Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
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The effect of soil and climatic conditions on the distribution of nutrients in Actinidia arguta leaves
Get PDFThe patterns of the distribution of nutrients in kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.), family Actinidiaceae (Gilg & Werderm), leaves growing under different soil and climatic conditions (Ukraine and China) were studied. Using scanning electron microscopy, significant differences were shown in the distribution of assimilates and mineral nutrients in the leaves of kiwiberry cultivated under different climate and soil conditions (Kyiv city, Ukraine and Jiamusi, China). The leaves of plants grown in China have higher concentration of all of the studied nutrients exception for silicon. The differences found in the content of macro- and microelements in plant tissues are consistent with their total content in the soil, and depend on the synthesis of low molecular weight organic compounds, namely, hydroxybenzoic, benzoic and triterpene acids. An increase in the silicon content in the leaves of kiwiberry plants grown in Ukraine indicates the moisture deficit in the soil. This conclusion is confirmed by the anatomical differences viz. the presence of additional integumentary formations and fewer stomata number per 1 mm2 of leaf surface. The specific feature of ‘Perlyna sadu’ cultivar was high concentrations of sodium and aluminum in the foliar tissues, regardless of the place of growth. The analysis of the distribution of nutrients in the leaves located along the stem showed remobilization of the former within the three layers: the lower one nourishes the roots, the upper one nourishes the leaves in the active growth phase and the middle one allocates the assimilates in both directions. A significant positive relationship was found between the biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments and electrophysiological activity, especially for the leaves of the lower zone. The revealed differentiation into layers differing in polarity of bioelectric potentials and the distribution of assimilates suggests functional differentiation of the kiwiberry leaves. In particular, the leaves of the lower layer perform a storage function. The middle part is less conservative and characterized by higher sensitivity to environmental factors performs a mainly synthetic function. The upper layer performs an active growth function. The results of the comparative analysis of the indicators of the number of chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells proved that the obtained dependence can be used as a diagnostic criterion in assessing the predicted plant productivity at the early stages of their development
Pattern of functional diversity along the elevation gradient in the dry evergreen Afromontane forest of Hararghe Highland, Southeast Ethiopia
Get PDFUnderstanding plant species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is fundamental to managing ecosystems, particularly when habitats are fragmented due to intensive human land use pressure. The variation pattern of functional diversity of plant communities along the elevation gradient in the Dindin dry evergreen Afromontane forest was tested. Fifty four plots of 20 x 20 m (400 m2) were established at 200 m intervals starting 2,300–2,900 m a. s. l. and woody species composition, and environmental variables were recorded. Nine functional diversity indices based on functional distances were employed to esimate functional diversity. The mixed effect model was used to determine the effect of elevation, aspect and slope on functional diversity indices. The results showed that functional diversity in communities varied greatly; functional diversity revealed a decrease with increasing elevation and a‘‘humped’’ pattern, with peak diversity appearing at middle elevation. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with elevation, slope, and aspect. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with species richness and evenness. Environmental filtering was important to the functional diversity pattern; the nine indices were all successful in the analysis of functional diversity in the plant community with different effectiveness, and modified functional attribute diversity, plot-based functional diversity, community based functional diversity, functional richness, and community weight mean of woody density performed better than the other four indices in this study
Cuticular wax composition of mature leaves of species and hybrids of the genus Prunus differing in resistance to clasterosporium disease
