猪圆环病毒2型三株贵州流行株全基因序列分析

为掌握贵州省猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)流行株的分子生物学资料,对已分离的3株PCV2贵州流行株(GZ-LZ1株、GZ-KY1株和GZ-PX1株)进行全基因克隆与测序,应用生物信息学软件将贵州PCV2流行株与参考株进行核苷酸同源性与系统进化树分析。结果显示,3株PCV2贵州流行株贵州全基因组大小均为1 767 bp,同源性为97.0%-98.3%,与国内外24株参考株同源性为77.5%-99.9%,与国产疫苗株同源性为95.5%-98.2%;系统进化树结果显示,3株PCV2贵州流行株归属PCV2d分支,其中GZ-LZ1株和GZ-PX1株与国内PCV2疫苗YM-SH株的进化关系较远,而GZ-KY1与四川SC-10株、浙江ZJ-38株和黑龙江HLJ-10株的进化关系较近。     

斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒不同分离株基因序列的同源性分析

研究SpltMNPV不同分离株及SpltMNPV分离株与SpliNPV间基因序列的同源性,为SpltMNPV分离株的利用提供理论基础。根据已发表的斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒（SpltMNPV）中国株（Zh）基因组全序列（AF527603）和海灰翅夜蛾核型多角体病毒（SpliNPV）Not I-D片段序列（AF527603）设计引物,PCR方法扩增得到SpltMNPV日本福冈株（Fu）、埃及株（Eg）和小笠原株（Og）的ORF39～ORF42和ORF119～ORF124编码区全序列。SpltMNPV不同分离株及SpltMNPV分离株与SpliNPV间基因序列的相似性比较, Zh株和Og株,Eg株、Fu株和SpliNPV的相似性高,而Zh株和Eg株、Fu株或SpliNPV,Og株和Eg株、Fu株或SpliNPV的相似性都比较低。亦即SpltMNPV 3种基因型,B型和C型的同源性高,A型与B型或C型的同源性比较低,但A型与SpliNPV的同源性高;同一基因型内不同分离株（Eg株和Fu株）的同源性高。ETG分子进化分析表明Eg株、Fu株和SpliNPV处于一个分支,而Eg株、Fu株和SpliNPV与Zh株和Og株则处于不同的分支。因此推断Eg株和Fu株为SpliNPV的分离株,而Og株为SpltMNPV的分离株。     

阴道乳酸杆菌的分子生物学鉴定方法研究

目的鉴定女性生殖道乳杆菌种类及各种乳杆菌在阴道中的分布差异。方法通过扩增和测序乳酸杆菌16S rRNA序列中特异性区段（8f926r）,并利用Vector NTI 8.0序列分析软件对各菌株的基因序列与标准菌株比对进行。结果 26株乳酸菌,L1株、L25株和L46株为乳酸杆菌属中的格氏乳酸杆菌（Lactobacillus gasseri）;L2株、L5株、L6株、L7株、L8株、L11株、L13株、L15株、L19株、L20株、L24株、L26株、L28株、L29株、L31株、L32株、L33株、L34株、L35株、L36株、L40株与L45株均为乳酸杆菌属中的卷曲乳酸杆菌（Lactobacillus crispatus）,而L21株未鉴定为乳酸球菌。结论女性阴道乳酸杆菌的优势菌种是卷曲乳杆菌、格氏乳杆菌。     

白云鄂博稀土矿区若干微生物培养特征探究

从白云鄂博稀土矿区分离到20株纯培养菌,对其个体形态、菌落特征、革兰氏染色反应和一系列生理生化特性进行了研究并作了初步鉴定。其中,细菌14株,11株鉴定到种,3株鉴定到属;放线菌5株均鉴定到种;真菌1株鉴定到种。同时,经相关试验还测得,20株菌中有极耐酸菌10株;极耐碱菌11株;既耐酸又耐碱菌6株;耐受pH值1～12的菌7株;20株菌都能耐受pH2;耐盐菌17株;耐冷菌20株;耐热菌3株;既耐冷又耐热菌3株。     

