Effects of Meloidogyne spp. and Rhizoctonia solani on the Growth of Grapevine Rootings

A disease complex involving Meloidogyne incognita and Rhizoctonia solani was associated with stunting of grapevines in a field nursery. Nematode reproduction was occurring on both susceptible and resistant cultivars, and pot experiments were conducted to determine the virulence of this M. incognita population, and of M. javanica and M. hapla populations, to V. vinifera cv. Colombard (susceptible) and to V. champinii cv. Ramsey (regarded locally as highly resistant). The virulence of R. solani isolates obtained from roots of diseased grapevines also was determined both alone and in combination with M. incognita. Ramsey was susceptible to M. incognita (reproduction ratio 9.8 to 18.4 in a shadehouse and heated glasshouse, respectively) but was resistant to M. javanica and M. hapla. Colombard was susceptible to M. incognita (reproduction ratio 24.3 and 41.3, respectively) and M. javanica. Shoot growth was suppressed (by 35%) by M. incognita and, to a lesser extent, by M. hapla. Colombard roots were more severely galled than Ramsey roots by all three species, and nematode reproduction was higher on Colombard. Isolates of R. solani assigned to putative anastomosis groups 2-1 and 4, and an unidentified isolate, colonized and induced rotting of grapevine roots. Ramsey was more susceptible to root rotting than Colombard. Shoot growth was inhibited by up to 15% by several AG 4 isolates and by 20% by the AG 2-1 isolate. AG 4 isolates varied in their virulence. Root rotting was higher when grapevines were inoculated with both M. incognita and R. solani and was highest when nematode inoculation preceded the fungus. Shoot weights were lower when vines were inoculated with the nematode 13 days before the fungus compared with inoculation with both the nematode and the fungus on the same day. It was concluded that both the M. incognita population and some R. solani isolates were virulent against both Colombard and Ramsey, and that measures to prevent spread in nursery stock were therefore important.     

Aerosols as a Source of Widespread Mycoplasma Contamination of Tissue Cultures

Mycoplasma isolates were cultured from 15 antibiotic-free cell cultures obtained from a single laboratory. Complement-fixation tests showed that these isolates were antigenically related to each other but were unrelated to M. hominis type 1, M. hominis type 2, M. arthritidis, M. laidlawii type B, Mycoplasma sp. H.Ep. #2 (Barile), or M. salivarium. Examination of serum used to feed the infected cell lines revealed no Mycoplasma. Infection resulting from cross-contamination by a single Mycoplasma strain from one cell culture to another was investigated. Although the organisms were not found in the air over the work area, aerosols containing these contaminants were produced in tissue culture bottles during the trypsinization of cell monolayers. The minimal infectious dose of Mycoplasma for tissue cultures was measured, and it was determined that one organism was capable of initiating an infection in a tissue culture. The pattern of contamination and the small dose required for infection indicated that Mycoplasma contamination was spread from one tissue culture to another via aerosols. It was demonstrated that Mycoplasma can be transferred from one cell culture to another through the use of a common burette for dispensing medium.     

Effect of starvation on the distribution of positional isomers and enantiomers of triacylglycerol in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was cultivated in a standard medium and under sulfur, silicon, nitrogen and phosphorus starvation and its triacylglycerols (TAGs) were analyzed by RP-HPLC/MS-APCI. Nearly 100 molecular species of polyunsaturated TAGs were identified. RP-HPLC was used to isolate positional isomers of TAGs, which were further separated by chiral HPLC. First eluted were those TAGs that have an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety in the sn-1 position. The ratios of symmetrical to asymmetrical TAGs in P. tricornutum were affected under sulfur-, nitrogen-, phosphorus- and silica-starvation, i.e. in cultivations involving cells in nutrient stress. The ratios of positional TAGs and also the proportions of enantiomers were changed. The ratios of symmetrical to asymmetrical TAGs in the control and under N- and P-starvation were very close. In the control, the ratio of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl-rac-glycerol to 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-eicosapentaenoyl-rac-glycerol was 3:1 and the ratio of 1,2-dieicosapentaenoyl-3-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol to 1,3-dieicosapentaenoyl-2-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol was 9:1. Under N-starvation the ratios were reversed irrespective of the presence or absence of silicate in the medium. A similar pattern was found in P- and S-starvation.     

