The responses of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens) forest aboveground biomass to Landsat TM spectral reflectance and NDVI

Bamboo is a special forest type in subtropical regions of china. Its huge biomass and carbon storage and its ecological function play an important role in global carbon sink. In this paper, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens) forest in Anji county, Zhejiang province, China was selected to examine the relationships between Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data, and aboveground biomass (AGB, Kg), This research indicates that (1) near infrared (TM4) and mid-infrared bands (TM5,TM7) are more important in explaining Moso bamboo AGB than the visible bands. In particular, TM band5 has higher path coefficient with AGB than any other TM bands, implying its important role in explaining Moso bamboo AGB; (2) the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has weak correlation with Moso bamboo AGB, however, other vegetable indices such as Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI), and Soil Adjust Vegetation Index (SAVI) which are related to soil adjustment parameters are significantly correlated with Moso bamboo AGB; (3) the new vegetation index developed in this paper is significantly correlated with Moso bamboo AGB (correlation coefficient is 0.48), and has higher correlation coefficient (R) than any other selected vegetation indices, implying that this new vegetation index can better explain Moso bamboo AGB than any other vegetation indices.     

毛竹GRF转录因子家族的全基因组鉴定与分析

利用生物信息学方法,于毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) Lehaie)全基因组中鉴定获得18个GRF转录因子,并对其理化特性、保守结构域、系统发育关系、mi R396靶位点以及基因表达模式进行了分析。结果表明,18个Pe GRF蛋白长度为170～551 aa,分子量为18.5～58.8 k D;这些Pe GRF蛋白均具有QLQ和WRC结构域,部分Pe GRF含有FFD和TQL保守结构域。对毛竹、拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh)和水稻(Oryza sativa L.)的系统进化分析结果显示,毛竹18个GRF可分为3个亚类,且单子叶植物毛竹和水稻的GRF转录因子亲缘关系更近。mi R396靶位点预测分析结果发现,在13个Pe GRF基因序列的编码区存在毛竹mi R396结合位点; Pe GRF基因表达模式分析结果显示,Pe GRF主要在毛竹的竹笋中表达。     

不同林分类型毛竹林节肢动物群落的多样性与稳定性

通过2001年9月到2002年7月对毛竹Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens与杉木Cunninghamia lanceolata、毛竹与马尾松Pinus massoniana、毛竹与阔叶树种混交林和毛竹纯林中节肢动物群落的定位与跟踪调查,分析和比较了上述4种不同类型林分中节肢动物群落的多样性与稳定性。结果表明：竹阔混交林中节肢动物群落的丰富度显著高于其他2种混交林和毛竹纯林,主要体现为林下层中同翅目、半翅目、鞘翅目和双翅目及竹冠层中蜱螨目、同翅目、半翅目和鞘翅目等植食性或捕食性物种明显较多;但各类林分中节肢动物群落之间的物种多样性、均匀度和优势集中性无显著差异。总体上混交林竹冠层和林下层中植食性和捕食性功能群的共有种较多,两个层次间的相似性均高于毛竹纯林。不同林分类型中节肢动物群落的稳定性具有显著差异,竹阔混交林和毛竹纯林竹冠层节肢动物类群的稳定性低,天敌对害虫的控制作用小,毛竹叶部植食性螨类和蠕须盾蚧Kuwanaspis vermiformis危害较重。因此认为在两种（类）害虫常发区,可考虑将林分改造为竹杉混交林或竹松混交林。     

Silicification of bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla Mitf.) root and leaf

Bamboo is a silicon accumulating plant. In leaves, the major place of silicon (Si) deposition is the epidermis, with the highest concentration of Si in silica cells. In bamboo roots, the deposition of Si is found only in endodermal cell walls. The silicification of leaves and roots was examined in the economically important bamboo plant Phyllostachys heterocycla, using an environmental scanning electron microscope coupled with X-ray microanalysis, as well as gravimetric quantification. The content of Si on a dry weight basis measured by gravimetric quantification was 7.6% in leaves and 2.4% in roots, respectively. Moreover, quantification of EDX data showed high Si impregnation of the inner tangential endodermal walls. Si content in this part of the root endodermal cell walls was even higher than that in the outer leaf epidermal walls, where conspicuous deposition of Si often occurs in grass plants.     

