Gale Var Research Articles

Effects of sex and soil water chemistry on leaf morphology and physiology of Myrica gale var. tomentosa.

Plants respond to environmental stressors, such as an oligotrophic environments, by altering the morphological and physiological functions of their leaves. Sex affects these functions because of the asymmetric cost of reproduction in dioecious plants. We compared the leaf mass per leaf area (LMA), ratio of intercellular air space in leaf mesophyll tissue (mesophyll porosity), palisade thickness, and carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of leaves of the dioecious shrub Myrica gale based on sex and gradients of soil water chemistry across habitats in the field. The PCA showed that the first three principal components accounted for 84.5% of the variation. PC1 to PC3 were associated with the origin of soil water, nitrogen status of habitats, and sea–salt contributions, respectively. LMA varied from 5.22 to 7.13 μg/cm2, and it was positively related to PC2 and negatively related to PC3, but not to PC1 or sex, suggesting that LMA was low under poor nitrogen conditions and varied with salinity. Mesophyll porosity values were over 50% for all habitats. Mesophyll porosity was positively affected by PC3 and smaller in females than in males. This suggests that M. gale exhibits differences in mesophyll anatomy according to sex. Palisade thickness ranged from 0.466 to 0.559 mm/mm. The leaves of females had thinner palisade layers per mesophyll layer than those of males; however, the habitat did not affect the thickness of the palisade layer per mesophyll layer. The δ13C values of leaves varied from −32.14 to −30.51 ‰. We found that δ13C values were positively related to PC2 but not to PC1, PC3, and sex. Under poor nitrogen conditions, the δ13C of M. gale leaves decreased, suggesting that nutrient deficiency would decrease more under the long-term averaged ratio of photosynthesis than stomatal conductance, leading to low water use efficiency.

Nutrient deficiency promotes male-biased apparent sex ratios at the ramet level in the dioecious plant Myrica gale var. tomentosa in oligotrophic environments in bogs.

In populations of dioecious plants, the differences in the cost of reproduction between male and female plants can promote a male-biased sex ratio. In this study, we examine the macronutrient levels in tissues of the dioecious wetland shrub Myrica gale to identify the cost of reproduction for male and female plants and to examine the effect of nutrients on the apparent sex ratio at the ramet level. We examined plants across 12 populations of M. gale inhabiting bogs and fens in Japan. For each population, we used line transects to estimate the apparent sex ratio and measured the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the leaves sampled from male and female plants and in the fruits from female plants. For five of the populations, we calculated the flowering frequency, mortality, and the recruitment rate (as the rate of clonal propagation). We found that the proportion of females was positively affected, and the male bias of sex ratios reduced, by increases in P concentration in leaves sampled from female plants. Neither mortality nor recruitment was affected by sex or by the nutrient concentration (P, K). The flowering frequency was not affected by sex or by K concentration, but decreased with decreases in the P concentration measured in leaves. This study confirmed that reproduction in M. gale is P-limited. We found no distinct differences in the flowering frequency, mortality, or recruitment rate between the male and female plants.

Distribution patterns of Myrica gale var. tomentosa and its relationship to microtopography in the Ozegahara Mire, central Japan

Distribution patterns of Myrica gale var. tomentosa and its relationship to microtopography in the Ozegahara Mire, central Japan

Volatile Components of Essential Oil from Cultivated Myrica gale var. tomentosa and Its Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

