Genotype and phenotype associations with drought tolerance in barley tested in North Africa

A review is presented of genetic strategies deployed in a 3-yr project on drought tolerance in barley. Data were collected on genetic, physiological and agronomic traits in non-irrigated and irrigated field trials in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. A wide range of barley germplasm (developed from African and European cultivars, adapted landraces and wild barleys) was tested, and positive traits were found in each gene pool. The contrasting environments of the three North African countries had major effects on plant/genotype performance. Genetic effects were also detected, as were genotype × environment interactions. A range of strategies were deployed to investigate the physiology and genetics of quantitative traits associated with field performance. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed using backcross lines, recombinant inbred lines and doubled haploid mapping populations. A detailed genetic map was generated in the Tadmor × (ER/Apm) recombinant inbred lines, an important mapping population specifically developed by ICARDA (Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas) and CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) to study drought. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain yield and other important morphological and physiological traits were also identified in a population of doubled haploids derived from F2BCj plants from a cross between a cultivar and a wild barley accession. Significantly, the wild parental line was found to contribute a number of positive alleles for yield. Effects of major developmental genes could explain many of the responses observed. QTLs were found to cluster around major genes controlling flowering time (sghI), plant stature (sdwI and arie.GP) and ear type (vrsl), and it is highly likely that the associations represent pleiotropic effects. Some QTLs were associated with candidate genes such as dehydrins and rubisco activase. One of the most significant results was the identification and generation of material that out performed the best local standards in the three participating North African countries; the selected lines have now entered local breeding programmes. The strategies adopted provided information on physiological traits, genotypes and genetic markers that could be used for marker-assisted selection. Target QTLs and their associated genetic markers may be deployed in marker assisted selection programmes to match crop phenology to the field environment.     

EVALUATION OF EXTRACTS FROM BAMBOO FOR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AGAINST CULEX PIPIENS PALLENS

Abstract The extracts from 7 species of bamboo were tested for larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens pallens . At the tested concentration, the extracts of selected bamboo had different degree of toxic effects on the fourth instar larvae of Culex pipiens pallens . Among them, the extracts of Pleioblastus juxianensis, Brachystachyum albostriatum, Phyllostachys platyglossa and Pleioblastus amarus were found to be effective with LC₅₀values at 24 h of 30.65 mg/L, 53.94 mg/L, 41.21 mg/L and 54.49 mg/L respectively, against Culex pipiens pallens larvae. The extract of Pleioblastus juxianensis by Soxhlet method showed stronger activity than the extract obtained by interval-shaking, the LC₅₀ of which were 30.65 mg/L and 48.34 mg/L, respectively. The diethyl ether extract of Pleioblastus juxianensis exhibited better larvicidal activity than the methanol extract and the petroleum ether extract. The results would help to provide the basis for the study of environment acceptable pesticide for mosquito control, and also help to comprehensively utilize the source of bamboo.     

Repair effect of thymine radical anion by echinocoside using pulse radiolysis

Repair activities of thymine radical anion by echinocoside, isolated from Pedicularis plicata. were studied using pulse radiolysis technique. The thymine radical anion was produced by the reaction of hydrated electron with thymine. Echinocoside. one of the polyphenols of phenylpropanoid glycoside, was added to the thymine aqueous solution saturated with N2. Kinetic analysis by transient absorption spectrum showed that thymine radical anion was formed at first, and then after several decades of microseconds of pulse radiolysis. the spectrum of thymine radical anion was changed to that of echinocoside radical anion. The evidence indicated that thymine radical anion was repaired through one-electron-transfer between the DNA base radical anion and echinocoside. The rate constant of electron transfer by echinocoside was 1.45× 109 dm3 · mol1 · s 1.     