Biochemical basis of radiation-sensitivity in mutants of Neurospora crassa

The available UV-sensitive mutants of Neurospora crassa were examined for their ability to excise and photoreactive cytosine-containing dimers invivo. All strains exhibited in vivo photoreactivation, including upr-1, which was originally thought to be deficient in photoreactivation. Two strains, uvs-2 and upr-1 were shown to be deficient in excision repair; uvs-3 was shown to contain a residual amount of excision capabilit. The remaining strains, uvs-1, uvs-5, and uvs-6, were normal in their ability to excise dimers. Based on these results, tentative analogies were drawn between the Neurospora mutants and the known classes of UV-sensitive mutants in E. coli. Accordingly, the N. crassa mutants were classified as uvs-1, -lon; uvs-2, -uvr; uvs-3, -uvr (rec?); uvs-5, -lon; uvs-6, -rec; and upr-1, -uvr. A comparison was made between the biochemical responses and the available published data on mutation induction in the Neurospora mutants. Althoughsome relationships were seen between repair defects and mutation induction, too little data were available for any definitive conclusions.     

Effects of Aluminum and Manganese on the Growth of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

Cenococcum graniforme, Suillus luteus, Thelephora terrestris, and three isolates of Pisolithus tinctorius were cultured on modified Melin-Norkrans medium at pH 3.4 and adjusted to 0 to 500 ppm (0 to 500 μg/ml) of aluminum or manganese sulfate. Except for T. terrestris, which was intolerant of aluminum at 150 and 250 to 500 ppm, and P. tinctorius isolate 250, which was intolerant of aluminum at 450 ppm, all fungi showed some growth at all concentrations of aluminum. S. luteus was the most tolerant to aluminum. Manganese was less fungitoxic than aluminum, with all fungi showing at least 65% growth at 500 ppm as compared with the control. C. graniforme was not inhibited at any concentration of manganese, and S. luteus was only affected at 500 ppm. P. tinctorius isolate 230 showed no significant variation in growth when subjected to various concentrations of three forms of manganese salts. Significant differences in growth were detected in response to three aluminum salts, but no detectable pattern was apparent. Genotypic responses to aluminum and manganese were evident for P. tinctorius. Isolates 210 and 230 were more tolerant to manganese than was isolate 250. Aluminum tolerance was in the order of isolate 230 > 210 > 250. Results of in vitro studies concerning tolerance responses of ectomycorrhizal fungi to aluminum and manganese were not consistent with field observations of the successional sequence of these fungi on acid coal spoils.     

Persistence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in New Zealand Broilers after Discontinuation of Avoparcin Use

Large amounts of tylosin, zinc-bacitracin, and avilamycin are currently used as prophylactics in New Zealand broiler production. Avoparcin was also used from 1977 to 2000. A total of 382 enterococci were isolated from 213 fecal samples (147 individual poultry farms) using enrichment broths plated on m-Enterococcus agar lacking antimicrobials. These isolates were then examined to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. Of the 382 isolates, 5.8% (22 isolates) were resistant to vancomycin, and 64.7% were resistant to erythromycin. The bacitracin MIC was ≥256 μg/ml for 98.7% of isolates, and the avilamycin MIC was ≥8 μg/ml for 14.9% of isolates. No resistance to ampicillin or gentamicin was detected. Of the 22 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates, 18 (81.8%) were Enterococcus faecalis, 3 were Enterococcus faecium, and 1 was Enterococcus durans. However, when the 213 fecal enrichment broths were plated on m-Enterococcus agar containing vancomycin, 86 VRE were recovered; 66% of these isolates were E. faecium and the remainder were E. faecalis. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolates were found to have heterogenous pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of SmaI-digested DNA, whereas the PFGE patterns of vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis isolates were identical or closely related, suggesting that this VRE clone is widespread throughout New Zealand. These data demonstrate that vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis persists in the absence and presence of vancomycin-selective pressure, thus explaining the dominance of this VRE clone even in the absence of avoparcin.     

Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus and evaluation of anti-staphylococcal activity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis in ready-to-eat poultry meat

A total of 181 ready-to-eat poultry meat samples were examined for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, and 11 (6 %) were found to have S. aureus contamination. Of 11 S. aureus isolates, 10 (91 %) were resistant to at least one antibiotic used in this study, and 2 were resistant to oxacillin. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis was tested as a bio-control agent. All the S. aureus isolates were found to be sensitive to antimicrobial products in L. lactis subsp. lactis supernatants; the zones of inhibition were in the range of 5.0 mm?±?0.70 mm to 19.8 mm?±?0.83 mm with the majority of isolates. As a competitive flora in mixed culture (LAPTg broth) and protective culture in poultry meat, L. lactis subsp. lactis was effective against S. aureus isolates; the growth of S. aureus isolates was almost negative after 32 h incubation in mixed culture. The population of S. aureus was reduced substantially to almost log 1 CFU/g after 25 days of incubation in protective culture. The pH of the test cultures also decreased sharply with time.     

Fungemia in hospitals of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

BackgroundThe incidence of fungi like pathogens in hospitals varies by regions.ObjectivesOur goal was not only to record the incidence and etiology of fungaemia, but also the change during the 4 years analysed, to determine the time of detection in automated blood culture and by lysis-centrifugation, and finally to assess the gender, age and underlying disease of the patients with fungaemia.MethodsAn observational multicentre study of fungaemia was conducted in hospitals in the Mycology Network of Buenos Aires.ResultsA total of 190,920 blood cultures were processed: 182,050 automated blood culture and 8,870 lysis-centrifugation. Fungi were recovered in 1,020 episodes. The overall incidence of fungaemia was 1.72/1,000 admissions; 683 episodes were due to Candida (68%), and 325 (32%) to other fungi: 214 Cryptococcus, 105 Histoplasma, 7 Rhodotorula, 5 Trichosporon, 2 Pichia, 2 Acremonium, one Saccharomyces and one Fusarium. The incidence of candidaemia was 1.15/1,000 admissions with a wide variation between centres (0.35 to 2.65). Most Candida isolates (97%) were detected in the first 2 days of incubation. Candida albicans was recovered in 43% of the episodes. In fungaemia other than candidaemia, the predominant fungi were Cryptococcus and Histoplasma capsulatum.ConclusionsThe incidence remained stable during the study period. Fungaemia by Candida were predominant. C. albicans was involved in less than a half of the episodes. The recovery of Cryptoccocus and H. capsulatum is strongly associated with HIV patients.     

Characterization of the glnK-amtB Operon of Azotobacter vinelandii

To determine whether in Azotobacter vinelandii the P_II protein influences the regulation of nif gene expression in response to fluxes in the ammonium supply, the gene encoding P_II was isolated and characterized. Its deduced translation product was highly similar to P_II proteins from other organisms, with the greatest degree of relatedness being exhibited to the Escherichia coli glnK gene product. A gene designated amtB was found downstream of and was cotranscribed with glnK as in E. coli. The AmtB protein is similar to functionally characterized ammonium transport proteins from a few other eukaryotes and one other prokaryote. glnK and amtB comprise an operon. Attempts to isolate a stable glnK mutant strain were unsuccessful, suggesting that glnK, like glnA, is an essential gene in A. vinelandii. amtB mutants were isolated, and although growth on limiting amounts of ammonium was similar in the mutant and wild-type strains, the mutants were unable to transport [¹⁴C]methylammonium.     

