Organ‐specific responses of tomato growth and phenolic metabolism to nitrate limitation

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites involved in plant innate chemical defence against pests and diseases. Their concentration varies depending on plant tissue and also on genetic and environmental factors, e.g. availability of nutrient resources. This study examines specific effects of low (LN) and high (HN) nitrogen supply on organ (root, stem and leaf) growth and accumulation of major phenolics [chlorogenic acid (CGA); rutin; kaempferol rutinoside (KR)] in nine hydroponically grown tomato cultivars. LN limited shoot growth but did not affect root growth, and increased concentrations of each individual phenolic in all organs. The strength of the response was organ‐dependent, roots being more responsive than leaves and stems. Significant differences were observed between genotypes. Nitrogen limitation did not change the phenolic content in shoots, whereas it stimulated accumulation in roots. The results show that this trade‐off between growth and defence in a LN environment can be discussed within the framework of the growth–differentiation balance hypothesis (i.e. GDBH), but highlight the need to integrate all plant organs in future modelling approaches regarding the impact of nitrogen limitation on primary and secondary metabolism.     

花莲种质资源的遗传多样性及品种间亲缘关系的探讨

利用17个随机引物对来自中国和美国的29份花莲种质资源材料进行了RAPD分析。扩增形成207条谱带,多态带122条,多态率为58．94％。说明中国花莲具有较丰富的遗传多样性。结果还显示：（1）花莲种质资源可被分为2个品种群：品种群Ⅰ以大花型为主,少量小花型。品种群Ⅰ以中小型花为主。又在欧氏遗传距离11．01处分为7个亚品种群。（2）美洲黄莲与中国莲的花莲之间在DNA水平上没有显著差异,与中小型花关系更近。     

Effects of NaCl stress on germination, antioxidant responses, and proline content in two rice cultivars

We investigated the physiological and biochemical bases for salt tolerance in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars — relatively salt-tolerant ‘Dongjin’ and salt-sensitive ‘Kumnam’. Salinized hydroponic cultures were studied at the germination and seedling stages. NaCI inhibited germination more severely in ‘Kumnam’ than in ‘Dongjin’. Increasing the salt concentration also deterred growth to a larger extent in the former. Moreover, the leaves of ‘Kumnam’ exhibited greater increases in lipid peroxidation and Na⁺ accumulation than those of ‘Dongjin’ under stress. The activities of constitutive and salt-induced superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and ascorbate peroxidase (AP, EC 1.11.1.11) were also higher in ‘Kumnam’, while only catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) activity was slightly higher in stressed plants of ‘Dongjin’. The positive correlation between leaf proline levels and NaCI concentration was more evident in ‘Kumnam’. However, ‘Dongjin’ seeds, which had higher germinability in the presence of NaCI, also contained more proline. These results suggest that the higher salt tolerance in ‘Dongjin’ seedlings could be ascribed to their lower NaCI accumulations in the leaves. This presumably is due to reductions in the uptake or transport rates of saline ions to the shoots from the roots. Finally, we believe that the higher germination rate by ‘Dongjin’ is caused by its higher seed proline content.     

Genetic diversity among Chinese landraces and cultivars of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) revealed by the polymerase chain reaction

Broomcorn millet is widely grown in Asia and Europe. This cereal is a very efficient user of soil water and is particularly adapted to sandy, dry soils and dry weather conditions. As one of the oldest crops in ancient China, it has played an important role in the formation and development of Chinese civilisation and culture. It is still one of the major grain crops in northern China where harsh climate conditions prevail. The genetic diversity and relationships among 32 accessions of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) from the major areas for broomcorn millet growing in China, in addition to six Indian landraces, were evaluated by PCR analysis with six introns splice junction or long random primers. A total of 56 DNA fragments across all materials were scored; among them, 42 (75%) were polymorphic as indicated by their absence in at least 1 of the 38 accessions tested, indicating a high variation at the DNA level among those accessions. Pair‐wise genetic dissimilarity (Dice’s coefficient) ranged from 0.0286 to 0.4737. The clustering largely corroborated with the geographical location of the origins of those accessions. The data indicated that the glutinous/non‐glutinous trait is also associated with the clustering. Majorities of the landraces from Yulin of Shaanxi were clustered into five groups, and majorities of the cultivars or breeding lines from Inner Mongolia were clustered into three groups. The results of this study suggest that the landraces from Yulin of Shaanxi were extensively utilised in the breeding programme of Shanxi, whereas this feature was not observed in the breeding programme of Inner Mongolia.     

