Correlations among Important Fruit Quality and Plant Characteristics of Some Fig Genotypes

Experiments were carried to determine correlations of important fruit and plant characteristics using 30 fig genotypes. The correlation coefficients between these traits were calculated using SAS program. Fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, neck length, ostiolium width, abscission of the stalk from the twig, ease of peeling, fruit skin cracks, thickness of the fruit skin, texture of skin, fruit ribs, fruit internal cavity, TSS （total soluble solids）, pH, acidity, TSS/acidity, trunk diameter, shoot length, yield per tree were traits examined in the study. According to five-year data, fruit weight was found to have positive correlation by fruit diameter （r = 0.92; P 〈 0.01）, fruit length （r = 0.81; P 〈 0.01）, neck length （r = 0.35; P 〈 0.01）, ostiolium width （r = 0.23; P 〈 0.01）, trunk diameter （r = 0.26; P 〈 0.01）, fruit skin cracks （r = 0.26; P 〈 0.01） and negative correlation by TSS （r = -0.26; P 〈 0.01） and fruit ribs （r = -0.21; P 〈 0.01）. Relations between some traits such as ostiolium width, abscission of the stalk from the twig, ease of peeling, fruit skin cracks, texture of skin and fruit ribs are deviated based on the years. Some relationships between fig fruit characteristics exist, which may help researchers to solve some problems such as ostiolium width and fruit skin cracking. These studies may contribute to producing fruit with a good quality and help to evaluate new cultivars.

Variation of nectar production in relation to plant characteristics in protandrous Aconitum gymnandrum

Aims Floral nectar plays a vital role in plant reproductive success by attracting pollinators.Nectar traits of a flower can depend directly on plant characteristics other than environmental factors and exhibit extensive flower-and plant-level variations.studies on nectar traits frequently focused on intraplant variation for dichogamous plants,but few have paid attention to both intra-and interplant nectar variations in relation to plant characteristics.revealing within-and among-plant variation and its relative magnitude is important for our understanding of how pollinator-mediated selection can act on nectar traits and evolution of nectar traits.Methods Through investigating protandrous Aconitum gymnandrum populations at the alpine meadows and Wetland Ecosystems research station of lanzhou university,we examined the relationships between nectar production per flower and plant characteristics(e.g.flower position within inflorescences,flo-ral sexual phases,flowering time,inflorescence size and floral attractive traits).Important Findings A.gymnandrum exhibited a declining gradient in the nectar volume along inflorescences,with more nectar in basal flowers than distal ones.Protandrous flowers of A.gymnandrum did not show gender-biased nectar production while the nectar volume varied with differ-ent stages of floral sexual phases.The significant correlation between the first flowering date of individuals and the mean nectar volume per flower was positive in 2013,but became negative in 2014,sug-gesting complex effects of biotic and abiotic factors.The mean nectar volume per flower was not related to inflorescence size(the num-ber of total flowers per plant).Furthermore,nectar production was weakly associated with floral attractive traits(the petal width and the galea height),even if the effect of flowering time of individuals was removed,suggesting that the honesty of floral traits as signals of nec-tar reward for pollinators is not stable in this species.

Plant Community Characteristics of Trampling Disturbance Kobresia humilis Community along the Road in Naqu,Tibet

The change of plant community character during recovery succession processes of high mountain meadow in Naqu, Tibet, was investigated. The results show that there are 41 plant species in the inventoried quadrates. The high-plants in four big families plays important roles in natural vegetation recovery, while Kobresia play an important role in climax communities. The plant species components changed with each succession stage. The plant species were mainly annual and biennial during the early succession stage, and perennial during the medium; and dominated by Kobresia humilis during the late. Potentilla bifurca and Potentilla tanaletfolia were both found in all stages. The accumulated number of family, genus, and species during the succession process varied quadric with the stages. The main plant community characteristics varied logistically with the succession stages except the height. The community characteristics mainly affected by dominant species which were changed in same rhythms. The biomass under ground was far more than the upground. The plant diversity inflated in the medium stage.

