Sex determination in ten crane species by DNA marker EE0.6

Using a unique DNA sequence of W-chromosome EE0.6, we carried out molecular sex determination in 383 individuals of ten species of cranes (Grus grus L., G. leucogeranus Pallas, G. japonensis Muller, G. vipio Pallas, G. canadensis L., G. antigone L., G. monacha Temminck, Anthropoides virgo L., Balearica regulorum Bennett, and B. pavonia L.) kept in zoos and other centers of captive breeding. In 211 birds, sex was determined or verified for the first time. The efficiency of using the sex marker EE0.6 for chicks and immature and adult cranes of different species, as well as for interspecific hybrids was shown.     

Induction of N–malonyl–D–tryptophan by drought stress. Is D–tryptophan the only D–amino acid appeared in wilted leaves?

D-amino acid were searched in wilted tomato leaves. D-Isomers of free amino acids were not revealed by the treatment with L- and D-amino acid oxidases. The noncationic fraction of the extract contained N-malonyl-D-tryptophan and no other N-acylated amino acids. A special search for endogenous N-malonyl-D-phenylalanine gave negative results. Exogenous¹⁴C-malonate was only incorporated in one Chromatographic zone corresponding to N-malonyl-D-tryptophan. It is concluded that drought stress does not induce the appearance of D-amino acids except for D-tryptophan which is accumulated in the malonylated form.     

Sodium fluoride inhibits HSP synthesis in heat-stressed cultured cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Fluorine is a component of atmospheric emissions in industrial areas. It negatively affects plant development and weakens the defense systems, thus making plants vulnerable to extreme environmental conditions. The heat shock proteins (HSP) are known to promote the plant resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. We studied the action of sodium fluoride (NaF) on growth, viability, respiration, transmembrane electric potential at the inner mitochondrial membrane (mtΔΨ), the development of induced thermotolerance, and HSP synthesis in the cell culture of Arabidopsis thaliana (L) Heynh (accession Columbia). The treatment with 20 mM NaF (for 120 min) had no negative influence on viability of the cell culture but inhibited the development of induced thermotolerance and suppressed the induction of HSP (Hsp101 and Hsp17.6) synthesis during mild heat stress (37°C). At the same time, the treatment with NaF inhibited respiration and suppressed the increase in mtΔΨ induced by mild heat stress. Hence, the negative impact of NaF on plants might arise from its ability to inhibit synthesis of stress proteins indispensible for plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions.     

Nuclear-mitochondrial cross-talk during heat shock in Arabidopsis cell culture

Apart from energy generation, mitochondria perform a signalling function determining the life and death of a cell under stress exposure. In the present study we have explored patterns of heat-induced synthesis of Hsp101, Hsp70, Hsp17.6 (class I), Hsp17.6 (class II) and Hsp60, and the development of induced thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana cell culture under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction. It was shown that treatment by mitochondrial inhibitors and uncouplers at the time of mild heat shock downregulates HSP synthesis, which is important for induced thermotolerance in plants. The exposure to elevated temperature induced an increase in cell oxygen consumption and hyperpolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Taken together, these facts suggest that mitochondrial functions are essential for heat-induced HSP synthesis and development of induced thermotolerance in A. thaliana cell culture, suggesting that mitochondrial-nuclear cross-talk is activated under stress conditions. Treatment of Arabidopsis cell culture at 50 degrees C initiates a programmed cell death determined by the time course of viability decrease, DNA fragmentation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. As treatment at 37 degrees C protected Arabidopsis cells from heat-induced cell death, it may be suggested that Hsp101, Hsp70 and small heat-shock proteins, the synthesis of which is induced under these conditions, are playing an anti-apoptotic role in the plant cell. On the other hand, drastic heat shock upregulated mitochondrial Hsp60 synthesis and induced its release from mitochondria to the cytosol, indicating a pro-apoptotic role of plant Hsp60.     

Non-invasive method of sex identification of crane chicks by the DNA from capillary vessels of allantois

The non-invasive method of determining the sex of chicks after hatching based on the DNA isolated from capillary vessels of allantois of the egg-shell membranes was demonstrated on four crane species (Gruinae, Aves), which were bred in the Crane Breeding Centre of the Oka Nature Reserve in 2009–2012. Using the EE0.6 molecular marker of sex, the gender of 26 Siberian (Grus leucogeranus), 15 Red-crowned (G. japonensis), 4 Common (G. grus) and 1 Demoiselle (Anthropoides virgo) crane chicks was identified. This method can be recommended for determining the sex of chicks and the ratio of sexes in cranes that reproduce both in captivity and natural populations.     

Microtuber formation in micropropagated Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Clonal micropropagation of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) was initiated from axillary meristems of lateral shoots of field-grown plants on medium with MS salts, 2% sucrose, 1 mg l-1 thiamine-HCl, 1 mg l-1 IAA and 0.6% agar. Plantlets were cut into nodal sections and used for subsequent subcultures and for microtuber induction. Microtubers were induced from axillary meristems on medium with half-strength MS salts, 8% sucrose and 0.5 mg l-1 BA in darkness at 18 °C. They had near to 30% of dry matter. Microtubers resumed growth in light room at 23 °C after 4–6 months of cold storage. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.