Identification of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers Linked to Sex Determination in Calamus simplicifolius C. F. Wei.

The random amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） molecular marker technique was used to determine the sex of Calamus simplicifolius C. F. Wei In the present study, DNA samples were extracted individually from 10 male and 10 female plants. After a total of 1 040 decamer primers had been tested, an approximate 500-bp male-specific DNA fragment was generated with the S 1443 primer. It is feasible to identify sex at the early stages of plant life, which is beneficial for improving breeding programs of this dioecious species. In addition, we have obtained a proper RAPD protocol that is useful for other species of rattan.     

Effects of Glycerol on the Fluorescence Spectra and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Phaeodactylum tricornutum （Bacillariophyta）

Responses of the photosynthetic activity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum （Bacillariophyta） to organic carbon glycerol were investigated. The growth rate, photosynthetic pigments, 77 K fluorescence spectra, and chloroplast ultrastructure of P. tricornutum were examined under photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic conditions. The results showed that the specific growth rate was the fastest under mixotrophic conditions. The cell photosynthetic pigment content and values of Chl a/Chl c were reduced under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. The value of carotenoid/Chl a was enhanced under mixotrophic conditions, but was decreased under photoheterotrophic conditions. In comparison with photoautotrophic conditions, the fluorescence emission peaks and fluorescence excitation peaks were not shifted. The relative fluorescence of photosystem （PS） Ⅰ and PS Ⅱ and the values of F685/F710 and F685/F738 were decreased. Chloroplast thylakoid pairs were less packed under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. There was a strong correlation between degree of chloroplast thylakoid packing and the excitation energy kept in PS Ⅱ. These results suggested that the PS Ⅱ activity was reduced by glycerol under mixotrophic conditions, thereby leading to repression of the photosynthetic activity.     

The myth of “minima” and “maxima”, the species of Physalis in the Indian Subcontinent

The status of the names, Physalis minima L. and P. maxima Mill. (Solanaceae), and their alleged presence on the Indian subcontinent are discussed. The issues of nativity and identity of Linnaean Physalis minima are long-debated while the use of the name P. maxima Mill. and its report from India are recent. The available evidence indicates that the name "P. minima L." is misapplied to two different elements, viz., P. angulata L. and P. lagascae Roem. & Schult. The name Physalis minima L. may be rejected as nomen confusum, for which the paper provides the primary information. As on today, it is submerged under the synonymy of P. angulata L. The correct name for the widely known P. minima is P. lagascae. The name "P. maxima Mill." applied to the escape and naturalized weed in the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere is to be substituted by P. pruinosa L., a name misapplied to P. grisea (Waterf.) M. Martínez.     

紫堇属和钻地风属植物二新异名

将白花刻叶紫堇(Corydalis incisa (Thunb.) Pers. var. alba S. Y. Wang)作为新异名归并入刻叶紫堇(C. incisa (Thunb.) Pers.);将心叶钻地风(Schizophragma integrifolium Oliv. f. cordatum S.Y.Wang)作为新异名归并入秦榛钻地风(S. corylifolium chun).     

Functional characterization of the NF-κB transcription factor gene REL2 from Anopheles gambiae

The REL2 gene plays an important role in innate immunity against both Gram （＋） and Gram （-） bacteria and malaria parasites in Anopheles gambiae, the main vector of malaria in Africa. Through alternative splicing, REL2 produces two protein products, REL2F （with a Rel-homology domain as well as an inhibitory ankyrin repeat region） and REL2S （without the ankyrin repeats）. In the immune-competent cell line SualB from An. gambiae, REL2 has been shown to be a key regulator for cecropin A （or CEC1）. The high level expression of CEC1 in SualB was postulated to be the result of constitutive activation of REL2F. Here we showed that REL2F is indeed processed, albeit at a low level, in the SualB cell line. The primary cleavage requires residue 678 （an aspartic acid）. Proteolytic cleavage of REL2F can be enhanced by challenge with bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, but not with fungus Beauveria bassiana. The inducible cleavage can be substantially reduced by RNA interference against PGRP-LC and CASPL1. Over-expression of REL2S or a constitutively active form of REL2F （REL2F380C or REL2F678） in An. gambiae cell line can further increase expression of CEC1 and other antimicrobial peptide genes. Over-expression of these constitutive active proteins in an immune naive cell line, MSQ43, from Anopheles stephensi, results in even more dramatic increased expression of antimicrobial peptides.     