Get PDFThe interaction of a host plant with pathogen implies an extremely complex process involving the outer waxy layer of the cuticle, cutin, cell membrane, and intracellular structures. However, the initial contact between plants and pathogens takes place in cuticular waxes covering the surface of leaves, stems and fruits. Despite many findings on the role of plant epicuticular waxes, there is a gap in the understanding of the relationship between individual compounds and their functions. The pathogenic fungus Clasterosporium carpohilum (Lev.) Aderh. parasitizes the tissues of many stone fruit trees, damaging leaf and fruit surface. The aim of this work was to find out if the quantity and composition of leaf epicuticular wax could be responsible for the resistance to clasterosporium disease. The study of differences of plants in fungal resistance was carried out on species and hybrids of the genus Prunus from the collection of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Dnipro city, Ukraine). The chloroform extracts of epicuticular waxes from the surface of mature leaves were analyzed by gas chromatography connected to mass-spectrometry. GC/MS assay was performed using Shimadzu GCMS-QP 2020 El equipped with capillary column (5% diphenyl/95% dimethyl polysiloxane), and helium as a carrier gas. Mass Spectrum Library 2014 for GSMS was used to identify the separated compounds of the wax extracts. The maximum total wax amount on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of hybrid 2 was twice the minimum wax accumulation for hybrid 4. Overall, 20 individual compounds belonging to six hydrocarbon classes were identified. Leaf epicuticular wax composition both in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch and P. dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb, and hybrids was dominated by long-chain n-alkanes with even carbon number (77.6–90.9% of total sum). The alkenes’ class was represented only by 17-pentatriacontene detected in the wax of both Prunus species. Octadecanaldehyde was found in epicuticular wax of P. dulcis while absent in wax of the more resistant species P. persica. Prime alcohols 1-tetradecanol and 1-hexacosanol were detected in leaf waxes of hybrid 4 and P. dulcis respectively. The ester class contained seven compounds found in leaf epicuticular waxes of both plant species and all hybrid forms. The identification of phthalic acid esters in leaf wax extracts was unexpected, and the phthalates’ origin is discussed. Strong positive correlation between leaf damage and tetrapentacontane content in epicuticular waxes could presumably be the result of infection-induced metabolism reprogramming in epidermal cells of infected leaves
Asymmetric hybridization of roach Rutilus rutilus and common bream Abramis brama in controlled backcrosses: Genetic and morphological patterns
Get PDFIn most cases in natural environments, hybrids of roach Rutilus rutilus L. and bream Abramis brama L. possess mitochondrial DNA of bream. Presumably, the genetic basis for unidirectional hybridization of roach and bream is the high level of divergence in the genes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunits I, III). Disruption of the interaction of the products of these genes leads to nuclear-cytoplasmic incompatibility of alien genomes, what is shown in a decrease of viability and developmental abnormalities in hybrids. In the present work we studied the viability and morphology of hybrid underyearlings obtained by crossing of hybrid females of first generation (RA and AR) with males of roach R. rutilus and bream A. brama. The method of genotyping (ITS1 ribosomal DNA, cytochrome b mtDNA) and comparative analysis of the complex of 23 plastic and meristic characteristics of backcrossed hybrids are used. All progenies showed an increase in morphological variability compared to parental species and F1 hybrids. In progenies with introgression of mtDNA, a violation of associations between traits and the formation of transgressive phenotypes that go beyond the parental populations were found. In RAA backcrosses (combining mtDNA of R. rutilus and nuclear genome of A. brama) a decrease in viability with impaired recovery of external traits of bream was found. Conversely, ARR backcrosses (combining mtDNA of A. brama and the nuclear genome of R. rutilus) have a high viability and completely restore the morphotype of roach, which indicates the stable development of hybrids when they include alien genetic material. The differences in viability and morphology between backcrossed hybrids with the mtDNA of R. rutilus and A. brama evidence varying degrees of nuclear-cytoplasmic compatibility of the genomes of roach and bream. The complete interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from different species (wild-type-like) happens in direction of introgression mtDNA of A. brama, the less polymorphic of the two parental genomes. In the direction of introgression of highly polymorphic mtDNA of R. rutilus the formation of a reproductive barrier occurs. Our results show that the main reason for the asymmetry of hybridization of R. rutilus and A. brama is unequal rates of mitochondrial evolution and the priority of the introgression of mtDNA belongs a species with a lower rate of changes in mtDNA
Antibacterial and fungicidal activities of ethanol extracts of 38 species of plants
