沙柳木蠹蛾性行为及其性信息素滴度的动态节律

沙柳木蠹蛾Holcocerus arenicola是为害沙柳Salix psammophila的主要钻蛀性害虫之一。在进入暗期后的6 h内,对其求偶行为和交配行为进行观察和记录,调查该虫求偶和交配的活动规律。通过触角电位技术（EAG）和毛细管气相色谱（GC）对性腺体内信息素的滴度进行了分析,以揭示性信息素产生的昼夜节律和雌虫日龄对性信息素合成的影响。结果表明：该虫在暗期0.5~1 h内即开始有求偶行为,最大求偶高峰出现在羽化后的第2晚。交配行为主要发生在暗期的1~2 h内。在各日龄的成虫中,1日龄成虫的交配百分率最高。交配平均时间为24.16±2.64 min,随着日龄的增加,交配时间前移。在实验中,未观察到5~6日龄成虫的交配行为。沙柳木蠹蛾性信息素的体内合成早于求偶行为1~2 h,并在暗期的前2 h内达到峰值。性信息素的滴度随着雌虫日龄的增减而减少,最高值为当日羽化雌虫的腺体提取物。林间诱蛾实验中,处女雌蛾和性腺体提取物对雄蛾均有较好的诱捕效果。本研究表明,在沙柳木蠹蛾的性信息素滴度和性活动之间具有同步关系,同时为进一步利用长距离性信息素防治该虫提供了参考。     

六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素活性成分的提取和初步鉴定

[目的]初步鉴定六星黑点豹蠹蛾Zeuzera leuconotum Butler (Lepidoptera,Cossidae)雌蛾性信息素活性成分.[方法]采用正己烷溶剂浸提法提取六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素腺体中的化学组分,利用毛细管气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术分析性腺提取物,并运用触角电位技术(EAG)测定提取物及标准化合物的电生理活性.[结果]GC结果显示六星黑点豹蠹蛾性腺体提取物中主要存在7种成分,其中G组分在加入标准化合物反-2-顺-13-十八碳烯醇-1-乙酸酯(E2,Z13-18:Ac)后,峰高和峰面积均相应增加.GC-MS分析结果证明G组分为E2,Z13-18:A.EAG结果显示7种组分均能引起雄蛾触角电位反应,其中对E2Z13-18:Ac的反应值最大.[结论]本研究初步鉴定出E2,Z13-18:Ac是六星黑点豹蠹蛾的性信息主要组分,为使用性信息素防治六星黑点豹蠹蛾奠定了基础.     

六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素活性成分的提取和初步鉴定

[目的]初步鉴定六星黑点豹蠹蛾Zeuzera leuconotum Butler (Lepidoptera,Cossidae)雌蛾性信息素活性成分.[方法]采用正己烷溶剂浸提法提取六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素腺体中的化学组分,利用毛细管气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术分析性腺提取物,并运用触角电位技术(EAG)测定提取物及标准化合物的电生理活性.[结果]GC结果显示六星黑点豹蠹蛾性腺体提取物中主要存在7种成分,其中G组分在加入标准化合物反-2-顺-13-十八碳烯醇-1-乙酸酯(E2,Z13-18:Ac)后,峰高和峰面积均相应增加.GC-MS分析结果证明G组分为E2,Z13-18:A.EAG结果显示7种组分均能引起雄蛾触角电位反应,其中对E2Z13-18:Ac的反应值最大.[结论]本研究初步鉴定出E2,Z13-18:Ac是六星黑点豹蠹蛾的性信息主要组分,为使用性信息素防治六星黑点豹蠹蛾奠定了基础.     

六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素活性成分的提取和初步鉴定

[目的]初步鉴定六星黑点豹蠹蛾Zeuzera leuconotum Butler (Lepidoptera,Cossidae)雌蛾性信息素活性成分.[方法]采用正己烷溶剂浸提法提取六星黑点豹蠹蛾性信息素腺体中的化学组分,利用毛细管气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术分析性腺提取物,并运用触角电位技术(EAG)测定提取物及标准化合物的电生理活性.[结果]GC结果显示六星黑点豹蠹蛾性腺体提取物中主要存在7种成分,其中G组分在加入标准化合物反-2-顺-13-十八碳烯醇-1-乙酸酯(E2,Z13-18:Ac)后,峰高和峰面积均相应增加.GC-MS分析结果证明G组分为E2,Z13-18:A.EAG结果显示7种组分均能引起雄蛾触角电位反应,其中对E2Z13-18:Ac的反应值最大.[结论]本研究初步鉴定出E2,Z13-18:Ac是六星黑点豹蠹蛾的性信息主要组分,为使用性信息素防治六星黑点豹蠹蛾奠定了基础.     

