Comparative studies on leaf epidermal micromorphology and mesophyll structure of Elaeagnus angustifolia L.in two different regions of desert habitat

In order to obtain qualitative and quantitative characteristics of leaf epidermal micromorphology and mesophyll structure to evaluate the responses ofElaeagnus angustifolia L. to different environmental factors, epidermal micromorphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and mesophyll structure was studied by light microscopy （LM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. Materials were selected from Linze County, Gansu Province （material A） and Qitai County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region （material B） of China. Results show that lamina thickness was higher in material A, with one layer of epidermal cells in both adaxial and abaxial surfaces, and epidermal cell radial length was significantly longer in the adaxial surface. E. angustifolia leaves are typically bifacial, with a higher ratio of palisade to spongy tissue in material A. The thickness of trichome layer of epidermis was thicker in material A. In contrast, cell wall and cuticular wax of the epidermal cells were thinner in material A than in material B. Chloroplast ultrastructure was different with the approximate spherical chloroplast containing numerous starch grains and osmiophilic granules in ma- terial A, while only the spindly chloroplast contained starch grains in material B. Multiple layers of peltate or stel- late-peltate trichomes occupied both leaf surfaces in material A and the abaxial surface in material B, while the adaxial surface of material B contained few trichomes. Stomata were not observed on the leaf surfaces in materials A and B by SEM because of trichome obstruction. Our results indicate that the leaf structure of E. angustifolia is closely correlated with environmental factors, and the combination of leaf epidermal micromorphology and mesophyll structure afford re- sistance to environmental stress.

Growth and aggregation micromorphology of natural gas hydrate particles near gas-liquid interface under stirring condition

To investigate the morphological evolution of the whole growth and aggregation processes of hydrate crystals near the gas–liquid interface,we used a high-pressure visual reactor with high-speed camera to capture the micromorphology of hydrate particles in a natural gas+pure water system with pressure from 2.6 to 3.6 MPa and sub-cooling from 4.7 to 6.23C.The results showed that under low sub-cooling conditions,the amount and size of particles increased first and then decreased in the range of 0–330 lm,and the small particles always dominated.These particles can be roughly classified into two categories:planar flake particles and polyhedral solid particles.Then,the concept of maximum growth dominant particle size was proposed to distinguish the morphological boundary of growth and aggregation.In addition,the micro model was established to better reflect the effects of particle formation process and evolution mechanism near the gas–liquid interface under stirring condition.The results of this study can provide a guidance for flow assurance in multiphase pipeline.

Direct image-based fractal characterization of micromorphology of calcium carbonate fouling crystals

Researches on macroscopic fouling behavior and micromorphology are usually conducted separately.In this paper,the relationship between the macroscopic fouling behavior and micromorphology on different materials is established.A direct fractal-characterization approach based on the micrographs of calcium carbonate fouling crystals is presented.The box-counting method is used to characterize the fouling crystals.For fractal measurements,t-distribution tests of linear regression hypothesis are performed at the significance level of 0.01.If all listed absolute t-statistics with the minimum of 164 are higher than the corresponding t value,the fouling crystals are determined as fractal,with a confidence level of 99%.The fractal dimensions obtained from the micrographs of different visual fields of a specimen are demonstrated to be almost identical,with maximum and minimum relative values of 4.42%and 0.75%,respectively,and standard deviations ranging from 0.0062 to 0.0266.The irregularity of the crystal morphology indicates larger fractal dimensions.Comparison and analysis of the relationship between macroscopic fouling behavior and micromorphology show that the larger fractal dimension of crystal morphology suggests a small amount of surface fouling.Thus,the reasons for the differences in the macroscopic fouling behaviors of different materials are revealed geometrically.

Micromorphology and Quality Attributes of the Loess Derived Soils Affected by Land Use Change:A Case Study in Ghapan Watershed,Northern Iran

