Latest documents http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/index/index/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:04:06 +0200 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:04:06 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/765 The Yellow leaf syndrome (YLS) had been first detected and described in Hawaiian sugarcane plantations. The polerovirus Sugarcane yellow leaf virus was identified as a causal agent of the syndrome; however there was no strict correlation between the degree of symptom expression and the virus titre. Therefore several surveys on breeding station sugarcane plants in Hawaiian Islands were done for Sugarcane yellow leaf phytoplasma (SCYLP), a bacterium which had been hypothesized to be also a causal agent of YLS. Two types of phytoplasmas were found in Hawaiian sugarcane cultivars mainly sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma (SCWL) which is a member in rice yellow dwarf group, in addition to aster yellows group. This was also true for sugarcane plants from Hawaiian plantations, which routinely use hot water-treatment for the seed cane cuttings. Sugarcane samples were obtained also from other countries including Cuba, Egypt, Syria and Thailand where sugarcane plants are also showing symptoms of yellowing or whiting. Aster yellows and X-disease phytoplasmas were found in Cuban cultivars whereas one sugarcane cultivar from Egypt contains grassy shoot phytoplasma that is a member in rice yellow dwarf group, but the other two Egyptian ones were phytoplasma-free. Syrian sugarcane was infected by phytoplasma that identified preliminary in rice yellow dwarf group. To our knowledge, this is the first report for the detection and identification of phytoplasma in sugarcane plants from Hawaii, Egypt and Syria. Our investigation on Thai sugarcane plants was in agreement with previous literature where sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) phytoplasma is associated with white leaf disease (Nakashima et al., 1994; Wongkaew et al., 1997). Q-PCR (real-time PCR) offers the opportunity to detect the phytoplasma in a sensitive, specific and quick manner, but that is not true for sugarcane plants with a very low titer of phytoplasma. Therefore, nested-PCR is better than qPCR for low titer phytoplasma detection and that is true for sugarcane yellow leaf phytoplasma disease. A BLAST search for the 16S rRNA gene sequences reported in this study showed that they shared 99 to 100% sequence identity with those of other phytoplasmas in the Aster yellows, X-disease and Rice yellow dwarf groups. However, no one of these identified strains can be described as a new “Candidatus Phytoplasma species”. On the other hand, Hawaiian sugarcane cultivar H78-7750 as a representative of Hawaiian breeding station sugarcane contains phytoplasma clustered to strain sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) phytoplasma, closely together with sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma from Taiwan (AY139874). It is possible to explain the occurrence of (SCWL) phytoplasma in Hawaiian Islands, by insect vectors or by infected stem cuttings which were obtained from other countries. Thai sugarcane contains phytoplasma isolate closely together with sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma from Myanmar. The transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies revealed the presence of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma only in phloem sieve tubes of diseased sugarcane leaves but not in adjacent cells to the sieve elements including companion cells and phloem parenchyma as well. According to ultrastructural observations under TEM, parenchymatic cells of bundle sheath and mesophyll tissue of affected leaves showed some alterations including accumulations of starch granules, increase plastoglobuli number and size in disorganized chloroplasts. Insect vectors of phytoplasmas are phloem feeders. Thus far, none of aphid species has been found to be a vector of phytoplasmas. Our tests showed also that black sugarcane aphids (Melanaphis Sacchari) were unable to transmit the phytoplasmas from infected sugarcane into the phytoplasma-free one. Hot water treatment has been proposed to cure plant material from phytoplasmas. Our tests showed that the appropriate hot water treatment, which recommended for phytoplasma elimination, is immersion of the sugarcane stem cuttings at 50°C for 60 min. Ziad Soufi doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/765 Wed, 02 May 2012 13:04:06 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/757 Ethiopian forests disappear with a rate of 1.1% per year due to the high demand of firewood and timber. To protect the remaining parts of the forests, exotic tree plantations were established 60 years ago. But there are considerable concerns regarding exotic plantations: they have the reputation to cause damage to the ecosystems due to high demand of water and nutrients. Considering the environmental deterioration caused by monotonous plantations of exotic tree species, the chance for indigenous woody plants to rejuvenate naturally in those plantations appears to be very small. But there are observations of indigenous tree species regenerating under the shelter of exotic tree plantations. This enhanced growth of indigenous saplings under the canopy of exotics has been termed “nurse-tree effect”. In the Munessa-Shashamene Forest, a tropical montane forest in Ethiopia consisting of plantations of exotic tree species and remnants of natural forest, regeneration and an enhanced growth of native Podocarpus falcatus saplings under the shelter of exotic tree plantations (Pinus and Eucalyptus) was observed. The focus of this work was to examine the different growth patterns of the saplings in the sites, the effects of the on the photosynthetic performance, and to compare the water relations of the Podocarpus saplings and those of the shelter-trees. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. Observations over two years showed that the relative growth rates of the saplings were more than three times higher in the Pinus plantation compared to the natural forest and the Eucalyptus plantation. Relative growth rates during the dry and the rainy season were more or less identical. 2. Investigation of the sub-canopy microclimate proved PAR and VPD as major components with impact on the photosynthetic performance of the saplings. 71% of the variations in photosynthetic carbon uptake could be explained by PAR and 4% by VPD. The Pinus plantation was slightly warmer and drier compared to the other two sites. Also highest PAR values of all sites were recorded in the Pinus plantation. In the Eucalyptus plantation, PAR values were the lowest of the three sites, caused by the two-tired canopy of coppiced and uncoppiced Eucalyptus trees. 3. For an assessment of the photosynthetic efficiency of the light climate, the efficacy of the shares of the irradiation from diffuse light and light flecks were determined from light curves. The time spans and distribution of these shares of the daily accumulated radiation were recorded from the daily courses. In the Pinus plantation, the efficiency of the radiation was relatively low (70%), because of the high intensity of the sunflecks, especially during the dry season. On cloudy days the efficiency was nearly 100% and resulted in an optimum photosynthetic performance of the saplings in the Pinus plantation. In the Eucalyptus plantation, the two-tired canopy resulted in a higher proportion of diffuse radiation and less daily accumulated PAR from sunflecks (46%). Also the efficiency of the actual radiation was the lowest of all sites on cloudy (72%) and sunny (53%) days. Daily accumulated PAR under the canopy of the natural forest was in between the other forest types. Such mid-position was also true for the share of the sunflecks and the CO2 uptake. Efficacy of the radiation was 80% on sunny and 86% on cloudy days. 4. Water relations can substantially affect the photosynthetic performance of plants. Especially in the afternoons of the dry season a decrease of photosynthetic CO2 uptake by the Podocarpus saplings became apparent. Whole-tree water consumption was determined by measuring sap flow with the Granier system. In principle sap flow (and transpiration) followed VPD. Comparison of the daily courses of transpiration and stomatal conductance and sap flow showed an earlier decrease of transpiration by the leaves of the saplings than by the shelter-trees, suggesting slight water shortage especially during the dry season. This interpretation is corroborated by the higher 13C values in the leaf tissue of the saplings from the Pinus plantation. Nevertheless severe drought stress did not occur during the two years of investigation. 5. The literature on the „nurse-tree effect“ mentions in particular Eucalyptus as shelter-tree, a finding which is not in agreement with the data of this study: Neither photosynthesis nor growth was enhanced compared with the control saplings in the natural forest. The discrepancy between this work and the literature can be solved when the management of the Eucalyptus plantation is considered. As long as the Podocarpus saplings grow under the two-tired canopy of the coppiced trees, growth is as slow as in the natural forest. However, after coppicing the light climate for the saplings ameliorates considerably and growth rates increase. Thus, a shelter-tree effect could also be observed under Eucalyptus, but its dynamics is stepwise rather than continuous. Simone Strobl doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/757 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:42:26 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/733 Identifying the relevance of forest structure for stand photosynthesis and transpiration is one of the remaining challenges in plant physiological ecology. This thesis uses the historically new chances for the description of 3D-complexity of beech and oak forests that come along with the rapid developments in information technology: It gives a comprehensive description of measured structural features of both species and evaluates and visualizes them with a branch-oriented polyhedra-based 3D-representation (CRISTO). This allows for the first time the proof of a naturally layered structure of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea canopies, as well as the quantification of gap volumes of horizontal layers. The structure description is combined with the measured variability of physiologically relevant leaf parameters throughout the single canopies. A historical trend towards increasing leaf mass per area (LMA)-values is detected from literature. Using LMA and nitrogen content as drivers, a new nitrogen dependent leaf photosynthesis model is designed and validated from A/Ci curves and daily courses of leaf photosynthesis. These measurements have been perormed on standing trees using a high-lift. The program RACCIA allows for the automated derivation of photosynthesis parameters for this model from A/Ci-curves. Leaf properties and 3D-structure are used in the 3D-light model STANDFLUX-SECTORS, which is capble to use a 3D-simulation of the same stand in an unprecedented high resolution and was validated with the LMA-light relationship from another stand. The combined evaluation of the simulated radiation distribution with sapflow measurements on single branches indicates a typical pattern of light sensitivity of transpiration that is interpreted in terms of species-specific ecological specialization. Stefan Fleck doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/733 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:07:30 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/723 In order to sustain their structure and metabolism, chloroplasts and other plastid types must import the majority of their proteins from the cytosol across the envelope membranes. Translocons at the outer and inner chloroplast envelope membranes, called TOC and TIC, were identified that mediate the import of proteins. N-terminal transit peptides essential for import of the protein precursors are cleaved after their entry into the stroma. It was thus far believed that all of the different cytosolic precursors would enter the chloroplast through the same, jointly acting TIC/TOC machineries. Recent evidence, however, suggests that multiple, regulated import pathways exist in plastids that involve different import machineries. Proteomics studies have revealed the presence of a large number of plastid proteins lacking predictable N-terminal transit sequences for import. The import mechanism for the majority of these proteins has not been determined yet. One example is the chloroplast envelope quinone oxidoreductase homologue, ceQORH. This protein is imported into the inner plastid envelope membrane by a TIC/TOC-independent pathway and without any proteolytic cleavage. In the present study 5 proteins were shown to interact with ceQORH during its import and were designated as ceQORH translocon components (QTC). One of these proteins, QTC24 (also called HP20), is a member of the PRAT family comprising preprotein and amino acid transporters found in chloroplasts, mitochondria and free-living bacteria. Different expression patterns and localization of PRAT proteins suggest that they are functionally diverse beyond their role in protein translocation. QTC24/HP20 is located in the outer plastid envelope membrane of chloroplasts where it establishes a hydrophilic translocation pore. Thus, chloroplasts contain besides TOC75 and OEP16-1 a third translocation channel component in their outer envelope membrane that functions in import of transit sequence-less inner envelope proteins. In vitro import into chloroplasts of corresponding isolated A. thaliana knock-out mutants revealed that the lack of HP20 could not be replaced by its close relative HP22. Athp20 plants had no phenotype when grown under standard green house conditions. However, minor defects during the very early stage of greening of etiolated seedlings were observed as the expression of mainly plastid-encoded proteins was delayed. These effects could be interpreted in terms of an impaired amino acid import at this stage of development. A second protein of the PRAT family, HP30, was further subject of this work. However, its role remains unclear at the moment. Isolated homozygous