氨基酸对蛇足石杉叶状体增殖及石杉碱甲积累的影响

通过在培养基中添加不同浓度的天冬氨酸、赖氨酸和色氨酸, 探究其对蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrata)叶状体生长、石杉碱甲积累及SOD酶活性的影响。结果表明: 添加天冬氨酸后, 叶状体干重生物量比对照提高18.50%-25.75%, 石杉碱甲含量亦明显高于对照, 其最适天冬氨酸浓度为0.5 mmol·L^-1; 添加1 mmol·L^-1色氨酸后, 叶状体相对增殖率显著高于对照, 但其石杉碱甲积累量略低于对照; 添加赖氨酸后, 叶状体相对增殖量、干重生物量及石杉碱甲含量均低于对照。添加一定浓度的天冬氨酸使SOD酶活性适当提高, 同时叶状体石杉碱甲积累量增加, 而长期保持高水平的SOD酶活性对叶状体积累石杉碱甲不利。     

蛇足石杉原叶体的培养及孢子体的诱导

以蛇足石杉孢子囊为材料培养得到蛇足石杉原叶体,进一步对原叶体进行增殖培养并诱导产生蛇足石杉孢子体。结果表明,适合蛇足石杉原叶体增殖的培养基是无激素的MS培养基,在该培养基上培养60d,原叶体的增殖倍数达到131．1;较高浓度的外源激素对原叶体的增殖有抑制作用,而低浓度的外源激素对原叶体的增殖影响不大;原叶体在无激素培养基上培养90d,孢子体的诱导频率为4．0％;通过HPLC检测蛇足石杉原叶体中石杉碱甲的含量为0．0059％,是野生孢子体中含量的0．25倍。     

蛇足石杉离体培养产生有效成分的研究

本研究报道了以庐山野生蛇足石杉成年株新生枝茎为外植体,运用植物离体培养技术获得了产生石杉碱甲的叶状体。实验结果表明:适宜叶状体发生的培养基为6,7-V+IAA 0.5 mg/L,诱导率达50%;叶状体增殖的最佳培养基是无激素的MS(其中蔗糖用量20 g/L),叶状体继代培养55 d,其相对增殖率达1362.6%(即收获量是接种量的14.6倍)。通过薄层层析(TLC)和高效液相(HPLC)法检测叶状体提取物中的目标成分,表明本研究建立的叶状体具有累积与原植物相同的有效成分石杉碱甲的能力。     

浙江及邻近地区蛇足石杉依存环境的初步研究

对浙江及邻近地区产的蛇足石杉(Huperzia serratct)7个种群的自然环境进行野外观察,测定了土壤含水量、电导率、有机质含量、pH值,植株和土壤中K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn、Na、A1、Pb、Cd 11种元素的含量,以及植株中石杉碱甲(HupA)含量。结果表明,蛇足石杉种群多分布于海拔350-1700m的山地密林下或沟谷阴湿土中,郁闭度、年均降雨量、空气相对湿度均较大：环境中土壤含水量为10％-30％,pH值4．57—5．31,电导率0．061—0．385mscm^-1,有机质含量6．18％-9．75％;蛇足石杉对K、Ca、Zn和Na的需要程度较高,对Pb、Cu、Cd3种重金属元素的富集能力较强,在人工栽培中应注意协调各元素的合理配给：蛇足石杉较适宜生长的环境条件为：土壤电导率以及pH值相对较低;郁闭度高,年均降雨量和空气相对湿度较大。基于土壤理化性质,对7个种群分布点进行除趋势对应分析,表明石杉碱甲含量高的磐安种群分布点具有特殊性,提示环境条件对蛇足石杉中HupA含量有较大的影响。     

石杉科植物石杉总碱含量的测定及基于紫外光谱的除趋势对应分析

对来自浙江、福建境内石杉科植物蛇足石杉（Huperzia serrata）、柳叶马尾杉（Phlegmariurus cryptomerianus）10个不同地理居群的石杉总碱含量进行了测定．并基于紫外光谱,对它们的表型分化进行了除趋势对应分析。结果表明：①石杉科这两种植物叶片的石杉总碱含量普遍高于茎中的含量;②来自浙江磐安的蛇足石杉居群的叶、茎石杉总碱含量都明显高于其它居群。可以选择该居群作为栽培蛇足石杉的种源;③DCA排序发现,产自磐安的蛇足石杉样品,特别是叶的提取液,其紫外光谱明显不同于其它样品．表明紫外光谱法能够用于鉴别石杉总碱含量较高的蛇足石杉药材。     

H2O2对蛇足石杉离体培养物诱变效应的研究

为了获得高产石杉碱甲(Huperzine A,Hup A)的蛇足石杉[Huperzia serrata(Thunb.)Trev.]叶状体,对H_2O_2诱变后的叶状体进行了研究。结果表明,诱变后叶状体株系的Hup A含量显著提高,并获得高产株系SH42,其相对生长率和Hup A含量分别达到4499.28%和261.17μg g~(–1) DW,比起始叶状体分别提高了2.35倍和2.43倍;且株系间可溶性蛋白质谱带和SOD同工酶谱均存在差异,经过连续9代培养,变异叶状体可以稳定遗传。因此,H_2O_2对叶状体细胞具有良好的诱变效应,可以用于筛选高产Hup A株系。     

