Temperature-induced alterations of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence induction in cucumber as affected by DCMU

Induction of chlorophyll a fluorescence and photosynthesis as affected by temperature were measured in cucumber leaf discs. Abrupt changes of the maximal variable fluorescence, Fv(p), and photosynthesis were observed around 9° and 21°C when the temperature was decreased from 30° to 0°C. The temperature-dependent maximal fluorescence of DCMU-treated leaf discs showed a single change around 21°C. Temperature-induced chlorophyll a fluorescence alterations are discussed in relation to electron transport activity of the two photosystems and photosynthetic activity of the cucumber leaf discs.Abbreviations DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - Fm maximal fluorescence - Fv(p) maximal variable fluorescence - qE energy-dependent fluorescence quenching - qQ Qa-dependent fluorescence quenching     

Temperature drop, dry matter accumulation and cold resistance of young cucumber plants

The study aimed to provide information on the involvement of plant cold resistance in a whole cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plant response to temperature drop treatments. The main objective was to explain the effects of a temperature drop on dry matter production and plant morphogenesis. The experimental design included temperature drops to 12°C for 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the night. The overall average temperature for all treatments was 20°C. A 2-hour temperature drop resulted in the most significant reduction in plant dry weight and leaf petiole length, but the highest degree of cold resistance. With the extension of a temperature drop duration to 4--6 hours, dry matter production was similar to that in the control plants, leaf petiole length increased, but not up to the control level and cold resistance was reduced, but was still higher compared to that of the control plants. Changes in dry matter production, leaf petiole length and cold resistance, depending on the duration of the temperature drop, were interrelated and their patterns varied little with the timing (position effect) of the temperature drop. It is concluded that plant cold resistance mechanisms play an important role in a whole plant response to temperature drop treatments. Thus, plant response to temperature drop treatments can be considered as a response to stress.     

Endopeptidase Isoenzyme Characteristics in Cucumis sativus Leaves During Dark-induced Senescence

The changes and characteristics of endopeptidase （EP） isoenzymes in cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.） leaves during dark-induced senescence were investigated by activity staining after gradient-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （G-PAGE） containing co-polymerized gelatin as substrate. The results showed that both the chlorophyll and the protein contents of leaves were decreased, and the protein degradation was correlated with the increase of proteolytic activity during the course of leaf senescence. Meanwhile, nine cucumber endopeptidases isoenzymes （CEP） with 140, 120, 106, 94, 76, 55, 46, 39 and 35 kDa molecular weights were detected. Four of these, CEP2, 3, 4 and CEP9 appeared all the time, but the changes of the activity were different during incubation. Another four CEPs （CEP5, 6, 7 and CEP8） whose activities increased with dark-induced time were only detected in senescent leaves. Furthermore, the biochemical properties of these nine CEP were also characterized. All the CEPs had high activities from 35 ℃ to 45 ℃, and the optimum temperature was found to be 40 ℃. However, the activities of CEPs were not detected below 25 ℃ or over 60 ℃. The activity bands appeared at a wide range of pH from 5.0 to 9.0, but the optimum pH was found at 7.0. No CEPs were detected at pH 4 or pH 10. By inhibition analysis we concluded that CEP2, 3, 4 and CEP9 were serine endopeptidases and CEP6 was a kind of cysteine protease. It is suggested that serine endopeptidases might play a major role in cucumber leaf senescence, and for the first time, six senescencerelated endopeptidases （CEP1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9） were found in cucumber leaves.     

Structural-functional changes in detached cucumber leaves, and modelling these by hormone-treated leaf discs

Senescence and rejuvenation were investigated in detached cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves after cultivation in nutrient solution for one week or four weeks. Rooting of the petiole (visible generally from the 7th day) elicited a combination of different morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes in the lamina. Extensive growth in area and thickness, extreme regreening, changes of chloroplast structure and activity, as well as the pattern of Chl-protein complexes were observed and compared either to the corresponding parameters of young detached leaves or mature attached leaves. These responses could be provoked separately by treating excised leaf discs with kinetin, benzyladenine, or indolylacetic acid. The hormones showed mutuality in their effects, benzyladenine being responsible for the growth of cells, while indolylacetic acid and kinetin promoted an increase in chlorophyll content. However, none of the treatments resulted in the growth of the chloroplasts in the leaf discs, which was only prominent in the rooting leaves.     

干旱胁迫下外源水杨酸对黄瓜幼苗膜脂过氧化和光合特性的影响

为了探讨外源水杨酸(SA)提高植物抗旱性的相关机制,研究了干旱胁迫下(基质含水量为饱和持水量的60％和50％),根际施用外源SA对黄瓜幼苗生长、膜脂过氧化、脯氨酸积累、水分利用效率、净光合速率(Pn)和叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明:SA处理能够缓解干旱胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长、Pn和水分利用效率的抑制,减小膜脂过氧化程度,促进脯氨酸的积累;添加外源SA显著减小了干旱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的PSⅡ最大光化学效率、PSⅡ实际光化学效率、PSⅡ潜在活性、PSⅡ有效光化学效率和光化学猝灭系数的下降幅度,抑制了非光化学猝灭系数的升高.添加外源SA可以缓解干旱胁迫造成的膜脂过氧化对膜系统的氧化损伤,并通过增强PSⅡ反应中心活性提高了Pn,有助于水分的利用,同时增大渗透调节能力,减少水分的散失,提高水分利用效率,从而增强植株对干旱的适应能力.     

