Structural, developmental and functional analyses of leaf salt glands of mangrove recretohalophyte Aegiceras corniculatum

Salt secretion is an important strategy used by the mangrove plant Aegiceras corniculatum to adapt to the coastal intertidal environment. However, the structural, developmental and functional analyses on the leaf salt glands, particularly the salt secretion mechanism, are not well documented. In this study, we investigated the structural, developmental and degenerative characteristics and the salt secretion mechanisms of salt glands to further elucidate the mechanisms of salt tolerance of A. corniculatum. The results showed that the salt gland cells have a large number of mitochondria and vesicles, and plenty of plasmodesmata as well, while chloroplasts were found in the collecting cells. The salt glands developed early and began to differentiate at the leaf primordium stage. We observed and defined three stages of salt gland degradation for the first time in A. corniculatum, where the secretory cells gradually twisted and wrinkled inward and collapsed downward as the salt gland degeneration increased and the intensity of salt gland autofluorescence gradually diminished. In addition, we found that the salt secretion rate of the salt glands increased when the treated concentration of NaCl increased, reaching the maximum at 400 mM NaCl. The salt-secreting capacity of the salt glands of the adaxial epidermis is significantly greater than that of the abaxial epidermis. The real-time quantitative PCR results indicate that SAD2, TTG1, GL2 and RBR1 may be involved in regulating the development of the salt glands of A. corniculatum. Moreover, Na+/H+ antiporter, H+-ATPase, K+ channel and Cl- channel may play important roles in the salt secretion of salt glands. In sum mary, this study strengthens the understanding of the structural, developmental and degenerative patterns of salt glands and salt secretion mechanisms in mangrove recretohalophyte A. corniculatum, providing an important reference for further studies at the molecular level.

Can electrophysiological information reflect the response of mangrove species to salt stress? A case study of rewatering and Sodium nitroprusside application

The changes in plant life behaviors and water status are accompanied by electrophysiological activities. In this study, the theoretical relationship between clamping force (C_F) and leaf resistance (R), capacitive reactance (X_C), inductive reactance (XL), impedance (Z), and capacitance (C) were exposed as 3-parameter exponential decay and linear models based on bioenergetics, respectively, for mangrove species. The intracellular water metabolism parameters and salt transport characteristics were also determined based on mechanical equations with influences of Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and rewatering (R_W). The results show that the inherent capacitance and effective thickness could better represent Aegiceras corniculatum (A. corniculatum) species, and inherent resistance and impedance show obvious effects on Kandelia obovate (K. obovate) species at different salt levels. SNP application shows positive effect on different salt-resistance capacities of A. corniculatum, while K. obovate perform better in R_W phase at high salt level. These outcomes indicates that K. obovate is more salt-resistant because R_W process is consistent with actual situation, and response of A. corniculatum at high salt stress is irreversible, even in R_W. It is concluded that the electrophysiological parameters could be used for the determination of salt-resistant capacities, which gave more enhanced and reliable information of mangroves' life activities.

Epidermal UVA screening capacity measured in situ as an indicator of light acclimation state of leaves of a very plastic alpine plant Soldanella alpina L

Soldanella alpina differing in leaf epidermal UV-A absorbance (DEA₃₇₅), as measured with the Dualex, was investigated as a model alpine plant for the flavonoid (Flav) composition and concentration and for anatomical and pigment characteristics. In sun leaves, twenty-three flavones were characterised by their mass formula, their maximum absorption, their glycosylation, their methylation and dehydroxylation pattern. The flavones belonged to four subfamilies (tetra-hydroxy-flavones, penta-hydroxy-flavones, penta-hydroxy-methyl-flavones and tri-hydroxy-di-methoxy-flavones), abundant in sun and shade leaves. Their concentration was estimated by their absorption at 350 nm after HPLC separation. Sun leaves contained relatively higher contents of penta-hydroxy-methyl-flavones and shade leaves higher contents of tetra-hydroxy-flavones. The flavones were present mainly in vacuoles, all over the leaf. After shade-sun transfer, the content of most flavones increased, irrespective of the presence or absence of UV radiation. Highly significant correlations with the log-transformed DEA₃₇₅ suggest that DEA₃₇₅ can be readily applied to predict the flavone content of S. alpina leaves. Shade-sun transfer of leaves decreased the hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) content, the mass-based chlorophyll (Chl) a+b content and the Chl/Carotenoid (Car) ratio but increased DEA₃₇₅, and the Car content. Together with previously reported anatomical characteristics all these parameters correlated significantly with the DEA₃₇₅. The Flav content is therefore correlated to most of the structural characteristics of leaf acclimation to light and this can be probed in situ by DEA₃₇₅.

Are the glandular trichomes in Jacquinia armillaris (Theophrastoideae-Primulaceae) salt glands?

