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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. Keywords Biomass production * Carbon accumulation * Cell wall * Fast growth period * Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), Introduction Global climate change has inspired scientific and political communities to have an increasing interest in the study of carbon storage and carbon balance (Houghton, 2001; Marland & Marland, 2003; [...]

The reasons for China's delayed transition to democracy are analyzed and the measures needed to hasten the process are presented. The prospects for democracy in China will remain hopeless until the present autocracy whose authorities are bent on destroying civil and healthy elements are removed.