A. thaliana knock-out mutants of HP30 did not reveal any phenotype under the growth conditions analysed in this work. The preliminary investigation of stable RNA silencing mutants indicated that the function of HP30 and its close relative HP30-2 is important during the early stages of seedling development. Young leaves of respective mutant plants exhibited a chlorotic phenotype. A further member of the PRAT family is OEP16-1 that was initially identified as amino acid-selective protein channel. Other studies revealed its role as translocation pore for the PORA precursor. Analysis of the corresponding A. thaliana knock-out mutant to dissect these two mutually not exclusive functions has led to the description of different phenotypes. During a re-screen of the original seed stock, four independent OEP16-1-deficient mutant lines were isolated that exhibited different cell death properties. Two mutants contained elevated amounts of free protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) in darkness that was caused by a defect in the Pchlide-dependent import of PORA. Etiolated seedlings of these lines died after light exposure due to the production of singlet oxygen. The two other mutants did not accumulate excessive amounts of free Pchlide and greened normally. Two of the four mutant lines with seemingly no correlation between the lack of PORA and cell death were analysed in more detail in this thesis. Moreover, a complemented Atoep16-1 mutant that re-expressed functional OEP16-1 protein was shown to restore the wild-type phenotype including PORA import that prevented the accumulation of an excess of free Pchlide and singlet oxygen production upon light exposure of dark-grown seedlings. Claudia Roßig doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/723 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:24:51 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/700 Both, biological invasion by exotic plant species and biodiversity including spatial patterns and drivers are two major issues in tropical forest ecosystems. This dissertation deals with these two issues in a tropical forest ecosystem in Bangladesh. Considering the first issue, it comprises two manuscripts: a systematic review and a field survey in Bangladesh forest ecosystem. The review was done based on a formalized literature search in order to summarize the approaches that were hitherto applied as well as to mark gaps in tropical invasion research. A considerable number of primary research papers focused on invasion by plants in tropical forests were reviewed. The results identified ample gaps of research. Adressing these gaps may generate promising future research to understand and mitigate this great challenge in different types of tropical forests. Then a case study was conducted to examine the invasiveness and invasibility characteristics in a forest ecosystem of Bangladesh. This study seeks to find out the characteristics of exotic species and relationships between native species richness, environmental variables, disturbances and exotic plant invasion in this ecosystem. Boosted Regression Trees and Detrended Correspondence Analysis are used to determine these relationships. Most exotics are trees followed by shrubs and herbs. Fabaceae and Asteraceae contribute a large proportion of exotic species. Most of them originated from other tropical areas. Native species richness was found to be the best predictor for the number and percentage of exotic species in the study area. However, a unimodal relationship was found. Multiple other factors also influence the success of exotic species. The number and the percentage of exotic species are positively correlated with frequency of disturbances and with soil attributes (phosphorus and bulk density) but negatively correlated with topography (elevation) and conservation patterns (protection). Considering the biodiversity issue, it encompases another two manuscripts based on a case study conducting a systematic field work in the same forest ecosystem of Bangladesh. They are the first spatially explicit analysis of drivers and patterns of biodiversity in this terrestrial ecosystem based on multivariate approaches, similarity analysis and variation partitioning. One manuscript assesses the relationships between landscape and habitat characteristics, conservation patterns, and plant diversity in this tropical forest ecosystem. This study analyses the effects of soils, topographic conditions, disturbances and nature protection on plant species richness and species composition. The results reveal that biodiversity patterns in the study area are positively correlated with protection and elevation. These patterns are, however, negatively correlated with disturbances. The other manuscript focuses on the stand characteristics and spatial patterns of biodiversity as they are rarely studied in the tropics in general and in Bangladesh in particular. Data on tree species are used as they are the most conspicuous element of these ecosystems. Tree species composition was recorded in a systematic plot design and diameter was measured at breast height for each individual tree. Distance-decay approach was applied to analyze the spatial pattern of biodiversity for the whole study area and two subsamples from Satchari National Park and Satchari Reserve Forest. Analyses showed that biomass increased significantly with protection status. Plots in the Reserve Forest were associated with higher species turnover than in the National Park. This dissertation identifyies, for the first time in a systematic approach, the major drivers for invasion and biodiversity pattern in a forested area in Bangladesh. In conclusion, both, biological invasion by exotic plant species as well as biodiversity are strongly related to the disturbance regime and nature protection. Mohammad Belal Uddin doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/700 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:22:01 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/691 There is no doubt that recent global climate change is in process and affects life on earth. Especially mountain ecosystems are supposed to be highly sensitive to climate change due to the vertical compression of life zones, rough abiotic environment and limiting ecological factors. Therefore, the European Alps is one of the best observed ecosystems where many studies figured out how climate change is affecting biodiversity. Probably the biggest and most well-known project is the GLORIA-Europe initiative established by Prof. Dr. Georg Grabherr from University of Vienna. The aim of this project is to establish a world-wide long-term monitoring network in alpine ecosystems to detect effects of climate change on the vegetation of mountain summits using standardised methods. This study is involved in the GLORIA initiative to resurvey four calcareous and four siliceous summits at Swiss National Park in summer 2009/10. The aim of this study is to answer the questions if there are changes between the first (2002/03) and second survey in plant species number, species frequency and in heterogeneity between plots. Furthermore, is altitude, cardinal direction and bedrock influencing changes or are there species groups reacting different and what are the reasons behind it? In total 226 species were found in 2009 and 2010 with almost 80% more species on the siliceous summits. Species turnover rate between the two surveys is relatively high (15-30%) and also frequency is increasing for several species. But, there are no effects of bedrock or exposition and no differences for species groups. This study shows that fluctuation of species turnover is due to fluctuation of phenological development. Furthermore, differences in plot heterogeneity can be explained by phenological fluctuation. However, there are hints for initiating effects of climate change. The occurrence of L. decidua on three lower summits and the high content of new found species with a lower distribution limit at the montane belt on PMU as well as general increase in plant frequency could be caused by climate change. Hence, these hints of climate change should be focused on in future investigations as long-term effects of climate change are expected. Frank Breiner masterthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/691 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:21:15 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/793 Ergebnisse großer Grünland-Biodiversitätsexperimente legen einen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen Artenvielfalt und Ökosystemfunktionen (z.B. Produktivität, Ressourcennutzung, Stabilität der Gemeinschaften) nahe. Der durch Klima- und Landnutzungswandel andauernde Artenverlust bedroht die Bereitstellung dieser Funktionen. Und obschon die Zusammenhänge zwischen Artenreichtum und Ökosystemfunktionen, die man auf Gemeinschaftsebene beobachten kann, abhängig von Interaktionen zwischen Individuen und Arten sind, sind Informationen über diese Mechanismen rar. Die vorliegende Dissertation stellt fünf Projekte vor, die sich mit Mechanismen der Pflanze-Pflanze-Interaktion am Beispiel von Grünlandarten der gemäßigten Breiten befassen, speziell mit der Leguminose-Nachbar-Interaktion. Auf der Ebene von Individuen und Populationen wurden Veränderungen der Interaktionen untersucht: entlang von biotischen Gradienten (Vielfalt, Zusammensetzung und Identität der Arten einer Gemeinschaft), entlang von abiotischen Gradienten (Extremwetterereignisse, Stickstoffverfügbarkeit) und in Einheiten verschiedener räumlicher Abmessungen. Drei Leitfragestellungen motivierten die Projekte: Ist das Testen ökologische Theorien, die von großräumigen Beobachtungen abgeleitet wurden, auch in kleinräumigen Einheiten möglich? Gibt es eine Grenze, an der positive Leguminosen-Effekte (N-facilitation) auf den Stickstoffhaushalt der Nachbarn (receiver), in Konkurrenz um andere Ressourcen umschlagen? Wie wirken sich Anzahl und Identitäten der Arten einer Gemeinschaft auf artspezifische Interaktionen aus? Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen habe ich traditionelle, invasive und nicht-invasive Methoden benutzt. Die in der Dissertation vorgestellten Studien belegen die Möglichkeit, „Feld-Effekte“ auch in kleineren räumlichen Einheiten zu untersuchen, da zahlreiche Übereinstimmungen zwischen Untersuchungen im Feld und in Mikrokosmen auftraten. So konnten wir die Abnahme der d15N Werte mit abnehmender N-Versorgung und zunehmender Artenzahl, die unserem Wissen nach bisher ausschließlich in Feldversuchen nachgewiesen wurde, in Mikrokosmen feststellen. Ebenso konnten wir zum Feld vergleichbare positive Effekte zunehmender Artenzahlen und vorhandener N2-Fixierer auf Interaktionen zwischen Pflanzen in ungestörten Gemeinschaften nachweisen. N-facilitation finden über N-Transfer von N2-Fixierern zu receivers und über Ressourcenumverteilung des Boden-N (N-sparing) statt. Kurzfristig bot N-sparing den größeren Vorteil für receiver; wir haben aber ebenso kurzfristigen N-Transfer zwischen Arten verschiedener Identitäten nachgewiesen. Die Artidentität spielt für die Nutzung des durch Leguminosen bereitgestellten Extra-N aus N-facilitation eine wesentliche Rolle: Gräser nutzten Extra-N aus N-sparing und N-Transfer effektiver als krautige Arten, sowohl im Feld als auch in Mikrokosmen. Darüber hinaus haben wir neue Muster des Einflusses der Artenzahl auf artspezifische N-Dynamiken in gestörten Gemeinschaften entdeckt. In Mikrokosmen mit einer Gras-, Kraut- und Leguminosen-Art stiegt in Folge simulierter Beweidung der N-Transfer zwischen Individuen in Monokulturen unabhängig von der Artidentität an, nahm in Mischungen hingegen ab. Eine völlig andere applizierte Störung (Trockenstress statt Beweidung) resultierte in einem ähnlichen Muster bezüglich der N-Parameter eines Grases in unterschiedlichen Artgemeinschaften im EVENT-Experiment. Die Abnahme von N-facilitation nach Störungen könnte eine Erklärung für die verminderte Leistung des Grases in artenreicheren Gemeinschaften sein, auch wenn mit nicht-invasiven (und invasiven) Methoden auf Ebene der Gemeinschaft keine gravierenden negativen Effekte feststellbar waren. Diese Konstanz auf einer höheren Organisationsebene legt nahe, dass die verwendeten nicht-invasive Methoden neue Möglichkeit eröffnen, ökologische Theorien auf der Ebene von Artengemeinschafts (z.B. insurance hypothesis, „Versicherungshypothese“) in unterschiedlichen räumlichen Einheiten zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Rückschluss zu, dass Versuche unter kontrollierten Umweltbedingungen in kleineren räumlichen Einheiten ein geeignetes Mittel sind, um Effekte und Interaktionen von Faktoren (Vielfalt, Zusammensetzung, Identität der Arten einer Gemeinschaft) detailliert zu untersuchen. Insbesondere die vergleichbare N-Dynamik in Feld- und Mikrokosmosversuchen scheint das Testen mancher ökologischer Theorien, z.B. der stress gradient hypothesis, in kleinräumigen Einheiten zu ermöglichen. Darüber hinaus wird im Rahmen der Dissertationsschrift die Nutzbarkeit verschiedener invasiver und nicht-invasiver Methoden zur Untersuchung von Pflanze-Pflanze-Interaktionen dargestellt. Diese Ergebnisse bilden das Fundament für weiterführende Projekte, die dazu beitragen sollen, Zusammenhänge zwischen Biodiversitätseffekten und Ökosystemfunktionen zu erhellen und damit z.B. eine kosteneffektive Renaturierung degradierter Standorte zu erleichtern. Lea Lucia Anna Märtin doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/793 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:25:20 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/576 Bracken (Pteridium spec.) is one of the most wide-spread weeds, especially where fire has been used for forest clearing or maintenance of agricultural areas. Taxonomically, it is considered an aggregate that separates into a northern hemispherical and a southern, tropical complex. Different from the extensively studied northern bracken, the knowledge of ecology and control measures of the tropical species is still fragmentary. The main aims of my thesis were (1) identification and population structure of bracken, (2) ecology of tropical bracken with particular emphasis on its survival of bushfires, and (3) development of an effective bracken control strategy and subsequent re-pasturisation of abandoned areas. The bracken vegetation of the study area consists of mixed stands of Pteridium