Salt stress is harmful to plants, especially for those that live under conditions of intense salt aport. For this reason, several species present alternatives to prevent or diminish the damages that high salt concentrations may cause to the cells. Salt glands are one of these alternatives once they are specialized structures that secrete salt. Here, we aimed to investigate if the glandular trichomes in the leaves of Jacquinia armillaris are salt glands. Anatomical and ultrastructural observations showed that the glandular trichomes in J. armillaris resemble the salt glands from other recretohalophytes Primulaceae, such as, their occurrence in sunken regions in the leaf epidermis, the presence of a large basal cell that acts as a collecting cell, the detachment of the cuticle from the outer periclinal walls forming a cuticular chamber, the thickness of the cuticle in the stalk portion of the trichome, and the presence of sodium and chloride ions in the secretion and in the xylem. Altogether, the gathered results support the hypothesis that the glandular trichomes in J. armillaris are adapted to salt secretion, thus characterizing as salt glands.

Dynamic acclimation to sunlight in an alpine plant, Soldanella alpina L

In the French Alps, Soldanella alpina (S. alpina) grow under shade and sun conditions during the vegetation period. This species was investigated as a model for the dynamic acclimation of shade leaves to the sun under natural alpine conditions, in terms of photosynthesis and leaf anatomy. Photosynthetic activity in sun leaves was only slightly higher than in shade leaves. The leaf thickness, the stomatal density and the epidermal flavonoid content were markedly higher, and the chlorophyll/flavonoid ratio was significantly lower in sun than in shade leaves. Sun leaves also had a more oxidised plastoquinone pool, their PSII efficiency in light was higher and their non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) capacity was higher than that of shade leaves. Shade-sun transferred leaves increased their leaf thickness, stomatal density and epidermal flavonoid content, while their photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll/flavonoid ratio declined compared to shade leaves. Parameters indicating protection against high light and oxidative stress, such as NPQ and ascorbate peroxidase, increased in shade-sun transferred leaves and leaf mortality increased. We conclude that the dynamic acclimation of S. alpina leaves to high light under alpine conditions mainly concerns anatomical features and epidermal flavonoid acclimation, as well as an increase in antioxidative protection. However, this increase is not large enough to prevent damage under stress conditions and to replace damaged leaves.

What explains high plant richness in East Asia? Time and diversification in the tribe Lysimachieae (Primulaceae)

What causes the disparity in biodiversity among regions is a fundamental question in biogeography, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Evolutionary and biogeographic processes (speciation, extinction, dispersal) directly determine species richness patterns, and can be studied using integrative phylogenetic approaches. However, the strikingly high richness of East Asia relative to other Northern Hemisphere regions remains poorly understood from this perspective. Here, for the first time, we test two general hypotheses (older colonization time, faster diversification rate) to explain this pattern, using the plant tribe Lysimachieae (Primulaceae) as a model system. We generated a new time-calibrated phylogeny for Lysimachieae (13 genes, 126 species), to estimate colonization times and diversification rates for each region and to test the relative importance of these two factors for explaining regional richness patterns. We find that neither time nor diversification rates alone explain richness patterns among regions in Lysimachieae. Instead, a new index that combines both factors explains global richness patterns in the group and their high East Asian biodiversity. Based on our results from Lysimachieae, we suggest that the high richness of plants in East Asia may be explained by a combination of older colonization times and faster diversification rates in this region.

Salt management strategy defines the stem and leaf hydraulic characteristics of six mangrove tree species

Mangroves in hypersaline coastal habitats are under constant high xylem tension and face great risk of hydraulic dysfunction. To investigate the relationships between functional traits and salt management, we measured 20 hydraulic and photosynthetic traits in four salt-adapted (SA) and two non-SA (NSA) mangrove tree species in south China. The SA species included two salt secretors (SSs), Avicennia marina (Forsskål) Vierhapper and Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco and two salt excluders (SEs), Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savigny and Kandelia obovata (L.) Sheue et al. The two NSA species were Hibiscus tiliaceus (L.) and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Merr. Extremely high xylem cavitation resistance, indicated by water potential at 50% loss of xylem conductivity (Ψ50; -7.85 MPa), was found in SEs. Lower cavitation resistance was observed in SSs, and may result from incomplete salt removal that reduces the magnitude of xylem tension required to maintain water uptake from the soil. Surprisingly, the NSA species, P. pinnata, had very low Ψ50 (-5.44 MPa). Compared with NSAs, SAs had lower photosynthesis, vessel density, hydraulic conductivity and vessel diameter, but higher sapwood density. Eight traits were strongly associated with species' salt management strategies, with predawn water potential (ΨPD) and mean vessel diameter accounting for 95% flow (D95) having the most significant association; D95 separated SAs from NSAs and SEs had the lowest ΨPD. There was significant coupling between hydraulic traits and carbon assimilation traits. Instead of hydraulic safety being compromised by xylem efficiency, mangrove species with higher safety had higher efficiency and greater sapwood density (ρSapwood), but there was no relationship between ρSapwood and efficiency. Principal component analysis differentiated the species of the three salt management strategies by loading D, D95 and vessel density on the first axis and loading ΨPD, Ψ50 and water potential at 12% loss of xylem conductivity (Ψ12), ρSapwood and quantum yield on the second axis. Our results provide the first comparative characterization of hydraulic and photosynthetic traits among mangroves with different salt management strategies.

