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Greenhouse Experiment (greenhouse + experiment)
Selected AbstractsDevelopment of Greenhouse Inoculation Procedures for Evaluation of Partial Resistance to Cercospora zeae-maydis in Maize InbredsJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2005G. Asea Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of inoculation methods on incubation period, lesion length, percentage leaf area affected and sporulation of Cercospora zeae-maydis on young maize (Zea mays L.) plants inoculated at V3 growth stage. Seedling plants were inoculated by four methods: (i) application of conidial suspension while puncturing the leaves within the whorl several times, (ii) spraying conidial suspension on leaves, (iii) placing colonized agar into lateral slits in leaves and (iv) placing colonized agar into whorls. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of genotype and inoculation method on several components of resistance and overall disease severity. Application of conidial suspension while puncturing the whorl was found to be the least laborious method, and it produced characteristic symptoms of gray leaf spot. Consistent trends were observed in classification of inbreds to resistant, susceptible and intermediate classes. Increasing the duration of exposure to high humidity by placing plastic bags over plants for 5 days significantly increased disease severity (P , 0.001). Cercospora zeae-maydis produced conidia in all the lesions examined. Spore production was generally most abundant in lesions on susceptible inbreds that displayed necrotic lesion types (LT) and least abundant in lesions on resistant inbreds that were characterized by chlorotic and fleck LTs. The results demonstrated that inoculations in the greenhouse can provide an indication of inbred responses to C. zeae-maydis and may be useful in evaluating resistance and in studies of host,pathogen interactions. [source] Selection of preadapted populations allowed Senecio inaequidens to invade Central EuropeDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2008Oliver Bossdorf ABSTRACT Invasive species often evolve rapidly in response to the novel biotic and abiotic conditions in their introduced range. Such adaptive evolutionary changes might play an important role in the success of some invasive species. Here, we investigated whether introduced European populations of the South African ragwort Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae) have genetically diverged from native populations. We carried out a greenhouse experiment where 12 South African and 11 European populations were for several months grown at two levels of nutrient availability, as well as in the presence or absence of a generalist insect herbivore. We found that, in contrast to a current hypothesis, plants from introduced populations had a significantly lower reproductive output, but higher allocation to root biomass, and they were more tolerant to insect herbivory. Moreover, introduced populations were less genetically variable, but displayed greater plasticity in response to fertilization. Finally, introduced populations were phenotypically most similar to a subset of native populations from mountainous regions in southern Africa. Taking into account the species' likely history of introduction, our data support the idea that the invasion success of Senecio inaequidens in Central Europe is based on selective introduction of specific preadapted and plastic genotypes rather than on adaptive evolution in the introduced range. [source] Tolerance to herbivory, and not resistance, may explain differential success of invasive, naturalized, and native North American temperate vinesDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 2 2008Isabel W. Ashton ABSTRACT Numerous hypotheses suggest that natural enemies can influence the dynamics of biological invasions. Here, we use a group of 12 related native, invasive, and naturalized vines to test the relative importance of resistance and tolerance to herbivory in promoting biological invasions. In a field experiment in Long Island, New York, we excluded mammal and insect herbivores and examined plant growth and foliar damage over two growing seasons. This novel approach allowed us to compare the relative damage from mammal and insect herbivores and whether damage rates were related to invasion. In a greenhouse experiment, we simulated herbivory through clipping and measured growth response. After two seasons of excluding herbivores, there was no difference in relative growth rates among invasive, naturalized, and native woody vines, and all vines were susceptible to damage from mammal and insect herbivores. Thus, differential attack by herbivores and plant resistance to herbivory did not explain invasion success of these species. In the field, where damage rates were high, none of the vines were able to fully compensate for damage from mammals. However, in the greenhouse, we found that invasive vines were more tolerant of simulated herbivory than native and naturalized relatives. Our results indicate that invasive vines are not escaping herbivory in the novel range, rather they are persisting despite high rates of herbivore damage in the field. While most studies of invasive plants and natural enemies have focused on resistance, this work suggests that tolerance may also play a large role in facilitating invasions. [source] Willow genotype, but not drought treatment, affects foliar phenolic concentrations and leaf-beetle resistanceENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 1 2004Carolyn Glynn Abstract In a greenhouse experiment we examined the effect of willow genotype and irrigation regime (moderate drought and well-watered) on plant growth parameters, foliar nitrogen, and phenolic concentrations, as well as on the preference and performance of the blue leaf beetle, Phratora vulgatissima (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The 10 vegetatively propagated willow genotypes in the experiments were F2 full-sibling hybrids, originated from a cross between Salix viminalis (L.) (Salicaceae) (high in condensed tannins) and Salix dasyclados (L.) (Salicaceae) (rich in phenolic glycosides). Insect bioassays were conducted on detached leaves in Petri dishes as well as with free-living insects on intact potted plants. The 10-week long irrigation treatments caused statistically significant phenotypic differences in the potted willow saplings. Total biomass was somewhat higher in the well-watered treatment. The root to total biomass ratio was higher in the drought-treatment plants. There was significant genotypic variation in foliar nitrogen concentrations, and they were higher in the drought-treatment plants. There was also a strong genotypic variation in each of the phenolic substances analyzed. Condensed tannins, which accounted for the greatest proportion of total phenolic mass, were higher in the well-watered treatment. There was, however, no difference in levels of the other phenolics (salicylates, cinnamic acid, flavonoids, and chlorogenic acid) between irrigation treatments. The sum of these phenolics was higher in the well-watered treatment. There was a strong variation in P. vulgatissima larval development on different willow genotypes, and larval performance was negatively correlated with levels of salicylates and cinnamic acid. There was, however, no effect of irrigation treatment on larval performance. Phratora vulgatissima preferred to feed on well-watered plants, and we found a preference for oviposition there, but neither feeding nor oviposition site preference was affected by willow genotype. Adult feeding and oviposition preferences were not correlated with larval performance. [source] Agricultural soils spiked with copper mine wastes and copper concentrate: Implications for copper bioavailability and bioaccumulation,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2006Rosanna Ginocchio Abstract A better understanding of exposure to and effects of copper-rich pollutants in soils is required for accurate environmental risk assessment of copper. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study copper bioavailability and bioaccumulation in agricultural soils spiked with different types of copper-rich mine solid wastes (copper ore, tailing sand, smelter dust, and smelter slag) and copper concentrate. A copper salt (copper sulfate, CuSO4) that frequently is used to assess soil copper bioavailability and phytotoxicity also was included for comparison. Results showed that smelter dust, tailing sand, and CuSO4 are more likely to be bioavailable and, thus, toxic to plants compared with smelter slag, concentrate, and ore at equivalent total copper concentrations. Differences may be explained by intrinsic differences in copper solubilization from the source materials, but also by their capability to decrease soil pH (confounding effect). The copper toxicity and bioaccumulation in plants also varied according to soil physicochemical characteristics (e.g., pH and total organic carbon) and the available levels of plant nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Chemistry/mineralogy of mine materials, soil/pore-water chemistry, and plant physiological status thus should be integrated for building adequate models to predict phytotoxicity and environmental risk of copper. [source] Warming and depth interact to affect carbon dioxide concentration in aquatic mesocosmsFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008KYLA M. FLANAGAN Summary 1. Climate change may significantly influence lake carbon dynamics and consequently the exchange of CO2 with the atmosphere. Warming will accelerate multiple processes that either absorb or release CO2, making predicting the net effect of warming on CO2 exchange with the atmosphere difficult. Here we experimentally test how the CO2 flux of deep and shallow systems responds to warming. To do this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment using mesocosms of two depths, experiencing either ambient or warmed temperatures. 2. Deeper mesocosms were found to have a lower average CO2 concentration than shallower mesocosms under ambient temperature conditions. In addition, warming interacts with mesocosm depth to affect the average CO2 concentration; there was no effect of warming on the average CO2 concentration of deep mesocosms, but shallow mesocosms had significantly lower average CO2 concentrations when warmed. 3. The difference in CO2 concentration resulting from the depth manipulation was due to varying loss rates of particulate carbon to the sediments. There was a strong negative correlation between CO2 and sedimentation rates in the deep mesocosms suggesting that high particulate carbon loss to the sediments lowered the CO2 concentration in the water column. There was no correlation between CO2 and sedimentation rates observed for shallow mesocosms suggesting enhanced carbon regeneration from the sediments was maintaining higher CO2 concentrations in the water column. 4. Relationships between CO2 and algal concentrations indicate that the reduction in CO2 concentrations resulting from warming is due to increased per capita algal turnover rates depleting CO2 in the water column. Our results suggest that the carbon dynamics and CO2 flux of shallow systems will be affected more by climate warming than deep systems and the net effect of warming is to increase CO2 uptake. [source] Environmentally induced variation in floral traits affects the mating system in Datura wrightiiFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2002E. Elle Summary 1If pollination is unpredictable, selection may favour the production of selfed seeds in the absence of pollen vectors, even in plant species with obvious adaptations for outcrossing. Pollination may be less predictable for plants growing in certain environments if environmental factors affect the floral phenotype. Through effects on flower morphology and the floral display, the environment may affect the outcrossing rate. 2We manipulated two environmental factors, water availability and exposure to insect herbivores, in a common-garden experiment using a perennial herb, Datura wrightii. We measured herkogamy (the separation of anthers and stigmas within flowers), total flower length, and flower number, and used a single-gene trichome dimorphism as a marker to determine per-plant outcrossing rates. 3The large amount of variation in herkogamy was affected by trichome type, irrigation and herbivory. In addition, watered plants had longer corollas, and plants attacked by herbivores had fewer open flowers. Thus environmental factors affect floral phenotype. 4However, irrigation and herbivory did not directly affect outcrossing rate. There were indirect effects of these treatments on outcrossing because plants with increased herkogamy and fewer open flowers had higher outcrossing rates. 5, A greenhouse experiment showed that autonomous selfing is more likely when herkogamy is reduced, and can occur both as the flower opens and when the corolla is shed. 6, These experiments are among the first to show that within-population variation in the mating system can be due to environmentally induced variation in floral traits. [source] Fungal endophytes reduce regrowth and affect competitiveness of meadow fescue in early succession of pasturesGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010S. Saari Abstract Systemic- and seed-transmitted fungal endophytes are suggested to enhance competitive dominance of agronomic grasses by increasing plant growth and defence against herbivores. We studied whether Neotyphodium uncinatum endophyte infection frequencies of meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis) and botanical composition of pastures are affected by 4, 5, 7 and 21 years of grazing by dairy cattle. We then examined with one greenhouse and two field experiments, whether endophyte infection and clipping affect regrowth of young or mature plants relative to nutrient availability in soil. The frequencies of infected plants and the number of plant species were less in grazed parts of the pastures. Endophytes significantly reduced relative regrowth and dry biomass of regrowth of the grass irrespective of nutrient levels in a 1-year-old field (on an average 18% in 2 months) and under high nutrient conditions in the greenhouse experiment (on an average 3% in 3 