Preference of the vector thrips Frankliniella occidentalis for plants infected with thrips‐non‐transmissible Tomato spotted wilt virus

The effect of a thrips‐non‐transmissible Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on insect–host interactions between thrips and Arabidopsis thaliana was analysed. A wild‐type TSWV virulent isolate and a TSWV isolate that induces mild symptoms on inoculated plants (TSWV‐Mo) were used in this study, and TSWV‐Mo isolate was obtained by single local lesion isolation using Petunia x hybrid after several passages on Nicotiana rustica plants. In transmission test, although wild‐type TSWV (TSWV‐wt) was transmitted by two thrips species (transmission ratio; Frankliniella occidentalis, 25%; Thrips tabaci, 10%; and T. palmi, 0%), none of the thrips transmitted TSWV‐Mo. Feeding damage by F. occidentalis in A. thaliana plants was more extensive on TSWV‐wt‐infected plants than on TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants, despite comparable preference. Among the markers of plant defences, salicylic acid‐regulated genes were upregulated threefold to sixfold by TSWV‐wt or TSWV‐Mo infection. In contrast, jasmonate‐regulated genes and jasmonate/ethylene‐regulated genes were not affected by the infections. Pull assays showed that adjacent TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants were preferred over uninfected plants. In conclusion, our results showed that the transmissibility by thrips of TSWV is not related to preference of vector thrips and suggested that TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants may be used as attractants for behaviour control of thrips.     

崇明水仙根尖体细胞染色体的观察和核型分析

以崇明水仙(Narcissus tazetta L.var.chinensis Roem.)根尖体细胞为实验材料,对适宜于崇明水仙细胞学研究的前处理液和前处理时间进行了筛选,在此基础上,应用根尖压片法对重瓣花型和单瓣花型崇明水仙体细胞染色体数、核型及倍性进行了比较分析.结果显示:适宜的前处理液是对二氯苯饱和溶液,适宜的前处理时间为12 h.重瓣花型和单瓣花型崇明水仙的染色体核型差异较小,相同点为:不对称二型核型,染色体基数x=10,三倍体,体细胞染色体数2n=3x=30,第7号染色体的短臂具随体,核型均属于"3B"型,臂比大于2的染色体比率为90%.不同点为:重瓣花型的第7号和第8号染色体分别为sm和st型,单瓣花型的第7号和第8号染色体分别为st和sm型;前者的核型不对称系数(76.48%)略小于后者(76.71%);前者的相对长度系数为12L+6M2+12S,后者的相对长度系数为12L+3M1+3M2+12S;前者的最长染色体与最短染色体长度的比值(3.10)略小于后者(3.19).重瓣花型的核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st+15sm(3SAT),单瓣花型的核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st(3SAT)+15sm,崇明水仙根尖体细胞染色体的平均核型公式为2n=3x=30=15st(3SAT)+15sm.根据研究结果初步推测崇明水仙为节段异源三倍体.     

河南芝麻授粉昆虫初步调查

为了清楚了解芝麻花授粉昆虫种类、昆虫的授粉规律和授粉时间,2009年对河南省平舆县高杨店乡的13个样点芝麻花授粉昆虫进行调查,采集到授粉昆虫标本65份.经过整理鉴定,芝麻花授粉昆虫共计5目14科25种.其中,蜜蜂占授粉昆虫的92%,是大田芝麻主要的授粉昆虫.蜜蜂授粉出勤高峰出现在8:00～8:50和18:00～18:50.     

More than meets the eye: a morphological and phylogenetic comparison of long‐spurred,white‐flowered Satyrium species (Orchidaceae) in South Africa

Superficial similarities among unrelated species are often a result of convergent evolution and can cause considerable taxonomic confusion. A case in point is Satyrium eurycalcaratum , described here as a new species, which has been confused with several other Satyrium spp. with similar long‐spurred, white flowers. A phylogenetic analysis, based on molecular data, indicated that S. eurycalcaratum is not closely related to any of the species with which it has been previously confused. A comparative analysis of morphological characters in the seven South African Satyrium spp. with long‐spurred, white flowers showed that each of these, including S. eurycalcaratum , is characterized by a unique combination of traits. Despite the similarity in pollination syndrome characters, such as spur length and flower colour, variation in rostellum structure was particularly pronounced and four distinctive forms were present. There was no phylogenetic signal in patterns of interspecific rostellum variation, as some closely related species had different rostella, whereas some distantly related species shared similar rostellum structures. We therefore conclude that the use of rostellum traits in conjunction with phylogenetic evidence can resolve species delimitations among orchid species that share the same pollination syndrome. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 166 , 417–430.     