Characteristics of Photosynthetic Fluorescence of Dominant Submerged Plants in Nanjishan Wetland of Poyang Lake in Winter

Based on the investigation of the species and frequency of submerged plants in Nanjishan Wetland of Poyang Lake in the winter of 2013,chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of the dominant submerged plants were studied using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging method. The results indicate that the major submerged plants of Nanjishan Wetland in Poyang Lake in winter included Hydrilla verticillata,Vallisneria natans,Najas minor,Potamogeton pectinatus,Nymphoides peltatum,Myriophyllum verticillatum and so on,and the dominant species were mainly H. verticillata and V. natans in different submerged plant communities. The chlorophyll content of H. verticillata is higher than that of V.natans,and the photosynthesis intensity of H. verticillata is stronger than that of V. natans. The value of Ca / Cb of H. verticillata is not large,which shows that the light-harvesting capacity of H. verticillata＇s chlorophyll is considerable in different sampling sites. The highest value of QY-max of V.natans is up to 0. 732,while the lowest value is only 0. 465; the highest value of QY-max of H. verticillata is 0. 677,while the lowest value is 0. 556.All values of QY-max of the submerged plants were lower than 0. 8,which shows that the submerged plants in Nanjishan Wetland of Poyang Lake may be subjected to certain external stress,which indicates that the external stress might cause some damage for the PSII reaction centers.

Characteristics of Rice Plant with Heavy Panicle

Using 15 indica rice varieties with different panicle weight, some ideal plant type characteristics in heavy panicle type of hybrid rice （HPT） and their relation to yield and its components were studied. Results showed that the leaf area index （LAI） of the HPT varieties was lower than that of medium panicle type （MPT） and light panicle type （LPT） varieties, but its decreasing rate of LAI and efficient LAI after heading was slower and had much higher percentage of efficient LAI, specific leaf weight, and ratio of grain to leaf area （cm^2） in comparison with the MPT and the LPT varieties. The length, width, thickness, and area of top three leaves of the HPT varieties were significantly larger than those of the MPT and the LPT varieties, and these components of top three leaves were significantly and positively correlated with the number of spikelets and filled grains, grain weight per panicle, and grain yield. The flag leaf in HPT varieties was erect with sorrow leaf angle, and their leaf angle of 2nd and 3rd leaf from top increased in sequence. The plant height of the HPT varieties was higher than that of the MPT and the LPT varieties, and their leaf site of top three leaves also increased in sequence. Therefore, HPT varieties as an ideal plant type could increase the utilization efficiency of sunlight energy. The ideal plant type characteristics and their adjuncts for the HPT varieties are proposed in this article.

Low Doses of Ionized Radiation and Hypomagnetic Field Alter Redox Properties of Water and Physiological Characteristics of Seeds of the Highest Plants

The influence of a 40-fold attenuated geomagnetic field and its combined action with low doses of α- and γ-irradiation on the physiological characteristics of seeds of the highest plants and redox properties of water was investigated. It established the reduction of seed germination both under direct and indirect effects due to water action of attenuated geomagnetic field. A negative effect of hypomagnetic field on grown characteristics of seeds under indirect effect via water was decreased by the low doses of γ-irradiation, and was increased by low doses of α-irradiation, i.e. ionized radiation was the dominant factor in their combined action. It was revealed the increasing of the value of the oxidation-reduction potential of water under the influence of low-intensive α-ir-radiation (239Pu), γ-irradiation (137Cs) and also that the magnetic induction attenuated pointing to a natural decline. The increasing of the oxidation-reduction potential value testifies about “the regular decreasing of internal energy of water molecules” and the increasing of its oxidative properties, which, in our opinion, is caused the inhibition of the germination of seeds. It is supposed that namely water is the main component in the effects of studying factors on bio-objects, which acts due to the alterations of the properties and structural content of water.

Biomass growth characteristics of 13-year-old Pinus densiflora S.et Z.in a post-fire plantation on different contour conditions in Samcheuk,Korea

We used preliminary data to estimate the growth volume of artificially reforested Pinus densiflora in a post-fire area on three different contour conditions. We compared the growth of P. densiflora on a south-facing slope(Ssth), north-facing slope(Snth) and ridge area(Ridge), using 7 trees selected from each stand aspect. The tree height, diameter and growth volume were measured and the dry weight of each plant part were compared and analyzed. The results revealed that the total dry weight was highest on Ssth(5992.3 g), followed by Snth(4833.2 g) and lowest on Ridge(3160.1 g). The height growth was highest on Snth(285.8 cm), followed by Ssth(274.5 cm) and lowest on Ridge(211.5 cm). The diameter growth was greatest on Ssth(7.37 cm), followed by Snth(7.10 cm) and lowest on Ridge(5.72 cm). The volume growth was highest on Ssth(4257.7 cm3), followed by Snth(3750.7 cm3) and lowest on Ridge(2093.7 cm3). Therefore, we should consider and include the concept of slope orientation together with differences in habitat environments in afforestation projects when creating artificial forests with P. densiflora. These study results can serve as important preliminary data for future establishment of artificial forest of P. densiflora in a post-fire plantation.

