Abstract:In order to accumulate data for the phylogenetic reconstruction of Sorghum, the geographical distribution of Sorghum Moench (Andropogoneae, Panicoideae, Poaceae) was studied by field investigation and reviewing specimen and literature. Sorghum, including about 29 species, is a representative group in the tribe Andropogoneae due to the paired heterogamous spikelets (one sessile, fertile; the other one pedicelled, staminate or sterile) made up racemes along each node of inflorescences. Sorghum species distribute in the tropical and subtropical to temperate regions, with the species number being 22, 15, 9, 3, 2 in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Mediterranean, respectively. In addition, six species have extended to the Americas. In China, five species distribute in northeastern, southwestern, and southern provinces. Among five subgenera of Sorghum, only subgen. Sorghum has representatives in the New World, other subgenera are restricted to the Old World. The subgen. Sorghum presents in Africa then spread to tropical and temperate regions around the world, subgen. Parasorghum extends from Africa, Asia to Australia, subgen. Stiposorghum occurrs in Australia and Asia, subgen. Chaetosorghum is found in Australia, and subgen. Heterosorghum is found in Australia and Aisa. These results suggested that northeast Australia was the distribution center and diversification center of Sorghum, while the origin center of Sorghum needs to be further studied.

Abstract:The interaction between pollinating fig wasps (Agaonidae) and their host fig trees (Ficus) is a striking example of an obligate pollination mutualism. Successful pollination of fig trees depends on a specific species of fig wasp managing to find figs of the correct host plant, at their correct stage of development. Encounters between receptive figs and their pollinators are attained by figs emitting species-specific volatile chemicals to attract their fig wasps. However, whether and how the choice of fig wasps can be influenced by the characteristics of receptive figs are still controversial. The female phase of Fiucs sermicordata was deemed by whether fig wasps were willing to enter figs, the different developmental phase of male and female figs in receptivity were acquired at the same time by preventing figs from being pollinated by fig wasps, and the diameter of figs was also measured to examined how fig wasps preferences can be reflected by the size, developmental phase and gender of figs. The results showed that figs would keep growing if they were prevented from being pollinated during female phase, smaller figs were more likely to be entered by more fig wasps for both male and female figs, and fig wasps preferred younger figs. Some of fig wasps still chose female figs to enter when both receptive male and female figs were accessible at the same time, although the wasps number was significantly smaller than those of entering male figs. Although the correlation between fig diameter and foundress number was positive within figs in the same developmental phase, such correlation only significant among four treatments of male figs. The results were not consistent with Ficus pertusa and Ficus hispida. These implied that different Ficus species might have different mechanism to control their pollinator's choice during female phase, it is developmental phase in receptivity and the change of chemical volatile as consequence rather than fig diameter has the direct effect on the choice of fig wasps, and fig wasps depend on olfactory rather than visual cue to locate their host figs. The results could help for further understand the stabe mechanisms of fig-fig wasps.

Abstract:Ligularia kangtingensis S. W. Liu is reduced herein to the synonymy under L. hookeri (C. B. Clarke) Hand.-Mazz. The name Senecio ficariifolius H. Lév. & Vaniot has long been placed in synonymy under L. hookeri, a species with radiate capitula. Examination of the type specimens of S. ficariifolius has shown that it has discoid capitula, and thus is readily distinguishable from L. hookeri, but not essentially different from L. leveillei. We therefore place S. ficariifolius in synonymy under L. leveillei.

Abstract:Examination of herbarium specimens has shown that Anemone xiaowutaishanica W. T. Wang & Bing Liu is conspecific with A. cathayensis Kitag. ex Ziman & Kadota. We therefore place A. xiaowutaishanica in synonymy under A. cathayensis. As A. cathayensis belongs to subsection Omalocarpus (DC.) Tamura, we place section Leptothece W. T. Wang & Bing Liu, which was established based on A. xiaowutaishanica, in synonymy under subsection Omalocarpus.

Abstract:Diospyros brandisiana Kurz (Ebenaceae) is reported as newly recorded species to China. Its diagnostic characters, habitat and distribution are discussed. Its cauliflory habit is unique among the species of the genus Diospyros in China. The voucher specimens are deposited in Herbarium of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KUN).

