Agrobacterium-mediated production of transgenic rice plants expressing a chimeric α-amylase promoter/β-glucuronidase gene

We have successfully transferred and expressed a reporter gene driven by an -amylase promoter in a japonica type of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Tainung 62) using the Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system. Immature rice embryos (10–12 days after anthesis) were infected with an Agrobacterium strain carrying a plasmid containing chimeric genes of -glucuronidase (uidA) and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII). Co-incubation of potato suspension culture (PSC) with the Agrobacterium inoculum significantly improved the transformation efficiency of rice. The uidA and nptII genes, which are under the control of promoters of a rice -amylase gene (Amy8) and Agrobacterium nopaline synthase gene (nos), respectively, were both expressed in G418-resistant calli and transgenic plants. Integration of foreign genes into the genomes of transgenic plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Histochemical localization of GUS activity in one transgenic plant (R0) revealed that the rice -amylase promoter functions in all cell types of the mature leaves, stems, sheaths and roots, but not in the very young leaves. This transgenic plant grew more slowly and produced less seeds than the wild-type plant, but its R1 and R2 progenies grew normally and produced as much seeds as the wild-type plant. Inheritance of foreign genes to the progenies was also confirmed by Southern blot analysis. These data demonstrate successful gene transfer and sexual inheritance of the chimeric genes.     

Effect of temperature on carbohydrate content,ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase,and ATP- and PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase activity of potato tuber callus tissue

Callus derived from Lemhi Russet and Russet Burbank tuber tissue was incubated at 20°C and 30°C on a high sucrose medium for starch-formation and subjected to simulated storage and reconditioning treatments at 5°C and 25°C after transfer of the callus to a medium without a carbon source. Percent dry weight of callus from both cultivars averaged about 21% after starch formation and 5% after storage and reconditioning treatments. Total sugars were higher in callus incubated on the starch forming treatment. Lemhi Russet callus contained predominantly reducing sugars, while Russet Burbank callus contained mostly non-reducing sugars. Total sugar content was generally lower for both cultivars after the storage and reconditioning treatment in callus after starch formation at 20°C. Starch content was generally higher in Lemhi Russet tissue. After starch formation at 20°C Lemhi Russet had higher starch after the storage and reconditioning treatment than tissue from 30°C, while the opposite trend was found in Russet Burbank tissue. Total protein declined in Russet Burbank tissue during the storage and reconditioning treatment regardless of prior incubation conditions, while this decline only occurred in Lemhi Russet tissue initially incubated at 30°C during the starch formation treatment. In tissue of both cultivars, ATP- and PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase activities were inversely proportional to total sugar concentrations, while in RB callus ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase activities were proportional to starch content.Research Paper 91B1 of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.     

高效价甘薯羽状斑驳病毒抗血清的制备

用嫁接方法将甘薯羽状斑驳病毒（ＳＰＦＭＶ）接种到Ｉ．ｓｅｔｏｓａ上扩繁,以０．２ｍｏｌ／ＬｐＨ７．２ＰＢＫ缓冲液、垫层差速离心、蔗糖密度梯度离心提取纯化ＳＰＦＭＶ。纯化的ＳＰＦＭＶＯＤ２６０／２８０的比值为１．２５。将纯化的ＳＰＦＭＶ免疫家兔制备抗血清,在环状沉淀和微量沉淀试验中,用提纯病毒测定抗血清的效价均为１：４０９６;以ＳＰＦＭＶ－ＩｇＧ为第一抗体,应用Ｄｏｔ－ＥＬＩＳＡ对甘薯和Ｉ．ｓｅｌｏｓａ叶片中的ＳＰＦＭＶ分别作了测定。     

果树介壳虫寄生蜂资源的研究

介壳虫是果树的重要害虫,研究利用寄生蜂的自然控制作用是果树介壳虫生物防治和综合治理的重要途径。本论述了果树介壳虫寄生蜂资源的研究,报道了小蜂总科寄生蜂5科25属63种。     

Stage-specific Monoclonal Antibodies to the Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida Stone (Behrens)

Using standard hybridoma technology and hierarchical screening, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were obtained with specific reactivity against two developmental stages of Globodera pallida. The procedure was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with homogenates prepared from second-stage juveniles, young adult females, and potato roots. Hybridomas were formed by fusing myelomas with splenocytes derived from mice immunized with either infective juveniles or females of G. pallida. About 600 hybridoma lines were screened from the fusion involving the mouse immunized with juveniles. Two MAbs (LJMAbl &2) were identified with high reactivity toward second-stage juveniles but no reactivity with either potato roots or females of G. pallida. A total of 630 cell lines was screened from the corresponding fusion involving the spleen of a mouse receiving immunogens from adult female nematodes. One MAb (LFMAbl) was obtained with the required specificity against only adult female G. pallida. This work extends the application of monoclonal antibodies in nematology from valuable probes for research and species identification to recognition of developmental stages. These specific MAbs have potential value in plant breeding programs for screening for resistant lines unable to support nematode development.     

Numerical analyses of RAPD data highlight the origin of cultivated tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus ssp. palmensis) in the Canary Islands

Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to generate molecular markers to trace the origin of the fodder legume tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus (L. fil.) Link ssp. palmensis (H. Christ) Kunkel) in the Canary Islands. Results from multivariate analyses of data through Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) showed that genotypes collected on the island of La Palma exhibited a wider range of variation than those from the other islands. This supports the existing hypothesis that tagasaste originated on La Palma and emphasizes the importance of conserving and evaluating germ plasm from this island.     

Interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation on birds across different climate zones: A mechanistic perspective

Climate change and urbanisation are among the most pervasive and rapidly growing threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, their impacts are usually considered in isolation, and interactions are rarely examined. Predicting species' responses to the combined effects of climate change and urbanisation, therefore, represents a pressing challenge in global change biology. Birds are important model taxa for exploring the impacts of both climate change and urbanisation, and their behaviour and physiology have been well studied in urban and non-urban systems. This understanding should allow interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation to be inferred, yet considerations of these interactions are almost entirely lacking from empirical research. Here, we synthesise our current understanding of the potential mechanisms that could affect how species respond to the combined effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation, with a focus on avian taxa. We discuss potential interactive effects to motivate future in-depth research on this critically important, yet overlooked, aspect of global change biology. Increased temperatures are a pronounced consequence of both urbanisation (through the urban heat island effect) and climate change. The biological impact of this warming in urban and non-urban systems will likely differ in magnitude and direction when interacting with other factors that typically vary between these habitats, such as resource availability (e.g. water, food and microsites) and pollution levels. Furthermore, the nature of such interactions may differ for cities situated in different climate types, for example, tropical, arid, temperate, continental and polar. Within this article, we highlight the potential for interactive effects of climate and urban drivers on the mechanistic responses of birds, identify knowledge gaps and propose promising future research avenues. A deeper understanding of the behavioural and physiological mechanisms mediating species' responses to urbanisation and rising temperatures will provide novel insights into ecology and evolution under global change and may help better predict future population responses.     

中国优质水果资源的分布与适宜生态环境

根据农业部在80年代两次组织评选出的全国189个优质水果产地的生态环境资料,用微型电子计算机系统建立数据库,统计分析柑桔、苹果和梨优质产品的构成比例、产区分布地域及其适宜的环境指标和主栽品种的生态适应性,为果树良种区域化栽培与选育提供依据。