小麦花培后代产生非整倍体的研究

取不完全结实的小麦花粉植株的株系后代66株进行细胞学鉴定。结果如下:染色体数目正常的有34株,占51.5％;染色体数目变异的有32株,占48.5％,其中单体25株,双单体4株、三体3株。经Giemsa-N带技术鉴定,其中有3株3B、6B双单体;3株3B单体;3株7B单体和1株3B三体。     

临床分离耐甲氧西林溶血性葡萄球菌的SCCmec分型及同源性分析

目的了解临床分离耐甲氧西林溶血性葡萄球菌（MRSH）的SCCmec基因型别及相同SCCmec型别菌株的同源性。方法多重PCR进行SCCmec分型,ERIC-PCR法对相同SCCmec型别菌株进行同源性分析。结果83株临床分离MRSH菌株中,SCCmecI型有23株（27．7％）,SCCmecⅡ型有10株（12．1％）,SCCmecm型有24株（28．9％）,SCCmecIV型有1株（1．2％）,I、Ⅱ混合型有8株（9．6％）,I、Ⅲ混合型有6株（7．2％）,Ⅱ、11混合型有5株（6．0％）,I、Ⅱ、Ⅲ混合型有3株（3．6％）,未分型3株（3．6％）。ERIC—PCR结果显示,23株SCCmecI型分为11型,其中A型5株,B型5株,C型3株,其余8株各为1型,2株未分型;10株SCCmecⅡ型分为6型,其中D型4株,E型2株,3株各为1型,1株未分型;24株SCCmecm型分为9型,其中F型11株,G型2株,H型2株,I型2株,5株各为1型,2株未分型。结论临床分离MRSH中,SCCmecI、Ⅲ型为多,部分菌株呈混合型别;相同SCCmec型别的部分菌株之间可能存在克隆传播。     

曾候乙墓穴木椁微生物的分离与鉴定

从曾侯乙墓中椁室、东椁室、西椁室和北椁室分别取样,经平板划线培养,分离,纯化共获得典型的菌株16株。将16株分别涂片镜检,生理生化分析鉴定,结果证明芽孢杆菌属11株,其中苏云金变种1株,地衣芽孢杆菌1株,巨大芽孢杆菌1株,球形芽孢杆菌5株,蜡状芽孢杆菌2株,多粘芽孢杆菌1株。其余菌株微杆菌属4株,黄色杆菌属黄杆菌1株。     

2011年、2013年和2016年医院内获得性血流感染常见病原菌分布及其耐药性分析

动态监测2011年、2013年和2016年我国不同地区医院内获得性血流感染病原菌分布及耐药进展趋势。从全国10个城市回顾性收集血流感染病原菌非重复性株,采用琼脂稀释法或微量肉汤稀释法进行药物敏感性试验,采用Whonet 5.6软件对药敏试验结果进行分析。收集的2 248株血流感染病原菌中革兰阴性杆菌为1 657株 (占73.7%),革兰阳性球菌为591株 (占26.3%)。分离率排名前五的病原菌依次为大肠埃希菌 (32.6%,733株/2 248株)、肺炎克雷伯菌 (14.5%,327株/2 248株)、金黄色葡萄球菌 (10.0%,225株/2 248株)、鲍曼不动杆菌 (8.7%,196株/ 2 248株) 和铜绿假单胞菌 (6.2%,140株/2 248株)。血流感染分离的革兰阴性杆菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为粘菌素 (96.5%,1 525株/1 581株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、替加环素 (95.6%,1 375株/1 438株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、头孢他啶/克拉维酸 (89.2%,1 112株/1 246株)、阿米卡星 (86.4%,1 382株/1 599株) 和美罗培南 (85.7%,1 376株/1 605株);革兰阳性球菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为替加环素、替考拉宁和达托霉素 (敏感率均为100.0%)、万古霉素和利奈唑胺 (敏感率均为99.7%)。2011年、2013年和2016年产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为50.6% (206株/407株)、49.8% (136株/273株) 和38.9% (167株/429株);碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为2.2% (9株/408株)、4.0% (16株/402株) 和3.9% (17株/ 439株);多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌分离率分别为76.4% (55株/72株)、82.7% (43株/52株) 和87.5% (63株/72株),多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌分离率分别为9.8% (5株/51株)、20.0% (7株/35株) 和13.0% (7株/54株);甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌的分离率分别为51.9% (41株/79株)、29.7% (19株/64株) 和31.7% (26株/82株)。屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌中高水平庆大霉素耐药株分离率分别为43.2% (48株/111株) 和40.9% (27株/66株)。碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌中肺炎克雷伯菌居首位,占57.1% (24株/42株) 。肠杆菌科细菌中分离出30株替加环素不敏感株,其中肺炎克雷伯菌占76.7% (23株/30株);分离出粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌39株,其中大肠埃希菌、阴沟肠杆菌和肺炎克雷伯菌分别占43.6% (17株/39株)、35.9% (14株/39株) 和15.4% (6株/39株)。医院获得性血流感染病原菌主要为革兰阴性杆菌 (以大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌为主),其对替加环素、粘菌素和碳青霉烯类药物的敏感率较高;革兰阳性球菌中分离率最高的为金黄色葡萄球菌,其次为屎肠球菌,这两种细菌对替加环素、达托霉素、利奈唑胺、万古霉素和替考拉宁的敏感率较高。粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌、替加环素不敏感肠杆菌科细菌、利奈唑胺或万古霉素不敏感革兰阳性球菌的分离,警示临床高度关注,仍需动态监测耐药进展趋势。     

