Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is an invasive plant species in many countries except North America but a cut-flower species worldwide. There is a need to generate and propagate goldenrod clones efficiently for research and commercial purposes. A callus induction and plantlet regeneration system was developed by studying the influence of explant type and different concentrations of plant growth regulators. The highest callus production from leaf segments was obtained on Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS medium) supplemented with 1.0 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). Adventitious shoots could be regenerated directly from leaf explants without an intermediate callus phase with the highest shoot induction percentage of 87.2%. The largest number of adventitious shoots per leaf explant (3.2) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/L NAA and 2.0 mg/L BA. MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L BA was the best medium for axillary shoot regeneration from nodal segments. The highest root number and longest roots occurred on half-strength MS without the addition of any growth regulator. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to a soil-based growth medium, placed in a greenhouse, and acclimatized with 100% success. All surviving plants grew normally without showing any morphological variation when compared to those grow from seed. This regeneration protocol may be used to produce certain biotypes of goldenrod suitable for genetic transformation, rapid propagation of goldenrod for commercial purposes or for screening fungi and toxins as potential biocontrol agents against this weed.
In woody perennials, leaf structure and biochemistry vary with tree age under changing environments. However, the related eco-physiological mechanisms have not been elucidated yet. In this study, we investigated agerelated responses of juvenile and mature subalpine fir trees (Abies faxoniana Rehder & E.H. Wilson.) growing at altitudes between 2,500 and 3,500 m in the Wanglang Natural Reserve in southwest China, to study the adaptive strategies of different age trees to suit changing environments. We found that there were distinct age- and altituderelated changes in the structural and biochemical characteristics of leaves. At all altitudes, mature trees exhibited higher area- and mass-based leaf nitrogen content (Narea, Nmass), leaf mass per area (LMA) and stable isotope carbon composition (δ13C), and a lower chlorophyll (Chl) content than those juvenile trees, except for Nmass at 3,000 m as well as LMA at 2,750 m, where the values of Nmass and LMA in mature trees were slightly lower than those in juvenile trees. Furthermore, leaf characteristics showed significant differences in the change rates with altitude between different age groups. Our results indicated that assimilative organs in mature trees do not suffering from nutrient deficiency and that juvenile and mature trees possess different adaptive growth strategies under changing environments, as indicated by higher leaf N content in mature trees and the opposite patterns of LMA and Chl content between two age groups. We also concluded that juvenile could be more sensitive to global warming due to a greater altitudinal influence on the leaf traits in juvenile trees than those in mature trees.
Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb) Hook.) in the Dagangshan region of Jiangxi Province in southern China was selected to explore the impact of climatic factors on tree ring width growth. Results showed that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and mean sensitivity (MS) were large while the first order autocorrelation coefficient (FOAC) was small, and the chronology contains abundant climatic information. The tree ring width index of Chinese fir was significantly positively correlated with the precipitation in December of the previous year and June of the current year, and significantly negatively correlated with that in the current May and August. The tree ring width index was significantly positively correlated with the temperature in April and May of the current year, but significantly negatively correlated with that in July of the current year. The tree ring width index had a good change consistency with the warmth index (Wi) and humidity index (Hi). The response function of Chinese fir ring width analysis shows that the warmth index is the main factor affecting tree ring growth, followed by the humidity index, mean annual precipitation, and mean annual temperature. The comprehensive effect of temperature and precipitation factors have significant influence on the tree ring width growth of Chinese fir. Results can provide a scientific basis for studying the effect of climatic factors on tree growth in sub-tropical regions in China and many other parts of the world.
The Longguan dinosaur tracksite in the Sichuan Basin (China) is described. It is located in the uppermost part of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation and displays a single, unusual trackway consisting of 19 deeply impressed pes imprints. All tracks have suffered from erosion over many years of exposure, but they still reveal interesting details such as conspicuous elongated grooves, interpreted here as toe and claw drag marks. The trackmaker, a medium-sized archosaur, was walking in a thick and relatively soft layer of sand. The elongated, oval shape of the footprints resembles the ichnogenus Eosauropus from North America and Europe, assigned to facultative bipedal sauropodomorphs. The Chinese track differs by inward rotation of the footprints toward the midline, whereas in Eosauropus, these are turned strictly outward. Other ichnotaxa and possible trackmakers are discussed, but presently, a distinct assignment cannot be given. The Longguan trackway enlarges the scarce footprint record from the Triassic of China.