months) respectively. However, effects of endophytes were not detected in 5-year-old fields and under low nutrient conditions in the greenhouse. In contrast to past studies, our results demonstrate that grazing may negatively affect endophyte,grass symbiosis and number of plant species of successional pastures, and suggest that the effects of endophytes may be linked to the ontogeny of the host. [source] Effects of simulated browsing on growth and leaf chemical properties in Colophospermum mopane saplingsAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Edward M. Kohi Abstract Browsing intensity influences a plant's response to herbivory. Plants face a trade-off between investment in the production of secondary compounds and investment in growth. To elucidate this trade-off, we simulated four browsing intensities (0%, 50%, 75% and 100%) on mopane saplings, Colophospermum mopane (J. Kirk ex Benth.) J.Léonard, in a greenhouse experiment. This showed that, with increasing defoliation intensity, plants change their investment strategy. At intermediate levels of defoliation (50%), mopane saplings increased the synthesis of condensed tannins, so that tannin concentrations followed a hump-shaped relation with defoliation intensity, with significantly higher tannin concentration at intermediate defoliation levels. When defoliated heavily (75% and 100%), tannin concentrations dropped, and plants were carbon stressed as indicated by a reduced growth rate of the stem diameter, and leaf production and mean individual leaf mass were reduced. This suggests that, at intermediate defoliation intensity, the strategy of the plants is towards induced chemical defences. With increasing defoliation, the relative costs of the secondary metabolite synthesis become too high, and therefore, the plants change their growing strategy. Hence, browsers should be able to benefit from earlier browsing by either adopting a low or a relatively high browsing pressure. Résumé La réponse d'une plante à sa consommation dépend de l'intensité de ce phénomène. Les plantes sont confrontées à un compromis entre un investissement dans la production de composants secondaires et un investissement dans leur croissance. Pour élucider ce compromis, nous avons simulé quatre intensités de consommation (0%, 50%, 75% et 100%) sur des jeunes mopanes, Colophospermum mopane (J. Kirk ex Benth.) J.Leonard, lors d'expériences sous serre. Ceci a montré que, lorsque la défoliation s'intensifie, les plantes changent leur stratégie d'investissement. À des niveaux de défoliation intermédiaires (50%), les jeunes plants de mopanes augmentaient la synthèse de tanins condensés, de sorte que les concentrations en tanins suivaient une courbe en cloche (hump-shaped) selon l'intensité de la défoliation; elles étaient significativement plus élevées aux niveaux de défoliation intermédiaires. Lorsque les plantes sont fortement défoliées (75% et 100%), leurs concentrations en tanins chutent, et elles sont en stress carbone comme le montre le taux de croissance réduit du diamètre du tronc; la production de feuilles et la masse moyenne de feuilles par individu sont aussi réduites. Cela suggère que, quand l'intensité de défoliation est intermédiaire, la stratégie des plants va vers une défense chimique induite. Lorsque la défoliation augmente, le coût relatif de la synthèse du métabolite secondaire devient trop élevé et le plant change de stratégie de croissance. Donc, les herbivores qui les consomment devraient pouvoir bénéficier d'une consommation antérieure en adoptant une pression de consommation faible ou relativement élevée. [source] Rapid evolution towards heavy metal resistance by mountain birch around two subarctic copper,nickel smeltersJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008J. K. ERÄNEN Abstract Adaptations to pollution among long-lived trees have rarely been documented, possibly because of their long reproductive cycles and the evolutionarily short timescales of anthropogenic pollution. Here, I present the results of a greenhouse experiment that suggest rapid evolutionary adaptation of mountain birch [Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii (Orlova) Hämet-Ahti] to heavy metal (HM) stress around two copper,nickel smelters in NW Russia. The adaptation incurs a cost with reduced performance of adapted seedlings in pristine conditions. The industrial barrens around the studied smelters are extremely high-stress sites with low seed germination and survival. It is likely that strong natural selection has eliminated all sensitive genotypes within one or two generations, with only the most tolerant individuals persisting and producing adapted seeds in the individual barrens. The results were similar from around both smelters, suggesting parallel evolution towards HM resistance. [source] Nitrogen effects on total flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, and antioxidant activity of the medicinal plant Chrysanthemum morifoliumJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010Dahui Liu Abstract Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ramat.) has a long history of cultivation and use as a traditional medicine and tea plant in China. A greenhouse experiment with potted soil,quarz mixture studied the effects of nitrogen supply (0, 56, 112, 167, 224, 334, 501, 556, and 668 mg N,kg,1) on concentrations and ratios of total flavonoids and chlorogenic acid in the flowers of C. morifolium using spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. The antioxidant activity of the flowers was determined as the radical scavenging activities of hydroxyl, superoxide anion, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) free radicals. A high N supply decreased the concentrations of total flavonoids by 18%,35% and that of chlorogenic acid by 8%,60% compared to a low N-supply rate. At the same time, increasing N supply significantly decreased the antioxidant activity of the flowers. The antioxidant activity of C. morifolium flowers was significantly positively correlated with the concentrations of total flavonoids and chlorogenic acid. We conclude that an N supply in excess of 300 mg (kg soil),1 will negatively affect the antioxidant activity and thereby reduce the quality of C. morifolium flowers. [source] Cultivation of flax in spoil-bank clay: Mycorrhizal inoculation vs. high organic amendmentsJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008David Püschel Abstract A greenhouse experiment was focused on the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in effective crop production during reclamation of coal-mine spoil banks. The aim of the study was to find out whether mycorrhizal inoculation improves growth of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and whether it can compensate for high doses of expensive organic amendment. Flax was planted in original spoil-bank gray Miocene clay amended with organic matter used for spoil-bank reclamation (mixture of composted urban waste and lignocellulose papermill waste). This amendment was applied in four descending doses equivalent to the application of 500, 200, 100, and 0 t ha,1. The plants received either a mixed inoculum of three AMF species (Glomus mosseae, G. claroideum, and