Alterations of cardiac and lymphocyte β-adrenoceptors in rat with chronic heart failure

The alterations of cardiac and lymphocyte β-adrenoceptors were observed in the rats with chronic heart failure produced by constriction of both abdominal aorta and renal artery. The results showed that β1-adrenocep-tor density and mRNA levels were increased, whereas these levels remained unchanged for β2 The concentration-contractile response curve for isoproterenol was shifted to the right in cardiac atrium, whereas the concentration-cAMP accumulation response curve for isoproterenol in myocardium was not changed. The number of β-adrenoceptors in blood lymphocyte was markedly reduced. Thus in the heart-failure rats the density of cardiac β-adrenoceptor was increased accompanying reduced β-adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic response, suggesting a post adenylate cyclase dys-function or impaired contractile components. In contrast, the alteration of β-adrenoceptor in lymphocyte is consistent with the reduced β-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response in heart.     

Bacterial microbiome of Coptotermes curvignathus （Isoptera： Rhinotermitidae） reflects the coevolution of species and dietary pattern

Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren is capable of feeding on living trees. This ability is attributed to their effective digestive system that is furnished by the termite＇s own cellulolytic enzymes and cooperative enzymes produced by their gut microbes. In this study, the identity of an array of diverse microbes residing in the gut of C. curvignathus was revealed by sequencing the near-full-length 16S rRNA genes. A total of 154 bacterial phylotypes were found. The Bacteroidetes was the most abundant phylum and accounted for about 65% of the gut microbial profile. This is followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, Proteobacteria, TM7, Deferribacteres, Planctomycetes, Ferrucomicrobia, and Termite Group 1. Based on the phylogenetic study, this symbiosis can be a result of long coevolution of gut enterotypes with the phylogenic distribution, strong selection pressure in the gut, and other speculative pressures that determine bacterial biome to follow. The phylogenetic distribution of cloned rRNA genes in the bacterial domain that was considerably different from other termite reflects the strong selection pressures in the gut where a proportional composition of gut microbiome of C. curvignathus has established. The selection pressures could be linked to the unique diet preference of C. curvignathus that profoundly feeds on living trees. The delicate gut microbiome composition may provide available nutrients to the host as well as potential protection against opportunistic pathogen.     

A Check-List of the Spiders (Araneae) of the Bolshekhekhtsyrski Nature Reserve, Khabarovsk Province, the Russian Far East

326 species of spiders belonging to 26 families are recorded from the Bolshekhekhtsyrski State Nature Reserve,of them 70 are new records for the reserve and six are new to the fauna of Russia:Asperthorax borealis Ono et Saito,2001; Cyclosa kumadai Tanikawa,1992; Cyclosa okumae Tanikawa,1992(earlier it was identified as C. argenteoalba Bosenberg et Strand,1906); Haplodrassus taepaikensis Paik,1992; Hypselistes fossilobus Fei et Zhu,1993; and Pachygnatha gaoi Zhu et al.,2003. The name Pronous minutus (S. Saito,1939) is synonymized with Pronoides brunneus Schenkel,1936. The male of H. taepaikensis is illustrated for the first time. Composition of the fauna is briefly discussed; 41% of the recorded species have their ranges confined to the SE Palaearctics. By its species diversity,the reserve's fauna is the second largest local fauna eastward of the Urals. An expected spider diversity of this reserve is likely to be over 400 species.     

Transformation and Functional Expression of the rFCA-RRM2 Gene in Rice

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the overexpression of the rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp, japonica var. Zhonghua 11) flowering control gene (rFCA-RRM2) in monocotyledonous model rice. Constitutive expression of rFCA-RRM2 from the Actl-5 rice promoter caused late flowering in transgenic rice and increased grain weight that was more than 50% higher than that of control plants, which is the first demonstration of rFCA-RRM2 being able to increase rice production. Late flowering was accompanied by strong phenotype and some morphological modifications. These observations suggest that rFCA-RRM2 is a useful tool for phenotype improvement and yield enhancement in cereal crops.     

