蝙蝠蛾幼虫感染粉棒束孢后的病症、组织病理变化及侵入途径

蝙蝠蛾幼虫的饲养是冬虫夏草培植的先决条件,粉棒束孢作为蝙蝠蛾幼虫饲养过程中的一种常见和主要致病菌,具有极强的致病性和流行性。结合形态学观察和组织切片技术,本文研究了蝙蝠蛾幼虫感染病原菌粉棒束孢后的症状、主要组织病理变化及粉棒束孢侵染蝙蝠蛾幼虫的途径。结果表明,用浓度为1×10⁵个/mL的粉棒束孢分生孢子悬液处理蝙蝠蛾5龄幼虫,4d后在腹部气门处有黑斑出现,气门变黑,虫体随后瘫痪死亡、体色改变、收缩化僵、菌丝层包裹、形成众多孢梗束等症状。幼虫被粉棒束孢感染后,菌丝体首先利用血淋巴进行增殖,脂肪体、肌肉、消化道、丝腺和马氏管等主要组织器官先后出现不同程度的破坏,虫体体腔被大量菌丝充斥并最终僵化。组织切片观察结果表明,粉棒束孢可以通过气门侵入蝙蝠蛾幼虫体内并造成虫体死亡,菌丝穿透气管进入血淋巴后断裂成许多长短不一的短菌丝段,目前尚未观察到菌丝直接穿透幼虫体壁和从消化道侵入的现象。本研究为蝙蝠蛾幼虫饲养过程中的病害防治提供信息参考。     

皂荚EST-SSR分子标记开发与分析评价

本研究旨在开发皂荚EST-SSR分子标记,为今后皂荚种质资源评价与分析提供基础。首先通过对已公布的皂荚转录组数据进行拼接得到41003个Unigenes,总长度70.4 Mb,平均长度1716 bp,N50为2533 bp。进一步在7009个Unigenes中检测到8494个EST-SSR位点,其中1200条Unigenes含有2个及以上的SSR位点,复合型SSRs有369个。针对所有EST-SSR位点设计得到6494条特异性引物,随机挑选60个位点进行试验验证与分析,其中44对引物可扩增出特异性片段,17对具有多态性,PIC值范围为0.195~0.742,均值为0.501,且大部分多态性位点位于UTR区域。通过对皂荚近缘种进行跨种PCR扩增试验,结果显示在开发的44对有效引物中,9个近缘种美国皂荚、日本皂荚、绒毛皂荚、滇皂荚、华南皂荚、小果皂荚、野皂荚、肥皂荚和美国肥皂荚分别有32、31、23、24、7、40、25、18和18对引物可获得有效扩增片段,说明EST-SSR标记在皂荚近缘种之间具有良好的通用性。研究表明利用转录组数据挖掘的EST-SSR位点具有扩增稳定、多态性良好、近缘种间通用等优点,是林木物种开发分子标记的有效途径之一。     

Supplemental Cytogeographical Studies on the Scilla sinensis （Louriro） Merrill Complex in China

Seven hundred and fourteen individuals of the Scilla sinensis (Louriro) Merrill complex were sampled from 21 populations at 19 localities in 10 provinces and two cities of China and investigated cytologically in order to test its cytotype composition and cytogeographical variation still further. Five cytotypes were found (i.e. AA (2n = 16), BB (2n = 18), AABB (2n = 34), AAA (2n = 24), and AABB 9 (2n =43)). Until now, nine of the 12 cytotypes have been identified on the continent, which indicates that it is an important place for the cytotypic differentiation of the complex. The cytotype AABB 9 is a new record on the continent. AAA was recorded for the second time in this complex. The majority of populations are composed of only one cytotype (AA, BB, or AABB), whereas another four populations consist of more than two cytotypes involving AA, BB, AAA, AABB, and AABB 9. The distribution of BB covers the entire region south to Huai River, whereas AA populations are distributed in Taiwan, Fujian, Hong Kong, and Guangdong and are isolated from its major distribution. The appearance of AABB 9 is possibly evidence for the degeneration of the subglobular bulb type of AABB and the fact that AAA and AAAA exist in the interior border regions of the range of this complex probably suggests that drought is a major factor promoting plant polyploidization. In addition, the mean numbers of B chromosomes per individual, the percentage of individuals with the B chromosome in each population, and the correlation coefficients between the latter and their latitude/longitude were calculated. Generally speaking, the B chromosome number is higher in BB populations compared with AA populations and there is a prominent tendency that the B chromosome content in either AA or BB populations correlates with the latitude and longitude of the populations.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Chinese sturgeon,Acipenser sinensis

