[Root architecture of two desert plants in central Hexi Corridor of Northwest China].

In this study, the root systems of desert plant species Reaumuria soongorica and Nitraria tangutorum in the central Hexi Corridor of Northwest China were excavated by shovel, and the characteristics of the plant root architecture were analyzed by using topology and fractal theory. The root topological indices of the two desert plants were small, and the root branching patterns were herringbone-like. The roots of the two desert plants had obvious fractal characteristics, with the fractal dimension of R. soongorica and N. tangutorum being (1.18 +/- 0.04) and (1.36 +/- 0.06), respectively. The root fractal dimension and fractal abundance were significantly positively correlated with the root average link length. The root average link lengths of the two plants were long, which enlarged the plants' effective nutrition space, and thus, made the plants adapt to the dry and infertile soil environment. The sums of the root cross-sectional areas before and after the root bifurcation of the two desert plants were equal, which verified the principle of Leonardo da Vinci. A total of 17 parameters of root architecture were analyzed by the principal component analysis. The parameters of root topological structure, numbers of root links, stepwise branching ratio, and root diameter could well present the root architecture characteristics of the two desert plants.

Ability of multicellular salt glands in Tamarix species to secrete Na+ and K+ selectively.

The present study aimed to determine the mechanism of cation-selective secretion by multicellular salt glands. Using a hydroponic culture system, the secretion and accumulation of Na(+) and K(+) in Tamarix ramosissima and T. laxa under different salt stresses (NaCl, KCl and NaCl+KCl) were studied. Additionally, the effects of salt gland inhibitors (orthovanadate, Ba(2+), ouabain, tetraethylammonium (TEA) and verapamil) on Na(+) and K(+) secretion and accumulation were examined. Treatment with NaCl (at 0-200 mmol L(-1) levels) significantly increased Na(+) secretion, whereas KCl treatment (at 0-200 mmol L(-1) levels) significantly increased K(+) secretion. The ratio of secretion to accumulation of Na(+) was higher than that of K(+). The changes in Na(+) and K(+) secretion differed after adding different ions into the single-salt solutions. Addition of NaCl to the KCl solution (at 100 mmol L(-1) level, respectively) led to a significant decrease in K(+) secretion rate, whereas addition of KCl to the NaCl solution (at 100 mmol L(-1) level, respectively) had little impact on the Na(+) secretion rate. These results indicated that Na+ secretion in Tamarix was highly selective. In addition, Na(+) secretion was significantly inhibited by orthovanadate, ouabain, TEA and verapamil, and K(+) secretion was significantly inhibited by ouabain, TEA and verapamil. The different impacts of orthovanadate on Na(+) and K(+) secretion might be the primary cause for the different Na(+) and K(+) secretion abilities of multicellular salt glands in Tamarix.

The chromosome number, karyotype and genome size of the desert plant diploid Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim.

Extreme drought and salt resistant plant Reaumuria soongorica is of great potential for revealing genetic bases unique to naturally stress-tolerant plants. A preliminary genome survey, including chromosome number, karyotype, chromosomal localization of 45S rDNA loci and genome size was conducted with R. soongorica collected from Lanzhou, China. Chromosome counting showed that R. soongorica is diploid with chromosome number of 22. Karyotypical analysis illustrated that the chromosomes size ranges from 3.38 to 5.51 µm, and the chromosomal formula is 2n = 2x = 22 = 4 m + 14sm + 4st. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that four pairs of 45SrDNA signals were detected at the end of R. soongorica chromosomes. The flow cytometry analysis indicated that the mean C value of R. soongorica is 0.806 pg with predicted genome size of about 778 Mb. The results indicate that the extreme drought and salt resistance of R. soongorica was not attributed to a big and complicate genome and also offer some clues in resolving the problems of taxonomy and evolution in Tamaricaceae.

Pb and Cd accumulation and phyto-excretion by salt cedar (Tamarix smyrnensis Bunge).

The accumulation and excretion of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) by salt cedar (Tamarix smyrnensis Bunge) were investigated in this study. Tamarix smyrnensis plants were exposed to the mixtures of Pb and Cd and high salinity for 10 wk. Subsequently, Pb and Cd uptake was quantified in the shoots and roots of the plants by ICP-AES. In addition, physiological parameters such as biomass production, shoot length, plant appearance, and chlorophyll content were examined. The roots accumulated the highest amount of Pb. Salinity was found to not have an important effect on Pb translocation to the leaves. Cd was translocated into the aerial part in a higher portion than Pb. Cd content in leaves of T. smyrnensis increased with the increasing salinity. The visible toxicity symptoms, if present, were connected only to the high salinity. The excretion of Pb and Cd by salt glands was observed and quantified. T. smyrnensis excreted a significant amount of metals on the leaf surface. This characteristic of salt cedar plants can be viewed as a novel phytoremediation process for the remediation of sites contaminated with heavy metals that we have termed "phyto-excretion."

Ecophysiological response and morphological adjustment of two Central Asian desert shrubs towards variation in summer precipitation.

As part of global climate change, variation in precipitation in arid ecosystems is leading to plant adaptation in water-use strategies; significant interspecific differences in response will change the plant composition of desert communities. This integrated study on the ecophysiological and individual morphological scale investigated the response, acclimation and adaptation of two desert shrubs, with different water-use strategies, to variations in water conditions. The experiments were carried out on two native dominant desert shrubs, Tamarix ramosissima and Haloxylon ammodendron, under three precipitation treatments (natural, double and no precipitation, respectively), in their original habitats on the southern periphery of Gurbantonggut Desert, Central Asia, during the growing season in 2005. Changes in photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf water potential, water-use efficiency, above-ground biomass accumulation and root distribution of the two species were examined and compared under the contrasting precipitation treatments. There were significant interspecific differences in water-use strategy and maintenance of photosynthesis under variation in precipitation. For the phreatophyte T. ramosissima, physiological activity and biomass accumulation rely on the stable groundwater, which shields it from fluctuation in the water status of the upper soil layers caused by precipitation. For the non-phreatophyte H. ammodendron, efficient morphological adjustment, combined with strong stomatal control, contributes to its acclimation to variation in precipitation. On account of its positive responses to increased precipitation, H. ammodendron is predicted to succeed in interspecific competition in a future, moister habitat.

[Study on secondary metabolic organ of echinacoside in herbs of Cistanche tubulosa].

OBJECTIVE: It could give some theory support of confirming the secondary metabolism organ and regulation of echinacoside in Cistanche tubulosa by searching parasitic growth of C. tubulosa ahd echinacoside variation in different organs of host and parasite. METHOD: The echinacoside content was analyzed by HPLC. The relationship between dry matter accumulation and echinacoside accumulation of C. tubulosa as the well as root diameter of host were comparatively analyzed. RESULT: With the increase of dry matter accumulation of C. tubulosa, echinacoside accumulation increased significantly, and both of them were in significantly positive correlated with the root diameter of host. Echinacoside content in haustorium phloem was 15.53%, higher than that of haustorium xylem, C. tubulosa plant and other organs. CONCLUSION: Haustorium phloem was probably the secondary metabolism organ of echinacoside in C. tubulosa.