In order to study the effects of different land vegetative covers on soil quality attributes, a loess hill slope was selected in eastern Golestan Province, Ghapan watershed, Iran. Four profiles in four land uses, including Quercus natural forest; Pinus artificial forest; Cupressus artificial forest and a cultivated land, were studied. Results showed that MWD was significantly different in the studied land uses, and it varied between 1.6 mm in Quercus natural forest and o.31 mm in cultivated land use. The lowest CEC, microbial respiration rate and organic carbon were 28.4 cmol·kg^1, 177 μgCO2·g^-1·day^-1 and 1.32 % found in cultivated land use, respectively. The organic matter was considerably higher content in the forest areas than that of cultivated land use. The studies on soil profile development revealed that the natural forest soils were highly developed. The soils of the Quercus natural forest were classified as Calcic Haploxeralfs with a well developed argillie horizon unlike the cultivated soils which showed the minimum development and classified as Typic Xerorthents. The soils of the artificial forests had both mollic epipedons and were classified as Typic Calcixerolls with moderate profile development. Micromorphological studies revealed that argillic horizons had speckled and partly crystallitic b-fabric in the natural forest indicating the high landscape stability. In contrast, the crystallitic b-fabric of other land uses shows the absence of enough leaching of carbonate and the subsequent migration of clay particles indicating the unstable conditions and high soil erosion. Intense erosion of the surface horizons of cultivated land use has resulted in the outcropping of the subsurface carbonate rich horizons preventing soil development.

Integration of SEM/WDX elemental mapping and micromorphology to determine mineralogical traits of peat soils(case study：Northern Iran)

We explored the potential use of combining wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(WDX) and micromorphology of thin sections to identify minerals in peat soils. Peat soil minerals from three peats and swamps across Golestan Province in northern Iran were first characterized by micromorphological studies. Soils were composed mainly of quartz, muscovite, biotite, pyroxene,sericitized Fe-nodules, and iron-rich garnet. In addition,micromorphological results indicated that Galougah Coastal Swamp sections contained some inorganic residue with biological origin including oyster and limpet, which may be related to the swamp's location near Gorgan Gulf.In order to determine mineralogical properties of samples,twelve unknown grains were chosen for elemental concentration map studies. Quartz, garnet, ilmenite, calcite,and pyroxene in Suteh samples; epidote and Fe-nodule in Ghaleh-Ghafeh Peat Swamp; and barite, phyllosilicates,and calcite in Galougah were identified by WDX mapping of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, C, Ba, S, and Ti. Composition of the oysters' body was also analyzed by WDX for Si, Ca, Fe,and C. The results indicated that most of the minerals in all sections likely formed through weathering, inheriting their composition from the parent rock. This research suggests that merging micromorphology and SEM/WDX image techniques can be useful in confirming the presence of mineral particles in soil science.

Effect of SPM Scanning Range on the Micromorphology Parameters

The surface of a compact disk is analyzed by using SPM and the quantitative micromorphology analysissoftware SPMIAS developed by the author. Images at the same position but with different scanning ranges areobtained under the same experimental conditions. Micromorphology parameters are calculated and compared, andthe relationship between the changing of the scanning range and the changing of micromorphology parameters issummarized.

Development of SPM Quantitative Micromorphology Analysis Software

Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) has great advantages in quantitative micromorphology analysis because of its conveniencein obtaining micromorphology information of materials on nanometer or atomic scale under control of a computer. Based on an established SPM quantitative micromorphology analysis model, an SPM image analysis software Which can calculate both two- and three-dimensional micromorphology parameters is developed.

Modulations in seed micromorphology reveal signature of adaptive species-diversification in <i>Dendrobium</i>(Orchidaceae)

During speciation in flowering plants, many morphological characters were evolved in response to continuous selection pressure. Such characters are largely governed by genetic changes or get modulated according to ecological adaptations. To explore the potential of latter, a novel comparative analysis of seed micromorphology and ultrastructure was performed in twenty species in the genus Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) from well-defined altitude based phytogeographical realms i.e. temperate, subtropical and tropical regions. Seed morphological characteristics from all collected species were examined using 13 quantitative traits descriptors. Comparative seed morphology revealed that the species from temperate region have larger seed volumes and seed volume/embryo volume ratio than species from subtropical or tropical regions irrespective of their phylogenetic association. Hence, phylogenetically related species emphasized their preference for a climatic region as their prime habitat. Similar trends towards gradual increase of percentage free air space were observed in the species of tropical to subtropical and subtropical to temperate regions. The higher percentage of free air space may have an advantage for the species from temperate region with relatively low atmospheric pressure that had greater buoyancy for optimal seed dispersal. Also, phylogenetically distant species from a particular climatic region, showed characteristic features of the testa cell walls sculptured with bead-like orna-mentations or covered with cottony white substances. Based on these observations, it may be concluded that seed volume, % free air space and seed coat ornamentation in Dendrobium species are signatures of adaptation according to climatic preferences rather than their selection during speciation.