Synopsis of Leymus Hochst. （Triticeae： Poaceae）

Leymus is a genus in the Triticeae tribe, Poaceae. The taxa of this genus are allopolyploid species which possess the Ns and Xm genomes. According to cytological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses, some species of Hystrix and Elymus ought to be transferred to this genus. A world revision of the genus Leymus is needed. In this paper we summarize experimental results, provide a key to sections, species and varieties, and list all the taxa we recognize in Leymus with their synonyms. This synopsis is a new taxonomic system to be used for the revision of Leymus.     

芸香科山小橘属一新种——长瓣山小橘

Glycosmis longipetala F. J. Mou ＆ D. X. Zhang is described from Guangxi and Yunnan provinces in southwestern China. The new species is similar to G. cochinchinensis （Lour.） Pierre ex Engl. by its simple leaves, but distinguishable in having long-elliptic or oblanceolate （vs. ovate） leaves, long-ovoid to ellipsoid （vs. ovoid） floral buds, ovaries with many tubercles （vs. smooth） and glabrous （vs. pubescent） stamens. The pollen grains of the new species are 23.9±3.09 （20.8-27.0）×22.0±1.80 （20.4-24.4）μm in size with reticulate exine ornamentation in equatorial area and foveolate in polar area. The chromosome number of the new species is 2n=72.     

我国首次记录的微型硅藻——具刺原龙骨藻和伊岛棒杆藻及对其分类地位的讨论

Protokeelia is described as a new and rare pennate diatom genus in China. Its valve includes two parts： ventral valve and dorsal valve. The ventral valve is more or less convex or concave. The raphe runs in a distinct elevated and thickened siliceous ridge. In the internal valve, beneath the raphe are fibulae or fibulae clusters which connect the ventral and dorsal valves. One species, P. spinifera Round ＆ Basson, is observed in the water samples from a mangrove forest in Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China. Its main morphological features are described in this paper along with electron microscope （EM） photos. Morphological comparisons are also made among several allied species. In addition, a newly recorded species for China, Rhopalodia iriomotensis Kobayasi, Nagumo ＆ Tanaka, is discussed here. Because several key features observed in this species resemble those of some Protokeelia species, we suggest that it may actually represent a Protokeelia species.     

钻地风属植物摘录

钻地风属植物摘录卫兆芬（中国科学院华南植物研究所,广州５１０６５０）ＮＯＴＥＳＯＮＳＣＨＩＺＯＰＨＲＡＧＭＡＳＩＥＢ．ＥＴＺＵＣＣ．（ＳＡＸＩＦＲＡＧＡＣＥＡＥ）ＦＲＯＭＣＨＩＮＡ￥ＷｅｉＣｈａｏｆｅｎ（ＳｏｕｔｈＣｈｉｎａＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＢｏ...     

Ontogeny and morphology of the fertile flowers of Hydrangea and allied genera of tribe Hydrangeeae (Hydrangeaceae)

The monophyletic Hydrangeeae (Hydrangeaceae) consists of the clade Cardiandra + Deinanthe and its sister, the Hydrangea clade, which includes the paraphyletic Hydrangea as well as Broussaisia, Decumaria, Dichroa, Pileostegia, Platycrater and Schizophragma. The plesiomorphic imbricate corolla aestivation and polystemony of Cardiandra and Deinanthe distinguish these two genera from most members of the Hydrangea clade. Deinanthe has postgenitally fused styles and cushion-like, dorsally positioned stigmas. The Hydrangea clade is notable because most species of Hydrangea share a floral morphology characterized by small size; tetramerous-pentamerous perianths; inconspicuous sepals; reflexed petals; diplostemony; stamens that are longer than the styles; completely inferior ovaries; separate styles; terminal, papillate stigmas; and dimerous-tetramerous gynoecia. This suite of states is termed the 'Hydrangea floral syndrome' (HFS). Various members of the Hydrangea clade lack the HFS, including (1) Platycrater; (2) Hydrangea anomala; (3) H. paniculata + H. heteromalla; (4) the Schizophragma clade (Schizophragma, Pileostegia and Decumaria); and (5) the macrophylla clade (H. macrophylla, H. scandens, H. hirta, Dichroa and Broussaisia). The meristic uniqueness of Decumaria reflects mutations observed in Arabidopsis (clavata) and Lycopersicon (fasciated) that cause organ number increases because of changes in meristem capital. The modification of early perianth development to form a prominent corolline torus at a point when sepals are diminutive is present in H. anomala and Hydrangea section Cornidia and may be synapomorphic for them. Various transformations in the perianth, androecium, and gynoecium lie behind the floral diversity of Hydrangeeae. Some morphological transformations have been homoplastic, including shifts to polystemony, calyptrate corollas, and synstyly.     

