Betula platyphylla and Betula costata are important species in mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests.However,the specific ways in which their growth is affected by warm temperatures and drought remain...Betula platyphylla and Betula costata are important species in mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests.However,the specific ways in which their growth is affected by warm temperatures and drought remain unclear.To address this issue,60 and 62 tree-ring cores of B.platyphylla and B.costata were collected in Yichun,China.Using dendrochronological methods,the response and adaptation of these species to climate change were examined.A“hysteresis effect”was found in the rings of both species,linked to May–September moisture conditions of the previous year.Radial growth of B.costata was positively correlated with the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index(SPEI),the precipitation from September to October of the previous year,and the relative humidity in October of the previous year.Growth of B.costata is primarily restricted by moisture conditions from September to October.In contrast,B.platyphylla growth is mainly limited by minimum temperatures in May–June of both the previous and current years.After droughts,B.platyphylla had a faster recovery rate compared to B.costata.In the context of rising temperatures since 1980,the correlation between B.platyphylla growth and monthly SPEI became positive and strengthened over time,while the growth of B.costata showed no conspicuous change.Our findings suggest that the growth of B.platyphylla is already affected by warming temperatures,whereas B.costata may become limited if warming continues or intensifies.Climate change could disrupt the succession of these species,possibly accelerating the succession of pioneer species.The results of this research are of great significance for understanding how the growth changes of birch species under warming and drying conditions,and contribute to understanding the structural adaptation of mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests under climate change.展开更多
Influences of temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration on the photosynthesis and respiration of three-year-oldBetula platyphylla was investigated. Light compensation point, saturation point and CO2 compensation po...Influences of temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration on the photosynthesis and respiration of three-year-oldBetula platyphylla was investigated. Light compensation point, saturation point and CO2 compensation point were also determined. The results showed that the optimal temperature of photosynthesis and dark respiration was 24 °C and 30 °C, respectively, at ambient CO2. When relative humidity was 80%,Betula platyphylla could maintain strong photosynthesis. There was no significant correlation between respiration and relative humidity. The light compensation and saturation point was 25 μmol·m?2·s?1 and 1 375 μmol·m?2·s?1, respectively. The CO2 compensation point was 180 μL·L?1. The results showed thatBetula platyphylla still had potential to assimilate CO2 when CO2 concentration was above 2 400 μL·L?1.展开更多
Betulin, which is a medicinal pentacyclic triterpene, is abundant in the bark of white birch (Betula platyphlly). The bark of birch was collected at Tayuan Forest Farm of Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Province in September ...Betulin, which is a medicinal pentacyclic triterpene, is abundant in the bark of white birch (Betula platyphlly). The bark of birch was collected at Tayuan Forest Farm of Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Province in September 2000. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) that is a new separation technology has been used for the processing pharmaceutical and natural products. In this paper, the extraction of betulin from the bark of birch by supercritical CO2 extraction was studied. The authors investigated and analyzed a few parameters such as modifier dosage, extraction pressure and extraction temperature. The optimal extrac-tion conditions showed that the modifier dosage used for per gram bark powder was 1.5 mL, the extraction pressure was at 20 Mpa, and the extraction temperature was at 55 C. The velocity of flow of liquid CO2 was at 10 kg/h. The pressure and tem-perature in separation vessel were at 5.5 Mpa and 50 C, respectively.展开更多
The content of total sugar, sucrose, fructose and protein in the leaves of3-yr.-old Betula platyphylla was measured after the treatment by three exogenous sugar solutions(sucrose, fructose, glucose) and three high con...The content of total sugar, sucrose, fructose and protein in the leaves of3-yr.-old Betula platyphylla was measured after the treatment by three exogenous sugar solutions(sucrose, fructose, glucose) and three high concentrations of CO_2 (700, 1 400, 2 100 μL/L·L^(-1))for about a month in 1998. The results showed that spraying three exogenous sugar solutionsincreased markedly the content of sugar and protein of leaves under 700 μL·L^(-1) and 1 400μL·L^(-1) CO_2 The effect of spraying exogenous sucrose solution was the best among the threeexogenous sugars. The treatment of spraying exogenous sugar solution and 2 100 μL·L^(-1) CO_2constrained the accumulation of total sugar and protein of leaves. There was no difference inprotein content of leaves when spraying glucose and fructose solutions under 700 μL·L^(-1) and 1400 μL·L^(-1) CO_2. The treatment of 2 100 μL·L^(-1) CO_2 concentration significantly increasedthe contents of total sugar, sucrose, fructose, and protein of leaves compared with that of the 700μL·L^(-1) and 1 400 μL·L^(-1) CO_2 except the plants spraying fructose solution. There waspositive correlation between the content of sugar of leaves and CO_2 concentration when sprayingsame exogenous sugar solution.展开更多
Many researches have been carried out on the taxonomy of Betula in northeast of China, but the classification of species and subdivision of species had some divergences at all times, which led to a disorder for develo...Many researches have been carried out on the taxonomy of Betula in northeast of China, but the classification of species and subdivision of species had some divergences at all times, which led to a disorder for developing and utilizing resources of Betula. In this paper, species and subdivision of Betula were classified not only according to the wax sample of Betula but also the comprehensive taxonomy of population characters, geographical distribution, and the habitat. Theconclusion supported the Fu Pei-yuns?(1995) viewpoint of the taxonomy of Betula in the northeast of China. But B. mandshurica (Regel) Nakai should be considered as one single species, the name of B. platyphyla Suk.var phellodendroidesTung should be the synonym of B. platyphyla var platyphyla, and B. ermanii Cham.var.yingkiliensis liou et Wang should be incorporated into B. ermanii Cham. B. ovalifolia Rupr should not be regarded as a variety of B. fruticosa Pall. but as one single species.展开更多
