Long‐distance pollen and seed dispersal and inbreeding depression in Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in the Brazilian savannah

Hymenaea stigonocarpa is a neotropical tree that is economically important due to its high‐quality wood; however, because it has been exploited extensively, it is currently considered threatened. Microsatellite loci were used to investigate the pollen and seed dispersal, mating patterns, spatial genetic structure (SGS), genetic diversity, and inbreeding depression in H. stigonocarpa adults, juveniles, and open‐pollinated seeds, which were sampled from isolated trees in a pasture and trees within a forest fragment in the Brazilian savannah. We found that the species presented a mixed mating system, with population and individual variations in the outcrossing rate (0.53–1.0). The studied populations were not genetically isolated due to pollen and seed flow between the studied populations and between the populations and individuals located outside of the study area. Pollen and seed dispersal occurred over long distances (>8 km); however, the dispersal patterns were isolated by distance, with a high frequency of mating occurring between near‐neighbor trees and seeds dispersed near the parent trees. The correlated mating for individual seed trees was higher within than among fruits, indicating that fruits present a high proportion of full‐sibs. Genetic diversity and SGS were similar among the populations, but offspring showed evidence of inbreeding, mainly originating from mating among related trees, which suggests inbreeding depression between the seed and adult stages. Selfing resulted in a higher inbreeding depression than mating among relatives, as assessed through survival and height. As the populations are not genetically isolated, both are important targets for in situ conservation to maintain their genetic diversity; for ex situ conservation, seeds can be collected from at least 78 trees in both populations separated by at least 250 m.     

反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸（ODN）衍生物抑制乙肝病毒抗原表达的研究

为比较针对中不同基因的ＯＤＮ硫代衍生物阻断乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）的抗原表达,合成了与核心蛋白编码基因起始码上游序列,多聚酶蛋白编码基因起码上游及内部序列３．５ｋｂＲＮＡ３＇端起始负链ＤＮＡ合成序列互补的寡聚脱氧核苷酸硫代衍生物,分别在ＨＢＶ短暂表达和稳定表达细胞培养系统中观察其抑制ＨＢＶ抗原表达的作用。结果发现,当培养液中ＯＤＮ浓度为２０μｍｏｌ／ＬＪＦ ,四种ＯＤＮ均能抑ＨｅｐＧ２．２．１５细胞     

How in vitro light affects growth and survival of ex vitro cassava

Cassava is one of the most important food crops in Africa. Meristem culture is an effective method of eliminating viruses and other systemic diseases spread through the vegetative propagation of stems. However, in semi‐arid conditions, survival of ex vitro plants in the field is often disappointing. When an increasing range of light regimes in vitro was provided, the fresh and dry masses more than doubled their values between 29 and 369 mmol s^?1 m^?2 PPFDs. Increases in numbers of senescent leaves and stem thickness were also recorded with increasing PPFD. However, PPFD above 101 mmol s^?1 m^?2 resulted in 30–70% reduction in plant survival, with the thin plants with the smallest fresh and dry masses being the ones with highest survival rates. High light and temperature levels in the greenhouse were also found to be critical for plant survival. It was also shown that transpirational loss from detached leaves and epicuticular wax deposits were not good indicators for predicting survival of ex vitro cassava plantlets during acclimatisation.     

Autophagy initiation correlates with the autophagic flux in 3D models of mesothelioma and with patient outcome

Understanding the role of autophagy in cancer has been limited by the inability to measure this dynamic process in formalin-fixed tissue. We considered that 3-dimensional models including ex vivo tumor, such as we have developed for studying mesothelioma, would provide valuable insights. Using these models, in which we could use lysosomal inhibitors to measure the autophagic flux, we sought a marker of autophagy that would be valid in formalin-fixed tumor and be used to assess the role of autophagy in patient outcome. Autophagy was studied in mesothelioma cell lines, as 2-dimensional (2D) monolayers and 3-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids (MCS), and in tumor from 25 chemonaive patients, both as ex vivo 3D tumor fragment spheroids (TFS) and as formalin-fixed tissue. Autophagy was evaluated as autophagic flux by detection of the accumulation of LC3 after lysosomal inhibition and as autophagy initiation by detection of ATG13 puncta. We found that autophagic flux in 3D, but not in 2D, correlated with ATG13 positivity. In each TFS, ATG13 positivity was similar to that of the original tumor. When tested in tissue microarrays of 109 chemonaive patients, higher ATG13 positivity correlated with better prognosis and provided information independent of known prognostic factors. Our results show that ATG13 is a static marker of the autophagic flux in 3D models of mesothelioma and may also reflect autophagy levels in formalin-fixed tumor. If confirmed, this marker would represent a novel prognostic factor for mesothelioma, supporting the notion that autophagy plays an important role in this cancer.     