Comparisons of soil‐water content between a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forest and an evergreen broadleaved forest in western Japan

In Japan, forests of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens, an exotic invasive giant bamboo) have naturalized and expanded rapidly, replacing surrounding broadleaved and coniferous forests. To evaluate impacts caused by these forest‐type replacements on the hydrological cycle, soil‐water content and its spatial variability in a Moso bamboo forest were compared with those in an adjacent evergreen broadleaved forest, in a case study of a stand in western Japan (northern Kyushu). The volumetric soil‐water content averaged over depths between 0 and 60 cm was consistently higher in the bamboo stand than that in the broadleaved stand. These results contrast with previous studies comparing the soil‐water content in Moso bamboo forests with that in other forest types. The sum of canopy transpiration and soil evaporation (E) in the bamboo stand tended to be larger than that in the broadleaved stand. Small canopy interception loss was reported in the bamboo forest. Therefore, the large amount of E would counterbalance the small canopy interception loss in the bamboo forest. Differences in soil characteristics between the two stands may be the main factor causing differences in soil‐water content. Spatial variation in soil‐water content in the bamboo stand was larger than that in the broadleaved stand, confirming findings in a previous series of our study. This could happen because the well‐developed root‐system in the bamboo forest enhances preferential flow in the soil. To evaluate the effects of aggressive invasion of alien giant bamboo on the ecosystem functions, we recommend further studies measuring various hydrological components in various Moso bamboo forests.     

母岩与竹龄对毛竹竹叶中硅和植硅体碳含量的影响

在浙江省毛竹主产区,采集不同母岩类型(花岗岩、砂页岩、凝灰岩)和不同竹龄(1、3年生)的毛竹竹叶样品,研究了不同母岩和竹龄对毛竹叶片中硅与植硅体碳含量的影响,以及竹叶样品中硅和植硅体含量之间的相关关系.结果表明: 母岩、竹龄对毛竹竹叶中硅和植硅体含量均有显著影响,不同母岩土壤毛竹竹叶中硅含量表现为花岗岩(33.19 g·kg^-1)>砂页岩(32.64 g·kg^-1)>凝灰岩(24.51 g·kg^-1),植硅体含量表现为花岗岩(105.81 g·kg^-1)>砂页岩(93.50 g·kg^-1)>凝灰岩(59.40 g·kg^-1);3年生毛竹竹叶中硅与植硅体含量均显著高于1年生.母岩与竹龄对竹叶植硅体碳含量均无显著影响,而对竹叶干物质植硅体碳含量存在显著影响.3种母岩发育土壤上毛竹叶中硅与植硅体含量间呈显著正相关;但1年生竹叶中两者之间无显著相关性.要准确估算全国不同地域、不同土壤类型毛竹竹叶的植硅体含量时,需要考虑母岩、植物株龄的影响.     

毛竹害螨的损失估测和防治指标

采用均匀分布、典型整群抽样调查法对福建省南平市延平区毛竹林毛竹害螨为害进行调查。结果表明,毛竹害螨为害对毛竹竹杆重量和出笋量都有一定的影响,使得竹林蓄积量下降,出笋量大大下降。建立了毛竹害螨对毛竹竹杆重量和出笋量损失的估测模型,并以此推导出了相应的经济危害允许水平和防治指标。     

Impacts of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) invasion on dry matter and carbon and nitrogen stocks in a broad‐leaved secondary forest located in Kyoto,western Japan

In western and central Japan, the expansion of exotic moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex J. Houz.) populations into neighboring vegetation has become a serious problem. Although the effects of bamboo invasion on biodiversity have been well studied, shifts in nutrient stocks and cycling, which are fundamental for ecosystem functioning, are not fully understood. To explore the effects of P. pubescens invasion on ecosystem functions we examined above‐ and below‐ground dry matter and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in a pure broad‐leaved tree stand, a pure bamboo stand, and two tree–bamboo mixed stands with different vegetation mix ratios in the secondary forest of Kyoto, western Japan. In the process of invasion, bamboo shoots offset broad‐leaved tree deaths; thus, no clear trend was apparent in total above‐ or below‐ground biomass or in plant C and N stocks during invasion. However, the ratio of above‐ground to below‐ground biomass (T/R ratio at the stand level) decreased with increasing bamboo dominance, especially in the early stages of invasion. This shift indicates that rapid bamboo rhizomatous growth is a main driver of substantial changes in stand structure. We also detected rises in the C/N ratio of forest‐floor organic matter during bamboo invasion. Thus major impacts of P. pubescens invasion into broad‐leaved forests include not only early shifts in biomass allocation, but also changes in the distribution pattern of C and N stored in plants and soil.     

