Banana defence responses to Cosmopolites sordidus feeding and methyl jasmonate application

Each year 25–75% of banana and plantain yields are lost because of rhizome damages caused by banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) in growing regions of sub‐Saharan Africa. However, the specific plant defence response of the rhizome tissue in relation to the C. sordidus attack is unknown. Consequently, in this study, we evaluated whether plant defence substances in the rhizome are correlated with the degree of larval damage and whether applications of methyl jasmonate (MJ) elicit a greater induction of the plant defence potential against C. sordidus. Moreover, we attempted to reveal cellular modifications in response to the root feeding herbivore through histochemical staining. The banana cultivars “Km5” and “Mbwazirume” with tolerance and susceptibility to C. sordidus, respectively, were used in a pot experiment to evaluate percent rhizome damage, leaf chlorophyll content, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity and cell morphology in response to C. sordidus attack and/or MJ applications compared to untreated control plants. We found that C. sordidus‐induced rhizome damage was 30% in the susceptible cultivar but less than 5% in the tolerant cultivar. The percent rhizome damage was not related to leaf chlorophyll content but showed a significant negative linear relationship to both TPC and antioxidant capacity. Larvae feeding induced a considerably greater increase of polyphenolic defence compounds in Km5 than in Mbwazirume; however, this response was opposite in the MJ treatment, suggesting that the phytohormone induced the susceptible plant to invest more into the synthesis of defence chemicals that in turn lead to reduced C. sordidus damage. Tissue staining demonstrated a greater deposition of lignin and suberin in C. sordidus challenged rhizome, presumably to seal off healthy tissue with a physical barrier from continued pest attack. It is concluded that MJ induces polyphenolics in susceptible Mbwazirume banana that reduced C. sordidus damage.     

氨基酸影响尖孢镰孢菌古巴专化型厚垣孢子的形成

香蕉枯萎病是由尖孢镰孢菌古巴专化型Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense（Foc）侵染引起的一种土传真菌病害,已严重威胁香蕉产业的健康发展。该病菌产生的厚垣孢子可在土壤中存活多年,是香蕉枯萎病的初侵染源。本研究通过氨基酸添加试验,证明添加甘氨酸可抑制厚垣孢子的形成;通过对该病菌厚垣孢子形成前期、初期、中期和后期的转录组分析,发现氨基酸合成通路中有93个基因的表达水平在厚垣孢子形成过程中发生了显著变化;In silico 分析表明其中10个基因参与调控真菌的氨基酸合成,11个基因参与调控真菌种的生长发育和产孢,19个基因参与调控真菌种的致病性和毒素产生。由此推测,氨基酸合成通路不仅与尖孢镰孢菌古巴专化型厚垣孢子的形成相关,其有可能参与调控该病菌的致病性。     

ERCP/EST-LC治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石临床疗效及并发症

目的:考察内镜下逆行胰胆管造影术/十二指肠乳头括约肌切开术加腹腔镜胆囊切除术(endoscopic retrograde pancreatic angiography/endoscopic sphincterotomy-1aparoscopic cholecystectomy,ERCP/EST-LC)对胆囊结石合并胆总管结石的临床疗效和安全性。方法:选80例胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者,随机数字表法分为两组,每组40例,对照组进行LCBDE-LC手术,研究组进行ERCP/EST-LC手术,以手术成功率、围术期相关指标和术后并发症等指标考察对患者的临床疗效。结果:对照组手术成功率为95.0%,研究组患者手术成功率为97.5%,两组无显著差异(P>0.05),研究组患者的手术时间和术中出血量与对照组相比均无显著差异(P>0.05),研究组胃肠功能恢复时间为39.64±5.34 h,显著长于对照组的37.19±3.17 h(P<0.05),研究组住院时间为14.17±2.06 d,显著长于对照组的11.85±2.71 d(P<0.05)。两组患者的胆道感染、急性胰腺炎、肠穿孔、结石残留以及胆管炎的发生率无显著差异(P>0.05),对照组胆漏发生率为7.50%,显著高于研究组的0.00%(P<0.05),而研究组术后出血发生率为10.00%,显著高于对照组的2.50%(P<0.05),对照组并发症总发生率为12.50%,研究组为15.00%,两组比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。对照组术后一年复发率为15.00%,研究组的复发率为17.50%,经统计分析,两组术后复发率无显著差异(P>0.05),其余患者无腹痛、发热、黄疸等情况。结论:ERCP/EST-LC治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石临床疗效确切、并发症少,安全性高。     

Screening of banana bunchy top virus through multiplex PCR approach

Bunchy top disease caused by the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a serious disease in hill banana. Detection of the BBTV infection in the planting material could help in the effective management of the disease. An attempt was made to develop a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex PCR-based method for detection of BBTV in hill banana. DNA was isolated from the experimental plants at third and sixth months after planting. Multiplex PCR was done with Coat Protein (CP) and Replicase (Rep) gene-specific primer, and banana ethylene insensitive like protein (EISL) primer as internal control to identify failure in PCR reaction. This study revealed that multiplex PCR is effective for BBTV screening in hill banana with the advantage of overcoming the false positive in PCR amplification.     

