Phylogenetic and enzymatic variability of Alternaria species isolated from various substrates in Qena governorate of Upper Egypt

Recently, 24 sections were characterised in the genus of Alternaria. In this work, 27 isolates of Alternaria belonging to section Alternaria were isolated from different sources in Qena governorate, Egypt. The collected strains were identified using multi-locus products of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, small subunit (SSU), large subunit (LSU) and Alt a1 gene. Based on four loci, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that 26 isolates (96.3% of total isolates) identified as A. alternata and the last one isolate (3.7%) as A. arborescens. The different strains of Alternaria exhibited enzymatic variability ranged from 0.1 ± 0.07–2.3 ± 0.13U/ml for cellulase and 0.6 ± 0.20–3.7 ± 0.47 U/ml (pectinase). Within A. alternata isolates, biochemical properties (Cellulase and pectinase) did not correlate either to phylogenetic analysis or strain origin.     

黑杨胚抢救技术体系优化

采用组织培养技术进行黑杨胚抢救和比较不同黑杨派树种杂交组合以及不同胚抢救时间的结果表明黑杨胚抢救的最佳时间范围为授粉后30-35d。已长有3支以上须根的胚培苗进行移栽时保持的温度为20-25℃,湿度为70％左右,3d可成活,1周即可完全适应外界环境。     

石蜡切片制作中小鼠某些器官三维结构变化的数据测试

通过对小白鼠某些器官在石蜡切片过程中回缩率（或膨胀率）范围的测诗,为再现上述器官的形状大小提供了依据。     

Silene rothmaleri P. Silva (Caryophyllaceae), a rare, fragmented but genetically diverse species

Silene rothmaleri is an endemic Portuguese species considered extinct until 1992, when it was rediscovered in the wild with a highly fragmented distribution. These rare plants occur along the southwestern Portuguese coast in small populations, which in addition to phenological differences that occur along the north–south gradient could create a pattern of genetic isolation. To evaluate the degree of genetic diversity and estimate the relationship between population fragmentation and genetic variability, we analysed the five known populations of S. rothmaleri using random amplified polymorphic DNA. Degree of polymorphism and Shannon Index of phenotypic diversity revealed high levels of diversity, found mainly within populations. PCo and cluster analysis revealed a distinct north–south cline, which was confirmed by spatial autocorrelation (Mantel) analysis. This indicates the existence of gene flow between small nearby populations and its insufficiency between widely separated populations. Levels of gene flow (Nm) estimated from the Shannon Index reveal a pattern consistent with a larger past distribution that went through a period of contraction and lack of gene flow followed by population differentiation. The central and largest population probably acts as a core of genetic variability inherited as a relict from a larger and more diverse ancestral population.     

Integrated magnetobiochronology of the Early/Middle Eocene transition at Agost (Spain): Implications for defining the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary stratotype

In this paper, we present an integrated study of a 115‐m‐thick section that spans the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary at Agost (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain). Our study includes magnetostratigraphic results and biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental data derived from planktic foraminifera, small and larger benthic foraminifera, and calcareous nannofossils. Our results demonstrate that the Agost section is continuous and spans from Zones P9 to P12 (E7 to E10), Zones CP11 to CP14a (NP13 to NP16), Zones SBZ11 to SBZ15, and Chrons C22n to C19r. The first occurrence (FO) of H. nuttalli (base of P10) and the FO of G. nuttalli (base of E8) are found within Chron C20r, at a much younger age (3–5 Myr) than previously considered in standard calibration schemes. Similarly, the boundary between SBZ12 and SBZ13 is located within Chron C21n, also at a younger age than previously considered. On the contrary, the FO of B. inflatus (base of CP12b) is found within Chron C21r, which conforms to the magnetostratigraphically calibrated age of ca. 48 Ma (middle part of C21r) considered in standard calibration schemes. These results corroborate earlier studies and indicate that all the events that have been proposed to mark the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary appear at different stratigraphic intervals and have different ages. Based on our results from Agost and on data from other sections elsewhere, we suggest that the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary might be approximated by the FO of B. inflatus (base of CP12b). The Agost section might be considered as a potential candidate to locate the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the base of the Lutetian Stage, because it includes all the events that might be selected as marker events for the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary and it fulfils most of the geological, biostratigraphic and infrastructure requirements demanded for definition of a GSSP.     