G. intraradices) or were left uninoculated. Growth of flax was significantly increased by mycorrhizal inoculation in pure clay (by 60%) as well as in clay with all amendment doses (by 119% on average). Also, the addition of organic matter increased plant growth but, interestingly, the biomass production was comparable regardless the dose of amendment. Our results suggest that similar yields are attainable with only one fifth of the usual fertilization dose, which can significantly decrease costs related to the reclamation of spoil banks. If mycorrhizal inoculation is applied together with the optimized fertilization, growth of flax planted in spoil-bank clay can be further improved. [source] Impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield, taste, and nutritional quality of tomatoesJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2006Anuschka Heeb Abstract In a greenhouse experiment, tomato plants were grown in sand culture to test whether different fertilization regimes (mineral or organic fertilizers) at low (500 mg N plant,1 week,1) and high (750 mg N plant,1 week,1) nitrogen levels affected yield, nutritional quality, and taste of the fruits. In the mineral-fertilizer treatments, nitrate- or ammonium-dominated nutrient solutions were used. Organic fertilizer was supplied as fresh cut grass-clover mulch (a total of 2.4,kg and 3.6,kg were given per plant at low and high N level, respectively) without (orgN) and with additional sulfur fertilization (orgN+S). Yields of red tomatoes from the organically fertilized plants were significantly lower (1.3,1.8,kg plant,1) than yields from plants that received mineral fertilizer (2.2,2.8,kg plant,1). At the final harvest, yields of green tomatoes in the organic treatment with extra sulfur were similar (1.1,1.2,kg plant,1) to the NO -dominated treatments at both nutrient levels and the NH -dominated treatment at high nutrient level. Organic fertilizers released nutrients more slowly than mineral fertilizers, resulting in decreased S and P concentrations in the leaves, which limited growth and yield in the orgN treatments. Analysis of tomato fruits and plants as well as taste-test results gave no conclusive answer on the relationship between sugar or acid contents in the fruits, macronutrient content of plant leaves and fruits, and perceived taste. Sugar contents were higher in the fruits given mineral fertilizer, whereas acid contents were higher in the fruits given organic fertilizer. Preference in taste was given to the tomatoes from plants fertilized with the nitrate-dominated nutrient solution and to those given organic fertilizer with extra sulfur. Thus, a reduction in growth, which was expected to lead to a higher concentration of compounds like sugars and acids, did not result in better taste. Overall, it can be concluded that an appropriate nutrient supply is crucial to reach high yields and good taste. [source] Tolerance of Pinus taeda and Pinus serotina to low salinity and flooding: Implications for equilibrium vegetation dynamicsJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008Benjamin Poulter Abstract Questions: 1. Do pine seedlings in estuarine environments display discrete or continuous ranges of physiological tolerance to flooding and salinity? 2. What is the tolerance of Pinus taeda and P. serotina to low salinity and varying hydrologic conditions? 3. Are the assumptions for ecological equilibrium met for modeling plant community migration in response to sea-level rise? Location: Albemarle Peninsula, North Carolina, USA. Methods: In situ observations were made to quantify natural pine regeneration and grass cover along a salinity stress gradient (from marsh, dying or dead forest, to healthy forest). A full-factorial greenhouse experiment was set up to investigate mortality and carbon allocation of Pinus taeda and P. serotina to low-salinity conditions and two hydrology treatments over 6 months. Treatments consisted of freshwater and two salinity levels (4 ppt and 8 ppt) under either permanently flooded or periodically flushed hydrologic conditions. Results: Natural pine regeneration was common (5,12 seedlings per m2) in moderate to well-drained soils where salinity concentrations were below ca. 3.5 ppt. Pine regeneration was generally absent in flooded soils, and cumulative mortality was 100% for 4 and 8 ppt salinity levels under flooded conditions in the greenhouse study. Under weekly flushing conditions, mortality was not significantly different between 0 and 4 ppt, confirming field observations. Biomass accumulation was higher for P. taeda, but for both pine species, the root to shoot ratio was suppressed under the 8 ppt drained treatment, reflecting increased below-ground stress. Conclusions: While Pinus taeda and P. serotina are commonly found in estuarine ecosystems, these species display a range of physiological tolerance to low-salinity conditions. Our results suggest that the rate of forest migration may lag relative to gradual sea-level rise and concomitant alterations in hydrology and salinity. Current bioclimate or landscape simulation models assume discrete thresholds in the range of plant tolerance to stress, especially in coastal environments, and consequently, they may overestimate the rate, extent, and timing of plant community response to sea-level rise. [source] Nutrient requirements of ephemeral plant species from wet, mesotrophic soilsJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 3 2001Emiel; Brouwer van der Meijden (1996) Abstract. Nanocyperion plant communities occur on wet, more or less nutrient-poor and sparsely vegetated soils in temperate climates and are characterized by tiny, very shortlived plant species. Most of these have become locally extinct. It is generally assumed that drainage and eutrophication were the most important reasons for this decrease. However, chemical analysis of soil pore water from plots on growth sites of these ephemerals showed that phosphorus availability was relatively high. In a greenhouse experiment, the growth of ephemeral species was strongly limited by the amount of available phosphorus, whereas there was little or no limitation to the growth of other plant species from this habitat. At low phosphorus concentrations, the ephemeral species reached their reproductive phase within the same period, but showed a strong reduction in the amount of flowers that were produced. We concluded that ephemeral species in particular require a minimum amount of phosphorus for reproduction. Other species on nutrient-poor, wet soils have a longer life span and can postpone flowering in nutrient-poor soils. In contrast to other short-lived plant species from the same habitat, the growth of ephemeral species was barely stimulated by enhanced nitrogen availability. Apparently, the ephemerals are adapted to low nitrogen concentrations. The occurrence on nitrogen-poor and relatively phosphorus-rich soils suggests that this community may be very sensitive to nitrogen deposition. Reduced phosphorus availability below the minimum requirements of ephemerals, for example after acidification or the exclusion of human activities, has possibly contributed to the decrease of ephemeral plant