arachnoideum (KAULF.) MAXON and P. caudatum (L.) MAXON with a proportion of 3:2, and of a hybrid (ca. 2%). Identification was by leaf morphology, allozyme analysis, comparison of particular chloroplastic DNA sequences, and analysis of four genomic and one plastidic microsatellites. Dominance of P. arachnoideum was explained by the fact that P. caudatum, as a lowland species, reaches its upper altitudinal limit in the research area. Analysis of heterozygosity indicated a higher genetic stability of the diploid P. arachnoideum population as compared to the allotetraploid P. caudatum population. Spatial extension of the individual clones is much smaller than reported for the northern bracken, indicating higher significance of sexual reproduction for the tropical fern in comparison to vegetative propagation by rhizome fragmentation. Four weeks after burning the natural rain forest, vigorously sprouting bracken sporophytes were observed. These developed from gametophytes, which germinated from the wind dispersed spores. Fast growth of the young sporophytes established the fern in the areas. After planting pasture grass, bracken was supported by repeated burning of the areas. In the long run, the grass was outcompeted by the fern possibly due to weakening of its vitality by burning and grazing, and the areas have been abandoned. The density of bracken fronds in a settled bracken area of our research site remained constant over years with small deviations caused by particular weather situations. Since this balance holds also for patchy fern canopies, it is assumed that this is due to nutrient shortage of the soil. Most probably, a new leaf can only develop from the nutrients remobilized from a senescing old leaf. Two to three months after a fire, an explosive emergence of new leaves was observed at rates, which substantially exceeded those under undisturbed growth. The newly formed leaves showed an extended life-span, which was attributed to a better nutrient supply from the ash. Subsequent self-thinning reduced the density of the leaves to a stable level within two years. In a laboratory experiment, the effects of heat pulse by a simulated bushfire on the bracken rhizomes were investigated. Separated long and short shoots were heated for a short time either in a water bath or embedded in soil. Subsequent to this heat pulse, they were cultivated in original soil. Short shoots showed a significantly higher heat resistance (up to 80°C) than long shoots (up to 60°C). In addition, the short shoots showed elongation growth and an enhanced frond production, whereas long shoots were not stimulated by the heat pulse. In a bracken control experiment, thirteen control measures (cutting of the fronds, several herbicides, covering with plastic foil and combinations thereof) were applied over a time-period of 23 months. Each treatment was repeated six times and the effects were recorded monthly. Quarterly cutting of the leaves as well as treatment with a customary herbicide mixture (picloram and metsulforon methyl) were the most effective treatments resulting in a reduction of the standing biomass by 65%. Monthly records of the resprouting bracken was necessary to work out the minimum number of treatments required for a clear control effect. For the five most efficient treatments among two to four applications were necessary. However, complete eradication of bracken was not possible. For re-pasturisation, the common pasture grass Setaria sphacelata was planted on the treated areas within a long-term experiment. After nearly two years of observation, the system had stabilized with a cover of S. sphacelata of 75% and of bracken of below 40%. This result demonstrated that the competitive strength of S. sphacelata was sufficient to control bracken once weakened by control treatments. The long-term experiment and, in addition, an experiment in which a gradually bracken-infested area is subjected to controlled burning, are continued. Kristin Roos doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/576 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:20:32 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/566 Sugarcane is an important crop plant and has served as a source of sugar for hundreds of years, recently it is used to produce bioethanol, a renewable bio-fuel energy source. Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) was detected in the late 1990s first in Hawaii as a causal agent of a sugarcane disease which leads to sugarcane yellow leaf syndrome and reduced sugar yield. The presence of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus was determined by RT-PCR in several sugarcane cultivars, mostly from Hawaii. Interesting was the comparison of so-called susceptible versus resistant cultivars. As expected, the susceptible Hawaiian cultivars H73-6110 and H87-4094 showed strong PCR amplification products of SCYLV, while the virus-free line H87-4094, produced by tissue culture, showed no PCR product. The three resistant cultivars H87-4319, H78-4153 and H78-7750 showed quite different amplification patterns. While H78-4153 and H78-7750 expressed a weak but specific band of the correct size, unexpectedly H87-4319 showed strong amplification product. Three Cuban cultivars (C1051-73, JA-605 and CP52-43) showed low titer of SCYLV. No PCR amplificate was obtained with the moderately susceptible cultivar H65-7052. Aphids feeding on cv. H87-4094 contained sufficient virus to yield a SCYLV-signal similar in strength as from preparations from resistant cultivars. Northern blot analysis supported the results obtained from RT-PCR. The presence of SCYLV in the cultivars with low amount of virus titer (H87-4319, H78-7750 and H78-4153) indicated that they should better be called tolerant for the virus in the sense that they allow a low replication rate for SCYLV. Virus preparations from 3 Hawaiian cultivars (two susceptible and one resistant) were fully sequenced. Quantitative analysis for four different genome regions of SCYLV covering the 6 ORFs has been performed for these 3 cultivars using the GeXP analysis system. The transcript levels of the different regions of SCYLV in these cultivars were present at very different quantities, for example ORF0-1 transcripts were up to 10 times more frequent than transcripts of ORF3-4. The SCYLV-sequences from the 3 Hawaiian cultivars were aligned to published full and partial sequences. The phylograms corroborated previous findings that the so-called YLS-segment coding for the coat protein shows the least genetic diversity, whereas the other sequence fragments A-D, representing the ORFs 0-5, expressed a twofold higher diversity. The phylograms of partial sequences and of the whole genome placed the Hawaiian SCYLV-strains next to the Peru strain, apart from the BRA-strains and well apart from the REU-strains. It is proposed that the Hawaiian SCYLV is considered as own group together with the Peru strain as HAW-PER. The sequences from the two susceptible cultivars had a deletion of 48 to 54 nt in ORF1, which codes for the gene silencing suppressor/RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase complex. It is speculated that this deletion is important for the proliferation rate of the virus in the plant. Sucrose is the main product of sugarcane, which accumulates in the stalk internodes in excess of 50 % of the dry weight. To gain an overview of the physiological status of SCYLV-infected sugarcane compared to virus-free plants, gene expression. Sucrose increased rapidly between internodes 3 and 7, reaching a maximum in internodes 7. Sugars content in leaves, seedling and internodes were increased as effect of the SCYLV-infection. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPSII) transcript levels were approximately the same in sink, source and internodes with a trend to be higher in the mature internodes. A sucrose transporter of Hawaiian cultivar was isolated and sequenced and classified as ShSUT1A. There is high variability among the SUT1 subfamily with identities of 70-97%. The identity between ShSUT1A and ShSUT1 was 97.4%. It is expressed in sink, source and storage tissues. The ShSUT1A was expressed at approximately similar extent in SCYLV-infected and virus-free sugarcane. In addition a partial sequence of a sucrose transporter belonging to the SUT4 family was first obtained in sugarcane and its transcript levels in plant organs were measured. Quantitative analysis for sucrose transporters (ShSUT1 and ShSUT4) using the GeXP analysis system showed that sucrose transporter ShSUT1 was at a higher transcript expression than ShSUT4 in sink and source leaves, but not in mature internodes. In conclusion, - SCYLV from Hawaiian cultivars was characterized as belonging to an own subgroup (HAW- PER), - A deletion of 48-54 nt was detected in the SCYLV-sequence from susceptible cultivars, which may be correlated to virus proliferation, and - large differences in transcript levels of the viral ORFs were found. - Sucrose transporter transcripts and SPSII transcripts were not strictly correlated to SCYLV- infection and do not explain the pathological effect of SCYLV on sugarcane. Abdelaleim Ismail Ibrahim ElSayed doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/566 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:16:47 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/544 Parallel zur fortschreitenden Vernichtung der megadiversen Bergwälder Ecuadors entstehen immer mehr Plantagen mit exotischen Pinus- und Eucalyptus-Arten. Eine ökologisch sinnvolle Wiederaufforstung kann jedoch nur unter Verwendung indigener Arten erreicht werden. Da die Samenernte problematisch ist, müsste das Pflanzmaterial vor allem durch vegetative Vermehrung erzeugt werden. Bisher fehlt es jedoch noch an Grundlagenwissen und effizienten Methoden zur Klonierung einheimischer Baumarten. • In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das vegetative Vermehrungspotential sowie der Kohlenhydrat- und Phytohormongehalt von sechs – in den Bergwäldern Südecuadors natürlich vorkommenden – Baumarten untersucht: Clethra revoluta (Clethraceae), Heliocarpus americanus (Tiliaceae), Isertia laevis (Rubiaceae), Myrica pubescens (Myriaceae), Piptocoma discolor (Asteraceae) und Tabebuia chrysantha (Bignoniaceae). • Trotz vielfältiger Variation der Anzuchtparameter über 1 ½ Jahre bewurzelten sich Sprossstecklinge adulter Bäume nicht. Die Pflanzen vertrockneten rasch. Messungen der stomatären Leitfähigkeit zeigen eine ungenügende Regulation der Stomata verbunden mit hohen Transpirationsverlusten. Die Gewinnung bewurzelter Sprossstecklinge von adulten Bäumen durch Abmoosen war zwar erfolgreich, aber bei der anschließenden Kultur in Erde vertrockneten auch diese Pflanzen. • Die Kohlenhydratmessungen ergaben bei mehreren Arten jährliche Schwankungen im Gehalt von Stärke und löslichen Zuckern, insbesondere der Raffinosefamilie (bei Tabebuia) bzw. erhöhte Inosit-Gehalte während der trockneren Monate. Zwar zeigte der Gesamtkohlenhydratgehalt in den Blättern deutliche saisonale Schwankungen (bei Heliocarpus-, Myrica- und Tabebuia-Pflanzen), doch ließen sich in den Zweigen generell keine ausgeprägten Jahresgänge nachweisen. Während Heliocarpus- und Tabebuia-Bäume Reservekohlenhydrate mit einem Gehalt von 6 bzw. 9,5 % (besonders in Form von Stärke sowie als Glukose, Fruktose und Saccharose) einlagerten, könnte der ganzjährig geringe Kohlenhydratvorrat von Clethra- und Piptocoma-Zweigen einer erfolgreichen Adventivbewurzelung abträglich gewesen sein. • Die endogenen Cytokinin- (Initiation von Wurzelprimordien) und Auxingehalte (Wurzelwachstum) gelten als besonders wichtig für die Stecklingsbewurzelung. Der gemessene Phytohormonstatus fluktuierte jahreszeiten- und artabhängig. Ein für die Bewurzelung günstiger Hormonstatus, also ein hoher Auxin : Cytokinin-Quotient, fand sich bei Heliocarpus und Tabebuia in den niederschlagsreichsten Monaten. Clethra und Myrica enthielten hingegen fast kein Auxin, aber relativ viel Cytokinin. Bei diesen Arten scheint eine Bewurzelung deshalb besonders schwierig zu sein. • Da es nicht möglich ist, in den Hormonstatus adulter Bäume einzugreifen, ergab sich als Konsequenz die Strategie, Jungpflanzen als Donor-Pflanzen zu verwenden, deren Hormon- und Reservestoffstatus durch Stressbehandlung entsprechend verändert werden könnte. Insbesondere galt es, den Cytokininspiegel endogen abzusenken. Heliocarpus und Tabebuia wurden für diese Versuche ausgewählt und Wassermangel, Nährstoffmangel, Einengung des Wurzelraums und Kombinationen dieser Stressoren ausgesetzt. Zusätzlich wurden Wildlinge verwendet. • Diese Strategie erwies sich als erfolgreich, denn es bewurzelten sich über alle Behandlungen gemittelt 42 % der Heliocarpus- und 15 % der Tabebuia-Stecklinge. Am erfolgreichsten waren Stecklinge von dürregestressten Heliocarpus-Bäumchen mit 70 % Bewurzelung und von unter Nährstoffmangel gezogenen Tabebuia-Pflanzen (25 %). Bei dieser Art bewurzelten sich ebenso Wildlinge sehr effektiv (45 %). Noch bessere Ergebnisse wurden mit dem Abmoosen bei beiden Arten erzielt. • Die Vorbehandlungen führten bei Heliocarpus und Tabebuia zu einem Anstieg des Kohlenhydratgehalts (ausgenommen bei dürregestressten Tabebuia-Pflanzen). Es ergab sich allerdings keine statistisch signifikante Korrelation des Kohlenhydratgehalts der verschieden gestressten Donor-Pflanzen mit ihrer Bewurzelungsrate. • Wie angenommen, führte die Stressbehandlung der Donor-Pflanzen beider Arten zu einem geringeren Cytokininspiegel, wobei in Tabebuia die Bewurzelung von Stecklingen und der Cytokiningehalt der Donor-Pflanzen signifikant negativ miteinander korreliert waren (rs bis zu -0,93). • Die in dieser Arbeit erzielten Ergebnisse zeigen klar, dass auch junge Zweige von adulten tropischen Bäumen praktisch kein Bewurzelungspotential mehr besitzen. Bei Jungpflanzen lässt sich dieses Potential durch Stress aktivieren, wobei sich die Akkumulation von Reservestoffen und die Absenkung des Cytokininspiegels günstig auf die Bewurzelungsrate auswirkten. Diese Konstellation war bei Tabebuia stärker ausgeprägt als bei Heliocarpus. • Da die Möglichkeit besteht, aus einer Donor-Pflanze mindestens zwei Stecklinge zu schneiden, ist der Aufbau einer Anzucht geklonten Materials für die Wiederaufforstung zwar zeitaufwändig, aber durchaus realisierbar. Sina Heppner doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/544 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:47:48 