Vegetation characteristics and soil properties of artificially remediated grasslands:The case study of the Shimenhe mining area in Qilian Mountains,northwest China

The mining of limestone mines plays a crucial role in societal and economic advancement.However,mining activities have led to destructive variations in grassland ecology and soil,causing numerous environmental problems,and effective artificial restoration measures have been used to restore grasslands in the Shimenhe mining areas to different degrees.In this study,we investigated,examined and analyzed plant community structure and its correlation with soil properties across varying degrees of alpine grassland restoration in Qilian Mountains Shimenhe restoration mines using the sample method,and studied the changes in species diversity using five diversity indexes(Simpson index,Shannon index,Margalef index,Dominance index and Evenness index).This study showed that the plant community characteristics with high recovered degree(HRD)> middle recovered degree(MRD)> low recovered degree(LRD)> very low recovered degree(VLRD),11 plant genera comprising 11 species across 10 families were identified.Dominant families with robust ecological adaptability included Leguminosae,Rosaceae,Gramineae,Asteraceae,and Salicaceae.The highest Simpson,Shannon,Margalef and Evenness index of HRD grassland community species were 0.82,1.96,1.66 and 0.89,respectively.The highest Dominance index of VLRD grassland community species was 0.34,which required several restoration methods such as spraying and mulching.Soil pH and EC tended to decrease with increasing restoration,SOC,SMC,TP,AP,NH4-N,TN,AN and NO3-N tended to increase and the content of soil environmental factors contributed to vegetation growth across various restoration levels the mine grassland.In conclusion,our study indicated that the community structure gradually diversified and soil properties changed positively with the increase of restoration degrees in the Qilian Mountains Shimenhe mine,and the best results of HRD restoration were obtained.This study provides the theoretical basis for the restoration and conservation of grasslands in mining areas by demonstrating examined the correlation between plant characteristics and soil properties in restored grasslands in alpine mining areas.

重金属短期胁迫下5种观赏植物积累特性与生理抗性研究

采用盆栽试验研究不同处理浓度下铅镉胁迫对斑叶龟背竹、多花白鹤芋、麒麟叶、金钻、银叶合果芋5种观赏植物的积累特性与生理抗性的影响。结果表明:在高浓度处理下,5种观赏植物地上部与根系的Pb积累量为:麒麟叶>斑叶龟背竹>金钻>多花白鹤芋>银叶合果芋;Cd积累量为:斑叶龟背竹>麒麟叶>金钻>多花白鹤芋>银叶合果芋。斑叶龟背竹、多花白鹤芋、麒麟叶叶片中可溶性蛋白的含量随着铅处理浓度的增加而增加,而金钻、银叶合果芋含量减少,除了多花白鹤芋之外,其他4种植物可溶性蛋白含量随着镉处理浓度的增加而减少;随着铅镉处理浓度的增加,斑叶龟背竹、多花白鹤芋、麒麟叶、金钻叶片游离脯氨酸含量呈现上升趋势,而银叶合果芋呈现先递增后下降的趋势;在铅镉胁迫条件下,5种观赏植物叶片丙二醛含量和相对电导率均不同程度增加。5种观赏植物抗重金属铅能力为斑叶龟背竹>金钻>多花白鹤芋>麒麟叶>银叶合果芋;抗重金属镉能力为金钻>斑叶龟背竹>多花白鹤芋>麒麟叶>银叶合果芋。

A full-scale integrated-bioreactor with two zones treating odours from sludge thickening tank and dewatering house： performance and microbial characteristics

A full-scale integrated-bioreactor consisting of a suspended zone and an immobilized zone was employed to treat the ordours emitted from a wastewater treatment plant. The inlet concentrations of H,S and NH3 were 1.6-38.6 mg.m-3 and 0.1 6.7 mg.m-3 respectively, while the steady-state outlet concentrations were reduced to 0-2.8mg.m - for H2S and 0-0.5mg.m for NH3. BothH2SandNH3 were eliminated effectively by the integrated-bioreactor. The removal efficiencies of H2S and NH3 differed between the two zones. Four species of microorganisms related to the degradation of H2S and NH3 were isolated. The characteristics and distributions of the microbes in the bioreactor depended on the inlet concentration of substrates and the micro-environmental conditions in the individual zones. Product analysis indicated that most of the H2S was oxidized into sulfate in the immobilized zone but was dissolved into the liquid phase in the suspended zone. A large amount of NH3 was converted into nitrate and nitrite by nitration in the suspended zone, whereas only a small amount of NH3 was transferred to the aqueous phase mainly by absorption or chemical neutralization in the immobilized zone. Different microbial populations dominated the individual zones, and the major biodegradation products varied accordingly.

