Detection of microsatellite instability during somatic embryogenesis of oak (Quercus robur L.)

Five microsatellite loci (QpZAG1/5, QpZAG9, QpZAG36, MSQ4, MSQ13) were used to test for genetic stability of three somatic embryogenic culture lines of Quercus robur L. and plantlets derived therefrom. DNA variation was detected among somatic embryos within all embryogenic lines, whereas no genetic instability was found among the regenerated plants. Two microsatellite loci revealed variation, and a locus-dependent instability was observed. The most polymorphic and useful microsatellite locus for detecting genetic variation was QpZAG9, with 28.5% of the investigated loci being variable.     

Rare trisubstituted sesquiterpenes daucanes from the wild Daucus carota

Phytochemical and biological investigation of the roots of the wild Daucus carota ssp. carota afforded three new and four known compounds, including four sesquiterpenes daucane esters (1-3 [new], and 4), one polyacetylene (5), one sesquiterpene coumarin (6), and sitosterol glucoside. The structures of the new compounds were determined by comprehensive NMR studies, including DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC analyses. Based on an agar diffusion assay, 1, 2 and 4-6 were screened and found to contain a range of low antibacterial activities against four gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptomyces scabies, Bacillus subtilus, Bacillus cereus) and two gram negative species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) as well as antifungal against Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger using cup agar diffusion assay.     

Temperature,Herbivory and Epibiont Acquisition as Factors Controlling the Distribution and Ecological Role of an Invasive Seaweed

The invasive canopy alga, Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides, first observed at the Isles of Shoals in 1983, has become the dominant canopy species to 8 m throughout the islands. Codium populations are replacing themselves at most sites in what appears to be a new, climax, canopy species. However, Codium densities have declined in protected Gosport Harbor areas where it first became established. Codium has only slowly expanded its presence in adjacent nearshore subtidal habitats. Recent studies suggest a combination of factors that may be influencing the relative success of populations between habitats. The herbivorous sea slug, Placida dendritica, may be reducing populations in protected areas in spite of predators such as the green crab, Carcinus maenas, while surge may inhibit herbivore buildup in exposed habitats. Temperature instability due to localized, wind-driven upwelling may be slowing the buildup of subtidal Codium populations in nearshore sites. The combination of Codium dominance and the acquisition of increasing epibiont diversity are producing a new, potentially more complex community state than the previous kelp-dominated climax typical of the Gulf of Maine.     

Physical mapping and microsynteny of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis genome corresponding to a 222 kbp gene-rich region of Arabidopsis chromosome 4 and partially duplicated on chromosome 5

We constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, designated as KBrH, from high molecular weight genomic DNA of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage). This library, which was constructed using HindIII-cleaved genomic DNA, consists of 56,592 clones with average insert size of 115 kbp. Using a partially duplicated DNA sequence of Arabidopsis, represented by 19 and 9 predicted genes on chromosome 4 and 5, respectively, and BAC clones from the KBrH library, we studied conservation and microsynteny corresponding to the Arabidopsis regions in B. rapa ssp. pekinensis. The BAC contigs assembled according to the Arabidopsis homoeologues revealed triplication and rearrangements in the Chinese cabbage. In general, collinearity of genes in the paralogous segments was maintained, but gene contents were highly variable with interstitial losses. We also used representative BAC clones, from the assembled contigs, as probes and hybridized them on mitotic (metaphase) and/or meiotic (leptotene/pachytene/metaphase I) chromosomes of Chinese cabbage using bicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization. The hybridization pattern physically identified the paralogous segments of the Arabidopsis homoeologues on B. rapa ssp. pekinensis chromosomes. The homoeologous segments corresponding to chromosome 4 of Arabidopsis were located on chromosomes 2, 8 and 7, whereas those of chromosome 5 were present on chromosomes 6, 1 and 4 of B. rapa ssp. pekinensis.     

Interactions among moths, crossbills, squirrels, and lodgepole pine in a geographic selection mosaic

Repeated patterns among biological communities suggest similar evolutionary and ecological forces are acting on the communities. Conversely, the lack of such patterns suggests that similar forces are absent or additional ones are present. Coevolution between a seed predator, the red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra complex), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) exemplifies the ecological and evolutionary predictions for coevolving systems. In the absence of another seed predator and preemptive competitor (pine squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), natural selection by crossbills results in the evolution of larger cones with thicker distal scales, while relaxation of selection by squirrels results in the evolution of cones with more seeds and a greater ratio of seed mass to cone mass. However, in one range, the Little Rocky Mountains, distal scale thickness has diverged as expected but cone size has not. In these mountains seed predation by lodgepole pine cone borer moths (Eucosma recissoriana) was about 10 times greater than in other ranges lacking squirrels. We quantified moth predation and cone traits and found that moths select for smaller cones with fewer seeds. Thus, selection by moths in the Little Rocky Mountains counters both selection by crossbills for large cone size and relaxation of selection by squirrels favoring more seeds per cone and accounts for the relatively small and few-seeded cones in these mountains. It is also apparent that selection by crossbills changes seed defenses in a manner that favors seed predation by moths, whereas selection by squirrels likely reduces such predation. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the evolutionary consequences of community context in locally evolved (coevolved) traits and interactions.     

