzyme myrosinase catalyses the hydrolysis of the non-bioactive glucosinolates. This occurs when cellular contents come into contact through chewing, cutting or during extraction processes in the laboratory. While this is common in Brassica vegetables, the glucosinolate-myrosinase system is rare in fruit, papaya being a notable exception. It contains benzyl glucosinolate (BG), the glucosinolate precursor of BITC, in significant quantities. Parameters that determine the amount of BITC formed are duration of hydrolysis, presence/absence of nitrile-specifier proteins and BG content of different cultivars and tissues. We experimented with differing BITC extraction solvents, with the intention of developing a low cost, natural anti-fungal extract based on under-utilised papaya tissues. The findings suggest that papaya seeds, particularly from quarter-ripe fruit, have the potential to produce the highest levels of BITC necessary. Furthermore, they compare well with the nitrile-specifier protein-containing garden cress seeds (Lepidium sativum). To utilise the papaya seeds as a BITC source, an organic solvent such as ethanol is required to extract the largely water-insoluble BITC from the hydrolysed papaya seed mixture.

Studies on the biosynthesis of β-n-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin

The biosynthesis of β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), HOOC· CO·NH·CH2·CH(NH2·COOH is of interest, since this neurotoxin has been isolated from the seeds of Lathyrus sativus, the consumption of which causes the disease neurolathyrism in humans. The concentration of this non-protein amino acid in the seeds increases on germination. When the seeds are germinated in the presence of [14C2]- oxalic acid, the isolated ODAP is labelled exclusively in the oxalyl moiety. An oxalyl- CoA synthetase requiring the obligatory presence of ATP, CoA and Mg2+ can be demonstrated in crude extracts of the seedlings. When l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid is incubated with the enzyme in the presence of the components for oxalyl activation, net formation of ODAP can be shown. The enzymic reaction is specific to the β-amino group of l-α,β-diaminopropionic acidm and the higher homologues like α,γ-diaminobutyric acid, ornithine and lysine are inactive in this system. ODAP is not formed with α,β-diaminopropionic acid when the enzyme extract is prepared from Pisum sativum although oxalyl-CoA formation can be demonstrated.

Evaluación de productos naturales para el manejo del gorgojo del frijol (Acanthoscelides obtectus say) y el gorgojo del maiz (Sitophilus zeamais M)

El trabajo se realizó en el laboratorio del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha / INTA , de Junio de 1997 a Diciembre de 1997. El objetivo fue generar información sobre los productos botánicos; Paraíso (Melia Azederach L ), Zorrillo (Petiveria Alliceae L), Tabaco (Nicotiana tabacum,L), Amarguito (Tecoma stan L), Ajo (Alium sativum L) y el producto natural ceniza de diferentes especies de madera, para el control de plagas en granos almacenados. Para ejecutar el estudio se utilizó una población de gorgojos de frijol y maíz existente en el laboratorio del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha /INTA. El frijol y el maíz previo a ser utilizado para el cultivo y bioensayo se fumigó en un silo metálico de un quintal de capacidad con fosfamina siguiendo las recomendaciones del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha. La forma de utilización de los productos fue; Paraíso (5%), semilla seca a la sombra y molida, Zorrillo (5%), raices seca a la sombra y molida, Tabaco (5%),venas seca a la sombra y molida, Amarguito (5%), hojas seca a la sombra y molida, Ajo (4%), bulbo seco a la sombra y molido y ceniza (25%) de diferentes especies de madera, la cual fue recolectada de diferentes de productores, se utilizó el producto Actellic 2% como testigo comparativo. Se utilizó frascos plástico de dos litros de volumen como unidad experimental en las cuales se introdujeron 1500 granos de maíz y frijol, se utilizaron tres repeticiones por tratamiento. Se utilizaron gorgojos de dos semana de edad. En el bioensayo del frijol el mejor tratamiento de los productos evaluados fue el Paraíso (5%), presentando un porcentaje de daño final del 46% y un porcentaje de pérdida de peso final de 9%, los productos que mostraron menor infestación inicial fue la ceniza y el Amarguito presentando una infestación inicial de 6 y 25 insectos respectivamente. En el bioensayo del maíz el mejor de los tratamientos evaluados fue la ceniza 25%, la cual presentó un porcentaje de daño final de 1.33%, un porcentaje de pérdida de peso final de 0.21%, los tratamientos donde hubo menor infestación inicial fue en el Amarguito y el Tabaco con 15 y 18 insectos respectivamente.

