A Comparative Evaluation of Biological Traits in Two New Introduced Cherry(Prunus spp.)Varieties

[Objective] This study aimed to screen suitable excellent cherry varieties for cultivation in Northern Guizhou region. [Method] In 2011-2014, various biological traits of two new introduced cherry varieties and a local variety were evaluated and compared, including plant growth, characteristics of branches, leaves and flowers, fruit economic traits, phenological response, yield traits and stress resistance. [Result] Black Pearl and Pitch-Black-skinned Cherry exhibited better performance than the local variety, with the branch germination rate of 85.42% and 80.95%, branching rate of 18.75% and 15.87%, spring shoot length of 35.5 cm and 31.6 cm, annual spring shoot growth of 6 223.2 and 5 956.6 cm, leaf size of 14.9 cm × 7.6 cm and 13.8 cm × 8.1 cm, flower size of 2.5 cm ×2.6 cm and 2.3 cm × 2.4 cm, fruit ma- turity stage in late April-early May and early-mid May, average single fruit weight of 3.85 g and 3.68 g, sugar content in fruit juice of 14.5% and 14.2%, fruit edible rate of 76.47% and 77.23%, fruit-bearing rate of 28.48% and 29.81%, average yield per plant of 15.6 kg and 11.9 kg, converted output of 12 282 kg/hm2 and 9 814.5 kg/hm2, respectively. In addition, these two new introduced cherry varieties demonstrated strong adaptability and relatively strong adaptability, respectively. Therefore, Black Pearl exhibited the best performance, followed by Pitch-Black-skinned Cherry, which were both superior to the local variety. [Conclusion] Black Pearl can be selected as the main cultivar with supporting cultivation techniques in Northern Guizhou region, appropriately combined with Pitch-Black-skinned Cherry.

A Comparative Study of Biological Traits between Two Peach Cultivars

[Objective]This study aimed to compare the biological traits of Xinchuanzhongdao peach and Yanhong peach and provide basis for screening high-quality peach cultivars adapting to climate characteristics in Guizhou Province. [Method] During three consecutive years from 2011 to 2013, phenophase, botanical traits, economic traits and stress resistance of two introduced peach cultivars, Xinchuanzhongdao peach and Yanhong peach, were investigated and compared. [Result] Under local scientific management conditions, Xinchuanzhongdao peach and Yanhong peach exhibited relatively strong and strong tree vigor, respectively; the branch generation rate was 55.92% and 55.81%, respectively; the branching rate was 28.39% and 23.26%, respectively; the leaf size was 17.1 cm＆#215;4.2 cm and 19.5 cm＆#215;5.0 cm, respectively; the corol a size was 4.8 cm＆#215;4.7 cm and 4.8 cm＆#215;4.9 cm, respectively; the fruit setting rate was 43.19% and 26.66%, respectively; fruits of Xinchuanzhongdao peach and Yanhong peach were matured in mid-late July and late July-early August, respectively; the average weight per fruit was 195.5 and 216.9 g, respectively; the sugar content was 13.5% and 15.8%, respectively; the average yield per plant was 41.3 and 43.1 kg, respectively; the edible rate was 94.35% and 93.81%, respectively; both Xinchuanzhongdao peach and Yanhong peach exhibited adaptability. [Conclusion] Comprehensive comparison results suggest-ed that Xinchuanzhongdao peach exhibited better performance compared with Yan-hong peach and these two peach cultivars could be developed appropriately with supporting cultivation techniques in Guiyang City.

Assessment of the Characteristics of Demersal Fish Communities Using Species-and Trait-Based Approaches in the Coastal Habitats Along Rongcheng Bay,Shandong Peninsula,China

Biodiversity declines have motivated many studies on the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning.In this study,we described the spatial-temporal characteristics of demersal fish communities along a coastal habitat in Rongcheng Bay,Shandong Peninsula,China with both species-based and biological trait-based approaches.The field survey was carried out monthly using traps from April to October of 2018,and divided into three seasons(spring:April and May;summer:June,July and August;autumn:September,October and November).The study area included five distinct habitats:seagrass bed,natural rocky reef,bare sand,artificial reef together with natural rocky reef,and artificial reef together with bare sand.We analyzed the fish communities with three taxonomic diversity indices,including Shannon-Wiener,Simpson,and Pielou Evenness,as well as four functional diversity indices,including FRic,FEve,FDiv,and FDis,based on 7 functional groups which are categorized into 27 traits.The results showed that there were no significant differences in taxonomic diversity indices among different habitats in the three seasons.However,significant differences were found in the functional richness of fish communities among different habitats in three seasons.Seagrass bed represented the highest functional richness in spring and autumn.This study demonstrates that seagrass bed is very important in enhancing the functional diversity of fish communities in a complex habitat.The study also indicates that the combination of taxonomic diversity and functional diversity will provide a more detailed description of the characteristics of fish communities.

