小白菊内酯及降温速率对含水生菜种子抗冷性的影响

以生菜Lactuca sativa含水种子为试材,通过添加外源动物泛素E3连接酶激活剂小白菊内酯(Parthenolide),及不同降温速率的程序降温处理,研究Parthenolide对程序降温过程中生菜种子抗冷性的影响。结果表明,无论在快速(60 ℃·h-1)还是慢速(3 ℃·h-1)降温过程中,添加Parthenolide都会抑制生菜种子对低温的耐受性,而且发芽率明显比对照组低,这种降低程度在降温至-20 ℃时最为明显,说明在程序降温过程中,泛素化调控通路参与种子对冷冻的响应。通过实时定量荧光PCR对泛素化相关基因和ICE1基因的表达分析表明,Parthenolide抑制了慢速降温过程中环指型E3连接酶COP1和抗冻因子ICE1的mRNA表达水平。Parthenolide对SOD活性的影响进一步证明其影响种子在程序降温过程中的耐冻性机制。     

蛋白酶抑制剂对含水生菜种子耐冻性的影响

选取生菜(Lactuca sativa)种子作为试材,外源添加蛋白酶抑制剂2-硝基苯甲酸[5,5'-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid),DTNB]对种子吸胀处理,通过程序降温,分析2-硝基苯甲酸对低温下种子发芽率及生理活性的影响。结果表明,低温下含水生菜种子的致死温度为–20 ℃;外源添加2-硝基苯甲酸2 mmol·L–1时种子发芽率最高,即对种子活性的保护效果显著;在此浓度下种子内SOD活性比对照提高1.38倍,羟基自由基清除能力提高1.17倍;与对照组相比产生两种新的蛋白11 S种子贮藏球蛋白Jug r4和11 S种子贮藏球蛋白2,均属于球蛋白家族,可提高含水种子的耐冻性;低温下种子内积累更小分子量的球蛋白多肽,对种子具有低温保护效果。综上,低温条件下生菜种子产生一定的抗冷反应,外源添加2 mmol·L–1 2-硝基苯甲酸可提高含水种子发芽率及生理活性,产生抗冻蛋白,积累更小分子量的球蛋白多肽进而提高种子抗冻性。     

无菌马尾松种子超低温保存技术研究

该研究利用液氮将不同含水量的无菌马尾松种子(27.4%、24.6%、22.7%、16.8%、15.8%、10.7%、7.5%、6.1%、4.8%、3.2%)进行超低温保存。结果表明:(1)在3.2%～6.1%含水量范围内,经液氮冷冻保存后的发芽率随着含水量升高而逐渐升高,在含水量6.1%时,发芽率达到最大值(91.33%);当含水量大于6.1%时,发芽率逐渐下降,尤其是当含水量大于15.8%时,发芽率迅速下降;在3.2%～7.5%含水量范围内冻存后发芽率在80%以上。(2)冷冻、化冻方式影响超低温保存效果。种子无需低温预冷,直接投入液氮保存(快速冷冻)效果最好;室温空气化冻(缓慢化冻)较42℃水浴化冻发芽率高,且后者容易发生种皮炸裂现象。(3)种皮对马尾松种子超低温保存过程起到保护作用,使其免受机械损伤,去掉外种皮的种子冻存后发芽率显著下降,且容易出现形态不正常的幼苗。(4)超低温保存对马尾松种子萌发具有一定"刺激"作用,在最适含水量6.1%时,经超低温保存后种子的发芽率显著大于对照种子。总之,含水量、冷冻方法、化冻方法、种皮结构显著影响超低温保存效果,马尾松种子超低温保存的最优方法是将种子含水量控制在6.1%,直接投入液氮快速冷冻后室温空气缓慢化冻,冻后发芽率可在90%以上。马尾松种子超低温保存技术体系的建立,为其种质资源的长期保存提供了技术支持。     

编码极长链脂肪酸延长酶基因家族的结构及其产物的功能

ELOVL(elongation of very long chain fatty acids)基因家族是在哺乳动物中发现的一类编码极长链脂肪酸(very long chain fatty acids,VLCFA)延长酶的基因家族。ELOVL基因在不同的组织特异性表达。各种ELOVL蛋白参与不同长度脂肪酸链的延长,进而发挥更多的生物学效应。此外,ELOVL基因的变异与多种疾病相关。     