Evaluación de tres insecticidas botánicos y dos químico contra el complejo mosca blanca (Bemisia tabací, Genn)- Geminivirus en el cultivo de tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum, Mili) en Camoapa, Boaco

El presente trabajo se realizó entre el periodo comprendido de Abril a Julio del 2010, en la comunidad de Mombachito, municipio Camoapa, departamento de Boaco. El objetivo fue evaluar cinco alternativas de manejos contra el complejo Bemisia tabaci- Geminivirus, en el cultivo de tomate. El híbrido utilizado fue Shanty, estableciendo el semillero bajo condiciones de micro-invernadero, para evaluar las alternativas de manejo se utilizo un diseño de bloque completo al azar (BCA), arreglando los siguientes tratamientos: actara 25 WG ITbiametoxam); engeo 24,7 SC (Thiarnetoxam + Lambda-Cihalotrina); macerado de hojas de madero negro ( Gliricidia sepium ); aceite vegetal + jabón liquido, macerados de ajo (A/luim sativum)+ chile (Capsicum sp)+ jabón y un testigo (sin aplicación). En las variables evaluadas (promedio de mosca blanca, incidencia de virus, severidad de virus, otros insectos, rendimiento y análisis económico). Se registraron los siguientes resultados: promedio de mosca blanca/plantas más bajos actara (1.20 ± 0.12; Pr S 0.0001), aceite vegetal (1.57 ± 0.16) y madero negro (1.66 ± 0.18). Los menores porcentajes de incidencia y severidad de virus fue el actara. En el tratamiento de madero negro se registraron los promedios más alto de araña, después del tratamiento testigo. Los rendimientos promedios registrado por tratamientos más altos fue en engeo y madero negro, el tratamiento que mostró la tasa de retorno marginal más alta fue engeo con 638%.

Exposição ao material particulado 2,5 m coletado em vias de alto tráfego da cidade do Rio de Janeiro: avaliação mutagênica, genotóxica e determinação de risco à saúde induzido por hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos

A mutagenicidade do material particulado é atribuída primeiramente aos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA). Investigamos a atividade mutagênica do material particulado (MP2,5) em amostras coletadas em três pontos da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. As coletas foram realizadas com auxílio de um amostrador de grande volume na Avenida Brasil, no campus da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e no Túnel Rebouças em filtros de fibra de vidro. Metade de cada filtro foi submetido à extração por sonicação com o solvente diclorometano. Seis HPA foram identificados e quantificados por cromatografia gasosa com espectrometria de massa (GC/MS). Após a análise química as concentrações dos HPA obtidos foram correlacionados ao fatores físicos, além de ser realizado avaliação de risco para cada HPA estudado. Linhagens de Salmonella typhimurium (TA98 e derivadas TA98/1.8-DNP6, YG1021 e YG1024) foram utilizadas no ensaio de mutagenicidade e tratadas (10-50 g/placa) com extrato orgânico na presença e na ausência de metabolização exógena. Células de raiz de cebola foram tratadas com extratos orgânicos nas concentrações (5-25g/mL). A alta umidade encontrada no Túnel Rebouças pode ter influenciado na deposição de cinco dos seis HPA estudados em material particulado. Além disso, em diferentes condições de tráfego, motoristas de ônibus que cruzam a Avenida Brasil e o Rebouças túnel estão expostos ao risco induzidos por HPA na ordem de 10-6. Mutagenicidade foi detectada tanto na presença quanto na ausência de metabolização, para as linhagens YG1021 e YG1024 nos três pontos, sugerindo a presença de nitro e amino derivados de HPA. As amostras do Túnel Rebouças apresentaram os maiores valores para rev/g e rev/m3. Estes resultados podem estar relacionados ao longo trajeto e a restrita ventilação. Efeito citotóxico foi detectado pelo ensaio Allium cepa nos três pontos de monitoramento. Além disso os extratos orgânicos provenientes das coletas da Avenida Brasil, UERJ e do Túnel Rebouças induziram efeito clastogênico em células de raiz de Allium cepa