Weibull分布参数辨识改进及对浙江毛竹林胸径年龄分布的测度

非线性模型迭代参数初始值的选取及拟合的结果能否可用非常重要且一直是一个难题.传统的方法只是凭感觉偿试不进行定量评估,对于用阻尼最小二乘进行拟合只注重精度高低,没有从理论上研究和分析评价得出的结果能否可用.为了克服这一不足,使参数选取较好,阻尼最小二乘得出结果可用.利用非线性回归原理在这两方面做了探讨,提出了二个判别指标：β^T＜1,β^N＜1,分析了每一指标在参数不同状态的控制作用,并在Weibull分布函数参数辨识中做了应用.针对目前毛竹林林分结构规律研究的不足,利用浙江省230个毛竹林样地资料研究了省域尺度的毛竹林胸径分布规律,经SPSS软件中的P-P图检验与柯尔莫哥洛夫检验,表明毛竹林胸径结构服从Weibull分布;再经对Weibull分布模型拟合求解与作图对比,结果显示Weibull分布能很好地描述毛竹林胸径分布规律.利用Weibull分布三参数与林分特征因子间的相关关系,经分析研究,导出了一个改进的二元分布模型,用该二元分布模型很好地测度了浙江省毛竹林胸径和年龄分布规律,最后得到了浙江省毛竹林株数按胸径年龄分布的理论频数.     

Amino Acid Sequence and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitin-Binding Peptides,Pp-AMP 1 and Pp-AMP 2, from Japanese Bamboo Shoots (Phyllostachys pubescens)

Two novel chitin-binding peptides, designated Pp-AMP 1 and Pp-AMP 2, which had antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi, were purified from Japanese bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys pubescens) by a simple procedure based on chitin affinity chromatography. They had the common structural features of the plant defensin family, but they could not be grouped in any type of that family. They showed a high degree of homology to mistletoe toxins.     

Desiccation‐induced changes in photochemical processes of photosynthesis and spectral reflectance in Nostoc commune (Cyanobacteria,Nostocales) colonies from polar regions

Cyanobacterium Nostoc commune is a species highly resistant against desiccation. In this study, we investigated changes in photochemical processes of photosynthesis and spectral reflectance indices during controlled desiccation of the colonies from Antarctica. In a dehydration process, water potential (WP) reached ?3 MPa and values of potential (F _v/F _m) and effective quantum yields (ΦPSII) of photosystem II were kept to high value until 90% of water was lost from the colony, and these values decreased rapidly by further loss of water. This indicates that the colony loses water mostly from the exopolysaccharidic envelope, not from cells during the initial part of dehydration (relative water content, RWC = 100–10%). Other suggestions of inhibition of photosynthetic processes after 90% loss of water were the increase of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter F _p/F _s. The F _m′ was higher than F _m in hydrated colonies because of state transition which change energy distribution between PS I and PS II, but decreased to same level as F _m in dehydrated colonies. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) showed concave‐ and convex‐curvilinear relationship with RWC, respectively. The changes of NDVI values were, however, statistically insignificant. PRI values were predominantly below 0 because of phycobiliprotein involvement. These results were compared with the same species in the Arctic region. This is, according to our best knowledge, the first measurement of changes in spectral reflectance indices during desiccation of cyanobacteria.     

