Cloning and Analyses of a Dual Specific Serine􊄯Thronine Protein Kinase Gene with High Conservative and Constitutive Expression in Oryza (OsSTK)

A cytoplasmic serine􊄯thronine protein kinase gene (OsSTK), had been cloned from Oryza genus. It was found high conservative and constitutive expression in Oryza. OsSTK gene had two exons, separated by 114 bp short intron. The open reading frame of OsSTK gene that predicted encoded a 419 amino acids protein . The amino acid sequence of OsSTK had low identities ( less than 53% ) with any other known protein kinase . The phylogenetic tree based on the partial DNA sequences of OsSTK from different species and types of wild rice and cultivated rice, was close to the taxation system ofrice . Interestingly , OsSTK had a serine, including basic amino acids and charged amino acids abundant polypeptide with a “GDGDGDGDG”sequence at N- terminal that had not been found in any other genes. OsSTK may play dual specificity that phosphorylates both serine􊄯thronine and tyrosone, because the amino acids module of VIb , VIII and XI catalytic domain have both the serine􊄯thronine and tyrosine kinase characters .     

Chemical Constituents of Guangdong Tu Niu Xi (Eupatorium chinense,Compositae)

One new compound, namely eupatorin A (1), was isolated from the methanolic extract of Guangdong Tu Niu Xi, the dried roots of Eupatorium chinense (Compositae). Its structure was determined to be (threo) 3 O acetyl 1 (4 hydroxy 3 methoxyphenyl) 2 \[4 (3 hydroxy 1 (E) propenyl) 2, 6 dimethoxyphenoxy\]propyl β D gluco pyranoside on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. In addition, ten known compounds, including (threo) 3 hydroxy 1 (4 hydroxy 3 methoxyphenyl) 2 \[4 (3 hydroxy 1 (E) propenyl) 2, 6 dimethoxyphenoxy\]propyl β D glucopyranoside (2), ardisiacrispin A (3), ardisiacrispin B (4), euparone (5), 3 (2, 3 dihydroxy isopentyl) 4 hydroxy acetophenone (6), 12,13 dihydroxy euparin (7), gymnastone (8), N (2′ hydroxy tetracosanosyl) 2 amino 1, 3, 4 trihydroxy octadec 8 (E) ene (9), stigmasterol (10) and stigmasterol 3 O β D glucopyranoside (11) were also obtained. This was the first time that compounds 2-4 were reported from Compositae family, while 5-8 were isolated from the genus Eupatorium.     

Seed Dormancy,Germination and Storage Behavior of Magnolia wilsonii (Magnoliaceae), an Endangered Plant in China

In this paper, we measured the embryo morphology and size of Magnolia wilsonii seeds. And the effects of temperature, stratification, KNO3 and soaking on seed dormancy and germination were studied. Seeds were desiccated to different moisture content, and then stored at 4℃ and -20℃ for 100 d. The effects of desiccation and storage temperature on seed viability of M. wilsonii were analyzed. The results showed that the underdeveloped embryos of Mwilsonii seeds needed cold stratification to achieve physiological afterripening. The favorable temperature for germination of Mwilsonii seeds was 25/20℃. Cold stratification and GA3 could effectively overcome dormancy of Mwilsonii seeds. Therefore, Mwilsonii seeds have morphophysiological dormancy. About 5350% of seeds could survive in the moisture content of 539%. After 100 d storage at -20℃, all seeds in different moisture contents died. However, after 100 d storage at 4℃, 76% of seeds survived. Thus, Mwilsonii seeds exhibited intermediate seed storage behavior. The optimum storage environments was dry or moist storage at 4℃.     

Preliminary Study on Development,Germination and Desiccation Tolerance of Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae)

The developmental changes in morphology and germinability of Jatropha curcas seeds, effects of temperature and light on seed germination , and changes in desiccation tolerance of mature seeds were studied in this paper. The results indicated that J. curcas seeds reached a physiological maturation at 58 days after anthesis, and that seed germination percentage reached a peak at physiological maturation, and then decreased. The optimal germination temperature was 25 to 30℃. J. curcas seeds were insensitive to dehydration at physiological maturation . There was not a notable effect of light on seed germination. Therefore, J. curcas seed was a non-photoblastic and orthodox seeds .     