Micromorphology and texture of niobium coating electrodeposited in NaCl−KCl−CsCl molten salt system

A low-toxicity and environment-friendly NaCl−KCl−CsCl−K_(2)NbF_(7) system was used to prepare Nb coatings on Mo substrates.The effects of temperature,current density and electrodeposition time on the micromorphologies and textures of the electrodeposited Nb coatings were studied.The results showed that Nb coatings obtained at 30−70 mA/cm^(2) in the temperature range of 700−750℃ were continuous and compact,with a hardness range of 2.16−2.45 GPa.As the columnar crystals grew with time,the preferential growth orientations of the Nb coatings changed from<200>to<211>and then became disordered.With increasing polarization,the morphologies of the Nb coatings changed from hexagonal star-like surface to conical or pyramid-like surface.

Micromorphology and Maturation of the Yellow Granules in the Hornet Gastral Cuticle

The yellow granules in the gastral cuticle of the Oriental hornet Vespa oriental＆ （Hymenoptera, Vespinae） are located in yellow stripes. In the present study, we focus on the micromorphology and formation of the yellow granules from their inception to their spread in the regions which are destined to acquire a yellow color, The cuticle was observed with several methods of electron microscopy. The results showed that the yellow granules comprise a layer which is 20-25 μm thick, within the total cuticular thickness of 40-45 μm. In the mentioned regions one can see, from above, many apertures of about 0.5μm in diameter which extends into a peripheral photoreceptor cell. In each yellow granule, one discerns a myoid envelope inside which there are 9 fibrils arranged in a circle. Yellow granules maturation process involves infiltration of canals that give rise to the incipient ball-shaped primary granules which increase in number （as a result of continues budding off the walls of a canal） as the cuticle matures and transform into secondary barrel shaped granules, becoming elongated and then splitting into shorter barrels that fill up the entire area. Preliminary examinations have suggested liver-like function activity within the layer of yellow granules.

Micromorphology of Leaf Epidermal Cells of Different Species of Cynodon dactylon in Pastoral Soil

To identify suitable grass species for growth in the Jianghan Plain,the micromorphologies of the upper and lower epidermis of the leaves of 14 bermudagrass varieties of Cynodon dactylon were investigated,and the number,length,and width of long and short cells and stomata were measured.The results showed that the anticlinal wall of epidermal cells looked like waves and the stoma was distributed in the upper and lower epidermis.However,the various indicators of the leaf epidermis of different species of Cd were significantly different.The length and width of long cells and the length of short cells of Cd Mohawk,Cd Suncity,and wild type Cd were relatively large,which may improve their ability to adapt to the pastoral soil and make them suitable for the rainy environment of the Jianghan Plain.On the contrary,the results of all indicators of Cd Xinnong 1,Cd hulled,and Cd unhulled ranked at the bottom,which was not suitable for pastoral soil habitats,while the wild type Cd could adapt to both the pastoral soil and the vegetation concrete habitat.Moreover,the long cells and short cells of Cd Kashi were tightly arranged,and the stoma in Cd Pyramid and Cd hulled were more dense,which may improve their ability to adapt to an arid environment.

Effect of Seed-coating Agents on Rice Seeds with Dehiscent Glumes

In order to improve the utilization efficiency of hybrid rice seeds, the effects of seed-coating agents on hybrid rice seeds with dehiscent glumes were investigated. Total six kinds of seed-coating agents were selected, i.e., 20.5% imidacloprid ·prochloraz FS, 30.5% imidacloprid oprochloraz FS, 23.0% thiamethoxam · hymexazol·prochloraz FS, Ruisheng WS, Shileshi FS and Liangdun FS, and their effects of seeds of Longliangyou Huazhan and T You 272 were investigated. The results showed that when the percentage of glume-dehiscent seeds reached 10%, 20.5% imidacloprid .prochloraz significantly improved the germination rate of Longliangyou Huazhan, which was 4.33% higher than that in the control group, and the seedling rate of Longliangyou Huazhan remained unchanged; 30.5% imidacloprid. prochloraz did not improved the germination rate of T You 272, but improved its seedling rate, which was 7.66% higher than that in the control group. When the percentage of glume-dehiscent seeds reached 20%, 20.5% imidacloprid ·prochloraz and 30.5% imidacloprid.prochloraz improved the germination rate of T You 272 by 3.50% and 4.83%, respectively, and its seedling rate did not decline. In conclusion, seed-coating agents have certain repair effect on glume-dehiscent rice seeds; 20.5% imidacloprid ·prochloraz and 30.5% imidacloprid ·prochloraz could improve the efficiency of Longliangyou Huazhan and T You 272 with small amounts of glume-dehiscent seeds.