Pedigree analysis for the genetic management of group‐living species

Captive breeding programs are an important tool for the conservation of endangered species. These programs are commonly managed using pedigrees containing information about the history of each individual's family, such as breeding pairs and parentage. However, there are some species that are kept in groups where it is hard to distinguish between particular individuals within the group, making it very difficult to record any information at an individual level. Currently, software and methods commonly used for registering and analyzing pedigrees to help manage populations at an individual level are not adequate for managing these group‐living species. Therefore, there is a need to further develop these tools and methodologies for pedigree analysis to better manage group‐living species. PMx is a program used for the management of ex situ populations in zoos and aquariums. We adapted the pedigree analysis method implemented in PMx to analyze pedigrees (records of descendant lineages) of group‐living species. In addition, we developed a group pedigree data entry sheet and group2PMx, a converter program that enables group datasets to be imported into PMx. We show how pedigree analysis of a group‐living species can be used for population management using the studbook of the endangered Texas blind cave salamander Eurycea rathbuni. Such analyses of the pedigree of groups can improve the management of group‐living species in ex situ breeding programs. Firstly, it enables better management decisions based on more accurate genetic measures between groups, allowing for greater control of inbreeding. Secondly, it can improve the conditions in which group‐living species are held by adapting husbandry practices to better reflect conditions of these species living in the wild. The use of the spreadsheet and group2PMx extends the application of PMx_, allowing conservation managers and other institutions outside the zoo and aquarium community to easily import and analyze their pedigree data.     

In vitro formation of axillary buds by immature shoots of Ponderosa pine

Axillary buds were induced from immature shoot explants taken from terminal buds of branches from 29- and 34-year old ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa Dougl ex Laws). The effect of collection time, position on the donor tree from which the explants were taken, and plant growth regulators on axillary bud formation was investigated. Explants from branches taken in late October formed axillary buds, whereas explants from branches collected in February 1988 produced a large amount of callus. The ability to form axillary buds was significantly greater for explants from the upper crown than from the lower portion of the tree. Explant elongation occurred and basal needle primordia swelled on Murashige & Skoog media (MS) containing 2.2 M 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 5.4 M naphthalenacetic acid. When transferred to a MS medium containing 4.4 M BA, 59% of explants formed axillary buds.     

四川凤仙花属(凤仙花科)四新记录种

该文报道了四川凤仙花属四新记录种,即睫毛萼凤仙花(Impatiens blepharosepala Pritz. ex Diels)、红纹凤仙花(Impatiens rubro-striata Hook. f.)、滇西北凤仙花(Impatiens lecomtei Hook. f.)及松林凤仙花(Impatiens pinetorum Hook. f. ex W. W. Smith),并进行了鉴定和讨论,同时提供了相关照片。凭证标本保存于西昌学院标本室(XIAS)中。我国西南地区是世界五大凤仙花属植物分布中心地区之一,此次在四川发现的四新记录种均为我国特有种,该发现对于研究我国西南地区凤仙花属植物的起源和扩散路线具有一定的指导意义。     

单叶双盖蕨配子体发育的研究

在人工条件下对我国产单叶双盖蕨（Diplazium subsinuatum (Wall. ex Hook. et Grev.) Tagawa）配子体发育进行了观察。结果表明：单叶双盖蕨的孢子为两面体型,两侧对称,极面观为椭圆形,赤道面观为圆肾形,周壁具粗刺状或棒状突起;孢子萌发为书带蕨型;原叶体发育为铁线蕨型,成熟原叶体为心脏形。该研究试图为蕨类植物的系统分类积累资料。