商陆属中五基数花起源于三基数花的新证据——非洲商陆的花器官发生

运用扫描电镜和石蜡切片方法对非洲商陆Phytolacca dodecandra L′Her.的花器官发生过程及花器官各部分的位置排列进行了观察。结果表明：非洲商陆萼片5枚,以螺旋向心方式发生;没有观察到花瓣原基的发生;雄蕊为螺旋离心方式发生,前4枚雄蕊分2对出现在对萼位置,但此后发生的雄蕊的发生顺序明显区别于其他种;心皮4-5枚,与内部雄蕊互生。本文探讨了时空因素对花器官发生的影响,基于对非洲商陆花器官发生的观察,否定了“商陆属源于二轮雄蕊样式”的假说,并为商陆属中“五基数花起源于三基数花”的观点提供了新的证据。     

Gymnosperm Orthologues of Class B Floral Homeotic Genes and Their Impact on Understanding Flower Origin

Class B floral homeotic genes play a key role in specifying the identity of male reproductive organs (stamens) and petals during the development of flowers. Recently, close relatives (orthologues) of these genes have been found in diverse gymnosperms, the sister group of the flowering plants (angiosperms). The fact that such genes have not been found so far, despite considerable efforts, in mosses, ferns or algae, has been taken as evidence to suggest that B genes originated 300–400 million years ago in a lineage that led to extant seed plants. Gymnosperms do not develop petals, and their male reproductive organs deviate considerably from angiosperm stamens. So what is the function of gymnosperm B genes? Recent experiments revealed that B genes from diverse extant gymnosperms are exclusively expressed in male reproductive organs (microsporophylls). At least for some of these genes it has been shown that they can partially substitute for the Arabidopsis B genes AP3 and PI in ectopic expression experiments, or even partially substitute these genes in different class B floral organ identity gene mutants. This functional complementation, however, is restricted to male organ development. These findings strongly suggest that gymnosperm and angiosperm B genes have highly related interaction partners and equivalent functions in the male organs of their different host species. It seems likely that in extant gymnosperms B genes have a function in specifying male reproductive organs. This function was probably established already in the most recent common ancestor of extant gymnosperms and angiosperms (seed plants) 300 million years ago and thus represents the ancestral function of seed plant B genes, from which other functions (e.g., in specifying petal identity) might have been derived. This suggests that the B gene function is part of an ancestral sex determination system in which B gene expression specifies male reproductive organ development, while the absence of B gene expression leads to the formation of female reproductive organs. Such a simple switch mechanism suggests that B genes might have played a central role during the origin of flowers. In the out-of-male and out-of-female hypotheses changes in B gene expression led to the origin of hermaphroditic flower precursors out of male or female gymnosperm reproductive cones, respectively. We compare these hypotheses with other recent molecular hypotheses on the origin of flowers, in which C/D and FLORICAULA/LEAFY-like genes is given a more prominent role, and we suggest how these hypotheses might be tested in the future.     

The Role of Flower Inclination, Depth, and Height in the Preferences of a Pollinating Beetle (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae)

Amphicoma (Glaphyridae) beetles are important pollinators of red bowl-shaped flowers in the Mediterranean. The role of color and shape in flower choice is well studied but the roles of inclination, depth, and height have seldom been investigated. Under field conditions, models were used to experimentally manipulate these three characters and visitation rates of beetles were recorded. Models with red horizontal surfaces were visited significantly more often than models with red vertical surfaces. Shallow flower models were visited significantly more than deeper equivalents. Models below or at the height of natural flower populations elicited significantly more landings than models above the height of flowers. Inclination, depth, and height characteristics are all likely to be important components in the flower preferences exhibited by pollinating beetles.     

牡丹花水提液对氧自由基的清除作用

牡丹花水提液加入O 2和·OH的产生及检测系统中,能显著降低介导的氮兰四唑(NBT)的光化学还原和·OH作用下的水杨酸羟基化作用.这提示牡丹花水提液具有显著的清除氧自由基的活性,红色牡丹花水提液清除氧自由基的效能高于浅色花.     

通过原位反转录研究MADS盒基因M79的时空表达模式

通过设计可以引发特定mRNA进行转录的特异引物,采用了一种新的原位反转录的方法检测mRNA,这种原位反转录的方法是把原位杂交和反转录进行有机结合的结果,其实用性能和关键步骤都已进行优化。研究表明,只要设立合适的对照原位反转录方法, 检测mRNA的灵敏度高、假阴性和假阳性率低。用这种方法对一个属于AGL2亚组的水稻(Oryza sativa L.)的MADS-盒基因M79的表达进行了分析,结果表明,在水稻从营养到生殖的各个发育阶段,M79均有表达,与平行进行的传统原位杂交的方法得到的结果类似。相对而言,原位反转录法耗时短、容易操作,可以成为一种可靠的原位定位mRNA的基本技术。     

被子植物花的起源:假说和证据

达尔文的 令人讨厌之谜 ,即被子植物的起源和早期演化 ,一直是植物系统学研究领域的热点 .被子植物区别于其它植物类群的一个显著特征就是花 ,因此 ,解决被子植物的起源之谜很大程度上取决于对被子植物花器官起源的研究 .对被子植物花器官的详尽研究已经在形态、解剖、古植物、形态发生、分子等方面积累了大量的证据 ,植物学家基于这些证据为被子植物花器官的起源提出了各种各样的解释 .综述了迄今为止被子植物花器官起源的主要学说流派 ,如 :真花学说、假花学说、生殖叶学说、生殖茎节学说、生花植物学说、新假花学说、古草本学说和 ANITA学说等 .根据研究手段和获得证据的方式 ,作者将被子植物花器官起源研究划分为 5个阶段 ,并简要阐述了各个阶段的代表学说和主要研究特点