中国蓼科植物化学成分研究进展

我国有蓼科植物13属约235种,37变种.通过对已报道的蓼科植物的化学成分综述分析,表明:大黄属、何首乌属、虎杖属与酸模属都含有蒽醌类化合物(如大黄素、大黄酸、大黄酚等);而养麦属与蓼属富含黄酮类化合物,极少有蒽醌类存在.蓼科植物化学成分主要为蒽醌类和黄酮类,鞣质在该科中普遍存在;生物碱很少、有些属还含有芪类.     

Modified Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method improves robustness and versatility: The benchmark for plant RNA extraction

A wide range of plant RNA extraction methods are available; however, many of these are limited in their application for a diverse range of plant species. With special emphasis on robustness and versatility, we have improved the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method and isolated high-quality RNA from 16 different plant species. The major modifications made to the protocol described here were a reduction of sample treatment steps and an increase in β-mercaptoethanol concentration (to 3%) resulting in a robust, rapid and reproducible plant RNA extraction protocol that can be used for a broad range of plant species and tissue types.     

Cultural conditions affect somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don

We established an efficient plant regeneration system for Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was induced from hypocotyl of seed germinated in vitro. Somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus has been categorized into three distinct stages: (1) initiation and proliferation of embryo; (2) maturation, and; (3) germination or plantlet conversion. Beside plant growth regulators, various stages of embryogenesis were screened for their response to a wide variety of factors (pH, gelrite, light, sugar alcohols, polyethyleneglycol and amino acids), which affect embryogenesis. All of the tested factors had a small to marked influence on embryogeny and eventual conversion to plantlets. The plantlets were acclimatized successfully in a greenhouse. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a detailed study of various cultural factors which regulate embryogenesis in C. roseus. The results discussed in this paper may be used in mass propagation to produce medicinal raw material, and the embryo precursor cells could be used in genetic modification programmes that aim to improve the alkaloid yield as well.     

Plant organ abscission and the green island effect caused by gallmidges (Cecidomyiidae) on tropical trees

Plants exhibit a wide array of inert and induced responses in defense against herbivore attack. Among these the abscission of organs has been argued to be a highly effective mechanism, depending, however, on the herbivore’s feeding mode. While consisting of plant tissues, insect induced galls are seen as the extended phenotype of the gall inducer which might circumvent many or most of the plant defenses. There is very little information whether and how far beyond the gall tissue gall inducers might affect plant tissues. A localized impact is likely to leave the abscission of galled organs as a viable defense although at a cost. Here, we report on an instance where the host plant, Neea madeirana (Nyctaginaceae) abscises leaves galled by two species of Bruggmannia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), more frequently than ungalled leaves in a rain forest in Amazonia, Brazil. Once on the forest floor the leaves decay quickly, while both gall types show signs of localized maintenance of healthy tissues for a while (the green island effect). However, on the forest floor galls are exposed to a new set of potential natural enemies. Both gall types show a minimum of a five-fold increase in mortality due to pathogens (fungi and bacteria) compared to galls that were retained on the host tree. We discuss the adaptive nature of plant organ abscission as a plant defense against gallers and as a gall inducer adaptive trait. Handling editor: Graham Stone.     

Strategies of attack and defense in plant–oomycete interactions, accentuated for Phytophthora parasitica Dastur (syn. P. Nicotianae Breda de Haan)

Oomycetes from the genus Phytophthora are fungus-like plant pathogens that are devastating for agriculture and natural ecosystems. Due to their particular physiological characteristics, no efficient treatments against diseases caused by these microorganisms are presently available. To develop such treatments, it appears essential to dissect the molecular mechanisms that determine the interaction between Phytophthora species and host plants. Available data are scarce, and genomic approaches were mainly developed for the two species, Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora sojae. However, these two species are exceptions from, rather than representative species for, the genus. P. infestans is a foliar pathogen, and P. sojae infects a narrow range of host plants, while the majority of Phytophthora species are quite unselective, root-infecting pathogens. To represent this majority, Phytophthora parasitica emerges as a model for the genus, and genomic resources for analyzing its interaction with plants are developing. The aim of this review is to assemble current knowledge on cytological and molecular processes that are underlying plant–pathogen interactions involving Phytophthora species and in particular P. parasitica, and to place them into the context of a hypothetical scheme of co-evolution between the pathogen and the host.     