Shading and litter mediate the effects of soil fertility on the performance of an understorey herb

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Soil fertility and topographic microclimate are common determinants of plant species distributions. However, biotic conditions also vary along these abiotic gradients, and may mediate their effects on plants. In this study, we investigated whether soils and topographic microclimate acted directly on the performance of a focal understorey plant, or indirectly via changing biotic conditions.

METHODS

We examined direct and indirect relationships between abiotic variables (soil fertility and topographic microclimate) and biotic factors (overstorey and understorey cover, litter depth and mycorrhizal colonization) and the occurrence, density and flowering of a common understorey herb, Trientalis latifolia, in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon, USA.

RESULTS

We found that the positive effects of soil fertility on Trientalis occurrence were mediated by greater overstorey shading and deeper litter. However, we did not find any effects of topographic microclimate on Trientalis distribution that were mediated by the biotic variables we measured. The predictive success of Trientalis species distribution models with soils and topographic microclimate increased by 12 % with the addition of the biotic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reinforce the idea that species distributions are the outcome of interrelated abiotic gradients and biotic interactions, and suggest that biotic conditions, such as overstorey density, should be included in species distribution models if data are available.

Physiological and biochemical response to drought stress in the leaves of Aegiceras corniculatum and Kandelia obovata

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that affects plant growth and metabolism adversely around the world. According to this research, the effect of drought stress on the activity of antioxidative enzymes, soluble sugar, protein and lipid peroxidation were studied in leaves of two mangrove plants, Kandelia obovata and Aegiceras corniculatum. The result showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) varied significantly between the leaves and roots studied. The activities increased in different stress levels. The production rate of O 2 (-·) changed with the activity of SOD and POD. Lipid peroxidation was enhanced and Glycine betaine (GB) could decrease the level of malonaldehyde in order to reduce the damage of membrane system. The content of soluble sugar and protein also increased under drought stress and GB helped to eliminate the accumulation of them which somehow enhance the ability of defensing the plants under drought stress. These results indicated that antioxidative activity may play an important role in A. corniculatum and K. obovata and that cell membrane in leaves of K. obovata had greater stability than those of A. corniculatum. Exogenous application of GB had positive effects on A. corniculatum and K. obovata under drought stress which could be products exogenously applied to mangrove plants in order to alleviates the adverse effects.

Identification of suitable reference genes in mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum under abiotic stresses

Gene expression studies could provide insight into the physiological mechanisms and strategies used by plants under stress conditions. Selection of suitable internal control gene(s) is essential to accurately assess gene expression levels. For the mangrove plant, Aegiceras corniculatum, reliable reference genes to normalize real-time quantitative PCR data have not been previously investigated. In this study, the expression stabilities of five candidate reference genes [glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 18SrRNA, β-Actin, 60S ribosomal protein L2, and elongation factor-1-A] were determined in leaves of A. corniculatum treated by cold, drought, salt, heavy metals, and pyrene and in different tissues of A. corniculatum under normal condition. Two software programs (geNorm and NormFinder) were employed to analyze and rank the tested genes. Results showed that GAPDH was the most suitable reference gene in A. corniculatum and the combination of two or three genes was recommended for greater accuracy. To assess the value of these tested genes as internal controls, the relative quantifications of CuZnSOD gene were also conducted. Results showed that the relative expression levels of CuZnSOD gene varied depending on the internal reference genes used, which highlights the importance of the choice of suitable internal controls in gene expression studies. Furthermore, the results also confirmed that GAPDH was a suitable reference gene for qPCR normalization in A. corniculatum under abiotic stresses. Identification of A. corniculatum reference gens in a wide range of experimental samples will provide a useful reference in future gene expression studies in this species, particularly involving similar stresses.

Ecophysiological differences between three mangrove seedlings (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Avicennia marina) exposed to chilling stress

Although the cold-resistant ability of mangroves varies greatly with species, the physiological mechanism remains unclear. The chilling stress effects on morphological changes, photosynthetic pigments, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and several antioxidants, were studied in leaves of three mangrove seedlings (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina). Results showed that both K. obovata and A. corniculatum exhibited lighter chilling damage, lower chilling injury rates and higher survival rates compared to A. marina. Reductions of chlorophylls (Chls) were observed in all the three mangroves, and the highest was detected in A. marina. Significant increases in content of ROS (hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; hydroxyl radicals, OH⋅) and MDA were observed in both A. marina and A. corniculatum, whereas chilling stressed K. obovata showed a decrease in H2O2 content, constant OH⋅ level and instantaneous increase of MDA. The contents of proline and water-soluble protein exhibited similar stress-time dependent increases in all mangroves, while A. corniculatum showed the highest increase of proline and relatively higher increase of water-soluble protein. The catalase activities significantly decreased with stress time in all mangroves, while K. obovata showed the least reduction. An increase in ascorbic acid (AsA) content and activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also detected in all the three mangroves, while K. obovata showed the highest increases. These results indicate that chilling-tolerance of mangroves is associated with the efficiency of antioxidants, as confirmed by principal component analysis. The AsA, APX and POD in K. obovata may play more important role in control of oxidative stresses than those in the other two species. Furthermore, the higher cold-resistance of A. corniculatum compared to A. marina may be partly associated with its higher proline accumulation. The results indicate that enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (POD, APX, AsA, proline and Car) play key roles in scavenging of excess ROS in mangroves. Further studies focusing on these stress-responsive genes will enable better understanding of the cold-resistance mechanism from molecular level.