陆地棉核不育株扦插繁殖与宿生保持及杂种优势利用

利用广西南宁冬季无霜冻的气候特点,对陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.)洞A细胞核雄性不育扦插株与宿生株及其杂交一代进行比较研究.结果表明:(1)1 a生扦插株开花较早,茎粗、主茎节间长度、铃重、子指4个性状显著好于实生株,但扦插株的种子产量显著低于实生株,其原因是果枝扦插形成的僵苗占扦插株的23.04%,而且扦插株全为不育株,实生株中则有50%左右的可育株;(2)2 a生扦插株性状与实生株无显著差异;(3)由扦插繁殖的不育株和种子繁殖的不育株配制的杂交F1代的产量与纤维品质无显著差异.因此认为,扦插繁殖陆地棉核不育株用于多年杂交制种是可行的,选择营养枝扦插是陆地棉核不育株扦插繁殖需要注意的关键问题. 宿生株及其杂交一代进行比较研究.结果表明:(1)1 a生扦插株开花较早,茎粗、主茎节间长度、铃重、子指4个性状显著好于实生株,但扦插株的种子产量显著低于实生株,其原因是果枝扦插形成的僵苗占扦插株的23.04%,而且扦插株全为不育株,实生株中则有50%左右的可育株;(2)2 a生扦插株性状与实生株无显著差异;(3)由扦插繁殖的不育株和种子繁殖的不育株配制的杂交F1代的产量与纤维品质无显著差异.因此认 ,扦插繁殖陆地棉核不育株用于多年杂交制种是可行的,选择营养枝扦插是陆地棉核不育株扦插繁殖需     

BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对临床分离酵母菌鉴定能力的评估

目的 评估BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对酵母菌的鉴定能力.方法 选取白念珠菌18株,热带念珠菌22株,光滑念珠菌19株,克柔念珠菌8株,近平滑念珠菌20株,新生隐球菌14株,季也蒙念珠菌4株,平常念珠菌1株,葡萄牙念珠菌1株,头状地霉2株,挪威念珠菌1株,链状念珠菌1株,乳酒念珠菌1株,希木龙念珠菌1株,解脂念珠菌3株,皱褶念珠菌1株,菌膜念珠菌3株,共计120株.借助Phoenix^TM 100全自动微生物鉴定仪,使用BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板鉴定上述菌株.用真菌通用引物ITS1与ITS4对所有受试菌株的rDNA进行PCR扩增,对PCR产物进行序列测定、分析并作为金标准与BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板的结果比较,同时使用MALDI-TOF MS质谱分析对试验菌株进行菌种鉴定.结果 BDPhoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板除了对1株挪威念珠菌、1株平常念珠菌、1株解脂念珠菌、1株皱褶念珠菌未能鉴定以及1株链状念珠菌、1株克柔念珠菌、2株菌膜念珠菌、1株解脂念珠菌鉴定错误外其余试验菌株鉴定均正确,鉴定准确率为92.5％.所有鉴定结果均在17 h内获得,而白念珠菌、热带念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌的鉴定时间均小于6h,并且不受推荐培养基的限制.所有菌株MALDI-TOF MS的鉴定结果与其rDNA ITS序列分析的结果完全一致.结论 BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对多数酵母菌能够快速准确地鉴定到种,但对某些少见酵母菌的鉴定能力有待进一步考证.     