油葵HaFAD2-2基因的克隆及表达分析

脂肪酸脱氢酶2(fatty acid desaturase,FAD2)催化油酸生成亚油酸,是植物体内生成多不饱和脂肪酸的关键酶。根据已报道的向日葵(Helianthus annuus L.)FAD2基因序列,设计引物进行RT-PCR,克隆得到油葵FAD2-2基因全长cDNA,命名为HaFAD2-2。该基因开放阅读框为1 152bp,编码383个氨基酸,相对分子质量43.96kD,等电点为8.56。对基因组进行内含子调查发现,该基因在编码区内没有内含子。多序列比对和系统进化分析发现,FAD2-2基因编码蛋白与金盏菊(Calendula officinalis)、斑鸠菊(Vernonia galamensis)等菊科植物具有较近的亲缘关系。qRT-PCR分析表明,HaFAD2-2基因在根、茎、叶、花、子叶和未成熟种子中均有表达,且以叶中的表达量最高,未成熟种子中的表达量最低;低温(5℃、15℃)胁迫处理能显著促进该基因在根中的表达,抑制其在叶中的表达;盐胁迫(300 mmol/L NaCl)处理对其表达也具有抑制作用。该研究结果可为进一步探讨HaFAD2-2基因的功能奠定基础。     

脱水速率和降温速率对葡萄柚种子超低温保存的影响

以新鲜葡萄柚(Citrus paradise)种子为材料,使用3种脱水速率处理至约20%含水量,然后用饱和盐溶液平衡至10种不同的含水量,再进行简化的二步法超低温保存;同时,以经过15 ℃、50%相对湿度(RH)条件脱水至含水量约12%的葡萄柚种子为材料,使用程序降温仪进行5个降温速率和3个预冷温度的传统二步法超低温保存。结果表明,葡萄柚种子对脱水敏感,种子含水量越低,成苗率越低。而且,脱水速率越快,对种子的损伤越大,成苗率呈现75% RH>50% RH>15% RH;冷冻处理对种子有进一步的伤害,含水量6%～8%的种子超低温保存效果最佳,但脱水速率对超低温保存的种子成苗率的影响不明显。用传统二步法超低温保存葡萄柚种子,与预冷对照相比,经液氮冷冻的种子成苗率都有明显下降。在预冷对照组中,-2.5 ℃·min^-1降温速率的种子成苗率最高,在冷冻保存中-0.5 ℃·min^-1和-0.25 ℃·min^-1的降温速率最有利于超低温保存。预冷温度从-40 ℃降至-60 ℃,未超低温处理种子的发芽率降低,但超低温处理种子的发芽率提高。     

植物脂肪酸去饱和酶及其编码基因研究进展

脂肪酸去饱和酶是催化脂肪酸链特定位置形成双键和产生不饱和脂肪酸的酶类。植物脂肪酸去饱和酶主要有5种(FAD2、FAD3、FAD6、FAD7和FAD8), 可分为ω-3型 (FAD2、FAD6)和ω-6型(FAD3、FAD7、FAD8)两大类。其编码基因(FAD2、FAD3、FAD6、FAD7和FAD8)在植物中一般有多个拷贝。同种基因在不同植物中拷贝数不同, 同一植物中相同基因的不同拷贝间在序列特征、表达调控和功能等方面也存在显著差异。本文根据国内外对脂肪酸去饱和酶基因及编码产物的研究现状, 分别从它们的分类、拷贝数、结构、作用机制、表达调控等方面的研究进展进行了详细的分类阐述。     

沙棘种子高积累碳十八不饱和脂肪酸的多基因协同调控机制

为探讨沙棘种子油高积累碳十八不饱和脂肪酸的多基因协同作用机制,以近缘低油沙棘品系‘绥棘1号’和高油品系‘新俄3号’6个不同发育期的种子为材料,利用气相色谱飞行时间质谱法测定种子油脂肪酸组份,采用qRT-PCR方法分析不饱和脂肪酸合成积累相关基因KAR、FATB、Δ9 D、KASⅡ、SAD、FAD2、FAD3、FAD7和FAD8的表达模式,验证多基因表达对碳十八不饱和脂肪酸积累的影响。结果表明:(1)‘绥棘1号’和‘新俄3号’种子油均高积累碳十八不饱和脂肪酸,分别占总脂肪酸的87.71%和88.68%;种子发育期间,油酸相对含量一直呈上升趋势,亚油酸相对含量短时下降后上升趋稳,而亚麻酸相对含量则呈先上升后下降趋稳。(2)FATB基因下调表达协同Δ9 D基因低表达,使C16∶0-ACP转化为棕榈酸和棕榈油酸的代谢减弱,而KAR和KASⅡ基因的相对上调表达,促进了硬脂酸合成,为碳十八不饱和脂肪酸的合成积累了较多前体。(3)SAD基因的持续高表达催化硬脂酸去饱和为油酸,且持续上升的SAD/FATB基因表达比直接提高了脂肪酸的去饱和速率;FAD2、FAD3、FAD7和FAD8基因在亚油酸和亚麻酸快速合成期间同时出现明显的表达量峰值,进而促进油酸逐步去饱和为亚油酸和亚麻酸。研究认为,沙棘种子油高积累碳十八不饱和脂肪酸源于FATB和Δ9 D基因的低表达及KAR、KASⅡ、SAD、FAD2、FAD3、FAD7和FAD8基因的协同高表达,本研究结果为进一步理解种子油中碳十八不饱和脂肪酸的合成积累提供了理论依据,对改良植物油脂的不同脂肪酸比具有重要意义。     

