Significant difference in mycorrhizal specificity between an autotrophic and its sister mycoheterotrophic plant species of Petrosaviaceae

2014 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahide Yamato ◽  
Yuki Ogura-Tsujita ◽  
Hiroshi Takahashi ◽  
Tomohisa Yukawa
1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Pokharel ◽  
Madhu Chhetri ◽  
Chiranjibi P Upadhyaya

Limited information is available on the species composition, above ground biomass and its relations to grazing in a trans-Himalayan rangeland. Its assessment is essential for long term conservation and management. In the present study, we compared species composition, phenology, diversity index and biomass between controlled (without grazing) and open (free grazing) plots to assess the effects of grazing in the selected experimental sites of Upper Mustang during July and November 2005. Species encountered were classified as high, medium, low and non palatable and in three life form categories-grasses, shrubs and forbs. The experimental sites are dominated by forbs (80%) followed by grasses (15%) and shrubs (5%). Disturbance caused by grazing affects the phenological characteristics of the plant community. Result also reveals that species diversity, maximum possible diversity, evenness and species richness was higher in the grazed plots during July and November. A comparison of the aboveground biomass in July showed that mean percentage biomass of high, medium and low palatable species is higher in ungrazed plots. In November, the percentage biomass of only medium palatable species was higher in ungrazed plots and rest of the category is higher in grazed plots. Significant difference in July, a peak growing seasons for most of the plant species in the region reveals that the pasture has impact of livestock grazing. Keywords: Biomass, diversity, grazing effect, rangeland, species Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.25-31


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Most Naznin ◽  
Mark Lefsrud ◽  
Valerie Gravel ◽  
Md Azad

The aim of this study was to investigate the different combinations of red (R) and blue (B) light emitting diode (LEDs’) lighting effects on growth, pigment content, and antioxidant capacity in lettuce, spinach, kale, basil, and pepper in a growth chamber. The growth chamber was equipped with R and B light percentages based on total light intensity: 83% R + 17% B; 91% R + 9% B; 95% R + 5% B; and control was 100% R. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), photoperiod, temperature, and relative humidity of the growth chamber were maintained at 200 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1, 16 h, 25/21 ± 2.5 °C, and 65 ± 5%, respectively. It is observed that the plant height of lettuce, kale, and pepper was significantly increased under 100% R light, whereas the plant height of spinach and basil did not show any significant difference. The total leaf number of basil and pepper was significantly increased under the treatment of 95% R + 5% B light, while no significant difference was observed for other plant species in the same treatment. Overall, the fresh and dry mass of the studied plants was increased under 91% R + 9% B and 95% R + 5% B light treatment. The significantly higher flower and fruit numbers of pepper were observed under the 95% R + 5% B treatment. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content of lettuce, spinach, basil, and pepper was significantly increased under the 91% R + 9% B treatment while the chlorophyll content of kale was increased under the 95% R + 5% B light treatment. The total carotenoid content of lettuce and spinach was higher in the 91% R + 9% B treatment whereas the carotenoid content of kale, basil, and pepper was increased under the 83% R + 17% B treatment. The antioxidant capacity of the lettuce, spinach, and kale was increased under the 83% R + 17% B treatment while basil and pepper were increased under the 91% R + 9% B treatment. This result indicates that the addition of B light is essential with R light to enhance growth, pigment content, and antioxidant capacity of the vegetable plant in a controlled environment. Moreover, the percentage of B with R light is plant species dependent.


SURG Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Adrian Helmers ◽  
Alexis Platek ◽  
Melissa Ponte ◽  
Natalie Secen ◽  
Karl Cottenie

This study quantified the impact of human activity on aquatic and shoreline plant species richness. We hypothesized that human activity at the shoreline would negatively impact plant species richness and that the extent of the impact would depend on the intensity of human activity. To test this, we sampled 11 lakes in Algonquin Provincial Park, of which five permitted motorboat access, and five permitted canoe access and prohibited motorboat access. The remaining lake, which had no designated access point for boats and was only accessible to researchers, acted as a control. To assess the impact of anthropogenic disturbance at each lake, we measured plant species richness in three 10 m by 2 m plots: a first plot at the access point, assumed to be the site of highest disturbance; a second at the site of intermediate disturbance, 30 m down shore from the access point; and a third at the site of lowest disturbance, 60 m down shore from the access point. We found a significant negative relationship between the level of disturbance and plant species richness, both in the motorboat-accessible and canoe access-only lakes. The control lake exhibited no correlation between disturbance level and plant species richness. However, there was no significant difference between motorboat-accessible and canoe access-only lakes in the relationship between disturbance level and plant species richness. Overall, this study highlights the consequences of anthropogenic disturbance on freshwater aquatic and shoreline plant communities, and provides a framework for future management and rehabilitation strategies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin E. McMillan ◽  
Jake E. Bova ◽  
Carlyle C. Brewster ◽  
Nicola T. Gallagher ◽  
Sally L. Paulson