Efficient plant regeneration of yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris L.), a medicinal plant

Lysimachia vulgaris L. (yellow loosestrife) is a medicinal plant that has been used in the treatment of fever, ulcer, diarrhea and wounds in traditional medicine. A reliable in vitro culture protocol for yellow loosestrife was established. Explants (leaf lamina, stem internode and root segments) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog minimal organics (MSMO) medium supplemented with various plant growth regulator combinations. Of the tested combinations, those involving benzyladenine (BA) with either indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were the most effective for all used explants in shoot production. Best shoot proliferation was obtained from leaf lamina explant cultured on media containing 0.5 mg/l BA and 0.1, 0.5 or 1 mg/l IBA, from stem internode explant cultured on media containing 1 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IBA or 0.01 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.5 mg/l IAA, and from root explant cultured on media containing 0.5 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IAA. Regenerated shoots were rooted on MSMO medium containing different concentrations of IAA, IBA, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). IBA was determined as the most effective auxin for rooting. Most shoots developed roots on medium with 0.5 mg/l IBA.

Reduced photoinhibition under low irradiance enhanced Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila Benth) secondary metabolites, phenyl alanine lyase and antioxidant activity

A randomized complete block design experiment was designed to characterize the relationship between production of total flavonoids and phenolics, anthocyanin, photosynthesis, maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), electron transfer rate (Fm/Fo), phenyl alanine lyase activity (PAL) and antioxidant (DPPH) in Labisia pumila var. alata, under four levels of irradiance (225, 500, 625 and 900 μmol/m(2)/s) for 16 weeks. As irradiance levels increased from 225 to 900 μmol/m(2)/s, the production of plant secondary metabolites (total flavonoids, phenolics and antocyanin) was found to decrease steadily. Production of total flavonoids and phenolics reached their peaks under 225 followed by 500, 625 and 900 μmol/m(2)/s irradiances. Significant positive correlation of production of total phenolics, flavonoids and antocyanin content with Fv/Fm, Fm/Fo and photosynthesis indicated up-regulation of carbon-based secondary metabolites (CBSM) under reduced photoinhibition on the under low light levels condition. At the lowest irradiance levels, Labisia pumila extracts also exhibited a significantly higher antioxidant activity (DPPH) than under high irradiance. The improved antioxidative activity under low light levels might be due to high availability of total flavonoids, phenolics and anthocyanin content in the plant extract. It was also found that an increase in the production of CBSM was due to high PAL activity under low light, probably signifying more availability of phenylalanine (Phe) under this condition.

Reconstructing the origins of high-alpine niches and cushion life form in the genus Androsace S.L. (Primulaceae)

Relatively, few species have been able to colonize extremely cold alpine environments. We investigate the role played by the cushion life form in the evolution of climatic niches in the plant genus Androsace s.l., which spreads across the mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. Using robust methods that account for phylogenetic uncertainty, intraspecific variability of climatic requirements and different life-history evolution scenarios, we show that climatic niches of Androsace s.l. exhibit low phylogenetic signal and that they evolved relatively recently and punctually. Models of niche evolution fitted onto phylogenies show that the cushion life form has been a key innovation providing the opportunity to occupy extremely cold environments, thus contributing to rapid climatic niche diversification in the genus Androsace s.l. We then propose a plausible scenario for the adaptation of plants to alpine habitats.

The significance of glutathione for photoprotection at contrasting temperatures in the alpine plant species Soldanella alpina and Ranunculus glacialis

