Phosphorus nutrition and tolerance of cotton to water stress I. Seed cotton yield and leaf morphology

Seed cotton yield and morphological changes in leaf growth were examined under drying soil with different phosphorus (P) concentrations in a tropical climate. Frequent soil drying is likely to induce a decrease in nutrients particularly P due to reduced diffusion and poor uptake, in addition to restrictions in available water, with strong interactive effects on plant growth and functioning. Increased soil P in field and in-ground soil core studies increased the seed cotton yield and related morphological growth parameters in a drying soil, with hot (daily maximum temperature >33°C) and dry conditions (relative humidity, 25% to 35%), particularly during peak boll formation and filling stage. The soil water content in the effective rooting zone (top 0.4 m) decreased to -1.5 MPa by day 5 of the soil drying cycle. However, the increased seed cotton yield for the high-P plants was closely related to increasing leaf area with increased P supply. Plant height, leaf fresh mass and leaf area per plant were positively related to the leaf P%, which increased with increasing P supply. Low P plants were lower in plant height, leaf area, and leaf tissue water in the drying soil. Individual leaf area and the water content of the fresh leaf (ratio of dry mass to fresh mass) were significantly dependent on leaf P%.

Bentonite can decrease ammonia volatilisation losses from poultry litter: laboratory studies

Ammonia volatilisation from manure materials within poultry sheds can adversely affect production, and also represents a loss of fertiliser value from the spent litter. This study sought to compare the ability of alum and bentonite to decrease volatilisation losses of ammonia from spent poultry litter. An in-vessel volatilisation trial with air flushing, ammonia collection, and ammonia analysis was conducted over 64 days to evaluate the mitigation potential of these two materials. Water-saturated spent litter was incubated at 25°C in untreated condition (control) or with three treatments: an industry-accepted rate of alum [4% Al2(SO4)3·18H2O by dry mass of litter dry mass; ALUM], air-dry bentonite (127% by dry mass; BENT), or water-saturated bentonite (once again at 127% by dry mass; SATBENT). A high proportion of the nitrogen contained in the untreated spent litter was volatilised (62%). Bentonite additions were superior to alum additions at retaining spent litter ammonia (nitrogen losses: 15%, SATBENT; 34%, BENT; 54%, ALUM). Where production considerations favour comparable high rates of bentonite addition (e.g. where the litter is to be re-formulated as a fertiliser), this clay has potential to decrease ammonia volatilisation either in-shed or in spent litter stockpiles or formulated products, without the associated detrimental effect of alum on phosphorus availability.

Coherent quasiparticle approximation cQPA and nonlocal coherence

We show that the dynamical Wigner functions for noninteracting fermions and bosons can have complex singularity structures with a number of new solutions accompanying the usual mass-shell dispersion relations. These new shell solutions are shown to encode the information of the quantum coherence between particles and antiparticles, left and right moving chiral states and/or between different flavour states. Analogously to the usual derivation of the Boltzmann equation, we impose this extended phase space structure on the full interacting theory. This extension of the quasiparticle approximation gives rise to a self-consistent equation of motion for a density matrix that combines the quantum mechanical coherence evolution with a well defined collision integral giving rise to decoherence. Several applications of the method are given, for example to the coherent particle production, electroweak baryogenesis and study of decoherence and thermalization.

Iodide Retention by Modified Kaolinite in the Context of Safe Disposal of High Level Nuclear Waste

Bentonite clay is identified as potential buffer in deep geological repositories (DGR) that store high level radioactive wastes (HLW) as the expansive clay satisfies the expected mechanical and physicochemical functions of the buffer material. In the deep geological disposal of HLW, iodine-129 is one of the significant nuclides, attributable to its long half-life (half life 1⁄4 1:7 × 107 years). However, the negative charge on the basal surface of bentonite particles precludes retention of iodide anions. To render the bentonite effective in retaining hazardous iodide species in DGR, improvement of the anion retention capacity of bentonite becomes imperative. The iodide retention capac-ity of bentonite is improved by admixing 10 and 20% Ag-kaolinite (Ag-K) with bentonite (B) on a dry mass basis. The present study produced Ag-kaolinite by heating silver nitrate-kaolinite mixes at 400°C. Marginal release of iodide retained by Ag-kaolinite occurred under extreme acidic (pH 1⁄4 2:5) and alkaline (pH 1⁄4 12:5) conditions. The swell pressure and iodide etention results of the B-Ag-K specimens bring out that mixing Ag-K with bentonite does not chemically modify the expansive clay; the mixing is physical in nature and Ag-K presence only contributes to iodide retention of the admixture. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000121. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Efeito alelopático das folhas de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi em espécies nativas da restinga de Massambaba

