Changes in the structure ofArabidopsis thaliana during female development of the plant-parasitic nematodeHeterodera schachtii

Summary The beet cyst nematodeHeterodera schachtii is able to establish a feeding structure (syncytium) in the vascular tissue of roots and shoots ofArabidopsis thaliana. Histological and ultrastructural studies were performed to assess plant responses during the development of juvenile females under monoxenic conditions. After destructively invading a root the nematode selects and pierces a single procambial cell with its stylet and transforms it into an initial syncytial cell (ISC) by secretory activity. The first most obvious changes in the ISC occur in the vacuolar system and at the wall. Differentiation of a central vacuole is impeded resulting in the formation of numerous small vacuoles. Multivesicular and paramural bodies are formed. An electron translucent material is deposited on the cell wall. Partial dissolution of the cell wall leads to the formation of a syncytium. At the juveniles' last pre-adult developmental stage the syncytium attains its maximum longitudinal and radial extension, occupying a major part of the central cylinder. Its features are indicative of a very high level of metabolic activity. The hypertrophied syncytium is ensheathed by a peridermal cover in which secondary xylem and phloem elements are interspersed. When females die the syncytia degenerate. The ultrastructural and histological features of syncytia described from roots are also found in syncytia induced in aerial parts of the plant.     

Nematodes from river drift and surface drinking water supplies in southern Ontario

Sixty-six genera of nematodes representing 37 families were collected over a 13-month period from untreated and treated water from three water treatment plants in southern Ontario. Two plants receive water from the Grand River which drains agricultural, residential and industrial regions, the third from a small stream in an agricultural district. Specimens were isolated by filtration from weekly samples of untreated and treated water, most were identified to genus but a few to species.Estimated mean density in the organic drift of the river ranged from 0.58 individuals per litre in winter, when it was under ice, to 10.57 per litre during the spring thaw. Most of the 66 genera found passed through the treatment plants and over 50% of these were still motile.Eleven genera were abundant at some time of the year, six known only from soil-dwelling forms and five from aquatic or soil/aquatic species. There was no indication that sewage purification works were a major source of any genus. There were a few plant parasites.Aquatic nematodes occurred during most of the year although they were more abundant during the warmer months, high densities of soil nematodes were a feature of the spring thaw and rains and during heavy autumn rains. More than 50% of the specimens were juveniles and some common genera lacked males.     

Influence of Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, 1949 on Development and Establishment of Heterodera schachtii Schmidt, 1871 on Beta vulgaris L

Influence of Meloidogyne hapla on estahlishnrent and maturity of Heterodera schachtii in sugarbeet was studied. Results indicated that when the majority of M. hapla were in second, third, or fourth larval stages within plants prior to H. schachtii inoculation, growth and development of the latter was retarded. However, when M. hapla reached the young female stage prior to inoculation of H. schachtii, establishment and development of the latter was greatly enhanced. As M. hapla reached maturity before and after egg production prior to H. schachtii inoculation, establishment and growth of the latter was progressively decreased. In each instance, M. hapla developed independently and matured at the same rate as in plants inoculated with only M. hapla. Usually ratios of total soluble carbohydrates to reducing carbohydrates were lower, but not significantly different, in plants receiving both nematodes as compared to other treatments.     

Effects of Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) on yield and quality of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Thirteen species of saprobic rhabditid nematodes (11 genera) were identified from samples of compost and casing material collected from mushroom farms in the British Isles. Caenorhabditis elegans, the most frequently found saprobe, was mass-produced monoxenically and its effects on the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (strain U3) were studied. C. elegans did not multiply in well-prepared, pasteurised, spawned compost, whereas casing material proved to be a highly suitable environment for its reproduction. An initial casing inoculum of 10⁶ nematodes/crate of compost (7.5 kg), caused a significant reduction in mushroom yield. Losses in total mushroom yields of 11%, 20% and 26% were caused by initial inoculum rates of 10⁶, 10⁷and 2 × 10⁷ nematodes/crate, respectively. Yields were negatively correlated with the initial nematode inoculation level and regression equations were derived. The nematode treatments caused fewer mushrooms to be produced and an absence of the usual distinctive flushing patterns. C. elegans caused considerable deterioration in mushroom quality and characteristic distortion of mushrooms. Individual sporophores were mis-shapen, notched and had brown or violet coloured grills. Up to 3.8%, 6.7% and 10.8% of total weight and 3.5%, 5.4% and 8% of total numbers of mushrooms were distorted at the three highest nematode inoculum rates tested. Weights and numbers of distorted mushrooms were positively correlated with the initial nematode population. C. elegans commonly colonised sporophores.     