The significance of total glutathione content was investigated in two alpine plant species with highly differing antioxidative scavenging capacity. Leaves of Soldanella alpina and Ranunculus glacialis incubated for 48 h in the presence of buthionine-sulfoximine had 50% lower glutathione contents when compared with leaves incubated in water. The low leaf glutathione content was not compensated for by activation of other components involved in antioxidative protection or electron consumption. However, leaves with normal but not with low glutathione content increased their ascorbate content during high light (HL) treatment (S. alpina) or catalase activity at low temperature (LT) (R. glacialis), suggesting that the mere decline of the leaf glutathione content does not act as a signal to ameliorate antioxidative protection by alternative mechanisms. CO(2)-saturated oxygen evolution was not affected in glutathione-depleted leaves at various temperatures, except at 35°C, thereby increasing the high temperature (HT) sensitivity of both alpine species. Leaves with low and normal glutathione content were similarly resistant to photoinhibition and photodamage during HL treatment at ambient temperature in the presence and absence of paraquat or at LT. However, HL- and HT-induced photoinhibition increased in leaves with low compared to leaves with normal glutathione content, mainly because the recovery after heat inactivation was retarded in glutathione-depleted leaves. Differences in the response of photosystem II (PSII) activity and CO(2)-saturated photosynthesis suggest that PSII is not the primary target during HL inactivation at HT. The results are discussed with respect to the role of antioxidative protection as a safety valve for temperature extremes to which plants are not acclimated.

[Eco-physiological responses of high-latitude transplanted Aegiceras corniculatum seedlings to NaCl stress]

A sand culture pot experiment was conducted to study the eco-physiological responses of high-latitude transplanted mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum seedlings to varying concentration of NaCl (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mmol x L(-1)). Under the stress of 100 mmol NaCl x L(-1), the seedling growth was slightly promoted; whereas at 300 mmol NaCl x L(-1), the plant height, stem basal diameter, fresh and dry mass, and root/shoot ratio were decreased significantly. High salt stress inhibited the leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, increased the leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and decreased the leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids contents as well as the total soluble sugar and free amino acid contents in different organs. Under the stress of different concentration NaCl, the Na+ contents in leaf, stem, and root increased rapidly while the K+ contents had a relatively decrease, resulting in a rapid decrease of K+/Na+ ratio and an imbalance between K+ and Na+ in A. corniculatum vegetative organs. When the NaCl concentration in the medium was higher than 300 mmol x L(-1), the C and N metabolism of A. corniculatum vegetative organs was maladjusted, which inhibited the normal growth of the seedlings, resulting in a significant decrease in the plant height and fresh and dry mass.

Responses to historical climate change identify contemporary threats to diversity in Dodecatheon

Anthropogenic climate change may threaten many species with extinction. However, species at risk today survived global climate change in recent geological history. Describing how habitat tracking and adaptation allowed species to survive warming since the end of the Pleistocene can indicate the relative importance of dispersal and natural selection during climate change. By taking this historical perspective, we can identify how contemporary climate change could interfere with these mechanisms and threaten the most vulnerable species. We focused on a group of closely related plant species in the genus Dodecatheon (Primulaceae) in eastern North America. Two rare species (Dodecatheon amethystinum and Dodecatheon frenchii) that are endemic to patchy cool cliffs may be glacial relicts whose ranges constricted following the last glacial maximum. Alternatively, these species may be extreme ecotypes of a single widespread species (Dodecatheon meadia) that quickly adapted to microclimatic differences among habitats. We test support for these alternative scenarios by combining ecophysiological and population genetic data at a regional scale. An important ecophysiological trait distinguishes rare species from D. meadia, but only a few northern populations of D. amethystinum are genetically distinctive. These relict populations indicate that habitat tracking did occur with historical climate change. However, relatively stronger evidence for isolation by distance and admixture suggests that local adaptation and genetic introgression have been at least as important. The complex response of Dodecatheon to historical climate change suggests that contemporary conservation efforts should accommodate evolutionary processes, in some cases by restoring genetic connectivity between ecologically differentiated populations.

Variation of delta13C in Aegiceras corniculatum seedling induced by cadmium application

To test whether the values of delta13C in mangrove plants are affected by Cd application, the seedlings of Aegiceras corniculatum, a dominant mangrove species, were cultured in soil supplied with CdCl2 solution at the concentration of 0, 0.5, 2.5, 5, 20, 30 and 50 CdCl2 mg/kg wet soils. Plants were grown in 10 replicate pots with 5 propagules each. After 5 months of Cd exposure, three pots contained 15 seedlings with average shoot heights were selected for each treatment. Leaves and roots of seedling were sampled respectively and analyzed for delta(13)C. Growth traits (fresh weight, shoot height and root length), total chlorophyll content, and Cd concentrations in leaf, root and dry soil were determined. After 5 months of the seedling growth, the concentrations of Cd in dry soil were 0.47, 0.83, 2.77, 4.54, 18.89, 29.79 and 47.35 mg/kg respectively. The values of delta13C in roots and leaves were affected to some extent by Cd application. Although root delta(13)C showed more sensitive to Cd compared with leaves, the values of delta13C in roots were not significantly affected by Cd until Cd level higher than 29.78 mg/kg which was not expected to exist in natural environments. Minor variation in delta13C values observed in roots and leaves was likely due to limited Cd uptake by seedlings and subsequent lack of negative impacts on photosynthesis.