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) é uma espécie nativa da América do Sul com grande distribuição geográfica e muito comum em áreas de restinga. Sua grande plasticidade ecológica e boa interação biótica a torna espécie-chave na restauração de ambientes, porém, sua dominância pode estar relacionada à liberação de compostos alelopáticos. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o potencial alelopático dos extratos aquosos e óleos essenciais de folhas de Schinus terebinthifolius nas diferentes estações do ano sobre espécies-alvo nativas da restinga (Cereus fernambucensis, Erythroxylum ovalofolium, Pilosocereus arrabidae), uma espécie agrícola (Lactuca sativa) e nela própria (autoalelopatia). Para isso, suas folhas foram coletadas sazonalmente na restinga de Massambaba para o preparo dos extratos aquosos e extração dos óleos essenciais. Os extratos aquosos foram obtidos através da secagem das folhas a 60 C, trituração em liquidificador, diluição em água destilada e filtração, obtendo as concentrações de 5, 10, 15 e 20%. As extrações dos óleos foram realizadas através da hidrodestilação de 300 g de folhas frescas. A análise da composição dos óleos essenciais foi realizada através de cromatografia gasosa utilizando fibra SPME. O efeito fitotóxico foi avaliado nas espécies-alvo através da porcentagem de germinação, velocidade de germinação, crescimento aéreo e radicular, condutividade elétrica e massa seca. O efeito alelopático dos extratos aquosos foi observado em todas as espécies-alvo, principalmente sobre as espécies nativas. Esse efeito variou nas estações do ano de forma dose-dependente e espécie-específica. Os óleos essenciais de S. terebinthifolius também foram capazes de inibir a germinação e crescimento das espécies-alvo, e, da mesma forma que os extratos aquosos, esses efeitos variaram nas estações do ano e para cada espécie. Sugere-se que essas diferenças estejam relacionadas às fenofases de S. terebinthifolius e condições ambientais da restinga. Esse efeito fitotóxico, se comprovado em campo, pode restringir a utilização de S. terebinthifolius na restauração de ambientes.