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/526 Understanding how biodiversity is organized across space and time has long been a central focus of ecologists and biogeographers. Altitudinal patterns of richness gradients are one of such striking patterns in the landscape. Despite its historical and ecological importance as a heuristic natural experimental site for development of ecological theories, the emergent patterns and mechanisms that structure them are poorly understood. This is partly because of the complex relationships of species to the environment and the choice of the response variable itself, i.e. using taxonomic richness as a metrics of diversity. This thesis, therefore, applies plant functional types (hereafter PFTs) approach to study the response of vegetation to environmental factors in the southwest Ethiopian highlands. It focuses on the classification of the vegetation into a few main plant functional response categories and relate them to environmental variables. For pattern identification and mechanistic explanations, a deconstructive approach of the taxonomic richness into its constituent components was used. Furthermore, the potential effects of land use/land cover change and global warming on the biodiversity of the study area was investigated. The results reveal that the application of plant functional types is a promising tool to understand vegetation-environment relationships. Local topographic attributes (altitude and slope) and soil properties found to structure the variance in the relative abundance of PFTs along environmental gradients. Moreover, specific response to drought favours the abundance of species with thorns/spines and tussocks in the lowlands as opposed to chilling which favours rosettes and rhizomes PFTs in the highlands. Concerning patterns of richness along altitudinal gradients, various structures of richness appear for total vascular plant species and growth forms. Woody plants, graminoids and climbers showed a uni-modal structure while ferns and herbs revealed an increasing pattern of richness along the altitudinal gradient. By contrast, total vascular plants species richness did not show any strong response to altitudinal gradients. Climate related water-energy dynamics, species area relationships due to the physical shape of the mountain, local topographic and soil conditions were found to be predominant factors structuring the observed richness in the study area. The threats to biodiversity loss due to land use/land cover change and global warming is eminent in the study area. Land conversion for agricultural purposes was a pervasive process that had a deleterious effect on the biodiversity of the study area. Population growth, socio-economic challenges (poverty) and government policy regimes drive land cover change processes. In addition, recent climate change poses a serious challenge to the biodiversity of the study area. The results of model predictions indicated that biodiversity of the study area will suffer severe consequences of lowland biotic attrition (i.e. the net loss of species richness in the tropical lowlands caused by altitudinal range shifts in the absence of new species arriving), range gap shifts and contraction, and extinction due to expected warming at the end of this century. The model also predicted that endangered and endemic species with restricted elevational ranges will disproportionately suffer from range contraction and extinction due to warming. In conclusion, the plant functional types approach was found to be an essential tool to reduce complexity of the vegetation of the study system and to elucidate vegetation-environment relationships. Moreover, the identification of emergent patterns and attributing them to mechanistic explanations are pre-requisites for conservation planning to save biodiversity of the study area. The study also evidenced that land use/land cover change and global warming will present strong threats to the loss of biodiversity in the study area. Salvaging biodiversity in the future requires the consideration of the effect of land use and climate change on vegetation responses. Consequently, nature conservation strategies and future reserve designs should take into account options of human assisted migration across fragmented landscapes and creating dispersal routes for species to track to new thermal niches. Desalegn Wana Dalacho doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/526 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:33:55 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/515 Acidification is a phenomenon, which affected the forested catchments of the northern hemisphere severely over recent decades. Acidic depositions depleted the buffering capacities of soil and groundwater, what lead to an impairment of forests, headwaters, and lakes. Even though the depositions were reduced considerably since the early 1990s, the recovery of catchments was found to occur time-delayed. The grade of recovery was found to vary significantly between regions. Biomonitoring is an appropriate tool to detect spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem alterations, such as acidification and recovery. However, to know the interrelationships between organisms and their environment is an indispensable precondition for the identification of indicator species. The complexity of ecosystems and ecological processes hampers this quest oftentimes. Springs provide a natural setting that minimises such constraints. Compared to other habitat types, external factors are less relevant, which makes it easier to relate changes in species abundances to changes in their environment. Studying this species-environment relationship, here the response of plant species to the acidification of the spring waters was of particular interest. In a survey of five regions in Central Europe - taking spatial, hydrophysical as well as hydrochemical parameters of the springs into account - it was clearly shown that the species composition of springs is essentially determined by the spring water chemistry, and more precisely by the gradient of acidity and nutrient availability. This connection was reflected by spatial patterns within and between the regions. These patterns provide useful ecological information about spring water quality and in return about the acidity status of their forested catchments. Including catchment traits - like bedrock, climatic parameters, and forest vegetation - in the analyses, these emerged to be relevant for the species composition of springs, but less than the spring water chemistry. A path analysis showed that the catchments affect the vegetation of springs not directly, but indirectly via the determination of spring water quality. Hence, the catchments are a part of the functional chain, which is driven by the atmospheric depositions. The pH-value was found to represent the gradient of acidity and nutrient availability best. It can serve as a proxy measure that can be related to species occurrence and to species dynamics respectively, aiming to identify indicator species for assessing the status and alterations of spring water quality. With the aim to delineate niche optima and amplitudes, which in return can serve as indicator values, the realised niches of spring-inhabiting species were modelled with respect to pH. The niche attributes were found to be a matter of sampling scale. Larger plot sizes (grain) weakened the species-environment relationship, what consequently resulted in broader niche amplitudes. In contrast, the grain did not influence the species’ pH optima. Monitoring approaches that target to assess processes in time, such as acidification and recovery, are dependent on the response time of indicator species to changes in their environment. Investigating an interval of four consecutive years, inter-annual variability of the species composition could not be attributed to changes in the acidity of the spring waters. Looking at single species, bryophytes did not show a higher sensitivity to the inter-annual variability of the environment than vascular plants. Actually, only a minority of all species featured abundance changes which were significantly correlated to variations in spring water acidity. Our results suggest that the species inertia retards the vegetation dynamics of forest springs. A delayed or long-term integrating response of potential indicator species must be considered when evaluating their indicator suitability. In conclusion, the biomonitoring of spring water acidification or recovery is expedient only for longer time intervals. In a nutshell, the vegetation of springs is closely related to the hydrochemical traits of the spring waters, in particular to a gradient of acidity and nutrient availability. Individual species as well as whole plant communities are suitable indicators which allow for the monitoring of the acidity status of forested catchments. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the species-environment-relationships, and in return to an improvement of indicator systems. Volker Audorff doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/515 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:20:41 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/495 1. Radial oxygen flow in rice roots Measurements of ROL from rice roots grown in either aerated or deoxygenated conditions were combined with root histochemisrty and biochemistry. It was shown that the pattern of ROL from rice roots of stagnantly grown plants correlated with development of the apoplastic barriers in the root peripheral layers. Deoxygenated conditions induced early development of exodermal Casparian bands and suberin lamellae. In addition to suberization, early lignification of walls of densely packed sclerenchyma cells was found closer to root apex in stagnantly grown plants. Supporting these findings, biochemical analyses revealed that, when grown in stagnant solution, the amounts suberin and lignin in the OPR of all investigated zones were several folds greater than those of plants grown in aerated solution. Similarly, the highest rates of radial oxygen loss from plants grown in deoxygenated conditions were observed just behind the apex and decreased dramatically towards the base. By contrast, ROL from adventitious roots of plants grown in aerated solution was the highest at 30 mm from the apex. A new perfusion technique has been developed to measure the oxygen permeability coefficient of the outer part of root (OPR) of rice. Perfusion of aerenchyma of root segments with mixtures of O2/N2 of known oxygen concentration and at the same time measuring radial losses of oxygen allowed quantification of the permeability coefficient of the cell layers exterior to aerenchyma. The new method for measuring the O2 permeability of the outer part of roots (POPR) was applied to rice grown in either aerated or deoxygenated conditions. The results showed that POPR decreased along the root of plants grown in both conditions. However, when grown in deoxygenated medium, the O2 permeability across the OPR was lower by an order of magnitude at all tested distances compared with plants grown in aerated solution. The lower POPR in roots grown in stagnant solution as well as the reduction of POPR along the roots of plants from both conditions strongly correlated with the development of apoplastic barriers in the OPR. In order to estimate the contribution of apoplast and living cell for the overall movement of O2 across the OPR, the POPR was affected either by blocking the apoplastic pores in the OPR with salt precipitates or by killing the living cells with 0.1 N HCl. Treatment with CuSO4/K4Fe(CN)6 resulted in formation of brown precipitates only in roots of plants grown in aerated solution. This is strong evidence that well-developed apoplastic barriers impeded ion movement across the OPR in these plants. As a result of the formation of salt precipitates in the apoplastic pores of roots grown in aerated solution, the POPR decreased by 20-5%. This is in agreement with earlier findings of diffusional and bulk water flow of Ranathunge et al. (2005). The blockage of the apoplast with precipitates reduced the diffusional water permeability by about 20% and caused a massive 3- to 4- fold reduction of hydraulic conductivity. This suggested that the OPR of rice allow rather high water flow in the presence of relatively high resistance to O2. Killing of root segments by 0.1 N HCl increased the POPR by 20-55% of plants grown in both conditions. At least in part, these increases may result from vanishing the respiratory activity in the OPR. Overall, the physical resistance plays a dominant role in impeding O2 loss from rice roots, although effects due to respiration may contribute, namely, in the presence of low rates of radial oxygen loss. 2. The hydraulic properties in developing grape berries cv. Shiraz and Chardonnay Berries of Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz can undergo weight loss during later stages of ripening. It was hypothesized that the reduction in net vascular flow of water into the berry, concomitant with transpirational loss, leads to berry weight loss. There may be also some back flow of water from the berry to the parent plant along the xylem. The present study provided first data on the hydraulic properties of the pedicel and components of the berries during development. Comparisons were made between Shiraz and Chardonnay, which is not known to undergo substantial weight loss. It was shown that the hydraulic conductance of single berries of both varieties declined during development. However, Shiraz berries had higher hydraulic conductance than Chardonnay for whole berries and all cut positions. The increase in hydraulic resistance was found in the proximal (brush) region and distal part of the berry, which was much larger in Chardonnay. For Shiraz, the increase in resistance was about half of that observed in Chardonnay. There was no evidence for changes in resistance in the pedicel or receptacle region of the berry. The reduction of hydraulic conductance could be due to combination of both: reduced aquaporin activity in the xylem parenchyma and restrictions in the xylem vessels. Lukasz Kotula doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/495 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:23:02 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/429 