[Seasonal differences in the leaf hydraulic conductance of mature Acacia mangium in response to its leaf water use and photosynthesis].

In this study, measurements were made on the leaf water potential (psi1), stomatal conductance (g(s)), transpiration rate, leaf area index, and sapwood area of mature Acacia mangium, aimed to understand the relationships of the leaf hydraulic conductance (K1) with the leaf water use and photosynthetic characteristics of the A. mangium in wet season (May) and dry season (November). The ratio of sapwood area to leaf area (A(sp)/A(cl)) of the larger trees with an average height of 20 m and a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 0.26 m was 8.5% higher than that of the smaller trees with an average height of 14.5 m and a DBH of 0.19 m, suggesting that the larger trees had a higher water flux in their leaf xylem, which facilitated the water use of canopy leaf. The analysis on the vulnerability curve of the xylem showed that when the K1 decreased by 50%, the psi1 in wet season and dry season was -1.41 and -1.55 MPa, respectively, and the vulnerability of the xylem cavitation was higher in dry season than in wet season. The K1 peak value in wet season and dry season was 5.5 and 4.5 mmol x m(-2) x s(-1) x MPa(-1), and the maximum transpiration rate (T(r max)) was 3.6 and 1.8 mmol x m(-2) x s(-1), respectively. Both the K1 and T(r max), were obviously higher in wet season than in dry season. Within a day, the K1 and T(r), fluctuated many times, reflecting the reciprocated cycle of the xylem cavitation and refilling. The leaf stomatal closure occurred when the K1 declined over 50% or the psi1 reached -1.6 MPa. The g(s) would be maintained at a high level till the K1 declined over 50%. The correlation between the hydraulic conductance and photosynthetic rate was more significant in dry season than in wet season. The loss of leaf hydraulic conductance induced by seasonal change could be the causes of the decrease of T(r) and CO2 gas exchange.

[Net CO2 exchange and carbon isotope flux in Acacia mangium plantation].

By using stable carbon isotope technique, the leaf-level 13C discrimination was integrated to canopy-scale photosynthetic discrimination (Deltacanopy) through weighted the net CO2 assimilation (Anet) of sunlit and shaded leaves and the stand leaf area index (L) in an A. mangium plantation, and the carbon isotope fluxes from photosynthesis and respiration as well as their net exchange flux were obtained. There was an obvious diurnal variation in Deltacanopy, being lower at dawn and at noon time (18.47 per thousand and 19.87 per thousand, respectively) and the highest (21.21 per thousand) at dusk. From the end of November to next May, the Deltacanopy had an increasing trend, with an annual average of (20.37 +/- 0.29) per thousand. The carbon isotope ratios of CO2 from autotrophic respiration (excluding daytime foliar respiration) and heterotrophic respiration were respectively (- 28.70 +/- 0.75) per thousand and (- 26.75 +/- 1.3) per thousand in average. The delta13 C of nighttime ecosystem-respired CO2 in May was the lowest (-30.14 per thousand), while that in November was the highest (-28.01 per thousand). The carbon isotope flux of CO2 between A. mangium forest and atmosphere showed a midday peak of 178.5 and 217 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) x per thousand in May and July, with the daily average of 638.4 and 873.2 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) x per thousand, respectively. The carbon isotope flux of CO2 absorbed by canopy leaves was 1.6-2.5 times higher than that of CO2 emitted from respiration, suggesting that a large sum of CO2 was absorbed by A. mangium, which decreased the atmospheric CO2 concentration and improved the environment.

[Responses of mesophyllic conductance in leaves of 4 dominant subtropical forest tree species to moderate high temperature].