Relative contribution of nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and bacteria towards the disruption of flushing patterns and losses in yield and quality of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

Laboratory tests of bacteria isolated from the body surface, or from the gut, of a saprophagous rhabditid nematode Caenorhabditis elegans infesting mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) showed that some bacteria enhanced nematode reproduction and that others inhibited it. As some bacteria were shown to inhibit mycelial growth of the mushroom, the effects of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia liquefaciens, either alone or in combination with C. elegans, on the flushing patterns, quality and yield of A. bisporus (strain Horst U3) were studied. Bacteria alone had little effect on flushing patterns whereas C. elegans delayed the onset of mushroom production and significantly disrupted the growth pattern of crops, with mushrooms appearing more regularly and not within obvious flushes. Inoculation with bacteria resulted in ‘browning’ of mushrooms that was even more pronounced in C. elegans treatments. Characteristic distortion of sporophores was observed only in the presence of C. elegans. Nematodes commonly colonised sporophores. Bacteria affected the size of nematode populations both on the sporophores and in the casing. Significant yield loss occurred; up to 10% when bacteria were inoculated, up to 27.8% when C. elegans was inoculated, and up to 35% with both bacteria and nematodes. Synergism between C. elegans and A. calcoaceticus var. anitratus was observed; the combination resulted in significantly greater reduction in mushroom yield than any other treatment. It is concluded that bacteria contribute to yield loss and quality deterioration in A. bisporus but that the effects are far greater in the presence of C. elegans.     

Nitrogen metabolism in marine methanotrophs

Two new methane-oxidizing bacteria have been isolated from seawater samples from Plymouth Sound. These marine methanotrophs have an obligate requirement for NaCl and exhibit many properties of typical Type I methanotrophs previously isolated from freshwater environments. However, they are different from all other methanotrophs thus far described in that they failed to grow on all solid media tested. The nitrogen metabolism of both strains was investigated. They were not N₂-fixers nor would they use ammonia as nitrogen source. They appeared to utilize the glutamate dehydrogenase pathway for the assimilation of ammonia under all growth conditions tested.     

Methanopyrus kandleri,gen. and sp. nov. represents a novel group of hyperthermophilic methanogens,growing at 110°C

A novel group of hyperthermophilic rod-shaped motile methanogens was isolated from a hydrothermally heated deep sea sediment (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California) and from a shallow marine hydrothermal system (Kolbeinsey ridge, Iceland). The grew between 84 and 110°C (opt: 98°C) and from 0.2% to 4% NaCl (opt. 2%) and pH 5.5 to 7 (opt: 6.5). The isolates were obligate chemolithoautotrophes using H₂/CO₂ as energy and carbon sources. In the presence of sulfur, H₂S was formed and cells tended to lyse. The cell wall consisted of a new type of pseudomurein containing ornithin in addition to lysine and no N-acetylglucosamine. The pseudomurein layer was covered by a detergent-sensitive protein surface layer. The core lipid consisted exclusively of phytanyl diether. The GC content of the DNA was 60 mol%. By 16S rRNA comparisons the new organisms were not related to any of the three methanogenic lineages. Based on the physiological and molecular properties of the new isolates, we describe here a new genus, which we name Methanopyrus (the methane fire). The type species is Methanopyrus kandleri (type strain: AV19; DSM 6324).This paper is dedicated to Otto Kandler on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Nine new and less known nematode species from the deep-sea benthos of the Norwegian Sea

Eight new and one less known nematode species are described from Vöring Plateau at 970 m to 1426 m depth and adjacent deep-sea plain at 3062 m depth in the Norwegian Sea: Actinonema grafi sp. nov., Desmodora pilosa Ditlevsen, 1926, Leptolaimus meyer-reili sp. nov., Tarvaia heegeri sp. nov., Diplopeltoides linkei sp. nov., Diplopeltis bathmanni sp. nov., Southerniella nojii sp. nov, Pararaeolaimus rumohri sp. nov. and Theristus altenbachi sp. nov. Differential diagnoses to the eight new species are given. Actinonema grafi, Leptolaimus meyer-reili and Theristus altenbachi are frequently found on Vöring Plateau and belong to the most dominant species, whereas Desmodora pilosa and Pararaeolaimus rumohri are dominant species at few sites only. The other species occur sporadically, in few numbers, and belong — as do Pararaeolaimus rumohri — to seldomly reported nematode genera.Contribution No. 111 from Sonderforschungsbereich 313 der Universität Kiel, Germany.     

^60Co在人工海洋小生境中的行为

在自行建立的人工海洋小生境中,采用示踪法和S-80智能多道分析器及Ge(Li)探头测量放射性,研究~(60)Co在小生境中的行为。结果表明,~(60)Co进入海水后以颗粒态的形式存在;沉积物对~(60)Co的浓集系数仅为3—4。在排泄实验中,沉积物出现重新吸附的现象。海洋动物的肝脏(消化腺)、胃肠是浓集~(60)Co的关键器官,其浓集系数高达2—3个数量级;除有机酸外,主要生化成分均能检出~(60)Co,其总量分布主要集中在脂肪,其次是蛋白质。排泄实验之后,胃肠及生化物质里的~(60)Co损失显著,肝脏(消化腺)仍残留50％,而毛蚶的蛋白质仍有83％的残留量。     

Vitamin content of four marine microalgae. Potential use as source of vitamins in nutrition

Summary Certain marine microalgae contain water-and lipid-soluble vitamins and can be used as food supplements or food ingredients. A number of vitamins are present in higher concentrations in the microalgae than in conventional foods traditionally considered rich in them. Ingestion of relatively small quantities of microalgae can cover the requirements for some vitamins in animal nutrition, including human nutrition, while supplementing others. Marine microalgae can thus be considered to represent a non-conventional source of vitamins or a vitamin supplement for animal or human nutrition.