淹水对三峡库区几种植物的生理生态影响

自然界木本植物在某些情况下可能面对淹水带来的胁迫伤害，木本植物对淹水的生理生态响应及适应机制的研究，不仅可以从机理上解释河岸带和消落区树种分布的规律，对于大型水库消落区的治理也能起到理论依据的作用，因此，木本植物对淹水的生理生态响应及适应机制历来是植物生理生态研究领域的热点问题之一。 三峡水库蓄水造成库区部分陆地岛屿化，这将对岛屿优势植物带来深远影响。短柄枹栎(Quercus glandulifera)、栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)、马尾松(Pinus massoniana)是这些岛屿上的三种优势树种。在岛屿形成初期，应用生理生态学手段，在7月和9月分别对其水势和叶绿素荧光进行了野外测定，从而为岛屿化对植物生理生态影响的研究和监测提供重要的本底数据。研究结果表明马尾松较其它两种植物更耐旱。水势和Fv/Fm在清晨高中午低，经过一个晚上可以基本恢复，因此就目前状况看岛上的三种优势植物均生长健康。但是库区蓄水后，在淹水胁迫下植物的生理生态过程将如何变化，还需要后期的连续观测。 枫杨（Pterocarya stenoptera）、池杉（Taxodium ascendens）和栓皮栎（Quercus variabilis）是三峡库区河岸带和库塘消落区常见的植物，对于河岸带和库塘消落区的水土保持和水源涵养具有十分重要的作用。通过设计模拟淹水实验，研究了这三种植物对淹水的生理生态响应及适应机制。淹水对枫杨和栓皮栎生理生态过程的早期影响是快速降低了二者的最大净光合速率、气孔导度、最大光化学量子效率（Fv/Fm）。但经过最初的下降后，枫杨的最大净光合速率、气孔导度和最大光化学量子效率逐渐恢复，而栓皮栎的则持续下降。在试验过程中，枫杨和池杉均产生了有利于吸收氧气的不定根和肥大的皮孔，而栓皮栎没有产生不定根。随淹水时间的增加枫杨的叶绿素含量与对照没有显著差异;而栓皮栎的叶绿素含量在第33天后大幅降低，Chla/Chlb的比值下降。淹水后第10天和70天测定的清晨水势，受淹栓皮栎比对照高，而受淹枫杨比对照低。淹水导致池杉和栓皮栎的根/茎/叶膜质过氧化状态均呈现动态变化。淹水处理的栓皮栎根的MDA含量低于对照而池杉的高于对照，比如：淹水24天后，栓皮栎根的丙二醛含量是对照的73％;而池杉是对照的111.5％。淹水处理第10天和第24天两个种的叶和茎MDA含量均高于对照但第50天则略低于对照。淹水导致池杉和栓皮栎两个种的根/茎/叶可溶性糖含量呈现动态变化。持续淹水导致栓皮栎叶片可溶性糖含量相比于对照先略下降后上升，茎可溶性糖含量显著上升而根可溶性含量先下降后上升。而池杉根/茎/叶可溶性糖含量对照和处理之间差异不显著。淹水导致栓皮栎的比叶重（Leaf dry mass per area）持续升高，池杉的与对照没有显著差异。淹水导致栓皮栎的根系活力持续下降，池杉则开始时下降后又升高，这可能与池杉在淹水过程中产生了有利于吸收氧气的不定根，而栓皮栎没有产生不定根有关。 以上生理生态的实验结果说明相对枫杨和池杉，栓皮栎应属于对淹水较敏感的树种。并得到以下一些结论：1）间接支持了“长期淹水导致不耐淹种（如栓皮栎）库量减小，进而导致光合速率下降的负反馈效应”假说;2）淹水对不耐淹种光合速率下降的影响至少包括气孔开度降低、光化学量子效率降低和库尺寸下降导致的光合速率下调的负反馈效应（长期）三个生理生态原因;3）淹水对水势的影响与树种相关;4）淹水并未导致不耐淹种（如栓皮栎）根膜质过氧化状态上升，而是导致其下降。导致其下降的主要原因是根系缺氧造成的;5）淹水胁迫初期耐淹种（如枫杨和池杉）和不耐淹种（栓皮栎）均出现部分生理生态过程的下调，持续时间大概在1－10天内。随后耐淹种生理过程逐渐恢复而不耐淹种在略为恢复1－2天后逐渐下降到较低水平。耐淹种恢复的关键原因可能是不定根和肥大的皮孔的出现。 令人意外的是70天的淹水过程并没有导致栓皮栎的死亡，这说明该树种对淹水具有一定的忍耐能力。因此，栓皮栎分布于河岸带和消落区较高海拔处并很少受到季节性淹水影响的生理生态原因可能还包括其他方面。淹水后可能要面对土壤透气性恢复带来的生理干旱胁迫可能对栓皮栎的生理过程造成影响。因此进一步研究淹水后恢复过程中三个种的生理生态过程对于深刻理解河岸带和消落区树种分布的生理生态原因无疑具有十分重要的理论意义。

The nature and origin of deep ocean clay crust from the Gulf of Guinea

Deep ocean sediments off the west coast of Africa exhibit a peculiar undrained strength profile in the form of a crust, albeit of exceptionally high water content, overlying normally consolidated clay. Hot-oil pipelines are installed into these crustal sediments, so their origins and characteristics are of great interest to pipeline designers. This paper provides evidence for the presence of burrowing invertebrates in crust material, and for the way sediment properties are modified through their creation of burrows, and through the deposition of faecal pellets. A variety of imaging techniques are used to make these connections, including photography, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray computer tomography. However, the essential investigative technology is simply the wet-sieving of natural cores, which reveals that up to 60% by dry mass of the crustal material can consist of smooth, highly regular, sand-sized capsules that have been identified as the faecal pellets of invertebrates such as polychaetes. Mechanical tests reveal that these pellets are quite robust under effective stresses of the order of 10 kPa, acting like sand grains within a matrix of fines. Their abundance correlates closely with the measured strength of the crust. While this can easily be accepted in the context of a pellet fraction as high as 60%, the question arises how a smaller proportion of pellets, such as 20%, is apparently able to enhance significantly the strength of a sediment that otherwise appears to be normally consolidated. A hypothesis is suggested based on the composition of the matrix of fines around the pellets. These appear to consist of agglomerates of clay platelets, which may be the result of the breakdown of pellets by other organisms. Their continued degradation at depths in excess of 1 m is taken to explain the progressive loss of crustal strength thereafter.

Food web of macroinvertebrate community in a Yangtze shallow lake: trophic basis and pathways

No detailed food web research on macroinvertebrate community of lacustrine ecosystem was reported in China. The present study is the first attempt on the subject in Lake Biandantang, a macrophytic lake in Hubei Province. Food webs of the macroinvertebrate community were compiled bimonthly from March, 2002 to March, 2003. Dietary information was obtained from gut analysis. Linkage strength was quantified by combining estimates of energy flow (secondary production) with data of gut analysis. The macroinvertebrate community of Lake Biandantang was based heavily on detritus. Quantitative food webs showed the total ingestion ranged from 6930 to 36,340 mg dry mass m(-2) bimonthly. The ingestion of macroinvertebrate community was higher in the months with optimum temperature than that in other periods with higher or lower temperature. Through comparison, many patterns in benthic food web of Lake Biandantang are consistent with other detritus-based webs, such as stream webs, but different greatly from those based on autochthonous primary production (e.g. pelagic systems). It suggests that the trophic basis of the web is essential in shaping food web structure.