克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii Roshev.)草原植物凋落物分解特性及其对环境变化的响应

凋落物的分解对生物地球化学循环起着重要的作用。本研究以位于中国北方农牧交错区（内蒙古多伦县）的半干旱克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii Roshev.)草原生态系统为背景，针对凋落物分解研究中的几个关键过程和问题进行了探讨。研究内容包括该生态系统中几种常见植物凋落物的分解速率，在分解过程中的养分动态，凋落物的混合效应（即非加性效应）及其机制，全球变化引起的土壤有效N、P和降水增加对凋落物分解的影响及其对草原生态系统碳储量的影响等。 通过对克氏针茅、糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa Trin.)、双齿葱(Allium bidentatum Fisch.)、野韭(Allium ramosum L. Sp. Pl.)和冰草(Agropyron cristatum Gaertn.)的叶、茎、根凋落物的研究发现，叶和茎的分解速率与凋落物初始N和P含量呈显著正相关，根系的分解速率与初始C/N比呈显著负相关。根系凋落物一般比叶和茎凋落物分解速率快，而且具有更快的养分周转速率。有些凋落物混合在一起分解后对分解速率产生了混合效应（混合凋落物的实际分解速率偏离于基于组分凋落物计算的预期分解速率），同时它们对养分（主要是N、P、Ca、Mg）的固定或释放被延后。混合效应发生与否以及混合效应的方向主要取决于组分凋落物的特点，而与凋落物多样性的高低没有明显的关系。混合凋落物对养分动态的负作用，能降低退化生态系统遭到干扰后养分的损失，而且养分释放时间的延后有助于某些植物更好地生长，有利于退化草原生态系统恢复过程中植被结构的改善。 由于凋落物的质量对分解速率的影响重大，凋落物的化学组成很可能对混合凋落物分解过程中的非加性效应起重要作用，然而迄今为止没有明确的结论。本文研究发现，具有不同初始N、P含量的凋落物（同一物种）混合在一起分解后产生了正的非加性效应，非加性效应的强弱与组分凋落物初始N、P含量的差异大小有关。而且，非加性效应与P含量差异大小的相关性比与N的强，这可能与研究地点土壤中P的含量相对更为缺乏有关。这一研究结果表明，凋落物的化学组成在有些情况下确实与非加性效应有关。 通过施肥和浇水试验，研究了全球变化引起的土壤有效N、P和水分的增加对具有不同生活型和化学组成的两种优势草原植物，即双齿葱和克氏针茅凋落物分解的直接影响。结果发现，向土壤中添加N肥或N、P复合肥，在短期内（100天）加速了这两种植物的分解速率。高质量凋落物（双齿葱）的分解更容易受到土壤水分条件的限制，而低质量凋落物（克氏针茅）的分解对土壤养分有效性更敏感。土壤中有效养分的增加会提高分解凋落物对养分的固定，有利于退化生态系统中养分的保持。双齿葱对内蒙古半干旱典型草原的碳循环和养分动态的贡献，比克氏针茅要更大。研究结果提示人们，对草原生态系统的碳循环和养分动态进行模拟时，需要对不同化学组成的凋落物分别加以考虑。 本文还探讨了土壤有效N长期增加后对两种优势草原植物（克氏针茅和冷蒿(Artemisia frigida Willd)）凋落物分解的综合影响，并进一步区分了由土壤有效N增加引起的凋落物质量改变的间接作用和土壤状况改变的直接作用。结果发现，土壤有效N长期增加后对凋落物的分解速率没有明显影响，但是显著加速了分解凋落物对养分的固定，这可能是由于凋落物质量对分解的促进作用和土壤状况对分解的抑制作用相互抵消的原因所造成的。向土壤中添加N素后，地上部植被生产力不可避免的会提高，尽管短期内会加速凋落物的分解速率，但从长远来看，对凋落物的分解速率不会产生影响，所以估计土壤有效N增加后最终会提高草原生态系统的净碳储量。 通过本研究，对中国北方农牧交错区（内蒙古多伦县）半干旱克氏针茅草原生态系统的养分循环过程有了初步的了解，验证了混合凋落物分解过程中非加性效应发生的可能性，并且证明组分凋落物的初始化学组成对这种非加性效应确实起着重要作用。本研究说明全球变化对不同植物种凋落物分解的影响是不同的，而且因研究时间长短的不同对凋落物分解的影响会发生变化。研究结果为草原生态系统碳和养分循环过程的模拟提供了必要的基础资料，为混合凋落物分解过程中非加性效应发生的可能机制提供了强有力的证据，对在全球变化背景下人们对草原生态系统碳和养分循环过程的认识和模拟有着重要的参考价值。