Aromatic components in the essential oil prepared from the leaves of cultivated Myrica gale var. tomentosa were compared with those from oil derived wild plants by using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). We found that essential oils from both the wild and cultivated plants contained similar aromatic components such as β-elemenone, selina 3,7(11)-diene, myrcene, limonene, cymene, 1,8-cineole, and β-pinene, but the content ratio of the oil was significantly different, which might yield differences in the aromatic properties. The aroma impact components of the essential oils were also determined using GC/MS-Olfactometry (GC/MS-O) and aroma extract dilution analysis. Eight aromatic compounds, including linalool, limonene, and 1,8-cineole, were shown to contribute to the aromatic properties of cultivated M. gale var. tomentosa. The strongest aromatic note was defined as linalool, followed by limonene, 1,8-cineole, and β-elemenone. The essential oil, ethanol (EtOH), 1,3-butylene glycol (BG), and 1,3-propanediol (PD) extracts prepared from the leaves of cultivated M. gale var. tomentosa also showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, that is, they demonstrated scavenger activity against hydroxyl and superoxide radicals in the aqueous phase, and showed inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation. The essential oil extracts also exhibited antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration value against Bacillus subtilis. In conclusion, the essential oil and solvent extracts from cultivated M. gala var. tomentosa have a potential for utilization as food and cosmetic ingredients.

Impact of soil water chemistry on the apparent sex ratio of the flowering ramets of the dioecious plant Myrica gale var. tomentosa

We determined whether the apparent (M/Fl) sex ratio (male ramets/flowering ramets) and apparent reproductive ramet ratio (Fl/Li ratio; flowering ramets/living ramets) in 15 Myrica gale var. tomentosa populations varied with dissolved total nitrogen, dissolved total phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, or pH in the soil water. Our aim was to define the environmental factors affecting the M/Fl sex ratio and Fl/Li ratio of the populations. We also examined the habitat conditions of these populations by analyzing soil water chemistry and water dynamics. In 2007, 3 of the 15 populations had no females. The remaining 12 had significantly male-biased (M/Fl sex ratio=0.59-0.97). Although we could not explain the absence of females by the current potassium levels alone, as potassium increased, so did the M/Fl sex ratio. As nitrogen increased and potassium decreased, Fl/Li ratio decreased. Our soil water chemistry analyses suggested that the potassium supply by soil surface erosion from flooding and the inflow of anthropogenic nitrogen were the important factors influencing the M/Fl sex ratio and Fl/Li ratio. Nitrogen management would be important in one of the endangered populations where inflow of nitrogen was the highest among 15 habitats.

Development of the micropropagation technology and inspection of the relaxation effect in the Myrica gale var. tomentosa

Development of the micropropagation technology and inspection of the relaxation effect in the Myrica gale var. tomentosa

北海道太平洋岸におけるヤチヤナギ(Myrica gale var. tomentosa)のシュート特性

北海道太平洋岸におけるヤチヤナギ(Myrica gale var. tomentosa)のシュート特性

Vegetation, hydrology, and development of a coastal mire in Hokkaido, Japan, affected by flooding and tephra deposition

Mires in coastal lowlands in Hokkaido, northern Japan, have repeatedly been affected by flooding events and tephra (aerially transported volcanic ejecta) deposition during their development. Vegetation, hydrology, and stratigraphy of Kiritappu Mire in eastern Hokkaido were investigated along two transects and are discussed in relation to disturbance by mineral deposition. The vegetation pattern showed little relation to past geologic events. Five plant communities, two of which (A and C) could be further divided into subgroups, were distinguished (A, Alnus japonica - Spiraea salicifolia community; B, Sasa chartacea community; C, Myrica gale var. tomentosa - Sphagnum fuscum community; D, Carex lyngbyei community; E, Carex subspathacea - Aster tripolium community). Water levels, pH, electric conductivity, and ionic composition of groundwater and surface water were measured in communities A-C. Mean water levels were similar in communities A and C; in community B, it was lower. The pH was higher in community A than in communities B and C. Ion concentrations were influenced by sea water at some sites. Plant macrofossils and ash contents of 31 cores were analysed. Sedge roots were the dominant peat component, often mixed with remains of Phragmites australis, Sphagnum spp., and Polytrichum juniperinum var. strictum. Ash contents were high, and up to nine different mineral layers consisting of tephra, sand, silt, and clay were detected. In some cases, mineral deposition induced changes in the macrofossil composition of the peat. However, in a greater number of cases, no changes in the macrofossil composition were found at the mineral layers, and most shifts were not related to mineral deposition.Key words: mire, vegetation, hydrology, disturbance, flooding, tephra.