Observations on the Formation and Ultrastructure of the Egg Membrane in the fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (Parkeriaceae)

The mature egg of ferns possesses a layer of egg membrane in the periphery. However, the fine trastructure and the formation of the egg membrane in the egg of ferns are still unclear. The present paper described the formation and the ultrastructure of the egg membrane in the egg of the fern Ceratopteris thalictroides using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the egg membrane begins to form at the stage of the maturing egg. The egg membrane in the upper side of the egg is prominent. It is formed by attaching of osmiophilic sheets of endoplasmic reticulum to the inner surface of the plasmalemma . When mature the egg membrane in the upper side of the egg is much thick in the central region and it becomes thinner gradually towards the margin. Some osmiophilic materials are filled in the spaces between the sheets of endoplasmic reticulum . On the contrary, the egg membrane in the lower side of the egg is thin . It is composed of twoosmiophilic membranes which are associated with each other closely. The formation and the ultrastructure of the egg membrane are described for the first time . Some functions of the egg membrane are also discussed .     

Phenotypic Diversity of Acer ginnala (Aceraceae) Populations at Different Altitude

In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic variation of Acer ginnala natural populations at different altitude in Qiliyu, investigated the level of phenotypic diversity by using ANOVA analysis, correlation analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that there were significant differences in phenotypic variation among and within populations. Coefficient of variation (CV) varied from 705% to 3812%. High phonotypic diversity (1.9253) occurred within A.ginnala populations, the mean phenotypic diversity index of populations ranged from 1.9022 to 1.9837. Phenotypic differentiation coefficient (VST) among populations (13.79%) was less than that of within populations (86.21%). The variation within populations comprised a majority of total phenotypic variation. A significant relation had occurred between phenotypic traits and soil factors. Phenotypic diversity index had a very significant correlation with soil total nitrogen (P<0.05), no significant relation with altitude. Five populations gathered into two groups by cluster analysis, which consistent with the geographic distribution of Aginnala in Qiliyu. The traits variations of natural populations at different altitude were affected mainly by micro-environmental heterogeneity of different Aginnala populations. Utilizing of variation within and among populations is important significance for genetic improvement of A.ginnala.     

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of RALF Like Gene BcRALF from Brassica campestris ssp.chinensis var.parachinensis

The rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) gene is a new found plant polypeptide signal molecule, wide spreading in higher plants. In this study BcRALF was cloned from Brassica campestris sspchinensis Makino varparachinensis based on BcMF14 (GenBank accession number EF523516) from Bcampestris ssp. chinensis var. communis cv. Aijiaohuang. The sequence of this gene was 273 bp (GU086228) and was identified as a rapid alkalization factor gene according to its high identity with Boleracea var botrytis BoRALF1 and Arabidopsis thaliana RALFL9. Protein characteristics and sequence structure were predicted, and moreover, many bioactive sites were found. The results showed that the characteristics of the BcRALF protein consistent with its category as a peptide signal molecule.     

Effects of Nitrogen on the Growth and Accumulation of Secondary Metabolites of Erigeron breviscapus (Compositae)

Erigeron breviscapus a medicinal plant was planted under different nitrogen levels to investigate effects of nitrogen on the growth and the accumulation of secondary metabolites, address the relationship between them in medicinal plants in the plantation. Results showed that the amount of N fertilizer was significantly positively correlated with the biomass, but negatively to contents of total caffeates and scutellarin of Ebreviscapus Moreover, increasing amount of N fertilizer did not significantly enhance yields of 2 active constituents. The biomass was negatively correlated with contents of total caffeates and scutellarin. Contents of total caffeates and scutellarin were negatively correlated with contents of N in Ebreviscapus, as predicated by the carbon/nutrient balance hypothesis. The result suggested that the nitrogen addition could increase the biomass yield, nevertheless, decrease active constituents ( flavonoids ),there could be a trade off between the growth and accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.     

Substratum Affects the Gametophyte Development and Reproduction of Sinopteris grevilleoides(Sinopteridaceae), an Endangered Fern Endemic to China

Sinopteris grevilleoides is an endangered fern endemic to the region of Yunnan and Sichuan in southwest China. In this study, we investigated the effects of four different culture substrata on the development of gametophyte and reproduction of this fern. Cultured on different culture substrata, the fern showed different morphology of gametophyte. In humus soil, cordate prothalli did not bear archegonia, and thus the process of sexual reproduction ofSgrevilleoides could not be finished. The substratum composed of humus soil and original soil in ratio of 1∶1 was the most suitable substratum for gametophyte development and sexual reproduction of this species. Otherwise, infant sporophytes needed extra nutrient solution to sustain its growth on improved Knop′s agar medium.