Research Advances in Allelopathy of Plants in Arid Desert Regions of Northwest China

To investigate allelopathy of plants in desert ecosystems, related research achievements obtained in recent years, reported allelopathic plants, allelochemicals and releasing ways of alleochemicalds were summarized, and then the key problems of research into allelopathic plants in desert ecosystems were indicated. It was considered that the research of allelopathy of plants in desert regions has just started in China, and plants with atlelopathic potential were found in the Compositae, Leguminosae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Gramineae; plants in desert regions re- lease allelochemicals mainly via natural volatilization, which is closely related to their growing environment; allelochemicals such as alkaloids, fla- vonoids, terpenoids have been identified. This study can provide theoretical basis and practical value for reasonable adoption of protection meas- ures of desert plants and comprehensive control of desertification.

Study on Soil Microbiotic Crust and Its Influences on Sand-fixing Vegetation in Arid Desert Region

Based on secular fixed_site data in the artificial sand_fixing vegetation district at the southeast fringe of the Tengger Desert, the formative characteristics of soil microbiotic crusts and its influences on vegetation dynamics were analyzed. Once sand barrier and artificial vegetation have stabilized the surface of the sifting sand, could form aeolian deposition crust and then evolve into algae_dominated crust. Such processes result from the interactions of physical effects of atmospheric dust and silt deposition on sand surface, sinking and raindrop impact, and soil microorganism activities. Under the condition of less than 200 mm precipitation, the presence of microbiotic crust changes the soil hydraulic conductivity, alters the temporal and spatial distribution of the limited precipitation in sand layer and leads to the decline of deep_rooted shrubs. The development of microbiotic crust and subsurface soil affects the plant growth and seed rain distribution, as a result, the diversity of plant species gradually tend to become saturated and finally affects the vegetation stability.

Microclimate and CO_2 fluxes on continuous fine days in the Xihu desert wetland,China

The Xihu desert wetland is located in an extremely arid area in Dunhuang,Gansu province of Northwest China.The area is home to an unusual geographic and ecological environment that is considered unique,both in China and the world.Microclimate is not only related to topography,but is also affected by the physical properties of underlying ground surfaces.Microclimate and CO2 flux have different characteristics under different underlying surface conditions.However,until now,few studies have investigated the microclimate characteristics and CO2 flux in this area.The eddy covariance technique（ECT） is a widely used and effective method for studying such factors in different ecosystems.Basing on data from continuous fine days obtained in the Dunhuang Xihu desert wetland between September 2012 and September 2013,this paper discussed and compared the characteristics of daily microclimate variations and CO2 fluxes between the two periods.Results from both years showed that there was a level of turbulent mixing and updraft in the area,and that the turbulent momentum flux was controlled by wind shear under good weather conditions.The horizontal wind velocity,friction wind velocity and vertical wind velocity were commendably consistent with each other.Air temperature in the surface layer followed an initial decreasing trend,followed by an increasing then decreasing trend under similar net radiation conditions.With changes in air temperature,the soil temperature in the surface layer follows a more obvious sinusoidal fluctuation than that in the subsoil.Components of ground surface radiation during the two study periods showed typical diurnal variations.The maximum diurnal absorption of CO2 occurred at around 11：00（Beijing time） in the Xihu desert wetland,and the concentrations of CO2 in both periods gradually decreased with time.This area was therefore considered to act as a carbon sink during the two observation periods.

Effects of short-term heat stress on PSII and subsequent recovery for senescent leaves of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Red Globe

Heat stress occurs frequently in energy-saving sunlight greenhouses(ESSG) at the late growth stage. Three-year delayed cultivation(DC) of the Red Globe cultivar of Vitis vinifera L. was used to clarify the physiological mechanisms of short-term heat stress on PSII and subsequent recovery from heat stress. By November, the photosynthetic function had declined and the fall in transpiration rate(E) with heating time increased the possibility of heat damage. In July, the most obvious increase was in the relative variable fluorescence at J point at 40°C, and in November it changed to K point. The 5 min of heat treatment resulted in a significant increase of the relative variable fluorescence at 0.3 ms(W), and after 10 min of heat treatment, the number of reactive centres per excited cross section(RC/CS), probability that a trapped exciton moves an electron into the electron transport chain beyond Q–(at t=0)(Ψ) and quantum yield of electron transport at t=0(φ) decreased significantly(P<0.05), suggesting that the reaction centre, donor and acceptor side of photosystem II(PSII) were all significantly inhibited(P<0.05) and that the thermal stability of the photosynthetic mechanism was reduced. The inhibition of energy fluxes for senescent leaves in November was earlier and more pronounced than that for healthy leaves, which did not recover from heat stress of more than 15 min after 2 h recovery at room temperature.