A Comparison of Photosynthetic Capacity between Myrica Gale var. Tomentosa a Nitrogen-Fixing Shrub, and Co-Occurring Species in an Oligotrophic Moor

Photosynthetic and transpiration (E) rates, stomatal conductance, and leaf nitrogen content were surveyed for Myrica gale var. tomentosa, a N2-fixing wetland shrub, Betula platyphylla var. japonica, and Rhododendron japonicum in Ozegahara moor, an oligotrophic moor in Central Japan. Net photosynthetic rate saturated with irradiance (Pmax) of M. gale was 15.2-16.5 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, higher than those of the other species throughout the growing season. Pmax was positively correlated with leaf N content among the three species. The large leaf N content in M. gale was due to N2-fixation in root nodules. In a comparison of M. gale in two habitats, Pmax, leaf N content, and root nodule development were larger in the wetter habitat. M. gale showed high E and no midday depression of Pmax even under high irradiance and large vapour pressure deficit between leaves and ambient air on a midsummer day. These traits of photosynthesis and water relations were associated with the dominance of this shrub in wetter sites such as stream sides and hollows.

Two Novel Diarylheptanoid Glucosides from Myrica gale var. tomentosa and Absolute Structure of Plane-Chiral Galeon.

From Myrica gale var. tomentosa, two new diarylheptanoids, myricatomentosides I and II, were isolated together with a plane-chiral diarylheptanoid, galeon. The absolute stereochemistry of (+)-galeon was determined as R. Myricatomentoside I, was identified as the glucoside of myricatomentogenin, a new diarylheptanoid of diphenyl ether type, and myricatomentoside II, as the glucoside of 12-hydroxymyricanone.

ヤチヤナギからの新規トリテルペノイドMyricalactone及び数種のトリテルペノイド

From the stems of Myrica gale var. tomentosa (Myricaceae), a new triterpenoid, myricalactone (1) was isolated together with serratenedione, serratenediol, myricolal and so on. The structure of 1 was determined as 19β-hydroxy-1, 3-dioxo-oleane-11, 13(18)-dien-28-oic acid 28, 19-lactone on the basis of chemical and spectrometric evidence including an X-ray crystallographic analysis of methyl ether of 1.

ChemInform Abstract: Diarylheptanoids from Myrica gale var. tomentosa and Revised Structure of Porson.

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Diarylheptanoids from Myrica gale var. tomentosa and Revised Structure of Porson.

From the stems of Myrica gale var. tomentosa (Myricaceae), two new diarylheptanoids (3 and 4) were isolated together with myricanone, porson, gallic acid and myricetin 3-O-(6-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, the structures of 3 and 4 have been determined as 12-dehydroporson and 12-hydroxymyricanone, respectively. The structure of porson was reinvestigated, and a revised structure, 12-hydroxy-5-O-methylmyricanone, was proposed

Constituents of Acer nikoense and Myrica rubra. On diarylheptanoids

The diarylheptanoid constituents of the titled plants and their close plants were reviewed. Many new diarylheptanoids and their glycosides named acerogenin and aceroside were isolated from the stem bark of Acer nikoense, A. griseum and A. triflorum. Myricanone, myricanol and its five new glycosides were isolated from the stem bark of Myrica rubra, and myricanone and galeon, from the stem of M. gale var. tomentosa. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence, and chemotaxonomy of the above plants was briefly discussed. In addition biosynthesis of acerogenin A, revision of the structure for isomyricanone derived from myricanone, and some biological activities of A. nikoense and M. rubra were described.