竹织叶野螟成虫求偶行为及其雌蛾性信息素分泌腺超微结构

【目的】蛾类昆虫性信息素的合成和释放与求偶行为的发生是一致的,其合成和释放的器官是性信息素腺体。为深入了解竹织叶野螟性信息素的分泌生理,开展了竹织叶野螟求偶行为及其性信息素腺体超微结构的研究。【方法】在光周期14L:10D、温度26±2℃、相对湿度80%±10％的室内条件下,观察研究了竹织叶野螟的求偶行为;依据求偶规律研究结果,选取最活跃日龄雌蛾,在暗期求偶高峰时间段,充分挤压其腹部末端,然后于第8节处横向切下,将切下的腹末标本处理后,借助显微镜和扫描电镜观察性信息素腺体的表面特征及超微结构。【结果】竹织叶野螟雌雄蛾求偶均具一定的程序性,且求偶行为只发生在暗期,暗期前5 h内雌蛾求偶率较低,6 h后求偶率明显升高,并在暗期7-8 h达到求偶高峰;求偶率与雌蛾日龄有密切关系,3日龄雌蛾求偶率最高,持续时间也最长。竹织叶野螟性信息素分泌腺位于腹部第8-9节节间膜上,是一完整的环状结构,显微镜下观察其分泌腺为一乳白色囊状体,扫描电镜下其腹面囊状体迂回褶皱多,大体分为3个褶皱区,除第1褶皱区外,其余褶皱区表面密布乳突、凹陷沟和刺状物,且刺状物顶端有孔;背面囊状体皱褶少,其表面形态与第2和第3褶皱区相似。【结论】研究结果有助于了解竹织叶野螟性信息素合成和释放的时辰节律,也为该虫性信息素的准确提取和鉴定、性信息素的生物合成及利用提供了科学依据。     

六星黑点豹蠹蛾成虫生殖行为特征与性趋向

六星黑点豹蠹蛾Zeuzera leuconotum Butler (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)是一种重要的园林害虫。在光周期L:D=14:10、温度19-32 ℃、相对湿度75%-85%条件下,对六星黑点豹蠹蛾的羽化、性比、交配行为及能力进行了观察,利用风洞技术和林间诱蛾试验验证了其性趋向。结果表明:六星黑点豹蠹蛾羽化期60 d左右,6月下旬为羽化高峰期,日羽化高峰出现在傍晚17:00-18:00,占全天羽化量的55.4%;雌雄性比为1:1.03;交配高峰期发生在进入暗期5-7 h,成虫1日龄后性成熟,一生交配1次;随雌蛾日龄增加,其交配率逐渐下降,交配时间提前,交配持续时间逐渐加长;雌蛾一生平均产卵378个,孵化率80%,未交配雌蛾平均产卵426个,孵化率0%;未交配雌蛾和雄蛾的平均寿命分别为5.56 d和3.83 d,交配过的雌蛾和雄蛾平均寿命分别为5.66 d和2.41 d,交配缩短雄蛾寿命;六星黑点豹蠹蛾种内个体间引诱作用主要为雌蛾引诱雄蛾,同性间不存在聚集行为;2-3日龄未交配雌蛾林间诱蛾量最高,显著高于1日龄和4-6日龄(P＜0.01)。依据研究结果,分析讨论了应用性信息素防治六星黑点豹蠹蛾的可行性,说明六星黑点豹蠹蛾是可利用性信息素进行防控的理想对象。     

甜菜夜蛾雌蛾求偶行为及性信息素产生的时间节律(英文)