Association of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Hemolysin with Serotypes of Shiga-Like-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli of Human and Bovine Origins

In this study we investigated whether the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) hemolysin gene ehxA could be used as an indicator of pathogenicity in Shiga-like-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC) isolates. The isolates in a collection of 770 SLTEC strains of human and bovine origins were assigned to group 1 (230 human and 138 bovine SLTEC isolates belonging to serotypes frequently implicated in human disease), group 2 (85 human and 183 bovine isolates belonging to serotypes less frequently implicated in disease), and group 3 (134 bovine isolates belonging to serotypes not implicated in disease). PCR amplification was used to examine all of the SLTEC isolates for the presence of ehxA and the virulence-associated genes eae, slt-I, and slt-II. The percentages of human isolates in groups 1 and 2 that were positive for ehxA were 89 and 46%, respectively, and the percentages of bovine isolates in groups 1 to 3 that were positive for ehxA were 89, 51, and 52%, respectively. The percentages of human isolates in groups 1 and 2 that were positive for eae were 92 and 27%, respectively, and the percentages of bovine isolates in groups 1 to 3 that were positive for eae were 78, 15, and 19%, respectively. The frequencies of both ehxA and eae were significantly higher for group 1 isolates than for group 2 isolates. The presence of the ehxA gene was associated with serotype, as was the presence of the eae gene. Some serotypes, such as O117:H4, lacked both eae and ehxA and have been associated with severe disease, but only infrequently. The slt-I genes were more frequent in group 1 isolates than in group 2 isolates, and the slt-II genes were more frequent in group 2 isolates than in group 1 isolates. In a second experiment we determined the occurrence of the ehxA and slt genes in E. coli isolated from bovine feces. Fecal samples from 175 animals were streaked onto washed sheep erythrocyte agar plates. Eight E. coli-like colonies representing all of the morphological types were transferred to MacConkey agar. A total of 1,080 E. coli isolates were examined, and the ehxA gene was detected in 12 independent strains, only 3 of which were positive for slt. We concluded that the ehxA gene was less correlated with virulence than the eae gene was and that EHEC hemolysin alone has limited value for screening bovine feces for pathogenic SLTEC because of presence of the ehxA gene in bovine isolates that are not SLTEC.     

Expression profiles of genes involved in starch synthesis in non-waxy and waxy wheat

Non-waxy and waxy types of wheat were used to study the expression profiles of genes involved in starch synthesis. During grain development, expression profiles and levels of AGPL and AGPS genes were similar to each other. SSI expression remained constant during the late grain development, while expression of SSII and SSIII was higher over the early to middle and middle grain development, and the GBSSI was actively expressed during the entire grain development. SBEIIa was higher expressed during early to middle stage, SBEIIb was active in middle and SBEI during middle to late grain development. During the entire grain development, expression levels of GBSSI and SSIII genes were higher in non-waxy type of wheat, while those of SBEI and SBEIIb were lower in the non-waxy type of wheat. Expression of all genes involved in starch synthesis was stage-specific and tissue-specific. In addition, the expression profiles of genes encoding starch synthase were in agreement with the activity changes of starch synthase during grain development.     

Study of the Ecology of Fresh Sausages and Characterization of Populations of Lactic Acid Bacteria by Molecular Methods