Application of Multivariate Analysis Method in Evaluation of Quality and Traits of Sichuan Ophiopogon japonicus

[Objectives] To study the relationship between the yield and total saponin content of Sichuan Ophiopogon japonicus. [Methods]The multi-indicator function model of Sichuan O. japonicus was established by using the multivariate analysis method and taking the yield of and total saponin content of Sichuan O. japonicus as indicators. [Results] In the multivariate non-linear fitting,the Pearson correlation test was used to reduce the dimension of the model,and the significant correlated variables were rejected,leaving three independent variables: the total fresh weight of the plant( x_1),the fresh weight of the aboveground part(x_2) and the fresh weight of fibrous roots(x_3),established the total saponin( y) function model for Sichuan O. japonicus: y = a_1+a_2x_2+ a_3x_3+ a_4x_1x_2+ a_5x_1x_3+ a_6x_2x_3+ a_7x_1~2+ a_8x_2~2+ a_9x_3~2.[Conclusions]When the total fresh weight of plant,fresh weight of aboveground part and fresh weight of fibrous roots were known in Sichuan O. japonicus root tuber,the total saponin content could be estimated by polynomial of these three variables. The establishment of this functional model system is expected to provide a scientific basis for the scientific prediction of the yield and total saponin content of Sichuan O. japonicus.

Thermal Biology of Cold-climate Distributed Heilongjiang Grass Lizard,Takydromus amurensis

Thermal biology traits reflect thermal adaptations to an environment and can be used to infer responses to climate warming in animal species.Within a widespread genus or species,assessing the latitudinal or altitudinal gradient of thermal physiological traits is essential to reveal thermal adaptations and determine future vulnerability to climate warming geographically.We determined the thermal biology traits of a cold-climate distributed lizard,Takydromus amurensis,and integrated published thermal biology traits within the genus Takydromus to reveal a preliminary geographical pattern in thermal adaptation.The mean selected body temperature(cloaca temperature;T_(sel)),critical thermal maximum(CT_(max)),critical thermal minimum(CT_(min)),and optimal temperature for locomotion(i.e.,sprint speed;T_(opt)) of T.amurensis were 32.6,45.1,3.1,and 33.4℃,respectively.The resting metabolic rates of T.amurensis were po sitively related to temperature from 18℃ to 38℃.We compared the traits of tropical T.sexlineatus,subtropical T.septentrionalis,and T.wolteri with T.amurensis and found that the CT_(max) and thermal tolerance range(the difference between CT_(max) and CT_(min);TTR) increased toward high latitudes,whereas CT_(min) increased toward low latitudes in these four Takydromus lizards.According to this preliminary pattern,we speculate the species at medium and low latitudes would be more vulnerable to extreme heat events caused by ongoing climate warming.We highlight the importance of integrating thermal biology traits along geographical clues,and its potential contribution to evaluate the vulnerabilities of species in the context of climate warming.

Impact of heat shock on heat shock proteins expression, biological and commercial traits of Bombyx mori

We report the thermotolerance of new bivoltine silkworm, Bombyx mori strains NB4D2, KSO1, NP2, CSR2 and CSR4 and differential expression of heat shock proteins at different instars. Different instars of silkworm larva were subjected to heat shock at 35℃, 40℃ and 45℃ for 2 hours followed by 2 hours recovery. Heat shock proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The impact of heat shock on commercial traits of cocoons was analyzed by following different strategies in terms of acquired thermotolerance over control. Comparatively NP2 exhibited better survivability than other strains. Resistance to heat shock was increased as larval development proceeds in the order of first instar 〉 second instar 〉 third instar 〉 fourth instar 〉 fifth instar in all silkworm strains. Expression of heat shock proteins varies in different instars. 90 kDa in the first, second and third instars, 84 kDa in the fourth instar and 84, 62, 60, 47 and 33 kDa heat shock proteins in fifth instar was observed in response to heat shock. Relative influence of heat shock on commercial traits that correspond to different stages was significant in all strains. In NB4D2, cocoon and shell weight significantly increased to 17.52% and 19.44% over control respectively. Heat shock proteins as molecular markers for evaluation and evolution of thermotolerant silkworm strains for tropics was discussed.