研究了甜菜夜蛾雌蛾求偶行为和腺体中性信息素滴度时日变化的规律。结果表明 ,雌蛾求偶行为和性信息素滴度均呈明显的昼夜节律 ,且均在暗期的中后期达到高峰。比较而言 ,雌蛾的求偶活动期较短 ,在暗期中期开始 ,暗期结束后很快停止 ;但峰期较长 ,从中后期达到高峰后一直保持到暗期结束。而腺体内 4种性信息素组份从暗期前 0 .5h到下一个光期 4.5h均有产生 ;但峰期很短 ,暗期 6.5h显著增加达到高峰后 ,在 8.5h又迅速回落。日变化研究表明 ,甜菜夜蛾当日龄即可求偶 ,3日龄起进入求偶盛期 ,至 7日龄末有明显减退。 0～ 3日龄雌蛾的平均初始求偶时间逐日显著提前 ,以后则稳定在暗期 5h左右。不同日龄间性信息素滴度的变化较小     

红铃虫雌蛾求偶行为的观察

<正> Jefferson等(1971)已经报道红铃虫Pectino-phora gossypiebla(Saund.)雌蛾释放性信息素时呈现一种“求偶”姿态。雌蛾求偶时,腹部第8—9节的节间腹上方有一囊状物突出,此囊状物即是红铃虫信息素的分泌腺体。本文描述了红铃虫雌蛾求偶行为的过程,观察雌蛾求偶行为的时辰节律以及羽化天数、交配和寄主植物(棉叶)对雌蛾求偶行为的影响。     

蜀柏毒蛾生殖行为及性信息素产生与释放节律

为了探索蜀柏毒蛾Parocneria orienta Chao性信息素产生和释放规律, 为利用性信息素监测和防治蜀柏毒蛾奠定基础, 本研究在野外及室内温度22±1℃、 相对湿度75%~80%、 光周期14L∶10D条件下观察研究了蜀柏毒蛾成虫的羽化、 求偶、 交尾、 产卵行为, 触角电位反应测定处女雌蛾性信息素产生与释放的时辰节律。结果表明： 蜀柏毒蛾羽化行为全天可见, 主要集中在1:00-5:00, 占总羽化量的44.94%, 7:30-11:00进行婚飞和交尾, 交尾高峰期出现在8:30左右, 交配时间少则2 h, 多则8 h, 求偶、 交配均发生在光期。随着日龄的增加, 召唤时间前移并且延长, 1日龄的处女雌蛾交尾时间较短; 雌蛾羽化当天就可交尾, 2日龄雌蛾交尾率最高, 达36.67%。雌蛾分多处产卵, 雌蛾一生最高产卵量达402粒, 最低产卵量为78粒。羽化当天的雌蛾体内性信息素含量较低, 第2天最高, 以后逐日下降; 2日龄蜀柏毒蛾处女雌蛾性信息素的产生量从7:00起逐渐增加, 8:30-9:30时最高, 9:30后逐渐减小。雄蛾对处女雌蛾腺体提取物的触角电位反应在8:30-9:00最强, 说明8:30-9:00是雌蛾产生和释放性信息素的高峰期。蜀柏毒蛾的羽化、 求偶、 交尾及性信息素的产生与释放存在一定的时辰节律, 野外处女雌蛾诱蛾试验证实了性信息素释放与交配行为在时辰节律上的一致性。     

小木蠹蛾性行为和性信息素产生与释放的时辰节律

观察了小木蠹蛾Holcocerus insularis的性行为反应,并采用腺体提取、空气收集 、触角电位和田间试验等方法对雌蛾产生和释放性信息素的时辰节律进行了研究。结果表明： (1) 该虫羽化24 h后性成熟,婚飞和交配活动主要在1：00～4：00,交配历时15～45 min;(2) 大部分雌蛾一生交配1～3次,雄蛾多数一生只交配1次,雌雄比为1∶0.89; (3) 雌蛾腺体提取物中性信息素含量同蛾龄有关,2日龄雌蛾腺体性信息素含量最高;(4) 雌蛾腺体中性信息素含量在1：00时最高,而性信息素释放高峰在2：30。     

Influence of Nematodes and Light Sources on Growth and Nodulation of Soybean

The influence of nematodes on nodulation of soybean varied according to their modes of parasitism. In the greenhouse, nodule formation was stimulated by the endoparasites, Meloidogyne hapla and Pratylenchus penetrans, but was inhibited slightly by the ectoparasite, Belonolaimus longicaudatus. In an experiment under controlled conditions in a phytotron, Heterodera glycines severely inhibited nodule formation, whereas plants inoculated with B. longicaudatus and P. penetrans had more nodules per g root than nematode-free plants. Nitrogen-fixing capacity, however, was inhibited by all three nematode species. Different light sources used in the phytotron experiment also influenced growth and nodulation of soybean. A fluorescent plus incandescent light regime resulted in plants with the greatest shoot weight, pod number, and nodules per g root. Plants grown under Lucalox lamps had excessive stem elongation.     