In this study, a polyphasic approach was used to study the ecology of fresh sausages and to characterize populations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The microbial profile of fresh sausages was monitored from the production day to the 10th day of storage at 4°C. Samples were collected on days 0, 3, 6, and 10, and culture-dependent and -independent methods of detection and identification were applied. Traditional plating and isolation of LAB strains, which were subsequently identified by molecular methods, and the application of PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to DNA and RNA extracted directly from the fresh sausage samples allowed the study in detail of the changes in the bacterial and yeast populations during storage. Brochothrix thermosphacta and Lactobacillus sakei were the main populations present. In particular, B. thermosphacta was present throughout the process, as determined by both DNA and RNA analysis. Other bacterial species, mainly Staphylococcus xylosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and L. curvatus, were detected by DGGE. Moreover, an uncultured bacterium and an uncultured Staphylococcus sp. were present, too. LAB strains isolated at day 0 were identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, L. casei, and Enterococcus casseliflavus, and on day 3 a strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides was identified. The remaining strains isolated belonged to L. sakei. Concerning the yeast ecology, only Debaryomyces hansenii was established in the fresh sausages. Capronia mansonii was initially present, but it was not detected after the first 3 days. At last, L. sakei isolates were characterized by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR and repetitive DNA element PCR. The results obtained underlined how different populations took over at different steps of the process. This is believed to be the result of the selection of the particular population, possibly due to the low storage temperature employed.     

Effect of Meloidogyne incognita on Reproduction of Pratylenchus penetrans in Red Clover and Alfalfa

Roots of seedlings of red clover and alfalfa growing on 10⁻¹ Hoagland and Arnon solution agar were inoculated with various combinations of Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus penetrans. Egg-laying by P. penetrans decreased as the number of nematodes, the ratio of entrant M. incognita to entrant P. penetrans, and the priority of invasion of roots by M. incognita increased. Embryogeny and hatching of eggs of P. penetrans, and development of larvae of M. incognita, were not affected. In red clover, the greatest red uction occurred when there were 65 entrant nematodes, the ratio of M. incognita:P. penetrans was 4:1 and M. incognita was inoculated four days prior to P. penetrans. In alfalfa, the less-favorable host for both nematodes, the greatest reduction occurred when there were 45 entrant nematodes, the ratio of M. incognita:P. penetrans was 2:1, and M. incognita was inoculated 4 days prior to P. penetrans.     

Evaluation of the prevalence of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis and the distribution bft gene subtypes in patients with diarrhea

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) in the patients with diarrhea in our region and to assess the association between diarrhea and bft gene subtypes. The presence of ETBF and bft gene subtypes were investigated in 200 stool samples from patients with diarrhea, diagnosed as gastroenteritis, which were sent to Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Training and Research Hospital and in 200 stool samples from age-matched healthy subjects between April 14, 2009 and October 28, 2009. Nested – polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of bft gene directly from stool samples. The bft gene subtypes were determined by PCR in case of ETBF detection. The presence of bft gene was detected in 29 (15%) of patients and 27 (14%) of control group. bft-1 and bft-2 were found in 24 and five stool samples from 29 diarrheic patients with ETBF, respectively. Among 27 control patients with ETBF, bft-1 and bft-2 were found in 24 and three samples, respectively. No bft-3 subtypes were identified in our study. ETBF was found as a single pathogen in 9% of the patients with diarrhea, while there was an accompanying pathogen in 6% of the patients. The proportion of coinfection with another pathogen among ETBF positive patients was 38%. Cooccurance with ETBF was present in nine of 18 patients with Rotavirus and two of five patients with Entamoeba histolytica. In conclusion; there was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of ETBF in diarrheal patients and that of the control group. When the patients and controls were compared for each age group, no statistically significant difference in ETBF rates was found. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to bft subtypes; bft-1 was identified as the most common subtype. The rate of coinfection of ETBF and Rotavirus was high.     

