Mitochondrial DNA of Vitis vinifera and the issue of rampant horizontal gene transfer

The mitochondrial genome of grape (Vitis vinifera), the largestorganelle genome sequenced so far, is presented. The genomeis 773,279 nt long and has the highest coding capacity amongknown angiosperm mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs). The proportionof promiscuous DNA of plastid origin in the genome is also thelargest ever reported for an angiosperm mtDNA, both in absoluteand relative terms. In all, 42.4% of chloroplast genome of Vitishas been incorporated into its mitochondrial genome. In orderto test if horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has also contributedto the gene content of the grape mtDNA, we built phylogenetictrees with the coding sequences of mitochondrial genes of grapeand their homologs from plant mitochondrial genomes. Many incongruentgene tree topologies were obtained. However, the extent of incongruencebetween these gene trees is not significantly greater than thatobserved among optimal trees for chloroplast genes, the commonancestry of which has never been in doubt. In both cases, weattribute this incongruence to artifacts of tree reconstruction,insufficient numbers of characters, and gene paralogy. Thisfinding leads us to question the recent phylogenetic interpretationof Bergthorsson et al. (2003, 2004) and Richardson and Palmer(2007) that rampant HGT into the mtDNA of Amborella best explainsphylogenetic incongruence between mitochondrial gene trees forangiosperms. The only evidence for HGT into the Vitis mtDNAfound involves fragments of two coding sequences stemming fromtwo closteroviruses that cause the leaf roll disease of thisplant. We also report that analysis of sequences shared by bothchloroplast and mitochondrial genomes provides evidence fora previously unknown gene transfer route from the mitochondrionto the chloroplast.     

葡萄上两个真菌性病害

报道了葡萄上两个国内新记录真菌病害:由茶子小穴壳菌(Dothiorella ribis)引起的熟腐病和败育假蜜环菌(Armillariella tabescens)引起的根腐病。病害附有症状和病原菌的描述和形态图。     

Detection of a Specific Transposon in Erysiphe necator from Grapevines in France

The biotrophic fungus, Erysiphe necator the causal agent of the grape powdery mildew, has two genetic groups A and B in European and Australian vineyards. A strain of group A was used to isolate a DNA sequence that exhibits high sequence homology to RNaseH of a non‐LTR (long tandem repeat) retrotransposon of Glomerella cingulata. PCR primers were designed and tested for their specificity to genetic group A of E. necator. This molecular tool is more efficient and sensitive than nested PCR based on polymorphism in the CYP₅₁ and β‐tubulin genes.     

Pollen viability,germination capability and pollen production level of some grape varieties (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.)

In this study, pollens of Burdur dimriti, Sariemin, Tilki kuyrugu, Razaki, Buzgulu, Siyah buzgulu, and Siyah gemre table grape varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in Isparta, Turkey were tested in vitro for viability, germination capability, and production level. It was determined that active pollen levels varied between 23.8 % and 80.8 % in FDA (flourescein diacetat), 31.5 % and 68.8 % in TTC (2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) tests. In respect to pollen germination rates, the best medium in hanging drop method and saturated petri method were 20 % sucrose concentration and 1 % agar+15 % sucrose solution, respectively. The highest and the lowest pollen production levels per flower were determined 9000 in Siyah gemre and 2906 in Siyah dimrit grape varieties, respectively.     

Beneficial effects of a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract and a niacin-bound chromium in a hamster atherosclerosis model

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries in which fatty plaques develop on the inner arterial wall, which eventually obstructs blood flow. Identified risk factors for atherosclerosis include genetics, diet, lifestyle, smoking, circulating lipid and cholesterol levels, and molecular and circulating signals of chronic vascular inflammation. The link between flavonoids and atherosclerosis is based partly on the evidence that some flavonoids possess antioxidant properties and have been shown to be potent inhibitors of LDL oxidation in vitro. Hypercholesterolemia, a significant cardiovascular risk factor is prevalent in the American population. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts are known to exhibit a broad spectrum of chemopreventive and cardioprotective properties against oxidative stress. A recent study has shown that a combination of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) and a niacin-bound chromium (NBC) can decrease total cholesterol, LDL and oxidized LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic human subjects. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of GSPE supplementation in hamsters, singly and in combination with NBC, since these animals have a similar lipid profile to hypercholesterolemic humans when fed a hypercholesterolemic diet of 0.2% cholesterol and 10% coconut oil (HCD). After 10 weeks of feeding HCD, these animals developed foam cells, which is a biomarker of early stages of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (% of aorta covered with foam cells) was reduced by approximately 50% and 63% following supplementation of these animals with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of GSPE, respectively, in conjunction with a HCD, while approximately 32% reduction was observed following supplementation of GSPE plus NBC. A minimum of 7–9 animals were used in each study group. GSPE alone and in combination with NBC exerted a pronounced effect on the cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as well as oxidative lipid damage as demonstrated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). This data demonstrates that GSPE and NBC may provide significant health benefits by dramatically ameliorating the incidence of atherosclerosis as demonstrated by reducing the formation of foam cells.     