The dissertation focuses (i) on an analysis of effects of unstirred layers (USLs) during measurements of water permeability (hydraulic conductivity) at the level of single cells, during measurements with the cell pressure probe (CPP) and (ii) on the use of the latter technique to investigate changes in water permeability of leaf cells in response to light. Internodes of the giant green alga Chara corallina and parenchyma cells of corn leaves were used in the studies. Besides the water, the CPP has been employed to study solute flows across cell membranes. This allowed evaluating the role of different types of USLs. In response to claims, recently raised by Tyree et al. (2005) that USLs play a significant or even dominating role in measurements of transport coefficients with the cell pressure probe, a rigorous re-examination of effects of USLs with Chara internodes has been performed indicating a minor role of USLs. For the first time, responses of cell water relations to light have been worked in some detail. Light effects have been separated from those of turgor in intact tissue cells by compensating for transpiration. At low light (LL) intensity (100 to 650 micromol m-2 s-1), hydraulic conductivity of a cell (cell Lp) increased with increasing light intensity by a factor of 2 to 6 in 10 min. However, at high light (HL) intensities of 800 and 1800 micromol m-2 s-1, there was a decline of cell Lp with increasing light intensity at constant cell turgor by factors of 14 and 35, respectively. The effects of LL refer to literature data of overall measurements of the leaf conductances (Kleaf). Decreases of Kleaf at HL have not yet been separated for effects of turgor or light intensity, respectively (as done here). The responses to HL were most likely caused by an oxidative gating of water channels (aquaporins; AQPs), as indicated by the fact that (i) application of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in responses similar to those of HL and (ii) HL effects could be reversed in the presence of the antioxidant glutathione. For the first time, the data indicate an interaction between water relations and light intensity/photosynthesis, which is most likely related to changes in the redox status of leaves. Yangmin Kim doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/429 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:17:38 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/348 The chemical composition of floral scent of different Salix species as well as its inter- and intraspecific variability were analysed. The role of floral scent for attracting flower visitors was examined in S. caprea by means of electroantennographic studies and bioassays. The relevance of different pollen vectors for the reproductive success of this willow species was examined by pollination experiments. The floral scent from 34 Salix species was collected using a dynamic headpace MicroSPE method and analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Isoprenoids and aromatic compounds were identified as typical floral scent compounds. Particularly 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and trans-β-ocimene were responsible for the interspecific variation. In some species gender-specific differences in the floral scent pattern were determined. The circadian rhythm of floral scent emission was studied in S. caprea. Generally, a larger quantity of floral scent was emitted during the day than at night. Primarily, lilac aldehyde was responsible for significant circadian differences. It is produced in higher quantities at night, which could be interpreted as an adaptation to nocturnal flower visitors – e. g. Orthosia gothica, which responded strongly to lilac aldehyde in bioassays. Insect species from the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera were identified as flower visitors of S. caprea. The visiting frequency was highest for Hymenoptera (primarily honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary wild bees) and Lepidoptera (many nocturnal and only few diurnal species). During the day primarily bees and butterflies dominated, whereas during and after dawn moths were the only flower visitors. Altogether, nocturnal flower visitors had a lower frequency than diurnal ones. Floral scents of S. caprea and S. atrocinerea were tested for their electrophysiological activity on the oligolectic wild bee Andrena vaga by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography. Altogether 16 floral scent compounds of both Salix species were physiologically active. The main component 1,4-dimethoxybenzene led to the strongest antennal signals. 1,4-Dimethoxybenzene and lilac aldehyde are main floral scent compounds of S. caprea. 1,4-Dimethoxybenzene dominated day and night, but its proportion decreased over night, while the proportion of lilac aldehyde increased at night. Both compounds elicited antennal signals in both Apis mellifera, the most frequent diurnal visitor, and Orthosia gothica, the most frequent nocturnal visitor. In biotests, the honeybee was attracted most strongly by 1,4-dimethoxybenzene; in contrast, O. gothica was attracted most strongly by lilac aldehyde. Biotests highlighted that male S. caprea is more attractive to A. mellifera than female ones. Considering the relatively high similarity of floral scent of both genders, this is most likely due to visual cues. Because of their conspicuously yellow-coloured pollen, the male catkins are obviously visually more attractive than the greenish female catkins. The genders differed also in the sugar composition of nectar. While females produced hexose-rich nectar, males had sucrose-dominated nectar. The higher visit frequency to male S. caprea may be of ecological importance, since it increases the probability that flower visitors collect sufficient pollen – of possibly several male individuals – before visiting a female individual. Thus not only the probability for successful pollination and fertilisation, but also the genotypic variability might increase within a population. Ulrike Füssel doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/348 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:04:57 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/320 Die Seneszenz eines Blattes umfasst dessen abschließende Phase im pflanzlichen Entwicklungsprozess und stellt somit eine der wichtigsten Schlüsselpositionen im Lebens- und Entwicklungszyklus des Individuums dar. Es sind damit dramatische Veränderungen auf molekularem, biochemischem und strukturellem Niveau untrennbar mit der Seneszenz verbunden. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit sollten seneszenzbedingte Veränderungen an Plastiden untersucht werden, wobei der Frage, ob die Plastidenhüllmembran bis in relativ späte Phasen der Seneszenz unverändert bleibt, speziell Rechnung getragen werden. Dazu wurde zunächst ein experimentelles System etabliert, bei dem es möglich war, Seneszenz in Primärblättern der Gerste gezielt zu induzieren und deren Ablauf, im Vergleich zur natürlichen Seneszenz, zu beschleunigen. Von vier getesteten seneszenz-auslösenden Faktoren, zeigte einzig die Behandlung mit Methyljasmonat beide der erwarteten seneszenz-spezifischen Veränderungen (Chlorophyllverlust und Bildung von Gerontoplasten). Das experimentelle System „Methyljasmonat-induzierte Seneszenz“ zeigte in Bezug auf die seneszens-spezifischen Marker (Chlorophyllabbau, strukturelle Veränderungen) eine hohe Übereinstimmung mit der natürlichen Seneszenz. Seneszenzspezifische Veränderungen der Plastidenhülle sollten sich v. a. auch auf den Import von kernkodierten, chloroplastidären Proteinen auswirken und somit am veränderten Gehalt dieser Proteine im Plastiden messbar sein. So war eine Methyljasmonatinkubation abgeschnittener Gerstenprimärblätter in der Lage, innerhalb von nur 24 Stunden eine quantitativ messbare Abnahme der Menge zweier wichtiger Proteine (Rubisco und LHC II) des Plastiden zu bewirken. Für diese beobachtete Abnahme könnten aber sowohl verminderte Synthese-, als auch erhöhte Abbauraten der betroffenen Proteine verantwortlich sein. Aus diesem Grund wurden die Genexpressionsmuster von chloroplastidären Proteinen, insbesondere des Proteinimports, analysiert. Die Analyse der Genexpressionsmuster der chloroplastidären Proteine Rbcs und LHC II ergaben nun, dass unter Methyljasmonateinfluss die jeweiligen korrespondierenden mRNA-Mengen dieser Proteine abnahmen. Es handelte sich aber nicht um einen generellen RNA-Abbau, da die rRNA Mengen gleich blieben. Die Abnahme der Konzentration dieser plastidären Proteine war zumindest zum Teil durch eine Abnahme ihrer Synthese bedingt. Bei einem an Chlorophyllabbau beteiligten Protein, LLS1, wurde demgegenüber bei Methyljasmonatinkubation ein Ansteigen der Proteinmenge im Chloroplasten beobachtet, was zu der Annahme führt, dass es auch während der Methyljasmonat-induzierten Seneszenz einen funktionierenden Proteinimportapparat geben sollte. Zum Vergleich von Proteinimportkapazitäten von Chloroplasten unterschiedlicher Entwicklungsstufen wurden die Isoenzyme der NADPH:Protochlorophyllid-Oxidoreduktase verwendet, wobei gezeigt werden konnte, dass der Import von pPORB durch den Standardproteinimportapparat (TIC-TOC Maschinerie) und der Import von pPORA entwicklungsabhängig - über einen pPORA-spezifischen Importapparat (PTC) in Abhängigkeit vom Substrat Protochlorophyllid (Pchlid) - erfolgte. Untersuchungen des Importverhaltens von pPORB in Chloroplasten ergab, dass sowohl in Plastiden aus frischen Blättern als auch nach Flotation auf Wasser, ein Import erfolgte. pPORA wurde nur in Pchlid-haltige, nicht jedoch Pchlid-freie Chloroplasten der Frischkontrolle importiert (außer bei Flotation auf Wasser). Eine Behandlung von Blättern mit Methyljasmonat wirkte sich immer hemmend auf den Import beider Präkursoren aus. Mit den angeschlossenen Crosslinking-Experimente zeigten sich weder Proteine der TIC-TOC-Maschinerie noch des PTC-Komplexes. Es kann also davon ausgegangen werden, dass es jedenfalls zu Veränderungen des ganzen oder zu Teilen des Standardproteinimportapparates kommen muss. Diese Veränderungen des Standardproteinimportapparates in der äußeren Plastidenhülle wurden mit Hilfe von speziellen elektronenmikroskopischen Methoden untersucht. Dabei lag das Hauptaugenmerk auf dem integralen Teil des Standardproteinimportapparates, der den zentralen Kanal durch die äußere Hüllmembran bildet (TOC 75) und den eigentlichen Durchtritt kerncodierter Proteine in den Plastiden vermittelt. Eine Kombination der konventionellen Gefrierbruchtechnik mit der SDS-FRL, gelang es, seneszenzbedingte Veränderungen der Hüllmembran zu detektieren. Es konnte erstmalig gezeigt werden, dass die Dichte des TOC 75 Proteins, in der äußeren Plastidenhülle unter Methyljasmonateinfluss innerhalb von 24 Stunden dramatisch abnimmt (Verlust der TOC 75 Immunsignaldichte gegenüber dem Ausgangswert um mehr als 85 %). Dieser deutliche Verlust von TOC 75 in der Plastidenhülle nach Methyljasmonatbehandlung deutet darauf hin, dass eine spezifische Regulation des Imports photosynthetisch wichtiger Proteine während der künstlich induzierten Seneszenz auftritt. Armin Springer doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/320 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:28:09 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/269 In früheren Experimenten konnte ein hochmolekularer Lichtsammelkomplex (LHPP =Light-harvesting Protochlorophyllide-Oxidoreduktase:Protochlorophyllide complex´) aus POR (NADPH:Protochlorophyllid-Oxidoreduktase)A-Zn Protopheophorbid b-NADPH- und PORB-Zn Protopheophorbid a-NADPH-Ternärkomplexen mit einer Stöchiometrie von 5:1 in vitro gebildet werden. Unter Verwendung von chemisch hergestelltem Protochlorophyllid a und b konnte nun ebenfalls ein hochmolekularer Komplex isoliert werden, welcher durch Nachweis mit POR-spezifischem Antikörper und aufgrund seiner spektroskopischen Eigenschaften als LHPP identifiziert wurde. Gleichzeitig konnte ein analoger Komplex von annähernd gleicher Molekulargewichtsgröße aus dem Prolamellarkörper von Gerstenetioplasten isoliert und durch einen POR-spezifischen Antikörper als vermutlicher LHPP-Komplex charakterisiert werden. Komplementiert mit aus dem Prolamellarkörper extrahierten Lipidmolekülen wie Galakto- und Sulfolipiden konnte für diesen Komplex gezeigt werden, dass wie auch im mutmaßlichen nativen LHPP-Komplex, photoaktives Protochlorophyllid 650/657 neben photoinaktiven Protochlorophyllid 628/632 vorliegt. Nach Belichtung mit einem 1 msec langen Weißlichtblitz stellte sich durch Fluoreszenzspektroskopie bei 77 K heraus, dass das photoaktive Protochlorophyllid 650/675 in Chlorophyllid 684/690 umgewandelt wurde, während das photoinaktive Protochlorophyllid nicht umgesetzt wurde. Ähnliche Pigmentverteilungen vor und nach der Belichtung konnten auch in dem isolierten nativen LHPP-Komplex nachgewiesen werden. Dabei wurde nur an PORB gebundenes Protochlorophyllid a zu Chlorophyllid a umgesetzt, während an PORA gebundenes Protochlorophyllid b unverändert blieb. Dieser Befund untermauert die Hypothese einer Antennenfunktion von PORA-gebundenem Protochlorophyllid b, um Lichtenergie zu sammeln, auf PORB-gebundenes Protochlorophyllid a zu übertragen und dessen Reduktion zu Chlorophyllid a zu vermitteln. Eine bedeutende Funktion in der katalytischen Reaktion von POR wird den evolutionär hochkonservierten Cysteinresten des Enzyms zugeschrieben. Für eine vertiefende Untersuchung wurden bei PORA und PORB aus Gerste durch „site-directed“ Mutagenese die jeweiligen vier Cysteinreste gegen Alanin ersetzt und deren Fähigkeit zur Pigmentbindung als auch zur Komplexierung zu LHPP geprüft. In PORB konnten von den vier existierenden Cysteinen zwei (Cys276 und Cys303) identifiziert werden, welche verschiedenartige Pigmentbindungsstellen im Enzym repräsentieren. Cys276 nimmt eine Pigmentbindungsstelle im aktiven Zentrum des Enzyms ein und wirkt bei der katalytischen Umsetzung seines Substrats, Protochlorophyllid a mit. Die zweite Pigmentbindungsstelle von PORB stellt das an der Enzymperipherie liegende Cys303 mit nur einer schwachen Wechselwirkung des mit ihm assoziierten Protochlorophyllidmoleküls dar. Dieses Cystein erwies sich als essentiell für die Interaktion der ternären POR-Protochlorophyllid-NADPH-Komplexen, ist also an der Bildung von LHPP maßgeblich beteiligt. Auch in PORA wurde von den vier im Enzym vorliegenden Cysteinresten von