Traces of ancient range shifts in a mountain plant group (Androsace halleri complex, Primulaceae)

Phylogeographical studies frequently detect range shifts, both expansions (including long-distance dispersal) and contractions (including vicariance), in the studied taxa. These processes are usually inferred from the patterns and distribution of genetic variation, with the potential pitfall that different historical processes may result in similar genetic patterns. Using a combination of DNA sequence data from the plastid genome, AFLP fingerprinting, and rigorous phylogenetic and coalescence-based hypothesis testing, we show that Androsace halleri (currently distributed disjunctly in the northwestern Iberian Cordillera Cantábrica, the eastern Pyrenees, and the French Massif Central and Vosges), or its ancestor, was once more widely distributed in the Pyrenees. While there, it hybridized with Androsace laggeri and Androsace pyrenaica, both of which are currently allopatric with A. halleri. The common ancestor of A. halleri and the north Iberian local endemic Androsace rioxana probably existed in the north Iberian mountain ranges with subsequent range expansion (to the French mountain ranges of the Massif Central and the Vosges) and allopatric speciation (A. rioxana, A. halleri in the eastern Pyrenees, A. halleri elsewhere). We have thus been able to use the reticulate evolution in this species group to help elucidate its phylogeographical history, including evidence of range contraction.

Flower Scent of Floral Oil-Producing Lysimachia punctata as Attractant for the Oil-Bee Macropis fulvipes

Most flowers offer nectar and/or pollen as a reward for pollinators. However, some plants are known to produce mostly fatty oil in the flowers, instead of nectar. This oil is exclusively collected by specialized oil-bees, the pollinators of the oil-plants. Little is known about chemical communication in this pollination system, especially how the bees find their hosts. We collected the floral and vegetative scent emitted by oil-producing Lysimachia punctata by dynamic headspace, and identified the compounds by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Thirty-six compounds were detected in the scent samples, several of which were flower-specific. Pentane extracts of flowers and floral oil were tested on Macropis fulvipes in a biotest. Flower and oil extracts attracted the bees, and some of the compounds identified are seldom found in the floral scent of other plants; these may have been responsible for the attraction of the bees.

[Distribution of Littoraia melanostoma Gray (Littorinidae) and Nerita lineata Gmelin (Neritadae) in rehabilitated mangroves]

An investigation was made in April and July 2005 on the abundance and biomass of Littoraia melanostoma ( Littorinidae) and Nerita lineata (Neritadae) in the rehabilitated mangrove forests with different mangrove species and stand ages at the Jiulongjiang Estuary of Fujian Province. The results showed that Nerita lineata was more abundant in mature stands, and had greater biomass and density in Kandelia candel stand than in Aegiceras corniculatum stand. A. corniculatum stand had greater density and biomass of L. melanostoma than K. candel stand, when the two stands had similar ages. In A. corniculatum stands, the biomass of L. melanostoma increased with the age of younger stands; while in K. candel stands, it decreased with the development of the forests. Different habitation patterns of the two snails in different mangrove stands indicated that N. lineate had a strong inhabitation preference for mature K. candel forest, while L. melanostoma was apt to inhabit in younger A. corniculatum forests.

Change in spatial distribution patterns of a biennial plant between growth stages and generations in a patchy habitat

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate factors causing change in spatial distribution patterns of plants between growth stages and generations for a monocarpic biennial plant, Lysimachia rubida. It was assumed that habitat heterogeneity was a primary factor determining spatial patterns of plants, and a randomization procedure was developed for testing the null hypothesis that only spatial association with ground surface conditions determined spatial patterns of plants.

METHODS

A 5-year demographic census was conducted on an open dry habitat that was heterogeneous with regard to the ground surface conditions.

KEY RESULTS

There was significant habitat association in that plants at vegetative and reproductive stages were denser in areas with smaller gravel than with larger gravel. Point process analyses rejected the null hypothesis of the spatial association with ground surface conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that other factors, such as patchy seed dispersal, secondary dispersal of the seeds and life-history variation at various spatial scales, also affected spatial patterns of individuals in a population of L. rubida. Spatial structures and dynamics of a local population in a patchy habitat represent various performances of plants within patches and seed dispersal within a patch and beyond the patch.

Bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis in Ardisia (Myrsinaceae): does it contribute to seedling growth capacity?

Numerous species of Ardisia (shrubs in the Myrsinaceae) possess conspicuous bacterial nodules in their leaf margins. This is an obligate, life-cycle symbiosis: the bacteria are maintained in the bud, and re-infect each new leaf primordium, as well as flowers and seeds, and are transmitted vertically to the next generation. Previous studies have shown that treatments which kill the bacteria in the buds lead to death of the plant. This study is the first to test for a net cost or benefit of the nodules in seedling growth capacity. A net benefit of the symbiosis would be expected from the elaborate nodule structure, and also from evolutionary theory. Seedlings of two symbiotic species (A. crenata and A. virens) and two non-symbiotic species (A. elliptica and A. sieboldii) were grown comparatively. For the symbiotic species, performance was assessed for intact plants, for plants with nodules clipped off, and for control plants in which the lamina was clipped between the nodules. The nodules did not contribute to, or detract from, seedling performance in high resource supply. Although plants increased ca. 4- to 6-fold in dry mass, nodule removal had no significant impact on plant growth, gas exchange, biomass allocation, or on foliar concentrations of chlorophyll or of 11 nutrients. No significant advantage was observed for the two symbiotic species over the two non-symbiotic species. The nodules might contribute to growth capacity during other life stages, during resource shortage, or during exposure to specific herbivores or pathogens.