species. [source] Sequence diversity and haplotype associations with phenotypic responses to crowding: GIGANTEA affects fruit set in Arabidopsis thalianaMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 14 2007MARCUS T. BROCK Abstract Identifying the molecular genetic basis of intraspecific variation in quantitative traits promises to provide novel insight into their evolutionary history as well as genetic mechanisms of adaptation. In an attempt to identify genes responsible for natural variation in competitive responses in Arabidopsis thaliana, we examined DNA sequence diversity at seven loci previously identified as members of the phytochrome B signalling network. For one gene, GIGANTEA (GI), we detected significant haplotype structure. To test for GI haplogroup,phenotype associations, we genotyped 161 A. thaliana accessions at GI and censused the same accessions for total fruit set and the expression of three phenotypic traits (days to flowering, petiole length, and inflorescence height) in a greenhouse experiment where plants were grown in crowded and uncrowded environments. We detected a significant association between GI and total fruit set that resulted in a 14% difference in average fruit set among GI haplogroups. Given that fruit set is an important component of fitness in this species and given the magnitude of the effect, the question arises as to how variation at this locus is maintained. Our observation of frequent and significant epistasis between GI and background single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), where the fitness ranking of the GI allele either reverses or does not differ depending on the allele at the interacting SNP, suggests that epistatic selection may actively maintain or at least slow the loss of variation at GI. This result is particularly noteworthy in the light of the ongoing debate regarding the genetic underpinnings of phenotypic evolution and recent observations that epistasis for phenotypic traits and components of fitness is common in A. thaliana. [source] Tolerance to apical and foliar damage: costs and mechanisms in Raphanus raphanistrumOIKOS, Issue 12 2007Elin Boalt To study mechanisms underlying plant tolerance to herbivore damage, we used apical and foliar damage as experimental treatments to study whether there are similar tolerance mechanisms to different types of damage. We also studied whether tolerance to different types of damage are associated, and whether there is a cost involved in plant tolerance to different types of herbivore damage. Our greenhouse experiment involved 480 plants from 30 full-sib families of an annual weed Raphanus raphanistrum, wild radish, which were subjected to control and two different simulated herbivore damage treatments, apex removal and foliar damage of 30% of leaf area. Apical damage significantly decreased seed production, whereas foliar damage had no effect. There was a significant genetic variation for tolerance to foliar, but not apical damage. No costs were observed in terms of negative correlation between tolerance to either damage type and fitness of undamaged plants. Tolerances to apical and foliar damage were not significantly correlated with each other. We observed a larger number of significant associations between tolerance and reproductive traits than between tolerance and vegetative traits. Plant height and leaf size of damaged plants interacted in their association to tolerance to foliar damage. Inflorescence number and pollen quantity per flower of damaged plants were positively associated with tolerance to apical damage. In late-flowering genotypes, petal size of undamaged plants and pollen quantity of damaged plants were positively associated with tolerance to foliar damage. In summary, traits involved in floral display and male fitness were associated with plant tolerance to herbivore damage. [source] Effects of defoliation intensity on soil food-web properties in an experimental grassland communityOIKOS, Issue 2 2001Juha Mikola We established a greenhouse experiment based on replicated mini-ecosystems to evaluate the effects of defoliation intensity on soil food-web properties in grasslands. Plant communities, composed of white clover (Trifolium repens), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with well-established root and shoot systems, were subjected to five defoliation intensity treatments: no trimming (defoliation intensity 0, or DI 0), and trimming of all plant material to 35 cm (DI 1), 25 cm (DI 2), 15 cm (DI 3) and 10 cm (DI 4) above soil surface every second week for 14 weeks. Intensification of defoliation reduced shoot production and standing shoot and root mass of plant communities but increased their root to shoot ratio. Soil microbial activity and biomass decreased with intensification of defoliation. Concentrations of NO3,N in soil steadily increased with intensifying defoliation, whereas NH4,N concentrations did not vary between treatments. Numbers of microbi-detritivorous enchytraeids, bacterial-feeding rotifers and bacterial-feeding nematodes steadily increased with intensifying defoliation, while the abundance of fungal-feeding nematodes was significantly enhanced only in DI 3 and DI 4 relative to DI 0. The abundance of herbivorous nematodes per unit soil mass was lower in DI 3 and DI 4 than in DI 0, DI 1 and DI 2, but when calculated per unit root mass, their abundance tended to increase with defoliation intensity. The abundance of omnivorous and predatory nematodes appeared to be highest in the most intensely defoliated systems. The ratio of abundance of fungal-feeding nematodes to that of bacterial-feeding nematodes was not significantly affected by defoliation intensity. The results infer that defoliation intensity may significantly alter the structure of soil food webs in grasslands, and that defoliation per se is able to induce patterns observed in grazing studies in the field. The results did not support hypotheses that defoliation per se would cause a shift between the bacterial-based and fungal-based energy channels in the decomposer food web, or that herbivore and detritivore densities in soil would be highest under intermediate defoliation. Furthermore, our data for microbes and microbial feeders implies that the effects of defoliation intensity on soil food-web structure may depend on the duration of defoliation and are therefore likely to be dynamic rather than constant in nature. [source] Potential for effective marker-assisted selection of three quantitative trait loci conferring adult plant resistance to powdery mildew in elite wheat breeding populationsPLANT BREEDING, Issue 5 2006D. M. Tucker Abstract Three quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with adult plant resistance (APR) to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar ,Massey' were mapped in a previous study. The three QTL were located on chromosomes 2A, 2B and 1B, and explained 50% of the total phenotypic variation. A 293 recombinant inbred line (RIL) breeding population (UJ) derived from the cross of ,USG 3209', a derivative of ,Massey', and ,Jaypee' was used to evaluate the potential effectiveness of marker-assisted selection (MAS) for APR. Powdery mildew severities