Abstract:Based on field observation and specimen examination, two little known orchids, Dendrobium transparens Wall. ex Lindl. and Neottia alternifolia (King & Pantl.) Szlach., are documented first time in field in China. Dendrobium transparens is similar to Dendrobium aphyllum (Roxb.) C. E. Fischer, but it is easily distinguished from the latter by its lip having a large deep purplish red patch along its middle and pubescent adaxially; Neottia alternifolia (King & Pantl.) Szlach. is quite different from other species of Neottia Guettard by having two alternate leaves.

Abstract:In order to understand the energy balance closure of Phyllostachys edulis forest in subtropical China during growing season, the changes in energy flux of P. edulis forest were studied from April to September in 2011 by using open-path eddy covariance method, and the characteristics of energy closure were analyzed by using EBR (Energy balance ratio) and OLR (Ordinary linear regression). The results showed that total net radiation of the forest in growing season was 1738.2 MJ m^-2, and the sensible flux heat, latent heat flux, and soil heat flux were 354.3 MJ m^-2, 1146.0 MJ m^-2, and 58.9 MJ m^-2, respectively. It was suggested that soil was a heat sink. The sensible and latent heat fluxes were accounting for 20.4% and 65.9% of the net radiation, respectively. The enrgy balance closure of P. edulis forest in growing season was 0.89, and the monthly average was 0.91, but there was 11% of energy imclosure. Therefore, the latent heat flux was the main form of energy loss. Diurnal variation in energy components all showed single peak curves based on net radiation, and energy closure was at high level.

Abstract:The aim is to explore the main influence mechanism in change process from regional to local scale. Based on plant investigation data of Baishanzu Nature Reserve and field investigation of the 5 hm² plot in Baishanzu, the differences in species composition and functional traits at regional and local scales were compared. The results showed that there was significant difference between regional species pool and local community. Among top 10 families and genera of species number in Baishanzu Nature Reserve and plots, only 5 families and 5 genera were common. Compared to genera in whole Baishanzu Nature Reserve, temperate genera increase obviously in plots, and tropical genera were less. At aspect of functional traits, the ratios of herbal plants, compound leaf, bisexual flower or dry fruit in Bishanzu plots were lower than those in Baishanzu Natrure Reserve, while the ratios of woody plants, single leaf, unisexual flower and flesh fruit were higher in Baishanzu plots than those in Baishanzu Nature Reserve. These suggested that non-random processes, such as niche differentiation, play an important role in construction of local community.

Abstract:In order to understand the parasitic relationship between Santalum album L. and leguminous plants, eleven leguminous species were planted with S. album. The leaf photosynthetic characters, height and base diameter of S. album and its haustoria number and size were studied. The results showed that number and size of haustoria, height and base diameter of S. album had significant differences among different hosts. The excellent hosts for S. album were Calliandra haematocephala, Caesalpinia sappan, Acacia confusa and Erythrina corallodendron, and Acacia mangium, Dalbergia odorifera and Cassia surattensis were just general hosts, while Delonix regia, Ormosia pinnata, Leucaena leucocephala and Bauhinia blakeana were unsuitable hosts. Meanwhile, the height and diameter, leaf photosynthesis characters of S. album had close relation with number of haustoria parasitized on roots of leguminous plants. So, the plantation of S. album should choose appropriate host plant.

Abstract:In order to understand the effect of Aluminum (Al) stress on photosynthesis of Schima superba seedlings, the changes in photosynthetic characteristics of S. superba seedlings under Al stress and regulation by adding phosphorous (P) and base cations (BC) were studied. The results showed that under low Al concentration (0.25 mmol L^-1) treat ment, the contents of photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b, car), photosynthetic indexes (P_n, gs, WUE, C_i/C_a) and photoresponse parameters (P_max, AQY, R_d, LSP) all declined, and their decrement was relieved by adding either BC or BC and P. In contrast, under moderate and high Al concentrations (0.75, 1.50 mmol L^-1) treat ment, the contents of photosynthetic pigments increased, but photosynthetic parameters and photoresponse parameters decreased with increment of Al concentration. The addition of P was more efficient than that of BC in reduction of Al stress. These elucidated that BC or /and P played relative important role in alleviation of Al stress on S. superba seedlings.