Evaluation of legume intercrops on the population dynamics and damage level of burrowing nematode (Radopholus similis) in banana (Musa spp.)

Radopholus similis is the most destructive plant parasitic nematode in banana production systems. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of legume intercrops on R. similis population and damage level in banana. A trial was laid out in a randomised complete block design with five treatments and five replications. The treatments were banana/cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) intercrop, banana/sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) intercrop, sole banana, sole banana with nematicide (Fenamiphos) and sole cowpea. Sunn hemp intercrop was suppressing R. similis population densities and reduced banana root damage the most compared to tested treatments. The legume intercropped banana plants had a significantly higher fresh root mass as the sole-cropped banana with nematicide while the sole-cropped banana without nematicide had significantly lowest fresh root mass. Sunn hemp and cowpea legumes are recommended for adoption by smallholder banana farmers as alternatives to nematicide use.     

Short distances between extreme microhabitats do not result in ecotypes in Syntrichia caninervis

Abstract

Phenotypic variation occurs in many populations of plants. When this variation occurs along an environmental gradient, the immediate question is whether the variation is attributed to phenotypic plasticity, ecotypes, or some combination of the two. The moss Syntrichia caninervis appears morphologically variable along an environmental gradient changing rapidly from low light, low temperature, and high moisture levels in the understory microhabitat to high light, high temperature, and low moisture levels in the intershrub microhabitat. We tested for the presence of physiological variation using recovery from a heat-shock event in a mimicked microhabitat light environment, and for morphological variation using a common garden with the ultimate goal of attributing observed variation to plasticity, genetic variation, or a combination. The results suggest that plasticity plays a large role in trait variation. Photosynthetic recovery depended on the current light levels of an environment and not the original microhabitat. The supposed morphological variation in the field was not reflected in the test traits (awn length, leaf area, and shoot volume) and further growth in a common garden continued to show no variation between microhabitats.     

Organotypic Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Cultures of Adult Voles Reflect Locomotor Behavior: Differences in Number of Vasopressin Cells

This study is the first to demonstrate organotypic culturing of adult suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). This approach was used to obtain organotypic SCN cultures from adult vole brain with a previously determined state of behavioral circadian rhythmicity. We examined vasopressin (AVP) immunoreactivity in these organotypic slice cultures. AVP is one of the major neuropeptides produced by the SCN, the main mammalian circadian pacemaker. AVP immunoreactivity in the SCN of adult common voles in vivo has been shown to correlate with the variability in expression of circadian wheel-running behavior. Here, cultures prepared from circadian rhythmic and nonrhythmic voles were processed immunocytochemically for AVP. Whereas in all cultures AVP could be observed, AVP immunoreactivity differed considerably between vole SCN cultures. SCN cultures from rhythmic voles contained significantly lower numbers of AVP immunoreactive (AVPir) cells per surface area than cultures from nonrhythmic voles. The correlation between timing of behavior and AVP immunoreactivity in vitro is similar to the correlation found earlier in vivo. Apparently, such correlation depends on intrinsic AVP regulation mechanisms of SCN tissue, and not on neural or hormonal input from the environment, as present in intact brain.     

Phosphoglucose Isomerase from Bananas: Partial Characterization and Relation to Main Changes in Carbohydrate Composition during Ripening

Some characteristics of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI, EC 5.3.1.9) from banana were measured during fruit ripening of three banana cultivars. In banana, PGI was present as two dimeric isoenzymes, named PGI₁ and PGI₂, which had similar native molecular masses but differed in relation to heat stability and isoelectric point. Total PGI activity showed a distinct two-step change during fruit ripening. Before the climacteric period, PGI activity gradually decreased with the starch content, then its activity began to increase with sucrose accumulation. The ratio of PGI₁, and PGI₂ was constant, indicating that both enzymes would be involved in starch degradation and sucrose synthesis. PGI activity and changes in carbohydrate composition suggests the existence of some control to fit the requirements of the intense carbon flow from starch to sucrose.     

哺乳期BALB/c小鼠胆道梗阻模型的探索

目的探讨新生BALB/c小鼠胆道梗阻模型的建立,并与报告的新生BALB/c小鼠感染猕猴轮状病毒(RRV)模型小鼠生存曲线进行比较。方法将出生后5～7 d的BALB/c小鼠随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组进行胆总管结扎,然后关腹。对照组打开腹部后关腹不结扎胆总管。实验完成后每天观察小鼠的体重变化、无毛区皮肤颜色变化、小鼠存活天数以及在术后第5、10天时分别取小鼠肝脏做病理及免疫组化。结果小鼠在结扎后随着时间的延长,小鼠的体重及肝体比、无毛区皮肤颜色、存活天数、肝脏病理等都存在一定变化。小鼠体重增长逐渐缓慢,术后第2天就会出现无毛区的皮肤变黄,在尿道口会有淡黄色的液体并随后出现陶土样便。在术后第5天及第10天时取肝脏做肝体比有统计学差异(P≤0.05),小鼠在术后第10天左右会出现死亡高峰。结论新生BALB/c小鼠胆总管结扎模型是研究胆道梗阻的可靠动物实验,其生存曲线与报告的猕猴轮状病毒致胆道闭锁大体类似。