Genome Size and Pollen Viability as Taxonomic Criteria: Application to the Genus Hosta

Abstract: Genome size (C values) and pollen viability staining were applied as new criteria to investigate the taxonomy of the genus Hosta Tratt. (Hostaceae). Nearly all species of the genus Hosta have the same basic chromosome number (2n = 2x = 60). However, the nuclear DNA contents, as measured by flow cytometry with propidium iodide, could be demonstrated to range between 17.2 to 26.6 pg. This implies that the largest genome contains roughly 10¹⁰ more base pairs than the smallest. Therefore, nuclear DNA content is a very relevant taxonomic trait that can be measured simply by flow cytometry. In addition, differences in overall DNA composition were demonstrated by comparing to DAPI fluorescence. In general, genome size data confirmed the division into three subgenera. The geographical distribution of genome sizes indicates the migration pattern of Hosta throughout East Asia. The species belonging to the mainly Korean subgenus Bryocles, with a low nuclear DNA content (17.2 - 19.3 pg), can now largely be distinguished from the mainly Japanese species of the subgenus Giboshi (21.3 - 26.5 pg). The exception is H. longissima, that with only 19.6 pg provides a nice example of a decrease in DNA content. On the mainland, as well as on Honshu, species with increased and decreased DNA content have evolved independently. The usefulness of pollen viability to detect hybrids in Hosta was demonstrated in a large series of artificial crosses between bona fide species. Consequently, pollen viability was measured in all available Hosta described as species. Several had low pollen viability and were concluded to be hybrids. Morphology and DNA content confirmed this in most cases. The resulting 23 species approximate the number of Hosta species that follows from the combined studies by Fujita (1976¹⁸) on the Japanese species and Chung (1991 a¹¹) on the Korean species.     

传标记及其在作物品种鉴定中的应用

本文评述了用于作物品种鉴定的形态标记（morphological markers）、细胞标记（cytological markers）、生化标记（biochemical markers）、分子标记（molecular markers）的优缺点。重点评述了分子标记在作物品种鉴定中的应用。文中除对蛋白质电泳指纹图谱－－同工酶和贮茂蛋白（包括醇溶性蛋白、清蛋白、谷蛋白、球蛋白等）电泳产生的指纹图谱的应用外,较详细地介绍了近年来ＤＮＡ指纹图谱技术;包括限制片段长度多态性（restriction fragment length polymorphism,简称ＲＦＬＰ)、随机扩增多态性ＤＮＡ（random amplified polymorphic DNA,简称ＲＡＰＤ）、小卫星ＤＮＡ（minisatellite DNA）、微卫生ＤＡＮmicrosatellite DNA）,简单重复序列间扩增（intersimple sequence repeats,简称ＩＳＳＲ）,扩增片段长度多态性（amplified fragment length polymor-phism,简称ＡＦＬＰ）以及ＣＡＰＳ（cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences）和ＳＮＰＳ（single mucleotide polymor-phisms）对作物品种鉴定和新品种登记,品种纯度和真实性的检验以及品种间亲缘关系的探讨和在分类研究中的贡献等。     

Aluminum resistance in two cultivars of Zea mays L.: Root exudation of organic acids and influence of phosphorus nutrition

Root exudation of organic acids as Al-chelating compounds and P nutrition have been suggested to play a major role in Al-resistance in higher plants. Effects of Al exposure on maize plant growth, and organic acid root content and root exudation under various levels of P nutrition were examined. Sikuani, a Colombian maize cultivar tolerant to acid soils with high Al saturation, and Corso, a Swiss cultivar, were grown in sterile hydroponic conditions for 21 days. Al-caused inhibition of root growth was lower in Sikuani than in Corso. Al effect on plant growth was decreased with increasing P content in roots. Al content in roots increased with increasing P content and was higher in Sikuani than in Corso. When exposed to Al, the contents in root apices as well as the root exudation of citric and malic acids in Corso and citric, malic and succinic acids in Sikuani increased, and were higher in Sikuani than in Corso. Increased PEP carboxylase (PEPC) activity in root apices after Al exposure partially explained the variations of organic acid content in the roots. These Al-induced changes in PEPC activity, organic acid content and exudation were reduced in plants supplied with higher P concentrations during the 21 days prior to treatment. Increased secretion of organic acids after exposure to Al appeared to be specific to Al and was not totally explained by increased root content in organic acids.     