Digital imaging approaches for phenotyping whole plant nitrogen and phosphorus response in Bracbypodium distacbyon

This work evaluates the phenotypic response of the model grass （Brachypodium distacbyon （L.） P. Beauv.） to nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition using a combination of imaging techniques and destructive harvest of shoots and roots. Reference line Bd21-3 was grown in pots using 11 phosphorus and 11 nitrogen concentrations to establish a dose-response curve. Shoot biovolume and biomass, root length and biomass, and tissue phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations increased with nutrient concentration. Shoot biovolume, estimated by imaging, was highly correlated with dry weight （R2 〉 0.92） and both biovolume and growth rate responded strongly to nutrient availability. Higher nutrient supply increased nodal root length more than other root types. Photochemical efficiency was strongly reduced by low phosphorus concentrations as early as 1 week after germination, suggesting that this measurement may be suitable for high throughput screening of phosphorus response. In contrast, nitrogen concentration had little effect on photochemical efficiency. Changes in biovolume over time were used to compare growth rates of four accessions in response tonitrogen and phosphorus supply. We demonstrate that a time series image-based approach coupled with mathematical modeling provides higher resolution of genotypic response to nutrient supply than traditional destructive techniques and shows promise for high throughput screening and determina- tion of genomic regions associated with superior nutrient use efficiency.     

Identification and characterization of genes involved in the jasmonate biosynthetic and signaling pathways in mulberry （Morus notabilis）

Jasmonate （JA） is an important phytohormone regulating growth, development, and environmental response in plants, particularly defense response against herbivorous insects. Recently, completion of the draft genome of the mulberry （Morus notabilis） in conjunction with genome sequencing of silkworm （Bombyx mori） provides an opportuni-ty to study this unique plant-herbivore interaction. Here, we identified genes involved in JA biosynthetic and signaling pathways in the genome of mulberry for the first time, with the majority of samples showing a tissue-biased expression pattern. The analysis of the representative genes 12-oxophy-todienoic acid reductase （OPRs） and jasmonate ZIM-domain （JAZs） was performed and the results indicated that the mulberry genome contains a relatively smal number of JA biosynthetic and signaling pathway genes. A gene encoding an＆amp;nbsp;important repressor, MnNINJA, was identified as an alternative splicing variant lacking an ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression motif. Having this fundamental information wil facilitate future functional study of JA-related genes pertaining to mulberry-silkworm interactions.     

Molecular mechanisms of insect adaptation to plant defense： Lessons learned from a Bruchid beetle

Plants can accumulate, constitutively and/or after induction, a wide variety of defense compounds in their tissues that confer resistance to herbivorous insects. The naturally occurring plant resistance gene pool can serve as an arsenal in pest management via transgenic approaches. As insect-plant interaction research rapidly advances, it has gradually become clear that the effects of plant defense compounds are determined not only by their toxicity toward target sites, but also by how insects respond to the challenge. Insect digestive tracts are not passive targets of plant defense, but often can adapt to dietary challenge and successfully deal with various plant toxins and anti-metabolites. This adaptive response has posed an obstacle to biotechnology-based pest control approaches, which underscores the importance of understanding insect adaptive mechanisms. Molecular studies on the impact of protease inhibitors on insect digestion have contributed significantly to our understanding of insect adaptation to plant defense. This review will focus on exposing how the insect responds to protease inhibitors by both qualitative and quantitative remodeling of their digestive proteases using the cowpea bruchid-soybean cysteine protease inhibitor N system.