From (GATA)_n and (AAAG)_n enriched genomic libraries for the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), 50 primer pairs were developed using the fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats (FIASCO) protocol. Forty‐six primer pairs exhibited highly polymorphic with two to 11 alleles per locus, while the rest four displayed monomorphic. These markers yielded 246 alleles in a survey of eight specimens of wild A. sinensis. Average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.13 to 1.00. These loci should provide sufficient levels of genetic diversity to allow parentage analysis for artificial stocking management and delineation of fine‐scale population structure.     

B9对香椿生长发育和芽萌发的影响

以不同浓度 B9溶液喷施香椿苗木 2～ 3次 ,2 5 0 0 mg· L- 1B9作用最显著 ,可使植株低矮粗壮 ,顶梢下第一复叶变长 ,增加叶片叶绿素含量 ,提高光合速率和比叶重。处理后的落叶苗木移入日光温室中 ,可明显减少休眠芽萌发所需的有效积温 ,从而利于提早上市。 B9处理后单株新芽数量、产量及芽内所含可溶性糖和粗蛋白含量增加     

Ecologically determined natal philopatry within a colony of great cormorants

Dispersal patterns of individuals within populations have implicationsfor the social and genetic structure of local populations.Knowing what factors determine individual dispersal behavioris essential for predicting how the population structure willbe influenced by environmental and demographic changes. Inthis study, I investigated whether the settling pattern of individuals breeding for the first time within a colony of greatcormorants was determined by ecological or genetic factors.Furthermore, I examined the possible effects of age and gender.First-time breeders that came back to breed within their natalcolony showed strong philopatry toward their natal breedingsites. Because of the simultaneous strong fidelity of breederstoward their former breeding sites, this caused kin to clusterto some extent around the natal site. However, genetic factors(attraction to close kin) are less likely to explain natalphilopatry than ecological ones (attraction to the natal siteitself). Younger first-time breeders were more philopatric than older ones, in accordance with a decrease in the predictabilityof the quality of breeding sites with increasing time lags.Furthermore, males dispersed farther from the natal breedingsite than females. This result is contrary to what is generallyexpected for a breeding system where the male is dependent on a breeding territory for mate acquisition. I suggest thatthis sex difference could arise because first-time breedingmales are constrained from settling in the natal site by interferencecompetition with older males or because males are better informedabout alternative breeding sites of high quality within thecolony.     

Early events in Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of citrus explants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Genetic transformation of plants relies on two independent but concurrent processes: integration of foreign DNA into plant cells and regeneration of whole plants from these transformed cells. Cell competence for regeneration and for transformation does not always fall into the same cell type/developmental stage, and this is one of the main causes of the so-called recalcitrance for transformation of certain plant species. In this study, a detailed examination of the first steps of morphogenesis from citrus explants after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens was performed, and an investigation into which cells and tissues are competent for regeneration and transformation was carried out. Moreover, the role of phytohormones in the co-cultivation medium as possible enhancers of gene transfer was also studied. METHODS: A highly responsive citrus genotype and well-established culture conditions were used to perform a histological analysis of morphogenesis and cell competence for transformation after co-cultivation of citrus epicotyl segments with A. tumefaciens. In addition, the role of phytohormones as transformation enhancers was investigated by flow cytometry. KEY RESULTS: It is demonstrated that cells competent for transformation are located in the newly formed callus growing from the cambial ring. Conditions conducive to further development of this callus, such as treatment of explants in a medium rich in auxins, resulted in a more pronounced formation of cambial callus and a slower shoot regeneration process, both in Agrobacterium-inoculated and non-inoculated explants. Furthermore, co- cultivation in a medium rich in auxins caused a significant increase in the rate of actively dividing cells in S-phase, the stage in which cells are more prone to integrate foreign DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Use of proper co-cultivation medium and conditions led to a higher number of stably transformed cells and to an increase in the final number of regenerated transgenic plants.     