西双版纳茅草山广西青梅群落学研究*

应用植物群落学的研究方法, 对西双版纳茅草山广西青梅群落进行了初步研究。该群落是以龙脑香科
的广西青梅和金缕梅科的细青皮为乔木上层优势树种, 群落分A 至E 层, 外貌以单叶、纸质、全缘、尾尖、
中叶为主的常绿大、中高位芽植物组成为特征, 层间木质藤本和附生植物丰富, 属热带季节雨林。该群落是
老挝热带季节雨林向北的伸延, 物种丰富, 动态结构稳定, 但分布面积狭小, 生态脆弱, 需重点保护     

不同激素配比和AgNO3对两种基因型大白菜子叶离体再生的影响

以‘08S555’和‘陕秋白’大白菜子叶为外植体,研究了激素配比和AgNO3对不定芽再生的影响。结果表明：‘陕秋白’的再生率高于‘08S555’,但出芽系数比‘08S555’低。在6-BA与NAA组合时,‘陕秋白’再生率最高,为68.33%,‘08S555’为28.33%;再生系数分别为1.09和2.81。在TDZ与NAA组合时,二者不定芽的再生频率分别为79.17%和45.83%;再生系数分别为1.24和2.55。这说明与6-BA相比,TDZ与NAA组合对两个大白菜子叶再生率的效果更好。AgNO3与细胞分裂素及生长素配合使用,能提高‘陕秋白’子叶不定芽的再生频率。当TDZ浓度为0.3mg·L^-1、NAA为0.5mg·L^-1和AgNO3为6mg·L^-1时,‘陕秋白’再生率最高,达到87.50%。     

大白菜霜霉菌诱导抑制性消减杂交cDNA文库的构建和分析

以抗霜霉病大白菜双单倍体系（DH）‘T12-19’为材料,构建了霜霉病诱导表达的正向抑制性消减文库,并利用反向Northern斑点杂交技术对768个阳性克隆进行了筛选,共获得57个病原菌诱导上调表达的克隆。测序后得到55条通读表达序列标签（ESTs）,对这些ESTs序列进行聚类和拼接分析,共获得50个unigenes。Blast分析表明,37个unigenes与已知基因高度同源,占全部非重复序列的67.3%。对已知功能基因按MIPS的分类方法进行功能分类,发现这些基因的功能主要涉及物质与能量代谢、转录调控、蛋白质合成与代谢、膜及转运、信号转导、抗病防御等。为了验证文库筛选结果的可靠性,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了其中2个克隆BFCH10和BFIA7的表达谱。结果表明,这2个克隆在接种病菌6h后明显上调表达,与反向Northern斑点杂交结果基本一致。     

克隆植物中国沙棘生长对外源植物激素的响应

关于植物克隆生长调节问题,目前集中于外在机制的研究。为了探讨中国沙棘克隆生长调节的内在机制,采用3×3回归设计进行田间试验,期望了解不同生长性状对IAA和CTK用量及其配比的响应规律。结果表明:(1)生长性状对激素用量的响应规律呈典型的钟形曲面模式,即各生长指标均存在一个产量峰值,峰值以前生长指标随IAA、CTK用量的增大而提高,峰值以后生长指标随IAA、CTK用量的增大而下降。(2)不同生长指标对激素用量及其配比的响应规律具有一定差异,较高的IAA比例有利于促进树高生长,较高的CTK比例有利于促进地径和冠幅生长,而几乎相等的IAA和CTK用量有利于种群生物量积累。(3)在激素用量适宜的情况下,中国沙棘生长潜力得到充分发挥,形成高大的个体,较多的子株,有利于提高种群对生境资源的占据和利用,并提高排斥其他植物种类入侵的能力;当激素用量过高或过低时,中国沙棘以降低生长量为代价,形成矮小的个体,减少子株数量,有利于削弱个体之间的竞争。这一结果为了解中国沙棘克隆生长内在调节机制提供了线索。(4)根据不同生长指标的激素效应方程,求出了相应的IAA和CTK的最佳用量和最佳配比,以及合理施激素区域和最低成本线。(5)克隆子株数量增幅与地径和冠幅生长量增幅呈极显著正相关、与种群生物量增幅呈显著正相关,即适宜的IAA和CTK用量既可加速个体生长、也能促进克隆子株的产生。