zweien deren Pigmentbindungsfähigkeit nachgewiesen. Es handelt sich um die Cysteinreste Cys202 und Cys229. Wiederum steht ein Rest, Cys202, für die Bindung – diesmal eines Protochlorophyllid-b-moleküls – im aktiven Zentrum des Enzyms zur Verfügung. Dennoch ist dieses Protochlorophyllid b in LHPP photoinaktiv und wird erst nach dem Zerfall von LHPP durch Belichtung zu Chlorophyllid b umgesetzt. Der andere an der Pigmentbindung beteiligte Cysteinrest Cys229 an der Peripherie des Enzyms zeigt nur eine schwache Bindungsaffinität zu Protochlorophyllid b. Die Bindung dieses Pigments an den Enzymkomplex ermöglicht jedoch erst die Bildung höhermolekularen LHPPs. Damit ist Cys229 also sowohl an dessen Genese beteiligt als auch für die funktionelle Energieübertragung durch „Fluorescence resonance energy transfer“ auf das das photoaktive Pigment enthaltende PORB-Protein verantwortlich. Die wichtige Rolle eines funktionalen LHPP-Komplexes zeigte die Untersuchung einer OEP16 Knockout Mutante von Arabidopsis thaliana auf. OEP16 wurde in Arabidopsis thaliana als Translokationskanal eines speziellen Importapparates für PORA identifiziert. Das Fehlen dieses Translokationsproteins in der Plastidenhülle beeinträchtigte nicht die Aufnahme anderer plastidärer Proteine, bedingte jedoch die Abwesenheit von PORA in Etioplasten. Dies hatte zur Folge, dass Etioplasten dieser Mutante im Vergleich zu denen von Wildtyp-Arabidopsis kein LHPP und keine Prolamellarkörper bilden, aber höhere Mengen an Protochlorophyllid akkumulieren. Damit einhergehend trugen etiolierte Mutantenkeimlinge bei anschließender Dauerbelichtung photooxidative Schäden davon und starben schließlich ab. Dies lässt die Schlussfolgerung zu, dass LHPP große Bedeutung bei der Deetiolierung, d.h. dem Wechsel von Skotomorphogenese zu Photomorphogenese einnimmt. Frank Buhr doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/269 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:52:43 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/265 In der Reserva Biológica San Francisco, in der extrem humiden Ostkordillere Südecuadors wurden 7 Sekundärwäldchen mit einer Grundfläche zwischen 1450 und 2000 m² ausgewählt, alle in ca. 2000 m Höhe gelegen, die nach Luftbildern und Aussagen der Bevölkerung zwischen 10 und (50 +x) Jahre alt sind und aus unterschiedlichen (Zer)Störungen des ursprünglichen Bergregenwalds hervorgingen. Das jüngste dieser Wäldchen (Plot D5, ca. 10 Jahre alt) steht auf Murengelände, resultiert also – als einziges – aus einer „natürlichen“ Störung, während die anderen 6 auf anthropogene Störungen, wie Waldbrand (die Plots F1 und F2, ca. 15 Jahre Regenerationszeit) und Abholzung (die Plots C1 bis C4, zwischen 30 und 50 +x Jahre alt) zurückgehen. Zur Erstellung von „Releves“ wurden die Wäldchen mit abgespannten Seilen in 5 x 5m Parzellen unterteilt (zwischen 60 und 91 Parzellen pro Wäldchen), deren Gefäßpflanzen-Vegetation dann nach Braun-Blanquet und Müller-Dombois quantitativ erhoben wurde. Die Arten wurden 4 verschiedenen pflanzlichen Lebensformen zugeschrieben, die im Idealfall Strata repräsentieren können: Bäume, Sträucher, krautige Pflanzen und Lianen. Insgesamt wurden 457 Parzellen analysiert. In den 7 Wäldchen wurden insgesamt 779 Gefäßpflanzenarten registriert, von denen allerdings nur ein Fünftel sicher bis zur Art identifiziert werden konnte. 50% konnten sicher bis zur Gattung, und 92% bis zur Familie bestimmt werden. Acht Prozent blieben unbestimmbar; vermutlich sind noch unbeschriebene Arten darunter. Nach der Lebensform weisen die Bäume mit einem Anteil von 30% die größte Diversität der Arten auf. Danach folgen die krautigen Pflanzen (28%), Sträucher (26%) und Lianen (14%). Die artenreichsten Familien der untersuchten Sekundärwäldchen sind die Asteraceen, Melastomataceen, Piperaceen, Araceen und Lauraceen. Die artenreichsten Gattungen sind Anthurium (Araceae), Mikania (Asteraceae), Piper und Peperomia (Piperaceae), und Miconia (Melastomataceae). Eine besondere Bedeutung für die Indikation der Sekundärwälder haben der Bambus (Chusquea spec.1), der Adlerfarn (Pteridium arachnoideum) und die Sträucher Baccharis latifolia und Ageratina dendroides (Asteraceae) als Brandzeiger, sowie unter den Bäumen die Pioniere Viburnum obtectum (Caprifoliaceae), Piptocoma discolor (Asteraceae), Myrica pubescens (Myricaceae) und Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae). Die Vegetation der Plots wird zahlenmäßig bestimmt von Arten mit einem geringen Deckungsgrad und einer geringen Häufigkeit. Entsprechend ist die Zahl der häufigen und dominanten Arten klein. Der Fortschritt der Sukzession lässt sich deshalb auch nicht an bestimmten Arten festmachen. Eher möglich ist dies im Hinblick auf den ursprünglichen Störungsfaktor, wo sich Feuer, mechanische Rodung und Bergrutsche an Indikatorarten erkennen lassen. Die größte Herausforderung bei der Auswertung der Daten stellte die Heterogenität der Vegetation (niedrige Sœrensen-Index) in den einzelnen Wäldchen („Plots“) im Zusammenhang mit der hohen a-Diversität der Gefäßpflanzen dar. Dazu wurden in dieser Arbeit die Jaccard Indices der Parzellen mit der nicht linearen „Isometric Feature Mapping“-Methode (ISOMAP) bearbeitet, mit deren Hilfe man ökologische Erkenntnisse aus der a- und der ß-Diversität der Parzellen und der gesamten Plots ableiten kann. Dabei ergaben sich 2 hauptsächliche Ordinationslinien: Die Regenerationszeit der Wäldchen und die Nährstoffverfügbarkeit des Bodens: Niedriges Nährstoffangebot auf Murenboden, hohes auf Brandflächen. Die Reihung der Wäldchen entlang der Ordinationsachse der Regenerationszeit deckt sich mit dem Ergebnis der Luftbildauswertung. Allerdings wurde kein Zusammenhang zwischen der Artenzahl der Wäldchen und ihrem Regenerationsalter festgestellt. Für die Ähnlichkeitsanalyse auf Parzellen- und Plotebene wurde der Sœrensen-Index verwendet. Dabei wurde zum einen die Ähnlichkeit der Artenzusammensetzung („ß-Diversität“) aller Parzellen eines Plots mit einer ausgewählten Referenzparzelle bestimmt, zum anderen die „ß-Diversität“ der Nachbarparzellen berechnet. Diese Art der Datenanalyse zeigte die große Heterogenität der Sekundärwaldvegetation, wie sie sich bereits in den Arten-Areal-Kurven andeutete, wo innerhalb der Grenzen dieser Wäldchen keine Sättigungswerte („Minimum-Areale“) erkennbar sind. Der jüngste Plot in der unechten Zeitreihe der mechanisch gerodeten Flächen hat mit einem Median von 0,4 noch die größte Ähnlichkeit der Einzelparzellen. Allerdings war dies auch der Plot mit einer negativen Korrelation zwischen der Artenzahl („a-Diversität“) der Parzellen und dem Sœrensen-Index, während sonst dieser Ähnlichkeits-Index mit der Artenzahl der Parzellen erwartungsgemäß zunahm. Weiterhin wurde geprüft, ob es eine (negative) Ähnlichkeits-Korrelation der „ß-Diversität“ der Parzellen mit zunehmender Entfernung der Parzellen gibt. Abnehmende Ähnlichkeit mit zunehmender Entfernung wurde aber nur in 2 Plots registriert. Juan Alfredo Martínez Jerves doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/265 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:14:07 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/251 Phosphate (Pi) is one of the essential macronutrients required for growth and development of plants. Pi plays an important role in various metabolic processes, such as photosynthesis, respiration, energy conservation, carbohydrate metabolism and signal transduction. Although various Pi starvation induced genes have been isolated from different plant species grown under conditions of Pi starvation, information about their functions during germination and growth of seedlings is still lacking. During germination Pi stored in the endosperm is mobilized and transported to growing organs of seedlings, thus a phosphate transporters and acid phosphatases are expected to be involved in these processes. The aim of this study was to clarify the translocation of Pi within the seedlings and to identify the involvement of phosphate transporters and acid phosphatases in the growth of seedlings. Uptake into the phloem was analyzed by incubating the cotyledons in Pi. The movement of 32P-labeled applied as an inorganic phosphate (Pi) was detected from the cotyledons to the hypocotyl, in particular to its apical hook near the cotyledons, suggesting that Pi moves from the Ricinus communis L. cotyledons through the hypocotyl via phloem and partially re-circulates in the xylem or leaks out through the roots. Therefore reducing the efflux could be as important for the plant as increasing the efficiency of the uptake mechanism. Following the Pi uptake into the roots, the translocation of 32P-labeled Pi to the cotyledons through the hypocotyl via the xylem showed that a high amount of radiotracer accumulated in the cotyledons. The accumulated Pi in the cotyledons can be retranslocated to the roots via phloem. This work describes the cloning of the phosphate transporter RcPT1 and the acid phosphatase RcPS1 genes by RT-PCR from Ricinus seedlings grown under Pi starvation conditions. Phosphate transporter RcPT1 contains an open reading frame encoding a 530 amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 59 kD. The expression of RcPT1 in the yeast high-affinity phosphate transporter mutant strain complemented the mutant and enhanced the cell growth significantly. Southern blot analysis showed that the RcPT1 gene is present as a single or low-copy gene in the Ricinus genome. The transcripts of RcPT1 were expressed in the endosperm, cotyledons, hypocotyl and roots during germination. In detail in situ hybridization studies revealed RcPT1 expression in the adjacent area of endosperm to cotyledon, in the phloem and in the lower epidermis of cotyledons; Immunolocalization analysis showed RcPT1 accumulation at the same sites as its mRNA. In addition, RcPT1 transcripts were also found in the phloem of hypocotyl, and the epidermis and the steles of roots. These results implicated that RcPT1 is involved in the movement of Pi from endosperms to cotyledons and the redistribution of Pi within seedlings via phloem during germination. Acid phosphatase RcPS1 shows a 747 bp open reading frame encoding a 248 amino acids polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 27,5 kD. The amino acid sequence of RcPS1 shares significant similarity with the acid phosphatase LePS2 from tomato and highly conserved motifs, which are typical for a member of haloacid dehalogenase and DDDD superfamilies of enzymes catalyzing a diverse number of hydrolytic and phosphotransferase reactions. The functional analysis after expression of RcPS1 in E.coli showed significant acid phosphatase activity. The high transcript level of RcPS1 in endosperms, cotyledons and roots at the first few days of germination suggested that this acid phosphatase gene might be expressed during mobilization of storage products. RcPT1 and RcPS1 mRNA are detectable in the seedlings grown under Pi starvation and Pi sufficient conditions, indicating that both genes were expressed independently from exogenous Pi supply during germination. Moreover, RcPT1 and RcPS1 were expressed in leaves, stems and roots of plants grown under Pi starvation; furthermore, in situ hybridization studies localized RcPT1 and RcPS1 mRNA in the epidermis and the stele of roots of Pi-starved plants, suggesting that these genes also play a role in response to Pi starvation. Thus, it is concluded that there are different signals regulating RcPT1 and RcPS1 expression in response to Pi starvation and during germination. Dang Khoa Tran doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/251 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:50:05 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/211 Der Bale Mts. Nationalpark im südöstlichen Hochland von Äthiopien umfasst ein Gebiet von fast 2500 km² mit Höhen zwischen 1500 und 4377 m ü. NN. Auf der Höhenstufe zwischen 2950 und 3200 m ü. NN befindet sich das Untersuchungsgebiet dieser Arbeit. Am Rande der Kleinstadt Dinsho im nördlichen Nationalparkbereich wurde 1972 90 ha offenes Waldland eingezäunt und 1997 um 30 ha erweitert. Diese Fläche (BMNP) ist ausschließlich dem Wild vorbehalten. Aufgrund der Erweiterung des BMNP sind Flächen mit vier unterschiedlichen Nutzungen vorhanden: die seit 1972 nur vom Wild beweideten Flächen und die 1997 von Haustier- zu Wildweide umgewidmeten Areale im BMNP, sowie zwei gegen Beweidung vollständig geschützte, 100 m² große Versuchsflächen (gezäunt in 1999 bzw. 2000) und die sehr intensiv genutzten, daher stark degradierten, öffentlichen Haustierweiden außerhalb des BMNP. Auf letzteren breiten sich Weideunkräuter aus, von denen zwei endemische Arten, Lobelia achrochila und Kniphofia foliosa, hinsichtlich ihrer Biologie, Populationsdynamik und Bekämpfungsmöglichkeiten näher untersucht werden. Von L. achrochila wird zudem eine vollständige Erstbeschreibung verfasst. Die Regenerationsfähigkeit der Weiden aus der Bodensamenbank heraus wird auf Flächen mit reduzierter Beweidung und nach Eindämmung der Weideunkräuter untersucht. Der Vergleich der Vegetation der Wild-beweideten und vollständig geschützten Flächen mit den öffentlichen Weiden zeigt keine grundsätzlich verschiedenen Artenzusammen-setzungen. Die vegetationskundlichen Unterschiede beruhen auf der Abnahme der Gesamtartenzahl bei verringertem Beweidungsdruck und der gleichzeitigen Zunahme der Abundanzen der dominanten Arten. Dadurch wird die Vegetation der vom Wild-beweideten und der nicht-beweideten Areale homogener, während die stark beweideten Flächen heterogen sind. Die Vegetation auf den durch Einzäunung vor Beweidung beschützten Versuchsflächen nähert sich im Laufe des Untersuchungszeitraums der Vegetation der BMNP Flächen an. Diese wird daher als typische, Wild-beweidete Vegetation dieser Höhenstufe betrachtet. Da die Regeneration der überweideten Vegetation aus der Bodensamenbank heraus limitiert ist, aber der BMNP durch Samenniederschlag zur Regeneration beiträgt, wird der BMNP als wichtiger Refugialraum angesehen. Sein Erhalt und Schutz sind daher dringend geboten, zumal die sehr hohe Wilddichte an der Grenze der Belastbarkeit liegt. Der größte Unterschied zwischen den vier Nutzungsformen tritt in der Struktur der Vegetation auf. Bei geringerer Beweidung bleibt mehr Biomasse stehen und damit wird die Vegetationsdecke dichter und höher. Die Keimversuche mit Samen von Kniphofia foliosa zeigen, dass eine dichte und kräftige Vegetation die Etablierung