Woody plant succession on earthquake-uplifted coastal wetlands of the Copper River Delta, Alaska

The delta formed by the Copper River stretches for more than 75 km along the south central coastline of the Gulf of Alaska. It is the terminus of the outwash deposits from a large part of the most heavily glaciated region of North America, and all major rivers that flow into the delta carry extremely high levels of suspended sediments. Coastal wetlands extend inland for as much as 20 km. In 1964, an earthquake of Richter magnitude 8.4 to 8.6 raised the entire delta from 1.8 to 3.4 m above the previous mean sea level. Subtidal areas became intertidal, and intertidal areas supertidal. Marshland advanced seaward as much as 1.5 km in the intertidal zone. Vegetation on many, but not all, newly supertidal levees began to change from herbland to shrubland. A change in frequency and duration of tidal inundation and water salinity has been thought to be the most obvious cause of this succession, but explanation is lacking. Freshwater dominates the estuarine circulation due to a bar-built estuary and the extremely high input of freshwater from glacier runoff and precipitation. Tides merely raise freshwater onto the wetlands. Halophytes are rare even at the seaward edge of vegetation. The characteristic species of the present intertidal marshes, Lyngbye sedge ( Carex lyngbyei), also is characteristic in inland freshwater marshes. Initial post-earthquake invasion of woody plants was confined to natural levees. More recently, shrubs have begun to move seaward into new inter-tidal marshland. Only three shrub species, sweetgale ( Myrica gale var. tomentosa). Barclay willow ( Salix barclayi), and Sitka alder ( Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata) are important in woody plant succession. Barclay willow was abundant before the uplift. Increased distribution and abundance of willow was the earliest indication of post-earthquake succession. Sweetgale is now the most aggressive species. It was present on tidally flooded levees before the uplift and has become a ubiquitous understory shrub in all willow stands and an invader on newly formed intertidal marshes. Sitka alder grows on supertidal levees where the substrate is wet, but aerated. Black cottonwood ( Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) and Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis) trees are present in many alder stands. Many Sitka alder stands have become black-cottonwood/Sitka-alder woodland. Sitka spruce forest may eventually develop on some supertidal levees. Shrubland, woodland and forest vegetation analogous to that developing on supertidal levees is present on older wetland habitats further inland. It is likely the same plant successions would have occurred without an uplift. The uplift appears to have altered locations and rates, but not the nature, of wetland plant succession on the Copper River Delta.

Dimensional weights and forage of Barclay willow and sweetgale on moose ranges in the wetlands of the Copper River Delta, Alaska

Above-ground shoots of Barclay willow ( Salix barclayi) and sweetgale ( Myrica gale var. tomentosa) from shrub-swamp on the wetlands of the Copper River Delta, Alaska, were harvested at the early-growth, full-growth, and early-dormancy stages of growth. Seven dimensional measurements (vertical height, basal stem diameter, upper stem diameter, basal stem length, crown depth, maximum crown diameter, second crown diameter) were made on each above-ground shoot before harvest. The cross-sectional area of the crown was calculated from crown diameters and also used as a non-destructive measurement. Each shoot was sorted into four individual (basal stem, branch, terminal twig, leaf) and two combined (crown wood, total above-ground) dimensional weight categories and the oven-dry weights of each category determined. Measurements were used as independent variables in forward, stepwise multiple regression to develop a ‘best model’ estimator of mean dimensional weight at each growth stage. The ability of the regression models to accurately predict mean dimensional weight at each growth stage was tested on an independent sample of above-ground shoots of both shrubs. The early-dormancy regression model predicted mean weights of basal stem, twig and total above-ground dimensional weights of Barclay willow within 1% of actual weights. The full-growth regression model gave the most accurate predictions of the mean dimensional weights of crown wood, branch and leaf of Barclay willow. The early-dormancy regression model provided the closest estimates of the mean weights of basal stem and crown wood of sweetgale. Total above-ground shoot and branch mean weights were best estimated by the regression model for the full-growth period. Neither regression model gave accurate estimates of the mean weights of sweetgale twigs and leaves. Digestibility, nutrient status and energy content of the material in each dimensional category were determined at each growth period.