Vascular Streak Dieback of cacao in Southeast Asia and Melanesia: in planta detection of the pathogen and a new taxonomy

Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD) disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in Southeast Asia and Melanesia is caused by a basidiomycete (Ceratobasidiales) fungus Oncobasidium theobromae (syn. =Thanatephorus theobromae). The most characteristic symptoms of the disease are green-spotted leaf chlorosis or, commonly since about 2004, necrotic blotches, followed by senescence of leaves beginning on the second or third flush behind the shoot apex, and blackening of infected xylem in the vascular traces at the leaf scars resulting from the abscission of infected leaves. Eventually the shoot apex is killed and infected branches die. In susceptible cacao the fungus may grow through the xylem down into the main stem and kill a mature cacao tree. Infections in the stem of young plants prior to the formation of the first 3-4 lateral branches usually kill the plant. Basidiospores released from corticioid basidiomata developed on leaf scars or along cracks in the main vein of infected leaves infect young leaves. The pathogen commonly infects cacao but there are rare reports from avocado. As both crops are introduced to the region, the pathogen is suspected to occur asymptomatically in native vegetation. The pathogen is readily isolated but cultures cannot be maintained. In this study, DNA was extracted from pure cultures of O. theobromae obtained from infected cacao plants sampled from Indonesia. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), consisting of ITS1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA and ITS2, and a portion of nuclear large subunit (LSU) were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences placed O. theobromae sister to Ceratobasidium anastomosis groups AG-A, AG-Bo, and AG-K with high posterior probability. Therefore the new combination Ceratobasidium theobromae is proposed. A PCR-based protocol was developed to detect and identify C. theobromae in plant tissue of cacao enabling early detection of the pathogen in plants. A second species of Ceratobasidium, Ceratobasidium ramicola, identified through ITS sequence analysis, was isolated from VSD-affected cacao plants in Java, and is widespread in diseased cacao collected from Indonesia.     

Relationships of plant pathogenic enterobacteria based on partial atpD, carA, and recA as individual and concatenated nucleotide and peptide sequences

Relationships of the genera in the Enterobacteriaceae containing plant pathogenic species: Brenneria, Dickeya, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Pantoea, Pectobacterium, and Samsonia, were investigated by comparison of their nucleotide and peptide sequences of atpD, carA, recA, and the concatenated sequences. Erwinia spp. and Pantoea spp., with Pectobacterium cypripedii, formed a group distinct from other pathogenic taxa. Pectobacterium, Brenneria, Dickeya, and Samsonia formed a contiguous clade. Samsonia was usually concurrent with Pectobacterium. Most Brenneria were also close to Pectobacterium, suggesting that these three taxa might be better represented as a single genus. Brenneria quercina was not closely associated with other members of this genus and may represent a separate genus. The sequences representing Dickeya were distinct, further supporting the generic status of the taxon. Plant pathogenic Enterobacter spp. display such sequence variability that few definite conclusions as to their specific placement could be made. These data highlight the difficulty of drawing reliable and robust taxonomic conclusions based on comparative analysis of sequence data without some independent criterion to calibrate a scale for diversity.     