Studies on stomatal function, epicuticular wax and stem-root transition region of polyethylene glycol-treated and nontreatedin vitro grape plantlets

Summary Scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and gravimetric analysis was used to evaluate stomatal function, epicuticular wax, and the stem-root transition region of grape (Vitis sp. ‘Valiant’) plantlets grownin vitro, polyethylene glycoltreatedin vitro, and greenhouse-grown plants. Scanning electron microscopic studies of leaf surfaces ofin vitro-grown plants showed widely open stomata as compared to leaf stomata of polyethylene glycol-treatedin vitro-cultured and greenhouse-grown plants. Ultrastructurally, leaf epicuticular wax ofin vitro plants was less dense than in their polyethylene-treated and greenhouse counterparts. Quantitatively,in vitro-grown plants had reduced epicuticular was as compared to polyethylene glycol-treated and greenhouse-grown plants. Light microscopic studies showed no obvious differences in the vascular connections in the stem-root transition region ofin vitro-cultured, polyethylene glycol-treatedin vitro-cultured, and greenhouse-grown plants. It is therefore likely that the rapid wilting and desiccation observed after transplantingin vitro grape plantlets is due to their defective stomatal function and reduced epicuticular wax and may not be due to poor water transport associated with vascular connection.     

病原侵染对采后葡萄激素水平的影响

外源ABA处理采后葡萄可显著促进乙烯释放和抑制IAA的生成,加重葡萄落粒。乙烯利对ABA促进作用不明显,但显著抑制IAA和GA3的生成。葡萄感病后组织内源激素水平发生了变化：ABA含量显著增加,乙烯释放率增大,IAA含量显著减少,这种变化趋势在果梗中尤为突出。     

中条山野生葡萄产香酵母的筛选及其混菌发酵对葡萄酒香气成分的影响

【背景】产香酵母可赋予葡萄酒独特的香气,因此,分离筛选优良产香酵母对酿造具有地域风味的特色葡萄酒具有重要意义。【目的】从中条山野生葡萄中筛选产香酵母,进行种群鉴定和生理生化特性研究,并将其应用于葡萄酒发酵过程,研究其对葡萄酒香气成分的影响。【方法】采用稀释涂布平板法从中条山野葡萄中分离筛选酵母菌,对其进行分子生物学鉴定。优选其中具有显著香气的产香酵母,与酿酒酵母F15进行混合发酵,采用气相色谱质谱联用(gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer,GC-MS)对香气成分进行分析,采用半定量法测定香气成分含量。【结果】共分离获得各种菌株13株,26S rRNA基因D1/D2区序列分析表明它们分布于Issatchenkia、Torulaspora、Pichia、Saccharomyces和Rhodotorula等5个不同属内。优选其中一株香气较为浓郁的酵母菌株Issatchenkia orientalis strain XS-6开展研究,结果发现该菌株最高耐受乙醇浓度为8%,最高耐受NaCl浓度为6%,最适生长温度为38℃。与酿酒酵母F15混菌发酵的葡萄酒中共检测出31种香气成分。香气物质总含量较单菌发酵增加19.8%,其中11种香气成分含量增加明显,尤其是具有玫瑰香气的苯乙醇。醇类与酯类物质含量较单菌发酵增加19.6%,并发现了香草酸乙酯(ethyl vanillate)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(dibutyl phthalate)等7种新的酯类物质。【结论】产香酵母XS-6对乙醇、NaCl、温度等具有良好的耐受性,而且与酿酒酵母F15混菌发酵对西拉葡萄酒香气成分具有明显的影响,可能在改善葡萄酒风味方面具有潜在的应用价值。     

Isolation of functional RNA from small amounts of different grape and apple tissues

An efficient, simple, and small-scale procedure for isolating functional ribonucleic acid (RNA) was successfully applied to many different tissues of grape and apple. These woody plants are rich in polyphenolic compounds and polysaccharides that could impair the RNA extraction. The method chosen is based on the use of hot borate buffer at alkaline pH supplemented with several adjuvants and followed by selective precipitations. Starting with only 0.4 g of fresh tissue and working with small tubes (2 mL), we were able to obtain good yields of high-quality RNA suitable for further applications. The procedure can be proposed for many applications, and it is particularly highly recommended when isolating RNA from a large number of samples.