Molecular phylogeny of Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) based on chloroplast trnL-F and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

Both nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnL-F sequences were acquired for 57 species (accessions) of Lysimachia and its close relatives, and were analyzed together with sequences retrieved from databases. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on these data (separately or combined) show that Lysimachia is paraphyletic, with the monotypic genus Glaux nested deeply inside. Previous suggestions that Anagallis and Trientalis could be ingroups of Lysimachia were not corroborated by our results. The molecular phylogenies do not support the current infrageneric divisions of Lysimachia. Subgenus Lysimachia contains at least five independent lineages. The Hawaii endemic subgenus Lysimachiopsis was shown to group with subgenera Palladia and Heterostylandra, instead of subgenus Idiophyton as previously suggested. The two North American representatives of Lysimachia, subgenus Seleucia and section Verticillatae of subgenus Lysimachia are group together as the most basal clade of the genus. Parallel and independent evolutions were inferred for morphological characters that were previously used as diagnostic criteria. Molecular phylogenies do not offer clear inferences on the overall historical biogeography of Lysimachia, but Southeast Asia origins of several clades, including the Hawaiian endemic clade and the Iberian Lysimachia ephemerum are strongly supported.

Species-specific variation in the importance of the spectral quality gradient in canopies as a signal for photosynthetic resource partitioning

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Plants adjust the distribution of photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll to canopy density. The importance of the gradient in the red : far-red ratio (R : FR) relative to the irradiance gradient was studied for its perception with respect to this partitioning of photosynthetic resources. Whether the relative importance of these two signals varied between six species of different growth habit (Phaseolus vulgaris, Lysimachia vulgaris, Hedera helix, Ficus benjamina, Carex acutiformis and Brachypodium pinnatum) was investigated further.

METHODS

Single leaves of plants were shaded in daylight by a spectrally neutral filter or a leaf. In another experiment, leaves were treated with supplemental FR. In most cases, treatment effects were evaluated after 2 weeks.

KEY RESULTS

Nitrogen and photosynthetic capacity (Amax) per leaf area, parameters pertaining to between-leaf resource partitioning, were strongly reduced in neutral shade but not additionally by spectral leaf shade. Supplemental FR reduced these parameters also, except in Carex. Acceleration of induction of senescence was observed in spectral leaf shade in primary bean leaves. Amax per unit chlorophyll, a parameter pertaining to within-leaf resource partitioning, was reduced in neutral shade, but not in spectral leaf shade or supplemental FR.

CONCLUSIONS

Signalling mechanisms associated with perception of the R : FR gradient in canopies were less important than those associated with the irradiance gradient for between-leaf and within-leaf partitioning of photosynthetic resources. The relative importance of the signals differed between species because Carex was the only species for which no indications were found for an involvement of the spectral gradient in perception of canopy density.

Reversibility of cold- and light-stress tolerance and accompanying changes of metabolite and antioxidant levels in the two high mountain plant species Soldanella alpina and Ranunculus glacialis

Two high mountain plants Soldanella alpina (L.) and Ranunculus glacialis (L.) were transferred from their natural environment to two different growth conditions (22 degrees C and 6 degrees C) at low elevation in order to investigate the possibility of de-acclimation to light and cold and the importance of antioxidants and metabolite levels. The results were compared with the lowland crop plant Pisum sativum (L.) as a control. Leaves of R. glacialis grown for 3 weeks at 22 degrees C were more sensitive to light-stress (defined as damage to photosynthesis, reduction of catalase activity (EC 1.11.1.6) and bleaching of chlorophyll) than leaves collected in high mountains or grown at 6 degrees C. Light-stress tolerance of S. alpina leaves was not markedly changed. Therefore, acclimation is reversible in R. glacialis leaves, but constitutive or long-lasting in S. alpina leaves. The different growth conditions induced significant changes in non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (qN) and the contents of antioxidants and xanthophyll cycle pigments. These changes did not correlate with light-stress tolerance, questioning their role for light- and cold-acclimation of both alpine species. However, ascorbate contents remained very high in leaves of S. alpina under all growth conditions (12-19% of total soluble carbon). In cold-acclimated leaves of R. glacialis, malate represented one of the most abundant compounds of total soluble carbon (22%). Malate contents declined significantly in de-acclimated leaves, suggesting a possible involvement of malate, or malate metabolism, in light-stress tolerance. Leaves of the lowland plant P. sativum were more sensitive to light-stress than the alpine species, and contained only low amounts of malate and ascorbate.

