Root phosphatase activity is a competitive trait affiliated with the conservation gradient in root economic space

Background:The diversity of resource acquisition strategies of plant roots determines the species coexistence patterns to a certain extent.However,few root physiological traits have been investigated,such as root phosphatase activity(PA)that affects plant phosphorus(P)uptake.Methods:Root PA and classical root functional traits were investigated for 21 coexisting species in a deciduous broad-leaved forest in warm temperate-subtropical transition zone,China.We analyzed the root order variation of absorptive fine root PA,clarified the attribution of root PA in root economic space(RES)and the different P acquisition strategies of co-occurring species based on the multidimensional RES theory,and determined the dominant factors affecting interspecific variation in root PA.Results:There was no distinct pattern of PA variation with root order in the first three root orders of absorptive fine roots,and root PA was constrained by phylogeny.Root PA is a competitive trait affiliated with the conservation gradient in RES.The tight linkages among root PA,mycorrhizal colonization,diameter,specific root length,and nitrogen concentration suggested trade-offs among P acquisition strategies of co-occurring species,i.e.species with long and fine roots acquire inorganic P by actively exploring the soil and secreting phosphatase to mineralize and hydrolyze organic P,while species with short and thick roots obtain P mainly by investing C in mycorrhizal partners.Conclusions:Collectively,our study provides an insight into the forest species coexistence in climatic transition zones,i.e.species coexistence mechanisms based on diverse phosphorus acquisition strategies.

The basic theories of traffic economic belt (TEB)and its life-circle pattern

With the development of productive forces. the space evolution of regional economicSystem keeps closer links with the traffic transport line. A kind of linear space regional scathetic bodyforms constantly and develops rapidly. Relying on the traffic trunk lines, it aggregates and diffusesconstantly.At the same time, it mixes population, industry, town, interflow of commodities, interflowof energy and interflow of information together.This unique space regional synthetic body is calledtraffic economic belt (TEB). In the paper, the basic concepts, types and qualities of TEB wereelaborated and the life-circle theory was put forward creatively.

Breeding against mycorrhizal symbiosis:Modern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties perform more poorly than older varieties except at very high phosphorus supply levels

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an importantfiber cash crop,but its root traits related to phosphorus (P) acquisition,including mycorrhizal root traits,are poorly understood.Eight cotton varieties bred in northwestern China that were released between 1950 and 2013 were grown in pots with or without one arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species(Funneliformis mosseae) at three P supply levels (0,50 and 300 mg P as KH_(2)PO_(4)kg^(-1)).Eleven root traits were measured and calculated after 7 wk of growth.The more recent accessions had smaller root diameters,acquired less P and produced less biomass,indicating an (inadvertent) varietal selection for thinner roots that provided less cortical space for AMF,which then increased the need for a high P fertilizer level.At the two lower P levels,the mycorrhizal plants acquired more P and produced more biomass than non-mycorrhizal plants (3.2 vs.0.9 mg P per plant;1.8 vs.0.9 g biomass per plant at P_(0);14.5 vs.1.7 mg P per plant;and 4.7 vs.1.6 g biomass per plant at P_(50)).At the highest P level,the mycorrhizal plants acquired more P than non-mycorrhizal plants (18.8 vs.13.4 mg per P plant),but there was no difference in biomass (6.2 vs.6.3 g per plant).At the intermediate P level,root diameter was significantly positively correlated with shoot biomass,P concentration and the P content of mycorrhizal plants.The results of our study support the importance of the outsourcing model of P acquisition in the root economics space framework.Inadvertent varietal selection in the last decades,resulting in thinner roots and a lower benefit from AMF,has led to a lower productivity of cotton varieties at moderate P supply (i.e.,when mycorrhizal,the average biomass of older varieties 5.0 g per plant vs.biomass of newer varieties 4.4 g per plant),indicating the need to rethink cotton breeding efforts in order to achieve high yields without very high P input.One feasible way to solve the problem of inadvertent varietal selection for cotton is to be aware of the trade-offs between the root do-it-yourself strategy and the outsourcing towards AMF strategy,and to consider both morphological and mycorrhizal root traits when breeding cotton varieties.

Methodological Framework of Financial Analysis Results Objectification in Slovak Republic

The applicability of financial analysis results meets in practice a serious problem as to how to objectify analysis results with regard to the comparable values and information sources. Financial analysis results cannot be taken as useful and acceptable without their objectification on the basis of chosen reference rates, values. The article is focused on key information about financial analysis objectification methods, sources, and databases in conditions of Slovak enterprises. Current database for the comparison in Slovakia is currently provided by the company CRIF - Slovak Credit Bureau, which provides a complete range of solutions for business and consumer information as well as credit and marketing management. This information is very useful for financial analysis objectification, but not available for all potential users.

Understanding spatial structures and organizational patterns of city networks in China: A highway passenger flow perspective

The use of multi-perspective and multi-scalar city networks has gradually developed into a range of critical approaches to understand spatial interactions and linkages. In particular, road linkages represent key characteristics of spatial dependence and distance decay, and are of great significance in depicting spatial relationships at the regional scale. Therefore, based on highway passenger flow data between prefecture-level administrative units, this paper attempted to identify the functional structures and regional impacts of city networks in China, and to further explore the spatial organization patterns of the existing functional regions, aiming to deepen our understanding of city network structures and to provide new cognitive perspectives for ongoing research. The research results lead to four key conclusions. First, city networks that are based on highway flows exhibit strong spatial dependence and hierarchical characteristics, to a large extent spatially coupled with the distributions of major megaregions in China. These phenomena are a reflection of spatial relationships at regional scales as well as core-periphery structure. Second, 19 communities that belong to an important type of spatial configuration are identified through community detection algorithm, and we suggest they are correspondingly urban economic regions within urban China. Their spatial metaphors include the administrative region economy, spatial spillover effects of megaregions, and core-periphery structure. Third, each community possesses a specific city network system and exhibits strong spatial dependence and various spatial organization patterns. Regional patterns have emerged as the result of multi-level, dynamic, and networked characteristics. Fourth, adopting a morphology-based perspective, the regional city network systems can be basically divided into monocentric, dual-nuclei, polycentric, and low-level equilibration spatial structures, while most are developing monocentrically.