果实膨大期喷布磷酸二氢钾对三月红荔枝果实贮藏性的影响

在三月红荔枝(Litchi chinensis cv.Sanyuehong)果实膨大期对树冠喷施0.2%磷酸二氢钾(KP)水溶液,以探讨磷酸二氢钾对荔枝果实贮藏性的影响。结果表明:(1) KP处理的果实在贮藏期前17d,失重率及果肉可溶性固形物、酸、VitC、花色素苷等指标的变化趋势与对照基本相似;(2) KP处理的果肉可溶性蛋白质含量变化与对照有明显差异,而果皮的可溶性蛋白质含量在贮藏期前10d变化动态与对照一致,此后呈相反的变化趋势;(3)果皮POD活性显著高于果肉,KP处理和对照的果肉POD活性在贮藏第3d后、果皮POD活性在第17d前分别具有相似变化趋势;(4)果肉中CAT活性在贮藏第3~17d期间都显著或极显著高于果皮,KP处理和对照果肉、果皮CAT活性动态变化均为单峰曲线。     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

The effects of artificial enrichment upon the planktonic and benthic communities in a mesotrophic to hypertrophic loch series in lowland Scotland

Phytoplankton, submerged macrophytes, zoobenthos and zooplankton communities were studied concurrently in three lochs which progressively increased in trophic state. The phytoplankton showed a change in dominance from Bacillariophyceae (Pennales) and Desmidaceae in the mesotrophic Loch of the Lowes to Bacillariophyceae (Pennales) and Cyanobacteria in eutrophic Balgavies Loch and to Bacillariophyceae (Centrales) and Chlorophyceae in hypertrophic Forfar Loch. The Nygaard Compound phytoplankton quotient rose from 1.2 in the Lowes to 12 in Forfar. There was a decrease in number of species of submerged macrophytes, and in depth of colonisation from 5 m in the Lowes to 2 m in Forfar which was proportional to the decrease in mean transparency. Macrophyte biomass, however, increased in proportion to the concentration of total phosphorus in the lochs. There was a decrease in species of littoral zoobenthos, but an increase in density of profundal benthos from the Lowes to Forfar. Zooplankton also showed an increase in density with enrichment, accompanied by changes in dominance. Calanoida were dominant in the Lowes; Cladocera in Balgavies and Cyclopoda in Forfar. The importance of these differences in understanding the effects of progressive enrichment and to the management of the lochs is discussed.     

Effect of alternating magnetic field on the composition and level of lipids in radish seedlings

The effects of alternating magnetic field (AMF) with the frequency of 50 Hz on the dynamics of unfolding of cotyledon leaves, the composition and level of polar and neutral lipids and their component fatty acids (FA) were studied in 5-day-old radish seedlings (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula D.L., cv. Rozovo-krasnyi s belym konchikom) grown in the light and in the dark. AMF weakened the inhibitory effect of light on unfolding of cotyledon leaves. In the light, the total content of lipids, as well as the level of polar and neutral lipids, in the seedlings in AMF was greater than in control material. In polar lipids, the total amount of glyco-and phospholipids increased; in neutral lipids, the level of triacylglycerols rose. The ratio between phospholipids and sterols (PhL/S) increased. In the dark, the total content of lipids and the level of neutral lipids in the seedlings in AMF were lower than in control material, and the ratio PhL/S decreased. In control material, there were no differences in the relative total content of unsaturated FA in the light and in the dark, whereas the level of linolenic acid was higher in the light than in the dark. AMF induced a decrease in the content of linolenic acid in the light and a rise in the dark; the level of erucic acid in the light decreased. The ratio between unsaturated and saturated FA decreased both in the light and in the dark. It was concluded that AMF with the frequency of 50 Hz was an adjusting agent considerably changing the content of lipids in the radish seedlings in the light and in the dark.     