施氮量对花铃期短期渍水棉花叶片抗氧化酶活性和内源激素含量的影响

于2005-2006年在江苏南京（32°02′ N,118°50′ E）南京农业大学卫岗试验站进行盆栽试验,设置正常灌水和棉花花铃期短期渍水处理（渍水8 d,恢复15 d）,每个水分处理设置3个施氮水平（0、240、480 kg N·hm^-2）,研究施氮量对渍水棉花叶片抗氧化酶活性和内源激素含量的影响.结果表明：在渍水结束时,与正常灌水相比,渍水棉花叶片可溶性蛋白含量、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性降低,过氧化物酶活性升高,丙二醛（MDA）含量升高;与此同时,内源激素含量发生变化,脱落酸（ABA）含量升高,玉米素核苷（ZR）、赤霉素（GA）、生长素（IAA）含量及ZR/ABA、GA/ABA、IAA/ABA降低;其中以240 kg N·hm^-2渍水棉花MDA和ABA含量最低,而ZR、GA和IAA含量及ZR/ABA、GA/ABA和IAA/ABA最高,净光合速率最高.到停止渍水15 d时,渍水棉花叶片的抗氧化酶活性、MDA含量、内源激素含量与正常灌水处理的差异较小;施氮可提高渍水处理棉花叶片抗氧化酶活性,降低MDA含量,使ABA水平降低,ZR、GA、IAA水平及ZR/ABA、GA/ABA、IAA/ABA升高.本试验中,渍水条件下以240 kg N·hm^-2处理的效果最好,生物量和籽棉产量最高.     

脱落酸对锁阳茎切口愈合及抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了探讨脱落酸（ABA）对锁阳茎切口愈合及抗氧化酶活性的影响,测定了锁阳茎3个部位（上部、中部和下部）内源ABA含量和切口愈合能力（抗失水力）以及苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、过氧化物酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性随切口愈合时间的变化。结果表明,内源ABA含量随切口愈合天数的增加整体呈上升趋势。外源ABA处理明显增强了锁阳茎3个部位的PAL活性及抗氧化酶活性,加速了锁阳茎切口愈合,减少失水也提高了其抗氧化能力。比较3个部位,各指标均呈现出上部高于中部,中部高于下部的趋势。     

棉花胚珠纤维发育的研究

将未受精的棉花胚珠漂浮培养在加有不同植物激素的BT培养基上,培养48小时或96小时后,用扫描电镜观察纤维发育情况,以及测定胚珠内IAA氧化酶活性变化及内源ABA的含量变化,并和同一时期的大田生长的胚珠进行比较。结果表明:IAA+GA_3是最佳激素组合。在这种激素组合的培养基中培养的未受精胚珠,在纤维发育、酶活性变化等方面,均与大田生长的胚珠相似。这一激素组合还能抑制离体胚珠内源ABA的增长,但同一时期的大田生长的胚珠,其内源ABA含量却相对要高。     

蛇足石杉产石杉碱甲内生真菌的分离鉴定

从9月份采集的野生药用植物蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrata)的茎、叶中分离纯化得到15株内生真菌,将上述内生真菌进行液体培养后,通过薄层层析法(TLC)和高效液相法(HPLC)对其代谢产物进行检测,结果表明菌株WX13产石杉碱甲(Huperzine A,HupA)。运用形态和培养特性观察,初步确定菌株WX13属于镰刀菌属(Fu-sarium sp.)。     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Removal of wastewater pathogen indicators in a constructed wetland in Leon, Spain

This paper studies the seasonal presence and removal of the pathogenous micro-organisms Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), Clostridium perfringens (Cp), faecal streptococci (FS), Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs, in a constructed wetland treatment system. The removal efficiency of this system with respect to the indicator micro-organisms achieved maximum values in spring and autumn at 99.9% for E. coli and TC, respectively, in winter at 97.0% for FS, in summer at 100% for Clostridium and throughout the year, also at 100%, in the case of Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs. In general, very low protozoan and helminth egg counts were found, and the system demonstrated efficient reduction of the wastewater indicator pathogens.     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

Planting densities and bird and rodent absence affect size distributions of four dicots in synthetic tallgrass communities

Variability in the size distributions of populations is usually studied in monocultures or in mixed plantings of two species. Variability of size distributions of populations in more complex communities has been neglected. The effects of seeding density (35 or 350 seeds/species/m²) and presence of small vertebrates on the variability of size distributions were studied for a total of 1,920 individuals of 4 species in replicated synthetic communities of 18 species in northern Illinois. End-of season height and above-ground biomass were measured for prairie perennials Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover), Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois bundleflower) and Heliopsis helianthoides (early sunflower). Variability in biomass distribution of the four target species was twice as great at low than at high densities when small vertebrates were excluded. Our results suggest that inter- and intraspecific competition may affect all individuals more under high-density conditions, thereby reducing the variability in their biomass distributions within this community. This result, a consequence of plant-plant interaction, is obscured when small birds or mammals are present, presumably because either or both add variance that overwhelms the pattern.     

Diversity and structure of shrew communities in montane forests of southeast Kenya

As a step towards setting conservation priorities for declining moist forests in southeast Kenya, we assessed for small mammal diversity and distribution. These habitats are under severe pressure due to increased demand an forests products and arable land, yet there is a dearth of information an impacts an biodiversity. Over an eight-month period, we used a combination of box and pitfall traps with drift fences to study 13 forest fragments in five geographic areas ranging between 3°28′−4°10′ S and 38°28′−39°2b′ E. We recorded 12 species including 10 soricids and two macroscelids in 31440 trap nights. Diversity estimates using rarefaction method indicate a species richness of 12, consistent with our collection. There were six unique species, each limited in distribution to one forest fragment. Our record of Crocidura cf. selina in Kyulu Hills is the first outside Mabira forest in Uganda where it is considered endemic and endangered. We also report the first record of C. fuscomurina in Kenya, white those of C. Luna and Suncus megalura are first in the southeast of the country. By providing new ranges to four species, our study is of significance to the biogeography and conservation of forest small mammals in the region.     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.