Vertical stratification of ichneumonid wasp communities： the effects of forest structure and life-history traits

Parasitoid wasp communities of the canopy of temperate forests are still largely unexplored. Very little is known about the community composition ofparasitoids between canopy and understory and how much of this difference is related to forest structure or parasitoid biological strategies. In this study we investigated upon the difference in the community composition of the parasitic wasps Ichneumonidae between canopy and understory in a lowland temperate forest in northern Italy. We used general linear models to test whether parasitic strategy modifies species vertical stratification and the effect of forest structure. We also tested differences in β-diversity between canopy and understory traps and over time within single forest layers. We found that stand basal area was positively related to species richness, suggesting that the presence of mature trees can influence local wasp diversity, providing a higher number of microhabitats and hosts. The ichneumonid community of the canopy was different from that of the understory, and theβ-diversity analysis showed higher values for the canopy, due to a higher degree of species turnover between traps. In our analyses, the vertical stratification was different between groups of ichneumonids sharing different parasitic strategies. Idiobiont parasitoids of weakly or deeply concealed hosts were more diverse in the understory than in the canopy while parasitoids of spiders were equally distributed between the two layers. Even though the ichneumonid community was not particularly species-rich in the canopy of the temperate forests, the extension of sampling to that habitat significantly increased the number of species recorded.

Host Reaction of Watermelon mosaic virus Isolates Infecting Melon from Different Geographical Origins in Xinjiang of China

Watermelon mosaic virus(WMV) is one of the major viruses infecting cucurbit crops worldwide. Although WMV is very common worldwide,little is known about the biological traits of WMV isolates from China. Hence, this study aimed to characterize 11 WMV isolates infecting melon from different geographical origins in Xinjiang based on experimental hosts. Sap inoculation of the 11 WMV isolates onto a range of 13 plant species revealed some differences compared to the WMV isolates collected from other countries. Our results showed that, overall, there were no obvious correlations of host responses to inoculation with WMV isolates from different geographical origins. However, isolate JS-1 caused mild mosaic on Cucurbita moschata, whereas the remaining 10 isolates were asymptomatic on this plant species. Moreover, in Datura stramonium, isolate TYG-1 induced mosaic, whereas the remaining 10 isolates did not infect this species. All isolates infected systemically Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo plants, causing severe symptoms. All isolates did not induce any symptoms on Cucumis sativus, but the virus could be detected using RT-PCR. Additionally, all isolates infected systemically Nicotiana tabacum plants, causing mild mosaics. Chenopodium amaranticolor and Chenopodium quinoa reacted to all isolates by chlorotic local lesions in the inoculated leaves, and the virus was detected in the inoculated leaves using RT-PCR. In addition, the attempts to transmit the isolates to Luffa cylindrica, Vicia faba, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata or Pisum sativum failed as confirmed by negative RT-PCR. Our results would be useful for understanding the biological variability of WMV.

Earthworm biomass and population structure are negatively associated with changes in organic residue nitrogen concentration during vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is an efficient and environmentally friendly technology to dispose of agricultural organic residues.The efficiency of organic residue decomposition during vermicomposting is directly affected by the biomass and population structure of earthworms.In this study,we investigated how the earthworm biomass and population structure responded to changes in the physicochemical properties of six types of organic residue(cattle dung,herbal waste,rice straw,soybean straw,garden waste,and tea residues)during vermicomposting.Each type of organic residues was placed in a pot with earthworms Eisenia fetida,and the physicochemical properties of the organic residues and earthworm growth dynamics were recorded at 0,30,60,and 90 d of vermicomposting.The biomass and population structure of earthworms were stable or increased in rice straw,garden waste,and cattle dung within 60 d of vermicomposting,whereas in tea residues and herb waste,very little earthworm activity(3 adults and 2 cocoons)was recorded on day 30.Among the physicochemical parameters,the substrate C/N ratio was negatively correlated with earthworm growth dynamics.Decomposing organic residues showed higher NH_(4)^(+)-N and NH_(3)^(-)-N concentrations but a lower total organic carbon content,which negatively affected earthworm growth and reproduction.We recommend that chemical properties of vermicomposting systems should be monitored regularly.At the threshold levels of decomposing organic residue NH_(4)^(+)-N and NH_(3)^(-)-N concentrations,earthworms should be removed and the vermicompost can be harvested.Small-and large-scale farmers thus need to monitor the physicochemical properties of vermicompost to sustain active earthworm populations.