dieser Art verhindert. Die beiden Weideunkräuter Lobelia achrochila und Kniphofia foliosa schützten sich vor Beweidung durch bestimmte Inhaltsstoffe. Bei L. achrochila ist es u. a. das Alkaloid Lobelin und bei K. foliosa das Hauptanthrachinon Knipholon. L. achrochila wird aufgrund dreier deutlicher Merkmalsunterschiede zu L. rhynchopetalum als eigenständige Art anerkannt: Ihre Blattrosette streckt sich durch interkalares Wachstum während der Infloreszenzentwicklung, das Wurzelsystem ist allorhiz und die Blütenstiele und die fünf Sepalen der Calyx sind kurz behaart. Beide Unkräuter haben unterschiedliche Verbreitungsstrategien entwickelt. Die hapaxanthe L. achrochila produziert bis zu 27.000 Samen pro Infloreszenz. Obgleich sich davon weniger als 1 % etablieren, stehen auf Hangstandorten mit guter Wasserversorgung dichte, große Lobelia-Populationen. Aufgrund der begrenzten Anzahl dieser geeigneten Standorte stellt L. achrochila nur ein lokales Problem dar und deshalb wird eine besondere Bekämpfung nicht empfohlen. Kniphofia foliosa entwickelt ein starkes Rhizom, von dessen Kurzsprossen die Rosetten des nächsten Jahres ausgehen. Aufgrund dieses starken Rhizoms versagt die Bekämpfungs-methode des Abbrennens, da das unterirdische Rhizom nicht zerstört wird. Das Ausgraben ganzer Pflanzen ist zu zeit- und arbeitsaufwendig. Die einzige erfolgreiche Methode der Bekämpfung schon etablierter K. foliosa Pflanzen ist das regelmäßige Abschneiden der oberirdischen Sprosse in der Hauptwachstumszeit (April bis Juli). Am Ende des dreijährigen Versuchs waren große Teile des Rhizoms abgestorben und der Rest sichtbar geschwächt. Da eine dichte und starke Vegetation die Ansiedlung von Kniphofia foliosa verhindert, wird eine Verbindung von Unkraut-Bekämpfung und Regeneration der Weiden vorgeschlagen. In abgezäunten, ausreichend großen Teilen der überweideten Flächen wird für 2 bis 3 Jahre die Bekämpfung der Kniphofia foliosa vorgenommen, währenddessen erholt sich parallel dazu die Weidevegetation. Deshalb sollte es auf der Grundlage der erhaltenen Ergebnisse zu einer Eindämmung des Weideunkrautes mit gleichzeitiger Verbesserung der Weiden kommen. Pascale Annette Nauke doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/211 Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:04:53 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/198 In der Arbeit wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der Pflanzenartenzusammensetzung experimenteller Grünlandbestände und für das Nährstoffaneignungsvermögen relevanten morphologischen Wurzeleigenschaften untersucht. Des Weiteren wurde der Einfluss der Pflanzenartenzusammensetzung auf die Biomassebildung und den Nährstoffgehalt der Wurzeln analysiert, um den Eintrag von Kohlenstoff in den Boden und die Zirkulation mineralischer Nährelemente im Boden abzuschätzen. Die Untersuchungen fanden an Grünlandbeständen unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung von Pflanzenarten (2 bis 8 Arten) und funktionellen Typen von Pflanzen (niedrigwüchsige Gräser, hochwüchsige Gräser, Rosettenpflanzen, hohe stängelbeblätterte Krautige) statt. Des Weiteren wurden auch die Mykorrhizierung und das Stickstoffaufnahmevermögen der Wurzeln untersucht. Die morphologischen Wurzeleigenschaften unterschieden sich deutlich je nach Bestandeszusammensetzung, Untersuchungsjahr, Jahreszeit und Bodentiefe. Wurzellängendichte, durchschnittlicher Wurzeldurchmesser und spezifische Wurzellänge wurden in erster Linie von spezifischen Effekten dominanter Arten bestimmt. Ein Einfluss der Pflanzenartenvielfalt und der funktionellen Typen von Pflanzen konnte nicht nachgewiesen werden. Auch die Mykorrhizierung der Wurzeln in Grünlandbeständen wurde in erster Linie von spezifischen Wurzeleigenschaften der bestandsbildenden Pflanzenarten beeinflusst. Interspezifische Wechselwirkungen scheinen eine untergeordnete Rolle zu spielen. Der Anteil mykorrhizierter Wurzellänge war positiv mit der Wurzellängendichte korreliert. Die Stickstoffaufnahme eines Pflanzenbestandes aus unterschiedlichen Bodentiefen wurde nicht von der Anzahl an Arten oder funktionellen Gruppen bestimmt, sondern vermutlich von den artspezifischen Leistungsfähigkeiten der Wurzeln. Die Stickstoffaufnahme einer bestimmten Art und die Konkurrenzkraft dieser Art bezüglich der Stickstoffaufnahme aus verschiedenen Bodentiefen variierten dabei je nach Wurzelkonkurrenz durch benachbarte Arten. Interspezifische Wechselwirkungen durch unterschiedliche Tiefenverteilung der Wurzeln spielten hier vermutlich eine entscheidende Rolle. Zur Beurteilung der Konkurrenzkraft scheint eine Einteilung der funktionellen Typen auf der Basis von morphologischen Wurzeleigenschaften demnach besser geeignet als die hier vorgenommene Einteilung nach morphologischen Sprosscharakteristika. Die potenzielle Stickstoffaufnahmefähigkeit der Wurzeln wurde ebenfalls in erster Linie durch die spezifischen Eigenschaften der im Bestand vorkommenden Arten beeinflusst. Schnitt der oberirdischen Biomasse und Jahreszeit hatten dagegen keinen Einfluss auf die Stickstoffaufnahmekapazität der Wurzeln. Selbst während der Vegetationspause im Winter blieb das Potenzial zur Nitrataufnahme erhalten. Untersuchungsjahr, Jahreszeit und Bestandeszusammensetzung hatten einen deutlichen Einfluss auf die Bildung pflanzlicher Biomasse. Die Bildung von Spross- und Wurzelbiomasse war im ersten Untersuchungsjahr deutlich höher als im zweiten, was auf witterungsbedingte Änderungen der Abundanz einzelner Arten zurückzuführen war. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die Biomassebildung und somit der Ertrag von Grünlandsystemen in erster Linie von spezifischen Eigenschaften dominanter Arten bestimmt werden. Wurzelumsatz und Kohlenstoffeintrag in den Boden durch Wurzelstreu waren positiv mit dem Grasanteil in der Sprossbiomasse korreliert. Diese Beziehung fiel jedoch – den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum betrachtet – deutlicher aus als bei ausschließlicher Betrachtung des letzten Untersuchungsjahres. Da sich die Abundanz der einzelnen Arten jedoch im Verlauf des Experiments änderte, scheinen die untersuchten Parameter in erster Linie durch artspezifische Eigenschaften beeinflusst zu werden. Die Akkumulation von Kohlenstoff im Boden war – über den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum gerechnet – in den grasdominierten Beständen etwas niedriger als in den von dikotylen Kräutern dominierten Beständen. Eine erhöhte SOM-Zersetzungsrate aufgrund artspezifischer Einflüsse auf die Mikroflora im Boden könnte hierbei eine Rolle spielen. Die Akkumulation von Kalium, Magnesium und Phosphor in den Wurzeln war bei den in der ersten Hälfte des Experiments vom Gras Holcus lanatus dominierten Beständen geringer als in den übrigen Beständen. Die interne Zirkulation dieser Nährelemente wird offenbar von Effekten dominanter Arten bestimmt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnten keine konsistenten Zusammenhänge zwischen der Anzahl an Pflanzenarten oder an funktionellen Gruppen in einem Bestand und den untersuchten Parametern nachgewiesen werden. Vielmehr zeigten in erster Linie artspezifische Effekte dominanter Arten einen deutlichen Einfluss auf verschiedene Ökosystemfunktionen. Basis für künftige Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der Pflanzenartenzusammensetzung auf Ökosystemfunktionen sollte deshalb eine gezielte Definition von morphologischen und physiologischen Attributen von Pflanzenarten sein. Andreas Reuter doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/198 Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:04:34 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/197 Within the BMBF funded project BIOLOG-Bayreuth (01LC0014) investigations on implications of functional groups on ecosystem functions related to water- nutrient- and carbon cycle were carried out. Three experiments were conceived to test for implications of dominant species traits and phytodiversity on ecosystem functions. I Water, nutrient and DOC fluxes and losses from grasslands were investigated on Experimental Grassland Stands in lysimeters II Two dominant (P. lanceolata / H. lanatus) and two transient species (R. acris / A. odoratum), identified in Experimental Grassland Stands were used for the Rhizodeposit Experiment (RDE) to investigate implications of different Fe acquisition strategies on rhizodeposition of organic compounds in nutrient solution cultures. III The Root Mineralisation Experiment (RME) aimed at evaluating potential implications of the identity of rhizosphere microflora on mineralisation performance of root tissues from H. lanatus and R. acris derived from RDE. Root biomass for the RME was obtained from plants of the RDE Experimental Grassland Stands were sown in lysimeters (1.3×1.3×1.0 m) filled with 70 cm of sub- and 30 cm topsoil of tillered material derived from a Stagnic Cambisol. Precipitation was collected and soil solution was obtained at 15, 30 and 90 cm, seepage at 100 cm depth. KCl-extractable Nmin was determined in June and September. NH4, NO3, DON, DOC, K, Mg and Ca were measured in solution and nutrients in above- and belowground biomass. In Experimental Grassland Stands on lysimeter facilities, herb contribution to grassland stands rather than functional diversity showed implications on ecosystem functions such as nutrient use, use efficiencies, yields and loss with seepage. Differences in ecosystem performance were due to the identity of functional group of dominant and co dominant species (grass/herb). Positive relations between higher nutrient availability and WUEbm of both grass and herb species were indicated for experimental grassland stands. Grassland stands with higher herb contribution favoured a higher nutrient sequestration in biomass and thus played an important role for safety net functions in grassland ecosystems. Slightly higher Nmin concentrations in soil solution likely reflected higher root-turnover rates of grass dominated stands in 2002. Grass species showed higher base cation use efficiency and hence provided considerably growth under low cation supply. Grass dominated stands showed rather low performance in safety net functions for nutrients. Lower base cation yields in biomass of grass dominated stands were not automatically reflected by indicators for use of soil nutrients. In contrast to Nmin, base cation concentrations and losses with seepage did not reflect differences in base cation use by the grassland stands. In the RDE P. lanceolata was identified as a species featuring lower competition ability in concern of biomass building up and Fe acquisition (Cab; WILSON, 1988) under Fe deficiency compared to H. lanatus. For swards containing P. lanceolata complementary was found in concern of individual biomass production and individual Fe stocks. P. lanceolata gained lower biomass than the accompanying species. Inverted patterns of Fe acquisition ability and the ability to build up individual biomass, hint at a trade-off between Fe demand and biomass build up for P. lanceolata. DOC release to rhizodeposit solution was enhanced after the 1st harvest. P. lanceolata showed the highest release of DOC, a higher diversity of carboxylic acids as well as a considerable release of potential Fe chelators (malic, citric and malonic acid), while H. lanatus swards released only small amounts of carboxylic acids. Higher competition ability for species Fe contents after the 1st harvest indicated enhanced competition between P. lanceolata with A. odoratum. This finding was also reflected by higher DOC release and a higher release of potential Fe chelators in these swards. It was found that even transient grasslands species may show a high competition ability for Fe-acquisition under Fe-deficiency. During the RME, the basal respiration of the rhizosphere sand obtained from RDE differed only tendentiously due to its origin (H. lanatus, R. acris, diculture rhizosphere or Ref sand). H. lanatus root tissues increased respiration rates significantly during a 236 h incubation period to a four-fold of basal respiration whereas application of R. acris root tissues did not. Root tissue material was mineralised to the same extent as Corg material within the first 236 hrs. Since no differences of chemical parameters were found, for roots of the two species, enhanced mineralization of H. lanatus roots in the initial phase are likely due to lower root diameters and higher root surface areas. Guido Kossmann doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/197 Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:03:27 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/120 The Digo are farmers and fishermen living in the coastal belt stretching from Mombasa in Kenya to Tanga in Tanzania. They settled there in the 16th Century or earlier, and their original settlements were forest villages, kaya. During the kaya life, wild plants were important to them for most basic needs, hence they accumulated a traditional plant knowledge. In the 19th Century they moved out of the kaya, but the forests were protected as sacred sites, and this preserved the traditional plant knowledge. On the other hand, modern scientific botany was introduced to the Digo through teaching in schools and as modern agriculture to farmers, creating two types of plant knowledge with little overlap. Although Digo history indicates intimacy with their plant world, in this technologically advanced era traditional knowledge systems are threatened of being lost. It was on this premise that the study was established, aimed at ‘documenting the traditional Digo plant knowledge, and examining the global influence on it’. Information was collected with formal and informal interviews with both the traditional Digo plant users (herbalists, farmers, and carpenters), and ‘modernists’ (pupils, students, and teachers). In summary, Digo plant knowledge has a considerable verbal component, minimal description and no conception of internal plant processes. The knowledge is voluntarily incomplete, with a conscious ignorance of some areas of plant life. Also the knowledge is mainly value oriented, and confined to the known, with the objective of addressing realities of social life. Globalisation will affect the plant lexicon and description, but less so the application of traditional materials. The subject areas of the thesis: Digo plant lexicon and description Digo plant knowledge has a considerable verbal