Get PDFGalenic preparations are broadly used against microorganisms pathogenic to humans, thought their poteintial in this aspect is not studied completely. In our in vitro experiment we studied the influence of alcohol tinctures from 38 species of plants on 15 species of bacteria and one species of fungus. Zones of growth inhibition of colonies measuring over 8 mm were observed during the use of ethanol extracts of Maclura pomifera against eight species of microorganisms (Escherichia сoli, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella typhimurium, Rhodococcus equi, Campylobacter jejuni and Corynebacterium xerosis), Ginkgo biloba – against eight species (Enterococcus faecalis, S. marcescens, Y. enterocolitica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria іnnocua, L. monocytogenes, Р. аeruginosa and C. jejuni), Genista tinctoria – against seven species (E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium, Р. аeruginosa and Rh. equi), Phellodendron amurense – against seven species (E. faecalis, S. marcescens, S. typhimurium, Rh. equi, C. jejunі, C. xerosis and Candida albicans), Berberis vulgaris – against seven species (P. mirabilis, S. marcescens, K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium, C. jejuni, Р. аeruginosa and C. xerosis), Vitex negundo – against six species (E. faecalis, E. coli, P. mirabilis, K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium and Rh. equi), Koelreuteria paniculata – against six species (E. faecalis, P. mirabilis, S. marcescens, S. typhimurium, C. jejunі and E. coli), Magnolia kobus – against six species (E. faecalis, E. coli, P. mirabilis, S. marcescens, S. typhimurium, C. jejunі and C. xerosis), Liriodendron tulipifera – against six species (K. pneumoniae, Listeria іnnocua, Р. аeruginosa, C. jejuni, Rh. equi and C. albicans), Clematis flammula – against six species (E. faecalis, P. mirabilis, L. monocytogenes, Р. аeruginosa, C. jejuni and C. xerosis), Wisteria sinensis – against five species (E. coli, S. typhimurium, L. monocytogenes, Rh. equi and C. albicans), Chimonanthus praecox – against five species (E. faecalis, S. marcescens, L. monocytogenes, C. jejuni and Rh. equi), Colchicum autumnale – against five species (S. marcescens, K. pneumoniae, L. ivanovi, L. monocytogenes and Р. аeruginosa). As a result of the study, these plants were found to be the most promising for further study of in vivo antibacterial activity. In the search of antibacterial and antifungal activities, the following plants were observed to be less promising: Ailanthus altissima, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Artemisia absinthium, Callicarpa bodinieri, Campsis radicans, Catalpa duclouxii, Celastrus scandens, Dictamnus alba, Eucommia ulmoides, Geranium sanguineum, Laburnum anagyroides, Nepeta racemosa, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Polygonatum multiflorum, Prunus dulcis, P. laurocerasus, Ptelea trifoliata, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus castaneifolia, Q. petraea iberica, Salvia officinalis, Securigera varia, Styphnolobium japonicum, Tamarix elongata and Vitex agnus-castus
Carbon dioxide emission and humus status of Albic Stagnic Luvisol under different fertilization regimes
Get PDFThe increase in the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, which enhances the greenhouse effect and leads to climate change, is the fundamental scientific problem of nowadays. Modern approaches to fertility management technologies of acid soils based on the principles of resource conservation and environmental safety are presented. They are based on the results of the study of carbon dioxide emission intensity, humus status, and crop rotation productivity in a classic long-term agricultural experiment under the influence of long-term use of various fertilizer systems with the application of ameliorant doses calculated by pH buffering capacity and hydrolytic acidity. The organo-mineral fertilizer system with the addition of 10 t of manure per ha of crop rotation area + N65P68K68, liming with a CaCO3 dose calculated according to pH buffering capacity (2.5 t/ha) contributes most to the optimization of soil processes. At the same time, it ensures the rational use of fertilizers and ameliorants, preservation of fertility, optimizes the processes of humus formation and carbon dioxide release. A high level of productivity of Albic Stagnic Luvisols forms under these conditions – 7.38 t/ha of grain units. Application of 1.0 and 1.5 lime norms calculated according to soil hydrolytic acidity with organic-mineral and mineral fertilizer systems on Albic Stagnic Luvisols in a short four-field crop rotation is not only a high-cost measure. However, it causes significant carbon loss in the form of CO2 due to additional mineralization. It is accompanied by calcium leaching and creates environmental problems in the conditions of the periodic washing-off water regime. Therefore, liming by CaCO3 dose calculated according to acid-base buffering capacity should be carried out before each of the following rotations in order to harmonize the environmental and productive functions of Albic Stagnic Luvisols in the short crop rotation. The obtained research results will be used to improve the methodology for determining carbon dioxide emissions and predicting the effect of various fertilizer and liming systems on its balance in the soil