Auxin polar transport genes PIN(PINFORMED)determine the concentration gradient of auxin in plants.To understand the relationship between the development of different tissues in Betula pendula‘Dalecartica’,BpPIN gene...Auxin polar transport genes PIN(PINFORMED)determine the concentration gradient of auxin in plants.To understand the relationship between the development of different tissues in Betula pendula‘Dalecartica’,BpPIN gene expression and indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)content were analyzed using qRT-PCR,ELISA,and GUS staining.Gene expression of BpPIN genes and IAA levels in the leaves,buds,stems,xylem,and roots of B.pendula‘Dalecartica’and B.pendula as a control were measured.BpPIN1,BpPIN5 and BpPIN6 were upregulated during development in both species,suggesting a dominant role in the development of B.pendula‘Dalecartica’leaves.Moreover,BpPIN1 gene expression was positively associated with IAA levels during leaf,vein and petiole development in B.pendula‘Dalecartica’only.The correlation coefficient of the first three leaves was 0.69(P=0.04),while that of the first three petioles was 0.85(P=0.001).In addition,GUS staining of the pro-DR5::GUS transgenic line of cultivar was correlated with the results of BpPIN1 expression.Overall,these findings suggest that BpPIN1 is associated with the formation of lobed leaves in B.pendula‘Dalecartica’.展开更多
Simple sequence repeats（SSRs） defined as sequence repeat units between 1 and 6 bp occur abundantly in both coding and non-coding regions in eukaryotic genomes and these repeats can affect gene expression. In this st...Simple sequence repeats（SSRs） defined as sequence repeat units between 1 and 6 bp occur abundantly in both coding and non-coding regions in eukaryotic genomes and these repeats can affect gene expression. In this study, ESTs（expressed sequence tags） of Betula pendula（silver birch） were analyzed for in silico mining of ESTSSRs, protein annotation, open reading frames（ORFs）,designing primers, and identifying codon repetitions. In B.pendula, the frequency of ESTs containing SSRs was 7.8 %with an average of 1SSR/4. 78 kb of EST sequences. A total of 188 SSRs was identified by using MISA software and dinucleotide SSR motifs（65.9 %） were found to be the most abundant type of repeat motif followed by tri-（27.1 %）,tetra-（4.8 %）, and penta-（2.2 %） motifs. Based on ORF analysis, 175 of 178 sequences were predicted as ORFs and the most frequent SSRs were detected in 50 UTR（58.43 %）,followed by in ORF（31.46 %） and in 30UTR（8.43 %）. 102 of 178 ESTs were annotated as ribosomal protein, transport protein, membrane protein, carrier protein, binding protein,and transferase protein. For a total of 102 SSRs（57.3 %）with significant matches, a set of 102 primers（100 %） with forward and reverse strands was designed by using Primer 3 software. Serine（Ser, 19.6 %） was predominant in putative encoded amino acids and most of amino acids showed nonpolar（35.3 %） nature. Our data provide resources for B.pendula and can be useful for in silico comparative analyses of Betulaceae species, including SSR mining.展开更多
Betula alnoides is a fast-growing hardwood species grown in large plantations in Southeast Asia and South China.Nitrogen requirements for producing robus seedlings,growth and nutrient dynamics were investigated using ...Betula alnoides is a fast-growing hardwood species grown in large plantations in Southeast Asia and South China.Nitrogen requirements for producing robus seedlings,growth and nutrient dynamics were investigated using exponential fertilization treatments.Root collar diameter,height,dry mass and nutrient contents of seedlings increased exponentially in all fertilization treatments as time progressed.Moreover,with water soluble fertilizer（Plant Products plus microelements N–P2O5–K2O：20–20–20）,300 mg N seedling-1was adequate.Vector analysis revealed that P was the most responsive nutrient element followed by N and K.Dilutions of N and K were evident in the plants without N addition,which induced initial P sufficiency and then luxury consumption probably due to the antagonistic interaction between N and P.However deficiencies of N,P and K were mostly observed in al exponential regimes during the experiment because seedling growth rate exceeded nutrient uptake rate,inferring that further study on improving the nutrient uptake efficiency is needed.Analysis of relationships among nutrient supply,dry mass,N content and N concentration demonstrated that 100–400 mg N seedling-1induced sufficiency to luxury consumption of nitrogen without significant change in dry mass,and 400 mg N seedling-1is recommended to apply for nutrient loading of seedlings before outplanting.The findings will help improve seedling quality and enhance the production of robust seedlings for plantation forestry of this species.展开更多
Estimating genetic parameters of parental lines through progeny testing and choosing good hybrid parents are important for genetically improving seed orchard trees.In this study, 24 tetraploid progeny seedlings were u...Estimating genetic parameters of parental lines through progeny testing and choosing good hybrid parents are important for genetically improving seed orchard trees.In this study, 24 tetraploid progeny seedlings were used as experimental materials, which came from test cross design：six tetraploid Betula platyphylla lines（Q33, Q13, Q103,Q19, Q83 and Q14） as female parents and four individual B. platyphylla diploid lines（F3, F4, F9 and F11） as male parents were crossed. Variance analysis of height, diameter, height-to-diameter ratio, and internodal distance showed that the differences between hybrid combinations reached highly significant levels. Using multi-objective decisionmaking, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the various hybrid combinations. Using a selection rate of 20 % of the standard, five hybrids were selected;their genetic gains in average height, diameter, height-todiameter ratio, and internodal distance were 20.95, 6.07,13.07 and 8.96 %, respectively. We also analyzed the combining ability and genetic parameter effect values of parents and hybrid combinations. The combined analysis revealed that Q13, Q103, Q33 and Q83 were superior females; F3, F4, and F9 were superior males; and F3 × Q13, F4 × Q83 and F9 × Q33 were superior hybrid combinations. The heights and diameters of these progenies were 22.49 and 11.48 % greater than average,respectively.展开更多