Response of growth and fatty acid compositions of Nannochloropsis sp to environmental factors under elevated CO2 concentration

Nannochloropsis sp. was grown with different levels of nitrate, phosphate, salinity and temperature with CO2 at 2,800 mu l l(-1). Increased levels of NaNO3 and KH2PO4 raised protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contents but decreased carbohydrate, total lipid and total fatty acids (TFA) contents. Nannochloropsis sp. grew well at salinities from 22 to 49 g l(-1), and lowering salinity enhanced TFA and PUFAs contents. TFA contents increased with the increasing temperature but PUFAs contents decreased. The highest eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 omega 3) content based on the dry mass was above 3% under low N (150 mu M NaNO3) or high N (3000 mu M NaNO3) condition. Excessive nitrate, low salinity and temperature are thus favorable factors for improving EPA yields in Nannochloropsis sp.

模拟酸雨对马尾松菌根影响研究

本实验表明：外生菌根真菌彩色豆马勃、劣味乳菇、丝膜菌对PH的适应范围较广，最适生长BH呈酸性。模拟酸雨对马尾松幼苗菌根的外部形态和内部结构有明显影响。在温室栽培中，模拟酸雨（PH2.0）显著抑制菌根侵染率，在田间实验中，对菌根侵染率有一定的影响。菌根PH和土壤PH值随模拟酸雨PH下降而逐渐降低，接种菌根菌可略提高菌根PH和土壤PH值。菌根真菌过氧化氢酶对培养基中PH的变化不敏感，模拟酸雨对菌根过氧化氢酶活性影响也不明显。但沙培中，模拟酸雨（PH2.0）显著抑制菌根过氧化氢酶活性。模拟酸雨（PH2.0）显著刺激菌根过氧化物酶活性，接种菌根菌可以降低菌根过氧化物酶活性。不同PH的培养基对菌体硝酸还原酶活性有明显影响，而且菌体生长速度与硝酸还原酶活性呈正相关。模拟酸雨（PH2.0）显著抑制菌根硝酸还原酶活性，而接种菌根菌明显提高根系硝酸还原酶活性。菌体酸性磷酸酶活性对培养基中PH变化不敏感，同样菌根酸性磷酸酶活性对模拟酸雨的影响也不明显，但是接种菌根菌可明显提高根系酸性磷酸酶活性。模拟酸雨对马尾松幼苗茎的高生长影响不显著。但是对幼苗茎、根系的干重和侧根总长度有显著抑制作用。轻度酸雨（PH4.5-3.0）对马尾松幼苗生长有促进作用，接种菌可提高幼苗生长。从菌根形态结构和生理活性上看，接种菌根菌可减轻模拟酸雨对马尾松幼苗根系的危害，增强对模拟酸雨的抗性。4dThe result of experiment showed that ectomycorrhizal fungi Pisolithus tinctorins. Lactarius insulsus. Cortinarius russus can be growth in broad PH rang in pure culture, the optimum growth PH is acidity. The external morphology and internal structure of ectomycorrhiza of P. massoniana are affected with simulated acid rain. In greenhouse, simulated acid rain (PH2.0) treatment caused significant decrease in the percent infection, but it's not marked in field. The PH of mycorrhizal and soil are reduced with reducing rainfall PH. These PH are slight higher for inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Catalase activity of ectomycorrhizal fungus is not sensitive to medium with different PH. Mycorrhiza catalase activiyt is not affected significantly with simulated acid rain, but it's inhibited significantly with simulated acid rain (PH2.0) in the sand culture. Peroxidase atcivity of mycorrhiza is enhanced significantly with simulated acid rain (PH2.0), but it's universally lower for inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungus. Ectomycorrhizal fungus nitrate reductase activity is affected significantly to medium with differdnt PH, the rates of these fungi growth and nitrate reductase activity is significant correlation. Nitrate reductase activity of mycorrhiza is inhibited significantly with simulated acid rain (PH 2.0), but it's increased significantly for inocnlation with mycorrhizal fungi. Ectomycorrhizal fungas acid phosphatase activity is not affected to medium with different PH, Mycorrhiza acid phosphatase activity is not affected with simulated acid rain too, the acid phosphatase activity of roots inoculated with mycorrhizal fungas is increased significantly. The highest acidity level simulated rain reduced signhficantly root system biomass and the dry weight of stem. Iower acidity level simulated rain can stimulated the growth of P. massoniana, the growth of seedling inocnlated with mycorrhizal fungus can be increased.