ABSTRACT The effect of 5 plant species (arborvitae [Thuja occidentalis], boxwood [Buxus sp., Japanese honeysuckle [Lonicera japonica], rhododendron [Rhododendron sp.], and zebra grass [Miscanthus sinensis]) and 2 rates of lambda-cyhalothrin (3.13 ml and 6.25 ml active ingredient [AI]/liter) on knockdown (1 h) and mortality (24 h) of adult female Aedes albopictus was evaluated over an 8-wk period. A significant difference in knockdown was observed between the 2 rates of lambda-cyhalothrin on the 5 plant species, with the highest proportion of knockdown observed on zebra grass and rhododendron treated at the higher rate. Although mortality was ≥60% and 85% on the 5 plant species at the low and high rates of lambda-cyhalothrin, respectively, a significant difference between the 2 rates was only observed on boxwood and Japanese honeysuckle (P < 0.0001). We also tested the residual toxicity of 3 barrier sprays (lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and deltamethrin) and evaluated the efficacy of a short (5-min) exposure to the insecticides on knockdown and mortality of adults over time. Significantly higher knockdown was observed with lambda-cyhalothrin compared with bifenthrin and deltamethrin (P < 0.0001). Mean knockdown was ∼98%, 92%, and 20% for lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and deltamethrin, respectively, at week 2, and ∼98%, 0%, and 44%, respectively, 8 wk after treatments were applied. Adult mortality from the 3 chemical treatments, however, remained above 90% throughout the study. Lastly, the trends in mean proportion of knockdown were similar for mosquitoes exposed for either 5 min or 24 h to the 3 chemicals. An overall decline in mean mortality over time, however, was observed for mosquitoes exposed for 5 min to the chemicals compared with mortality from the 24-h exposure. The results suggest that lambda-cyhalothrin can be an effective barrier spray treatment against Ae. albopictus adults because its efficacy is limited little by plant species, it has long residual toxicity, and it is effective following only 5 min of exposure.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 2446-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Sheard

Levels of lead-210, polonium-210, radium-226, and uranium are reported for 10 plant species (2 conifer, 4 shrub, 3 lichen, and 1 moss species) and soils in northern Saskatchewan. Two localities were studied in each of two regions, one uraniferous, the other not. Nonvascular species showed the highest levels of lead-210, polonium-210, and uranium, and the shrubs, the highest levels of radium-226. The lichen and moss species show no significant difference in accumulation of lead-210 and polonium-210 among regions, reflecting the assumed atmospheric distribution and particulate accumulation of these radionuclides. Seven of eight species for which comparisons could be made showed significant differences in uranium accumulation among regions. High levels in the lichen and moss species suggest that the primary source of uranium in these species is not directly from the soil. In contrast to the other radionuclides, radium-226 only showed significant differences among localities within regions, this being due to high accumulations occurring at one locality in the nonuraniferous region.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abiodun A. Denloye

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to investigate the bioactivity of powders, extracts, and essential oils fromAllium sativumL. (Alliaceae) andA. fistulosumL. (Liliaceae) against adults, eggs, and larvae ofCallosobruchus maculatusF. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). On the basis of 48 hr median lethal toxicity (LC50), test plant powders and extracts fromA. sativumwere more toxic toC. maculatusadults than those fromA. fistulosum. The 48 hrLC50values for the powder against the test insect species were 9.66 g/kg and 26.29 g/kg forA. sativumandA. fistulosum, respectively. Also the 48 hrLC50values obtained show that aqueous extracts of the test plant species, 0.11 g/L (A. sativum) and 0.411 g/L (A. fistulosum) were more toxic toC. maculatusthan the corresponding ethanol extracts. There was no significant difference in the toxicity of vapours from the two test plant species againstC. maculatus, althoughA. sativumgave lower values. The study shows thatA. sativumandA. fistulosumhave potentials for protecting stored cowpea from damage byC. maculatus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (13) ◽  
pp. 4193-4203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Xuefa Wen ◽  
Xinyu Zhang ◽  
Shenggong Li