植物脂肪酸去饱和酶及其编码基因研究进展

脂肪酸去饱和酶是催化脂肪酸链特定位置形成双键和产生不饱和脂肪酸的酶类。植物脂肪酸去饱和酶主要有5种（FAD2、FAD3、FAD6、FAD7和FAD8）,可分为ω-3型（FAD2、FAD6）和ω-6型（FAD3、FAD7、FAD8）两大类。其编码基因（FAD2、FAD3、FAD6、FAD7和FADS）在植物中一般有多个拷贝。同种基因在不同植物中拷贝数不同,同一植物中相同基因的不同拷贝间在序列特征、表达调控和功能等方面也存在显著差异。本文根据国内外对脂肪酸去饱和酶基因及编码产物的研究现状,分别从它们的分类、拷贝数、结构、作用机制、表达调控等方面的研究进展进行了详细的分类阐述。     

超低温冷冻对益智种子生理生化特性的影响

益智(Alpinia oxyphylla)是我国四大南药之一,其种子为顽拗性种子,不耐干燥和低温,无法常规保存。为解决益智种子长期稳定保存的问题,该研究以益智种子为材料,从种子含水量以及冷冻方式方面优化益智种子超低温保存方法,并对比液氮冷冻前后种子发芽率、α-淀粉酶活性、超氧化物歧化酶活性、过氧化物酶活性、脱氢酶活性、丙二醛含量等活力指标,分析液氮超低温冷冻对益智种子生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:直接液氮冷冻含水量13.92%~14.38%范围的种子是益智种子超低温保存的最佳条件。液氮冷冻后,随着超低温冷冻时间的延长,益智种子发芽率先由76.76%下降至52.5%,再上升至65%,最后下降并稳定在50%以上。其种子α-淀粉酶活性先下降后上升,然后又下降,最后上升并稳定至冷冻前的水平。丙二醛含量则是先上升后下降,最后趋于平稳状态。过氧化物酶活性是先下降,然后稳定在恒定水平。超氧化物歧化酶活性是随着冷冻时间的延长而持续上升,脱氢酶活性则是持续下降。以上结果说明,液氮冷冻时间对益智活力有一定的影响,但对种子有些性能具有一定的促进作用。无论是发芽率,还是生理生化指标,都不同程度表明液氮超低温保存益智种子是可行的。     

Freezing and desiccation tolerance of imbibed canola seed

Depending on the environmental conditions, imbibed seeds survive subzero temperatures either by supercooling or by tolerating freezing-induced desiccation. We investigated what the predominant survival mechanism is in freezing canola ( Brassica napus cv. Quest) and concluded that it depends on the cooling rate. Seeds cooled at 3°C h⁻¹ or faster supercooled, whereas seeds cooled over a 4-day period to −12°C and then cooled at 3°C h⁻¹ to−40°C did not display low temperature exotherms. Both differential thermal analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed that imbibed canola seeds undergo freezing-induced desiccation at slow cooling rates. The freezing tolerance of imbibed canola seed (LT₅₀) was determined by slowly cooling to −12°C for 48 h, followed with cooling at 3°C h⁻¹ to −40°C, or by holding at a constant −6°C (LD₅₀). For both tests, the loss in freezing tolerance of imbibed seeds was a function of time and temperature of imbibition. Freezing tolerance was rapidly lost after radicle emergence. Seeds imbibed in 100 μ M abscisic acid (ABA), particularly at 2°C, lost freezing tolerance at a slower rate compared with water-imbibed seeds. Seeds imbibed in water either at 23°C for 16 h, or 8°C for 6 days, or 2°C for 6 days were not germinable after storage at −6°C for 10 days. Seeds imbibed in ABA at 23°C for 24 h, or 8°C for 8 days, or 2°C for 15 days were highly germinable after 40 days at a constant −6°C. Desiccation injury induced at a high temperature (60°C), as with injury induced by freezing, was found to be a function of imbibition temperature and time.     

Endogenous abscisic Acid levels in germinating and nongerminating lettuce seed

The concentrations of abscisic acid in Grand Rapids lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds imbibed under conditions which promote or inhibit germination were determined by electron capture-gas chromatography. The concentration of abscisic acid in dry seeds was 12 to 14 nanograms per 100 milligrams. During 24-hour imbibition, the abscisic acid content diminished more rapidly during conditions which allow germination (25 C in light) than in conditions which inhibited germination (35 C in light or darkness at 25 C). A decrease in endogenous levels of abscisic acid was not always correlated with germination.     