By using CO2 exchange system and chlorophyll fluorescence method, the magnitude of mesophyllic conductance (g(m)), namely the CO2 transfer conductance from intercellular space to chloroplast, in the leaves of four dominant subtropical forest tree species under moderate high temperature (38 degrees C) was studied. The results revealed that sun or early-successional species Schima superba had a higher g(m) than mesophytic and shade-tolerant species, such as Castanopsis hystrix, C. fissa and Cryptocarya concinna, and the leaves under full direct light had a higher g(m) than those under shade. The average g(m) of the four test trees from 25 degrees C to 38 degrees C was 1.59 +/- 0.27, and the responses of g(m) to temperature were dependant on the tree species and their leaf type (sun or shade leaves). Because the diffusion of CO2 in water was only about 1.25, g(m) might be controlled by a protein-related process besides temperature. Moderate high temperature could increase the g(m) value, resulting in the increase of CO2 concentration and carboxylation rate in chloroplasts. Comparing with that of S. superba, the carboxylation rate of C. hystrix, C. fissa and C. concinna was significantly increased by moderate high temperature, regardless of under full direct light or shading, indicating that moderate high temperature would favor the succession of mid- and late-successional species.

Protection of ultrastructure in chilling-stressed banana leaves by salicylic acid.

OBJECTIVE: Chilling tolerance of salicylic acid (SA) in banana seedlings (Musa acuminata cv., Williams 8818) was investigated by changes in ultrastructure in this study. METHODS: Light and electron microscope observation. RESULTS: Pretreatment with 0.5 mmol/L SA under normal growth conditions (30/22 degrees C) by foliar spray and root irrigation resulted in many changes in ultrastructure of banana cells, such as cells separation from palisade parenchymas, the appearance of crevices in cell walls, the swelling of grana and stromal thylakoids, and a reduction in the number of starch granules. These results implied that SA treatment at 30/22 degrees C could be a type of stress. During 3 d of exposure to 7 degrees C chilling stress under low light, however, cell ultrastructure of SA-pretreated banana seedlings showed less deterioration than those of control seedlings (distilled water-pretreated). CONCLUSION: SA could provide some protection for cell structure of chilling-stressed banana seedling.

[Characteristics of CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from winter-fallowed paddy fields in hilly area of South China].

With closed static chamber and modified gas chromatograph (HP5890 II), the in situ measurements were made on the CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from winter-fallowed paddy fields in the hilly area of South China. Gas samples were taken simultaneously from the fields with and without rice stubble. The results showed that both of the fields had the peak value of CO2 flux in the late afternoon. In the fields with and without rice stubble, the CH4 flux was positive in the day time while negative in the night, and the N2O flux in the day time was 1.79 and 1.58 times as much as that in the night, respectively. The diurnal average CO2 flux in the field with rice stubble was significantly higher than that in bare field (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the CO2 flux in winter-fallowed paddy fields had significant correlations with soil temperature, aboveground temperature, and air temperature, suggesting that temperature was the main factor affecting the CO2 emission from rice field after harvesting. During the observation time (from 2003-11-10 to 2004-01-18), the average CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes in the field with rice stubble were (180.69 +/- 21.21) mg x m(-2) x h(-1), (-0.04 +/- 0.01) mg x m(-2) x h(-1) and (21.26 +/- 19.31) microg x m(-2) x h(-1), respectively. Compared with bare field, the CO2 flux in the field with rice stubble was 13.06% higher, CH4 absorption increased by 50%, while N2O flux was 60.75% lower. It was concluded that the winter fallowed paddy field in hilly area of South China was the source of atmospheric CO2 and N2O, and the sink of atmospheric CH4.

Isolations of salicylic acid-induction-expressed genes in chilling-stressed banana seedling leaves using mRNA differential display.

The mRNA differential display method was applied to identify banana genes that were regulated by salicylic acid (SA) during chilling stress. Eighteen cDNA fragments induced by SA during chilling stress were retracted. Seven of them were affirmed by reverse Northern hybridization to be significantly induced. Two most differential fragments (G and A) of them were cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that clone G fragment had 92% homology to partial cDNA sequences of two cold-related genes in soybean (Glycine max) and clone A did not show any identity to previously reported sequences in GenBank database.