典型草原优势植物养分回收特性对养分和水分梯度变化的响应

养分回收是植物衰老时，养分从衰老组织向活的组织体转移的一种过程。该过程延长了养分在植物体内的滞留时间，提高了植物保持养分的能力，因此是植物适应养分贫瘠生境的策略之一。全球气候变化，包括降水格局改变和氮（N）沉降增加，改变了生态系统正常的生物地球化学循环，因此可能会对植物的养分回收特性产生影响。研究不同N、磷（P）、水梯度上，植物物种养分回收特性的响应格局，对于预测N沉降增加和降水格局改变对物种养分利用策略的潜在影响，具有一定的理论与实践意义。本研究以中国科学院植物研究所多伦恢复生态学实验站长期施N肥实验（0，1，2，4，8，16，32，64 g N m-2 yr-1等8个水平）为研究平台研究了克氏针茅（Stipa krylovii）群落中优势植物养分回收随N素添加梯度的变化，同时结合三个盆栽控制实验（施N肥实验：0，0.5，1，2，4，8，16，32，64，128 g N m-2等10个水平;施P肥实验：梯度同施N肥实验;控水实验：3600，4000，4500，5143，6000，7200，9000，12000，18000，36000 mL pot-1等10个水平），主要探讨了羊草（Leymus chinensis）养分回收效率（从衰老组织中回收转移的养分百分数，RE）和养分回收度（以枯叶中养分浓度衡量，RP）以及其它叶片养分特性(绿叶养分浓度和比叶面积SLA)对环境因子改变的响应格局。同时，我们还调查了枯叶C:N比和C:P比等参数，研究环境因子改变对凋落物分解的影响。 1）连续4年施N肥显著降低了五个物种叶片N素回收度（NRP），对P素回收度（PRP）的影响在各物种间差异较大，但低N提高了多数物种的PRP;物种间，冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）RP（枯叶N和P浓度分别为14.3±2.0 mg g-1和0.68±0.09 mg g-1）最低，砂韭（Allium bidentatum）（N：5.2±0.2 mg g-1，P：0.12±0.01 mg g-1）最高。沿施N梯度，N素回收效率（NRE）的变化趋势在物种间差异较小但在方法间（叶干重水平，叶面积水平和单株水平）差异较大，而P素回收效率（PRE）的变化在物种间和方法间差别都较大。叶干重水平和叶面积水平上，NRE在四个物种中表现出显著降低的趋势，PRE只在糙隐子草（Cleistogenes squarrosa）和星毛委陵菜（Potentilla acaulis）中显著降低，其它三个物种变化不显著。单株水平上，所有物种NRE（除了克氏针茅）和PRE均与施N量梯度无显著性关系。物种间，砂韭的RE最高（＞80.0%），冷蒿和星毛委陵菜最低（＜60.0%）。方法间，叶片水平上的RE均高于单株水平上。沿施N肥梯度，两个禾本科物种SLA无显著变化规律，而其它三个物种SLA表现出先增加后变化不大的趋势。物种间，最高和最低的SLA分别表现在冷蒿和克氏针茅。沿施N肥梯度，五个物种C:N比呈先显著降低后缓慢降低的趋势。物种间，最大和最小的C:N比分别出现在砂韭和冷蒿。 2）盆栽施N肥实验中，一定范围内，施N肥显著提高了羊草地上地下生物量、SLA和绿叶N浓度，显著降低了C:N比、NRP、NRE和PRE，但对绿叶P浓度、叶片PRP和C:P比无明显影响。平均枯叶N浓度和枯叶P浓度分别为16.2 mg g-1和1.01 mg g-1，平均NRE和PRE分别为46.1﹪和58.1﹪。10月时，地下生物量和养分积累均高于地上部分。 3）盆栽施P肥实验中，一定范围内，施P肥显著地提高了羊草地上地下生物量、SLA、绿叶N浓度和绿叶P浓度，显著降低了C:N比、C:P比、NRP、PRP和PRE，但对NRE无显著影响。平均枯叶N浓度和枯叶P浓度分别为9.9 mg g-1和7.43 mg g-1，平均NRE和PRE分别为58.2﹪，平均PRE为56.1﹪。10月时地下部分生物量和N库积累均高于地上部分，而P库在两个部分间差别不大。 4）盆栽控水实验中，一定范围内，供水量增加显著增加了羊草地上地下生物量、SLA、NRP、PRP、PRE、C:N比和C:P比，显著降低了绿叶N浓度，但对绿叶P浓度和NRE无显著性影响。平均枯叶N浓度和枯叶P浓度分别为10.4 mg g-1和0.32 mg g-1，平均NRE和PRE分别为54.4﹪和76.8﹪。10月时，地下部分生物量和养分积累均高于地上部分。 以上结果表明，N、P和水分因子的改变影响了植物生物量和养分分配、叶片养分特性、养分回收能力以及枯叶分解质量等，且不同梯度影响程度也不同。因此，未来全球变化包括N沉降增加和降水格局改变可能影响植物养分利用策略和凋落物分解特性，进而可能对植被-土壤系统养分循环产生影响。