component, with limited description and no conception of internal plant processes. And there are non-verbalised areas and under-labelled elements of plants and plant life. Clearly there is intentional selectivity of what to label and describe, meaning the Digo are not striving for completeness of plant knowledge. The incentive for labelling and description is predominantly value oriented, as commonly used plants and plant parts are labelled in detail. Some Digo plant names have a prefix borrowed from ‘female’ human names, meaning the species are perceived as ‘female’. ‘Unmarked’ Digo plant names refer to them in ‘female’ status, as in reference to ‘male’ plants the name is always marked with the term mlume [male]. Semantic analysis of the interpretable plant names indicates that Digo plant naming is guided by several unwritten principles. Digo plant identification methods Digo plant identification is characterised by familiarity and little verbal descriptions. Experienced plant collectors identify plants using ‘fixed images’ in their memory, without rigorous procedures. ‘Procedural’ identifications are used by less experienced collectors, for doubted identifications or in new environments. In procedural identification different plant user groups focus on the part ‘useful’ to them, creating a variety of approaches in identification of the same species. Digo folk taxonomy Digo folk taxonomy is shallow. It does not correspond to comprehensive folk taxonomies reported by most other ethnographers. In Digo there is no term for ‘unique beginner’, thus ‘plant kingdom’ is not a recognised rank. Recognised ranks are life-forms and folk species, with occasional presence of folk generics and folk varietals. Plant life-forms are recognised on the basis of discontinuity of kinds, which is consistent with rationalism theory, but lower taxonomic ranks are constructed on basis of utility value, which agrees with utilitarian view. The Digo folk taxonomy, therefore, is an intermediate kind of knowledge. Digo perception of internal plant processes The perception of plants as being ‘female’ is twined with an understanding that male plants are irrelevant in plant reproduction and propagation, hence associated processes (pollination and fertilization) are not perceived; neither are other scientific concepts e.g. photosynthesis and transpiration. At a community level, it is not obligatory for the Digo to understand details in plant processes, which contrasts labelling and descriptions of plants. Digo farming practices Digo farmers have a knowledge built by experience, hence a stabilized understanding of correlations between different components such as demand of crop plants, performance of soils, diseases and pest menace. A Digo farmer recognizes and classifies soils in relation to crop production. Although some old farming practices have been dropped due to various socio-political changes, the Digo farmers maintain to a considerable degree traditional practices, magico-religious practices and preference of local crop varieties. The future of Digo plant knowledge The Digo plant knowledge reacts to global influence in a multitude of ways, depending on the risk of material loss. In plant lexicon and description, where there is no risk of material loss, change is acceptable. Thus school-mediated plant knowledge complements Digo lexicon and description, sometimes only temporarily. On the other hand, in plant description the role of primary Digo colour terms is fading off. National and global support has changed the Digo healing only in the tools i.e., in hygiene, processing and dosage of medicinal plants, but not in content, as traditional cures are still the main phytotherapical substances. Digo farmers however, resist modern agriculture, partly due to the economic implications. The continued lack of material support to the farmers strengthens the future of traditional farming practices. Mohamed PAKIA doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/120 Fri, 25 Feb 2005 11:11:39 +0100 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/100 Nearly all herbivorous insects in terrestrial ecosystems depend on plants for their survival and reproduction. They dominate terrestrial ecosystems due to species and individual abundance. Interactions between these two groups are thus of a high significance for the analysis and the understanding of complex interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. Foraging for host plants by herbivorous insects is of a central importance. In the present thesis the foraging strategy of the specialised gall fly Urophora cardui on the creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense, was investigated as an example for the foraging of a specialised herbivorous insect. Males and females of U. cardui use the larval host plant as rendezvous place. The males establish territories on the plant, which they defend against conspecifics. The females lay eggs into axillary buds in order to initiate gall development. Male and female body size, measured as weight at eclosure or capsule width, was not correlated with male respectively female longevity. Males lived shorter than females. Capsule width of males and females was not significantly different, while weight at eclosure and fresh weight at death was. Females weighed more, which may be due to their higher need of energy during adult life. Both sexes lost body weight during life. All behaviours, which are performed by males and females on the host plant were defined, recorded and analysed. Females spent most of the time on resting, probing axillary buds, running on the plant and grooming. Males spent most of the time on copulation and patrolling their territory. The behaviour of both sexes was highly variable between individuals. Concerning the movement pattern on an already chosen host plant, females concentrate on the upper parts of the host plant. They were mainly occupied with extensive probing of various axillary buds, which occurred in a suitable developmental stage at the top of the plant. In contrast males patrolled the whole plant, although only the upper leaves became marked. If they encountered another male threatening and fighting were inevitable. Fights lasted several hours interrupted by threatening periods. Mating of males and females usually followed oviposition. Neither females nor males accepted modified host plants or models of thistles. Their behaviour on modified thistles was reduced mainly to running around the plant and grooming. These results indicate a rigid host plant template using the input of several senses, the flies always recognise models and modified plants as a non-host plant. Both sexes were able to discriminate host plants and non-host plants from a distance of 0.8-2m. The time male and female flies needed until they selected one of the host plants in a particular host plant stand depended on the number of non-host plants, host plants and the number of suitable hosts. The decision-time became shorter, if there were not too many suitable host plants. This may be due to decreasing sampling time of the host plants present. U. cardui females did not prefer plants of a certain height. In contrast the branching level, which indicates the number of axillary buds, and the number of flower buds played a significant role during foraging for host plants. Plants with an intermediate branching level were preferred, while those with many flower buds were avoided. Males of U. cardui were able to select their territorial plant on olfactory cues or on visual cues likewise. In contrast, emales were not able to recognise their host plant on olfactorial cues alone. But, if male-marked and unmarked host plants were available they significantly preferred the marked thistles. The differentiation between marked and unmarked C. arvense was made according to olfactorial cues, since plants did not differ in their height, nor in their branching level, nor in the number of flower buds. Thus, female selection of larval host plants depended on male choice for territories. This result is remarkable, especially in evolutionary terms, since males select the larval host for the offspring of their predecessor. Interestingly males preferred plants marked by conspecifics also. On the tip of the females’ ovipositor there is a receptor field with several morphological different receptor types. Mainly they seem to have mechanoreceptive as well as chemosensory functions. These receptors enable the females to measure and analyse the inner structure of the plant tissue at the axillary bud. The width of the apical meristem of the axillary buds was proven to influence female choice of the oviposition site. Axillary buds with an apical meristem-diameter above 0.62mm had a higher probability to became chosen by the U. cardui females. The clutch size was adjusted to the diameter of the apical meristem, indicating, that females were able to estimate the quality of the respective axillary bud influencing larval performance. These results were summarized in a model of the foraging strategy of U. cardui. Wiltrud Daniels doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/100 Tue, 21 Sep 2004 12:10:18 +0200 http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/81 Artabgrenzungen und Phylogenie in der pflanzenparasitischen Pilzgattung Exobasidium wurden mit molekularen Markern untersucht. Das allgemein akzeptierte Artkonzept für die europäischen Arten dieser Pflanzenparasiten basiert auf Wirtsspezifität und den hervorgerufenen Befallsbildern. Erste molekulare Studien (GC-Gehalt, DNA-DNA-Homologie) bestätigten dies jedoch nicht in allen Fällen. Daher wurden in dieser Arbeit Artabgrenzungen im Kontext phylogenetischer Zusammenhänge mit Hilfe von RFLPs und Sequenzdaten untersucht. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf Pilzstämmen von europäischen Wirtsarten der Gattungen Vaccinium und Rhododendron, wozu hefeartig wachsende Kulturen der saprotrophen Lebensphase dieser Pilze bearbeitet wurden. Zur molekularen Charakterisierung wurden mit 6 Restriktionsenzymen RFLPs eines PCR-Amplifikates ermittelt. Der amplifizierte Genabschnitt kodiert ca. 2.2 kb des 5’-Bereichs der 26S rRNA. Darüber hinaus wurden Sequenzvergleiche der Domäne I der 26S rDNA, der 18S rDNA und der ITS-Region durchgeführt. Übereinstimmung in den PCR-RFLP-Mustern des 5’-Bereichs der 26S rDNA zeigt Konspezifität an, da solche Stämme einen ähnlichen GC-Gehalt und hohe DNA-DNA-Homologien aufweisen. Insgesamt wurden über alle 6 Enzyme bei 51 untersuchten Stämmen 20 RFLP-Gruppen gefunden. Jedoch finden sich Stämme von einer Wirtspflanze oder solche mit hoher DNA-DNA-Homologie auch in verschiedenen RFLP-Gruppen. Zusätzlich zeigen sich in Dendrogrammen auffallende Unterschiede in den Distanzen zwischen einzelnen RFLP-Mustern. Eine nachfolgende Analyse der Sequenzen der Domäne I der 26S rDNA bestätigte, daß Stämme einer RFLP-Gruppe Angehörige einer Art sind, daß aber Stämme einer Art durchaus unterschiedlichen RFLP-Gruppen angehören können. Unter Berücksichtigung der DNA-DNA-Homologie-Daten kann beim Auftreten von weniger als 3 bp Unterschied in der Domäne I der 26S rDNA Konspezifität festgestellt werden. Unterschiede in den RFLP-Mustern können somit Konspezifität nicht widerlegen. Für z.T. unerwartete Ergebnisse der RFLP-Analysen ließen sich in Sequenzanalysen 2 Gründe feststellen. Die amplifizierte Region der 26S rDNA kann Group-I-Introns enthalten (an Position 929/930 bzw. 1.127/1.128 der 26S rDNA bezogen auf Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Die Verteilung der Group-I-Introns zwischen Stämmen, welche aufgrund der übereinstimmenden Sequenzen der Domäne I der 26S rDNA und ihrer DNA-DNA-Homologie als konspezifisch anzusehen sind, zeigt, daß sie bei Exobasidium spp. nicht artspezifisch auftreten. Außerdem gruppieren einige Stämme (3 Arten) in phylogenetischen Analysen in anderen Verwandtschaftskreisen der Ustilaginomyceten, wodurch sie als kontaminierende Pilze identifiziert werden. Diese Stämme waren früher mit biochemisch-physiologischen Merkmalen nicht gegen Exobasidium spp. abzugrenzen. Stämme einer Art stammen dabei von verschiedenen Wirtspflanzen und widersprachen so früher einem auf hoher Wirtsspezifität basierenden Artkonzept. Datenbankvergleiche der Domäne I der 26S rDNA und deren phylogenetische Analyse im Kontext der Ustilaginomyceten ergaben Affinitäten zu den Entylomatales (Tilletiopsis washingtonensis, Entyloma spp.) bzw. Ustilaginales (Ustilago maydis). Analysen der 18S rDNA und ITS-Region ausgewählter Stämme bestätigten dies. Für phylogenetische Analysen der Gattung Exobasidium wurden Sequenzen der Domäne I der 26S rDNA ausgewählter Stämme untereinander und mit GENBANK-Einträgen verglichen. Hierbei korrespondieren Exobasidium-Arten gut mit den Wirtspflanzen. Sie zeigen eine hohe Wirtsspezifität. Konspezifische Stämme lösen auch dasselbe Befallsbild aus, wobei E. vaccinii eine Ausnahme zu bilden scheint, da Stämme, die auf Vaccinium vitis-idaea eine lokale Gallbildung hervorrufen, sich nicht von Stämmen unterscheiden, welche eine systemische Infektion verursachen. Auch zeigt sich, daß von europäischen Rhododendren isolierte Stämme, die traditionell E. rhododendri zugeordnet werden, distinkte, nicht konspezifische Gruppen bilden. In phylogenetischen Analysen im Kontext der Ustilaginomyceten bilden die Exobasidiales eine gut gestützte Gruppe. Innerhalb der Ordnung werden mit verschiedenen Verfahren zur Stammbaumrekonstruktion unterschiedliche phylogenetische Hypothesen wiedergegeben. Die Exobasidiaceae bilden nur in Distanzanalysen eine monophyletische Gruppe. Zudem gruppieren die Gattungen Arcticomyces und Muribasidiospora immer innerhalb der Exobasidium-Arten und die Eigenständigkeit dieser Gattungen erscheint fraglich. Insgesamt legen die phylogenetischen Analysen eine Kospeziation oder Koevolution zwischen exobasidialen Pilzen und ihren Wirten nahe. Jedoch zeigen sich komplexe Speziationsprozesse in der Evolution dieser pflanzenparasitischen Pilze. Bei Exobasidien von Wirten der Vaccinioideae ergeben sich Muster, die nur mit Wirtswechseln erklärbar sind, und innerhalb des Exobasidium rhododendri-Komplexes muß von der Speziation auf einer Wirtsart ohne Veränderung des Befallsbildes ausgegangen werden. Heidi Döring doctoralthesis http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ubbayreuth/frontdoor/index/index/docId/81 Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:12:19 +0200