野化培训大熊猫采食和人为砍伐对拐棍竹无性系种群更新的影响

亚高山竹类占据着野生大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)食物组分的99%,竹子的生命周期与大熊猫的生活史密切相关,竹子的更新和生长直接影响着大熊猫的生存与保护.为了弄清大熊猫的采食利用和人为砍伐是否促进或制约竹子的繁殖更新,应用样方法、定位观察法,连续研究了卧龙自然保护区大熊猫栖息地内野化培训大熊猫采食、人为砍伐和对照样方中拐棍竹无性系种群的更新动态.结果表明,在相同种群数量和环境条件的基础上(p>0.05),被大熊猫采食竹子的比例为67.07%,致死率29.07%;人为砍伐竹子的比例为65.67%,致死率46.68%,可见与大熊猫采食相比,砍伐更为影响拐棍竹种群的生存.从出笋数量来看,不同处理方式有利于拐棍竹无性系种群的更新(p<0.05),尤其是人为砍伐措施大大提高了竹子的出笋率,但人为砍伐样方的竹笋质量(地径和株高生长)却远低于大熊猫采食和对照样方,未能达到大熊猫觅食的选择利用标准.不同年份之间,各种处理方式下的拐棍竹出笋数量波动较大(p=0.006～0.035),并随着恢复时间的延长,逐渐趋于相似(2007,p=0 825).不同处理方式之间,拐棍竹无性系种群的年补充率,各年份均具有显著性差异(p<0.05,除2007年外),年死亡率仅2003年和2004年有明显的差异(p<0.05),2005～2007年均不显著(p>0.05).拐棍竹无性系种群的年补充率与年死亡率之间表现出年补充率﹥年死亡率的格局(p<0.05),唯有大熊猫采食样方的2004年和2005年、人为砍伐和对照样方的2005年的年死亡率略高于年补充率(p>0.05),这表明拐棍竹无性系种群对大熊猫采食和人为砍伐具有无性系整合的补偿效应.     

引黄灌区次生盐碱地速生杨光谱与光合特性对不同秸秆层的响应

在宁夏引黄灌区次生盐碱地,设置了填埋秸秆层(B)、覆盖秸秆层(M)、填埋配合覆盖秸秆层(B+M)和无任何处理(空白对照,CK)共4种处理,通过随机区组试验,在土壤水盐变化的基础上,通过分析速生杨光谱及光合特性对秸秆层响应,探究不同秸秆层的植物光合速率、色素含量、营养状况以及受胁迫等情况,以期更准确的反应出各处理的改良效果及植被恢复情况。研究结果表明:(1)秸秆层有助于提升灌区次生盐碱地速生杨的光谱与光合等生理状况。B、M和B+M均能显著提升速生杨叶片的最大净光合速率与饱和光强,其中,B和B+M还能够明显降低速生杨叶片的光补偿点和暗呼吸速率,M则不能。B和B+M均显著提高速生杨叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度等光合参数。另外,B+M的速生杨叶片光合色素含量最高,营养状况最好,其他光谱参数结果与CK相比都有显著提高。处理B和M也可以显著提高速生杨叶片光合色素含量和营养状况,但效果均不如B+M。(2)B与B+M均能降低不同时期的土壤盐分含量,但B+M在不同时期提高土壤含水量的效果均高于B。M也能降低土壤盐分和提升土壤含水量,但不同时期的效果均不如处理B+M。综合试验结果,在引黄灌区次生盐碱地,不同秸秆层均能不同程度的调节土壤水盐变化,缓解水盐胁迫,提升速生杨光合与光谱特性,其中B+M作为秸秆层效果最佳。     

黄土丘陵区草地土壤微生物C、N及呼吸熵对植被恢复的响应

以野外样地调查和室内分析法研究了黄土丘陵区不同植被恢复年限下草地土壤微生物C、N及土壤呼吸熵的变化.结果表明,土壤微生物量碳明显地随着植被恢复年限的增加而增加.在恢复前23a, 土壤微生物量碳在0～20 cm土层年增加率为24.1%;20～40 cm为104.4%.植被恢复23a后,0～20 cm土层增长率为0.83%,20～40 cm为0.19%.土壤微生物量N表现为在植被恢复的初期略有下降,3a后,开始出现明显增加.0～20 cm土层年增长率为20.14%,20～40 cm为15.11%.在植被恢复23a后,0～20 cm土层的年增长率为0.14%,20～40 cm变化不大.土壤微生物呼吸强度随着恢复年限的增加逐渐加强;土壤呼吸熵随植被封育时间的增加而呈对数降低趋势.土壤呼吸熵(qCO2)在反映土壤的生物质量变化时,显得更加稳定,受植物生长状况影响较小.相关分析表明,土壤微生物量和土壤微生物活性与土壤有机质、碱解氮和粘粒含量显著正相关;与土壤粉粒含量明显负相关;表层土壤pH值对其也有明显影响.草地植被自然恢复过程可增加土壤微生物活性,有利于土壤质量的提高.     