Decomposition of emergent macrophyte roots and rhizomes in a northern prairie marsh

Dry mass, nitrogen and phosphorus content in belowground litter of four emergent macrophytes (Typha glauca Godr., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin., Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link and Scirpus lacustris L.) were followed for 1.2 years in a series of experimental marshes, Delta Marsh, Manitoba. Litter bags containing roots and rhizome materials of each species were buried in unflooded soil, or soil flooded at three water depths (1–30, 31–60, > 60 cm). There were few differences in dry mass loss in unflooded or flooded soils, and depth of flooding also had little effect on decomposition rates. In the flooded sites, Scolochloa and Phragmites roots lost more mass (48.9–63.8% and 59.2–85.5%, respectively) after 112 days than Typha and Scirpus (36.3–43.6 and 37.0–47.2%, respectively). These differences continued through to the end of the study, except in the shallow sites where Scirpus roots lost more mass and had comparable mass remaining as Scolochloa and Phragmites. In the unflooded sites, there was little difference between species. All litters lost nitrogen (22.9–90.0%) and phosphorus (46.3–92.7%) during the first 112 days, then levels tended to remain constant. Decay rates for our belowground root and rhizome litters were comparable to published literature values for aboveground shoot litter of the same species, except for Phragmites roots and rhizomes which decomposed at a faster rate (−k = 0.0014−0.0032) than shoots (−k = 0.0003−0.0007, [van der Valk, A.G., Rhymer, J.M., Murkin, H.R., 1991. Flooding and the decomposition of litter of four emergent plant species in a prairie wetland. Wetlands 11, 1–16]).

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 。

Nutrient compositions of cultured Thalassiosira rotula and Skeletonema costatum from the Jiaozhou Bay in China

Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon composition of cultured two different sized phytoplankton common species of Thalassiosira rotula and Skeletonema costatum from the Jiaozhou Bay were measured. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon contents in cell were. obvious higher in T. rotula than in S. costatum, but the percents of nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon contents in cell dry mass in T. rotula were lower than those in S. costatum. The dry mass concentrations of nitrogen,phosphorus,silicon in S. costatum were much higher than those in T. rotula, particularly silicon, the former was 6.4 times of the latter, showing that S. costatum could more assimilate these elements. Especially, S. costatum had competitive dominance for assimilating silicon, which is beneficial to its becoming a major dominant species in relative short silicon of the Jiaozhou Bay. There were some differences in numerical value of nutrient ratios both laboratory-cultured phytoplankton and different sized suspended particulates (mainly phytoplankton) in the Jiaozhou Bay, which was caused by the changes of environment. High contents of carbon, nitrogon and relative low phosporus,silicon, high molar ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus (far higher than Redfield value) and low ratio of silicon to phosphorus and silicon to nitrogen (far lower than Redfield values) in the two diatoms and different sized suspended particulates were consistent with those in the seawater. Relative short silicon in the seawater and phytoplankton showed that silicon was possibly affectting phytoplankton growth in the Jiaozhou Bay.

Characterization and analysis of the exogenous application of selected phytohormones on C. reinhardtii metabolism

Gemstone Team Genes to Fuels

The Type IIb SN 2008ax: spectral and light curve evolution

We present spectroscopy and photometry of the He-rich supernova (SN) 2008ax. The early-time spectra show prominent P-Cygni H lines, which decrease with time and disappear completely about 2 months after the explosion. In the same period He I lines become the most prominent spectral features. SN 2008ax displays the ordinary spectral evolution of a Type IIb supernova. A stringent pre-discovery limit constrains the time of the shock breakout of SN 2008ax to within only a few hours. Its light curve, which peaks in the B band about 20 d after the explosion, strongly resembles that of other He-rich core-collapse supernovae. The observed evolution of SN 2008ax is consistent with the explosion of a young Wolf-Rayet (of WNL type) star, which had retained a thin, low-mass shell of its original H envelope. The overall characteristics of SN 2008ax are reminiscent of those of SN 1993J, except for a likely smaller H mass. This may account for the findings that the progenitor of SN 2008ax was a WNL star and not a K supergiant as in the case of SN 1993J, that a prominent early-time peak is missing in the light curve of SN 2008ax, and that H alpha is observed at higher velocities in SN 2008ax than in SN 1993J.