Micromorphological Features of Old Cultivated and Modern Soils in Guanzhong Areas, Shaanxi Province, China

Using the data obtained from the LGT soil profile, this article attempts to illustrate the process of modem soil formation in the Guanzhong areas and its micromorphological features. The micromorphology is observed under a petrographic microscope, and its image is quantitatively measured by LEICAL Qwin 2.6 software. Micromorphological observations of the thin sections show that the assemblage of minerals in different horizons is very similar, which is mainly composed of Q and P1. However, there are obvious differences in C/F15μm ratio, mineral content, and coarse features. The pedofeatures is mainly composed of clay, calcite, and amorphous Fe. Ap horizon is characterized by abundant needleshaped secondary calcite, secondary clay, and earthworm fecal pellet. BC horizon is characterized by a large quantity of secondary calcite with various shapes. Bt1and Bt2 horizons are characterized by abundant clay hypocoatings and a small quantity of secondary calcite. All the results of this research suggest that Earth-cumulic Orthic Anthrosols consist of both the upper Ap horizon, which cause loessal dung and eolian dust deposition, and cultivation occurs simultaneously during the process of Ap horizon-formation, and the lower BC horizon, which is aeolian sedimentary at the time of relative aridity during late Holocene.

Micromorphological characterization and random reconstruction of 3D particles based on spherical harmonic analysis

The microscopic characteristics of skeletal particles in rock and soil media have important effects on macroscopic mechanical properties. A mathematical procedure called spherical harmonic function analysis was here developed to characterize micromorphology of particles and determine the meso effects in a discrete manner. This method has strong mathematical properties with respect to orthogonality and rotating invariance. It was used here to characterize and reconstruct particle micromorphology in three-dimensional space. The applicability and accuracy of the method were assessed through comparison of basic geometric properties such as volume and surface area. The results show that the micromorphological characteristics of reproduced particles become more and more readily distinguishable as the reproduced order number of spherical harmonic function increases, and the error can be brought below 5% when the order number reaches 10. This level of precision is sharp enough to distinguish the characteristics of real particles. Reconstructed particles of the same size but different reconstructed orders were used to form cylindrical samples, and the stress-strain curves of these samples filled with different-order particles which have their mutual morphological features were compared using PFC3D. Results show that the higher the spherical harmonic order of reconstructed particles, the lower the initial compression modulus and the larger the strain at peak intensity. However, peak strength shows only a random relationship to spherical harmonic order. Microstructure reconstruction was here shown to be an efficient means of numerically simulating of multi-scale rock and soil media and studying the mechanical properties of soil samples.

Comparison of Micromorphological Features of Two Agricultural Cultivated Soils in Guanzhong Areas, Shaanxi Province, China

By comparing micromorphological features of irrigated and non-irrigated soils in Guanzhong areas, China, this paper tries to illustrate the influences of farming management methods on the soil-forming process. The micromorphology was observed under a petrographic microscope and its image was quantificationally measured by Nikon NISBR 2.2 software. Both irrigated and non-irrigated soils have the same soil profile pattern, Ap1- AP2- BC, but the former has a more obvious profile dissimilation. The minerals assemblage of soil profiles A and B are very similar, which is mainly composed of Q and P1. Compared with non-irrigated soil, grains of irrigated soil remarkably decrease in length, area, eqdiameter, perimeter, elongation, roundness, and C/F10μm ratio; voids are characterized by more regular void shape and more smooth void wall; there is more abundant residual clay and small amount of illuvial clay. All results in this study suggest that the farming management method has influences on soil profile dissimilation and micromorphology. Agricultural irrigation could strengthen the degree of weathering, make smaller and rounder soil grains, cause a significant increase of residual clay and appearance of illuvial clay. But no significant change has been observed in the minerals assemblage of coarse grains.