内蒙古草原凋落物分解对生物多样性变化的响应

生物多样性与生态系统功能紧密相关，而凋落物分解是生态系统主要功能之一，同时凋落物的分解反过来又影响了物种的组成和多样性。本研究在内蒙古草原应用分解网袋法，通过功能群去除产生不同的多样性梯度。研究了草原生态系统的生物多样性变化对凋落物分解过程的影响。实验分为相互补充的三个部分，（一）、分解微环境实验研究了功能群多样性变化引起的分解微环境变化对凋落物分解的影响；（二）、凋落物组成实验研究四个功能群的优势物种羊草（Leymus chinensis）、大针茅（Stipa grandis）、细叶葱（Allium tenuissimum）、刺穗藜（Chenopodium aristatum）的15种不同组合方式的单种或混合凋落物在相同的分解微环境下物种间的相互作用对凋落物分解的影响；（三）、综合分解微环境和凋落物组成两种影响凋落物分解的因素，从15种多样性组合的去除样方中收集的单种或混合凋落物放回原样方分解。研究结果表明，功能群多样性，相应地物种多样性高的样方中，其微环境有利于凋落物的分解，两个生物特性差异较大的物种木地肤（Kochia prostrata）和二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）在功能群多样性高的样方中与多样性低的样方相比均表现出高的分解速率；混合凋落物的分解具有非加和性效应。混合凋落物的分解速率与其初始碳含量呈负相关关系，与其初始氮、磷含量呈正相关；当混合凋落物在功能群多样性不同的环境中分解时，重量降解速率与环境中的功能群多样性没有显著的相关关系，氮流失与功能多样性成正相关。我们的研究表明，群落中凋落物组成和凋落物多样性相比，前者是影响凋落物分解的决定性因素；与地上存活植株的生物学过程相比，凋落物分解受生物多样性的影响较小；在生物多样性更高的区域，可以显著地增加氮的循环过程，有利于提高群落生产力。