Trophic links of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos) in transformed forest ecosystems of North-Eastern Ukraine
Get PDFThe diet spectrum of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos Brehm, 1831; Passeriformes, Turdidae) was studied with the aim of supporting the population of the species in transformed forests of North-Eastern Ukraine. Four forest ecosystems were surveyed: three model sites in oak woodlands with different stages of recreational digression, and the fourth model site in a pine-oak forest. A total of 45 invertebrate taxa with the dominance of Insecta (64.6%, n = 1321), Oligochaеta (16.7%), and Gastropoda (12.0%) were revealed in the diet of the song thrush. At the level of orders, Lepidoptera (66.2%) was dominant. In the qualitative structure of the song thrush nestling diet, the highest number of taxa (40.5–59.1%) was represented by phytophages. Phytophagous species also comprised the majority of the consumed prey items (44.7–80.3%). Environmental conditions are an important factor, affecting the diet composition of birds. The most favourable foraging conditions for the thrushes were revealed in natural protected areas. The analysis has shown a fairly even foraging efficiency of the thrushes in all the studied sites. The highest biodiversity indices were found in a protected area of the National Nature Park “Homilshanski Forests”. The results of the research indicate an important role of T. philomelos in the population management of potentially dangerous agricultural pests
Various antioxidant responses to hyperthermia in anatomically different species of the genus Rosa
Get PDFThe heat and drought resistance of plants depend on their anatomical and biochemical features. In the present study, the adaptive features of three species of wild rose (Rosaceae, Rosales) under the short-term impact of high-temperature stress have been characterized. Plants of the species Rosa donetzica Dubovik, R. reversa Waldst. et Kit. and R. spinosissima L. were exposed to a temperature of 40 degrees C for 3 hours, following which peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, photosynthetic pigments and flavonoids’ content, and lipid peroxide oxidation level in the leaf were determined. In our investigation, the anatomical structure of leaves and drought resistance of three species of Rosa were studied. Xeromorphic features are the most expressed for R. reversa and R. spinosissima and almost absent for R. donetzica. It has been established that R. spinosissima is photophilous whereas R. donetzica is shade-tolerant. The relatively lower development of epidermic tissue in R. donetzica could probably contribute to more active destruction of the pigment complex under high temperature stress. The obtained data about changes in activity of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, content of photosynthetic pigments and flavonoids, and level of lipid peroxidation indicate the low heat resistance of R. donetzica in comparison with the other two species. R. reversa, R. spinosissima were more tolerant to short-term hyperthermia. They showed faster antioxidant response, mainly due to the induction of peroxidase activity under stress. The species with the most expressed xerophytic features of anatomical structures have rapid antioxidant response and are more resistant to short-term hyperthermia. The induction of some activity of antioxidant enzymes "in reserve" is a less effective form of adaptation in wild roses. Such activation of enzymes is observed in plants with a more mesophytic structure. Flavonoids and superoxide dismutase were thermolabile to short-term influence of high temperature; therefore they play an insignificant role as antioxidants in the protecton against oxidative stress caused by high temperature stress in wild roses
Sexual and age characteristics of the parasitofauna of Abramis brama (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) of the Lower Irtysh (Russia)
Get PDFIn the present study, an evaluation was made of the dependence between infections by various types of parasites and the sex and age of the host. The parasitic community of Abramis brama includes 24 species of parasites. We assessed the degree of infestation by parasites in groups of male, female and juvenile specimens. It was established that only male bream were infested with Zschokkella nova (Klokacewa, 1914), Hysteromorpha triloba (Rudolphi, 1819), Allocreadium isoporum (Looss, 1894), Ichthyocotylurus platycephalus (Сrерlin, 1852). The ciliates of Trichodina nigra (Lom, 1960) were noted on the gills and fins of all the examined fish, the extensiveness of infection in the group of juveniles exceeded that of the groups of females and males. Specimens of Myxobolus rotundus (Nemeczek, 1911) were found on the gills and in the kidneys, and M. parviformis only on the gills of the fish. The level of infection in males was three times the EI in females and juvenile fish. The infestation on the fins by the metacercaria of Rhipidocotyle campanula (Dujardin, 