Female inflorescence of Betula platyphylla was sampled at an interval of eachtwo days to analyze the background of gene expression in floral phase. On the basis of SMARTstrategy, the driver cDNA was obtained from tota...Female inflorescence of Betula platyphylla was sampled at an interval of eachtwo days to analyze the background of gene expression in floral phase. On the basis of SMARTstrategy, the driver cDNA was obtained from total RNA of the last sample and the tester cDNA wasfrom that of the others by RT-PCR which were subsequently used to construct a subtracted cDNAlibrary. The result of the ESTs (expression sequence tags) blastX showed that the genes in thesubtracted cDNA library could be mainly clustered into 5 groups related to metabolism,transportation and signal transduction, cell cycle, stress response, and regulation. Therelationship between gene expression and development was also discussed.展开更多
Betulin, oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid are naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids that have significant medicinal value. Considerable amounts of these triterpenoids are available in the outer bark of white...Betulin, oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid are naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids that have significant medicinal value. Considerable amounts of these triterpenoids are available in the outer bark of white birch. In this study, we used ultrasound-assisted extraction （UAE） to extract triterpenoids from birch bark rapidly and with high efficiency. Using high performance liquid chro- matography （HPLC）, three types of triterpenoids were separated and detected. We examined the differences among triterpenoids extracted from diploid versus tetra- ploid white birch. Then, we used factor analysis to screen out tetraploid white birches with comprehensively excel- lent performance. The results indicate that the optimum conditions for extraction include the use of ethanol as an extraction solvent, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 0.1 g/10 ml, ultrasonic power set at 100 W, a temperature of 60 ℃ and an extraction time of 15 min. A reversed-phase C18 col- umn （4.6 mm × 250 mm × 5 μm） with a column tem- perature of 30 ℃ and the mobile phase composed of A （acetonitrile） and B （0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid, v/v） at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min were used, and the detection wavelength was 195 nm. No significant difference wasobserved between diploid and tetraploid white birch in terms of the content of three types of triterpenoids （at a confidence level of 0.05）. As triterpenoid content, height, and DBH （diameter at breast height） are strongly interre- lated, we used factor analysis to evaluate all individuals, and we screened out six plus trees with excellent com- prehensive characters.展开更多
Determining the influences of environmental factors on seedling growth and leaf color may improve our understanding of the chromogenic mechanisms in leaves and the biosynthesis of anthocyanin. To determine the optimum...Determining the influences of environmental factors on seedling growth and leaf color may improve our understanding of the chromogenic mechanisms in leaves and the biosynthesis of anthocyanin. To determine the optimum conditions for Betula 'Royal Frost' seedling cultivation, we assessed seedling growth and anthocyanin content under natural conditions. The temperature had a significant influence on height but not on radial growth. Between June and September, the anthocyanin content was significantly positively correlated with light intensity and air moisture and significantly negatively correlated with temperature. In single-factor experiments to determine the variation in anthocyanin content in the greenhouse, anthocyanin content increased with increasing soil water content and at first increased, then decreased with increasing pH of the irrigation water and temperature, but decreased with increasing light intensity. K2SO4 can increase the anthocyanin content. So to maintain leaf color, seedlings should be cultivated with < 200 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) light intensity at 20 A degrees C and soil moisture content between 60 and 90%, and the irrigation water should be neutral or alkaline. Additionally, spraying with K2SO4 can be beneficial.展开更多
Expressed sequence tags（ESTs） are generated from single-pass sequencing of randomly picked cDNA clones and can be used for development of simple sequence repeat（SSR） markers or microsatellites.However,EST database...Expressed sequence tags（ESTs） are generated from single-pass sequencing of randomly picked cDNA clones and can be used for development of simple sequence repeat（SSR） markers or microsatellites.However,EST databases have been developed for only a small number of species.This paper provides a case study of the utility of freely available birch EST resources for the development of markers necessary for the genetic analysis of Betula luminifera.Based on birch EST data,primers for 80 EST-SSR candidate loci were developed and tested in birch.Of these,59 EST-SSR loci yielded single,stable and clear PCR products.We then tested the utility of those 59 markers in B.luminifera.The results showed 28（47.6%） yielded stable and clear PCR products for at least one B.luminifera genotype.In addition,this study describes a rapid and inexpensive alternative for the development of SSRs in species with scarce available sequence data.展开更多
We analyzed the germination traits (germination rate, germination potential, and germination index) of seeds from 23 half-sib families of birch (Betula platyphylla). The germination rates of the 23 families ranged fro...We analyzed the germination traits (germination rate, germination potential, and germination index) of seeds from 23 half-sib families of birch (Betula platyphylla). The germination rates of the 23 families ranged from 38.57 to 76.50%. Seeds from the eight families germinating at the highest rates were then used for germination experiments under salt stress. Germination rate, germination potential, and germination index of these eight half-sib families decreased with increasing salt concentrations. The effects of four different hormones (6-benzylaminopurine, 6BA;gibberellin, GA3;naphthalene acetic acid, NAA;and melatonin) at various concentrations on the germination of seeds from the eight half-sib birch families under salt stress were investigated. Treatments with 6BA and GA3 alleviated the effects of salt stress on seed germination, whereas treatments with NAA and melatonin aggravated the effects of salt stress. The most effective treatments for alleviating the effects of salt stress on birch seed germination were 10 mg/L 6BA and 300 mg/L GA3. This study provides practical information for screening birch families for salt tolerance at the seed germination stage, and for cultivation of birch in saline environments.展开更多