Frequency of ace, epa and elrA Genes in Clinical and Environmental Strains of Enterococcus faecalis

Surface proteins play an important role in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infections. Some of them are candidates for a vaccine, e.g., the frequency of endocarditis in rats vaccinated with Ace protein was 75 % as 12 opposed to 100 % in those who weren’t. However, there are other components of enterococcal cells, such as Epa antigens or internalin-like proteins, which may be used in the prophylaxis of infections caused by them. However, also other virulence factors and resistance to antibiotics are important during enterococcal infection. Therefore, the relevance of ace, epa, elrA, other virulence genes, as well as resistance to antibiotics was investigated. 161 Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from teaching hospitals in Lodz, cultured according to standard microbiological methods, were investigated for the presence of genes encoding surface proteins by PCR. Results were analyzed with χ² test. The elrA gene was found in all clinical and environmental strains, the ace gene was also widespread among E. faecalis (96.9 %). Both tested epa genes were found in the majority of isolates (83.25 %). There was correlation between the presence of esp and ace genes (p = 0.046) as well as between epa and agg genes (p = 0.0094; χ² test). The presence of the genes encoding surface proteins investigated in our study in the great majority of isolates implies that they would appear to be required during E. faecalis infection. Therefore, they could be excellent targets in therapy of enterococcal infections or, as some studies show, candidates for vaccines.     

Algicidal and antifungal compounds from the roots of Ruta graveolens and synthesis of their analogs

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract of Ruta graveolens roots yielded rutacridone epoxide with potent selective algicidal activity towards the 2-methyl-isoborneol (MIB)-producing blue-green alga Oscillatoria perornata, with relatively little effect on the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum. The diol-analog of rutacridone epoxide, gravacridondiol, which was also present in the same extract, had significantly less activity towards O. perornata. Rutacridone epoxide also showed significantly higher activity than commercial fungicides captan and benomyl in our micro-bioassay against the agriculturally important pathogenic fungi Colletotrichum fragariae, C. gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, and Botrytis cineara and Fusarium oxysporium. Rutacridone epoxide is reported as a direct-acting mutagen, precluding its use as an agrochemical. In order to understand the structure-activity relationships and to develop new potential biocides without toxicity and mutagenicity, some analogs containing the (2-methyloxiranyl)-dihydrobenzofuran moiety with an epoxide were synthesized and tested. None of the synthetic analogs showed comparable activities to rutacridone epoxide. The absolute stereochemistry of rutacridone was determined to be 2'(R) and that of rutacridone epoxide to be 2'(R), 3'(R) by CD and NMR analysis.     

Patterns of plastid and nuclear variation among apomictic polyploids of Hieracium: evolutionary processes and taxonomic implications

Background and Aims

Apomictic species (with asexual seed production) make up for 20–50 % of all taxonomically recognized species in northern Europe, but the phylogenetic relationships of apomictic species and the mode of evolution and speciation remain largely unknown and their taxonomy is consequently disputed.

Methods

In the present study, plastid psbD-trnT sequences (349 accessions) and 12 nuclear microsatellite loci (478 accessions) were used to create an overview of the molecular variation in (mainly) northern European members of the most species-rich of all plant genera, Hieracium s.s. The results are discussed and interpreted in the context of morphological and cytological data on the same species.

Key Results and Conclusions

The complete psbD-trnT alignment was 1243 bp and 50 polymorphisms defined 40 haplotypes. All haplotypes found in the sections of the genus distributed in the northern European lowlands fell into one of two main groups, group H and group V, mutually separated by seven or eight polymorphisms. All accessions belonging to H. sects. Foliosa, Hieracioides (viz. H. umbellatum) and Tridentata and all but one accession of triploid species of H. sects. Oradea and Vulgata showed haplotypes of group V. Haplotypes of group H were found in all accessions of H. sects. Bifida and Hieracium and in all tetraploid representatives of H. sects. Oreadea and Vulgata. Additional haplotypes were found in accessions of the genus Pilosella and in southern European and Alpine sections of Hieracium. In contrast, the distribution of individual haplotypes in the two major groups appeared uncorrelated with morphology and current taxonomy, but polymorphisms within species were only rarely encountered. In total, 160 microsatellite alleles were identified. Levels of variation were generally high with only nine pairs of accessions being identical at all loci (in all cases representing accessions of the same species). In the neighbor-joining analysis based on the microsatellite data, accessions of the same species generally clustered together and some smaller groups of species congruent with morphology and/or current taxonomy were recovered but, except for H. sect. Oreadea, most larger groups were not correlated with morphology. Although the plastid DNA sequences show too little variation and the nuclear microsatellites are too variable to resolve relationships successfully among species or to fully understand processes of evolution, it is concluded that both species and sections as defined by morphology are largely congruent with the molecular data, that gene flow between the sections is rare or non-existent and that the tetraploid species may constitute the key to understanding evolution and speciation in this genus.     