Zonal Distribution of the Erosion-Landslide and Soil Micromorphological Features in Purple Hilly Region

In the purple hilly region, erosions and landslides are all serious, and it is of great scientific value and practical significance to study their formation mechanism and distribution features there. In this paper, soil micromorphological methods and techniques were used to study the erosion zonal distribution in the region. The results indicated: (1) According to erosion process, the spacial distribution zones of the erosions and landslides in the purple hilly region with different solums were divided into scouring erosion zone, transport-diffusion zone, rocks and soil turbulence zone and sediment-bury zone; (2) The soil micromorphologic taxonomic feature identifying different erosion-landslide zone were found by studying the soil micromorphology of erosive zone in purple hilly region; (3) As for the erosion–landslide formation in the region, besides the external factors, the internal factors were found more important and favorable for landslide formation through the studies on the micormorphological features of slide soil.

Effect and Mechanism of Cold Tolerant Seed-Coating Agents on the Cold Tolerance of Early Indica Rice Seedlings

To better understand the effect and mechanism of cold tolerant seed-coating agents on the cold tolerance of rice seedlings, the physiological and biochemical effects of four cold tolerant seed-coating agents （HET, YKJ, YKZYJ, and the ABA seed coating agents） on two early indica rice varieties were studied under chilling stress. The results showed that the rice seedlings treated with cold tolerant seed-coating agents under chilling stress maintained dramatically higher root vigor, POD, CAT and SOD activities, and chlorophyll content, had lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage, and accumulated more soluble sugar and free proline, when compared with the control without the treatment, and finally showed lower plant injury rate. It was indicated that the cold tolerant seed coating agent improved the ability of rice seedlings in resisting to chilling stress. YKZYJ was ranked the first in terms of the efficiency in cold tolerance among the four cold tolerant seed-coating agents tested.

Micromorphological Features of Diagnostic Horizons in Several soils in Southwest China: Implication for Soil Taxonomic Classification

The comparative studies on micromorphological features in diagnostic horizons of Stagnic Anthrosols, Ustic Ferrosols and Ustic Vertosols in southwestern China were conducted to underpin the rationale for Chinese Soil Taxonomy. The following findings were explored: (1) Stagnic Anthrosols had the specific micromorphological features, e.g., the humic formation in anthrostagnic epipedon, the platy structures in plow subhorizon, the secondary formation of ferromanganese and the weakly optical-orientation clay domains in hydragric horizon, etc.: (2) The groundmasses of ferric horizon in Ustic Ferrosols appeared in hue of 2.5YR or redder, and had pellicular grain structure; (3) Ustic Vertosols had a crust horizon (Acr), and crack structure dominated in Acr and angular blocky structure in disturbed horizon; (4) Because of the distinct differences in micromorphological features among these three soils, the specific micromorphological features might be employed as diagnostic horizons to differentiate soils while the quantifiable micromorphological features might potentially be selected as diagnostic indices for Chinese soil taxonomic classification.

Historical Development in Soil Micromorphological Imaging

The book ＂micropedolog＂ by Kubieana and a large number of publications has induced many people to practice soil micromorphology. Quantification of the soil fabric and its components was a major challenge. The use of the image analyses in soil science was a breakthrough. Attempts to make soil thin sections go back to the beginning of the 2oth century. Microscopic techniques and recently high resolution electron microscope and use of computer assisted imaging techniques enabled the in vitro study of soils in three dimensional levels. It is now possible to store and process massive amounts of data. Micro- morphological concepts and techniques are applied in paleopedological, ecological, and archaeological studies. The aim of this work was to examine soil micromorphological imaging in historical perspective.

Micromorphological Features of Paleo-Stagnic-Anthrosols at Archaeological Site of Sanxingdui,China

The archaeological site of the Sanxingdui may date back as far as 5,000 years ago. The typical profiles of Palaeo-Stagnic-Anthrosols near the ancient site were selected, which aimed to identify diagnostic horizons employing methodology of soil taxonomic classification and to reveal the micromorphological properties of the paleosols. Under long-term anthropogenic mellowing, the discernible differentiation between anthrostagnic epipedon and its subhorizons as well as hydragric horizon and its subhorizons occurred in Paleo-Stagnie-Anthrosols at the archaeological site of the Sanxingdui. The mieromorphological properties diversified among each specific diagnostic subhorizon, e.g., the developed microstructure in cultivated subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, closely arranged particles and considerable micropores beneficial to both of water conservation and filtration in plow subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, and automorphic optical-orientation clays and calcareous corrosion in hydragric horizons. The findings above of micromorphological features related with diagnostic horizons are significant for soil taxonomic classification.