The cucurbit images (1515-1518) of the Villa Farnesina, Rome

BACKGROUND: The gorgeous frescoes organized by the master Renaissance painter Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520) and illustrating the heavenly adventures of Cupid and Psyche were painted between 1515 and 1518 to decorate the Roman villa (now known as the Villa Farnesina) of the wealthy Sienese banker Agostino Chigi (1466-1520). Surrounding these paintings are festoons of fruits, vegetables and flowers painted by Giovanni Martini da Udine (1487-1564), which include over 170 species of plants. A deconstruction and collation of the cucurbit images in the festoons makes it possible to evaluate the genetic diversity of cucurbits in Renaissance Italy 500 years ago. FINDINGS: The festoons contain six species of Old World cucurbits, Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), Cucumis melo (melon), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Ecballium elaterium (squirting cucumber), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) and Momordica balsamina (balsam apple), and two or three species of New World cucurbits, Cucurbita maxima, C. pepo and, perhaps, C. moschata (pumpkin, squash, gourd). The images of C. maxima are the first illustrations of this species in Europe.     

多胺对离体黄瓜子叶花芽构建的影响

研究了外源多胺对离体黄瓜(CucumissativusL.)子叶内在多胺含量和花芽构建的影响。在MS培养基中添加5×10-2mmol·L-1亚精胺(Spd)、精胺(Spm)能明显提高子叶内Spd含量和SpdPut值,子叶成花率也明显高于对照组,而添加5×10-2mmol·L-1Put、5mmol·L-1环己胺硫酸盐(CHAS)培养的结果则相反。表明子叶内Spd含量和SpdPut与成花率呈正相关关系。在添加5mmol·L-1D精氨酸(DArg)处理后,子叶内SpdPut高于Spd处理,但子叶成花率低于对照组,表明Put、Spd含量也影响离体子叶花芽的构建。在实验中添加CHAS处理后子叶内Spm含量高出对照组10倍,子叶成花率却为0,其它各处理与对照组的内源Spm变化基本一致,成花率却差别明显,表明子叶内Spm含量与黄瓜子叶花芽构建之间无明显相关性。     

Progress in Wheat Resistance to Spot Blotch in Bangladesh

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is considered one of the most destructive diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the warm areas of South Asia. Over the past 20 years, wheat breeding efforts in the region have improved spot blotch resistance in susceptible commercial cultivars. This study assessed resistance and spot blotch‐induced yield losses in newly released wheat cultivars developed in Bangladesh since the release of the landmark wheat variety ‘Kanchan’. Replicated field studies were conducted during the 2003 and 2004 wheat seasons at two sites: a farmer's field and a research station in a warm region of Bangladesh where spot blotch has been a serious problem. Spot blotch affected 60% of the crop and caused yield losses of from 2% to 22%. Disease severity and disease‐induced grain yield reductions were less in wheat genotypes developed since 1983, with a corresponding trend towards higher yield in newly developed varieties. The level of resistance to spot blotch in the new cultivars and advanced breeding lines represents considerable progress in breeding for resistance over the past two decades.     

3种不同皮色萝卜种质染色体核型分析

本研究采用根尖压片法,对3种不同肉质根皮色的萝卜种质进行染色体数目和核型分析,以获得准确的细胞遗传学信息.研究结果表明,Nau-dqp08,Nau-txbyw07和Nan-chhong108这3种不同皮色萝卜的染色体数目均为18,核型公式分别为2n=2x=18=14m+4sm,2n=2x=18=18m和2n=2x=18=16m+2sm,且核型都属于1A型;核不对称系数分别为59.48%、55.39%与58.08%;核型不对称性大小为Nau-dqp08＞Nan-chhong108＞Nau-txbyw07,其中Nau-txbyw07核型较为原始.本研究结果可为萝卜种质鉴定、遗传变异和亲缘关系分析提供细胞学依据.     

光合菌对黄瓜光合及抗氧化同工酶的影响

以2种基因型的黄瓜（Cucumis sativus）为材料,研究光合菌（PSB）的喷施对植物生物量、净光合速率（Pn）、叶片PSII的最大光化学效率（Fv／Fm）及抗氧化同工酶代谢的影响。结果表明,喷施PSB均能诱导2种基因型黄瓜的生物量显著增加,并伴随Pn的显著提高。但是,2种基因型黄瓜的Fv/Fm并不受PSB喷施的影响：PSB能使总过氧化物歧化酶（soo）和抗坏血酸过氧化酶（APX）活性提高,并使它们的多数同工酶的活性上调,这些同工酶活性的增加在叶绿体中表现更为明显（如Cu／Zn-SOD、Fe-SOD和sAPX）。研究结果表明,PSB能通过增强黄瓜抗氧化酶体系的活性改善植株的抗氧化能力,从而在植株的生长和光合作用方面起到促进作用。