Ultraviolet Rays Promote Development of Photosystem II Photochemical Activity and Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds in the Tea Callus Culture (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia sinensis</Emphasis>)

Effect of UV-B rays (280–320 nm) on photosynthetic electron transport and production of phenolic compounds in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) callus culture grown in white light was investigated. When white light was supplemented with UV radiation, the culture growth was retarded and morphological characteristics were modified. These conditions promoted the formation of chlorophyll-bearing cells and altered the ability of cultured cells to accumulate phenolic compounds, including flavans specific to Camellia sinensis. By the end of the culturing cycle (on the 45th day), the total content of phenolic compounds in the culture grown under supplementary UV irradiation was almost 1.5 times higher than in the control culture. The UV rays greatly stimulated photosystem II (PSII) activity in phototrophic cells of the callus culture, which was indicated by a large increase in the ratio of variable chlorophyll fluorescence to maximal fluorescence. This ratio was as low as 0.19 in cells cultured in white light and increased to 0.53 in the cell culture grown under white and UV light. The kinetics of dark relaxation of chlorophyll variable fluorescence, related to reoxidation of PSII primary acceptor, contained either two or three components, depending on the absence or presence of UV radiation, respectively. An artificial electron acceptor of PSI, methyl viologen modified the kinetics of dark decay of chlorophyll variable fluorescence in a characteristic manner, implying that photosynthetic electron transport was mediated by PSI and PSII in both treatments (culturing in white light with and without UV-B). It is concluded that stimulatory effect of UV rays on the parameters examined in phototrophic regions of Camellia tissue culture is determined by photoexcitation of a regulatory pigment that absorbs quanta in blue and long-wave UV spectral regions.     

A comparative study on the production of exopolysaccharides between two entomopathogenic fungi Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis in submerged mycelial cultures

AIMS: The present study comparatively investigates the optimal culture conditions for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and cordycepin during submerged mycelial culture of two entomopathogenic fungi Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fermentations were performed in flasks and in 5-l stirred-tank fermenters. In the case of C. militaris, the highest mycelial biomass (22.9 g l(-1)) and EPS production (5 g l(-1)) were achieved in a medium of 40 g l(-1) sucrose, 5 g l(-1) corn steep powder at 30 degrees C, and an initial pH 8.0. The optimum culture conditions for C. sinensis was shown to be (in g l(-1)) 20 sucrose, 25 corn steep powder, 0.78 CaCl2, 1.73 MgSO4.7H2O at 20 degrees C, and an initial pH 4.0, where the maximum mycelial biomass and EPS were 20.9 and 4.1 g l(-1) respectively. Cordycepin, another bioactive metabolite, was excreted at low levels during the early fermentation period (maximum 38.8 mg l(-1) in C. militaris; 18.2 mg l(-1) in C. sinensis). CONCLUSIONS: The two fungi showed different nutritional and environmental requirements in their submerged cultures. Overall, the concentrations of mycelial biomass, EPS and cordycepin achieved in submerged culture of C. militaris were higher than those of C. sinensis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: C. militaris and C. sinensis are representative insect-born fungi which have been longstanding and widely used as traditional medicines in eastern Asia. Comparative studies between two fungi are currently not available and this is the first report on the optimum medium composition for submerged culture of C. sinensis.     

Nutritional requirements of mycelial growth of Cordyceps sinensis in submerged culture

AIMS: The nutritional requirements for mycelial growth of Cordyceps sinensis in semi-synthetic liquid media were investigated. The results provide a basis for further physiological study and industrial fermentation of the fungus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nutritional requirements, including 17 carbohydrates, 16 nitrogen compounds, nine vitamins, four macro-elements, four trace-elements and eight ratios of carbon to nitrogen, were studied for their effects on the mycelial growth in submerged cultures of C. sinensis by using one-factor-at-a-time and orthogonal matrix methods. Among these variables, sucrose, peptone, folic acid, calcium, zinc and a carbon to nitrogen ratio 12 : 1 were identified as the requirements for the optimum mycelial growth. The concentrations of sucrose, peptone and yeast extract were optimized and the effects of medium composition on mycelial growth were found to be in the order sucrose > yeast extract > peptone. The optimal concentration for mycelial growth was determined as 50 g l(-1) sucrose, 10 g l(-1) peptone and 3 g l(-1) yeast extract. CONCLUSIONS: Under optimal culture conditions, over 22 g l(-1) of mycelial biomass could be obtained after 40 days in submerged cultures. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Cordyceps sinensis, one of the most valued medicinal fungi, is shown to grow in axenic culture. This is the first report on nutritional requirements and design of a simplified semi-synthetic medium for mycelial growth of this psychrophilic species, which grows slowly below 20 degrees C. The results of this study will facilitate research on mass production of the fungus under defined culture conditions.