Nectar secretion dynamics of Hungarian local pear cultivars

 The dynamics of daily nectar secretion was studied in 28 local pear cultivars in a Hungarian cultivar collection and three main types were distinguished. 1. Cultivars secreting nectar continuously are the most favourable for pollinators, rewarding them both with nectar and pollen. 2. Cultivars with discontinuous nectar secretion have sufficient insect attraction only if anther dehiscence is continuous during the day. In the first two types nectar secretion peaks usually appeared at 9:00 or 10:00, 14:00 or 15:00 and 18:00 or 19:00, with 4–5-hour intervals. 3. In some cultivars no nectar secretion was observed in any or some of the studied years, these being the least attractive for pollinators. The cultivars studied did not necessarily show the same type of nectar secretion dynamics in each season. From the viewpoint of pollination it is also of high importance, in which developmental phase nectar secretion begins. Received August 27, 2002; accepted January 7, 2003 Published online: June 2, 2003     

Molybdenum efficiency in winter wheat cultivars as related to molybdenum uptake and distribution

The highly Mo efficient winter wheat cultivar 97003 yielded more than 90% and the low Mo efficient winter wheat cultivar 97014 less than 50% under Mo deficient conditions when compared to the Mo fertilizer treatment. The mechanism of Mo efficiency, molybdenum uptake and distribution in plant parts during all growth stages, was studied with these two cultivars when grown in an acid yellow-brown earth with no Mo (CK) and added Mo (+Mo) treatments. The results showed that accumulation of Mo and dry matter in shoots of cultivar 97003 was significantly higher than those of cultivar 97014 under CK through the entire growth period. Most of Mo was found accumulated in shoots after the stem elongation stage. Only low amount of Mo was accumulated during the cold winter until stem elongation stage where severe symptoms occurred in cultivar 97014 without Mo supply, while the Mo concentration of cultivar 97003 was significantly higher, thus improved its cold hardiness. Molybdenum concentrations in spikes and seeds were very low pointing to a low Mo mobility even under Mo sufficiency. However, much more Mo was distributed in the upper leaves at stem elongation stage, in spikes in heading stage, in seeds in maturity in cultivar 97003 than in cultivar 97014 under conditions of Mo deficiency. In the efficient cultivar, the Mo distribution ratios to the upper leaves and spikes were even higher without Mo supply, suggesting that a higher phloem mobility and thus a more efficient use of Mo under Mo deficiency stress. The ability of Mo uptake and phloem-mobility are discussed and it is suggested to be the important physiological basis of Mo efficiency.     

水稻的光合作用、生长、碳同位素分辨作用及抗渗透胁迫性对CO_2浓度增高的响应(英文)

四个水稻 (OryzasativaL .)品种“IR72”、“特三矮 2号”、“桂朝 2号”和“Ⅱ优 44 80”在田间栽于含 35 μmol mol和 6 0 μmol molCO2 的塑料大棚中 ,自然光照。高浓度CO2 下供试水稻品种的光合速率变化表现为提高型 (“IR72”、“特三矮 2号”)、稳定型 (“桂朝 2号”的Pn几无变化 )和下调型 (“Ⅱ优 44 80”)。生长速率、穗重、由Δ1 3 C计算而得的长期水分利用效率和清除DPPH· 自由基的能力皆增加。除“Ⅱ优 44 80”外 ,其他 3个品种明显增高总生物量。供试品种的穗重 总生物量比不同程度地受到高浓度CO2 的改变。叶片段经PEG渗透胁迫后 ,不同的生长于高浓度CO2 者的电解质渗漏率较小。结果表明高浓度CO2 可改变水稻的光合作用和水分关系特性 ,品种间不同的响应显示了选育适于未来高浓度CO2 下具有高产和抗逆性品种的可能性。