of the 293 UJ RILs were evaluated in 2002 (F5 : 6) and 2003 (F6 : 7) under natural disease pressure in the field. The 293 RILs were also evaluated for disease severity in a 2004 (F7 : 8) greenhouse experiment using a composite of five different isolates of B. graminis. Selection of RILs possessing the QTL on chromosome 2A, and to a lesser extent, the one on chromosome 1B was effective in identifying powdery mildew resistance in both greenhouse and field experiments. Overall, selecting RILs with QTL on chromosomes 2A and 2B was most successful in identifying highly resistant RILs, which had mean mildew severities of 4.4% and 3.2% in 2002 and 2003 field experiments, respectively. Breeders implementing MAS programs for APR to powdery mildew via selection of RILs containing the two QTL on chromosomes 2A and 2B likely will obtain RILs having high levels of resistance in the field, however combining all three QTL may ensure greater durability. [source] Reducing salinity and organic contaminants in the Pearl Harbor dredged material using soil amendments and plantsREMEDIATION, Issue 4 2002N. V. Hue Phytoremediation is an emerging technique that can be used to economically remediate sites contaminated with trace elements and/or man-made organic contaminants. This technique was used on Pearl Harbor (Oahu, Hawaii) dredged material (PHDM) containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some heavy metals. The dredged material was first amended with a high-calcium soil (Waialua Mollisol) and a biosolids-based compost at different proportions to yield varying salinity levels. A mixture that yielded an electrical conductivity (EC, a measure of salinity) of the saturated paste extract of 15 to 20 dS/m was identified and used to evaluate the salt tolerance of five plant species. Relative germination and one-month-old biomass indicated that common bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), beach pea (Vigna marina), and cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) can produce at least 40 percent of biomass of the control at an EC of approximately 18 dS/m, suggesting the four plants are relatively salt tolerant. In contrast, Desmodium intortum either did not germinate or died within two weeks after germination at the same salinity level. A subsequent greenhouse experiment, using mixtures of the PHDM (0 or 25 percent dry weight), organic amendments (10 percent leucaena green manure or biosolids-based compost), and a Mollisol (65 or 90 percent dry weight) in 6-liter pots containing 4 kilograms of material yielded the following results: (1) A combination of transplanted seashore paspalum, seeded bermuda grass, and seeded beach pea was effective in taking up sodium (Na), thereby reducing salinity and making the medium more amenable to diversified microbes and plants, which may be effective PAH degraders; (2) total PAH concentration was reduced by about 30 percent after three months of active plant growth, but degradation of individual PAH members varied significantly, however; (3) leguminous green manure, as a soil amendment, was more effective than compost for use in bio- and/or phytoremediations; and (4) soil amendments, when applicable, could supplement living plants in reducing organic contaminants, such as PAHs. © 200 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Response of Native and Exotic Grasses to Increased Soil Nitrogen and Recovery in a Postfire EnvironmentRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2006Molly E. Hunter Abstract Native plant recovery following wildfires is of great concern to managers because of the potential for increased water run-off and soil erosion associated with severely burned areas. Although postfire seeding with exotic grasses or cultivars of native grasses (seeded grasses) may mitigate the potential for increased run-off and erosion, such treatments may also be detrimental to long-term recovery of other native plant species. The degree to which seeded grasses dominate a site and reduce native plant diversity may be a function of the availability of resources such as nitrogen and light and differing abilities of native and seeded grasses to utilize available resources. We tested the hypothesis that seeded grasses have higher growth rates than native grasses when nitrogen and light availability is high in a greenhouse experiment. To determine how differing resource utilization strategies may affect distribution of native and seeded grasses across a burned landscape, we conducted botanical surveys after a wildfire in northern New Mexico, U.S.A., one and four years after the fire. In the greenhouse study we found seeded grasses to produce significantly more biomass than native grasses when nitrogen and light availability was high. Seeded grasses increased in cover from 1,4 years after the fire only in areas where total soil nitrogen was higher. Increased cover of seeded grasses did not affect recovery of native grasses, but it did lead to reduced native species richness at small scales. The potential negative long-term consequences of seeding with exotic grasses should be considered in postfire rehabilitation treatments. [source] Physiological changes in soybean (Glycine max) Wuyin9 in response to N and P nutritionANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002YINBO GAN Summary Phosphorus deficiency is a very common problem in the acid soil of central China. Previous research has shown that starter N and N topdressing at the flowering stage (Rl) increased soybean (Glycine max) yield and N2 fixation (Gan et al, 1997, 2000). However, there is little information available concerning soybean response to P-fertiliser in soybean production in central China (Gan, 1999). A field experiment was conducted to investigate the response to P (0 kg P ha,1, 22 kg P ha,1, 44 kg P ha,1 before sowing) and N fertiliser application (N1: 0 kg N ha,1, N2: 25 kg N ha,1 before sowing, N3: N2 + 50 kg N ha,1 at the V2 stage and N4: N2 + 50 kg N ha,1 at the R1 stage) on growth, yield and N2 fixation of soybean. Both N and P fertiliser increased growth and seed yield of soybean (P < 0.01). Application of basal P fertiliser at 22 kg P ha,1 or 44 kg P ha,1 increased total N accumulation by 11% and 10% (P < 0.01) and seed yield by 12% and 13% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to the zero P treatment. Although application of starter N at 25 kg N ha,1 had no positive effect on seed yield at any P level (P > 0.05), an application of a topdressing of 50 kg N ha,1 at the V2 or R1 stage increased total N accumulation by 11% and 14% (P < 0.01) and seed yield by 16% and 21% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to the zero N treatment. Soybean plants were grown on sterilised Perlite in the greenhouse experiment to study the physiological response to different concentrations of phosphate (P1: 0 mM; P2: 0.05 mM; P3: 0.5 mM; P4:1.0 mN) and nitrate (N1: 0 mM with inoculation, N2: 20 mM with inoculation). The result confirmed that N and P nutrients both had positive effects on growth, nodulation and yield (P < 0.01). The relative importance of growth parameters that contributed to the larger biomass with N and P fertilisation was in decreasing order: (i) total leaf area, (ii) individual leaf area, (iii) shoot/root ratio, (iv) leaf area ratio and (v) specific leaf area. The yield increase at N and P supply was mainly associated with more seeds and a larger pod number per plant, which confirmed the result from the field experiment. [source] Natural revegetation of coal fly ash in a highly saline disposal lagoon in Hong KongAPPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008L.M. Chu Abstract. Question: What is the relationship of the naturally colonizing vegetation and substrate characteristics in fly ash lagoons? Location: West lagoon, Deep Bay, a 13-ha coastal lagoon in Hong Kong in subtropical Southeast Asia. Methods: Vegetation establishment was examined in a coal fly ash lagoon two years after its abandonment to investigate the distribution of vegetation in relationship to the chemical properties of the fly ash in the lagoon. A greenhouse experiment assessed the limits imposed on plant growth in fly ash. Results: The fly ash was saline, slightly alkaline and very poor in organic matter and nitrogen. Ash from bare and vegetated areas differed significantly in their salinity and extractable concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and various metals. Bare ash had a significantly higher conductivity and extractable sodium, aluminum, manganese, potassium, and lead. In total 11 plant species that belonged to seven families were found growing on the fly ash; all species except the shrub Tamarix chinensis were herbaceous. Using discriminant analysis, the most important factors in distinguishing bare and vegetated ashes were conductivity and sodium. Cluster analysis of bare samples gave two distinct groups, one from the periphery of the lagoon, which had lower sodium, conductivity, organic carbon, potassium and copper, and the other from a second group that contained ashes from the central region of the lagoon. Results of the greenhouse experiment showed that the inhibition of plant growth was significantly correlated with the presence of soluble toxic elements in ash. Conclusion: Toxicity and salinity seem to be the major limiting factors to plant establishment in fly ash, and these factors must be ameliorated for the successful reclamation of these fly ash lagoons. [source] Litter decomposition in a sandy Monte desert of western Argentina: Influences of vegetation patches and summer rainfallAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 7 2006EDUARDO PUCHETA Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that shrub canopies interact with monthly rain pulses to control litter decomposition in a sandy Monte desert, in Argentina. We assessed (i) the potential for litter decomposition of soils beneath the canopies of two dominant shrub species (Larrea divaricata and Bulnesia retama, Zygophyllaceae R. Br.) and from bare-ground microsites or ,openings'; (ii) litter decomposition at different spatial patches over the summer rainy season; and (iii) the interaction between vegetation patches and monthly rain pulses on short-term litter decomposition, or decomposition pulses. In a greenhouse experiment, we found buried litter decomposition to be higher in soils from under the canopies of a dominant shrub species compared with soils from openings and sterilized controls. This, and higher nutrient concentration under shrub soils, suggest undercanopy soils may support a microbial community capable of decomposing litter at higher rates than soils in bare openings. However, ,eld trials showed that shrub patches did not affect leaf litter decomposition over the rainy season, at least for short periods. We found an interaction between shrub patches and incubation time at the end of the ,eld experiment, with higher litter decomposition rates under B. retama canopies. In a monthly ,eld experiment, we found monthly rain pulses signi,cantly explained decomposition pulses, irrespective of patch type. Our ,ndings support the hypothesis that shrub soils have a greater potential for litter decomposition, but this is not directly translated to the ,eld possibly due to interactions with abiotic factors. Rain pulses create conditions for decomposition pulses to occur at shorter time scales, whereas rainfall may interact with a dominant shrub undercanopy to control litter mass loss over longer time scales. [source] Effects of aphids on foliar foraging by Argentine ants and the resulting effects on other arthropodsECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2008CRYSTAL D. GROVER Abstract 1.,Although interactions between ants and honeydew-producing insects have received considerable study, relatively little is known about how these interactions alter the behaviour of ants in ways that affect other arthropods. In this study, field and greenhouse experiments were performed that examined how the presence of aphids (Aphis fabae solanella) on Solanum nigrum influenced the foraging behaviour of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) and, in turn, modified the extent to which ants deter larval lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris), which are known aphid predators. 2.,A field experiment demonstrated that the level of foliar foraging by ants increased linearly with aphid abundance, whereas no relationship existed between the level of ground foraging by ants and aphid abundance. 3.,In the greenhouse, as in the field, foliar foraging by ants greatly increased when aphids were present. Higher levels of foliar foraging led to a twofold increase in the likelihood that ants contacted aphid predators. As a result of these increased encounters with ants, lacewing larvae were twice as likely to be removed from plants with aphids compared with plants without aphids. Once contact was made, however, the behaviour of ants towards lacewing larvae appeared similar between the two experimental groups. 4.,Argentine ants drive away or prey upon a diversity of arthropod predators and parasitoids, but they also exhibit aggression towards certain herbivores. Future work should attempt to quantify how the ecological effects that result from interactions between honeydew-producing insects and invasive ants, such as L. humile, differ from those that result from interactions between honeydew-producing insects and native ants. [source] Top-down and bottom-up regulation of herbivores: Spodoptera frugiperda turns tables on endophyte-mediated plant defence and virulence of an entomopathogenic nematodeECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Douglas S. Richmond Abstract., 1. The fungus Neotyphodium lolii forms a symbiotic relationship with its grass host Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass). The fungus benefits from access to plant nutrients and photosynthate, whereas the plant benefits from acquired chemical defence against herbivory. 