冀北山地阴坡优势树种的树体分维结构

以冀北山地阴坡两种混交林分中5种优势树种为研究对象,采用分形几何理论,论述了不同树种的树冠和侧枝分维结构,结果表明:(1)华北落叶松的树冠最宽处处于中上部(相对冠高的60％ -80％),白桦处于中部(40％-60％),山杨和糠椴都处于中下部(40％-50％),落叶松桦木混交林中的黑桦处于上部(70％ -80％),而山杨桦木混交林中黑桦则处于中部(50％-60％);(2)通过计盒维数法所得华北落叶松树冠的分形维数最大为1.690,山杨桦木混交林中4种树木分维数较接近(0.770-1.202),而两混交林中,前者白桦分维数(0.997)与后者(1.149)相似,而前者黑桦分维数(1.257)＞后者(0.770);(3)胸径13.1cm的华北落叶松侧枝在各方向上符合均匀分布,总体也符合均匀分布,前者中的黑桦在胸径15.8 cm时绝大多数方向上为均匀分布,前者中白桦及后者中4种树木在不同胸径时在各个方向上均为不均匀分布;(4)华北落叶松侧枝倾角随树龄增大分布在85-95°,糠椴则分布在55-85°.山杨树龄小(5.3)与树龄大(16.5)时分布在40-55°,中间树龄(10.5)分布在60-80°,黑桦分布在30-65°,前者中白桦倾角范围25-90°,后者则主要分布在45--85°;(5)采用网格覆盖法所得华北落叶松枝条的分维数平均值最高为1.772,其次为山杨桦木混交林中的4种树木,而两混交林中黑桦枝条的平均分维数却相差很大,其中前者为1.476,而后者为1.674.尽管同一树种侧枝形状大小各异,但相互间差异不显著,相关系数均在0.93以上,刻画了各枝条分枝格局的自相似共性.     

Characterization of rumen bacterial strains isolated from enrichments of rumen content in the presence of propolis

Propolis presents many biological properties, including antibacterial activities, and has been proposed as an additive in ruminant nutrition. Twenty bacterial strains, previously isolated from enrichments of Brazilian cow rumen contents in the presence of different propolis extracts (LLOS), were characterized using phenotyping and 16S rRNA identification. Seven strains were assigned to Streptococcus sp., most likely S. bovis, and were all degrading starch. One amylolytic lactate-utilizing strain of Selenomonas ruminantium was also found. Two strains of Clostridium bifermentans were identified and showed proteolytic activity. Two strains were assigned to Mitsuokella jalaludinii and were saccharolytic. One strain belonged to a Bacillus species and seven strains were affiliated with Escherichia coli. All of the 20 strains were able to use many sugars, but none of them were able to degrade the polysaccharides carboxymethylcellulose and xylans. The effect of three propolis extracts (LLOS B1, C1 and C3) was tested on the in vitro growth of four representative isolates of S. bovis, E. coli, M. jalaludinii and C. bifermentans. The growth of S. bovis, E. coli and M. jalaludinii was not affected by the three propolis extracts at 1 mg ml^?1. C. bifermentans growth was completely inhibited at this LLOS concentration, but this bacterium was partially resistant at lower concentrations. LLOS C3, with the lower concentration of phenolic compounds, was a little less inhibitory than B1 and C1 on this strain.     

Eimeria acervulina, E. brunetti, and E. maxima: pathogenic effects of single or mixed infections with low doses of oocysts in chickens.

The pathogenic effects of E. acervulina, E. brunetti, and E. maxima were modified when chickens received mixed infections with these species.Six-week-old chickens were inoculated with doses of 20,000 oocysts of E. acervulina, 1250 oocysts of E. brunetti, and 5000 oocysts of E. maxima given as a single or mixed infection.Typical signs of coccidiosis were apparent in chickens infected with a single Eimeria sp. When birds were given infections composed of two species, the weight loss was greater than that due to either given alone but when three species were given, weight loss was slightly less than that due to infection will E. brunetti alone. Oocyst production due to E. acervulina tended to be similar in birds given this species alone or with E. brunetti. Output fell to less than 50% when E. acervulina was administered with E. maxima. Oocyst production due to E. brunetti and E. maxima decreased when these species were inoculated together and when they were administered with E. acervulina. Lesions of E. acervulina and E. brunetti were superimposed on those of E. maxima in birds given mixed infections.Growth retardation was not evident in chickens inoculated with E. acervulina alone, although weight loss increased when this species was administered with either E. brunetti or E. maxima.     