Rat brain thioltransferase: regional distribution, immunological characterization, and localization by fluorescent in situ hybridization

Thioltransferase (TTase) is a member of the family of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases that are involved in the maintenance of sulfhydryl homeostasis in cells by catalyzing thiol-disulfide interchange reactions. One of the major consequences of oxidative stress in brain is the formation of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides (through oxidation of protein thiols), which can be reversed by TTase during the recovery of brain from oxidative stress. We therefore examined the presence of TTase in brain regions from rat. In the rat, TTase activity in the whole brain was comparable with the corresponding activity in liver, but significantly higher in hippocampus. The enzyme activity was significantly lower in striatum and cerebellum compared with activity in whole brain. Rat brain TTase shared immunological similarity with the human red blood cell enzyme, but not with the pig liver enzyme. The constitutive expression of the mRNA to TTase was demonstrable by northern blotting. Localization of the TTase mRNA in rat brain by fluorescent in situ hybridization showed the presence of high amounts of mRNA in the olfactory bulb, cortex, and hippocampus and its predominant localization in the neurons. TTase mRNA was also present in Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, in giant reticular neurons in the midbrain, and in the striatal and thalamic neurons. This study demonstrates the constitutive presence of a functional TTase system in brain and delineates the regional and cellular localization of the enzyme in rat brain.     

Histological comparison between wheat embryos developing in vitro from isolated zygotes and those developing in vivo

There is currently great interest shown in understanding the process of embryogenesis and, due to the relative inaccessibility of these structures in planta, extended studies are carried out in various in vitro systems. The culture of isolated zygotes in particular provides an excellent platform to study the process of in planta embryogenesis. However, very few comparisons have been made between zygotic embryos grown entirely in cultures and those grown in vivo. The present study analyses the differences and similarities between the in vitro and in vivo development of wheat zygotic embryos at the level of morphology and histology. The study was possible thanks to an efficient culture system and an appropriate method of preparing isolated wheat zygotes for microscopy. The in vitro embryos were fixed, embedded and sectioned in the two-celled, globular, club-shaped and fully differentiated stages. Embryos developing in vitro closely followed the morphology of their in planta counterparts and their cell types and tissues were also similar, demonstrating the applicability of the present culture system for studying the process of zygotic embryogenesis. However, some important differences were also detected in the case of in vitro development: the disturbance of or lack of initial polarity led to changes in the division symmetry of the zygotes and subsequently to the formation of uniform cells in the globular structures. Presumably, differences between the in vitro and in planta environments resulted in a lower level of differentiation and maturation in in vitro embryos and in abundant starch and protein accumulation in the scutellum.     

Hypothalamic metabolism of neurotransmitters (serotonin,norepinephrine, dopamine) and NPY,and gonadal and adrenal activities,during the early postnatal period in the rat

It is noteworthy that in the rat the early postnatal life is marked by an activation of both the corticostimulating function of the adenohypophysis in neonates of both sexes and of the gonadostimulating function mainly in males. In order to specify if such neuroendocrine variations are temporally correlated with changes in the hypothalamic metabolism of neurotransmitters, the hypothalamic metabolism of serotonin (5 HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) and the hypothalamic content of neuropeptide Y (NPY) have been investigated in newborn rats of both sexes, delivered at term by cesarean section, as well as changes in the activity of both the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) and the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis (HPG). Experimental data suggested that 1) in males a rise in hypothalamic metabolism of 5 HT, NE and DA occurs during the first two hours after delivery, whereas in females, only the metabolism of NE increases. Moreover, the postnatal metabolism of NE was higher in females than in littermate males; 2) NPY content of the hypothalamus, which was at birth significantly higher in males than in females, dropped in the former but not in the latter; 3) in newborn males, an early surge of plasma testosterone occurs, suggesting postnatal activation of the HPG axis; on the other hand, in females, a late and slight increase in plasma estradiol is observed; 4) in early postnatal life, a sex-independent rise in plasma ACTH and adrenal and plasma corticosterone levels suggest a comparable activation of the HPA axis in newborns of both sexes. In conclusion, the early postnatal activation of the corticostimulating function in neonates of both sexes and that of the gonadostimulating function, mainly in males, could be temporally correlated with a rise in the hypothalamic metabolism of two neurotransmitters, 5 HT and NE, and of NPY content. According to our data, a sex-dependent metabolsim of neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus is already apparent in early postnatal life.     