Reversibility of cold- and light-stress tolerance and accompanying changes of metabolite and antioxidant levels in the two high mountain plant species Soldanella alpina and Ranunculus glacialis

Two high mountain plants Soldanella alpina (L.) and Ranunculus glacialis (L.) were transferred from their natural environment to two different growth conditions (22 degrees C and 6 degrees C) at low elevation in order to investigate the possibility of de-acclimation to light and cold and the importance of antioxidants and metabolite levels. The results were compared with the lowland crop plant Pisum sativum (L.) as a control. Leaves of R. glacialis grown for 3 weeks at 22 degrees C were more sensitive to light-stress (defined as damage to photosynthesis, reduction of catalase activity (EC 1.11.1.6) and bleaching of chlorophyll) than leaves collected in high mountains or grown at 6 degrees C. Light-stress tolerance of S. alpina leaves was not markedly changed. Therefore, acclimation is reversible in R. glacialis leaves, but constitutive or long-lasting in S. alpina leaves. The different growth conditions induced significant changes in non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (qN) and the contents of antioxidants and xanthophyll cycle pigments. These changes did not correlate with light-stress tolerance, questioning their role for light- and cold-acclimation of both alpine species. However, ascorbate contents remained very high in leaves of S. alpina under all growth conditions (12-19% of total soluble carbon). In cold-acclimated leaves of R. glacialis, malate represented one of the most abundant compounds of total soluble carbon (22%). Malate contents declined significantly in de-acclimated leaves, suggesting a possible involvement of malate, or malate metabolism, in light-stress tolerance. Leaves of the lowland plant P. sativum were more sensitive to light-stress than the alpine species, and contained only low amounts of malate and ascorbate.

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution at low water potential in leaf discs lacking an epidermis

Land plants encountering low water potentials (low psiw) close their stomata, restricting CO2 entry and potentially photosynthesis. To determine the impact of stomatal closure, photosynthetic O2 evolution was investigated in leaf discs from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants after removing the lower epidermis at low psiw. Wounding was minimal as evidenced by O2 evolution nearly as rapid as that in intact discs. O2 evolution was maximal in 1% CO2 in the peeled discs and was markedly inhibited when psiw was below -1.1 MPa. CO2 entered readily at all psiw, as demonstrated by varying the CO2 concentration. Results were the same whether the epidermis was removed before or after low psiw was imposed. Due to the lack of an epidermis and ready movement or CO2 through the mesophyll, the loss in O2 evolving activity was attributed entirely to photosynthetic metabolism. Intact leaf discs showed a similar loss in activity when measured at a CO2 concentration of 5%, which supported maximum O2 evolution at low psiw. In 1% CO2, however, O2 evolution at low psiw was below the maximum, presumably because stomatal closure restricted CO2 uptake. The inhibition was larger than in peeled discs at psiw between -1 and -1.5 MPa but became the same as in peeled discs at lower psiw. Therefore. as photosynthesis began to be inhibited by metabolism at low psiw, stomatal closure added to the inhibition. As psiw became more negative, the inhibition became entirely metabolic.

Seed germination and reproductive features of Lysimachia minoricensis (Primulaceae), a wild-extinct plant

Lysimachia minoricensis is one of the few Mediterranean endemic plants (Minorca, Balearic islands) that has gone extinct in the wild but which persists as extant germplasm or cultivated plants in several botanical gardens. Reproductive features (seed set, number of seeds per capsule, seed weight) and germination responses to constant temperatures, sea water and dry-heat pre-treatments were investigated to determine the extent to which they may have influenced the extinction of the species. Seed set in Lysimachia is not dependent on pollinators, suggesting a functional selfer breeding system. Most plants produced a large mean number of fruits (23.2) and seeds (466), and the mean production of seeds per individual was estimated to be almost 1,100. Overall, no highly specific requirements were observed for seed germination. Seed germination was not inhibited in the dark, and a high germinability (over 87% in all cases) was recorded in most experiments, with the exception of those performed at low temperatures (5 and 10 degrees C). These data suggest that fertility and seed viability were not the major causes of extinction. The high reproductive performance of L. minoricensis is in striking contrast to its status as a wild-extinct plant, suggesting that extrinsic factors were responsible for its extinction.

Genetic control of self-incompatibility in Anagallis monelli (Primulaceae: Myrsinaceae)

The genetic control of self-incompatibility (SI) was studied in the Mediterranean short-lived perennial species Anagallis monelli (Primulaceae: Myrsinaceae). Arrays of siblings, including families derived from reciprocal crosses, were cross-pollinated in full diallels, and compatibility groups were assesssed from a census of fruit-set. Two, three and four intercompatible and intraincompatible groups were found. These crossing relationships fit the model for gametophytic SI controlled by a single polymorphic gene locus in families derived from parents with one or no S alleles in common (two vs. four compatibility groups), whilst one genotype was presumed to be missing in the small families that showed only three compatibility groups.