The triphenyltin(VI) complexes of NSAIDs and derivatives. Synthesis, crystal structure and antiproliferative activity. Potent anticancer agents

The novel triphenyltin(IV) esters of flufenamic acid (1), Hflu, [Ph₃Sn(flu)] (2), and of [2-(2,3-dichlorophenylamino)benzoic acid] (3), Hdcpa, [Ph₃Sn(dcpa)] (4) have been structurally characterized by means of vibrational and ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies. The crystal and molecular structures of [SnPh₃(dcpa)(DMSO)] 4a are described. The molecular structure of 4a reveals that the Sn atom has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry with equatorial phenyl groups and the carboxylate and dimethylsulfoxide oxygen atoms occupying axial positions. The crystal structure of 4a is self-assembled by C-H---π and π-π stacking interactions. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of 1-4 and of the related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, [2-(2,6-dimethylphenylamino)benzoic acid], Hdmpa (5), [Ph₃Sn(dmpa)] (6), [2-(2,3-dimethylphenylamino)benzoic acid], mefenamic acid, Hmef (7) and [Ph₃Sn(mef)] (8) has been evaluated against the cancer cell lines MCF-7, T-24, A-549 and L-929. The ligands exhibited very poor cytotoxic activity against the four cancer cell lines. Complex 6 exhibits the highest activity and selectivity against A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines and complex 8 the highest activity and selectivity against T-24 cancer cell line. The cytotoxic results indicate that coupling of Hdmpa and Hmef with R₃Sn(IV) metal center results in complexes with important biological properties and remarkable cytotoxic activity, since they display IC₅₀ values in a μΜ range better to that of the antitumor drug cis-platin. Complexes 6 and 8 are considered as excellent antitumor compounds and the results of this study represent the discovery of triphenyltin(IV)esters as a potential novel class of anticancer agents.     

Detecting latitudinal and altitudinal expansion of invasive bamboo Phyllostachys edulis and Phyllostachys bambusoides (Poaceae) in Japan to project potential habitats under 1.5°C–4.0°C global warming

Rapid expansion of exotic bamboos has lowered species diversity in Japan's ecosystems by hampering native plant growth. The invasive potential of bamboo, facilitated by global warming, may also affect other countries with developing bamboo industries. We examined past (1975–1980) and recent (2012) distributions of major exotic bamboos (Phyllostachys edulis and P. bambusoides) in areas adjacent to 145 weather stations in central and northern Japan. Bamboo stands have been established at 17 sites along the latitudinal and altitudinal distributional limit during the last three decades. Ecological niche modeling indicated that temperature had a strong influence on bamboo distribution. Using mean annual temperature and sun radiation data, we reproduced bamboo distribution (accuracy = 0.93 and AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) = 0.92). These results infer that exotic bamboo distribution has shifted northward and upslope, in association with recent climate warming. Then, we simulated future climate data and projected the climate change impact on the potential habitat distribution of invasive bamboos under different temperature increases (i.e., 1.5°C, 2.0°C, 3.0°C, and 4.0°C) relative to the preindustrial period. Potential habitats in central and northern Japan were estimated to increase from 35% under the current climate (1980–2000) to 46%–48%, 51%–54%, 61%–67%, and 77%–83% under 1.5°C, 2.0°C, 3.0°C, and 4.0°C warming levels, respectively. These infer that the risk areas can increase by 1.3 times even under a 1.5°C scenario and expand by 2.3 times under a 4.0°C scenario. For sustainable ecosystem management, both mitigation and adaptation are necessary: bamboo planting must be carefully monitored in predicted potential habitats, which covers most of Japan.     

雄性棉铃虫和烟青虫对雌性信息素的触角电生理反应

利用触角电位图(Electroantennogram,EAG)技术,比较研究了二近缘种棉铃虫、烟青虫对其性信息素主要成分Z—11—16：Ald、Z—9—16：Ald的触角电生理反应。剂量反应曲线表明,对Z—11—16：Ald,棉铃虫和烟青虫均有明显的EAG反应,且随浓度的增加而增强,但棉铃虫比烟青虫的反应较强;对Z—9—16：Ald,烟青虫有很强的EAG反应,棉铃虫的反应则很弱;对Z—11—16：Ald和Z—9—16：Ald以97：3和7：93比例形成的混合物,棉铃虫、烟青虫均有EAG反应,但二者之间没有显著差异[动物学报49(6)：795～799,2003]。     