A role for ecdysteroids in the phase polymorphism of the desert locust

Abstract. Locusts show density-dependent continuous phase polymorphism; they appear in two forms or phases, gregarious and solitary, and there is a continuous range of intermediates between the extreme phases. Although earlier studies showed that there are no major phase-dependent differences in the titres of ecdysteroid in the haemolymph of desert locusts, Schistocerca gregaria , recent studies showed some minor differences in the timing of the main peak of ecdysteroids. In crowded penultimate- and last-instar hoppers, peak titres were lower but longer-lasting, whereas in isolated hoppers they were higher but of shorter duration. The major component of the haemolymph peak of ecdysteroid was 20-hydroxyecdysone in both isolated and crowded hoppers, but differences were found in the relative amounts of two minor components (makisterone A-like compound and highly polar products). In S. gregaria adults, the regression of the prothoracic glands was irregular and subject to high individual variations, but phase-dependent differences in the rate of regression were significant, and the adult glands did not produce physiologically significant amounts of ecdysteroids. Peak titres of ecdysteroid in the haemolymph were higher in isolated than in crowded adults. Similar to larvae, adults of the solitary phase contain more ecdysone in the haemolymph than those of the gregarious phase. Moreover, the phase characteristic titres of ecdysteroid in the adult stage can be shifted from one phase to another phase in response to appropriate changes in density. In contrast, the maximum amount of ecdysteroids in both ovaries and eggs was significantly higher in the gregarious than in the solitary phase. The amounts, and to some extent the types of ecdysteroids, were the only difference between ovaries and eggs from solitary and gregarious locusts. In addition, in newly hatched larvae, the amount of ecdysteroid was more than five times higher in gregarious than in solitary phase.     

CARBOHYDRASES IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF THE SPINED SOLDIER BUG,Podisus maculiventris (SAY) (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris, is a generalist predator of insects and has been used in biological control. However, information on the digestion of food in this insect is lacking. Therefore, we have studied the digestive system in P. maculiventris, and further characterized carbohydrases in the digestive tract. The midgut of all developmental stages was composed of anterior, median, and posterior regions. The volumes of the anterior midgut decreased and the median midgut increased in older instars and adults, suggesting a more important role of the median midgut in food digestion. However, carbohydrase activities were predominant in the anterior midgut. In comparing the specific activity of carbohydrases, α‐amylase activity was more in the salivary glands (with two distinct activity bands in zymograms), and glucosidase and galactosidase activities were more in the midgut. Salivary α‐amylases were detected in the prey hemolymph, demonstrating the role of these enzymes in extra‐oral digestion. However, the catalytic efficiency of midgut α‐amylase activity was approximately twofold more than that of the salivary gland enzymes, and was more efficient in digesting soluble starch than glycogen. Midgut α‐amylases were developmentally regulated, as one isoform was found in first instar compared to three isoforms in fifth instar nymphs. Starvation significantly affected carbohydrase activities in the midgut, and acarbose inhibited α‐amylases from both the salivary glands and midgut in vitro and in vivo. The structural diversity and developmental regulation of carbohydrases in the digestive system of P. maculiventris demonstrate the importance of these enzymes in extra‐oral and intra‐tract digestion, and may explain the capability of the hemipteran to utilize diverse food sources.     

Nitrification and seasonal changes in bacterial populations in the rhizosphere ofSuaeda andArthrocnemum species growing in saline soils

Summary The nitrification rate in the rhizosphere of Suaeda and Arthrocnemum plants growing in saline soils, as affected by microbial populations, temperature, pH, and organic matter, was examined in the field throughout the year. The genera Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter were most common in the rhizosphere soil. The bacterial counts in the rhizosphere of both plants fluctuated during the study period, reaching peak values during February–March and in August. The nitrate concentration in the rhizosphere soil could be related with the observed increase in the numbers of ammonium-oxidizers and nitrite-oxidizers in the latter part of the study period. The pH of the rhizosphere soils did not have any influence on the nitrification rate at the values measured. The rhizosphere organic content varied between 1.8 and 4% (w/w), showing the continuous availability of organic matter in the soil. The seasonal changes in bacterial populations in the rhizospheres of both plants was described as the result of the combination of several factors.