Betula ermanni population was divided into three groups: the upper population (2 000–2 200 m), the middle population (1 700–2 000 m), and the down population (1 400–1 700 m) in Changbai Mountain. The dynamics ofBet...Betula ermanni population was divided into three groups: the upper population (2 000–2 200 m), the middle population (1 700–2 000 m), and the down population (1 400–1 700 m) in Changbai Mountain. The dynamics ofBetula ermanni populations in subalpine vegetation are studied and the population life table, fecundity schedule, survival curves, age structure, and fecundity curves were established. The results showed that the, middle population is obviously, the transition from the upper population to the down population.展开更多
MADS-box transcription factors show highly diverse regulatory functions in a wide variety of organisms. In this study, we characterized a MADS-box gene （BpMADS12） from the white birch （Betula platyphylla Suk）. Thi...MADS-box transcription factors show highly diverse regulatory functions in a wide variety of organisms. In this study, we characterized a MADS-box gene （BpMADS12） from the white birch （Betula platyphylla Suk）. This gene is a member of the suppressor of overexpression of CO 1/tomato MADS 3 class of MADS-box genes. We generated lines overexpressing BpMADS12 and found that these had higher levels of lignin compared to that observed in nontransgenic lines. Transcriptome anal- ysis revealed numerous changes in gene expression patterns. In total, 8794 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 5006 upregulated unigenes and 3788 downregulated unigenes in BpMADS-overexpression lines. Differentially expressed genes involved in the pathways for lignin and brassinosteroid biosynthesis were significantly enriched and may have contributed to phenotypic changes. The results from a quantitative RT-PCR analysis were consistent those obtained with the transcriptome analysis.Our transcriptome analysis, in combination with measure- ment of lignin level, indicated that BpMADS12 promotes lignin synthesis through regulation of key enzymes in response to brassinosteroid signaling. These results suggest that this MADS-box protein is crucial to all subsequent structural events and provide a good foundation for studies aiming to elucidate the developmental mechanisms underlying formation of wood.展开更多
Betula luminifera is a commercial tree species that is emerging as a new model system for tree genomics research. A draft genomic sequence is expected to be publicly available in the near future, which means that an e...Betula luminifera is a commercial tree species that is emerging as a new model system for tree genomics research. A draft genomic sequence is expected to be publicly available in the near future, which means that an explosion of gene expression studies awaits. Thus, the work of selecting appropriate reference genes for q PCR normalization in different tissues or under various experimental conditions is extremely valuable. In this study, ten candidate genes were analyzed in B. luminifera subjected to different abiotic stresses and at various flowering stages.The expression stability of these genes was evaluated using three distinct algorithms implemented using ge Norm,Norm Finder and Best Keeper. The best-ranked reference genes varied across different sample sets, though RPL39,MDH and EF1 a were determined as the most stable by the three programs among all tested samples. RPL39 and EF1 a should be appropriate for normalization in N-starved roots,while the combination of RPL39 and MDH should be appropriate for N-starved stems and EF1 a and MDH should be appropriate in N-starved leaves. In PEG-treated（osmotic） roots, MDH was the most suitable, whereas EF1 a was suitable for PEG-treated stems and leaves. TUA was also stably expressed levels in PEG-treated plants. The combination of RPL39 and TUB should be appropriate for heat-stressed leaves and flowering stage. For reference gene validation, the expression levels of SOD and NFYA-3were investigated. This work will be beneficial to future studies on gene expression under different abiotic stress conditions and flowering status in B. luminifera.展开更多
The transcription factor BplMYB46 has been identified as a regulator of abiotic stress responses and promoter of secondary wall deposition in Betula platyphylla.To investigate the downstream targets of BplMYB46,the ex...The transcription factor BplMYB46 has been identified as a regulator of abiotic stress responses and promoter of secondary wall deposition in Betula platyphylla.To investigate the downstream targets of BplMYB46,the expression profiles of genes in stems from BplMYB46-overexpressing(OE)and BplMYB46-silencing(SE)plants were studied.In OE stems,952 genes were upregulated,and 1469 were downregulated in comparison to SE stems.In a KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes(DEGs),1387 differentially expressed genes were annotated for 117 metabolic pathways.DEGs were abundant for metabolic pathway,secondary metabolite biosynthesis,plant hormone signal transduction,phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis.DEGs were implicated lignin or cellulose biosynthesis,cell wall modification,xylem development,disease resistance,stress responses,and anthocyanin biosynthesis.These results suggested that BplMYB46 regulates cell wall development and stress resistance by affecting the expression of these genes.Our study further elucidates the mechanism by which BplMYB46 mediates abiotic stress responses and secondary cell wall biosynthesis in birch.展开更多