Genetic analysis of genes involved in melanin biosynthesis of Cochliobolus miyabeanus

Color mutants of Cochliobolus miyabeanus defective in melanin biosynthesis were isolated. Although the wild-type strain KU-13 formed dark green colonies, color mutants formed white, brown, and gray colonies or white colonies with red pigment secretion. From the white mutant which secreted red pigment, designated scy, a melanin precursor which restored melanization of albino mutants alm-1 was isolated and identified as scytalone. This indicated that scy mutant was defective in the conversion of scytalone to 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene and that melanin of this fungus is of pentaketide origin formed from oxidation of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene. Albino mutants alm-1 were considered to be defective in pentaketide cyclization and brown mutants brm were considered to be defective in the conversion of 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene to vermelone. Albino mutants alm-2 whose coloration was not restored by application of scytalone were also isolated. The alm-2 gene was believed to be a gene transactively regulating the pentaketide cyclization and conversion of scytalone. From crossing experiments among the color mutants, it was indicated that alm-1, alm-2, and brm were linked and that scy segregates independently of these three mutant loci. Crossing of a methionine requiring mutant with alm and scy indicated that the three loci segregate independently of each other.     

云南元江干热河谷五种优势植物的内生真菌多样性

从蔓草虫豆（Atylosia scarabaeoides）、余甘子（Phyllanthus emblica）和黄花稔（Sida acuta）等5种云南元江干热河谷植物的525个组织块中,共分离得到内生真菌371株,内生真菌的分离频率在0.61～0.92之间,且所有植物叶内生真菌的分离频率都明显高于茎（P<0.05）。经形态学鉴定,内生真菌分属于拟茎点霉属（Phomopsis sp.）、离蠕孢属（Bipolaris sp.）和交链孢属（Alternaria sp.）等32个分类单元。拟茎点霉属为干热河谷植物优势内生真菌属,从所有被调查植物的茎叶中都分离得到该属真菌,且相对分离频率高达12.90%～50.54%。内生真菌群落组成的多样性和相似性分析结果表明,云南元江干热河谷植物内生真菌多样性偏低、宿主专一性较小。     

Endozoochory of Mediterranean aquatic plant seeds by teal after a period of desiccation: Determinants of seed survival and influence of retention time on germinability and viability

The capacity of eight wetland seeds to be internally dispersed by common teal (Anas crecca L.) after a dry period typical of natural Mediterranean wetlands was experimentally quantified. These plant taxa (Chara spp., Echinochloacrus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult, Polygonum lapathifolium L., Potamogeton nodosus Poir., Potamogeton pusillus L., Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla, Scirpus maritimus L.) were frequently ingested by teal in the field. Captive teal were fed with known quantities of dry seeds and faecal samples were collected at intervals of 1-2 h for 48 h. The proportion of seeds retrieved after gut passage that germinated varied between taxa from 3% to 83%. From 2% to 63% of the seeds ingested were recovered intact, and 18-95% of these were still viable. Therefore, an overall 32% of the seeds ingested were evacuated in a viable condition, ranging from 0.2% for Chara spp. to 54% for S. mucronatus. Mean seed retention time was 3-5 h. Overall, 94% of seeds were evacuated within 12 h, but 2% were recovered after more than 24 h. Seed viability was reduced at longer retention times, although viable seeds of all taxa except Chara spp. were recovered 44-48 h after the experiment began. Germinability was increased by gut passage, although for some species this effect was only significant after stratification, indicating that they exhibit both mechanical and physical dormancy. Seed germination was accelerated by gut passage, especially at longer retention times. Gut passage increased the proportion of viable seeds, suggesting selective digestion of non-viable ones. Endozoochorous transport by teal appears to be a widespread dispersal mechanism among wetland plants.