The Effect of Low Temperature during Imbibition on Germination Characteristics of Tetracentron sinense (Tetracentraceae) Seeds

In this paper, the effects of low temperature, soil moisture and freezing time on the germination of Tetracentron sinense Oliv. seeds were studied by simulating wild environment conditions, and the factors influencing the natural regeneration of Tsinense population were discussed. The results are as follows: (1) The imbibition process of Tsinense seed can be divided into four stages, the water absorbing capacity of Tsinense seed after imbibition would increase with the increase of soil moisture, and the seeds would be fully imbibed under the condition of 30% soil moisture; (2) The germination rate, germination force and water content of Tsinense seed increased with the increase of storage time, and the vigor index gradually decreased after increasing before; (3) At different low temperature, the germination rate of Tsinense seed reached the highest when the soil moisture is 20% or 30%; (4) When treated at 20% soil moisture for 2-4 days or 21-28 days, 0℃ is best for the germination rate of Tsinense seed; when treated at 30% soil moisture for 14-28 days, -7℃ is best fort he germination rate of Tsinense seed; (5) When treated at the same condition of freezing time, the germination rate of seeds in fallen leaves had no significant difference with the decrease of low temperature; under the same condition of low temperature (0℃ low temperature except), the germination rate increased after frozen 28 days. The results showed that there is no significant influence of low temperature during imbibition on germination characteristics of Tetracentron sinense seeds and indicating that low temperature during imbibition is not the main factor influencing the natural regeneration of Tsinense population.     

Lipid participation in intracellular freezing avoidance mechanisms of lettuce seed

Freeze-fracture electron microscopy was used to study water content related freezing resistance in Grand Rapids lettuce seeds. Consistent and recognizable conformational changes occurred in lipid-water phases of lettuce seeds at different moisture contents. In air-dry lettuce seed cotyledons, the lipids lying in spherical lipid bodies near the cell wall appeared amorphous, while the structure was crystalline above 20% water content. The lipid bodies interassociated into membrane bilayers in seeds containing 20 to 25% water. Such lyotropic phase transitions in membrane lipids during lettuce seed hydration are believed to contribute to the biphasic freezing behavior observed in lettuce seeds at different moisture contents and to provide a natural freezing tolerance mechanism for highly desiccated plant tissues such as seeds.     

RNA synthesis and the germination of light-sensitive lettuce seeds

Summary The germination of lettuce seeds is inhibited by the nucleotide base analogue 6-methylpurine. RNA synthesis has been measured during imbibition and germination as ³²P-phosphate incorporation into RNA species as fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seeds were surface sterilized and imbibed in the presence of various antibiotics. RNA preparations from lettuce seeds were coelectrophoresed with ³H-RNA prepared from bacteria to check for bacterial contamination of the seeds. There is a much higher rate of RNA synthesis in illuminated, germinating seeds as compared to dark, non-germinating seeds. This difference does not develop until after 12 hours of imbibition at 27°, which is the time of onset of germination and radicle growth.This investigation was supported by a contract from the United States Department of Agriculture (No. 616-15-3). Journal paper of the Purdue Agriculture Experiment Station.     

Antagonistic effects of high and low temperature pretreatments on the germination and pregermination ethylene synthesis of lettuce seeds

Red light-induced germination of Grand Rapids lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) incubated at 20 C was inhibited if the seeds were first imbibed at 30 C for 36 hours. This effect was counteracted by exogenous ethylene and associated with a reduction in the rate at which the seeds produced ethylene throughout the pregermination period. A chilling treatment reversed the effect of a prior imbibition at 30 C on both germination and ethylene production. The possibility that the pretreatments influence germination through their effects on ethylene production is discussed.     

Endosperm and pericarp involvement in the supercooling of imbibed lettuce seeds

Fully hydrated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds showed dual freezing exotherms (−9 and −18°C), even after 10 hours imbibition. Only the −9°C exotherm was observed in seeds imbibed for 20 hours, but without external nucleation, all water in the embryo supercooled. Results indicate that the endosperm acts as a barrier to ice propagation. Other experiments suggest that the pericarp may also protect the embryo under certain freezing conditions.     

Influence of dimethyl sulfoxide on freezing resistance of lettuce seeds

DTA of lettuce seeds was used to study the cryoprotective mode of action of DMSO. Lettuce seeds were imbibed for 16 hr in 5, 10, 15 or 20% aqueous solutions of DMSO either with or without a 6 hr preimbibition in water. Seeds were frozen to postsecondary exotherm temperatures; exotherms were recorded; and germination was tested after freezing. DMSO had at least a twofold effect on the lettuce seeds: it increased the degree of supercooling, and it imparted a capacity to survive following freezing beyond secondary exotherm levels.