Abstract. Coexisting plant species in a karst ecosystem may use diverse strategies of trade off between carbon gain and water loss to adopt to the low soil nutrient and low water availability conditions. An understanding of the impact of CO2 diffusion and maximum carboxylase activity of Rubisco (Vcmax) on the light-saturated net photosynthesis (A) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) can provide insight into physiological strategies of the water–carbon regulation of coexisting plant species used in adaptation to karst environments at the leaf scale. We selected 63 dominant species (across 6 life forms) in a subtropical karst primary forest in southwestern China, measured their CO2 response curves, and calculated the corresponding stomatal conductance to CO2 (gs), mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm), and Vcmax. The results showed that gs and gm varied about 7.6- and 34.5-fold, respectively, and that gs was positively related to gm. The contribution of gm to the leaf CO2 gradient was similar to that of gs. gs ∕ A, gm ∕ A and gt ∕ A was negatively related to Vcmax ∕ A. The relative limitations of gs (ls), gm (lm), and Vcmax (lb) to A for the whole group (combined six life forms) were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). lm was the largest (0.38 ± 0.12), followed by lb (0.34 ± 0.14), and ls (0.28 ± 0.07). No significant difference was found between ls, lm, and lb for trees and tree/shrubs, while lm was the largest, followed by lb and ls for shrubs, grasses, vines and ferns (P < 0.05). iWUE varied about 3-fold (from 29.52 to 88.92 µmol CO2 mol−1 H2O) across all species, and was significantly correlated with gs, Vcmax, gm ∕ gs, and Vcmax ∕ gs. These results indicated that karst plants maintained relatively high A and low iWUE through the covariation of gs, gm, and Vcmax as an adaptation to a karst environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 3238-3240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreea Cozea ◽  
Elena Bucur ◽  
Carol Blaziu Lehr ◽  
Luoana Florentina Pascu ◽  
Gheorghita Tanase

The study aims to assess the identification of the specific species of plants for selection of certain plant species and utilization of selected one�s in experimental biomonitoring studies.The purpose of the proposed study was to develop and apply new techniques, methods and methodologies for air quality assessing in the context of climate change and updating of international environmental studys. The novelty of the active biomonitoring method using plants is an innovative research area for the National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology in terms of the use of sentinel species. The first stage research activity was aimed to identify plant species with specific response to certain environmental pollutants, in our case, ozone. By exposing higher plants (from the Solanaceae family) to various environmental conditions, a direct impact measurement of ground-level ozone was considered - as an indicator of environmental pollution (air) - there was a significant difference relationship between soil level ozone variation and foliar necrosis.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1067
Author(s):  
Huong-Thi Bui ◽  
Uuriintuya Odsuren ◽  
Kei-Jung Kwon ◽  
Sang-Yong Kim ◽  
Jong-Cheol Yang ◽  
...  

High concentration of particulate matter (PM) threatens public health and the environment. Increasing traffic in the city is one of the main factors for increased PM in the air. Urban green spaces play an important role in reducing PM. In this study, the leaf surface and in-wax PM (sPM and wPM) accumulation were compared for 11 plant species widely used for landscaping in South Korea. In addition, biochemical characteristics of leaves (ascorbic acid chlorophyll content, leaf pH, and relative water content) were analyzed to determine air pollution tolerance. Plant species suitable for air quality improvement were selected based on their air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API). Results showed a significant difference according to the accumulation of sPM and wPM and the plant species. PM accumulation and APTI showed a positive correlation. Pinus strobus showed the highest PM accumulation and APTI values, while Cercis chinensis showed the lowest. In 11 plants, API was divided into five groups. Pinus densiflora was classified as the best group, while Cornus officinalis and Ligustrum obtusifolium were classified as not recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh Khanh Ly ◽  
Thao Phuong Bui ◽  
Phat Tien Do ◽  
Anh Van Thi Le ◽  
Phong Van Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Overexpression of GA20 oxidase gene has been a recent trend for improving plant growth and biomass. Constitutive expression of GA20ox has successfully improved plant growth and biomass in several plant species. However, the constitutive expression of this gene causes side-effects, such as reduced leaf size and stem diameters, etc. To avoid these effects, different tissue-specific promoters had been identified and employed for GA20ox overexpression. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of At1g, a root-preferential promoter, for GA20ox expression to enhance plant biomass in tobacco and Melia azedarach.Results: We examined the utility of At1g promoter to drive the expression of GUS (β-1,4-glucuronidase) reporter and GA20ox genes in tobacco and Melia azedarach. Histochemical GUS assays in tobacco showed that At1g was a root-preferential promoter whose expression was particularly strong in root tips. The ectopic expression of AtGA20ox gene under the control of At1g promoter showed the improved plant growth and biomass of both tobacco and M. azedarach transgenic plants compared to wild-type (WT) control plants. Stem length as well as stem and root fresh weights increased by up to 1.5-3 folds in transgenic tobacco and 2 folds in transgenic M. azedarach. Both tobacco and M. azedarach transgenic plants showed increases in the root xylem width, xylem over phloem ratio by 50%-100% as compared to WT plants. Importantly, no significant difference in the leaf shape and size was observed between At1g::AtGA20ox transgenic and WT plants. Moreover, transgenic M. azedarach showed a 135% increase in stem diameter even though no change was found in transgenic tobacco.Conclusions: These results demonstrate the great utility of At1g promoter, when driving AtGA20ox gene, for growth and biomass improvements in woody plants and potentially some other plant species.


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