Reducing residues of tetracycline and its resistance genes in soil-maize system and improving plant growth:Selecting the best remediation substance

Tetracycline(TC)and tetracycline resistance genes(TRGs)in plant edible tissues pose a potential risk to the environment and then to human health.This study used a pot experiment to investigate the effects of different remediation substances(worm castings,fungal chaff,microbial inoculum,and biochar)on the physiological characteristics of maize and the residues of TC and TRGs in the soil-maize system under TC stress.The results showed that TC significantly inhibited growth,disrupted the antioxidant defense system balance,and increased proline and malondialdehyde contents of maize plants.Tetracycline residue contents were significantly higher in root than in shoot,and followed the order root>stem-leaf>grain,which was consistent with the distribution of bioconcentration factors in the different organs of maize plants.The TC residue content in the soil under different treatments was 0.013–1.341 mg kg-1.The relative abundances of different antibiotic resistance genes in the soil-maize system varied greatly,and in maize plants followed the order intI1>tetW>tetG>tet B>tetM>tetX>tetO.In the soil,tetX had the highest relative abundance,followed by tetG and tetW.A redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that TC was positively correlated with TRGs.The addition of different remediation substances alleviated the toxicity of TC on maize physiological characteristics and reduced the TC and TRG residues in the soil-maize system,with biochar being the best remediation substance.These results provide new insights into the effect of biochar on the migration of TC and TRGs from soil to plants.

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Fields with Different Wheat and Rice Varieties

Plant species of cropping systems may affect nitrous oxide （N2O） emissions. A field experiment was conducted to investigate dynamics of N2O emissions from rice-wheat fields from December 2006 to June 2007 and the relationships of soil and plant parameters with N2O emissions. The results indicated that N2O emissions from different wheat varieties ranged front 12 to 291 Ixg N2O-N m-2 h 1 and seasonal N2O emissions ranged from 312 to 385 mg N2O-N m -2 In the rice season, it was from 11 to 154 μg N2O-N m-2 h-1 with seasonal N2O emission of 190-216 mg N2O-N m-2. The seasonal integrated flux of N2O differed significantly among wheat and rice varieties showed higher seasonal N2O emissions. In the wheat season, N2O The wheat variety HUW 234 and rice variety Joymoti emissions correlated with soil organic carbon （SOC）, soil NO3-N, soil temperature, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Among the variables assessed, soil temperature followed by SOC and soil NO3-N were considered as the important variables influencing N2O emission. N2O emission in the rice season was significantly correlated with SOC, soil NO3-N, soil temperature, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. The main driving forces influencing N2O emission in the rice season were soil NO3-N, leaf area, and SOC.

Mercury mass flow in iron and steel production process and its implications for mercury emission control

The iron and steel production process is one of the predominant anthropogenic sources of atmospheric mercury emissions worldwide. In this study, field tests were conducted to study mercury emission characteristics and mass flows at two iron and steel plants in China. It was found that low-sulfur flue gas from sintering machines could contribute up to41% of the total atmospheric mercury emissions, and desulfurization devices could remarkably help reduce the emissions. Coal gas burning accounted for 17%–49% of the total mercury emissions, and therefore the mercury control of coal gas burning, specifically for the power plant burning coal gas to generate electricity, was significantly important. The emissions from limestone and dolomite production and electric furnaces can contribute29.3% and 4.2% of the total mercury emissions from iron and steel production. More attention should be paid to mercury emissions from these two processes. Blast furnace dust accounted for 27%–36% of the total mercury output for the whole iron and steel production process. The recycling of blast furnace dust could greatly increase the atmospheric mercury emissions and should not be conducted. The mercury emission factors for the coke oven,sintering machine and blast furnace were 0.039–0.047 g Hg/ton steel, and for the electric furnace it was 0.021 g Hg/ton steel. The predominant emission species was oxidized mercury, accounting for 59%–73% of total mercury emissions to air.