2. This study examined the potential for endophyte-mediated plant defences to influence interactions between fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and clarified biological mechanisms underlying the observations made. 3. In laboratory and greenhouse experiments, S. frugiperda larvae were fed endophytic or non-endophytic L. perenne then exposed to S. carpocapsae or injected with the nematodes' symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila. 4. In all instances, S. frugiperda larvae fed endophyte-infected grass suffered significantly lower mortality than those fed non-endophytic plants. Although larvae fed endophyte-infected grass often had significantly lower biomass than those fed uninfected grass, these differences did not account for altered susceptibility to S. carpocapsae. 5. Endophyte-mediated reductions in herbivore susceptibility to the nematode pathogen represent a herbivore adaptation that effectively turns the tables on both plant and natural enemy by reducing the virulence of the nematodes' symbiotic bacteria while expanding the temporal window of herbivory. [source] Genetic variability in a population of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi causes variation in plant growthECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2006Alexander M. Koch Abstract Different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alter plant growth and affect plant coexistence and diversity. Effects of within-AMF species or within-population variation on plant growth have received less attention. High genetic variation exists within AMF populations. However, it is unknown whether genetic variation contributes to differences in plant growth. In our study, a population of AMF was cultivated under identical conditions for several generations prior to the experiments thus avoiding environmental maternal effects. We show that genetically different Glomus intraradices isolates from one AMF population significantly alter plant growth in an axenic system and in greenhouse experiments. Isolates increased or reduced plant growth meaning that plants potentially receive benefits or are subject to costs by forming associations with different individuals in the AMF population. This shows that genetic variability in AMF populations could affect host-plant fitness and should be considered in future research to understand these important soil organisms. [source] Impact of Collimonas bacteria on community composition of soil fungiENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Sachie Höppener-Ogawa Summary The genus Collimonas consists of soil bacteria that have the potential to grow at the expense of living fungal hyphae. However, the consequences of this mycophagous ability for soil fungi are unknown. Here we report on the development of fungal communities after introduction of collimonads in a soil that had a low abundance of indigenous collimonads. Development of fungal communities was stimulated by addition of cellulose or by introducing plants (Plantago lanceolata). Community composition of total fungi in soil and rhizosphere and of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots was examined by PCR-DGGE. The introduction of collimonads altered the composition of all fungal communities studied but had no effects on fungal biomass increase, cellulose degrading activity or plant performance. The most likely explanation for these results is that differences in sensitivity of fungal species to the presence of collimonads result in competitive replacement of species. The lab and greenhouse experiments were complemented with a field experiment. Mesh bags containing sterile sand with or without collimonads were buried in an ex-arable field and a forest. The presence of collimonads had an effect on the composition of fungi invading these bags in the ex-arable site but not in the forest site. [source] Direct and indirect effects of a potential aquatic contaminant on grazer,algae interactionsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2009Michelle A. Evans-White Abstract Contaminants have direct, harmful effects across multiple ecological scales, including the individual, the community, and the ecosystem levels. Less, however, is known about how indirect effects of contaminants on consumer physiology or behavior might alter community interactions or ecosystem processes. We examined whether a potential aquatic contaminant, an ionic liquid, can indirectly alter benthic algal biomass and primary production through direct effects on herbivorous snails. Ionic liquids are nonvolatile organic salts being considered as an environmentally friendly potential replacement for volatile organic compounds in industry. In two greenhouse experiments, we factorially crossed four concentrations of 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (bmimBr; experiment 1: 0 or 10 mg/L; experiment 2: 0, 1, or 100 mg/L) with the presence or absence of the snail Physa acuta in aquatic mesocosms. Experimental results were weighted by their respective control (no bmimBr or P. acuta) and combined for statistical analysis. When both bmimBr and snails were present, chlorophyll a abundance and algal biovolume were higher than would be expected if both factors acted additively. In addition, snail growth rates, relative to those of controls, declined by 41 to 101% at 10 and 100 mg/L of bmimBr. Taken together, these two results suggest that snails were less efficient grazers in the presence of bmimBr, resulting in release of algae from the grazer control. Snails stimulated periphyton primary production in the absence, but not in the presence, of bmimBr, suggesting that bmimBr also can indirectly alter ecosystem function. These findings suggest that sublethal contaminant levels can negatively impact communities and ecosystem processes via complex interactions, and they provide baseline information regarding the potential effects of an emergent industrial chemical on aquatic systems. [source] Phylogenetic diversity of non-nodulating Rhizobium associated with pine ectomycorrhizaeFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Megumi Tanaka Abstract Most Rhizobium species described are symbionts that form nodules on legume roots; however, non-nodulating strains of Rhizobium are also widespread in nature. Unfortunately, knowledge of non-nodulating Rhizobium is quite limited compared with nodulating Rhizobium. Here, we studied the phylogenetic diversity of Rhizobium species that inhabit Japanese red pine roots (Pinus densiflora). Because fine roots of pine trees are usually colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi in nature, we mainly used ectomycorrhizal root tips for bacterial isolation. Out of 1195 bacteria isolated from 75 independent root samples from the field and greenhouse experiments, 102 isolates were confirmed to be Rhizobium following partial 16S rRNA gene analysis. Rhizobium species were occasionally dominant in culturable bacterial communities, whereas no Rhizobium species were isolated from the soil itself. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA, atpD, and recA gene sequences revealed that isolated Rhizobium strains were phylogenetically diverse and that several were distantly related to known Rhizobium species. Considering that a single species of pine is associated with unique and phylogenetically diverse Rhizobium populations, we should pay more attention to non-nodulating strains to better understand the diversity, ecology, and evolution of the genus Rhizobium and plant,Rhizobium associations. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||