1845) in male bream was more than 6 times higher than infection in females and juveniles. An increase in the extensiveness of infection in males by the nematode Philometra ovata (Zeder, 1803) was also noted in comparison with groups of females and juvenile fish. Species-specific monogeneans: Dactylogyrus falcatus (Wedl, 1857), D. wunderi (Bychowsky, 1931), D. zandti (Bychowsky, 1933), Gyrodactylus elegans (Nordmann, 1832); the trematodes Sphaerostomа bramae (Müller, 1776) and Diplostomum chromatophorum (Brown, 1931) infested all individuals of bream in approximately the same proportion, whereas an increase in the EI of the Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas, 1781) cestode in males was observed. Infection with metacercariae Metorchis sp. in males exceeded that in females and juvenile fish. At the same time, only females and juvenile bream were infected by Chilodonella sp., metacercariae Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) and glochidia Unionidae gen. sp. During the studies in females, the following species of parasite were observed singly : Proteocephalus sp., Azygia lucii (Miiller, 1776), Ergasilus sieboldi (Nordmann, 1832). Parasitization by Raphidascaris acus (Bloch, 1779) was recorded only in males and juveniles, whereas in females this parasite was not observed. The dominant parasite in males was G. elegans, in females – the representatives of the genus Dactylogyrus, in the juvenile individuals the trematode S. bramae dominated. Analysis of the parasite fauna in various age groups allowed us to establish that at the age of 5+–6+ bream were infected by 20 species of parasites, in age group 3+–4+ there were 15 species, at the age of 7+–8+ the fish were infected only with 11 parasitic species. The fish in all three groups were infected by T. nigra, Dactylogyrus spp., G. elegans, D. chromatophorum, S. bramae, R. acus almost at the same level and had no sharp differences in extensiveness and abundance of infection. Unionidae gen. sp. were observed only in group 3+–4+. Parasitization by Proteocephalus sp., metacercariae H. triloba and I. platycephalus, A. isoporum, and A. lucii was found in bream of age group 5+–6+, the species did not occur in bream at other ages. Nematode P. ovata and crustacean E. sieboldi infested the fish in age groups 3+–4+ and 5+–6+ with a slight increase in the extensiveness of infection at low abundance rates. The same age groups were observed to have decrease in the extensiveness of infection with Chilodonella sp. and metacercariae O. felineus. Myxozoan Z. nova parasitized in age group 5+–6+ and had an increase in extensiveness in age group 7+–8+. In all groups, infection was noted by representatives of the genus Myxobolus, R. campanula and Metorchis sp. with EI increasing with age. The obligate parasite of bream – C. laticeps infested fish the most in age group 3+–4+ in comparison with age groups 5+–6+ and 7+–8+. In the younger age group, the dactylogyruses were dominant parasites, in the age group 5+–6+ Gyrodactylus dominated, in the older age group – Metorchis sp
Halotolerant strain of Chlorococcum oleofaciens from the Lake Elton Biosphere Reserve
Get PDFChlorococcum oleofaciens is one of the most studied representatives of the Chlorococcum genus, both on the ultrastructural and molecular levels. This alga is very interesting due to its ability to hypersynthetize saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and the possibility of using it as a promising object for biofuel production. This research is devoted to the study of the halotolerant strain of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 extracted from the water of the Khara River (Lake Elton Biosphere Reserve, Russia, a UNESCO World Heritage site), mineralization of 14‰. The strain Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 was studied at the morphological level (light microscopy), as well as using molecular genetics methods (18S rDNA). The objectives of the study included establishing the range of halotolerance of the allocated strain of Ch. oleofaciens as a whole, revealing borders of level of mineralization that are optimum for algae growth, and also tracing features of its morphology and cycle of development in the conditions of various salinity. In the course of the studies performed it was established that the extracted strain of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 differed from the typical one by greater variability of some morphological features and had a wide ecological valence: the range of its halotolerance was 0–60‰. The maximum values of quantitative development of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 were registered at mineralization of 0–14‰. It is shown that with increasing salinity in the development cycle of the strain, the duration of the adaptation phase increases, the exponential phase decreases, small celled forms are replaced by large celled forms and reproduction features are noted. The obtained results can be used for selection of optimal conditions for cultivation of the halotolerant strain of Ch. oleofaciens for biotechnological purposes