Discrimination of Aspergillus niger and other Aspergillus species belonging to section Nigri by PCR assays

Aspergillus species included in section Nigri are common in plant products and processed food, such as grapes, cereals, coffee and derivatives, particularly in warm and tropical climates. Two of these species, A. carbonarius and A. niger, are known to produce ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent nephrotoxin and carcinogenic to human (group 2B). Recognition of the several species of this section is difficult and requires considerable expertise using conventional methods based on morphological features. In this work we describe rapid, sensitive and robust assays based on the PCR technique to discriminate the main species included in section Nigri: A. japonicus, A. heteromorphus, A. ellipticus and the two morphologically indistinguishable species of the A. niger aggregate: A. niger and A. tubingensis. The species-specific primers have been designed on the basis of ITS (internal transcribed spacers of rDNA units) sequence comparisons obtained from several Aspergillus strains and have been tested in a number of strains from different origins and hosts. These PCR assays, based on multi-copy sequences, are highly sensitive and specific and represent a good tool for an early detection of OTA-producing Aspergillus species in order to prevent OTA from entering the food chain.     

Species boundaries and interrelationships of two closely related sympatric diploid wild potato species, Solanum astleyi and S. boliviense, based on RAPDs

 The more than 200 wild and cultivated species relatives of potato (Solanum sect. Petota) present a valuable germplasm base for cultivar improvement. However, species boundaries and interrelationships within sect. Petota are controversial, inhibiting the efficient organization of the many germplasm collections of these species. One controversy involves questions of species boundaries and interrelationships of S. astleyi and S. boliviense. Solanum boliviense is narrowly endemic to two Departments in southern Bolivia, and S. astleyi is known only from one site entirely within the range of this species, where they co-occur. Both species are diploid and morphologically very similar. Artificial hybrids between them are fully fertile, and the species putatively hybridize naturally. These data have been interpreted to designate them as separate species or as S. astleyi an ecotype of S. boliviense. Putative progenitors of S. astleyi are S. boliviense, S. megistacrolobum subsp. megistacrolobum, and S. megistacrolobum subsp. toralapanum. We evaluated interrelationships among these species with random amplified polymorphic DNA’s (RAPDs) generated for 2 accessions of S. astleyi and 14 accessions of S. boliviense. These represent the entire geographic range of the former species and nearly the entire range of the latter. We also analyzed 1 accession each of S. acaule subsp. acaule, S. acaule subsp. aemulans, S. albicans, S. berthaultii, S. megistacrolobum subsp. megistacrolobum, S. megistacrolobum subsp. toralapanum, S. raphanifolium, S. sogarandinum, and S. sparsipilum. Phenetic analyses of the RAPD data show S. astleyi and S. boliviense to form two distinct groups and to be more similar to each other than to any of the other species investigated, suggesting that S. astleyi and S. boliviense are sister taxa. The divergence of S. astleyi and S. boliviense relative to other species examined suggests that they are worthy of taxonomic recognition at the subspecies, rather than species level, and we propose the new combination S. boliviense subsp. astleyi. Received: 21 November 1996 / Accepted: 18 April 1997     

我国金花茶组植物的地理分布

世界产金花茶组植物22种,其中我国20种,特有18种,仅产广西。其分布区在北纬21°30′—23°40′,东经106°40′—108°35′,北界基本上与广西北热带半常绿季雨林、湿润雨林地带北界吻合。该组植物分布于石灰(岩)土的13种,红壤的7种。它们出现的地段比较固定,天然林下,沟谷或溪边处,相对高度10—15米;峰丛圆洼地底部和荫蔽的坡面下部。该组植物个体最多的地区(几何中心)一个在防城县,一个在龙州县;种类最多的地区(最大变异中心)一个也在龙州县,9种,一个在扶绥县,7种。该分布区从南到北分化成六个小分区。其垂直分布一般在海拔700米以下。水平分布种的更替表现为:北纬21°31′为小瓣金花茶等五种;北纬22°10′—22°45′为鼻岗金花茶等八种更替;北纬22°50′为顶生金花茶等三种更替;北纬23°40′为平果金花茶更替。金花茶分布幅度最宽,可由北纬21°31′到22°55′。在土山,东西以东经107°30′为界,以东为金花茶等四种,以西为小瓣金花茶等二种。     

小圆形病毒样因子引起新生儿急性胃肠炎的研究

33例新生儿急性胃肠炎的粪便标本经EM检测,12份(36.4％)粪便标本中检出了病毒样颗粒,其中11份(33,3％)为SRV样因子(SRV),1份为其他病毒样颗粒。经粪便包埋超薄切片和IEM证实SRV是引起新生儿急性胃肠炎的病原。SRV的直径为26nm,表面结构清晰。在氯化铯(CsCl)中的浮密度为1.36—1.40g/cm~3。应用微量CF试验,5例双份血清中的1例抗体有三倍升高,3例恢复期皿清抗补体,1例为阴性,该病人为其他病毒样颗粒感染。核酸电泳未显带。培养未见细胞病变。5例正常对照新生儿粪便未检出任何病毒样颗粒。