Abstract:In order to understand the genetic relationship of Quercus glandulifera var. brevipetiolata Nakai population, the genetic diversity and genetic structure in four secondary populations of Q. glandulifera var. brevipetiolata community were studied by using SSR markers. The results showed that 101 alleles existed in the four populations of Q. glandulifera var. brevipetiolata by using 7 pairs of SSR primers. The genetic diversity in population of 20-year after havesting (20YAH) was the highest, while those of 1YAH and 10YAH were low relatively. In the long term, the special logging habits of local residents will not influence the genetic diversity of Q. glandulifera var. brevipetiolata nature forest.

Abstract:In order to understand the function and expression character of histone deacetylase gene HDA705 in rice (Oryza sativa), 5′ terminal promoter sequence was cloned with length of 2 kb based on rice HDA705 sequence (GenBank accession No.: AK111861), named proHDA705. The expression vector of proHDA705:GUS was constructed. The proHDA705:GUS vector was transformed to rice by Agrobacterium-mediated assays. GUS staining assays of transgenic rice showed that proHDA705 expressed only in root, stem, leave and some epidermal hair of seed coat, but did not in flower. It was suggested that HDA705 had tissue specific expression in rice.

Abstract:To investigate the function of sucrose synthase in Hevea brasiliensis growth and development, two genes encoding sucrose synthase, named as HbSS1 and HbSS2, were cloned from H. brasiliensis by RACE-PCR, and their expression patterns were analysed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the whole length of HbSS1 cDNA was 2864 bp, encoding 806 amino acids; that of HbSS2 cDNA was 2815 bp, encoding 811 amino acids. Both HbSS1 and HbSS2 had typical characteristic of sucrose synthase in plants, containing a conserved phosphorylation site and two conserved domains. The expressions of HbSS1 and HbSS2 were detected in all tissues, their expressions were the highest in leaves and bark, respectively. It was suggested that HbSS1 and HbSS2 might be involved in growth and metabolism of various tissues, and they also had functional differentiation.

Abstract:In order to understand the chemical constituents of Alpinia officinarum Hance, five flavonoids were isolated from aerial parts of A. officinarum by silica gel column chromatography and dextran gel column chromatography. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as galangin (1), 3-O-methylgalangin (2), pinocembrin (3), pinobaksin (4) and kaempferide (5).

Abstract:In order to understand the chemical constituents of Lysimachia fortunei Maxim., five flavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of ethanol extract of whole herbs of L. fortunei. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as: quercetin (1), isorhamnetin-3-O-(6-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (3), hyperin (4) and kaempferol-3-O-[6-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- β-D-glucopyranoside (5). Among them, compounds 2 and 5 were obtained from the genus Lysimachia for the first time.

Abstract:In order to understand the chemical comstituents of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey, nine compounds were isolated from the leaves of S. grosvenorii by using solvent fractionation and chromatographic technology. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as: kaempferol-3,7-di-O-α-L-rahmnoside (1), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rahmnoside (2), ferulic acid (3), 4'-O-methyldihydroquercetin (4), emodin (5), aloe-emodin (6), quercetin (7), kaempferol (8), kaempferol-7-O-α-L-rahmnoside (9). Among them, compounds 3 - 6 were isolated from the leaves of S. grosvenorii for the first time.

Abstract:Tritiated thymidine incorporation method plays an important role in determination of bacterial growth rate, due to its clear principle, simple operation and good repeatability. However, there has been little research on soil ecology using tritiated thymidine incorporation method for determination of bacterial growth rate compared with medical science and aquatic ecology field. Especially studies on this area in China have been reported hardly. The principle, operation procedure, influential factor and calculation method of tritiated thymidine incorporation method were introduced, and its applications in soil ecology were summarized. These would provide reference for the further applications of this technology in soil ecology.