被害马尾松（Pinus massoniana）针叶挥发性物质的提取、鉴定及蚕饰腹寄蝇（Blepharipa zebina）的电生理活性

试验使用动态顶空吸附的方法,提取了被害马尾松(Pinus massoniana)针叶挥发物,并通过气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)及标准样品进行鉴定。结果表明,被害马尾松针叶挥发性物质主要包括绿叶挥发物、单萜、含氧单萜及倍半萜等四大类物质;挥发物中以单萜的含量最高,其它3类物质含量较低。通过触角电位图(EAG)技术,测定了23种挥发性物质标准样品的石蜡油溶液对蚕饰腹寄蝇(Blepharipa zebina)雌蝇的电生理活性。结果表明,蚕饰腹寄蝇雌蝇对α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、长叶烯、莰烯、乙酸冰片酯等的相对触角电位反应值与湿润空气对照相比并无显著差异;雌蝇对其它刺激物的相对触角电位反应值与湿润空气对照相比均存在显著差异。同时测定了雌蝇对8种标样,在5个浓度系列下的剂量-反应,并分析了反应阈值。结果表明,蚕饰腹寄蝇雌蝇对顺-3-己烯-1-醇和里哪醇的反应阈值为0.1μg/μl,对壬醛的反应阈值为1μg/μl,对柠檬烯、α-水芹烯、2,6-二甲基-2,4,6-辛三烯、β-石竹烯4种物质的反应阈值为100μg/μl,而对α-蒎烯,在测试的剂量范围内不存在反应阈值。在确定对蚕饰腹寄蝇有生理活性的物质成分和分析反应阈值的基础上,对寄生蝇类定位寄主的机制进行了讨论。     

The development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detection of Babesia spp. infective to sheep and goats in China

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction is a method that amplifies with high sensitivity, efficiency, and rapidity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) under isothermal condition in simple incubators. Two primer sets for the LAMP method were designed using the nucleotide sequences of 18S rRNA gene of Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) and Babesia sp. Xinjiang-2005 isolated in China. The primers were used to detect parasite DNA extracted from infected blood and purified parasites by LAMP. The specific ladder bands were amplified from the autologous genomic DNA of two Babesia species, respectively, and did not cross-react with the genomic DNA of Theileria sp. China 1, Theileria sp. China 2, B. bovis, Theileria sp. (Japan) and sheep. The LAMP was sensitive enough to detect 0.02 pg and 0.2 pg genomic DNA of Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) and Babesia sp. Xinjiang-2005, respectively, from 10-fold serially diluted samples corresponding to the amount of DNA present in 50 μl of 0.000002% and 0.00002% parasitemic erythrocytes. Furthermore, DNA extracted from blood of intact (non-splenectomized) sheep experimentally infected with Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) and Babesia sp. Xinjiang-2005 was amplified by the LAMP from week 1 to 9 and week 2 and 3 post-infection, respectively, demonstrating the high sensitivity of these primers. Of 365 samples collected from Gansu province, 14.3% (52/365) were positively detected by the LAMP. Of 145 samples collected on filter papers (Whatman) from the grazing sheep in Xinjiang province, 3.5% (5/145) were positive. These results show that the LAMP could be an alternative diagnostic tool for the detection of babesial infection in sheep and goats.     

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae): loss of an inverted repeat region and comparative analysis with related species

Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae) is a domestic variety of yew species in local China. This plant is one of the sources for paclitaxel, which is a promising antineoplastic chemotherapy drugs during the last decade. We have sequenced the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast (cp) genome of T. chinensis var. mairei. The T. chinensis var. mairei cp genome is 129,513 bp in length, with 113 single copy genes and two duplicated genes (trnI-CAU, trnQ-UUG). Among the 113 single copy genes, 9 are intron-containing. Compared to other land plant cp genomes, the T. chinensis var. mairei cp genome has lost one of the large inverted repeats (IRs) found in angiosperms, fern, liverwort, and gymnosperm such as Cycas revoluta and Ginkgo biloba L. Compared to related species, the gene order of T. chinensis var. mairei has a large inversion of ~ 110 kb including 91 genes (from rps18 to accD) with gene contents unarranged. Repeat analysis identified 48 direct and 2 inverted repeats 30 bp long or longer with a sequence identity greater than 90%. Repeated short segments were found in genes rps18, rps19 and clpP. Analysis also revealed 22 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and almost all are composed of A or T.