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In previous studies with tropical plant species, low root zone temperature (RZT) induced boron (B) deficiency, but it is not known if the same response to RZT will be expressed in temperate species, like oilseed rape, that are more tolerant of low temperature. The present experiments investigated the effect of RZT (10 and 20°C) on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Hyola 42) response to B in solution culture, in summer and winter. Regardless of canopy growth conditions, low RZT (10°C) promoted the partitioning of shoot B to the actively growing leaves, especially when B supply was low. However, low RZT did not significantly alter net B uptake rates or plant biomass. Low RZT decreased the shoot-to-root ratio, countering the effects of low B which increased it, leading to a decreased demand for B in the shoot at low RZT. At low B supply, B-deficiency symptoms appeared later at 10 than at 20°C, corresponding with higher B concentrations in the youngest fully opened leaves (YOLs) at 10°C RZT. Thus 10°C RZT increased the tolerance to low B supply. As a result, it is concluded that the effect of decreasing RZT on the responses of the temperate species, oilseed rape, to low B supply depends on whether the low RZT is above or below the optimal root temperature for growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of soil acidification on degradation of Chinese hickory forest under field experimental conditions. Responses of plant nutrient absorption and non-targeted metabolomics based on LC-MS were analyzed to understand the mechanisms of Chinese hickory plant to acid resistance and susceptibility. In this field experiment, Chinese hickory plants were treated with CK (T1, control), nitrogen application (urea) (T2), and aluminum application (aluminum sulfate) (T3). Results showed that Al is the key toxic factor of acidification of soils planted with Chinese hickory. T2 and T3 treatments significantly inhibited absorption of nutrient elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, B and Zn) by Chinese hickory (except N in T2). The metabolomics data analysis showed that there were differences in plant metabolites between the experimental group (T2 and T3) and the control (T1), including p-coumaroyl quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, (+) germacrene A, myricetin 3-galactoside, and neoglucobrassicin. These metabolites may be the main regulators of Chinese hickory to soil acid stress or related to the effect of soil acidification on Chinese hickory resistance. KEGG metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed that these differential metabolites were mainly enriched in four metabolic pathways: Flavonoid biosynthesis, Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, Tyrosine metabolism, Stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis. This study provides a reference for metabolomics studies in Chinese hickory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys pubescens) has an extremely fast growth rate, however little information is available on the dynamics of carbon accumulation during the fast growth period. Bamboo trunk were sampled at three different stages (1: shoot emergence to first shell detachment; 2: first shell detachment to branch emergence; 3: branch emergence to detachment of all shells) and divided into three parts (upper, middle and lower). The average shoot elongation rate and biomass accumulation rate were 17 cm/d and 96 g/d, respectively. The carbon content increased progressively at the growth stage, and the fixed carbon was partitioned into cell wall hemicellulose and cellulose to meet the demand of rapid cell elongation. Different rates of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content were found among different parts. These results indicated that the fast growth of the bamboo trunk is related to the extraordinary ability of bamboo to assimilate carbon, but not consistently related to mineral nutrients absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]