Accommodation of powdery mildew fungi in intact plant cells

Parasitic powdery mildew fungi have to overcome basic resistance and manipulate host cells to establish a haustorium as a functional feeding organ in a host epidermal cell. Currently, it is of central interest how plant factors negatively regulate basal defense or whether they even support fungal development in compatible interactions. Additionally, creation of a metabolic sink in infected cells may involve host activity. Here, we review the current progress in understanding potential fungal targets for host reprogramming and nutrient acquisition.     

Establishment of compatibility in the Ustilago maydis/maize pathosystem

The fungus Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic pathogen parasitizing on maize. The most prominent symptoms of the disease are large tumors in which fungal proliferation and spore differentiation occur. In this study, we have analyzed early and late tumor stages by confocal microscopy. We show that fungal differentiation occurs both within plant cells as well as in cavities where huge aggregates of fungal mycelium develop. U. maydis is poorly equipped with plant CWDEs and we demonstrate by array analysis that the respective genes follow distinct expression profiles at early and late stages of tumor development. For the set of three genes coding for pectinolytic enzymes, deletion mutants were generated by gene replacement. Neither single nor triple mutants were affected in pathogenic development. Based on our studies, we consider it unlikely that U. maydis feeds on carbohydrates derived from the digestion of plant cell wall material, but uses its set of plant CWDEs for softening the cell wall structure as a prerequisite for in planta growth.     

Papaya transformed with the Galanthus nivalis GNA gene produces a biologically active lectin with spider mite control activity

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin has previously been shown to have anti-feedant and insecticidal activity towards sap-sucking insects. However, its effectiveness against plant-parasitic mites has not been demonstrated. In this study, the commercial papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivar Kapoho, which is highly susceptible to mites, was transformed with the snowdrop lectin (G. nivalis agglutin [GNA]) gene. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of the transgene and six independent transformed lines were selected for expression analysis. Western blot analysis showed that the lines expressed a recombinant protein with a molecular weight similar to that of the native snowdrop lectin. Leaf extracts containing the recombinant GNA protein agglutinated trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes thus, showing the GNA protein to be biologically active. ELISA and indirect measurement from the agglutination assay showed there to be variation in GNA expression among the lines produced. A laboratory bioassay using carmine spider mites (Tetranychus cinnabarinus) suggested improved pest resistance in the transgenic papaya plants. This is the first report that a transgenic plant expressing the GNA gene possesses enhanced resistance to a plant-parasitic mite.     

棉花根际亲和性高效促生细菌的分离筛选

为了从棉花根际土壤筛选能与棉花凝集素具有亲和作用的高效促生细菌,以选择性培养基从棉花根部初步筛选具有固氮能力、解磷能力及解钾能力的促生细菌,再以异硫氰酸磺(FITC)标记的棉花凝集素为复筛工具,从棉花根际促生细菌中筛选能与棉花凝集素结合的亲和性菌株,分别挑选2株固氮菌、2株解磷细菌和2株解钾细菌作为微生物肥料接种到棉花根部进行盆栽试验.观察其在根部定殖情况.结果是在选择性平板上有20%～30%的菌株具有凝集素染色阳性.盆栽试验显示,接种的6株亲和性菌株能在棉花根部成功定殖,根际细菌数量约是灭活对照的`0倍.通过初步鉴定,固氮菌株N1111为固氮菌属(Azotobacter),N2121属于德克斯氏菌属(Derxia);解磷菌株P2126属于黄单胞菌属(Xanthomonas),P1108菌株为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas);解钾菌株K2204和K2116属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus).     

近海潮间带植物及其生境中微生物的特性及药用前景

近海潮间带植物生境的微生物是最富有生物多样性的海洋种群,其生境的独特性决定了该区域微生物较高的药用价值.本文介绍了我国南北方海域近海潮间带植物生境和微生物的特性及药用前景,为该区域微生物的开发利用提供参考.