Enviromnental pollution is serious social concern. The inflow of heavy metals in the ecological food chain and their subsequent bio-magnification in human bodies is cascading its harmful effects. The metabolism of pla...Enviromnental pollution is serious social concern. The inflow of heavy metals in the ecological food chain and their subsequent bio-magnification in human bodies is cascading its harmful effects. The metabolism of plants is being hampered by these heavy metals. In the present studies, effect of heavy metal especially cadmium has been studied on stomatal diffusive resistance （SDR）, transpiration rate, leaf surface humidity and leaf temperature of soybean plants growing in hydroponic cultures. Cadmium treatment decelerates the rate of transpiration. The inhibition of transpiration associated with increased SDR leads to dehydration of leaf surface, thereby, increasing temperature of leaves in comparison to control plants. In the present study, temperature difference between stressed and non-stressed plant leaves was as high as 3℃ Moreover, any such rise in leaf temperature due to uptake and induced toxicity of heavy metals can possibly be a good bio-indicator having wide applications in thermal remote sensing and geospatial monitoring of metal polluted soils.展开更多
East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii （Sch.Bip.） Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. ruep...East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii （Sch.Bip.） Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation （intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier）. The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists＇ interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.展开更多
Aims In a large dam-regulated reservoir with regular hydrological pattern and strong flooding gradients across shore elevations,plants inhabiting in different shore elevations have to confront long-lasting flooding of...Aims In a large dam-regulated reservoir with regular hydrological pattern and strong flooding gradients across shore elevations,plants inhabiting in different shore elevations have to confront long-lasting flooding of differential in tensities every year.Such persistent stress may lead to intraspecific differentiation of flooding tolerance in seeds.Echinochloa crusgalli var.zelayensis is a dominant annual plant in the shores of the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR),which plays an important role in the shore vegetation.The objective of this study is to check whether intraspecific differentiation of seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E.crusgalli var.zelayensis populations in the TGR shores and whether such differentiation is associated with weak seed dispersal.Methods We collected seeds of E.crusgalli var.zelayensis from different populations in the TGR shores,and then placed them at four elevations in the shores flooded by reservoir impoundment.Parameters reflecting seed flooding tolerance including post-flooding percentage of intact seeds,seed germinability and seedling emergence rate were investigated for the seeds from different populations and undergoing flooding of different intensities.Floating time of seeds and speed of water level rise during impoundment were examined,and used to quantify dispersal potential of seeds in the shores of the TGR when flooded.Important Findings Both intact seed percentage and final seedling emergence rate after flooding significantly declined with increasing shore elevations where the seeds were collected,indicating that intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E.crusgalli var.zelayensis populations in the TGR shores after 7-year operation of the reservoir.The distanee of seeds transported by rising water during reservoir impoundment was limited due to short-floating time of the seeds and relatively low speed of water level rise in the reservoir.This would be favourable to the development of intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance.展开更多
文摘Enviromnental pollution is serious social concern. The inflow of heavy metals in the ecological food chain and their subsequent bio-magnification in human bodies is cascading its harmful effects. The metabolism of plants is being hampered by these heavy metals. In the present studies, effect of heavy metal especially cadmium has been studied on stomatal diffusive resistance （SDR）, transpiration rate, leaf surface humidity and leaf temperature of soybean plants growing in hydroponic cultures. Cadmium treatment decelerates the rate of transpiration. The inhibition of transpiration associated with increased SDR leads to dehydration of leaf surface, thereby, increasing temperature of leaves in comparison to control plants. In the present study, temperature difference between stressed and non-stressed plant leaves was as high as 3℃ Moreover, any such rise in leaf temperature due to uptake and induced toxicity of heavy metals can possibly be a good bio-indicator having wide applications in thermal remote sensing and geospatial monitoring of metal polluted soils.
基金supported by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center(Y323771W07,SAJC201322)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31300182)
文摘East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii （Sch.Bip.） Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation （intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier）. The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists＇ interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0505304)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31770465,31370443)Chongqing Municipal Key R&D Program(cstc2018jszx-zdyfxmX0021-01).
文摘Aims In a large dam-regulated reservoir with regular hydrological pattern and strong flooding gradients across shore elevations,plants inhabiting in different shore elevations have to confront long-lasting flooding of differential in tensities every year.Such persistent stress may lead to intraspecific differentiation of flooding tolerance in seeds.Echinochloa crusgalli var.zelayensis is a dominant annual plant in the shores of the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR),which plays an important role in the shore vegetation.The objective of this study is to check whether intraspecific differentiation of seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E.crusgalli var.zelayensis populations in the TGR shores and whether such differentiation is associated with weak seed dispersal.Methods We collected seeds of E.crusgalli var.zelayensis from different populations in the TGR shores,and then placed them at four elevations in the shores flooded by reservoir impoundment.Parameters reflecting seed flooding tolerance including post-flooding percentage of intact seeds,seed germinability and seedling emergence rate were investigated for the seeds from different populations and undergoing flooding of different intensities.Floating time of seeds and speed of water level rise during impoundment were examined,and used to quantify dispersal potential of seeds in the shores of the TGR when flooded.Important Findings Both intact seed percentage and final seedling emergence rate after flooding significantly declined with increasing shore elevations where the seeds were collected,indicating that intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E.crusgalli var.zelayensis populations in the TGR shores after 7-year operation of the reservoir.The distanee of seeds transported by rising water during reservoir impoundment was limited due to short-floating time of the seeds and relatively low speed of water level rise in the reservoir.This would be favourable to the development of intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance.