Betula platyphylla Sukaczev tetraploids have significantly larger leaf, fruit and stoma (gigantic phenotype) than diploids of the same species;however, the mechanism underlying this difference remains unclear. Tetrapl...Betula platyphylla Sukaczev tetraploids have significantly larger leaf, fruit and stoma (gigantic phenotype) than diploids of the same species;however, the mechanism underlying this difference remains unclear. Tetraploid B. platyphylla transcriptome data have indicated that the expression of genes related to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis and signal transduction was altered after genome duplication. IAA exerts pleiotropic effects on growth and development by inducing the expression of Aux/IAA. We identified 20 Aux/IAA genes (BpIAA1– BpIAA20) in B. platyphylla distributed across 10 chromosomes. Multiple alignment and motif analyses revealed that nine BpIAA proteins shared all four conserved domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Aux/IAA families were divided into four subfamilies and that there were two pairs of BpIAA sister genes. The BpIAAs were differentially expressed in diploids and tetraploids. Moreover, the expression levels of the nine BpIAA genes were specifically up-regulated in tetraploids from June to September compared with May (except August 5th) in tetraploids, while they were down-regulated in diploids. IAA levels were more than twofold higher in tetraploids than diploids during the vegetative season. These results indicate that genome duplication of B. platyphylla caused the up-regulated of genes involved in IAA synthesis, and the increased concentration of IAA may induce the constitutive expression of 20 BpIAA genes. Therefore, the significant changes in the expression patterns of the BpIAAs contributed to the gigantic phenotype of tetraploids to some extent. Our research sheds light on the phenotypic variations observed in B. platyphylla tetraploids.展开更多
基金the Key Project of the China National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFD2200401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42177421 and 41877426)。
文摘Betula platyphylla and Betula costata are important species in mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests.However,the specific ways in which their growth is affected by warm temperatures and drought remain unclear.To address this issue,60 and 62 tree-ring cores of B.platyphylla and B.costata were collected in Yichun,China.Using dendrochronological methods,the response and adaptation of these species to climate change were examined.A“hysteresis effect”was found in the rings of both species,linked to May–September moisture conditions of the previous year.Radial growth of B.costata was positively correlated with the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index(SPEI),the precipitation from September to October of the previous year,and the relative humidity in October of the previous year.Growth of B.costata is primarily restricted by moisture conditions from September to October.In contrast,B.platyphylla growth is mainly limited by minimum temperatures in May–June of both the previous and current years.After droughts,B.platyphylla had a faster recovery rate compared to B.costata.In the context of rising temperatures since 1980,the correlation between B.platyphylla growth and monthly SPEI became positive and strengthened over time,while the growth of B.costata showed no conspicuous change.Our findings suggest that the growth of B.platyphylla is already affected by warming temperatures,whereas B.costata may become limited if warming continues or intensifies.Climate change could disrupt the succession of these species,possibly accelerating the succession of pioneer species.The results of this research are of great significance for understanding how the growth changes of birch species under warming and drying conditions,and contribute to understanding the structural adaptation of mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests under climate change.
基金This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 39970627) and the Key Project of State Department of Science Technology (2002BA515B05).
文摘Influences of temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration on the photosynthesis and respiration of three-year-oldBetula platyphylla was investigated. Light compensation point, saturation point and CO2 compensation point were also determined. The results showed that the optimal temperature of photosynthesis and dark respiration was 24 °C and 30 °C, respectively, at ambient CO2. When relative humidity was 80%,Betula platyphylla could maintain strong photosynthesis. There was no significant correlation between respiration and relative humidity. The light compensation and saturation point was 25 μmol·m?2·s?1 and 1 375 μmol·m?2·s?1, respectively. The CO2 compensation point was 180 μL·L?1. The results showed thatBetula platyphylla still had potential to assimilate CO2 when CO2 concentration was above 2 400 μL·L?1.
文摘Betulin, which is a medicinal pentacyclic triterpene, is abundant in the bark of white birch (Betula platyphlly). The bark of birch was collected at Tayuan Forest Farm of Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Province in September 2000. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) that is a new separation technology has been used for the processing pharmaceutical and natural products. In this paper, the extraction of betulin from the bark of birch by supercritical CO2 extraction was studied. The authors investigated and analyzed a few parameters such as modifier dosage, extraction pressure and extraction temperature. The optimal extrac-tion conditions showed that the modifier dosage used for per gram bark powder was 1.5 mL, the extraction pressure was at 20 Mpa, and the extraction temperature was at 55 C. The velocity of flow of liquid CO2 was at 10 kg/h. The pressure and tem-perature in separation vessel were at 5.5 Mpa and 50 C, respectively.
基金This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 39970627) and the Key Project of State Department of Science Technology (2002BA515B05).
文摘The content of total sugar, sucrose, fructose and protein in the leaves of3-yr.-old Betula platyphylla was measured after the treatment by three exogenous sugar solutions(sucrose, fructose, glucose) and three high concentrations of CO_2 (700, 1 400, 2 100 μL/L·L^(-1))for about a month in 1998. The results showed that spraying three exogenous sugar solutionsincreased markedly the content of sugar and protein of leaves under 700 μL·L^(-1) and 1 400μL·L^(-1) CO_2 The effect of spraying exogenous sucrose solution was the best among the threeexogenous sugars. The treatment of spraying exogenous sugar solution and 2 100 μL·L^(-1) CO_2constrained the accumulation of total sugar and protein of leaves. There was no difference inprotein content of leaves when spraying glucose and fructose solutions under 700 μL·L^(-1) and 1400 μL·L^(-1) CO_2. The treatment of 2 100 μL·L^(-1) CO_2 concentration significantly increasedthe contents of total sugar, sucrose, fructose, and protein of leaves compared with that of the 700μL·L^(-1) and 1 400 μL·L^(-1) CO_2 except the plants spraying fructose solution. There waspositive correlation between the content of sugar of leaves and CO_2 concentration when sprayingsame exogenous sugar solution.