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Lymnaeid Snails and Their Potential Role in Transmission of Fasciola spp. in Vietnam

Freshwater snails of the family Lymnaeidae play an important role in the transmission of fascioliasis worldwide. In Vietnam, 2 common lymnaeid species, Lymnaea swinhoei and Lymnaea viridis, can be recognized on the basis of morphology, and a third species, Lymnaea sp., is known to exist. Recent studies have raised controversy about their role in transmission of Fasciola spp. because of confusion in identification of the snail hosts. The aim of this study is, therefore, to clarify the identities of lymnaeid snails in Vietnam by a combination of morphological and molecular approaches. The molecular analyses using the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA clearly showed that lymnaeids in Vietnam include 3 species, Austropeplea viridis (morphologically identified as L. viridis), Radix auricularia (morphologically identified as L. swinhoei) and Radix rubiginosa (morphologically identified as Lymnaea sp.). R. rubiginosa is a new record for Vietnam. Among them, only A. viridis was found to be infected with Fasciola spp. These results provide a new insight into lymnaeid snails in Vietnam. Identification of lymnaeid snails in Vietnam and their role in the liver fluke transmission should be further investigated.     

Unification of the genera Nonlabens, Persicivirga, Sandarakinotalea and Stenothermobacter into a single emended genus, Nonlabens, and description of Nonlabens agnitus sp. nov

Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that a bacterial isolate, designated JC2678(T), represents a distinct phyletic line within the suprageneric monophyletic clade containing the genera Nonlabens, Persicivirga, Stenothermobacter and Sandarakinotalea. The polyphasic data presented in this study demonstrated that the members belonging to the Nonlabens-like clade overall constitute a single genus. Therefore, it is proposed to transfer the members of genera Persicivirga O'Sullivan et al. 2006, Stenothermobacter Lau et al. 2006 and Sandarakinotalea Khan et al. 2006 to the genus Nonlabens Lau et al. 2005. Thus, P. dokdonensis (Yoon et al. 2006) Nedashkovskaya et al. 2009, P. ulvanivorans Barbeyron et al. 2010, P. xylanidelens O'Sullivan et al. 2006, Sandarakinotalea sediminis Khan et al. 2006 and Stenothermobacter spongiae Lau et al. 2006 should be transferred to Nonlabens dokdonensis comb. nov., Nonlabens ulvanivorans comb. nov., Nonlabens xylanidelens comb. nov., Nonlabens sediminis comb. nov. and Nonlabens spongiae comb. nov., respectively. In addition, strain JC2678(T) (=KACC 14155(T)=JCM 17109(T)) is proposed to constitute a novel species belonging to the genus Nonlabens with the name of Nonlabens agnitus sp. nov.     

Characterization of 10 MADS-box genes from Pyrus pyrifolia and their differential expression during fruit development and ripening

We cloned 10 Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) MIKC-type II MADS-box genes, and analyzed their expression during fruit development and ripening. PpMADS2-1 was APETALA (AP)1-like; PpMADS3-1 was FRUITFULL (FUL)/SQUAMOSA (SQUA)-like; PpMADS4-1 was AGAMOUS-like (AGL)6; PpMADS5-1 and PpMADS8-1 were SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS (SOC)-like; PpMADS9-1, PpMADS12-1, PpMADS14-1 and PpMADS16-1 were SEPALLATA (SEP)-like; while PpMADS15-1 was AGL/SHATTERPROOF (SHP)-like. Phylogenetic analysis showed their grouping into five major clades (and 10 sub-clades) that was consistent with their diverse functional types. Expression analysis in flower tissue revealed their distinct putative homeotic functional classes: A-class (PpMADS2-1, PpMADS3-1, PpMADS4-1, and PpMADS14-1), C-class (PpMADS15-1), E-class (PpMADS9-1, PpMADS12-1, and PpMADS16-1) and E (F)-class (PpMADS5-1 and PpMADS8-1). Differential gene expression was observed in different fruit tissues (skin, cortex and core) as well as in the cortex during the course of fruit development and ripening. Collectively, our results suggest their involvement in the diverse aspects of plant development including flower development and the course of fruit development and ripening.