大鼠不同脑区突触体钙水平的年龄差异

本实验使用荧光指示剂Ｆｕｒａ－２与Ｔｂ~（３＋）,检测了不同年龄组大鼠的不同脑区（海马、皮层、间脑、小脑）突触体内游离钙与膜结合钙水平。结果显示,与青年对照组相比,老年大鼠大部分脑区（海马、皮层、间脑）突触体内游离钙水平显著增高,尤其是海马突触体内游离钙增高极为显著;其突触体膜结合钙水平表现为：海马、小脑两脑区明显升高,而皮层、间脑两脑区明显下降,呈现一种全脑范围内的钙水平失衡。提示动物的衰老与其脑内钙自体平衡失调有关。     

Mechanisms of the actions of aromatase inhibitors 4-hydroxyandrostenedione, fadrozole, and aminoglutethimide on aromatase in JEG-3 cell culture

Selective inhibition of estrogen production with aromatase inhibitors has been found to be an effective strategy for breast cancer treatment. Most studies have focused on inhibitor screening and in vitro kinetic analysis of aromatase inhibition using placental microsomes. In order to determine the effects of different inhibitors on aromatase in the whole cell, we have utilized the human choriocarcinoma cell line, JEG-3 in culture to compare and study three classes of aromatase inhibitors, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione, fadrozole (CGS 16949A), and aminoglutethimide. Fadrozole is the most potent competitive inhibitor and aminoglutethimide is the least potent among the three. However, stimulation of aromatase activity was found to occur when JEG-3 cells were preincubated with aminoglutethimide. In contrast, 4-OHA and fadrozole caused sustained inhibition of aromatase activity in both JEG-3 cells and placental microsomes, which was not reversed even after the removal of the inhibitors. 4-OHA bound irreversibly to the active site of aromatase and caused inactivation of the enzyme which followed pseudo-first order kinetics. However, 4-OHA appears to be metabolized rapidly in JEG-3 cells. Sustained inhibition of aromatase induced by fadrozole occurs by a different mechanism. Although fadrozole bound tightly to aromatase at a site distinct from the steroid binding site, the inhibition of aromatase activity by fadrozole does not involve a reactive process. None of the inhibitors stimulated aromatase mRNA synthesis in JEG-3 cells during 8 h treatment. The stimulation of aromatase activity by AG appeared to be due to stabilization of aromatase protein. According to these results, 4-OHA and fadrozole would be expected to be more beneficial in the treatment of breast cancer patients than AG. The increase in aromatase activity by AG may counteract its therapeutic effect and might be partially responsible for relapse of breast cancer patients from this treatment.     

豫西黄土高原农作区鼠类群落动态：时空尺度格局的初步分析

本文分析了豫西农业生态系统中鼠类群落局部空间尺度的短期动态格局。在区域尺度上,该群落为棕色田鼠＋大仓鼠型,群落多样性与丰富度和均匀度都有显著的正相关,丰富度的作用大于均匀度的作用。由于资源分布的斑块性,群落优势种和次优势种对环境变异的季节性反应不同,故群落的时空格局具有明显的变化。在农田中,群落在秋季分化为棕色田鼠＋大仓鼠亚群落型和大仓鼠＋棕色田鼠型,后者的生境斑块为单一的玉米田和油葵田;在作物轮作的格局下,群落多样性与丰富度和均匀度都有显著的正相关。在果园中,无论果树树龄和季节的变化,棕色田鼠的多度总是大于大仓鼠,即群落格局是不变的,而群落多样性与丰富度和多度之间均无显著的相关性。然而,灌溉可使大仓鼠与棕色田鼠的数量关系发生逆转,因此灌溉不仅影响果园中鼠类群落格局的分化,而且也将影响到农田中的这种分化。在一年弃耕地中,群落格局从夏季开始由棕色田鼠＋大仓鼠亚群落型转化为大仓鼠＋棕色田鼠亚群落型;在第３年末演替结束时,多年生植物取代一年生植物成为优势种,大仓鼠＋棕色田鼠群落格局则趋于稳定。在此过程中,群落多样性和丰富度与均匀度均无显著的相关性。本研究结果还表明,异质性可导致农作区鼠类群落的多样性     

利用固定化酵母细胞转化反式肉桂酸生产L—苯丙氨酸

研究了深红酵母（Ｒｈｏｄｏｔｏｒｕｌａｒｕｂｒａ）的培养基成分,培养固定化及转化条件,实验表明最佳基成分（％）葡萄糖０．５,胰蛋白胨０．５,酵母膏０．５,磷酸二氢钾０．０５,Ｌ－Ｐｈｅ０．０５,ｐＨ７．０,３０℃２０Ｌ发酵罐中培养１５～１７ｈ,最佳固定化条件为：用２．５％卡拉胶包埋１８％的湿菌体,最佳转化条件为：１．０％反式肉桂酸,４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ铵离子,ｐＨ０．５,３０℃,用卡拉胶固定化深红酵母（Ｒ