文摘Many researches have been carried out on the taxonomy of Betula in northeast of China, but the classification of species and subdivision of species had some divergences at all times, which led to a disorder for developing and utilizing resources of Betula. In this paper, species and subdivision of Betula were classified not only according to the wax sample of Betula but also the comprehensive taxonomy of population characters, geographical distribution, and the habitat. Theconclusion supported the Fu Pei-yuns?(1995) viewpoint of the taxonomy of Betula in the northeast of China. But B. mandshurica (Regel) Nakai should be considered as one single species, the name of B. platyphyla Suk.var phellodendroidesTung should be the synonym of B. platyphyla var platyphyla, and B. ermanii Cham.var.yingkiliensis liou et Wang should be incorporated into B. ermanii Cham. B. ovalifolia Rupr should not be regarded as a variety of B. fruticosa Pall. but as one single species.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFCGrant No.31670673)the 111 Project of China(Grant No.B16010)
文摘Auxin polar transport genes PIN(PINFORMED)determine the concentration gradient of auxin in plants.To understand the relationship between the development of different tissues in Betula pendula‘Dalecartica’,BpPIN gene expression and indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)content were analyzed using qRT-PCR,ELISA,and GUS staining.Gene expression of BpPIN genes and IAA levels in the leaves,buds,stems,xylem,and roots of B.pendula‘Dalecartica’and B.pendula as a control were measured.BpPIN1,BpPIN5 and BpPIN6 were upregulated during development in both species,suggesting a dominant role in the development of B.pendula‘Dalecartica’leaves.Moreover,BpPIN1 gene expression was positively associated with IAA levels during leaf,vein and petiole development in B.pendula‘Dalecartica’only.The correlation coefficient of the first three leaves was 0.69(P=0.04),while that of the first three petioles was 0.85(P=0.001).In addition,GUS staining of the pro-DR5::GUS transgenic line of cultivar was correlated with the results of BpPIN1 expression.Overall,these findings suggest that BpPIN1 is associated with the formation of lobed leaves in B.pendula‘Dalecartica’.
文摘Simple sequence repeats（SSRs） defined as sequence repeat units between 1 and 6 bp occur abundantly in both coding and non-coding regions in eukaryotic genomes and these repeats can affect gene expression. In this study, ESTs（expressed sequence tags） of Betula pendula（silver birch） were analyzed for in silico mining of ESTSSRs, protein annotation, open reading frames（ORFs）,designing primers, and identifying codon repetitions. In B.pendula, the frequency of ESTs containing SSRs was 7.8 %with an average of 1SSR/4. 78 kb of EST sequences. A total of 188 SSRs was identified by using MISA software and dinucleotide SSR motifs（65.9 %） were found to be the most abundant type of repeat motif followed by tri-（27.1 %）,tetra-（4.8 %）, and penta-（2.2 %） motifs. Based on ORF analysis, 175 of 178 sequences were predicted as ORFs and the most frequent SSRs were detected in 50 UTR（58.43 %）,followed by in ORF（31.46 %） and in 30UTR（8.43 %）. 102 of 178 ESTs were annotated as ribosomal protein, transport protein, membrane protein, carrier protein, binding protein,and transferase protein. For a total of 102 SSRs（57.3 %）with significant matches, a set of 102 primers（100 %） with forward and reverse strands was designed by using Primer 3 software. Serine（Ser, 19.6 %） was predominant in putative encoded amino acids and most of amino acids showed nonpolar（35.3 %） nature. Our data provide resources for B.pendula and can be useful for in silico comparative analyses of Betulaceae species, including SSR mining.
基金financially supported by The Ministry of Science and Technology,China(2012BAD21B0102)
文摘Betula alnoides is a fast-growing hardwood species grown in large plantations in Southeast Asia and South China.Nitrogen requirements for producing robus seedlings,growth and nutrient dynamics were investigated using exponential fertilization treatments.Root collar diameter,height,dry mass and nutrient contents of seedlings increased exponentially in all fertilization treatments as time progressed.Moreover,with water soluble fertilizer（Plant Products plus microelements N–P2O5–K2O：20–20–20）,300 mg N seedling-1was adequate.Vector analysis revealed that P was the most responsive nutrient element followed by N and K.Dilutions of N and K were evident in the plants without N addition,which induced initial P sufficiency and then luxury consumption probably due to the antagonistic interaction between N and P.However deficiencies of N,P and K were mostly observed in al exponential regimes during the experiment because seedling growth rate exceeded nutrient uptake rate,inferring that further study on improving the nutrient uptake efficiency is needed.Analysis of relationships among nutrient supply,dry mass,N content and N concentration demonstrated that 100–400 mg N seedling-1induced sufficiency to luxury consumption of nitrogen without significant change in dry mass,and 400 mg N seedling-1is recommended to apply for nutrient loading of seedlings before outplanting.The findings will help improve seedling quality and enhance the production of robust seedlings for plantation forestry of this species.
基金supported by National Science and Technology Supporting Topics of China(2012BAD01B05)
文摘Estimating genetic parameters of parental lines through progeny testing and choosing good hybrid parents are important for genetically improving seed orchard trees.In this study, 24 tetraploid progeny seedlings were used as experimental materials, which came from test cross design：six tetraploid Betula platyphylla lines（Q33, Q13, Q103,Q19, Q83 and Q14） as female parents and four individual B. platyphylla diploid lines（F3, F4, F9 and F11） as male parents were crossed. Variance analysis of height, diameter, height-to-diameter ratio, and internodal distance showed that the differences between hybrid combinations reached highly significant levels. Using multi-objective decisionmaking, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the various hybrid combinations. Using a selection rate of 20 % of the standard, five hybrids were selected;their genetic gains in average height, diameter, height-todiameter ratio, and internodal distance were 20.95, 6.07,13.07 and 8.96 %, respectively. We also analyzed the combining ability and genetic parameter effect values of parents and hybrid combinations. The combined analysis revealed that Q13, Q103, Q33 and Q83 were superior females; F3, F4, and F9 were superior males; and F3 × Q13, F4 × Q83 and F9 × Q33 were superior hybrid combinations. The heights and diameters of these progenies were 22.49 and 11.48 % greater than average,respectively.
