Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage FC3-10 from Klebsiella spp.

FC3-10 is a Klebsiella spp. specific bacteriophage isolated on a rough mutant (strain KT707, chemotype Rd) of K. pneumoniae C3. The bacteriophage receptor for this phage was shown to be the low-molecular mass lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction (LPS-core oligosaccharides), specifically the heptose content of the LPS inner-core. This is the first phage isolated on Klebsiella, the receptor for which is the LPS-core. This phage was unable to plate on Salmonella typhimurium LPS mutants with chemotypes Rd2 or Re showing incomplete or no heptose content on their LPS-core, respectively. Spontaneous phage-resistant mutants from different Klebsiella strains were deep-rough LPS mutants or encapsulated revertants from unencapsulated mutant strains.     

Ludalbin,a new lactone from Artemisia ludoviciana

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. ssp. albula (Woot.) Keck, a member of the vulgaris complex, contains a sesquiterpene lactone, ludalbin, which is 8-α-acetoxydouglanine.     

Exome sequences and multi‐environment field trials elucidate the genetic basis of adaptation in barley

Broadening the genetic base of crops is crucial for developing varieties to respond to global agricultural challenges such as climate change. Here, we analysed a diverse panel of 371 domesticated lines of the model crop barley to explore the genetics of crop adaptation. We first collected exome sequence data and phenotypes of key life history traits from contrasting multi‐environment common garden trials. Then we applied refined statistical methods, including some based on exomic haplotype states, for genotype‐by‐environment (G×E) modelling. Sub‐populations defined from exomic profiles were coincident with barley's biology, geography and history, and explained a high proportion of trial phenotypic variance. Clear G×E interactions indicated adaptation profiles that varied for landraces and cultivars. Exploration of circadian clock‐related genes, associated with the environmentally adaptive days to heading trait (crucial for the crop's spread from the Fertile Crescent), illustrated complexities in G×E effect directions, and the importance of latitudinally based genic context in the expression of large‐effect alleles. Our analysis supports a gene‐level scientific understanding of crop adaption and leads to practical opportunities for crop improvement, allowing the prioritisation of genomic regions and particular sets of lines for breeding efforts seeking to cope with climate change and other stresses.     

Maladaptation beyond a geographic range limit driven by antagonistic and mutualistic biotic interactions across an abiotic gradient

Species’ geographic range limits often result from maladaptation to the novel environments beyond the range margin. However, we rarely know which aspects of the n‐dimensional environment are driving this maladaptation. Especially of interest is the influence of abiotic versus biotic factors in delimiting species’ distributions. We conducted a 2‐year reciprocal transplant experiment involving manipulations of the biotic environment to explore how spatiotemporal gradients in precipitation, fatal mammalian herbivory, and pollination affected lifetime fitness within and beyond the range of the California annual plant, Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana. In the first, drier year of the experiment, fitness outside the range edge was limited mainly by low precipitation, and there was some evidence for local adaptation within the range. In the second, wetter year, we did not observe abiotic limitations to plant fitness outside the range; instead biotic interactions, especially herbivory, limited fitness outside the range. Together, protection from herbivory and supplementation of pollen resulted in three‐ to sevenfold increases in lifetime fitness outside the range margin in the abiotically benign year. Overall, our work demonstrates the importance of biotic interactions, particularly as they interact with the abiotic environment, in determining fitness beyond geographic range boundaries.     

秸秆浸提液漂浮栽培对不结球白菜产量及相关品质特性的影响

以1/4园试营养液为对照,以腐熟发酵的农业秸秆(苋菜和番茄植株残体)浸提液模拟富含N、P的水体进行不结球白菜(Brassica campestris ssp.chinensis Makino)的漂浮栽培,对茎叶的单株鲜质量和干质量及叶片的VC、可溶性蛋白质、蔗糖、果糖、葡萄糖含量及可溶性糖总含量进行了比较分析。结果表明:在24 d的栽培周期内,随生长时间的延长,处理组和对照组茎叶的单株鲜质量和干质量均呈增加趋势,但从第10天开始,处理组茎叶的单株鲜质量和干质量均显著低于对照组。栽培初期叶片VC含量均最高且处理组叶片VC含量显著低于对照组;从第10天开始,叶片VC含量降低,但处理组叶片VC含量与对照组无显著差异。处理组与对照组叶片可溶性蛋白质含量均呈波动的变化趋势,但总体差异不显著。处理组叶片蔗糖含量总体上与对照组差异不显著,仅在第24天显著低于对照组。处理组叶片的果糖含量均高于对照组,特别是在第24天为对照组的1.81倍,差异显著。叶片葡萄糖含量均呈先升高后降低的趋势,可溶性糖总含量则呈波动的变化趋势,对照组叶片葡萄糖含量和可溶性糖总含量总体上高于处理组,但差异不显著。研究结果显示:用秸秆浸提液漂浮栽培,虽然不结球白菜的生长量(即产量)有所减少,但相关的品质指标变化不大,对果糖合成和积累还有一定的促进作用,因而,此种秸秆浸提液可用于栽培商品不结球白菜。     

Hybridizations and genetic relationships among Lindernia species (Scrophulariaceae): L. procumbens and two subspecies of L. dubia

Lindernia procumbens and L. dubia are common annual weeds in flooded rice fields of Japan. Two subspecies of L. dubia, subsp. major and subsp. dubia, are usually recognized in Japan but they are both regarded as synonyms of L. dubia elsewhere. In a cluster analysis based on AFLP, most L. dubia subsp. major formed a separate cluster from L. dubia subsp. dubia although 11% of haplotypes classified using AFLP were not coincident with classification using the shape of leaf bases, which is the commonly used identification trait. Artificial F₁ plants between L. procumbens and L. dubia subsp. major, and between L. procumbens and L. dubia subsp. dubia did not produce seed. Forty percent of capsules produced by F₁ plants from these two subspecies were slimmer and 80% pollen were sterile in slimmer capsules. However, seed number of most F₁ capsules was not different from that of self-fertilized plants, suggesting that there was no complete reproductive isolation between the subspecies. Natural hybridization of these subspecies may have occurred but we are not aware of it because F₁ plants are rare and F₂ plants are indistinguishable from these subspecies.