基金This project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (39970627)
文摘Female inflorescence of Betula platyphylla was sampled at an interval of eachtwo days to analyze the background of gene expression in floral phase. On the basis of SMARTstrategy, the driver cDNA was obtained from total RNA of the last sample and the tester cDNA wasfrom that of the others by RT-PCR which were subsequently used to construct a subtracted cDNAlibrary. The result of the ESTs (expression sequence tags) blastX showed that the genes in thesubtracted cDNA library could be mainly clustered into 5 groups related to metabolism,transportation and signal transduction, cell cycle, stress response, and regulation. Therelationship between gene expression and development was also discussed.
基金financially supported by National Forestry Department Public Benefit Research Foundation of China(201204302)
文摘Betulin, oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid are naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids that have significant medicinal value. Considerable amounts of these triterpenoids are available in the outer bark of white birch. In this study, we used ultrasound-assisted extraction （UAE） to extract triterpenoids from birch bark rapidly and with high efficiency. Using high performance liquid chro- matography （HPLC）, three types of triterpenoids were separated and detected. We examined the differences among triterpenoids extracted from diploid versus tetra- ploid white birch. Then, we used factor analysis to screen out tetraploid white birches with comprehensively excel- lent performance. The results indicate that the optimum conditions for extraction include the use of ethanol as an extraction solvent, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 0.1 g/10 ml, ultrasonic power set at 100 W, a temperature of 60 ℃ and an extraction time of 15 min. A reversed-phase C18 col- umn （4.6 mm × 250 mm × 5 μm） with a column tem- perature of 30 ℃ and the mobile phase composed of A （acetonitrile） and B （0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid, v/v） at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min were used, and the detection wavelength was 195 nm. No significant difference wasobserved between diploid and tetraploid white birch in terms of the content of three types of triterpenoids （at a confidence level of 0.05）. As triterpenoid content, height, and DBH （diameter at breast height） are strongly interre- lated, we used factor analysis to evaluate all individuals, and we screened out six plus trees with excellent com- prehensive characters.
基金supported by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China(LBHQ14003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31400535)
文摘Determining the influences of environmental factors on seedling growth and leaf color may improve our understanding of the chromogenic mechanisms in leaves and the biosynthesis of anthocyanin. To determine the optimum conditions for Betula 'Royal Frost' seedling cultivation, we assessed seedling growth and anthocyanin content under natural conditions. The temperature had a significant influence on height but not on radial growth. Between June and September, the anthocyanin content was significantly positively correlated with light intensity and air moisture and significantly negatively correlated with temperature. In single-factor experiments to determine the variation in anthocyanin content in the greenhouse, anthocyanin content increased with increasing soil water content and at first increased, then decreased with increasing pH of the irrigation water and temperature, but decreased with increasing light intensity. K2SO4 can increase the anthocyanin content. So to maintain leaf color, seedlings should be cultivated with < 200 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) light intensity at 20 A degrees C and soil moisture content between 60 and 90%, and the irrigation water should be neutral or alkaline. Additionally, spraying with K2SO4 can be beneficial.
基金funded by the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang in China (Y307465)
文摘Expressed sequence tags（ESTs） are generated from single-pass sequencing of randomly picked cDNA clones and can be used for development of simple sequence repeat（SSR） markers or microsatellites.However,EST databases have been developed for only a small number of species.This paper provides a case study of the utility of freely available birch EST resources for the development of markers necessary for the genetic analysis of Betula luminifera.Based on birch EST data,primers for 80 EST-SSR candidate loci were developed and tested in birch.Of these,59 EST-SSR loci yielded single,stable and clear PCR products.We then tested the utility of those 59 markers in B.luminifera.The results showed 28（47.6%） yielded stable and clear PCR products for at least one B.luminifera genotype.In addition,this study describes a rapid and inexpensive alternative for the development of SSRs in species with scarce available sequence data.
基金supported by Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31770712)
文摘We analyzed the germination traits (germination rate, germination potential, and germination index) of seeds from 23 half-sib families of birch (Betula platyphylla). The germination rates of the 23 families ranged from 38.57 to 76.50%. Seeds from the eight families germinating at the highest rates were then used for germination experiments under salt stress. Germination rate, germination potential, and germination index of these eight half-sib families decreased with increasing salt concentrations. The effects of four different hormones (6-benzylaminopurine, 6BA;gibberellin, GA3;naphthalene acetic acid, NAA;and melatonin) at various concentrations on the germination of seeds from the eight half-sib birch families under salt stress were investigated. Treatments with 6BA and GA3 alleviated the effects of salt stress on seed germination, whereas treatments with NAA and melatonin aggravated the effects of salt stress. The most effective treatments for alleviating the effects of salt stress on birch seed germination were 10 mg/L 6BA and 300 mg/L GA3. This study provides practical information for screening birch families for salt tolerance at the seed germination stage, and for cultivation of birch in saline environments.
文摘Betula ermanni population was divided into three groups: the upper population (2 000–2 200 m), the middle population (1 700–2 000 m), and the down population (1 400–1 700 m) in Changbai Mountain. The dynamics ofBetula ermanni populations in subalpine vegetation are studied and the population life table, fecundity schedule, survival curves, age structure, and fecundity curves were established. The results showed that the, middle population is obviously, the transition from the upper population to the down population.
基金financially supported by the National Science and Technology Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period(No.2013AA102704)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NO:31200510)
文摘MADS-box transcription factors show highly diverse regulatory functions in a wide variety of organisms. In this study, we characterized a MADS-box gene （BpMADS12） from the white birch （Betula platyphylla Suk）. This gene is a member of the suppressor of overexpression of CO 1/tomato MADS 3 class of MADS-box genes. We generated lines overexpressing BpMADS12 and found that these had higher levels of lignin compared to that observed in nontransgenic lines. Transcriptome anal- ysis revealed numerous changes in gene expression patterns. In total, 8794 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 5006 upregulated unigenes and 3788 downregulated unigenes in BpMADS-overexpression lines. Differentially expressed genes involved in the pathways for lignin and brassinosteroid biosynthesis were significantly enriched and may have contributed to phenotypic changes. The results from a quantitative RT-PCR analysis were consistent those obtained with the transcriptome analysis.Our transcriptome analysis, in combination with measure- ment of lignin level, indicated that BpMADS12 promotes lignin synthesis through regulation of key enzymes in response to brassinosteroid signaling. These results suggest that this MADS-box protein is crucial to all subsequent structural events and provide a good foundation for studies aiming to elucidate the developmental mechanisms underlying formation of wood.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31300566)Zhejiang Province Science and Technology Support Program(No.2012C12908-8)
文摘Betula luminifera is a commercial tree species that is emerging as a new model system for tree genomics research. A draft genomic sequence is expected to be publicly available in the near future, which means that an explosion of gene expression studies awaits. Thus, the work of selecting appropriate reference genes for q PCR normalization in different tissues or under various experimental conditions is extremely valuable. In this study, ten candidate genes were analyzed in B. luminifera subjected to different abiotic stresses and at various flowering stages.The expression stability of these genes was evaluated using three distinct algorithms implemented using ge Norm,Norm Finder and Best Keeper. The best-ranked reference genes varied across different sample sets, though RPL39,MDH and EF1 a were determined as the most stable by the three programs among all tested samples. RPL39 and EF1 a should be appropriate for normalization in N-starved roots,while the combination of RPL39 and MDH should be appropriate for N-starved stems and EF1 a and MDH should be appropriate in N-starved leaves. In PEG-treated（osmotic） roots, MDH was the most suitable, whereas EF1 a was suitable for PEG-treated stems and leaves. TUA was also stably expressed levels in PEG-treated plants. The combination of RPL39 and TUB should be appropriate for heat-stressed leaves and flowering stage. For reference gene validation, the expression levels of SOD and NFYA-3were investigated. This work will be beneficial to future studies on gene expression under different abiotic stress conditions and flowering status in B. luminifera.
基金supported by the Doctoral Research Fund of Mudanjiang Normal University(MNUB201504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31700587 and31470671)
文摘The transcription factor BplMYB46 has been identified as a regulator of abiotic stress responses and promoter of secondary wall deposition in Betula platyphylla.To investigate the downstream targets of BplMYB46,the expression profiles of genes in stems from BplMYB46-overexpressing(OE)and BplMYB46-silencing(SE)plants were studied.In OE stems,952 genes were upregulated,and 1469 were downregulated in comparison to SE stems.In a KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes(DEGs),1387 differentially expressed genes were annotated for 117 metabolic pathways.DEGs were abundant for metabolic pathway,secondary metabolite biosynthesis,plant hormone signal transduction,phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis.DEGs were implicated lignin or cellulose biosynthesis,cell wall modification,xylem development,disease resistance,stress responses,and anthocyanin biosynthesis.These results suggested that BplMYB46 regulates cell wall development and stress resistance by affecting the expression of these genes.Our study further elucidates the mechanism by which BplMYB46 mediates abiotic stress responses and secondary cell wall biosynthesis in birch.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31370660 and 31670673)the 111 Project(B16010)
文摘Betula platyphylla Sukaczev tetraploids have significantly larger leaf, fruit and stoma (gigantic phenotype) than diploids of the same species;however, the mechanism underlying this difference remains unclear. Tetraploid B. platyphylla transcriptome data have indicated that the expression of genes related to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis and signal transduction was altered after genome duplication. IAA exerts pleiotropic effects on growth and development by inducing the expression of Aux/IAA. We identified 20 Aux/IAA genes (BpIAA1– BpIAA20) in B. platyphylla distributed across 10 chromosomes. Multiple alignment and motif analyses revealed that nine BpIAA proteins shared all four conserved domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Aux/IAA families were divided into four subfamilies and that there were two pairs of BpIAA sister genes. The BpIAAs were differentially expressed in diploids and tetraploids. Moreover, the expression levels of the nine BpIAA genes were specifically up-regulated in tetraploids from June to September compared with May (except August 5th) in tetraploids, while they were down-regulated in diploids. IAA levels were more than twofold higher in tetraploids than diploids during the vegetative season. These results indicate that genome duplication of B. platyphylla caused the up-regulated of genes involved in IAA synthesis, and the increased concentration of IAA may induce the constitutive expression of 20 BpIAA genes. Therefore, the significant changes in the expression patterns of the BpIAAs contributed to the gigantic phenotype of tetraploids to some extent. Our research sheds light on the phenotypic variations observed in B. platyphylla tetraploids.
